From the workshop
Notes
Writing about timber, finishing, tools, and what happens when you make things slowly. Not a blog in the usual sense — more like notes left on a workbench.
How we choose wood for a children's toy
Beech doesn't splinter. Ash bends without cracking. Maple takes colour evenly. These are the reasons behind every material decision.
What actually happens during an evening workshop
People arrive expecting a class. What they get is closer to an afternoon in someone's garage — with better timber.
Why a painted toy isn't the same as a finished one
Paint covers the wood. Oil and wax feed the grain. The difference matters when the thing will spend years in small hands.
The maker's stamp: why we do it and how
Every Toyokra piece has a small carved mark on the underside. It's not branding. It's a record of who made it and when.
Three wood types, three different answers to the same question
Beech, ash, and maple each behave differently in small hands and under children's play. A short guide to what each is good for.