WELCOME!!!! My name is Connie Zink and I have been making and teaching porcelain antique reproduction and modern dolls for 44 years. I have a Master and Grand Master title through The Doll Artisan Guild and also a proud recipient of the “Millie” award in 1997. I spent 35 years traveling to doll shows and teaching seminars all over the country. I no longer travel, instead I do everything online, through my website, Land of Oz Dolls Facebook page, Instagram, or my eBay and Etsy store. All courses listed here are taught strictly online now. I offer these courses hosted on private Facebook groups. (You do have to be a Facebook member in order for me to include you into a private classroom). I have a separate group for each ongoing course classroom. I currently have fourteen courses available.
Included is Course 12 Bru Costuming Class With Pam Willits but you do need to contact Pam Willits directly to register for the costuming course. Pam’s email address is ptwillie1978@msn.com for further information.
Thirteen courses no longer have weekly “Live” classes occurring in them. However, the complete class materials and all videos that were used doing the course are available in each individual classroom. They are past courses that have already taken place. Each course takes you from start to finish on the particular course subject. You can watch me prepare the greenware, clean the softfire greenware, cut eyes, and I walk you through each step of the painting process of the complete dolls. In many of the courses I have also taught how to fire your kiln, string the bodies, set eyes and hooks and numerous other steps along the way.
CONTACT CONNIE at landofozdolls@gmail.com with further questions!
My Newest Course starts Wednesday night November 2, 2022 and will be the wonderfully unique 19″ A. Marque. Study the interesting history and join me on my journey from start to finish of this fabulous one of a kind doll.
Once you have completed purchase please email me at landofozdolls@gmail.com so I can get you added to the classroom. Remember we also have to be friends on Facebook in order for me to put you in private classroom so will need your Facebook name. Thanks! Connie Zink
A Marque Doll Course $50.00
My last Course 13 was “A Bevy of Gorgeous German Lady Dolls” it started Monday, February 7th 2022 7:30 PM CST. In this sixteen week course I demonstrated for you how to cut the eyes, carve teeth, clean soft-fired greenware, tips for firing to bisque, and demonstrate all aspects of china painting gorgeous German Lady dolls. I painted “Live” every step of the painting process from start to finish including assembling the doll on a CompoBell body. Dolls included in this course that I will be working on are the beautiful S & H 1159 (4 sizes), iconic Kestner Gibson Girl, S & H 152 with beautiful painted eyes, Kestner 162, and the S & H 1388. I am still working on finishing up this class with some of the smaller German ladies but “Live” classes are complete. I will be showing step by step photos of the painting process of Odalie and Margret in the upcoming days. Once you have completed purchase please email me at landofozdolls@gmail.com so I can get you added to the classroom. Thanks! Connie Zink
German Lady Doll Course $50.00
Course 10 and Course 11 are now complete and available as a Past Course
Course 10 “Bru Fest” (Antique Reproduction) First “Live” Introductory Class started Monday, September 27th at 7:30 PM CT. All classes and videos are recorded and in the classroom to watch at your convenience, you do not have to be present at specified times. When you purchase a classroom, access to all the classes and materials are available to you indefinitely even after the “Live” course ends. This course will last approximately 10 to 12 weeks with a new class coming out every week. Do not feel you have to keep up with classes, you can watch them at your convenience. This Bru Course will be concentrating on some of the Bru Bebes I did not cover in Course 1. I will be doing Bru 4, 5, and 6. These Brus will have shoulder plate, and arms. I will NOT be teaching the sewing of cloth or leather bodies. I will be starting with many heads, in many sizes, in the greenware stage and showing preparation for soft-firing including eye cutting, soft-fire greenware cleaning, bisque firing, washes, and all the paint firings step by step for the completed painted head. I will show setting eyes, cleaning a composition body poured from CompoBell and stringing the composition doll body. Some of the other Bru Bebes I will be painting is a Bru 8, 11, and13 among others. Cost for this Course is only $50.00 and gives you excellent resources to learn to paint by.
When signing up for this course there is also a companion CD Workbook available for students at a reduced cost of $35.00 (regularly $45.00). This gives you complete step by step written directions and full color photos to help you follow along with the video class sessions which is a huge help when first starting on your doll-making journey. It can be purchased as a download to save shipping for everyone including international students. Message me if interested in purchasing the extra download workbook. landofozdolls@gmail.com
Course 11 ” A Gathering of SFBJ’s”! This new course will be covering some of the wonderful dolls in the SFBJ series including 238, 247, 251, 252, and 301 “Rosette” Bleuettes older sister. These are all charming children dolls with endearing faces and so much personality!!!
First “Live” Introductory Class starts Wednesday, September 29th at 7:30 PM CT. All classes and videos are recorded and in the classroom to watch at your convenience, you do not have to be present at specified times. When you purchase a classroom, access to all the classes and materials are available to you indefinitely even after the “Live” course ends. This course will last approximately 8 to 10 weeks with a new class coming out every week. Do not feel you have to keep up with classes, you can watch them at your convenience.
I will be starting with many heads in the greenware stage and showing preparation for soft-firing including eye cutting and one head will have a cut out mouth with inset tongue. Soft-fire greenware cleaning, bisque firing, washes, and all the paint firings step by step for the completed painted head will be included. I will show setting eyes with upper mohair lashes, cleaning a composition body poured from CompoBell and stringing the composition doll body.
Purchase these two Courses below!!!
