Welcome to Land of Oz Dolls

Welcome to Land of Oz Dolls
Museum Quality Antique Reproduction Dolls by Connie Zink Land of Oz Dolls

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

"Frenchette Retreat Weekend" August 17th, 18th, and 19th 2012

Good morning everyone, I am still trying to catch up on all the news going on around Land of Oz Dolls here in Savanna, Illinois. I don't have all the info and photos together yet but wanted to give all of you an idea of what will be going on at the "Frenchette Retreat Weekend" here in Savanna on August 17th, 18th, and 19th 2012. Here is a partial schedule for the weekend events along with photos of the workshop items.

“Frenchette” Retreat
August 17th, 18th, and 19th 2012
“Weekend In Paris” with “Belle Fleur” Steiner
At Land of Oz Dolls in Savanna, Il.
Registration Cost: $350.00 includes undressed souvenir “Frenchette” doll by Connie Zink
Absentee Souvenir “Frenchette” dolls and workshop kits will be available for purchase to non-attendees. Please contact Connie for more info.


SCHEDULE
August 16th Thursday Night 7:00 – 9:00 PM :   Casual social gathering for those who have arrived on Thursday evening. Meet and greet, browse sales displays and helper prizes, short program, and light refreshments.   Cost: included in registration
August 17th Friday  
8:00 – 9:30 AM:  Presentation of souvenir undressed “Frenchette” Steiner doll “Belle Fleur” (means ”beautiful flower” in French), browse sales displays and helper prizes, and light breakfast (sweet rolls, fruit, yogurt, and beverage)  Cost: included in registration

9:30 am– 12:30 PM:  Workshop:   “Sac de Voyage” Carpet Bag for “Frenchette” with Sue Sharp      Make this adorable traveling bag, sized just right, to carry your bebe’s necessities as she journeys thru Paris with her dolly mama.        Cost: $25.00


12:30 – 1:30 PM:  Break for lunch: Boxed lunch served: sandwich, chips, cookies, and beverage.  Cost $5.00   (Lunch may be taken outside to eat in the garden).
1:30 – 9:00 PM ?: Free Time and Field Trip To Lanark and Mt. Carroll here are Some of the places we will be visiting:
“Picket Fence” Carriage House Shop and Victorian Gardens in Lanark, “Prairie Path Sampler” (Primitives and Quilted Items) and “Ideas and Designs” (Antique Mall, Fabric Shop, and “Mad Hatter” Tea Room) in Mt. Carroll. Dinner on own at Sievert's in Mt, Carroll. There are also other wonderful shops in Mt. Carroll that we will be able to visit.

August 18th Saturday
9:00 AM – 10:30 AM:  Workshop:  Belle Fleur ‘s  Winter Wonderland”  Wicker Sleigh with Lorna Yates. Embellish Belle Fleurs  sleigh  with decorative evergreens, pine cones, berries and bows. Finish it off by lining the sleigh seat with tapestry and trim.  Cost: $30.00

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Workshop:  Fur Hat and Muff with Lorna Yates   Cost: ?
Photo and Info Coming Soon.

12:00 – 1:00 PM:  Break for lunch: Salad Luncheon, dessert, and beverage.  Cost $5.00   (Lunch may be taken outside to eat in garden).

1:00 – 5:00 PM:  Workshop:  “Belle Fleur” Costume with Pam Willits.   Cost $65.00
THE LATEST PARIS FASHION
"Belle Fleur" will be ready for any Paris Soiree dressed in her beautiful frock of red silk trimmed in the finest French lace. Fashioned with a plastron of frills and gathers along the front, the dress has long sleeves ending with a pretty cuff and a pleated skirt. Small tucks gathered in a beautifully shaped bustle finish the back of the dress and a matching bonnet tops the ensemble. "Belle Fleur" will be truly as beautiful from the back as she is from the front and will be ready for her weekend in Paris!
With a little of our "Magic in Paris" by Pam you will be able to complete this ensemble in 4 hours thanks to a lot of prep work by Pam. Sewing machine is helpful but not necessary, sewing can be completed by hand. We will have a few sewing machines to loan if it is difficult for you to bring one. 

