02/16/2022
POP'S BLOCKS in a BOX I
The Story
Pop's Blocks in a Box I, a unique building blocks toy was created in November 2007 when I was trying to come up with an idea for Christmas gifts for my grandchildren.
I had been saving the drop-off (scraps) of my art panel process where I use beautiful dimensional pine to form the cradle (support) backing in the manufacturing of my 3D Art Panels.
Exploring the possibility of using these scraps to make something for the grand children, I mentioned the idea of using my panel material to Mark Greenwalt, my art professor at College of the Mainland. He recalled that the famous architect Frank Loyd Wright as a child had a set of blocks that Wright claimed was an inspiration in his architectural designs.
I Googled the question and sure enough, the topic of Wright's childhood blocks was documented. When he was nine years old, his mother gave him a set of Froebel blocks for Christmas.
Pop's Blocks in a Box I are not like Froebel's blocks but the concept is similar. The blocks are designed in increments that make a 2:1 ratio. Two small blocks equal the same size and volume as one of the next larger size blocks. The blocks are stored in a shallow box which when turned over, becomes a building surface. The box is made just like my 3D Art Panel, the product that creates the pieces that create Pop's Blocks in a Box I.
Each set of blocks consists of 28 carefully hand sanded pieces of natural knot free pine, 16 small (3/4” X 1-1/2” X 1-1/2”), 8 medium ( 3/4” X 1-1/2” X 3”), 4 large (3/4” X 1-1/2” X 6”).