First the photos!

On October 9th at noon Eastern, Mattel Creations will release the third doll in the Dia de Muertos line - La Catrina, designed by Angel Kent. Price point is $100. She's already available in Mexico but may only be available on Mattel Creations here in the US and Canada.





On October 14th at noon Eastern, Celine Dion wearing her Academy Awards gown from her performance of "My Heart Will Go On" will release on the Mattel Creations website. There's no indication she's a creations exclusive, but who knows? Price point is $60.






In the Monster High Skullector world, there are two drops before the end of the year.

First up is Oogie Boogie from Tim Burton's "Nightmare Before Christmas" at noon Eastern on October 29 at a price point of $70.









Second is the Krampus on noon Eastern on December first at the same $70 price tag. Needless to say, I'm very excited about both of these!




Now the news without photos.....


If you're still looking for the Whitney Houston doll, check your local Barnes & Noble. She was found at several this weekend at her original $60 retail price. Some stores, like mine, also still had older dolls such as Lunar New Year, older Inspiring Women and Barbie movie dolls still available.


Regarding the 2027 NBDCC in Phoenix....

If you didn't go to Austin this year but want to attend Phoenix next year, your chance is coming soon! Registration will open in the near future. Maybe even this weekend.

That said, if you didn't go this year and you're seeing a "priority registration" link floating around online, please don't use it. That is for returning conventioneers only. I'm speaking now as part of the 2027 Chair Team. We know the link has been leaked to those who aren't eligible. All registrations are checked against last year's list and those who aren't yet eligible to register will be removed. We have yet to decide if they will be allowed to register at all this year since they knowingly broke the rules. I'll post the public registration for those interested when I can. Until then? Please just sit tight!

In the meantime, here's a sneak of the official convention logo done by the talented Mr. Thomas Soderberg.





Finally the personal....

As some of you probably know, this is the week of Kenvention in Chicago, IL, celebrating Ken's 65th anniversary. Unfortunately, I've had to drop out, cancel my workshop and resign as A/V Chair. The Friday before Labor Day, I left work unable to walk. A series of x-rays and ultrasounds revealed that I suffered a catastrophic left knee collapse that Friday. My ability to walk is severely limited and I wouldn't be able to navigate O'Hare, let alone the convention in my current condition.

On Monday, November 30th, I will have a total left knee replacement done by the same surgeon who did my right knee. If all goes well? I'll be (mostly) back on my feet in time for Christmas and back to work the second week of January.

While this is disappointing (okay crushing, really), I need to be able to carry out very strenuous Programs Chair duties in Phoenix, as well as other events planned in the future, including GAW this April. And the Queen City shows and just about every other event I can manage to attend.

So while I won't see you there, if you're in the Chicagoland area, stop by the hotel on Saturday. There isn't a sales room but there ARE room sales and I can promise you, from what I've seen, they will be incredible!!!