Playhouses are for sharing!

After sharing my daughter Sophie's playhouse that her father and I built (see this post) - and having it featured in the pages of Flea Market Style - I continue to receive many kind comments and letters from readers who have been inspired to create similar little houses for their children. In fact, in recent months, I have received letters and photos from three readers who did more than dream as they put their hammers to use to build, renovate and/or repurpose playhouses for their own children (and grandchildren!). I am pleased to share some photos of these sweet, little houses and perhaps you might catch "playhouse fever" and think about building one of your own for your children!

For those who might be new here, this is Sophie's playhouse:

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Now, first up is the charming playhouse Tammy R. and her husband "renovated" for their daughter, Riley.

Tammy writes:

"I found your site over a year ago and fell in love with Sophie's playhouse. It has been my inspiration to do something similar. When we bought our home, it had a little playhouse (that had seen better days). I hated it and wanted my husband to use it for firewood. Instead he stored firewood in it.  Once I saw Sophie's playhouse on your blog, however, my mind starting racing and thought about all the wonderful things I could do with this existing playhouse that I once wanted burned. I coaxed my husband into relocating this playhouse via tractor to a more desired location. Now, near completion, everyone that sees it absolutely loves it! I want to thank you for the inspiration and I know Riley will have so many great memories."

Next, Penny W. is happy to share images of the adorable playhouse she and her husband built for their three grandchildren. (I sure hope the handyman and I are as energetic when we have grandchildren some day!):

Penny's grandchildren:

Finally, Dorcy C. shared photos of the playhouse she and her husband repurposed for their daughters.

She writes:

My oldest daughter, Kenzie, and I were on our way to the arboretum for some one-on-one time when we passed a house under renovation with this beat-up shed on the property. The shed had a large window that would be perfect for the two girls' cottage. We jumped out of the car to look at it and proceeded to ask one of the workers if the shed was going to stay with the house. He informed me that the homeowner had just given orders to demo the old shed. STOP!!! I called a million places to get it moved from the ivy-covered hill it was sitting on to our back yard. My husband said to forget about it - it would never happen...We showed him! We worked through the winter to paint it (not an easy paint job) and to replace the window and door (salvaged historic door and crystal doorknob). We are still in the process of "yucking it up"...adding odds and ends - but I couldn't wait to share it! And my mom and I made the fireplace!

And Dorcy's lucky girls:

 

Thanks to Tammy, Penny and Dorcy for sharing their new playhouses!!

Another Pretty Playhouse...

One day last week, I received an email from a reader who had been inspired by Sophie's playhouse and embarked on a mission to create on for her own daughters. While I am flattered that she found inspiration with mine/Sophie's, I think this reader (Angie W.) has oodles of talent up her own sleeves! Here is her letter, and some photos and details on how she created her own adorable little playhouse:

Dear Linda,

I hope you don't mind, but we used your playhouse as a ''model'' for our own -- the kitchen, the bed, even the star outside! You should sell the plans! After a couple of months, ours is finally complete. My girls are thrilled. I'm not sure who likes it most -- the girls or me?

Thanks again for the inspiration,
Angie

Cribnotes:

Well, we cheated a bit because we ended up hiring a carpenter! My husband is pretty handy and thought he could do it, but he works 6 days a week and didn't know when he'd have the time to commit to it.
We had a friend paint it. He is a high school art teacher. He also built the window boxes and shutters.
We made it 6x8 plus the porch.
But all the ideas were mine and yours!!

Also, my 88-year-old grandmother made all the curtains, tie backs, valance and the kitchen counter skirt and bed spread and chair cushions.

I found a vintage pink chenille bedspread on ebay for $30. She was able to use it to make all those things, except the curtains were made of polka dot fabric we found at a quilt store.

Took your ''sink'' idea and used the stainless steel bowl. I went to a plumbing supply store and they let me search their discard aisle and I found the faucet and knobs for FREE! We also scored the wood flooring for free. It was leftover from some of the houses my husband buys and remodels.
Scored the little pink message board at Goodwill for $1.50.

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Isn't this an amazing little house? I am so happy when readers share their great make-overs. I bet Angie's little girls are the envy of the neighbourhood!!

Really, who doesn't love a playhouse?!!

Congratulations, Angie, to you and your husband on a job well done, and thank you for sharing it with us all!

Enchanted Garden...

You know I live me some Ohdeedoh! Honestly, it's getting to be a real problem that my kids are growing up so quickly! I mean, I can't try out all the great kid's products and baby gear, nor can I entertain the notion of designing a retro modern nursery anymore for my offspring.

But this?

This I can do:

This is not your ordinary garden... no, no! This appeals to the side of me that installs fairy doors outside (and inside) my home. This is a miniature garden; and after surveying my garden yesterday - eyeing all the weeding, watering, mowing and dead-heading that needs to be done - and a miniature garden sounds pretty sweet to me!! Looks easy, too! A little trip to the Dollar Store, a quick rifling through old toy containers, and a little pinching from Sophie's Barbie house, and I might have myself the makings of an adorable, maintenance- free garden.

What's that? You know just the spot for it?

Me, too!

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**top two images, Ohdeedoh.com. Read more about these miniature gardens there!

bottom photo, Sophie's playhouse

The Girl in me...

I played in this on Sunday:

I wasn't exaggerating when I told you that the play house is as much mine as my daughter's! I decided to poke my nose into it to make sure it was wintering well (and it was) and when Sophie caught wind of what I was doing she duly followed me inside. Although it was fairly cold, we had a lovely little meal of (plastic) spaghetti and meat sauce, replete with crusty bread and smoothies. She tossed in some plastic strawberries and cherries into her toy blender, and within seconds we were (pretend) sipping on a seriously delicious drink. I held her baby while she cooked and the sun coming in the peak's window warmed me as I pretended to eat and care for my toy grandchild. I didn't feel at all silly, as the joy she got from rediscovering her playhouse was contagious. She had forgotten this, and had wondered where that had been...she was in her element.

And I was in mine.

Twenty cold toes later (we took off our boots to protect her hardwood floors - like every good Canadian does), and we headed inside for some real hot chocolate.

The next day, when the sky was dropping snow and freezing rain upon us, she asked if we could do it all over again...

The grown-up in me declined.

I don't particularly like frozen toes...

So I "ate" this instead:

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If you want to see the rest of Sophie's playhouse, go here!