4:00 – 5:00 PM: Browse sales displays and helper prizes. (After Finishing Pam’s Costuming Class)
6:00 – 9:00 PM: Banquet Dinner (included in registration fee), program, and helper prize drawings.
August 19th Sunday
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Workshop:  Leather Shoes and Spats  for “Frenchette” with Pam Willits  Cost ?
Complete info and photos coming soon.
12:00 – 1:00 PM:  Break for lunch: Boxed lunch served: sandwich, chips, dessert, beverage.  Cost $5.00   (Lunch may be taken outside to eat in garden).
1:00 – 2:30 PM: Workshop:  Jewelry Adornments” for “Frenchette” with Sue Sharp. Complete this pretty necklace and earring set to add that special finished look for your beautiful doll.  Cost $20.00


2:30 – 4:30 PM: Workshop:   Belle Fleur Bicycles thru Paris” with Lorna Yates. Decorate this adorable bicycle with Paris travel stickers and fill her wicker shopping basket with purchases from the French Market. You will arrange a bouquet of flowers and fruit, re-create a French newspaper, and roll your own French bread from Fimo clay. An embellished straw hat will be the finishing touch to complete your bicycling ensemble.  Cost $55.00
Class limited to 10 students (due to availability of bicycles). Bicycling costume kits will be available for purchase separately.

6:00 PM - ?? Farewell Dinner at Poopy’s Pub   Cost: (Dinner on own)
We will have our final dinner together at Poopy's Pub and Grub. This is a unique dining experience only available in Savanna, Illinois.

This gives you a brief description of the events and workshops for the "Frenchette Retreat Weekend". "Retreat" Cost is $350.00 and includes the undressed souvenir doll, Thursday evening welcome, Friday morning light breakfast, and Saturday evening banquet dinner. For motel and bed and breakfast info and special rates please contact me. Workshops are priced individually with workshop fees going directly to the instructors. Sign up now to reserve your space in the "Retreat", a $200.00 deposit is required. The "Retreat" is limited to 24 attendees. Please contact me (Connie) at 815-565-0024 or email landofozdolls@mchsi.com
EXCITING NEWS!!!
"Bleuette Retreat Weekend" coming in June 2013. Save these dates June 21st, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th 2013!! More details coming soon!

Have a great day!! Talk to you all soon!
Dolly Hugs! Connie
 

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Mold Moving Day and New Gift Items Available

Good evening everyone!!!  WOW, two posts in one day! I am determined to catch up on all my old news. So let's get started!

On Saturday April 7th, I was blessed with a wonderful gift from my long time friend and almost mother, Marilyn Hollenbach from the St. Louis, Mo. area. Marilyn is downsizing and moving into a smaller home and no longer had a place for her 30 plus years of doll molds. That Saturday morning, Marilyn's children, had arranged for a U-Haul truck to bring me the thousands of pounds of molds from Marilyn's basement and garage. ( No one but a true doll-maker gets excited over 4,000 pounds of plaster)!! Here are a few photos from the unloading process:


My husband Dennis, overlooking the situation.

Dennis and my daughter Stefanie, whose garage the molds went into.

Steve and Mary Beth Hollenbach after the long haul and unload.

My friend Marilyn, on left.

My granddaughter Mariah, friend Charles, and son-in-law Ken.


My friend Marilyn.


Oh my, where do we put them all?
The next question is what do we have here? All the molds will have to be cataloged and sets put together. This is like one big jigsaw puzzle that we will have to place together. But just going thru the shelves and writing down what is here is just like opening presents on Christmas morning. As I said before only a true doll-maker gets excited over thousands of pounds of plaster!
We already have a 10 x 30 ft storage unit completely full of molds for over 1800 antique reproduction and modern dolls. I know with the addition of these molds that will give us an inventory of over 2000 dolls to make! It can't get more exciting than that. I have found a couple treasures so far in just a few minutes of looking. I now have two Doll House Co. molds I didn't have before. One is for the Bruno Schmidt "Wendy" number 2033 and the other is for the Jumeau Princess 1938 Unis France 306. Both are wonderful molds from a great company that is no longer in business. Dennis has already poured these two heads for me, I can't wait to get started on them.

