Beacons Glow Collectibles

A New Partnership - Madame Alexander Dolls and Lee Middleton Dolls

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 04:39:00 +0000

We were quite surprised to read this past Saturday the news that the Madame Alexander Doll Company is purchasing Lee Middleton Dolls. This acquisition was made final on Thursday, March 11, 2010.

The news article can be viewed in its entirety on NewsandSentinel.com.

Since no new 2010 Lee Middleton dolls have been introduced as of yet this year, we had suspicions that something was awry with the financial status of the Lee Middleton Doll Company. This has certainly clarified things for us.

We will certainly keep you posted as to any additional updates that occur and will most probably be carrying these dolls. It will be interesting to see what these dolls will be called. . .

Quote of the Day - "In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet." - Albert Schweitzer

2010 Ginny Dolls by Vogue

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 03:13:00 +0000

Additional 2010 Ginny Dolls have arrived and we expect more to come within the next couple of months.

Per our customers requests, we will be carrying most of the 2010 Ginny Dolls. It is interesting to note that the Vogue Doll Company is leaning towards creating more of the Vintage Ginny dolls than the Modern Ginny dolls of the past. In the past, Modern Ginny dolls were the only type of dolls being manufactured.

Within the 2010 Ginny Doll catalog, there are also several new Mini Ginny dolls. These dolls look to be about the half the size of a usual Vintage or Modern Ginny dolls. At this point we have not ordered any of these Mini Ginnys but if you are interested please do not hesitate to let us know that you are interested. And, of course, we will see what we can do.

As has always been the case, the outfits on the Ginny dolls are very nice and well-made. The consistency between one Ginny doll and the next is excellent.

Quote of the Day - "Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours or ages that follow it." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Steiff Club 2010 Paper Teddy Bear (EAN 421009)

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:05:00 +0000

Steiff Club 2010 Paper Teddy Bear (EAN 421009) has arrived. This uniquely incredible 13 inch replica bear is made from brown paper plush.

Steiff has always been an innovative company. When traditional toy making materials became unavailable after World War II ended, this company used an inventive paper-based plush for both teddybears and animals. Possibly due to export restrictions and national economic hardships, only 19,556 paper plush teddy bears were manufactured over the course of three years during this period of time.

Schulte, a company that has supplied Steiff with fabrics since 1901 succeeded in producing this paper-like substance for Steiff to use for their teddybears and animals. This paper plush used was a wood fiber thread woven into cotton backing. This same paper plush was used for the Steiff Club 2010 Paper Teddy Bear.

This exact replica of a Teddy from this period is the exclusive Steiff Club member piece for the year 2010. A Steiff book is also included with this very special teddy bear.

Quote of the Day - 'Solitude is as needful to the imagination as society is wholesome for the character.' - James Russel Lowell

2010 Madame Alexander Dolls

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:41:00 +0000

We recently received in a shipment of over 70 dolls from the 2010 Madame Alexander Dolls Collection. There are many wonderful dolls to choose from but we were particularly impressed with the additions to their Americana series.

New dolls that we received from this series include:

1.Little Miss Liberty
2. Fly Me to the Moon
3. The Littlest Chef
4. Friends Forever
5. On Top of Spaghetti
6. All that Jazz
7. Loves Me Loves Me Not
8. Rainy Days and Marmalade (with Paddington Bear)

Madame Alexander also introduced some new series within their Play Alexander Collections - Angelina Ballerina, Ramona and Beezus, additional Precious Pinkalicious dolls, additional Fancy Nancy dolls, additional Eloise dolls, additional Madeline dolls, and our personal favorite Rainbow Brite.

Rainbow Brite comes in an 18-inch cloth version as well as an 8-inch vinyl version with a plush Sprite. For those of you that do not remember Rainbow Brite, she was introduced by Hallmark Cards back in 1984 as a character in an animated TV series. Still as colorful and cute as ever. . .

Quote of the Day - "Our truest life is when we are in dreams awake." - Henry David Thoreau

Another Shipment of Charlie Bears Has Arrived

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:39:00 +0000

We are pleased to announce that we received in another much anticipated shipment of Charlie Bears today, and as usual, they are all incredible. This shipment included mostly mohair bears from Charlie Bears Isabelle Collection.

