I am really loving that Natalie’s swim meets have been in fun places recently and have given us the opportunity to take in some extra doll goodness along with her swim. If you remember, a few weeks ago we ended up at the American Girl store at Tysons after one of her meets and Saturday we realized that The Toy Shoppe was only 15 minutes from the pool she was at.  The Toy Shoppe is a unique store that is owned by award winning doll retailers Danny and Barrie Shapiro and their family since 1975. Their store has collectible dolls and bears for every age and price range – from less than $50 to well into the thousands of dollars. However, that is not what makes The Toy Shoppe special – it is the incredible collection of dolls they select for their customers that is what sets them apart. They don’t work with just any doll maker or artist – they are very selective.

When we arrived at The Toy Shoppe we were greeted by Kathy who welcomed us and instantly made us feel at home. She gave us the basic overview of the store and showed us the Gallery. The dolls in the gallery are so special and so expensive that I know for a fact I will never own one, but they were simply amazing to look at. Some were very life-like and others somewhat artistic and abstract, some you wanted to just scoop up and others Natalie thought were a little creepy, but that is the thing about dolls – their appeal is so individualized and there is something for everyone.

This is a Paddington Bear by R. John Wright that was made in 2000. He is 15″ tall and fully poseable. I have loved Paddington ever since I was a child and this has to be one of the most divine Paddington Bear’s I have seen yet. Most of R. John Wright’s creations are inspired by popular children’s books, illustrations and stories. They are licensed and R. John Wright goes to extreme lengths to capture every last detail in his work.

The Toy Shoppe carries quite a bit of Madame Alexander – from the play doll line up to the most collectible items. I just had to take a picture of the Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz dolls as Natalie just got the miniature versions of these from Aunt Kay last week.

Some of the Madame Alexander Cissy dolls including A Dark Dream Cissy, Envy Cissy and Simply Irresistible Cissy – and of course, an 18″ Favorite Friends doll, too. While Natalie and I were checking out the Madame Alexander’s and the Steiff bears, we met Dana. Dana manages The Toy Shoppe Facebook page and I had left her a note the day before saying we would be down to visit. She was so much fun to talk to and so knowledgeable as well.

We continued to make our way around the store – completely overwhelmed by the diversity of dolls, bears and plush animals – as well as the incredible talent that went into making so many of the dolls. This photo shows that diversity.

Barrie, one of the stores owners, also came out to talk with us and show us around the store. This is a photo of a small piece of Barrie’s desk. Her entire office was DOLLS, DOLL, BEARS, DOLLS, and more, you guessed it, DOLLS. I’m not sure I could work in there – I’d want to play all day, but it did actually inspire me to look at my own desk and how I can rearrange things to showcase more of my own growing collection and have all those sweet little faces keeping me company all day.

Barrie introduced me to the dolls of Helen Kish. This is High Flying Raven, a 14″ ball jointed doll with 13 points of articulation. I just fell in love with this doll – especially her face, but Helen’s version of the aviator outfit on her is just adorable. High Flying Raven is $340, which is a bit out of my price range for the time being, but it is nice to know that The Toy Shoppe can do payment plans in case there is a doll you just have to add to your collection.

Barrie showed us more of the R. John Wright collection and they are truly lifelike renditions of the original – possibly even better. This is Alice in Wonderland. She is not the Disney-fied cartoony version, rather more like the original artist drawings. Every detail – down to the stripes in her socks – are created with care. Isn’t she something?

I forgot to get the name of this lifesize cutie – but she is just another example of what I mean by there is something for everyone at The Toy Shoppe.

The Toy Shoppe carries play dolls too – from the Adora 4 Ever Friends line to the jr. collector line by Sonja Hartmann called Kidz’nCats. This is Tinka from the Kidz’nCats line. They are 18″ slim body dolls very similar to the Carpatina slim body line. They have gorgeous facial features, including the longest eyelashes ever. The Carpatina slim body dolls can move their heads as well as their arms and legs, but the Kidz’nCats dolls are articulated so they can bend in many more places. We fell in love with one of Tinka’s friends – Galina – and brought her home. We will be doing a post just on Galina with some great side by sides of the other 18″ dolls, too.

