Cynthia Lewman shows how to cook up a non-toxic, child-safe wood toy finish in your home kitchen with common materials and supplies.
In this video Cynthia makes a time-tested miracle paste wax finish for wood toys. It brings out the beauty of any wood and the finish makes the toy feel like velvet. The finished toy can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
Susan Burkhart is a prolific and talented artist dedicated to creating high quality craft products including Toymaker Press designs. And she also creates trendy plush toys and fashion jewelry!
We asked Susan how she got started with crafting. She said: I would see holiday items cut from wood at craft shows, and again think, I can do that. I started out on my husband’s pin-end Ryobi saw, but quickly realized I needed something a little more versatile. I primarily use my Dewalt saw but also own a PS Wood Machines saw. I love all the wonderful wood choices available, with the beautiful grains and colors. Over the years I have made hundreds of gifts for family, friends and teachers and have just recently started offering items for sale. In addition to scrolling wood, I also love to cut acrylic and am starting to explore cutting metal. I never really thought about selling my crafts. The first time I sold an item, I was just in awe that someone was willing to pay money for something I had made.
Other places Susan can be found:
Blog: http://oohlookitsarabbit.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ooh-Look-Its-A-Rabbit/203298669697369
Click here to see and buy my toys and crafts.
George J. Pfister modifies Toymaker Press plans to create unique toys to improve motor skills for kids in special schools.
George says: My toys are sent to a special school, The Chicago Educational Project (CEP), located in a suburb of Chicago. The head of the school, Amanda Parker, asked me to make puzzles that would appeal to small children with limited small motor skills. How did I connect? My grandaughter is a student with the CEP school in California and as my grandaughter is a girl on the autism spectrum I was amazed and pleased at the progress she had made at this school. I don’t think there is enough I can do for the CEP staff and schools. FYI: the school has an auction in July for which I make special editions of my toys that are auctioned for funds.
I modify the designs for improving motor skills in kids by enlarging the Toymaker Press plans to 125% so the parts are bigger for their little fingers. Next I am creating ‘Rock N’ Roller’ puzzles from the Toymaker Press book of the same name that will have pegs attached to them for the same reason. Another of my special projects this year is the SUPER CRANE also designed by Toymaker Press. I made the super-crane truck with cherry and maple. With use the modified Toymaker Press patterns to make the take-apart dinos and autos. I use 1/4″ dowels to make them pull-apart. I love Toymaker Press plans. They are well thought out, very high quality presentations. Their whole approach exudes quality. I will enjoy working with the Toymaker Press ”kids” and of course meaning your toy plans. You honor me to include my work in your blog. Good luck and God Love You. George
For more information about the auction and George’s work contact him at: pfis53@gmail.com
To answer your questions, The dinosaurs below are from a book, “How to make Animated Toys” by David Wakefield, Sterling Publications, 1986. I talked with his wife when he was away, but she said he is pleased to talk toys. I have made all of the toys in this book because they are challenging and the rewards are great much like the Toymaker Press Super Crane. As for the second question, I do not sell my toys. I have made some 2000 items and have contributed all of them, first to Public health nurses who distribute them at Christmas time, and lately to the Chicago Education Project (CEP) who display them at their annual July auction.
Keith Bauer of Eagle Woodcraft Shop creates a successful new Easter Toy Bunny for his Crafts Show display.
Keith is an avid fan of Steve Good’s famous Scrollsaw Workshop where he downloaded the free-share plans for this great Easter toy that was designed by John Lewman of Toymaker Press. Great work Keith, and thanks for sharing! (To download free plan click here-scroll down to middle of blog page.)
Keith says: I started woodcrafting about 15-20 years ago. I began by making collapsible baskets from patterns made by Barry Basket Company. Now that I found some toys I’m going to try them. I like the bunny pattern and I sold 4 of them at my first show. I Make many different things like religious items and sell a lot of the big Collapsible Basket Nativity Scene. I also sell a lot of fish. At the show I was just at I sold over $300.00 worth of stuff and I’m really happy with that! My business is called Eagle Woodcraft Shop. If you have questions about my products contact me by phone at 1-920-889-9737 or email me at: keith123@wi.rr.com
Keith is working on the Santa and Sleigh shown below from one of the Toymaker Press free plans that he received this week by email. Also shown are a plane and dragon he just completed using Toymaker Press toy plans. Click here to sign up for Toymaker Press free plans.
Sherman Francisco of the Gwinnett Woodworker’s Association creates high quality creations for the Toys for Tots Program. The toys are crafted using full size plans from Toymaker Press.
Sherman is a master at creating high quality toys that are beautiful and timeless while at the same time being safe and durable for toddlers. His dedication to children and to the Toys for Tots program is providing hundreds of priceless keepsakes to needy kids each Christmas.
