Napoleon once famously declared Britain to be ‘a nation of shopkeepers’, unfit to go to war with France (this was shortly before his defeat at Waterloo, ahem). In the centuries since, this throwaway Gallic insult has become something of a source of national pride, with the village shop being the heart and soul of any local community and a fiercely defended institution.
Avid followers of this blog (thank you both) will know that Harry is a big fan of The Shops, unhindered as most 2yr olds are by the notion that one must pay hard cash for the magical goods contained within. His original cardboard box play shop sadly collapsed this past weekend, after months of cavalier treatment from children and grown-ups alike (what is it about very small spaces that makes adults determined to wedge themselves into them?), so I’ve been finishing a more robust version below, which we are proud to open here today for all your daily provisions. The prices are of course outrageous, as Harry is saving up for a new fire engine; an apple will set you back about a week’s wages, but it will taste very good, I can promise you. Tips, process steps and a few close-ups of our wares below.
As with Harry’s play kitchen, I found this dresser top / hutch on ebay for around £15, and set about sanding, priming and painting it. This involved poking the odd woodworm in the eye with a sharp stick, but otherwise was fairly painless.
I mixed up food boxes and packaging with various bits of plastic play food that we already had to produce a rather odd – let’s say eclectic – mix of produce to sell. The wooden trays are the lids of some ikea storage boxes, with home-printed labels for decoration. Stripy paper bags are filled with dried pasta, and some paper triangles glued to ribbon make for a festive bunting to mark the Grand Opening…
This bell was a junk-shop find with an astonishingly loud clang (note to self; check this next time before cheerfully purchasing…). Harry’s cooking apron doubles as a store-owners uniform, and Japanese paper tape accessorises the shelf-fronts. Wooden drawers act as a till for cash, and fake fruit abounds wherever you look. We are having a Dali-esque issue with scale, as you’ll see; strawberries are the size of eggs, and pears have a decidedly GM look to them, casting a shadow over smaller produce; such are the results when you acquire play food from a number of sources over a number of years…
And finally of course, our shop sign; it had to be French (sorry, Napoleon…). Now, what can we tempt you with today?
Absolutely gorgeous! Love, love, love!
That is beyond creative! Absolutely brilliant.
This is the most beautiful play set I have ever seen. I am sooo jealouse!
This is just beautiful. I could’ve only dreamed to have a set like this when I was little!
Oh my goodness, this is amazing! This beats any pre-made play kitchen hands down.
I adore the play shop and would love one for my own little two year old, who regularly rearranges the shelves of many a store without even being asked. Unfortunately he also rearranges them when he is being begged and pleaded with not to) I think we will start with the card board version and see how we get on.
I also loved reading your post – it had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion.
Tammy that made me laugh – I have the same trouble with Harry in the supermarket; I spend my time stealthily jettisoning everything he adds to the trolley and trying in vain to stop him from attempting to open any packets which look interesting! Thanks for coming by and for taking the me time to comment
This is brilliant, I love it. Well done. Your comments about Dali-esque play food scale made me chuckle, we have similar issues. Doesn’t stop my two enjoying it though.
Do you sell Kates? I’d love to buy one to make toys for my children!
This is fantastic! Does it stay looking so lovely after Harry gets his little hands on it? If it were at my house the shelves would be bare and the floor in front scattered with the contents! You are very creative. Love visiting here!
Aha, that made me laugh
And yes, exactly the same situation here; my photos were taken a nano-second before Harry entered the fray, and as I write, plastic tangerines are rattling around my ankles and the bunting is hanging at a rather more jaunty angle than before – chaos, utter chaos. Still, life is short… thanks so much for your comment and for continuing to stop by!
I was just a about to say that the only element missing from this latest installment was the hallmark image of Harry centre stage in whichever activity is the focal point of the post!
Amazing indeed! That is a lot of work and it turned out GORGEOUS with hours of fun ahead!
Wow,that would be any kids dream who has creative play. I know my grandkids would love it. Thanks for such wonderful ideas.
This is sooo gorgeous Kate!! I love the stripy paper bags and the bunting. I think if I made this I would be tempted to hide it away from the kids so they couldn’t mess it up!!
