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FLASH SALE!

Tuesday, January 7, 2014
We're in a temporary home for the month of January (new year, new floors!), and in the process of moving alllllll our merchandise two doors down the street, we discovered some very special orphans toys just begging for homes. 

So we thought: who are we to get in the way of a toy just begging to be played with? Out with the red pen! We've slish-slashed the prices on a few treasured Fiddlesticks toys, and we're hoping they'll be just the thing you're looking for. 

See something you like? Give us a call, and we'll set it aside for ya!




Was $220. Now $75.

Would we sell a dollhouse in San Francisco that didn't boast solar panels? No way! This All-Season Wooden Dollhouse by stellar toy company Hape includes four room sets: Master Bedroom, Family Bedroom, Media Room, and Kitchen. It comes fully furnished, and is easy to assemble. Materials include baltic birch, maple, and rubberwood. Ideal for ages 3+.




Was $69. Now $25. 
Need a dollhouse for a slightly older crowd? Need an activity to fill a whole slew of rainy afternoons? These beautiful houses (produced by hand from recycled materials in Chicago, IL) arrive packaged flat. First, don your architect hat and follow the instructions to construct the house (parents might need to help). Then, put on your interior designer hat and get to work! Use the colored paper and other included props to put up pictures, hang curtains, lay out a rug - you get the idea. Then, let the playing begin - one little pony-tailed girl (and her pet hedgehog) already reside at the Logan House, and you can add more!

The front of each house is made from baltic birch, and the remaining walls are made form sturdy, recycled cardboard. Each house kit comes with all house components, a DIY design ideas book, a DIY trading card, and more!
Ages 6+


Was $77. Now $35. 
On your mark, get set, go! The Hape Switchback Racetrack Toy is perfect for the speediest of toddlers. The colorful, double-wide racing ramp track allows 1 or 2 cars to go racing down to the finish line. A wonderful vehicle pretend play set, this racing toy includes 4 wooden vehicles - back and forth they go!  The Educo Switchback Racetrack Toy is a great way to get imaginations racing as these cars fly down the track for a speedy finish! 
All wooden parts. Measures approximately 8.5"x7.5"x21"

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Holiday Gifts at Fiddlesticks

Monday, November 18, 2013
We've strung twinkly lights outside the shop, we're brushing off our gift-wrapping skills, and every day the delivery trucks bring big stacks of brown boxes bursting with shiny new toys, piles of clever stocking stuffers, cozy pjs and toasty socks, and begging-to-be-loved stuffies. There's no doubt: it's that most treasured time of the year, and we can't wait for you to come bustling in the front door, coffee in one hand and shopping list in the other. Just consider us your elves!

Here's a quick peek at some brand new gems we've brought in for the holidays - then it's back to unpacking more boxes!

Every December at Fiddlesticks, we're given the best gift of all when bright-eyed boys and girls come in wearing their fanciest frocks and most dapper sweater vests, on their way to the San Francisco Ballet's The Nutcracker. This year we're celebrating this holiday tradition with a one-of-a-kind story book, featuring dreamy, jewel-toned illustrations and impressively engineered sliding pieces that make the book dance to life. Take a look at "The Nutty Nutcracker Christmas," too: it's the classic story told from a modern-day Fritz's point of view, and will have readers giggling right from page one.

Gamago is a whimsical, wonderful world dreamt up in a San Francisco garage, and last Thursday a colorful cast of Gamago critters wandered in the front door and took up residence in our shop; as fiercely grumpy as their Yeti leader appears, they seem to please kids of all ages! For chubby-fingered toddlers, we have a brightly colored, big-pieced mix-and-match puzzle, for medium-sized kids with ginormous appetites we have stacks of color-your-own place mats, and for the older crew, we've got stationary sets complete with woodsy writing sheets, matching envelopes, and quirky stickers galore.

