Page 37 – Toy Street

Our Royal Bear Is On The Way!

I’m sure you’ve all heard by now that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expecting their third child and we don’t have long to wait until the Duchess gives birth! She will do so at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London where recently barriers were put up and parking has been suspended in preparation for the arrival. The Duke of Cambridge, his son and daughter George and Charlotte were all born in same wing and the incoming addition to the Royal Family will be delivered by the same medical team who delivered Princess Charlotte in 2015.

The Royal Baby will be fifth in line to the throne behind it’s Grandfather Prince Charles, its Dad Prince William, older Brother Prince George and older Sister Princess Charlotte. As you can imagine, the Royal Baby is rather a big deal in Britain. The Royal family is greatly beloved by the majority of UK dwellers so of course here at My Bear Shop we’re going to be celebrating in our own special teddy bear themed way!

Like the royal couple, we’re also expecting a new teddy-shaped arrival to the My Bear Shop family… and conveniently it’s expected around the same time as Kate and Will’s little miracle. So, we’re going to be naming our special royal bear after the Royal Baby. Of course, at this point we don’t know whether the Royal Baby will be a boy or girl and we don’t know whether our bear will be either or what it will be called so we’d love to hear your guesses!

Currently the bookies favourite names include Alice, Elizabeth, Grace, Sophie and Henrietta for a girl or Arthur, Edward, Philip, Frederick or Charles for a boy – we just can’t wait to find out!

In preparation for the royal arrival, we’re looking at our top five favourite royal and majestic bears. Why not celebrate the Royal Baby by getting yourself a royal treat!

1. Mr Bean Guardsmen

Mr Bean is a well-loved British sitcom starring Rowan Atkinson. This Beanie Baby celebrates Ty’s interpretation of Mr Bean’s loving companion bear ‘Teddy’. Today, Teddy is dressed as a guardsman from the Queen’s guard.

2. Princess Di Teddy Bear

This limited edition Steiff bear celebrates the late Princess Diana – an iconic figure of the 20th century. The bear is made from the finest white mohair, is fully jointed, and has sparkling two-tone eyes. The bear’s paws feature the word ‘Diana’ on one paw and ‘Queen of Hearts’ on the other.

3. London Beefeater Bear

This handmade bear by Keel portrays a Beefeater and is the perfect London souvenir. Beefeater’s, also known as the Yeomen Warders of Her Majesty’s Royal Palace, are the ceremonial guards of Buckingham Palace and the Tower of London.

4. London Policeman Bear

Also by Keel, this adorable London Policeman bear is handmade with the finest materials and portrays a slightly cuter version of a London policeman – easily recognised by their famous uniform and hat.

5. London Guardsman Bear

London Guardsman are the personal bodyguards to Her Majesty the Queen of England. The British Army has regiments of both Horse Guards and Foot Guards who are responsible for guarding the Sovereign’s palaces. This bear is handmade by Keel and could be your own personal guardsman!

Keep a look out for our Royal Bear announcement, and in the meantime take a look at our full range of bears!

Top 5 Playmobil Sports Toys

Playmobil really do cover all bases (oops, first sports pun), they have an amazing range of inclusive toys involving different walks of life, history, animals, wildlife and so much more. If there was a medal for diversity Playmobil would definitely get a Gold from us!

Today, we’re going to be looking at the Playmobil Sports collection. We all know the importance of sport and exercise in a child’s life – exercise keeps them fit, healthy and full of energy, whilst sport itself can help children make friends, build self-esteem, learn the importance of teamwork and help them to respect rules and authority. But getting children to join a sports team or start a new activity can be difficult, which is why Playmobil offer a range of toys to get kids interested in sports before they’ve even tried them! Here are our favourites:

1. Biking Trip

This set includes three mountain bikers and their trailer, along with some equipment for a camping trip! You can take the three figures on an exciting ride through the countryside and attach the trailer to the adult’s mountain bike. Cycling is such a simple and easy sport to get into, every child should have the joy of learning to ride a bike!

2. Whitewater Rafters

For those a little more adventurous, the whitewater rafters are ready for a thrilling day out and always make sure they’re wearing their safety equipment. The set comes with two rafters, their raft, helmets and safety gear.

