Stash buster playhouse complete!

So Simon's playhouse, I am proud to say was finished yesterday, just in time for today's birthday bash.  While it wasn't super excited about it at this point, as he gets older, he'll love it and spend a lot of time there.

I had a blast making this.  I personalized it a lot as you can see from the embroidery I completed on it.  I finally had to say enough!  Some of these motifs took an hour each!

The pattern directions were very straight forward and simple to read and follow.  I am not sure if I ordered the pattern pieces or not or just the directions.  I had to guess quite a bit on what the shapes were for the embellishments on the house.  They look at least close to being sort of right.  If I had a few pieces of advice I would recommend the following:
1.  Purchase your card table first, prior to constructing anything!
2.  This takes quite a bit of fabric, about six yards or so total for the walls and roof.  Either use coupons or wait for a good sale.  I bought all my materials 50% off and this still cost about 45 to 50 bucks.
3.  Fit the roof before you do anything with attaching the walls.  My roof line had some curves at the edges which greatly effected the fit of the walls.
4.  After I pin fit the walls, I attached them with my serger.  The patterns recommend french seams, but I opted for a serger.

Have fun personalizing this and making it fun for the child and you!  My daughter and son-in-law love animals so I added the kitten and dog embroidery.  I also plan to 'mail' Simon some letters that he can add to his mailbox.   

Now to the important part: a picture of the birthday boy! 

Thanks for reading!
Sue

Saturday Stash Buster in Progress

Simon will be one next week (I can't believe it) and he is getting a playhouse from Grandma.  I can be a procrastinator, I mean I've know his birthday is late August for an entire year and I start on his playhouse a week prior to the big day.  What's wrong with this?  Well, I start back full-time this week and have to work five full days in a row (UGH!).  It will take some getting used to, I love having a few weeks in the summer free but back to work is an adjustment, mostly since it cuts into my sewing time.

I purchased this pattern from Empty Bobbin as soon as I found out DD2 was expecting.  Isn't it cute?  I mean, it has so many possibilities and with all the versions on pinterest, I would say people are letting their creativity roll!  

I wonder if it is possible I only ordered the instructions as I can't find the pattern pieces anywhere.  Hmmm...with the clock ticking and my sewing room at an all time disaster level mess wise, I just went for it.  As you can see, I have two walls complete and the third has been started.  Of course I made some modifications, why not?  

For some reason, I can't get the pictures turned 90 degrees so turning your head to the side will be a must!

I embroidered a dog, kitten, and ball on one side and the third wall I am currently constructing is expected to have a monarch butterfly, bees buzzing above the flowers and maybe ...... it all depends on how much time it takes to get this wall done.  The front door shouldn't take too long, but I do want to have some fun with the 'mail'.  I have photo cloth that I will use to write him some letters on my computer, complete with some stamp clip art.  I am just giddy with excitement at creating a toy that he will hopefully enjoy for hours and hours!  I know my own four children were almost always making a fort with lots of blankets, pillows, and such.  Luckily I was pretty patient when it came to that sort of play.  

More to come, but let's hope I finish in time for the big party!

Thanks for reading!

Sue