It’s with great pleasure that I welcome Dustin and Amanda from Armadillo Dreams to Natural Suburbia as our new sponsor. They will be sharing their story and offering a gorgeous giveaway too!
I give you Armadillo Dreams;
Tell us about the beginnings of your business and how it has developed and grown.
When we first started Armadillo Dreams, it was mostly a hobby business that we did in the evenings and weekends when I wasn’t working at my day job. It didn’t take long before we knew we really loved the business and wanted to grow it into a business capable of supporting our family. At first we only had toys in the shop that were ready to ship and that were natural finish. After about 6 months we felt that we had mastered our painting methods and started making painted toys. It was around the same time that we started making toys “made to order”. This allowed us to really focus our time on the toys that sell and to have more time growing our catalog. Currently we are up to about 200 toys. This year we are continuing to grow our catalog and regularly release new toys. This year we are working hard on growing our blog, so that our customers can get to know our family even better. We are also working on our local following this year by getting a booth at our local Saturday markets, Summer festival and Fall festival. It’s going to be a busy year!
Dustin, Amanda and their beautiful family
Who or what is your inspiration?
Our two children are our main sources of inspiration, Lucy (age 6) and Lincoln (age 2). We also live in beautiful Central Oregon, which is know for it’s abundance of nature and sunshine. We are surrounded by multiple forests, the Cascade mountain range, desert, lakes and rivers. We are also just a few hours away from the Pacific Ocean. We live at about 3,000 ft. elevation and we experience all of the seasons here in a pretty dramatic way. We get lots of snow in the winter and most days are near or below freezing. In the summer it gets really hot and dry with some days over 100 degrees!
What is your creative process?
Once we come up with an idea for a new toy Amanda goes to work drawing and creating a pattern. The pattern then gets traced on wood and taken out to our backyard wood shop where it is cut and sanded. Then we bring the toys back inside where Amanda wood burns them. We then both do painting with AP certified non-toxic watercolors. Once painted and dry, the toys are sealed with natural beeswax polish. Lastly, the toys are photographed and listed in our shop. There are a few trademark details that I’ve left out, but this gives you an overview of what we do. We also take a lot of pride in our packaging when toys are ordered. Each toy we send is carefully wrapped in tissue, placed in a natural cotton drawstring storage bag, wrapped in more issue and then sealed with a cute Armadillo Dreams sticker. We feel that opening a package received from us should be like opening a present or be ready to give as a gift.
What do you enjoy most about your business?
My favorite part of my job is reading the feedback we receive from our customers. After sales are complete, customers generally leave us publicly available feedback in our shop and/or send us an email. It’s usually not just short “thanks for the wooden toys” types of messages either. Our customers will usually write a few sentences to a paragraph about the toys they received from us. We really enjoy reading stories about how excited their children were to receive the toys and how they helped their children to have some great imaginative play time. Sometimes they will tell us about how their child wanted to take the toys with them everywhere and even asked to take them to bed with them. Hearing stories like these warms our hearts and gives us a really good feeling about what we are doing. It’s our fuel to keep going and to continue expanding our business!
Some of the beautiful items on offer in the shop.
Are there any new exciting products you would like to tell us about?
We have been working on releasing new toys regularly, usually 1 or 2 new toys per week. Here’s a few of our latest creations…
Rainbow Mushroom House & Gnomes
Armadillo Dreams Social Media Links:
Giveaway:
For the giveaway we are offering one lucky winner a 3 month surprise toy subscription ,valued at $30.00!!
With our surprise toy subscription, the lucky child of your choice will receive a handmade, surprise wooden toy in the mail every month for 3 months! Each month’s toy will be valued at $10 and up and will be selected just for them, by us. They may receive anything from an animal, to a figure, to a small set of toys, to something seasonal, or a brand new toy that isn’t even in our shop yet! The first month we will send a surprise toy to the child of your choice along with a printed card explaining the subscription. They will receive a toy each month for 2 subsequent months.
The giveaway is also open to international entries!
To enter this giveaway;
Please leave a comment in this post, to earn extra entries, share this giveaway on your Facebook page, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram. Remember to leave extra comments each time you share:)
The winner will be chosen on the 28th of March and will be announced here in this post.
Congratulations to:
We love these toys!! So sweet.
Dustin and Amanda, thank you so much for sharing here and for your beautiful giveaway.
To become a sponsor on Natural Suburbia, please contact me on lindadawkins@mweb.co.za

Aaaaaw. What sweet toys. I’m glad I don’t have to pick a favorite one to enter this contest because that would be hard. Thanks for making these delightful little pieces of wonder!
Oh wow! A toy subscription – that is an awesome idea! I’m going to recommend it to the grandparents for sure. My oldest loves getting mail. (:
Thanks for the chance to win!
These are so beautiful! I love them!
What a lovely prize! I will definitely share this Giveaway with my friends! Love your story and shop!
What a great gift this would be for my beautiful nephew and whoever else will be arriving soon in the family, boy or girl these will be wonderful toys.
