Hair Stylist Ducky from Victoria

Name: Hair Stylist Ducky
Interests: Shaving heads
Where to Find: Victoria, British Columbia
Brand: iloveduckies.com
Price: $4.00 Cdn

Red steaks are in style

A large portion of my rubber ducks are from Zydeco gifts in Victoria. I try to visit the store at least once a year. They have the most rubber duckies I have ever seen in one store. Every time I go into the store, I find a rubber ducky I don’t have. The selection on their website does not represent all the stock they have in store. If you are looking for a particular duck, I would email them first.

Hair Stylist Ducky has bangs and chic layered hair. Part of her side bangs are covering her right eyebrow. She has a pair of scissors in her smock and an assortment of hair pins on her smock too. She also has a twin. As is often the case, rubber duckies look the same but come in different colours.

Purple Cheerleader Rubber Duck from WEM

Name: Purple Cheerleader Ducky
Interests: Performing at pep rallies
Where to Find:  Vending machine at West Edmonton mall
Brand: orientaltrading.com
Price: $2 Canadian

Save the ducky cheerleader; save the ducky world.

On Sunday, January 08, 2012, we took my daughter to Galaxyland for the first time. Children 2 and under are free but only one adult can accompany each child on rides. Alicia loved going on the rides. However, I think what she loved even more was watching me plug 13 tonnies into a rubber ducky vending machine. I turned the crank and one by one each ducky rolled into my cupped palm.

The first rubber duck down the shoot was Purple Cheerleader Ducky. She has a purple bow on the side of her head and a D on her dress for the Ducky cheer team. Unfortunately, her pom poms are not as pouffy as they used to be because she was squished into a little clear plastic ball. The second ducky shown in the picture is the Purple Cheerleader Ducky's side kick. She is identical to her friend except she is holding a megaphone and has a bit more white on her dress.

Girl Sailor Ducky from Patmos, Greece

Name: Girl Sailor Ducky
Interests: Doing yoga on the beach
Where to Find: Toy shop on Patmos Island in Greece
Brand: Unknown
Price: $2 Euro

I wish I was sailing on the Aegan Sea.

Girl Sailor Ducky is wearing a blue sailor hat with a silver embossed anchor. She has perky eyes that look like she has exclamation marks in them. She has perky eyelashes too that don’t even touch her eyes. She has a pink handkerchief tied around her neck.

Deckhand Ducky from Patmos, Greece

Name: Deckhand Ducky
Interests: Sailing and floating in the Aegan sea
Where to Find: Toy shop on Patmos Island in Greece
Brand: Unknown
Price: $2 Euro

Deckhand ducky is on the far left

In September 2009, my husband and I spent a week sailing the Greek isles. Greece was by far my favorite place on our trip around the world. The beaches are immaculate and the water is pristine. Every beach has water like the water you will see in my post tomorrow. We explored many little churches and admired the miniature shrine churches on the side of the road in Greece. When I die, I would like to have my ashes in a little church at the side of the road on a Greek island (What am I saying. I am going to be immortal).

Anyway, that is enough about death. We spent a day riding quads around Patmos Island and I found a toy store. I purchased all the toys pictured for $4 euros. I kept the two ducks that I didn’t have and gave the rest away to our Skipper.

Deckhand ducky has a weird strand of brown hair sticking out of his ball cap like a misplaced modifier. He has eyelashes and a green and blue rescue tube around his neck.

Panda Rubber Duck from Beijing

Name: Panda Ducky

Interests: Drinking tea on the Great Wall.

Where to Find: Potato & Co.

Brand: Bud

Price: $118 Yuan ($10.00 Canadian for the Trio)

The Trio enjoying the view from the Great Wall (Panda is on the far right).

Panda rubber duck is the last rubber duck in the chinaduck collection from bud. She is probably the second scariest looking with Propaganda rubber duck being the first and Stadium being the third. Her black eyes are scary but they definitely make her look like a Panda. Her wings are black and so is her beak. She has bamboo leaves on her belly and bamboo shoots on her tail.



Stadium Rubber Duck from Beijing

Name: Bird's Nest Ducky (Stadium is her official name)

Interests: Watching the Olympics at the Bird's Nest Stadium of course.

Where to Find: Potato & Co.

Brand: Bud

Price: $118 Yuan ($10.00 Canadian for the Trio)

I am the friendliest of the trio.

