more mini dachshunds on etsy!

Its been a while, but these mini dachshunds have been squeezed into my busy schedule and onto my Etsy Shop.  I realise I've neglected my Etsy shop and let lots of my customers down by not being able to make these sooner, so I'm easing the guilt by having a special promotion for my lovely blog readers.

Please enter SUMMERPROMO at the Etsy checkout to receive a 25% discount off everything!

fabric playhouse

I completed the fabric wendy house at last.  It was a bit of a mammoth task so I left out a few details like adding curtains etc as the windows are too small and I edged the doorway with vintage ribbon. I also made the entrance wider as all 3 of my children like to pile in together!

I'd like to add more to the inside (appliqued pictures, shelves with ornaments, kitchen etc), but I think I'm ready to move onto the next project now!

new design

©2012 alice apple

©2012 alice apple

My son desperately needs some curtains for his updated bedroom.  All the vintage children's fabrics I have in my collection are either too young or too girly! So I designed my own with a nod towards the mid century and the work of Alexander Girard and Jonathan Adler.  Its been a nice change from my usual simple repeats, although a lot more complicated!

my home - girls room snapshots

I'm doing up my kids' rooms and these are some snaps of a few little projects I've completed for the twins bedroom.  I've been busy painting old pieces of furniture and enjoyed using my vintage fabrics and wallpapers.  The wallpaper above the cooker, where the girls' kitchen area will be and the decals above the 1960s drawers are my own designs which will both be available to purchase in the future.

making a wendy house

front view

©alice apple 2012

left side view

©alice apple 2012

back view

©alice apple 2012

right side view

©alice apple 2012

I'm really excited about making a wendy house for my twin daughters.  Its going to be small enough to fit in their bedroom and easy to transport around the home.  I found the inspiration from a vintage toy craft book and then mapped out a simple design to fit a frame I found here.  I decided I'll applique the pieces rather than have it printed onto fabric, however I'd love to sell this plus other designs as a printed DIY kit!

I'm going to use vintage fabrics for the curtains and the interior walls so it looks like 60s wallpaper!

bunting madness

With the Queen's Diamond Jubilee this weekend and the London Olympics coming up, everything and everyone seems to have gone bunting mad this Summer in the UK.  I'm not especially patriotic, however, it's a good excuse to get out my vintage fabric scraps for my own bunting and to use up my wool to make a pom pom garland!

sewing box makeover

 I got this sewing box for free from my local market a few months ago, it was so tattered nobody wanted to buy it! The veneer was peeling off so I removed it all, then took the whole thing apart and sanded and painted it.  The colours I used on the lids are called "Festival Orange" and "Race Yellow" from the Mid-Century range at Fired Earth.

Rather than using it as a sewing box, I thought it would be handy as a coffee table/magazine holder!