What a great give away. I know my boys would love three months of beautiful wooden toys.
I’ve long been admiring Armadillo Dream toys, and now I am wowed by the concept of the toy subscription. What a fabulous gift idea! Like Eidolons said, a great recommendation to make to the grandparents, aunts, uncles etc.
LOVE that peacock and mushroom gnome home!
And I tweeted it 🙂
super exciting. Can’t wait to see who get’s this lovely prize!
I LOVE the Frida Khalo doll. Just love her!
What a lovely shop! I love the toy subscription idea!
What a fun idea! It would make a perfect gift from a long distance relative. Love the handmade toys!
~ joey ~
What a great giveaway!
Such beautiful toys. i love the colors.
Gorgeous toys, thanks for a chance to win. 🙂
Shared on facebook. 🙂
I love these, I love handmade, I love that my children love handmade toys <3
shared on Pinterest
shared on facebook <3
How delightful, My 3 year old Grandson, would enjoy this, cheers Marie
Lovely toys!
A toy subscription is about the the sweetest idea I have heared of lately. My son would be so happy to win so let my jump in for him 🙂 Thanks! Gesche
This is the first time I have seen natural suburbia or armadillo dreans. So excited to have found both! What a great giveaway too! Sharing….
Such pretty toys! I love the details!
BEAUTIFUL toys! I want the rainbow pull toy and the mushroom house, I mean the kids want it…and everything else 🙂
Pinned it 🙂
I tweeted it 🙂
We only have one Armadillo toy but it is so well made, it’s the gameboy. Very well worth the buy, it’s too cute, & once my son no longer uses it, it can be a little memorabilia too.
I shared on FB 🙂
shared on facebook (:
shared on twitter (:
shared on google+ (:
shared on pinterest (:
Wonderful giveaway! Love armadillo dreams!
i recently got the gnome mushroom rainbow house… super sweet and the kids love it!
their toys are so wonderful. <3 would love to win a three month subscription!
They are so cute!!!
Beautiful story and beautiful toys 🙂
Love love love Armadillo Dreams.
Shared on FB.
Wow, beautiful toys and a great little interview 🙂
We have a few of their lovely toys and they are WELL played with and still look new :} Might have to get that magical rainbow gnome house.
I love Armadillo Dreams’ toys! My son has a couple different ones and they are so well made. This would be fantastic to win. 🙂
the surprise toy thing is genius! what a fun idea. and really lovely toys.
We love your toys at home!!!! Would love to win! Thanks! 🙂
Shared on FB! 🙂
What fun a surprise toy would be. 3 is even better. Wonderful giveaway from a delightful store
Shared on Pinterest! http://pinterest.com/pin/56717276529751596/
I would love this for my son. I am a big fan of their toys.
These toys are wonderfully crafted! Amazing giveaway, thanks so much for the opportunity!
A toy subscription is genius.
wow! Sweet give-away!!
I couldn’t imagine how blessed my children would be to win this! Thanks for the lovely opportunity!
Very thoughtfully designed. I love the animals. Is this just for S. Africans, or would you ship overseas?
What a fantastic idea!
What beautiful toys you make! The toy subscription is a great idea and it would make a wonderful gift.
Wow! Thanks for the opportunity!!Love the idea of a toy subscription…a great idea for future gifts!
Also shared/posted on Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you for the opportunity to win!
Wow…such lovely creations. I love the idea of a toy subscription, I will need to keep in mind for future gifts!
Such beautiful toys! Thanks for the opportunity to win.
we love armadillo dreams! thanks for the giveaway!
My granddaughter would love this! ty!
Beautiful toys!
Awww… pretty, pretty please.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/cokelush/status/315627676587139072
ty!
I pinned in my giveaways folder – my pinterest id is cokelush – ty!
FB share https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=228361577303930&id=133233210150101
I love Armadillo Dreams! I would love to win the subscription!
Shared on Pinterest!
Shared on Facebook too. Keeping my fingers crossed!
This woulsd make such a great present!
I love your toys!!!! They are beautiful 🙂
Oh, that Frido Kahlo figure just kills me…so amazing!! Thanks for offering chances to win!
Just tweeted this!
Aaand…shared it on facebook, too. What a wonderful giveaway!
So beautiful! I would love them for my son, but even more – i am so happy they make them and share the beauty in the world. Thank you so much!
I have actually come across theur shop on my own. Beautiful toys!
Beautiful designs! I love that the stains show natural wood grain. My daughter would be wild for these!
What a lovely giveaway! I have five kids…I wonder if théy’ll share?
Your toys look lovely and oh so natural! This would be an amazing gift to win, thanks for the opportunity!
This would be perfect for my youngest who will be five this week- on the 28th
Hat. Ring. Sing. Love the animals most. But the mama/teacher has such a nice gradient to her –
Pinned it!i YAY!!
Wow!! Great! This would be so much fun to win!
Thanks for the chance!
What beautiful toys!
