Inside The Toybox

I shared a photo in my post about playing with others, of all the implements someone used on me the first time we played together – all of those were from his toy bag, though. One of the comments on that post, inspired this one, about my own “toy bag” so to speak. I’ve never quite been a collector of implements (er, most) so I don’t have a dedicated bag. At home, we actually keep them in a basket under the bed or in the armoire in my office. I have great admiration for the craftsmanship of many implements, but haven’t always had the means to buy them. Also, how many different paddles do you need, especially if – like me – you don’t even like paddles? It can be tempting to collect them, but I’ve avoided that, thankfully. What I have not avoided collecting, is hairbrushes. They’re the vib-iest implement for my kink and I own…several. My general preference beyond that, is for leather and the first implement I ever purchased for myself, was a London Tanners Domestic Discipline Spanking Strop – directly from the original LT, Ian, himself, at my first Shadow Lane party over Labor Day weekend 2007 (I was 18).

Of course, we own a small variety of other items but likely a lot less than you think I do…likely more than I think I do! We primarily use the strap mentioned above, a hairbrush, the canes, and the general favorite: the hand.

We own two other London Tanner items, pictured below alongside the DD Strop. The shorter piece is The CP Ruler Paddle – short/small, and The CP Ruler Strap – both of these are much stingier than the strop and I don’t not like them but I also don’t like them, if you get my drift. My husband likes them both very much. All three were purchased at Shadow Lane parties from Ian, the original LT. He is gone now, but LT lives on because his apprentice took over. I would love to own more LT items, but they’re currently a bit out of the budget I’m afraid. Well worth it though – the craftsmanship is impeccable.

I own three ebony hairbrushes, an unfortunate number of Mason Pearson ones, and a few other random ones. I say unfortunate re: MP brushes, because they are iconic, pack quite the burning sting, and I know folks who’ve used them for 10+ years successfully, but I now have 3 large sized ones that are cracked. I had one break when accidentally flying out of a spankers hand and hitting the wall (truly tragic, he felt awful!), its replacement cracked in my backpack on my way home from Vegas in Sept 2024 (I cried), and a second hand one I bought on FBMP cracked while being used on me just before Christmas 2024 – I still have one “Junior” sized one (slightly smaller than the extra & popular sizes below) that I actually use on my hair and it will only be permitted for use on my bottom by someone who is willing to replace it if it cracks. These are wildly expensive to buy from within the US and they don’t ship to the US from their UK shop. There are ways to get them for EU/UK prices. Shoot me a message if you’d like help.

My first ebony hairbrush (middle) was a gift from my friend Chris (aka FiremanChris) in 2013 and he’s one of the only 4 people to ever spank me with it. The other two I, uh…acquired more recently, in the autumn of 2023 – one from another scene person who was selling it, and the other from eBay. I am constantly on the lookout for more of them because I have such a fondness for them, but shipping from the UK is tricky for these and they so rarely show up from US sellers (for a reasonable price anyway). I’ve got a beautiful brownish-red one that a UK friend snagged for me and will be bringing over in April for me. Since I am always browsing for these, there is a chance I’ll have acquired another before this even goes live…reader, I did – I have two, nay…four, more on the way from eBay...*looks away*

I have many paddles for someone who doesn’t generally like them. Let’s go L>R then. This is an African Blackwood “Popp” style paddle from Miss Rose. The leather “Brat Bat” was a gift from Tony Elka of Shadow Lane – I think he said there are only 2 in existence. I miss Tony and his friendship dearly. He was generous of mind and spirit and the scene is forever better because he and Eve put all they have into it. These next two are from Kitty (Bob DJs wife!) – the large round “flapjack” style one is cocobolo and weighs a full pound – it’s heavy and dense and…makes me squirm to think about. I have a very specific fantasy surrounding this paddle, maybe I’ll write about it sometime. The smaller brown one is a smaller and very stingy lightweight paddle – I am not sure what it is, but it weighs nothing & I hate it. The leather paddle on the end is from Adam & Gillian, the one I got for our anniversary. I still haven’t felt it, so no real review here. The three thinner pieces below are all from Miss Rose – her ruler paddle, an unmarked piece that I am confident is also from her, and a piece I am not sure she makes anymore – it’s a bit of a short wooden cane, called a “cracker” – this one is lovely! We do have one more Miss Rose Paddle – a sort of shorter frat style one, but I couldn’t find it! I’ll update this when/if I do.

Ahh the canes – two of these are from Quality Control UK. The blue handle is a Senior Kooboo Cane and the pink handle is the Junior Kooboo Cane. The other two are from an Etsy seller. All four are quite short IMO, but not quite nursery cane length. When held properly they can be used OTK, though. Daniel very much likes canes and they’re pretty heady for me.

The rest of our toy box is a bit mismatched. I have a tawse with no proper marking, stamped XXXH – it’s nearly 1/2″ thick but this kind of marking is unusual. I do believe it to be vintage but don’t know anything about its history. It was an eBay find. The second strap is from Wood Worx (this is their Fetlife profile because their website appears to be down – I’ll update the link if it comes back) – I got it approximately one million years ago at a Shadow Lane or Boardwalk Badness party – it’s nice but not as heavy as my LT one. I truly have no idea where or how we acquired the small crop. The hairbrush was brought into our relationship by Daniel and isn’t terribly heavy but is still kind of nasty in its stinginess. The wooden spoon was a Christmas present from me, to him, this year – for use on him, by me. The round bath brush is from Marshall’s but is “Bliss” brand – I see them there every single time I go. It’s heavy and thuddy and exactly what you expect. The smaller swissco bath brush is probably from Walgreens or something to be honest. The two vintage rulers were an eBay find. They’re old and solid, 18″ long, and could do with a good wash. I have another ruler, pictured in this post, that I bought at a fancy stationary store in the Munich Airport in Jan 2024 on my way to Rome. It’s not in my possession as I bought it for someone specific to use on me. I’ve felt it on my thighs and hands – it’s incredibly effective.

Our “toy box” includes a number of other items as well – some of this green hemp rope from Twisted Monk, butt plugs (maybe a post of their own? hehe), thermometers, cuffs, etc. If Daniel uses his belt, he does so with whichever one he is wearing usually and I gotta be honest – I’m not sure where they’re from! I’d like to get him one someday from Hank’s. We keep many of these in an armoire in my office where our kiddo isn’t allowed but the rest have lived in a basket under our bed – which now needs to change because said kiddo is getting nosy and independent!

So, what are your favorites? Do you have any of the same ones? Do you think there’s implements I still need?

-M