Funko has announced the Dorbz: Adventure Time series of mini figures. From the Land of Ooo, you'll be able to pick up Finn the Human, Jake the Dog, Marceline the Vampire Queen, Flame Princess of the Fire Kingdom, and Princess Bubblegum. Look for the series to hit store shelves beginning in April 2016.
Dorbz: Adventure Time
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[$$] Mattel Moves to Boost Its Operations
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Vangelus Review 321 - Ocular Max RMX-01 Jaguar
Click to proceed to the video page!
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IAmElemental Reveals New Female Action Figures Series 2 - Wisdom
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Batman the Animated Series Action Figures
DC Collectibles are Headed Back to the Original Batman Animated Series If you asked almost any true Batman fan if they have seen the original Batman animated series, they would look at you with a...
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[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Batman the Animated Series Action Figures
DC Collectibles are Headed Back to the Original Batman Animated Series If you asked almost any true Batman fan if they have seen the original Batman animated series, they would look at you with a “that’s a dumb question” face. Of course! Who hasn’t? (If you haven’t then you are missing out.) That being said, […]
Batman the Animated Series Action Figures">Read More...
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Old And New Steiff Treasures On Offer At The Upcoming Morphy Auctions' Premier Toy Sale!
This first Morphy Auction pick - an antique Steiff farmer - is quite the charmer! He is lot 722, and is cataloged as... "Here we have a Steiff figure in the form of an early 20th century farmer. Starting in 1909, Steiff made a series of fully jointed felt dolls representing farmers from regions around Germany as well as France and Switzerland. Each was authentically dressed in regional clothing. These appeared in the line overall through the 1920's. This example is 12-1/2" tall and is in all original, as found condition. His clothes are integral to his body. He retains his ear button as well as 9 decorative Steiff buttons on his vest. Unlike most Steiff dolls of his era, this one has a most unusual horizontal facial seam. Overall, he is in very good condition with uniform dustiness/soiling, most noticeable to his flesh colored face and hands. His black shoes have lost coloring. His right shoe shows distress and losses and is in need of some attention and repair. However, his felt soles are intact and just lightly soiled. Auction estimate: $1,000-2,000."
"In 1950, when I was about 13, my friend's family was the last tenant to move out of their apartment building which was scheduled to be torn down. After the truck was packed, we explored the empty building. In the attic, we found empty whiskey bottles, clothing, a long auburn hair switch, a shorter blond switch, a porcelain figure of a boy, and this doll.
At that time, I didn't know the significance of Steiff. He was so unusual and fit in with my German heritage. I fell in love with him and had him in my room until I went away to college. When I married, he moved from my mother's home to my new home. I took him to a doll repair shop, trying to find out more about him. The owner found him in a doll book, where I learned that he was first produced in 1909, and at that time he had a value of $848.
To protect him, I made a shadow box from a picture frame. I wired him securely in the box, where he hung on the wall of my home. It is time someone else has the pleasure of getting to know him. I hope he will bring his new owner as much pleasure as he has brought me the last 65 years."
"Flowers" was the first in the series of innovative designs produced exclusively for Steiff Club members starting in 2004. These selections were called "Margarete Steiff Editions" and were available for purchase only through the luck of a draw. 500 Flowers bears were produced, with the number of applicants worldwide eclipsing this many times over. Flowers is 33 cm, fully jointed, and made from white mohair that is embroidered with colorful floral motifs overall. She has black button eyes, a red hand embroidered nose and mouth, white felt paw pads, and blue claw stitching. Flowers has a special ear button and a black and silver tag sewn into her side seam as her IDs. This example is number 117/500, and comes complete with her original literature, which is personalized to her first owner, and a special edition box. This is only the second "Flowers" edition that this cataloger has seen at auction in the last decade, and unquestionably the most sought after 21st century Steiff edition today. Condition: As detailed. In excellent to like new condition. Auction estimate: $500-1,000"
"This lot includes two Steiff limited edition bears that are seldom seen on the secondary market. The first is Hercule, who was produced for the World Association of Children's Friends (AMADE), founded by Princess Grace of Monaco in 1963. This social service organization advocates for children's rights worldwide. Hercule is 28 cm, fully jointed, and made from soft mohair. He wears a gold plated medallion, featuring the logos of both Steiff and AMADE, suspended from his green silken ribbon. Hercule has a particularly sweet, childlike appearance. This design was produced in 1995 in an edition size of 3,000; this example is number 1365. The second item is Steiff's Amelia Earhart bear. She is 35 cm, fully joined, and made from rose-colored mohair. This design was produced overall in an edition size of 1,000 pieces in 1993; of those, 650 were dressed in an authentic, high quality leather pilot outfit for the high end department store I. Magnin & Company; the remaining 350 were detailed with a simple neck ruff. Condition: As detailed. Both editions are complete with all IDs, original packaging, paperwork, and documentation. In excellent to like new condition. Auction estimate: $400-600."