THANK YOU for this fantastic giveaway. My granddaughter was just asking if any mail came for her on Friday. This would be the perfect solution for her. Good luck to all.
Pinned.
Facebooked
This is such a great idea! My kids would love getting a special surprise each month.
So nice 😀
I would love to win, my daughter would love these.
I love these!
I love Armadillo Dreams, it’s our go-to etsy shop for birthday gifts for my son’s friends.
I think these are very sweet, although I’m not a big fan of the men with guns.
Beautiful!
This is beautiful, my daughter would love this!
I heart you on Etsy! @ nerdkink
I also liked you on facebook
Annamarie Tittie Magee
Oh, how I would love some of their toys – for my gnome villages, of course. But I would give this
toy giveaway to a grandchild. Thanks for a chance to win.
Wow, what beautiful toys! I just had my first child in January, and I’d love for him to have toys like this to play with once he’s at that stage…
These look great!!
I love the idea of a toy subscription with natural, handmade toys! I would love to win this so my boys have more wooden toys 🙂
Love Armadillo Dreams! Beautiful toys!
Cool giveaway, my five year old son would really enjoy a toy subscription.
Thanks for the lovely giveaway… and good luck everyone!
Tweet:
https://twitter.com/jackeli61347518/status/316026902001369089
Pinned:
http://pinterest.com/pin/106256872430833907/
I love your farm animals made of wooden blocks! My boys would love playing with any of these toys. Keep up the good work!
I would love to win these beautiful items!
Lovely giveaway!
pin-http://pinterest.com/pin/48765608437429323/
tweet-https://twitter.com/AnnaKulu1/status/316113282756931584
I don’t think I’ve ever seen such adorable toys! So happy to have found you!!
Oh such gorgeous toys! I would love to win this for my little ones!
I shared on facebook!
I tweeted it!
And I have pinned it!
Thanks for the awesome giveaway! Beautiful toys!
Beautiful toys!
Oh my! Love these toys. really love the peacock and family and on and on and on…..
Yes! Love these!
We love these toys!! So sweet.
Sharing everywhere! What a lovely giveaway. Thank you Armadillo – we love your toys!
I love the creations of Armadillo Dreams! What a great giveaway!
MY 5 yrs. boy Love ALL your toys !!!! Love your Etsy shoop!!!
Love them! Thanks for the great giveaway 🙂
Shared on fb 🙂
Oh my, pick me!
What a wonderful give away! Such beautiful toys!
Sharing on Facebook!
We love Armadillo Dreams and their toys. Have purchased a number for ourselves and for gifts. Would love to win the subscription! Thanks for the giveaway!
What a great giveaway! Any child would be lucky to be the recipient of these great wooden toys. My fingers are crossed that I am the lucky winner.
What a fun giveaway! Thanks for the chance!
Beatiful toys!
Beautiful toys!
I have started a nice collection of Armadillo Dreams wooden toys this year and can’t wait to order more. I have them on my nature table at school, use them for storytelling, and just love to hold them and enjoy their beauty! Thank you for the opportunity to add more of your lovely toys to my collection!
Love them!! thanks for the opportunity!
We love their toys!! Definitely a favorite of our kiddos!
Thanks for sharing! This sounds great 🙂
Wonderful items, generous giveaway:)
Awww,hand made toys are so special. You can tell that they are made with a lot of love!! (:
tweeted-https://twitter.com/CrystalGreene77/status/316422977950453761
Good time of the day!
Thank you for the opportunity to win such creative, colourful and solid toys. I really think that my baby girl’s gonna love them.
Will facebook and tweet your site.
Keep up the creatives!
Regards,
T.
What a fun giveaway! I love the toy designs. They’re very classic and cute!
Pinned on Pinterest!
Such gorgeous toys!
My daughter will love these beautiful wood toys!
How fun! I’d love to win this.
I love the idea of a toy subscription! These toys are just too cute.
tweet: https://twitter.com/rabpomm/status/316844345292627968
fb share: https://www.facebook.com/rab.pom.75/posts/448262025253594
Tweet: https://twitter.com/jackeli61347518/status/316939937272459264
Tweet for today: https://twitter.com/jackeli61347518/status/316939937272459264
Wow, thank you ,this is amazing!^^
post on fb : https://www.facebook.com/hana.clay/posts/494244643956914
Beautiful toys! Thanks for the chance to win
What a great giveaway! I dream of getting a scroll saw one day and trying a few toys like these, but until then i will enter giveaways!!!
These are so beautiful! I hope I win.
I love these, they are so unique and cute! ambrerose at(aol) dot(com)
Nice toys!
Beautiful toys! My kids would love them.
Tweeted giveaway
@askviv
I love Armadillo Dreams! I really enjoy their play sets and story sets…..something my kids love to do is act out stories we have read or listened to. Thanks for the fantastic giveaway!
Those are incredibly beautiful toys. Someone will be very excited to win your kind giveaway.
Those are incredibly beautiful toys. Someone will be very excited to win your kind giveaway.
Wow what fantastic beautiful toys!
Pick me!
Love this idea!