The Playmobil Fairy Tale Castle

 Dear Readers,

I had this Playmobil Fairy Tale Castle (9879) for many years already but I didn't write about it yet.  It was first produced many years ago but Playmobil is releasing it again this year.

My set was an old set which I had bought second-hand.  It came with a bunch of figures and some furniture. It was missing a few items like some flower pots but the main components were there.  I decorated the castle with various furniture sets from Playmobil.

Each floor has almost the same layout so there were 3 rooms per floor but they were not divided by any walls or doors.

The castle came with an additional floor so I added a bedroom and a bathroom.

On the left side, there is a small balcony.

On top floor, only the middle room has a roof and a golden gate/door.

I prefer this castle model to all the other Playmobil castles.  I love the design and I really like the extra space and how everything is so open.   

Pros:

• Very easy for hands to access inside the rooms
• The throne backdrop is gorgeous
• The floor addition creates a lot of extra space
• The castle can fit on a narrow surface

Cons:

• It took a long time to assemble
• Not many furniture is included

Which castle from Playmobil do you prefer?

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid or received gifts to write this or mention any store or website.  

The Playmobil Fantasy Princess Castle

 Dear Readers,

I got this Playmobil Fantasy Princess Castle (5142) a few years ago.  I nicknamed it the Swan Castle because it contained many swan symbols (on the flag, in the shape of the throne chair, the window design, etc).     

Playmobil is a brand that I have loved since I was a child and is still one of my favorite because their toys are very well made and although the buildings take a long time to assemble, they are sturdy and feature realistic details; for example, you can open most doors and windows and the furniture and decorative items are appropriate for the theme at hand.  Playmobil offers many type of medieval castle/buildings but I prefer the princess castles so I chose the Fantasy Castle.

It’s an enormous structure with a tall turret, a grandiose staircase and spacious rooms.  It took 3 hours to build.  Although the castle comes with detailed instructions, the assembly is still a tedious process.  I furnished the castle with Playmobil items I had from previous sets

Dollhouse furniture from other brands can work well with Playmobil too.  Like the ones from Sofia the First because they are about the same scale and the color palette from Sofia the First blends well with the Playmobil castle.

There is a balcony above the front gates which is also a connector between the two sections of the castle.

Some of the windows have a lovely swan design and can open and close.

The top floor also has a big spacious room with windows.

Another type of furniture that fits well in the castle are the Calico Critters (aka Sylvanian Families) like the bed in the picture below.

There is a revolving dance floor on which you can put the figures to make them swirl around to "dance".   

The Princess Fantasy Castle includes the following items:

• two figures (a prince and princess)
• 1 throne chair
• 2 chairs
• 1 long chaise
• 1 chandelier
• 1 tea set
• 1 pitcher with a plate
• 6 clear goblets
• flower bushes
• 1 little pond
• 2 black kittens
• 1 dragonfly
• 1 butterfly
• 2 apples
• 1 life-size jewelry box wih
• life-size tiara, bracelet and ring

Picture by Playmobil

Here below is my pros and cons list.

Pros:

• There are many rooms
• A gate is included
• Some windows can open
• The winding staircase is covered with a soft carpet

Cons:

• It took a long time to assemble
• Not many furniture is included
• The castle is very large and irregular in size
• It does not fit well on a narrow table

The children had a lot of fun staging fights between the princes and the dragon or having elegant ballroom dances.  It is a really beautiful castle that lends to many play scenarios!

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid or received gifts to write this or mention any store or website.  

Usaggie and Jossie Dolls from Petworks

 Dear Readers,

Do your remember my little rabbit dolls called Usaggie?  I have added another one to my Petworks doll family!  And I have also added a girl doll called Jossie.

Petworks Doll Division has released a new pair of dolls in November 2020: Usaggie 038 and Jossie 017.  They both have Anime-eyes. They are sold without clothes and shoes.  

Picture from Petworks 

Picture from Petworks

They are packaged very simply with only a thin cardboard box opened in the front and covered with plastic wrapping.

The package includes a pattern for a dress and overall pants with instructions in Japanese only.  I am showing you the front and back of the pattern.  It was the same pattern sheet for each doll.

Jossie has the same type of body as an Usaggie so she can wear the same clothes and shoes.  They both have a boy body (unlike the Odeco-chan and Nikki dolls who have a girl body).

But unlike Usaggie and Kumabolo which are anthropomorphic dolls, Jossie has a human head and comes with rooted hair.   Her hair is very soft and easy to brush.  She also has white painted-on "underwear".

These dolls stain easily so I usually remove their clothes and shoes once I am done with the photos.  

She is a delight to pose and my child loves that her Odeco-chan doll now has a little girl doll as friend.  

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid or received gifts to write this or mention any store or website.