Miss Kira's Toy Box

A piece of my childhood...

2010-10-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

This blog has a finished version of the dollhouse I had as a child, the "Van Buren" by Greenleaf.

robincarey.blogspot.com/2008/11/van-buren-dollhouse.html

My parents bought the kit and built it for me for Christmas when I was seven. We never got around to finishing it like the one in this blog- it was STOLEN when we moved from New York.

Greenleaf discontinued the kit years ago. They do make a miniature version- half the size of the original!

shop.greenleafdollhouses.com/Half-Scale-Van-Buren-Dollhouse-Kit.html

I'll settle for the mini. I don't have room for the big one!

I loved that dollhouse so much. I cried when I found out it had been stolen! The moving company reimbursed us, and Dad got me a new house...but it was totally different. I would love to have this one again, even in miniature form.

le sigh

2010-09-13T08:21:00.000-07:00

I don't know why I keep forgetting to update this blog. :( It's been almost a year!

Sad news for American Girl fans- Felicity and Elizabeth are being retired. :( Samantha, Nellie, and Kirsten are long gone. Who's next, and what era will replace Felicity? If I had the money, I would buy everything in the collection I don't already have. I at least want to get Felicity's tea set and Elizabeth's tea gown.

I love the newest doll from last year, Rebecca, though her clothes really aren't much different than Samantha's. Her stories are set in 1914, and she's the first historical Jewish American Girl.

I have the mini Rebecca and the mini Julie. I bought them at the AG Place in New York, here they are surrounded by my other souvenirs from my trip last fall:

The AG minis have changed a bit since they first appeared- they're much more like the big dolls.

And again I've forgotten to update...

2009-10-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

Picked this up at Tuesday Morning yesterday. They had a ton of older Madame Alexander dolls- this is "At the Hop" Cissette, a doll convention exclusive from 2007. I'm always looking for dolls like these.

My mom won this doll for me at an auction. I've never heard of the maker, Laureen's Collectibles. But she's a very well made doll, almost all porcelain, 24 inches tall.

I need to stop neglecting this blog.

2009-08-05T10:56:00.001-07:00

I got some great birthday presents! A replica of the Barbie I had in first grade:

I have very fond memories of my dolls, and this is one I wish I'd kept. I have no idea what happened to her. Probably got lost during a move. :( This one is staying in the box for now, but I may eventually take her out and display her next to my LOTR and Star Trek Barbies.

Now they just need to come up with Dr. Who and Torchwood Barbie/Ken dolls...

And Star Trek Scrabble!

My mom has the Star Trek Scene It! game. We haven't played either game yet. There is also a Star Trek Monopoly, but everyone in the family has at least one version (I have Lord of the Rings), so I don't think I'll bother with it.

My newest duckies!

2009-04-21T13:36:00.001-07:00

For Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, and Easter!

Wow!

2009-04-08T08:23:00.000-07:00

http://www.tonnerdoll.com/torchwood.htm

Torchwood and Doctor Who dolls by Robert Tonner! No pictures yet, but Tonner dolls are always awesome. So far, the only characters that will be available are the Tenth Doctor, Martha Jones, Captain Jack Harkness, and Gwen Cooper. They'll cost $200 each. Yikes. These are for serious collectors. I'm sure they'll be snatched up quickly.

I used to sell Tonner dolls (the now-defunct Mary Englebreit collection). They are worth every penny.

Some other Christmas stuff...

2008-12-29T13:30:00.000-08:00

Toy-themed ornaments and a plush Christmas cat!

The Star Trek communicator:

A cat designed by Amy LaCombe:

I love her kitty figurines, ornaments, and pins.

A piece of my childhood- an ornament based on the original Pac-Man game. It lights up and plays the music and game sounds!

Two Madame Alexander ornaments from past Christmases. I didn't get this year's- if I see it on sale, I might still pick it up.

A minature "Little Souls" doll ornament. I used to sell these. They were an affordable alternative to the real dolls, which go for $300-$400 per doll! The little doll in the background is based on a Mary Englebreit drawing.

Finally, I think this is my favorite new ornament: Beauty and the Beast. It winds up, and the figures "dance" to the movie's title song. I love it!

This year, I was only interested in getting accessories for my new "toy"- my brand new laptop. But I did buy myself one Bratz doll, and I might use some Christmas gift money to buy a new dress for my Felicity doll! I still want to get some Doctor Who/Torchwood action figures...maybe for my birthday!

I didn't dress up my American Girls for Christmas like I usually do. I ran out of time. I did display Felicity and Elizabeth with the Spode tea set as usual, but that's it.

Christmas toys!

2008-12-14T18:38:00.001-08:00

My Madame Alexander dolls- the Holy Family. It was part of a large, elaborate Nativity set from 1997, but I only got around to buying these.

I have more Alexander Christmas dolls.

