Week 21 of A Favorite Thing is here. 21 is a lucky number for me, so let the festivities begin. I hope those of you who are, like me, buried in this deep freeze find relief soon! The mid-thirties temperatures promised for Monday seem positively balmy!
Let’s look at some highlights from last week. By the way, I really endeavor to make sure everyone gets a highlight at some time or other, so if I haven’t highlighted your post yet, take heart – I will.
Martha of Poetry and a Cup of Tea showed us her present from her cousin Brenda. A Barbie game! I was instantly filled with memories as I read Martha’s post. I used to play this game all the time and, like Martha, got stuck with Poindexter a bit too often.
Sue, of Collect In Texas Gal, shared some quilt binding tips with us. I’ve often thought about using Thread Heaven and for some reason, I haven’t. So I sure appreciated her take on it and I will be ordering it very soon. She also suggested a magnifying lamp and I’m just about to admit that one will be a necessity for me very soon.
Suzan, of Tree Hugger, shared the visit she and her sister made home to celebrate their mom’s 82nd birthday. Happy Birthday!
This week I am sharing another favorite thing with you – my dollhouse. I bought it for $35 via Craig’s List and here is how it looked when I got it:
It had been sorely neglected: the shutters were fake, the door wouldn’t close, there were shingles missing and the cupola had been attached in the wrong place. The inside? Water damage, warped floor, badly put together walls resulting in funky seams.
Here is how it looks now:
And a glimpse of some of the rooms I’ve been working on:
The living room.
The den.
The bedroom. Still needs a bed!
I shot these with my nifty fifty lens and purposely blurred parts of the photo. I wanted to get some of the kitchen but it’s too dark outside today, so I’ll show you that room another day.
Some close-ups. I haven’t started the craft room/office and I’ve laid floor down in the bathroom but that’s it so far. Hope you enjoyed this little tour. You can read about the progress by going to this link.
Now it’s your turn!
You can link up anytime from this evening through Sunday. Make sure you enter the URL of your post. If you’re unsure how to do that, just click on your post title after you’ve published it and copy the information in your browser address window. Come back here, paste the URL into your link entry and there you go! If you have any problems, drop me an email and I’ll help you out. Please link back to this blog on your post. That way, those that read your post and are interested in reading more can do so.
One of my concerns about link parties is that the very reason for them has somewhat gone by the wayside. They’ve become so big and there are so many of them that many bloggers don’t take the time to visit any of the other participants. Link parties are a way to meet new bloggers and share with each other and the only way to do that is to visit each other. So, please, take some time to visit everyone over the next few days. No rush. Stop by, introduce yourself, and leave a comment. It’s the neighborly thing to do. It’s also nice if you leave a comment here, as well.
Have fun, everyone!
Thanks so much for hosting A Favorite Thing Saturday, Claudia. I love your dollhouse. I keep saying I’m going to share photos of Amanda’s old dollhouse that we made when she was just a little girl, but it may not even be up to par with your ‘before’ dollhouse photos! You’ve done a great job!!! Stay warm – hope the pipes stay thawed for you! … Donna
Hi Claudia, I left a comment on this morning’s post but it somehow got lost. Anyway, I am happy to be able to join your linky this week. Hope your pipes are behaving for you! I am ready for the warm up on Monday. It is snowing here and in the 20’s. I am sure it is very slippery out there. xo
Looks like you have accomplished a lot more on your doll house than I have on my last purchase. Don’t know why, but have just come to a halt on my latest doll house projects.
Thanks bunches for hosting again this week – You are appreciated.
Enjoy your weekend.
Glenda
I love your dollhouse Claudia! By now you now just how much I love minis!! Thanks for hosting. Stay warm and I am glad your pipes did not freeze. Let’s hope for some warmer temps soon.
Big Hugs,
Susan and Bentley
Your doll house is gorgeous, I never knew it was in such rough shape when you first got it. Bet it’s fun to take your time and decorate it. Thanks for hostessing the party.
Mary
Thank you for hosting the party, Claudia! I love the dollhouse! Years ago, my husband and I built a dollhouse for our daughter. We used odds and ends of wallpaper books (little prints) for the walls and even found a little bathroom set, i.e. tub, toilet, and sink. SO FUN! It needs a lot of attention now – maybe a facelift as well. Thanks for reminding me. :-)
I always love seeing your doll house. You have made huge improvements! Thanks for hosting one of my favorite parties of the week!
hugs, Linda
Claudia,
My sister and I got that Barbie game at a church rummage sale, and we loved it. When we first started playing it, nobody wanted Poindexter. And then… it got to be a game to see who COULD get Poindexter. LOL Good memories. Your doll house is looking great!
Some really fun links but I LOVE your dollhouse- You have done a fabulous rehab with all that you have done so far- xo Diana
I love doll houses and I loved seeing yours! The furniture is just so adorable. You really perked it up, Claudia. Thanks for hosting!
