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A Dude's Perspective: Squashtoys Gets Creative with Fatherhood


Story by happysquashtoys Published on May 28, 2009 in This Handmade Life	Photo by happysquashtoys

What lives in Central Ohio, buzzes, and makes children around the world happy? Jim from happysquashtoys! (The buzzing is coming from his wood shop.) We invited this Central Ohio local to tell us about natural toy-making and being a creative dad.

I am married to my wonderful wife Jenise and have three children. I started making wooden toys a few years ago when we decided we wanted a safe alternative to plastic toys. My first toy was a duck pull toy and I just slowly expanded from there. I quickly discovered a wonderful creative outlet and we decided to start Happy Squash Toys. I do all the woodwork and detail painting, and my wife does the sewing and paints as well.

I really love being a dad to my two boys (Aidan is 11, Wayne is 9) and my little girl (Maryam is 2). My oldest is very creative and often give me ideas for toys. He actually gave me the idea for the pull toy on the front of our website.

My middle son loves to play games, and I often test out my new ideas with him. That's him playing tic tac toe.

My little girl is by far my biggest inspiration, since most of my toys are for children her age. I love to watch her and see how she plays with the toys I create. I often get new ideas from just watching her play and seeing what interests her. This is her with the giraffe

I am in desperate need of a new wallet, and I will hopefully receive one of the great handcrafted ones on Etsy for Father's Day.

Are you a dad or have suggestions for Father's Day gifts? Tell us about it in this forum thread.

Read Dude's Perspective Posts | Visit the Father's Day Gift Guides

Tags	A Dude's Perspective, children, dads, fathers, Father's Day, Handmade Kids, mens, natural toys, This Handmade Life, THIS HANDMADE LIFE, toys, woodworking

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87 comments Login to add your own!

May 28, 2009 at 4:39 p.m.

qwynwyn

Thanks for sharing your story! Yay for dads on etsy! I'm hoping to get my dad on etsy.

May 28, 2009 at 4:41 p.m.

mudpuppy

What? No protective goggles! LOL. Fantastic story.

May 28, 2009 at 4:42 p.m.

littlealouette

yay for local wood folks! xoxo

May 28, 2009 at 4:42 p.m.

mudpuppy

Where were handmade pirate ships when I was little? *sigh*

May 28, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.

adoreneko

A sweet gift from SweetPleasures shop

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?...

May 28, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.

EJPcreations

I love the pirate ship!!!

May 28, 2009 at 4:52 p.m.

spacedogstudios

Hooray Hilliard! Great story <3

May 28, 2009 at 4:54 p.m.

lizroca

Great looking items. I'm hoping to get the dragon board game for my kids.

May 28, 2009 at 4:54 p.m.

mazedasastoat

I really hope you're not buried in an avalanche of wallets after that (not so) subtle hint! LOL

May 28, 2009 at 5:12 p.m.

FancifulForm

How cute! ^.^

May 28, 2009 at 5:21 p.m.

spaceoddities

beautiful toys!!

May 28, 2009 at 5:22 p.m.

likeOMFGitsJONNY

I love your inspiration and that you started out by making toys for your kids.

May 28, 2009 at 5:23 p.m.

bddesigns

LOVE these folks from OHIO! :) I hope you not only get a new wallet for Dad's Day...I hope you get some cash to put in it from this great article! :)

May 28, 2009 at 5:25 p.m.

anasworld

In my "real life" I work in wood industry and see a lot of things made in wood but these toys are really great!

May 28, 2009 at 5:27 p.m.

pesmou

Very inspiring...beautiful children.

May 28, 2009 at 5:33 p.m.

aBreathofFrenchair

Wonderful interview, wonderful toys, and what a wonderful father you are!

May 28, 2009 at 5:44 p.m.

mydamuckala

Great job! I love your originality and creativity. Awesome that you can work together as a family and create toys for your children. Wishing your family blessings and abundance!

May 28, 2009 at 5:47 p.m.

vivilian

愛愛愛　　　　　　愛愛愛
　　愛愛愛愛愛　　　　愛愛愛愛愛
　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　　　　愛愛愛愛愛愛愛
　　　　　　愛愛愛愛愛
　　　　　　　愛愛愛
　　　　　　　　愛

May 28, 2009 at 5:57 p.m.

1AEON

duuuuude!

May 28, 2009 at 6:05 p.m.

odiliafu

Lovely story!!

May 28, 2009 at 6:08 p.m.

BrazanDesign

great toys and great story. thanks for sharing with us!

