the perpetual question -- wooden easels

[sntm]

I've researched this before but never come to a conclusion.

Looking for a good sturdy wooden easel, generous paint tray, preferably adjustable height, must be collapseable. I like the look of the one by Alex, but hear it is not very sturdy. I don't want a plastic one. It's a gift from grandma so expense is not a primary concern (maybe it will keep her from buying too much stuff ;) )
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shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 2 years & counting

[DDowning]

Shannon - Check out the ones from here:

http://tinyurl.com/ag5de

One of the moms in my playgroup is an elementary teacher and has lots of products from this company. This easel (LA949) was out for a recent playgroup and Carson loved it. There were about 5-6 other kids swarming around it and there was no issue with stability.

[SuenosDelMar]

My neighbor has this one and I love it. There is lots of storage in the center, it is very sturdy, and I like that the paper roll is on top. Hearthsong almost always has coupon codes floating about too.


http://tinyurl.com/8wxf3

[ellies mom]

That is the one I was going to post. It collapses but isn't adjustable. I know they have a pretty old age recommendation but it is the same height as the rest of the easals I've looked at. I really like that one.

Joannes (the fabric store) also has one but it doesn't collapse, the reason I'm suggesting it is because it has two huge trays.

[essnce629]

We plan on getting Conner the Melissa & Doug easel for Christmas. It's on the Toys-R-Us website, but I don't think TRU sells it in their actual B&M store. It got good reviews though.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0002AUWKG/qid=1125431055/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-5320938-9037662?v=glance&s=imaginarium
I like it because it folds up, has large trays, is height adjustable, has a locking paper roll holder, and it has a paper cutter.

ETA picture and better description
http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/29102.jpg

***Latia
Conner 8/19/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif 2 years & counting! http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/9870.gif

[netne]

I saw one at Ikea recently that looked neat. It had a decent sized tray on both sides and a built in roll for art paper. We already have one of the plastic ones, or I would looked more closely at the one at Ikea, so can't give you alot more detail about it.

[redhookmom]

We had the one from IKEA. It looked nice and lasted about a year. Eventually the tray fell apart.
Now we have this one:


http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/29064.jpg

They have others as well:
http://www.communityplaythings.com/c/artarea/ArtIslands/index.htm

[SuenosDelMar]

The Ikea one is very tempting because it's a great price, but it just didn't seem very sturdy to me.

[nicurn96]

We went with something a little different since DD already had a HUGE chalkboard from Grandma, I didn't want to get an easel that had a chalkboard. I found this one http://www.totallythomas.com/prod/feltkids/fk78610.html
at a toy store and bought it. The tray could be a little bigger but DD loves the feltboard!! It adjusts only to a tabletop easel. Its not perfect but it was different and is well loved in our house. I have now been on a mision of making felt princesses for my daughter!! LOL
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/nicurn96/crafts%20and%20construction/8-22-2005028MediumWebview.jpg

Lisa
Mommy to Lydia~5/13/2003
T2 coming 12/12/2005

[vikivoly]

I was in TRU yesterday and saw this one by Little Tikes. I was very impressed with it. It looked sturdier than any other easel I've seen. It is "chunky" and seemed to be a perfect height for toddlers. It was $99.99.

http://www.etoys.com/genProduct.html/PID/2189779/ctid/17?cpncode=09-958035-2&srccode=cii_14110944

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/29097.jpg

[ellies mom]

It is made by Little Tykes as part of their Mission Line. It is absolutely adorable, but it doesn't collapse and the trays don't seem to be designed for "jars" of paint. They are very narrow and rounded at the bottom. They seem to be for chalk and markers. It's too bad really because it is really well made. I'm kind of bummed because I really had high-hopes for it until I got a closer look at the details.

[essnce629]

No room for paint is definately a deal breaker, as is not being able to fold up (we have no extra space in our house so it has to be able to be put away when not in use). I know it looks like a good size for toddlers, but does that mean it would be too short for the average 4 or 5 year old?

***Latia
Conner 8/19/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif 2 years & counting! http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/9870.gif

[ellies mom]

You know, it seems as though they are all about the same height, so it really hard to tell. Then to confuse the issue, one easel will be 48" high and be rated for a 3yo, and the next easel will be 48" and rated for a 6yo. I only found a couple of adjustable ones, and they all seem more cheaply made than the non-adjustable ones. Another to consider is how the paper is attached. From what I understand, the clips don't always hold very well. I'm leaning towards the style with the attached roll. I also like the fold up feature. I really don't want it out all the time.

I really like the one by Hearthsong, but the Melissa and Doug one is really good for the price, probably the best value. Can you tell I've been thinking about this?

[Vajrastorm]

We have a Beka adjustable wooden easel. I love it!

http://www.growingtreetoys.com/product/5601

Ours has the red plastic trays. I think the easel is prettier than it looks in the picture.

Here is another picture: http://www.bekainc.com/products/easels.html

[vikivoly]

I didn't get a close look at either the trays or the clips, but I thought I remembered reading that it did fold.

[lizamann]

JEssica, do you love this one? I've been eying it for a while...