3. Ice hockey Arena

Channel your inner hockey champion, solo or with a friend, and skate into action with this set. The arena includes four players, a sliding score keeper and you can even swivel each goal to defend against your opponents.

4. Country Horseback Ride

Ride off into the sunset with this three pony set including two child figures and one adult figure. The children can ride the two smaller ponies without a saddle and both are equipped with a safety helmet and riding gear.

5. One-On-One Basketball

Practise your dribbling skills with this one-on-one set. Challenge your opponent to a shoot out or enjoy a friendly game with the two available balls. There is a bag for all their kit and the set comes in a blue egg, which is great for keeping all the separate parts together.

Get Into Sport With Playmobil!

Throwback Thursday – Polly Pocket

If you grew up in the 90’s you will have most likely have heard of, or even owned a range of toys from the Polly Pocket collection. Polly Pocket was a tiny doll who originally came in a locket necklace that you could open to reveal Polly herself in a variety of different settings.

Later, larger ‘cases’ arrived on the scene which opened-up into various scenarios including dolls house, wedding chapels and playgrounds etc. Recently I found one of my own old sets and introduced it to my two-year-old niece (keeping a close eye on her as Polly and her friends really are pocket sized!) and she loved it!

So, what happened to Polly Pocket? Let’s take a closer look.

Polly Pocket History

Polly Pocket was first designed by Chris Wiggs in 1983 for his daughter. He went on to produce a small compact house for the doll to live in and in 1989 the first Polly Pocket toys appeared in stores. Produced by Bluebird Toys, the first original Polly Pockets came in lockets that would fit in your pocket (or worn around the neck). The original Polly Pockets were less than half an inch tall which made it easy for her to fit into all sorts of small spaces (and therefore easily lost!).

As time went on Polly Pocket toys became larger in size. With Polly herself still being pocket sized, the plastic cases became much bigger allowing for more adventures. The new larger cases were still designed to be transportable, with most cases coming with a handle. The cases opened, providing a range of different settings for Polly and her friends. These varied from houses to wedding parties. Polly could bend from the waist allowing her to stand straight and sit down as required and the base of the doll was circular which allowed her to slot into various places on the settings.

In 1998 Mattel purchased Polly Pocket from Bluebird Toys and redesigned Polly into a much larger, lifelike doll with more joints and the option of different outfits that could be changeable. In 2002 Mattel stopped producing the smaller range of Polly Pocket and focused solely on the larger dolls.

Unfortunately, in 2006 Mattel had to recall over 4.4 million play sets after a large number of children swallowed lose magnets which ultimately affected the sales and therefore discontinued worldwide in 2015.

The Polly Pocket Collection

Polly Pocket Locket
These were the original Polly Pocket toy and ultimately where the name came from. Polly was originally small enough to fit in your pocket, and if she can fit in your pocket, why not fit her in a locket! These lockets came in a variety of colours and opened to revealing a different setting. Some were laid out like houses, some were gardens, or even a playground, you name it, it could be around your neck.

The Cases
The majority of the Polly Pockets we know and love come in travel friendly cases, with each opening to a different setting. Polly also came with a group of friends to accompany her on her adventure. These were ideal for small children who liked to take their toys everywhere, as they could close the case with everything inside and carry it with the handle. The original Polly Pocket toys that were made by Bluebird Toys have become collectable items, and if they are fully working and in their original packaging, they can be sold for a nice amount on Ebay!

Polly Pocket Redesign
Once Mattel took over Polly Pocket from Bluebird Toys, Polly had a makeover. The Polly figures were larger, and the case designs easier and simpler to use. Along with this, ‘Fashion Polly’ was released with a larger 9.5cm doll with clothes that could be removed and replaced. Mattel also released a range of male dolls to tie in with the Polly Pocket animated film which premiered in 2006.

The Comeback

Guess what? Polly Pocket is making an official comeback later this year! In February 2018 Garrett Sander announced that Polly Pocket was making a comeback but with a slight twist. Still coming in their cases; there will be a range of new scenarios including a ski lodge! Polly herself will still be larger than the original but these dolls will still be small enough to fit in the cases and will also be made of flexible plastic to adapt to any position needed.

