Storytime Latest News

June 9, 2002

Event in Canyon Country

Bob Olszewski was the feature artist at an event in Canyon Country, California June 8. He gave two presentations on his creative process.

Bob talked about Straight Till Morning, the new Peter Pan cameo. With all other cameos, one can see the same scene in one frame in the animated feature. With Straight Till Morning, Bob combined about 1 minute of movie into one cameo. It also have the perspective of looking down, like some of his other cameos. This figurine is a great piece and sold out at the Canyon Country show.

Bob talked about the lost wax method, the process used to create the silver master for production. A wax miniature is folded in plaster and heated to 1400 degrees. The wax melts and falls through a hole. The cast left behind is filled with silver. The silver master is cast.

Terry and Cheryl Sago hosted the event at their store, Friends Collectibles. They gave away Storytime cameos, took pictures of collectors by a Captain Hook and Wendy backboard, and offered sandwiches and snack. It was a fun 7-hour event.

Olszewski Nominated Artist of the Year

The National Association of Limited Edition Dealers (NALED) has nominated Bob Olszewski Artist of the Year. They also, nominated Not a Finger or a Hook (Captain Hook looking menacely at Tinkerbell) Figurine of the Year and Time to Wash (Snow White soup scene) Miniature of the Year. The winners will be announced at the NALED Banquet held at the International Collectibles Exposition June 29.

First Sold Out Cameos

It's A Pixie (Tinkerbell in Peter's hat) and Fireside Thoughts (Pooh by campfire) cameos are sold out to dealers. In May Olszewski Studios allocated the remaining pieces to dealers. When a cameo is "sold out to dealers," it means that the Studios are in out of stock. The stores may have them in stock but cannot order anymore.

The two cameos were among the first pieces released in 2000. It's A Pixie is limited to 2,500 and Fireside Thoughts limited to 1,750. The Tinkerbell piece has been particularly popular. The Pooh piece has a low edition size. This sell out is the first chance to sell how the Storytime pieces will sell on the secondary market.

Olszewski Announces New Releases for the Summer

Scarecrow Don't Talk - is the first Wizard of Oz cameo. The cameo shows the Scarecrow giving direction to Dorothy and pointing to the yellow brick row. If you look at the background, you can see the Yellow Brick Road going off into the forest. The perspective is such that you can "see" 200 yards back. Issue price is $195.

Hide and Squeak - is the new cameo from Cinderella. It shows little Gus hiding behind a teacup, and big Lucifer about to pounce on the little mouse. This Big/Small style gives the cameo magical look. Issue price is $95 and available this summer.

Going Home - is new cameo from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It shows the 7 Dwarfs marching across a log bridge. Olszewski paints shadows of the dwarfs on the log, like Walt Disney added shadows in his animated features. Issue price is $185 and release date is Summer.

Little Black Rain Cloud - is the new cameo from Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree. It shows Winnie the Pooh cover in mud. Issue price is $45 and release date is Summer.

Update on Spring Releases

The Magical Feather arrived at the stores the end of May.

Straight Till Morning is being released to dealers in early June. This elaborate figurine depicts Peter flying in the clouds with Wendy, the 2 boys, and Tinkerbell. Captain Hook's ship can be seen far below as a small speck. This is a very detail piece, including Tinkerbell hidden in the clouds and Indians dancing in their village hidden in the back. Retail price is $195.

April Shower Mouse depicts the Field Mouse under a mushroom in the rain. Retail price is $55, and release date is June.

Anytime You Whistle depicts Jiminy Cricket dancing on a large violin. Jiminy's shadow is shown on a wall in the background. There is an overall red hue to this piece. Price is $145, and release date is July.

My Hero (Lumiere saves Feather Duster) began arriving at the stores the end of May. The release of this cameo completes the Winter quarter releases.

Update on Disneyland Village

The unofficial release date of the Disneyland Village is September 21. Among the first releases with be a lighted Sleeping Beauty Castle. Bob Olszewski will be at Disneyland on the 21st to sign the new piece(s). I am looking into how collectors can purchase these pieces if they are not at the event. Stay tune!

In previous news update, I had stated that the Disneyland Village pieces will be open edition. So the attractions and figurines will be available other that the September 21st event. Estimated prices is $150 and below.

Disneyland has started selling the Storytime Collection. They originally ordered 4 stories, and the cameos sold very well. Disneyland merchandise now has ordered all 10 stories from the Collection.

International News

In Canada, more dealers are carrying the Storytime Collection. The Bambi story has been the most popular. Bob Olszewski attended a store event in Canada last month, and the event sold almost 3 times the amount the average event during the early 1990's, the peak of Olszewski Goebel era.

In Japan, Edom stores and Disney Stores are starting to stock the Storytime Collection.

Olszewski Event Schedule

News from Previous Months