toywizard.org

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

Pinball machines make a great toy for kids and adults. These homemade machines use common materials found at any home improvement or hardware store. Rubberbands are used to propel the pinballs. The basic designs shown in the videos are a great beginning for creating a truly engaging interactive toy. Read More.

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

 This creative play set has everything needed to enjoy imaginative play. The unique build-on feature allows you to add more rooms, such as the Baby Bathroom, that are specially designed to fit the Play House. The set features over 20 furniture pieces and accessories for the bedroom and kitchen. The roof can be taken on and off to add on another room. The balloon goes up and down and the windmill rotates and makes the ceiling mobile inside rotate as well. Ages 3 to 7. Read More.

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

Intended toward visually impaired kids, the “Una” by Industrial Designer Job Buenazedacruz is an innovative toy kitchen set that lets the blind children express, enjoy and cherish those precious moments of childhood. Featuring an induction cooktop, stove and see-through fridge, the blind-friendly kitchen integrates a sink, faucet, oven and open shelving as well. In addition, there is a magnetic chalkboard menu, realistic kitchen sounds and a secret storage compartment. Made in wood and acrylic, the toy kitchen measuring just 1.8′ x 3.5′ presents a compact and portable design. Available in a variety of colors, the Una Toy Kitchen will be available for $999 (€899) by December 2010.

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

The Czech Marrionette Workshop produces wood marrionettes that are masterfully handcrafted in the historical Czech tradition. Czech rod marionettes are similar to Sicilian ones though they are more complex. They are hand carved, usually using lime wood. The marionettes have the central rod like the Sicilian marionette but also have strings for the arms and legs. Sometimes they also use string to control a mouth or movable ears. These require more skilled manipulation. Czechs also have marionettes that have no central rod and strings that are attached to the head, shoulders and back. These are the most difficult marionettes to manipulate due to the absence of the central rod.

Miroslav Trejtnar is an acknowledged master puppeteer and teacher of traditional Czech marionette making skills. Trejtnar has a long connection with puppetry. He concentrated on woodcarving at the Arts and Crafts High School in Prague. From there he went on to study puppet design at the Department of Alternative and Puppet Theatre at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague. Miroslav also spent time training at the Institut UNIMA in Charleville-Mézières, France. He also worked with the Bread and Puppet Theatre, USA. Visit the Czech Marrionette Workshop website.

Aniwat is an award-winning industrial designer whose work has been featured internationally over the past 10 years. Currently he is the Chief Designer of Moen Incorporated, in Shanghai. 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

Wooden toys come with their own special safety concerns. Here are a few points to be aware of before letting a child play with any wood toys. Read More.