Spring Cleaning

I was browsing etsy.com the other day, and happened upon this.

From seller Little Pink Sparkles, here’s a bowl constructed of those classic Green Army Men.  The artist warns that, if you actually put anything into the bowl, it may break:

This bowl is meant for decoration, display, and holding light objects only. Although the bowl is pieced together precisely in order for the army men to attach; the bowl is still fragile and may break if too much weight is placed on or inside of the bowl.

So essentially this is a whole pile of those army men, the ones that cause so much pain when you step on them while you’re walking through the house in your bare feet; only now they are glued together.  To form a bowl that you can’t put anything in.  You can buy it from the artist’s store here.  For $30.00.

Now I’m going upstairs to clean out the kids’ toybox.  Maybe I’ll be able to find enough Lego to fashion some slightly leaky and multi-coloured wine glasses …

The Blog is Moving …

The blog has now been relocated to the following address:

www.scalliwagtoys.ca/blog

We’ll leave the archives here for a while (although they are all at the new address as well).  But if you’re looking for new posts, that’s where you’ll find ‘em.

Upcoming Web Store Update #1

Our (Possibly Temporary) Logo

We are smack-dab in the middle of building the new web store.  If you go to the store URL (http://www.scalliwagtoys.ca) you will find a place-holder page that says

The store is closed

We are temporarily closed for maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience. Please check back soon.

I am planning to edit that rather impersonal blurb (it came with the software) as soon as I get a moment to spell out a few more details, such as when we expect to open the store (mid-June, for those who can’t wait to find out) and where one can go for information in the meantime (here at the blog, for one, and the store’s Facebook page [search for Scalliwag Toys] for another.)

Getting the web store together is a fairly daunting task.  There are tons of permissions to set, and choices to make, just to make the thing function properly–and that’s without putting a single item into the inventory!  And even a seemingly simple chore (such as changing a logo) can consume huge amounts of time (It’s not working!  Why isn’t it working?!  No, wait–it DID work!  But now this part doesn’t work!  Arrrggghhh!)

What we are aiming for here is a fairly clean-looking and functional web store, where customers can shop (or browse, of course) for toys and games at their convenience. The software that we are using is very robust and extremely flexible, and we are confident that, once we get everything running, it will serve us all well.  Customers will be able to shop and to rate items, using a star system and adding a short personal review, if they so choose.  We will be able to post all kinds of information for products, from links to lost instruction sheets for games, and customers will have access to referral forms and wish lists.

In case anyone is wondering why the web store won’t be ready for another five or six weeks, it’s because we are taking that time to fine-tune the inventory.  We’re ordering in some of our old favorites (which many will already have seen in the bricks-and-mortar store) as well as some new and interesting products.  We’ll also be attending a trade show in June (the annual American Specialty Toy Retail Marketplace) at which we will meet with suppliers both old and new–and we’re hoping that there will be some really amazing “latest and greatest” type of stuff that we can add at the last minute.

So, this is definitely still a work in progress, but we are moving toward the goal.

We’ll keep you posted.

“Don’t Be An Art Critic….”

“… Paint.  There lies salvation.”
Paul Cezanne

April 2012 marks the biggest overhaul yet of Games Workshop’s already-formidable system of paints and technical materials for its Warhammer miniatures.

Not only has GW increased the sheer range of colours available to the miniatures artist, it has introduced an efficient painting protocol–by means of different types of paint–that will streamline the painting process, making it not only more efficient but also more pleasurable.

The core of the new line is the range of Base colours, heavily-pigmented paints akin to the old Foundation colours, but in a dizzying array of beautiful shades as opposed to the Foundations’ muddy hues.  These 34 Base colours will cover black or white undercoating in a single layer, eliminating the need to paint and re-paint spray-bombed models in order to cover streaky results.  Colours range from a beautifully-opaque white through a full palette of reds, blues, greens, ochres, yellows, and four metallics.

The next step in the painting process calls upon the 70 colours in the Layer range.  These are slightly more translucent colours than the Bases, and are designed to be applied full-strength over the Base without any mixing.  This broad array of colours to choose from ensures that just the right highlights can be chosen, and the fact that no mixing is required means that model after model will have exactly the same tones, no matter how many days elapse between painting sessions.

The 12 different Shades are specially formulated to glide over other paint layers, and to flow into the recesses of your models, providing effective and controllable shading.  No more erratic and blobby inks to dry with uncontrolled blotches of pigment just where you don’t want them!

The new Dry range has a thicker consistency than the rest, ensuring that less paint will be wasted by wiping the brush while drybrushing.  Fifteen colours ensure that highlights can be picked out quickly and effectively.

The new Glazes are translucent colours (red, yellow, blue, green) that can be washed across a painted area to augment the colour beneath.  They can be used to great effect over the metallics, giving a tint of colour (blood-stained weaponry, anyone?).

The four new Textures solve the problem of basing by combining a gritty texture material with a coloured medium.  One-coat coverage means bases are quickly tournament-ready!

