Modern doll house not just for kids

When you were little and played with doll houses, did you ever peer its window and pretend you lived inside? I loved the small furniture and details.

My first dollhouse was, of course, the classic Fisher-Price Play Family House. My second dollhouse was made for me. It was a large colonial with several wooden staircases, foiled wallpaper and shag carpet. It was the '70's after all. I've always thought collecting miniature furniture would be a fun hobby, but I never favored the standard gingerbread Victorians or classic colonials that seem prevalent.

My friend Kristyn (you need a blog, girlfriend), sent me a link to the dollhouse of my dreams. brinca dada, is a New York based company that designs "toys parents love to look at and children love to play with." They've introduced three modern dollhouses, the Emerson, Bennett, and Dylan all of which can be decorated with modern furniture.

The Emerson

The Bennett

Modern furniture

My children are older and no longer play with toys however, I want to buy one of these houses for me. It would make a lovely accessory in my studio/office. I'm certain I'd find myself daydreaming about living in them while rearranging furniture just as I did when I was a child. I hope brinca dada continues to add collectible accessories and new toys to their line. They are on to something big.

I'll be adding this to my Christmas list this year!  Today only you can receive $50.00 off and free shipping if you buy the Emerson house and classic contemporary furniture set.  Hurry!

Sweet summer distractions

Bear banks, originally uploaded by alamodestuff.

Well, the summer isn't quite going as planned. C is working all the time - literally, all the time (when he's home he has the pager clipped to the collar of his shirt). The boys are finally in camp and the time I have to get any sort of work accomplished (be it business or home) is limited. I'm trying hard to go with the flow but that goes directly against my nature.

So, my blog friends, be patient in the next two months. I'm uncertain where my head will be and how my blog posts will fair. I am distracted.

The other day E and I stopped into a downtown toy store while M was getting his hair cut. These cute bear banks were sitting on the shelf and I couldn't resist snapping photos of them (with my iPhone, btw). May they bring a smile to your day!

Let me know what's going on with you this summer. Is it good so far? Any tips on keeping the sanity?

Retro Tin Toys - posted by Crafted by Lindy

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

1. OLD tin Noise Maker - Cluttered Mind
2. Vintage Tin toy - space explorer robot - Ruru Style
3. vintage toy spinning top - Timelesss Design
4. Collectable J Chein and Sons Sand Pail - Assemblage333
5. Small World - Little Vintage Ohio Art Co World Globe Bank - Faux Wood Base - Thrift Store
6. Tin Turn Key Racing Motorcycle - Fiber Arts Outlaw

[Lindy lives in Alberta, Canada, with her husband and son. Besides blogging, she enjoys running her stationary business and creating new designs for her Etsy shop. You can read her own blog here.]

An obsession with Little People

I'm talking the toy, not actual people. It's another one of my childhood obsessions - Fisher Price Little People. I played with them for hours. I had the airplane, the garage, the house, the city. I envied anyone who owned the barn (with mooing doors), bus, and airport.

Just like the games I mentioned in an earlier post (here), I've purchased the house, the garage, the playground, the barn and the city for my kids. They'll likely have fond memories of their own sets but, in my opinion, nothing compares to the original wooden pressed board sets.

No longer peg like and made of wood, the new figures are more detailed with glasses, and clothes. One of the things I remember and loved the most about the original set was the plastic hat hair, painted faces, and generic bodies (except the "mom" whose volumptous body set her apart).

The additions of Asian and Hispanic dolls have been a huge improvement to the collection. When I was a kid, they only had an African American doll. Somehow, I still have Eddie (the name I gave him). He's one of two dolls (both boys) I have left from my original collection. I'm not sure how or why I held onto them, but they've been with me for 43 years some time!

A while back, I grabbed "Eddie" and started taking photos of him in our backyard. When E (my 7 year old) noticed and asked what I was doing, I told him that Eddie was going on an adventure. Viola, my travel/photo mascot was born. I hope to make "Eddie's Adventures" into photo books for my boys. So far, Eddie has been to the beach in RI, the Golden Gate Bridge in SF, and even sat on a mid century modern chair. He's a great travel companion...doesn't take up much room.