We're always proud to carry local lines, and Mountain View-based Acme Party Box is a favorite. What better way to warm a chilly day than by DIY-ing your very own jolly snowman, or by building a wintry wonderland diorama? (That shiny silver box doubles as the setting for the diorama - genius!) These kits make great gifts for older kids.

German toy company Haba delivers some of the best goods on the market, and this one is sure to set hearts fluttering when the wrapping paper is ripped away. The sugary sweet set comes complete with a display case for your little entrepreneur's new pastry shop. The pretty pastries are ready to be served! Perfect for tea parties and playing with Grandma, too, this set will provide hours and hours of fanciful play.



Oh, you know we love a good pirate toy around here, and this one is tops. Designed by Italian toy company Sevi, the 23-piece set will transport pirate lovers far away for hours of adventures on the high, high seas. The boat even rocks back and forth - hold on tight, matey!

We'll see you soon, and enjoy the start to that most wonderful time of year! 

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It's Pirate Month at Fiddlesticks

Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Ahoy, me hearties!

 
How do you like our Pirate Window? Check out those silly Indy Plush Pirate Owls!
September 19th is National Talk Like A Pirate Day, but here at Fiddlesticks we thought, why limit the fun to just one day? Why not make the whole month of September into Pirate Month? After all, we've yet to meet a kiddo who doesn't think pirates are pretty darn arrrrsome, and we quite agree. (And if you don't, well, you can just walk the plank!)

So what have we found for the seafarers in your life? Lots of pirate fun!


They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery (and goodness knows we want to stay on those pirates' good side), so we had our local master of disguise, Mimi of Baby Leo Designs, whip up a batch of pirate capes in royal jewel tones (to match all that stolen treasure), along with skull-and-crossbone wristbands and jaunty eye patches. Some examples of occasions on which your little sailors will want to wear their pirate capes: while playing Pirates in the backyard; while eating in restaurants; while tagging along grocery shopping; while swinging at the park; while riding to school -- you get the idea. (And, psst, guess which dress-up friendly holiday is just over the horizon...)


What's a pirate to do when the weather's rainy and the seas are too rough for sailing? Stay in and play games, of course! We've got several. In "Pirate's Blast," above, players use small rubber "bellows" to blow miniature wooden ships around the playing board in search of doubloons. And in "Pirate Battleship," the classic game gets a buccaneer twist: I'll sink yer ship, ye scallywag!
We'd never leave Baby out of the pirate fun - it's never too soon to get your sea legs! Maileg's sea-themed rattles have caused lots of "ooohs" and "awwws" in the shop, and the set makes a delightful gift for babies just setting sail in the world. We're also crazy for Kid O's floating whale - move over, Rubber Ducky, ye squiffy!

From sea-themed ink and stamp sets to floating wooden pirate ships to a Pirate Excavation Kit, we've got lots of more pirate treasure in the shop for your favorite buccaneers. Let's weigh anchor and set sail into Pirate Month, ye buckos!

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It's A Circus At Fiddlesticks

Tuesday, May 7, 2013


Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, step right this way! The circus has come to town, and--lucky us!--it's set up camp right in our shop.

We think circus-themed toys and games are the BEST way to welcome in the exuberant fun that summer brings, and they deliver a big burst of kitschy whimsy that feels just right to us. Besides, who DOESN'T love popcorn?

Here's a sampling of the circus goodies currently filling our shop.

Danish toy line Maileg has magician-ed up a very magical, red-striped circus tent: if we weren't GROWN-ups, we would drop everything and play with this for hours (ahem). Pick from a whole cast of circus characters to fill your tent: there's a goofy mouse clown, a pompous mouse ringmaster, a pretty mouse ballerina riding a stately elephant, and a tiny mouse on the loooongest stilts you've ever seen.



Want to make the circus larger than life? Project a circus adventure onto your little ones' bedroom wall using Moulin Roty's circus shadow puppet set. They'll ooh and aaahhh; hand them an old-fashioned tin musical box so they can add tinkling circus sounds when the clown lifts the elephant high in the air! 


