droolicious : dolls

Green Baby: Bonjour Monsieur!

Cathy Hale — Sun, 31 May 2009 20:00:00 GMT

Fond of raspberry jam, napping in the sun and reading bedtime stories, Monieur TseTse is an international mystery monster.

This sophisticated little fellow is made from non-toxic, eco-friendly materials, so your little baby can use him as a pal or a teething buddy. He even comes in his own special house. Check him out at Mahar Drygoods.

7 Days of Dolls: Chrissa - American Girls Doll of the Year

SunnyChanel — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:44:00 GMT

There is a reason why American Girl dolls continue to be wildly popular. They aren’t just a doll to give and have collect dust in the corner, these dolls are pert near irresistible to young girls. They are beautifully made, thoughtfully designed and each one has it’s own compelling back story - which is laid out in the companion book that comes with each doll.

Chrissa is ‘girl of the year 2009’. She is a limited edition doll that is only available for one year. Each year, American Girl debuts a new doll to represent ‘today’ and who temporarily joins their roster of characters of America’s historical past. The ‘Girl of the Year’ characters have an ‘inspirational’ back story? What’s Chrissa all about? She’s a young girl from Minnesota who faces of the challenges of a new home, new school, and bullies. But she rises above and gets some good old-fashioned courage and stands up for herself and others. She also apparently likes crafting, texting, swimming and has a pet Llama – all accessories that can be purchased to compliment Chrissa’s world.

The Chrissa doll continues the excellent quality of the American Doll franchise. This 18-inch tall doll has a soft cloth body, vinyl head and limbs and very brushable brown hair. She has a moveable head, arms and legs for a wide array of play options. The thing I like most about the doll is her size, weight and overall feel. She’s huggable, flexible, durable and most importantly, very very playable. For the uninitiated in the cult of the American Girl, this is one of those dolls that kids cherish, love and bond with. You can pick up Chrissa here for $95.

7 Days of Dolls: Pucci Inspired Penelope Peapod

SunnyChanel — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:30:00 GMT

The coolest thing about Penelope Peapod dolls? It’s not just a doll, it’s the way these dolls are carried that really sets it apart. The Penelope Peapod doll comes with it’s own draw string fabric covered basket which not only closes for an easy and stylish doll transport but it doubles as a bed for little Penelope. And style comes easy to the two moms who started this company, one of them was the co-founder of Kate Spade.

Above is Pucci inspired paisley pattern of the Pink Lemonade doll and basket. You can pick one of these up here for $40.

7 Days of Baby Dolls: Les Dollies Get Punky

SunnyChanel — Mon, 25 May 2009 13:00:00 GMT

A majority of dolls for little girls are blonde. Who knows what the ratio is, but blondies rule the toy shelf with princess like power. You could perhaps blame Barbie…or just society as a whole. If you don’t want to get a basic blonde doll for your babe and you’re really not feeling the natural everyday tones of brown, black or auburn hair you can punk it up with a more festive tone of purple.

The Corolle Les Dollies Dolly named Violet is a soft bodied huggable doll with vinyl hands and face. Her dress has a Velcro closure for easy dressing and undressed action. And that hair? Besides being pretty to look at it can be brushed, washed, blow dried (on low heat), curled and styled anyway you’d like. My daughter has this doll which was a gift at her last birthday party. She named her ‘Purple’ (she’s very literal in her doll naming). She loves Purple and sleeps, plays and entertains her often .An interesting bonus? The vinyl for the doll is vanilla scented. You can pick up one of these dolls here for $23.99 and other hair tones like red, pink and striped are available.

Star Kid: Jason Bateman Gives Francesca and Dora a Lift

SunnyChanel — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Jason Bateman is in New York City shooting his new movie The Baster with Jennifer Aniston. When not hamming it up for the cameras, Jason attends to his other gig as his daughter’s favorite mode of transportation. And Jason isn’t just carrying his 2 ½ year old daughter, she opted to bring a friend along.

Here Francesca carries a Dora the Explorer Sleepy Dreams Dora doll by Fisher-Price. This snuggly doll features Dora as a toddler, and a very sleepy on at that. This doll closes her eyes when you lay her down and she also sings a bedtime song, a melody and ten random phrases. The doll also comes with a hairbrush and bedtime storybook. You can pick one up here for $23.99.

