Wizard of Oz Glass Recall

The Associated Press and many other news outlets are reporting a recall of Vandor glasses which include The Wizard of Oz sets due to high lead content. Federal regulators have determined the Wizard of Oz glasses, because they feature characters attractive to children, are, therefore, children's products. Even though they are made of glass and Vandor markets them to adults. Here's the link:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gPrYRi69oFIvupUAti1QK0q7S1Xw?docId=3276b60e0c4e46a99f7788c6cee25b08

More Christmoz Cheer at F.Y.E.

In addition to the Glinda/Wicked Witch blanket (scroll down to see and for F.Y.E. store locator), F.Y.E. has a double sided Glinda/Wicked Witch Santa hat! Also a new Ruby Slipper/Emerald City light set and a Ruby Slipper with striped legs and Oz logo Christmas stocking. Info and pics courtesy Louis Berrillo.

The Boyds Are Back in Town!!

Emerald City Treasure Box
5 pc. set includes box, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and Tin man figurines
Edition of 4000
5.875"H x 3.25"W x 4" L
Priced around $40.00

Thanks to Louis Berrillo for the heads up!

Tonner Late Fall Intros

One thing I do love about the Tonner Doll Company, they so enjoy the element of surprise. With only one introduction earlier this year, I thought things would be slow. And then came fall..... Tonner gave us magnificent re-interpretations of the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. Now the Wicked Witch and Glinda have been added to the Tiny Betsy Collection. Priced at $99.99 each. http://www.tonnerdoll.com/wizofoz.htm#2010





Tonner Doll Company's Oz collection more often than not are more beautiful in person than the prototype photos can show. Dorothy Betsy prototype compared to actual doll. My photos do not do this doll justice. She's simply adorable in person. I have no doubts the witches will be equally outstanding.

Kmart Update and FYE Throw

Four Kmart watches for $19.99 each. Packaged in nice display boxes. Located in jewelry and accessories department. Check carefully. All the watches are not in one place.




4 Oz watches in all. Dorothy with ruby slipper charm originally sold through Avon 2007, Emerald City originally sold through Avon 2008, Glinda/Wicked Witch originally sold through Avon 2009, and Wicked Witch with flying monkey charm Kmart 2010.

Kmart anniversary clock now available online:
http://www.kmart.com/shc/s/p_10151_10104_026W025007740001P?prdNo=14&blockNo=14&blockType=G14

Beautiful Glinda and Wicked Witch throw arriving at FYE stores now for $19.99. The past two years FYE has also carried Wizard of Oz Christmas stockings so keep an eye out for those! store locator
Thanks to Lisa Valenti and Lou Berrillo for the info and photo.

Ozzy Miscy.

I came across a cute couple of things that I thought Oz fans might be interested in and the new Kmart clock. Please excuse the poor quality pictures. Still learning to use the digital camera and my phone camera isn't great, but it serves it's purpose when I need it. I have several miscellaneous updates I want to make and hopefully new announcements for 2011. Stay tuned!


Kmart Anniversary Clock for 2010. Priced at $29.99. Last year's style with very subtle differences is also still available.




Wicked Witch Piggy Bank 50% off Halloween sale at Target, now $4.99. Not an Oz item per se but she reminded me so much of the Oz witch, I had to have her to stash my Oz savings in!








Cake stand at Home Goods for $19.99 Very cute! This could also show up at TJ Maxx or Marshalls, but Home Goods gets the nicer decor so it might only be available there.

Schylling Tea Sets 2011

13 piece porcelain tea set. Ages 8 and up. Retail around $14.99




15 piece Musical Tin set is for ages 3 & up. Wind up the bottom of the tea pot then tip over to hear We're Off to See the Wizard! Retail around $24.99.



How cute are these!?! Coming early next year with more toys to follow. I'll have pictures of the packaging coming soon. Please enlarge photos for detail.

