July 25, 2012
Our shoebox dollhouse
Stuart has taken up running, which is exciting, and means that he bought a new pair of shoes. Also that Harriet was crabby on Saturday while Stuart was out for his run and I was making dinner, and so I distracted her by proposing that we build a shoebox dollhouse. And naturally, the first step was to consult the internet. We found these instructions, and got to work, painting the walls, selecting the wallpaper (which was origami paper). As with every physical object I’ve ever created (except for Harriet), the result is a little bit sloppy. I think the creator of the prototype was a perfectionist, while I am a half-ass-est, and they also didn’t use old kitchen rags for flooring. I don’t think I’m going to be sewing tiny throw cushions either or a bedskirt, but I’m still quite thrilled with the result and Harriet is forbidden to colour on it or put stickers on it. (I am absolutely no fun). I did knit a tiny bedspread (and incidentally, we’ve taken to referring to bedspreads as counterpanes ever since we learned what a counterpane was). We still want to make a few more things– a bookshelf, a clock. Note the lace curtains, and the cool posters in the bedroom. Anyway, Harriet has enjoyed playing with it, even while restricted from sticker putting-onning. And I’m just a little bit in love with the dollhouse too.
Don’t tell me that you made that lovely thing WHILE making the dinner. A half-ass-est would not be capable of that.
I love it! I think every child needs a dollhouse–a tiny world that s/he can completely control (except for stickers, which is a very reasonable rule). It’s so satisfying when one is small, and excellent training for story-telling/writing. I was obsessed with my dollhouse until an age too advanced to admit!
I love this — my dollhouse was my favourite toy as a child. I remember making tiny picture frames with wooden matches…this brought it all back.