2009 Hallmark Valentine

Expressions from Hallmark. Very, very cute! There were three Hallmark Valentine's Day cards last year so there could possibly be more than one for this year. I antcipate a lot of Hallmark greeting cards this year to celebrate the 70th anniversary. Thanks to Robyn Bodine!!

Glinda/Wicked Witch Christmas Stocking

I apologize for the lateness of this post, but it was impossible to get information out of Kurt Adler. If you do a Wizard of Oz Stocking search on eBay you can see a photo. The front has Glinda against a lavender background with silver stars and it says 'Are you a good witch' while the Wicked Witch is on the reverse against a darker purple background with silhouettes of her flying on her broomstick and winged monkeys and the famous quote finishes 'or a bad witch?' I'm told it's really beautiful in person. Right now it is exclusive to F.Y.E. stores, but there is a chance it could be in Adler's main line next year. Check the F.Y.E. website for store locations:
http://www.fye.com/
The stocking retails for $14.99

Thanks to the Oz-some Jennifer Kolanowski for tracking this down!

Westland January 2009

2009 figurines in dancing poses and sculptures capturing scenes from the classic film. For more info and pricing on these releases please contact Karen Owens at okstryland@aol.com or check out her website: http://www.wizardofozland.com/index.php The sculptures are named Dorothy's Escape, Yellow Brick Road, Hiding Munchkins, and Munchkin Parade. Please click on photos to enlarge.

Wicked For Good Glitter Globe

The third and final piece in the Wicked waterglobe collection. The For Good Glitter Globe features the emotional pinnacle of the musical as Glinda and Elphaba come together one final time to part ways as friends rather than enemies. $99.00 plus shipping.
http://www.wickedmerch.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=FORGOOD-GLOBE

Thanks to Jim Whitcomb for discovering this new release!!!!

70th Anniversary Plate Panorama

The Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Collection from the Bradford Exchange
4 plates $39.95 each plus shipping and custom display
Measures over two feet wide
Each plate bears a sculptural character

Edition 1 There's No Place Like Home
Edition 2 If I Only Had a Brain
Edition 3 If I Only Had a Heart
Edition 4 If I Were King of the Forest

Item no: 01-07308-001-BP

Thank you Robyn Bodine!!!

2009 Tapestry Calendar

2009 70th Anniversary Commemorative Calendar

18” w x 36” h

$29.99

Order from Karen Owens

http://www.wizardofozland.com/orderform.pdf

Be sure to check out Karen's new site for all of your holiday Oz needs.

http://www.wizardofozland.com/index.php

The Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Collection

The 70th anniversary celebration continues with a dazzling display of eclectic art by acclaimed contemporary artists carefully chosen by Warner Brothers Consumer Products. Various mediums are used to re-imagine the 1939 film's iconic characters and themes.

Artists and Pieces are:

Angelo Aversa
Dream Oz
Woodcut print drawn, carved, printed by hand using Kitakata paper from Japan and Charbonnel black and gold inks
http://www.flickr.com/photos/angeloaversa/3056126784/

Romero Britto
The Good Witch, The Wicked Witch, There’s No Place Like Home, and Dorothy of The Wizard of Oz
Acrylic on canvas

Gentle Giant Studios
Wicked Witch of the West, Winged Monkey, Glinda the Good Witch, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Cowardly Lion, and Dorothy Gale
Resin Busts

Phillip Graffham
Father Oz
Mixed Media, beads, recycled objects

Gris Grimly
Anywhere But Home

Marcus Antonius Jansen
E Pluribus Unum
Oil enamel collage on canvas

Johnny Johns
Il Magio di Oz
Acrylic paint on cotton canvas

William Joyce
Where Happy Little Bluebirds Fly, Winged Monkeys Sit Nearby
Oil on clay board

Joel Nakamura
Tin Man’s Dream
Polymer and resin on metal

Nelson De La Nuez
Ditching Dorothy
Mixed media using acrylic paints, watercolors, and oil pastels on canvas
http://popcultureart.com/page/1m7x8/Wizard_of_Oz_Fine_Art.html

Glen Orbik
Emerald Beauties
Oil on Bristol board

Ragnar
Girl From Kansas

Alex Ross
My Pretties
Gouache on Bristol board

Todd White
Bar Tales
Oil on canvas

Yakovetic
Surrender Dorothy
Oil on canvas

The art collection will premiere during the Art Basel Miami Beach art fair at Ocean Drive Magazine's Paint the Town Green gala Emerald City event December 5th. The spectacular Oz art exhibition will be on public display alongside The Ruby Slipper Collection at the Miami Children's Museum December 9 - 23.

