Simple Wooden Toys

FarmBoy and I chatted a bit yesterday about memories of the best play times we had as children. The discussion was initiated by his witnessing my tossing away of three empty (plastic) thread spools. He related that some of his best memories of childhood play were of the imaginative sessions he and his playmates had with leftover wooden thread spools.

Today I saw Soulemama's post about similar play, and I was delighted. Her musings so reflect my own feelings about toys. See her blog here.

(By the way, my own favorite play memory is of a time my cousin Randy and I filled empty soda- pop cans with sand and raced them down makeshift tracks we created ourselves in the dunes along the coastline of Washington state. [Pop cans are not as nice as wood, aesthetically speaking, but we were deserving of points for recycling.] Nothing from my childhood kindles lovely memories like those of a day spent in soft gray sand with the ocean's rhythmic roar in the background.)

Children's Nook

Just climb the stair, and turn hard to the left. It's all waiting for you. (Will you please straighten up the doll house while you're there?)

Pirate Cuties

I found these three friendly pirates at a yard sale last Saturday. I was thinking I'd like to apprehend some more of their crew. All week we've been searching the Internet to find more like them, to no avail. If you know who makes such toys, please leave a comment. There is a logo of two little round-headed angels stamped on the bottom of the boat. Does anyone out there know of a toy manufacturer with such a logo? These mateys are feeling quite marooned.

Carpet Upkeep Made Better

Here, on our carpet, are six Humanitarian Dolls I made recently.

After three years of weekly vacuuming, I was disappointed that the vacuum cleaner no longer left interesting patterns in the rug. I assumed it was because the carpet was no longer new. But, recently, the belt broke on the vacuum cleaner, so FarmBoy cleaned up the machinery and changed the belt. Now, I'm getting the patterns again, and vacuuming is almost a pleasure, as in the beginning.

It's sometimes just little things that make such a big difference.

Doggy Girl

Last evening, while watching Katharine Hepburn movies, I managed to finish this new soft friend. I hope that Tony, Jr. doesn't mind playing with girly girls.

Two New Friends

Yesterday, while blowing my nose enough to fill a whole paper bag with used tissues, I somehow also managed to finish these two new soft friends for Tony, Jr. to play with when he comes to visit. Making them was great fun. The rabbity fellow was finished in time to watch the end of Porco Rosso with us. The sharky-doggy wasn't finished until bed-time, poor thing. It took me a long time to sew a strip of silky ribbon to his spine, but doing so gave him just the smoothness he was lacking. Both are eagerly waiting now to be carried and caressed by someone with pudgy little fingers and hands.

Humanitarian Doll

Here is a photo of the Humanitarian Doll I made over the weekend. The pattern for these simple little dolls is most ingenious. You can see it for yourself here. And the address for one place where a person can contribute humanitarian aid items can be found here. On that page you will also find a link to patterns and instructions for many other things to make and share.