Steiffgal hopes this review of some of the fine Steiff items up for sale at Morphy's in the next few weeks has generated "lots" of interest with you! You can check out the entire auction catalog by clicking here.
Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more.
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Snoopy Qee Blind Boxed Series
Dark Horse Deluxe has announced a new blind box series of 2-inch tall Snoopy Qee figures. This first collection includes 18 different versions of Charlie Brown's beagle in various colors and with unique surface treatments, including metallic, flocked, black-light sensitive, glitter, and glow in the dark. The series is slated to be released in Summer 2016 and will retail for $6.99 per figure.
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Ohio Art Sells Etch A Sketch to Spin Master
The Ohio Art Company, which has produced or owned the Etch A Sketch for more than five decades, has sold the classic toy to a Toronto-based firm, Spin Master, for an undisclosed price.
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More WIPs of #ΛVΛW #mechanizeddragoon by Amanda Visell - Harold is Coming! And he is NOT alone…
Evolving from earlier WIPs, we begin to see "Harold" the "#mechanizeddragoon" being formed up via the hands and minds of Michelle Valigura and Amanda Visell, with their collaboration with Ashely Wood of ThreeA Toys in #ΛVΛW … ooohhhh he even comes with a lil'Bat-driving tank sidekick!
Previous released adaptations include Knuckle Draggin' Bertie Driver and Bramble, so folks keen for this ![]()
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Jack the Rascal by Wesker Zhan Available Now At myplasticheart
myplasticheart just shared one of their newest releases to their shop, Jack the Rascal by Wesker Zhan. This figure is an original character created by the NYC based artist, which can now be found through myplasticheart’s webstore HERE in 5 different colorways. Each figure is made from vinyl and stands...
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Kidrobot @ New York #ToyFair2016 #TFNY
Kidrobot sneaks a few peeks of their display at the weekend's New York Toy Fair (Trade-only event, non-public), and I'll attempt to update pics as the days go along, hoping we'll get glimpse of the Frank Frazetta collabs, Jason Freeny's "Anatomical Wabbit", and MORE!
New York Toy Fair starts tomorrow! Follow us for updates and reveals! #Kidrobot #Labbit #dogsofinstagramA photo posted by ![]()
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Skinner x Adult Swim IDs
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));ADULT SWIM MEGA TRAILER! I did 4 30 second long bumps that you can see on adult swim at night during regular ![]()
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Hyperactive Monkey x Kidrobot SF x Woot Bear Lunar New Year Celebration Ruby Red Pocket Master (2.13)
Hyperactive Monkey just shared their awesome exclusive they will be having for their Lunar New Year Celebration event and Pop-Up Shop at Kidrobot SF (HERE) tomorrow (Saturday, February 13th). Check out the Ruby Red Pocket Master, which is limited to only 18 pieces and comes with mini-print and canvas bag....
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Pay Jay Productions - Donut Edition J Dilla Figure Pre-Order
One of the best releases of 2014 is back! And we are mega excited that they are! Pay Jay Productions are proud to present the “Donut Edition” J Dilla figure. Designed by Detroit artist Sintex and sculpted by P2PL, this new edition now features a removable handmade shirt that is...
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Gary Ham Mini-Figure Prototypes?
