Friday, July 16, 2010

The PlayHouse is Done! Finally. :-)

You may remember that a couple of months ago, I casually mentioned how I was making my little niece a playhouse. We had been using a sheet over a card table, as that was pretty much what
I did as a kid. Although, I do also remember having a Beatles Yellow Submarine card table cover, which was pretty cool. Anyway, since Aunt Kim doesn't have a lot of toys here to play with, I set out to make something a little more interactive.
The front has a cottage door, carriage light, removeable/changeable sign, mailbox, and doggy bowl. Lady and the Tramp is her favorite movie.
Another side has an apple tree (with pick-able apples) and a birdbath for the gold finch and bluebird to splash around in. :-)


I used a painter's canvas drop cloth for the base and started adding things little by little. Once I Googled "playhouse" for ideas, I found the most creative felt houses! This one by Homemade by Jill even provided a few templates. There is also an etsy seller ,Missprettypretty making these in different themes. Too cute! And let me tell you...they are worth every penny! This one took me hours and hours to make.
On this side we have a window with gingham curtains and a pot of flowers.
And my favorite is the vegetable garden. The carrots fit into little pockets and the cabbage leaves and pea pods have velcro so they are removeable, too. My niece loves to gather the fruits and vegetables in her little basket. :-)


It was a major pain trying to move that big thing around in the sewing machine, so if you ever make one of these, make it in sections and sew the sections together at the very end.

I'm just going to make her a few little food items next, so she can use them when we play restaurant. :-)

19 comments:

Abby and Stephanie said...

OH my goodness that is the cutest most clever handmade playhouse EVER. What a lucky little girl to have such a creative and loving aunt. Far surpasses the sheet tents of my childhood AND those of my children. I'd love playing there.

Sugar Bear said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE! My mother bought my daugther one of Miss Pretty Pretty's houses and she loves it! You did a fabulous job!
Karla

pedalpower said...

This is awesome...I always meant to do something like this when my kids were little, but never got around to it. Your niece is a lucky little girl!

{kimmymade} said...

Well, you have officially displaced me as the World's Best Aunt Kim!!

There is no toy that could ever compete with this ... what an amazing gift, and what beautful work!! You rock!!

Unknown said...

Holy Cremoly Kim!! That is just toooo cute! What does it fit over? or is it free standing?

Niesz Vintage Home said...

Thanks everyone!
It was a lot of fun thinking of things to add.
Melody, it fits over a standard folding card table.

Kimberly :-)

Maison Douce said...

Oh my goodness, that is the cutest thing ever!!!!! Your niece is truly a lucky girl...!!!!
Isabel

QuiltingFitzy said...

WOW! Amazing!

I had a printed house one, back-in-the-day..and it totally lacked imagination.

Maybe someday my grandchildren could have one like this?

It's adorable, and very well done, you should be very proud.

Annemarie's Haakblog said...

Lovely! Thanks for posting this on my link party. Hope so see you on my blog again soon. I'm off exploring yours now (-:
Bye!

Elizabeth said...

Wow, that is impressive! What a lucky niece you have. Great work!!

Stacy said...

The playhouse is incredible. What a wonderful aunt you are. I love the veggies.

Meertje said...

I love it!
Miriam

Georgia Peachez said...

That is an outstanding job! Lucky, lucky niece :->

Nanette Merrill said...

Oh my gosh, so so cute.

carmel said...

wow!!! that is so cool!!! and beautiful!!
i love it!!!

Jillian's Bella Rosa Antiques said...

OH MY GOSH. That is SOOOOO darn cute! You are a hard worker! I love it. I was totally impressed by the pickable apples. Great job. Your niece is very lucky.

Melanie@TheOldWhiteCottage said...

This is adorable! Nice thing about it is that you can just fold it up and store it. I'm always looking to reduce kid clutter. ;-)

Great job!

Katherine said...

Fabulous! I think I'd like to move in - that's one beauty of a cottage and I'm in love with the "pickable" garden. What a wonderful and creative auntie you are!

KitschKrafts said...

Okay, this is one of the cutest things I have EVER SEEN!!!! I am thinking my little guy may like something like this when he gets older and now I have to come up with some boy friendly stuff to dec it all out! I am truly inspired by this project and your creative take with the pockets and velcro- so clever!