The Wonderful World of Woodkins

Have you met the Woodkins?

Do you love giving unique gifts? Are you a fruit and vegetable lover? Looking for unusual holiday decorations? Want to perk up your surroundings? Need to make someone smile?

Well...allow me to introduce you to...Woodkins by Linda, the delightfully droll wooden figurines!

• They "sit", they "bend", they "smile".
• They will steal your heart, and that's not all!
• They have "friends", who are fruits, holiday figures, land animals, sea creatures, and a whole lot more.
• They are the creations of an incredible lady, and here is her Etsy site:

Woodkins by Linda

We hope you really enjoy looking at all of them, as we think they are simply marvelous.

Often imitated, never duplicated exactly - these are the originals!

How We Met the Woodkins

My initial encounter with these delightful wooden vegetable and fruit figures, was in a little produce store here in Florida where my husband and I frequently shop. Relaxing high on a shelf behind the cashier, their whimsical faces and poised bodies grabbed our attention. From the first glance, I was enchanted!

Almost every weekend, I see their delightful presence at the produce store, and even after years of viewing them, they still make me smile.

UPDATE - October 13, 2022: The produce store has closed, BUT we were able to get a whole lot of Woodkins, and we put them on our piano in our jewelry store. People LOVE them, and we have sold quite a few, in just a few months!

Woodkins Owner or Clueless?

Her fruits and veggies "COME ALIVE"!

Woodkins are wonderful... - ...aren't they?

In the image above, are a few glimpses of these delightful whimsical figures. We have the chili pepper, the red bell pepper, the asparagus, the sweet little pea pod, the blackberry, and the dragon fruit. Now you cannot tell me that they aren't just adorable! I would not believe you, if you did!

They are sure to brighten up your kitchen décor, as they sit on a shelf or windowsill - perpetually smiling. Each figurine is hinged and balanced beautifully. Once they find a place in their new home - they are there to stay! Now, what could be a more interesting, unique gift for someone who needs "perking up" - or even for someone who has "everything"?

Don't these Woodkins need a home - YOUR home?

Another collage of Woodkins figures

These are a few of the designer's marvelous wooden fruit and vegetables figures. Aren't they wonderful? You should hear what people say about them, when they first "make their acquaintance"!

"Oh, aren't they adorable? They are so cute! Where did you get that? I want them all..."

Featured above, are the:

• avocado
• blackberry
• butternut squash
• cantaloupe slice
• crab
• grape cluster
• lemon
• mango
• mangosteen
• mushroom
• pear
• pineapple
• red apple
• red cherries
• starfruit
• seahorse
• tangerine
• watermelon half
• watermelon slice

Wait a minute! What did you say? Oh, they are not all fruits and vegetables! You're right! There is a seahorse, and a crab, and you can get holiday characters...well...they are all still "Woodkins"!

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We Cannot Get Enough of Them!

Above, in the top row, please meet:

• the happiest Christmas tree you will ever see
• the cheeky celery
• movie theater popcorn Woodkins
• the very serious Thanksgiving Day turkey

Introducing, on the bottom row:

• the ornery onion
• one cute, chipper carrot
• the cheery ear of corn, and
• the loony leek.

A few more wonderful Woodkins

Woodkins are obviously not hinged "shelf-sitters" depicting only fruits and vegetables, as you can see, above. Humpty Dumpty is here, along with the blue teapot. The hermit crab has crawled in, and the peanut has "plopped" down for awhile. The delicate daisy "takes the show", and the octopus is out of his element. Not to be overlooked, the jack o' lantern has joined us, and the snowman simply slumps down on his side, cushioned by his snow.

The wooden Woodkins figurines are not tiny. They made large enough to fit on a shelf, and if you look at the photos above, you will see some of them doing exactly that! The designer is not a webmaster, so the sizes are not online to see, but a picture is worth a thousand words, and you can get an idea of their sizes, by just examining the photos.

Now, let's look at the animals currently available...

What Do You Think of the Woodkins?

About the Creator, and her creations...

The Creator is so modest - when we spoke with her, she just said - "They are what they are, and there really is no story, as to how it all came about".

Now, you and I both know, that could not be the case. She is just a very private, humble lady.

This article was written to praise her clever designs, and let others know about her work - period. She has had too many people take advantage of her designs, and we wanted to be sure you found THE ORIGINALS!

I hope you find how the Woodkins as enjoyable as we do. If some of them find a place in your home - why, that would just be lovely!

