Madame Alexander Dolls - Thanks for Your Patience

We greatly appreciate your patience while waiting for the latest and greatest Madame Alexander Dolls to arrive.  Come to find out a new company named KLL Dolls just recently bought the Madame Alexander Doll Company, and everything is currently in turmoil. 

Instead of shipping from New York, these collectible dolls will eventually be shipping from California.  This should not have much of an impact on Beacon's Glow Collectibles as we are located in Texas and it takes 5 business days from either US coast for shipments to get here.

And additionally, we have contacted KLL Dolls to see when their Madame Alexander Fall Catalog will be introduced but they can not give us a specific date. Hopefully it will be soon.

They say that change is a good thing, and should be embraced, but in this particular instance, we would have much preferred if things would have stayed the same at the Alexander Doll Company.

Please bear with us and we will be sure to keep you informed of any updates or changes.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support!

Quote of the Day - "The sure way to miss success is to miss the opportunity" - Victor Chasles

Reborn Dolls from Brenda's Reborn Nursery

Today we got an interesting request from a very nice man for a reborn baby doll from Brenda's Reborn Nursery.  He had indicated that he needed a reborn baby doll for a photo shoot instead of having to have a real baby. 

We had an interesting discussion and he had mentioned that it was difficult to first of all, find a newborn baby for an adverstisement.  And secondly, there is a federal law in place that limits the amount of time a newborn baby can spend on a set to be photographed.  He stated that allowable time is decremented according to the age of the child.

Anyway, we are glad that we could oblige him, and Elise is on her way.  We had additionally asked if he could email us photos of the actual photo shoot with Elise in them.  If we do receive these images, we will be sure to post them in a future blog.

Happy Fall!

Quote of the Day - "The best way out is always through". - Robert Frost

Beacon's Glow Collectibles Blog: 2012 Part 2 Plush Charlie Bears Are In

Beacon's Glow Collectibles Blog: 2012 Part 2 Plush Charlie Bears Are In: We were very pleased to receive in 7 brand-new plush Charlie Bears from their 2012 Part 2 Collection.  It looks like they are getting the...

2012 Part 2 Plush Charlie Bears Are In

We were very pleased to receive in 7 brand-new plush Charlie Bears from their 2012 Part 2 Collection.  It looks like they are getting their production issues from the flooding last year under control now, so hopefully, the mohair teddy bears from this collection will be arriving in the very near future.

The names of the 7 new plush teddy bears are as follows:

1.  Firework
2.  Inca
3.  Lawrence
4.  Milly
5.  Mischief
6.  Savoury Pudding (our personal favorite)
7.  Victoria

For the most part, these teddybears are very colorful and several have the magnetic paws which allows their arms to be posed in many ways. 

Thank you for your continued interest!

Quote of the Day - "The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions—the little soon-forgotten charities of a kiss, a smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment in the disguise of a playful raillery, and the countless other infinitessimals of pleasurable thought and genial feeling."- Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Coming Soon - Jim Shore Department 56 Villages

For the first time ever, Jim Shore has worked in collaboration with Department 56 to create Heartwood Creek Village.  This incredible Department 56 Village includes a lighted church, lighted homestead house, lighted quilt shop, flag pole, Heartwood Creek entry sign, picket gate and fence, and wishing well.

According to Jim Shore, "Heartwood Creek is described as a beautiful area of rich rolling land flowed by a crystal clear rived called Heartwood Creek.  This area of bounty provided an ideal place for 19th century European immigrants to form a new community.  This unmistakable 'heartcrafted' place is where this artist draws his inspiration."

Each piece has Jim Shore's distinctive folk art style which includes vibrant color, quilting and rosemalling designs. 

Quote of the Day - "Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks." - Johann Gottfried Von Herder

Adora Dolls 2012 Fall-Winter Collection

Quite pleased to announce that the 2012
Adora Dolls Fall-Winter Collection has arrived.

This collection consists of 6 brand-new Adora dolls:
1.  Houndstooth and Hearts
2.  Lucky Leopard
3.  Chirp
4.  Polka Dot Doggies
5.  Ring Around the Posies
6.  Winter Wonderland

Our personal favorite is Winter Wonderland (pictured left) who comes dressed in a dark red knit dress with matching beret.  Her patent leather boots perfectly match her dress and hat.  She would be an excellent doll to display during the holidays or throughout the Winter. 

Her blue eyes are just adorable and a great contrast for her dark brown hair. She is 20 inches tall as are most Adora Dolls.

Quote of the Day - "Go back a little to leap further". - John Clarke

Beacon's Glow Collectibles Blog: Boyd's Bears 2012 Bailey and Friends Collection

Beacon's Glow Collectibles Blog: Boyd's Bears 2012 Bailey and Friends Collection: Yesterday we received in the 2012 Bailey and Friends Collection by Boyd's Bears .  This year's theme features a back to school theme. Ru...

Boyd's Bears 2012 Bailey and Friends Collection

Yesterday we received in the 2012 Bailey and Friends Collection by Boyd's Bears.  This year's theme features a back to school theme.

Rumour has it that the original founder of Boyd's, G.M. Lowenthal, created Bailey and Friends which consisted of Bailey, Matthew and Emily.  All three of these names were named after his own children.

To this day, Boyd's Bear collectors must add each teddy bear from the Bailey and Friends Collection.

Please do not hesitate to pick this up if you are interested as they tend to sell out rather quickly.

