Blue Crab Plastic Toy or Decoration is Back in Stock

Our very popular plastic Maryland Blue Crab squeaky toy is back in stock. They do make nice squishy squeaky toys for playroom or bath, but we probably sell more for summer cookout decorations than for any other reason.

After a short hiatus, they are back in stock and ready to ship! Check out our plastic blue crab replicas here.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hansa Stuffed Marmot or Groundhog Back in Stock!

We missed this delightful stuffed plush marmot while he was away, but now he is back, and we're thrilled about it! He seems happy, too, but he whispered in my ear that he'd rather go home with YOU!

You can order our playfully realistic stuffed marmot by Hansa right here and help contribute to tapir conservation at the same time. You might also want to check out our other plush wildlife by Hansa.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Hansa Stuffed Birds Back in Stock!

You've been waiting for these, and so have we! Our beloved and much-cherished dodo bird, kiwi, and vulture are back in stock and ready to go home with you!

Above is the dodo bird. Sadly, the real dodos are extinct, but they can be remembered and loved with this adorable plush replica. It's amazingly soft and feathery, and you can see it on this page.

This delightful stuffed kiwi bird is also among our most popular items. The kiwis are back in stock and ready to travel! Kiwis don't fly, so we put them in a box and make sure they reach your doorstep!

I've posted photos of our very popular stuffed vulture from two different angles. It has a charming and lovable face, and the feathers on the back are simply beautiful in their design and pattern. You can see the stuffed vulture's very own page here. Our plush stuffed vulture is quite a softie!

You can see all of our Hansa stuffed animals including these birds on the Hansa section of our Stuffed Animal Page. Order now - the Hansa products sell quickly!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

What to Do with a Plastic Panda

Laurel just posted some very cute pictures of Teagan in boxes, and in this case he is also showing us how to use . . . TA-DAAAA . . . his soft play PLASTIC PANDA (which, by the way, he can locate in the toy box if you ask him where the panda is . . . so cute; no, I am not a proud grandma).

You can look at the panda and learn that the panda has a FOOT, just like you do. (Or in this case would it be a HAND? Or a foot and a hand?)

You can bi . . . uh . . . I prefer to think that Teagan is thoughtfully giving the panda mouth-to-snout resuscitation. . . .

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Cute multi-colored plastic lobster - back in stock at a new low price!

Come visit our multi-colored floating plastic lobster and all of his ocean-going friends!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Lifelike Stuffed Chinchilla Back in Stock

Our adorable, realistic stuffed chinchilla by Hansa is back in stock and ready to scamper out the door! These items are made by hand in small quantities and are often hard to get. We only have six in stock as of today. If you want a lovable, soft, furry, lifelike chinchilla, now is the time to place your order! While they last, we are shipping the same day we get your order if possible. Sometimes shipping will be the next 2 or 3 days, but we try to get it out on the day you place your order. Check them out on our chinchilla page!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed anteater

Is this adorable stuffed anteater just what you've been looking for? Come on over to Tapir and Friends Animal Store on the Internet and check it out! We ship anywhere in the world!

This engaging, realistic-looking stuffed giant anteater is soft and graceful. This plush anteater made by Fiesta is 22 inches long and is sewn with soft plush fabric and white and brown synthetic hair. It is sturdy enough to stand on its white feet with lovely brown claws. It has gentle hard plastic eyes and pink ears covered in synthetic fur. Our giant anteater replica has a kindly expression and promises to snuggle next to you. This stuffed anteater makes a wonderful gift for stuffed animal lovers and complements nicely any stuffed animal collection. Check out our other anteater toys and gifts.

The Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is found in Central and South America. It is an edentate, a mammal with no teeth. The giant anteater crushes insects, mainly termites, using hard growths inside its mouth. The anteater also swallows small pebbles and sand which stay in its stomach to help in digestion. The giant anteater grows to a size of 6 feet to 8 feet, including a 3 foot to 4 foot torso and tail. Generally it weighs from 65 to 140 pounds. This large edentate is covered with stiff, straw-like hair which grows up to 10 inches long on the tail. Anteaters may be grey or brown, but all have a diagonal black and white shoulder stripe. Anteaters have an amazing tongue. It can reach two feet in length, with a width of only 1/2 inch. The anteater can cover its tongue in a sticky saliva, allowing it to trap ants, and can extend and withdraw it up to 150 times per minute.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Tree frog Peeper Keeper Eyeglass Holders still available from Tapir and Friends

This delightful series of eyeglass holders is going fast. We still have our charming green and orange tree frog in stock as of this post. We also have alligators, flamingoes, giraffes, and more. But once they're gone, there's no telling what we'll be able to get back in stock because the animal series (much to our dismay) has been discontinued by the manufacturer.

You can use this carved and painted wood frog eyeglass holder for the obvious purpose (to hold your glasses so you don't lose or break them) or to hold business cards or even recipe cards. Does anyone still use recipe cards? If you know someone who does, this could be the perfect gift to brighten their kitchen!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Plastic monkeys in bulk?

