oooh, i came across this yesterday: i was in those shops that cut keys and have laces and stuff to care for shoes, and there they were.. the most beautiful long strips of fairly thin leather. So i took a deep breath and asked, you know, are they actual laces? and he said yes. Now I think I'll go by tomorrow after work and by 10. They look like they'd make fantastic impact. (But really, for "homemade" toys just look around you and ideas will come)