Remember when going to the toy store was fun?
I loved going to the toy with my parents. We'd
start going right about this time of year so they could
get some since of what my sister and I wanted for
Christmas. There is something so charming about the
mom and pop toy stores back in the day
that you don't find with the big chain stores.
I often find the toys that I played with as a child and
the most beautiful pictures books in places like these.
When I grow up I am going to have a huge toy store
for grown folks who still like to play Battleship, Operation,
Trouble, Jacks and Paddle ball. Big babies who still
love Radio flyers, Dawn dolls, Flatsies,and model airplanes.
And less we forget the eye damaging Klick Klacks!
No bells and whistles or electronics just your fabulous imagination
to make it all work he he he he! Have a wonderful week everyone!
Hey Vanessa I haven't chatted with you in a while. Your right, that is a piece of the past with the big stores these days. Your illustration is so cute!
ReplyDeleteSign me up please. Sounds like paradise. Terrific amazing bequilingness as ever!
ReplyDeleteI wanna go to your toy store! It sounds like my kind of place ;) Hope you are feeling better Vee. If this illustration is any indication then I'd say you are right as rain because it is soooooooooooo darling! (((HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteI have just recently found your blog and you are one very talented woman I love your illustrations.
ReplyDeleteI remember Klick-Klaks! Lol! I love this! You always strike right to the heart strings! Do you remember the "No Name" Doll or the "Chrissy Doll, whose hair grew, if You pulled it from the middle of her scalp? lol!
ReplyDeleteWorld Toy and Gift in the village in Houston, TX. Now there was a store to make a kid drool.
ReplyDeleteI think you'd be the perfect person to run a toy store. Let us know when that happens!
Love the hair on your little person there.
Another gorgeous illustration! This big baby will be waiting for the doors to open!
ReplyDeleteBig Babies of the World Unite! I will be there shopping and playing in a heartbeat. I remember getting to go to this one toy store when I had to have a shot at the doc's, and I picked out a stuffed rabbit that wore glasses. I think that says it all about me - lol! Happy week - xo
ReplyDeletethose animals in the front are adorable! & THAT HAIR!!! LOOOVE!
ReplyDeleteoh yes, the toy store!!!!!!!
you deliiiiiiight me!!!
xoxox
I'll be standing right there waiting for the doors to open!
ReplyDeleteDH and I both had, for the longest time, toys that had been boxed and stored.
Still have my train set that came out only at Christmas....Barbies....oh heck, I have no idea what is buried here! Maybe enough to help stock your store! They were soooo fun to go to.... :-)
XXOO~~
Anne
I do believe this is my favorite piece of yours. LOVE!!!!! I'm with you. I love the old timey bookstores and toy shops. Park Road Books in the Park Road shopping center and Toys & Co. in Cotswold Mall (if you haven't discovered those little nuggets of joy yet)!!!! Thanks for this wonderful, wonderful image and walk down memory lane.
ReplyDeleteLove the post and the illo is so charming:)
ReplyDeleteVanessa! I LOVE this! Simply G-orgeous!
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, so cute, love the colors! Those kind of toy stores are the best, not too many left around though, kinda sad.
ReplyDeleteI love her hair!! :)
ReplyDeleteSounds like a plan! I love those old toy stores too. It reminds me of one in La Jolla, near San Diego.
ReplyDeleteYES YES I loved those kind of toy stores.
ReplyDeleteLove this guys hair, kind of how mine looks today!
Yes, yes, oh YES! I love old fashioned toy stores! I'll be right there at your ribbon cutting ceremony. I'd better make sure I bring my lucky rocks, because that those hopscotch squares are just screaming for me! And you know what? When you get a break from all the customers at your toy store, hop on over to my candystore/milkshake counter next door. We'll get ourselves re-energized for the after school crowd. Yahooooo! Love you!
