Welcome to the latest issue of the Smurfy News(TM) - a FREE e-mail newsletter published by www.MushroomVillage.com! This issue was sent to 2,632 members on September 23, 2004. Welcome to our new subscribers! (Note: You are receiving this newsletter because someone requested it be sent to this e-mail address, and then confirmed the subscription request from this e-mail account. We do not spam and we never give, sell, share or distribute your e-mail address in anyway, or use it for any reason other than to deliver the Smurfy News to you. To update your profile, unsubscribe, confirm your subscription or forward the Smurfy News to a friend, please use the links at the end of this newsletter.) Is this e-mail being routed to your junk e-mail folder? If so, please white list "smurfynews@topica.email-publisher.com" =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= A Smurfy Hello to Smurf collectors everywhere! Yes, you can believe your eyes! You are reading another fabulous installment of the Smurfy News - the SMURFIEST e-mail newsletter, "HANDS DOWN!!" The big news this issue is that I have completed my research into the care and conservation of PVC! Did you know that the yellowing of PVC can be REVERSED? Did you know soaked in ink, marker, etc. can be REMOVED? Did you know that warped and bent PVC can be REPAIRED? We will teach you how to make your Smurfs LIKE NEW in our feature article; "SMURFS CARE & CONSERVATION." Also in this issue: a busting-out "SMURF MAILBAG," "THE SMURFERS OF OZ" (a bonus mailbag featuring our friends from down under), a recipe for "YUMMY SMURF COOKIES," more "INSIDER INFO" from Schleich, several new archived articles, "SURPRISE CONES" (a new Featured Figurines), three new prizes in this issue's "SMURFY NEWS GIVE-A-WAY," and TONS of new listing announcements in "WHAT'S NEW?" BUT FIRST! Please visit our Guest Map! It is a world map with icons representing members who has pinned the map already! See just how world-wide Smurfing is! Please visit this link and post your pin! http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-guestmap.html AOL Click Here! OK, now let's get on with the Smurfy News! -Pete www.MushroomVillage.com =-=-=-=-= CONTENTS =-=-=-=-= 1) WHAT'S NEW? 2) SMURFS CARE & CONSERVATION 3) SMURF MAILBAG 4) YUMMY SMURF COOKIES! 5) THE SMURFERS OF OZ 6) CARTOON ALL-STARS 7) NEW IN THE ARCHIVE 8) INSIDER INFO 9) SURPRISE CONES 10) THE SMURFS 11) SMURFS VIDEO PRIMER 12) SMURF GIVE-A-WAY 13) CLOSING =============================================== =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 1) WHAT'S NEW? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= We continue to add many Smurf variations to our site. We recently acquired a very large lot of unsold Smurf stock still Mint in Schleich's multi-packs. These 20 years old Smurfs are in pristine condition, as are all of MushroomVillage.com's Smurfs - we guarantee it! Most of them bear the mark "Hong Kong Wallace Berrie," which is found on early U.S. pieces. Also note our brass Smurfs, and MiniModels Smurfs from Argentina. There will be a link to view and purchase these new listings at the end of "WHAT'S NEW" 20002 Normal (Brass) 20007 Angry (small mold, red teeth) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20011 Laughing (Brass) 20017 Mirror [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20019 Flower (nylon flower) [Markings: Portugal, mustard paint dot] 20020 Gymnast (green shirt, red mouth) [Markings: West Germany no paint dot] 20021 Sleepwalker (red, MiniModels) [Markings: MiniModels] 20026 Sitting (Small Mold) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20029 Money (large mold, gold coin, MiniModels) [Markings: MiniModels] 20033 Clown (MiniModels) [Markings: MiniModels, no paint dot] 20033 Clown [Markings: Hong Kong, Stickman logo, no paint dot] 20036 Glider Smurf [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20037 Doctor (blue thermometer) [Markings: CE, West Germany, black paint dot] 20037 Doctor (red/black thermometer, MiniModels) [Markings: MiniModels, no paint dot] 20042 Chef (MiniModels) [Markings: MiniModels, no paint dot] 20043 Digger (small mold) [Markings: Bully, West Germany, no paint dot] 20044 Lover [Markings: West Germany, red paint dot] 20045 Artist [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20046 Emperor (white hat) [Markings: West Germany, mustard paint dot] 20046 Emperor (yellow crown) [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20047 Trumpeter (yellow) [Markings: West Germany, red paint dot] 20047 Trumpeter (brown) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20047 Trumpeter (yellow) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, red paint dot] 20048 Flautist (darker brown holes) [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20048 Flautist (darker brown holes) [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20048 Flautist (lighter brown holes) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20049 Tennis Star (MiniModels) [Markings: MiniModels, no paint dot] 20049 Tennis Star [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20049 Tennis Star [Markings: Portugal, red paint dot] 20050 Pointing [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20050 Pointing [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20051 Bowler [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20053 Ice-Lolly (red) [Markings: CE, Germany, black paint dot] 20056 Card player (no circle, MiniModels) [Markings: MiniModels, no paint dot] 20057 Thirsty (thin yellow straw) [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20064 Toothbrush (short toothpaste) [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20073 Cook [Markings: CE, Germany, no paint dot] 20078 Beer (Brass) 20082 (Brass) 20086 Present (red bow) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20100 Cake (red) [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20102 Archer (horizontal bow) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20104 Pirate [Markings: CE, Germany, no paint dot] 20104 Pirate (darker colors) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20106 Hunter [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20108 Sauna (ochre brush) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20110 Hairdresser [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20116 Alchemist (dark green) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20118 Umbrella (red) [Markings: CE, Germany, blue paint dot] 20118 Umbrella (orange) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20120 Frogman (bright orange) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20123 Policeman (black) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20126 Smurfette Roller-skating (light hair) [Markings: Sri Lanka, black paint dot] 20 127 Superman (marking on yellow cape, not on orange comet) [Markings: Portugal, mustard paint dot] 20127 Superman (marking on orange cape & orange comet) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20127 Superman (marking on yellow cape & orange comet) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20128 Amour (light brown bow) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20131 French Fries (yellow, single fry unpainted) [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20131 French Fries (dark yellow) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20132 American Football (painted 3 & brown ball) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20134 Judo [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20138 Haymaker (Darker beige hat) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20139 Nurse (white apron) [Markings: None, red paint dot] 20143 CB-operator (long black antenna) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20144 Indian (dark brown pants/color feathers/red shoes) [Markings: West Germany, Wallace Berrie, black paint dot] 20156 Valentine Smurfette (26mm arrow) [Markings: West Germany, red paint dot] 20158 Burger (glued in hand & stomach) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20167 Indian Smurfette [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20174 Papa with Book (book gray, lines inside) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20174 Papa with Book (book orange, math inside) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20182 Smurfette with comb & mirror [Markings: West Germany, red paint dot] 20183 Aerobic Smurfette (pink leg warmers) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20187 Handy Plumber (brown box) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 192 Smurfette with Baby (powder blue baby/dark pink pj's) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20196 Smurfette with Thanksgiving Pie [Markings: Sri Lanka, Wallace Berrie, red paint dot] 20198 Smurfette Witch with Broom (orange shoes/hat band) [Markings: Portugal, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20198 Smurfette Witch with Broom (red shoes/hat band) [Markings: Portugal, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20202 Pink Baby with Rattle (lighter pink) [Markings: Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20206 Baby with Ice Cream (ice cream purple/strong pink) [Markings: West Germany, red paint dot] 20210 Smurfette Golfer (club silver-gray) [Markings: West Germany, red paint dot] 20212 Little Angel (black mouth) [Markings: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 20213 Little Devil (orange) [Markings: Hong Kong, Wallace Berrie, no paint dot] 20214 Baby with Blocks (white pj's, red/yellow/blue blocks) [Markings: West Germany, no paint dot] 20523 Show Off Smurf [Markings: CE, China, blue paint dot] 20524 Trendy Smurfette [Markings: CE, China, blue paint dot] 20525 Goalkeeper Smurf [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20527 Playmaker Smurf [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20528 Goal-getter Smurf [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20529 Trainer Smurf [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20530 Fan Smurf [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20531 Fan Smurfette [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 20532 President Smurf [Markings: CE, China, no paint dot] 40020 Windmill (gray) [Markings: West Germany] 40030 Garden (old box) [Markings: Hong Kong] 20910 Car Driver [Markings: Car: CE, Germany Figurine: West Germany, no paint dot] 40217 Photographer (Silver Lens, Old Box) [Markings: Figure: Hong Kong, no paint dot] 40242 Lifeguard (red flag, Old Box) [Markings: Figure: West Germany, no paint dot] 40510 Ring Gymnast (White String, New Box) [Markings: Figure: CE, West Germany, no paint dot] 40511 Hurdler (Clear peg, Old Box) [Markings: Figure: Hong Kong, no paint dot; Stand: Hong Kong] 49020 Windmill (yellow) [Markings: CE, Germany, West Germany] We also have Schleich Smurf storage cubes! These are the same cubes sold with the Bundesliga Soccer Smurfs. The individual cubes connect with the orange pins, and you can link them up in many ways to create a custom Smurf display, and even hand them on the wall! Check them out! http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=instock&maxhits=20&keywords=oth006&bool=AND AOL Click Here! Katalog IV is in stock again! It it is still the most current Smurf Guide to date, and there is nothing else due out anytime soon, so we decided to restock. If you don't have Katalog IV yet, what's wrong with you? GET IT!! You can't collect Smurfs without a price guide silly! Click here: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/katalog4.html AOL Click Here! We also proud to offer a complete line of Smurf care and conservation products! You will learn more about them in the Care & Conservation of Smurfs article below, but here is a link to take a quick look: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=instock&keywords=prsrve&go=GO%21&maxhits=20 AOL Click Here! We have also added some all-new Smurf-related collectible listings to the site! Look for Smurf Macaroni, postcards, transfer sheets, and all kinds of stickers - scratch 'n sniff, puffy, glitter, vinyl, paper roll, sticker sheets and more! Following is a link to view and purchase all the new items mentioned above. Please review them carefully, and if you see anything you need REMEMBER - the time to buy a Smurf is when you see it, it may not be there tomorrow! Here's the link: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=instock&maxhits=20&keywords=new0804&bool=AND AOL Click Here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 2) SMURFS CARE & CONSERVATION =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- HERE IT IS! My long promised and awaited article on Smurfs care and conservation! This research had been going on for some time, but the real breakthrough came when I met Mr. Hill, a PVC chemist who had developed a line of products specially formulated for use in the care and conservation of PVC dolls, figurines and action figures. I wrote this article with Mr. Hill's collaboration, and am confident it reflects the BEST information available on caring for and conserving Smurfs! Here is a link to the article: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-article042.html AOL Click Here! MushroomVillage.com now carries Mr. Hill's PVC care products! Use this link to view those listings: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=instock&keywords=prsrve&go=GO%21&maxhits=20 AOL Click Here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 3) SMURF MAILBAG =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= "My daughter has been collecting Smurfs since early childhood. She is now 21 and still loves them! -Nancy Criswell (Glenwood, Iowa)" PETE REPLIES: Smurfs are not just for kids anymore! Smurfs figurines have been around as early as the 1960's and many of the children who once played with them are now collecting them. Add in the parents and grandparents of those children, who often "inherit" collections the children are no longer interested in, and we find that there are Smurf collectors of all ages! We hope you daughter continues to find joy in Smurfs for many years to come! ----- "Thanks for another great newsletter! For two years now - since re-discovering my childhood Smurf collection - Smurfs have taken over the majority of my free time. Every weekend I comb flea markets with my friend and I now wonder how I could have spent all previous years without doing this...As well, my Smurfy hobby gives me the impression as if I turn younger every birthday...GOSH! I turn 35 next year! -Inez Schult (Wiesbaden, Germany)" PETE REPLIES: I'm 34 too, but I have to say - Smurfs help to keep me young at heart, and there is nothing wrong with that! ----- "I met Suzanne [of the SCCI] when my son and his wife took me to New York to a concert. I phoned her and she met us at the train and took my family to the mall and me to her home. She was very nice to me and showed me her collection. I was sorry to hear of her passing. You are really doing a good job with the club, and although I am a very senior citizen, I belong to SCCI for many years and I am learning the computer and that makes collecting so much easier. Thank you. -Shirley Young (Lethbridge, Canada) PETE REPLIES: Shirley, you are lucky to have met Suzanne, she was a true-blue Smurfer, and I couldn't be happier than I am when people who knew Suzanne and her dedication to this job tell me that I am doing a fine job in her shoes. I am happy to hear you have learned to use the computer. I agree, it does make collecting easier. Many of Suzanne's members did not have computers, and so she made me promise to keep in touch with those members by mail, which I do. I always encourage them to have a friend show them MushroomVillage.com though! The site has more to offer than I could *ever* squeeze into a mailing! Thanks again Shirley, for taking a few moments to write. I do appreciate it very much! ----- "I am 24 years old and have been collecting Smurfs for most of my life. How could you look at those cute little blue guys and not smile? -Randi Schaffer (Linden, New Jersey)" PETE REPLIES: Um, I can't! --- "Keep up the Smurfy work with the newsletter! It is fun and informative to read. I have been a Smurf fan since I collected my first plush Smurf in 1980 at now defunct "King Norman's World of Toys" in a suburban mall here in Northern California. Now I have tons of Smurfy things, and have fun looking for more items. I have yet to come across a Smurf cookie jar though. Was there ever one made? -Kathy Jeffers (Vallejo, California)" PETE REPLIES: I don't know of any large cookie jars, but I do know there was a smaller cookie container, but you may have a tough time finding it! It was made by "Decor" in Australia. It is made of white plastic and was just 6" high. A wrap-around picture shows several Smurfs standing in the village with chocolate chip cookies lying in the grass. A normal Smurf is standing and eating a cookie. Baker Smurf is chasing another Smurf with a rolling pin. Papa is standing and pointing, and Smurfette is posing seductively. The top features a Tupperware-like push-button suction top. I would guess this was to keep just a small number of cookies fresh, maybe to eat later as a snack. Sorry I can't provide about a larger jar, that sure would be neat item, but I do not know if they ever made one. ----- "I look forward to the Smurfy News! I loved MushroomVillage.com when it was eSmurfs.com, and it is even better now! I have collected Smurfs since birth (thanks Mom!) and I am now 25. I have a room in my house dedicated to the Smurfs with bedding, wallpaper, curtains, etc. Smurfette was my first tattoo! Thanks for a great website and Smurfy updates! :) -Debra Peterson (Woodstock, Georgia)" PETE REPLIES: How cool is that? Several members asked how my Smurf room is coming along, since I did not even mention it in the last newsletter. I also used Smurf bedding, but not on a bed - I used sheets to cover a display cabinet in my Smurf room, and my sister Melissa is making me a pillow for my window seat from another sheet :) I also have Smurf curtains in the window, and I bought rolls of Smurf wallpaper but I got lazy and did not put that up. I think it might make the room look too busy. It's already pretty busy with the thousands of little blue PVC's in display cases on every wall! The room is pretty much complete; I am just missing a lot of Smurfs from the cases because