Waldorf, Pretend Play, Organic, and Wooden Toys, Doll Clothing, Games, Puzzles, European Art Supplies…

HABA® belongs to a group of companies, The HABA® Family.
Each of the family members can rely on the large pedagogical experience, technical knowledge and production facilities of the group, either in the field of equipping nurseries, in designing toys and games or in organizing special events.
Everything they do is aimed at children of 0 to 7 years of age.

Habermaass Company was founded in 1938 and the brand name HABA® is very much diversified. Habermaass constant goal is to develop products not only of remarkable design but also durable enough to provide pleasure for generations and is orientated towards the standards that make up a good toy. They produce a large range of products which includes more than 600 items, from various toys and games, to furniture for kindergarten children to teenagers.

They’ve been on the child‘s side from the beginning. Since 1938 working for children was already at the heart of their company philosophy. This hasn't changed. They have now been developing toys and furniture for children and kindergartens for more than 60 years. Playing is an elementary learning process for children: by touching, listening, seeing, combining, experiencing and comprehending, they playfully discover their social surroundings. But what is just as important is that children enjoy playing with their toys and blissfully unaware of how this fosters their development.

Playing - First of all playing should be fun, not only for a little while but over a long period of time as well. A good toy allows a lot of freedom for a child's fantasy and creativity. The children themselves are giving them the best ideas and suggestions, which they then transform with all of their experience.

Quality - A good toy is a child's companion for along time. Therefore they constantly pay heed to a careful production and an accurate workmanship of their toys.

Material - Maple and beech-wood are their mainly used materials. They are convinced that these pleasant natural materials, transformed in a design of plain colours and shape, are most suitable for toys, a useful combination of material and product being the basic requirements.

Safety - The safety of a toy is a self-evident demand. All of their products meet the requirements of the American Standards Consumer Safety Specification on Toy Safety ASTM F 963, as well as European Safety-Standards for toys.

In order to guarantee constant quality levels, all their business processes and procedures, from product design right through to shipment and delivery, have been structured and standardized in accordance with the quality manual. In 1996 they were awarded the QM certificate DIN EN ISO 9001 for the first time for this quality management system and they have successfully passed all quality audits since.

In addition, Habermaass is the first toy producer to have passed the audit for ecological friendliness. The company is deeply committed to actively pursuing further environment protection throughout every stage of production.

Internationally, HABA® represents the family in the field of toys & games and nursery furniture. Their international presence has allowed them to develop products for their customer’s abroad and support their trade partners in various countries. This has made HABA® a well-known and reliable international partner, dealing with customers all over the world.

Environmental protection is an integrated component of HABA® group policy. They use wood first and foremost for the manufacture of their products, as wood is naturally free of harmful substances. It is a sustainable raw material and thus ecologically harmless. Their careful workmanship makes sure no harmful substances are added. In the production of furniture and toys no tropical woods, but mainly indigenous woods are used, such as beech and maple. The material wood imposes a very high standard of quality in workmanship, combining craftsmen‘s traditions with modern technology. The same applies to all their products: attention to detail makes them something quite special! Right from the first idea up to the final product, their toys and furniture come from the town of Bad Rodach in Bavaria, Germany. Using wood and being inspired by children, they never run out of innovative ideas to convince customers with products of outstanding quality and original designs.

But it is not only in their use of materials, but also in their use of energy and the preservation of their natural surroundings, that thoughts on environmental protection play an important role for them. With this functional environmental management system the entire HABA® Family meets the requirements of the DIN EN ISO 14001 environmental standard. In addition, they were also certified to the EC Eco audit (EMAS) ordinance in August 1999.

We hope you have enjoyed your introduction to HABA® toys and games, and that you’ll enjoy browsing their list of wonderful children’s products. And remember, if you are looking for a HABA® product that you don’t see here, please contact us, and we’ll order it for you.

To see all the HABA Products we carry click here:

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The block specialist for America’s children!

Creators of the Master Builder Block System, the T. C. Timber® Company was founded in 1936 in Upstate New York under the name Skaneateles Handicrafters. They became T.C. Timber® following their acquisition by the German company Habermaass in 1980. T.C. Timber® is recognized as a world-class manufacturer of wooden blocks and toys. These are made from North American hardwoods with top quality workmanship.

