Etsy Find: Branch Building Blocks

Oh, my. We love blocks of all varieties, but we may have an extra-special nook in our hearts for these little beauties. Made from salvaged maple and mulberry branches, these blocks have a fabulous tactile quality that makes them, if possible, even more pleasing to the touch than they are to the eye.

Etsy seller The Whimsy Tree finds branches that would otherwise be wasted, then carefully cuts them in 2-centimeter increments, ranging from 2 to 10 cm, so that there's an internal logic that allows kids to successfully build. The bark is left on, but the cut ends are sanded and finished with non-toxic beeswax and flaxseed oil paste. And each one-of-a-kind set comes to you in its own handmade cloth bag.

$30 for a set of 21 at The Whimsy Tree

Comments (8)

Perfect. Stunning.

posted by Splomo on October 8th 2009 at 12:03pm
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made from 'salvaged' branches? non-toxic bees wax? wow, that's so green!!!

or, i could take a walk through the forest and pick up some branches and bring them home to my chop saw. and save $30 too.

posted by lab director on October 8th 2009 at 3:45pm
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For those who don't own chop saws, these toys are really cool. They have a set at my favorite ice cream place, and I've always wondered where to get them!

posted by Secret Star on October 8th 2009 at 9:18pm
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Swoon!

(And I don't have access to a forest or a chop saw, so it looks good to me!)

posted by TheLittlestChicken on October 8th 2009 at 10:26pm
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These are certainly gorgeous! However, I recall seeing a very similar set at Imagine Childhood for a few dollars less. I wish 'natural' toys such as these were more affordable.

posted by rustandroses on October 8th 2009 at 11:35pm
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My sons would absolutely LOVE these. Sticks are already their favorite toys, so sticks you can build with would be even better.

posted by heather @ dollarstorecrafts.com on October 8th 2009 at 11:48pm
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huh. the time it would take me to gather, cut, sand and finish these is totally worth $30.

posted by doubledutch on October 9th 2009 at 9:35am
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A few months ago I saw these same exact "blocks" in Tinker Toys, the coolest most awesome toy store found in Woodstock, NY. Unfortunately, my son was only 3 months at the time so I decided against buying them but since then have moved to Cambridge, MA and have secretly been longing for them since we bought my son another, more conventional block set.

Now, however, I can finally come to me instead of waiting to go back to NY.

Score!

posted by caseyness on October 9th 2009 at 11:27am
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