Williamsburg Farmers Market

The Williamsburg Farmers Market celebrated its 10th Anniversary today on Duke of Gloucester Street right outside of The Toymaker of Williamsburg.

There were more that 40 vendors selling fruit, vegetables, herbs, baked goods, cheese, soap, and much much more. Special 10th anniversary celebrations included live music, a skit, cake, and even prizes! Thanks Williamsburg Farmers Market, we had a great time.

Ron Fetner plays blues

Williamsburg Farmers Market

Farmers Market

Crate of Tomatoes

Scale

Williamsburg Farmers Market

Tomato Stand

Farm Toys

The Williamsburg Farmers Market will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary this Saturday June 30, 2012 from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. right outside our windows on Duke of Gloucester Street.

Learn more about the 10th Anniversary celebration at www.williamsburgfarmersmarket.com

Don’t forget to stop in to see us while you’re there or see all of our fun farm toys below!

Farm Toys

Farm Puzzleball

Farm Puzzleball – Ravensburger

The Farm Puzzleball is a 3D puzzle from Ravensburger. Piece together a puzzleball with all of your favorite barnyard friends. Ravensburger’s perfectly crafted, curved puzzle pieces allow for an exact fit and are easily assembled to form a solid, smooth ball with no glue required! Farm puzzleball has 40 pieces and measures 4.7 inches in diameter. Ages 4-6 years.

Farm Stampomino

Farm Stampomino – Aladine

What will you create with the Farm Stampomino from Aladine? They are perfect for little hands to make scenes on paper, cards, or albums. Aladine Stampominos are 100% washable from clothes and hands and come with fun ideas for stamp games! They are acid free for scrapbooking enthusiasts with a foam top showing the stamp picture and a detailed rubber stamp bottom. Farm Stampomino comes with a black ink pad and 10 stamps including two cows, two horses, two chickens, two pigs and two sheep.

Farm Finger Crayons

Farm Finger Crayons – Alex

Farm Finger Crayons from Alex are art supplies with a twist. Farm Finger Crayons come with twenty four colorful stack-able finger crayons that have fun farm character faces. Farm finger crayons come with a dog, cat, rooster, pig, sheep, cow, and the rest of your farm friends. Kids can create anything with these personality filled art supplies. Ages: 2 years and up.

Farm Tub Stickers

Farm Tub Stickers

Have fun in the tub with these fun farm tub stickers. The chubby foam shapes stick to the tub when wet! Unlike regular stickers they can be used again and again. Farm Tub Stickers teach kids about water as well as common farm animals. Stickers include a barn, a tractor, a pig, a fence, hay, and a cow. Farm tub stickers come complete with a fun holding bag with suction cups. Ages 3 years and up.

Baby Farm

Baby Farm 11pcs – Geomag

Baby Farm from Geomag is an educational and fun baby toy. Gbaby from Geomag has ergonomic shapes to help infants develop their motor and sensory skills. Fun-and-easy stacking and rattle sounds are created by the magical magnetism. Gbaby toys are great as a bath toy and the colorful animal forms also serve as teethers. Baby Farm from Geomag includes 11 fun pieces: four spherical shapes, two round magnetic shapes, and five soft rubber animals. Ages: 10 months and up.

Classic Farm Puzzle

Classic Farm Puzzle – Ryan’s Room

The Classic Farm Puzzle is a wooden puzzle from Ryan’s Room. This wooden puzzle is detailed and brightly colored to engage young children. Classic Farm Puzzle helps children learn to group like items and expand their vocabulary. Constructed with small knobs, each piece is easy to hold and promotes the development of fine motor skills. Ages: 18 months and up.

John Deere Farm Toys

Animal Sounds Hayride

Animal Sounds Hayride – John Deere

Animal Sounds Hayride is a fun farm toy from John Deere. Have fun pulling along the cow, pig, sheep and horse in this chunky John Deere tractor. Animals make sounds when they are pushed down, and when the farmer is pushed down it plays “Old McDonald”. Animal Sounds Hayride is 14″ long and includes batteries. Ages: 18 months and up.

