In the heart of Karnataka, artisans in Channapatna continue a centuries-old legacy of handcrafted wooden toys, using natural ...

The whirr of machines and smell of carved wood hangs in the air of the Indian toy workshop, a centuries-old art form still in the game despite cheaper plastic alternatives. India's town of Channapatna ...

"When we dry the ivory wood properly, and apply lacquer and ... their craft is more than a simple matter of livelihood. "Making toys gives me a sense of joy and happiness," Rupa said.

Wooden toys tend to be safer than plastic toys because babies put things in their mouth. Wooden toys also boost imagination ...

“If you’re painting a wood duck, you might as well figure ... “I will teach decoy carving or toy car making, and the decoy carving can be either working birds or decorative birds.” ...

Rising competition from mass-produced toys, including cheap replicas made in China, has cast a shadow on the growth of the industry in the town -- but it has endured ...

"When we dry the ivory wood properly, and apply lacquer and ... their craft is more than a simple matter of livelihood. "Making toys gives me a sense of joy and happiness," Rupa said.

"When we dry the ivory wood properly, and apply lacquer and ... their craft is more than a simple matter of livelihood. "Making toys gives me a sense of joy and happiness," Rupa said.