Do you need plastic primates in bulk? We can help! Some of our plastic animals are available in larger quanties. Among those available in bulk are a number of primate species including certain monkeys such as this capuchin monkey on a branch. Just visit our web site and give us a call at (503) 338-8646 and let us know what you need!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

What's inside a shark's mouth?

Say "Aaaaaaah!" Sometimes the customers want to know things such as, "What's inside the shark's mouth? Can we drill it and pour in greadine? Is it hard plastic, or soft?"

A toy animal's portrait usually looks more like this. It lets you know what you're getting, but maybe it's a little boring. Hmm. I think I just got an idea :)

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Wavy the Crocodile - Stage Puppet / Hand Puppet

Yay!!! Wavy is back in stock! This popular crocodile hand puppet (also called a "stage puppet") wriggled right out of our grasp and had to be re-ordered. We think we have enough now to make quite a few Wavy the Croc fans very happy!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Unique and beautiful crab jewelry!

Check out the lovely details in this unique and beautiful piece of crab jewelry. Our crab pin will bowl you over with it's realistic detailed design. Come see this crab and its many aquatic acquaintances in Tapir and Friends Animal Store (online). If you're interested in products made in the U.S.A., this could be just the thing for you. These beautiful animal pins are hand-made and hand painted in the state of Washington.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Mr. Hermit Crab

Our big plastic hermit crab with the inquisitive eyes is turning out to be quite a popular guy. And why not? He looks so cool and those eyes make him appear somewhere between realistic and very personable. This crab is big enough that you can learn the parts when studying sea life in school. Or - what a nice gift for any crab fancier!

This engaging, realistic-looking plastic hermit crab replica is 4 3/4 inches wide and 2 1/4 inches high. It is made of solid flexible plastic. Its legs are flexible, but not posable. The shell is made of the same hard plastic and is flexible at the front. Our hermit crab has a kindly expression and promises not to pinch. This hermit crab makes a nice pet, a gift or works well in a diorama. Check out our other crab toys and gifts.

There are approximately 500 different species of hermit crabs living in saltwater intertidal zones. It isn't a true crab, but has a soft belly which it protects by crawling into an abandoned mollusk shell. This behavior of living in an abandoned cave evokes the image of a hermit, thereby getting its name. As the hermit crab grows, it must find an ever larger shell to inhabit. The hermit crab is fussy about which shell it takes. It likes those that have anemones or sea plants growing on it and even decorates his shell with these living things. This provides a symbiotic relationship, food for them and they provide better security from predators through camouflage.There are land varieties of hermit crabs and, surprisingly enough, there is an organization of hermit crab pet lovers, who keep them at home in aquariums.

Come see our great selection of plastic sea animals!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed parakeet

Our stuffed green and yellow parakeet is so popular, we ran out over the Christmas holiday. It's now back and ready to fly to your house or to a person you want to send it to as a gift. These adorable, lifelike toy parakeets almost look like the real thing. They will brighten your day or that of the parakeet lover in your life.

We think this stuffed parakeet is exceptional. It is so lifelike and compelling, you almost won't believe it's a stuffed toy and not the real thing. Although it's made of synthetic materials, it looks real. The designer of the Hansa line of stuffed animals takes pride in the European heritage of his realistic animal design. Each piece is hand-cut and stitched.

This is not your ordinary stuffed animal. Our stuffed bird has the charm and quality you'll want to keep for a lifetime. It's the kind of toy your child will remember for years to come. It's the kind of "pet" a young child will want to name and create his or her own stories about.

The literature says, "The magical kingdom of Hansa plush was originally created for the most exclusive European clientele. Europeans have treasured these lifelike heirloom creatures for over twenty years. . . . Each Hansa piece is a handcrafted masterpiece, lovingly designed from portraits of real animals. The 'skin' for each of these marvelous animals is hand-cut and trimmed, never stamped out by machine. The fabric for spotted and striped animals is custom designed and specially manufactured in small lots to Hansa's exacting specifications."

As time permits, we will be adding more of this unique line to our gift shop. If you're looking for an animal and don't find it on our site, please write to us. See other Hansa stuffed animal toys on our Stuffed Animals page. Be sure to look over our other parrots and related birds.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Your favorite stuffed kiwi bird is back in action!

This stuffed kiwi bird is fun for everyone. We love this kiwi and so do our customers. It's also been a continual favorite of kiwi lovers who receive it as a gift for birthdays, holidays, or "just because." This kiwi could be a Valentine's day surprise for someone very special. Our kiwi has been out of stock for a few weeks, and now it's back and ready to travel. Come on over and take a look!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed tapir back in stock

Wow! Our stuffed tapir, "Yanisa," is back in stock. We really missed her!

