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International Toy Fair comments: Wooden toys are good because they are made of wood. Wood is good because it is natural. And natural is good because it stands for the survival of every one of us. It is not always good old German education in the form of giving toys that inspires people to buy wooden toys today. It is often sub-conscious motives that lead people to buy building blocks, sound cubes, pull-along or push-along animals, ball tracks or figures. These motives include, for example, the growing debate about nature and the environment and the fixation on sustainability, the current keyword in public discourse. Sustainability is projected onto toys, and nothing is better suited than toys made of wood, the epitome of enduring value. Read More.

Melissa and Greg say: Design for Play toys are imagination powered, not battery powered. Design for Play toys encourage classic imaginative play – which keeps children engaged long after they grow bored of the more fad-based toys. Play is a child’s work. It’s how kids learn and grow. So when it comes to choosing toys, parents should look for items that stimulate imagination and creativity. Design for Play toys promote physical and intellectual development and inspire imaginations! Design for Play was founded in 2008 by husband and wife team Greg and Melissa K. Neher. The Nehers have lived in the USA, Asia, Europe and Australia. As parents they know how hard it is to find high-quality, safe, eco-friendly, attractive toys which are fun for children. Melissa and Greg are pleased to share their unique line of Design for Play toys. Read More.

One of the most thoughtful and intellectually provocative Italian designers of the late 20th century, Enzo Mari has proved as influential to younger generations of designers as to his peers as a writer, teacher, artist and designer of products, furniture and puzzle games. His first project for Danese was 16 Animali, or 16 Animals, launched in 1957. It was a wooden puzzle to which Mari applied his theories of problem-solving to create a group of simply carved animal shapes – including a hippo, snake, giraffe and camel – that join together to form a rectangle. Read More.

Born in Novara, Italy in 1932, he studied classics and literature at the Academia di Brera in Milan from 1952 to 1956. As a student, Mari supported himself by working as a visual artist and freelance researcher. In a period when Italian design was flourishing as enlightened industrialists collaborated closely with designers to rebuild their businesses, he also became interested in design and painstakingly taught himself about it.

Mari’s approach to design was predominantly theoretical. He was more concerned with its role in contemporary culture and relationship with the user than with becoming a design practitioner. After graduating in 1956 he opened a studio in Milan to continue his studies of the psychology of vision, systems of perception and design methodologies. These studies took physical form when Mari created three-dimensional models of linear elements and planes. Forced to earn a living, Mari made contact with the Italian plastic products manufacturer Danese and agreed to develop a series of mass-manufactured products.

Harold says: This Child’s Shaker Style Rocking Horse is made from reclaimed Long Leaf Pine. It is patterned after an original piece located in the Shaker Colony at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The pine used to construct this piece is more than 150 years old, salvaged from a warehouse originally built in Boerne, TX in the mid-1800’s. The rocking horse is the second of my new line of high end children’s furniture. As with my other child pieces, only portions of the rocking horse was constructed with hand tools (as opposed to all hand tool construction in my traditional furniture.) I have chosen to use some power tools in order to keep the price of the children’s furniture as low as possible while still retaining my tradition of quality workmanship. The rocking horse is finished with 6 coats of hand-ribbed, non-toxic tung oil. Read More.

1590EVSK Bosch is one of the most favorite saber saws available. 1590EVSK Bosch has all the features you would expect including smooth-start motor, quick-release blade change, tool-free adjustment of the base, three orbital settings, and a dust blower. Read More.

Install a blade appropriate for the material being cut. A variety of blades can purchased separately. Adjust the speed. The denser the material you intend to cut, the slower the speed you should use. If your saw has it, also adjust the backward and forward action. More action will result in faster but coarser cutting. Do not force the tool. Let the blade do the work. If you are cutting with the grain, ensure a straight cut by either using the edge guide accessory, or the edge of a board as a guide. To cut tight curves, first saw straight lines in the waste material, and then cut along the curved line. The pieces of waste material will drop off as you cut, giving the saw blade extra clearance.

To start an inside cut, tilt the saw forward and rest the front of the base on the work. Set the saw at a moderate speed and then slowly pivot the blade into the stock. Alternatively, drill a starting hole for the blade.When cutting dense materials at slow speed, periodically remove the saw from the work and run it up to full speed for a moment. This allows the fan to cool the motor, extending its life. Use a slow speed for cutting metal, and lubricate the blade with oil. When cutting thin metal, use a fine-toothed blade to ensure that at least two teeth are in contact with the stock at all times. Before cutting plywood having a hardwood veneer, score the cutting line with a knife to prevent splintering.

Rodney Bartlett interviews Google’s Matt Cutts at Pubcon 2007 in Las Vegas. Matt had some excellent tips for using blogs to promote your business and answered a few great questions.

The prolific and versatile Danish designer Jacob Jensen is a superstasr of Scandinavian industrial design. As head designer at Bang & Olufsen, he has played a paramount role in advancing the design of their audio equipment, ensuring since the 1960s that it has been as stunning to look at as it is technically sophisticated. Read More.

SensoryEdge says: Puzzles have long been a favorite learning toy of kids, moms and educators. Giving children a variety of puzzles enhances their early childhood educational experience both at home and in school. Read More.