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I need your help but first I want to share delightful objects just released in the House Industries Alexander Girard collection. Bright and colorful, sunny faces and other characters are great fun for adults and kids. The Marilyn Neuhart Dolls and the Memory Game top my list. Just look at these cute faces, awwww.
I really like educational and aesthetically pleasing products for children because shopping for my friends with kids is often a nightmare for me. I enter toy stores and exit often feeling stressed out and overwhelmed by the super-sized, loud, even ugly toys available these days. Frustrated with what I find, I've been on the hunt for small, unique toy stores both online and locally to find the gems. Recently while in Germany I found a little family owned toy store with handmade wooden toys and dolls. I loved shopping there, it was so very special and when I gave a few gifts to friends they were delighted.
Now I need your help... I'd like to round up the best shops online for children's toys. If you know of any that sell unique things, please comment with the link below as I may use it in an upcoming post! Thank you so much. And can anyone relate with me on the scary toy store feelings? I don't know... they just don't feel so nice like they did when I was little. (images from house industries)
Posted by: Natalie| February 04, 2009 at 10:17 AM I love Oompa Toys. It was started by a woman who was sick of stepping on toys that lit up and made horrible grating sounds. They have a fabulous selection. Haba toys are my favorite! The Blue Manatee has an amazing selection of books, and King Arthur's Toys is a great toy resource, both in Cincinnati. I love that their offerings tend to be out of the norm. Wingdoodle, in Warner, NH is a fantastic shop. [My mom owns it!] She carries Haba toys, some really wild designer toys from LA, games I've never seen anywhere else and all kinds of cool craft stuff (kids & adults). wingdoodle.com I love HearthSong and Magic Cabin. They carry classic, timeless toys and games. Not hard plastic, in day-glo colors, but simple toys and dolls made of fabric and wood, and which allow children to use their imagination when they play. I tried adding my whole list at once, and got flagged as possible spam. So I'll try adding them a couple at a time. Besides the wonderful options already listed, there's: OK, that worked. So here are my next two: 3. Rosie Hippo. The next two: 5. Petit Flaneur. And yet some more: 7. The toy barns from Streamside Farm. And my last two for now: 9. The board games from The Green Board Game Company. Oh, I just can't resist adding the Hugg-a-Planet and the organic foundlings. Oh, darn - there's also Automoblox and Il Cocco di Mamma. I like Oompa toys, mentioned above, for huge selection of european toys. oh my gosh these are really cute!! |
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I'm not sure if it's small or unique, but I love shopping at Land Of Nod. They were my spot for children's Christmas gifts this year. They have a nice variety of well-designed toys at a variety of prices. That last one was key - when my max was $10-15 for each kid, and I still needed to meet my needs for a thoughtful gift, I could find it there.