Finally - the dollhouse is ready

Finally the doll house is ready! In the end I decided to go for a book shelf and decorate it with Marimekko paper to arrange different rooms. I bought the kitchen, the bathroom, the baby room and the dolls from Lundby. But I must say I am a bit disappointed. They are not very sturdy. The mother doll is already broken. For a kids toy this is not a very good start. The bedroom interior is from Muji. And the bedlinen made by myself from Marimekko fabric (I love their bold patterns). I also used several mini designer chairs (you can get them at the Page One book shop here in Hong Kong). Last not least I have sewn a leather sofa and created a table out of a piece of wooden flooring sample and clothes pegs. Coasters are serving as rugs. My daughter got it for Christmas and loved it!

DIY: Easter bunny box

Source: origamispirit.com

Here is a little DIY project for the Easter holidays. It's a gorgeous little rabbit box in origami style. You can find the instructions for it here: origami-bunny-box.
Happy Easter!!

DIY: Stamps for printing on fabric

This was last weekend's project. I made a stamp from foam craft sheet and a piece of wood and then used it for printing on a shirt purchased at Muji.

For the stamp you just need to cut the shape out of the foam board and then you glue it onto a flat piece of wood in the same size. Once the glue is properly dried you can use your new stamp and fabric paint and decorate your shirt etc. 

Free printables for download

Source: mrprintables.com

Look what I've just found! Free printable ABC flash cards. They also have other free downloads. Just check it oout over here.

DIY playhouse for my daughter

We finished the playhouse today. It's made of four sides of a playpen we were no longer using. I just added a cardboard roof and threaded a blanket through the sides of the playpen. On top of the roof I placed another blanket. And for more comfort I used a big cushion as flooring. Just added a bit of decoration and here we go...
My daughter loves it! Especially putting her toys and books inside and then closing the door. It's her little hut.

Dollhouse "made lovely"

Source: http://makingitlovely.com/2011/12/15/a-dollhouse-made-lovely/

I just came across this adorable doll house. Nicole Balch from http://makingitlovely.com/ has made this piece for her daughter. I wish I could make a similar one one day for my little girl. I have already started collecting miniature design chairs which I want to use for it one day...

DIY leather baby shoes

Browsing through my favourite winter decoration book (Dezembertage) I saw golden leather shoes for babies and was hooked at first sight. But I looked everywhere and I couldn't find any in the shops. So I finally decided to make my own. I found this super easy pattern Baby Shoe Pattern and golden leather was also not too difficult to get hold of. And then I only needed to find out whether my sewing machine was able to get through the leather. But to my astonishment it was not a problem at all. Easy! And since I used leather you don't have struggle with lining or anything. The shoes were ready in less than an hour! 

Christmas fun with the little ones

Have some fun with Christmas preparations this year and get the little ones involved! Cookie cutting, using stamps for decorating, playing with dough, smelling spices, checking out the Christmas decoration... just let them try one of them for a start! Fun is guaranteed!

DIY: Storage boxes

I was looking for nice storage boxes for the girl's room. But somehow I didn't want to spend a fortune and then in the end I made some by myself. I used five rectangular pieces (around 30x30 cm) of thick felt for each box. You can decorate the felt with applique or iron-on decorations or just embroider it. I have simply sewn the sides to the bottom and then closed the side seams. You can decide wether you want to fold the edges over or not. It adds a little more stability to the boxes.

Showcase your little artist's work

Since the little one has started her playgroup she brings home all these cute art pieces. I have simply put a sisal ribbon around the mirror in the dining room and wooden clothes-pegs keep the art work in place. You can easily add more pieces or remove and rearrange them...

DIY: Umbrella Shirt

Remember that I showed you the super cute umbrella jumper by Bobo? I bought a plain grey shirt from H&M and then used some wool for felting to make the umbrella. I just stitched the wool onto the shirt. Afterwards I used warm water and soap to prefelt the wool. A round in the washing machine did the rest. Now we have our own cool umbrella shirt!

DIY: Necklace for your little princess

This little necklace is ready in a few minutes. All you need is a nice ribbon and a leftover piece of leather. Cut the leather into a nice shape e.g. a flower, a leaf or an animal etc. Then punch a hole into the leather shape (with the paper punch), lead the ribbon through the hole, make a tight dot to close the ribbon and here you go! Make sure that you don't leave your toddler unattended wearing the necklace as they could strangle themselves.

Advent calendar

My mum in law has made this gorgeous Advent calendar for our 18 month old daughter. Now I am thinking of what to put in it. Healthy little snacks such as raisins and other dried fruit seem perfect. Maybe some cookies (it's Christmas time after all) and some little toys...