Most of their products are designed by their Design-Department at the Habermaass Studios in Bad Rodach, Germany. This gives them the international European Flair of the products. The experience of this group makes their products well accepted for the retail and the school market. Together with some license ideas they are getting to be the block specialist for children of all ages.

Outstanding quality, original design and innovative ideas; these three concepts are the major ingredients of T.C. Timber’s® recipe for success in the American market. They make T.C. Timber® stand out from ordinary toys and games. They are also the exclusive importer of high quality HABA®, TOGU and Spielstabil products for the US toy and gift market.

Children enjoy playing with their toys, blissfully unaware of how this fosters their development. Their educational materials support teachers in daycare centers, kindergarten and beyond as well as parents at home working with their children to help them learn and develop.

Their many awards and their reputation in the toy and educational materials
industries demonstrate that the design, innovation and selection of their products are widely accepted and withstand the test of time and the challenge of children’s play.

The Käthe Kruse® Doll Studio is the oldest German doll company that is still existing and working in the traditional way. Käthe Kruse sensed the secret of her success when designing her first doll. It was Christmas 1905 and it was for her eldest daughter Mimerle. Käthe Kruse took potatoes, warm sand and a towel and made this huggable and lovable doll. She knew that “dolls had to be huggable and warm, that is the whole point of having a doll.”

Five years later Käthe Kruse dolls were an instant success at an exhibit in Berlin called “Home Made Toys” Her new career as a doll maker was launched. With the help of one painter and five sewers, her hand made doll production was in full swing. Her living room became workshop and shipping department all at once.

Today in Donauwoerth, one hundred years later, the same principles of craftsmanship still applies. The dolls are made with as much love and delicate detail as ever: hand painted faces, hand knotted real hair wigs, unique clothing designs, create warmth and naturally charming looks. These dolls are loved by millions of children and doll collectors worldwide.

Handwork, simplicity of design, integrity, and an aversion to gimmicks and fads has always been and will always be the foundation on which the Käthe Kruse® Doll Company was built. (“Handwork, I have never left this principle and I never will. The hand follows the heart. Only the hand can create what the hand returns to the heart.” Käthe Kruse 1905). This Käthe Kruse® philosophy embraces hugging, touching, feeling, listening, splashing, delighting, laughing loving. Children’s needs are their focus.

Each doll and item of doll clothing is made by hand and takes from 16 to 36 hours to make. During that time, it will pass through the hands of 8 to 10 craftspeople and artists. Four checks for quality control are made on every doll before it is shipped. Each crafts person is carefully trained to perform his or her job. It can take up to four years to just learn how to paint a doll’s face.

Because of the care that goes into making each doll, very few are made each year. Each and every doll, piece of doll clothing and (as far as possible) accessory is made by hand. Many of the doll clothes have embroidery, crochet or knitting: all carefully done by hand, not duplicated by machines. Each of the reindeer-hair-stuffed bodies is hand stuffed by one worker. This is the only way to achieve perfect symmetry of the limbs.

The human hair of the wigs is individually hand knotted into the wig cap. Käthe Kruse® is the only doll company that does so today. Hand knotting gives a more natural look as well as locking in the hair so that it can withstand brushing and restyling (for these dolls are still made with children in mind.) Today, this technique is used only for motion picture television stars and Käthe Kruse® dolls!!

Each doll’s face (and where necessary the hair) is painted by hand. This is why each doll is an individual with its own charm and expression.

The clothing is always a natural fiber. Cool, crisp cotton; rough, course lines; fine, soft silks. The fabrics are meant to be handled and enjoyed. The clothing may be hand washed in lukewarm water with mild soap.

Käthe Kruse® dolls are made to be loved by anyone who loves dolls, both children and adults alike. Many of the dolls are stuffed with reindeer hair. Reindeer hair is used to help keep the bodies in the original shape, after being loved for many generations.

Käthe Kruse® is pleased to introduce to you a very special treasury of inspired dolls to celebrate their 100-year history. From classic and traditional to playful and modern, they are sure that one of them will be a perfect doll for you or for that very special child in your life. Käthe Kruse® is dedicated to make children’s eyes shine.

