LI mom's creation hits big time at toy fair

A problem needed solving at Patricia Klotz's house in Wading River: stuffed animals everywhere. Webkinz were scattered on the floor of her daughter's room, bunnies and puppies were shoulder-to-shoulder on the bed. "Every time we get another one in the house, I groan," she said.

So Klotz came up with a simple but effective solution - an even bigger stuffed animal: a dog with a hollow belly, into which up to 50 other plush toys can be stuffed, containing the clutter and creating a new, beanbag-chair-size toy in the process.

On Sunday, Klotz is exhibiting the "My Stuffie," with a suggested retail price of $47.95, at the Toy Industry Association's 108th annual American International Toy Fair at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. During the four-day, closed-to-the-public trade show, the industry unveils, assesses and orders the products that will show up on shelves in the coming year.

Most of the attention goes to the biggies - Mattel, Hasbro, Disney - but dreamers have a shot, albeit a long one. "It's not easy to be the small guy in the toy industry," said Laurie Schacht, president of The Toy Book and The Toy Insider, trade and consumer publications. "I think she's going to have the best luck with small specialty stores."

Laid off as a special-education teacher in June after 18 years, Klotz plowed her newfound time into patenting her vision, trademarking the name, finding a manufacturer and tracking her shipment from China - becoming, she said, a "mompreneur." She named her company "Lemonade Innovations" because when she was laid off, she channeled that "lemon" into her new venture. She is hoping to add a pig, frog and kitten to the line.

"It's become a family affair," Klotz said. Her husband, Matt, a contractor, supported his wife's career transition. Her son Christopher, 13, made the video for her website, where orders can be placed, and her daughter Meghan, 8, wrote a booklet that will come with the product.

Said Klotz: "The best part of it is working with my children as a team."

POLITICKING DOLLS

Have you had the urge to wring a politician's neck? Now you can. Throttle Necks let you react to Barack Obama, Sarah Palin and other politicians.

When you push a button on the lapel of each doll, you can hear some of their famous phrases. Obama says, "Change" and, "Yes We Can!" Palin says, "What is the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull? Lipstick" and "You betcha."

Or squeeze each doll's neck and hear garbled choking sounds.

There's also a Nancy Pelosi doll. Still to come is a John Boehner doll, which comes out in May.

Each 5.5-inch doll has a suggested retail price of $15. They'll be exhibited in a booth at the Toy Industry Association's annual Toy Fair at the Javits Center in Manhattan beginning Sunday.

- BETH WHITEHOUSE