Here are some holiday gift ideas for the tween (8 to 12 years old) in your life! Gen X moms will have a special affection for these brands because they were popular during their girlhoods!
Holly Hobbie
Hollie Hobbie
Now in its 40th year, Hollie Hobbie has received a makeover. A variety of products are available including the 2009 Holly Hobbie animation DVD. You can also find handmade and vintage Holly Hobbie products on Etsy. I found some precious lockets, rings, plaques, etc.
Colorforms were created in 1950, but rose to popularity in the mid-to-late 60s and maintained an impressive toy market share through the mid-70s. Then they disappeared. Today, there’s not an ample supply of Colorforms available, but you can still find new and vintage sets on Amazon, eBay and Etsy. My favorite was a Charlie Brown set. I had Barbie Coloforms, too! I loved Colorforms!
The entire line of this product is still available; however, the company has dropped its 1970s tagline: “Because innocence is sexier than you think.” (Thank goodness.)
You can find plenty of old Judy Blume titles like Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret and Blubber in a new form on Amazon. Plastic Loom and Loops
Hi, just come across these posts ten years on (how very strange is that!!). I loved holly hobbie as a young girl growing up in Manchester (uk) and had my bedroom done in the whole range. Have been looking on eBay trying to find my old wallpaper..I remember naming everyone if the drawings (though most of them were called Helen for some reason!) Am about to become a first time grand mum and am in total denial as I can’t possibly be old enough.. Ok it’s one of my stepsons so I’m sure it doesn’t count that I’m far too young! Any how, am kind of hoping perhaps for a girl so I can reintroduce a whole new generation to holly hobble! Thanks for the memories! Xxx
Hello, Trisha! So awesome to hear from you. I wanted a Holly Hobbie room. How cool that you had HH wallpaper. Now, I’m curious about this Helen character. I do know that some Holly Hobbie characters had other names. My sister used to create HH wallhangings out of cards and such – decoupage them on plaster, etc. I am a grandmother, now! My 21 year old daughter had a baby girl. I’m so thrilled, but 51 (my age) is on the young side. Ha! I’m a Gen-X granny! God bless you on the grandmum adventure. I’d love to hear how it goes when the little one arrives!
Ah you’re killing me, I absolutely adored all of these and haven’t thought of them in years except for Strawberry Shortcake because I have a pair of socks buried in my sock drawer which I come across from time to time. I loved Holly Hobbie and had a ton of stuff with her on it. I wore Love’s Baby Soft for years! What a trip down memory lane!
OMG, I forgot about Blue Jeans. I loved it too. I’m looking for some vintage photos of me with Santa to send you. I love those old Santa Claus pics.
@LE – I love Holly Hobby. I had plaques in my room as a kid!
@TERRITORY MOM – Speaking of vintage perfume – I’ve been looking for a scent called Blue Jeans, which my 6th grade BFF gave me – They don’t make it anymore. And, I can’t find Eddi. (My BFF) I’d totally forgotten about Smitty. That made me smile!
@POETIKAT – I don’t remember FuzzFelt, but that sounds so fun. I was obsessed with colorforms, and by the time I discovered them they were extremely hard to find.
@YOGI – Yes, and her friend blueberry muffin, too. =) Not sure about Lemen Chiffon. hahaha!
@LOREN – I loved that post!! I do remember it. It’s so hard to throw things out – loved your last line – make one for you, i mean your daughter! haha! reminds me of terriroty mom (above) buying hersef a loom!
Jen I know you’ve read about my old blanket. I had that Holly Hobbie quilt for 30 years, and can you imagine how soft it was when I had to throw it out? I think it’s time I made myself, I mean my daughter, a new one. 🙂
hello dear one … I had holly hobby too – she is universal !! best le xox
Hey girl, thanks for the blog compliment. I love Christmas. You have brought back so many memories with this post. I love Holly Hobbie. I didn’t know she was 40! I still love Love’s Baby Soft. I smell it every time I go to Wal-Mart. They have a gift pack of it for Christmas, AND Strawberry Shortcake. I knew about the Oklahoma connection, so cool. I bought the plastic looms and loops for myself about 6 months ago, so glad I did. So many memories, I just bought some vintage Smitty perfume on ebay. It’s only half full but I can still smell it. This is so much fun. I’m going to search for some Holly Hobbie fabric. Wish I could find some old Hee Haw overalls!
Wow, Jen! So many of these are ringing bells for me!
I remember Colourforms, but I was much more keen on Fuzzy Felt. Do you remember that?
I never went anywhere without my mega-sized watermelon Lip Smackers. I wish they’d reintroduce the large one again because I am forever losing my small lip balms (and I use it like a fiend).
I had all the Love’s products – Baby Soft, Fresh Lemon and what was that third one? (There goes my gen-x/jones brain!)
Fun post, for sure!
Kat
Oh don’t tell me that Strawberry Shortcake is still around!