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Waldorf Dolls

In 1999 the German Waldorf School Fellowship granted the Käthe Kruse® Puppen GmbH the necessary license to manufacture their version of Waldorf dolls using the highly protected Waldorf name. Today, only Käthe Kruse® is allowed the market the original Waldorf dolls. Käthe Kruse® Waldorf dolls are one of the company’s most loved and sought after products. They are the sole and exclusive supplier of Waldorf dolls and soft toys to Waldorf Schools in Europe and the United States.

The Käthe Kruse® Waldorf dolls are carefully handcrafted and are made of natural materials, such as wool, cotton stockinet, and quartz sand. They are designed with simplicity in mind to encourage your child to develop his or her imagination. The warmth of the wool, cotton or reindeer hair tempt children to place them in their arms, to pamper, to love, to cuddle, to hold the doll, and therefore to develop and stimulate a child’s fantasy and imagination.

The simple faces allow the child to give it a “soul”. In addition, if you share the special qualities, and the amount of time and care that went into making this doll, you are encouraging your child to treat his or her doll with respect and kindness, which are important interpersonal skills.

Be careful you may fall in love with them yourself and have a hard time giving the doll away!! If you're unfamiliar with this style of doll, they may seem unusual at first, but once you have one, you'll never go back to common plastic.

This is one more reason to give a special Käthe Kruse® gift to someone that you love.

To see all the Kathe Kruse Products we carry click here:

Well-made wooden toys are naturally beautiful to the touch. The Selecta® design team has years of hard-won experience in producing toys that are unique in their form, their pictures, as well as their function. A natural beauty can be found in well-made wooden toys. The Selecta® design team has years of hard-won experience in producing toys that are unique in their form, their pictures, as well as their function.

Wood comes to life in the hands of the Selecta® experts. The wood structures convey sensory experiences while enhancing child development. A refined finish to the wood surfaces enhances the value of the best wooden toys. Since wood is a completely natural material, you don't have to worry if your child puts it into his or her mouth. Safe, water-soluble varnishes are used to emphasize the unique natural beauty of the wood Selecta® chooses for each wooden toy. A special heat transfer printing process gives the pictures their particularly endearing look. An additional beeswax finish is then applied to all surfaces. This gives the sealed surface of Selecta® toys a soft and smooth - almost velvety - touch. Furthermore the warm wood tones are made even lovelier through the beeswax.

Well-made wooden toys are completely safe to play with and will last a long time. The making of their products involves 32 years of experience entwined with tradition. Specialists ideally use this knowledge to achieve quality results. Selecta’s® high quality standards go beyond the American Standard safety requirements. In developing their own quality standards and adding more control stops, Selecta® has made sure that only safe toys reach the hands of children. A continuous international exchange of experiences guarantees that research of new ideas and possibilities flows into production, making toys even safer and a greater pleasure to play with. Well-made wooden toys are both beautiful and educational.

Advice from highly qualified education professionals plays a major part in Selecta's product development, including product tests within families and kindergartens. Before a new Selecta® toy reaches final production, suggestions voiced by these professionals have been taken into account. Selecta® started producing wooden toys and games for kindergartens over 30 years ago. All the know-how and techniques experienced throughout this time have gone into the development of each toy and game Selecta® produces today. They communicate with people all over the world to integrate their ideas and experience into their products.

Since 1925, the Dutch family De Ruiter produced leather satchels under the brand name: ' Ruitertassen '. Through time, due to quality and professional devotion, they expended with Ruitertassen a worldwide reputation. Meanwhile, these activities have been taken over by a Belgian investor which founded in November 2003 a new partnership for this purpose: 'BVBA New Europartners'.

In January 2006, LSP Belgium, for many years producer of bags and leather goods, added the complete production and logistics of Ruitertassen to his organization and operates from his warehouse in Belgium to do the worldwide distribution.

Besides the classic Ruitertassen, new products are developed and are divided in several series according to their style and function. It's our intention to adapt these series periodical with new quality products that will follow the more than 75 years old Ruitertassen reputation of quality and originality.