There are rumours flying around that the story of Polly would be that with her magical locket she can shrink down to any size (a little nod to the original) and therefore hoping to attract the generation who grew up loving Polly and her pals. They are due to be available US in May 2018. Let’s hope they make it over the pond for Christmas!

Dolls and Figures at Toy Street

My Bear Shop Staff Picks

Here at My Bear Shop, we looooove teddy bears, so it’s no surprise that our hard-working staff members have built up their collections from our extensive range! We know how difficult it can be to choose one special bear amongst the many so we’ve asked some of our staff members which ones are their favourites to try and make your decision that little bit easier!

We cater all for all teddy tastes and our collection is ever expanding, so we know you’ll find what you need (or what you didn’t think you needed).

Snorry The Wolf

Snorry is my favourite because he’s one of our more realistic cuddly toys. He looks like a wolf on a mission, frozen in time whilst howling a message to his wolf buddies! He would definitely be a loyal companion, the alpha of the pack and I’m just dying to take him home with me! Snorry is a Steiff bear so I know he’s lovingly handmade which makes him even more special. – Olivia, Marketing Manager.

Prince

Prince is me in teddy bear form – a jet black unicorn, magical and mystical but with an edge! He looks oh so innocent with his lovable eyes and cute little horn, but he’s also shrouded with mystery. Why is he black, why isn’t he white or pink like unicorns usually are? What’s his story? So many unanswered questions, and that’s what I love about him! Prince is a Kaycee Bear so he’s handmade in the UK and you can just see how much love went into making him! – Caitlin, Digital Marketing Executive

Studio Giraffe

I love this giraffe because it makes me feel like I’m in my own personal zoo! It stands as tall as me and is the perfect (almost) human sized toy to play safari with. When I was younger I always dreamt of having supersized cuddly toys and now Steiff have brought my dreams to life, there’s whole range of Steiff studio animals to choose from! – Sarah, Graphic Designer

Brown Mouse

This little mouse is my absolute favourite! It may be small but it’s so cute and weighted with pellets to give it the feel of holding a real mouse! The quality and attention to detail is outstanding which is true for all Kosen products, it really is like having a pet mouse! Mine sits on my desk and keeps me company all day at work. – Laura, Company Secretary

Pride

This colourful bear always catches my eye with its super soft, thick plush fur and cashmere paw pads. Pride is weighted which makes for great cuddles and he has the most endearing face! Pride is a bit different, but he’s proud of it and that’s what makes him unique! Kaycee Bears have nailed it with this one! – Sophie, Purchasing Officer

We’d love to hear about your favourite bears from My Bear Shop! Why not write for us and check out our amazing range of bears!

Top 5 Easter Cuddly Toys

Why do we give chocolate eggs at Easter? This tradition dates back thousands of years when the church stated that eggs were not allowed to be eaten on the week leading up to Easter, as they were seen as a symbol of ‘re-birth’ and new life. So, to ensure that the eggs did not go to waste – they were saved, decorated and given to children as gifts. The egg decorating became more creative and eventually in France and Germany in the 19^th Century, eggs made of chocolate were created.

So, with Easter around the corner why not mix it up a little bit and treat your nearest and dearest to a cuddly toy? These Easter treats are much healthier than chocolate eggs and are certain to last longer! Here’re five of our favourite Easter cuddly toys.

1. Clicki Chick

What’s Easter without a cuddle yellow chick? This cute little chick comes just hatched from his shell and sports a lovely orange bow. His fluffy fur is a lovely yellow and he is cutely perched on his felt shell.

In true Steiff style, a yellow button label is clipped onto his tail. At 9cm tall, this makes the perfect Easter gift for your little one.

2. Peter Rabbit

This adorable Peter Rabbit soft toy by TY is sure to bring a smile to anyone’s face. With his blue button jacket with his name engraved he is sure to be a hit for any Peter Rabbit fan. This is a perfectly timed gift as well, as you could take him along with you to see the new Peter Rabbit Movie! At My Bear Shop we have a whole selection of Peter Rabbit toys to please all the family.

