2013 Nutcracker Collectors’ Club Convention – Day 1
Jul 05A huge THANK YOU goes out to Susan and Dave Otto for hosting this year’s Nutcracker Collectors’ Club convention. The festivities started at Susan and Dave’s home on Friday evening in Chesterland Ohio where we got an up close hands on tour of Susan’s fantastic collection.
I’ve known Susan for a few years and her collection has grown by leaps and bounds both in quantity and quality. Everyone was truly in awe at all the great pieces she owns. It is a fantastic collection and I am very fortunate that she sends pieces over to my studio for touch ups and/or repairs to keep her collection in tip top shape. It really does help take her collection to that next level and keep it awe inspiring.
Susan’s nutcracker collection
Susan’s daughter Erica, who is a great cook like her mother, prepared and served appetizers and food throughout the evening with help from her boyfriend Lou. The food was incredible to the extent that everyone, including my wife, was asking for recipes.
After dinner Susan’s quick witted and talented friend Chris Welken played acoustic guitar and performed songs from his clever and amusing music CD, Modest Expectations, which we all got a copy of to take home as a souvenir. Chris is very entertaining and his performance made for a delightfully fun evening.
Chris jamming out!
My wife and I had a blast. We got to catch up with friends we met 2 years ago at Mike Pickwick’s convention in Connecticut and we got to make new friends at Susan’s. I really can’t say enough about all the great people in the club! If you are interested in joining, contact Susan Otto at nutsue@roadrunner.com.
Membership costs $20 a year for domestic subscriptions and $25 a year for international ones which includes a quarterly newsletter, master list of members, and an invitation to the annual Collectors’ Club Convention. The membership fee does not cover the cost of actually attending the convention; obviously this costs extra. Word has it, the 2014 convention will be held in Roswell New Mexico. That’s exciting!
Susan talking about nutcrackers
Coming soon! – My coverage of Day 2:
- The famous Nutcracker Collectors’ Convention members’ sale and auction
- The Nutcracker Collector’s Club meeting notes
- A visit to Holden’s Arboretum
- Dinner at Dino’s
Nutcracker Collector’s Club Convention Continued…
May 28After leaving Mike and Linda’s home we attended dinner at the Golden Age of Trucking Museum. We had a fabulous dinner buffet and participated in a give and take game. Everyone that participated got to either choose a wrapped nutcracker or take one that someone else had already unwrapped….it was a good time!
The museum was a wonderful venue for the dinner. Below is the brochure for them and if you click on the picture it will take you to their web page.
After dinner we wondered through the museum and were awed by the collection of trucks, cars, signs and pedal cars. Here are some photos of what you can find in the museum..
If you are in the area stop by the museum and check out their collections. You won’t be disappointed.
Nutcracker Collector’s Club Convention
May 20Last year we joined the Nutcracker Collector’s Club. Each year they hold a convention hosted by a club member or group of club members. This year’s convention was held in Connecticut, so we packed up the Prius and hit the road.
We are fortunate to have been able to attend this year’s convention and finally meet a lot of members of the club. What a group of wonderful people! Everyone collects and has a real appreciation of the art and function of nutcrackers.
Mike and Linda hosted this year’s convention. The first night started off at their home. There we got to ogle their very beautiful collection of nutcrackers. Here are just a few photos of their collection….
Notice the horse above 🙂 Mike commissioned Brandon to create it for them……
- Mike & Linda’s Collection
Above center, in the back, is the Groden Brandon restored for Mike and Linda and also that extraordinary Griffin….
Notice the stump stands
That’s just a few of their fabulous nutcrackers. We really enjoyed seeing their collection. We had been told that Mike and Linda have a collection of high quality nutcrackers. They go for quality over quantity. It’s definitely true. They have the most beautiful collection of nutcrackers as well as many beautiful antiques throughout their charming home.
We had a fabulous time meeting Mike and Linda. Brandon has worked with him on a few projects and it was so nice to finally put a face to the emails! It is a wonderful thing that they opened their home for us to see their collection and give us the opportunity to meet them and the other members. It was an awesome experience.
Who knew? Just a few years ago Brandon was just looking for a nutcracker to buy for me for Christmas. He found the figural nutcrackers and decided to make one for me. We would have never guessed that would lead us to this. We have met the most wonderful people and learned so much. I know that many of our family members glaze over when we discuss nutcrackers and do not share our enthusiasm (to use Susan’s term they are part of the disinterested club). I would have never thought that there were all these wonderful people who all shared in their love of collecting these figural nutcrackers. What a wonderful thing it is that this club has members who open their homes and host wonderful events like this.
Check back for more on the convention!!!!