2010 Madame Alexander Dolls

This year Madame Alexander Dolls got a bit of a late start debuting their 2010 Collection of Dolls, but it was worth the wait for sure.

Jason Wu, renowned designer, has worked with the designers at the Alexander Doll Company to create some very elaborate 21-inch Cissy dolls. There are a total of 8 Cissy dolls this year. If you are interested in any of these dolls, please let us know and we will special order them for you.

Some of the other collections being debuted in 2010 are as follows:
1. 70th Anniversary Tribute to the American Ballet Theatre
2. American Spirit Collection (includes a much desired American Indian)
3. 95th Anniversary Tribute to Johnny Guelle who created Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy (Marcella Loves Raggedy Ann is pictured left).
Additionally, there will be a hand carved wooden Raggedy Ann doll this year that comes from a limited edition of only 150 pieces.
4. Peanuts 60th Anniversary Collection to include cloth dolls Lucy, Charlie Brown and Linus
5. Introduction of Angelina Ballerina, star of the CGI series
6. Ramona and Beezus Collection, based on the best-selling books by Beverly Cleary

And, of course, many more wonderful dolls will be introduced to the ever popular Madame Alexander collections such as International Dolls, Americana dolls, Sleeping Beauty, Radio City Music Hall Rockettes, History of Fashion dolls, and Madeline dolls, to name just a few.

We promise to get these dolls available on the site as soon as we receive them. As is always the case with our Madame Alexander doll inventory, certain dolls will be shipped to us each month.

Quote of the Day - "The one thing we never get enough of is love. And the one thing we never give enough of is love." - Henry Miller

Coming Soon - Maggie Made Dolls

We are extremely pleased to announce that this year we are becoming an authorized retailer of "Maggie Made Dolls".

There is an excellent article within this month's DOLLS magazine detailing how Maggie Iacono came up with the inspiration for this year's collection. Maggie, and her husband, Tony, are both incredibly nice and quite approachable people.

Taken from the Maggie Made Dolls website, this verbiage aptly sums up Maggie's work: "Maggie Iacono has created the only collectible, pressed wool felt doll that is completely poseable using her own unique ball jointing system. Each doll is crafted by hand creating small, limited editions that are truly unique and valued by collectors around the world."

The year 2010 brings 4 incredible doll sets from Maggie Iacono. These include:

1. Best Friends (an adorable brown-haired 16 inch beauty holding her best friend measuring 4 inches tall), Comes from a limited edition of only 60 pieces
2. Painting the Roses Red (Alice is a long-haired blonde standing 16 inches tall with her two poseable 7-inch card friends), Comes from a limited edition of only 60 pieces
3. Satine (Satine stands 16 inches wears an incredible dress adorned with handmade silk and felt roses), Comes from a limited edition of only 60 pieces
4. The Toy Cottage (This masterpiece set is comprised of a 16-inch blue-eyed blonde girl, two four inch playfriends, a primarily wood toy cottage, and set of hand painted table and chairs.), Comes from a limited edition of only 40 pieces

Quote of the Day - "All life is just a progression toward, and then a recession from, one phrase - 'I Love You'." - F. Scott Fitzgerald

New Boyds 2010 Bear of the Month Bears

Boyds Bears has introduced two different collections of their Boyds Bear of the Month bears in 2010. We have already received in the 2010 Gembeary Bear of the Month Collection and these are all 8 inches tall.

Better late than never it seems as we received in the first three 12-inch Boyds Bear of the Month bears today to include the January bear. (She is pictured at left by the way).

These include:

- January - Katerina Winterbeary
- February - Valerie Bloominlove
- March - Pattie McBearsley

Each comes from a limited edition of 3000 bears and each has the special hand-numbered sash on their bear paw. And, of course, they are limited to Boyds PAW Dealers.

Quote of the Day - "A man sees in the world what he carries in his heart." - Johann Wolfgang Goethe

Boyds Bears Special Occasions Easter Collection

The Boyds Bears Easter Collection comprised of both plush and resin pieces has arrived already and is in stock.

This Easter Collection for 2010 includes 2 plush pieces - a white rabbit named Piper P. Springfield and a tan bear named Heddie T Springfield. Two Boyds Bearstone pieces include Mille T. Bearsley with Bessie, Bunny, and Lil Mops. . . Nice to Meet Ya! and Benny Bearybun with Flops, Mops and Hank. . . One of the Gang. And last but not least there is an adorable Boyds Treasure Box included in this special collection named Aunt Bunny's Eggcellent Abode with Flopsy McNibble.

Easter falls on April 4th this year. Any of these new Boyds Bears pieces are great for either Easter decorating or for putting in that special Easter basket.

Quote of the Day - "Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do." - Emmanuel Swedenborg

So Adorably Cute - Snowbunnies by Department 56

We received in late yesterday our first shipment of Snowbunnies by Snowbabies by Department 56. This is the first time we have actually seen these adorable bisque figurines in person, and they are absolutely adorable!

We now carry all of the currently available Snowbunnies and have created a new sub-category on the site within the Snowbabies by Department 56 category called "Snowbabies Easter Snowbunnies".

These are such a welcome and refreshing sight after enduring such a long and arduous winter. Perfect to display for the Easter holiday or anytime you feel like a burst of Spring!

Quote of the Day - "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Steiff Bears - Gloria, the Springtime Bunny (EAN 681578)

Wouldn't it be great if Spring was right around the corner? So many parts of the US have been pounded by chilly, wintry weather. And, unfortunately, we have many more weeks of Winter to endure. In fact, 8 and a half weeks remain. . .

So, it looks like it is about time to start daydreaming about Spring and what it has to offer. Easter is a wonderful time of the year with its wonderful pastel colors and flowers. Steiff Bears has created a very special springtime bunny for 2010 that exemplifies this incredible Spring feeling of rebirth and rejuvenation.

Gloria, the Springtime Bunny (EAN 681578) is an 8 inch bunny made from colorful apricot mohair. Gloria as described by Steiff is as follows: "Number four in the best-selling series of festively colored Easter rabbits from Steiff North America, Gloria is a masterwork of Steiff artistry. In her paws, she holds a unique and colorful needle-felted egg. Sewn from gorgeous apricot mohair, you'll want to make Gloria part of your Springtime celebrations, and proudly display her year-round!"

We hope to be receiving Gloria in the next couple of months, so please stay tuned. . .

Quote of the Day - "People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within." - Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

2010 Boyds Bears Valentine's Day Collections

Late this afternoon we received in the 2010 Boyds Bears Valentine's Day Collection. This festive collection includes 3 Plush bears, and 5 resin pieces (including 1 Boyds Treasure Box named Juliet's Bouquet of Love with Rosey McNibble).

This Special Occasions Collection was inspired by traditional handcrafted Valentine's greeting cards. Each lovable plush bear includes their very own embellished message of love and affection.

Victoria Luvington holds an appliqued valentine that reads 'Be Mine'.
Kissy Luvington holds a detailed patchwork pillow that reads 'I Love You'.
Madison Luvington holds a valentine in her bear paw that reads 'Always and Forever'.

All of these new 2010 Boyds Bears pieces can be found within the newly created "*2010 Boyds Bears" category on the site, as well as the "Holidays & Gifts, Valentine's Day" category on the site.

It will be a nice Valentine's Day this year as it falls on a Sunday so we all can spend the entire day with our loved ones.

Quote of the Day - "To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides." - David Viscott