Please give me honest criticism/advice on my portable dollshouse.

[JackBauer]

I am doing a craft swap on another site (I know, I have been cheating on MN) won't say where just in case.
I have designed a portable dollshouse, the prototype is very messy but I am trying to think how to improve it, whether I can add furniture or how to make fold flat furniture.

Pics on profile. Am making peg dollies to go in it and a tote bag to put it and the dolls in so I won't need the handles.

It has cardboard to make the 'wall' stiff and the floors are interfaced.

TIA

[CharCharGabor]

Wow, I love it! Am planning on making a fabric dolls house for DD for Christmas so have been daydreaming about it for a while Only idea as regards improving the design, maybe using something else for making the wall stiff, like that plastic cross stitch stuff (what is that called?) That way it could be washable - just an idea. I think furniture would be fab idea, but not sure how you'd make it fold flat. It's absolutely gorgeous

[CharCharGabor]

I love the fabrics as well btw

[pasturesnew]

I like it very much but I would want the back of the house to fold out and make a room so I could play with dollies going in and out of the house. I am thinking maybe two side flaps for walls that could fold out from behind the house front and a top flap for a roof with say velcro tabs to fix the roof onto the walls, I don't think a "back wall" would be needed.

Does that make sense?

[blithedance]

Could it be laid out a bit differently so it folded up into a bag/box and zipped shut? It could still be quite flat. Then you could have soft furniture inside plus the dolls

I'm reminded of an old Woman's Weekly cutting with a Jean Greenhowe pattern for a zip up dolls house with soft furniture see pic

(Scroll down to the unzipping log dormouse house).

I've recently made some flight bags for DH's equipment and had success with sheets of closed cell foam for stiffening - you get it from Point North.

Lovely idea though and so pretty.

[JackBauer]

Thanks Char, fabrics are actually all from a single duvet for 50p from the charity shop. I made the rest into dresses for DD's and askirt for me so that is all that's left! I do have some of that plastic stuff, I just didn't want to waste in on the prototype!

pastures, that's a really good idea, I know what you mean, would have ot think about how to construct it, although I don;t think the roof would need reinforcing...hm... this is where I got my inspiration from.

I have to say, crappy as this one is DD's love it and just sit either side poking dolls through the door. Very amusing!

[JackBauer]

blithe, I think my link is what you mean, but that tree house is cute! I specifically wanted something that lies as flat as possible as it has to be posted a long way....

[CharCharGabor]

I loved repurposing fabrics DD has a fair few tops and things made from pillowcases and other charity shop goodies. That dollshouse is the same one I've been looking at Really need to get sewing again, pg tiredness made me take a break but I (and my massive fabric stash) are missing it.

[blithedance]

Sorry didn't read about it having a tote bag!

[CaptainScarlet]

Love the dollhouse!

btw... did you ever sort out a cupboard for all the craft/children's stuff? (it was you wasn't it?)

[JackBauer]

Thanks

And yes, it was me. But DH pointed out that we don't have any money at the moment so I am still looking for a very cheap one that I can reclaim.....always looking!

[CaptainScarlet]

I am on the lookout too... not finding sadly... am being overrun by stuff... gah

[JackBauer]

I have found the perfect one in a local shop, and it's 3 cupboard things wide, big shelf above drawers and then cupboards above.
Unfortunately it's £200!

[CaptainScarlet]

We don't have any shops like that here... it sounds great (except for the price tag )

[JackBauer]

Well, actually it's called Buyology and is the hypervalue outlet type store
I go for cheap cleaning stuff and they also have furniture. Very bizarre.

[CaptainScarlet]

Buyology is a v clever name!