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12.10.12

Colored Wooden Playing Blocks

Dear Reader,

My name is Philip van der Wel: husband to Talia Christine van der Wel, and papa to Audrey Eleanor van der Wel. I love them with all of my heart, particularly Talia.


Introductions aside, I make no claims to be a carpenter in any sense of the word. I do, however, love to work with wood. Six or so months ago I decided to fashion some wooden playing blocks for Audrey; like the ones I, and so many of you I am sure, played with as children.

I searched through my meagre timber collection and found a few bedraggled posts I had previously collected from a neighbor's landfill-bound trailer, which looked to be the right dimension for blocks.

Homemade Blocks

I took to them with 80 grit sandpaper and was pleased to find a beautiful grain beneath the weathered moss-covered exterior.

Homemade Blocks

I decided on lengths (four times the width, three times the width, and so forth), cut each to size, and rounded the corners. You will notice I dangerously cleverly devised a bench-sander by clamping my upside down belt-sander to a saw horse.

Homemade Blocks
Homemade Blocks

I was happy so far, and tempted to keep them al naturale. I decided to let our daughter be the judge, and placed her amongst the blocks.

Homemade Blocks
Homemade Blocks
Homemade Blocks

Her initial confusion turned to elation, and then quickly to disinterest (or rather re-interest in whatever else was within her reach).

In the end I did color them. I mixed green, yellow, red, and blue food dye with boiling water (in separate containers), soaked the blocks for ten minutes or so, and let them dry over the next few days. We were a little worried about the color leaching onto our offspring and their (future tense) clothing but thankfully our worries were not realized.

Homemade Blocks
Homemade Blocks

Colored wooden playing blocks.

Fin.


Thank you all for taking the time to read my first ever (multi-lingual) blog post. I am going to make an effort to document more projects, big and small, so you'll be hearing from me now and again.

On a side note, Audrey rarely plays with her blocks. I take comfort in the aesthetic value they add to her toy corner.

blocks12

Phil, the Husband

27 comments:

  1. So sweetly worded. I can't believe how big Audrey has gotten since these pictures were taken! Way to go, Phil, and can't wait to see what projects you have to share with us in the future!

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    1. Thank you, English. Audrey has grown, huh? And her hair color changed!

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  2. Hi Phil the Husband. Nice Blocks! I am sure 'they' will play with them in many creative ways in the years to come. It's all about building tall towers and knocking them down. Genieten!

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    1. Hi Diana the Wife and Mother, thank you. We hope to visit Sydney sometime next year!

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  3. Nice to meet you Phil! You did a great job, I especially love the dye process, the blocks look very authentic like they were from your own childhood!

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  4. How lovely to read you, Phil! The blocks are lovely and I'm sure Audrey will warm up to them soon enough. Great job! :)

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  5. "On a side note, Audrey rarely plays with her blocks. I take comfort in the aesthetic value they add to her toy corner." I was laughing when I read this comment. I agree with Urban Wife's comment above, I'm sure she'll warm up to them soon. :)

    Great post!

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  6. cool, well done Phil, we love making stuff for our wee ones too - in our experience after we make them it takes a full year before they're interested in them. Finn is 2+ now and finally loves his train from his first birthday. lol.

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    Replies
    1. There is no way to force them into liking this or that toy, huh? Speaking of dinner, we need to have you over soon!

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  7. Lovely that you took the time to share. Our toys go in fits and roundabouts - you might find she reach another stage in her development and they will be toy 'du jour' (you deserved a multi-lingual reply)

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    1. It's true, and anyway, I play with her toys even if she won't.

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  8. Phil - if you didn't have such an awesome beard I'd say that you're a big soft, but the blocks are very cool.

    Sincerely yours,

    Richard Steenhof

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    Replies
    1. Richard: thank you for both compliments. My beard, though it appears masculine, is very soft to the touch.

      Phil

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    2. Ah, if only I could like a blogspot comment.

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  9. I love this post! I will have to put my husband up to this project, just as soon as we have an offspring :).

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  10. she'll grow into them...the lego and wooden blocks are top two fave toys for our kids. and such a welcome relief from plastic. our blocks are are mix of painted and natural.
    nice work, PvdW.

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  11. What a great toy for her! And the colors came out so wonderful!

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  12. oh i love these so much!! Hello from your newest follower:)

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  13. They are really lovely and so simple. The simple toys often end up bringing about the most fun and imaginatation in little ones xo

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  14. how cool! such a simple cool toy - the use of food coloring is brilliant for dye

    <3 katherine
    of corgis and cocktails

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  15. Hey girlfriend, Checking to see if all is well with you and your sweet family. Miss your updates! xoxo

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  16. its been a month, where are you guys?!

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I love and appreciate your comments and I try to respond to as many as I can so don't forget to check back! xoxo