You can see more photos from our visit on the DollDiaries Facebook page.

I would like to thank Barrie, Danny, Dana and especially Kathy (as she and Natalie did quite a bit of doll talk on their own) for such a warm welcome and tour of their gem of a store! I look forward to our next visit!

I love surprises, don’t you?

Yesterday when the mail came there was box…

I was not expecting any packages, so when I read the return label I started doing the happy dance. Remember my visit with Natalie to Aunt Kay’s – the one with the huge Barbie collection? Well out of the blue, Kay had sent us a box!

Kay is a grandmother and her husband passed away a few years ago. Kay was so touched by our visit and seeing the joy that Natalie found in the dolls that she spent the next 10 days rearranging her doll cabinets and displays – 24 of the 28 displays to be exact!! Every doll was removed, looked at and some new ones came out and others found new groupings to be with. She had been re-energized.

In the midst of her rearranging, Kay found some duplicates of her Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz Happy Meal dolls. She knew that Natalie loved the little Kelly size Barbies and thought these little gems would go well with the nine Kelly dolls she gave Natalie when we visited last month. There was a 2007 set and a 2008 set – the one’s Natalie got are from both sets.

Here’s the whole group of the Madame Alexander Oz minis.

The Wicked Witch of the West, the Wicked Witch of the East, Glinda the Good Witch and the Winged Monkey.

The Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, Dorothy (and Toto in the basket), and the Tin Man.

Cowardly Lion, Dorothy (and Toto in the basket), Tin Man, Lullaby Munchkin and Lollipop Munchkin

Also in the box were some full size Barbies and two MyScene dolls.

In the box were five more dolls. From left to right – Corduroy Cool Teresa from 1999, an unknown Barbie with Polly-Pocket like rubber clothes, MyScene Barbie and her boyfriend River, and the Spot Scene Barbie from 2001.

I am not a fan of the My Scene Barbie line at all, but the other dolls are neat. I especially like Teresa and Kay remembered that when we were there last month I just kept coming back to this Teresa doll – we were trying to figure out which one she was and when we left, I still didn’t know. Teresa was packed in the box with her stand and I happened to notice writing on the bottom of the stand. Smart Kay! She had written the name of the doll and the year on the bottom of the stand! So she is from the Corduroy Cool Barbie set from 1999. She’s not a high-end Barbie, by any means, but I go back to what Kay and Sandi Holder from the Doll Attic have said more than once – “collect the dolls YOU like and the ones that make YOU happy.” This Teresa does just that!

Kay says Teresa reminds her of me. Teresa is going to be a cherished part of my collection for years to come!!

Thank you so much Kay and I can not wait to visit you again!

I just finished reading a really interesting article in the Wall Street Journal, Attack of the Tall Dolls – Toy Companies Make Them Bigger to Keep Girls Playing With Them Longer, that talks about how the various toy companies are making dolls taller in attempt to help girls see their dolls more as companions and therefore play with them longer. As a phenomenon called “age compression” continues to occur with our society, what were activities generally enjoyed by 9-11 year olds are now the hits among 7-9 year olds. Girls are giving up baby dolls sooner – often by 7 – and hair styles, fashion and dolls with common interests are winning out with the 7-11 set.

So, what are the hot 18″ doll lines for girls ages 6-11 this Christmas?