In this shipment, we received in the adorable pair of Annie and Peggy who both take on the appearance of a well-worn and loved teddy bear. (They are pictured at left by the way). We have had several customers inquire about this pair as they are also the featured image in our revolving flash image on the Beacon's Glow Collectibles home page.

No word yet on whether or not Charlie Bears will come out with a Spring Collection this year. We have been told by Charlie Bears that they are running a bit behind on the creation of their bears and we actually still waiting for more bears from the Fall 2009 Collection. A perfect example of the adage "Good things come to those who wait".

Quote of the Day - "Happiness resides not in possessions and not in gold; the feeling of happiness dwells in the soul." - Democritus

Steiff Bears Dinosaur Collection

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:44:00 +0000

Steiff Bears has introduced 5 new dinosaurs made from the finest woven plush, and of course, made in Germany with the famous 'Button in Ear' ear tag.

This adorable collection includes:

1. EAN 066818 Tyrannosaurus Rex (pictured above)
2. EAN 066825 Diplodocus
3. EAN 066832 Stegosaurus
4. EAN 066849 Triceratops
5. EAN 066856 Pteranodon

Incidentally, this is the first time that Steiff has ever produced a collectible-scaled Diplodocus or Pteranodon.

People have always been fascinated with dinosaurs and their mystique. According to Steiff, the word "dinosaur", which comes from the Greek words "terrible lizards", was only invented in 1842 by a British scientist named Richard Owen.

Steiff initially introduced three dinosaur models made of mohair (Tyrannosaurus Rex, Brontosaurus, and Stegosaurus) way back in 1958.

We expect that Steiff will be adding a Brontosaurus dinosaur to this collection in the future.

Quote of the Day - "Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude." - Thomas Jefferson

Jim Shore Home Items

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:05:00 +0000

We are slowly starting to receive in Jim Shore's new Home Collection line.

Our first shipment included 3 different candle warmers, and some really nice Bird Wall hooks.

All of these items still have the same Jim Shore look and feel that we have all come to love, but are functional at the same time.

For those of you who have not tried a candle warmer, these are excellent ways to do away with the soot and mess of burning candles in your home or office. (Not quite sure about you but every time a candle is burned in our house, the soot gets into all of the air conditioning vents and air cleaners. It is quite obvious and makes one wonder if burning a candle might just not be the best thing for one's health).

Anyway, the Jim Shore candle warmers fit both medium and large glass candles perfectly and make a pretty decorative statement on one's counter or table.

Please stay tuned as we gradually get in more of Jim Shore's Home Collection items.

Quote of the Day - "Luck is when an opportunity comes along and you're prepared for it." - Denzel Washington

A Lesson on Steiff Bears "Button in Ear" Ear Tags

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 04:57:00 +0000

Steiff Bear's "Button in Ear" trademark truly distinguishes each and every teddy bear and plush animal as a symbol of ultimate quality for toys. This unique "Button In Ear" trademark was invented in 1904 by Franz Steiff, one of Margarete Steiff's nephews, to distinguish Steiff bears from all others. Since 1904, each and every teddy bear that Steiff has produced has the Steiff trademark button attached to its left ear.

To differentiate between Steiff's various collections, each teddybear and animal produced wears a distinctively colored tag, and additionally a metal embossed button.

As can be seen in the above photo the different types of Buttons are:

1. Original Collection: comprised of a yellow Steiff ear tag with red writing and brass embossed button. Easily recognizable as an authentic Steiff Teddy Bear or Steiff animal.

2. Limited Edition: comprised of a white ear tag with red writing and gold-plated embossed button. Recognized by Steiff collectors as a piece from a limited edition.

3. Replica: comprised of a white ear tag with black writing and silver-plated embossed button. These replica animals are reproduced exactly according to Steiff's historic role models from the past.

