There was an old lady who lived in a shoe,

She had so many children, she didn't know what to do.
She gave them all bricks, automatic and binding,
And found they all needed much less of her minding.

They built castles and cranes, planes that could zoom,
Cities and spaceships, right in their room.
She taught them to build, to create, and to play,
With colors like sunsets at the end of the day.

In that quirky old shoe, with her kids all around,
In the clatter of bricks, she found peace profound.
For the old lady knew in her heart to be true,
Love is easy to build when LEGO's the glue.

✦ The Story ✦

The Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe is a heartwarming build based on a more wholesome telling of the well-known poem. Our old lady is taking care of oh so many children, yet her home is full of love, laughter, and joy. Seven children run amok inside and outside her home, all with different personalities. The space-loving twin boys are all about rockets and moon bases. Meanwhile, two daughters have different interests: one loves animals and is an aspiring veterinarian, the other looks to the stars and dreams of being an astronaut. The oldest boy is always on the hunt for bananas and other snacks, while the two younger twins spend most of their days in the great outdoors. Last but not least, the new baby girl spends most of her time taking long, peaceful naps.

Their real story is left to you, dear builder. Is she their mother, wizened by age and experience? Is this an orphanage, where she's provided a loving home for those in need? Or perhaps she's a grandmother, waiting patiently for her daughter to return from vacation and collect her kids.

✦ Play Features and Build Information ✦

In case it's hard to tell, the house is a large boot! It features a fully detailed interior, and a detachable rooftop cabin with removable roof. You can remove the front toe box to access the first floor, and the rear section of the build hinges outwards, revealing 3 floors of fun! On the ground floor, you have the playroom, overrun with toys; the dining room, where the family gathers for their meals; and a kitchenette, woefully small for so many mouths to feed! The second floor features a bathroom and a nursery, and the third floor has a double bunk bed and another playroom, where the oldest kid has been setting up a magnificent city. Many of the toys within the home are based off of classic LEGO themes -- can you identify a few?

Making our way to the cabin above, you'll find a triple bunk and a functional lift. To access the upper floors and the cabin, our family has constructed a very tall and only slightly precarious ladder. The ladder can be attached to different points to provide access to different areas of the build. The lift primarily brings snacks up to hungry kids upstairs, but our resourceful family occasionally uses the basket for bath time.

Alongside a large tree, the exterior of the build features a sweeping vine, plenty of vegetation, mushrooms, animals, and pets. I've also published *completely free instructions* for a deluxe SNOT base -- more details on the parts needed are here on BrickLink on my Studio Gallery page under "Deluxe Base for The Old Lady Who Lived In a Shoe".

✦ Minifigs and Specifications ✦

• 8 minifigs and 1 babyfig
• No stickers
• 2649 pieces
• Width: 28 studs | 22.5 cm | 9 in.
• Length: 46 studs | 37 cm | 14.5 in.
• Height: 49 bricks | 47 cm | 18.5 in.

✦ Thank you for your support! ✦

I've had so much fun designing this set and putting the finishing touches on it. I look forward to hearing what you all think about it!