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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.

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

Video shows Arnold Golay, Toymaker at work in his workshop early on a winter morning sawing and shaping his creations. Watch closely for classic toymaking techniques.

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

Fundamentall Toys says: A “good toy” is said to be 10% toy and 90% child. While many toys peak a child’s interest, those that hold their attention are few and far between. Those are the types of toys we focus on. To us toys are not frivolous playthings, they are basic learning tools that teach children everything from mathematics to social skills. They are baby-sitters and playmates, and we understand that a child’s favorite toy often becomes a trusted friend. While playing should always be FUN, it must also be taken seriously. Children are building a variety of skills, talents and abilities as they play. Their playthings should enrich and enhance their development. We keep this in mind as we select items for our store. Our selections blend creative development with entertainment value. We avoid items that display gender stereotypes, those that promote aggressive or violent play, and those that make a child a spectator rather than a participant. Read More.

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

Peter Wachtel says: It is all of the above, and is about where you come from. It starts with the idea. Everyone’s tastes are different, but there are some similarities. Familiar smells, surroundings, colors, what is cool, patterns, reflect basically what is familiar to you in some way. Whether it’s a car, a toy or a person, there are subtle clues that make you have an emotion connection. Good toys have these attributes in them. We fall in love with toys that remind us of our childhood, play patterns, friends, colors of rooms, toys, etc. It is very important when designing or selling a toy that you really think about the end user and where they will be. This is what sells toys.  Read More.

Peter Wachtel (aka) “KID Toyology” is an award winning creative toy and entertainment designer, inventor and teacher. He has designed more than 500 products for the Toy, Entertainment and Design Education industries many of which can be found at www.KidToyology.com. Peter was recently the Chair/Academic Director & Design Instructor at Ai Hollywood for Graphic & Industrial Design, and has taught Toy Design at Pratt Institute, Parsons School of Design and Otis College of Art & Design.

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

The largest collection of TV SHOWS,FILMS, CARTOONS, NEWSREELS,FILM SHORT SUBJECTS, SILENT & SOUND FILMS, HOME MOVIES, ,INDUSTRIALS & especially TV COMMERCIALS from the 1950’s/60’s can be found on DVD or on GOOGLE VIDEO DOWNLOADS at www.tvdays.com Aging Baby-Boomer Ira H. Gallen has spent over 30 years collecting and restoring this collection from 16mm & 35mm Celluloid Film, and Kinescopes to Video tape, with the help of Museum of Television and Radio in New York. Now he’s trying to save his VIDEO ARCHIVES from decomposing by transferring to new digital formats  Read More.

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

The  The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History is featuring more than a century of toy history in a history highlights case, “Toys from the Attic.” Showcasing toys from 1825 to 1939, the case explores the changing experience of an American middle-class child. With the improving economy of the 19th century, children were sent to school rather than to work, and adults began to understand the distinct importance of childhood and its specific needs. These changes allowed American children time to play and encouraged greater demand for manufactured toys. Toy companies began to create evermore sophisticated toys intended to entertain, educate and prepare children for adulthood.  Read More.

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

It was perhaps the fifth or sixth time I found myself, flat on the floor, arm extended, sweeping a broom under the couch to try to retrieve the quarter-size wheels of my son’s Automoblox Minis that I thought, “This is not a good design.”

Everything about them looked great. Automoblox share the traits of many toys sold at Giggle, the MoMA Design Store, and the overpriced kids boutique in your neighborhood: They are made of wood, the colors are bright and unisex, they use no batteries, they evoke the past, and they cost significantly more than the plastic, pink-or-blue, light-blinking, noise-making blobs sold at Toys R Us. These qualities explain why three different people decided Automoblox were the ideal gift for the offspring of an architect and a design critic.

And yet, my son seemed perplexed by how to play with them, beyond rolling them back and forth, something any die-cast drugstore school bus can do.  Read More.

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.