KidsOur Biggest Project Ever – Flora & Fawna Giveaway November 22, 2019 Y’all just thought the Burrow was our most exciting project! But I may be even more giddy about what I get to share with you today. Maybe that’s an exaggeration, but it’s a close race, y’all! Since I can remember, I’ve dreamed of having a daughter with Rose in her name. I dreamed about all the things we would do together. And there were a few key things I knew I would one day do for her. Yes, we have a lot going on, but I knew that this was the Christmas for one of those big “Bucket-list Daughter” moments. I’ve dreamed about doing a dollhouse for Rosie long before I knew Rosie. And I felt that this was the year! I first thought about what I wanted it to be. I knew I wanted BIG. Not crazy big, but something she could sit on the floor and really play with. Not a table-top dollhouse. I also knew I wanted wood. I looked around at ready-made dollhouses. There are so many beautiful ones! But I knew I wanted to make it my own and I also knew by the time I did furniture and decor for it, we’d be about ten times our budget since I was looking on the large side. So I took to thrift stores! I found this dollhouse at a local thrift store. While it wasn’t super cheap, it was about a third of the price of the new wooden dollhouses I’d looked at. It’s 3.5 feet tall, 4 feet wide and was handmade by a local police officer for his daughter decades ago. And you can feel it! The craftmanship is so good. It definitely needs a little work: new paint, roof repair, a good cleaning, and then some details I want to add. But it is in way better condition than any other vintage dollhouses I came across! As soon as I found it, I started dreaming about what I wanted to do with this house. And I knew I wanted to take you guys along for the ride! I approached it like I do any house I’m designing 🙂 I started brainstorming a whole-house design plan that was ofcourse, inspired by my Rosie. Rosie has said for the last year that her favorite colors are pink, purple, and gold. So I knew those would be incorporated. Before I get to colors and details, I have to share with y’all a little story about our Rosie. Recently, Rosie discovered a very scary truth: one day if she chooses to get married, she will leave our house and live somewhere else. Needless to say, this did not sit well with her. She said she absolutely would not be getting married. I said, “That’s fine, honey. It’s your choice! But one day, you may want to.” She shook her head furiously no, but sat quietly for about five minutes. I could tell she was deep in thought and after awhile sighed and said, “Okay, maybe one day I’ll get married and I don’t know if I will, but if I ever do, the only way I’ll do it is if Daddy builds me a house RIGHT BESIDE Y’ALL, RIGHT BESIDE YOU MOMMY, that is pink with a purple roof.” And she nodded her head in finality. I cannot handle her, y’all. So, the vision for this dollhouse was born. Here’s where we’re headed: I’m choosing a lovely dusty rose siding that feels muted and nature-inspired, but is 100% pink for the siding. I’m really hoping I don’t have to paint the roof. The cedar shakes are beautiful! But it is fairly damaged, so I know I may need to once I repair it. And if I do, it’ll be her purple roof: a deep eggplant, plum. Throughout the interior, I wanted to do all shades of pinks, lavenders to plums, and golds (shades of mustard yellow) to hit all her favorite colors. I started looking for furniture and was planning to source it all separately, but I immediately saw that was going to be PRICEY. So, I found some sets of furniture I LOVE that I’m going to mix and match and add in details with. I wanted the furniture to be all wood, so I started there. I fell hard for that Tender Leaf Toys set. It’s like the colors were made for this dollhouse and I love the vintage feel of it all! Then, I love these plan toys wooden dollhouse furniture sets. I’m going to add in a lot of floral for our Rosie girl and plenty of texture with knitted throws, pillows, and rugs. I’m still deciding what I’m going to do with the interior. I don’t think I’m going to design this to the level I might one day with her when she’s older! One day, we’d like to build one with her (and when I say we, I mean Chris) that looks like the Burrow. And then she and I take awhile and design and source things for it over time. But that’s down the road. But for now, I want special and quality that will still be an heirloom piece we have forever. Let’s take a quick look inside: There is so much lovely space! I knew I wanted room for several children and a nursery because Rosie is so into babies! I think I’m going to leave some of these surfaces wood, but will add in texture and color/wallpaper in spots. I’m going to share progress of how this comes together like any of my projects! There’ll be more real-time updates on Instagram, but will make sure to do some progress posts here as Christmas approaches and I get it done. Now, what is missing? Every dollhouse needs a special family to live there, right?! I pretty quickly decided I didn’t want to do a “people” family for this dollhouse. Rosie loves babies, but she is SO into animals. All of her beloved babies are animals that she cares for. So, I started looking for an animal family and that led me to finding one of my all-time favorite kids’ brands! Let me introduce y’all to one of my new favorite people, Nia. Nia is a single mom to Mila and Flora & Fawna Co. was born out of envisioning critters she wanted for her daughter and not being able to find them! Isn’t that when the most beautiful stories are born? All of her critter families are 100% organic and handmade by her. She hand-dyes her fabrics. You guys, listen to this…she and her daughter planted a “dye garden” at their house. Her daughter helps care for it and helps her pick the flowers and plants they’re going to use to dye the critter fabrics. She also uses dead stock fabrics for clothes and accessories. This mama and the mission she’s on to provide quality toys made by nature AND use that passion to completely support her family is so inspiring to me. These are the stories that I just have to share! It is so powerful. After connecting with Nia and falling head over heels for everything she shared, we started chatting about a critter family for Rosie. Y’all, I am GIDDY to introduce you to Rosie’s Pink Piggy Family made by this amazing mama that will inhabit what we are naming “The Pink Piggy House.” Yes, there will be a sign and everything. I shared with Nia the color palette for the dollhouse and she went to town on the special clothes and details. Toddler Girly Pig: Daddy & Baby Pig: And Mama Pig: I cannot handle it, y’all. Rosie is absolutely going to die and I may play with this even more than she does! I knew how special they were from the photos, but holding these babies in my hand…y’all the quality and attention to detail is mind-blowing. These are so sturdy and well-made. They are heirloom toys we will treasure and one day, Rosie will pass these down to her own daughter…you know the one that will live with her in that pink and purple house next door to mama. NOW….this is Gratitude Giveaway Week, right? So, yep, you guessed it! Nia from Flora & Fawna is giving away a lovely critter family to one of you! The winner can choose between a piggy family like ours or the sweetest little bear family. CLICK HERE TO GO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY ON MY INSTAGRAM POST! Y’all, make sure you go sign up for Flora & Fawna’s newsletter (click on their website and it’s at the bottom or wait for the pop-up)! Currently, she does launches where she creates all the critters and has a limited amount for sale. They always sell out, but her newsletter gives you the first notice! Her next drop is coming up November 30th at 5pm CST, so set your clocks and sign up for that newsletter if you want to bring home your own special critter family!
Cassie Bustamante says November 22, 2019 at 12:48 pm Oh this will be so much fun! Emmy and I did one maybe 3 or 4 years ago and it was the best! We had so much fun! Reply
Lindsay says November 25, 2019 at 11:19 am Cassie, I actually remembered yours this weekend! I need to go look at it on your blog!!! Reply
AmandaKB says November 22, 2019 at 9:56 pm Oh my gosh… how ridiculously ADORABLE!!! You’re going to have so much fun 🙂 Reply