droolicious : blocks

Custom Wood Blocks

AmandaHill — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 02:00:00 GMT

When I saw these custom wood blocks, I literally swooned. They are so amazing. The combination of colors and prints is so great. They best part: they're custom! The prints and colors can all be made to your specification.

Check these out further at Bumble and Berry's Etsy Shop.

Build-A-World Blocks

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:39:00 GMT

Children don’t need much encouragement to unleash their imagination if you give them the basics. These transparent blocks nest within each other and allow children to create a variety of different scenes.

Toddlers discover how the farm, ocean, jungle and backyard scenes fit together with See-Thru Stories Cubes from Alex Toys, $13.83. They can mix and match and make up stories for each. Think diorama cubed.

Mix & Match Animal Blocks

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:00:00 GMT

There’s a large-scale version of this toy at the playground I take my son to. He loves it, so I’m sure an at home version would be equally entertaining.

Imported from Switzerland you can get these Twisty Critters at Romp for $28. The painted blocks are a fun mix and match activity featuring furry and feathered favorites like a rooster, cat, bear and a penguin.

Twig: The Ultimate Building Blocks?

Aaron Burgess — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 18:30:00 GMT

As much as we're drawn to gadgets, gizmos and other blinking gobbledygook, when the subject turns to longevity, few toys can top a simple set of building blocks. Which is why we're loving Twig, the newly debuted company (and former Etsy seller) whose building toys are as inspiring to look at as they are to play with.

Beyond merely stacking, Twig's brightly colored pieces slide into, between and next to one another, offering an experience that's equal parts problem-solving, spatial arrangement and basic engineering. And if green-conscious toys are your thing, Twig's renewable materials and simple, eco-smart packaging offer added bonuses.

$49.95 for the 72-piece set at Fat Brain Toys. [Ohdeedoh]

Peace Baby Blocks

Lisa Estall — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:27:00 GMT

I love the colors of these Peace Baby Blocks. Designed by Deb Pilutti, the 9 wooden blocks are painted with pale shades of pink, blue, green and cocoa.
Being eco-friendly, they are made of light maple wood which were cut right from the forests in Michigan!

Babies will be captivated by the designs of 9 baby faces, letters, dots, and stripes. Continue on reading to find out which celebs have them.

As part of the official Kid's Choice Awards swag bag, these blocks were given to Ben Stiller, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, and Chris Rock.

They are non-toxic too so safe for babies. So send the message of love and peace and get these blocks at Oliebollen. Price is $28.

Beyond the Basic Block

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 21:30:00 GMT

Blocks, shapes and colors this building set has it all.

Originally launched exclusively at the Metropolitan Museum Store, Fat Brain Toy’s Twigs, $50, is scheduled to be released to a wider array of retailers this January. The set features 72 vibrant colored wooden pieces—each precision-cut and compatible with one another. Designed to foster creative thinking Twigs will provide hours of open-ended play.

A Tower of Fun

Cathy Hale — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 22:48:00 GMT

A modern twist on a classic toy! The Eeboo Read-To-Me Tot Tower features ten colorful nesting blocks, perfect for building motor skills and enhancing language development. These beautifully illustrated laminated board blocks are actually eco-friendly too! 90% recycled materials and soy based dyes. $19

Baby Boot Camp

Lisa Mulcahy — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:58:00 GMT

Who needs those germy Gymboree classes when you can create your own obstacle course at home?

If you have the space to spread out these chunky foam blocks (a padded mat comes in handy too) baby will build plenty of motor skills while crawling and climbing. The pieces come in a variety of geometric shapes and bright colors and store in a sturdy vinyl bag with handles.

$199 at Target (online only).

More Blocks with 'Tude

Erin Behan — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:33:00 GMT

If you, like me, are into blocks with attitude, then you'll appreciate these builders with modern-day imaginings of Little Red Riding Hood and Peter and the Wolf. The Fidoodle blocks are hand-printed and have illustrations on two sides. Flip them to the unpainted sides and you can assemble a puzzle. You get 22 blocks in the set in two sizes. Best of all (for the environment, anyway) the blocks are made of sustainable birch, are painted with nontoxic paints and finished with a food-safe sealer. A metal tin keeps the set together when not in use. The blocks are $88 at ReForm School.

Unit Blocks with Zip

elizabeth leach — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:35:00 GMT

Did you know the first unit blocks were designed in 1837 for the first Kindergarten? Now, you can buy unit blocks everywhere and most are, to tell the truth, a little blah. Melissa and Doug's unit blocks are brightly colored, come in their own pull along wagon, and have a little more zip than the others I've seen on the market.

