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Bearded
Seal Woodcrafts
Hello. I'm Tom Seal, creator of
Bearded Seal Woodcrafts. I produce high-quality, hand-made
and green-conscious wood toys and home décor items.
Why
Wood?
It wasn't that long ago that all
children's toys were made predominately of wood. If you're lucky
enough to own some vintage Fisher Price© toys,
take a close look at the bottoms of the vehicles and the bodies
of the "Little People©." You
guessed it - they were made from wood, right up to the early
1980s. What toy manufacturers knew and what many of us have forgotten
is that wood makes wonderful toys. It's strong durable, lightweight,
weather-resistant, and naturally non-toxic.
It's also beautiful. No plastic or
metal toy can come close to the natural sheen, warmth and satiny-smooth
texture of a lovingly finished piece of wood.
Wood
Toys
For the safety and enjoyment of
your children, the main features of my hand-made toys are:
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Craftsmanship - Each wooden toy is carefully
handmade with all edges and corners rounded, and then
carefully sanded to a smooth finish that any child
can play with.
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Design -
Simple and safe, to encourage children to use their
own imaginations. (No batteries required!)
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Durability -
Sturdy enough to withstand years of hard play and then
be passed on to the next generation of youngsters.
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Materials -
I try to be as ecological and green-minded
as possible. I use reclaimed lumber in most of my creations.
I also only use domestic or exotic lumber
that is abundant and comes from responsible harvesting
practices. Almost all
my
toys are natually finished. The color variations
you see are the natural color of the wood itself. Every
piece is then finished with a food-grade oil mixture
that I make myself. So go ahead
-- let your kids chew on my work.
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My “Signature
Toy" - the Thoroughbred Rocking Horse is an excellent
toy for any boy or girl. It is also a wonderful gift
that can be passed from one generation of children to
the next. |
Wooden
Home Décor
Along with the many toys that I
produce I also have a line of home
items, especially for the kitchen. The main features
of my household items are:
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Craftsmanship - Each item is carefully
constructed and then carefully sanded to a smooth
finish that will look beautiful for years.
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Design -
Efficient, practical and beautiful. I believe that
too many items in today's home are needlessly elaborate,
usually giving up efficiency for appearance's sake.
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Durability -
These handmade items are sturdy enough to withstand
years of regular use without maintenance or replacement.
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Materials -
Just like my toy line, many of my home products
are created using reclaimed materials. Typically,
woods like oak,
cherry, maple and pine are ideal, but any of
my woods can be selected for a custom order. Each piece
is then sealed with either a natural oil or a water-based
urethane finish.
You can
find my wooden toys and other pieces at these locations
around New England:
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746 Hope St. Providence RI.
02906
(401) 453-2222
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4436 Old Post Rd. Charlestown
RI.
(401) 364-9399
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