ISSUE 7
Toys From
Armenia Karen M shares her passion for building toys.
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Kenworth HiLoader + LowBoy Truck & Trailer Built by Karen M.
www.ToymakingPlans.com
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Letter from Editor The Very Supportive Online Woodworking Community As I started the journey of building our toymakingplans.com online community I had no idea just how supportive and welcoming the online woodworking community would be. After setting up our Toy Making Plans Facebook page as well as my own personal/business profile I was inundated with friend requests from all over the world. A few of you have also befriended me in a huge way. Guiding me to online woodworking groups that were welcoming to beginners and experienced builders alike. What amazed me was just how supportive the community is. People post their builds and they are quickly commented on with words of encouragement and even constructive criticism. I remember how scared I was to post my first toy build. It was a crude and very rudimentary design of my own, but low and behold I was blown away by the support. It really helped to build my confidence and desire to continue my personal growth as a toymaker. So for that I’d like to give kudos to the online woodworking community. Kenneth Smith Creative Marketing/Social Media Director 2
What’s on The Horizon at toymakingplans.com?
Well, we are constantly designing and prototyping new wood toy plans. Some of the plans in the works are a new motorcycle rocker, a train, and a toy soldier set with a special surprise! Submitting Your Story Want to see your work highlighted in the pages of WTW? Just drop us a line, telling us a bit about yourself and answer our seven questions. 1. How long have you been making toys? 2. Who or what was your initial inspiration? 3. Did you have any early roadblocks? 4. What has been your favorite Toy Build project? 5. What does Toy Making mean to/for you? 6. Favorite tool in your shop? 7. If you could pass one piece of advice on to a new Toy Maker, what would that be? We especially want to see your work made from our plan sets. Please e-mail images with up to six images attached to each e-mail. You can send them directly to us at: woodtoyweekly@toymakingplans.com
Contents
Visit Us on Social Media
Follow our Community on these social media platforms as well. facebook.com/toymaking
twitter.com/toymakingplans
instagram.com/toy_making_plans
Karen M page 4
Mike Kecker page 6
Photo Gallery page 9
Free Patterns page 10
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Submitting Your Photos Try to include a broad selection of images providing the reader with a comprehensive view of your work. Include vertical as well as horizontal format images. Consider your background, try to not have too much going on in the background. Nothing beats a good workshop setting. We especially want to see your work made from our plan sets. Good photos greatly increase the chance of your material being accepted. Digital images shot at high resolution with a camera of at least 6 megapixels assures a decent image. Lowresolution digital photos don’t work well. Please e-mail images with up to six images attached to each e-mail. You can send them directly to us at: woodtoyweekly@toymakingplans.com
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For me, building toys from wood became a big part of my life. I have found that when it comes to building wood toys nothing can stop me. This was an indescribable moment in my life.
Meet Karen M
My name is Karen M. I am from Armenia and I am 45 years old. I work in a clerical office but became interested in wooden toys July of 2018. I don’t have my own workshop yet, but I do have several tools. A drill, a drill press, a I work in a clerical office here in Armenia. lathe, a miter saw and a scroll saw. I put my Because I didn’t understand the properties and machines in different places in the city, make types of wood, I began to study online. toys and then pick my tools up again and wait to find a new place. My favorite tool would This hobby of woodworking and specifically wood toy building has become a therapy for me. It is also a very exciting job for me, and now that I have a little bit of experience, even more experienced builders are asking me questions.
“I have found that when it comes to building wood toys nothing can stop me. This was an indescribable moment in my life.” Karen M.
Over the years I felt I could produce something from wood, and when I found a tractor on toymakingplans.com I decided I should start with this toy.
have to be my scroll saw. I bought a cheap model and it’s very uneven, doesn’t cut too clean but it is still my favorite tool. I have also become fascinated by wooden puzzles and have started making them. - Karen
In the beginning making toys was very difficult. I didn’t understand which tool or machines I needed or even what each one did. I studied everything I could on the internet. I learned how to use CorelDraw and SketchUp and it all eventually became clear to me. 4
Editor’s Notes: Karen is from Armenia and there was a bit of a language barrier. You may see some different wording in the article. Karen is an awesome builder and she has great photography skills as well. Thank you Karen for being a contributing member of our online woodworking community!
More of Karen’s Toys
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Meet Master Truck Model Builder Mike Kecker I made many more. Evey time I sold one My name is Mike Kecker I was born and raised in Northern Wisconsin. I love bow hunting and nature, but my love for motorcycles tops all.