3. Happy Farm Mini Band

These aren’t just your regular cuddly farm animals, they also play music – what more could you ask for at Easter!? The adorable chick, lamb and pig (by Steiff) will keep everyone entertained for hours with their squeaks, crackles and rattles.

They also come in their own Happy Farm box to keep them safe so no one gets left behind. At 10cm tall, they’re sure to be the perfect addition to your family this Easter.

4. Pearl White Rabbit

This Pearl White Rabbit is sure to melt anyone’s heart. With its big floppy ears and cute pink nose, it’s the perfect addition to your Easter hamper. This cute rabbit, from the TY Attic Treasure collection, is suitable for all ages and is made of lovely soft material. If he does need a wash after all that playing, he can be hand washed and back on his feet in no time.

5. Sherbet Lamb

Last, but certainly not least is the Lovely Soft Lamb from Mary Meyer. This soft plush lamb is perfect for little hands to hold, cuddle and love. It’s ribbed fur is ideal to comfort any small child and being made by Mary Meyer, it’s sure to last for years to come.

Mary Meyer – A Closer Look

We are super excited that we now have the Mary Meyer brand at Toy Street! Mary Meyer has a great collection including animals, bears and even a baby range. Let’s take a look at our new brand in more detail.

History

Mary Meyer was born in New York in 1904. As a little girl her mother taught her to sew, allowing here to fix up the family’s hats, blouses and pants. She had a keen interest in fashion and style came from her father who was the manager of one of the finest hotels in New York City.

She specialised in sewing at school and with this she learnt how to create pincushions in the shapes of animals. Before long people were requesting their own animal pin cushions and from this the idea of stuffed toy animals was made.

In 1930 Mary and her husband decided to set-up a business selling her most popular pieces and although The Great Depression had arrived, leaving New York in economic crisis, the business thrived. Her husband Hans went on the road selling their range of toys and Mary would eagerly await to hear which products were the most popular, so she could make more of them and of course, this was the teddy bear.

In the early 1940’s the Meyer family moved to Vermont and set-up a barn which eventually became their first toy factory and 80 years later the brand and idea is still going strong, being one of the last American stuffed toy companies to move their production overseas.

Mary Meyer Today

Although the production of the Mary Meyer toys now happens outside America, the designs still continue to come from Vermont. With a product library of over 400 toys and over 80 years since the production of the first Mary Meyer toy, the third generation of the Meyer family continue to work for the company.

The brand still has the family feel still at the heart of everything they produce, which is reiterated in their moto to: \”make safe, beautiful family friendly toys.\”

Mary Meyer Collection

The Mary Meyer collection is growing strong and caters for all ages, from babies to adults. Let’s take at the most popular categories:

Animals

The animals range includes a whole host of different creatures including bears, cats and dogs, farm-life, fantasy, jungle and sea life. These come in a range of formats including the lovable soft plush toy as well as baby comforters. The plush toys come in either large (20cm), medium (17cm) or small (11cm) sizes, perfect for any age.

Baby range

Why not purchase a Mary Meyer toy for a new baby in your life? There is a great range that includes mats, blankets and musical toys. There are also rattles and soft plush toys which are sure to be a hit with any baby. For those babies who like different textures there are also a selection of books which have a variety of different fabrics and textures for young children to feel.

Taggies

The Taggies range are a part soother, part activity toy. These small crinkly mats are colourful and fun to feel, and come with a loop that can be easily attached to a pushchair or play mat. They all come with numerous ribbons (tags) attached, perfect for little fingers to play with. They come in a variety of different colours and sizes and there is even a soft plush animal toy range again with ribbons for pure entertainment.

Wubbanub

Wubbanub’s are the perfect combination of a soother and a pacifier. Attached to the small soft stuffed animal is a pacifier allowing children to feel comfort by holding the toy whilst using the pacifier. Having the soft toy attached gives the child something soft and easy to grip on to allowing them to have have more control over the pacifier.

Don’t forget to come over and see the new collection for yourself at Toy Street!

