first off, NicoleN, your post was great, lots of neat stuff there!
I've been thinking a lot about my birds toys..
I'm lucky enough to have access to a wood shop, my fathers, his scroll saw and wood scraps galore! I've been experimenting with making the braided ropes out of t-shirt material, as you saw from my pictures.
I'm thinking about getting some rolls of real material, instead of t-shirts.. would have to be something strong, not stringy so it'd be safe, to make my braids with. Non-Toxic of course. I'd like to find plain old white and lots of colors.
I can then cut out all sorts of fun wooden shapes.. make my own blocks, drill holes.. I can color them if I want too but I think I'd rather leave them natural colored. I used to to do this a lot.. even little hand held barbells.
I can use a wood burner on them if I feel the need to make designs. I don't want to use any plastics in my toys. I may use chain.. my boyfriend owns a hardware store

I want to do more research first to find out whats safe and what isn't.
Do you guys think using these 'ropes' would be as safe as the cotton ones used in the ones from the store? I have seen lots of toys with strips of material for preening so I assume it's ok.
I think if they come out nice I may try and set up a website, I am obviously never going to be healthy enough to hold a real job and this would be a good way to make money (maybe) and also provide my own brats with more toys than they could possibly use! I would, of course, first have every single toy checked by an avian vet for safety, not just to cover my own but either.. don't want anyones baby getting injured.
I'm also hoping to start breeding birds again. I was actually hand raising canaries and finches for awhile.. started out as parents not taking care of some eggs so I incubated them and raised em. VERY scary the first time.. those babies get a full crop off about one drop of food. lol.
I was happily surprised to see the adult hand raised finches behaving in the same way that my big parrots did.. very cuddly and loving. It was hysterical to have 3-4 of them perched on one finger

I will find some pics to show you. We will have to see if that happens.. my boyfriend is still just getting used to the big birds

ok I've rambled on just about enough.. back to braiding my toys!