Such a wonderful idea! My girls would love that! You are the best!
What a lucky little boy you have – this is just wonderful. When my (now 13 year old) nephew was little and we used to play shops, everything cost £20 regardless of what it was – tin of beans… £20, newspaper… £20, new car.. you’ve guessed it … £20. Adorable then, adorable now.
Lucky little boy! That is a fabulous play store! I kinda want to make one for my daughter…so that I can play in it
Fabulous, I love it. I want my kitchen to look like this.
Diane
very sweet! and when its grown out of it is still a very nice piece. Is there really such thing as woodworm?
I love this Kate!
And just saw it again on Ohdeedoh this morning! Congratulations!
-Jeanne
http://www.domesticspace.com
Jeanne thanks so much for your feedback and for flagging the posting on Ohdeedoh – a lovely surprise!
Be still my heart! I must make this for my son! It is simply amazing!
This is gorgeous – may I ask where you found the food? Cheers.
Hi Karen, thank you! And yes of course… A variety of places so here goes; the cheese boxes and pastel coloured boxes/tubes are ‘real’ food packaging from a supermarket (Waitrose in the UK) that I kept to recycle here. The wooden lollies, eggs and strawberries were gifts to Harry from relatives but were sourced from Amazon; Honeybake and Melissa and Doug seem to own the Market here! The most realistic fruit and veg (apples,pears,asparagus) was bought from my local garden centre for a song – far cheaper than the stuff designed for kids, and far more realistic. Florists, I find, also often have faux fruit and veg presumably because people use them when styling arrangements. In terms of the non-foodie stuff, the cardboard crates at the bottom are free plant holders from the garden centre – most have bins of these by the exit for you to take what you want. The drawers are from Ikea and have played many roles over the years – still available now in most countries. And finally, a confession; the bananas look so real because they are. I just have to remember to keep eating and replacing them….
I just found this post via Pinterest and I am determined to find a way to build a grown-up party theme around it, so I guess I’m another grown-up trying to fit into something for kids, lol.
This is amazing. I want to play with it. The sophisticated way to play pretend.
What a beautiful shop! I always had play shops and play kitchens for my kids, but nothing nearly as pretty.
I just came across your blog today and love it! <3
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Reblogged this on Le Maison Loup and commented:
On Friday I re-blog something I came across during the week that I loved.
Thanks Elizabeth; have a wonderful weekend
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This is absolutely incredible!! The time and detail that went into this is amazing and it could be easily mistaken for the real thing. Harry is very lucky!
I refuse to believe you barely have any avid followers but, being one myself, I would say that! Absolutely love what you’re doing, as always. Thanks for sharing and adding yet more ideas to my brain bank!!
Ah well, maybe one or two
thanks so much for your comment and the lovely feedback; I really value and appreciate it!
Amazing! Now off to find an old dresser/hutch and make own for our little girl.
When I was little we lived in Germany where they had the most beautiful toys. One Christmas I got a toy store which will forever linger in my memory. I loved it so. But this, OMG!!! This will linger in my memory forever and all I got was the PICTURE of it!!! LOL Absolutely stunning!
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This is absolutely incredible! I would shop there in a heartbeat!
Wow this absolutely stunning and incredibly well done! You are truly talented and an inspiration!
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Being French I am very proud that you decided that this gorgeous shop would be too. Excellent job !
Hello Kate. My name is Sheena and I have the blog “Είμαι Παιδί” (www.eimaipaidi.blogspot.com), a blog for kids with crafts, photos etc. I found your creations from pinterest and I just love it! I made a presantation for you to my blog with links back to you. You can find it here: http://eimaipaidi.blogspot.gr/2012/11/barbeque.html
I also try to do simple crafts with my kids but mine are certainly not like yours:((
Your work is gorgeous!
Thank you for your time
Sheena
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Beau Travail!!! That’s wonderful! Now I wanna go to buy “Le rustique” cheese!hahah BONNE ANNEE
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This is ADORABLE!
That is so absolutely, but I confess…I want one for me!!! I would fill it up with cookie cutters and sprinkles. Icing colors and all my favorite cookie books would go on the top shelf! (you might think I’m kidding but truly I’m not) Oh how I wish I had room!