Today, Ruitertassen are sold in Benelux, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan, The United Arab Emirates and the Unites States of America. Continuously we are searching for local agents and distributor’s which take care of the sales and product distribution.

To see all the Ruitertassen Products we carry click here:

Signifies the Unification of Singing, Dancing and Playing

Located in Langenthal, Switzerland Choroi Instruments have stimulated a new style of playing for over thirty years. Since it's beginnings is the 1960's, composers musicians and teachers who had been looking for new ways to stimulate individual musical activity and to deepen the awareness of the sense of hearing have found what they were looking for in Choroi Instruments..

Choroi Instruments stimulate a new style of playing. The flutes encourage a flowing and natural fingering, the bowed instruments a “breathing” bowing technique, the harps and lyres a “fluid pacing”, and the percussion instruments a sensitive touch.

Through this quality of movement the outward instrumental tone can arise from the player’s inner gesture. It is as if the hidden soul of the wood, the metal, or the rawhide drum skin is made to sound. Through elements of their design, and the natural materials used in their construction, the instruments allow players to experience matter and space in a new musical way.

Choroi means moving, singing, playing and listening together—music as an immediate expression of life through elementary means, but also through professional-level instruments.

Choroi instruments are equally suitable for young and old, for beginner and expert, for amateur and professional.

To see all the Choroi Products we carry click here:

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Sarah’s Silks believe in the magic of creative play!

Their playsilks, dress-ups, canopies, and playthings are natural fiber toys that stimulate a child’s imagination, and capture the magical soul that lives in young children. Children love to dressup with these beautifully dyed cloths! With an inspiring palette of playsilks, children will spend many hours exploring their limitless imaginations.

In business since 1994, the story of their toy-making business is a deeply personal one. Their oldest son Josh was in need of many dress-up options as he loved to play pretend. He required lots of pieces of beautifully colored, non-itchy fabric for his games. They found that the options in toy stores were limited and so they began to dye their own silk squares for him to play with, eventually bringing them to market. For over 13 years, they have been offering a wide selection of natural fiber dress-ups and toys to stores all over the world and, ultimately, providing families like theirs with beautiful, creative toys.

They chose silk as it is a natural fiber and renewable resource. Silk is an ancient product of China. Their silks are hand-hemmed in a small village near Shanghai which they have visited. The seamstresses are in their homes, often sitting in doorways, as their children play nearby. In addition, many of their products are sewn, ironed and packaged by women working in their homes in Sonoma County, CA. Their dyes are non-toxic and the silks are easily hand-washed.

At Sarah’s Silks, they are dedicated to helping create a better world through imaginative play. They believe that simple, open-ended toys are best for growing minds. Developing inner creativity at a young age leads to higher levels of creative thinking in adulthood. When children’s inner creative life is nurtured, they grow into more well-rounded, stronger, and creative contributing members of our society, eager to bring their gifts to the world. They are dedicated to simple, unique and beautiful toys for all of the children of the world. Through their work, they are reminded of the infinite possibilities of play.

They offer quality playsilks, toys and dress-ups for boys and girls between the ages of 3-10, that ignite the imagination, and capture the magical soul that lives in young children.

Their own three children are their inspiration, product testers, and models.

To see all the Sarah Silks Products we carry click here:

Give your children the gift of learning to work with their hands!

Established in 1971, Harrisville Designs is a small, family owned and operated business, known by fiber artists throughout the world for its fine yarns and floor looms. It is that expertise and knowledge that has gone into the design and creation of their children's products, which were developed in response to a growing demand from parents and educators who wanted children to experience the joy and developmental benefits of working with their hands. They make beautiful Weaving, Knitting, Rug Hooking, Needlepoint, Crocheting, and Felting Kits using their own 100% natural yarns and fleece.

Woolen yarn has been spun in the water-powered, brick mill town of Harrisville since 1794. This small village is nestled in the Monadnock Highlands of southwestern New Hampshire and is the only industrial community of the early 19th Century that still survives in America in its original form. In 1977, the Department of Interior designated Harrisville a National Historic Landmark.

