my favorite and my best

Okay, as promised, I give you today my very favorite project ever.  It's the very best kind of creating--open-ended, purely for fun, child-like, and nearly free. 

Remember the diy dollhouse I told you about the other day?  Well, I gave it a go, and man, oh, man was it fun.  I turned it into a house for some of our best-loved and most read/watched characters:  Charlie and Lola...

 

Here they are in the kitchen... 

Not pink milk, alas, but cherry lemonade and cookies.  

And Charlie is eying dessert for this evening--a very attractive cake atop the fridge...

 

Lola's best friend Lotta should be ringing soon to come over and play.  We are waiting...

 

The living room is not terribly exciting.  Except for that big head on the wall...

 

This is Charlie's bedroom. 

He's fond of maps and globes right now, and has a guinea pig for a pet.  He dreams of one day getting a real surf-board with the Union Jack on it...

 

And here is Lola, hiding in her bedroom...

 

Where is she?  Oh, yes!...

 

Always lots of books at the ready, just like the little girls I know...

 

Also like the girls I know, she loves dolls...

 

and horses...

 

 

 

And that's that!  With huge thanks (and apologies!) to Lauren Child, creator of the wonderful Charlie and Lola books, among many others.

As I said, it was nearly free, since we have an awful lot of very tiny toys around here.  I made the Charlie and Lola dolls using iron-ons copied from books, and the paper for the walls I had laying around.  The pictures are cut from magazines.  The only thing I had to purchase was the foam-core board ($2.99, I think) and spray glue for the "wallpaper."

This was so totally fun for Sofie and me to put together.  I've been thinking about why it was so fun for me, and I think it's as I said at the beginning of the post--no expectations, purely for fun, room to be silly...I think I forget, sometimes, that you have to allow yourself those things to really enjoy creating.

I used the instructions at Cookie magazine for the walls.  There was one error in the instructions which was pretty easy to figure out, even for a math dunce like me.  But if anyone is interested in a tutorial, as their notes are pretty sparse, I would love to do one.  Just let me know!

I'm off to sub for the afternoon.  I hope you enjoyed the "home tour." 

Have a great one, all!

***

Update, Saturday, August 29:  

Hey, thanks so much for swinging by and visiting!  Just wanted to let you know that I will be posting a tutorial for the dollhouse tomorrow, August 30th.  So, if you are interested in making your own, stop back by and get the whole scoop! 

'Til then...xoxo.

***

Here's a link to the tutorial!  Hope you enjoy!

Comments

[Happy Find]

OMG... I absolutely LOVE it! What a fun project!

[erika]

Thanks for the tour, I enjoyed that very much, charlie and Lola are also favourites of ours. Always when I visit your blog I am so inspired,the girls and i love making these kind of projects, I can't wait for those rainy autumn days, perfect for crafting.

[Dawn]

OH....this is wonderful...we are BIG Lauren Child fans over here. Thanks so much for sharing....I LOVE IT :)

[Kari Anne]

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sunny]

I really, really like it!
So much that I'm going to try it too! I saw it last year somewhere and briefly considered it..but now after seeing your version, i HAVE to make one of my own! Great job! I love the little red phone on the wall!

[Tif]

oh, how my little heart went 'thumpity thump' as i toured your wee home... we are huge fans of 'charlie and lola' in our shed.
i smile greatly when i see my four children lined up watching it, knowing that even though they are aged 11 to 17, they still appreciate a good kids tv program when they see it :)

thanks for the hometour of your 'sweet sweet' dolls house...
Tif :)

[Carol]

This is probably the best doll house I have ever seen! Love it!

[liz]

LOVE IT!
not only is c&L my favorite (and my best) kids show/book ever, you used my favorite lola-ism for the title. so cool.
i am about to show these pics to my daughter and she'll flip, i just know it. so i guess i'd better make sure i've got some of these supplies too...
i love this!!

[liz]

yep - i was right -- she flipped for it.
now she's asking 'mama, how can WE get this dollhouse!?'
;)

[liane]

that is the cutest thing i've ever seen...how long did it take you to make? i thing i have to try something like this.

[Amy Hanson]

It was very quick and easy, liane! Took me Sunday morning to cut it and glue the paper, then Sunday afternoon we "decorated." It was great fun!

Thanks for your sweet comments everyone! And, as always, thank you for swinging by!

[Lorilee Kopp]

THIS is so RAD!!!! What a fun mama you are! And Lola loves Mole Music... that's my kind of girl ;o) I would totally make you a Charlie and Lola someday... all you have to do is ask.....

WOW... the pictures are great! The idea great! And the idea of having fun while creating with little if no expectations... you are my kind of lady.

[Jen]

This is adorable and wonderful and fun! Love all your details and creative touches, great idea for the dolls!

[Kellie]

This is fabulous. I think Lauren would be proud. The detail and the story is adorable. Fabulous work!

[jody]

this is amazing! we also love charlie and lola...I really want to do this with my little Lucy. please let me know if you do a tutorial...i would love it! I can't wait to start this. She will also flip!
xxooo

[Jacqueline]

This is such a pretty doll house and i LOVE Charlie and Lola!! Inspire me to wanna make a doll house too for me! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!

[Katherine]

Wow, came here via Bloesem Kids, this is a fantastic wee house! I love your blog header too, I had those houses when I was a kid.

[michele]

Would LOVE a tutorial Yes pLease it would by mY BesT anD mY FavouRite

[Under the Influence]

I love the house! Can you do the tutorial? I printed out the instructions from your link, but that's about as far as I got. My kids were excited about the idea of it, though, so I'd love to try.

[Jade]

oh my grace! that is awesome. we LOVE charlie and lola!

[nicole irvin]

Where did you get that beautiful mermaid paper??This is so inspirational!

[Leah]

Gorge! Just love it. Can't wait to show it to my daughter. We are all huge Charlie and Lola fans at our home and how much fun would this be! Also came here via Bloesem Kids, but I'll be back. :) Super cute stuff :)

[Lagniappe]

You are adorable :)

[Holly Keller]

So friggin brilliant! We love Charlie and Lola over at our house too--and your house design is so perfect. Funny, I;ve been thinking about making little doll houses lately--been trying to figure out the way to go about it so I could carry some in my shop...I love teeny so always am inclined to move in that direction. Anyway, love your design, Amy. Always bringing a smile to my face!

[Anja]

Would Love a tutorial! It's amazing! How much time did it cost you to find all that little stuf. Or was that a tour through you own house and find these?