I think perhaps the best Christmas gifts of the past few years were the creatures that I made from blocks of Port Orford Cedar. I cut the wood and sanded each piece by hand; although well made, they were also just sufficiently flawed that they could not be mistaken for a mass produced toy. Of the twenty-five made, no two were alike. The creatures could be disassembled and reassembled in many different ways.

Wood block creatures

Each was accompanied by a blank journal through which a child could share their thoughts with the creature. The journals were unusual; made of scrap leather, most had imperfections that needed to be repaired by stitching. And yet there was something about them; like the creatures they were mysteriously endearing despite their flaws.

Wood block creature with scroll; Jennie writing in accompanying journal

I will make something different next year; I’m not certain what, but fortunately I needn’t worry; what ever it wants to be, will let me know in time.

 Leather bound journal

 

Instructions accompanying each wood block creature          

Your creature is completely unique; although it may resemble a familiar animal, it does not actually represent any known animal. Use your imagination to create a myth about its origin and history. We only know that at one time it was part of a living ecosystem in Southwest Oregon.

First steps:

1. Name your creature: write the name just below its picture on the included 4 x 5 ¾ inch note card, and place the card in your journal.
2. Take your creature completely apart and, using the picture as a guide, reassemble.
3. Try putting your creature together in different ways.
4. Keep a journal in which you can create stories about yourself and your creature.

A bedtime routine (a guide for parents):

Shortly before bedtime sit with your child and ask them what they have done today. Encourage them to talk about the best and worst experiences of the day.   Ask your child to spend a few minutes writing on a page from their journal about their experiences of the day.   If your child is too young to write, then write for them. To share your experiences with your creature, wrap the page in a piece of scroll paper (included) and leather cape (included) and place on the back of the creature overnight. Transfer the page to your journal (optional) in the morning.

Visual memory game:

A set of block pieces can be assembled in many different sequences and patterns. Two players can take turns assembling the blocks in a distinct pattern, then disassembling the pattern and challenging the second player to reassemble the blocks in exactly the same way. This works well in conjunction with a smart phone camera to record each pattern before disassembly. Start with just a few pieces and gradually work up to all the pieces for your creature (this can be challenging, even for adults).

Care of your wood block creature:

The wood is untreated and will accumulate marks from play over time. These can be removed by light sanding with fine sandpaper (150 to 220 grit). Alternatively you can protect your wood blocks by coating them with common floor wax or cutting block oil. However, if you do this you will lose the smell of the natural wood.

Parts:

6 to 8 Port Orford cedar blocks
¼” diameter polyethylene connectors
leather cape and scroll paper
leather journal