Making a Doll Condo from a 13" Cube Shelving Unit
It can be difficult to find the right height shelves when collecting ~12" dolls such as Barbie, but I found some luck with Target's Brightroom Storage Cubes (or alternatively, Walmart's Better Homes and Gardens units) that have enough depth to create a room and host a few posed dolls per level. They are available in a number of configurations such as 2-, 4-. and 6-cube options, but for the purpose of this project I will focus on the 2 cube shelving unit in a vertical orientation.
It can be difficult to find the right height shelves when collecting ~12" dolls such as Barbie, but I found some luck with Target's Brightroom Storage Cubes (or alternatively, Walmart's Better Homes and Gardens units) that have enough depth to create a room and host a few posed dolls per level. They are available in a number of configurations such as 2-, 4-. and 6-cube options, but for the purpose of this project I will focus on the 2 cube shelving unit in a vertical orientation.
These units themselves don't need much love to start creating your DIY dollhouse, but I want to share how I created exterior faces (in two colors) in order to provide some dust-proofing and realism charm to create my own condominium dollhouse!
Supplies used:
One Brightroom 13" x 2 cube shelving units - I paid $40 at Target
2 Corrugated plastic boards, 20" x 30" - I used one black and one white, getting an extra sheet or two is recommended (or template on a standard foam core board) - $5.99 each at Michaels
Velcro sticky back tape roll - A roll is recommended, your choice of color. I went with white to match the shelf - 6' x 1/2" - about $8 at Walmart
I found some acrylic panes in the clearance section at Michaels for large windows
1:6 scale French Doors - I have purchased several from GiftyGarden on Etsy (in black, white, and some single doors - hardware included!)
A heavy duty, multi material transparent glue like E600 or QuickHold All Purpose Water Resistant Adhesive
Decorative stickers or wall clings, to your liking. I splurged on Wallshoppe's Miniature 1:6 Scale Barbie Wallpaper DIY Kit which gave me some leverage in clipping out art for the walls as well as standard wallpaper styles
Battery operated push light - I found one for $3.25 at FiveBelow
X-acto knife or box cutter
Ruler
The Draft and Build Process
To start - after assembling my storage unit, of course, I traced the openings and shelf crossing areas onto a large piece of newsprint and measured the opening and top/bottom heights of my cube unit. I wanted to be sure of where to cut to place the double french doors - as there was little vertical wiggle room - and where to place my velcro tape.
Once measurements were complete, I started by using pencil to mark out the exact places to cut out for my doors, view window, and velcro tape placement. Again the doors I was working with had a very slim margin of error vertically to fit with the trim area, so I triple checked the measurements for this one.
Using my x-acto knife, I carefully cut out along the marked lines. Because of the vertical corrogation of this plastic board, this went MUCH more smoothly in one direction than the other. I used a metal ruler for the opposite-the-corrogation cuts to keep me level.
From here, everything should start to slide into place pretty snugly. Once I confirmed my doors and windows fit comfortably, I used my heavy duty multi-surface glue to hold everything into place.
Next, I added the velcro strip to my shelf and to the marked out areas on the back of each panel. I used the floor to level my panels as I added them on (removably, thanks to velcro!) to my shelves!
Musings on generations of Barbie girls and the value of feminine creativity
Ever since I heard about the Barbie movie coming out over a year ago, I was ecstatic. I’ve always been a “Barbie” girl myself in terms of spending countless hours exploring makeup and fashion as a means of expressing creativity; I also shared special memories with my mother sharing her vintage Barbies and handmade clothes out of a box not unlike the case featured in Billie Ellish’s What Was I Made For music video released for the movie.
Ever since I heard about the Barbie movie coming out over a year ago, I was ecstatic. I’ve always been a “Barbie” girl myself in terms of spending countless hours exploring makeup and fashion as a means of expressing creativity; I also shared special memories with my mother sharing her vintage Barbies and handmade clothes out of a box not unlike the case featured in Billie Ellish’s What Was I Made For music video released for the movie.
For the week or so leading up to (and spoiler alert: after, too) the movie’s release, my mother reminded me of this past gift I had created for her - a custom repaint as her on a Barbie doll, with custom clothing and cards styled to match her 70’s modeling shots.
For the week or so leading up to (and spoiler alert: after, too) the movie’s release, my mother reminded me of this past gift I had created for her - a custom repaint as her on a Barbie doll, with custom clothing and cards styled to match her 70’s modeling shots. We talked fashion and how much it has changed in even our lifetime’s worth of experience with it. She informed me of the revolutionary designer - Rudi Gernreich - of a beloved dress purchased by her father in law. He did so with shining pride, a real statement of true support for the early ‘70s. A note to self - it’s about time to re-create this one-shoulder gown as an extension of her personal Barbie design.
Read more on designer Rudi Gernreich as the modernizer of nudity, and a private soul
I was pleased to a make an early premier of the film, so early there wasn’t even a Barbie poster to pose with (so I opted to snap her shot in front of the Oppenheimer poster - another movie I’m desperate to see, and am enthralled at the concept of a drive in double feature with the two sharing a screen)
The experience of being in a theater flooded with pink, shared solidarity in a theater of strangers…I cried and laughed with the audience while clutching my titular-themed boxed Barbie; happy to be lost in a sea of bright pink and mothers and daughters, anxious to share the tangible doll and movie (and message) with my own young daughter and my lovely, intelligent, and emotionally-aware “Ken”…
…Eager to share the all-too-true-feeling satire, the historical fashion influences and legacy of businesswomen, what my own mother taught me…things she taught through her sharing her love of dolls, fashion, makeup, and female ownership and independence. I’m still in the throws of engaging in this conversation, but I am grateful to have the lines of communication open with the world and a creative, open-minded family to help me through it all.
