For whom the bell tolls

I love this little bell. The penguin’s dangling feet are the bell’s clappers and the cloisonné design is very elegant. I was desperately shopping for some graduation gifts when I found this, but couldn’t resist indulging myself. Later, I found enough graduation presents, but one of those grads almost got a penguin ornament. I’m glad I bought this penguin when I did. Tabwa, one of my regular stops when I’m shopping for penguins, was gone the next time I went back in November.

Cloisonné bell with dangling clapper feet

Acquired: May 15, 2009, Tabwa, Greenwich Avenue, New York City

Number: 0620

Size: 2.5 inches tall           

Price: $15.61

Dramatic duo

Here’s an exciting pair of penguins. One seems to be midway through a major nosedive while the other is either running and screaming to the rescue or running for its life. There’s a lot of nice detail on these penguins, from their rosy cheeks to their awesome feet. I bought them at a store called Be Seated on Greenwich Avenue in New York City. The store was also known as Tabwa for a while, but they always had the same great exotic gifts and textiles. Every year at Christmas time the ornaments came out featuring a broad variety from the animal kingdom. The store is gone now, which is too bad, but I’ve since discovered a Christmas ornament store (all ornaments, all the time) down the street to keep me supplied.

Two wooden penguins, one running and screaming, the other diving

Acquired: 2000, probably December, Be Seated, Greenwich Avenue, New York City

Numbers: 0171, 0172

Size: running, 3 inches tall; diving, 4 inches tall

Flying home

I have two pilot penguins: the one from last week and the one above in the blue airplane that was just added to the collection last year. I’m flying home from Mexico today and I’ve got some penguins flying home with me in my carryon luggage. Did I score any penguin ornaments? Not really and not surprisingly. I knew it would be a challenge. But I did find some knitted penguin finger puppets in the old town market in Puerto Vallarta. I'll stuff them with something and sew on a loop of hanging string. I already have an ornament made from a similar finger puppet, but these look a little different. And they were cheap (20 pesos each, about $1.70) so I bought them both because their feet are different colors.

Another penguin is flying home with us too. It’s not a Christmas ornament or decoration, but I haven’t started a blog called “My Other Penguins” yet, so I thought it would be O.K. to show it off here.

North Pole collection 2009 penguin in a blue airplane with wire “hands.” A huge red felt tie and a green felt hat.

Acquired: November 19, 2009, JC Penney, Lehigh Valley Mall, Whitehall, Pa.

Number: 0733

Size: 4.5 inches long, 4 tall and 2.75 inches wide

Price: $5.99 ($11.99 before discount)

Two knitted penguin finger puppets, one with pink feet, the other with yellow.

Acquired: March 13, 2010, Old town market square, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico
Number: 0770, 0771
Price: 20 pesos each, about $3.50 total U.S.

Knitted finger puppet ornament

Acquired: December 17, 2004, Be Seated (a.k.a. Tabwa), Greenwich Avenue, New York City

Number: 0261

Size: 3.5 inches long

Painted wood penguin figurine, about 8 inches tall. Puerto Vallarta airport, March 11, 2010, $66 U.S.