Tweet
Doll Bed for Shanna
Awhile back, my grandaughter, Shanna and her mommy called me and asked if I could make a doll house. I said sure, thinking it would be sized for Shanna's "Polly Pockets" dolls (small). I was then informed the house was for Shanna's American Girl dolls. These are about 18" tall! Whan I told my daughter how big a house for them would be, we decided on a bed instead!
About the same time, forum member Offthemark, posted a doll bed he built sized for the American Girl dolls. I showed it to Shanna and she loved it. A quick PM to Mark (thank you!!) and I had the dimensions he used and some construction details. I told Shanna I would make her one just like it. It was then that I was informed that she had THREE dolls, not two and they all needed a bed. Trying the explain the concept of "hot-bunking" just didn't work so I had to modify Mark's original , single bed with trundle design to a bunk bed with trundle.
My original plan was to use walnut, but all the stock at the lumber store looked pretty nasty. That's when I found the black limba. Wow, what a nice wood to work with! The hardest thing about it was deciding which face was the best looking on all the parts.
The finished bed is 23 1/4"x14"x20" and the trundle is 19 5/8"x12 1/2"x3". The main bunk bed is joined using tenon & mortise while the trundle is butt joints with biscuits. Finish is six coats of wiped on poly over the topsides and 5 coats on the undersides.
Belinda made the mattresses and is finishing up custom-made-for-each-doll blankets that have the doll's name embroidered on them.
Next step is getting it packaged and shipped!
About the same time, forum member Offthemark, posted a doll bed he built sized for the American Girl dolls. I showed it to Shanna and she loved it. A quick PM to Mark (thank you!!) and I had the dimensions he used and some construction details. I told Shanna I would make her one just like it. It was then that I was informed that she had THREE dolls, not two and they all needed a bed. Trying the explain the concept of "hot-bunking" just didn't work so I had to modify Mark's original , single bed with trundle design to a bunk bed with trundle.
My original plan was to use walnut, but all the stock at the lumber store looked pretty nasty. That's when I found the black limba. Wow, what a nice wood to work with! The hardest thing about it was deciding which face was the best looking on all the parts.
The finished bed is 23 1/4"x14"x20" and the trundle is 19 5/8"x12 1/2"x3". The main bunk bed is joined using tenon & mortise while the trundle is butt joints with biscuits. Finish is six coats of wiped on poly over the topsides and 5 coats on the undersides.
Belinda made the mattresses and is finishing up custom-made-for-each-doll blankets that have the doll's name embroidered on them.
Next step is getting it packaged and shipped!
and when Shanna decides it time to play with dolls, I play with dolls!!!!! MUCH easier than telling her no.
Comment