Handmade Gifts Feature ~ Handcrafted Toys

For those little ones on our list, there are always plenty of options available. It seems every corner store has some piece of plastic that could pass as a Christmas gift. Most of the time, these gifts will end up in the next yard sale and it always seems like a waste of money for me to buy them. Yes, we have the occasional Pez dispenser stocking stuffer (who doesn't?) and sometimes the odd plastic pet that the kids carry in their pocket for a couple weeks... but I enjoy buying natural fiber heirloom gifts for my kiddos the most. I feel like the natural fibers and the beauty of the toy have their own energy and their own tale to tell. When those gifts are handcrafted and made by someone that I enjoy supporting the wonderful feeling I get from seeing my kids play with them the feeling is tenfold.

There are many times where I make these gifts for friends and my children. But with all that is going on this year, I have turned to Etsy for my source of wonderful open-ended, heirloom toys for my Christmas gifts.

Finns and Flowers

Last year, Cyan got a beautiful doll house for Christmas. She loves it and she and Logan both use it daily. So this year, I looked around for a barn and horses made with the same type of tender loving care that her doll house was made with and I found Finns and Flowers!

Each of their beautiful creations are made with a level of thought that you just can't buy at a Toys R Us. Even their bio-line on their Etsy site says it all:

"We believe that children need toys that invite them to be active not only physically, but mentally as well. They need toys that are pleasing to look at and enjoyable to touch. Most of all they need toys that are fun and safe!"

This couple makes each wooden toy by hand and then finish them off with beeswax or linseed to make them as touchable as they are beautiful! I am so excited to have this beautiful barn under the tree for my girly this year.

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Wool Food Market

This is my friend Katie's shop. She has a toy talent like no other! Her wool food is beautiful to say the least and her Waldorf play quilts are STUNNING! They make a wonderful play space for the imagination of any child.

My current favorite item of hers is one she just put up:

This adorable chicken coop with a couple of Katie's perfectly crafted felt bitties is just about the cutest set I have ever seen! Couldn't you imagine any child having hours and hours of fun with this set? I am getting this set for my daughter for her ever growing wooden homestead. I have visions of being able to put this set away in a box somewhere when my children are all older and having it look just like this for my grandchildren when they come over.

Anyone else doing a handmade Christmas for their children this year?