For years, Jim Turbyville made wooden furniture and then, from the scraps, he made a few wooden toys.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Lisa Allmendinger, Heritage Newspapers: His first toy was a wooden duck that he continues to sell to this day. “Every time I’d come to the market to sell furniture, I’d sell toys,” he says. Now, the toys dominate his sales at the Sunday Artisan Market in Ann Arbor. Turbyville sets up his booth to be inviting to children who might want to stop and play with one of the 50 different types he sells. Many of them are moving pull toys. “I want children to come in and play with the toys, walk around dragging them,” he says.
He believes that if people see children playing with the toys, perhaps they’ll want to buy one. The toys are made from a variety of woods, including cherry, birch and oak. There are buses, cars, animals, trains, airplanes, farm equipment and race cars, to name just a few.
The toys include four types of planes and a duck with an egg on its back that moves when the toy is pulled around. In addition to the kids playing with the sturdy toys, the men come into the booth to look at the planes and say they are buying it for their kid, but Turbeyville knows it’s really for them he muses with a broad smile. He says he has two tubs full of toy patterns and makes everything from a Model T to a road grader. The toys range in price from $5 to $50.
A wood toy craftsman is known for his minute detail. Jack Beursken is no exception.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
For 10 years, Jack drove truck for a Lorain, Ohio, construction firm. During his 34 years as a paid volunteer firefighter, he drove and operated fire trucks. His truck-driving avocation afforded Jack insight into trucks and their varied capabilities. With the inherent woodworking skills gained from his father, Jack began building model toys for his children. “I made very simple toys at first. They were a lot like my dad’s, robust and durable. While I still make them for children’s play, I also make shelf model units for collectors,” Jack related. Jack builds a wide variety of children’s wood play toys, including: trains, trucks, tractors and more. But his craftsmanship shows through his 1/12-scale model replicas.. Read More.
Nova Natural toys and crafts allow children to follow their imaginations.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Nova Natural says: We are a family owned and operated business. Our goal is to create a trusted source for toys and craft supplies that allows children to follow their imaginations.To that end, we offer a carefully chosen selection of products that encourage children’s creativity and spirit. We hope you appreciate the beauty and quality of the toys we’ve presented here and encourage your children to play to their heart’s delight. Your trust is extremely important to us. For that reason, we make the following commitment to you: We will never sell any product that we believe is not developmentally or socially appropriate for children, is harmful to the workers who produce it or is not durable enough to last. Further, we will not directly market our products to your children at any time, ever. Read More.
Playwoods uses detail-oriented design techniques to create playful wood action toys in the USA.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Playwoods produces wood toy trains, animated creatures and other unique wooden toys in an assortment of whimsical wooden toys and collectibles. The product line included items for children, executives and for the serious collectors. The meticulously designed gifts and collectibles are attractive to all ages, especially those who appreciate wood or collect fine, expertly handcrafted wood toys. All Playwoods toys are manaufactured in the USA. Read More.
Pintoy creates wood Safari Toys play set that captures the lure of the jungle.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
This beautifully designed and playful Pintoy Wildlife / Safari Park Set includes a park vehicle, 4 rangers and 1 lion and 1 lioness. The zebra striped park vehicle has a removable roof and opening hatchback, and can seat 4 dolls. The park rangers are wearing helmuts & cotton safari suits, accessories included are: backpack, flask and binoculars. The lion set includes 1 lion, 1 lioness, a rock set and 1 plant. Read More.
The enchanting world of toy castle life provides hours of creative play.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
The enchanting world of medieval court life unfolds with this beautifully detailed folding wooden castle with painted trellises, two removable turrets, balconies, a flying buttress, working drawbridge, secret staircase and lots more to discover and explore. It is well designed for lots of imaginative play. The castle is easy to store because of the unique fold-up features. See more about this product at Melissa and Doug. Dimensions: 17.5″ x 27″ x 15.25″ for Ages 3+.
Cheekeyes provides children wood toys with the touch and feel of something natural.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Time to toss away those plastic figurines and give your kids something earthy to adore with the Cheekeyes fresh and fun wooden playsets. The clean sleek lines of Cheekeyes’ handmade animals are beautiful to touch and behold, with the lovely grain of polished rubberwood enlivened by a funky dash of color. Environmental ideologies brought fruit to the creation of Cheekeyes. Why cover wood with paint when wood in itself has so much to offer? Cheekeyes looked for a way to provide children with the touch and feel of something natural combined with lively colors to attract and maintain their attention. Read More.
How to make your own wood train track for Thomas the Tank type toy trains.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
To make wooden track out of the recommended white birch, maple or European beech you need three different bits. One bit makes the female connector with a single pass, another makes the male connector in two passes, and the third makes the tracks. The single-track bit works well for both straight and curved tracks. Making straight tracks in one pass requires the dual-track bit. Three different companies sell bit sets for making wooden train tracks: Rockler, MLCS, and Hartford Tool. There’s are two different track styles. The MLCS bits make the tracks that work with Thomas the Tank Engine sets. The individual bits are $20 to $40 when purchased separately. Kits with all four bits from Rockler and MLCS are around $100. Click here for your FREE Downloadable Train Track Plan
Free Download! New book “100 Toymakers who create wood toys for fun and profit.”
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
Delve into the world of 100 independent wood toymakers who have turned their love for the craft into a profitable and often lifelong business. In One Hundred Toymakers Who Create Wood Toys for Fun and Profit (2010) you’ll read their stories. Some started later in life, others when they were young. But one thing they all have in common is a passion for building imaginative and creative wood toys. You’ll be inspired by toymakers worldwide who are dedicated to and appreciate the beauty of shaping simples block of wood into irresistable toys for kids of all ages. Read More.
Designer Jason Amendolara creates engaging silk-screened hardwood toy blocks.
John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans
The products and toys I design are meant to put a smile on your face, creating fun interactions with the products and with others. I have been fortunate enough to have my designs featured on the Tonight Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, as well as in The NY Times, Food and Wine Magazine and numerous other (very important) domestic and international publications. I hope you enjoy them too. Jason Amendolara