Who says the circus has to stop if a bit of rain falls? Let the kiddos take over the living room with the best circus-themed puzzles we could find: little ones can practice their ABC's with a giant circus train puzzle, while the older ones find hidden animals in the Circus Observation Puzzle. (And, psst, rainy days are perfect for learning how to juggle; just put away all your fine china first!)

When the sun reappears, strap a circus animal superhero cape on their backs and shoo them out the door: after all, those goofs are the biggest clowns around!



Take a spin through our website or stop by the shop to check out more circus fun!

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Earth-Friendly Toys, Fiddlesticks-Style

Monday, April 15, 2013

Spring has sprung and Earth Day is just a few days away—but who are we kidding? We’re always in the mood to celebrate the planet! Our way of celebrating is with a fresh batch of toys that pack a big punch of creativity and fun, all while looking out for the world we live in. Bring on the Eco-Friendly Fun!

Here’s a sampling of the latest and greatest in earth-friendly Fiddlesticks toys: 

Let’s start with everyone’s favorite phrase: “No batteries required!” This robot runs off of his solar panel – but you’ll have to build him first. Recycle everyday materials (including the kit's packaging) to use as his body parts (he can be transformed into a dinosaur or monster robot, too), then watch him go! A perfect lesson in engineering and solar power for the older set.

We love how many toy companies are jumping on the recycling bandwagon, and eeBoo is a great example. These animal kits use recycled water bottles and yogurt containers as the base of the critters you’ll create – clever AND cute!

Art supplies so good you could eat them (because you know your little Picasso most likely will). These fingers paints are made from rice flour and get their color from all kinds of delicious ingredients: carrots, spinach, and red cabbage, oh my!

We love the planet and we love all the creatures on it—especially this whimsical family of friendly wooden safari animals. A creation of San Francisco-based Petit Collage (we heart local!), these FSC-certified beech wood critters are as eco-friendly as they come; your little one will love how smooth they are to the touch, and will have a blast stacking them up on top of each other and lining them all up in a row.

Recycling Superhero Cape
Do you have a budding Planet-Protecting Superhero on your hands? They’ll be so proud to sport a Recycling Superhero Cape! Beautifully made by one of our favorite San Francisco designers (scroll down the blog to read our interview with Baby Leo Designs), this cape says: I’m here to save the day, and the planet too (and I'll look darn cute doing it)! The capes come in two sizes and many more designs – give us a call or stop by the shop for more info.

Here's to our beautiful planet, and celebrating it through play!



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Fill That Easter Basket!

Thursday, March 21, 2013
Spring has sprung and Easter is just around the corner.  Puzzled about how to fill those bunny baskets? Fiddlesticks has a variety of imaginative and fun goodies to help ring in the spring with a unique and creative flair!

Back by popular demand are Eco-Eggs, egg coloring kits made using natural plant, fruit, and vegetable extracts. The kits include six dye colors, a dipping wand, a natural wax crayon to cover your eggs with designs, and paper animal accessories your eggs can wear! 

Storytelling is one of our favorite activities, because it can involve the entire family. Whether the children are the listeners or the storytellers, their imaginations are enriched and stimulated with the imagery storytelling allows them to create. With that in mind, we picked up a collection of springtime puppets from the French line Moulin Roty: Philemon the pig, Albert the lamb, Silvain the bunny, Felicie the chicken, Jeanne and Amedee the ducks.  This crew  enhance your family storytelling, and fill your baskets with something sweet.

Why not replace some of those chocolate eggs with geodes? Geodes are one of the most fascinating of all rock formations: from the outside they look like simple rocks, but when broken open, your child will discover a beautiful crystal world inside. On theme with springtime exploration, we have pocket-sized binoculars and a knot tying kit so they can create their own adventure.


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Games are a fantastic way to fill those baskets with fun and learning, and so we picked up Dancing Eggs, an energetic, action-oriented game. Players compete to gather the most rubber eggs, but it's not as easy as it seems! A roll of the dice shows players where to keep their gathered eggs (tucked in the crook of an arm, under their chin, between their knees, and so on). When someone drops an egg, the game's over. Great fun for families, this game is eco-friendly and made in Germany.  



