Quiltingboard Forums - A New Generation Of Forts

My niece is just the apple of her Daddy's eyes. While wandering through the hardware store last month, he got the idea to build a fort out of PVC pipes for his 18 month old daughter. Then, he just covered it with two bed sheets and sent me a picture, asking if I could work up something a little better, lol.

Now, in truth, all he was asking for was a simple cover, but that would just never do in my eyes. I had to make this FUN! So, my first stop was to my LQS where I knew they were having a great sale. I picked up the gingham print for only $3/yard! Then I went to work:

I used the chalkboard fabric with a chalkboard print fabric to make a detachable chalkboard using Jenny Doan's technique in her self binding receiving blanket. I applied velcro to the back of the "chalkboard" and also to the inside of the "house", so that it could be taken down for washing.

I folded the pink ribbon ribbon to make faux picture frames and attached them to the wall, leaving part of the top open so that the pictures can be switched out.

I made two netted toy bags to hang from one of the pvc walls so that she can have hanging toy storage.

The clear bag hangs from the pvc frame, as well, to hold her tablet. This way, they can start a movie for her on her tablet, and place it in this bag so she can watch it from her child sized couch that fits in this house.

The light fixture, I felt, was a must. She loves to look through picture books, but there's not a lot of light in this structure, so I put a button hole in the roof of the fabric and fed the plug for these lights out through it. The way I have it rigged up at the top of the structure, she can't reach it, and these mini Christmas lights don't get hot.

There is one vinyl window and two mesh windows, should they take her outside with the fort. I wanted her to be able to get fresh air. I appliqued two appliques that I made on my embroidery machine and a fussy cut frog onto each of the window sills. I also added a potted flower to each of the window sills to make it more fun.

The door was quite fun, lol. I added a vinyl window in the door, embroidered her name on the door and a "doorknob", and a mail slot for her to play with.