The last surviving woolen mill in Harrisville closed in 1970 when the fashion world turned, temporarily, to synthetic double-knit fabrics. Harrisville Designs was established in 1971 with a goal of preserving the textile heritage and economic vitality that had sustained the village for almost two hundred years. Beginning with a line of high quality woolen handweaving yarns, they soon branched out into handweaving looms and equipment. In the late 1980' they developed the first of their Friendly Loom Products to introduce children to the joys of working with their hands.

To see all the Harrison Design Products we carry click here:

Camden Rose is a collective voice of designers, artists, teachers, musicians, craftspeople, and parents who choose to bring about a better future for our children. They design and manufacture simple, elegant, unique wooden and textile toys.

Natural materials, USA "green" and Fair Trade manufacturing highlight their ”leave no footprint philosophy.

Many of their toys are hand-carved by Amish hand, thus creating a one-of-a-kind heirloom treasure.

The appeal of organic design is only partially visual; the true experience is primarily tactile. True organic design is always in touch with its surroundings. Our studio is situated in Ann Arbor, Michigan, just a few miles from the Huron River. Some forms typical to this life-sphere are:

the lively currents of the water,

the rhythmical forms of the sand on the beach,

the fluid lines of a waving river,

and, the dense comfort of the tree canopy.

Starting with the foundational design of the grown-up world and then miniaturizing to the scale of a child’s world, our items assist in the creativity of the imaginations – a place where free-thinkers are born.

To see all the Camden Rose Products we carry click here:

The Lauri Story

The Birth of a Toy Company
The first Lauri product, Fit-a-Space, was created in 1961 in Haverhill, Massachusetts by a retired school teacher. She knew she wanted to develop an innovative teaching aid that would also be fun, but the challenge was how.

The solution was right under her nose. More accurately, it was right under her feet! She and her husband owned a small shoe shop, and they discovered they could die-cut the Crepe Rubber used for slipper soles to make a small puzzle. Fit-a-Space was a huge success, and it was the genesis of a new toy company, Lauri Enterprises (as it was known in the early days).
In 1968 the company moved to Avon, a small community nestled in the western foothills of Maine. An abandoned gas station converted into a factory served as the first Maine manufacturing facility for Lauri.

During the next seven years, Lauri manufactured products primarily for schools. Teachers were delighted with the revolutionary new Lauri teaching aids (often called manipulatives in their profession). In 1970 Lauri developed the first Crepe Rubber picture puzzles. Teachers loved the 'logical piece' concept; each one a single, solid color representing a specific shape. These puzzles became classics, first winning national recognition in 1977, and is still earning awards.

Pennsylvania became their New Home in 2003 when the company was purchased by Smethport Specialty Company of Smethport, Pennsylvania. The entire Lauri operation moved from Avon, Maine to Smethport, Pennsylvania. Improvements were made to the factory in Smethport to accommodate the necessary materials and machines to produce Lauri toys.

In the Summer of 2008 Lauri became part of the Patch family. A company that prides itself in being a leading international toy company, recognized as such by their innovative products, stable financial foundation, high caliber employees, and commitment to those with whom they do business. Located in Beloit, WI, they pride themselves on the fact that all of our coloring and activity books, a majority of our
puzzles and select games are made in the United States. In all, 80 percent of the units they sell are manufactured in this country. Their mission at Patch is to produce the highest quality, family-friendly products on the market, and you can count on them to assure that safety requirements are followed before the Patch Products logo is added to the package.

Products
Lauri® teaching toys are superior in developing eye-hand coordination and fine motor control. In the beginning they were used only in schools, but now they are as likely to be used in a living room as they are in a classroom. Lauri® carries something for all ages 2 years and up.

Colourful crepe rubber puzzles, and sorters. The toddler tote is perfect for early learners. It stands out with a variety of activities. Original Lauri® crepe rubber puzzles present vital developmental tools in bright, soft and washable puzzles. Children feel special achievement when each piece fits snugly. Lauri® crepe rubber puzzles are colorful, durable rubber that will not warp, crease or tear. The textures simply feel good, they are washable and quiet too! These puzzles can be used on the table top or the on the floor. They will also last from child to child.

The 8 ¼” x 11 ½” puzzles are designed with children 3-6 yrs in mind. The big puzzle measures measure 11 ½” x 17”, and is designed for older children, 5 yrs and up. Both sizes come with assembly pattern and storage tray.