This year we wanted to put a different spin on Easter, and found just the character to do it: Bunnyskelly! Introducing Indy Plush, an L.A.-based handmade plush line committed to making products that use environmentally sustainable, locally-sourced materials.  We like to pair Bunnyskelly with the chapter book Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies: perfect for kids with an affinity for pirates and monsters!

We have had a tremendous amount of fun these last months finding toys that are creative, special, and exciting.  We want children and parents alike to choose their own adventures and explore the world together through imagination, creation, and storytelling.  

Happy Easter, and Happy Springtime! 

 

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Annual Fiddlesticks Holiday Gift Guide

Friday, November 30, 2012
We're not ones to pick favorites - but for you? Oh, sure. Here are our top holiday gift picks for the most special girls and boys in your life!

If you don't see what you're looking for on here, be sure to stop by the shop: it's positively bursting with toys, and we'll help you find just what you need (and wrap it up, too).

Welcome to the Holidays!


Decorate Your Own Doll Houses
Don’t laugh but: these are the coolest eco-friendly, modular doll houses on the block! They come unassembled: your little builder will fit the pieces together Ikea-style, then start decorating! Use the included goody pack put up curtains, pictures, a welcome mat - the sky’s the limit! The perfect older girl doll house. (Bonus: everything’s made by hand in Chicago!)

Glowing Putty, Gels & Slime Kit
It was love at first sight when we saw the name of this kit - and it turns out there’s some solid science behind the silly name. Older kids with a real interest in chemistry will learn about Big Important Things while mixing up some mad scientist fun (think glow-in-the-dark gel and our favorite, “slimy ooze”)!

Snow Globe Kit
Remember the magic of shaking a snow globe and watching the glittery snow settle on the tiny world inside? With this kit, little hands can invent their own magic - will they sculpt a dragon’s castle? A mystical unicorn? Bake, add the glitter, and let the show begin!
 
Build Your Own Robots
We know we’ve struck gold when even the grown-ups want to play with Guyzer & Bean, Kenji, and all the rest of these personable robots from East Bay-based Magnote. They come packaged flat; slide the wooden and paper pieces together to bring them to life. The perfect long plane ride activity!





Shadow Theater
String this shadow theater up in the corner of the bedroom for the dreamiest bedtime stories - or set it up in the playroom and let the little ones put on the show. Use the included puppets, or add an extra set. Come one, come all, to the magical shadow theater! 

Diggin Airplane Box Set
We love this beautiful wooden box set! Open it up, snap together the runway, and, tada! instant restaurant / waiting room / airport entertainment. When you're done, pack it back into its box and off you go! (Also available in Cars, Castle, and Doll House.)

The iWood
What to get for the tot tech set? A chalkboard laptop, of course! Powered by five sticks of chalk and the biggest imagination in the world, there’s no telling what the world’s youngest techies will dream up on their iWoods.

Tegu Magnetic Cars
What goes “click-clack, click-clack, vroom vroom VROOM!”? Magnetic Tegu blocks and sturdy rubber wheels being stacked together to build a car, of course! A new favorite from a Fiddlesticks classic.



Emu Clown Fish Boots
We know that keeping those tiny feet toasty warm is important to you, and we aren’t clowning around: these boots are the best. High quality sheepskin for extra warmth, and a strong resemblance to Nemo for extra “awwww”s!

SF Stacking Blocks
Let’s throw a little San Francisco price into the mix! Released to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Bridge's completion, these sturdy cardboard stacking and nesting blocks tell the story of the debate over the bridge’s paint color...not that Baby will care. She’ll just be pleased as punch to stack ‘em up and knock ‘em over, again and again! (Bonus! Pairs nicely with the GG Bridge Mix and Match book.)

