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Heart’s Desire
Heart's Desire in Skippack sells beautiful reproduction, nostalgic toys, books, and games, among other gift items.
A BMW. A Ferrari. An oversized flat screen television. A yacht. A McMansion. Yawn. I am bored. Luxury has become so branded and commonplace in the 21st Century that it fails to stir the blood. For the sake of politeness, dear friend or neighbor, I pretend to admire your shiny perfect new luxury sports car, but my mind has already wandered far away, faster than your V-8 engine can spin those shiny Assanti Wheels.
However, there is one type of material object that still has the power to move my soul, even to make my heart cry out. It is, of all things, the nostalgic, reproduction toys, books and novelties, sold at Heart’s Desire in Skippack Village: Mechanical tin robots, rubber horseshoes, Mad Libs, wind-up chattering teeth, cartoon character lunch boxes, kazoos, locomotive whistles, paddle ball, vintage yo-yos, etch-a-sketch, magic drawing slates, and other such treasures. The paraphenalia of my childhood.
The Power of Innocence
Why do these silly toys and games move me so?
My neighbor and a mom to two little girls, Jen Mahoney (at right) with Catherine Green, the co-owner of Heart's Desire in Skippack. Jen loves the simple toys from Heart's Desire because they provide props for imaginative play.
We humans desire most that which is unattainable to us. And once our innocence is lost, dear reader, it is gone forever. Once we have gotten a real look at the potential for darkness outside of us and within us, there is no going back. We can be children no more. And yet, and yet: These toys and games, so direct and simple, reproduced so lovingly, let us open the door just a bit and look back at the playroom: Yes, there was a time when I was so wide-eyed and innocent. Yes, that little boy was once me.
But I fear my mind is wandering and so is my writing. No doubt, whoever has read this far wants me to get on with it and tell about the toys and other gifts available for them and their children in Skippack Village this Christmas or Hanukkah.
So I will let the toys, games and books from Heart’s Desire speak for themselves. Scroll down and enjoy the photos below.
Heart’s Desire
4006 Skippack Pike (Behind Mal’s Diner)
484-991-8173
Open Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
The past and the future unite in a simple plaything: Toy robots from Heart's Desire in Skippack.
We are never really safe in this world, but a steel safe like this can give us an illusion of security. From Heart's Desire in Skippack.
Everyone's talking but is anyone actually saying anything? Wind-up chattering teeth from Heart's Desire in Skippack.
Close counts in this game: Rubber Horse Shoes available at Heart's Desire in Skippack.
Waiting for love: Stuffed animals at Heart's Desire waiting for a child to adopt them.
Get ready for a power lunch: Detail from a Superman lunch box available at Heart's Desire in Skippack.
Remembrance of things past. I remember waiting for the school bus. I had so much time back then. Wooden toy school bus available at Heat's Desire in Skippack.
Let's make some noise: Wildly Noisy Wooden Things from Heart's Desire in Skippack.
Finger puppets: Wooden giraffes available from Heart's Desire in Skippack.
A time of innocence: Curious George block puzzle and a rag doll.
Ready for take off: A tin toy airplane, ready to let some little boy's or little girl's or maybe even a grown-up's imagination soar.
Inanimate object seeks love: a jack-in-the-box monkey with a big heart.
When I was a kid, how I love Mad Libs! They made me feel _________ (adjective).
Past the age of innocence: There is now an adult version of Mad Libs, available at Heart's Desire in Skippack.
Green Tiger Press publishes beautiful reproductions of antique children's books. I purchased three Green Tiger Press books so far from Heart's Desire in Skippack. This illustration is reproduced from an old edition of the Night Before Christmas. "Goodnight and sweet dreams," like my dad used to say to me, every night.
Michael, lovely editorial as usual. I had no clue Heart’s Desire even sold toys! How relevant and timely your piece is given that members of our society tall and small are in dire need of some digital detoxification in today’s tech age. Love the nod to yesteryear’s simpler things in life. Cheers to finding some real time in 2012, to counteract our virtual screen times.
I’m a sucker for this kind of stuff. Great to hear that there’s a place like this so close to home. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your kind words you made my mom(melissa shop owner) smile:)
Heart’s Desire is a fellow merchant here in the town of Skippack and they are a wonderful addition to the Village. Melissa and Catherine (co-owners of Heart’s Desire) really have a knack of putting together eye-catching displays. Their merchandise selection takes you back to days of yesterday and your childhood when times were simpler.
A must see next time you are in Skippack Village!!
This is a shop where you feel at home with the candle birds and the old time candies such as flying saucers! My mom owns this shop with her friend Catherine and they work hard to make everything perfect…and it always turns out better than they thought! I love you mom and try not to look further than our backyard for your desires
- Love ya, Molly