Written By: Rhiannon Hull, Editor at Large
With the toxic scare around plastic toys, many parents are turning to toys made with natural materials like cloth and wood. Nothing turns a party in to a flop more than the toxicity factor that may be lurking behind wrapped gifts.
Because of millions of lead paint recalls from Diego to Elmo, parents are becoming sick to their stomachs and looking for alternatives to these cheaply made and produced and now toxic toys. Finding toys that are hand-crafted, sturdy and that can be past on to future generations are becoming more and more appreciated and demanded today.
“The customers who shop with me are picky about the items they buy and the items they want in their homes. My prices are fair but when some handcrafted or wooden items cost more than similar plastic toys, my customers value what they are getting and are willing to pay the difference,” says Sonya Bingaman, owner of the online natural toy boutique A Toy Garden.
Many of the toys found on her site and others like hers find crafters from around the world that use recycled and organic materials like waste wood and organic wool.
“I have spent nine years searching the world for crafters and companies that I want to work with. It is an ongoing process, like a perpetual scavenger hunt, but is also very rewarding. I love work-from-home crafters and small family businesses,” says Sonya. Sonya started her business by making her own Herbal Play Bean Bags, Apron and Tablecloth Sets, and Play Silks, which she still makes and sells today.
Read the full article with photos and links online at GreenHelps.org
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