LumberJocks

Doll Cradles

Project by Dan Pleska posted 324 days ago 733 views 1 time favorited 23 comments Add to Favorites
View Dan Pleska's profile

Dan Pleska

73 posts in 445 days


Project tags/keywords

ash doll cradle donate toys jigs shaper

Embed This Project

LumberJocks Code

HTML Code

URL/IMG Code

Preview this project card

Doll Cradles Doll Cradles Doll Cradles Click the pictures to enlarge them

Every year the woodworking club I belong to, Valley Woodworkers, makes about 300 toys and donates them to the local Salvation Army. These toys are then distributed to families that can’t afford them so that the kids will have something under the tree at Christmas. Part of that are these 108 doll cradles that were made in my shop. Other toys include child sized puzzle rocking chairs, small cars and trucks, pull toys and rocking horses. The Salvation Army puts a doll or bear in each cradle.

The kiln dried rough lumber for these toys is donated to us by several sawmills through the state Forestry Association. One of the pictures above shows about 200 bf of the 450 bf of Ash that it took for the cradles. After dimensioning the stock to 5/8” thick we use a host of templates and jigs to not only make the parts, but also assemble the cradles. Most all of the machinery is my shop was used, but the rounded over edges were done with pattern jigs on the shaper. It took two club members and myself about five weeks, working three days a week, to go from rough lumber to the 108 cradles in the above picture. It then took two days in another members shop that has a spray booth to give them two coats of pre-catalyzed lacquer, with a light sanding between coats. The finish is also donated by a local cabinet supply house. The blanket and pillow sets seen in the picture of the finished cradle are made and donated by spouses and others that want to contribute.

The club has been making and donating toys to the Salvation Army since the club was formed in 1991.

-- Dan, West Virginia, http://www.danpleskaCreations.com


23 comments so far

View DAN's profile (online now)

DAN

3211 posts in 467 days


posted 324 days ago

awesome !!

-- ..... art for lifes sake

View Harold's profile

Harold

287 posts in 332 days


posted 324 days ago

I can imadgine no greater gift, Wonderful work.

-- If knowledge is not shared, it is forgotten.

View Karson's profile

Karson

12901 posts in 885 days


posted 324 days ago

Dan Here are our Mason-Dixon Woodworking Clubs toys.

Great job. Nice looking cradles.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

View RonH's profile

RonH

31 posts in 409 days


posted 324 days ago

Being the father of 2 daughters and 2 granddaughters, I can say the little girls will absolutely love those. What a great job.

View chamoruboy's profile

chamoruboy

113 posts in 493 days


posted 324 days ago

My hat is off to you!

God Bless.

-- Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and love.

View gene's profile

gene

2132 posts in 368 days


posted 324 days ago

Outstanding club project. This is a true endeavor of love, from all who were involved. I’d love to see the faces of the children.
God bless each and every one of you!
God bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

3236 posts in 447 days


posted 324 days ago

wonderful gifts and great community spirit.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

11918 posts in 645 days


posted 324 days ago

“it takes a village”—and your village has truly come together to help children.

Bless you.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

5066 posts in 784 days


posted 324 days ago

What great gift for those under underprivileged children.

And they won’t have to worry about Lead poisoning.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View miles125's profile

miles125

920 posts in 490 days


posted 324 days ago

You go Dude!

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

View Max's profile

Max

5892 posts in 757 days


posted 324 days ago

What a great thing to do. I applaud yours and your clubs community envolvment. Nice looking cradles.

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

View Dan Pleska's profile

Dan Pleska

73 posts in 445 days


posted 324 days ago

Thanks for all of your gracious comments. This project is truly a labor of love for those of us that participate.

-- Dan, West Virginia, http://www.danpleskaCreations.com

View woodgrain411's profile

woodgrain411

119 posts in 337 days


posted 324 days ago

This is truely an awesome great job my hat is off , I’m going to be doing the holiday shop (santa’s work shop) for a few of the local schools in my area ! I’m looking for ideas for fast , easy projects with little cost to make , so I can donate them for the under privileged childeren to give to their parents for the holidays (x-mas & such) . Childern of all walks of life also find joy in giving to their parents on the holidays , It gives them a sense of pride,and happyness! The school asks that I make sure that it would be something of a non-religious background for all cultures! Thank you !

-- I love this site !

View Buckskin's profile

Buckskin

483 posts in 472 days


posted 323 days ago

Excellent community service project. Glad to see that volunteerism is still alive.

View jerryw's profile

jerryw

61 posts in 400 days


posted 323 days ago

What an awesome project! You make me proud to be a West Virginian!

-- jerryw-wva.

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2360 posts in 478 days


posted 323 days ago

Wow! What a project and collective effort. That is a wonderful deed.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View DAN's profile (online now)

DAN

3211 posts in 467 days


posted 322 days ago

another one for the christmas list !!

-- ..... art for lifes sake

View ozzy's profile

ozzy

16 posts in 322 days


posted 315 days ago

THIS IS GREAT!!! It may be too late for me to find something around here but you just planted a great seed for next year. Good luck to all of your crew. God Bless you all. You just made somebody’s Christmas.

-- Eddie -

View mot's profile

mot

4837 posts in 521 days


posted 312 days ago

Holy Moly, Dan! Awesome stuff!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View mgradwohl's profile

mgradwohl

110 posts in 298 days


posted 294 days ago

Dan this is what it’s all about nice job on the cradles! Someday in the future I bet you overhear someone telling a story about Christmas and receiving a nice handmade cradle, complete with blanket, pillow, and bear.

You’re an Elf!

View Bruce's profile

Bruce

61 posts in 259 days


posted 254 days ago

Great job, Dan. If you need help next year, just let me know.

View Paul D's profile

Paul D

2129 posts in 233 days


posted 204 days ago

Dan, this is very cool and I know it makes a huge difference to those kids. Awesome work!

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA

View jjohn's profile

jjohn

393 posts in 198 days


posted 172 days ago

I bet you could make one of those in your sleep when you got finished with them. And I know you were happy to see the last piece go on the last cradle. Great job. Well done.

-- JJohn

You must be signed in to post the comments.

Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community

Woodworking StoreApparel StoreMake a Donation
Bookmark And Share This Page
  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: All views and comments posted by members are not necessarily those of LumberJocks.com or of those working on the site.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase