Loft to Love

Dear Readers,

How was your weekend?  I had a day off on Monday because it was Labor day!  I met with my relatives for lunch and then I stopped at Target to buy a few things (you can't go to Target without buying something...) and then I saw this fantastic dollhouse!

It's called the Loft To Love or the Lori Dollhouse made by OG.  It's intended for 6 inch (15.24 cm) dolls and include a kitchen set and working lights in the kitchen.  To learn more about this dollhouse and the Lori dolls, you can go to LoriDolls.com (however, the website does not seem to be working yet).

The dollhouse does not come with any dolls or other pieces of furniture.  The pricing is as follows:

Dollhouse: $49.99

Each furniture sets: $12.99

Each doll: $9.99

Each doll outfit: $6.99

I only bought the dollhouse and one set of furniture.  I will explain why later.

The dollhouse itself has a very modern design.  Two floors plus a rooftop patio.  It seems made of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) (I don't know for sure, I am just guessing) with wallpapers on the outside.  I think the wallpaper would get damaged easily it it gets wet but it is sturdy enough for children to play with.

I love how it comes with a kitchen!  All the appliances are completely removable and all drawers do open.  The ceiling has two lamps that work with batteries.

I have always been looking for a dollhouse that would fit my Strawberry Shortcake dolls!  She looks a little small for that kitchen though.

Here below is a photo of other dolls for size comparison.  It think the Chelsea and Picco Neemo dolls are the right size for this dollhouse.

The dollhouse comes with a catalog with a few pictures of the furniture sets and dolls.

I didn't really like the furniture sets except for the desk set and the patio set (which I will try to find tomorrow).   The living room furniture were very simple and I didn't really like the colors.  And I already had a bed set that could fit for this dollhouse so I only bought the desk set.

Chelsea is perfectly to scale with this dollhouse and the furniture.

Here below are some views from outside the house to show you how it looks. 

I like this dollhouse very much because it is sturdy and the design is really modern!  The stairs are a big hit with the children!

I didn't buy the dolls because I already had other dolls at home that would fit this dollhouse but they seem very nice and well made!  The extra outfits (sold separately for $6.99) is a nice touch! 

There were also a ballet studio and a trailer van made by the came company but I didn't get them.  It was however very tempting because it looked so beautiful!  I think this new line of dolls will become very successful and I hope they come up with more sets in the future!

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

Huckleberry Pie is back!!!

Dear Readers,

How are you doing?  I absolutely had to come back to blogging today because I had promised to many readers who asked me about this doll that I would inform them if he ever comes back: 

The Huckleberry Pie doll is now on sale!

He has been released by Bridge Direct in a package with Strawberry Shortcake and is available at Toys R Us online.  They are about 6 inches tall.  I haven't checked the stores yet to see if it's there.  

I see a Dollhouse for Strawberry Shortcake too but it's not available for sale yet.  I don't think the kitchen is part of the dollhouse but I have yet to see the box in store. (EDIT: the dollhouse is now on sale online!)

New arrivals seem to be popping up in other toy brands too so I think I need to check out my local stores tomorrow!

Have a great Tuesday!

Hugs xoxoxo

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own. I was not paid or received gifts to write this or mention any stores or website. You may find a better store in your area

SF Bear Family

Dear Readers,

I recently made a trade with Jennifer from PLUSHPUSSYCAT!  I received this beautiful Bear Family (probably the Petite Bear from the Japanese line of Sylvanian Families)!  they are so cute and I love their clothes!   They were much needed for my new dollhouse which I will hopefully finish decorating before Christmas!

The trade was only for the bears so I didn't expect anything else but Jennifer generously gifted me with beautifully photographed postcards!  How cute is Strawberry Shortcake and her friend Orange Marmelade!  

Thank you so much Jennifer for this awesome trade!!!

EDIT:   The cake featured in the birthday card above was made by the Mouse Market!  Sorry for the confusion!

Cherry Jam and CinnaPup

Dear Readers,

Here is the new Cherry Jam doll from Bridge Direct.  A cute dog named CinnaPup is included in the package as well as a purple comb.  But cute as it may be, the puppy does not stand up very well on its own.  It kept falling down as I tried to take photos.

I couldn't help but compare the new version with the older one from Hasbro.  Their hair color is almost the same purple shade and they wear the same dress except for the flower which is only printed on the Bridge Direct dress while it's a button for the Hasbro doll. Their shoes are almost the same as well except there is a flower printed on the new doll.   

Can you see how the new doll has more defined hands?

The new Cherry Jam comes with a headband.  She also has much bigger eyes and her face is painted with bolder colors than the Hasbro doll.

They can wear each other's shoes and dress without any problem. I swapped their outfits to show you.

Here they are without their clothes.   The Hasbro doll is a tiny teensy thinner than the Bridge Direct doll.

From behind as well!

