The Figurines Are Coming! The Figurines Are Coming!

I have been personally collecting animal figurines for I’d say at least 15 years now. It all began when my mother brought me home this adorable little unicorn figurine. I don’t think she realized what that one little figurine would start! 15 years later, I have a lot of figurines and am still collecting.

Because I love animal figurines just as much as I love stuffed animals, I have wanted to carry them in the store since I opened it. Well I am excited to announce that in the coming weeks we will finally be adding animal figurines to our store. The main delay with stocking animal figurines has been finding companies to buy from, a lot of figurine companies will unfortunately not work with internet only stores. But I have found a few companies that will, and more importantly, they make high quality figurines that I will be able to sell for reasonable prices.

Out of the companies I have found to work with, I have placed orders with three that should start arriving next week or so. The companies are Sandicast, Quarry Critters and Country Artists. Sandicast has an adorable line called “Snoozers” which features sleeping animals in adorable poses. In addition they have a variety of sizes of animal figurines and Lady Abbies will mainly carry the small size. They specialize in dogs but also have cats and wildlife figurines. I own a few Sandicast figurines, including the black and white springer snoozer above, so I can attest to the quality, value and sheer adorableness!

Quarry Critters by Second Nature Design are resin animals made to look like they are carved from stone, hence the name. These animals, though usually done in simple grays and browns, are still incredibly adorable due to the sweet faces and expressions they are given. Due to the simple colors of most of their figurines, it makes the splashes of colors added in some all the more vibrant and fun. In addition, they have a new floral line which consists of animals covered in big, bright flowers. Quarry Critters also makes stuffed animals and we will be carrying a few of them as well.

Last but not least of the three figurine companies we will be adding to the store is Country Artists. This is a great line that is full of adorable animal figurines. I have an adorable schnauzer puppy figurine in my collection from Country Artists. The figurines from this line range from incredibly realistic looking animals to whimsical animals. In either case, the detail is fine and the quality is superb.

I will be starting out with a small collection of figurines from each company to see how they do but I certainly hope to offer a wider selection representing each in the near future. I hope you all enjoy them at least nearly as much as I do:)

~Erin

Happy Easter & Happy Birthday Dad

Happy Easter Everyone!

For those of us in Southeastern PA, it feels a little bit more like Christmas. I think weather-wise Easter will actually feel more like Christmas then Christmas did! If that makes any sense:) We were even supposed to have snow today but that ended up going further South. That's a relief, don't want to see anymore of that! Once Spring technically arrives, I expect the weather to automatically change over into sunny 70 degree days. Doesn't usually happen that way, but oh well.

Nevertheless, it is Easter weekend and I hope you all enjoy it with your families and friends!

I have to admit it will be a bit of a weird day for me tomorrow. Easter happens to fall this year on what would have been my Dad's 52nd birthday. Yup, would have been.

Hard to believe it was only two years ago that we were celebrating his 50th birthday with a surprise party. I bought him an inflatable walker and everything, all the stuff to rub in the age - over the hill and all of that. Even harder to believe that at that birthday we didn't even know he was sick. We found out in August that he had esophageal cancer and the cancer was bad. It had already spread to other parts of his body, he didn't even know he had it until he developed a lump in his throat that made eating difficult - which led him to go to a doctor. I don't want to bring anyone reading this down with all of the horrible details, too many of us know what this disease is like already, but it was my first time (and how I wish it will be the last) that I ever dealt with cancer so up close and personal and it was awful.

Dad passed away in November of the same year, just 7 months after his 50th birthday party. Suffice it to say, my mind will be on him a lot tomorrow. I am sure losing a parent at any age is difficult and in many ways I was lucky to have my Dad in my life for as long as I did. But 50 certainly feels young these days. My parents were young parents too, so I guess I had just taken for granted that they would be around for a long time to come.

So, wherever you are Dad, Happy Birthday. I'm thinking of you and I love you.

I would like to end this post with a little something that was read at my Dad's memorial service. I am not sure where it came from and believe it is anonymous, but it resonated with me and if any of you out there reading this have lost someone you loved, perhaps you will find some comfort in these words as well.

When I die, give what is left of me to the children. If you need to cry, cry for your brothers and sisters walking beside you. Put your arms around anyone and give them what you need to give me. I want to leave you with something, something better than words or sounds. Look for me in the people I have known and loved. And if you cannot live without me, then let me live on in your eyes, your mind and…your Acts of Kindness. You can love me most by letting hands touch hands, and letting go of children who need to be free. Love does not die, people do. So when all that is left of me is love… give me away…

~Erin