Pegging activities build math skills while they develop fine motor control and kids love them. 2 yrs and up.

People and Services
Dedication to customer service is a key to long-term success. Live voices answer your phone calls -- real people who can answer your questions about Lauri toys and the famous replacement piece service.

The replacement piece service is rated #1 by teachers and parents. Obtaining the replacement for a lost piece is immensely valuable. And customers applaud the 'no back-order' policy too. Shipping complete orders within 48 hours is no easy task, but skilled, dedicated employees make it happen.

Lauri products are made in the USA.

Lauri Products featured in the news:
Toddler tote – 12/16/07
CBS 'The Early Show' American-made Toys

Peel and Stick
ABC 'Good Morning America' Toys for Tots

To see all the Lauri Products we carry click here:

Folkmanis® Puppets
The most innovative, creative puppet maker in the world!
Folkmanis® believes imagination is the key to a healthy childhood, encouraging play and discovery to develop the skills necessary in life. The company has been making the most innovative and engaging specialty puppets in the world since 1976, delighting imaginations and winning nearly every industry, child development, and kid-tested award, many repeatedly.

31 Years and Growing!
Conceived as a “cottage industry” business in Watertown, MA., in the late 1960’s and nurtured among the street vendors lining Berkeley’s famed Telegraph Avenue, Folkmanis® Puppets are the expression of Judy Folkmanis’ active imagination, sewing wizardry, and love of nature.
Creating her first animal puppets to entertain her own children, Judy was astounded when her unsung, but cuddly, creations began attracting a growing group of paying customers. Most often these were other parents who sought high play value from their toy purchases and an appreciation of the natural world for their children.

Joined in the burgeoning endeavor in 1976 by her Ph.D. husband Atis—who happily abandoned a career in biochemistry for pattern-cutting—the couple realized that launching a menagerie of carefully detailed and realistic animal puppets was their “right livelihood.” They hired several seamstresses and never looked back. The rest, as they say, is toy industry history – as Folkmanis’ line and renown grew by leaps and bounds.

Still headquartered in Emeryville, California, today Folkmanis, Inc. has grown to become the premier manufacturer of plush puppets worldwide. Folkmanis® offers over 200 of the most heartwarming and realistically designed creatures—both exotic and familiar—on the market today. And, after more than 25 years, Folkmanis, Inc. is still a family business. Judy and Atis oversee both the creative and operations sides to ensure that the quality and love of the natural world they wish to convey through their toys remains true to their original vision.

“The success that Folkmanis has enjoyed for more than 30 years simply reinforces the fact that when it comes to children, old-fashioned, open-ended play patterns are the best, and the simplest toys are really the healthiest gifts one can buy for a child,” says Elaine Kollias, marketing director. “That is why puppets are so firmly in the ‘good toy’ category – not just that they encourage and inspire imaginative play, but that they represent a thoughtful and fun gift that is more than ‘just’ a toy.”

Widely regarded as the most innovative puppet-maker in the world, Folkmanis® consistently designs beautifully crafted toys that inspire creativity, promote hands-on discovery, encourage interaction, teach fine and gross motor skills, help develop early language, and become a child’s lovable companion to be treasured for years. The company’s line includes a virtual menagerie of plush pets and friendly wildlife friends with new designs constantly on the drawing board.

Folkmanis® Business Practices
Folkmanis Puppets encourage love of the natural world and environmental conservation. Products are not individually packaged and the company recycles. Folkmanis, Inc., is in the stages of going green. The company headquarters is installing solar panels to reduce the corporate carbon footprint.

Folkmanis Puppets encourage love of the natural world and environmental conservation. Folkmanis, being conscious of wasteful packaging in the marketplace, prefers to ship unpackaged products. Internally, the company recycles and is in the stages of going green. The company headquarters is installing solar panels to reduce the corporate carbon footprint.

Folkmanis, Inc., holds several patents and patent-pending devices, including the patented Turtle Puppet, the KidGloves Marionette glove, the Shoulder Puppet animator and the Pull-Ring Animator.

Folkmanis, Inc., believes that toys and puppets are crucial for a healthy childhood and development.