I am in the midst of a project to document all the markings in the MushroomVillage.com collection. I hope to complete that pretty soon. Hopefully, I will be able to share pictures by the next newsletter! ----- "Peter, Thank you for providing such a wonderful website. When I was six or seven I received Smurfs from my grandparents in Germany. I still have them and a few months ago after finding them again; I fell in love all over again. Thanks for all the info your site provides, it has helped a lot with updating my collection. -Angela Kujat (Port Moody, Canada)" PETE REPLIES: Angela, I am happy to welcome you aboard. I get e-mails every single week from people who came across their childhood Smurfs, found MushroomVillage.com and decided to collect them again. I know you will find it to be a pleasurable hobby! Feel free to visit and make some like-minded friends over at the MushroomVillage.com Bulletin Board - "Pete's Smurfy Corner." The boards get new activity every day; it's a great place to catch up with what is new in the Smurf world when you need a fix! Hope to see you, and many more from our membership, at the boards sometime soon! Here's the link: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/cgi-bin/forum/dcboard.cgi AOL CLICK HERE! ----- Hey Pete, I am a New Zealand Subscriber. I have been collecting smurfs since they came were released in New Zealand by the BP promotion, which I think started in the 80's. Have just recently started collecting them again and have brought a few items from MushroomVillage.com. Will be glad to have a look around your message boards and will even post a thread. Keep on smurfing. -Karen Masemann (Lower Hutt, New Zealand)" PETE REPLIES: Hey Karen, please do that! I am glad to see so many Smurfy friendships develop world-wide through the use of MushroomVillage.com's bulletin board "Pete's Smurfy Corner." I know you will make some friends there too! I am also happy to see we have a member in New Zealand! Most members live in the United States, but a great many members are sprinkled across the globe as well. I also see recent mail from Vittorio Massarini of Milano, Italy; Naomi Hines of Kamloops, Canada; Jean Morrison of Belfast, Northern Ireland; Edwin Wassink of Doetinchem, The Netherlands; Andrew Taylor of Padstow, Australia; Martin Bond of Somerset, England; and Antony McWilliams of Karben, Germany. This is just the tip of the iceberg! Hey, here's a good spot to plug our Guest Map again! I set up this temporary Guest Map so we could all see where in the world Smurf collectors are! The United States is getting a bit crowded, but I know we have members in other parts of the world who have not been represented yet! I'd love to see our International members fill out the map! If you did not already, please visit this link and post your pin! http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-guestmap.html AOL Click Here! ----- "Hi. I just today found MushroomVillage.com's Smurfy News. I love it! I have been a collector for 25 years (and I am only 30!) They do not sell Smurfs in the USA anymore so I have had to depend on flea markets and yard sales. But now, thanks to the Internet, I have really been able to expand my collection. Thanks to the awesome MushroomVillage.com site, I have been able to find out more about what I already own, what to buy, what not to buy and just in general get as much great Smurfy news and information as I need! I love MushroomVillage.com! Thanks. Star Moss (McDonough, Georgia)" PETE REPLIES: Aw, stop it Star, you're making me blush! If you've caught up with all the Smurfy News newsletters, you know we are all anxiously waiting for a Smurf comeback that has been long hoped for! We did receive reports of another new Smurf product in the US recently! View Master has produced a new set containing a Smurfy blue viewer, and three Smurf reels! It has been seen at Target stores and other locations. Here is some info I got from a promotional: "Smurf back in time! Retro-style Model L 3D viewer plus 3 reels with 21 eye-popping images of the exciting adventure of Traveling Smurf. He was a determined little Smurf who leaves Smurfland to smurf the world - against Papa Smurf's advice. Featuring evil Gargamel, his cunning cat Azrael, and all the friendly Smurfs. Smurf it again - and it's just as much fun now as ever. The viewer is specially colored for this set. It is a bright sky blue with a yellow pull and this combination has never been made before." Schleich has once again begun distributing in America, and I know some smaller stores around the Country do carry them. And of course, there is always MushroomVillage.com! ----- I love this site! It is TOTALLY SMURFTACULAR!! We (me and my two kids) look forward to every newsletter. I can’t wait for the next one. How often do you send out the newsletter? I am hoping I didn't miss one while away on vacation. I recently bought our first Gargamel. He is in excellent condition. I paid $2 Canadian for him. Well keep up the good work. -Sherry Thompson (Winnipeg Manitoba Canada) PETE REPLIES: Thanks for writing Sherry! I do not publish the Smurfy News according to any regular schedule – I put an issue together when I have the time and the information to do so. It is easy enough, however, to determine if you missed any – Just visit the MushroomVillage.com Smurfy News archive! Every issue ever published (OK, I may have missed one or two early ones...) can be found at the archive, just right click on any issue, and download it to your computer! Then you can read it by opening it in any word processor, or print it out to keep a hard copy. Here is a link to the archive: http://mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-smurfynews.html#archive AOL Click Here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 4) YUMMY SMURF COOKIES! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Here is a recipe member Kara Whitworth shared! She found the handwritten recipe in one of her Mom's old cookbooks - the origins of the recipe have been lost in the mists of time! Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Cream together the following until fluffy: 1/2 cup sugar 3/4 cup margarine 4 egg whites 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 large package Berry Blue Jell-o Add and mix well (dough should be stiff): 2-1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon salt Refrigerate dough for one hour. Roll dough into balls and roll in sugar. Flatten on cookie sheet and cook for 7 minutes. Great with cream cheese frosting. I invite members to try it, and please let us know how they are!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- PLEASE VISIT OUR SITES! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- If you have appreciated the quality service you receive from www.MushroomVillage.com, please consider visiting my other sites: www.MegaGlass.com - Offers a complete line of decorative glass novelties for floral arrangements, aquariums, mosaics, landscaping, arts/crafts, design/decor - many new products have been added this month! www.LandOfMarbles.com - Marbles make great gifts - nostalgic for Grandma & Grandpa, & kids love 'em too! We offer everyday playing marbles, high-end collectibles & contemporary art glass marbles. I ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL OFFER from my personal friend and old college roommate Victor Daniel! Victor operates a very successful dating site - EliteMate.com - and has allowed me to offer a FREE LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP to our single MushroomVillage.com members! (Regular price is $14.99 per month.) Maybe you have seen EliteMate.com's commercial run recently on Network and Cable TV: E-Entertainment, CBS, The WB, SPIKE, Bravo, USA, TBS, TNT, ESPN2, MSNBC, CNBC and many others. Please use this link to create your own FREE account, and have fun! www.elitemate.com/myJsp/promo/memberjoin_smurf.jsp?type=M AOL Click Here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 5) THE SMURFERS OF OZ =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Here's a bonus Mailbag from Australia! "I am a new subscriber to the newsletter, and from what I can gather there are not many of us from Australia. However after reading of Paula's luck in winning 2 prizes, I thought I'd give this a try. It is very difficult to collect smurfs in Australia, with the majority purchased from eBay and the Internet. - Kate Pattison (Queensland, Australia)" PETE REPLIES: On the contrary Kate, Australia is one of the Countries where I have the most members! Just browsing through recent member e-mails, I see mail from Karen Kennedy and Bronwyn Smart in Western Australia; Jason Hart, Andrew Taylor, and Abby Redman in New South Wales; Janine Ellis in Tasmania and this is just to name a few. Here are some of their mails: ----- "Hi Pete, I love getting your Smurfy News with all the latest Smurfy gossip! I have been collecting smurfs for 20+ years, and I'm only 26! My friends and boyfriend all think I'm crazy. However, when I get my collection of 200+ Smurfs out, they all want to have a look and play! I've even convinced my boyfriend to let me display them all in a cabinet in our living room! Keep up the good work, I love that your website has made it so easy for me to expand my collection even more! -Abby Redman (Sydney, Australia)" "Thanks for running such a great site Pete! I look forward to receiving the Smurfy newsletter whenever it comes out. I love collecting Smurfs, and get so excited when I do find some! They sure are difficult to find in Australia! Here's hoping they do get revived here...there are already Care Bears and My Little Pony back in Australian shops. - Bronwyn Smart (Waroona, Australia)" "Just want to say this is a fantastic site. As I am new to collecting smurfs, I thought a smurf was a smurf...lol I had no idea of the variations, dots, markings etc. I am amazed. Keep up the great work Pete and everyone who makes this site a big help for new smurf collectors. -" Janine Ellis (Kingston, Australia)" "Thanks again for another wonderful, informative and Smurfy newsletter. It's nice to know that there are others around the world who share the joy of smurfing! - Karen Kennedy (Belmont, Australia)" "My smurf searching has come to a halt lately as it seems that all of a sudden here in Perth that everyone is collecting them! I have just found a Smurf apron, which is pretty wicked so I'm pleased with that, it's like plastic or vinyl coated so you can wipe it clean. Well, thanks Pete, I've said it every time before, but you rock! Your newsletter this month was fantastic. Keep up the great work and thank you much! -Paula Lewis (Byford, West Australia)" "Hi Pete. Your website has so many interesting avenues to venture down and so that's why I keep coming back to learn about the past, present and what's happening in the future. There are so many members and from so many countries and I look forward to advancing my friendships with these people so I can Smurf talk with the international smurfing community. Thanks for all your efforts as they are appreciated. - Andrew Taylor (Padstow, Australia) AKA Dyar (Syd Smurf)" "Hi Pete, I have just read your newsletter and I really do look forward to receiving it, thanks. I live in Australia and a lot of shops are bringing in a range of Schleich animals and knights, but there are no Smurfs. I have asked a couple of the stores if they plan to get them in and I have been laughed at and told no! One told me that there would not be a market for them. Would you believe that? Oh well, I shall keep trying to convince them otherwise. I am looking forward to your next newsletter. - June (Melbourne, Australia)" PETE REPLIES: A big thank you to all my members in Oz! I wish I could reply and/or publish all the great mail I receive from around the world, but I have to be happy with selecting a few letters each time. I just get so much Smurf mail! Oh, I'm not complaining! Keep it coming, please! The Smurf Mailbag is one of the most popular features in the Smurfy News - people *love* to read the letters I receive, and I love to share them! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 6) CARTOON ALL-STARS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The Smurfs took part in the "Cartoon All-Stars to the Rescue," an anti-drug message to the youth of America that was simulcast on several large networks Saturday morning, April 21, 1990. Here is an article from a television guide published for that week: "Bugs Bunny, Winnie the Pooh, Garfield, Alf, the Smurfs...the list goes on! You've seen them all on their own shows, and now they're coming together as one to battle a growing problem plaguing our youth...drugs." Please click this link to view the full text of this article in the MushroomVillage.com archive: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-article046.html AOL Click Here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 7) NEW IN THE ARCHIVE =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- We added a few brief articles to the MushroomVillage.com archive. Since they are short, I will reprint them in their entirety here: 1) The Smurf Story As printed in a U.S. pamphlet by Wallace Berrie & Co. Inc. (C) 1979   Far, far away in a land where houses are shaped like mushrooms, live 100 tiny blue people called Smurfs.  Some scholars think that Smurfs dropped out of mushrooms, while others are sure they just Smurfed out of nowhere.  No one knows for sure except the Smurfs themselves...end even wise old Papa Smurf, their white-bearded leader, isn't telling.  Suffice to say that all by themselves the Smurfs built a wondrous village deep in the forest run on happiness, or as they call it "Smurfiness."   It's not likely that you'll find your way to the Smurf Village.  The only way to get there is to be guided by a Smurf himself...and they're usually too busy for that.  When they're not busy working or playing, they're pretty Smurfin'-busy thinking about something to be bust with!  It's a lively life for people only 3 apples tall, but the Smurfs wouldn't have it any other way.   Smurfs are friendly, loyal and kind to each other except when they're competing for the friendship of the only woman in town, the Smurfette.  Who can blame them...there's nothing like dancing in the arms of a lovely Smurfette!   Smurfs are always on the lookout for new friends to have fun with.  They're good listeners, great companions, and energetic playmates.  Step into the wonderful world of Smurfs...You've got a friend!! 2) Smurf Collectors' Club Sponsors Car in the Great American Race A "Smurfagram" published by Suzanne Lipschitz of the Smurf Collectors' Club in June 1986 Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Smurf Collectors' Club Sponsors Car in the Great American Race Exciting news for our club! The Great American Race, from California to New York City, features antique cars. Car #91, a 1933 Dodge Woody Station Wagon, will be sponsored in part by the Smurf Collectors' Club!! The clubs plan is to have a Club Sign on both sides of the car. Flyers will be distributed all along the 3,500 mile route. This is great publicity for Smurfs: One hundred and fifty million people across the nation are expected to view the race. Watch for it! Media coverage will be extensive! Many thanks to Mel, our dauntless driver, and Mike, our intrepid navigator, for welcoming us as participants in this terrific event! It promises to be a grueling race, as you can see from the schedule. Mel and Mike would certainly enjoy some encouraging fan mail. You may write care of the club. Let's cheer them on! Hope they make it across that finish line! 3) What to collect in the 90's An excerpt from an article published in the December 4, 1989 U.S. News & World Report Toys. Because of their popularity, Ghostbusters, Smurfs and Batman dolls may become the future's GI Joes, which now bring upwards of $1000. "Within the next 10 years, such toys will increase in 200 to 400 percent," predicts Dale Kelley, editor of "Antique Toy World Magazine" ($20 for 12 issues, [312] 725-0633). Collectors who save the original packaging can add approximately $1,000 to the price of a collectible toy. These have all been added to the MushroomVillage.com archive. We have archived nearly 50 Smurf-related articles and we have lots more on the way! These and nearly 50 other Smurf-related articles (and cartoons!) are archived at MushroomVillage.com! Please use this link to visit the The Archive: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-library.html AOL Click Here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 8) INSIDER INFO =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- We stated in the last Smurfy News with respect to the late arrival of the Aid Organization promos that "Schleich is notorious for being off by several months!" This remark upset a friend at Schleich, and we agree - it was not a fair remark. Once upon a time, the Smurfs reached American shores much later than Schleich Germany said they would. However, in all fairness, I have to say that Schleich has tried very hard over the last few years to improve their timing on new products and they have made good progress. The new Smurfs have been available earlier and earlier in recent years. I also learned more about the production of the Aid Organization Smurfs. The two new Malteser styles (20139 Malteser Smurfette and 20437 Malteser Jugend Techno) were ordered for a festivity on May 20 and were air-shipped to meet that deadline. They did arrive in time. 20054 German Red Cross Smurf and 20054 Johanniter Smurf had no requested shipping date and were therefore shipped by sea. This is to say that there was no delay at all, and Pete's foot is in his mouth! By the way, if anyone would like to buy any of the 2004 Aid Organization promos, we do have a limited # of pieces remaining in stock. Each ships with its own glossy informational display card, a MushroomVillage.com exclusive! Click here to view and purchase these promos: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=instock&maxhits=20&keywords=newmalt&bool=AND AOL Click Here Well, lucky for us, I did not offend our friend at Schleich so much that he will no longer help with our questions! Here are another couple of mysteries he helped clear up... A MushroomVillage.com member recently discovered that the German outdoor supplier called "Globetrotter" was selling 40502 Kayak, and found the pieces marked "CE" and with a blue paint dot.  