Buy these solid wood blocks at Modern Tots for $14.99. (36 in total)

Urban Icon Blocks

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:28:00 GMT

It’s hard to improve upon good old wooden blocks. But it’s always interesting to see people try. This company has done a pretty good job at capturing the world’s best cityscapes … in blocks.

Designed by Muji, you can get your own New York “City in a Bag” block set, which comes with eight wooden city buildings and six wooden cars. Included are New York City icons such as MoMA's original 1939 building, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the Statue of Liberty, and the Guggenheim Museum. Or if foreign cities strike your fancy, Tokyo, Paris and London are also available.

$15 at the MoMA Store.

Elegant Wooden Animals

elizabeth leach — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Simple is usually better. This adage definitely applies to the new toys sold exlusively in the U.S. at Oompa Toys. Cheekeyes are handmade animal blocks designed by Dutch designer, Rogier van Zijp. Made from eco-friendly, sustainable rubber wood, and non-toxic paint, these blocks are simple and dare I say… elegant? Cheekeyes are beautiful enough to display on a shelf.

Smooth to the touch with glossy paint on the edges, painted eyes, and painted, round cheeks, Cheekeyes are simple and I'll say it again... they are elegant. Choose from 5 sets: African Animals, Dinosaurs, Forest Animals, Arctic Animals, and Farm Animals ($29.99 each). There are also accessories available like trees, fences, icebergs, caves, among others. Inspire your child to use his imagination with a simple, beautifully made toy like Cheekeyes. Shop Cheekeyes at Oompa.

Blocks with Attitude

Erin Behan — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:57:00 GMT

I already mentioned my silly mood today, and I'm continuing in that vein with these blocks. My parents would probably be horrified if they came over and little Devin were playing with blocks that inclued random male chest hair. But, I think that a sense of humor and a good understanding of irony is just as important a first-years skill as stacking one block on top of the next, and if you can accomplish both tasks with one toy? All the better I say. Each side of the block has a facial expression, meaning every creation is actually two faces (front and back), and the blocks can be endlessly rearranged for variety. The hardwood blocks have the images screenprinted on them, and each block is 1.75 inches thick. Find Blockhead Blocks by Fred at Exit 9 for $18.

Skip Hop's New Toys

elizabeth leach — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:30:00 GMT

Introducing Skip Hop's new line of toys sold exclusively at Babies "R" Us. (You, go, Babies "R" Us!) There are two beautiful collections: "Garden Floral" and "Outer Space and both are in the Skip Hop tradition of contemporary colors and modern shapes. (More images after the jump...)

Both collections include cushioned activity playmats, plush stackers, plush blocks, plush rattles, and other plush toys. Available on-line now and in stores starting September 1.

Automoblox X9X SUV Toy Car

Chris Ford — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:02:00 GMT

We've told you about Automoblox before, but there's a new car out that is even better. The Automoblox X9X SUV is green, rugged and might just be the coolest toy car I've ever seen.

Automoblox is a toy that comes in parts (blocks), and with a little work assembles into a car. The X9X SUV has running boards, a roof rack, spare tire and skid plates. It looks like fun to put together and fun to play with once it's done. And the green tires and windshield? I'm guessing that means it's an Hybrid.

Automoblox X9X SUV, $40 from Unica Home.

Kiddie Cubism

Lisa Mulcahy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:15:00 GMT

So simple, yet so genius, that’s usually the formula for good design. Proof that you can improve upon a classic idea, this evolution of the basic block is sure to spark your toddler’s architectural talent.

I’ll always have a soft spot for old-school alphabet blocks, but Dado Cubes by Fat Brain Toys offer so much more. The exploration of proportion, balance, structure, composition and color is all in a day’s play. It’s amazing how slits in the sides and a hollowed out form can entirely revolutionize a product category. O.K. I’m stepping down from the design soapbox now. I realize your Jr. Gehry is not going to be pondering architectural principles at the next playdate. But forget about the kids, maybe there’s a bit of George Costanza in me and I just want to play architect.

$24.95 at Amazon.

Design with David Netto: New York Block Set

editors — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 17:00:00 GMT

All kids love architecture, whether they know it or not, and this set of blocks ($14) will help them get in touch with those feelings. The Chrysler Building. The UN. The Statue of Liberty. MoMA has slipped its own 1939 building in here too, presumably to make the grown-ups chuckle (after all, it doesn't have quite as high a profile as the others). These blocks are hard to resist, whether you're from New York or a tourist. And they make a perfect birthday present, for a very nice price.

Design with David Netto appears in drool.icio.us every Thursday.

