Meet the Whymsy Tree Etsy Giveaway

Once again, I am bringing to you an amazing Artisan, “The Whimsy Tree”.

While browsing through a crazy amount of possible commercial toys for my kids, I decided to stick with what I love, Handmade toys! My son is always asking, or getting memory games and they usually are simple cards with cartoon characters, which are usually lost or destroyed in a few months if not days.  I haven’t ever felt to excited about them for the simple reason that besides triggering a little memory they don’t provide the kids with any message to build their minds or their spirits.

Educating our kids is not only about feeding our kids’ brains with a boat load of colors, numbers and images, it is about giving them content that is also packed with an emotion, a purpose and a lesson to build the stepping stones of their future.

When I found “The Whimsy Tree” I almost fell of my chair out of excitement! They have the most beautiful and well crafted Handmade Wooden Memory Games I have ever seen!

I received as part of a Product Review Process a Memory Game Set and it is simply breath taking!  Every piece is made with a great attention to detail and the most important thing for my family, it has a purpose, an emotion attached to it, and it can be used in many different educational purposes. The best of all, it can become a family heirloom that can be given through generations!

Today, I would love to introduced to all of you Brian, the hands and heart behind The Whimsy Tree, an Etsy shop with an Ecological Twist and lots of character!  This is Brian’s story:

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1. How did you start working on such beautiful handmade toys? Who taught you the art?

I have always enjoyed creating things.  I have been drawing and painting since high school, and woodworking was always an interest of mine.  The only thing keeping me from it at that time was the money to buy tools and the space to do it.  Once I had those things I started to focus on developing my skills.  I took classes through my local community college to learn the fundamentals of woodworking.  I also spent hours and hours studying and practicing different techniques.  As well as talking to and learning from more experienced craftsmen.

2. How do you choose your materials and design?

My background in environmental education plays a big part in how I choose my materials and designs.  All of the things that I create for my business The Whimsy Tree either directly  represent nature or are inspired by nature.  I work exclusively with wood.  I love the endless  possibilities and varieties of wood, and I believe that when harvested responsibly, it is a    sustainable alternative to other toys which are often made out of plastic.  I also try to use salvaged wood whenever possible.  For example, my barkless building block sets are made out of salvaged European Buckthorn.  This is a specie that I have become intimately familiar with while working for a conservation organization.  This shrub is a non-native invasive species that   wreaks havoc on local natural areas.  Conservation organizations work hard to cut this shrub down to give the native species a chance to survive.  I salvage this wood from the cut down piles before they are burned,  and turn this harmful species into something that I hope will be enjoyed for many years.

3.What are your thoughts when working on these beautiful pieces?

I concentrate on making something that will be cherished and enjoyed.  I try to put the same amount of care and attention into each of the toys that I make.  It makes me happy to think that in the near future the piece I am working on will be bringing a smile to a child somewhere.

4. What would like Parents to understand about Handmade Toys vs. Commercial ones?

Commercial toys are often manufactured over seas and then shipped over to commercial outlets in the United States.  This requires a vast amount of resources, and the toys are typically made using unsustainable materials.  When purchasing a handmade toy you are supporting an independent artist that uses drastically less resources to create their products. You are also getting a toy that was created individually with care and passion.

5. Which is favorite piece ever?

I know I should probably be picking a wood piece, but I have to go with a painting that I did a few years back.  It is an oil painting of a woodland scene that I  gave to my wife as a birthday present.  The scene is from the park where we took our first hike together.  It is probably the best painting that I have ever done, and more importantly, it brings back wonderful memories every time I look at it.

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Thanks Brian for your passion, your talent and for sharing them with all of us!

Take your time to browse through Brian’s Etsy Shop, “The Whimsy Tree”. Please do not hesitate to contact him if you are looking for something you do not see on display. Artisans are usually very inclined to customize orders whenever possible. The Whimsy Tree is also on Facebook, check it out and become a fan!

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Here are the details for the Giveaway

• Giveaway will from Nov. 23 until Nov. 28th
• ONE winner will be chosen via random number generator and announced on Nov. 29, 2009
• You must include your email with your entry or your profile must link to your email address. (Your email will not be used for solicitation.) If there is no email address provided, another winner will be selected.

• Visit “The Whimsy Tree” Etsy Shop and find at least one thing you like about their products. Come back here and comment for your required entry.

• Follow The Whimsy Tree on Facebook back and let me know for an additional entry.
• Subscribe to Chic Mommy USA’s blog. Leave a comment letting me know you subscribed for an additional entry.
• Follow me on Twitter. Leave me a comment letting me know that you follow me on Twitter for an additional entry.
• Follow me on Facebook. Leave me a comment letting me know that you follow me on Twitter for an additional entry.
• Tweet about it! You may tweet about it as many times as you like. Come back and leave a link to your tweet for an additional entry. (Be sure to leave a comment each time you tweet about it so that every entry is counted.)
• Blog about it for FIVE additional entries! Make sure to link to this post in your blog post. Come back and leave me a comment with the link to your blog post post in it. Leave one comment for each of your five entries.

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Have fun, be blessed and bless other families by sharing the  Treasures found at The Whimsy Tree!

Happy Holidays!

Liseth

Chic Mommy USA