For Christmas, Vivian asked for a Barbie doll house. So, Jonathan, my brother with wonderful carpentry skills, volunteered to make her one. After we got back from Colorado, Jonathan came into town for some R&R and to build the dollhouse. The morning after he arrived, he and I set out to find supplies to make the house. Vivian went to Nana’s house for the weekend to give us some time. Vivian also wanted a Barbie car and furniture, of course. So, I asked Jonathan to stop at Goodwill on our way to Target to see if I could find a Barbie car, or things I could use to outfit her house. Some people would cringe at this thought…not me. I would prefer to recycle and reuse rather than buy everything new. I did not find any furniture, but as we were rounding the aisle, lo and behold a pink and white wooden dollhouse exactly like the one Vivian asked for. I wanted something nice that I would not mind having in the living room. I did not want anything cardboard or plastic. I wanted something that would last.
The only thing wrong with it was that it had permanent marker in the attic and was missing its front door. Steven measured and cut a new front door and outfitted it with a new doorknob. He also primed and painted over the marker that was in the attic.
After:
We went to Target and bought a dining table, refrigerator and vanity set. A good friend already gave Vivian the bathroom set. I could not find any beds, so we made them. I went to Hobby Lobby and bought unfinished wood pieces and we made the bed and sofa. I also bought the princess crown wood cut out and some small dowel rods and ends to make curtain rods. I sewed curtains and made a comforter and pillow set. I also covered the sofa. Whew….that was a long evening! We had to have it all done before Vivian got back from Nana’s house. If you think making pint sized curtains and comforters would be the worse thing you ever had to do, check out this:
All these little parts to take apart and take out!
Look at all the waste it made!
Here is Jonathan helping place some of the furniture. He always has a funny sense of humor. He put the grandpa barbie doll in the smallest room close to the entertainment center so grandpa could see it. Lol….
What was really funny about Vivian discovering her present from Santa was, when she opened it up, she said “That smells like Kilz!”….hahahahahhaa….we used Kilz to cover the permanent marker. She is only 5. Can you tell that she has helped us renovate a house or two! Hahahahaha……………..
Vivian finding her Santa present
Instead of building a doll house with the supplies Jonathan brought, he turned it into a bookshelf for my room. Yay!!!! 🙂
Thanks Jon!
Andrea
Perpetual Renovator 