Bru Fest Course $50.00
Bru Fest Course plus CD Workbook Download $85.00
A Gathering of SFBJ Course $50.00
Past Courses Available Now Include:
Course 1 Bru’s (Antique Reproduction) 26 Videos (There are actually TWO COMPLETE CLASSROOM SESSIONS ON THE BRUS) “Creating the Perfect Bru”. Learn to paint beautiful Bru Bebe’s one of the most popular and expensive antique dolls. The exquisite Bru 13 and Bru 14 are the main samples I am painting on in this course. When signing up for this course there is also a companion CD Workbook available for students at a reduced cost of $35.00 (regularly $45.00). This gives you complete step by step written directions and full color photos to help you follow along with the video class sessions which is a huge help when first starting on your doll-making journey.
Course 2 Jumeau’s (Antique Reproductions) 10 Videos (This course covers the gorgeous Tete Jumeau one of the most highly coveted Jumeaus). Also a CD Workbook is available for this course at a reduced rate of $35.00. Includes complete written directions and full step by step color photos.
Course 3 Steiner’s (Antique Reproductions) 18 Videos (Multiple Steiners were covered in this course including the “A’, “C”, “G”, and “B” series. A very in-depth look into the interesting world of Steiners.
Course 4 Googly’s (Antique Reproductions) 26 Videos (If you are a new doll maker I highly recommend taking this course first as it really delves into the basics of porcelain doll making and covers many types of Googly’s, a very good beginning doll.) We go over Googly’s manufactured from many companies including Kestner, Armand Marseilles, Max Handwerck, and Heubach.
Course 5 Lady Dolls (Antique Reproductions) 15 Videos (In this course my main painting sample is the 3 ft. Lady Grace. However also included in the course is details on a large and small FG, “Lilianne Portrait Jumeau”, Dollspart Doleac, and the Dollspart Huret.
Course 6 In-Depth Modern Doll Eye Painting (Blue Eyes- Straight Forward Glance) 11 Videos (It is highly recommended to take this class first to get the basics before going on to other colors). I also have a CD Workbook for the blue-eyed class at the reduced rate for students of $35.00. This CD Workbook would be extremely beneficial in helping you to learn this highly detailed technique.
Course 7 In-Depth Modern Doll Eye Painting (Brown Eyes) 10 videos (The brown-eyed technique is very different from the blue but taking the blue-eyed course first is very important in order to build start building your skill level.)
Course 8 In-Depth Modern Doll Painting (Green Eyes-Upward Glance) 10 videos ( The green-eyed course also should only be taken after completing the blue-eyed course and learning the basics.) In-Depth Modern Eye Painting is a very detailed complex art which will produce life-like human eyes.
Course 9 Bleuettes
This course is on the beloved antique reproduction dolls called “BLEUETTES”!!!! 16 Videos The series will include the Premier Jumeau Bleuette, Bleuette “Silver” SFBJ 301, and Bleuette “Gold” SFBJ 60. I will be making all three of these Bleuettes from start to finish including cutting eyes, carving teeth, cleaning soft-fire greenware, firing to bisque, all painting steps, setting eyes, and assembling heads on the bodies, applying pates and wigs. It includes the weekly “Live” classes that were recorded along with all the pre-recorded videos. The cost for the entire “Bleuette” course is $50.00. (Does not include supplies for you to make the dolls) Supplies may be purchased separately through me.
All Classrooms are available for purchase anytime for $50.00 per classroom. (Remember classrooms are currently only available through Facebook at this time but do hope to remedy that soon and also provide another classroom access.) This gives you access to all course materials, photos, and videos inside that classroom for however long you want to remain in the classroom. These courses are an exceptional value. The information provided in each classroom would cost hundred’s of dollars in a personal seminar situation. Learn at your own speed, no traveling expenses, learn the art of porcelain doll making in the convenience of your own home.
CD Workbooks for the Bru, Jumeau, and Blue-Eyed In-Depth Eye Painting Courses can be purchased as a download with no shipping fees which is especially great for International students. However you can purchase the CD’s for an $8.00 shipping charge with multiple CD’s being shipped together for the one shipping charge.
Sorry if you are not a Facebook user, the courses cannot be utilized by you at this time. Thanks! Connie Zink
PURCHASE YOUR COURSES HERE!
Bleuette Course $50.00
Bru Course $50.00
Jumeau Course $50.00
Steiner Course $50.00
Googly Course $50.00
Lady Doll Course $50.00
Blue-Eyed Course $50.00
Brown-Eyed Course $50.00
Green-Eyed Course $50.00
I am currently partaking in Course 10: Bru Fest & want to say that these classes are outstanding. Connie reaches out & really connects with her students, allowing us to ask numerous questions which she always answers with clarity. Connie’s tips are invaluable & her workmanship is amazing.
Connie has also begun online Sewing Classes in collaboration with Pam Willits. These lessons are not edited which makes them even better as we can see exactly how each step is accomplished – with the added highlights of Gideon’s antics – Gideon is Connie’s dog, a truly fun loving character.
I have also been fortunate enough to purchase a little Bru 4 created from scratch in Connie’s studio. All aspects of this doll are perfection, the Bru 4 is so charming & very angelic, a masterpiece of painting.
I encourage doll makers to take the step & learn with Connie online, you will enjoy each class & build on your confidence. Every aspect of doll making is discussed, including how to clean composition. Loving every minute, thank you Connie.
From Kyran
Kyran, thank you so much for your feedback on the online courses. You are a true joy to have in class and look forward to seeing you in class every week. Thanks again and see you soon!!!! Connie
Is there a way to get the first fired porcelain head?
Hi Nancy, yes I sell blank bisque heads ready to paint on. Please contact me at landofozdolls@gmail.com. Thanks, Connie Zink