Gary Ham just posted something very interesting on Instagram. It looks as though he will be working on some prototypes for what looks to be a mini-series of toys! The above featuring one half of his half pipe twins, which was a piece he did for his “Sentomentrees” show at...
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Moving LEGO Sushi Train
(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.3"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));【巨大】レゴの回転寿司LEGO萬歲！咁完美嘅迴轉壽司，送俾小朋友實開心到唔洗訓。#ikijp觀光 #日本觀光 #樂高 #迴轉壽司Posted by Ikidane Nippon 香港・澳門 on Thursday, ![]()
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The End of the World is on Valentines Day 2016 … according to #Ghostbusters
… didn't actually realize that tomorrow Sunday February 14th is Valentines Day, until I'd chance upon this "warning" on FB … (also count this as a friendly "reminder" from yours truly, in case you might have forgotten … :p) … regardless, here's wishing you folks celebrating the day; Happy Valentines Day in advance!
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JPX x Coarse Kwaii: You and Me (2.13)
JPX x Coarse’s Kwaii figure—a cute yet powerful water buffalo and a cohort of bird friends— is making a big splash. In addition to the 7” Kwaii: Clomp that we previously mentioned, there’s also a smaller Kwaii: You and MeKwaii: You and Me (3.5”) featuring a pink + gold design...
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My Feeling Is It Should Be Happy Valentine's Day Everyday!
I wrote this back in 2006 and re-read it the other day. It's 10 years later but still appropriate so I thought you all might enjoy it.
Happy Valentines Day everyday!
Happy Valentine's Day, tomorrow, to all the "young at heart" lovers of the world. I said "young at heart" so that no one would feel left out. Young, old, single, married, anyone with a pulse!I actually think Valentine's Day is really for all the young lovers of the world who somehow feel like they have to show the person they love just how much they love them. And, I think it's become way too commercial. I just don't like being told I have to openly express my feelings towards the people I love on a certain day or buy them expensive gifts because someone has decided that we should.
For my husband and I, we prefer to think of every day that we have each other as Valentine's Day. Unconditional love, compliments, hugs, lingering kisses, thank-you's, "I Love You's!" for no reason, gentle caresses, smiles when you least expect it, words of encouragement, unexpected presents, help with the chores, impish looks, laughing with each other, loving glances, finishing each other's sentences, holding hands, counting on each other, loyalty, that glint in the eyes when you look at each other, and tender looks each and every day are a thousands times more meaningful than a card or a present or an elaborate holiday on Valentine's Day. That's us. Some of you may disagree.
When I was a child Valentine's Day was exciting because they always made it seem like a special event in school. You had to buy your little box of Valentine's and make one out for everyone in your class. Special ones had to be saved for special people like "Mommy" and "Daddy" and the rest of your family. You had to have your little candy hearts with the sayings and one went in with every Valentine's Day card. Sometimes special people got two. Then, we'd hand them out in school and you'd count how many you got. The "most popular" kids always got the most.
I never really thought too much about that until one year when there was a young girl in my class who was not well liked. That year she only got a few. Yes, one was from me as my Mother's rule was that everyone in the class gets one or no one gets one. From that day on it hit me that a public display like that could be very, very hurtful for some children. I had never thought about that before. I did that day. And, the effect has never left me. I can still see her crushed face and big, tearful eyes. Forty-five years later I don't remember her name but I remember her face and how devastated she was. If it had that effect on me I can't imagine what effect it had on her.
Maybe that has something to do with my attitude towards Valentine's Day. In any event, given that I love research - and readers of my Linda's Blog know that I do - I thought I'd do a little research on the history of Valentine's Day.
From what I understand from the historychannel.com and Wikipedia.com the roots of Valentine's Day can be traced back to a Catholic Feast Day, in honor of Saint Valentine. As with so many other traditions it started with a pagan tradition. For 800 years before Valentine's Day was established the Romans had practiced a pagan celebration in mid-February commemorating young men's rites of passage to the god Lupercus.