Stadium rubber duck is the second Bud rubber duck in the chinaduck collection. She is solid black with silver lines running all over her body including around her neck. She was, like most rubber ducks, made in China. The yellow "u" Bud logo matches her beak perfectly. I would love to go back to China and tour a rubber ducky factory. Is there anyone out there who can hook me up with a rubber ducky factory tour? Pretty please.

Propaganda Rubber Duck from Beijing

Name: Propaganda Ducky

Interests: Hanging out in Tiananmen Square

Where to Find: Potato & Co.

Brand: Bud

Price: $118 Yuan ($10.00 Canadian for the Trio)

Propaganda Ducky visits the Great Wall of China.

During our 6 month trip aroud the world, I spent a week in Beijing with my husband. On October 31, 2009, we went out to buy groceries and walked to a mall near where we were staying. It was a snowy but warm afternoon and it made us feel like we were at home because it often snows on Halloween in Edmonton. I saw a store called Potato & Co. From the outside, it looked like a really neat kitchen decor store. I always become hopeful when I see these types of stores because they often carry rubber ducks. This store had 100s of Bud Rubber ducks. There were so many to choose from, but it wasn't hard to decide. I just had to have the Chinaduck pack since it was fitting with being a tourist and all.

These three Bud ducks: Propaganda, Stadium and Panada are my second favorite set of rubber ducks (next to the Boon rubber ducks of course). I did not name these rubber ducks. I am using the names engraved on the bottom of the ducks. They are limited edition rubber ducks and came with an official number 0001174. I am not sure if that is how many of them were made or not but anytime a duck is labeled "Limited Edition" I am sure the value increases. These rubber ducks were made in 2008.

Propaganda duck is off white and sports a picture of a member of the military who looks suspiciously like Mao. He has a red military star on his lower chest. He is the classic Bud style and is medium in size. I have seen three sizes of Bud ducks: regular, medium, and mini. Check back tomorrow for the second duck in this trio: Stadium Rubber duck (but I nicknamed him Bird's Nest).

Generic Asian Rubber Duck from Party Packagers

Name: Generic Asian Ducky
Interests: Popping into goody bags for kids birthdays
Where to Find: Party Packagers (2119-99 Street Edmonton)
Brand: Amscan
Price: $0.50 Canadian

I like playing on stove tops.

I found this rubber ducky at the new party supply store in South Common today. I popped in to look for cellophane rubber ducky bags for my daughter's first birthday. They didn't have any but I found this generic rubber duck. There are a large number of generic rubber ducks to collect. Party Packagers also has 4 Easter rubber duckies too. Many of their party items are reasonably priced. They even had a large stuffed rubber duck that you can sign at a baby shower.

This rubber ducky is pretty basic and has beady eyes, a bit of hair, and basic wings. This generic rubber duck is a bit different because it has two little black specks on its nose above its beak.

Genuine Fred Scrubber Duck from TinBox

Name: Genuine Fred Scrubber Ducky
Interests: Digging dirt out from under fingernails and toenails
Where to Find: Tinbox on Whyte Avenue
Brand: Genuine Fred
Price: $13.75 Canadian

He has a habit of getting under people's skin

My husband purchased this duck for me on January 12, 2012 while he was shopping on Whyte Ave with our daughter and his mother. He has an amazing eye for spotting ducks and remembering which ducks I already have.

Genuine Fred Scrubber Ducky is made of silicone and works great as a nail brush and as a massage tool. He is soft, squishy and feels a little bit like a stress ball.

Cowgirl Rubber Duck from Dublin

Name: Irish Cowgirl Ducky
Interests: Herding sheep
Where to Find: Toy store in Dublin
Brand: Unknown
Price: $6 Euro

Who says cow girls don’t drink Guinness?

On our last day in Dublin on Aug 21, 2009, we were walking down the cobblestone streets dragging our bags loudly behind us on our way to the bus stop, when I saw it. A toy store. My eyes light up every time I see a toy store. I mean how can you call yourself a toy store if you don’t carry rubber ducks (even the generic looking rubber ducks will do).

I quickly popped into this toy store while my husband waited on the curb with our luggage. There was boy cowboy duck and a girl cowboy duck to choose from and I picked the girl cowboy duck because I already owned a boy cowboy duck.

Irish Cowgirl Rubber Ducky is wearing a pink cowboy hat. She has a white hankerchief tied around her neck and a green vest with pink flowers and buttons. Her beak is quite pointy and from certain angles it’s hard to see her eyes.