Quote of the Day - "Who begins too much accomplishes little." - German Proverb

Facebook and Beacons Glow Collectibles

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:31:00 +0000

Did you know that Beacon's Glow Collectibles has a Facebook page? Facebook is becoming more and more popular with individuals of all ages. Thanks to mobile devices, it is always accessible for those addicted to Facebook.

We recently read that Facebook readers now has reached more than 400 million users. Isn't that quite amazing? (Incidentally, the United States currently has 100 million users). Additionally, the article noted that the average Facebook user spends 55 minutes per day on Facebook. Facebook readership has now greatly surpassed MySpace as the social media medium of choice.

Even more interesting is that the average Facebook user has 130 Facebook friends. Now, that is a lot of friends. (According to British scientist Robin Dunbar, 150 is the theoretical maximum number of actual friend relationships you can sustain).

Have you had the opportunity to check out the Beacons Glow Collectibles Facebook page?

Quote of the Day - "You can't base your life on other people's expectations." - Stevie Wonder

Lee Middleton Dolls Are Back

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 02:41:00 +0000

Thanks to all of you who took our recent survey regarding doll lines you would like to see as well as the expansion of doll lines that we already carry. Several of you indicated that you would like for us to start carrying more Lee Middleton Dolls and we will do just that this year.

At this point in time we have not received any of the new Lee Middleton Doll 2010 Collection but have received in a couple of classic Lee Middleton Artist Studio Dolls. These include:

1. My First Formal (A Reva Schick beauty with an incredibly dressy dress of ivory lace and peach satin)
2. Crystal Fairy (Lee Middleton Doll's first doll with a vinyl chest plate)
3. Happy Birthday Teddy Special Reissue (pictured at left and one of our favorite Lee Middleton Reva Schick face sculpts - "Sweet Lips") Her sparkling green eyes and curly warm auburn hair are quite striking.

We will keep you posted as to when this year's Lee Middleton dolls start arriving.

Thanks again for taking the time to take our survey - all of your responses have proved to be invaluable.

Quote of the Day - "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different". - Coco Chanel

2010 Madame Alexander Dolls

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:21:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:09:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 04:21:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:12:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:11:00 +0000

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)

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:47:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 04:14:00 +0000

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

2010 Bearington Bears Spring Collection

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:13:00 +0000

What a welcome sign during this very cold and dreary winter season! We received in the 2010 Bearington Bears Spring Collection today.

These new bears include Easter plush, Spring plush, and Summer plush and they are all just adorable (and reasonably priced as always).

With more than 40 new bears premiering in this collection, it is difficult to decide on favorites but we will try our best. Bearington have made a bold statement this season with their whimsical characters that feature trendy, bright and vibrant colors. These vibrant colors include lime, turquoise, and hot pink to name just a few.

A very cute Spring collection includes the Goldie & Fish; Gilda and Fish & Chip. Each bear comes dressed in a combination of white and aqua colors complete with either fish embroidery, fish purse, or a fish in a plastic bag accessories. Bearington calls this trio part of the Cubbie Island Boardwalk.

Tippy, Tiny and Tatum Tulip each have embroidered tulips on their outfits and feature hot pink with white polka dot colors.

Bearington has, of course, once again introduced their collection with little dogs. This Spring their choice of dogs is a golden retriever featuring Barkley the plush dog, Blakely and Barkley, and Baxter and Barkley. Baxter and Barkley holds a puppy dog in one arm and the cutest tennis ball in the other.

As is always the case, Bearington's Easter bunnies are wonderful. We have ordered all 15 new introductions this year.

Incidentally, Easter falls quite early in the month of April this year. Easter is April 4th.

Quote of the Day - "The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself." - Benjamin Franklin

Bearington Bears 2010 Valentine's Day Bears are Here

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 04:19:00 +0000

Late today we received in our shipment of the 2010 Valentine's Day Bearington Bears. These are a great collection of Valentine's Day bears that include some old favorites from 2009 as well as several new 2010 bears.

New 2010 Valentine's Day bears include:

Beary in Love
Kisses and Hugs Hearts Galore Set
Landen Lovespell
Love Bug
Vanessa Valentine
Vikki Valentine

These bears can be viewed in two locations on the site:

1. Bearington Bears - 2010 Bearington Bears Collection
2. Holidays & Gifts - Valentine's Day

Incidentally, Valentine's Day falls on a Sunday this year so that will be a nice way for us all to spend a Sunday.