During the festival the names of women were placed in an urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and then become paired for the year with that woman. Guys today might think that was pretty good deal. There were no strings attached but, the matches often ended in marriage. So, Pope Gelasius declared February 14th, St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. However, the Roman pagan "lottery" system was deemed unchristian and outlawed by the Church. Instead of the names of young women, the box would contain the names of saints. Oh, boy. Can't you see the guys all lining up for that? Both men and women could draw from the box. The idea was to try and emulate the saint who's name they drew during the rest of the year. Needless to say the young Roman men weren't happy with this change. So, the Church decided that instead of Lupercus they needed a more suitable saint of love to take his place. Enter Brad Pitt for me!
As the legend goes Valentine was a priest who served during the 3rd century in Rome. At the time, Rome was ruled by Emperor Claudius II. He was a ruthless ruler who involved Rome and its citizens in many bloody and unpopular wars. Emperor Claudius II was having a problem recruiting married men to his army and decided that all the single men made better soldiers than the men who were married and had families. So, he decided to outlaw marriage for young men. Can you imagine someone trying to do that today? In any event, Valentine thought that this was unfair and decided to defy the emperor and perform marriages in secret for young lovers. Of course, when Valentine was discovered he was put to death. He was stoned to death and then beheaded. He suffered martyrdom on the 14th of February about 270 A.D.
Another legend has it that Valentine, while he was being imprisoned by Emperor Claudius II, sent the first "Valentine" greeting himself while he was in prison. It's believed he fell in love with the blind daughter of his jailer who visited him often. Valentines great love for her and his faith managed to miraculously heal her from her blindness before he was executed. Before his death he wrote her a letter and signed it "From Your Valentine."
After the lottery was banned Roman men still sought the affection of women (what a surprise). So, it became a tradition for the men to give the women they admired handwritten messages of love and affection containing Valentine's name.
The first Valentine card was sent in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Maybe there's something to being imprisoned that causes men to write valentines!
Valentine's Day didn't get imported into the U.S. until the 19th century and was brought by British settlers. Most of the valentines back then were hand written. The 1st mass produced valentines were on embossed paper and were sold around 1847 by Esther Howland of Worcester, Massachusetts. Her father had a stationary store and she loved an English valentine she had received so she decided to create her own. She made her elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons, and colorful pictures known as "scrap." Kind of sounds like today's version of scrapbooking. The picture to the right is a Valentine's Day postcard, circa 1910.During the second half of the 20th century the giving of all manner of gifts was included with the valentines. Starting in the 1980's the diamond industry began to promote Valentine's Day as a day to give fine jewelry. What a surprise. And, if you'd like a statistic to support how commercial it's become - how about the fact that 1 BILLION valentine cards are sent each year. That makes Valentine's Day the second largest card sending holiday of the year. In comparison 2.6 billion cards are sent at Christmas. And, this may surprise you, 85 present of all valentines are purchased by women. Are they buying them for themselves I wonder? Hmm.... It started out with men giving them to women. Now is it women giving to men? If not men, then who?
So, is it too commercial? You do the math. One billion cards - that's a huge $$$$ making industry just in cards. Is it any wonder that the florists, the diamond industry, the restaurants, the hotel chains, etc. have all joined in. They want a piece of the action, too. Now, Valentines Day is not complete without the card, the flowers, the jewelry, the restaurant, and the romantic getaway. No wonder I think it's way too commercial.
So, for all of you who are in love with the idea of Valentine's Day I wish you a "Happy Valentine's Day!" For those of you who are still young at heart I leave you with a few Valentine's Day riddles:
What did the stamp say to the envelope? Stick with me and we'll go places.
What happens when you fall in love with a French chef? You get buttered up.
Knock, knock. Who's there? Justin. Justin who? Justin time! Here's your valentine.
Knock, knock. Who's there? Oscar. Oscar who? Oscar if she likes me!
and, finally - What did the boy elephant say to the girl elephant on Valentine's Day? I love you a ton! I think I'll go tell my husband that one.
Posted by Linda Walsh Originals - "Doll Patterns for Grown-up Girls!"
Happy Valentine's Day from Linda graphic above - Courtesy of Snowdreamz.com
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