UPDATE August, 2022: It appears that some other things are being marketed as "Woodkins", but they are not the Woodkins by Linda. IMHO, hers are works of art, and those that have the same name today, pale by comparison.

At present, I believe the best place to get them, is on Etsy. Click on the link below:

Woodkins by Linda

Happy shopping!

Our Opinion and Photo Credits

We just think they are delightful, and the creator has quite a story to go with them, but we cannot get her to tell it publicly. I asked her permission, years ago, to write this. Her Woodkins, as we stated earlier are:

Often imitated - NEVER duplicated. Don't settle for imitations!

Please look for them at craft fairs and festivals, as that is usually where they are to be found.

Photos were are compiled by the author, E. Tack, with the permission of the Woodkins creator.

© 2010 Emily Tack

Do You Like the Woodkins?

JUDY HAMBY on December 01, 2019:

I've called over the years some 18 woodkins and I love them.

That's true art and love. Congrats to both

Fallon on September 24, 2019:

She is now on Etsy! Just search woodkinsbylinda without any spaces and you will find it!

Judy Hamby on October 21, 2018:

I love them, I think I have approx 12 sitting on benches.

I want to get a few more when I get hone next week. So

Happy to see your still doing them. I came to your house when I got the last.

Thank you Judy

Emily Tack (author) from USA on June 24, 2015:

Aren't they great? I asked for her permission, to write about the Woodkins, when the article was still on Squidoo. I have tried to reach her, to let her know the new URL for the article, but have not been able to contact her. Perhaps, if you see her, you will let her know the article is still online.

Ken on June 22, 2015:

We started collecting these a number of years ago when she came to the Sacramento Harvest Festival. Now at Apple Hill in the fall, still come every year to buy 2 0r 3 of the fruits and vegetables. Love em!

Emily Tack (author) from USA on March 14, 2015:

Yes, they are made from wood. We just love them, and see them around our area frequently.

peachy from Home Sweet Home on March 14, 2015:

made from woods? Kids would love wood puppets, especially veggies

Emily Tack (author) from USA on November 06, 2014:

Thank you - I am so pleased you liked it. There are some other things called Woodkins online, but these are the original "Woodkins by Linda". Like you, I am not prone to decorate with food items, to the great chagrin of my husband. He even wants the food on his plate to be decorative. We come from different lifestyles, as we met late in life. My children and I were simply glad to have any food on the table!

Again, thank you for commenting, and I hope they put a smile on your face just looking at them.

JKWriter from Right in the middle. on November 05, 2014:

Well...I'm not one to decorate with food of any sort, but I LOVE the little teapot! I could also imagine a whole little shelf of the Jack-o-Lanterns at Halloween.

These really would make great gifts too. Beautiful article, with lots of great photos. I never heard of Woodkins before, so I am glad you taught me something today!

Emily Tack (author) from USA on October 16, 2013:

@anonymous: Our pleasure! I think they are wonderful!

anonymous on September 07, 2013:

My twin & I found them 2 yrs. ago at Arts in the Park in Boise. We bought 2 & a bench & last year got the pea pod. They are so darling! Thank you for your talent & for sharing them.

anonymous on April 11, 2012:

We always try to catch them when they are in town always nice to see what is new. Everyone is different and unique.

pacrapacma lm on March 12, 2011:

I do love the Woodkins!

Emily Tack (author) from USA on March 08, 2011:

@justholidays: I am really glad that you like them - every one of you! Thanks!

justholidays on March 06, 2011:

They're cuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuute! Adorable woodkins! I think they'd make fantastic supports in kindergarten schools to teach kids about objects, fruits and veggies.

Malu Couttolenc on March 05, 2011:

OMG never saw these little guys before, they are amazing! There should be a tv show with them. Great find and lens about them :)

Emily Tack (author) from USA on March 04, 2011:

@indigoj: Thank you - all of you! I just love them, and admire her talent greatly...

Indigo Janson from UK on March 03, 2011:

These are so creative and fun. Hats off to her. I hope you can get the word out about her clever creations and people will know these are the originals... and therefore the best! :)

nestboxes on March 03, 2011:

Very unique. I think these would be great characters in a children's program

NarrowPathPubli on March 02, 2011:

These are soooo cute. <3

Emily Tack (author) from USA on March 02, 2011:

@KathyMcGraw2: Thank you, Kathy! I'll put more up here, when i get the opportunity!

Kathy McGraw from California on March 02, 2011:

Absolutely adorable..bookmarking this!