I’ve been anticipating this movie release for over a year now, and while waiting I started working on zombie rag-doll/Sallys/PinUp cloth dolls with button joints. A few years ago, I found a delightful fabric at Joann’s…I ended up using it for a set of mini and mommy matching aprons while I was getting comfortable with my then-new sewing machine, and long before I found myself revisiting plush and doll making. The cotton fabric I noted the design’s producer was Alexander Henry - which I squirreled away samples of year after year from remnants and holiday releases with no real plan to do anything with it.
After a few more advanced sewing projects under my belt - and after iterating off of some designs by Pretty Creepy Dolls (found on Etsy) - I have started focusing on these ‘modern primitive' folk dolls with a goth-er Weird Barbie vibe; and since seeing the Barbie movie found myself NEEDING to package them, so I gave them these carriers using dollar store parts
Reflections on Contropolis, MA
Over the past weekend in Marlboro, Massachusetts LightDark Creative participated as a vendor where we had the opportunity to share our handmade creations, learn a little about focus and fusion with creative side-hustles, and meet a wonderful network of creators and small business owners of all types.
Over the past weekend in Marlboro, Massachusetts LightDark Creative participated as a vendor where we had the opportunity to share our handmade creations, learn a little about focus and fusion with creative side-hustles, and meet a wonderful network of creators and small business owners of all types.
This event is in its infancy, having only been introduced this year by Altered Reality entertainment - who has a strong reputation as holding great fandom, comic con, and anime events. Having been familiar with RI Comic Con as a fan, and already holding a vendor booth registration for Terror Con later this year, I decided to try out this more generalist theme convention while trying to whittle down the ridiculously broad range of crafts I find myself practicing in my free-time-persuit-to-get-off-screen.
Location, location, location
Our booth was fortunate to be positioned at the end of a row by Forest Haunt Bleached, Paul Simic designs, and Jade & Geodes. I have to get on buying Paul Simic’s Gandalf shirt - his nerdy x music visual mashups are completely inspired.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ForestHaunt
https://www.paulsimic.com/
https://www.paulsimic.com/product-page/vintage-gandalf
https://jadeandgeodes.bigcartel.com/?fbclid=IwAR1MACs1VpnzZTuemhLdOtOn0iNzJzB0UDJS2DnNqNrr0cowJ4ZmzL0UiuI
https://www.facebook.com/JadeandGeodes/
The event on day one was slow moving, but that does leave ample time for vendors to walk around and get to know each other. The outpouring of support from creative peers this event was touching. Jasmine of Black Widow Oddities and the entire fabulous crew of Ghost Toad, as well as [FIDGET GLASS GROUP WHATS THE NAME]
https://www.instagram.com/black_widow_curiosities/
The vendor touchpoint investments of 2023 across pop culture, creative, and most-importantly local events is our effort to market to other businesses that we may be able to offer services to across the MA area, recoup small business operating costs, as well as activate an avenue for creative outlets to become networking and community outreach portals to connect with new audiences. A more personal mission, guided by my business and life partner Adam Ross, is to figure out a less scattered approach to making in effort of finding products that are more reproducible, satisfy my desire to make things, and find a balance of work that keeps me accessible and able to invite our daughter to engage in and participate in the craft activities as a whole.
Glamorous Goth Folk Dolls with Button Joints
I’ve been enjoying creating new iterations of "Zombina" experimenting with sympathetic cuts on various Alexander Henry cotton prints . I'm particularly fond of the shoulder gusset complementing the #backtattoo on this #art doll. Clearance yarn translating wonderfully as soft dreaded locks #dollmaking #modernprimitive
Glamorous Goths and Sally-esque rag dolls exploration - 2023. I’ve been enjoying creating new iterations of "Zombina" experimenting with sympathetic cuts on various Alexander Henry cotton prints. I’ll elaborate with a process post on these dolls in the near future! Clearance yarn translating wonderfully as soft dreaded locks #dollmaking #modernprimitive
Group shot of Salina and Betty Brains - a second iteration with more sympathetic fabric piecing. June 2023
I'm particularly fond of the shoulder gusset complementing the #backtattoo on this #art doll.
Rainbow Nap Blanket
This feverishly-whipped-up creation was done pattern-less, utilizing a rainbow colored fabric strip jelly roll I had laying around, paired with a lovely betta fish pattern for the back and a red fleece blanket to snuggle up with.
This feverishly-whipped-up creation was done pattern-less, utilizing a rainbow colored fabric strip jelly roll I had laying around, paired with a lovely betta fish pattern for the back and a red fleece blanket to snuggle up with.
I had previously purchased a big-box nap blanket for my little one, and decided to try to utilize my never-ending fabric reserve to create one that would allow me to have removable pillow inserts to improve upon her now worn-out, sewn-in batting model.
I have a matching set of materials available to create another version by commission. That is, if I don’t resort adorning my couch cover with a rainbow gradient upgrade first.
