Sunday, March 27, 2011

New Additions to Gallery

Hey Everyone! Just a short post this week, putting up pictures of my new additions from the last two months.


TOMY Bulrushes. They'll be running the Sylvanian Theater in Little Rock Creek. Special Thanks to Blanca for trading these with me!


Dentist Spencer Clearwater. A big big thanks to my old friend, Jacc for helping me get this one! As you can see he's already well in demand here in Little Rock Creek!



UL Tailbury Baby Boy. I wasn't really interested in getting the family life set that came with it so I was pretty pleased for my friend, Hayley had one up on ebay! Thanks Hayley!





US TOMY Rocky Babblebrook. I have to admit I had a penchant for him since I first saw him in last Sepetember. I just love Babblebrooks! Special Thanks to Countney of Sylvanian Heaven for the trade and the lovely illustration of him!





Maces Mice. I updated their photos after the JP Maces Grandmother came in from Wendy's shoppe! Kudos to Wendy for helping me collect this family!

View my new figures at the Gallery!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvanianholics/

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

In & Around Little Rock Creek: Lunch at the Brunch Stand!


Recently, a new fast food restaurant has opened in Little Rock Creek, attracting swarms of hungry Sylvanians. So what is their secret? Theodore Tear-Drop of the Little Rock Times finds out,


"Well, I make my specialties from only the freshest produce in Sylvania which I get delieved by Rocky Babblebrook's Sylvanian Market every morning at seven!", said Mr. Kenneth Furbanks, owner of the Brunch Stand.


"Cooking is our family's favourite pastime!" exclaimed Greta, Kenneth's daughter. "Today, I'm helping daddy cook the flap-jacks while Doug is in charge of the fries with Mother manning her famous Chilli on the stove!"


"After we send the kids to school, Kenny and I start laying out the food in time for the lunchtime crowd", said Emma, Kenneth's wife of 12 years!


"I love it! I come here everyday after school just for the pancakes", said a hungry Radish Dappledawn as he tucked into his piping hot serving of pancakes.
"Uncle Kenny always reserves me a seat everyday, he knows I absolutely adore his Strawberry ice cream!" giggled Andromeda Pettie.


More happy diners at the Brunch Stand!

Brunch Stand is located at the junction of Pebble Lane and Reed Avenue, next to the Little Rock Creek Town Hall.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Selling my extras



Hello everyone! Here are a few spares I have up for sale, if you're interested or would like more pictures of any of the above items , email me at mysylvania@hotmail.com or drop a line in the comments box! Many Thanks!

Prices are in US Dollars,

-JP Halloween Pair 2008 - MIB - SOLD
-JP Club Sparkle Rabbit Baby - Retired & in excellent condition - $17
-UK TOMY Bulrush Frog Siser - MIB, little faded - $12

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Sylvanian Travels - JAPAN



Yes! Continuing as part of specials this week, today we are going look at my travels overseas and what better way to start with JAPAN! Japan, without a doubt is a Sylvanian mecca to any collector. However, it is not easy to navigate around without speaking Japanese. In the first of this five part mini-series, we'll be looking at Sylvanians in Tokyo in general.

Now, in this city of 12 million, searching for Sylvanians, like everything else can be a linguistic nightmare. So first things first, the basics. If you're planning to keep your Sylvanian hunting to Tokyo, the best option for you the Tokyo Metro Pass which is available at Narita International Airport's Arrival Hall. This pass covers all nine Tokyo Metro Lines but NOT the Toei Subway Lines or JR Lines For my week-long stay in Tokyo, I bought three of these two-day metro passes, which cost 980円(USD$18.60)




Even if you're not planning to limit your hunt to Tokyo, the pass is still pretty useful for travel to the usual tourist train in Tokyo or traveling back to your hotel after a day in Grinpa!



First stop, department stores. The one is the picture is Isetan, located in Shinjuku.

Most department stores in the city, stock Sylvanian Families. However, the range is only limited the current Japanese range and even so, there isn't anything special that you can't find elsewhere. My advice? Give these stores a miss unless you're really tight for time.








Next, on the list are the various Sylvanian Markets. The most convienient being the one at Yodobashi Camera in Akihabara. Here you'll find a large variety of Sylvanians and I mean large. Sylvanian Markets also stock many Flair and UK Sylvanians as well. In addition to all this, the prices here are discounted, starting from 273円(About USD$3.30) for standing babies. Tax rebates are also available if you spend more than 10,000円.

Another place with mentioning is Toys R Us. Here, you'll find Toy R Us specials with Special figures included with buildings. For example, the Toys R Us version of the School Bus comes with a Chiffon Dog Driver and three students. Pretty good if you want to add a few special figures in your collection!