[sntm]

D@mn, I wish the trays were better and it folded! I'd take just the former. Otherwise, it is perfect looking. Although, there is no place to clip paper either.

You would think someone could design the "perfect" easel. Any patterns out there? DH does some woodworking -- if I had something to base it on, he could probably build one.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 2 years & counting

[sntm]

We've looked at the Hearthsong one. I like it except there are no clips to hang sheets of paper. I don't always like the paper you can get for rolls.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 2 years & counting

[sntm]

That's a good price. I wonder how sturdy it is, with the plastic hinge and tray.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 2 years & counting

[sntm]

Wow, I like (especially the island one.) Hmm, don't know if I could convince Mom of spending that much though. But it does have all the features I want.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 2 years & counting

[sntm]

That one's neat. I was looking at one at Rosie Hippo (not collapseable unfortunately) that had a felt attachment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
shannon
not-even-pregnant-yet-overachiever
trying-to-conceive :)
PREGNANT! EDD 6/9/03
mama to Jack 6/6/03
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif[/img][/url]
Breastfeeding 2 years & counting

[ellies mom]

Joanne's has one that looks very similar with much nicer trays. It doesn't fold though and it is pretty expensive ($150) but they almost always have 40% coupons in the paper. It also has the roll of paper. I didn't see it online and the store I saw it in is one of their super stores.

If you google woodworking plans, you might be able to find something. I haven't done that because I want my Dad to focus on building a play kitchen for DD.

I agree though, how hard is it to design the perfect easel. Wood, folds, adjusts, nice tray. Not rocket science really.

[new_mommy25]

Shannon,
http://www.diynet.com/diy/ca_crafts_projects/article/0,2041,DIY_13721_2271597,00.html

[essnce629]

For those of you with crazy kids that like to climb everything (my ds included) you may want to stay clear of the easels that have a shelf in the middle for supplies. I remember someone on here saying that their toddler liked to try and climb up on the ledge (and if the shelf would collapse, the easel would collapse too since it's the shelf that's keeping it locked open). For that reason, I'm not getting an easel with the middle storage shelf. I just "know" Conner would try to slither through that little space as though he was a snake!!!!

***Latia
Conner 8/19/03
http://www.babiesonline.com/babies/a/aug2003angel
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_sapphire_24m.gif 2 years & counting! http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/9870.gif

[vikivoly]

According to the website, it does fold and has a magnetic clip for paper - whatever that means.

"Description

This beautifully designed easel is part of the Little Tikes Natural Interiors collection of fine children's furniture. Crafted of solid hardwood with a natural finish, it's as durable as it is beautiful. Includes a blackboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other. A magnetic clip holds paper for sketching or painting (paper not included). Folds for storage. Measures approximately 28.50" x 26" x 43.75"

[nigele]

Shannon,

Tom's grandparents got him the Melissa and Doug easel for his birthday two months ago and we are extremely happy with it. The hinge is actually made of wood, not plastic. We love the individual paint trays. We haven't yet used the chalk board side since we keep it in the kitchen and I don't want chalk dust all over the place but Tom uses the white board side almost daily. LMK if you have any questions about this easel. Oh, and you MUST get the Alex non-spill paint cups which fit perfectly in the paint trays!!

http://store.yahoo.com/kidsurplus/pan317.html

ETA: After reading your response on the Heartsong easel, I wanted to mention that we buy M&D's paper rolls for our easel and the paper is a good weight for paint. I was hesistant to buy the roll paper but have been pleased, and a roll lasts much longer than I expected it would. For $5 a roll, I think it's great.

[redhookmom]

I do like it and I am not sorry we invested the $. My fav part is the magnetic board. The magnets they send are super strong and will hold anything in place.
Both sides are adjustable so that both kids can enjoy at the same time.
When it collapses it is very thin but it is heavy.

[mommab]

I recall that COSTCO sold a wooden easel last year around Christmas time. Does anyone have it, and if so, how do they like it (any pics?)? Has anyone seen them at COSTCO this year?? I didn't see them at our store last Friday.

Thanks,

[new_mommy25]

Beth, last year Costco sold an easel by Battat. It was really nice and had brightly colored platic bins underneath to store supplies. I'm really hoping they bring it back this year because last year my son was too young.

Here is the easel they had
http://www.sensationalbeginnings.com/itemdy00.asp?GEN9=1&T1=A+2+199X

[mommab]

Hi Angie,

We were tempted by the "once they sell out, they sell out" warehouse (Costco, Sams, BJs, etc.) shopping mentality with respect to alot of quality toys that were around during the holidays last year (trains, easels, etc.) - but we had to rationalize that they'd probably sell them again this year when dd was old enough to actually use them - lol! We have no room in our small house to store stuff for "later" unless it really IS the "deal of a lifetime"!

I do recall that the easel was Battat like you mentioned, but I was thinking that it did NOT have a place to hold a roll of paper (that was something we were disappointed about it, as I remember). Is this a newer version that they may be selling this year? I hope so, because this one looks really great! I also recall that it was pretty inexpensive (much less than the $150 on that link)...do you remember a price range?

Thanks again,