Hello World

Hello World!

Hi world, I’m Don. Nice of you to stop by.

We’re introducing ourselves (myself really) as though this is our first blog post, but

This is not our first blog post. We’ve been at it for four plus years now, with varying regularity. But we’ve never had a real solid plan for what we’re doing with the blog. Nor has there been contingency for how to regularly publish when we’re super busy in the shop. In the shop making toys, miniature furniture, and yeah, the best card holders east of the Ozarks.

However!  All of this lost-in-the-blogging-woods ends in 2016.

We have a publishing schedule, and more importantly a writing schedule. As this is written in December 2015, we have half of next year’s posts penciled in and outlined. We also have all of January [nearly]ready to publish.

This is a bit of those public-deceleration, crowd-accountability deals, but also a big of a warning . . .

A bit of a warning to those living in the future who are reading backwards through our blog looking for more articles like you see in 2016 and beyond. Those articles do exist on this site before 2016, but we were still finding our blogging way, so every post isn’t a gem of internet goodness.

Boy, who’s that for a sales pitch?!

Pre-2016, most articles were written on the fly. Typically they started with the idea of selling a toy and wherever the post or story went, it went. Now though, ideas are roughed out, stories outlined, drafts revised, etc. etc. We’ll have more on this in a future blog post specifically about the business.

Here’s some of our favorite pre-2016 posts though:

Circus Dinosaurs and the Thunder Lizard that Never Was

This post was the inspiration to create a series of upcoming stories

The Daring Adventures of Riley Justice episode 1

This was the story that inspired us to write a series of serials.

 

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Happy Bungalow's wooden toy warranty

Super Official Toy Warranty

Happy Bungalow's wooden toy warranty

Happy Bungalow’s Super Official Toy Warranty:

For a period of 10 years Happy Bungalow will repair, replace, or refund materials (exclusive of shipping) that prove defective, upon inspection (or emailed photo) by us, during normal residential use.
This Warranty does not cover:

Scratches, dings, and dents that may occur through typical use.  Damages caused by abuse such as, but not limited to, smashing, kicking, throwing, hammering, tantrumming, Evel Knievel stunt reenactments, attempted sub-orbital space flights, etc. etc. This is an indoor product – left outdoors for a period of years it will do what natural wood naturally does and turn into dirt. We will accept no returns on products that have been allowed to turn to dirt.

Of course, you may have other rights based on the state you live in.

*Yes, we’re being silly,
but if you have a
problem call or write:
(+1) 513-442-6924
don@happybungalow.com

vintage advertisement for magic wand and unicorn

A Magically Fun Time

vintage advertisement for magic wand and unicornThere is no mystery about how to have a MAGICALLY FUN TIME.

And you don’t even need a magic wand.  Just know you’re going to have fun, kick off your shoes, forget your troubles, laugh a lot, and HAVE FUN.  Really, no fooling.  We know, some things are easier said than done.  And maybe the whole, if you want to have fun – just have fun, bit is a little hippie-trippie, but trust us.  It works.  Have patience.  Take some relaxing breaths.  Look around and find the joy in life and do your best to block out the non-joy.

Remember: kick off your shoes, forget your troubles, laugh a lot, and HAVE FUN.

What?

You just need to purchase accessories?  Okay.  Find some enchanting toys in Happy Bungalow’s online toy shop.

faux vintage for little wooden dinosaur

The Little Wooden Dinosaur

faux vintage for little wooden dinosaur

Quality Guaranteed!

Delivered direct to your home, or anywhere else you specify.  You pay no middleman’s markups as you buy direct from the craftsman. top quality.  Old-time craftsmanship.  Write for current prices & full product line. Fun guaranteed!

robots holding hands

Happy Valentines Day

Hold your loved ones hand, and for one day pretend you’re a tiny wooden robot.  Or, if there’s no hand to hold, don’t sweat it.  With all the advances in technology, it won’t be long until robots become the overlords of mankind.  And when that happens people won’t have any time to hold hands.robots holding hands

not quite real vintage illustration of duck and flowers

Lame Duck Day

Today is Lame Duck Day.  While the day doesn’t celebrate the animal, there is a real lame duck (distant bird relative of the snipe).  We dug through Great-Grandpa’s library and came up with this sketchbook page highlighting the Lame Duck in the wild.  It’s like total proof.

not quite real vintage illustration of duck and flowers

the year of the wooden sheep

Chinese New Year: The Year of the Wooden Sheep

Chinese New Year is coming up in a few weeks. 2015 will be the year of the sheep. The Wooden Sheep. How cool is that?the year of the wooden sheep

wood groundhog toy

Don’t Look Down Groundhog!

wood groundhog toyTry this tongue twister:  How much ground could a groundhog hog, if a groundhog could hog ground?  Not as catchy and recognizable as: How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?  It still works though.  Call him a groundhog, a woodchuck, even a whistlepig or land-beaver – this toy is fun.  Pick up one today from our online toy store.

 

superhero squirrel

Super Squirrel, Legend of the Trees

superhero squirrel

In honor of Squirrel Appreciation Day we give you Super Squirrel, Legend of the Trees.

Think of the furry legends of the trees and marvel at their daring branch to branch leaps and skittering dashes to find buried treasure! Sure, it would be fun to invite the little fellas inside (perhaps for a cup of acorn tea), but it’s best to leave the wild animals in their natural habitat.  Though, with our wooden squirrel toys you can play right along without the little guys making a mess of your fruit bowl.

fanciful illustration with unicorn creating butterflies

Magic Unicorns Create Butterflies


fanciful illustration with unicorn creating butterflies

“Where do butterflies come from?”  The Kids ask.

The Kids are curious little explorers, they love to learn.  Scientists would be a stretch – scientists only in the loosest stretch of enlightenment concept of the profession.  So they’re a bit fuzzy on technical process, more interested in spectacular results.

The creation of a butterfly is quite spectacular.  “The butterfly is born a caterpillar – a fuzzy little worm, except it has legs.”  I think.  “Pretty sure is has legs.  Either way, it sort of turns into this chrysalis”

“Crystals?  Real crystals?”

“Well, they’re real, but not crystals.”

“Awww!  No fair.”

“Chrysalis.”  I continue.  “It’s like shell it makes around itself.  A sleeping bag sort of.”

“Can we go camping tonight?”

“Uhm.  No.  Listen.  So it’s in this little sack.  And the whole bug turns into this clear goo.”

“Ewww!”

“No, it’s really cool.  The caterpillar dissolves and then reorganizes itself into a butterfly.”

“What’s reorganize?”

“What?  It’s like uhm.  To re sort.  Make something new.”

“So where do butterflies come from?”

“Haven’t you been listening to me?”  But I just get this blank look.  “Butterflies are born of magic unicorns.  The unicorns know a magic spell.”

“Real unicorns!”

“You betcha.”  Plenty of time for the truth later, I suppose.

 

Who knows though?  Perhaps you have a fairy ring in your back yard.  Stir up a little magic, track down a unicorn, poof!  Maybe you’ll create some butterflies.  Hmm?  Well, we can’t help you with the magic end of things, but we do have a spiffy wood unicorn toy you might be interested in.  (Click here to purchase)

wood unicorn toy