dollhouse — Page 118

Reality Shot Thursday #2

October 5, 2011 at 11:59 pm by Claudia

Hello, everyone! Welcome to the second Reality Shot Thursday. It’s all about letting everyone in on a glimpse of real life in our homes every Thursday. I’d love to have you join us.

Remember how I described a Reality Shot as what is just to the left or right of a staged, pretty photograph? Here is my example this week. It’s not pretty.

You’ve all seen my dollhouse.

It sits in a corner of our den. I always crop every shot of the dollhouse for reasons which will be abundantly clear when you look at the photo below.

Eeek. Starting in the lower left hand corner: a big old tub full of dollhouse furniture, etc., the room air conditioner that my husband put in when I was away and sealed with blue painter’s tape. No, you’re not seeing things. Honestly, that tape is so ugly that I no longer see it. I’ve put on blinders.

Continuing the tour: two bags from Trader Joe’s full of dollhouse building and redecorating supplies, a box of coffee stirrers to be used in some future project in the dollhouse, a mug full of pencils, foam brushes and paint brushes, a can of paint, and a basket full of supplies.

Attractive, isn’t it?

I’ll give you one more shot of the air conditioner artfully trimmed in blue painter’s tape:

In my defense, I got home from Wisconsin in July. Don had already put the air conditioners in. I promptly got sick and had two surgeries. By that point, I just didn’t care anymore. And so it has remained.

We’ll be storing them away for the winter very soon. Bye, bye painter’s tape.
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Dollhouse: A Hardwood Floor

October 4, 2011 at 5:49 pm by Claudia

Today: I’m cutting popsicle-type sticks with my Easy Cutter. Why? I’m going to stain them and construct a floor for the living room. Cut, cut, cut….then stain. Cut, cut, cut some more….and stain some more. Here’s what it’s starting to look like:

I haven’t glued anything down yet. I’m going for a wide plank look to the floor with a dark stain. I tested it out by putting my little chest of drawers on the wood. I like it. Visualize some faded oriental rugs on that dark wood.

I’ve had such fun the last two days, pouring over my catalogues and looking at all the amazing dollhouse miniatures on Etsy. Since I have a budget of just about nothing, I’ve just bookmarked my favorites. I did order some wallpaper and beadboard, as well as some molding and trim for the windows. I’m going to tackle this house one room at a time.

With all the stress and worry concerning my mom and dad, I find that working on the dollhouse provides me with an escape of sorts. For a few hours, I am immersed in the creative process and it brings me great pleasure.

My friend Norma wanted to see a close-up of the chest of drawers:

A little grainy, but it will do. Let me tell you about this piece (which is one of my favorites.) When I was a little girl there was a line of mini furniture for girls called Petite Princess – Fantasy Furniture. This was during the sixties. I remember bugging my mom to buy them for me but she didn’t go for it. A few years ago, I found some pieces which were mint in the box at a nearby antique store. This is by far the neatest piece and it’s made of plastic. You’d never know it, would you? And I love the fact that it was Shabby Chic long before our current craze. It’s been distressed (not by me, it came that way) and has a faux marble top. The drawers open, as well. The scale is a little off on some of the other pieces, but this one fits in perfectly.

Don’t forget Reality Shot Thursday. I will most likely have the post up just after midnight on Thursday. I’d love to have you join me! If you’re so inclined, please spread the word about my little meme.

I just so happen to be looking at this week’s bit of reality as I sit here writing this post. I wonder what it will be?

Dollhouse: Staircase Renovation

October 2, 2011 at 11:37 am by Claudia

What to do on another in a seemingly endless series of rainy days? Work on the dollhouse.

Though I just wrote a post about my aversion to seasonal decorating, apparently my dollhouse is the exception.

I can’t help it. It’s just so much more fun with a mini.

My big (for me) project yesterday was one of the staircases. It came to me like this:

The previous owners didn’t put it in correctly, so it’s a bit off. Since I didn’t want to take it out, adding spindles, newel posts and a railing involved crossing my fingers and hoping for the best.

It works for me. Each time I figure something out, like enlarging the opening for the front door, installing a new door, realigning the upstairs windows or putting in the rest of the staircase, I must admit I do a little dance.

The lighting varies according to the time of day and that is why you see such contrast. I’m basically shooting into a box! As you can see the windows need trimming. I’m going to make a wood floor, using coffee stirrers. I’m thinking about beadboard in the kitchen and maybe in the living room. Any suggestions?

Upstairs. I still have to do the other staircase but I ran out of spindles.

For me, the dollhouse is by far the most challenging thing to photograph. I spend hours trying to get the right shot. Someday, when I have wallpaper and more contrasting colors, I know it will become easier. At the moment, it’s a mass of white. Bear with me.

Have a lovely day.

Reality Shot Thursday #2

Dollhouse: A Hardwood Floor

Dollhouse: Staircase Renovation

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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