Reading corners

Alongside the need to get an alphabet poster for Hannah now, it's also time to set into motion a plan I've had from the day she was born...

A Reading Corner!

I blogged about the above reading nook space way back and the image has been seared into my brain... but no corners behind our doors to create a private, magical world for her escapes up the Faraway Tree. And she's too young to want to read on her own for hours like I remember doing when I was about 7.

So I Flickr-ed for inspiration....

Flickr sewinsight

Flickr moline

Flickr Vintage Pleasures

Flickr Two Straight Lines

Flickr cawalla1

Flickr RoegersSofierik

Flickr Veronica TM

Or you can go all out and create a special (expensive project) for your precious ones, like what Flickr: frecklesreggie did:



But with a budget of $0.00, I wanted to create a special place for her in our study. Previously her Step 2 table just kinda sat nowhere. After sleeping on the idea for 2 days, working out placements and trying out one other arrangement, I hit on an idea which I put into place last night and am reasonably happy with it. I dragged out her bookcase from her bedroom (she only ventures in there to sleep) and stole her foam sofa from the living/TV area (gotta replace it with something else)...

Before: (quite an old shot)


After:


She's outgrowing that table, so I'd really like to get her a desk... but the table's nice for when her friends come, although that's not frequent... Anyone got a secondhand/used Step 2 Master Activity Desk to sell? (I'm in Melbourne, Australia...)

Update since writing this: The next morning, the first thing Hannah did was drag that foam sofa out back to the TV area... which was okay since I'd just scored an Ikea Egg chair... and I like the look of it now :) Also dragged out an Ikea lamp from the recesses of our storage...



What about a bright round rug huh?

Alphabet posters

It's Saturday morning, the sun is shining, had a bad night of sleep cos of Hannah's inability to fall asleep by herself again... so the family is rewarding me with a thrifting spree that starts in 15 mins. But I did want to rush here to wish you:

Have a great weekend!! Blessings!!

Any alphabet/ABC poster discussion has to begin with a poster I have been dying to own: BlueAntStudio's fantastic mod chairs poster which I blogged about back in October 2007. We never had an ABC poster growing up that I remember... I have to have it.



Hannah's just turned three... it's time for her to start reading. So I've been looking at ABC posters on Etsy:

Etsy seller StephanieFizer

Etsy seller CreativeNeesh

Etsy seller and well known graphic illustrator Kerry Beary

Etsy seller calobee

Etsy seller monkeypowered (limited edition posters)

Etsy seller englishmuffinshop

Etsy seller catherine08

Etsy seller AlphabetLove

But I do have some problems with them, only in relation to the fact that Hannah is only three years and 2 weeks old:

1. Shipping to Australia from US/UK/Canada for me is so prohibitive!

2. Some of the pictures for the letters do not help. For instance, "G for Gift"... when she knows the picture as "Present". Or "A for Armadillo" when she has never seen that animal (not in Australia). Or "V for violin" when she insists the picture is "Guitar".

3. The lower case and upper case mix up of the letters is not consistent and really confuses the poor child's brain. I studied education at uni and we were taught to teach lower case before upper case first.

4. Different fonts... simple and clearly recognised/read ones are best. Not that I don't appreciate different fonts myself... I am a fontaholic with a collection of over 2000 fonts.

This one is best for Hannah:

I love this one from Etsy seller oliveryaphe

I'll just oversticker
"R for Rooster" with a picture of a "Ring" (Cos she sees it as "chicken". She is only JUST turned three!)
"I for Iguana" with a picture of an "Ice cream"
and "Q for Quail" with a picture of a "Queen" or "Quiche".

I think I'll have to get her a yo-yo, to introduce this iconic growing up toy of the 80s to a baby of the 21st century!

Just thought I'd add a letterpress alphabet poster by Etsy seller sycamorestreetpress sinceI am madly in love with letterpress products. (Pity all the gorgeous letterpress stuff on Etsy are also in US/UK.) So I love this poster but I do think it's an adult version one (not enough pictures!)



I am looking to design my own... or cave in and get that one from oliveryaphe...

A Dollhouse Inspired: Barbie & Me

I can't afford my favourite dollhouse ever.

The Bozart Kaleidoscope House

Or the M112 Pod, my second favourite dollhouse, ever.

The M112 Pod, via Mini Modern

But I did pick up this Barbie dollhouse for Hannah for $8.50 at the local Salvos about a year or two ago. It's got almost no furniture left, stickers are in the wrong spot and the front door and fold out counter is missing. No Barbie doll either. (But the phone and microwave work...)



I didn't think I could make this into something designer-esque, although I have been dying to get my own modern dollhouse (adult only!).

But mazzie22 has shown me the error of my ways! I found her Flickr set this morning and am particular inspired by how she's changed hers.

Look, look look!









I'm so inspired. Watch this space as I steal this underused Barbie house to designer-esque it up!

Speaking of ultra inspiration to Barbie homes, check out Haute Doll's photographer Michael Williams a.k.a. mawphoto's EXCELLENT Jonathan Adler-esque Barbie home!















And of course, to celebrate Barbie's 50th Anniversary, he was invited to the Barbie House, designed and decorated by extraordinaire designer, Jonathan Adler! And here are photos of the Barbie house:


You can't see this here... but that sunburst mirror above the fireplace is made from Barbie dolls!


And those chandeliers are made from Barbie hair!

Barbie & Jonathan Adler photos by Michael Williams/Haute Doll Magazine

Lolly's Citadel on eBay

One of my favourite modern, mid-century feel dollhouses is on eBay! The Lolly's Citadel, from Lolly's Dollhouse going for a disappointing (for me) US$750...



Until now, closeups and pictures of the interior have been non-existent!



Of course, this one isn't as perfect. It's been used/played and I'd reckon the winner will have to restore it to mid-century glory!




See the mezzanines!

Imagine the possibilities!








4 days more!
Bid for it here!

Blogposts to read:
Modern Dollhouses and Miniatures
Dream Doll House
Mini Modern



Update: CallSmall bought this at an offer price of $400! Can't wait to see what she does with it. First things first... rip off old musty carpet.