Hollow Woodworks- simply the best

One day Jim began building a deck he designed for the back of his house. In the middle of his deck building project, Jim needed to take a trip to the hardware store. After gathering the supplies he needed, Jim made his way to the check-out. While waiting in line, he found a “How to Make a USA Puzzle” catalog and just had to buy it, not knowing that this would mark the beginning of his woodworking journey. That was twenty-five years ago.

For fun, Jim began making puzzles and name stools for his family and friends. Soon enough he was doing local art and craft shows where his custom woodworking skills and products really became popular. Hollow Woodworks was born. While I was talking to Jim this afternoon, he said something that really caught my attention. “I have so much fun doing what I love. It really is the best job in the world,” says Jim.

In an effort to support our country and people here in the USA, all of the Hollow Woodworks supplies are from the USA. Hollow Woodworks uses primarily sustainable maple wood and occasionally sustainable birch wood. The paint used on all the Hollow Woodworks pieces is made right outside of Detroit and is water based acrylic paint safe for kids and safe for the environment.

Not only does Jim love his company and his job but he also believes that Hollow Woodworks is truly the best. There are a few things that make Hollow Woodworks truly special.

First, whatever the customer wants, Hollow Woodworks can make it. They are always striving to have new products and ideas and they love customer input. Second, Hollow Woodworks products are of the highest quality all the way down to the nails used to hold the pieces together. Everything is made in the USA! “Quality lasts a lot longer, even if it means paying a little bit more. You’re paying for the quality of the craftsmanship.” Jim says. And this is true. Hollow Woodworks even replaces lost pieces for free!

Hollow Woodworks is best known for their super awesome Name Stools! Personally, the name stool is my favorite item Hollow Woodworks offers. Each stool has a puzzle of the child’s name cut out on it. The best part is that it is a puzzle! This is great for little ones to begin recognizing the letters in their own name and even basic colors too. Hollow Woodworks offers many more items other than the name stool such as toy boxes, flip step stools, a variety of educational puzzles to name rocking chairs, all which are available to purchase at the Summer For Kids store. So if you are looking for a fun, cool, personal great quality gift your child will appreciate forever, I recommend any of the Hollow Woodworks products.

Custom Name Stools starting at $59.00

All Hollow Woodworks items are made with love in Ferguson, Missouri.

For more information about Hollow Woodworks products or to place an order please visit the

Summer For Kids
1235 Coast Village Road Suite C
Montecito, CA93108

Call (805) 565- 2277
email to: store@summerforkids.com

stop online www.summerforkids.com

Why Summer For Kids Chooses Natural, Wooden and Organic Toys?

I’d like to share why we choose to sell natural and smart toys and products, and not battery-operated or plastic toys at Summer For Kids

Children's Imagination

* Toys without batteries invite open-ended play - the type of play that fosters creativity and keeps the child interested in the toy for many years.

* Open-ended toys inspire a child to imagine the countless possibilities for that toy, and all the while the child is focusing on just that toy. Their thoughts are not jumping from one toy to the next as often occurs when the toys think for the child.

* Natural toys allow for 'downtime'. It is difficult for a child to switch gears from a very active toy to resting, whereas simple toys allow for a natural progression to rejuvenating activities such as reading books, daydreaming, or napping.

Children's Mental Health

* Toys with battery-generated special effects can over-stimulate children. The combination of blinking lights, loud sounds or music, and automated movement can be too much information for a small child to process

* The environment is completely different in a room with natural toys than in a room with battery-operated plastic toys

* Adults and children are drawn to nature and to products created from natural materials.

Children's Physical Health

* Studies have shown that certain plastics may negatively affect health. Our customers know that Summer For Kids doesn’t carry any products made with PVC, BPA and PHTHALATES . CHECnet.org states that, "phthalates are added to PVC (polyvinyl chloride) to make it soft and flexible. Phthalates have been linked to cancer, kidney and liver damage, harm to developing reproductive organs, and premature breast development in baby girls. Inhaling these chemicals can also worsen asthma in children. Phthalates are not bonded to the plastic, but can migrate, or leach out."

* Pesticides and fertilizers are used on conventionally grown (non-organic) cotton, and chemicals are often used in the production process. These harmful chemicals not only impact those who buy conventionally-grown cotton, but those within miles of where they are used, as they drift in the wind, fall back to the ground in rain and snow, and leach into groundwater.

* Due to children's small size and their propensity to "mouth" or cuddle everything, plastic and non-organic products, with the risks shown above, could pose serious health threats to children.

Environmental Health

* Wooden, bamboo toys and toys made out of recycled materials are durable so they last longer than their plastic counterparts and therefore there is less waste. When the time does come to retire your toys, wood and bamboo are recyclable, replenish able resources so you can rest assured that their disposal will be gentle to our Earth.

* Children are drawn to natural toys and have more respect for them so they tend to care for them better than other toys. This also leads to less waste.

* Bamboo is a giant natural grass that can grow to over 100 feet. Once cut, bamboo grows back completely in only three years. Thus, bamboo has economical and ecological values to the world, particularly as it is used instead of certain woods.

* The chemicals used in non-organic cotton farming harm not only the land, but also flora and fauna for miles around.

Here are some of the Manufactures we carry

Sprig Toys, Green Toys, Plan Toys, Lauri Toys, Beka, Maple Landmark

Idbids, Automoblox, Blunders, Uncle Goose Blocks