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Homemade Toys from Manzanita Kids

Check out these beautiful wooden toys crafted by two Seattle parents in their North Seattle workshop

By Seattle Mag October 17, 2011

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This article originally appeared in the November 2011 issue of Seattle magazine.

Is your living room awash in a sea of plastic toys? It doesn’t have to be that way, thanks to this line of handmade wooden toys from MANZANITA KIDS (etsy.com/shop/manzanitakids), made by Seattle dad David Minnery and his wife, Adrienne, a teacher at Ballard’s Adams Elementary School.

The duo uses locally sourced hardwoods (walnut, cherry and maple) and crafts the toys in their North Seattle home workshop, finishing each with homemade local beeswax and organic safflower oil. We’re especially sweet on the smooth, chunky curves of this adorable owl puzzle ($35); an elephant seesaw toy that lets kids learn about balance ($18); and several nifty building toys. Is it a barn, a battleship or a spaceship? It’s the best Transformer ever ($65 and up).

 

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