dollhouse — Page 110

A Tree for the Dollhouse

December 13, 2012 at 9:04 am by Claudia

I wanted a Christmas tree for the dollhouse. But I didn’t want to spend any money on one. What to do?

I had some bottlebrush trees from our Dickens Village days that I had thrown in my wrapping paper bits/fabric Easter Eggs/ ribbon drawer in the den. I pulled out the tallest tree and pondered bleaching it. I googled ‘bleaching bottlebrush trees’ and what should come up first? My friend Terri’s video! Thank you Terri, it was extremely helpful!

Bleaching it took a while. I get impatient. I probably should have gone even lighter, but what the heck, I was just playing around. I looked through all my little bits for decorations I could glue on the tree. Here’s the finished product:

That’s a bit of French silk ribbon winding its way around the tree. Plus some little beads and sparklies I had in my studio.

The wider view. It wasn’t quite tall enough so I put it on a stand. I’m not sure I’m happy with that little crochet skirt but it will do for now. Or at least until I start obsessing about some other possibility.

The den just got a touch of Christmas – the red ribbon wreath on top of the blue armoire. Less is more.

There’s still so much to do in the dollhouse: moldings, more wallpapering, more wooden floors, finishing touches and more furniture! Winter always seems to be the perfect time for work on the dollhouse. I’m starting to get that ‘itch.’

Another new scarf in the Etsy shop:

I have two more coming up in the next few days and I want to assure you that if you place a timely order, I will get it out to you in time for Christmas. The shop link is in the menu above and on my sidebar.

Happy Thursday.

A Bit of the Holidays for the Dollhouse

December 10, 2012 at 8:53 am by Claudia

Yesterday I hung the outdoor Christmas lights. I hung a wreath on the front door. I dragged the decoration bins in from the shed. I put up the little white tree in the living room. Don and I debated whether we should get a small real tree for the den. Today, I’m thinking no. I may just leave it at that.

I did, however, decorate the dollhouse. These are night time views, so forgive the photography no-no. I didn’t use a flash and I know they have a yellow cast. I wanted to have light shining through the windows.

I don’t have any lamps or lighting in the dollhouse yet, so I use the standing lamp that is between the dollhouse and the piano as back lighting.

I can’t remember where I got it, but Santa and his reindeer are the perfect size for a porch decoration. I may paint it red.

The tree is courtesy of Donna. It was part of the wrapping on our present. (See yesterday’s post.) I thought it looked like the perfect roof decoration.

I’ve always liked seeing a glimpse of someone’s home through cozily lit windows and doors.

I had Pandora on all day yesterday. The Christmas music selection is fabulous. I hooked my little Bose speakers up to my laptop and wonderful music filled the house. It beats digging out my Christmas CDs. Though I will eventually do that, as well.

In other news, on three separate occasions yesterday, I substituted the word ‘pianos’ for ‘potatoes.’ I’m not kidding. Don couldn’t stop laughing. What the ??? This is when I start to worry about senility. I told Don it couldn’t be that serious. Each time I said it, I knew immediately what I had done.

Please reassure me.

Happy Monday.

Tweaking the Dollhouse Kitchen

August 11, 2012 at 9:22 am by Claudia

I’ve been working on the dollhouse kitchen – perfect for a rainy day. Make that a humid, rainy day.

Remember the material I used in the bedroom to cover up the previous owner’s building mistake? For some reason that section was covered in the same siding that is used on the outside of the house. So I used this material to simulate a painted brick wall. I had some left over and it seemed to be the perfect solution for a rustic backsplash in the kitchen.

I blended that color by hand to match the blue in the wallpaper. (No faucet yet.)

Then I made that little kitchen skirt. It picks up the pink in the wallpaper.

And then I made a roman blind for the window. Apologies in advance for the photo. I’ve mentioned before how tunnel-like the rear of the kitchen is. And it’s especially cloudy here today.

I promise I’ll try to get a better photo, but for now, this will have to do. You can’t see it but there’s also a matching table runner.

I’m trying to use what I have and I found that fabric in my stash.

Someone mentioned putting a back on the shelf unit above the Aga.

There is a back on it. I added the wallpaper because I like the look and once I accessorize it with hanging pots and pans and whatever else I can find, it will look pretty striking.

If you can see it.

I have to figure out just how to photograph this. Some of you gave me suggestions and I promise to try them. I used an Ott Light on the photos of the shade. A bit better, but still very problematic.

Happy Saturday.

A Tree for the Dollhouse

A Bit of the Holidays for the Dollhouse

Tweaking the Dollhouse Kitchen

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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