I'm searching for Austrailian toy makers

[spinderella]

Who specialise in very natural, Steiner/Waldorf influenced work.
Endless searching of Google is not giving me much luck.
Can anyone point me towards any toy makers? Lots of these products are imported from Europe. Surely there are wood workers here that can make these beautiful things? Would labour costs be too high here?

I would dearly love carved animals, building blocks, stable/barn, castle, doll house etc.
This site has the style I am after, DREWART toys - toys producer, wooden toys, store (http://www.drewart-toys.com/)

[STAR]

For starters I would suggest you have a look at our own "Prime Mover's" site. www.enjoymakingwoodentoys.com.au (http://www.enjoymakingwoodentoys.com.au) Phil has got something similar especially the larger size furniture plans. He will also consider making some of them for you if you want to go to that extra expense and save some time.

Either way, the plans are normally full size, although for the larger furniture I can't say for sure and are set out in a way that is easy to follow providing you have some woodworking experience or are prepared to slowly work your way through them if your experience is limited.

The plans have some detail but they are all designed to be played with.

Peter

[spinderella]

Oh Peter, thank you so much.
There are certainly some beautiful things there that fit my needs and hopefully they might be able to make some more items for me.

[mick59wests]

hi,

bloody computer!

At different times I have seen a number of steiner wooden toys on ebay if you are just looking at buying. I have a saved search of wooden toys and often see oes advertised as steiner/waldorf.

I take note as my daughter works at a steiner pre-school and is extremely interested in their philosophy

cheers

Mick

[spinderella]

Thanks Mick. I do look from time to time.

I am tossing about some business ideas ATM, so would need on going supply.

[tmd85]

I'm making some steiner items atm. Bit ruff around the edges but my daughter loves playing with, Rainbow Circle Blocks - Dragonfly (http://shop.dragonflytoys.com.au/store/circle-blocks.html) its like this, but nowhere near that clean cut and we are painting it tomorrow

[STAR]

Thanks Mick. I do look from time to time.

I am tossing about some business ideas ATM, so would need on going supply.


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I would suggest you send Phil ' "Prime Mover " a personal message. He is very versatile and might well be the man you should discuss this with. He is very approachable and I am sure that between the two of you something might be able to be worked out.

Peter

[tea lady]

I have just started a kinda partnership with another Mum from school (Love those school pick ups.:cool: ) to make a few wooden house hold things (Like pots and pans and plates and cutlery and an iron {for some reason- who uses them anymore? :shrug: } Also pondering a tea pot, but that could be a bit tricky to make cheaply enough. They are just going to be for her in school experience, but I was thinking that it might be a good thing to make to sell. So maybe we could work something out too. I mainly do wood turning, so round things are my specialty! :D

[spinderella]

Tea Lady, you have made my day! Kitchen play toys are another item I am searching for.

I am wanting pots, pans, utensils, cups, bowls and plates made from wood. Also baby bowls and spoons for real children to use for meals. So much of this is being imported, so I am guessing the manufacturing costs here are too high?

I will PM my details so we can talk more.

[RedShirtGuy]

Here comes a bit of a hijack...sorry :)

Not having the slightest clue, I've had a quick squiz at what Steiner/Waldorf (education) is and I'm wondering what makes a Steiner toy a Steiner toy specifically? How would one differ from, say, any other set of blocks? Is it just in how and why they're used, or is it part of their creation and build, like Shaker items?

[spinderella]

Steiner toys are very minimal and open ended to allow for imaginative play. Dolls will be made from all natural materials like wool and cotton. Very little facial features added.
No plastic toys. No battery operated toys that leave children to be passive observers of the toy rather than using their imaginations to create things with it. Mostly wooden toys, naturally finished, rather than painted. Lots of gnome houses, fairies and miniature real life play items such as kitchen items, cleaning items etc.

[RedShirtGuy]

Thanks for that tid-bit of info. It's nice to know that what I like and prefer in toys has a name/style :)

[spinderella]

Do you make toys?

[RedShirtGuy]

When I can I do puzzles (flat pictures, shapes, scrolled animals/vehicles) and brain teasers mostly but a few other playful odds and ends (ages 0-10 probably)...whatever takes my fancy really. But I'm one of these stressed out time poor people who has so much other stuff to take care of that I don't often get into the workshop :(, otherwise I would probably have put my hand up to help out.

[Billy]

Hi spinderella,
I make toy cars and usually in November /December I do a few Sundays at the local markets selling some. A lady from a steiner school bought some last year as well as some I had listed on ebay, very basic, just oregon with a strip of jarrah laminated in, four wheels and a clear coat to highlight the timber.Theres pics of them in my album,
cheers, billy