	American Girl continues to lead the pack when it comes to “companion” dolls with its line of 18″ dolls that are meant to be a girls’ best friend. Their line of historical dolls and books are also popular with girls and Moms, alike. At $95 each, they are definitely pricey, but the dolls are high quality and can easily become keepsakes. American Girl released its online world, InnerstarU this summer as another way to keep today’s plugged in girls interested in their dolls a little longer. American Girl dolls are only available at AmericanGirl.com or at one of the nine American Girl stores.
	Best Friends Club, Ink dolls were introduced last fall, were a huge seller for Christmas 2009 and I fully expect the line to be a big seller again this holiday season! The BFC, Ink dolls are 18″ tall, have realistic eyes, bendable knees, wear contemporary clothes and come with a journal and a second outfit – all for a very affordable $40 (approx.) price tag. You can find the Best Friends Club dolls at major retailers such as Walmart and Target, but Amazon seems to have the most complete selection of the dolls and their accessories. (click for complete BFC collection at Amazon)
	Journey Girls, a new line of 18″ dolls from Toys R Us, features four different dolls each with different talents who like to do different things. Callie, Meredith, Alana and Taryn are the four different soft-bodied dolls. There is a line of clothes and accessories that is available for each doll as well.
	Disney’s attempt to keep doll fans playing with its products longer is its new line of Princess and Me 18″ dolls featuring its five most popular princesses – Tiana, Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella and Belle. Each doll retails for about $50 and comes with an exclusive Disney Princess and Me magazine filled with a full-color photos, princess tips, princess quiz and royal ideas and an honorary princess certificate, plus additional accessories. The dolls are available through the Disney Store and you can purchase the Disney Princess and Me dolls through Amazon, too.
	The Kahn Lancaster Lucas group has introduced a line of 18″ dolls along with a line of doll and matching girl sized outfits. The dolls are manufactured by the legendary Alexander Co. and the dolls look very similar to the Favorite Friend line they had last year. The Dollie & Me dolls can be purchased at Sears.com (or in stores) and the line of matching doll and girl dresses can be found at Kohls and Amazon.
	Maplelea Girls are a line of 18″ dolls inspired by the girls of Canada. The collection of five dolls representing the girls from the various Canadian regions are high quality, 18? vinyl play dolls. Taryn, Brianne, Alexi, Jenna and Léonie. Maplelea dolls also have a complete line of furniture, clothes and accessories that go with the girls. You can read our complete review of the Maplelea Girl dolls here.

Other doll lines that are expected to be popular this holiday season also include:

• Moxie Teenz (14″ dolls)
• Barbie Fashionistas (11″ dolls)
• Karito Kids Giving Girls (21″ dolls)
• My Twinn The Just Like Me Doll: www.mytwinn.com (21″ dolls)

Did you know that the Madame Alexander doll headquarters is still in Harlem, NY and you can take a tour of the 600 doll Heritage Gallery (also referred to as the museum), have a birthday party there , view their design process, and visit the company store??? I wish I would have known about this when we visited New York a few years ago. And, it will definitely be on my itinerary the next time we are in New York.

Just in time for its 87th birthday, the Madame Alexander website has just be re-launched. It is not only a great resource for collectors, but it has an online store and contains all the information you need for booking a tour, birthday party or getting the latest company news.

Some interesting Madame Alexander doll facts:

• Beatrice Alexander Behrman founded the Alexander Doll Co. out of her kitchen in 1923.
• Her father, Maurice, founded what is believed to be America’s first doll hospital on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
• The Madame Alexander doll partnerships with Fifth Avenue toy retailer FAO Schwarz began in 1923  and it’s partnership with Walt Disney started in 1933.
• In 1940s, Madame Alexander dolls were the first dolls with “sleep” eyes that open and close.
• Over 6,500+ Madame Alexander dolls have been produced with only a few different face molds – the dolls originality lies in the various costumes.

Sources: The Making of a Madame Alexander Doll,  MadameAlexander.com, Doll Reference

Some of my favorite Madame Alexander dolls that are available now are:

Madame Alexander Itty Bitty Birthday Girl – Blonde 8-inch Doll My First Baby Flower Doll 12" by Madame Alexander Madame Alexander Fashion Doll With Poodle: Poodle-Licious Madame Alexander My First Christmas With Lenox Doll Madame Alexander Holiday Parade Ballerina 8-inch Doll Madame Alexander On Top Of Spaghetti 8-inch Doll Madame Alexander Fly Me To The Moon 8-inch Doll Madeline with Genevieve 8" by Madame Alexander Madame Alexander Littlest Chef 8-inch Doll Madame Alexander Friends Forever 8-inch Doll Madame Alexander Graduation Day – Redhead 8-inch Doll Madame Alexander Ireland 8-inch Doll

So, we are snowed in which is fine as far as my kids are concerned. My daughter has been playing with her dolls just about all day.

