Workshop Update #3

Filed under: made gifts — admin at 9:53 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2007


Things are moving along in my workshop.

I adore this dollhouse and some of you may remember when I found it at a church rummage sale. I was going to give the house to Penny last year, but decided at 3.5 she is the perfect age to receive such a gift.


My biggest challenge when designing ANYTHING is loving color and detail and time…so, with this house I took a deep breath and chanted to myself “keep it simple, keep it simple”. I wanted a sweet little house, but bare enough for my imaginative girl to get lost it in it all on her own. I am happy.

So what do I do for furniture? I’m thinking wooden from my local toy shop OR maybe just blocks and she can stack to her heart’s content. And then dolls, should I make these?

Okay, so I am asking for all of your input. Don’t be afraid to comment, I want to hear all of your thoughts!

12 Comments »

Comment by Amanda

December 11, 2007 @ 10:14 pm

It’s lovely! My DD is also getting a doll house, it’s Waldorfish and handmade by my Father in Law. We decided on this furniture for it. http://www.hazelnutkids.com/cgi-bin/category.cgi?item=PT9016&type=store
It’s plain but simple and charming. I think it would look nice with your house as well. Merry Christmas!

Comment by kirsten

December 11, 2007 @ 10:46 pm

i LOVE the idea of making peg people for this - and at 3.5 that’s ideal - you can always ‘upgrade’ to a cute mouse or more elaborate people family when she’s older if she wants.

and i’m loving the blocks for furniture idea, too - would she get frustrated if they don’t stay the way she wants them?

Comment by Sarah

December 11, 2007 @ 11:08 pm

I vote peg people! Your peg people have made me a little obsessed with them. As for furniture, I tend towards the local toy store furniture. Nothing too fancy, give her room to make stuff if she finds a “need” in her house. But definitely equip with a couple beds, a table and a chair.

Comment by xenia kathryn

December 12, 2007 @ 12:24 am

From my own childhood dollhouse, I remember making “tables” out of those little white plastic things that come in delivery pizza boxes (keeps the lid from drooping down on top of the pizza. Don’t know what they’re called. I also distinctly remember a tiny knit “afghan” (about the size of a washcloth) that was used on our barbie bed. Do you knit? Or you can sew a tiny potholder/makeshift “quilt.” Dollies gotta be warm, right? :)

Comment by carolyn

December 12, 2007 @ 1:17 am

Oh, you should definitely use the wooden people that you make…they’re so cute and it’ll really allow your daughter to use her imagination with them. I would buy some simple wooden furniture to go with it (maybe like a bed, couch, chair)…it’s absolutely adorable! Great job!!!

Comment by hillary

December 12, 2007 @ 11:46 am

ooh! It’s so cute. I love it! And those little peg people would be great. Penny is going to be in heaven.

Comment by sjsd

December 12, 2007 @ 12:52 pm

staying handmade, i love the peg folks that you make….

not handmade, the little critter families would be very sweet for this house….my older girls have always loved their cat families and my 3yo has recently been loving them as well…sometimes i like how ‘not human’ playthings allow a child to be something and somewhere else entirely.

all your holiday things are coming together beautifully!!

Comment by Michelle

December 12, 2007 @ 12:53 pm

Absolutely, peg people. And I don’t think I’d get all elaborate with the furnishings… save that for another occasion, spread it out. :0) The house and peg people would certainly be grand enough for this Christmas, I’d say!

Comment by sjsd

December 12, 2007 @ 12:55 pm

oops…this is random, but i forgot to erase the website link for my name….looks like someone else has my old blogspot….

it’s not me anymore!

Comment by Madre Adoptiva

December 12, 2007 @ 1:13 pm

You did such a beautiful job painting it! It’s gorgeous!! My 3.5 year old is getting a doll house this year too, but not a handmade one (unfortunately). Well… at least not handmade by MY hands. It’s Melissa & Doug’s fold-n-go dollhouse. Anyway, just wanted to say you did a fantastic job and I’m sure she’s going to love it… and YES! Those wood dolls would be PERFECT!

Comment by mary

December 12, 2007 @ 5:13 pm

The peg dolls would be lovely and personal. I vote for a bit of furniture. I think Target has the Ryan’s room stuff. I love the doll house.

Comment by Dayna

December 18, 2007 @ 2:59 pm

That doll house is such an amazing find. My daughter is getting a doll house this year too. Complete with wood peg people that were inspired by yours - just posted about them on my blog!! So I am another vote for your homemade peg people. Ours will be under the tree with the family awaiting our little ones arrival on Christmas morning. Some of our family have bought her a room or two of furniture. I also will be using the pieces Amanda recommended by PLAN. They are natural wood and simple. http://www.thegoodtoyshop.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=185&category_id=&manufacturer_id=29&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URI

Leave a comment

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>