Thanks for featuring CollectInTexas Gal and Thread Heaven. It’s a great product…in fact I used it again today on another binding….the one I shared in todays entry to Favorite Thing. I’ve been keeping up with your Doll House ever since you first started posting about it. It’s wonderful and I’d love to do one, too. Maybe one of these days. Your furniture and the finishes you’ve done in the Doll House look like your Cottage Home….warm, lovely and inviting. I really like the blurred photos…I can tell you are having lots of fun with your new camera. Thanks for hosting. I love this party…so many nice folks to visit with special favorite things. Thanks….Sue
The dollhouse is sooooo cute! Love what you’ve done with the place :)
A treat for a doll house visit. I linked up more painting this week, I love seeing what I can do to change a piece of furniture for the better. Ongoing favorite. Thanks for hosting Claudia, always a pleasure to join in. I read your posts every day. Hope Don is over the worst of the flu (sounds like he is on the mend), its very tough acting/singing when one feels rotten. You are sure getting the worst of the freezing winter weather. Glad you got the pipes flowing again.
Joy
Claudia, the living room and den of your dollhouse are so much like you–I know, they should be since you created them, but it just seemed like there should be a miniature Claudia and Scout sitting on the sofa.
I always love visiting your favorite things contributors but I immediately saw Gladys Taber’s picture above in her Stillmeadow cottage and am going right now to visit that blog first. I have a whole shelf of her books in my bedroom bookcase (the ones I never, never lend out). Thank you!
Hi Claudia,
WOW!! thank you for spot lighting my post about visiting Mom for her birthday! I always enjoy reading your blog and seeing Mom’s photo was nice!! We had such a good weekend! Mom still lives alone in Florida so my sister flew in from Louisiana and myself from GA. We fixed her, her favorite – LOBSTER!
Such a lovely doll house!! Know you have had a wonderful time filling the rooms! Amazing all the tiny things you have in your house!
I love pics of your doll house but never realized the shape it was in before and what you all did to it. Amazing!
Hi, is it okay to link two posts, my post today is another one of my very faves? If not, I’m okay, just asking.
Mary
As you may recall, I have a dollhouse too. They are so fun. You’ve really done a great job with yours, and the furnishings are so realistic!
Hello Claudia, I just found your site thru my friend Barbara of two birds and a b. Sahring favorites is a fantastic idea and I’m looking forward to reading thru all these ladies great blogs. I love your doll house. My, that must have taken you some time to repaint and fix the floors. I remember building a doll’s house for my now30yr old daughter. She played with it and now her two daughters will play with it. Doll houses are treasures, aren’t they? I’ve followed now so will see you soon. :)
I love your dollhouse! You know, I never was a doll lover…they kinda creeped me out…weird, I know. But I love doll houses. So glad to see that you rescued this treasure and are giving it a new lease on life :)
I’m sharing My Grandma’s Bread Bowl and some memories from my childhood this week.
I adore your dollhouse and after seeing yours I think I need one too someday. I think having something to work on and add to over a long period would be so much fun. I used to have one in an old medicine cabinet so I have a few pieces to start me out. It will need to be white and turquoise, of course!
Claudia, I adore your doll house! Where in the world do you find the beautiful cottage/vintage furniture> Does it come in the wonderful colors and finishes that you have or do you paint some of the items? Your pictures almost look like real rooms. What a wonderful fantasy! We all still have that little girl in us that loves to decorate a doll house (practice for decorating our real houses) I love your feature Saturday. I have a post I’m working on but it probably won’t be ready until next week. I’m an old college student now and need to focus on getting my projects done :) I love that you will be giving everyone a chance to be featured. That’s the kind of person you are fair, kind and loving. Some of the blogs I’ve visited pick the feature by who is the most popular or the most clicks or whomever decorates like a magazine cover! I love visiting here, as you well know, by the amount of time I spend here and the comments that I make.
I’ll be back after I get my homework done to visit the folks who have linked up their favorites this week!
Hugs, Sandy
I’ve repainted most of the furniture, Sandy. The only piece I didn’t paint myself is the sofa in the living room, which was made by an Italian miniaturist who does beautiful work.
I love what you’ve done!
Hi Claudia … seems like a while since I’ve linked up, and I’ve been missing out I’m sure. I’m hoping to get back into the swing of things and was anxious to join in this week. I really love your doll house … and can see why it would be a favorite thing. You’re breathed new life into it and it looks so charming in your home. Thank you again for hosting this delightful party…
Blessings!
Geneva
Hi Claudia; thanks for hosting. I’m home for a week and find my new favorite is a computer bag for travelling. Who knew.
Rob
Thanks so much for hosting again! I’ll enjoy popping back here over the next few days when I get a mo to check out the other linked blogs! I love the ones you featured too! J9 x
Your dollhouse is darling Claudia! I’ve wanted one forever but don’t have any room in my tiny house sniffle sniffle. (I’ve shared the littles I picked up at the miniature show this weekend as my favorite thing.)
Wishing you lots of fun foofing up your dollhouse!
I just love your dollhouse, Claudia! Thank you SO much for showing the before pictures. I don’t think I’ve seen them before. What a transformation! (And I’ll tell you something funny…. the first time you posted about that little blue floral chair, I assumed it was a chair in your house until I looked at it more closely!?) Thank you for hosting. I look forward to looking through the various favorites people sent to you.
I am in love with your little dollhouse! How lovely! So glad I stumbled across you, and looking forward to the next ‘A Favorite Thing’!