A-Frame Dollhouse

We’ve had an unplanned absence over the last week as Mary’s move back to Michigan and the holidays have consumed most of our time.

Now that the holidays have passed, I can finally most about my main project over the last month or so, building an A-Frame dollhouse for my niece.

I used all recycled wood from The Architectural Salvage Warehouse of Detroit and started with cutting out pieces for the frame. I also decided to hand-carve the roof shingles so it had a sort of sketched and rustic look to it.

frame exterior frame interior

For the interior, I left the downstairs the natural wood and just added a door frame and hung a small picture. For the upstairs, I glued some paper down for a faux-wallpaper. I also bought a little bunny family to go in the house.

finished interior finished upstairs interior

For the outside, I added a porch, door, some frames for the door and window, and some landscaping. I decided to make the porch and frames a forest green.

It’s still unfurnished, but her birthday is just around the corner in February.

finished exterior

Trevor

Gift Guide: Geekery

I have been getting more and more excited about the premier of The Hobbit on Friday. I decided to let my inner geek shine with today’s gift guide.

LOTR Sweatshirt
LOTR Sweatshirt from SoEffingCute

Bill Nye Magnet
Bill Nye Magnet from Jodi Lynn’s Emporium of Doodles

Worf Narwhal
Worf Narwhal Print from Hayley Cassatt

Star Wars Pint Glasses
Star Wars Pint Glasses from desolationallie

Gift Guide: Les Filles Bleu

I’m starting out my gift guides for this year with gifts for kids. I have three nephews, but I have to admit I prefer shopping for girls. Fortunately, Trevor has a niece, so I get the best of both worlds.

Here my blue themed gift guide for girls.

monday market play set
Monday Market Play Set from alexandalexa

blue jumper
Anouk Dot Kimberley Jumper from Olive Juice

plush rabbit
Plush Rabbit from MizzleKids

children's cape
Blue Cape from Chrononaut Mercantile

Mary

Holiday Shopping in Detroit: City Bird and Nest

I wanted to post about my favorite places to do my holiday shopping, City Bird and the newly opened Nest. They reside next door to each other on Canfield St. in the Midtown neighborhood of Detroit and are owned by Andy and Emily Linn.

city bird and nest

We’ve featured a lot of items from City Bird throughout various posts on the blog, as they sell lots of great local and handmade gifts, from clothes, to jewelry, to prints, and much more. You’ll find a lot of their products are Michigan and/or Detroit-themed too.

city bird
from City Bird

skylineornament
from City Bird

greetingsfromdetroit
from City Bird

Nest just opened this month and now resides in the space that used to hold The Bureau of Urban Living. Nest focuses more on general housewares, including kitchen, office, and even cleaning supplies, and sources much of their product from inside the state.

nest
from Nest

If you have any holiday shopping left to do, I highly recommend a stop in to both places to snag some great, local-made gifts.

100th Post Giveaway

We are nearing our 100th post on whatgoodcrafts.com! We want to share our excitement with our readers by giving away a Christmas prize pack consisting of our Mustache Ornaments and Christmas Card. All you have to do is “Like” What good have I done today? on Facebook by Monday, December 19th to be entered in a drawing to win!

Trevor

Gift Guide: Michigan Made… & A Giveaway!

This is our final gift guide of the year, so it seams appropriate to make it a Michigan made guide. Here are some of our favorites from etsy sellers in the mitten.

plaid michigan pillow
Show Them Where Your Heart Is Pillow from Marsh Home

ypsi buttons
Ypsi Buttons from amepix

great lakes t-shirt
Great Lakes T-shirt from City Bird

ferndale pendant
Ferndale Pendant from CKLCreative

100th Post Giveaway

We are nearing our 100th post on whatgoodcrafts.com! We want to share our excitement with our readers by giving away a Christmas prize pack consisting of our Mustache Ornaments and Christmas Card. All you have to do is “Like” What good have I done today? on Facebook by Monday, December 19th to be entered in a drawing to win!

Mary

Gift Guide: For Gramps

I started this gift guide with the idea of doing one for a grandpa, but after compiling the list, I realized these were all things I would love to have myself. So maybe these are just gifts for a classy, homebody gentleman of any age?

pipe
Wooden Pipe from Steampunk Couture

pajamas
Flannel Sleep Set from J. Crew

after shave
Post Shave Cooling Gel from STAG

Jigsaw Puzzle 1

Jigsaw Puzzle 2
HandCut Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle from Hamm Crafted

Trevor

Gift Guide: For Furry Friends

It’s going to give away what crazy cat people we are, but I think it’s perfectly acceptable to buy a few small gifts for your feline (or canine) friends.

seed bombs
Cat & Dog Friendly Seed Bombs from VisuaLingual

suitcase cat bed
Upcycled Suitcase Pet Bed from Love Nostalgic Whimsy

organic catnip
Organic Catnip from sojos
cat cabin
Canadian Cat Cabin from Loyal Luxe

Mary

Gift Guide: For Her

I probably could’ve made this list pretty long, but here are just a few gift ideas for her, including a couple local-made items in the mix.

saw and branch necklace
Saw and Branch Charm Necklace from ChainChainChained

house pillow
House Pillow from Curiosity Shoppe

detroit map votive candles
Detroit Map Votive Candles from City Bird

suitcase
Vintage Suitcase from Purse N’ Bootz

Trevor

Gift Guide: Stocking Stuffers

Winter is not even officially here, but as I’m writing this I’m wearing gloves inside my house because my hands are icicles. Today’s gift guide focuses on one of my favorite parts of gift giving: stockings. I love the idea of a fair isle stocking filled with old-fashioned sundries.

wooden tops
Wooden Tops from CB2

badminton stamp set
Yellow Owl Stamp Set from The Curiosity Shoppe

peppermint soap
Peppermint Stick Soap from Blossom Soap & Sundries

wooden bird call
Wooden Bird Call from Canoe

Mary