Miniatures - Koeda-Chan Treehouses

Since I've started collecting miniature dollhouses, I've also thought to get the miniature version of Takara's Koeda-Chan treehouse.

I found two sets and promptly bought them.

While the other one is this.

*image from the internet

*image from the internet

Just Ordered - Takara Miniature Dollhouse - Showa Japanese Family Home

This miniature dollhouse is quite hard to find.  It appears to have been released about 13 years ago now, in 2004.  The first time I came across it online was this year, via someone's post of her dollhouses on Flickr.com.  At the time I didn't think it was a miniature.  And I wasn't able to find anymore online seller for it.  Until about 2 nights ago.  What a find.  And the online vendor has two versions of it, one in pink, the other in blue.  And only this time I learned that it's a miniature.  It's supposed to measure about 6 in x 2.5 in. Wow.

But whether or not it was a miniature, I really like it but it's so rare.  So I am so glad to have stumbled across the sale.  Not that it was cheap.  It's about as expensive as some of the Re-ment Hello Kitty sets, but not as expensive as other vintage Re-ment collections one sees being sold on eBay that it virtually feels like you either wanna laugh or say it's a ripoff.  So I'd say this dollhouse manufactured back in 2004 by Takara is not that ridiculously expensive for a rare vintage miniature plastic item.  Although, it's about the cost of a good vacuum cleaner.  Ack.  Hehe.

The vendor has two versions of it.  One is blue, and the other is pink.  The blue set of 5 packs cost about $3-4 USD less than the pink one so I went ahead and chose the blue one.  Doesn't really matter which color and if it were a real life home, I'd rather it was in blue than in pink so yeah blue made sense.  Lol!

The blue version I bought is the last item in stock, so it's now out of stock at their online shop.

To see the differences between the two versions:  Here's someone's blue set, and here's another person's pink one.  As for the scale.. I'm not sure of the scale ratio.  Probably not 1:12 (?).  Might be small for a Re-ment collection.  Either way I look forward to testing it with my Re-ment Country Life collection, which also appears to be inspired by the Showa period in Japan as well.

This purchase is now on its way to me from Tokyo.  It should be in my mailbox by Friday June 9. Hopefully it doesn't get lost in the mail.

Tomy Takara/Sanrio My Melody Playsets

So this past week or so, when I found the Tomy Takara Koeda-Chan Little Twin Stars playsets, I also came across their My Melody Fashionable House and Hello Kitty Chat/Strawberry versions.

But I also came across another really cute My Melody playset that's not by Tomy Takara.

The Tomy Takara Koeda-Chan My Melody Fahsionable House is interesting 'cause it seems to have many movable elements.  However, it's not really a "house" house sort of playset.  So I don't think I'm purchasing this yet.  But it is quite cute.
                      


Then I found the Sanrio My Melody Mushroom House...  (not by Tomy Takara). And that really looked like the classic Sanrio My Melody.  It was released in 2013.  And it's her house!  Which is very appealing for me who grew up on Sanrio.  So awesome!  Hehe!

And I think I can use my My Melody Re-ment collections more easily with this one than with the Tomy Takara playset.  Especially with the Re-ment My Melody Winter Vacation collection.  I'm excited just thinking about it.  Lol!  And it comes with the two figures of the Sheep and My Melody.

Here's a cute video I saw online that features this playset.
                  

eBay vendors sell this for more than $250 though excluding shipping, even almost $300 in some places.  Gah. But I found an eBay vendor who sold it for less than $200 excluding shipping, and it's shipping from the same country as where I'm at.  So.... there I was, excitedly thinking of the Re-ment My Melody possibilities with this playset more than with the Tomy Takara Koeda-Chan My Melody Fashionable House playset... so I tried searching online elsewhere where it might be sold for less but no, I didn't find any other.  And so I finally bit the bullet and decided to purchase the less than $200 one before it's gone.  Especially when the thing costs less than the hard to find Re-ment My Melody Ouichi Cafe (costs about $250 now).

All in all it's about $200 with taxes and shipping. Grr.. But since it still costs less than the Re-ment My Melody Ouichi Cafe collection, and I can't find it anywhere for less... I just went ahead and bought it.

It should be delivered to my doorstep by June.  I hope I receive it in time.

So now I've ordered about 4 Sanrio playsets that's like the Tomy Takara Koeda-Chan version.. 3 for the Little Twin Stars (actual Tomy Takara Koeda-Chan playsets) and 1 for My Melody (by Sanrio, as described above).  One more similarly sized house/playset is missing and we know which character's that is.  It doesn't come with the Hello Kitty figure though.  Lol!  We shall see!  Hehe!

Sanrio Little Twin Stars Tomy Takara Playsets

Ack! I can't believe it.  I saw these 3 separate sets tonight and of course I just had to end up buying them do I?  Lol!   I got the following:

• the big set called the Moon House (this includes the small pink star)
• the small star bathroom set
• the half moon set

                      


They're all by Tomy Takara from Japan.  I do hope I get them in the mail without issues.  They're 3 separate sets and as for the figures, they come only with the Kiki and the Lala figures.  The other character is called Koeda-chan(?) and it looks like she's part of the Tree House set (which I haven't bought).

Screenshots below of the 3 playsets I bought and when I should expect to receive them.

I used to see these vintage versions of these playsets online.  Amazingly these are the newly released ones perhaps from 2014 or 2015.  Gosh.  Am I glad I hadn't succumbed to buying the vintage versions. Lol!  They were quite pricey!  These new ones are pricey too but I'd rather pay lots for brand new no?  Hehe!

[Update May 14, 2017] I overlooked this other Takara Tomy Koeda-Chan Little Twin Stars set that would complete the 3 above.

*images from the internet

 

It's now in my shopping cart and will check them out of the cart later this May or June.  Hehe!

Here's another perspective of the playset.
                      

So exciting! =)

If I'm getting another one or two, it would most likely be a My Melody and a Hello Kitty.  Problem is, with the new My Melody version I like only the housing in the mushroom shape... inside, there isn't much as it's not designed to be her house but rather like a tailor/fashion store.  So I'm not yet too sold on  getting that version.  And it costs more than $100.  I lucked out with the big LTS Moon House as I got it for less than $100.

This version of  a My Melody playset I think I'd love to get.  I'm not sure if it's by Tomy Takara though as I don't see their logo on the carton in the video.  It's available online and it's almost $300, sold by a lone vendor.  Gah!
                      

So for now I think the LTS sets are enough for me. :D