So did I tell you about how Marilyn and I became friends? 32 years ago when I was in the St. Louis area to do a doll show, Marilyn and I were standing in line next to each other at a booth in a ceramic show. The booth was called "Gerweck's Small World of Dolls". Guess what they sold? Yes, doll molds, I am sure the molds Marilyn purchased that day when we met, are in the piles in my daughter's garage. Those molds will be forever special, as they led me to one of the most important friendships in my life. For that I will always be grateful.
When I look back over the last 33 years that Dennis and I have been in the doll business, the friendships that we have made are so much a part of our lives, that we can't imagine our life without them.
This Saturday, April 28th is a doll show in Des Moines, Ia. at the State Fairgrounds. The show is from 9am-3pm with early buyers allowed in at 8:00am. Even after hundreds and hundreds of doll shows thru the last 33 years I am still looking forward to going and getting to visit with long time friends and customers. Then there is also the chance of finding that special item for my dolls that I have been searching for for years. You just never know this could be the show I find it at.

 I will be open the first weekend in May in conjuction with the MRVAD Art Drive. I will be open Saturday, May 5th from 10-5 and Sunday, May 6th from 10-5. Information on the MRVAD Art Drive can be found at http://www.mrvad.com/ . I will have some new seasonal doll display gift items. Some of the lines I will be carrying are Bethany Howe Designs, along with Primitives By Kathy and Victorian Trading Co.

View our fabulous doll displays of museum quality antique reproduction and modern dolls along with antique dolls in seasonal displays. Purchase a new doll wig or a pair of shoes for that favorite doll in need of a little repair.

I welcome doll clubs and groups to call for an appointment to set up a time to visit. Desserts and ice tea can be made available for group visits. If you have some time in the area I can also arrange for a stop by Ideas and Designs Antique Mall and Mad Hatter Tea Room in Mt. Carroll, which is a great source of high quality new silk and decorator fabrics.


Bethany Howe Designs

Bethany Howe Designs

Bethany Howe Designs


View of our front garden pond


My Potting Shed September of 2011


Blue Iris

Tree Peony




 While you are in the area for a visit, here are a few photos for Ideas and Designs Antique Mall, Mad Hatter Tea Room and Fabric Shop!!





Linda, the Mad Hatter




Well, I think the time has come to close this page on my blog. I look forward to telling you soon about The "Frenchette  Retreat" in August, showing you more doll photos, including my newest antique doll, more photos of my gift items and filling you in a little more on "Who is Lettie Lane"?
Until next time, Dolly Hugs!!! Connie

Happy Easter 2012 (Better Late Than Never!)

Hi Everyone, it seems like it has been such a long time since I have been able to sit down and write a blog post. Here it is over two weeks past Easter and I never got to wish you all a Happy Holiday!! So better late than never, hope you all had a great Easter! I would like to share with you some of my Easter displays. There are many things I hope to be able to write about in the next couple weeks, many happenings I would like to share with you, so let's get started.

Here is some overall views of one of my displays.






This is a little antique Bye-lo baby I bought from my friend Joann along with my "Bruette Friend".


"Cherie Limoge" Bleuette's Friend says Happy Easter!!


A beautiful antique Cuno Otto Dressel that belonged to my neighbor and long time friend Hazel. Thanks to her daughter Wendy, I am able to have this keepsake. The little antique Dream Baby, I recently acquired from my friend Joann.


Closeup of Cuno Otto Dressel


Antique Bye-lo


Antique Bye-lo


Three of my Bambino's (Bleuette's Brother) with a SFBJ 60 Bleuette Gold





Closeups of Bambino's

I hope you all enjoyed seeing some of my Easter treasures. My next display I am working on is my Patriotic Display for the 4th of July. I have several more blog posts to do shortly. A couple weeks ago, I was very fortunate to acquire a lot of doll molds from my friend, Marilyn. I also have a few announcements to make on some upcoming events and some pictures of my garden I would like to share with you.

Have a great evening and talk to you real soon!!

Dolly Hugs, Connie