Giving Grandma and the Elves Credit

February 2, 2010 by AuntLinda
Rachel and I designed the Elf Toy of the Month™ primarily to encourage bonding between you and your geographically separated grandchild or other family member. We want to make it clear to your grandchild that you and the elves are both sending the gifts.

With our Twelve Month package, our first contact with your grandchild begins with a personalized certificate, announcing that he or she can look forward to receiving the Elf Toy of the Month each month for a year thanks to you and the Glimmer Glen Elves™. Both your grandchild’s name and the your name are on this personalized announcement certificate. This begins to build up your grandchild’s anticipation.

The first gift arrives with the Elfery Letters Scroll™ containing letters from the elf and human characters your grandchild will meet in the Elfery Storybooks™. The letters makes it easy to “jump into” the story, regardless of the month. There is no beginning or ending month to the stories.

With every month’s gift is a unique personalized gift card that is addressed to your grandchild and reminding him or her that it is you and the elves who are sending the gift. The card encourages your grandchild to thank you for the gift. Most likely this will be by phone, but these days, it could also be by webcam.

In my next post, I’ll talk about the kind of conversation you might want to have with your grandchild about the toy and story they received that month.

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Posted in Family Bonding, Gifts from Aunts and Uncles, Grandparent category, Kids' Gifts Grandparents Can Gift, Parent category, Staying in Touch with Nieces and Nephews, Toy of the Month, elves | Leave a Comment »

How the Elf Toy of the Month Gifts Were Chosen

January 31, 2010 by AuntLinda

In previous posts, I’ve told how I began the Elf Toy of the Month by sending a gift from the elves each month for a year to my young niece, Rachel. As an adult, Rachel remembered the gifts with fondness and suggested she help me create a business around the concept.

The first thing Rachel and I had to decide was the age range for our gifts. Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development describes children ages 4 through 7 as being in the “Intuitive” stage when they easily believe in magic. The age span 5 through 7 is a perfect time to introduce the Elves of Glimmer Glen.™ It’s also the perfect age for children to bond with their grandparents or other family and friends in delightfully imaginative ways.

We wanted to have some reference to the holidays and seasons. Children feel comforted by traditions and images like apples in fall, flowers in spring, parades and fireworks on July Fourth.

Another consideration was focused on the type of age-appropriate toy. We wanted items that an elf might make … natural and classic-type toys that encourage children’s creativity and imagination. That meant no batteries or plastic.

And lastly, these toys needed to be quality-made … gifts that parents and grandparents would feel good about giving. We envisioned a lively conversation between the child and gift giver about the toy. We hoped this would help to “break the ice” and get a good dialog started.

To see our final choices, you can go to Whimsmoore’s Elf Toy-of-the-Month™ page.

In my next post, I’ll describe how we personalize the gifts, making sure that “grandma” and the elves both receive credit.

Meet the Elves of Glimmer Glen

Share Your Elfery™

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Posted in Family Bonding, Gifts from Aunts and Uncles, Kids' Gifts Grandparents Can Gift, Staying in Touch with Nieces and Nephews, Toy of the Month, Toys, elves | Leave a Comment »

My Solution to Connecting Family: Part 2

January 22, 2010 by AuntLinda

As I related in my previous post, I began sending the Elf Toy of the Month to my niece, Rachel, so that we could stay connected in a fun and creative way. Rachel is all grown up now, and still remembers those gifts with fondness. Actually, she does not remember all of the gifts, but she remembers that the elves and her Aunt Linda sent something special just for her every month for a year. Sending those gifts created a bond between us that cannot be broken.

From the beginning, I realized that there were other families who could benefit from a program similar to the one I created for Rachel. But it wasn’t until Rachel, a marketing expert now, came to me almost five years ago and suggested we establish a business around the concept, that the dream began to take shape.

Because most children have not personally visited my Elfery™ (the space under my stairs where the Glimmer Glen Elves™ come to visit) the way that Rachel did, I have written twelve stories, one for each month, about the Elfery and the elves. We published them in books delightfully illustrated and elf-sized at 3″x 2-1/4″. Children love these tiny books full of magic and wonder.

