Lotz Studio Dolls

Special Lotz Hitty Dolls

Jean has created a Hitty doll that is very well loved by many Hitty collectors:

I think I have captured the charm of the book illustrations and stayed true to the doll that inspired the 1929 book. What distinguishes my Hitty doll is her soft expression. I want to get the feel of the original doll's patient, "seen everything", mysterious smile. Since my Lotz Studio Hitty dolls are hand carved and hand painted each are slightly different.

My White Ash Hitty dolls are distressed to look like they have been through ALL of the adventures in the Hitty book and they are ready for more. I have made them to look like VERY OLD wooden dolls that have been and are very well loved - "Lotzalove". Those people who love antique dolls are most attracted to my White Ash Hitty dolls while others like the more refined look of my basswood Hitty dolls.

My Hitty dolls have been nicknamed "Lotzalove Hitty" by my many Hitty collector friends.

Many of my Lotz Studio Hitty dolls have developed their own unique personalities from their collectors. And some are becoming quite famous!

This page is dedicated to Lotz Hitty dolls with a lot of personality.

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Special Lotz Basswood Hitty Dolls

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The Lotz Hitty Bride

This basswood Hitty was shown at the UFDC national convention in Anaheim 7/97 in the competitive exhibit in the "Hitty category". Hitty #B1, the first Hitty I ever sold, was a special doll completely dressed in antique lace by Jean Lotz.

Note: This doll is NOT for sale! This special doll was a lot of work, but I am particularly proud of how it turned out. The owner provided a box full of fabulous antique material and lace for me to use for this dress. The laces were inspirational in designing this very special one-of-a-kind Hitty wedding dress. I enjoyed sewing with this fine lace and working from Dorothy Lathrop's illustration - but I was scared stiff to make a single cut! Sewing this tiny dress was a very nerve wrecking project.

The dress is completely removable, but the owner says that she will never undress this doll. It is closed in the back with tiny seed pearls and the button holes are appropriately tiny. They were hand stitched over a small needle hole in the fabric. She has a dove embroidered on her chest and a French knot of blue on her inner waist band as in the story line. I embroidered the antique lace veil up the sides to incorporate its embroidered lace edging. All roses were hand made of cotton organdy with silk ribbon leaves, and seed pearl centers. I made all accessories including the hoops for the hoop shirt.

See the book illustration of Hitty as a bride

Barbra-Jean told me:

Your Hitty is under her dome in dining room where I can see her all the time. It is an antique dome so it is just right.

If it weren't for BJ, I probably wouldn't be selling my Hitty dolls. I originally only wanted to make a few Hitty dolls just for my family and a very special friend. Thanks for your encouragement BJ.

BJ readily admits to suffering from "Hitty Mania", a fun condition where collectors thoroughly enjoy their Hitty dolls. Hitty mania usually starts when someone choses a Hitty doll to be their own personal travel doll then go on to collect quite a few other Hitty dolls.

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Lotz Basswood Hitty Dressed as a PINCUSHION

According to the book, Hitty spends a short time dressed as a pincusion. This outfit is NOT illustrated in the book but simply described as made from kelly green silk. I made a very few pincushion outfits, each were a bit different. This particular doll is owned by BJ Male. This photo was printed in the 2004 book, Contemporary Doll Artists and Their Dolls, by Kathy Witt.

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Special Lotz White Ash Hitty Dolls

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Andrew Tabbat's White Ash Hitty
"Lotzalove Sevashteen" (A17)

"Lotzalove Sevashteen" literally goes everywhere with her best friend, Andrew Tabbat. Sevashteen is now living in CA - photos by Andrew Tabbat

Andrew Tabbat's Hitty, Sevashteen Dressed to Honor Raggedy Ann's 84th Birthday in 1999 (Raggedy Ann was patented Sept, 1915) White Ash Hitty Doll by Jean Lotz Dressed as Raggedy Ann by Ruth Brown a very special ODACA artist collaboration!

The photo of Andrew with Hitty riding along on his hat reminds me of a 1853 illustration (see "THE ULTIMATE DOLL BOOK"- Caroline Goodfellow page 11) showing a man with his lucky wooden doll tucked in the band of is top hat. The caption reads:

"LUCKY MASCOT - Small wooden dolls were once peddled at the Derby - a classic fixture of the English racing season - and worn in the hatband for good luck. Sir John Everett Millais's pen and ink drawing of 1853 pokes fun at a couple's dispair after losing a bet."

NOTE: I have no idea how to get permission to post this particular illustration so I'll have to draw something up myself.

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THE LOTZ STUDIO "FRIENDS OF HITTY DOLL"

B3 The Lotz "FOH Hitty" she also has a dress handmade by Jean Lotz

B3 - Lotz "Friends Of Hitty (FOH) Doll" This special Lotz Hitty was donated to FOH in 1997. She travelled around the country with Virginia Heyerdahl to promote Hitty and FOH until she was won by Barbara Jean Forman at the first HITTY CONVENTION in Williamsburg, VA in Oct 2000. Any money collected by this Lotz Hitty was then given to the Stockbridge Library for the preservation of the original Hitty doll which is in their collection. NOTE: By looking closely at the photo, I can tell that her legs and arm pegs were broken while in the care of FOH. The arms and legs should be locked together to lift in tandem as described in the book. Contact Friends of Hitty c/o Virginia Heyerdahl (email=VAHHitty@aol.com) for more information about FOH newletters, and future FOH events.

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THE UFDC REGION 7 HITTY

Region 7 Hitty - part of the UFDC-R7 Travelling Doll Exhibit

On 9/17/1997, this special Lotz Studio Hitty doll was sent on its way to become a part of a very special story book doll exhibit - The UFDC-R7 Traveling Doll Exhibit. This traveling exhibit showcases misc. dolls with their accompanying story books. This Hitty will travel with the UFDC-R7 Traveling Doll Exhibit along with a Hitty book to clubs within Region 7 of the UFDC and can be loaned to libraries and schools throughout region 7. The intention of this exhibit was to encourage reading.

Please contact the current R7 Regional Director for information about borrowing this special story book exhibit. Check the UFDC web site ( www.ufdc.org ) to get the contact information for the current Regional Director of Region 7.

This Hitty is different from all other LOTZ STUDIO Hitty dolls! 

NOTE: This Hitty is not signed by the artist. It is marked "UFDC-R7". She is NOT carved with as much detail as my other Hitty dolls. She has a simply painted / not carved mouth and simple chemise.