Handmade Holiday: Strolling Along

Rosa had a little doll stroller -- a pink, mostly-plastic affair that she got for her second birthday. It's served her well, but it was showing signs of wear and was really too small for her now. I loved this Nova Natural stroller, but $69 was a bit too spendy for us! 

We picked up some oak 1x2's (pine would be cheaper, but we decided the oak was much prettier and would be more durable). Of course, by the time we bought the oak, oak dowels, and four scooter wheels, we probably spent about $40! Honestly, I had no idea it would be so hard to source appropriate wheels. The fabric was from my stash, so that was "free." I suppose we still saved a good bit -- also, ours is taller than the Nova stroller by almost three inches, so perhaps it will fit her longer, too.

Rosa should be able to use this for years, too! I customized the seat to add a few pockets (Laddie loves to stuff them full). The seat is lined with batting to give it a bit more "oomph."

And the wheels -- which are adorable, even if they were hard to select! They also have bearings, so the stroller rolls quite smoothly. We finished the wood with a natural wax; it has a lovely, smooth feel, and brought out all the natural beauty of the wood.

Rosa was delighted with her new stroller (which, of course, made the effort worth it!), and Madeline seems quite pleased, too. At least, I'm guessing that by the smiles on both of their faces...