Happy Birthday, LEGO: The Brick Turns 50 Today

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:03:00 GMT

Grab the kids and cut yourself a slice of LEGO cake, because at 1:58 p.m. today (the time of the the original patent's filing), the iconic building toy celebrates the 50th birthday of its original LEGO brick. Though it's slightly younger at 30, the LEGO minifigure is also celebrating a birthday this year, and considering that 4 billion of the little figures are presently spread throughout the world -- a stat that makes them the largest population group on Earth -- it's going to be a heck of a party.

All those years ago, the "LEGO System of Play," as it was then known, shipped its first set of bricks with instructions for building models; seen above, the original LEGO Town Plan is getting a comprehensive facelift as part of the brick's 50th anniversary. The retro-style 2008 Town Plan ($149.99), pictured below, packs 1,981 bricks and comes complete with a town hall, a movie theater, a gas station and car wash, and eight different minifigures to carpool in its two automobiles. Reprising his original role on the cover is a slightly older and richer Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen, present-day owner of the LEGO Group and the grandson of its founder, Ole Kirk Christiansen.

Check out LEGO.com for a complete look at the new sets that have rolled out so far in the big 5-0, and renew your Brickmaster subscription while you're there, as it looks like three member's-only mini-sets are also in the works for later this year.

Babel Blocks For Multi-Culti Crew

Sarah Verdone — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:28:00 GMT

Meet Moishe, Nafisa, Mary, Chen, and Jose, a rainbow coalition of bockheads celebrating New York's diversity. So cool, they even have their own MySpace pages! Babel Blocks are the creation of Constantin Boym and Laurene Leon, industrial designers known for pushing the boundaries between art and design. Next month the 6" figures will make their museum debut in the MoMA exhibit, Design and the Elastic Mind. Note: the packaging says Not Intended for Children, but I think that has more to do with the price tag than the product. $75 at boym. Even if you're not buying, check out their videos on youtube.

It's Always 30:92 Somewhere: Modular LED Clock by Jonas Damon

Aaron Burgess — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 16:03:00 GMT

Actually, given the way the blocks in designer Jonas Damon's LED clock ($100) logically connect to one another, you could never conjure a time that screwed-up; but you can rearrange the blocks into different designs -- a square, or a horizontal or vertical row -- to suit your whims and make learning to tell time a lateral thinking exercise for your kids. Clock includes an AC adapter (shown here trailing off into the ether) and can also run for a brief time on three AAA batteries (not included).

Build the City with Haba

chrisjordan — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:08:00 GMT

I love Haba toys. We own many of them and I give them as gifts whenever possible.

This is their Amersterdam Block set (166 pieces). Build rows of houses, winding lanes and romantic bridges to recreate a little Amsterdam with this wonderful set of blocks. Oddly the red light district has been omitted. So much for authenticity.

On sale now at Oliebollen for $54.95

Droolworthy: Hand Made Castle Blocks

chrisjordan — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:14:00 GMT

These gorgeous hand crafted blocks are handcrafted in California, from kiln dried Ponderosa Pine. Castle Blocks will be delivered to you unfinished in their natural state, free of any harmful or toxic finishes.

Available at The Village Blocksmith on sale for a limited time for $99 for the 133 piece set

Droolworthy: notNeutral Wooden Block Set

Mir — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 20:03:00 GMT

It's an old favorite with a vintage flair and a modern twist: these wooden blocks from notNeutral do letters and numbers with style, as well as the added fun of two possible puzzles and other fun pictures. These would be great on display in the nursery (if you could ever get your baby to stop playing with them, that is). Available at All Modern Baby for $37.99.

Hand Made: Cuboro (Because Marble Tracks Are So Last Year)

Mir — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 22:03:00 GMT

I can't decide whether I love this or hate it. On the one hand, Cuboro is hand-made in Switzerland from hardwoods which are sustainably grown. And it's gorgeous. And it looks like smart fun for all ages. On the other hand, actual marble labyrinth-building may be more complicated than a little one can master (maybe they can just play building blocks with it for a while?), and it carries a $160 price tag (at Grow). I'm torn. Wait, let me look at the price again. Hmmm. It's still pretty cool. Okay, maybe we put this one on the deep-pockets wish list.

Build Up Your Little Reader with Blocks

Mir — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:02:00 GMT

It's not sitting down and forcing phonics down your kid's throat, it's just some brightly-colored blocks that just happen to sport over one hundred early reader sight words. If your 18-months-and-up child manages to learn a word or two while building with these recycled corrugated cardboard Little Reader blocks, well, then, what a nice side benefit. (They're also made in the USA.) $24.99 from Imagiplay.