In writing these books, I learned a lot more about the elves and their home in Glimmer Glen. Each book tells how the elves decided on the Elf Toy of the Month.

Because we knew that at such a small size, these Elfery Storybooks™ could become lost, we made the Elfery Stories Book Box™ in which to keep them. It’s a wooden box that looks like a book. The silk-screened top evokes the nostalgic look of a wood-cut. We’ve heard many oohs and aahs over these beautiful boxes.

My next blog will relate how the toys for the Elf Toy of the Month were chosen.

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Posted in Family Bonding, Gifts from Aunts and Uncles, Grandparent category, Kids' Gifts Grandparents Can Gift, Staying in Touch with Nieces and Nephews, Toy of the Month, Toys, elves | Leave a Comment »

My Solution to Connecting Family

January 12, 2010 by AuntLinda

In past blog posts, I’ve described how the Elfery™ began, I’ve explored the lives of the “little people,” and I’ve talked about the products that we offer at Whimsmoore.com. It occurred to me today that I haven’t sufficiently told you how the Elf Toy of the Month got started and how valuable it can be for children and their families.

For those of you new to this blog, you need to know that the Elfery is a playhouse under the stairs where the elves come from their world into ours. My niece Rachel loved visiting my Elfery, but because she lived almost a thousand miles away, was rarely able to do so.

I loved sharing the Elfery and the imagination that came with it with her. Wanting to nurture our relationship, I created an Elf Toy of the Month. Sometimes I bought things that seemed elfish and other times I made the gifts myself. Each month for a year I sent them off on behalf of the elves. (You can read the full account at http://whimsmoore.com/elfery_intro.html)

And so was born the idea of the Elf Toy of the Month. In my next posts, I explain how it blossomed into its present form, what’s so special about each month’s package, and why it can be such a wonderful tool to help young and older family members connect.

Posted in Gifts from Aunts and Uncles, Grandparent category, Staying in Touch with Nieces and Nephews, Toy of the Month, Toys | Leave a Comment »

Merry Christmas from the Elfery Dolls

December 24, 2009 by AuntLinda


The Elfery™ dolls are celebrating a new addition to their playhouse under the stairs: a sweet little sleigh just big enough to hold two of them. Whatever the season, there’s always fun and magic in the Elfery, but Christmas-time seems extra special.

Here’s wishing you and yours a magical holiday!

Posted in Christmas Decorating, Decorating ideas, Doll Play, Doll collection, Toys | Leave a Comment »

Featured in Momtrends

December 16, 2009 by AuntLinda

We at Whimsmoore have worked hard to offer the very best creative toys available to the US market today. So we were especially pleased that Momtrends NO BATTERIES REQUIRED “picks for toys that bring joy” has featured two of the kids toys we carry.

Linda in Sandbox
#5 is Schylling’s Tin Tea Set. This set reminds me of the set I had as a child. I loved making “mud pies” and serving “tea” from my sand box as you can see in the photo. And yes, tasting my efforts made me cry! But that creative play was a precursor to the cooking I enjoy today.

This tea set is perfectly practical for indoor and outdoor play. There’s nothing to be broken, and as long as it isn’t exposed to long periods of dampness, it could last practically forever. (I still have my own childhood set in my Elfery!) I can envision this as the centerpiece to a doll picnic under a weeping willow.

Julliannas Kitchen

Speaking of cooking, Momtrends #15 pick is Whimsmoore’s Kitchen Play selection. I can’t say enough good things about these! Made by Elves in Angels in Maine and finished with linseed oil, these too will last practically forever … genuine keepsakes to pass down to the next generation. There’s just enough detail to stimulate your child’s or granchild’s creative imagination. And they are visually pleasing and feel good to the touch.

Time is running out for Christmas orders. But remember these gifts are not fads that will only last for a season. They are appropriate and will be cherished all year long.

