Calif. couple making toys for White House

COLFAX, Calif., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- California residents Michael and Pat Smith say they are thrilled to be making 50 puzzles that U.S. President Barack Obama may one day use as gifts.

Michael Smith, 68, said while he and his wife have made handcrafted toys for museums, celebrities and countless children, creating puzzles that could be used as White House gifts is a rare honor, The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee said Friday.

"We want to do it. It's not a money thing," Smith said. "It's the honor of it."

The Smiths said they have not officially been asked to produce the puzzles for the White House, but they have been approached by a contractor working for the U.S. State Department.

Doug Elmets, who served as a White House spokesman under former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, said Obama and his family are looking for "contemporary" gifts to offer to visiting dignitaries.

"They want to be much more contemporary," Elmets told the Bee. "They want to think and give gifts that are outside the box."

Michael Smith assured the Bee that he and his wife would have time to produce the 50 puzzles for Obama despite their annual puzzle production of 10,000 puzzles.