Steel Wheelbarrow

Steel Wheelbarrow – John Deere

This steel sheelbarrow for kids is green with the yellow John Deere logo on its side. Wheel in the adventures with this fun and functional stamped-steel wheelbarrow. The large rubber tire makes pushing it a breeze and durable steel tubing makes it extremely stable when parked. Steel wheelbarrow is authentically decorated in official John Deere colors and logos. Large item – Extra Shipping Charge Required. Recommended for ages: 2 years and up.

Big Red Barn Fun on the Farm

Big Red Barn Fun on the Farm – John Deere

Add on to the Big Red Barn farming fun with the “Fun on the Farm” complete playset. John Deere Big Red Barn vehicles provide fun preschool play with the realism and interaction tied to John Deere. The Fun on the Farm playset includes a combine, gator, tractor, front loader, farmers, animals, fence and cargo. Farmers trigger sound when placed in the Big Red Barn. Other features include a Hop & Pop Tractor which features a removable farmer, wagon with flipping dump bed, tomato crate and tractor with lift-up hood. The thrashing combine features removable farmer and combine with pivoting spout. The Roll & Rock Gator features removable farmer, gator with flipping dump bed and hay. The Lift & Load Front Loader features farmer and load. Recommended for ages: 3 years and up.

Deere Pickup and Trailer Set

John Deere Pickup and Trailer Set – John Deere

This John Deere Pickup Truck and Trailer set is perfect for pretending to play on the farm or just for displaying your John Deere toys. Comes in two styles, contact us to see which style is available or let us choose green or tan for you! WARNING: Choking Hazard – small parts. Not for children under 3 years. Ages: 3 years and up.

Roll and Go Flashlight

Roll and Go Flashlight – John Deere

The roll and go flashlight is a fun and functional farm toy from John Deere. The roll and go flashlight is shaped like a John Deere tractor. It features free-rolling wheels, real light and tractor sounds when the light is triggered. The Roll and Go flashlight’s auto shut-off feature even saves batteries! Requires three AAA batteries, included. Recommended for ages: 3 years and up.

15" John Deere Big Scoop Set

15″ John Deere Big Scoop Set – John Deere

The 15” John Deere Big Scoop Set from Ertl includes two great items in one package! The 15” John Deere Set includes a dump truck with a working dump bed and an excavator with a working scoop. These two vehicles are extra durable for the sandbox, beach, outdoors or just for the playroom. Each has functioning parts and free rolling wheels.

Williamsburg Farmers Market 10th Anniversary

The Williamsburg Farmers Market will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary this Saturday June 30, 2012 from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. right outside our windows on Duke of Gloucester Street.

The Williamsburg Farmers Market has become a favorite attraction over its 10 years of operation. People can shop approximately 40 vendors that sell fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, jams, eggs, baked goods, and even flowers. Vendors that participate in the market get all of their goods right here in Virginia. The Williamsburg Farmers Market is so well loved that it was even granted recognition as one of America’s favorite farmers markets in 2009.

Events During the 10th Anniversary Celebration Include:

8:00 a.m. Ceremonial bell ringing

8:15 a.m. Unveiling of the anniversary poster

8:30-11 a.m. Serving anniversary cake and cupcakes

9:00-11:30 a.m. Chef’s tent cook-off

9:00-11:00 a.m. Ron Fetner will play blues.

10:00 a.m. The skit “How Does Your Garden Grow” will be performed by students from J. Blaine Blayton Elementary

Master Gardeners will demonstrate water stewardship with rain barrels and bins.

There will be a drawing for 10 gifts that will go to 10 lucky winners! Gifts include: Gift Certificates from Baskin Robbins, Carousel and Wythe Candy; Berret’s Seafood Restaurant dinner for 2; W&M Dining Services 3-tier cake; and a Gift Basket from the Peanut Shop.

Learn more about the 10th Anniversary celebration at www.williamsburgfarmersmarket.com

Don’t forget to stop in to see us while you’re there!

New Britains

W Britain has released their 2012 Spring Collection catalog and we are awaiting the arrival of new Britains from their American Revolution, American Civil War, and Tactical Scenes collections.

See all of the new W Britain toy soldiers we’re expecting below!