Folkmanis donates puppets around the world, to be distributed among refugees, orphans and social workers. Domestically, Folkmanis is a regular benefactor to various children's welfare organizations: K.I.D.S., Kids Wish Network, Lekotek, Blind Babies Foundation, Indian Reservations, Children's Hospitals, Hospices and Shelters, Libraries, Schools, Zoos, Museums, and Wildlife Welfare Organizations.

To read about Folkmanis product safety click here:

Philip graduated Cum Laude from the UCLA School of Music, where he took special interest in ethno-musicology, which gave him a background in music from various cultures. This exposure to composers and musicians from around the world has had a striking impact on his compositions.

As a classically trained composer-pianist, Philip has an award winning background in musical soundtracks for television including, "That Was Happy Life", which won recognition as Best Documentary Short in the American Indian Film Festival, 1993.

To see all the Desert Productions cd's we carry click here:

Welcome to the world of Jacob’s Musical Chimes!
Musical instrument maker Jacob Sokoloff has been making his precision tuned wind chimes for over 27 years. Best known for his hugely popular Car Charms (often just called “car chimes”), Jacob’s first chimes were the “Traditional” series (including the best selling Waterfall, the Cascade, the Whisper, the Cathedral, the Grandfather and the Desk Chimes). These wood and metal wind chimes make peaceful and relaxing music in the wind, are 100% weather proof and lifetime guaranteed.

In 1998 Jacob’s Musical Chimes introduced its first “miniature” windchimes, made of solid aluminum pipes hung from whimsical shapes such as hummingbirds, cats, dragonflies, fairies, butterflies, angels and many more (the hummingbird wind chimes, dragonfly wind chimes and fairy wind chimes remain the most popular). These affordable windchimes also made beautiful music, and Jacob’s customers loved them. The series includes the Little Piper, the Magnet Windchimes, three sizes of plant stake chimes, the Necklace Chimes, Pin Chimes, Desk Chimes and of course the best selling Car Charms.

In 2006 the company withdrew from the wholesale market to focus on its retail store in Long Beach, California. Happily, the store is now well established and popular among locals and tourists alike. Starting in 2008 Jacob's Musical Chimes is proud to make Jacob’s Car Charms available once again to retailers throughout the world.

To see all the Jacobs Chimes Products we carry click here:

Steve and Darlene were married over 33 years ago. They have four sons which were all born at home.

From the very beginning the boys were exposed to lots of music, as their dad was a professional musician and their mother sang with him. There was always a piano in the house for the children to plunk around on, and they did lots of plunking! The boys were sung to from birth and read to every day. They all became very good readers and listeners.

Steve and Darlene chose not to have a TV in the house from the beginning, which left lots of time for the children to make their own entertainment and fun. They spent much of their time in make-believe play and outdoor adventures. Each child learned to the beat of his own drum.

The family began homeschooling in 1978, long before it was popular! The kids enjoyed the challenge of singing in harmony, and when the songs they were learning turned out sounding good, they were more than willing to record them on tape. They wanted to hear what it sounded like!

During that time, the family also recorded two tapes having a breastfeeding theme for families with babies. Babies were very much enjoyed in the Lester household, and the songs on the tapes clearly reflect the family’s enthusiasm for little ones. Darlene is a La Leche League leader (a breastfeeding consultant and advocate) and these tapes came out of her own nursing experiences and family dynamics. The tapes have sold steadily through LLL for the past 14 years.

The Lester family tapes caught a precious period of the family’s history when all the boys still had high voices and were willing and eager to perform. Sometimes their parents could scarcely keep them away from those microphones! As the boys matured, they became more reserved. But, to this day they all play music and sing together on a regular basis. Now in their 20s, they still love music.

The Lester Family has recorded 4 educational cassettes that can teach your family, or class, how to sing in 2, 3, and 4 part harmony.
The way they work is that each song is sung with the soprano, alto, tenor and bass separately and then again with all parts sung together. Each child decides which part he/she wants to learn then listens and memorizes that part.

It is all done by ear without written notation. (Children generally find learning by ear to be very easy.) Once the parts are memorized, the family or class can practice singing the song in harmony without the help of the tape.

To see all the Lester Family cd's we carry click here: