Saturday, September 25, 2010

Wooden Marble Maze

The idea for this came into my head a couple of weeks ago.  I'm probably not the first one to do it, but it's quite fun to play with.  Similar to a marble labyrinth, only much easier, which makes it great for younger kids.  Just set the marble on the small start hole, then get it to roll down the path all the way to the end, where it drops satisfyingly into the little pouch.  (I couldn't resist using some vintage neck tie scrap for the pouch.  It gave it a nice billiards feel I think.)

The design ended up having a little Victor Pasmore feel to it, which I like.




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26 comments:

  1. Tricia OrchardSeptember 25, 2010 at 3:41 PM

    Awesome!

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  2. ElleSeptember 25, 2010 at 5:28 PM

    I love it! I want one:)

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  3. AnonymousSeptember 25, 2010 at 6:10 PM

    Wow! I just LOVE your toys, they are so playful yet elegant and simple in a genius way. You deserve to sell those in toy stores worldwide i say! Love fro The Netherlands.

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  4. Amanda PedroSeptember 25, 2010 at 8:03 PM

    simply brilliant. Yet again!

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  5. Lori HenriquesSeptember 25, 2010 at 8:29 PM

    wow. i wish you would've brought it over today!!!!!!! awesome. i totally want to try it! not familiar with VP, but REALLY love the design. i think hermes should hire you! i would like a scarf with squiggly lines just like this. fantastique!

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  6. JoSeptember 26, 2010 at 3:46 AM

    awesome. one of my faves from your collection- I think it might make my 'top 5 Made by Joel' toys. :)

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  7. KonfettiFormSeptember 26, 2010 at 3:52 AM

    Ye, I must agree, probably one of your top 5 :)
    Have a great day!

    Lena, Konfettiform.

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  8. nanounoursSeptember 26, 2010 at 4:32 AM

    Waouh ! I love your toy, I love your blog ! thank you !
    Nanounours (from France)

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  9. MiriamSeptember 26, 2010 at 6:50 AM

    WOW, lovely!!!

    Greetings
    Miriam

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  10. Hanna HSeptember 26, 2010 at 8:16 AM

    Thanks for your amazing blog and ideas!

    I don't even have kids but I find this all so inspiring ;)

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  11. Joel HenriquesSeptember 26, 2010 at 8:25 AM

    Thanks everybody!

    You guys don't miss much. I just added the "top 5" yesterday, but it would be more accurate to say "5 most popular posts". I should change that. I thought it would be handy to have some quick references for people.

    But yeah, I'm really enjoying this marble thing a lot myself! Jack and Tess find it fascinating too, but some of the angular corners are a little tricky. I'm going to adjust the design a bit on the next one.

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  12. amandaSeptember 26, 2010 at 10:43 AM

    Fun!

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  13. Emil und die großen SchwesternSeptember 27, 2010 at 1:22 AM

    Very cool ideas, very cool blog! soon, Éva

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  14. Heidi - Botanical PaperWorks seed paperSeptember 27, 2010 at 7:39 AM

    Super cool! I wonder if the idea would work with heavy cardboard? I'm not into wood but I do like chipboard and cardboard. ~Heidi

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  15. Joel HenriquesSeptember 27, 2010 at 7:57 AM

    Thanks!

    Heidi - I bet you could make it work with a sturdy cardboard. Just cut it out with a craft knife, and try a simple curving path with no sharp corners. good idea!

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  16. ElinSeptember 27, 2010 at 12:22 PM

    This is just brilliant, you have such great ideas that yet are so simple!

    I wish I was more handy with wood, but I just might try it with cardboard as Heidi said.

    I never liked the "real" labyrinths, they are too difficult for me even as an adult...

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  17. UnknownSeptember 28, 2010 at 6:43 PM

    Genius man!

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  18. HeidiSeptember 29, 2010 at 12:01 AM

    I showed my father, and he´ll making something like this for my kids for x-mas ;-) Ill blog and link, of course.

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  19. AnonymousSeptember 30, 2010 at 4:35 AM

    I would LOVE to play with this :)

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  20. Else M TennessenSeptember 30, 2010 at 7:01 AM

    I want this toy. So cool! Can you post the pattern you used so we can cut out our own? You are brilliant, Joel. :)

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  21. RaincloudOctober 1, 2010 at 11:38 PM

    Oh wow, this is fantastic! Great idea.

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  22. AmandaOctober 2, 2010 at 1:36 AM

    that's cool...would be really awesome to make a crazy-cool laser cut one!

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  23. gingerOctober 11, 2010 at 12:59 AM

    This is so neat! I'm going to make this as soon as we get back from vacation--what did you use to drill the path? Thanks for having such a great blog!

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  24. Joel HenriquesOctober 11, 2010 at 10:49 PM

    Thanks everybody!

    ginger - I actually used my scroll saw, which you can take the blade out of and re-insert it through a drilled hole for inside cuts. You could also probably use a router though maybe.

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  25. AnonymousNovember 11, 2010 at 10:31 PM

    спасибо! thank you from russian mother.my Paper Marble Maze
    http://forum.materinstvo.ru/uploads/journals/1289541928/j7058_1289542327.jpg

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  26. Joel HenriquesNovember 11, 2010 at 10:45 PM

    Anonymous - Oooh, that is excellent! What a great idea! I must try that too!

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