Several artists will become licensees and their works will be sold through the artists themselves and authorized galleries. There are tentative plans for the Inspirations of Oz Fine Art Collection to tour. Select pieces will be auctioned in October 2009 benefitting the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation after a year of events commemorating the 70th annivesary of The Wizard of Oz.

R. John Wright Dolls

WOW!!!! 2009 is going to be more incredible than I thought. I've been hearing news lately of collectibles the Oz community has waited a long time for! The things always at the top of my lists are dolls. I've admired R. John Wright's felt creations for some time and always hoped for a Dorothy. Truthfully, I expected to see a Dorothy based on the book. Imagine, my shock and elation when I found this news today:

http://www.rjohnwright.com/wizardofoz.html

I will warn you, these dolls will be pricey. They are the creme de la creme of the doll world and they will be worth every cent.

Kmart Clock Info - Updated

I received an email from Kmart after emailing them about the problems customers have had locating this clock and this is the response I got:

"We apologize for the inconvenience experienced. Unfortunately, we could not find this item as well. We believe that it has been pulled for now due to unknown reasons. Please contact your local Kmart for further assistance, or to find the clock. "


I emailed the manufacturer of the clock as well and have yet to hear from them.

Some strange things going on lately. This clock gets pulled and the cancelled Uno game shows up. At least things are always interesting in the Land of Oz!

As of 11/13 Karen Owens heard from the manufacturer of the clock. They insist there has been no recall. The clock is difficult to find because it has been selling very well.

Uno Game!

After reports the Uno game had been cancelled, it's been released anyway! I heard the original company went out of business at this point I can only guess someone else picked up the games.
The Uno game can be ordered online at http://www.gogamestore.com/servlet/the-3297/Games%2C-boardgames%2C-toys%2C-games/Detail or they have been found at Target.

Thanks to Jim Whitcomb, Paula and Fred on the Everything Oz group and Pebz for the photo of the game in it's packaging.

Rick Ewigleben's New Art

Rick's newest prints of the wonderful Munchkins of Oz and our favorite cairn terrier.

Rick's Upcoming Appearances

Wizard of Oz Festival,
Friday-Sunday, November 8-10,
Hollywood Blvd Theater,
Woodridge, IL
http://www.atriptothemovies.com

Yellow Brick Road Gift Shop
Holiday Open House
Saturday, November 15
http://www.yellowbrickroadonline.com

The Wicked Witch print is 11" x 17" and costs $20.

The others are 8 1/2" x 11" and they are $5.00

You can see the Wicked Witch and Winged Monkey prints here.

http://curiozitycorner.blogspot.com/2008/10/rick-ewigleben-appearance-with-new-art.html

My blog cut off both of these beautiful pieces of art, but if you click on them you will be able to view the whole image.

Photos courtesy of Rick Ewigleben

Free Sketchbook and Denslow Glasses

Marvel comics has issued a free Wonderful Wizard of Oz Sketchbook Preview to whet appetites for it's forthcoming comic series. This series looks, well, wonderful and it's going to be a big hit. The free sketchbooks are available starting today. Call your local comic stores for details.

http://www.ugo.com/comics/wizard-of-oz-sketchbook/


Posted on the International Wizard of Oz Club Forum was this link to glasses of Denslow's Oz characters.
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&navAction=jump&id=15588569&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH+RESULTS&color=01

Quilting Treasures Fourth in Oz Series

Dorothy has arrived at Emerald City! This series is really gorgeous with amazing coloring! I've been really impressed with the line so far and these designs will be incredible in person. To see alternate coloring of some designs go to
http://www.quiltingtreasures.com/contentmgr/showdetails.php?id=5451&page=1

This fabric has a January projected release date. I believe the next in the series will be heavily focused on the Wicked Witch.

Somewhere Over the Pigsty

We’ve seen Oz mice, cats, bears, and now we have piggies. ( I love the Toto. He reminds me very much of Wallace and Gromit.) It’s from a line of cleverly adorable figurines called Piggin’. So far I’ve only been able to find them in the UK. They are priced around $104.46 in US dollars. Not a bad price considering the size which is approximately 6.30 inches tall and 7.09 inches wide. It is a limited edition of 1000.

Furry Friends From Oz Collection

These little cats from the Hamilton Collection are puuuurrfectly adorable renditions of our Oz friends from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Dorothy has been done as a cat before, but the other characters have not. Cat lovers will absolutely fall in love with this line. They are 4" tall and cost $19.95 each plus shipping. Each kitty includes a "stuffed" toy related to the character, e.g. Dorothy comes with Toto, Scarecrow a diploma, Tin Man a heart, and the Cowardly Lion carries a crown. The ad hints there could be more characters after the initial four. Order # 905916MB Thanks to Lou for the photo and info!

