New Toys are Coming!

March is our month of reorders after the busy holiday shopping season, and we’ve got all kinds of goodies coming our way in the next few weeks.

First up is the ever popular Rubbabu squishy, soft rubber textured balls and vehicles. Not only are these super fun to roll, throw, toss & squeeze, they are always appealing to all ages – we’ve watched toddler to teen pick up these toys & play.

In our box of Rubbabu, we’ll have new colors to our Toddler Mascot Cars – red & torquoise – and will restock all of textured play balls & smaller vehicles.

Toddler Mascot Car - Blue, Red, Pink, Green & Turquoise, $15.

Next, we’re anxiously awaiting the return of a few of our popular made in the US, high quality, small production wooden toys from Camden Rose. We’ll be restocking the ever popular Good Eggs wooden 1/2 dozen eggs set just in time for Easter & spring celebration, along with the Toddler Zoom little wooden push car, and a new edition – the Knitting Tower.

Good Eggs, Wooden Egg Set, $9.

The Knitting Tower enables young children, and even adult beginners, to practice the essentials of knitting. How it works is that the birch wood tower holds your stitches while your fingers freely move the yarn. The tower is made with 6 knots on one side & 4 on the other to give you a choice between a tight stitch 6-pin knot or a stretchy stitch 4-pin knot. Set includes the tower, of course, made of birch wood, with 100% wool yarn & instructions to get you started.

The Knitting Tower, will be $8.

But, this is just the beginning. In April, we hope to bring more Wader, made in Germany, and thus, nontoxic & safe plastic boats & sand toys, plus more of our ever popular handmade heirloom rattles by Mossy Creek. Spring is so much fun around here!

You can view all our new toys here>

You can view our Easter & Spring toys here>

What happened, Part 2.

February is also the birth month of Nico’s Papa. And, if you ask Nico just how old he is, he’ll tell you 144 with a completely serious, straight face. He truly believes it. That’s how powerful the belief in magic can be, and really, shouldn’t it be?

It seems to me that the skeptics of the world should hang out in Nico’s mind, just for a day. It’s a world of elves, wizards, fairies, magic wands, and magical creatures. There are complex characters, drawn out dialogues, and a few good battles. He’s just constantly thinking, creating, and acting out this magical world, complete with noises and running through the house of course.

Life in that land is never boring. He can truly be anyone, and we let him. We don’t put any gender, age, skepticism or religious confines on that play. Magic is fun, why not see where it leads him? The “real world” will meet him soon enough, and it’s not nearly as fun as having an elf as a dad!

Nico’s favorite props for his magical world, apart from a good stick, tend to be open ended. He likes his magic wand for magicians of all sorts, but constructive pieces that can be made into many different ships, planes, or gadgets in his magical quests.

So, as we wind up February and start looking towards March, let’s think about we can inspire those little magical thinkers with some creative fun. I bet it would do us all a bit of good!

Soft Dough Rainbow Tub - a non-toxic, made in Oregon play dough, $11.

Wooden Magic Wand - Purple, Pink, or Yellow, $4

Now That the Eve Has Arrived…

Nico & Zoe, the kids & owners, would like to wish you a very merry day & end to the year! Thank you for all of your support of our unique, handmade & small production toys this year.

As 2010 ends, it’s time for us to clear out the toys of the past & bring in the new. Be sure to check out our Clearance Sale with many fabulous deals on those toys discontinued & our New Arrivals as we begin to reorder our ever popular arts & crafts by Harrisville, Rubbabu rubber vehicles, spring plush animals by miYim, and all of our wooden rattles by Camden Rose & Mossy Creek.

Benjamin Frog, $16.

Happy Holiday to You!

-Pam & Stacy.

With Thanksgiving just days away….

we’re working hard over here at Nico & Zoe Toys to get ready for our super fun, crazy, busy holiday season. And with the hopes of simplifying the whole process for you, we will be featuring a selection of our most popular gifts of the holiday season. Win – win, don’t you think?

See, we’ve always carried classic toys, but there a few that each and every year are the most popular requests by kids & parents alike. These aren’t characters or fads – and Nico & Zoe, the children, have their fair share too – but the toys we know will stand the test of time & keep the interest of your child well past the unwrapping.

Week One – A gift always loved, crafts!
Soy Rock Crayons, $8.

These “rocks” are a favorite of every child who has colored with them, at every holiday fair we have attended, four years in a row. Each red velvet bag contains 16 colored, soy wax Crayon Rocks, in 16 different colors. The unique shape helps new writers learn & practice proper pencil grip, while the smooth pastel-like writing allows older children to make vibrant works of art.

Sparrow Bag Sewing Kit, $18.

For something truly unique, we have our nature-inspired Sewing Kits, designed & assembled in the UK. These kits, by Sparrowkids, include everything you need to start your own sewing project – pre-punched holes, felt flowers and leaves for decoration, thread, plastic safety needle, suede chord for your shoulder strap, and instructions. Kits range from smaller Cherry Blossom & Wren Bags to larger Sparrow & classic UK red Bug Bags. Our experience in watching children work with the kits is that it be an elementary age child, and a family project, with some adult assistance needed for instructions & embroidery. And, the joy of finishing the project will be worth the time!

Made By Me Vehicle Kits, $4 each or $18 for the set of 4 vehicles.

But this crafting isn’t just a girl thing! Our most popular craft kit with the boys is our Made By Me Vehicle Sets – wooden tugboats, race cars, trains, and tractors that children get to decorate & assemble before play time begins. All you need is some glue, a hammer, and paints, crayons, stickers or whatever creative tools you want to use to decorate your own wooden toys. Each pine wood vehicle is sanded for safety by Maple Landmark, a small wood toy company in Vermont. Nico’s given this gift to several 4, 5 & 6 year-old friends, and parents & kids alike have loved the idea, process & result.

Here’s just a few of our favorite art activities for the budding artist in your life. Season’s Greetings from Nico & Zoe!

Soy Crayons get a Thumbs Up from House Beautiful!

Editors from House Beautiful say our Soy Crayons are easier to hold, indestructible & are pretty enough to keep in a bowl like candy. And, we agree!

See all suggestions for making your house beautiful here:
www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/home-decor-accessories

Buy the crayons on Nico & Zoe Here