Sunday, January 2, 2011

Branch Trees

We've been having some more windy days with small sticks falling into our yard. So I took a piece of scrap board and drilled some holes into it and made a little forest building toy. It was fun sticking the branches in to build the forest, but it was even more exciting when my son turned it into a scene for his Lego figures. It might also be a cute forest for the paper city figures.




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63 comments:

  1. barbaraJanuary 2, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    As always, genius + magic.

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  2. I Live in an AntbedJanuary 2, 2011 at 4:35 PM

    So very, very wonderful!!!

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  3. LiseJanuary 2, 2011 at 4:42 PM

    I swear, you amaze me more every day with your so-simple yet wonderful ideas! I must do this!

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  4. SatokoJanuary 2, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    I LOVE the idea! Always so magical...thanks for sharing!

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  5. MultipleMumJanuary 2, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    Eerily perfect for the Star Wars lefo figurines. Love it!

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  6. MakeminemidcenturyJanuary 2, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    How beautiful and simple.

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  7. KatherineJanuary 2, 2011 at 5:45 PM

    beautiful pictures :-)

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  8. daisyJanuary 2, 2011 at 6:02 PM

    i like this. could also prove to be educational as seasons change this little lego people scene can morph with the weather!

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  9. Books For BreakfastJanuary 2, 2011 at 6:44 PM

    Love it! But I'm afraid my two yr old demolition man would enjoy breaking the sticks more than he would building with them. Maybe when he turns twenty.

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  10. Sherry GannJanuary 2, 2011 at 6:52 PM

    very cool!

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  11. KiraJanuary 2, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    The simplicity of this is wonderful and beautiful! (the Harry Potter Lego figurines are perfect!)

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  12. AnonymousJanuary 2, 2011 at 7:09 PM

    This is so cool. I just found your blog and don't know how I've been living without it all this time.

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  13. Kristi January 2, 2011 at 7:33 PM

    i love this.

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  14. NettieJanuary 2, 2011 at 7:40 PM

    I love this!! This will make a perfect background for some projects that I have in mind! Thank you!

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  15. theveryflowersJanuary 2, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    Pretty and fun at the same time! I imagine this would be a lovely sort of thing to leave sitting out, even after playtime. Well done! :)

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  16. UnknownJanuary 2, 2011 at 11:50 PM

    genius. I wish I was a child!

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  17. Menthe BlancheJanuary 3, 2011 at 2:18 AM

    Simple and beautiful. What a good idea!

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  18. HelenaJanuary 3, 2011 at 2:29 AM

    I can just say wow. So simple and so beautiful. I`ll do that this week!

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  19. recovergirlJanuary 3, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    seriously. what do you eat that makes your mind work like this? genius! I am so stealing this idea.

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  20. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2011 at 5:28 AM

    found your blog the other day, i am in awe of your simple creations. what lucky children you have, i can't wait to see what else your mind is working on!

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  21. medina familyJanuary 3, 2011 at 6:05 AM

    genius!! I agree with the others!

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  22. UnknownJanuary 3, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    oh the beauty and simplicity... sigh... i imagine a mini version of myself strolling through the mini forest...

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  23. Kristi@Creative Connections for KidsJanuary 3, 2011 at 6:47 AM

    I just found your site! amazing work

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  24. Lori HenriquesJanuary 3, 2011 at 8:28 AM

    oh my goodness. this is truly marvelous! and never before have i had the urge to use a drill. thanks! :)

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  25. Joel HenriquesJanuary 3, 2011 at 11:48 AM

    Thanks everybody! Yes, this took literally 5 minutes to make. It's very simple. I love the effect that the natural trees (sticks) have on the toy Lego figures, and the figures also add a nice scale to the woods. It sure is a cheap Lego expansion kit!

    daisy - Yes, I was thinking the same thing. It will be fun to gather branches throughout the different seasons. I actually used a beautiful flowering twig for one of the potted trees in my dollhouse for new photos that will be in my book. It would definitely look great for this forest as well.