Tonner's Wickedly Stunning Doll

This beauty towers at 22 inches tall!! She was made for the Tonner Halloween Convention 2008, but there are a very limited number left still to purchase. But hurry before she flies away! There's only 100 and she's going fast. Ordering info below.

http://www.tonnerdirect.com/p-295-22-wicked-witch-of-the-west.aspx

Rick Ewigleben Appearance with New Art

Rick's 2008 print is his best yet. I love how Dorothy looks like a doll and how scared the Cowardly Lion is, but my favorite images are of Toto and the Winged Monkey curiously examining each other. Cute!!!

For more info on this wonderful artist please see my earlier entries. http://curiozitycorner.blogspot.com/2007/11/munchkin-walk-of-fame-print.html

http://curiozitycorner.blogspot.com/2007/09/art-of-rick-ewigleben.html


Rick will be attending the Wizard of Oz festival at Hollywood Blvd. Theater in Woodridge, IL with new prints of the Munchkins appearing November 8 - 10. http://www.atriptothemovies.com/index.php?src=events&srctype=detail&refno=20&category=Film%20Festivals%20and%20Special%20Events

If you are unable to attend you may still be able to purchase prints of your favorite Munchkins by emailing Rick at ricksart@rcn.com

Whimsie Update

It's always hard to believe when another holiday season comes upon us. Time goes by so quickly, especially when there's so much to keep track of.

In addition to new releases appearing rather frequently lately, there's add -ons to established series. Back in January I posted about new folk art ornaments designed by local Oregon artist Christy Meyers. http://curiozitycorner.blogspot.com/2008/01/wonderful-winsome-whimsies-of-oz.html

As of now 4 sets have been issued with 4 more sets on the way.

Whatever holidays you choose to celebrate, these ornaments will make your tree a little brighter.

Order here:

http://www.collectiblestoday.com/ct/product/prdid-913319.jsp?wizard+of+oz&endeca=true

Photos courtesy of the artist, Christy Meyers

Thanks to Jim Whitcomb for keeping me appraised of new releases so I can share with others.

Zara Clothing

Oz collectors have been stumbling on this photo of great new Wizard of Oz t-shirts.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/erikrasmussen/2956308540/sizes/l/

Zara clothing is a Spanish clothing company, but they do have stores in the states and Zara is now the biggest clothing chain surpassing The Gap. The Oz shirts are new for Fall and Winter 2008. Please see Zara's website to find a store near you. http://www.zara.com/#/en_GB/shops/Store%20Finder/

A New York store stated the Wizard of Oz shirts should show up in the States as well. I don't know sizes or pricing, but I'll update when I do.

Thanks to Karen Owens and Erik Rasmussen.

Bradford Exchange Emerald City Classic Tote Bag

Please click on photo to enlarge. Tote bag is 16" wide and has ruby slipper charm zipper pulls. Really beautiful tote and it perfectly matches the new charm bracelet. It's priced at $79.95, payable in four installments. Photo and info courtesy of Lou . Order number: 01-07587-001-B

Vandor Fall 2008

Karen Owens is taking pre-orders on these new releases and the limited edition cookie jar.
storylandmi@aol.com
Wicked Witch Tote “All in Good Time” VN71386 $20.49 each

Wicked Witch Mug—I’m a Witch What’s Your Excuse VN71061 $8.49 ea

Luggage Tag VN71057 $7.49 each

Cookie Jar 70th Anniversary Limited Edition of 2400 VN71141 $99.00 each

Karen Owens, Storyland Collectables14767 Westpoint, Taylor, Michigan 48180

734-287-2603 phone

734-287-4252 fax

http://www.wizardofozland.com/

Kmart Wizard of Oz Anniversary Clock - Updated

Kmart exclusive for $27.99 Please enlarge the photo for better detail. Thank you Karen Owens and Deb Dwyer!

I'm hearing that a lot of people are having trouble finding the clock. I found one today with the Christmas gift items in the jewelry/accessories section. Before when we had trouble finding Brass Key dolls we were able to contact customer service and have the dolls sent in from other stores. I'm assuming we can do the same with the clock. Write to this email address with your local store number which you should be able to look up on Kmart.com: help@customerservice.kmart.com

Tell them you can't find the Wizard of Oz Anniversary Clock. Manufactured by M.Z. Berger & Company and give them the SKU # 49353 66564. They should be able to track it down for you. Good Luck!

Bradford Exchange Wonders of Oz Collection

Mimicking a very popular folk art style, Bradford Exchange issued what was presumed to have been a series of at least 6 resin figurines, but the Scarecrow and Cowardly Lion were never produced.  Figures of the Wicked Witch of the West, Glinda the Good Witch, Dorothy and the Tin Man stand around 6 inches tall.  Figures shown below are in order of issue.

Wicked to the Core

Glittering Goodness

We're Not in Kansas Anymore

I'm a Little Rusty Yet