She just came “driving” through my office with Chrissa and her latest addition to the dolly family – Ashley the Madame Alexander Favorite Friends doll in the Build-a-Bear’s little red sports car! (We ordered the Madame Alexander Favorite Friends doll from Emily Rose on the 15th and she arrived Friday – now that was fast!!)

Ashley, her Madame Alexander doll is too cute! She absolutely loves her and has toted her around all weekend. Here is another picture of Ashley and Chrissa.

The Madame Alexander Favorite Friends dolls are supposedly 18″ dolls, but as you can see, Ashley is bigger than Chrissa. The face molds are cute but very different than the American Girl ones. The Favorite Friends dolls have soft bodies but they are different than the American Girl bodies – the harder vinyl portion goes down to about her armpits. They have very brushable hair and the American Girl doll clothes do fit (depending on the outfit).

Madame Alexander has released a line of 18″ dolls that are very similar in size and stature to American Girl Dolls. The dolls have rooted, styleable hair, and are articulated at the neck, shoulders and hips so they can be posed. They are also soft-bodied dolls. The Madame Alexander Favorite Friends are also very affordable at about $40 each.

You can also find the Madame Alexander Favorite Friends dolls at Emily Rose and Amazon.

My daughter had a really hard time deciding which one she would pick – but seems very partial to the one wearing the pink boots! How about you?

It’s that time of year and what a fun memento for a doll loving graduate than one of these dolls!

Barbie

Barbie (Barbie Graduation Doll 2009 (Caucasian) Pink Cap & Gown) and her friend Nikki (Barbie Graduation Doll Nikki 2009 (AA) Pink Cap & Gown) are graduating this year in pink!  They are sold as keepsake dolls and have a pink cap and gown, sash and  brush.

High School Musical

Perfect for the drama club member or just a big High School Musical fan, all the main HSM characters are available in graduation garb.

• Mattel High School Musical 3 Grad Troy
• Mattel High School Musical 3 Grad Gabriella
• Mattel High School Musical 3 Grad Sharpay
• Mattel High School Musical 3 Grad Ryan
• Mattel High School Musical 3 Grad Kelsie
• Mattel High School Musical 3 Grad Chad

It looks like these are also being sold in sets as well.

Madame Alexander

These 8″ cuties truly are keepsakes! Available in a variety of hair colors and skin tones, too.

• Madame Alexander 8 Inch Special Occasions Collection Doll – Graduation Day Brunette
• Graduation Day Blonde Hair Madame Alexander Doll

Kewpie

Vintage dolls never go out of style! Kewpie is ready to celebrate graduation in either a white gown (Kewpie Graduation in White) or a black one (Kewpie Graduation in Black).

Which one is your favorite?

Little girls, ages 3-6 love dolls. They are old enough to start role playing and have fun being “mommy” and caring for their dolls. My daughter has always loved playing with her dolls, pretending to take them to the mall, caring for them when they are sick, and setting up birthday parties for them.

One of the most important things to keep in mind when buying a doll for play is its durability. Dolls are meant to be played with and sometimes the more basic dolls are the ones that get the most play.

My recommendations for the best dolls for girls ages 3-6 are:

Bitty Baby by American Girl

Bitty Baby is a girls’ first best friend (see photo above). My daughter got her Bitty at age 3 from Santa and the two of them have been best pals since. Even now, as she is about to turn 7, Bitty Baby is still her favorite and she has been all over the world. Bitty Baby is 15″ tall, starts at $42 and can be ordered directly from American Girl.

