The convention is over and I'm home! I'll try to organize this summary of events and pictures, maybe you are interested to know what goes on at this yearly event. This was the 9th annual convention sponsored by Maddy Gordon and the very first that I attended. I had a great time and hope to make it back for the 10th!

Thursday, January 18th 2001 I arrived really late. I flew into the Orlando Airport from Austin Texas. When I left Texas, it was pouring down rain, when I arrived in Orlando well after midnight it was a nice warm, clear night. I rented a car and the drive to the Radisson Hotel in Kissimmee/Orlando was easy - it took about 25 minutes heading down the turnpike. I found my room, unpacked and waundered around the hotel grounds til after 3:00 a.m.!

Friday Morning, January 19th, 2001 Up early, I met Mary Thomas for the first time. Mary and I have been good email friends ever since she sent me pictures of herself and her collection to put in my Collectors Corner. Her husband was with her and we had the buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant - although we had never met before, it seemed we were old friends! Mary left for the bus trip shopping excursion to Renninger's Antique Extravaganza in Mt. Dora. Maybe I can have her write about that trip because I didn't go. So while everyone was out shopping for heads, I enjoyed the sunny day, and then chased about town making copies of my "order sheets" for the show and exploring a bit.

Friday Evening, January 19th, 2001 The Cameo Girls people - United Design were there and presented the Cameo Girls - this was the first that many of the collectors had seen this collection. I believe everyone was very excited about it. They also introduced 2 new Cameo Girls, one was an African American, and the other was a Bride - both BEAUTIFUL! Their presentation was followed by a table full of cheesecake and other goodies. This all took place in one of the hotel Convention rooms.

After the presentation and deserts, all of the dealers were selling from their rooms. The rooms were open on 6 different floors so you could go in and shop for heads before the Saturday show opened to the public. There were a couple rooms that were just loaded with heads! Here's one picture.

I brought with me a huge suitcase full of little things to sell, some Cameo Girls, Limoges Box Ladies, Tall Vase Ladies, Stationery, Lady Trinket Boxes, etc. I sold a lot of things in my room that night and then closed up and bounced around myself checking out all the other dealers heads. I didn't buy anything that night because I wanted to wait and see everything at the big show.

CLICK HERE for the next page of pictures from Saturday at the convention show.

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