There is one of two sets of lace toggles that I made for Eva today. All she has to do is slide the laces tight and push the toggle down. No fancy finger work needed. Toggle making can be high art, think Netsuke from Japan, mine aren't. But it might be fun to carve a version of Netsuke.
Anyway I nipped down to my work shop to make toggles for Eva, I had done this before. When I have available tools, I avail myself of them.....all.
To make four little wooden toggles I first found a bit of dowel in a box where I keep these little bits of wood. Then I drilled the holes on my massive drill press. Holding the dowel in a drill press vise.( a worthwhile investment) After the holes were drilled I used my cordless drill and a counter sink bit to clean up the hole and make feeding the shoe lace easier. Lastly I sanded the toggles after cutting them loose with a Japanese style handsaw. Had I had a hand drill and a pocket knife I could have made the toggles just as effectively, but not as quickly. I do love having a work shop with all the tools.
Another drill press job was finishing the Quarto men.
Two sets, travel size.
The day wasn't a work shop day really, it was a clean up the garage and put the motorcycle to sleep for the winter day. With all the bicycles hanging from the ceiling, and the motorcycle stowed into the corner there is room for my wife's car to get in out the the snow and ice. (maybe there won't be any snow and ice this year.)
Here is a link to my Pinterest page showing a whole bunch of stuff to make for kids.
Maybe there is an idea you can use.
cheers, ianw
P.S. "The Hare with the Amber Eyes" by Edmund De Waal, is a book of history connected with a collection of Netsuke. I really enjoyed reading it.
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