I already bought some stamps because she loves them so much and small pretzels will be in the pockets too and also some lady fingers and as said before the raisins. Now I have only eight pockets left over. Let's see what I can get for them...

Cool jumper with umbrella

Source: Bobo choses

I am in love with this little jumper. I was considering to make one for my daughter. Just need to find a plain grey jumper first. Maybe H&M or ZARA? And GAP is going to open in Hong Kong soon. Need to check out what they have for babies...

Babyshoooooooooooes

Source: http://www​.inhabitot​s.com/2010​/02/21/5-s​weet-pairs​-of-baby-s​hoes-for-g​reen-babie​s/

Source: http://cra​ftyfrugals​.wordpress​.com/craft​s/

Source: http://www​.makeandta​kes.com/cr​ochet-baby​-booties

Source: http://ww​w.bellaonl​ine.com/ar​ticles/art​4312.asp

Source: http://swe​etirieorig​inals.blog​spot.com/2​009_05_01_​archive.ht​ml

Source: http://tin​ydecorblog​.com/blog/​?paged=37

Source: http://www​.karinerik​sson.se/bl​og/

Lot's of super cute handmade babyshoes. Just follow the links under the pictures to go to the instructions on how to make them yourself. For the first pair I found instructions on Martha Stewart: Martha Stewart - Instructions. But you better get started before the little one is there or you end up like me who collected all these fabulous instructions but never found the time to make any. And by now the little girl already wears real shoes...

Great garlands

Via: http://www.ariadneathome.nl/ideeengids-menu/dierenslinger/

Via: http://emmas.blogg.se/2009/july/

Two great garlands for the nursery. They are both DIY projects. For the first one you need your sewing machine and a few pieces of  fabric. For the second one all you need is paper and a bit of origami knowledge and of course a bit of patience. Don't they both look gorgeous?!

Bird cushions & Co

Via: http://gallery.apartmenttherapy.com/photo/052909francesnursery/item/42767

Via: http://purlbee.squarespace.com/sewn-bird-ornaments/

Via: http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/10/31/sewnnatural-zebra/

If you like sewing these are some great toys and cushions to make. Purlbee has loads of great DIY projects. But you can also buy those kinds of cushions of course. E.g. Etsy is a great place to look for them.

Cute mobiles

Via: http://www.kltworks.com/index.php?PAGE=7

Via: http://174.37.197.188/~giftsdef/category_11/deco-mobile.htm

Via: http://www.bambinogoodies.co.uk/make-your-own-bird-mobile/

Here come a few mobiles with bird themes. The first two are handmade and can be bought and the last one is a DIY project. I think they are all super cute! Also check out the other mobiles of the two shops. Very wonderful stuff!

Lovely DIY projects

Via: http://www.ariadneathome.nl/ideeengids-menu/knuffeldeken/

Via: http://emmas.blogg.se/2009/july/

Via: http://www.livingathome.de/essen_geniessen/sosimple/kinder/?seite=4

Via: http://www.livingathome.de/essen_geniessen/sosimple/kinder/?seite=6

A few little DIY projects from a Dutch and a German magazine. If you can't understand Dutch or German you can try the Google translator (http://translate.google.com/). You can enter text or just the link to the page and it will show you the page in English, very cool!
But now to the DIY projects. Isn't the baby blanket gorgeous? And I love the kids' yogurt deco lights. What a simple and fab idea! The second project doesn't have a description, so you have to become creative yourself. Buy some wire and make a heart shape wire hanger. Then get a nice shawl or sew a piece of nice fabric and decorate it over the hanger. The last project is about cute fabric covered hangers. I always wanted to make some but somehow haven't got to it yet...

Mushroom Soup

Via: http://www.inhabitots.com/2009/08/11/reusable-vinyl-free-fabric-wall-stickers-by-mae/mae-fabric-wall-stickers-4/

Via: http://www.ariadneathome.nl/ideeengids-menu/opruim-paddenstoel/

 Via: http://www.wallpaperdirect.co.uk/products/ferm-living/mushroom-soup/71620

Via: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=40754780

Via: http://www.panik-design.com/acatalog/Ferm_Living_Kids_-_Mushroom_Wall_Sticker__Red_.html

Mushrooms have been a favourite theme of mine for a while. They have this fairytaly "Little Red Riding Hood" touch. And are a nice diversion of the animal theme. I was so in love with the Ferm Living wallpaper that I made a potatoe printed wallpaper for my daughter's nursery (see below). It's now covering the not so beautiful door of her nursery.