American Civil War Toy Soldiers

Art of War 150th Anniversary Commemorative Set

Wisconsin Veterans Museum/Keith Rocco Art of War 150th Anniversary Commemorative Set “Miller’s Cornfield” The 6th Wisconsin Regiment, Iron Brigade, at Antietam is from The American Civil War Collection from William Britain. This limited edition set includes two flags, seven foot and four sections of corn. Wisconsin Veterans Museum/Keith Rocco Art of War 150th Anniversary Commemorative Set “Miller’s Cornfield” The 6th Wisconsin Regiment, Iron Brigade, at Antietam is a 1:32 scale hand-painted set made from cast white metal alloy that is not suitable for persons under the age of 14 years. Limited edition of 600 sets.

Union Colonel Joshua Chamberlain 2

Union Colonel Joshua Chamberlain 2 is from The American Civil War Collection from William Britain. Chamberlain is well known for the heroism at Gettysburg for which he received the Medal of Honor. William Britain began making their world renowned toy soldiers more than 100 years ago in 1893. Their meticulous attention to detail and historical accuracy have made them a world leader in collectible toy soldiers. Union Colonel Joshua Chamberlain 2 is a 1:32 scale hand-painted figurine made from cast white metal alloy that is not suitable for persons under the age of 14 years.

American Revolution Toy Soldiers

There is an entire army of new additions to the American Revolution collection that can be used for Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill and many other battles during the American Revolution.

“The American Revolution, or American War for Independence, began on Lexington green on April 18, 1775 when a shot was fired that was “heard round the world.” Colonial Militia and British Regulars fought throughout the day at Concord and on the road leading back to Boston. Two months later, almost to the day, both sides would face off again at the battle of Bunker (Breed’s) Hill across the harbor from Boston on the Charlestown Peninsula. The militia inflicted appalling casualties on the advancing lines of redcoats but the British would eventually prevail. For the next six years, the war raged the length and breadth of the colonies, eventually ending at Yorktown on October 19, 1781.

This new series of American Revolutionary War figures can be used not only for Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill but for a myriad of other engagements and battles during the war. The Colonial Militia can even be recruited for French and Indian War collectors in need of some irregular/provincial reinforcements!

Be sure not to miss the exclusive Ontario Model Soldier Society Queen’s Ranger figure (it commemorates their 50th anniversary!) or the growing number of exclusives for The Toymaker of Williamsburg. All available only direct from them”

~ W. Britain The 2012 Spring Collection catalog

Colonial Militia Flagbearer 2 - Bedford Militia Colors

Colonial Militia Standing Firing 2

Colonial Militia Kneeling Firing 2

Colonial Militia at Port Arms 2

Colonial Militia Drummer 1

British 10th Foot Light Infantry Reaching for Cartridge 1

British 10th Foot Light Infantry Kneeling Firing 1

British 10th Foot Light Infantry NCO 1

British 10th Foot Light Infantry Advancing 1

Featured Toymaker of Williamsburg Exclusives

Ensign, Virginia State Garrison 1770's

Fifer - Virginia State Garrison, 1770's

“‘Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes!’ Colonel William Prescott, Commander of the colonial militia on Bunker (Breed’s) Hill. His command proved effective, driving back two British assault waves, though the third wave was successful when the colonists ran low on ammunition.”
~ W. Britain The 2012 Spring Collection catalog

Colonial Militia at Port Arms 1

Colonial Militia Standing Firing 1

Colonial Militia Standing Loading 1

Colonial Militia Flagbearer 1 Bunker Hill Colors

Colonial Militia Kneeling Firing 1

Colonial Colonel William Prescott

British Royal Irish Kings Colour 1

British Royal Irish Grenadier Charge Bayonet 1

British Royal Irish Grenadier Recover 1

British Royal Irish Grenadier Falling Back Wounded 1

British Royal Irish Grenadier Standing Loading 1

British Royal Irish Grenadier Officer 1

Tactical Scenes

18th-19th Century Corn 2

18th-19th Century Redoubt Section

18th-19th Century Redoubt Corner with Base Cut Outs

Stormy the Rocking Horse

Storms have been sweeping through Williamsburg this week so appropriately, our toy of the day is Stormy the Rocking Horse. Stormy the Rocking Horse is a bright spotted rocking toy from Vilac.

