This has got to be the most expensive piece in my collection (...for now... more is coming *hides*). These tankards were selling on eBay like hot cakes steadily around $200. I finally snagged a new, unused one that's only ever been displayed. This tankard was sold only to people physically at the How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular show which went to China and just... disappeared. Such a shame, I would have like to have seen the show! The merchandise is a bit harder to come by these days, so while I'm wincing at what it cost - I'm very happy with this piece.
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An American store product vs a Mexican bootleg. The size difference is amazing and they cost exactly the same.
I'm always amused when I see retailers advertising how big their Toothless' are. "26 inch wingspan!" "20 inch wingspan!" You get more wings then toy. This is the largest boast yet at 34 inches. It's not a figure - its a paper punch-out you do in pieces while reading this book, but I still want to build it - maybe hang it from the ceiling for fun. Thank heaven for an office I can close the door to when company comes over. Whatever ever would they think of me! This item was available for pre-order on Amazon for $8. To be released January 13th, 2015. It appears that the 2015 toy releases are starting to pop up, starting on the East coast. I checked all of my local central stores, nothing. A lot of Florida eBay sellers are making a killing right now. If only I wasn't impatient for new things! No 'official' pictures yet, as these don't appear on any online retailer I've found. I will say that these feel more 'cartoon-ish' and are less refined as the other models they recently came out with. Are they going for cheaper or are they trying to appeal to kids more? They have almost a chibi-style to me. Either way, they are cute, and definitely a lot bigger then I thought they'd be (around 9-10 inches). Unless your wanting it just because its a set, I wouldn't waste my money on this next one. I compared and the Toothless is the exact same one in the single packaging with Hiccup above. I keep buying these sets thinking I'm going to get at least a 4" figure but end up with another finger nail sized find! Here's the newest acquisition since I didn't have the Toothless. These guys are from a storybook playmat set. Now that the holidays are over (and I hope you enjoyed them!), it's time to get back to the dragons! Let's talk about Etsy. Etsy is a unique place filled of OOAK things, and other random items. Etsy is also a dangerous place. So many things I want to buy but have no reason to. By chance, I searched out of boredom, and came across a complete 10 piece set of French Feve Feves Porcelain Mini Figurines. This has to be one of my favorite finds, only because of the interesting history lesson that comes with it... Feves are actually French Feves or King Cake Baby Doll Charms or Prizes. They have dozens of uses; doll house miniatures, fairy gardens, shadow boxes, mosaics, memory jugs, jewelry, cupcake toppers, pinata prizes...you are only limited by your creativity. They are made from porcelain and hand painted. Amazingly strong - designed to be baked into a cake! Feves (French for “bean”) are tiny figurines that are made to be put inside a "King's Cake" for the "Epiphany" Holiday, which is celebrated every year on January 6th, the 12th day of Christmas. Tradition states that this is the day that the three wise men or "Three Kings" came to Bethlehem, to honor the birth of Christ. Traditionally it was a fava bean that was placed inside the cake. Whoever finds the feve in his or her slice of cake, is king for the day. Since it was good luck to get the feve in your cake - these little items were saved and treasured. In 1870s the bean was replaced with small porcelain figurines; good luck charms, religious figures, saints etc, and a collecting craze began! The oldest feves were porcelain. As the years sped by, designs became more elaborate; different glazes were used, they were hand painted or gilded. Following WWI, due to supply shortages, plastic feves were made. Now this tradition of Feve production and collecting has been completely commercialized, and there is a vast assortment of porcelain, plastic and metal figures that are made. A lot of the newest feves are sold in series – more for collecting than for actually placing in cakes. Designs include everything from Harry Potter and Disney to the high fashion shoes and purses. Collecting Feves is very popular in France. The series are generally only produced for a single year. Here is my How to Train Your Dragon set! Look Infinity, Ruffnut AND Tuffnut! Most know me as anti-plush. I can't do plushies. There's just something about them I don't like. Even the customs of Toothless didn't catch my eye. But this little cute guy did! Look at that adorable face! Done by a artist on eBay (who also sent me a very nice note - she is also a fan). I can't wait for him to arrive! Curse the holidays and slow shipping... Lets do a side by side comparison next to a Walmart product... No contest.
Why not? It's a Toothless after all, isn't it? Besides, I'm not the only one apparently. The seller bought the sets JUST for the Stormfly and was selling JUST the Toothless separately. Worked out for me! Plus, you have to admit... it's kind of cute, in a sickening chibi type way. |