FamilyFun.com has a really great tutorial on how to make a dollhouse out of recycled materials.

I made a similar one with my sister some thirty years ago (shhh… I’m in denial that I actually just said that), and I still remember it as a wondrous thing. Full of beautifully framed pictures, upholstered furniture, and lovely wallpaper. I’m pretty sure we’d also figured out nice floor treatments, but my memory is getting a bit foggy.

I’m planning to show this to Miss M later today. I know she will be similarly inspired!

A couple months ago I followed a link from Loobylu, and an obsession began (this blog is teaching me that I apparently have many of them). I begged and pleaded with Tomas that he get me some of the Paumes books for Christmas, being quite sure that something terrible would happen if I didn’t get a chance to flip though these books. ASAP.

Tomas couldn’t figure out how to order them, so he said I should since I knew exactly what I wanted. I contacted the folks at Paumes directly by e-mail, and they were so very helpful, and responsive. I thought it was rather funny that I found them through an Australian site, and ended up buying several books written in Japanese about Scandinavian, French and British interior design and crafts, and that the transaction was done in French. Dizzying, really.

The books are little things, but full to bursting with lovely pictures. I am in love with the design aesthetic they have so neatly packaged. I’d probably get a lot more out of them if I understood Japanese, but the photos and illustrations are plenty enough for me

I’ve already got a list going of the activities I’d like to do with the kidlings that are inspired by these books.  I have no idea if we’ll ever actually do the projects, but it helps me in those “Mommy, I’m booored. What can I doooo?” moments to have these visuals in my subconscious.

I’ve been somewhat garland-obsessed recently (see here, and here). This morning, I hung out with Doree (after you finish here, you have got to check out this woman’s confections!!!), and a few other Moms to get some holiday crafting out of the way. It was our first get-together & I was so happy to be able to join them. Nice to get out of my digs and talk to grown-ups (I’d never understood the importance of that before leaving my job) — it also gave Tomas the place to himself for a few hours to focus on work without me & the baby underfoot.

So, back to my obsession — Garlands! They just make me smile, reason enough to make ‘em, I’m thinking. Today’s are simple (like most things I tackle). Just heart cut outs in lovely shades of white, cream and taupe. Glued one-on-one over a string of hemp jewelry cord.

One thing I especially like about this one is that it won’t just be used for Christmas; it’ll be nice, too, for Valentine’s day, birthdays, and special occasions. Yay!

{update: if you are similarly obsessed, you’ll have to check out Ga-ga for Garlands, a photo pool on Flickr set up by Heather Bailey}

{and another update: Claire has posted a nice kids’ garland craft activity described up on Kiddley}

{and another…: One Hour Craft has a lovely tutorial on how to sew a heart garland. I’ve been meaning to do this for ages, but was too jittery to mess up my sewing machine. Now I know how!}