Thursday, March 16, 2006

Out with the old, In with the new.....not quite yet

While planning out this blog I've been trying to decide whether to recap 2005 or just dive right in to 2006. I've decided I am going to do a recap of last year because there were so many great new items. Right now though, we'll take a sneak peek into the year ahead.

Just like last year, it looks like 2006 is shaping up to be another banner year for dolls. Robert Tonner's Wizard of Oz line last year was a huge hit, selling out within two months. The 2006 line, last I heard, seems to be selling out rather quickly as well.

Also generating a lot of excitement this year are Madame Alexander's Oz dolls. A perennial favorite since 1989, enthusiasm does not seem to be waning in the slightest. Virginia Turner has recently introduced the Wicked Witch and Glinda is planned for release this year as well.

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas........" I'm happy to report that Wizard of Oz items are back in Kurt Adler's novelty line after a bit of a hiatus. There is also a new ornament added to the Polonaise collection. A couple of days ago pages of Hallmark's Dreambook leaked out. There seems to be a table piece, a Glinda ornament, a set of miniature ornaments, and a light up ornament. Details coming soon.

Westland has some new household items that I'm sure will delight new collectors and people who love to garden.

San Francisco Music Box has some new waterglobes added to their popular Oz line with at least two more pieces still to come.

One of the more exciting releases of 2006 is the USPS Judy Garland stamp to be issued in June.

Mardi Gras certainly threw out some surprises this year as well.

And lastly but certainly not least there will be two sets of Japanese dolls, rubber ducks, and a set of trading cards.

I will get more specific about the aforementioned collectibles in future posts after my 2005 recap. Stay tuned!! :)