Vilac is a French toy company that produces beautiful, high quality toys. Vilac toys are known for their classic look and feel as well as their timeless style and durability. Stormy the Rocking Horse is bound to become a part of the family as soon as he arrives at his new home. Stormy ships flat but is simple to build! He is wooden and brightly colored with natural dyes and measures 42x70cm.

Stop by our store to check out all of our rocking and riding toys on our official site now.

Ocean Animals

Ocean animal toys from Schleich are realistic figurines that will bring your child’s imaginative play to life. Schleich miniatures are designed especially for kids’ hands and developed with the assistance of parents, teachers and children. Schleich figurines are wonderfully realistic and naturalistic with intricate design and impressive craftsmanship. They open up the world of nature to children – from domestic farm animals to wild jungle animals.

See all of our Schleich toys on our site now and read about interesting ocean animals below!

Sharks for Kids

White Shark

This White Shark figurine is from the Schleich wildlife collection. The white shark’s zoological name is Charcharodon carcharias and it is physically recognized by its white underbelly and gray backside. This camouflage gives the shark an advantage when hunting. It loves to eat fish, seals, octopus, and sea turtles and can taste blood from seven football fields away. When catching prey, these sharks are precise and grab their meal with fifty triangle-shaped teeth. In a single bite, these sharks can swallow thirty one pounds of food. The great white is a deep-sea predator which can grow to be twenty-seven feet long and weigh over two tons. As the biggest hunting shark, it is also among the fastest fish in the sea reaching speeds of twenty miles per hour with its perfectly streamlined body. White sharks have been known to travel over forty miles in one day and live to be over forty years old.

Whale Shark

This Whale Shark figurine is from the Schleich wildlife collection. Its zoological name is Rhincodon typus and it has a speckled backside and solid belly. The whale shark’s body can be as long as forty feet and weigh as much as twenty-two tons making it the largest living fish. Their mouths are five feet wide and they have hundreds of rows of teeth. Even with these huge mouths, whale sharks are filter feeders and eat microscopic organisms in the water called plankton. Whale sharks live in tropical waters and their lifespan can be half a century or more!

Whales for Kids

Killer Whale

This Killer Whale figurine is from the Schleich wildlife collection. Its zoological name is Orcinus orca and it is the largest member of the dolphin family. At birth, calves emerge tinted yellow or orange, but with age, their skin turns to their well-known black and white markings. As adults, killer whales’ body length measures twenty feet or so, and they weigh about four tons. Males and females can be distinguished from each other by the size and shape of their dorsal fin. The male’s dorsal fin is over five feet tall and triangular while at half the size, the female’s dorsal fin is curved. Both male and female killer whales can live fifty years or more. They are adaptable and social, and can be spotted in almost any ocean, swimming with others. What they eat depends on where they are swimming. Many killer whales enjoy seals, walruses, sea lions, and even other whales.

Killer Whale Calf

This Killer Whale Calf figurine is from the Schleich wildlife collection. Its zoological name is Orcinus orca and it is the largest member of the dolphin family. At birth, calves emerge tinted yellow or orange, but with age, their skin turns to their well-known black and white markings. As adults, killer whales’ body length measures twenty feet or so, and they weigh about four tons. Males and females can be distinguished from each other by the size and shape of their dorsal fin. The male’s dorsal fin is over five feet tall and triangular while at half the size, the female’s dorsal fin is curved. Both male and female killer whales can live fifty years or more. They are adaptable and social, and can be spotted in almost any ocean, swimming with others. What they eat depends on where they are swimming. Many killer whales enjoy seals, walruses, sea lions, and even other whales.

Gray Whale

This Gray Whale figurine is from the Schleich wildlife collection. The gray whale’s zoological name is Eschrichtius robustus and it is slate gray with white patches. At fifty-two feet and thirty-six tons, gray whales are enormous sea-dwelling mammals. Gray whales can live longer than 50 years and they spend their time eating and breeding. Gray whales feed on crustaceans and other organisms living on the ocean floor. Before winter, gray whales begin a six thousand mile migration to Baja California where they mate. They return home at a pace of eighty miles per day, the longest annual migration of any mammal. On their way, whales communicate to each other through loud whale song. They breathe through their blowholes on the top of their head and unlike most mammals, gray whales must breathe consciously.