Sherman writes: Cynthia, Thank you for the blog. Actually I am part of Gwinnett Woodworker’s Assn. This means we have many different skills available; ie, scroll sawers, wood turners, wood carvers, etc. Actually the only finish I use is the Butcher’s Block Conditioner fom Home Depot to insure safety for the children. Also, all small parts are glued in place to avoid any chance of swallowing them.
Attached is a photo sample of some toys I have already made. Today I met with the Area Coordinator for Toys For Tots in the Atlanta area. These Marines donated 700,000 toys last year and would like to equal or exceed the number this year. When asked what type of toys do you need the most his answer was toys for toddlers. Do you have any suggestions that I can pass on to our woodworking group? Do you have any patterns that would meet these needs or any suggestions for me to follow-up and promote to our group?
I feel like I’m running out of time to make the number of toys that I said I would. Therefore, I didn’t paint the carpet Scooter (just a varnish and shine), and finished up a few other things that are from Steve Good’s Scroll Saw Workshop Blog. I cut out the eight rug buddy toys and started painting one of them. However, painting is really time consuming when you are trying to meet a commitment of 300 toys. I’m trying to get the scrollsaw group to which I belong to see samples of what constitutes a toy and get them started now. We meet on Monday night. That’s why the toys that I am making are basically unfinished other than adding a coat of polyurethane and beeswax for a finish. Your book on dragons will probably be my next purchase if they are similar to the rug buddy toys. I need to get the pull toys completed first for our Monday meeting.
This is the first time a woodworking group or any woodworker has made toys for this program in our area. I want it to be successful, which will include your types of toys. Any ideas or help you can give me would be greatly appreciated. I will achieve my goal of 300, however, I want it to be the proper mix.
Thank you both for all the help you have given me so far. I have been promoting your plans every time I am in front of a group. Hopefully if they haven’t already, they will be purchasing your plans in the coming months. Sherman
If you can give Sherman a hand or donation drop him an email at: shermie001@bellsouth.net
Clarence Buchholz of Black Hawk, Colorado crafts a great Freaky Ford from the Rock n’ Rollers plans book.
Clarence says: Hi John and Cynthia, I recently purchased your “Freaky Ford Coaster” plan and thought you may like a few pictures of the completed project. As you can see in the pictures I did use alterative wheels and they are stained with Dark Walnut. The rest of the car was finished with a clear lacquer. The plans were great and thanks for including the helpful hints. The only suggestion I have is to please add to the plan a centering reference (+) for the axle and wheel holes. Thanks again for a great plan. The photo of the toy is shown below.
Orange County California Woodworkers Association handcrafts and delivers thousands of sophisticated wooden toys.
I talked on the phone with Victor Cohn of the Orange County Woodworkers Association this afternoon to learn more about their incredible program for making high quality toys for charity. The program is 30 years old and growing. This video shows the distribution center for their 2010 Christmas donations to charity. See how the OCWA performs as a great example of how modern woodworkers are helping to make a better world.
“I can’t sit in the house,” says Clark. “I’m always making toys of some sort.”
Dressed in blue work pants and a plaid, flannel shirt, 67-year-old Bill Clark doesn’t look elfin, yet he has tendencies that suggest he could fit in with a group of toy making little people. Clark is a full-grown man, of course, but he’s sans a long white beard and he doesn’t have a red suit. All of this to say, that although he can be found inside a workshop building toys, Clark is not Santa Claus. He does, however, take delight in giving away toys now and again. And he does this with a great, big smile on his face. “People that do stuff for me, I give them away,” says Clark of his handmade toys.
But he also sells them. He sells them to people who approach him, and most recently he began selling them through the Museum of the Albemarle Shop, where artisan and shop co-owner Lisa Winslow says his handmade cars, trucks, tractors and trains are a big hit. Read More.
Wood Toymaker DoodleTown crafts successful new wholesale sales strategy.
The change to wholesale appears to be working well, with many retailers reordering the Little Toys. DoodleTown Toys should be in 150 stores by the end of 2010, surpassing its goal of 100 and making progress toward next year’s projected 400 to 500 stores, according to Linda Poisson, Michael Poisson’s wife and the Chief of Everything Else to his Chief Elf on Duty. She projected sales this year of $100,000, about the same as last year. Read More.
Wooden Toy Designer talks about what makes Tegu’s kids toys special.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and Plans
Andoni at http://www.tegu.com shows you what’s possible with one Mahogany Original Set of Tegu’s classic and educational wooden toys. The beauty of these building blocks is that once you create something, you can move it and take it with you! The magnetic connections put an innovative twist on the traditional wooden block.
