The Wizard of OZ Collection

How The Wizard of Oz became iconic

Letter F Frank Baum could never have imagined the reach of his beloved book, The Wizard of Oz when it was published in 1900. He was able to find a path, the yellow brick road, into our hearts and minds through his exquisite storytelling and imagination. Furthermore, ballooning into one of America’s most identifiable movies ever, versions ranging from The Wiz to Wicked to Dorothy & the Prince of Oz have developed. Popularity skyrocketed with additional books like “Ozma of Oz” and “The Emerald City of Oz” as well as children’s book adaptations. Even cultural icons such as the Muppets and Tom and Jerry took their own unique spin on the Wizard of Oz. These adaptations are akin to the Mona Lisa in that everyone desires a piece of it, wanting to make their own variation upon it. Evidencing its success is its ability to teach lessons that even people today can relate to; life lessons harbored within both novels and films remain timeless and transferable throughout generations. Who doesn’t want to go to the land of Oz to have their wish come true?

My Love for the Wizard of Oz

Growing up, I shared my bedroom with my twin sister, Claudia Elena. Our bedroom was witness to many of our creative projects and endless hours of playtime. One of the bedroom walls was royal blue and it had windows from wall to wall. The windows would welcome the sun rays into our bedroom and the light would playfully reflect everywhere. Our floor’s large yellow tiles would appear to glimmer during the brightest of days, inundating the room with a magical je-ne-sais-quoi.

As I read the Wizard of Oz stories sitting on my bed, I imagined being transported to the land of Oz. And the yellow tiles of my bedroom floor became the bricks of the yellow brick road. These memories inspired me to create the Wizard of Oz collection figurines.

Wizard of Oz Ornament - Dorothy and Toto
Scarecrow Ornament
Cowardly Lion Ornament
Tin Woodman Ornament

The Wizard of Oz Ornament Characters

The Wizard of Oz novels are full of countless charming characters. Therefore, I had a hard time selecting which characters to immortalize in these ornaments. It was a no-brainer that I had to include the four main characters. Thus, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and Tin Woodman, better known as Tin Man, were the first to make the list. Knowing the success of Wicked, the Broadway show, I could not leave out The Wicked Witch of the West character. However, this presented a dilemma for me given the existence of the other witches. Consequently, I included The Good Witch of the North and Glinda, the Good Witch of the South. For Wizard of Oz collectors, I added Winged Monkey, or Flying Monkey, since this is a highly sought character. In the years to follow, I added Toto, and The Emerald City.

For those of you who have read all the Wizard of Oz novels, you know that there is an array of characters still waiting to be included in this collection. I would like to hear which of your most cherished characters you would like to see included in this collection.

Glinda Good Witch Of The South Ornament
Flying Monkey Ornament
Wicked Witch of the West Ornament
Tin Woodman Ornament

The Wizard of Oz has countless life lessons

The timeless classic, The Wizard of Oz, has a plethora of life lessons and symbolism sprinkled throughout. I would like to look at a handful that we can easily recognize.

1. There’s No Place Like Home

Judy Garland as Dorothy helped us all to realize that there’s no place like home. A lot of times we are to believe that the grass is greener on the other side. Dorothy through herself realizes that she does not need the Wizard to send her home and that she has it inside of herself. It is okay to want to go back home to be surrounded by people who love her.

2. Follow Your Own Yellow Brick Road

Again, Dorothy teaches us that life is going to have its ups and downs but if you stick with it, you’ll find the place you were looking for. The wrath of the Wicked Witch of the West and her troops of flying monkeys stand in Dorothy’s way, but she never stops following the route to the Emerald City. You may not know exactly where it will lead, but forge your own path and follow it despite the unforeseen obstacles.

3. You Already Have What it Takes to Succeed

The Scarecrow wishes for a brain, the Tin Man wants a heart and the Cowardly Lion wants nothing more than to be brave, but these characters possess these very qualities from the start. If you look within yourself, you may be able to pull out the strength, courage, and intelligence you never knew you had.

4. Treasure The Friends You Find

Dorothy in her journey to get back home encounters the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion. She soon learns that these characters make the most loyal and caring friends who will stop at nothing to get her home. Each individual in this world has been uniquely created and holds a special charm that will bring spice to the journey of life.