The four new Technicals extend the range even further.  The first, Lahmian Medium, is a colourless medium that can be combined with any of the Layers to form a custom-tinted glaze.  It can also be used straight out of the jar as a sealant, forming an invisible matte finish over transfers and decals.  The second of the Technicals is an old friend, ‘Ardcoat, which can be used to create a gloss shine on areas that need it.  ‘Ardcoat also provides a smooth surface for application of decals and transfers.  The third Technical is Imperial Primer, a black liquid primer designed for undercoating fiddly areas or touchups.  And, finally, the fourth Technical is Liquid Green Stuff, that essential tool for filling gaps during model builds and mods.  It’s water-based, so it can be easily applied with an ordinary paintbrush (remember to wash it out afterwards, though, or it will set up hard as rock).

Gorgeous new GW colours … beautiful new Warhammer 40K and Fantasy models … a marriage made in heaven.  Ensure salvation this year by trying out these amazing new paints!

Citius, Altius, Fortius* And Smurfs

* Faster, Higher, Stronger (motto of the Olympic Games)

In just 90 short days, the 2012 Summer Olympics will open in London, and the world will once again find itself sitting on its sofa in front of the television, intently watching athletes from all around the globe (most of whom they will never have heard of before) compete in sports from archery to wrestling.

Not surprisingly, the British in general and Londoners in particular are bracing for the influx of athletes and spectators, for the crowds and the traffic and the spikes in hotel rates and restaurant costs.

What the world in general may not have counted upon, however, is the arrival of the tiniest athletic delegation of all.  The question for 2012 is:  Has the Olympic movement made provision for the Smurfs?  Because they are already here.

New from Schleich in 2012 are ten Olympic-themed Smurfs.  They represent sporting traditions from the equestrian ring to the swimming pool, and the designs are full of the cheeky humour we’ve come to expect (check out the Usain Bolt-type gold spikes on the sprinter!)

These ten little athletes will be wonderful souvenirs of this summer’s games!

In stock now.

CPSC Recall Notice: Whoozit® Starry Time Rattle

Press release dated 26 April 2012 from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (see below for photo):

Manhattan Group Recalls Baby Rattles Due to Choking Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Whoozit® Starry Time Rattle

Units: About 3,000 in the United States and 150 in Canada

Importer: Manhattan Group LLC, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Hazard: The clear spheres on each end of the rattle can break, releasing small parts, posing a choking hazard to small children.

Injuries/Incidents: Manhattan Group has received two reports of rattles breaking. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Whoozit® Starry Time baby rattles. The plastic rattles feature three colored (orange, aqua blue and purple) stars stacked front to back between two clear spheres on a flexible stem. The rattle measures about 5-1/2-inches long. Each clear ball, located at the end of the rattle, measures 1-3/4 inches in diameter. The clear rattles contain small multi-colored beads and a white plastic disc featuring a blue smiling character face inside. The name of the product is printed on the hang tag.

Sold at: Specialty toy and baby stores nationwide, in Canada, and online at www.manhattantoy.com from September 2011 through March 2012 for about $15.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately take these rattles away from young children and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Manhattan Group toll-free at (800) 541-1345 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.manhattantoy.com

Note: Health Canada’s press release is available at http://cpsr-rspc.hc-sc.gc.ca/PR-RP/recall-retrait-eng.jsp?re_id=1590

This is an information-only post.  We have never stocked this rattle in the store.

New Web Store Coming!

I am hard at work right now building a real e-commerce store out of our website at  www.scalliwagtoys.ca.  Up until now, this has been a purely informational site, largely because in the past I found the whole idea of choosing shopping cart software, arranging payment gateways, and the store-building process pretty daunting.  Now, however, we have finally found some e-commerce software that seems to make the process do-able.

Customers will be able to browse and buy toys, games, puzzles, and other interesting stuff on the site.  We will be able to accept payment by VISA, MasterCard, and PayPal (maybe American Express, too–I’m not sure about that one).  We will be shipping purchases to our customers across Canada and the United States (although local folks may be able to pick up their purchases at the store.)  We’ll also be incorporating this blog into the site somehow, so it will all be at the same URL.  We’ll bring all the archived posts and so on with us (I hope), or, if we can’t, we’ll at least be sure to leave a breadcrumb trail to them!

This is a huge project for us–it’s tantamount to opening another store–but we are very excited by the prospect.  We’ve had lots of customers tell us that this is what they would like to see–that they would like to be able to buy from us online as well as browse–and we’re listening.  We’re hoping to have the whole thing up and running by the beginning of July 2012, although we’ll keep you posted.

A Long Time Ago In a Galaxy Far, Far Away …

Believe it or not, we’re coming up on the 35th anniversary of the original Star Wars movie release in 1977 (the actual date is 25 May, in case you want to plan a party or something.)  The Star Wars movies — regardless of what critics might think of their artistic merits — have had an enormous impact on popular culture in general, and on toys and children’s products in particular.  Star Wars imagery and snippets of dialogue are licensed to hundreds if not thousands of secondary manufacturers, who each year turn out everything from forks to shower curtains, cake toppers to wall decals, to satisfy the seemingly insatiable appetite of fans.