Quote of the Day - "The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had means, time, influence and educational advantages; the question is what he will do with the things he has. The moment a young man ceases to dream or to bemoan his lack of opportunities and resolutely looks his conditions in the face, and resolves to change them, he lays the corner-stone of a solid and honorable success." - Hamilton Wright Mabie

Limited Production of Steiff Plush Teddy Bears

2012 marks something new from Steiff Bears - for the first time Steiff is introducing a line of their very popular Fynn and Lotte teddy bears that will only be produced during 2012.  Each plush teddybear will have a theme (sports, student, etc.)  And as an added touch, each teddy bear has the Steiff logo embroidered somewhere on either the bear or their accessories. 

Fynn is either a tan or brown plush Steiff teddy bear who is 11 inches tall.

Lotte is a white plush Steiff teddy who is 11 inches as well.

As of this date, we have received both the Student Fynn teddy and the Athlete Fynn teddy bear.

Please stay tuned as we expect to be receiving the Lotte bears in shortly.

Both of these bears are adorable but with their outfits and/or their accesories they are even cuter!

Quote of the Day - "The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be." -
Horace Bushnell

Beacon's Glow Collectibles Blog: Collectible Teddy Bears and Their Growlers

Beacon's Glow Collectibles Blog: Collectible Teddy Bears and Their Growlers: Have you ever noticed that some Steiff Bears have a growler?  That magnificent growling sound that is emitted when a collectible teddy be...

Collectible Teddy Bears and Their Growlers

Have you ever noticed that some Steiff Bears have a growler?  That magnificent growling sound that is emitted when a collectible teddy bear is turned just the right way?

We were curious as to the history and inner workings of growlers, and decided to do some research.

Prior to 1908, growlers were called punch growlers that were made of an oilcloth bag with a reed inside. When the growler was pressed, a rush of air made the reed vibrate and cause the noise.

After 1908, modified growlers were introduced and they were called tilt growlers.  A lead weight enclosed in a cardtube tube opened or closed opened the bellows when the teddy bear was tilted.  Therefore, this forced air over the reed and created the growling sound. 

Before tilt growlers squeakers were also used but most usually on smaller teddy bears.  Incidentally, squeakers also use an internal reed.

Currently both growlers and squeakers can be purchased rather inexpensively by hobbyists to include in their bear creations.  But we suspect that Steiff Bears only inserts top-of-the-line growlers in their incredible limited edition collectible teddybears.

Quote of the Day - "How much pain have cost us the evils that have never happened." - Thomas Jefferson

Doll Collecting is Really A Grown-Up Hobby

Why do adults collect dolls?  We have read several articles on this very subject and agree with many points "Not Just for Little Girls:  Doll Collecting A Grown-Up Hobby" written by JoAnn Jacobsen-Wells several years back.

Listed below are her major points in the above-mentioned article sprinkled with some of our commentary:

1.  At first doll collecting was just a fad.  It has evolved into a love and the love turned into a true doll collector.  That would be defined as the person who buys a doll because she loves it, wants it, and enjoys it.
2.  Many doll collectors look at dolls as "works of art" only buying limited editions or OOAK (one of a kind) creations.  This can therefore lend itself to be an expensive hobby but the happiness doll collecting brings is much more satisfying than the money spent to buy the doll.
3.  "I appreciate my husband, as he doesn't understand my love of dolls, but he allows me to indulge. That is how his Dad was as well.  He understood it only because he knew that we loved it."
4.  Each collectible doll has some sort of sentimental value, and each represents a cherished moment.
5.  Each person who collects dolls does it for a personal reason.  For some it fills the void in their lives.  The dolls are comforting when the children and grandchildren are gone.  Some doll collectors remember the smell of a new doll at Christmas and want to recapture that smell because it triggers the memory of a good experience in the past.
6.  Others collect dolls because it just plain makes them happy.  Dolls don't talk back, they don't require changing diapers or food, and they definitely do not require anything but me looking at them and smiling.
7. Some doll collectors claim that doll collecting is less expensive than seeing a psychiatrist.  Some women have reported that doll collecting helps her deal with her depression.  Another woman has reported that collecting dolls fills the void that she feels when she thinks of her deceased son.

Whatever the reason collectors continue to add dolls to their collections, it is a wonderful and endearing hobby.

Quote of the Day - "A light heart lives long." - William Shakespeare

The Four Psychological Powers of Teddybears

A customer sent us a very interesting article titled "Four Psychological Powers of Teddy Bears" written by Priscilla V. Marotta and we would like to share the highlights of the article with you.

"Teddy bears are a wonderful tool for psychological health. Look around your home and the home of your friends. Almost every home has a collectable teddy bear or a teddy bear figurine. What is so powerful about a teddy bear? Why does even the thought of a teddy bear bring a smile to your face? Teddy bears are cherished, many are collectable, and there are so many types of cuddly collectable teddy bears. This is understandable when you realize that there are four powerful psychological effects of teddy bears.

The four psychological powers of teddy bears are as follows:
1.  Teddy Bears are the symbol of child-like innocence.
2.  Teddybears remind us of a special person who loved us and brought us a teddy bear.
3.  Teddy bears are very often used as a gift to remember special occasions.  Therefore, teddy bears are treasured for the memory that they represent.
4.  Plush teddy bears bring the comfort of a soft touch which is a powerful need amongst humans.

It is amazing to realize that a teddy bear is a unique personalized gifts and special stuffed animals, could impart such comfort. Teddy bears are special. In today’s hectic world, a teddy bear is a proven comfort item with multiple psychological benefits. Hug a teddy bear today! "

Quote of the Day - "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." - Ralph Waldo Emerson