There is really nothing much that sets them apart except for their face.  I did notice however that the hair of the older version is better than the newer version.  The Bridge Direct doll's hair falls out in clumps when I brush it.  The Hasbro doll has smoother hair and it has never fallen down in clumps like this!  Also, the bangs of the Bridge Direct doll is covered with some sort of glue that makes it stiff.

I must admit it is one of the reason why I prefer the Hasbro doll over the Bridge Direct doll.  But maybe I am just not quick to embrace change.

Which doll do you prefer?

Strawberry Shortcake Adventure Collection

Dear Readers,

Look look!

New Strawberry Shortcake Dolls!!!  This time they were sold in a pack of 5 dolls and were wearing different clothes.  Blueberry Muffin and Plum Pudding are missing.  It's annoying that they keep on leaving out a few dolls and never include a full set of all the dolls!  Well at least you know you can get Blueberry Muffin from the single doll package (Berry Best Friend Collection) and Plum Pudding from the band single package (Sweet Beats Collection).

The Berry Best Adventure Collection is priced at $39.99 for all 5 dolls.

Here is the back of the box.

Very cute dolls and I like their new outfits!!!  This is a great set to have if you are not into the music band concept.   I am quite tempted to get these dolls because they look so sweet and their clothes are very fun and age-appropriate for my daughter!  Their hair styles are amazing too!

I didn't notice any new dolls apart from these.  And there were no new mini dolls either.  I hope the mini line will continue with more playsets though.  I still want to complete my Strawberry Shortcake village and I am missing many houses!  And there is always a shortage of a Mini Blueberry Muffin Doll!

I am also sad to not see Huckleberry Pie in the new collection.   I am still hopeful he will make an appearance before Christmas!  C'mon Bridge Direct!  You can make it happen!!!  :)

New Strawberry Shortcake Dolls by Bridge Direct

Dear Readers,

I went to Toys R Us today go buy some diapers and I walked across the new Strawberry Shortcake dolls made by Bridge Direct!!!

A few weeks ago, I posted (here) about Strawberry Shortcake dolls getting a new look by Bridge Direct which is now producing them instead of Hasbro.  I took pictures of the 3 inches dolls and the 5 inches dolls.  There were also a much bigger doll the size of a large Lalaloopsy but I was not interested in such big dolls.

The new Mini dolls seem to be the same size as the previous one and they even are packaged in the same type of box with many outfits and handbags.  They are also annoyingly leaving out Blueberry Muffin and Plum Pudding.  I think the package was $24.99 but I don't remember for sure.

The new doll look very similar to the older version by Hasbro but their eyes are quite different.

The 5 inches dolls are $9.99 and come with a pet and a comb.  I think they look older than the previous version and their hands/fingers are more defined but I don't have a side-by-side photo to show you since I didn't buy the new version.

There are four dolls at the same cost of $9.99.  You can see their pictures on the back of the box.

The 5 inches dolls are also released in a special collection entitled "SWEET BEATS DOLLS".  Those dolls are priced at $12.99 and include a  musical instrument, a comb and a microphone.   If you are familiar with the cartoon, you will notice that the dolls are paired with the same instruments they are portrayed with in the TV series.

Here below is Plum Pudding with her drums.

  Strawberry Shortcake with her guitar.

Raspberry Torte with her keyboard.

Strawberry Shortcake and Cherry Jam are released with a stage playset.

 In addition to the dolls from the Sweet Beats Band, there are also two other playsets with 5 inches dolls.

The Berry Café Playset with Strawberry Shortcake and a stove with some cakes and pies.

And Lemon Meringue's Salon with a chair, comb, mirror, and hair accessories.  These playsets are $12.99 if I remember correctly. 

The dolls are quite pretty and looks similar to the TV series but they do look different enough from the previous version.   I really like the music band concept and it reflects the cartoon so well that it probably would be a big hit with kids.  I know my own daughter was obsessed with the stage and pressing on the button to hear Cherry Jam and Strawberry Shortcake singing.

But I left the store without buying any of the new dolls.  I have all the 3 inches and 5 inches dolls released by Hasbro (well at least one doll for each character) and I don't see the need to get a new one.  I do like the Salon Chair very much but because it does not come with an actual salon, I won't get it.  Same thing with the stove.  It's a great size for the doll but it does not come with a dollhouse so I probably won't purchase it.

I doubt the toys will ever make it to a discount store but if they do, maybe I'll buy them but not now with the actual price tag.  I wonder if I will change my mind if a dollhouse or a hair salon is released.  It will all depend on the price too and how good it will look.

Do you like the new dolls and their playsets?  Would you buy them?

I saw other new dolls that I will blog about in my next post :)

New Strawberry Shortcake Dolls!

Dear Readers,

Have you seen the new Strawberry Shortcake Dolls?  I saw a few pictures of them from the New York Toy Fair held on February 2014.  You can see their pictures from Idlehands1 Blog (click HERE).

As soon as I saw them, I knew they were from another company.  Sure enough, Bridge Direct will now produce them instead of Hasbro.  Not that I am surprised because Hasbro has not released many new items lately and I was wondering what was happening.