5. Do Not Be Afraid to Dream in Color

A dream launches Dorothy from her black-and-white life in Kansas to a Technicolor land inhabited by Munchkins, Witches, and Wizards. Don’t stay confined by the ordinary and let your imagination wander. As Dorothy learns, an innovative mind leads to the most memorable experiences and rewards. The song, “Over the Rainbow” expresses Dorothy’s desire to want more out of life.

Audiences were able to connect with a character, be it the Scarecrow searching for a brain, the Tin Man aiming for a heart, or the Cowardly Lion requiring courage. Obviously, the tale’s primary message is that there’s no place like home.

Famous Lines from the Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz has had such a strong effect on audiences that many can recite lines from the movie. Do you have a favorite line? Could it be “You’ve always had the power, my dear, you just had to learn it yourself,” “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore,” “Lions, and tigers and bears! Oh my!,” or the famous line, “There’s no place like home”? These memorable quotes bring feelings of nostalgia when reflecting on the movie.

Wizard of Oz a popular theme for parties

Halloween costumes and party ideas that draw inspiration from the Wizard of Oz still exist to this present day! Throwing themed parties is an exhilarating and exciting means of honoring special moments and recurrent events. Christmas gatherings, birthdays, school reunions, and even weddings can be more fun with a particular theme. CELIStial Art has the perfect Wizard of Oz Collection of ornaments to serve as a reminder of nostalgia.

The Wizard of Oz theme is a very versatile choice for any party, suitable for both adults and children. You can simply pick up Dorothy’s dress in the Halloween costume section of a Halloween store. Young girls still feel the magical sensation of the red ruby slippers as they prance around in the Dorothy costume singing “Over the Rainbow”.

Keep the Wizard of Oz nostalgia alive

Commemorate a visit to the theater to enjoy Wicked. Show appreciation for a musical performance given by someone you love. Amuse everyone in your household with a sprinkle of enchantment this festive season. Don’t forget those memorable bedtime stories then shared with your kids, featuring characters made by L. Frank Baum: obtain commemorative mementos based on the characters at CELIStial Art’s Wizard of Oz ornament set. Crafted from recycled and reused supplies, Dorothy and her companions will cast an enchanting spell while you spruce up your house for the holidays.

Released on August 29, 1939, over 80 years ago, The Wizard of Oz is an iconic classic that has stood the test of time. The story has been reworked and told in different forms, yet something about it remains firm and yet enchanting.

Frequently Asked Questions about CELIStial Art products

  • How can I order customized ornaments and figurines?

    Some of our ornaments have been designed with a level of customization in mind. For example, the Bride and Groom ornaments and Wedding Cake Toppers offer a large array of customizable options. These ornaments are not readily in stock since they are hand-crafted to your specifications based on our primary design. You can do your desired customizations and let us know of any specific instructions you might have. We will contact you with any questions we might have and an estimated delivery date. Please allow plenty of time for us to create your customized keepsake. 

  • Can I supply the materials for my custom ornaments and figurines?
    Certainly! We love making ornaments from materials that have a special meaning to you. We have designed some of our ornaments to be customizable. For example, we can incorporate the leftover clippings from your wedding dress fittings, into your Bride & Groom Wedding Cake topper and Our First Christmas Together ornaments. When ordering a customizable ornament, please indicate that you will be providing some of the materials. We will contact you if we have any questions and we will let you know when we receive the material. It is then when our work will start.

  • Are the ornaments made from recycled materials?
    Yes, all ornaments are mostly made from recycled materials and repurposed materials. The most common recycled materials we used are toilet paper rolls, empty ribbon spools, empty tiny boxes usually from travel size toothpaste, caps from ChapSticks and medicine ointments, old clothing, old linens, old books, leather garments, board game pieces, puzzles, wigs, old jewelry, computer parts, electronics parts, discarded 3D printing filament, pop tabs, etc. As for repurposed materials, we find new uses for ordinary items such as wooden door knobs, wooden pegs, buttons, cocktail decorations, hors d’oeuvres picks, push pins, etc. We also use the gifts of mother nature in our ornaments. So, you will often see nuts, seeds, pinecones, buckeyes, seashells, tree bark, twigs, eggshells, etc. On occasion, I buy unique materials that are needed to enhance and accentuate the character the figurines represent. This is the case of the King Arthur collection in which swords and daggers came from artists suppliers. I usually buy new paint, polyacrylics, glues, fabric stiffener, and decoupage finish. But I also use leftover house paint.

