Lots of stuff has been going on around here lately, so I thought I'd better get you up to speed.
I bought a new house. Mid-century two-story with a fabulous nursery.
Tin of course.
OK, I know this goes totally against the whole KonMari Method for de-cluttering thing I talked about in January (you know, don't buy things on a whim at the thrift store). But, $9.99.
Nine ninety-nine!!!
I almost didn't buy it because it is REALLY faded and in rough shape on the front side.
But the back side makes up for it.
And the side with the yellow roses on the trellis. Swoon.
The last dollhouse I bought I repurposed into a birdhouse. You can see what it looked like all decked out for Christmas also.
So not sure what I'll turn this one into, since it's only really good from the back side.
Any thoughts? Suggestions? Ideas?
Speaking of backsides, another fabulous thing I found this week were my balls.
I've been eyeing these little wool felt ball garlands for a while now.
Originally I thought I'd buy the wool and then felt it and then roll it into balls and then string it onto string. But you know what?
People sell them on Etsy!!!
Sometimes you just need to throw some money at it to save yourself time and effort (and they actually cost less than if I would have bought the wool and made them myself).
If you want to get your own balls - - - - > (affiliate links) Felt Ball Garland from The Rainbow Barn on Etsy
And my friend, Vickie at Ranger 911 sent me some stuff because she actually takes the KonMari Method a lot more seriously than I do.
Like this fabulous aqua/turquoise radio.
And luscious blue phone.
Can't you just see yourself laying on your pink ruffled bedspread talking to your boyfriend on this phone while twirling the cord around your fingers and giggling nervously.
In case you've never seen one before, you put your fingers in the round holes and turn them around to dial the phone. And it plugs into the wall!!!
You cannot, however, read your favorite blog on it.
Or stuff it in your purse.
Oh, and she included the deer and a few other things.
LOVE IT ALL!!!
And best of all my son is graduating from high school in a few weeks. And this mamma is terrified. Proud, but terrified.
And busy.
Have to order a cake, clean up the front porch, buy plants, maybe rent a tent . . .
It goes on and on.
What have you been up to?
(This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. You can read my full disclosure policy here.)
Lynda
OMG! I had a dollhouse like that when I was a child. Love it!
Pam
I just love all the little details they put in those houses. Carpeting, wallpaper, toys in the kids rooms. They really put a lot of thought into them!
Dee
I just had my husband crush my dollhouse that looks very similar to this . . . I still have the plastic furniture for it!!
Pam
No!!! Have you learned nothing from me? Throw away nothing. Save everything. 🙂
Jenny
Mail Pam the furniture!
Jamie
"Speaking of backsides, another fabulous thing I found this week were my balls."
Bahahah! I am dying laughing over here!
Pam
🙂
karen
envy alert...love that phone!
Pam
Isn't that adorable! Wonder if I can change the plugin from this big round thing to one of the modern day plugs.
VICKI YAWN ANDREWS
YEA!! I've been a little worried about you! 😉 So glad you did a spur of the moment love purchase!! When I first read New House Dilemmas, I thought wonder what's going to happen to her beautiful porch planters...hmmmm Then I remembered it wasn't all about me...haha! I love the dollhouse and remember this style well. Course, my dollhouse was our living room sofa. Barbie's upstairs was the sofa back. Good buy!! Not, good bye though...cracked me up there.
Pam
I used to rearrange the furniture a lot in my dollhouses when I was a kid, but I can't remember actually playing with dolls in them. There's probably some psychological meaning to all that . . .
Mary woeppel
I absolutely am green with good envy?I had the very same doll jouse growing up and remember it so well. What about a succulent fairy garden? I would store it and try to hunt down the original furniture for grand kids?
Pam
Someone mentioned Renwal furniture so I have been looking on Etsy. I had no idea they made that many choices!
Shara
I just found an old 100 foot telephone cord in the garage. I thought about tossing it, but NOSTALGIA! I used to take the phone into my room on the other side of the house and have that cord stretched the whole way.
Idea for the dollhouse....A DOLL HOUSE. That old furniture is such fun to find and to collect.
Congratulations to your and your son! Don't be terrified. Just roll with i. YOU the Mama!
Pam
Lucky you that had a long cord! Ours phone was in the hallway and the cord was about 5 feet long, so I had to sit on the steps going upstairs unless I wanted to stand (should have had one of those telephone benches). I didn't have a lot of serious phone calls on that thing!
Sandy McClay
I have that identical doll house but mine is mint! I had a ball getting the Renwal furniture to go in each room! It was 75.00 with all of the furniture and I sold the original furniture for 55.00 so my house was 20.00! 🙂
LOVE it!
Pam
OK, and house shot looking at Renwal furniture on etsy 🙂 So many choices!!!