May 28, 2009 at 6:19 p.m.

mythunderstood

That pull toy
with fangs is
ADORABLE !!!!

May 28, 2009 at 6:48 p.m.

SquaresOfFlair

So cute! Now I just need a baby to buy one for!

May 28, 2009 at 6:58 p.m.

lovelygifts

Great wooden toys!

May 28, 2009 at 7:16 p.m.

WoollyWonka

Love the ladybug tic tac toe!

May 28, 2009 at 7:34 p.m.

artwithallie

Why do I find all these fantastic toys now that my kids are that little bit older...guess I'll just have to shop for myself!

May 28, 2009 at 7:35 p.m.

recycledwares

you are so lucky to have a way to test market your ideas with your children and they are lucky to have a toy maker living in their home. why couldn't i have a dad/toymaker growing up?

May 28, 2009 at 7:52 p.m.

maybeads

Great story and wonderful wooden toys!

May 28, 2009 at 7:53 p.m.

GoneDoggie

I love the pull toy.. I keep telling my husband that we ca set him up with a shop, gonna make him read this story...

May 28, 2009 at 7:53 p.m.

beautifulbridget

beautiful toys!

May 28, 2009 at 8:07 p.m.

figurativepie

Thanks for making so much awesome! =o) Boo plastic!

May 28, 2009 at 8:09 p.m.

IcingOnTheCupcake

Your toys are wonderful!

May 28, 2009 at 8:35 p.m.

ClutchThat

Great toys, makes me wish my kids were younger. No wait, no I don't!

May 28, 2009 at 8:58 p.m.

Morado

Adorable story! awwww

May 28, 2009 at 9:34 p.m.

That70sShoppe

Great story and wonderful items. Those are 3 lucky kids to have you as a Dad.

May 28, 2009 at 9:49 p.m.

Waterrose

What a wonderful story and great toys! What fun those kids must have testing out your creations!

May 28, 2009 at 10:30 p.m.

TheFancyLamb

Great toys! I have a few nieces and nephews who would really enjoy them!

May 28, 2009 at 11:23 p.m.

worksandfinds

Thank you. I love to work with wood and I love your toys.

May 29, 2009 at 12:24 a.m.

zeropumpkin

cool dad :)

May 29, 2009 at 12:54 a.m.

Zooguu

Hooray for handmade toys! Great spotlight on a wonderful toy maker.

May 29, 2009 at 3:22 a.m.

rakubuttons

wtg dude!

May 29, 2009 at 3:43 a.m.

CutieDynamite

Soo cute!

May 29, 2009 at 5:58 a.m.

evihan

well doneee

May 29, 2009 at 7:01 a.m.

chinadoodle

Great story. Dads rule. Well actually we know better.

May 29, 2009 at 8 a.m.

MissHildebrandt

Seems like a dream come true! My father
never made me toys but painted murals in
every room I had growing up. CHEERS to you!

May 29, 2009 at 8:34 a.m.

monkeyandsquirrel

plastic toys are rotten! give kids quality and they'll learn to appreciate it. good job happy squash!

May 29, 2009 at 8:49 a.m.

HazelnutDesigns

Hey another Buckeye! Nice to find you here! WONDERFUL toys! I'll have to heart you and visit your shop again soon! Congrats on the feature!

May 29, 2009 at 9 a.m.

moonovermaize

A wonderful story and great product! Great picks, too :) I'm a big cribbage fan!

May 29, 2009 at 9:07 a.m.

digtheearth

Great article - good luck!
From one Etsy dad to another :)

May 29, 2009 at 9:12 a.m.

baconsquarefarm

Wonderful story and fantastic wooden toys, Your family is beautiful. Wish you continued success~!

May 29, 2009 at 9:13 a.m.

littlepinkpebble

wow~!! I just made a wooden pair of earrings

May 29, 2009 at 9:20 a.m.

rubyspiritdesigns

Nice article! And I love digtheearth's cards too! (see 'related items')

May 29, 2009 at 9:54 a.m.

LoveForEarth

How WONDERFUL! This is a great article and your toys are adorable! Your family is adorable as well :) Great looking bunch!

May 29, 2009 at 10:20 a.m.

SugarMohawk

You Rock Dad & Your Amazing Story!

May 29, 2009 at 11:05 a.m.

abbydid

We had the pleasure of meeting Jim at a craft show in Columbus last month. He is such a nice guy, and his work is even lovelier in person. My daughter is now the proud owner of a giraffe like Jim's daughter is holding in the picture, and it is a treasure.

May 29, 2009 at 11:26 a.m.