I had previously published that items bearing blue paint dots were produced for a short time after September 2000, yet, the Kayak was last part of the official in-production range in 1998.  How could this be? Well, I learned that Globetrotter had special-ordered 5,000 pieces of 40502 Kayak when it was no longer in the current range! They did not request any promo imprint, but the run was made just for them none-the-less. (5,000 pieces is Schleich's minimum for a special run, whether it bear a promo stamp or not.) Since the Kayaks were produced for Globetrotter during the brief period where new production was marked with the blue dots, they are found on these pieces! Unfortunately, I have not been able to acquire one of these for the MushroomVillage.com collection. If any members can help me to acquire one, I would appreciate it! I turned to Schleich Germany again after one of MushroomVillage.com's members reported that Sam Armstrong of Schleich North America had told him that the blue paint dot on 2002 Smurfs meant they were painted in Tunisia.  According to Schleich Germany, some misinformation was passed along. Again, the blue dot identiffies Smurfs made for about a year after September 2000, when Schleich changed the formula of their PVC because European Union regulations prohibited using a certain plastic softener. They were still permitted to ship the old formula Smurfs, but could not make any more. Since there was both old formulation and new formulation Smurfs in-house, the blue dot was used on the new formulation Smurfs to tell them apart. The blue dot has no connection with the painting facility - unlike earlier paint dots, it is not a "code" identifying the Country it was painted in. In October 2001, EU restrictions got tighter, and shipment of the old formulation Smurfs was prohibited, and so they were sold to the collector market in bulk. (Collectible toys are exempt from the regulation.) Since all Smurfs in stock at that time were new formulation, Schleich stopped using the blue paint dot. The blue dot will become harder and harder to find as Schleich sells off this inventory. The blue paint dot is an important marking variation that tells part of the Smurf story. If you collect markings, be sure to pick these pieces up now, while they are readily available and cheap. This link will bring up those pieces MushroomVillage.com has for sale with the blue dot: http://search.cartserver.com/search/search.cgi?cartid=a-6296&category=instock&maxhits=20&keywords=%22blue+paint+dot%22&bool=AND AOL Click Here! Read on for another of my Smurfy investigations!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 9) SURPRISE CONES =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- There is some disagreement among the Smurf Collectors Club Intl. and German guides regarding the Smurfs holding surprise cones. MushroomVillage.com always called the pink cone 20219, the orange cone 20220 and the green cone 20221, because this is what the SCCI taught us. German guides say that pink is 20220, orange is 20221 and green is 20219... This entire article can be viewed in the Featured Figurines portion of our site by clicking this link: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/ff007.html AOL Click Here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 10) THE SMURFS =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= From Wikipedia.org, the free encyclopedia The Smurfs are a fictional race of small blue creatures that live in a forest somewhere in Europe. They were created by the Belgian cartoonist Peyo, but are best-known to English-speaking audiences through the animated television series by Hanna-Barbera Productions... Please click this link to view the full text of this article in the MushroomVillage.com archive: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-article044.html AOL Click Here =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 11) SMURFS VIDEO PRIMER =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- People often ask me who holds the rights to the Smurfs cartoon, and will they be releasing them on video. Well, here's a little something I threw together to give collectors more info on the situation... Hanna-Barbera Productions is a cartoon animation studio, started by Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera in 1944. They were the first animation studio to produce cartoons exclusively for television broadcast. Until then, cartoons were produced to be shown in theatres, and later might be rebroadcast on TV. Various animation short-cuts became Hanna-Barbera trademarks, like plots being advanced by cartoon character seen only as talking heads, and crashes and disasters happening somewhere just off the frame, not seen but only heard as sound effects. Their production of The Smurfs in was perhaps the greatest of their achievements, with a 9 year run and two Emmys for Outstanding Children’s Entertainment Series... Please click this link to view the full text of this article in the MushroomVillage.com archive: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-article043.html AOL Click Here! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= 12) SMURF GIVE-A-WAY =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= OK, time to announce the lucky winners of last issue's Give-a-Way! Congratulations Jeremy Jones of York Pennsylvania! You were our first winner drawn, and so you get your top pick - Schleich #40603, the discontinued Western Play set! Congratulations Tammy Whittier of Lower Sackville, Canada! You were our second winner drawn! Here are Tammy's comments: "Please let me win, please let me win!! Fingers crossed! lol" Looks like the old crossing of the fingers trick worked! Tammy's first pick was also the Western Play set - sorry about that Tammy! But you have won your 2nd choice, 20409 Patriot - and it's the first-run edition with the light blue flag! Whoops, Tammy fired back a reply to her private winner notification, let's have a look: "Holy cow. Thanks so much Pete! I can't believe I won! The fingers crossed trick has now been proven as