When Aaron and I talked about what to get Brandt for Christmas, the first thing that came to my mind was a play kitchen. Any time we visit friends with a play kitchen, Brandt makes a beeline for it. But as I looked into the options, I couldn’t find anything in our budget that I actually liked. (And I knew this was not the year to DIY something big like that.) I had written the idea off, and shortly after Thanksgiving, we went to the Land of Nod outlet to pick up Plan B – a wooden toy barn set. Lo and behold, they were selling a darling white wooden play kitchen in the smaller dimensions we needed at a special price of $29! We bought it faster than you can say “white wooden play kitchen.”
Where there is a play kitchen, there must also be play kitchen utensils and play food. Since we don’t have any extra money floating around right now (stay-at-home mom + husband in grad school = no cash), and since I did happen to have a lot of extra felt floating around from other projects, I decided to make felt food for B’s kitchen. I searched Etsy a bit for inspiration, looked at some Google images to figure out details on a few things, and then largely improvised. It was so. much. fun.
Here are the results:
They’re all made by hand using embroidery stitches I recently learned from this book. The carrot and hamburger bun took the most engineering. I overstuffed things a bit, because I think the stuffing will get compacted over time. I had a few more ideas, but I ran out of time to execute them. But with these felt pieces, some IKEA play cookware, and some play dishes and wooden and plastic play food given by grandparents and an aunt, Brandt’s kitchen is well-stocked!
This is AMAZING Andrea! I love all the little details that you put on the food. They turned out so well. (And what an amazing find at the Land of Nod!)
Wow andrea, I have never seen such cute play food! You should consider opening your own etsy shop!
With all my spare time, right, Patty? I might consider making sets for friends, though.
so cute- way to be a super crafty mama!
Yet another way that you are my hero.
Your fake food is prettier than my real food:)
so lovely and creative! My favorite is the egg and bacon!
Wow, that is so awesome!! Great job!!
Those are amazing! Do you know Grandpa VW made a wood stove & sink set for Tricia when she was 2 years old? We still have it in our storage room – just couldn’t part with it. It was a huge hit with Adi when she was here last summer. What great ideas you have!
Aunt Greta, I didn’t know that! What a sweet heirloom. I still have vivid memories of the playset he and my dad made in CO.
Andrea, seriously these are beautiful–too beautiful to ever PRETEND to eat! If I ever buy Simeon a play kitchen, consider yourself hired!
Those are awesome!! You did a great job.
Fantastic deal, fabulous food–what a wonderful Christmas present!