Wishing you and yours the best Holiday Season ever!

Aunt Linda's Signature

Posted in Doll Play, Kids' creativity, Natural Toys | Leave a Comment »

Christmas Countdown

December 9, 2009 by AuntLinda

Dear Friends,

Do the days seem to be rushing by as Christmas approaches? So much decoration to do! So many cookies to bake! So many cards to send! So many presents and gifts to buy! And we’re approaching the “last-minute shopping” period!

Personally, I’ve been super busy planning a big Whimsmoore open house. What helps keep me in the spirit of Christmas is all the wonderful music I play as I decorate, bake, and clean house. That and reviewing all the great gifts we’ve made available for kids at Whimsmoore.com.

If you find yourself stressed out from all of the holiday activities, why not take a break right now, sit yourself down in front of that nice warm computer, and let your fingers do the shopping! Here are some suggestions to make your gift recipients spirits’ bright:

The Elf Toy of the Month for children ages five through seven. December’s package includes a tin of mini-cookie cutters, a mini rolling pin, an Elf Cookies recipe and our own, Elfery Storybook™. We’ve extended the shipping date for this gift through December 18th. You may choose this as a one-time gift or as a creative present your child or grandchild will receive every month for a year. For more details and to order, go to http://whimsmoore.com/ETOM.html

A Playtent is just the thing to put up indoors during the rainy/snowy days of winter. We carry seven models, from a TeePee to a Princess Castle and more. Great entertainment at Grandma’s house! See our entire selection at http://whimsmoore.com/play.html

What’s Christmas without a new doll? We at Whimsmoore like to keep our toys simple and fun and very high quality. That’s why we’re especially pleased to offer the Lennon Sister’s Best Pals Dolls inspired by the rag dolls the Lennon sisters, Janet and Kathy, cherished as children. Each “Best Pals” doll is part of a numbered and limited edition. You’ll love the detail in their vintage-style clothing! Go to http://whimsmoore.com/doll.html

Both the Lady Bug Tea Set (on Sale!) and the Children’s Tin Tea Set will delight any little girl or boy. These are available while supplies last at http://whimsmoore.com/kitchenacces.html

We have a wonderful selection of Christmas and Winter kids books. Here are a few of my favorites: Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost. I absolutely love the “frosty” velum cover and the art work inside. Other favorite picture books are Bear’s First Christmas and Santa Claus. The former is sweet and quiet like falling snow. The latter is boisterous, fun, and full of surprises like Santa himself. Speaking of quiet, Christ’s birth is told lovingly in the glowing colors of Room for a Little One. And it’s my humble belief that every family that celebrates Christmas ought to have a Night Before Christmas book. Jan Brett’s and Mary Engelbreit’s illustrations are both treasures! http://whimsmoore.com/kidsholidaybooks.html

So sit yourself down and order today. Then breathe a sigh of relief as you check off several items on your gift list.

Whatever your activities today and in the coming couple of weeks, I wish you all, blessings of the Season!

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Best Natural Toys of 2009

November 12, 2009 by AuntLinda

Imagine my delight when I picked up Mothering magazine yesterday and saw that a couple of products Whimsmoore carries are included in their “Best Natural Toys of 2009″ feature. Those toys are Dolly’s Changing Table and a Playstand with Arch. Both are handmade in the USA of quality materials and smooth, natural finishes, features we consistently look for.

The perfect center for dollplay, Dolly’s Changing Table includes storage for clothes, a space for changing diapers and clothes and even a swing for after dolly’s clean and dry. PeaPod, the elf, says she’d love to play with this.


Our Play Stand is from a different manufacturer than the one featured in Mothering. We believe ours is a even better value! Made of the finest quality materials and craftsmanship, and superior design, it will provide hours of imaginative play for little boys and girls alike. As an “open ended” toy inspired by the Waldorf learning philosophy, it can be transformed by imagination to a house, a store, a fort, etc. Comes with optional silk canopy.

These are just two of our carefully selected imagination-inspiring toys. Come take a look! You’ll be pleased by your choice of finishes and prices.

