It was Ellie's birthday this past week, and when we asked her what she wanted, she said, "Dollhouse!" We found a pink Kidcraft one at our favorite thrift store for $20, and worked on it for a couple days. It was a lot of work, and a lot of fun - and I think Ritter might be the one who is most excited about it. He and Nuelie have been talking for over a year about making one for the girls!
One of my favorite illustrators is Carson Ellis, and her book Home is just beautiful. After going to several paper stores looking for appropriate wallpaper, I decided to use its pages to transform the dollhouse.
We also got some handmade Nepalese paper, and wrapping paper with Moroccan designs.
Laying things out to see how they go together!
I'm going to frame the pages that I didn't use and put them up in the girls' room. Their room reveal is next week!
Modpodge is great for this kind of work.
Three floors done.
It always feels weird for me to cut up books, but I figure this way the kids can see its pages every day?
I want to be Carson Ellis...
I definitely used some of my bookmaking skills here.
Love it. After the work was done, I took it outside to our yard when my kids came back from school, and they got to play with it! Today we have highs of 78 degrees, and many of our cherry blossoms are already out. Is winter over? I don't understand...
Ellie is so happy about her dollhouse. Bella is a little cautious, but we encouraged her that it is just as much hers as it is Ellie's. Hopefully they love it for many years!
Some of the furniture came with it when we bought it, and we also got some from Ikea. We have one of the carpets that comes in one furniture set, and also have the bookcase.
This bed expands!
Just in case you couldn't tell, that is her face of pure happiness.
This couch is part of another furniture set from Ikea, but the cover is hot pink. It just didn't go with the colors of the house so I deconstructed the pink one and cut out the parts to sew a new one with denim and some Nigerien fabric.
The little ceramic vases are from Korea.
My son and his K-pop hairstyle. He and his dad are getting haircuts tomorrow!
A tiny Hagia Sophia from Ritter's travels.
"Look mommy, I can sit on it!"
