String Games

By Jay Jay
I bet it seems like just yesterday for Sarah and Mike when their oldest son Josh was dressing up in all the silks and inspiring them to create more and more products. Now, Josh is a big 19 year-old and he is the one who has brought string games back to Sarah's Silks after much popular demand! Our string games are 100% Made in the US. We buy the nylon string from a manufacturer in the US. Then, Josh cuts them to length, seals the ends together and dyes them into a rainbow. We reintroduced them to our line in the Fall, and they have been a big hit. String games are a great way for kids to practice hand-eye coordination and dexterity without burning their eyes into a computer or tv screen. They are available at A Toy Garden or the new and improved Bella Luna Toys website.

The Acorn Store

By Jay Jay
Ellen West at The Acorn Store was one of the first of our customers that I had visited. I was so impressed by the wonderland that is her little shop. The store is a haven for simple, creative toys in beautiful downtown Santa Monica, CA. Her space is small, but she certainly makes the most of every nook and cranny. You can't help but get swept away by the magic quality of her selections as soon as you walk in. But to be honest, the thing that was most impressive to me was Ellen herself. She is a sweet woman, and you can tell immediately that she loves children and her job. But don't let that fool you. She is very sharp, asks a million questions and truly cares about the products she promotes. I know that anything I buy from her store has surpassed her stringent quality, design and safety standards. We are proud to have The Acorn Store as one of our customers.

Check out the interview with Ellen at TD Monthly.

Remembering Haley...

By Jay Jay
The other day, we were working on our new catalog and trying to find a good picture of our baby blanket. Sarah started to tell me the story of Haley, one of Sarah's Silks' first models and friend of the family. Her story is truly inspiring. She was a fellow student at the Waldorf school here and a big fan of our silks. She was born deaf, but through hard work and a pure love of skating, she became a very accomplished ice skater. I hope everyone takes a minute to read about Haley's life. We all have busy days and nights, but it is good to take a break once in a while from your own life. Her story is touching and brings me perspective on my own life as well. Rest peacefully, Haley.

Please visit the website to read more: Haley's Story

Fish!

Time to restock! We are getting ready for the restock orders that retailers are working on right now. We dye all our sea and magic stuffed animals right here in our California office. It's fun when Carol has to dye big batches of fish and our other magic creatures. Here are some of the colorful characters hanging around while they dry.

Making Rainbow Streamers

By Jay Jay
Just a little insight as to how we make our very popular rainbow streamers. They are one of my favorite products, and I am so excited to announce that we will be introducing mini versions of the streamers for the Spring! My daughter was lucky enough to be one of the testers of the mini streamer prototype months ago, and she still digs it out every time she fancies a dance. Here is Zahira making 100 streamers in our office for one of our customers back in early December. We like to think that 'Santa' gave many of these streamers away this Christmas...

New! String Games are Back!

By Jay Jay
Our String Games are back in town! Sarah's Silks has brought them back this season and they are flying off the shelves. They are made in the US, and dyed and put together right here in our workspace. Here's a video of Morgan showing off his string game skills.

Enchanted - NYC

By Jay Jay
I met Gloria, who runs this beautiful store in the upper East Side, at the Nuremberg Fair back in February. It was so great to meet her there and chat with a fellow American, so of course I had to stop by the store and say hello today! The ladies at Enchanted have done so much to personalize the store and make it special. So many of the fixtures are stripped down and re-painted to match the feel of the place. I was really struck by the gorgeous hand-felted tree behind the counter! It just sets the tone for a place that you know is one of a kind. This time, I also got to meet Carolina, who is a Waldorf mom and used to run the school store at the Pasadena Waldorf School for years. I thought her daughter was so lucky to grow up with a metropolitan mom that works with these gorgeous toys all day. It really is special to find a quiet, magical little store in the middle of crazy manhattan. It is a haven for beautiful toys and books, and the perfect place to find a gift. Just as I was getting ready to leave, a woman at the door was hopefully looking in the shop. They let her in even though they were getting ready to close, and she explained to them in a heavy European accent that she was told that she had to come by the store and look around. It's true - even if you don't have kids, this shop is a great place to stop and marvel at the whimsy that has been created. Enchanted Toys - 1179 Lexington Ave (bet 80th & 81st), NYC