Posted in Doll Play, Natural Toys, Toys | Leave a Comment »

Whimsmoore is Shrinking!

November 10, 2009 by AuntLinda

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Less is more?” It means that volume and/or many details do not make a product or other entity better. Simplicity is often the best choice.

Have you ever been to a large market stuffed with many booths offering many, many items for sale, and found it overwhelming? I don’t know about you, but my eyes begin to glaze over and my feet begin to tire. I might not purchase anything because I’m so overwhelmed. Either that or I overdo it.

And what about all that’s available on the Internet? Talk about overload! So we at Whimsmoore have decided to cut out those products that can be found almost everywhere, and offer a selection of children’s toys, gifts, books, and playhouses with the very best quality and most unique features available. And we’ve added a few (just a few!) new fabulous finds … many of them handmade right here in the USA.

Take a look at our Kids Crooked Houses. Just one look and you’ll want to be a kid again. Even better, we’re the only place on the planet that offers soft and colorful floor tiles with which to furnish them. These whimsical houses are made in Maine.

We’ve added several Kitchen Play and Doll Play items by Elves and Angels, also out of Maine. These will stimulate hours of creative play for your kids. Run your hand over the smooth, sanded surfaces and you’ll feel the quality.

And there are the unique play kitchens, kids’ tables and chairs, and the charming “Log Cabin” from Little Colorado. You have the choice of ordering them finished or unfinished so you can decorate them with your own unique designs.

All three of these companies design their play items to encourage kids imaginative and safe play. And all three of these companies work very hard at being “green.”

And don’t you dare forget our own unique Elf Toy of the Month! You won’t find it any place else. Each month’s gift contains a simple, classic-type toy and a companion Elfery Storybook™ designed to help you stay connected in a fun way to those children or grandchildren who may live far away. Our elves do the packing and shipping for you. Nothing could be easier!

So take a gander at our new selection. It won’t take you long to find the perfect gift for your child or grandchild.

Together, let’s invite our children’s and grandchildren’s imaginations out to play!

Aunt Linda's Signature

Posted in Doll Play, Play Kitchens, Playhouses, Toy of the Month, Toys | Leave a Comment »

Trolls: Be They Giants, Shrunken Men, or … ?

July 20, 2009 by AuntLinda

To describe a Troll is to grasp at a plume of smoke. One second, you think you’ve captured it, the next second, it has escaped you. Are trolls short? Are they extra large? Are they shy? Are they bold? Are they mean? Are they kind? Throughout history and across countries, different peoples have known trolls in different forms and personalities.

Trolls are only mentioned in one commonly known fairy tale today: The Three Billy Goats Gruff. This troll hangs out under a bridge, He is bad, he is ugly, he is mean. In a loud and harsh voice, he threatens to eat up those billy goats. Fortunately, for them, this troll is not very bright.

Despite the wild variation of troll descriptions, this troll shares several characteristics with other trolls. His hair is wild and long. His head seems to sit directly on his shoulders, his neck being extremely short. His fingers are long and grasping. His clothes are shaggy skins from animals he’s slaughtered. This particular troll is shorter than most men … maybe from living under a bridge all of his life.

Older troll tales describe them as giants. Over the years, many artists have shown them to have large noses and ears, and long, hairy arms. Some would say trolls resemble Cro-Magnon man. Indeed, perhaps that is their origin.

Our troll’s habitat is another similarity to many troll tales; he lives under the bridge. Trolls are commonly thought to live under boulders or under mounds, although some are also depicted as living hidden in the deep, dark forest.

Scandinavian trolls are thought to respond toward humans as they are treated. They are not necessarily evil. They can even be jokesters, turning invisible and stealing food from a person’s plate.
Recently, trolls have been depicted in fantasy literature and role-playing games. We shiver in delight and horror at meeting up with one of these creatures. We love rooting for our hero to outwit this fearsome creature and banish him from our nightmares.

Here’s to more whimsy in your life!

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