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  26. MinoucheJanuary 3, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    awwww! how sweet! + cool lego figures. The simplest ideas really are the best, aren't they?

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  27. shoutingforhaJanuary 3, 2011 at 5:34 PM

    What a brilliant idea! I love the idea of using it with the Harry Potter Legos (a gift from Santa this year).

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  28. Gypsy SparrowJanuary 3, 2011 at 8:00 PM

    how cute is that! I love how everything you do is so artistic :) This is something I could see in a gallery, but you made it as a toy. so cool :)

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  29. MaizJanuary 3, 2011 at 10:28 PM

    This is so great, Joel. I'm going to take this to our preschool and let the kids drill the holes with my new little hand drill! That second photo is just priceless... what a cutie!

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  30. AnonymousJanuary 4, 2011 at 5:21 AM

    the forest simply takes my breath away..........
    this is why i ☼ loved teaching first grade for 26 years.

    Joel, visit when you can, to see your
    deer on cloth... nearly completed.

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  31. ledispiritJanuary 4, 2011 at 6:58 AM

    so nice and simple and great!

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  32. Joel HenriquesJanuary 4, 2011 at 9:19 AM

    Thanks everybody!

    cristina - Wow, the deer on cloth looks awesome! What a cool project. Also, love your amazing fireplace! Such a great photo.

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  33. Catherine FowlerJanuary 4, 2011 at 10:33 AM

    fabulous. I am going to the garage right now to get a board and the drill. my 5-year is going to love it. Finally, something else to do with that ever-growing collection of sticks we have.

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  34. Capucine_oJanuary 4, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    From blogs to your blog, I made a lovely travel to see all your articles...
    It's very nice and plaisant to see your creations and your children in situation...
    Bonne continuation ;D

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  35. Stephanie RoseJanuary 4, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    seriously, you rock. This is freakin awesome. All of this is. The cheerios' box into the little doll house, the puppet from cardboard - how cool is that. I keep thinking, "Why didn't I think of something like that!" Simple, but not simple, you know (I tend to NOT make sense). So glad I found your blog.

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  36. le banc moussuJanuary 5, 2011 at 11:53 AM

    I love the way you create those lovely simple things.
    Christian

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  37. Jasmine MirraJanuary 5, 2011 at 5:20 PM

    Wow!
    You never run out of ideas (and good ones...!)!

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  38. KimminitaJanuary 6, 2011 at 8:07 AM

    Never knew there was Harry Potter Lego. As cool as your new project!

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  39. t.m.January 7, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    I've been following your blog. It is inspiring! Do you sell your toys? I love te elephant puzzle, I'd love to purchase one if you sell them. I can't wait to purchase your book.

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  40. Donna WilsonJanuary 7, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    so sweet to see a mini forest I love it x

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  41. Joel HenriquesJanuary 7, 2011 at 7:34 PM

    Thanks everyone!

    t.m. - So far, there is one company (Made in Me, from London) that is producing some of my wooden toys. They will be available soon. Hopefully sometime in the near future I will also be able to have the elephant puzzles produced. I'll let everyone know for sure! Thanks for the interest!

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  42. JuliaJanuary 8, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    I love the aesthetic of this. I find bare winter trees very inspiring.

    Can't wait to read your book!

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  43. Christine K.January 8, 2011 at 1:35 PM

    Very nice, I like your ideas!

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  44. ElisaJanuary 8, 2011 at 3:18 PM

    Like the idea very much!!! And beautiful pictures, once again!

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  45. Amber Morrisey @BirthRoutesJanuary 9, 2011 at 11:31 AM

    What a simplistic and wonderful idea.

    <3

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  46. DaniellaJanuary 9, 2011 at 2:13 PM

    So poetic ! I really like this blog. It's a pity that my English is not perfect...