Photo: via Just Jared

Mod Dolls for the Girly Girl

SunnyChanel — Fri, 08 May 2009 17:50:00 GMT

I love these dolls. They’re part rag doll, part Goldie Hawn circa Laugh-in, part Carnaby Street cutie. The Ginagirl soft dolls were designed by Gina Garan, the photographer of “This is Bythe” fame. There are four gals in the set: Butter, Nico, Tuesday and Violet. There were only 500 of each of these made. You can pick up the whole gang here for $159.99

Star Baby – Usher, Son and Their Pal Elmo

SunnyChanel — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:30:00 GMT

Singer Usher and Son arrived in LAX with a very special friend – Elmo. Usher carried his 1 ½ year old son Usher Raymond V and his very special pal Tickle Me Elmo. This now classic chuckle filled toy is a favorite for the under three set. Parents? Not so much. My daughter’s own Tickle Me Elmo I slyly hid in a box in the corner of the basement, I just couldn’t take the non-stop canned giggle. If you are strong enough to endure hours and hours of Elmo’s high pitched hi-jinx, you can pick one up here for $39.99.

Photo: Celebrity Baby Scoop

Have A Family Affair With The Ryans

Lisa Estall — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 12:20:00 GMT

You can buy a family! This Ryan’s Room Family Affair Caucasian Doll Set includes 6 family members.

Included is a mom, dad, grandma, grandpa and two kids. I've never seen stuffed dolls of grandparents before. Is there a retirement home furniture set available?

The set is $19.95 and can be played with Ryan’s Room furniture pieces.

Tum: Still to Come from Dano2?

Aaron Burgess — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:30:00 GMT

Tum, Dano2's little phthalate-free cutie inspired by kewpie dolls and other retro babies, has been on my radar for a little while, and even though it's still listed at $0.00 in Dano2's store and apparently passed its March 20 ship date, all signs are pointing to mass disribution soon... I think.

Keep an eye on Dano2's website, and let me know if you spot any Tums out there in the wild. [Dano2]

Fall Preview: Family Baby Making Biz Gets Eco-Friendly

Lisa Mulcahy — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 23:30:00 GMT

It’s refreshing to see a small family business thrive in our mass market world. The Goldberger family has been making dolls for over 90 years and still manages to roll with the times by launching new babies every year that reflect what’s going on in the world. Last year it was the The Sensitive Baby for kids with alergies and The Lavender Dreams baby to calm fussy toddlers. This fall the Goldberger Company is releasing an eco-friendly line of dolls called Seedlings that will ring in at an affordable $10-$15 price range. The surface of the dolls and their clothing are made from all natural fibers and without the use of harsh chemicals. And all of the packaging will be made of recycled materials.

Star Kid: Heidi Klum and Her Dolls

SunnyChanel — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:58:00 GMT

Heidi Klum was spotted at LAX about to jet off with her family. She held hands with her doll of a daughter Leni, who in turn held on to her own doll, of the plastic variety that is. Who is young Leni holding on to? Why a ‘Just Like You’ American Girl doll of course, the go to brand of doll of girls of a certain age.

Here Leni holds tight to the light skinned, light blond hair style who comes wearing the “Star Hoodie Outfit.” You can pick up one of these 18” inch dolls directly from American Girl here. And you can choose between a whole menu of skin, hair and eye colors. $98 here, and for another $14 you can have the doll come with pierced ears and a couple sets of earrings.

Watch Out for These Charming Mermaids

SunnyChanel — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:04:00 GMT

I love mermaids. But really, who doesn’t, right? Pottery Barn is showing their appreciation for these half female, half fish creatures with their brand new Mermaid Plush Dolls. These charming, cute and crafty looking ladies come in two styles. Roxanne the pirate mermaid with her eye-patched octopus and the blonde Juliette with her pet goldfish. Each doll is nine inches tall and is available for $39 from Pottery Barn Kids.

Winkolina Joins the Uglydoll Crew

Aaron Burgess — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:30:00 GMT

Meet Winkolina, the seemingly plain-Jane new Uglydoll whose humble exterior conceals an adventurous spirit just waiting to come out when she joins your family.

Though she's only available for preorder at the moment, Winkolina has a lot to offer when she arrives on your doorstep. Or, as the Uglydoll site describes it: "Winkolina thinks you have nothing but action and adventure locked away, way deep down! Is she right? Are you ready to show the world what you've really got going on in there? Winkolina has 6 cookies, an apple, and 11 tacos in there. What about you?"

Reserve yours now: $20 from Uglydoll.

Polly Won't Hurt Your Pocket This Easter

JeanneSager — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 13:00:00 GMT

I've got a thing for retro toy makeovers.You either love them or you run screaming at the toymakers like Kathy Bates pulling a Towanda. It can be the ultimate betrayal.

