First up: My AOL email address was hacked. I think it was my AOL address. It’s hard to tell because it looks like the email is coming from me, but it’s actually coming from another address. I’m going to change the password of all my email addresses today. I’ve already changed the AOL password.
So if you get an email from me with a link, don’t open it.
We haven’t decorated the tree yet. Why? Because I was working on a project or two for the dollhouse and Don was busy and by the end of the day we both agreed that today would be a better choice.
The biggish project for the dollhouse involved a bottle brush tree, a product called lycopodium, lots of glue, and lots and lots of patience.
For the past couple of Christmases, I’ve used a small white bottle brush tree in the dollhouse living room. I’ve never liked it precisely because it looked like a bottle brush tree with no depth or irregularities, not to mention the fact that it was too short. You know I strive for realistic looking minis in this dollhouse. This year, I happened upon a couple of tutorials that showed me that I could, in fact, have a real looking Christmas tree. I’ll link to the one I used at the end of the post.
I found a green bottle brush tree last week. It wasn’t easy. Michael’s, for example, had sold out. It had to be a certain height and width, which made the search all the more challenging. I finally found one at a local market.
There it is. I had to snip off all the glitter at the ends of the branches and I ended up trimming the whole thing so it was a bit narrower.
Next, a bag of lycopodium, which I ordered from miniatures.com. Lycopodium is preserved princess pine – so it’s real and you can use it for trees, wreaths and garlands.
It comes in a bag and there’s lots of it. There’s more than enough on hand to make more than one tree.
You also need glue. I used my favorite, Quick Grip.
Basically, you measure how long you want the bottom branches to be. They need to extend beyond the bottle brush branches. Then you start cutting pieces of lycopodium to match that length. Then you add a drop of glue to each branch and start inserting them in the bottle brush tree. The tutorial advised filling in the bottom first, then doing the middle, then filling in the rest of the tree.
I deliberately clipped the lycopodium branches in an irregular manner. I wanted the tree to look real.
It’s somewhat tedious work. It’s messy. It took me a couple of hours to add all the pieces. And, if you’re at all like me, you’ll end up with glue all over your fingers and you will spend the rest of the day peeling it off the aforementioned fingers.
But gosh, does it look great in the end!
I’m so excited about this tree! Now I have to figure out how to decorate it.
I’ve got ideas.
It’s too big for the living room because of the fireplace, so Caroline decided to put it in the den this year. And, of course, furniture had to be rearranged.
Note: the rest of the runners for the stairs have been installed.
Caroline’s getting ready to decorate.
Finally, in preparation for the rooftop garden, some ironwork has been installed.
I’m thrilled with it. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it sooner! It really finishes off the roof. Don says it looks “elegant.” There’s a segment of the iron work that extends from the back of the potting shed to the edge of the roof on the right, but you can’t see it in this photo.
All in all, a very exciting day at Hummingbird Cottage. Carpet installed, ironwork installed, Christmas Tree in place. Looks like both Mockingbird Hill Cottage and Hummingbird Cottage need to do some decorating now!
The tutorial I used was from the blog, My Projects in Miniature. Here’s the link.
I’m off to change some more passwords.
The book review I promised for today will be posted tomorrow instead. I’m just now finishing the book – and I really love it, so I don’t want to rush my reading experience. It’s that good.
Happy Wednesday.
Oh! Oh! That tree is FANTASTIC!! And the ironwork is so wonderful. Caroline must be over the moon this Christmas!
She is, Tana!
That tree is amazing and looks so real. What a great project. Not sure I would have the patience to do it. Hummingbird Cottage is looking so festive! Now to decorate. Hope you get all the passwords changed…I hate hacking!
hugs,
Linda
It’s such a pain! I’m not even sure which address was hacked, so I have to change everything!
I love the tree and that ironwork looks wonderful. I cannot wait to see how Caroline decorates her rooftop.
That will take a while, Charlene. A winter project, I think.
This is so lovely! You have jump-started all my latent dollhouse wanty-ness now, and I must have one of those little trees. Beautifully done! :)
I’m always happy to be dollhouse enabler, Kristen.
I used to have a neighbor who “did” miniatures..I still have a decorated Christmas tree with a train set and toys around it under a large glass cloche..He did beautiful things..Your tree is great!!
Thanks so much, Missy!
I like your real tree, I love your mini tree!
Did you have to spray the mini tree with any fixative once the “branches” were in place?
Not according to the tutorial. It does say to store it in a box because too much sunlight can change the color of the pine.
