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John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans

Myriad Natural Toys and Crafts is a family run mail order business specialising in hand-crafted organically shaped natural wooden toys, plant dye art materials, craft supplies, books and musical instruments. Product is produced with reverence for the environment and the child, encouraging meaningful and creative play.  The advantage of wood in preference to plastic and metal are many fold. Petroleum based products such as plastic take a huge toll on our environment. There are also growing concerns of the safety of such products, in particular with young babies and children. The wood used in products comes from European forest plantations, the wood is indigenous, and the by-products are either recycled or used for heating.
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Read the guide. Page 7 specifically addresses crafts materials.

John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans

about.com:  Safe toys are absolutely crucial for the health and wellness of our kids. There’s been a lot of hue and cry about toxic and unsafe toys which have been endangering our children’s health. The Congress has passed the CPSIA law which bans the sale of unsafe toys containing certain hazardous chemicals. Choosing safe toys is simply a matter of being informed. It is very important for every parent to be aware of the dangerous and prohibited chemicals found in toys which could pose a hazard to children. Here are a few pointers which should help you to choose safe toys for your children. Read More.

John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans

In today’s healthcare environment, the commitment to adapting medical care for all generations of patients, even the smallest children, is a priority. Providing wagons gives children a safe, familiar means of transportation within a hospital. With their bright colors and pleasant designs, the Wunderwagon® – HC was created specifically for use in healthcare settings. Read More.

John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans

Rockin Choppers are built with cabinet grade plywood and poplar dowels.   We do this for several reasons; the first one was made out of plywood so we knew it would work well, it’s very strong, stable and uniform in thickness which makes it easier to work with than dimensional lumber.  Also, we like the idea of taking an ordinary material like plywood, and making something extraordinary out of it.  The seats are upholstered with real leather which we can do in a variety of colors to compliment the finish on the Choppers. See More.

John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans

New York Times: Mr. Voake said he had made more toys for U.S. buyers this season than at any other time in his 34 years in the industry. Some holiday orders will not be ready until March. “There’s so much — too much — business,” he said. “I can only make so many things.” Mr. Voake, 61, who works in a basement shop with a springer spaniel named Snifflefarg, never thought there would be such a clamor for his products, which include arks, doll carriages, blocks, trains and other toys made from hard maple. All his wood is bought from dealers in Massachusetts and Maine, and he finishes his products with linseed oil and a nontoxic stain. Mr. Voake started woodworking in the early 1970s, when he and his wife were teachers in Southern California. Read More.

John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans

Toymaking began as a hobby for Mike when he worked as a Science teacher, but it soon became a part time and later a full time business.  Sue initially lent her expertise as a bookkeeper, but is now expanding her skills as a woodworker and currently heads the wheelmaking division.  SAMS  supplies a number of specialist toy and craft shops around Australia, as well as selling at a range of outdoor craft markets. Read More.

John W. Lewman Toy Designer www.toymakerpress.com
Publishers of fun to make wood toy projects and plans

Harry Wallop says: There used to be more than a 1,000 toy makers in the small town of Zirndorf, Bavaria. Tap, tap, tapping away, making wooden dolls, hobby horses and metal soldiers. Toys, as we know them, started life in this area of Germany, where the craftsmen were skilled and the tin mines provided plentiful raw material. Most of the toy firms have shut, or gone to China where more than eight out of every 10 toys in the world are now made. But there is one left: Brandstatter, the company that makes Playmobil. In an anonymous modern building, resembling the sales office of a pharmaceutical company, works the last great Gepetto of Bavaria: Horst Brandstatter. Horst says, “The kids must understand the computer, they must use the computer. But they need to play to understand the world. Our target is keep Playmobil as something kids can use to get away from the computer just for a while. I hope we can keep doing that.” Read More.