My newest time-suck and smile-inducer is participating in handmade toy swaps. I belong to a Waldorf-inspired swapping group and have made some fun stuff lately, and the girls enjoy the fruits of my labor.
I like it so much, I’m organizing a period-inspired toy swap for this year’s Simple Day in the Country, and inviting people who are interested in period toys to pin with me here:
Follow Aimee’s board Geek-rearing: Period-Inspired Toys (SCA) on Pinterest.
But, I felt like we could go a bit further.
The Doodle wielding a wooden sword made for her by a friend, at KWAR/KWCS.
I would love to have more families to “play” with in the SCA, and I know I’m not alone–kids in garb, getting active in service, arts martial, and arts artsy is not to be passed up. So, I’m also planning The Great Period Toy Drop, figuring that people who like making period-inspired toys may want to do something more than just swap one toy at one event.
Here’s how it works:
1. Fill out a Finders, Keepers card or make your own*. The card is intentionally plain, so that it can be printed in black-and-white on a standard printer. I’ll be letting my 3 year old decorate our cards so they call more attention to the toys we drop.
2. Place your homemade toy** and the card in a clear waterproof bag.
3. “Hide” the bag in plain sight in a public place (like a library, city park, or even a low grocery store shelf), preferably from August 11 to August 17. Record your Drop (completely anonymous).
4. Welcome the “Finders” to your local group practices, meetings, and events!
5. Post pictures of your dropped toys and encourage your new friends to share their finds with #mySCA and #periodtoydrop.
6. Love it? Keep dropping toys (download and print more Finders, Keepers cards)! And let me know how it’s going in the comments, on Facebook, or via email.
*Note: I’ve run the card I designed by my kingdom’s media/PR person for language–if you come up with your own, I recommend trying to be consistent with the language on the SCA Newcomers site.
**I recommend only dropping toys that don’t pose a choking hazard, unless you’re placing them someplace where babies and toddlers won’t find them.
One final disclaimer–I’m organizing these activities, and blogging/pinning about them as an individual, not in my official capacity as a group officer.
