“Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.” ~ Betty Smith

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Warm Winter Wishes From The Toymaker.

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"The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas." ~ W. C. Jones

 

 

 

The Forest of Ponies

Now you can have your very own Forest of Ponies. Print this slender paper box and build a simple diorama.

Decorate the outside with the extra pieces.

http://www.thetoymaker.com/Holidays/Christmas/Christmas.html

 

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Click here to enter.

All my limited edition prints ordered before December 14th, will be mailed inside of one of my books. Twenty bucks, includes shipping anywhere in the US. It will make a fine present, if I do say so myself. Guaranteed to amuse and delight.

(While quantities last.)

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“To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle."
~Walt Whitman

 

December always seems to sneak up on me. It seems like a few weeks ago it was January and zoom, here we are with another year's wrapping up and I'm eating Christmas cookies for breakfast.

All in all 2012 was a good one, the most important thing is everyone is healthy. Guitars, toys and ComicCon costumes were made. Tomatoes were grown. Books were signed. Some ups and downs, wins and fails, but that's all part of life, don't you think?

My mantra has always been"Inner peace through lowered expectations." This doesn't mean you shouldn't strive to do your best work, but more along the lines of, "Don't make life more complicated than you need to". Simplify things. Say yes to the things that make you happy and no to the things that stress you out, especially now around the holidays when all the world seems to be clamoring for your time and attention. For example, we haven't sent out Christmas cards in years. We love getting them but it was too much stress and expense to mail them out, so we don't. I'd rather spend the time writing emails and making toys. We also try to make presents and steer clear of shopping malls. "Black Friday" shopping? No thanks. We hid like Hobbits. Hanging out with friends and relaxing, cooking for people = yes, please!

 

So take a deep breath. Pick and choose. Take time to just be happy.

 

Best thoughts,

P.S. Shameless plug here... If you are looking for a gift for a friend check out my limited edition art prints.

It will save you a trip to the mall and I can mail them directly to the person of your choice.

 

 

http://www.thetoymaker.com/

"O terque quaterque beatum”
We are three or four times blessed.

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"The darkness of the whole world cannot swallow the glowing of a candle." ~ Robert Altinger

 

Chanukah Toys

May the warm light of Chanukah fill your hearts with joy.

Click here to go to the Chanukah Page...

(Computer Tip – If the new toys are not showing up on your screen, try hitting the refresh button on the browser bar. If that doesn’t work try emptying your cache.)

 

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Stamps and Books, what could be better? And our quirky family Christmas tradition... Read it here...

http://thetoymakersjournal.blogspot.com/

 

 

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My new book with J. H. Everett, Haunted Histories: Creepy Castles, Dark Dungeons, and Powerful Palaces, is in bookstores now the world around! Meet Ghostorian Virgil Dante as he explores castles, dungeons and palaces all over the world.

Now on the Accelerated Reader List!

 

 

And check out this wonderful activity guide for Haunted Histories from Jump Into a Book. My amazing friend Valarie Budayr came up with a castleful of fun activities that will keep your Ghostorians learning and laughing.

http://www.jumpintoabook.com/2012/11/haunted-histories/

And if you like history read the Ghostorian's Gazette.

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And have you seen my paper toy books from Sterling?

The toys are easy to make and make a great gift.

 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/marilyn-scott-waters