Warner Brothers Parenting Magazine Contest & New Kids Site

Warner Brothers, Parenting Magazine, and Rubies Costumes have teamed up to launch WB’s new Wizard of Oz kids website.
http://www.kidswb.com/wizard-of-oz/ The site’s target audience are kids aged 2 – 11, but kids at heart are welcome too. The site will have games, activities, and downloads. The new characters are adorable and let’s hope we’ll see them on some product!

Speaking of product, Rubies is branching into Oz décor. This year they have indoor/outdoor legs with feet. They are plastic and measure 18” long.



And the poor Wicked Witch has misjudged her flight plan! The Wicked Witch Flying Into Tree measures 28” high by 24” wide.


Rubies has more items currently unavailable but expected soon such as a Yellow Brick Road floor mat and a Haunted Forest sign measuring 23” high by 27” wide. Keep an eye on Rubies' site for more information.

Parenting magazine and Warner Brothers are having a Wizard of Oz Photo Contest. Details and rules can be found here. The Grand Prize winner will get a trip for a family of four to Hollywood, CA, a VIP studio tour of Warner Brothers, a professional family photo shoot, a private screening of The Wizard of Oz 4-D experience, and Wizard of Oz merchandise. The winners will be announced in December and featured in an upcoming issue of Parenting magazine. Parenting magazine had a beautiful two page spread in the October issue.


Entrants can also win a 48-piece role play dress-up trunk from Rubie’s Costume.

Good Luck everyone!!

Halloween is only 10 days away! Be sure to check out Rubies Costumes for your Oz Halloween needs!


Please enlarge photos for better detail.

New Thomas Kinkade Display Options and Gallery Event

One of the best things about Thomas Kinkade is the variety offered to suit many display styles. For those that want a more contemporary look or if you choose to focus on a particular character, there are now vertical vignettes which can be purchased as a set or separately. Another modern look can be found with the canvas wrap. See the various editions of Dorothy Discovers the Emerald City here.


When a highly anticipated piece is introduced galleries are encouraged to host events introducing the new art to collectors and the general public. The Thomas Kinkade Gallery in Fort Worth, Texas, managed by Laura Kinkade, had a ball celebrating the first release in the Wizard of Oz collection. At least 150 attendees were on hand to view and purchase Dorothy Discovers the Emerald City. Laura and staff really put their hearts and imaginations into promoting Oz.

Guests walked through an archway of rainbow colored balloons and followed the yellow brick road straight to the painting.


The yellow brick road was made of very durable yellow duct tape. A life size standee of the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Cowardly Lion greeted visitors for a photo op.


A pair of ruby slippers on striped stocking feet stuck out from under a cabinet. Laura made the ruby slippers by painting an old pair of shoes red, coating them in spray adhesive, and then applying red glitter. Menacing flying monkeys flew above the painting.


A crystal ball was on display surrounded by tantalizing treats. Laura and staff donned Oz attire and they were pleasantly surprised when a frequent customer came dressed in full Cowardly Lion regalia. The Cowardly Lion handed out heart shaped lollipops to children in attendance.


Another Gallery regular brought her own little Dorothy.


Laura also displayed her culinary skills with an array of Oz inspired sweets. She made cookie lollipops shaped like candy lollipops & Glinda’s wand and ruby slipper cookies. She made three varieties of cupcakes. The yellow brick road was made of fondant and decorated with store bought sugar flowers. The beautiful poppies were made of gum paste and the character cupcakes were iced and the edges rolled in colored sugar. The witch hat’s were made with store bought cookies and Hershey’s kisses. Small lemon cakes from Costco were topped with ruby slipper book markers. The rainbow fruit tray was made up of raspberries, cantaloupe, pineapple, green grapes, blueberries, and black grapes. Lastly, Laura found a recipe for Ruby Red punch. Vodka is, of course, optional. All great ideas to adapt for any Oz themed party or event.




Every attendee was given a door prize such as heart shaped tins with candy, hot air balloon day planners, Wizard of Oz books, and chocolate ruby slippers wrapped in red foil made by Laura. The door prizes were mixed with gifts from the Gallery.


Guests could choose a poppy with a color coded stem from a basket. The stem color determined the prizes which were divided into three categories. Green stem: Sorry, you’ve been captured by flying monkeys, but we have this gift to make you feel better.
Black stem: You’ve fallen asleep in the poppy fields, we’re hoping this prize will wake you up! Red stem: Congratulations! The Wizard will see you now because you’ve won the grand prize! Great care was taken to ensure no guest left empty handed. And of course, no Oz event would ever be complete without a continual loop of the film to add to the ozzy ambiance.

Thank you Thomas Kinkade Galleries for the warm welcome to Oz! Please see the Thomas Kinkade Gallery locator to learn more about events near you.

Photos courtesy of Laura Kinkade
Thomas Kinkade Gallery
302 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
817-335-1140 Toll Free: 800-336-0344
Fax: 817-335-1139
tksundancesquare@kinkade.com

Please enlarge photos for detail.

Wizard of Oz Plate Collection

Each issue $44.99 plus $8.99 shipping
http://www.bradfordexchange.com/products/902619_.html

29th Indiana Wizard of Oz Festival

Many a moon has waxed and waned since I've been to the festival, but judging from others' experiences the fun has never changed. Lots of ozzy activities to choose from and so many craft and food booths down the main streets to browse. One of my very favorite festival souvenirs is a clay Dorothy ornament made by Finegan and O'Brien Ltd. In recent years they have made Winkie Guards, flying monkeys, and Elphaba & Glinda from Wicked.



One of the highlights of the fest is the Collectors' Exchange and Auction. Lots of happy Oz folks coming out from that event. People have made some amazing finds there and sometimes bidding can get a little fierce yet good natured. There's an outstanding list of donors this year: San Francisco Music Box, Tarina Tarantino, Vandor, Warner Brothers, Lenox, Mattel, Hallmark, Madame Alexander, Wilde Imagination, Accutime, Northwest, Ata-Boy, Film Cels Ltd, Fundex, John the Egg Man, the International Wizard of Oz Club, Goodreau Dolls, Wendy Gell, the Everything Oz Club, Storyland Collectables, Dianne Breitenstein, Andrea & Harris Yussman, Paul Wagner, Barb Huddleson and Debbi Dwyer. Munchkin donations from Margaret Pellegrini, Karl Slover, Myrna Swensen on behalf of husband Clarence Swensen, Mary Ellen St. Aubin on behalf of husband Parnell St. Aubin, and Meinhardt Raabe donation by friend and caregiver Cindy Bosnyak.

Photos below are examples of what you may find at the Auction:












Festival Celebrities will attend the Exchange/Auction. A great time to catch everyone in one place! Rick Ewigleben will have his whimsical Oz art. A new piece will debut at the Festival opening ceremonies Friday evening. Shown below is his charming art of Judy Garland and her stand-in Caren Marsh-Doll. Caren has written two autobiographies that are absolutely fascinating. To learn more about Caren please see http://www.facebook.com/pages/Caren-Marsh-Doll/259399637720 and to see more of Rick's Oz art please see http://www.ricksartstudio.com/




Michael Siewert will be there with a display of some of the ultimate movie memorabilia, costumes worn by Judy Garland.
http://judygarland.com/

The Everything Oz Club really takes part in everything Oz! Last year they took home an award from the parade and they regularly donate to the Auction and volunteer wherever needed. They are a lively bunch and they have their own festival within a festival. http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/everythingoz/ A very special guest will be at the International Oz Club booth #23 near the corner of Broadway and Calumet. Kimberly Perata from the Thomas Kinkade Gallery of Napa Valley will be on hand with Thomas Kinkade's gorgeous new art Dorothy Discovers the Emerald City. Please see the next post for more info and scroll down to read my Thomas Kinkade posts. Now to wait for all of the after fest commentary so I can live vicariously......

http://www.ozfestivalchesterton.com/#