  • Can you suggest the creation of a collection based on your favorite book?
    Any suggestions are welcome! We will indeed entertain any suggestions you might have and will let you know if we are going to pursue the idea. Of course, the theme must support our goal of creating figurines that will fuel the imagination of all young at heart. That said, we only create ornaments and figurines based on creative works that are in the public domain. And of course, we create our own make-believe characters from the well of our imagination. To know if a creative work is public domain, the best way is to google it or get the advice from legal counsel specialized in copyrights laws.

  • Do you make figurines and ornaments based on Disney, Marvel comics, etc. characters?
    Most Disney characters are under active copyrights. The same applies to the Marvel comics’ characters and the likes. So, unless the copyright of one of these characters expires, we will not be able to create figurines and ornaments depicting them. For example, Superman won’t be in the public domain until 2033. Now, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse will enter public domain on January 1st,2024.

  • How can I send you materials I think you could use for your ornaments?
    We always welcome materials from our fans. You can send us the materials to the address: 156 Webster Park Ave. Columbus, OH. Please address the package in care of Catalina Celis Reasoner. If you are in doubt whether we can use the material, just drop us a line via email describing the materials you have. If by any reason we cannot use the material, we can always find a good home for it. We often get packages in the mail from our customers, and some even bring it to us at art shows. So, we would love to push our imagination with anything you might send our way.

  • Are these ornaments and figurines only suitable for the Christmas season?
    Absolutely not. Our ornaments and figurines are suitable for many holidays. We have ornaments and figurines designed specially for Valentine’s Day, Saint Patrick’s Day, Halloween, the Fourth of July, Easter, and many more. More importantly, our ornaments and figurines are designed for collectors of all ages. So, you can display them all year around, bringing a splash of magic to your home.

  • In which ways can these figurines and ornaments be used to decorate?
    CELIStial Art figurines and ornaments are great to decorate fireplace mantels, shelves, and side tables. Most of CELIStial Art ornaments and figurines have been designed to stand on their own or to be hung, so they are extremely versatile. They are great to create magic table escapes that will be the talk of your parties and holiday gatherings. Some of the ornaments that cannot stand on their own, are perfect as dreamcatchers in front of your favorite window. And of course, they are perfect to decorate your Easter tree, Halloween tree, and Christmas tree.

  • Where can I see your work in person?
    We usually participate in two art shows in the Columbus and Dayton area. These shows are usually towards the end of year during the holiday season. The largest show is the Winterfair, in Columbus Ohio. The second show is the Christkindlmarkt at the Dayton Liderkranz Turner.

  • Can children play with these figurines?
    No, these handmade figurines and ornaments are NOT toys. Adult supervision is required when figurines and ornaments are being handled by children. This applies to products in all collections, including the Stick Puppet Ornaments Collection.

    WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD – Contain small parts. Not for children under 3 years.

  • How can I take care of my ornaments and figurines?
    If you keep your ornaments out all year round, you should dust them while you do the rest of your housekeeping. Do not let it go more than two months before dusting, otherwise the dust may get engrain in the fabric and hair, making it more difficult. If you keep them inside your curio cabinet, it is also advisable to dust them from time to time. Use a very soft and round paint brush as your duster. Preferably, a watercolor paint brush. These are usually the softest. Gently, brush off the dust starting from top to bottom. Place it back where it was and continue enjoying its charm.

    If you only display your ornaments during the holiday season, dust them as described above. You will be surprised how much dust can the ornaments collect hanging from the Christmas tree or sitting on the mantle. Whether your ornaments came on a white cardboard box or a clear plastic one, it is advisable to wrap them in tissue paper after being dusted and before placing them in their box. Store the ornaments in a dry place with little temperature fluctuations.

    Never use water or any other liquid to clean the ornaments.