Making Merry, A Blog

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First of all... thanks for reading our blog!

You may also want to know about other ways to keep up to date on happenings here at MerryMakers. 

On facebook?   
  
  
If so, we'd love to have you as a MerryMakers friend...  just enter MerryMakers in the search window on the upper right area of the facebook page. 

Like to tweet?  

 

On Twitter search for "merrymakersinc" and click "Follow" to follow us.

Want to send us a good ol' e-mail?    

  

Contact us at merrymakers@merrymakersinc.com

We love to hear your comments and ideas so keep in touch!

 

Our Friend Scaredy Squirrel

Have you seen our Scaredy Squirrel Puppet?

So fun!  Already a big hit and he's one of our newest items.

Written and illustrated by Mélanie Watt, Scaredy's books include Scaredy Squirrel, Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach, and Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, and are published Kids Can Press.

Crowd pleasers that both kids and adults get a kick out of!

Check out the MerryMakers Scaredy Squirrel Puppet here...

  

Lottie Doll at the NY Public Library!

So excited to see this YouTube video of Jim Dale reading Return to the Hundred Acre Wood at the New York Public Library:

As you may know, Return to the Hundred Acre Wood is the first authorized sequel to the original Winnie-the-Pooh series. 

If you have a chance, stop by the New York Public Library Children's Center and see our LOTTIE doll on display with Christopher Robin's own toys!

(Isn't she cute?!)

 

We Had a Ball at NCIBA!

A couple of shots from the NCIBA (Northern California Independent Booksellers Association) Show this weekend...

 

The MerryMakers tabletop display.  Nice jolt of color, eh?!

 

Mike Monson of Books, Inc.

And a shout out to his dog, Stella, who looks just like Skippyjon Jones!!

(Can you see on his cell phone?)

 

What a fun group of booksellers! 

 

NCIBA Show -- See You There!

We are looking forward to the NCIBA Trade Show in Oakland this weekend! 

The 2009 show is being held Thursday, October 8th through Saturday, October 10th at the Oakland Convention Center/City Center Marriott.  The show floor is open to attendees on the 9th and 10th.

If you are attending, please look for MerryMakers!

 

Educator Appreciation Week!

Most of us know a phenomenal educator -- a teacher or librarian who has made a huge difference in your life or the life of your child.  

Or maybe you ARE one of those fine folks!

If so, here's some special news... for one week only, Educator Appreciation week starting Sept. 29th, MerryMakers is offering a

***  30% discount  *** 

 off retail prices for any order placed by (or for) an educator. 

Just be sure to use the code APPRECIATE and order here:  www.merrymakersinc.com

Feel free to spread the word!  Thanks!

 

An Awesome Collector

Sometimes we are particularly impressed...

Here’s a photo of librarian Stephanie Bange of Wright State University with her list of 314 book-related dolls she’s collected over the years!  (yes, that's right, 314!)

Photo taken at the American Library Association meeting in Chicago, July 09.

Go Stephanie!

 

New York Gift Fair 2009

Just back from the New York Gift Fair.  An exciting time... and many orders!

Among the most popular at this show were the Llama Llama Doll, from the warm and funny books by Anna Dewdney

        

 and Splat the Cat, based on Rob Scotton's hilarious bestseller

      

More good news that Walter the Farting Dog and Olivia are both still hugely popular!

           Check out our updated website for the full line of dolls, including our newest:  MerryMakers, Inc.

 

Visiting George and Martha

Have you ever been to Mount Vernon?   

Such an interesting place.  Fascinating to roam the grounds and learn about everything that was going on at the time of George Washington. 

Did you know that it was originally a much smaller house (the center portion of the current structure) until George and Martha expanded it to the current size?

Of course we were also thrilled to see our MerryMakers dolls in the gift shop!

We've always been fond of them and they seem even more lovely when you're right there at Mount Vernon viewing the displays.

 

 

Available at the Mount Vernon Gift Shop online here:  Washington Dolls

More New York Fun!

Wanted to post a couple more photos from our recent trip to BEA in New York.

How about this fun one of our friends from Boxer Books?

It's on the outdoor terrace at the Peninsula Hotel.  We highly recommend this spot!

And here's one of Clair looking back from her lawn chair on Broadway and 42nd!

The New York City Transportation Commission has created a pedestrian-friendly area for parts of Broadway that is garnering fabulous reviews.  No cars, lawn chairs... how about that?! 

This dynamic idea has changed the whole tenor of N.Y.  Somewhere with a different sound (no cars), a slower pace, and an opportunity to interact with others who are also taking a break from the normal pace of the city. 

We do enjoy the hustle and bustle of this great city, but we also enjoy this pedestrian-friendly concept.