Barbie Chairs

My sisters and I were taught by our Mother at a very young age to use what you've got.  My Barbie house when I was a child had washrag beds, Tupperware bathtubs, homemade clothing and homemade furniture.  My Mom made lots of stuff for us.  And so it seems I picked up that trait.  One specific item she made for our Barbie house was chairs from cardboard salt containers.  You can get two chairs out of one container if you cut it right.  I searched my semi-hoarding stash at the day care of recycled items and found a large oatmeal box and two salt boxes.  We peeled the labels off and I traced lines then cut them out.  I ended up with two large chairs, two small chairs and two bar stools!  The problem was deciding how to decorate each one. 

 

Oddly enough, I browsed the internet for ideas and couldn't find much.  I found one pattern for the chairs for sale on etsy and one picture on a blog that someone had made.  Do people not know about this? I felt I had to share to get the word out there better.  So feel free to pin any of the pictures to Pinterest.  Just reference back here so they can see how they are made. 

 

Anyway!  I used my famous glitter glue, mod podge and paint.  I also made cushions for each one.  I found a wonderful tutorial for pouffes.  They are actually for humans and are fabulous.  But I used the tutorial and inspiration and made several Barbie chair sized ones.  They are so easy.  I only used my sewing machine on one of them... it's the tackiest one!

 

Making a new bottom from an old cereal box.

Making paper roll legs for the bar stools.

Reinforcing with popsicle sticks for strength.

Looks like they are for sale in the gypsy boutique!

The complete lot of them!  I can't decide which is my favorite.

HERE is where I learned to make the Pouffes.



5 things

Before I fortunately opened my very own child care center, I worked at a job that I didn't particularly like.  There were some parts of it that were okay but I do remember crying in the car when I would hit the exit ramp to begin my day at my job.  To brighten my spirits I came up with "5 Things".  I would take a post it note or a small piece of paper each Monday morning and write down 5 things that I was thankful for.  I posted the list in plain view so that I could refer back to it all week long.  Amazingly enough it did make me feel better several times during the week or whenever I would look at it. 

After the week was over I would take down my list and tape it into my journal.  I have enjoyed looking back at the 5 things I was thankful for each week.  The lists remind me of times that I may have stored somewhere in the back of my mind. 

Just in the last few weeks at the day care I have begun this routine again.  I am not currently unhappy with my job.  I simply remembered glancing at the lists throughout each week and thought I'd bring it back into my life.  And now I am sharing it with you.  Try it.  You may find that you have a ton to be thankful for and smile at your life more.

My messy Monday morning.  I taped the list right on my cabinet door at eye level.

literally on the library hold shelf

I haven't done one of these in a while.  Doesn't mean I stopped going to the library!  I haven't been much in to reading novels lately but yesterday I came across a list of books and picked a couple that the library had.  They aren't far, one in Madison and one in Inglewood, so maybe they will get here by Saturday when I go to yoga.  I haven't watched many movies since my Wes Anderson click... I'm still not over the Moonrise Kingdom movie and I've rented it three times.  I wanted to rent Raising Hope which is a TV on DVD thing but they don't have it.  I settled for My Name is Earl and also found a Carol Burnett dvd there.  Our new station on TV that airs older shows actually shows Carol Burnett reruns but it comes on pretty late.  The other book Pretty Happy by Kate Hudson I am hoping will be a "feel good" book.  I just love her... probably because of who her parents are but she is precious!  I have been on the wait list for this one for a good while but I'm now #1 next in line for it!  Have a good weekend!!!



Boho Barbie Shop

Help!  It seems my blog is turning into everything Barbie!  Which realistically probably appeals to no one but myself.  But hey...  I'm having fun.  Yesterday I had the chance to really work on the next Barbie retail space.  I wanted to do a clothing store because it would force me to learn how to make clothing for Barbies which scares me.  I can sew but this seems way different.  I actually tried to use elastic last night and wound up making a dress, skirt and top.  I got so frustrated.  I need to find a good youtube tutorial.  Anyway, I put my box together last Friday, painted it Tuesday, rummaged through my fabrics Tuesday night and really worked on it Wednesday.  I am loving it!.  One of these days I am going to make a space that I don't want anyone to touch.  I may be there now.

 

I got real bummed after I painted the walls.  They looked more like a dance studio to me.  I didn't get inspired until I found the fabric in my stash for the dressing room curtains.  I've had the fabric for more than twelve years.  It's floppy, hard to sew and doesn't fray.  I glued it to make the curtain pockets.  Perfecto!

I used the wood grain contact paper for the floor and cut squares alternating the grain.



The dressing room before the curtain.  I made the mirror out of some packing from Shaun's new Bluetooth ear phones.

 

WaaLaa!

I made these other mirrors from a tissue box.  I accidentally bought the Puffs kind with Vicks in it and when they were gone on Tuesday I saw that the inside of the box was lined with reflective cardboard.  Score!  I used the tissue oval opening as my template.

The artwork thus far is from the back of an old calendar where they show you what's inside the calendar before you buy it.

I made these sloppy crates from pre-colored popsicle sticks and the baskets from empty applesauce cups and hot glued yarn on one and twine on the other.

I am very happy with the counter.  I used clear plastic from packaging and the mirror top from the tissue box.  There's the other basket.

The paper towel tube is a display for necklaces and bracelets that I have yet to make.  I like the dressing room sitting right there.  It is portable.

 

Top View.  I made the rugs too.  Some of them are just cut fabric.  Bohos like their rugs.

I glued another piece of mirror on top of this shelf to hide the plants.  It also has a hanging bar underneath the shelf for clothing.

Hopefully soon there will be some dresses hanging on the stobs there.

 

I made pillows last night too to put up for sale in the shop.  Soon it will be full of merchandise and ready for the grand opening!