ReplyDeleteWhat great hairdo. Yesterday we saw a teenager with the biggest afro hairdo riding his bicycle down the street, the wind blowing his hair. OMG! When we drove by and past him we looked at him and he was quiet the handsome mulato. He was grinning from ear to ear. We smiled at him. What joy to be young and full of hair!!!
ReplyDeleteHuh?!! I never stopped visiting these stores because I never grew up!!! That is why I gave to visit the dentist this morning to make sure I don't get cavities from all the candies I eat and all the toys I chew!!! Have a lovely day, sweetie. Tsup!
All I can say is what a fantastic hair do! Very nice.
ReplyDeleteI love your illustrations!
ReplyDeleteThis is as happy as it gets- and one of the happiest places for kids of all ages! Going up and down the aisles, looking at everything a kid could see with that one good eye- the one that that the klick klack didn't hit ;o)...So glad you posted this to share the fun memories and smiles all around! :o)
ReplyDeleteThis is really darling, Vanessa! I remember the store and also those big printed catalogs that used to come from the stores (I'm probably telling my age!). We would sit and go through it and dog ear a "dream" list!
ReplyDeleteit is so wonderful! oh how i loved going to the toystore back in the day, this brings back good memories. fab illo as always, and love her hair do!
ReplyDeletequand j'ai été petite, la ou j'habité, il n'y avait pas des magasins de jouets - c'etait simple - un ours teddy arrivé sous le sapin et c'etait tout - bon il y avait des livres - mais j'ai un souvenir , quand j'allait chez mes grand parents il y avait un vieux boutique en bois , ou on vendait les journeaux , savon, bonbons et journal pour les enfants - c'etait la ou je me rendais tous les dimanches pour l'en acheter - j'ai hérité un trés jolie maison pour les poupées avec, des rideaux , meubles etc mais je n'avait pas de vrais poupées donc ma maman avait cousu pour moi
ReplyDeletehugs vanessa - danuta - oclara
oups - now version google translate :
ReplyDeletewhen I was little, where I live, there were no toy stores - it was simple - a teddy bear arrived under the tree and that was it - there were good books - but I have a memory, when I went to my grandparents there was an old wood shop, or were sold newspapers, soap, candy and newspaper for children - was where I went every Sunday to the purchase - I inherited a very nice house for dolls, curtains, furniture etc. but I had no real dolls so my mother had sewn for me
Oh yes I remember, it´s not that long ago, the last time I felt like her was at FAO Schwarz in NY. But when I left the shop I had a few bags hanging on my arm (hi hi hi)
ReplyDeleteHave a great Halloween and a funtastic night
Janine
Great illo V and please do make that shop a reality so that I can play you in Battleship! Cheers to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteI'll be in the line with others waiting for such a store to open up. Though such stores were few when I was growing up in the 80's, it was such a treat to get to visit the one's left. Love the illustration too...captures childhood fun to a tee. Brilliant!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Now when I go to the toy store it is overwhelming. Hope you are doing well my dear. :)
ReplyDeleteI had Dawn dolls and orange, sparkly click clacks! Hooey do you bring back the memories girl!
ReplyDeleteI'll surely be in line when you open the doors of your toy store for us big kids!
Absolutely!!!!!! If I see one more mother entertaining her toddler with a smartphone I will scream! Charming illustration to go with your wise words.
ReplyDeleteHey Vanessa, that sounds like my house. You know us boys never grpw up - we just get old and wrinkly on the outside - like sultanas. All the good bits are still on the inside - like battle ship and that game where you have lots of coloured pins and you hide them from your opponent and they have to guess the colours.
ReplyDeleteLove this fellows hair. he is so m uch fun. Just like the whole image.
see you hope you are well and well settled!
So cute :) and definitely brings back memories of stopping by little toy shops during the holidays :)
ReplyDeleteGosh, I'm gettin' here kinda late. I wonder if there's any toys left inside. Probably looks like Christmas eve at closing time by now. Everything all torn up and thrown around. I blew it.
ReplyDelete