#: 32
Title: “Another Toy Story”
Exhibitor: Ann Bement
Description: Wooden toys can be made from scraps of wood that would
normally be thrown away. These simple toys help children have a sense of belonging and ownership, and helps them use their imagination. Painting the toys can provide youth groups with service activities in a fun and creative way.
How To’s: The
Happy Factory
Guidelines
for Painting Happy Factory Toys
Are
Toys Important
Happy Factory Branches
The Happy Factory
was founded by Charles and Donna Cooley of Cedar City, Utah in 1995. The
purpose of the Happy Factory is to make toys for needy children worldwide.
There are currently 18 branches of the Happy Factory nationally. These branches
have distributed 155,656 toys for charity as of January 2002.
The hardwood used
for making toys is donated scrap wood from cabinet shops. The time to drill,
cut, sand, and rout the toys is donated. Brother Cooley has stated, "We
take some wood that would be wasted, mix it with some time that would be
wasted, and make a toy to stimulate a mind so that it won't be wasted."
We welcome help
with the cutting and making of toys. We know miracles happen when we get
involved in service. We would be happy to share patterns and materials. The
tools required to make toys are a drill press, band saw, sander, and router.
Many groups ask to
paint Happy Factory toys for service experiences. We are happy to make toys
for this purpose, however, we do not have a huge inventory of toys on hand
and need advance notice. We make toys for groups according to a first come,
first serve basis. Our branches ability to make toys is limited to the number
of people who are willing to help cut.
Guidelines
for Painting Happy Factory Toys:
Use acrylic craft
paints. They dry quickly and are safe.
Paint all of the
toy a solid color first, top and bottom.
Use bright colors.
Children like red, green, yellow, and blue.
Detailing can be
done with acrylic paints or permanent markers.
Simple painting is
often the best.
Toys look better
and are more durable when sprayed after painting and detailing with a safe
non-toxic clear gloss acrylic found in craft stores.
Paint and spray
wheels and axles (heads only).
Remember you are
painting a toy for a child who may have only one toy in their entire life.
Les Jones at
Southern Utah University in Cedar City, Utah made the following statement to
answer this question for the Happy Factory.
The Natural Cycle
of Happiness: One of our most
basic needs is the need for human contact and recognition.
Maslow - calls it the need for "Love and Belonging".
Harlow - calls it "Contact comfort".
Rogers - calls it "Unconditional positive regard".
One of the most
descriptive terms however is the term used in Berne's Transactional Analysis.
The term is "Strokes". There are positive strokes called "Warm
Fuzzies" and there are negative strokes called "Cold Pricklies".
Although warm fuzzies feel better than cold pricklies, cold pricklies are
better than no strokes at all. The ways that we learn to get strokes and give
strokes shapes our personality. When
we are young it is essential that we get warm fuzzies. Getting warm fuzzies
helps us develop a sense of trust and optimism. Getting warm fuzzies makes us
feel happy. When we are older it is
essential that we give warm fuzzies. Giving fuzzies helps us develop a sense of
usefulness and purpose. Giving warm fuzzies makes us feel happy. Toys = Warm fuzzies
Imagination: Children that experience emotional trauma
often learn to suppress their pain and fear by turning off their mind. They
learn to stop thinking. The common sights and sounds of their world stimulate
images of despair. The important elements of their life are beyond their
control. They have no power. They learn that they are helpless. They learn to
turn off their imagination and escape into a stupor of nothingness.
Toys Stimulate a
Sense Of Power: When you have a
toy, you are in control. You have power. The more simple the toy the more power
and control you have. Many modern toys are to complex. They occupy our mind
instead of stimulating our imagination.
The best toys are
the toys that represent love - warm fuzzies. Personal toys, not community
toys. Simple toys that stimulate the imagination. Toys that last a lifetime
and beyond.
Charles T. &
Donna Cooley (1-435-867-6811) Thanksgiving Point (1-801-768-4927)
597 N. 1500 W. %
Gregory L. Gagon - Vice President
Cedar City, Ut.
84720 3003 North Thanksgiving Way
Lehi, Ut 84043
Robert & Ann
Bement (1-801-295-0571)
844 S. 740 W.
Woods Cross, Ut.
84087
Roland Anderson
(1-435-258-2934)
263 S. 2nd W.
Richmond, Ut.
84333
J. D. Webb
(1-512-388-4694)
1001 Oakwood Blvd.
Round Rock, TX
78681
Gene Ham
(1-480-964-0462)
644 West Main
Mesa AZ 85201
Richard &
Arlene Outcalt (1-541-757-0971)
3322 SE Charlotte
Place
Corvallis, OR
97333-9215
George Throop
(1-626-355-9673)
239 Winwood Lane
Sierra Madre, CA
91024
Paul & Sherry
Tullis (1-435-753-5348)
815 Stewart Hill
Drive
Logan, Ut 8432l
Bruce &
Penelope Bone (1-435-835-3901)
294 W. 300 N.
Manti, UT 84642
Ed & Freda
Ebert (1-435-688-8666)
1582 W. 1470 N
St. George, UT
84770
Jay Fluckiger
(1-208-656-0293)
464 Terra Vista
Drive
Rexburg, ID 83440