Our stuffed tapir from Hansa is hand-made in the Philippines and is based on the look of a real animal. This tapir is special! Not only are toy tapirs as rare and endangered as their real-life counterparts, but this one embodies Hansa's dependable quality construction and lifelike appearance. Hansa creates each animal with great care from the drawing board to the last stitch. The animals are hand made, the fabrics designed and purchased in small quantities to suit each design. The dark fur is a chocolate brown; the light fur is white. Yanisa's eyes have a plastic lid over them, giving them character and appeal. We have to tell you that the tail is white, not dark as in a real tapir but we hope her shining personality makes up for this.

We've named our tapir "Yanisa," after the half-Thai daughter of a Russian tapir fan and corespondent. The name sounds beautiful, but it also means "Wisdom" in the Thai language. One of our favorite tapir quotes comes from Dr. Alan Rabinowitz, who, after describing in the book Travelers' Tales Thailand, said: "Many years earlier, a traveler in Burma had described the tapir as 'an enigma,' a survivor of a 'more gentle and legendary time . . . wandering in unique isolation in a world not yet mature enough for its wisdom.'" So, what better name could we choose for this beautiful tapir?

This tapir's feet are quite realistic with a lifelike soft hoof on each of the three toes per foot. (We always like to point out that real tapirs have four toes on each front foot and four on each rear foot, but toy tapirs usually end up with three and three.) Look at the pleasing face and "signature" long tapirlike nose. Our stuffed tapir stands 7 1/2 inches tall and measures 13 1/2 inches long. Check out our other tapir toys and gifts. Read more about real tapirs on our Tapir Gallery web site. You can also contribute to their conservation through the Tapir Preservation Fund's web site. Your Club Tapir donation does not have to be processed separately, but can be added to your shopping cart! Your purchase helps save endangered animals!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Stuffed baby cheetah back in stock

After a brief absence, our adorable Hansa stuffed baby cheetah is back in stock and ready to ship! This baby cheetah toy is all you expect from a lovable Hansa stuffed animal.

We think this plush stuffed cheetah is exceptional. It is so lifelike and compelling, you almost won't believe its a stuffed toy and not the real thing. Although its made of synthetic materials, it looks real. Note the tufts of fur on the back of the neck and on the head, as well as the delicate curly whiskers made of fine, clear filament. Each piece is hand-cut and stitched. The height (12 1/2 inches) is measured to the top of the head.

Come on over and take a look at our cute stuffed cheetah by one of the world's outstanding makers of realistic stuffed animals - that's Hansa, of course!

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Rrrrrrrrrr!!! Drink your juice!

These dinosaur plastic children's drinking cups are actually very kid-friendly despite the roaring in the title of the post. What kid doesn't love dinosaurs? And what kid doesn't like to have a fun cup to drink their milk or juice out of?

We have two styles of dinosaur cups - the Triceratops seen above, and the T-rex seen in the top photo. The cups are almost indestructible, and they love to play with children. My grandtapir, Teagan, loves to bang them together, although he's still using sippy cups and isn't quite old enough to drink out of something that can't be turned upside down with liquid in it. When he graduates to "I'm a big boy now" cups, he will love his animal cups even more.

We read in an article that a number of doctors and dentists had concluded that it's good to graduate the kids away from sippy cups as early as feasible, because the shape of the sippy tends to promote tooth decay. You don't want orange juice all over the floor any more times than necessary, but when graduation day arrives, you and your little ones will love our whole line of animal cups, not just the dinosaurs! The materials are thoroughly tested and pass the most stringent and up-to-date laws on child safety. The cups are also extremely sturdy. Just ask Teagan's mom! If the kid does break it with any kind of normal use or "reasonably" paranormal use, we'll replace it for you. We're confident! I tried to break one myself. It was HARD to do, even by an adult! Come check them out!

Parrot Peeper Keepers - get them while they're hoppin'

Among the animal eyeglass holders we still have in stock are these cute and colorful realistic parrots! If red is your color or birds are your game, do check them out before our final stock disappears!

The Peeper Keeper has been discontinued by the manufacturer, but as of this post date, we still have a number of parrots left, as well as quite a few other animals. Once they are gone, they're gone forever unless some other company picks up the line, and we have not seen that happening.

You supply the glasses - the cool striped ones here are just for show. We think the parrot will like whatever you put on it, and and we know that he can see with your prescription! These wonderful eyeglass holders make a great decoration for the hall, bedside, or next to the computer - wherever you typically leave your glasses. They can also be used for business cards and recipes. What fun!

Mom and son love these bald eagles!

Among our plastic birds, we have a number of American bald eagles. Just before Christmas, we asked Santa to send these three to the mother of a little eagle lover. Scroll on down to see what Mom had to say about a boy's Christmas wishes. . . .

January 10, 2010

I just wanted to let you know how pleased I was (and am). . . . My son was VERY particular in explaining to Santa exactly what he wanted, and you made his holiday wish come true. He was SO excited (the talons were just right). So thanks for making Mom and son happy and if we have helped some endangered species along the way, well, that's just gravy! or maybe the other way around. . . .

Of course, we were happy to forward the information to Santa, and he seems have come through! And that makes US happy!