My beginning of making toys started out on a bet about five years ago. A man I worked with bet me that I couldn’t make a cribbage board by hand. Being the type of person I am, I made him two table cribbage boards.
One of the challenges I faced with that build is I didn’t have any tools besides a hand drill and a sander. I had to borrow a saw to cut with. After my buddy paid me for the cribbage board tables he asked “Why don’t you make more of them?” Since I enjoyed it so much 6
or two of them I would buy myself another tool with the money. It took me two years of doing that to get a full shop of tools. One day I was talking with a trucker I knew and we chatted online about how he would like me to build him a heavy haul low boy trailer with a truck that looked like his. I was hesitant because I didn’t know if I could do it and I had never built anything like that before. I took on the challenge of building the truck even though after our chat I felt like telling him I couldn’t. I had no idea how to go about building a truck and a trailer. The cribbage board I knew I could do but not a full blown rig. My dad (Bobby Kecker) is a smart man so I had him help me with his advice and his experience. It took us two months to build that truck for Dan. I’m one of those guys that if I don’t like it you aren’t getting it. I’m a slow builder of toys. I see other toy trucks and they seem like blocks of wood with wheels. I didn’t want that look. I wanted a truck that looked like a real one, I had many garbage can tosses before I got the look I wanted. After Dan’s truck I had no other orders. I loved the TV show Game of Thrones so I
job. I would always dream about going to my shop to work instead of the dread of working for someone else. I have gotten many orders from trucking companies that want to display their own version of their trucks. I do not consider myself a woodworker by any means. I struggle all the time to get the right piece and the right look to get the work of art I want to achieve. If I don’t know how to do something I ask others that do. made myself a set of four trucks with four different trailers. I named each one Dragon Lady, Knight King, Kings Landing, and Castle Black. I had made them all to sell but I had over 1000 hours in the four trucks so I couldn’t get myself to sell them.
I feel honored when someone comments on the work I do. I know they are toys to many others, but in my eyes it’s true art to be able to turn lumber into something that is a heirloom piece that will be passed down from generation to generation.
I gave three away as Christmas presents. I did sell one of my favorites, Dragon Lady. A nice man wanted it and he really sincerely loved my work so I cut him a deal on that truck. I told myself I could always build myself another.
I have had many people tell me “I wish I could build trucks like that”. I always tell
At this point it seemed like orders were coming in now. That allowed me to keep me building my true love of the trucks. I would spend hours designing and tweaking until I got the right look. Again many garbage can tosses. I started my own Facebook page because I thought others would like to see how cool these trucks turn out. I wasn’t in it for the money as I already had a full time 7
a dandy but my new Indian marble painted truck is going to be the king to date once I get it finished. “But the peace that woodworking can bring you all (is a place you can’t get to from here.)” That last part is an old trucker saying. them, “you can”. They just don’t know that they can. I was asked what my favorite tool is. I had to really think hard on that because I have many I go to. I think my favorite tool to work with is my imagination, that tool can take you places you never dreamed of.
“Have some fun, do the unthinkable don’t ever say you can’t. Do what others won’t do today so you can have what others can’t tomorrow.” - Mike
“I think my favorite tool to work with is my imagination, that tool can take you places you never dreamed of.”
Mike Kecker
If I had to give advise to others I guess it would be to don’t ever sell yourself short, you are capable of many amazing things if your heart is in it. I was a trucker for over 30 years, I have driven some real junkers. I have also driven some real beautiful trucks in my career. My favorite toy build to date is my Indian Motorcycle Pete Truck with Trailer. She is
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Editor’s Notes: I met Mike on Facebook and we really hit it off. As you can see he is an extremely skilled builder. He has given me and many others encouragement in the online woodworking community. Thanks for your contribution Mike.
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Fun FREE Plan Wacky Witch! Simply print this page, cut out the pieces and stick’m to some wood and start making sawdust. Remember that there isn’t any scrap wood, just pieces not yet used.
Best cut from 1/4”, 1/2”, or 3/4” wood stock. 10
PHOTO CONTEST RULES
1. Must be completely made of wood 2. Must be a car built from one of our three selected car plans (Hill Billy Hot Rods, Hot Rod Jamboree or 1930 Rat Rod) 3. Photos must be received by November 25th. Judging will take place the first week of December. Email entries to: contest@toymakingplans.com 4. MUST HAVE FUN BUILDING IT!
PRIZES
Best in Show - $100 Home Depot Card The PISTOL Trophy, A Feature in the Wood Toy Weekly Best Painted & Best Natural $25 Home Depot Card Two Honorable Mentions $10 Home Depot Card Questions:
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