Which is why I'm kissing the ground the folks at Mattel walk on at the moment. The newest incarnation of Polly Pocket is pretty darn lovable.

The Polly Designables Doll Packs come with just one doll and her fashion accessories - more like the olden days and less dangerous for your pocketbook. Priced at $5.99 for the individual sets, these are throw-in-the-Easter-basket toys that will make it hard to miss those sugar-laden drive-me-crazy treats.

The fashions are funky but modest (no Barbie boobs busting out of Polly's dresses), and there's enough in one pack to keep them occupied for hours.

Oh, and Mom? You can take a walk down memory lane without embarrassing your kids.

Image: Mattel

Water Babies

Lisa Mulcahy — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 01:00:00 GMT

I have to admit that I find realistic looking baby dolls a little creepy. I must have been scared from some Stephen King movie when I was younger. But I’m sure little girls (and boys) out there probably disagree, so this one’s for them. This doll feels real because you fill her with water.

Wild Planet’s Water Babies, $14.35, are supposed to react to your child’s touch just like a real baby because of the warm water inside. They’re dressed in adorable outfits and come with a handy funnel to get the water in. Hope they also come with a good plug to KEEP the water in.

Playful Doll From The Netherlands

Lisa Estall — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 15:23:00 GMT

A huggable doll made of cotton and fleece, this Esthex Naomi Fuchsia doll was created by a mom in the Netherlands who was inspired by her own...

childhood drawings.

It’s one of Seattle-based Tottini’s favorite items and it’s sold there for $44.

Visit Tottini.

First Look: Dolls for Sporty Girls

Nicole Feliciano — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:30:00 GMT

While we are fully aware that he world’s most glamorous doll is celebrating a birthday this year (the big 5-0), we are smitten with a new girl in town.

Her name is Cassie and she is one of nine new Go!Go! Sports Girls dolls ($22.99). These dolls are designed to help young girls celebrating sport. Running, basketball, swimming, golf and more. The idea is to teach girls it is cool to be strong and active—not just another pretty face.

According to the press materials, Cassie is speedy and loves to score goals. Her favorite position is right forward and her motto is “Dream Big and Go For It!” (lest you forget the message, it is also printed on her tummy for extra inspiration).

We found Cassie and her cohorts at the last Toy Fair and thought this company was onto something good. The 14” dolls are made from a high quality cloth and each character comes with her own sporty accessories (Cassie’s got a soccer ball, towel and backpack). Here’s to seeing more girls in cleats and fewer in high heels!

Star Kid: Violet Goes Slinging

SunnyChanel — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 19:30:00 GMT

Violet Affleck has a new role along with big sister, here he plays mommy. With a new baby in the house, Violet is surely inspired by this new addition of Seraphina - the second daughter of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck . Here Violet carries her own ward, a fuzzy plush animal, in her own baby sling by New Native. This child doll carrier is a mini version of the ultra popular simple sling. You can pick one up in a variety of colors (Violet opted for the violet huh, natch) here for $16.

Photo via Celebrity Baby Scoop

Kimochis: Cute and Expressive

Heather Kuldell — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 17:34:00 GMT

Emotions can be difficult to express when you’re an adult, so imagine how daunting the task is when you’re a child still trying to figure out the difference between sad and mad. Calliope has some super kawaii sets of Kimochis, Japanese dolls designed to help children articulate feelings. Each doll ($25) comes with a storybook three smaller critters that depict different emotions, which kids slip into the larger kimochi’s pouch as they experience them. You can also get sets of six, more complex emotions ($6), including jealous, loved, grateful, scared, shy and a draw your own. If little ones don’t feel like sharing, kimochis can act just like regular ol’ stuffed animals too.

Etsy Alert: Get Jazz E. Jazz for a Song

SunnyChanel — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 06:25:00 GMT

This is a doll to make some sweet beautiful music, visually that is. Etsy Seller Kinkak creates a series of unique handmade dolls like this stunner named Jazz E. Jazz. Mr. Jazz is 15” tall and is made of 100% cotton. This smiley, stylish, and simple doll is one of a kind, so if you are interested, you better act fast! You can pick up this doll for a song at the price of $28 here.

But if Jazz E. Jazz is gone, check out some of the other sweet plush pals, they're all as sweet as this one.

The Star Unicorn – Cute or Creepy?

SunnyChanel — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:00:00 GMT

Is this Star Unicorn plush doll adorable or horrendous? Personally, I just can’t decide, but sadly I can't look away. One part of me says, “man, that has multiple aspects of ugly ” but the other side of me says “awww, it’s soooo cuuuuuute.” Kind of like a pug dog, a newborn baby, or Mickey Rooney, you just can’t decide if it’s cute or creepy.