Why I like collecting Charlie Bears

I’m a bit of an eclectic person when it comes to collecting items, e.g. for my collector’s badge when I was in the Brownies I was collecting empty perfume bottles. I used to collect porcelain dolls and postcards. I have always been a collector of cuddly toys and it wasn’t until 2005 when I started to read the Teddy Bear Times magazine that I found an article about Charlie Bears.

It was the unique range of bears and animals that caught my eye. I bought my first Charlie Bear in 2007, called Jacob, whilst I was on holiday in Keswick. If I’m going on holiday or a day trip, I will have a look online to see if the town or city we are visiting has a teddy bear shop. If not, I will purchase a bear online from a stockist instead.

Charlie Bears Collection

The Charlie Bears in my collection are:

Milly.
Mulberry.
Twinky.
Briar Rose Rabbit.
Evie.
Arthur.
Firework – renamed Amethyst or Amy for short.
Timmy.
Edwin.
Charlotte.
Summer.

I’m planning on adding another bear to my Charlie Bears collection in the near future.

Evie came from a stockist in Norwich whilst my Mum and I were on holiday there in 2009. Edwin and Milly came from a stockist in Ramsbottom, in Bury, East Lancashire, during a visit to the town.

I bought Firework, renamed Amethyst, from a well-known toy store in London. My Mum treated me to a weekend away in London one week before a big birthday in 2013. A few months later my Mum and I went on mid-week break to Lytham St Annes and that’s where I got Timmy from.

Arthur, Charlotte (2016) and Mulberry (2014) came from a stockist in York (two day trips and online), whilst both Briar Rose Rabbit and Twinky were purchased from a well-known shopping channel in 2015.

Family Links

For the last 10 years I have been doing my family history research and I will buy a bear that has the same name as an ancestor, or I will rename a bear in memory of a family member. Edwin was my three times Great Grandfather.

I bought Summer, now renamed June, from Charlie Bears direct in December last year in memory of my Grandma’s passing in December 2007, she was born in June 1910. My collection of bears and animals has grown over the years to 50, which include bears from other manufacturers and I have three handmade bears by three different teddy bear makers.

One of these bears is called Lilly May (after my other Grandmother), she is a memory bear made from one of my old pair of jeans and some fabric I had with some ribbon, buttons and a fabric flower. I sent these items to the bear maker by post. Breeze and Robyn Rose are the other hand made bears.

Storyteller

I am a member of their best friend’s club and official Facebook group, which I like being a part of because I can share my stories and photos with like minded people. This is my first time as a blogger, and I’m looking forward to sharing my stories and experiences of collecting teddy bears here at My Bear Shop.

Take a look at our bear collection today!

GUND – A Closer Look

GUND was originally a small toy and novelty company in New York, founded by a German man named Adolf Gund in 1898. Their first products were produced in loft factories on Third Avenue, Broadway, West 19th Street and 42nd Street. By 1922, the company had offices on East Ninth Street.

In 1925, after Gund retired he sold the company to Jacob Swedlin, who had been mentored by Adolf and taught how to cut and make patterns. Swedlin then brought his two brothers on board and the company took off from there.

As of today, the company is run by Jacob’s grandson, Bruce Raiffe, making him the third-generation family owner.

GUND: The Expansion

In the 1970’s, GUND decided to spread internationally by expanding its product line to animals that were popular in other countries. In 1972, President Richard Nixon visited China and the United States was gifted two pandas called Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, this drove up the demand for plush pandas which allowed GUND to expand further.

In 1998, the company made a one-of-a-kind 100^th anniversary bear and is was auctioned to Yoshihiro Sekiguchi for $100,000. The bear was placed in one of Sekiguchi’s three teddy bear museums in Japan and the money was donated to children’s charities. In 2002 the United States Postal Service used a GUND teddy bear from 1948 on a stamp to honour the 100^th anniversary of the Theodore Roosevelt teddy bear.

Today, the teddy bear creators make a long line of stuffed animals, ranging from bears, horses, bunnies and dinosaurs to Grumpy Cat and Boo the Dog.

My Personal Experience

I first came across GUND in 2014, my school had a program for all ninth-grade students where we travelled to three places over three school terms, and during my first term I went to Melbourne, which is only a two hours flight from my home town.