GETTING THERE:
Yodobashi Camera Akihabara
Take the Ginza Line of Tokyo Metro to Suehirocho(G-14) which is a five-minute walk from the store. Alternatively, take the JR Yamanote Line to Akihabara station, the Sylvanian Market is on 6/F.

Toys R Us (Sunshine 60)
Take the Marunouchi Line of Tokyo Metro to Ikebukuro (M-25), Sunshine City is a five minute walk away. Alternatively, take the Yurakucho Line to Higashi-Ikebukuro (Y-10)







Another great place to try out is Nakano Broadway in Nakano. Nakano, for many is anime lovers paradise! Here you'll find all sorts of toy stores as well as the flagship store of Mandarake, Japan's biggest store in dealing with all sorts of anime paraphernalia and toys. Depending on your luck, you may find Early 80's Epoch Sylvanian Families or figures of the current range. Many of the toy stores here also stock Sylvanian Families with some having back-dated stocks with retired items.

GETTING THERE:



Take the Tozai Line on the Tokyo Metro to Nakano (T-01) and walk though the covered shop alley (Seen in the second picture) to Nakano Broadway.



In our final place for this week, we'll look at Asakusa. Asakusa, is well-known for Sensoji Temple, the oldest temple in Tokyo as well as the world famous, Asahi Breweries. While there are not many toy stores selling Sylvanian Families here, its a great place to get a Sylvanian or two while soaking up the atmosphere of old Japan!

The shop I went to had a 10% discount on Sylvanian Families and hand wrapped the Acorn Mouse Brother I bought even though I didn't asked for it to be hand-wrapped.

GETTING THERE:
Take the Ginza Line to Asakusa (G-19) and walk towards the Sensoji Temple. The toy store I went to was on a side street branching out from the Nakamise Shopping Street (Seen in the picture above)


Next time on Sylvanian Travels, we'll look at the Sylvanian Kitchen at Kichijoji!

Special thanks to Renee on the advice about Yodobashi Camera!
All pictures are copyright of Jonathan Daniel Lau and SylvanianHolics.blogspot.com, All rights reserved.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Forest Community Album #2

I never thought my second post would come so soon! Today, we will be visiting the Ernest and Primrose Evergreen, who just moved into Little Rock Brook to be close with their son, and his family.


Patchwork or Gardening? That seems to be on the agenda of Mr. and Mrs. Evergreen!

*GRANDFATHER Ernest Evergreen is Sylvania's great inventor. He locks himself away in his shed for days on end whenever he has an idea for some gadget or other. It must be said that not all Ernest's inventions have been a success and many of them don't seem to work at all!

*GRANDMOTHER Primrose Evergreen is Sylvania's "weather girl" with an instinct for what tomorrow's weather will bring. If her ears itch it will be sunny, if her toes itch it will rain, if her nose itches it will snow! Ernest jokes that if Primrose itches all over it will be because she's caught measles.


Ernest and Primrose settling into their new home with a refreshing cup of Jasmine Tea and some delights baked by Primrose herself!


A close up of breads and pastries. The ones on the right are Shaobing, flaky pastries with sweet filling such as mung beans or red beans!

View the Evergreen Bears in my gallery!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvanianholics/5326865799/in/set-72157625754598276/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvanianholics/5491270281/in/set-72157625754598276/

*Biographies courtesy of Sylvanian Families by TOMY, 1987

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

The Forest Community Album #1

Hello Everyone! Welcome to the first issue at the Forest Community Album. Here you'll find biographies of some the family that live in my village, Little Rock Creek. Today, we have Redwood Red Pandas! :)



FATHER Merlot Redwood is quite the connoisseur when it comes to wine! From Chardonnay to Pinot Noir, Merlot loves them all! During the Summer, he can be found in the vineyards of the Sylvania Winery which he runs, plucking the fresh grapes off the vine.

MOTHER Shiraz Redwood loves experimenting with the wide array of produce her husband grows in the vineyard. She is renowned for her Midori Melon Wine which is every diner's favourite at the Sylvanian Kitchen.

SISTER Cherry Redwood enjoys long strolls in the forest, bringing a basket each time to collect the various berries and nuts to make her yummy Berry Pecan Nut Pie.

BABY GIRL Cranberry Redwood is only three but already helping parents at the vineyard. Every time her father brings in a new harvest of grapes, Cranberry will help Merlot stomp the grapes to make the grape juice for the wine!


The Redwoods enjoying the fruits of their labour, tasting the many juices and wines produced in the Winery.


Father Merlot having a nice chat with Cherry over a glass of Champaign.

View the Redwood Family in the Gallery!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sylvanianholics/5488953966/

*Names courtesy of SylvanianFamilies.com
*Biographies done by SylvanianHolics.blogspot.com, all rights reserved.