doll suitcase

UPDATE: Since posting this I have made two more interchangeable rooms - a kitchen and bedroom - and posted a step-by-step tutorial on how I made it. Would you like to make your own?

Come check out the full tutorial!

I already showed you Dolly, but now she has a place to call home, and some cute new clothes to boot! I had so much fun making this, but I have to say that I got majorly burned out whipping this up so quickly for the Christmas time crunch. I had even grander plans but they will have to wait for when I get another burst of motivation. But I digress, let me show you inside...

Welcome to the living room! The only room in the house for now. I made the back panel interchangeable so eventually I can make a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, etc. and the panel would just need to be switched out and voila! you are playing in a different part of the house! 

Everything was sewn onto one big piece of fabric which was glued around a piece of poster board cut to fit. My vintage suitcase (which I bought at the thrift store for $2) had this handy ruffle edging to pop the panel behind.

But is Dolly home you ask?

Why, yes! She is tucked away in the basement with her wardrobe waiting to be dressed up and played with! The 'floor' lifts up to reveal her hiding place. I used foam board for the floor to make it more sturdy.

        You may notice I never gave her a face..truth be told I was scared to mess up and then several people told me they liked her without a face and I tend to agree with them. This way she isn't just sleepy or happy all of the time, but any emotion you want to imagine!

I managed to make her four dresses, a coat, a purse, a scarf, and a pair of moccasins before my big burn out (I still need to add little snaps on the dresses and coat). I'll probably end up making some more summery things when the weather gets warmer, and if I get my act together I'll share my patterns with you since that is the part that takes the longest. 

Here she is showing off her favorite outfits:

Dolly is already getting lots of love and it will be fun to add to her house and possibly get her some furniture bit by bit. If you want to try this out the possibilities really are endless... 

I am really happy with how it turned out. And the fun part is that if the Little Miss wants to take Dolly with her to Grandma's house she is already packed up and ready to go!

a look back

Looking back on 2010 I have so much to be grateful for and a lot of reasons I am truly blessed! 

It was a year filled with many 'firsts' for the Little Miss which were so fun to watch and I fell in love with being a mom more than ever before.

I couldn't ask for a better stay-at-home job than my etsy shop - I've never had more fun 'working' and appreciate all the support I've received, especially from Husband. 

I checked a goal off my list and learned how to crochet granny squares.

I loved being able to spend many afternoon nap times sewing fun clothes from vintage patterns.

We announced that we're expecting baby #2 and couldn't be happier about it!

We celebrated the Little Miss' 2nd birthday...

 ...with a music themed party - she is growing up so fast!

I started documenting my baby bump progress.

We found out we are having another sweet little girl! Yay!

I had a slight obsession with felt which I used for handmade Christmas gifts (more to come on that).

I am also grateful for the creative outlet this blog gives me (thanks for stopping by and being a part of it and welcome if you're new!).  I'm looking forward to sharing our happenings in 2011 - Happy New Year!

gifted

...for her...

...and for me...

I am looking forward to the day we can actually wear these. She is currently too little, and I am currently too big. 

(vintage dress for her found on ebay, for me thrifted)

holiday highlights

Hello! We just got back from our holiday travels which were so nice. I hope you had a lovely Christmas this year, ours was wonderful! I didn't end up taking many pictures but here are a few of the highlights I did manage to capture...

On Christmas Eve we opened our traditional family game. This year it was Chutes and Ladders which was fun. (However, locking the keys in the car while doing last minute stocking stuffer shopping and picking up dinner, not as much fun. Let's hope that doesn't become a tradition!)

On Christmas morning the Little Miss unveiled her big surprise, a play kitchen equipped with lots of food and pots and pans.  Now there is finally a proper home for her melamine dishes, yay! This was a big hit - she spent the rest of the morning cooking us meals and making us sip pretend cups of juice.

I got the Le Creuset pot of my dreams and Husband unexpectedly got the gaming headset of his dreams. That was actually a gift for both of us as now when he plays his games I get some peace and quiet instead of war background noises. Much better.

Then we headed down to be with the in-laws for some more Christmas fun. The Little Miss made her first graham cracker gingerbread house with her cousins. She did such a good job! We also got to spend a lot of time playing outside since it was much warmer there and that was a present in and of itself. All in all we were spoiled and loved, what more could you ask for? :)

I have just a bit more to finish up on her doll gift and then I'll share that with you too!

Did you get what you asked for this year?

merry christmas!

I was way too optimistic in what I could get done this weekend with a cold. It especially hit me hard yesterday. Be glad you can't hear my voice right now. It reminds me of the time I lost my voice in college. I went to my physics class and it just so happened to be the day that the cutest boy in class sat right next to me! He started talking to me and when I opened my mouth to reply a scary raspy old man voice came out. I was so mortified! Needless to say I didn't make a lasting impression on him, ha!

So, in light of the fact that the Little Miss and I are still in recovery mode, and I am still hoping to get a few more things done before we travel this week (like actually wrapping our presents) I will be signing off early for the holidays. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! :)

the sick bug paid us a visit

The past few days we've been tucked away at home since the Little Miss woke up with a fever and congestion mid-week. It snuck up on us and put a hold on life, but I'm not complaining since I don't mind snuggling on the couch and rubbing her cute little feet (she's just like her mama). And now I am starting to feel a tickle in my throat so the weekend might turn out to be just as quiet as the week has been - I'm hoping not though since we have two Christmas parties to attend.

Thankfully her fever broke this morning. We are still taking it easy, but rather than stay inside one more day we did make it out for a short fat quarter run this morning. If I am going to be sick I wanted to be surrounded with everything I need to finish up her doll gift.

And buying fabric always seems to make me feel better so it was therapeutic!

While laying on the couch this week I spent some time sketching up wardrobe ideas. Some of them I already have finished in felt, but this weekend I'll be taking time to sew up the rest of Dolly's wardrobe using fabric, that and I need to start on her home sweet home.

Seems like everyone is sick right now, but if you are not I hope the sick bug skips your house! I better get a move on since for us Christmas is only 7 days away! We are celebrating on Christmas Eve since we will be traveling on Christmas Day. Have a lovely weekend!

dolly

Hopefully she will have a face soon, and hopefully the Little Miss will want to call her Dolly because I sort of love that name for her :)

 I am working on finishing up the last handmade gift I am giving the Little Miss for Christmas this year - a doll. I woke up at 6 am with my mind brim full of ideas of what I could do to give her a smashing wardrobe and even a place to call home. By the time I am finished I think it will end up being more of a gift for me than for her since I am having so much fun making everything!

Other than that I only have a couple more gifts to buy and then my Christmas shopping will be done! I am doing pretty well with not stressing this holiday season. Hope you are too!