News

Kid Create Craft Fair Posted on 21 Jul 09:50

Hand Crafted Star Ornaments

July 28th, 3:00 - 4:00pm

Anyone who enjoys hand-made things likes a good craft fair. Well, here at The Toy Boat, we've got a special one for you!

Each year The Toy Boat hosts a Kid's Craft Fair. It's run like most other craft fairs, except showcasing student artists and artisans! How it works is this: kids contact us to tell us about the things they've made that they want to sell--we want to make sure we don't have too many of the same thing--and register. The kids make their product with their own materials, and on their own time. They create displays and signs, and set up their booths exactly as they want to. Once they've set out their wares in their spot, they get to sell their creations and keep 100% of the money they make!

Young Girl at the Toy Boat Kid Create Craft FairThis is one of The Toy Boat's favorite events, for both adults and kids. If this sounds like a fun time, contact us to register! And don't forget--join us on July 28 for a nice stroll down the wharf to support the island's budding artists.


20 Years of the Toy Boat Marble Swap Posted on 11 Jul 08:00

A bowl of colorful marbles

July 14, 2016 from 3:00-4:00 PM

For the past 20 years, The Toy Boat has hosted one of our favorite events—the Marble Swap. Once a year, from 3:00-4:00 PM, children and adults alike arrive on Straight Wharf to trade marbles with other collectors.

Marble Swap History

The Marble Swap began with a local boy named Raymond Decosta. Like most visitors to The Toy Boat, Raymond loved buying marbles from our one-of-a-kind Marble Machines. However, since the marbles come out randomly, styles and colors vary! After receiving a number of duplicate marbles, Raymond suggested that we plan a time where other kids could come to the store and trade the marbles they no longer wanted.

Loren and children pick out marbles from a basketSo we did!

Raymond is an adult now, but I've been assured that he and his friends still have their marble collection. In fact, many a friendship has been created thanks to this wonderful event!

Join Us for the Swap

Please join us on July 14th at 3:00 in the afternoon. Bring your marbles (even one is enough to get you started!) This year, we will be giving away an amazing hand-made marble by glass artist Fritz Launstein. His incredible marbles feature in private collections around the world!


Happy Holidays! Posted on 1 Dec 00:00

Our web site for a magical Holiday shopping experience.  We have hundreds of Handmade toys.  Each made with love and attention to detail.  OR email or call us and we can make you a CUSTOM gift basket, with your special friend in mind.    It has become a tradition at The Toy Boat.  Here are some things you can make for your celebrations.

 


We Love Nantucket's Bats! Posted on 1 Oct 00:00

At The Toy Boat we are Batty over all sorts of animals, but bats are something special. They are responsible for all kinds of wonderful things and leave people alone.  In recent years bats have been on a massive decline due to a fungus in their habitats.  That is a bad thing as bats are environmentally important. They consume massive numbers of insect, reducing the need for pesticides.  Visit our website thetoyboat.com  to see our glass bats.  Part of the proceeds goes toward erecting  bat houses.  Click  here for a fun Bat activity page for a little Halloween fun!

 


Celebrate National Coast Gaurd Day with the MONOMY Posted on 14 Aug 12:44

 August Fourth  was national Coast Guard Day, and there is no better  way to celebrate than  with the  MONOMY. While our handmade model version floats safely in our store or in the rough seas of your imagination, the real Nantucket  Monomoy’s missions have included search and rescue,  marine mammal protection and pollution response, homeland security, and presidential security, and other details.

 She has received  award for rescuing a  downed crew , for the ship's assistance in wreckage recovery after the TWA Flight 800 disaster. Monomoy participated in Operation Able Manner, which resulted in the rescue of 71 migrants in the Caribbean.  She is still in operation today. Check her out in our Harbor Series  page.