Robot Growth Wall Decal 
Three reasons we love this growth chart:
1) It’s a re-positionable wall decal - perfect for growing, moving families.
2) It measures your little one all the way up to four feet tall.
3) Robots are super cool! (And this one’s the creation of a local San Francisco artist.)

Djeco Pull Toys
The only thing cuter than those first wobbly steps? If they’re taken with an adorable wooden creature being tugged along behind! From Fox to Kitty to Bunny, Baby will love their bright colors and friendly expressions (ok, so do we).

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Back-to-School Favorites

Saturday, August 11, 2012




Welcome back. Back to fresh notebooks and sharp pencils. Back to new clothes and shiny shoes. Back to growing minds in the classroom and making friends at recess. Back to School, of course!

Here are our top five Back-to-School must-haves at Fiddlesticks!

Dante Beatrix Backpacks and Lunch Boxes


Quirky, durable, and 100% kid-pleasing, Dante Beatrix delivers a fresh new batch of bags for a fresh new school year.


Animal Sound Alarm Clocks


Rise and shine! We've got a menagerie of animal alarm clocks to choose from: how about a ribbiting frog, a chirping red bird, or a giggling raccoon to help tug sleepy heads out of dreamland? (Our favorite is the clip-clopping purple unicorn, of course.)


Eco-Friendly Lunch Gear



Here's one you might want to snag for yourself: totally reusable lunch tins and snack bags. Fill with something delicious, send them off with hungry munchkins, toss them in the dishwasher, and repeat! Perfect for school lunches, picnics, backseat snacks, airplane trips...


All the Fun Things

For us here at Fiddlesticks, it was always stocking up on fresh new school supplies that marked the transition to a new year at school, so we made sure to gather up some goodies for this year's back-to-schoolers. Goldfish pencil sharpeners, ice cream cone pens, metallic colored pencils, rocketship pencil toppers, robot erasers (with removable limbs!)...now we almost want to go back to school, too!

And finally ... The I-Wood



One more that's too good not to mention: we are SUPER excited to be carrying the I-Wood! It's a laptop, done Fiddlesticks style: smooth wood exterior, and inside, instead of a screen and keyboard, two blackboards (and plenty of chalk). Perfect for getting some serious work done - like practicing 2+2=4, or drawing superheros, of course.


We wish you and your favorite little academics a wonderful start to the school year! See you soon!





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A Warm Fiddlesticks Welcome to Summer

Monday, June 4, 2012
Ah, June. Big siblings have shuffled home from school one last time, shaken all the crumbs and lone erasures from their backpacks, and stowed them away far, far in the backs of their closets; the calendar is filling with a complex choreography of summer camps, family reunions, and weekend beach excursions; the days are stretching to their longest, and pleas for after-dinner trips to the ice cream stand come more frequently (and how can you say no?). Without a question, it’s here – summer, summer, summer!


. Good old fashioned play is what we’re all about here at Fiddlesticks – the kind that happens in the backyard, at the park and beach, while skipping down the sidewalk, with friends or all alone: most importantly, the kind that entrances, engages – and hopefully includes a minimum three fits of giggles!

We’ve spent the past few months scouring the toy-world for the most fabulous summer toys available (and the past few weeks unpacking an endless stream of cardboard boxes), and our shop is now bursting at the seams with a pretty spectacular display of summer fun. Pick up a couple summer toys, add sunshine, family time, and nice long days, and we think you might just have yourself the best, most playful summer yet!

Our Day Out Adventuring Picks:


Heading out for some fresh air at the park? Slip this lightweight, folds-up-tiny rainbow kite into your bag, then watch the look of awe on your child’s face as it dips and soars far above your heads. Pure magic.

Finally, a microscope for exploring discoveries on the scene, out in the big wide world! Slip the portable microscope into its carrying case, clip it onto your little explorer’s belt, and off you go! 

Here’s one we’re tempted to keep for ourselves! Help your favorite up-and-coming photographer assemble this pinhole camera (don’t worry, we’re talking pre-printed die-cut cardboard), pop in a roll of film, and she’s ready to set out and document her world!