The Star Unicorn by BeePOSH takes your standard everyday unicorn and then plasters it with hearts, flowers, sunbursts and rainbows. Yeah, that’s a whole lot of cutesy going on.

What do you think? Cute or creepy? If you're thinking cute, you can get one here from FAO Schwarz for $45.

The Babble Review: Three Birthday Present Picks

editors — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 21:27:00 GMT

My daughter turns three today (Happy Birthday Esmé!) and that means this time of year we are working the neighborhood kiddo birthday party circuit. Since we all love cake and revelry, it is awesome. Trying to keep gift ideas fresh for each birthday boy or girl that will be in attendance at every event is a bit more difficult. This year I started early and have three sure-fire picks to make a big splash:

Rubbabu

I’ve given these felt-covered wheelies on more than one occasion. They were especially abundant during last year’s two-year-old celebrations. The first time I stumbled upon these rolling balls of cuteness they only had chubby cars, but this year – fuzzy animals! Ash is getting the blue giraffe. Don’t tell.

Get Rubbabu Fuzzy Cars and Animals at Nico and Zoe.

It’s Fairy Time

Lulu likes to dress up. She also likes to race around the house and jump off furniture so we’re not worried about over-emphasizing her girly side. Estella has a few fantastic things you can throw together for your favorite princess, fairy or whatever role they so choose. Start with a wand, add a fuzzy tiara and complete the outfit with metallic ballet slippers. Score! Also great for Valentine’s Day gifting.

Get wand ($10), tiara ($16) and slippers ($15) at Estella NYC.

Charlie & Lola Talking Dolls

If your giftee doesn’t have the DVDs of this clever and sweet kid show yet, pick up one of those first to get your toddler properly schooled in Charlie and Lola-ese. Then blow their little mind with this talking Lola doll complete with trunk set and a change of clothes. The British accent makes Lola’s plaintive, “I’m not tired and I don’t want to go to bed” sound adorable instead of annoying. Your little ones who dig dress up will love the hanger and drawer option, you’ll love the fact that you can close everything up in one compact case and put it out of site. - April Peveteaux

Get Talking Lola Doll and PJs Trunk Set at FAO Schwarz for $42.

Must-See, Must-Have: Alien Monster Dolls

AmandaHill — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 23:30:00 GMT

Crazy looking dolls are all the rage right now. These Alien Monster Dolls are particularly charming. I love the little red heart sewn on their chests. They come in 12 different colors.

The 12 colors the dolls come in are: Orange, Emerald Green, Red, Lavendar, Royal Blue, Medium Green, Yellow, Bright Pink, Fuschia, Neon Green, Turquoise, and Dark Purple.

They stand at 8" talls, and you can order one for just $10.00 from Marie Meyer's Etsy Shop.

Giveaway Reminder: Muddy Cloud!

Cathy Hale — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:00:00 GMT

Droolicious is giving away fabulous Muddy Cloud dolls and cozy hat & mitten sets! Click here to find out more and enter to win!

5 Best Houses for Your Fairies

SunnyChanel — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 20:30:00 GMT

Got fairies? If so, you’ll need someplace as magical and whimsical as they are to house them. Here are the five best fairy houses for your little sprits and spirits.

Fairy Village, Woodland Tree House by Pottery Barn Kids (above)
If your fairies need a soft landing, the plush Pottery Barn Kids Tree House that feautres a leafy swing and hollowed out tree. The fairies and critters aren't included but the series is on sale and you can get this house for $26.99 (was $39) here.

Fairy Forest Lodge
This hollowed tree stump is perfect for a large fairy clan. It has three floors, a spiral staricase, doors that open and close and windows. You can pick one up here for $99.95.

Fairy House Forests by North American Bear Co.
For those fairies who like to hide, this fairy home closes shut and turns into a shimmering easy to travel with orb. The set comes with two Forest Fairy dolls, a vanity with mushroom stool, flowers shower and a swing. $40 here.

Summergreen Elf House by Schleich
This plastic elf (or fairy) house is super duable so it can live inside or out. You can pick one up for $75 from FAO Schwarz

Melissa and Doug Tree House
Now here is a deluxe home for your family fairies and elves. This multi levil tree house includes a hammock, a porch swing, a table with two chairs, and a trap door. It's a biggies measuring in at 35 x 27 x 42. You can pick one up here for $103.99.