Rubber Duck from the Great British Duck Race

Name: Win Win Ducky
Interests: Floating down rivers and getting stuck in rip tides.
Where to Find:  http://www.thegreatbritishduckrace.co.uk/
Brand: Unknown 
Price: $2 Euros

I won’t get lost in the race.

While traveling around the world in 2009, my husband and I spent two weeks in London and 1 week in Nuneaton with my relatives. We were hoping to catch a rubber ducky river race but it wasn't taking place for the dates that we were in England. This duck is the second I have purchased for a charity duck race. However, I bought my first charity race duck at Sunridge mall in Calgary with my best friend when we were in high school. Usually the ducks are entered in the race but we wanted to keep a duck for our collections. Therefore, I contacted the organization doing the London duck race and they mailed me two rubber ducks from the race to my relatives house in Nuneaton. They arrived at their house the day after we arrived (Aug 09, 2009).

The race ducks are a basic rubber duck with yellow bodies and orange beaks. However, there are many basic rubber ducks available and each one is a little bit different. Blue or black eyes seem to be the standard.

Bob the Rubber Duck from Toys R Us

Name: Bob the Ducky
Interests: I love travelling with Alicia. I have even been to Panama.
Where to Find: Toys R Us
Brand: Boon 
Price: $6.95

I have been everywhere including the Grey Nuns Hospital for Alicia’s birth 

Bob Boon Odd Duck - Bob (this is the name he came with; I didn’t name him) is one of my favorite rubber ducks. My husband bought me Bob for Christmas in December 2010. He also bought me Squish. I received Jane and Slim at my daughter’s baby shower. Together they are the complete set of Boon ducks. I haven’t seen them at Toys R Us for a while but they are also sold at an expensive furniture store called Kids Furniture Gallery for $7.95 each.


Bob has been to B.C., Panama and to the hospital with us for the natural birth of my daughter (page 36). He has also been to many pools with us too. Bob floats nicely and unlike my older rubber ducks he is BPA, PVC and Phthalate free. Therefore, he is one of the few rubber ducks I own that is okay to put in the tub with my daughter and is okay for her to chew on too. My only complaint about Bob is that he is already getting worn out. His orange stripes are starting to wear off (but he has also been in the ocean and lakes which could be causing the wear). He has black little beady looking eyes and is the roundest of the Boon duck collection. He is not your typical rubber duck (none of the Boon ducks are) and I think that is why I like him so much. He is the odd duck out.

Munchkin Rubber duck from Walmart

Name:  Seashell Sea Goddess Mermaid Ducky
Interests: Sunbathing, whistling at sailors
Where to Find: Walmart
Brand:  Munchkin
Price: $3.95 Canadian

Don't call me Ariel or I will slap you with my tail

While I was on parental leave, I took an aqua size class with my daughter. The babies floated in little rubber ducky boats while the mom's exercised. Our babies floated back and forth as we jogged laps and swam. Most of the babies played with rubber ducks or other bath toys. Alicia had her Boon rubber ducks and a few other babies had rubber ducks or Sophie the Giraffe. One little girl had a mermaid duck. I asked the mom where she bought it and she said Walmart. I don't like shopping at chain stores let alone a conglomerate such as Walmart. However, I was willing to enter the super center for my new rubber duck. I also found a rubber ducky diaper bag dispenser.

Bath tub Rubber duck from the Plaid Giraffe

Name: Squirty Water Fountain Ducky
Interests: Diving into warm bodies of water especially bath tubs 
Where to Find:  The Plaid Giraffe on Whyte Avenue
Brand:  Bud
Price: $2.00 Canadian

I can quench your thirst in the tub

I found this duck the first time I took my daughter to Whyte Ave with my mom. It was a warm summer day and my 5 month old daughter was sweating to my chest in her baby wearer. I stepped into the Plaid Giraffe and there it was...a duck I don’t have.

Squrity water fountain duck is a Bud brand of duck. He believes the more bubbles you have in the bath the better. He loves bathing with my daughter.

Ocktoberfest Rubber Duck from Zurich

Name: Busty Bavarian Ducky
Interests: Carrying 6 1 L mugs of beer in each hand during Oktoberfest
Where to Find:  Surprisingly I am from Zurich, Switzerland and not Germany
Brand:  Unknown I am not up on my Swiss German
Price: Unknown

Prost!

The great thing about telling everyone you know about your hobbies is that they spread the word and help your collection grow. My friend and her boyfriend were travelling in Switzerland and they found Busty Bavarian duck at an outdoor market. I am so glad they purchased it for me.