Both the tree and fence are fantastic!!! Your talents have no boundaries!!!! It will be such fun watching your roof top garden take shape. Your patience is to be envied :-)
I’m not patient with everything, not by a long shot – but I am very patient with the dollhouse!
“This Old Dollhouse” – I can believe how much I enjoy your dollhouse reports. Every bit as much as rehab projects on TV. Although I don’t always like what the TV designers do [none of them seem capable of doing traditional or old-fashioned in any form], the fun part is the Before and After. That tree, wow! I never expected to see such a difference. It does look like it was tedious, but WELL worth your time, Claudia. That is a lush, beautifully-shaped evergreen. Anyone would be delighted to find a tree like that at the Christmas tree farm. I love where Caroline placed it too, near a window so its lights will be mirrored by the glass and visible to people in the street. “She” has an artist’s eye, hasn’t she? [wink]. The rooftop ironwork is another perfect touch. I’m predicting compliments from Santa et al in a couple of weeks. Caroline just needs a little something for the front door and Hummingbird Cottage will be ready for the holiday season. A wreath, a spray, an antique sled? Apparently, sleds are “trending” right now as far as holiday decor goes. Who knew? Well, hope you have more “inside fun” time projects lined up. How bad is the snow so far? Not bad here – yet. Being close to the Lake helps in the Fall [it’s warmer]. Enjoy your day.
Unbelievably – no snow! There might be some this afternoon, but yesterday stayed warm enough for it to simply rain – very, very hard – all day.
Your Christmas tree for the dollhouse is fantastic! A true labor of love.
Love the roof ironwork, too!
Thanks so much, Sandi!
OK, everything is wonderful…. but the Shiny Brite box on the couch was perfect!!!!!!! One just KNOWS Caroline has dragged it all out and is now just putzing with all of it. And the elegant ironwork is like the perfect frosting upon a cake!!! Have fun!
There are definite similarities between MHC and Hummingbird Cottage. We have boxes of Shiny Brites, too!
Oh My Goodness Claudia..It is hard to believe that is the same tree..what an difference that pine made..Thanks for the link to the tutorial..and such a wonderful touch to the rooftop..I want one of those Shiny Bright boxes!
I got it from L Delaney’s Etsy Shop, Nancy. It was a couple of years ago, but I know she still carries them.
What a fun post, Claudia. Thank you for the tutorial. Gorgeous tree. You can stop explaining about what you haven’t done. Believe me, all of your readers are in awe of what you HAVE done.
Tree still hasn’t been decorated as of 3:12 pm. Book is finished, though. Review tomorrow.
It looks amazing, Claudia. I’m looking forward to seeing both all dressed up!
Me too – if I ever get them decorated!
The tree is GORGEOUS!! I must make one if I ever get started on my dollhouse.
Judy
You must, Judy! I bet you would decorate it beautifully!
Oh Claudia! I hope you realize what an artists eye you have for decorating. Your doll house decorating is so amazing. Whenever I see it is a dollhouse post I smile a little brighter.
That tree is amazing ! The patience it involved. You are indeed an artist and quite the decorator
Thank you so much for sharing your miniature home with us.
The railing is just the thing! It looks like it has always been there….. belongs there.
Thank you for another wonderful dollhouse post.
The tree is just amazing
SueZK
You are welcome! Isn’t that railing perfect? I’ve been meaning to order it for a while now, and I finally did it. I was so happy when I saw that my vision for it worked!
Yesss, the dollhouse loves the new ‘real’ christmas tree! Looking fotward to seeing it decorated :)
Thanks, Susan!
Seeing how your dollhouse is shaping up, and seeing how much fun you’re having, makes me want one! Oh, and I got one of “your” emails this morning, and knew to delete immediately. Grrr….
So glad you deleted it, Sandra. I was stressed out all morning long over the whole thing.
Great job on the tree. I have not received one of the fake emails from you – yet, but have from some others. I delete them automatically, then contact the real person and let them know what happened just in case they don’t already know.
Seeing your dollhouse makes me want to work on my minis again, but life has put a lot of things on hold these days.
Your mini tree is as lovely as your real tree! And that iron work…very elegant indeed! ;)
Love the tree, Claudia! For old-fashioned decorating I think tiny garlands of “popcorn” and “cranberries” would be cute. You could also cut tinsel into appropriate lengths. I know your creativity will result in a beautiful tree.
That is hands down the best mini Christmas tree I have ever seen!