But I am sad because I did like the Hasbro Strawberry Shortcake dolls very much.  They did well with the mini dolls and the 5 inches dolls.  They could have created so much more dollhouses, vehicles (Cherry Jam's bus, all the mini scooters, the hot air balloon!) and characters (Hello Huckleberry Pie!!!) but they slowed down production of new items so drastically last year that I was fearing the worst.

Well it's not really the worst now since a new company is taking over and there will be more minis and cute dollies but it's still a little upsetting to see them change the Strawberry Shortcake doll's look yet again.  After the initial Kenner dolls, there has been Bandai, Playmates, Hasbro and now Bridge Direct.

I am not really crazy about the new dolls but I do like the concept of featuring them in a band.  My daughter likes to watch the cartoon precisely because of the songs and seeing the dolls with musical instruments is a great addition to the toy collection.

The photos from the fair belongs to Idlehands1 blog so I am only showing one picture here. It's my favorite one because its' showing a chair from Lemon Meringue's hair salon!  I hope there will be more dollhouses as well.  I don't know about you guys but I have seen enough of Strawberry Shortcake's house, market, café, clubhouse, etc.  How about houses for the other dolls for a change?

The dolls are.. well, cute enough but I miss the Habro's sweet faces.  Oh  I hope the new dolls will be the same size too so they can share clothes with the Hasbro dolls.

I have not seen any pictures of the actual mini dolls yet.  I am glad they will still produce the mini dolls because they are by far my favorite items but I hope they will be just as cute as the previous ones.  They will be apparently available in the fall of this year.

Do you like the new Strawberry Shortcake look?

Ideal the Majestic Dollhouse

Dear Readers,

I recently got a new dollhouse!  I still don't have a house for my 6 inches dolls.  The Fisher Price Loving Family House is cute but is really more suited for children.  The bulky furniture and house décor was not truly what I had in mind for my delicate dolls. 

So when I saw the Ideal Majestic Dollhouse in a Tuesday Morning store, I really didn't hesitate to buy it. Once completed, the house will be 3 feet tall and fit dolls under 7 inches.  I thought about my new Ai-Dolls and how I didn't have a house for them yet so I went ahead and bought it.

It has working lights, 2 story tall, 6 rooms and more than 200 pieces of furniture and accessories to customize the dollhouse. It has 6 plug-in lamps that really glow (needs 6 AAA batteries).   For only $29.99, it was a steal.

The walls and floors are made of laminated cardboard and the beams and accessories are made of plastic.  This is obviously not going to be as sturdy as my previous wooden dollhouses.

The assembly of the house took less than one hour.  It was a breezy assembly and the instructions were clear but the cardboard pieces for the roof were too big and I had to trim them to make them fit.

This is the back of the dollhouse:

Once assembled the house looks quite spectacular!  The front wall opens up for each of the six rooms.  The inside is spacious and although it may look dark, the plug-in lamps provide an exciting lighting option.   Here below you see the lamps cords before I tuck them in their position closer to the wall.

The lamp has a cord that you plug in at the base of the room and you can turn the light with the switch located on the back of the room.  There are 3 pairs of plugging hole in each room so you can potentially add more lamps.  The batteries are hidden in the walls.  The picture below shows you the tiny black switch.  There is one for each light.

The dollhouse allows a lot of customization.  The package included 6 pieces of cardboard for the floor and each piece has two designs so you can easily change the look of the floor by flipping over to the other side.

There are also paint, paintbrush, painting rolling, stamps and ribbons but I didn't try them yet.  There is also yarn to weave the laundry basket, blankets and pillows for the beds, and tons of furniture!  A nice touch is that most of the cabinets have working drawers that you can pull out!

Here below are close-up shots of each room.  Please note that I did not add anything but the furniture and pieces that came with the dollhouse.  I did not apply any of the stickers provided or paint any furniture yet.  The holes you see on the walls are pre-cut and are for you to add frames, cabinets, etc.

Although the house structure is made of hard plastic, it is not strong enough to withstand normal children play, let alone rough play.  The floor made of cardboard is also too flimsy to endure any kind of handling by children.  The house itself stands solidly but you can only move it by carrying it carefully at the base otherwise it may break.

Pros:

• Easy assembly
• Working lights
• Easy access to the rooms
• Many furniture pieces
• Great possibility of customization
• Fits 5-6 inches dolls
• Good price

Cons:

• Too fragile for young children
• Roof did not fit unless trimmed
• Cheap linen and furniture

I still like the house despite the flaws because it's an unconventional size that fits my 5-6 inches dolls like Ai-doll, Strawberry Shortcake, Little Dal and Little Pullip, LPS Blythe, etc.  Here below you see how the dolls fit inside the rooms.

This is how the house compares to the Loving Family House:

The options for customization is a truly fun bonus.  The working lamps are a wonderful addition and provide and instant WOW factor!  It sure beats the unsophisticated Fisher Price Loving Family House!  For an adult collector or older children, I would totally recommend buying this dollhouse.