Quote of the Day - "A smile is a light in the window of the soul indicating that the heart is at home." - Anonymous

2010 Boyds Bear of the Month Collection

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 01:45:00 +0000

The 2010 Boyds Bear of the Month Collection is finally here! This year's collection is called "The Gemberary Collection" and differs in a couple of ways from the last several years' Boyds Bear of the Month bears.

Firstly, we have been shipped the entire year's bears so instead of receiving them one month at a time, we have all twelve monthly bears currently in stock. Additionally, these bears are much smaller than their previous counterparts at 8 inches tall. (This makes it easier to display these bears since many of us bear collectors are running out of the room to display our collections).

The Gembeary Collection features shimmering satins, tulles, furs and velour that are accented with beautiful coordinating jewels specific to that birth month. Each elegant outfit reflects the colors and qualities of its birthstone, and therefore, is inspired by the traditional birthstones.

Their names (and SKU numbers) are as follows:

Garney Gembeary January Boyds Bears 4015959
Ava Gembeary February Boyds Bears 4015960
Marina Gembeary March Boyds Bears 4015961
Dazzle Gembeary April Boyds Bears 4015962
Emmie Gembeary May Boyds Bears 4015963
Pearl Gembeary June Boyds Bears 4015964
Ruby Gembeary July Boyds Bears 4015965
Dottie Gembeary August Boyds Bears 4015966
Starr Gembeary September Boyds Bears 4015967
Rosa Gembeary October Boyds Bears 4015968
Goldie Gembeary November Boyds Bears 4015969
Skylar Gembeary December Boyds Bears 4015970

Quote of the Day - "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. " - Leo Buscaglia

2010 UPS Shipping Rates

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:45:00 +0000

Unfortunately, we have gotten word from our usual shipper, UPS, that their rates will be going up in January of the new year. It is interesting to note that both UPS and FedEx are doing one of their largest rate hikes ever. Ouch!

The UPS average rate increase is going to be about 4.9%. UPS Air and International Services will increase a net 4.9% through a combination of a 6.9% increase in the base rates.

This is the part that bothers us the most - "Shippers of light weight packages will see a 5.9% increase. Average increase is calculated on base rates only. Surcharges are also going up, sometimes in a very big way. "

Additionally, the big increase for 2009 is the Address Correction surcharges. Address Correction Air goes from $10.00 to $11.00, Ground increases from $8.00 to $10.00. That is a heavy 25% increase for getting an address wrong. (We do not charge our customers for address correction changes.) We ask that all of our customers be diligent in making sure their addresses are correct before placing orders. Thanks for your help. With these types of UPS increases, every little bit helps for sure.

Quote of the Day - "Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us." - Thomas Paine

Collectibles and Toys with Staying Power

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 04:25:00 +0000

Did you happen to see the interesting article in the latest AARP Bulletin? It was named "Playing for Keeps" and it listed 50 collectibles and toys that have been on the market, pretty much unchanged for more than 50 years. (And, they still sell for under $50.00).

There were many classics listed but the three that really caught our eye were the Barbie Doll, Eloise Doll by Madame Alexander Dolls, and the Steiff Bears Stuffed Chimpanzee. (We weren't quite sure which chimpanzee they were referring to as there weren't any photos of this within the article).

Incidentally, Eloise debuted way back in 1946 by a woman named Kay Thompson. One day she was late for a rehearsal while on a night-club tour. As she arrived, she was asked, "Who do you think you are, coming here five minutes late?" Thompson replied, "I am Eloise. I am six," in a high childish voice. Thompson began entertaining fellow performers with the prattle of the little girl. The other performers each invented a juvenile identity and joined the game. From there, Kay Thompson and Hilary Knight teamed up in 1955 to produce Eloise: A book for precocious grownups which was published on November 28 by Simon and Schuster.