fail proof, ha! Thanks again Pete, what a nice way to start the Fall season." And for our last winner - Congratulations Marjorie Meiners of Wantagh, New York! Wow Marjorie! I could drive your prize over to you myself - you are about a half-hour from my house! Marjorie wanted 20409 Patriot as her first choice. Sorry Marjorie, that prize is no longer available, but you did win your second choice: a 20473 Hiker Schoenwald Promo Smurf-a-Gram with a MushroomVillage.com exclusive - a full color informational display card which includes the history of the entire Schoenwald series! Congratulations again to our winners, and to the rest of you - thanks for playing, and please do try again! I want to say again that your odds of winning a prize in this contest are far better than in most contests...While this list goes out to well over 2,500 Smurf collectors; only 91 people submitted entered the drawing last issue! This means odds of winning were about 1 in 30! Compare that to just about any other contest you'll see out there, and you'll know these are very good odds! We've even had at least 1 repeat winner - winning a prize does NOT preclude you from trying again and again!! Now let's see what's up for grabs this time! Our first lot is a Smurf cottage! Its parts are mismatched, but it should be cute in a diorama just the same! It is a cream body, with the old red roof, and old painted butterfly (but the peg is missing). It has Smurfette's door in a gray door jamb with brown windows, and comes in an original vintage box (Oops, the header is tom off this box, but it is inside...)! Lot #2 is a Millennium Smurf! These are very hard to get without rubs, because they always fell during painting. This one has a rub, but on the ear in back, so he displays mint! Lot #3 is 40222 Airplane, in the old Hong Kong Wallace Berrie box! These were for U.S. distribution only, a nice piece for our Intl. members. The part of the flap you tuck in is missing, the Smurf and plane are mint! Please use our Super Secret Contest Entry Form - only Smurfy News subscribers are given this link! Be sure to tell me what your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd picks are! The first winner drawn gets their 1st choice. The second winner gets their choice of the remainder, and the third winner gets whatever is left! If a winner does not specify a preference, they will receive whichever prize remains that was most requested!! Here's the form: http://www.mushroomvillage.com/contestform.html AOL Click Here Remember, our winners receive the "whole package" as if they had placed an order. That means, a free Schleich mini-catalog, and free Smurf stickers too! Winners will be announced in the next issue. =-=-=-=-=-=- 13) CLOSING =-=-=-=-=-=- Well, I have so much more information to share, but I'll end here and save the rest for another issue. We all owe a huge THANK YOU to Suzanne Lipschitz of the original Smurf Collectors Club for her 15 years of research and dedication to our hobby. As I reported earlier, Suzanne entrusted me with the care and conservation of the entire SCCI archives and collection before she passed away earlier this year. I will be sharing as much of this knowledge with collectors as I can. I also ask that members continue to contribute to your FREE club, by sharing with me so I can turn around and share it with all our other members. Please continue to share your stories, information, rumors and facts. Suzanne always said, Sharing is Caring. She was able to produce her newsletters for 15 years, because her loyal members always shared what they could, and Suzanne spread the information gathered to the rest of the club. I continue with this model today. MushroomVillage.com is what its members contribute to it. Three cheers for you guys! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip hooray! HIP, HIP HOORAY!! Let me close by asking one last time to visit our Guest Map: This map isn't powerful enough to show all of our members, but it can show where a sampling of our members come from...If it's not full yet, please post a pin and tell me where in the world you are! http://www.mushroomvillage.com/smurfs-guestmap.html AOL Click Here! See you all next time, and don't forget to "Smurf On!!" -Pete www.MushroomVillage.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=- 'SMALL PRINT' =-=-=-=-=-=-=- The "Smurfy News" is NOT free! To continue your subscription you must introduce another to the joys of Smurfs and Smurf collecting - kids make great targets! Remember, you're on your honor! The Smurfy News is never sent as spam. All recipients request, and then confirm their subscriptions. We never give, sell, share or distribute your subscription e-mail address in anyway, or use it for any reason other than to deliver the Smurfy News to you. www.MushroomVillage.com carries the full range of current production Smurf products by Schleich as well as much of their retired line and other "Smurfabilia." If you enjoy this newsletter, please help support us with a purchase - Smurfs make great gifts (especially for you!) SHARING IS CARING!! We collect and disseminate information the world over to keep Smurf collectors united and having a Smurfy good time! Please submit information, news, articles, stories and anything Smurf-related to www.MushroomVillage.com - just hit reply now, or use the "Contact Us" link at the site. The Smurf character is a registered trademark of Studio Peyo - License I.M.P.S. MushroomVillage.com is a collector resource and retail Smurf shop only; it is not affiliated with I.M.P.S. or Studio Peyo. For information on licensing the Smurfs name and/or character, contact I.M.P.S. at rue du Cerf 85, Genval 1332, Belgium The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the opinions of MushroomVillage.com. MushroomVillage.com makes no warranties, either expressed or implied, about the truth or accuracy of the contents or information provided by the sponsors or by the writers. Use info contained herein at your own risk. (C) 2004 MushroomVillage.com All rights reserved. Please do not reprint or host our materials on your website without our explicit written permission.