My big collection of Christmas Beanie Babies, Simpsons, and Boyds Bears. There's a Madeline doll in there, as well as a Christmas Dogbert from Dilbert!

My annual Jingle Beanie tree:

I stuck a Boyd's tree topper angel bear on top.

I have other Christmas toys that I haven't put out yet.

And farewell to the Bratz, too!

2008-12-04T17:32:00.000-08:00

Story here:

http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/04/news/companies/bratz_dolls.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008120406

Mattel won their copyright infringement case. As soon as the holidays are over, all Bratz dolls will be removed from store shelves.

I always thought the dolls were sort of funny. I have a couple in my collection. I think I'll go out and buy a few more (while I still can) and hold on to them...

Farwell to a friend.

2008-11-17T15:38:00.000-08:00

Samantha and Nellie from the American Girls are being retired this year. :(

http://americangirlstories.typepad.com/american_girl_stories/2008/09/test.html

I was really too old for dolls when Samantha, the very first AG, came out in 1986. I collected dolls, but at 15 I was more interested in clothes and make-up...so I passed on getting one. It wasn't until eleven years later and I was an adult that I went ahead and bought one for myself. She was just the first- I now have all of the historical dolls except for Kaya, Molly's friend Emily, Kit's friend Ruth, and Julie's friend Ivy (though I'd like her for Christmas!). I've lost track of all the clothes and accessories I've picked up over the last decade!

I always thought that Samantha was the most popular of all the dolls. I'm really surprised that her collection is being retired.

is embarassed

2008-09-28T19:32:00.000-07:00

I'd love to have one of these:

http://www.mytwinn.com/index.html?lid=LogoHomeHdr&lpos=header

I could have one made to look somewhat like I did at four or so. It would be a very cute doll. Maybe I'll ask my mom for one for Christmas...she'd pick the right picture for them to use!

Aww, looks just like him, right down to the ears!

2008-09-19T17:49:00.000-07:00

Cute little finger puppet of Barack Obama. Sorry, McCain not available...yet.

Poor Wee Patsy!

2008-09-10T12:40:00.001-07:00

I was cleaning my doll shelves yesterday, and look what happened...

:( Poor thing! The little rubber band holding the arms on dried up and snapped. It should be easy to fix, if I can find a band the right size. I have several Wee Patsy dolls- I'm going to have to be very careful with them!

Election toys!

2008-08-22T10:20:00.001-07:00

Paper dolls! Each has an election night scorecard.

Guess which one I already own. :p *see my 7/5/08 entry!*

There are magnetic dress-up dolls of the candidates out there, too!

shameless plug- I actually sell these in my shop! ;)

New Trek ornaments!

2008-08-14T14:37:00.001-07:00

I just picked up "The Trouble With Tribbles" ornament from Hallmark today! It's so cute. It lights up, and little tribbles fall on Kirk. There is also a sound clip from the episode.

Another ornament, which I'm going to get later, is the U.S.S. Reliant from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn.

And finally, the communicator! I don't know if it has sound effects, but it looks good.

I think I have enough Trek ornaments for a larger tree this Christmas!

There are a couple of other ornaments from Hallmark that I want this year- the leg lamp from A Christmas Story, and the annual Madame Alexander doll.

Yay!

2008-07-31T13:42:00.000-07:00

There will be more Torchwood figures- including Owen, Ianto, and Tosh!

http://www.doctorwhotoys.net/torchwood.htm

I want them all. Well, the main five Torchwood characters, at least!

Well, hello, Jack!

2008-07-14T05:41:00.000-07:00

The new Torchwood Captain Jack Harkness figure! The Doctor Who variation (with Jack in his famous coat) is being retired. Bummer. I would have liked to have that one!

I really do want to get the figures (especially once Ianto is available!), but the DVD set costs so much I may not be able to get them. Ah, well, there's always Christmas!

My duty as an American...

2008-07-05T10:45:00.001-07:00

...is to vote! Gee, I wonder what my party affiliation is...:p

The doll is Madame Alexander's "Vote for Maggie" from 2004. I love her little donkey pull toy! I almost bought "Vote for Wendy" (Republican with a toy elephant) just because I'm not totally anti-Republican! :p I wonder if there's a set for the 2008 election.

Also, there's Beanie Babies Lefty 2004- I also have Lefty 2000, Righty 2000 and 2004. I'll get Lefty and Righty 2008 before the election!

My newest toys!

2008-06-18T09:20:00.000-07:00

I did a bit of shopping during my recent trip to Louisville. I found another cute duckie for my collection:

I went to the Hard Rock Cafe- I love collecting T-shirts, pins, and shot glasses from the various locations. I found a cute teddy bear:

I also have bears from Boston and the now-closed Aspen restaurants.

I want these!

2008-05-21T10:52:00.000-07:00

Jack isn't pictured here, but he's nice. I hope they come out with Tosh, Owen, and Ianto later. I mean really, Lisa the Cyberwoman before Tosh?

