Pufferbellies Toys & Books

American-made toys at Pufferbellies – felt crowns by Dream Child Studio

pufferbelliestoys — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:56:58 +0000

Amanda at Dream Child Studio handcrafts these gorgeous crowns from wool-blend felt. They’re soft enough to wear all day, and adjustable to fit many different head sizes — from toddler to “big kid.” The workmanship is really impeccable, and the crowns are even sweeter in person than in the photos. We’re so happy to be working with Amanda and bringing her lovely creations to the little ones of Staunton.

Flower crowns by Dream Child Studio

Felt crowns by Dream Child Studio

American-made toys at Pufferbellies – Mimi the Sardine aprons and bibs

pufferbelliestoys — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:05:33 +0000

Today the spotlight is on Mimi the Sardine — a small, California-based company that makes THE most charming bibs and aprons for kids (along with a bunch of other cool stuff). They use fabulous Swedish-designed-and-manufactured 100% organic cotton fabrics, and cover them in some sort of non-toxic acrylic coating that I think is almost magical. You can wash and wear and wash and wear and wash some more … the aprons and bibs are practically indestructible, but the coating doesn’t make them overly stiff or plastic-y feeling, so kids won’t rebel against wearing them.

You can check ‘em out in our store, or find them on our website.

Mimi the Sardine bibs are made in the USA

American-made toys at Pufferbellies – StarbrightBaby Giraffes

pufferbelliestoys — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:10:37 +0000

I am smitten with these giraffes! They’re made in Michigan by StarbrightBaby, and they’re just the cutest. 100% cotton, firmly stuffed with hypoallergenic fiberfill. Great teethers for little ones, and friendly companions for toddlers and preschoolers.

StarbrightBaby Giraffes are made in the USA

Santa Claus in downtown Staunton – two more dates for 2011!

pufferbelliestoys — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 13:34:57 +0000

Santa Claus will be back for two more visits at Pufferbellies in downtown Staunton before Christmas — Sunday the 18th from 1 to 3PM, and Friday the 23rd from 6 to 8PM.

Our full calendar of events is front and center on our new website — here’s the link!

Visit Santa at Pufferbellies this December

pufferbelliestoys — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:07:52 +0000

Santa is coming! Please join us on Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons this December.

Friday, December 2: 6pm-8pm
Sunday, December 4: 1pm-3pm

Friday, December 9: 6pm-8pm
Sunday, December 11: 1pm-3pm

Friday, December 16: 6pm-8pm
Sunday, December 18: 1pm-3pm

Friday, December 23: 6pm-8pm

American-made toys at Pufferbellies – Sunography fabric

pufferbelliestoys — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:36:42 +0000

Sunography paper at Pufferbellies - made in the USA

So, this is not strictly a toy. But we do sell some not-toy items at Pufferbellies, and this would make a wonderful gift for an artistically inclined teenager or adult. Plus, I’m just so excited about it that I have to share.

You’re probably already familiar with making sun prints on cyanotype paper. But now you can make beautiful sun prints on FABRIC. I have a day off on Sunday and I’m desperate for sunny weather so I can give it a try.

The sunography fabric kit has 6 pieces of cotton fabric in assorted colors, and you can print on the front and the back of each piece. You can stitch or paint over your sun prints, so the artistic possibilities are basically endless.

Here are some beautiful experimentations from flickr user N@din@.

American-made toys at Pufferbellies — DIY Bubble Gum Kit

pufferbelliestoys — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:07:37 +0000

Who doesn’t love BUBBLE GUM? I’m so glad to have found this excellent, made-in-the-USA bubble gum-making kit from our pals at Copernicus in Charlottesville. It comes with all the tools and ingredients you need to make more than a quarter-pound of bubble gum, which you can flavor any way you like. We recommend this kit for ages 8+, with adult supervision for the microwaving part. Science kits are a great way to get kids and grownups interacting (and learning something new!). The kit also comes with a sheet that has all kind of fun gum facts — I learned the difference between chewing gum and bubble gum, and that bubble gum was invented in 1928. See? We’re totally learning stuff, here.

Copernicus Bubble Gum Kit - made in the USA. YUM!

“Bobble” Fett

pufferbelliestoys — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:59:51 +0000

Bobble Fett

American-made toys at Pufferbellies — Eye Can Art kits

pufferbelliestoys — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:20:14 +0000

This post is part of our series on American-made toys available at Pufferbellies. For more, see our posts on the Yomega Brain yoyo, Crayon Rocks, Nana Banana coloring books and the Zipfy mini luge.

If you’re searching for high-quality art kits that emphasize process as much as product, Eye Can Art kits are really where it’s at. We currently have two fine-art majors on staff here at Pufferbellies, and both of them love these kits. The kits teach children (and adults!) real art techniques via easy-to-follow instructions that leave a lot of room for creative expression.

At Pufferbellies, we carry the Book in a Box, Collage Printmaking, Pastel Stencil, Sumi E-Ink and Layered Wax Drawing kits.

Tip: We love to recommend these kits for grandparents who have little ones coming for a visit — kids and grownups can learn and work together, and everyone ends up with beautiful artwork to commemorate the occasion.

Eye Can Art kits at Pufferbellies, with a sample from the Layered Wax Drawing kit

American-made toys at Pufferbellies — Yomega Brain YoYo

pufferbelliestoys — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:45:50 +0000

This post is part of our series on American-made toys available at Pufferbellies. For more, see our posts on Crayon Rocks, Nana Banana coloring books and the Zipfy mini luge.

At Pufferbellies, we see a lot of very young children who are desperate for yoyos. They see big kids and grownups playing with them and they want to do it, too, but they’re easily frustrated if they can’t get the yoyo to come back. That’s why we love the USA-made Yomega Brain. It’s an auto-return yoyo — just throw it, and it comes right back up on its own. Perfect for beginners. Here’s a great video that shows it in action.