Busty Bavarian has quite the clevage line in her green traditional Octoberfest dress. She is also wearing white puffed sleeves and a red apron with a bow. Her blue eyes are framed with lush eyelashes. She even has hair which is becoming quite popular amongst rubber ducks. Her curly brown hair is parted in the middle and pulled to each side of her head in two tight ringleted knots.

She is my second Octoberfest duck. I also have a Rubba duck that is an Oktoberfest duck. I have been to Ocktoberfest but I didn't find any Oktoberfest ducks in Munich. Although, while I was at Octoberfest, I did see a game with rubber ducks. They had many ducks that I didn’t have but I don’t think you could buy them. Perhaps, if my German was better and I’d had a few more beers I might have asked.

Bud Rubber Duck from Gramma's Toy Shop

Name:  Hugs and Kisses Ducky
Interests:  Kissing and hugging people on Valentine’s Day
Where to Find: Gramma’s Toy Shop Ltd.
Brand: Bud
Price: $1.00 Canadian (it was only this cheap because he was secondhand)

I love red

Every couple of months, I go into my favorite secondhand toy shop in Edmonton. Gramma’s Toy Shop usually always has a few rubber ducks that I don’t have. They also have tons of children’s toys at decent prices too. On my most recent visit, I found a Bud duck to add to my ducky collection. These ducks are usually $10.00 brand new so it’s best to buy these ducks secondhand or on sale.

Hug and Kisses Ducky (This name is printed on the bottom of the ducky. I didn’t name her) has blue and black eyes and a white XO and hearts pattern rimming her body.

Bud Rubber Duck from Chicken Scratch

Name: Pop Peace Ducky
Interests: Dining out on Whyte Avenue with friends
Where to Find: Chicken Scratch
Brand: Bud
Price: $8.39 Canadian

I come in peace.

I was on Whyte Avenue today for a dentist appointment and I couldn't resist popping into Chicken Scratch to check for ducks. Chicken Scratch carries cards, wrapping paper, rubber chickens and various other trendy toys and gadgets. They had pink and red soap ducks covered with hearts for Valentine's Day but they were $10.00 each and I thought that was a bit pricey. They also had a classic mini yellow rubber duck in soap (which of course I already had).

I checked the shelf by the window and found a Bud duck. It was rather overpriced for a mini Bud rubber duck since the regular size Bud ducks used to be $9.99. However, it was the last one, a duck I didn't have and it has been a while since I last bought a rubber duck. By a while, I mean a month.

Pop Peace duck is this duck's official name and he is phthalate and PVC free. He was made in China in 2008. He is covered in peace signs pointing in all different directions.

British Rubber Duck from London

Name: British Guard Ducky
Interests: Strolling through Harrods and minding the gap on the tube.
Where to Find: Tourist shop in London, England
Brand: Unknown
Price: $6.00 Euro

Royalty rubber ducks need protecting too.

I must not be the only tourist that collects rubber ducks. While my husband and I were geocaching the streets of London, we entered a tourist shop. Amongst the typical fare of the " Underground" T-shirts and candy tins with the "Mind the gap" slogan, I found 3 rubber ducks - royalty, a British bobby and a guard. It was a tough choice but I picked the royal guard. I couldn't resist his black pouffy guard hat and his perfect British coat with large gold buttons.

Looking back on it now, I wish I would have bought all three rubber ducks but it was our first stop on our 6 month trip around the world and there are always more ducks to be had. It also gives me a good excuse to go back to London. Although, if you live in London and are willing to buy them and ship them to me, I will pay you back.

Irish Rubber Duck from Dublin

Name: Leprechaun Ducky
Interests: Kissing the blarney stone and lusting after red headed girls.
Where to Find: Tourist shop in Dublin, Ireland
Brand: Unknown
Price: $3.99 Euro

I love anything green.

I found this duck while shopping for postcards in Dublin Ireland in August 2009. Leprechaun duck sat on a shelf with his brother and sister. Like any typical collector, I longed to purchase all 3 ducks for the complete set. However, my husband reminded me that there would be more ducks and this was only the second country that we had visited on our 6 month trip around the world. We also had to stick to a budget or we would run out of money for food.

Leprechaun duck has a solid weighted bottom and proudly wears his green top hat. He is extremely lucky and enjoys drinking Guinness and eating stew on the weekends.