Amy West
Love the little deer! My mom had a momma deer with two baby deer, guess they call them fawns, oh well, they were attached to the momma with little lightweight chains. They looked just like the deer you have by the radio cept'n there were 3 of them...and they were laying down...and they were chained. Hmmm...wonder why they were chained. J/K Any'who, this post brought back a happy memory. Thank you.
Pam
My mom used to have poodles like that. They were all chained together. I never thought anything about them, but now that you say that it is a little odd.
Jenny
I have a sow and piglets chained together!
Pam
How funny! I still wonder why they are chained - maybe so the whole set would stay together and you wouldn't lose one of the babies. Sort of like those leashes they make for kids so your kids don't run off from you at the park 🙂
Cindy
A turquoise radio...seriously? My heart's desire!! Love it!
Pam
Isn't that the sweetest radio!
Lorraine
I love that the telephone number is still on the phone! Have fun at the Graduation Party! Another exciting mile stone in life! ?
Pam
I'm so tempted to call it 🙂
Lorraine
I really wanted to dial it...but I didn't. With my luck it would be a working number and the person on the other end woukd wonder what kind of kook is calling from Mi. Have a wonderful Graduation celebration. I thought of when our oldest graduated from High School. I was up on a ladder scouring our eaves troughs. I was nuts! ???
Hope
I had a house like that...minus the attached garage. Alas it did not survive my two little brothers! What a treat to see it and show it to my daughter. Loved the carpets on the floor. Keeping thrifted stuff to a minimum is SO hard.
Pam
Two boys and a tin house doesn't sound like a good combination 🙂 I can picture someone falling into it and then next thing you know it's flat as a pancake!
Susie
Wow, an upcoming graduation party! That is going to be exciting.
I love everything on your post-- radio, dear deer, phone, and especially the house. I had one just like it as a child. I liked to play with some little dolls in it, but I also had a little pet red-eared green turtle. One time I forgot my little turtle in the house for a day or so. Luckily, he survived and we had many other adventures together. I'm not sure they sell those little turtles in pet stores anymore, for awhile there was a big deal about them being carriers of salmonella.
Pam
I've heard the salmonella thing too! I'm picturing you playing with a turtle in the dollhouse. Sort of like Godzilla . . .
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
Oh of course you can't pass up a great vintage dollbouse! I know you will find something fun to do with it...maybe some sort of organizer?
The graduation is a wonderful milestone! Enjoy!
Pam
We're very excited about the graduation. Very nervous about what's next, but we'll concentrate on the graduation right now!
FLORENCE @ VintageSouthernPicks
SWOONING I tell ya, over the turquoise radio & phone! The house ain't bad either! Haha, I just KNEW you bought another doll house! $9.99 is an unbelievable price too. What to do with it: Buy vintage Renwall dollhouse furniture on Etsy & make like it's a dollhouse??? Display it? Aww, forget Kon-Mari. Us pickers HAVE to pick, dontcha know???
Pam
I do so well with KonMari and then I backslide. It's a constant struggle 🙂 I'll check into the furniture. I used to have a ton of it when I was a kid, but it all got sold a few years ago.
Sue Pagels
Everything is FANTASTIC! (and congrats on your son graduating! Yay!) I say hang the dollhouse on the wall with the back side facing out and store cute little things in those cubbies. Scissors, pens, pads of paper, etc. depending on where you want to hang it.
Pam
That sounds like a cute idea! Maybe in my bathroom (of course it wouldn't be pads of paper and pens in the bathroom).
Sue Pagels
Well, only if you had something important to write down!! 🙂 Cute with towels, little apothecary jars, old tins!!
taryterre
Love the stuff you were gifted. And that dollhouse is quite the find. I'm sure you'll come up with something for it.
Pam
Vickie is the sweetest 🙂 Besides you of course!
Bliss
If you need the couch and the little pink potty chair from that tin house, I've still got them.
Fonda Rush
Just returned from a trip to Sedalia, Colorado where our nephew graduated from high school. The venue was at Red Rocks, which is closer to Denver. It was amazing. The pictures on this site don't do it justice, but I wanted you to see it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rocks_Amphitheatre It was truly an experience. When we got there, it was hot. Then, for the actual graduation, it got awfully chilly. We North Carolinians we totally unprepared for what happened next: S.N.O.W. About 7 inches of it. There was still some snow on the ground when we left, but the next day it all melted. I had a long-sleeved henley to wear. My wife wore sandals. She borrowed a pair of socks from me to keep her feet from freezing. Yep! Sandals and socks. Lovely. Nothing like experiencing all four seasons in one week!
Congratulations on your son's graduation. It is a true milestone that mothers look forward to {and tear their hair out when making all those plans!}. Enjoy!
Melinda
Love it all.
Maybe you could touch up the front I places.
I am sure you will do something fun with it.
Congratulations to the Graduate, I know you guys are so
proud. Enjoy!
M : )
Pam
You may be mistaking me with someone who is artistic 🙂