by Jean D. Lotz A Non-Commercial, Educational Resource     Copyright © 1996+  Jean D. Lotz  Last Updated: 3/02/01

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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.

My 1st Basswood Hitty which I dressed as a 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 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.

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. BJ's travel doll is a special Hitty by Judy Brown. This is the Hitty that started it all for BJ!

B2 - "Sewing Hitty" living in Louisiana Jean Lotz's own Travel Doll in her very old looking dress

Allie Lotz's Hitty living in Louisiana A very modern Hitty ready for the new century!

B10 Vickie's "Hitty Lotzalove Beeten" now living in CA with her sister, "Hitty Lotzalove Eightashteen" She keeps her friend, Vickie, company while she works at her computer. B10 wearing a Lotz dress B10 wearing a dress by Ken Smith

B7 - Basswood Hitty "Lotzalove Beeseven"

A19 - White Ash Hitty "Lotzalove Ninashteen" photo by Ken Smith

My white ash dolls are NOT REFINED at all. I work hard to make them so old and ragged looking. Only people who truly love OLD, well-loved wood dolls will love these dolls. Of course I like each one of my white ash dolls for their uniqueness. They look like they have experienced every one of the many adventures that Hitty did in the storybook and have the scars to prove it.  Ken Smith said that all of the antiquities dealers in NYC who have met his collection like his very old looking Lotz White Ash doll because of it's "antiqued" wood doll charm. "Absolutely every person in the New York antiquities scene favors my Ninashteen over Beeseven...that distressed look has a really great appeal!" White ash is a very hard wood. These durable dolls will get better with age and mild wear.

Lotzalove Hitty #A17 Sevashteen is now living in CA - photos by Andrew Tabbat "Lotzalove Sevashteen" literally goes everywhere with her best friend, Andrew Tabbat

A17 - Hitty Lotzalove Sevashteen 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!

"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."

Hitty A1 now living in NYC in a fancy antique doll house

A10 "Little Lost Lotz Hitty" lost in the mail

A12 now living in CA

A8 - Allie Lotz's White Ash Hitty dressed as a fashion doll as per the little girl in the framed illustration is holding her own Lotz "Holly Nut" baby

BR7 - Region 7 Hitty photo by Jean Lotz

Region 7 Hitty  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!  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.

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

B3 - Lotz "Friends Of Hitty (FOH) Doll" This special Lotzalove Hitty was won by Barbara Jean Forman at the first HITTY CONVENTION in Williamsburg, VA in Oct 2000. Contact Friends of Hitty c/o Virginia Heyerdahl (email=VAHHitty@aol.com) for more information about FOH newletters, and future FOH events.