Around half way through the week me and my group stumbled across a small gift shop on one of the main roads which had an array of games, toys, souvenirs and stuffed animals of different brands. A small Labrador-looking dog with a rose in its mouth caught my eye and I knew instantly that I had to get him, I named him Bounder after the name of program: Urban Bound, because I wanted his name to have relevance to the trip.

At the time, I was unaware that GUND animals come with their own names and later found out that his assigned name was Angelo – but Bounder stuck.

Future Collection Additions

There are many more GUND bears and other animals I would like to add to my collection in time. Some of which being: Ronaldo the Panda, Dug the Dog, and Rocco the Fox as well as many more.

Take a look at our bear collection today!

A look at my Pooh Bear Collection

I love our Silly Old Bear, Pooh! My love is for the original Classic Pooh, as so expertly drawn by E.H.Shepard in the Pooh books. He appeared in the first Winnie the Pooh book in 1926, and has been a much loved bear ever since.

I wonder if A.A.Milne ever realised how much joy he had brought to the world with his creation of Pooh. I cannot imagine a world without Pooh to be honest!

Milne set his timeless stories in the beautiful Ashdown Forest, East Sussex, England. The real Pooh places such as Gills Lap (the Enchanted Place), Poohsticks Bridge, Roo’s Sandy Pit etc, can all still be found in the forest today.

My Pooh Collection

I have collected Classic Pooh for most of my life, below are some of my favourite Pooh’s:

Edward Bear – Merrythought Bears

Say hello to Edward Bear by Merrythought, he looks just like Christopher Robin’s original bear. Did you see him in his starring role in the movie “Goodbye Christoper Robin?” He is 18 inches tall, and has gorgeous soft golden mohair fur. He gives a gentle little growl when he is tipped, and gives lovely hugs with his woollen felt paws.

Pooh Balloon

This is Pooh’s Blue Balloon by the very talented American Artist R John Wright. He started his company in 1976 and creates the most realistic, lovable bears and dolls. I love that this Pooh looks very similar to E.H.Shepards original drawings. He is nine inches tall, made of luxurious mohair, and wears his traditional red felt jacket.

Gabrielle Designs

Pooh and Piglet on Poohsticks Bridge, and Pooh with Royal Doultan were created by Gabrielle Designs. Sadly, the English company went out of business quite some time ago. What I especially love about them both is the beautiful presentation box which recreates a scene from the books. Gabrielle’s Designs also made a gorgeous Paddington Bear and his Aunt Lucy.

Paper Craft Cake

As a Mixed Media designer I enjoy many paper crafts, and Classic Pooh regularly features in my creations. I used lots of Pooh rubber stamps on the paper cake above. The Classic Pooh stamps are difficult to find now, but a well known auction site is the best place to hunt for them.

If you would like to craft with stunning Pooh artwork, Cath Kidston have some gorgeous designs made to be printed out and created with.

Pooh Bear

Our Silly Old Bear represents friendship love and understanding. Milne’s stories always contained a moral or life lesson in them. Sadly the real Pooh and friends belonging to Christopher Robin are now kept in New York State library, USA. A friend took this photo for me. Don’t they look sad to be so far from home.

Take a look at our bear collection today!

Anonymous

Easy to order, arrived very quickly, excellent packaging and phone looks good as new.

1 day ago

I’m very happy with everything, there is a mild delay on shipping but I communicated with customer service who contacted me straight back and resolved that. Everything was great, the delivery came on time after that the item was perfect, great price and I’m very happy with everything, thank you.

Ian

Shopping experience was excellent from price, posting and packaging

4 days ago

Helen

Super fast delivery. A great little company *****

5 days ago

Stefanie

Everything fine,thank you so much!

John

Good packaging fast delivery Mint condition. Toy Street has a great selection of board games.

Great prices and speedy delivery.

6 days ago

Susan

Quick delivery parcel intact and item as described on the website

Linda

Quick and efficient, well packaged so no dented boxes.

1 week ago

Katie

Such a lovely website & good range of items. There was a specific brand of toy I was after and found the best selection on the toy street website, will definitely be a returning customer. Item was dispatched and delivered fast.