So, in honour of the upcoming anniversary, here are a few examples of art and craft items inspired by the Star Wars universe and sold by artists on etsy.com.

Should you by any chance have a Star Wars™ fan at home, or perhaps know a Star Wars-obsessed co-worker who has recently been blessed with an addition to his or her family, perhaps the new little Jedi’s parent would like to make the Star Wars Inspired Quiet Book using the PDF pattern from artist Juliebell.  Once supplied with their very own Star Wars Inspired Quiet Book, babies can have fun:

♥Helping Leia untie her chain.
♥Un-zipping the Dagobah forrest to see Yoda.
♥un-velcro-ing the death star to help your star wars finger puppet friends.
♥Helping Luke learn to use his sword.
♥Snapping C3P0 back in place.
♥Destroying enemy ships
♥Trying on Luke’s robot hand

Mm-hmmm.

For those who prefer action toys, how about some Knitted Lightsabers from designer carbonscoring?  You can knit one or more of four different models, enough to satisfy every Star Wars-loving recipient on your Christmas list!  As the listing says,

They’re the perfect size for babies and little kids or for cat or dog toys (especially if you add in some catnip or a bell as you stuff them). Knit one or several for a Star Wars fan you know! Knit one to satisfy your own geeky crafty cravings ! Knit one for a cat who happens to be a fan of both Star Wars and hand knits! Knit all four for the cutest, geekiest baby mobile that ever hung over a geek baby’s cradle …  May the knit be with you.

May the knit be with you too, carbonscoring.

It’s not surprising that the character of Darth Vader looms large in the Star Wars fan universe.  His charisma looms much larger in the films than does that of the Emperor, and a Jedi knight fallen from grace he seems an altogether scarier character.  For fans of the little crocheted creatures known to the Japanese as amigurumi, here’s Darth Vader.   (Amigurumi are a whole phenomenon in themselves.  Watch for an upcoming blog post!)

And just to prove that creativity is alive and well in the toy business, here’s a Star Wars mash-up piece that combines cute with extra-creepy in a very disturbing way.  Artists Brad and Stacey Rader from BattleBabiesToyArt have fused bits of action figures and baby dolls together to form the stuff of pop-culture nightmares.

Yeah.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

If this piece makes your chimes ring, it can be yours from the seller for US$28.00 (and I recommend therapy, and lots of it.  Right now.)

And so, until next time:

“You don’t need to see his identification … These aren’t the droids you’re looking for … He can go about his business … Move along.”*

*Oh, come on — you knew it was Obi-Wan working that old Jedi magic all along.  You didn’t need the footnote.  Did you?

It’s Our Birthday, and We’re Having a Sale-ebration!

Sale Dates:  March 29, 30, and 31, 2012

It’s that time of year again–the time when we say “Thanks!” to our customers for another year (And this one will be our 28th!  No-one has a harder time believing that than we do, honestly.)

We’ll be holding our annual Birthday Sale at the end of March, as usual.  This year the dates are Thursday 29 March, Friday 30 March, and Saturday 31 March.  This sale occurs only in the bricks-and-mortar store located at 302 Front Street, Belleville, Ontario.  (The eBay store operates as a separate division, with its own schedule, and does not take part in this sale.)

Also as usual, everything in the Belleville store will be on sale, but some things will be more steeply discounted than others.  Here are just some of the close-out deals we’ll be offering during the sale:

• All sizes FischerTip modeling material kits will be 50% off
• Rub a Dub Fun in the Tub Fizzy Tints from Alex Toys was $10.00 now $5.00
• Moonjar Classic Moneybox was $30.00 now $15.00
• Paintable Rubber Boots, assorted sizes, was $30.00 now $15.00
• Ecotronic Eco-Mic or Eco-Phone was $25.00 now $12.50
• Heroclix gaming miniatures, assorted sets, 30% off
• Clip Clop Marionette Puppets, were $15.00, now $7.50
• All Calico Critters houses, furniture, and critters will be 30% off
• Streamridge Small Wooden Sleigh, was $100.00, now $70.00

There will be lots more deep discounts on ends-of-lines and things we’re clearing out.  Everything that isn’t specifically marked down at some higher rate will be 15% off, for those three days only.  Every single thing in the store will be on sale–board games, Lego, Playmobil, puzzles, art supplies, dress-up, preschool and baby toys, dolls, Games Workshop miniatures and supplies.  Craft kits.  Wooden trains.  Every.  Single.  Thing.

All sales are final on ends-of-lines and clear-outs.

See you there!

Check Santa’s Progress on “NORAD Tracks Santa”

 

As they do every year, the personnel at NORAD — now aided by the elves at Google –  help children round the world see where Santa is, as Christmas Day dawns round the world.  This website has a world map with locations visited and videos of Santa!

You can also track Santa on Google Earth, if that works better for you.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!