It is uncertain when the Madame Alexander Doll Company started producing Eloise dolls but they have always been quite popular for both children and adults. They have introduced both the 8-inch Eloise dolls and 18-inch cloth Eloise dolls.

Eloise's popularity over the years has been quite astounding.

Quote of the Day - "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." - Mother Teresa

Update on Fall 2009 Charlie Bears

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 22:49:00 +0000

This is the latest news on the delivery of Charlie Bears from the Fall 2009 Collection from Charlie herself:

"Whilst we had hoped to get all the Autumn 09 Collection out to all stockists before the Holidays began, we have sadly been let down by one of our major suppliers which has meant that there are some items still pending Worldwide (inclusive of the UK market). We have also been disappointed by our freight handlers who have been overwhelmed with shipments, resulting in our deliveries arriving much later than planned.

Both our Charlie Bears Factory and UK Bearhouse have literally been working around the clock to sort out as much as we possibly could of these two unforeseen circumstances, but unfortunately some things have shown to be just beyond our control.

We have asked our supplier and freight handlers for priority service in the New Year for which we have been assured that this will happen, so I would like to think that we will be back on track and able to clear all orders early in the new year. We will endeavor to keep you as up to date as we can and are constantly observing ways to enable a smoother growth of our exciting little bears.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our American and Canadian stockists a very happy and prosperous New Year and look forward to building our teddy bear business together in the coming months.

Charlie Bears Limited are aware that we have all been placed in an awkward situation, from us here at Charlie Bears Ltd, through to our stockists and your collectors, as Christmas gift shopping is to be taken seriously. The amazingly warm reception that our 'Bears with Personalities' has created has astounded us all at Charlie Bears Limited.

Hopefully, any recipient of any Charlie Bear plush or Isabelle mohair bear knows that it's a bear for life and will be overjoyed when their bear arrives on their lap!"

We will, of course, keep you posted as to any shipments of Charlie Bears that we receive.

Quote of the Day - "The best changes often start as single, simple thoughts. Think big, and discover how to make your dreams real." - Anonymous

Boyds Bears Spanglers Collection

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:56:00 +0000

We have received in the full set of 5 Boyds Bears from the Spanglers Collection. These bears are all dressed in patriotic colors of red, white and light blue. This is a bit of a variation from the red, white and blue patriotic Boyds bears of the past. Do you remember the "Old Glory" Collection from way back?

This set of bears is perfect for displaying in a group of by themselves year-round.

Their names are:

- Sarah Beth Spangler
- Sydney Spangler
- Emmy Lou Spangler
- Molly Sue Spangler
- Maggie Mae Spangler

(Incidentally, all are shown in the group photo with the exception of Maggie Mae Spangler).

This Spangler Collection by Boyds should definitely be categorized as a classic Boyds Bear Collection.

Quote of the Day - "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing." - Helen Keller

We have the nicest customers

noreply@blogger.com (beaconsglow) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:09:00 +0000

By far, doll collectors and bear collectors are the nicest group of people in existence. They continually amaze us with their kind comments (and, of course, their ability to word things so incredibly).

We got this email over the weekend and without a doubt, have decided that our customers are the best group of people out there.

"I just wanted to thank you for the phone call today, alerting me that these much sought after Favorite Friends Madame Alexander dolls came in over the weekend!! Such personalized service is not all that common anymore, and I wanted you to know how much I appreciate it. Your prompt processing of my order has put my mind at ease, as I now know that my little girl will have a beautiful gift awaiting her on Christmas morning. Also, I have to point out that your prices are less than all of the other online vendors of the same doll. This was a wonderful surprise, and a great added bonus!! Even your shipping charges are less than the others. (I know...I asked!!) So with your personalized service, your lower prices on the dolls and your lower shipping charges, this makes you THE BEST online store that I've come across this Christmas season!! Thank you so much...everything about my shopping experience here has been dearly appreciated. Merry Christmas and best wishes with your business."

Thank you all for your business, and I hope that you and yours have a blessed holiday season!

Quote of the Day - "To find what you seek in the road of life, the best proverb of all is that which says:"Leave no stone unturned." - Edward Bulwer Lytton