Our Just Because It’s Summer, It Doesn’t Mean Your Brain’s On Vacation Picks:
This one’s a winner from start (planting the seeds in three cheerfully colored planters) to finish (whipping up a batch of cinnamon basil ice cream). Your child will discover his green thumb as he learns about plants and watches his grow; the charming booklet includes tons of info, and the kit includes everything he’ll need to grow spearmint, lemon balm, and cinnamon basil.
 
Physics has never been such a blast! School may be out, but young scientists will delight in exploring five curiosities of physics, from a human powered light bulb to a rattle back.


Our “It’s grey and rainy and I’m booooored” Picks: 

Does your budding fashionista have the rainy day blues? How about transforming the kitchen table into a jewelry studio for the afternoon? Create unique jewelry designs by wrapping brightly colored ribbon and thread around sturdy wooden bangles – then stack them on and run outside to chase away the last raindrops!

Brighten a dismal day with cheerful color and a good dose of creative play! Seventy-two sturdy felt triangles in a rainbow of colors, a flocked board – the sky’s the limit as your little one lays the triangles out in endless patterns (suggestions included – we love the triangle horse!) and explores color, form and design. 
We can’t promise that this kit includes a trick for bringing out the sun, but by the time your young magician is halfway through mastering the Fabulous Ball Escape, the Elusive Rings, and the Levitating Vase, he’ll have forgotten all about the bad weather blahs.



Our Lots of Kids Over At the House Today Picks:
The instructions are simple, but the results are endlessly variable and super cool. Using Sunprint paper, found objects (think leaves, feathers, keys, etc.), and the big old sun, kids can make photographic works of art – you might be tempted to try a couple yourself! We’re especially partial to this paper because it’s produced right across the bay in Berkeley!
Sidewalk Games (pictured above)
Sometimes a big serving of simple and nostalgic fun is all you need. We love this adorably packaged sidewalk games kit; a set a sidewalk chalk, instructions for lots of games, and a shiny coin to toss – just find them a stretch of sidewalk and they’re good to go! (Maybe you’ll join in?)

Who's ready for a table tennis tournament? Need we say more? Clip the net onto a table, and it's game time! 


Here's to a long, fantastic summer!

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Interview with Brandi, our resident toy buyer.

Sunday, May 30, 2010
Brandi has been working with us for just over 3 years now, and has been the dedicated toy & book buyer. As a mother herself, Brandi has a wonderful eye for just the perfect thing! We thought it would be fun to learn a bit about her buying perspective and understand some of the reasoning behind what we sell at Fiddlesticks.

Q: As the toy buyer for Fiddlesticks, what do you look for when buying?

A: I'm always drawn to toys that I find beautiful, or unique in some way. I think its important when selecting toys to choose ones that instill creativity, and aren't limiting to the imagination. I also like toys that can grow with the child- and then be handed down.

Q: What trends are you seeing with toys right now?

A: I think that there is a real movement of parents wanting quality- over quantity- and lets face it less to pick up, right? Parents tend to want toys that can fulfill more then one need, so that the little ones can play with each toy in several ways. Dress up and art based toys are always in demand- and it seems that this is the one area where you can never have too much.

Q: We see non-toxic & recycling being big messages across all aspects of our lives right now. In the toy business, more and more companies are changing their manufacturing process with this message being their core. What has been your experience with this?

A: There are definitely more toy companys moving toward greener practices, and great new start up's that are actually taking products that were once considered waste and creating amazing toys out of it. It's really exciting to see the energy behind the green movement, and the amount of informed parents we get putting their beliefs into practice.

However I find that with the current push towards green, many companies are guilty of "green washing" and trying to sell their toys under the pretense of being green when they are the furthest thing from it. I think as a consumer this can be really frustrating, because most parents don't have the time to thoroughly research each company they buy from, but as a toy buyer I find it essential to know what "green" means to each company we carry.

Q: What is your favorite toy company right now and why?

A: This is probably the hardest question yet...I'll give you three.

I love Green Toys because they take our old milk jugs, and make really sturdy trucks and Tea Sets out of them. Also, their entire production is local, even the box is made here in the Bay Area. Their toys are imaginative and fun. I really want to see more from them.

Maple Landmark makes beautiful wooden toys that can be ordered finished (with safe paint), or unpainted and un-varnished. Their company is truly sustainable- they even mail everything using recycled materials. Maple Landmarks' toys are all made in Vermont by hand. Their toys remind me of a simpler time, and are the type you would find in a Waldorf Classroom, or home.

And third but definitely not least, Baby Leo. This San Francisco designer makes brilliant Super Hero Capes, and Mask & Cuff Sets (made exclusively for Fiddlesticks). The owner Mimi has local artists that work with her to create each cape one at a time. There is so much love that goes into these capes and they are actually hand delivered to our store- Amazing!!! And being that Mimi is a mom, she made sure that these beautiful capes can handle the dirtiest super hero and can be machine washed.

Q: We find that buying gifts for the 6-8 year olds, or even a bit older can be challenging. What kinds of activities/ toys are you finding appropriate for that age group? And what would your top suggestions be for someone looking for a gift?

A: It's funny because while children this age would probably still like a doll or truck- you better not be the person who suggests it. I find that this age group really wants the world to view them as "big" kids, so I like to get them toys that put them in control. Anything art based where the child is deciding what to create, or Science based and allowing them to discover how things work for themselves is always good. I also like the simple things that are overlooked like Jump Ropes, Bead Sets, Yo Yo's, and Spinning Tops. For someone wanting to buy something for this age group I'd look at the Tedco Science Kits, or The Little Experience Art Kits - they're both quite special.

Q: As a mother of a little boy, you too are on the frequent children's birthday party circuit! What is your go-to birthday gift right now?

A: For the younger one's I like the Stir Fry set by Melissa and Doug, and Plan Toy's slicing fruits set. For the older kids I really like The Little Experience sewing kits, and Tedco's Dinosaur Excavating Kit. And I might have already mentioned this but Baby Leo Capes. I also really liking pairing Green Toy's Recycling Truck with the book "Trucks Go" or "I Stink" two favorites around my house.

Q: What toys have you found are hard to keep in stock because they sell through so quickly?

A: Alright, some things are hard enough to keep in stock without mentioning it in a blog, but here you go...

I place huge reorders on Maileg Rattles every week, and no matter how much I order we are always dangerously low come every Monday. The Little Experience mini kits where you get to make a Steam Boat, Mini Rocket Ship, Daisy Chain, or Flower Head Band never stay on the shelves for long. The Green Toys Dump Truck, and the Dolphin Explorer from Sprig all seem to be impossible to keep in stock.

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It's raining...it's pouring....

Thursday, January 28, 2010
and the parks are all wet- Oh No! Rest assured after a week inside with our little ones we have some tricks up our sleeves. Here's a list of some of our favorite things to keep cabin fever at a minimum:

Fuzzy Racer Cap by Speesees for keeping babies head nice & toasty.

Dwell Studio Sleep Sack- its thicker material lends itself to this weather quite nicely.

Petit Collage Deluxe Baby Book & Memory Box by Lorena Siminovich- perfect time to start and if the little ones are older they'll love helping...

Harry and Horsie- This rainy seasons has left my books feeling a bit tired- so I had to add this one to my personal collection...

Candy Land - how many times can you play in one day? My guess twelve...

Monster Bowling by Melissa & Doug- great release for all of that built up energy & tons of fun.

See and Sew: A Sewing Book For Children- great projects for the older child.

Cook It In A Cup - bake the day away & then settle down for a nice book with your homemade treats...

Zeum - get them out for a little bit

Home Made Play Dough


If this doesn't help, throw on the rain gear & come see our new space- kids and adults alike our spending hours exploring the new layout & yes there is even more to see now!!!

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