Believe it or not, I made that

"Build it and they will come," Kevin Costner's character is told in the movie "Field of Dreams." Thus inspired, he builds a ballpark in a cornfield and Hall of Fame greats of yesteryear reunite from beyond the grave in order to play the game they love. Now, had we been cast in the lead role, the ultimate testament to faith and baseball never would have taken place since, when it comes to building anything, it's 1-2-3 strikes ... we're out.

If you think we're frustrated, just think how the kids feel when they need help putting together toys, games, crafts, school projects, etc. So, imagine our surprise--as well as our children's--when we ran across an easy-to-construct line of kids furniture from I Made That Corp., Portland, Ore., made of unfinished medium density fiberboard, a recycled wood product with structural integrity, smooth paintability, and splinterless edges. Each kit includes easy-to-follow (even for us) instructions, lightweight wooden hammer, pegs, sandpaper, nontoxic glue---notice no nails or screws--and an "I Made That" certificate for young builders to sign, date, and stick on the underside of their finished product.

While the Tag-A-Long Toolbox ($24.99), Mister Feet Table ($39.99), and Caddy Toy Cart ($59.99) all looked appealing, we opted on the side of necessity, so the ($39.99) it was. Like the entire line, the stool is designed to fit together like puzzle pieces. Moreover, the paint is nontoxic, and washes off people and clothes with warm, soapy water while leaving a shiny finish on the furniture that will stand up to repeated cleanings.

For retailers that carry the I Made That line, visit www.imadethat.com.

COPYRIGHT 2005 Society for the Advancement of Education
COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group