Where else but MERCHANTS SQUARE? Summer Sweepstakes

2012 Merchant Square Summer Sweekstakes

Where else but MERCHANTS SQUARE? Summer Sweepstakes June 15-August 15

Five lucky winners will each receive $300 in gift cards to be used in Merchants Square. Visitors to Merchants Square will have a chance to enter to win from now through August 15th. Visit any participating store or restaurant in Merchants Square to receive a promotion code to enter for a chance to win. Once a promotion code has been obtained from one of the merchants, visitors can enter the sweepstakes from their mobile device or computer.

Who? The shops and restaurants in Merchants Square including…The Toymaker of Williamsburg!
What? $300 in gift cards for each of the 5 lucky winners.
When? June 15-August 15…NOW!
Where? Merchants Square… Stop by The Toymaker to get the Promotion Entry Code you need to enter!
Why? We want to see you in our store!

HOW?!
Shop and Dine in Merchants Square this summer for your chance to win $300 in gift cards to your favorite stores or restaurants.
Enter one of several ways:

From your mobile phone, text the Promotion Entry Code to 50101
From your smart phone or mobile device, scan the sweepstakes QR code on the sweepstakes post cards located in stores in Merchants Square (such as The Toymaker) and then enter the Promotion Entry Code in the required field

*See full contest rules at merchantssquare.org. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Must be legal resident of the 50 United States (D.C.). 18 years or older as of the start date. Sweepstakes ends on 8/15/12. For entry and official rules with complete eligibility, prize descriptions, odds disclosure and other details, visit www.merchantssquare.org. Sponsored by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. Void where prohibited.

Lamb Chop

Lamb Chop Puppet

Lamb Chop is an Exclusive Aurora puppet from the Shari Lewis Show. This 17” full body sock puppet sheep is cuddly, cute, and super spunky. The Lamb Chop puppet is crafted from the highest quality materials and brings the fun of the popular PBS TV show into your own home.

Lamb Chop made her first debut in 1956 and by 1960, Shari and Lamb Chop had their own show. Various other series followed before Lamb Chop was revived with the popular show Lamb Chop’s Play-Along. The TV show aired on PBS in the US from 1992 until 1997. It was designed and hosted by Shari Lewis and featured the famous Lamb Chop. Other characters on Lamb Chop’s Play-Along included farm animals like Charlie Horse and Hush Puppy. The opening theme song for the series was “The Song that Doesn’t End” which is featured below.

See Lamb Chop and all of our New Toys on our official site today.

First Day of Summer!

It’s the first official day of summer 2012 and it’s hot and sunny here in Williamsburg, Virginia. Get out in the warm weather with fun, summer themed toys from The Toymaker of Williamsburg!

What is the first day of summer? June 20, 2012, at 7:09 P.M. (EDT) is the summer solstice and marks the first day of summer. This is the time when the Sun reaches its farthest point north of the equator. At the summer solstice, the sun shines directly over the Tropic of Cancer and the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun.

Today is the longest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere by a couple of seconds and after today; we will slowly begin to lose daylight.

While it will be the longest day for us in the Northern Hemisphere, it won’t necessarily be the hottest (though it may feel like it). This is because Earth’s land and oceans absorb some of those rays and store them. The heat from the sun’s rays will eventually be released in the coming months.

See these and the rest of our toys on our official site today.

Sturmvogul Sailboat

Dolphin Figurine

Treasure Hunt

Ruby Butterfly Kite

Leatherback Sea Turtle Puppet

New Arrivals! King and Country Toy Soldiers

Your favorite King and Country toy soldiers are back at The Toymaker of Williamsburg! See toy soldiers from King and Country’s Ancient Egypt, World War I, World War 2, American Revolution, Ancient Greek, and American Civil War collections in our store or on our official website now.

Since the creation of their first toy soldiers in 1984, King and Country has been committed to producing unique, collectible toy soldiers that are affordable to customers and some of the finest in the world. Their military miniatures are all-metal, hand-painted 1:30 scale figurines. King and Country toy soldiers are not suitable for persons under the age of 14 years.

Check out all of our King & Country toy soldiers now or see new arrivals from each collection below.

World War II Toy Soldiers