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  47. JillJanuary 11, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    Neat. Really neat.

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  48. LauraJanuary 11, 2011 at 9:17 AM

    Awesome! I'm thinking Robin Hood in the forest!

    Laura in Ludwigsburg

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  49. samJanuary 12, 2011 at 12:56 PM

    This is so beautiful. Brilliant!

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  50. Hannah ShowlerJanuary 14, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    Such a simple and beautiful idea! Thank you so much for your brilliant ideas, your blog is just so inspiring.

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  51. AmberJanuary 16, 2011 at 1:16 PM

    I'm really jealous of your playful talent. Where do you come up with these things? You're amazing! And...what are you going to do when those precious children grow up? Also...I'm curious about the way you store your materials (cardboard, etc). Your environment appears so clear and simple, but these materials (paperclips, wood, tools, cardboard) must take up some sort of space. This is a struggle I have at the moment...I feel cluttered and at a lack of easy access (I really admire that you have that simple, open space...but that you must somewhere and somehow store these items). I know you don't need the encouragement (because it's in you and something you can't stop), but keep it up! :)

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  52. Joel HenriquesJanuary 18, 2011 at 5:51 PM

    Thanks everybody!

    Amber - Yes, It's definitely a struggle to keep things clean and somewhat organized. My technique is to have lots of shelves and drawers against every wall, so I can have empty space in center of the room. So far it's working pretty well.

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  53. elena nuezJanuary 19, 2011 at 4:11 PM

    Genio, eres un genio Joel!!!

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  54. SheriJanuary 21, 2011 at 7:46 PM

    This is so fun, Joel! Very simple, but just imagine the things that could be done with it, from child play to table centerpiece! Viola! Thanks.

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  55. danaFebruary 11, 2011 at 8:26 PM

    Amazing Joel. Such a fresh, simple, and genius idea. Absolutely love it. Just stumbled on your blog today and I'm so happy to have found you. I run in the sewing blog circle so I enjoy jumping out to other artistic groups :).
    Thanks for sharing your talents!
    - dana
    MADE
    (www.dana-made-it.com)

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  56. allieFebruary 24, 2011 at 8:15 AM

    This is a lovely idea - I can imagine children in my classroom engaging with it. We often use sticks with the sand/dirt/mud table and the children automatically stand them up like trees - it would be interesting to try this as a tool.

    Same with the flower building toy! I think I will definitely be building something like this for the classroom. Thank you!

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  57. OonMarch 12, 2011 at 5:15 AM

    Hi Joel, I tried this with my son. He loved it!
    You can see our creation here: http://oontje.blogspot.com/2011/03/dierenbos.html

    Maybe you can replace the link to my blog in the sidebar by a link to this post? Thanks!

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  58. Joel HenriquesMarch 12, 2011 at 8:00 AM

    Thanks everyone!

    Oontje - Ooh, your forest is wonderful! I love the toys too. And I'm very proud that the idea got your kids outside for an hour. Sometimes my kids prefer to stay inside too, but fresh air is good!

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  59. OonMarch 12, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    Ah, so you got what I said, even though google translate produced a very poor translation. And in the end, they played outside for more than four hours. A success! Thanks.

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  60. AnonymousMarch 12, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    That is a cool forest! But his shirt is even cooler!! Where is it from?
    Marjon (netherlands)

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  61. Joel HenriquesMarch 15, 2011 at 7:47 PM

    Oontje - Four hours, Awesome!

    Anonymous - I know, I love that print! They're actually just some Old Navy pajamas. Great print design though.

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  62. Áurea LópezApril 27, 2011 at 8:38 PM

    You inspired me:

    http://tetonitos.blogspot.com/2011/04/ikebana-3-y-huevos-de-pascua.html

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  63. Joel HenriquesMay 1, 2011 at 9:23 PM

    Áurea López - I love it! What a beautiful design, and great photos too! Thanks!

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