“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)
The Little Wooden Dinosaur
/in Dinosaurs, Fun Stuff /by DonQuality 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!
Happy Valentines Day
/in Fun Stuff, Robots /by DonHold 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.
Lame Duck Day
/in Fun Stuff, Woodland Wonders /by DonToday 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.
Chinese New Year: The Year of the Wooden Sheep
/in Fun Stuff, On The Farm /by DonChinese New Year is coming up in a few weeks. 2015 will be the year of the sheep. The Wooden Sheep. How cool is that?
Don’t Look Down Groundhog!
/in Woodland Wonders /by DonSuper Squirrel, Legend of the Trees
/in Fun Stuff, Woodland Wonders /by DonIn 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.
Magic Unicorns Create Butterflies
/in Fun Stuff, Magic and Mythical /by Don“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)
Toy Robot Movie Production Troubles
/in Fun Stuff, Kid Approved, Robots, Storytelling /by DonIt’s been well established that toys come to life under certain circumstances (ie: when placed in magic cupboard, or when the kids leave the room); our toys are no exception. Our animal toys are mostly content to graze around the living room or nap under the shade of the couch. The fairies buzz around the potted plants. The cars usually zoom around, always underfoot. But the robots? Oh boy those robots.
The robots are restless and always working on something. Of late they have taken up movie-making. They built their own equipment and took over a corner of the garage for production. They fooled around with physical props and sets, but couldn’t get the look they were going for. So up went a green-screen for later CG work. Everything was going well . .
I made it clear the movie was their project, and I also made it clear they could only have the garage for the weekend. I thought this was plainly stated in the contract. Whoever wrote the thing and whichever bot signed it were two different beings. I brought this to their attention (again) late Saturday evening. Wow! Drama!
Lot’s of yelling squeaks and bloobs and bips (I struggle to understand them when they talk fast). I caught every third or fourth word – lot’s of blame and name calling. But to their credit they worked out their differences, and then worked through the night. They finished up garage photography the next day and my wife and I were able to move the car back in.
The robots finished their movie. It had a limited release in all the art-house theaters (poster below). It’s a big hit as far as small movies go. Robot Lords from Cosmic Space is due for home theater release later this year; certain to be a cult classic.
Pick up your own robots and make your own movie today!
Boy Holds Too Many Balloons, Floats Into Sky
/in Fun Stuff, Kid Approved, Storytelling /by Don5 cents each or 15 / 50 cents. “I’ll take sixty please.”
The balloon barker was a large fellow. He could hold two hundred balloons and not budge an inch, but the Attleson’s boy? The Attleson’s boys was thin as a bean stalk. He handed over his money, took those balloons in his two hands, and ZIP! Off he went into the air.
It was a steady breeze that day so he made it a good two miles before he thought to let go of a balloon or two. He loosed a few more and finally landed in John Southwick’s sorghum field. If you can believe that.
If you can believe it. Our grandmother believes it. She swears by this story, says it happened when she was a kid herself. Though she lost the newspaper clipping, and wavers on being at the scene or simply hearing about it second hand.
Still, it’s a FUN story, One of our favorites, and we’ve recreated it here in toy story-telling form.
Want to act out your own adventures with toys? Well, click here to purchase some.
Wood Vulture Toy
/in Zoo Animal Excitement /by DonOkay, who doesn’t love to look at the pretty peacock? And elephants, bears, and horses will always rank high on our favorite animals list.
Alas, the world is a diverse place with diverse needs. The vulture may not be the loveliest or the most loved, but it is very important. Though we will say that this wooden vulture toy is pretty darn cute and will turn a head perched in your playroom or lounging on your desk.
Pick up your own wood vulture toy from our online toy shop today!