I know what I want for Christmas...or my birthday if they're out!

Well...

2008-04-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

I never did get around to buying any Harry Potter action figures for myself. I decided to save my money...because I hear that there will soon be a line of Torchwood figures. At least, I read it on a fan site. It's the same company that does the Dr. Who line (and there's already a figure of Captain Jack Harkness), so they should be awesome. Last I heard they would be launched this summer, with a new Jack, Gwen, and a Weevil as the first wave. I want all of the characters...if there is no Owen, Tosh, and Ianto I will not be pleased!

Of course, when they're finally available, I'll have to order them from England. The best source for genre-related toys I've found is http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/index.php .

Right now, the only Torchwood merchandise out there are novels, the DVD of season one, and trading cards (those are coming soon, I think). I want my action figures now, darn it!

Rubber Duckie, you're the one!

2008-02-26T15:55:00.000-08:00

Wow, I'm two months between entries. I need to come up with more stuff to write about!

Today I totally redecorated my bathroom. It has a rubber duckie theme. I've been collecting ducks for about 6 years- it started because my mom's Rotary club has a duck race every fall. When you "adopt" a duck to race, you get a little duckie. I've found other duckies over the years: A duck that lights up, mini ducks, duck candles, duck-shaped soaps (which I will never use because they're too cute!), and dolls with rubber ducks on their costumes. My favorite rubber duckies are the Devil Duckies. This is the only one I have:

My duckie collection:

Close-ups of the two Ginny dolls:

Mardi Gras beads:

And my new shower curtain!

I even have a plush duck that plays the Rubber Duckie song from Sesame Street!

Christmas wish-granted!

2007-12-26T13:46:00.000-08:00

Here is my big Christmas present- Julie, the American Girl of 1974! I asked for just the basic doll/accessories, but Mom surprised me with two extra outfits and more accessories!

I think she could become my favorite of all of the dolls- because that was really my era (though I don't really remember 1974!). The scary thing about the doll is that my sister and I both probably wore clothes a lot like hers. I'm pretty sure I had a knitted scarf and hat like these- and I know I had crocheted stuff and a gold name necklace! As far as 70's fashion goes, Julie's clothes are pretty cool.

Oh, dear.

2007-12-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

I've neglected this blog!

It's almost Christmas, and I've done my decorating. This entry is more about ornaments than toys, but I think they count.

This is my little Star Trek ornament tree:

I have just about every ship ornament from 1992 on- I wish I had bought the 1991 Enterprise. I do have the 40th Anniversary Enterprise, though.

I also have a tree with mini Beanie Babies.

Halloween Toys!

2007-10-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

I love to decorate with toys during the holidays. I have quite a collection of Halloween Beanie Babies and other cute and spooky things.

I've lost count of how many Beanies I own! There are Simpsons dolls, too- Marge and Lisa are witches:

One favorite piece is a Madame Alexander doll, an exclusive from Lillian Vernon in 2000:

She was released at the time I was starting to get into Harry Potter. I named her Ginny Weasley because she's a cute little redheaded witch!

Finally, this isn't really a toy, but it's a cool decoration.

It's about five feet tall, and has little bats flying around inside it. I love these blow-up decorations! I have a Christmas globe, too.

I can't wait!

2007-09-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

Christmas can't come soon enough. Here are the new American Girls, Julie and Ivy:

1974- wow, those clothes...this should be a fun collection! And just think, in a few more years they'll probably start making a collection for a girl of 1984!

I definitely want Julie and her Christmas outfit...Ivy will have to wait until my birthday. As wonderful as the dolls are, they are pretty darned expensive.

I don't wanna grow up...

2007-09-07T09:59:00.001-07:00

I love toys. Mostly dolls and their accesories, but action figures as well. I have amassed quite a collection since childhood. Most of the toys and dolls I had as a child are, unfortunately, a memory, but once I grew up, I started collecting new ones!

My favorite dolls today have to be the American Girls. I wish they had been around when I was little. I have most of the historical dolls in my collection. I love to dress them in their outfits according to season. This is what I did this past Christmas:

Felicity and her friend Elizabeth enjoying a Christmas tea, using my little Spode Christmas tea set. The table, however, belongs to Samantha and Nellie. I think those four dolls are my favorites- but I also love Josephina.

Supposedly there will be a new doll this fall named Julie- from 1974. My own era. Of course, I was two/three that year, but the clothes didn't change much the first half of the decade. She is definitely my doll. I look forward to adding her to my collection!

I also love action figures. I have many, many Star Trek (mostly Deep Space Nine) and Lord of the Rings figures. Too many to count, really!

I like the new Harry Potter figures from The Order of the Phoenix. My favorite characters are Neville and Luna, so these two figures are on my wish list...

That's all for now. Every now and then, I'll have a post remembering a favorite doll or to show off a piece from my collection.