Bitty Twins by American Girl

The toddler version of Bitty Baby, the Bitty Twins have longer hair that girls can brush and style. That is part of their appeal. The Bitty Twin accessories are also geared more toward the Preschool/Kindergarten age and include a bed, kitchen, potty training set, and more. The Twins are exactly the same size as Bitty Baby – 15″. You can order the Bitty Twins (who come in a variety of skin color combinations and there is also a boy twin) directly from American Girl.

My Twinn Baby

The My Twinn Baby doll is 15″ long and comes in different combinations of skin/eye color. When you order the My Twinn Baby doll you can name it and they will personalize baby’s bib with its name.

Penelope Peapod

Penelope Peapod (shown Penelope Peapod Picnics in the Park Doll with Basket) is just the cutest thing! Her bassinet quickly turns into a purse making Penelope Peapod easy to take EVERYWHERE. She is available in a variety of colors and oh so cute. Her design is based on an old-fashioned, grandmother-made design and she is an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Medal Winner.

Corolle dolls

Corolle is definitely one of my favorite doll manufacturers! They have a huge selection of dolls for girls of all ages. We have a few that we have had since my 10 year old was 3 and 4 that were vanilla scented. They still have their scent and my daughter has such fond memories of Baby Judy and her friend. The Corolle Tidoo Bright Doll shown here is completely water tight and lightweight which makes her a bath safe doll. Actually the entire Tidoo line are crafted specifically so they can be taken in the tub and dry quickly. See a large selection of Corolle dolls.

Madame Alexander Baby

The Madame Alexander Baby Cuddles series are 14″ cuddly baby dolls that are available in a variety of sets. You can get her feeding set, windy day set, and others. She is just so cute though!

And even more great choices for the best dolls for girls ages 3-6:

Paul Drink-and-Wet Bath Baby Minireves Confettis Baby Doll by Corolle Mary Meyer TAGGIES Baby Doll Corolle Calin Yang Asian Baby Doll Corolle Calin Naima African American Baby Doll Corolle Babipouce Pink Striped 11-inch Baby Doll – Babicorolle Collection Corolle Calin Sorbet 12-inch Baby Doll – Mon Premier Collection Corolle 2011 Suce Pouce Blue Les Classiques 14" Baby Doll Corolle Minireves Bright Striped 6-inch Plush Baby Doll Corolle Interactive 17 inch Lia Baby Doll Corolle Miss Grenadine First Soft Baby Doll Corolle Bebe Charmeur 14 inch Baby Doll Corolle P’Tit Ange First Baby Doll Corolle Emma Drink-and-Wet Bath Baby Doll Corolle Bebe Do Mode 14-inch Baby Doll – Les Classiques Collection Corolle Bebe Tresor Les Fonctions 14" Baby Doll Corolle 2011 Suce Pouce Pink Les Classiques 14" Baby Doll Corolle Paul Drink-and-Wet Bath Baby Doll Miss Corolle Camille Equestrienne 13-inch Doll Corolle P’Tit Ange 12-inch Baby Doll – Les Classiques Collection Corolle Babipouce Asian 11-inch Baby Doll – Babicorolle Collection

Talk to any girly, girl 4-7 year old these days and chances are she can tell you all about Fancy Nancy – a character in a book series by Jane O’Connor. Fancy Nancy is a precocious little girl who loves dressing up, pink, and everything over the top. On my printables site, the Fancy Nancy printables page is one of the most popular pages and every time we go to the book store my daughter is looking to see if there is anything new in the Fancy Nancy collection.

When it comes to reading, my daughter’s favorite Fancy Nancy books are:

• Fancy Nancy Sees Stars (I Can Read Book 1)
• Fancy Nancy at the Museum (I Can Read Book 1)
• Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris (I Can Read Book 1)

Fancy Nancy is also one of the most popular birthday party themes for little girls right now! Favors include tiaras, boas, and lots of fun and funky pink! Use the printables we listed above, some great Fancy Nancy party supplies and your imagination for a party all the girls will love.

We have scoured the web for the cutest Fancy Nancy party supplies, dolls, games, books and activities – just for you!