dollhouse — Page 119

My Stuff is Everywhere (& Cupcakes)

January 26, 2011 at 10:57 am by Claudia

It’s now official. I have taken over every available surface with my various projects. Yarn for an obsession scarf on a chair…

Dollhouse, paint, brushes, and other supplies in a corner of the den….

Script and all Shakespeare research materials on the kitchen table.

Yes, I have a studio upstairs, but none of these projects can fit in that tiny space. So I guess you could say my studio space has expanded to include the entire house. There is relief in sight: I have one more act to research in The Merchant of Venice and then the books can be removed from the table. Speaking of MOV, as it has been dubbed in all rehearsal correspondence, I officially start rehearsals this coming Monday. My days will be long, but exciting, for about 5 weeks.

Yesterday, I needed to catch an early bus to Manhattan. When I woke up there were 2 additional inches of snow on the ground. If you had driven by MHC, you would have been treated to the sight of me shoveling snow in a parka and pink flannel pajamas. Oh, what blackmail photos could have been taken! Upon seeing me out there, Don yelled out the window and berated me (kindly) for not waking him up to help. Can’t help it…I just get a notion in my head and I start in.

It was a snowy bus ride to Manhattan and as I walked around Greenwich Village with big, fat snowflakes falling, I fell in love with the city all over again. Though there are some taller buildings in the area, the predominant style is a 2 or 3 stories. You aren’t surrounded by skyscrapers. It has much more of a cozy, neighborhood feeling. Very picturesque yesterday and very photo-worthy. Alas, when I am toting a bag full of the books I need for my work, the last thing I need is the additional weight of my camera! Once we get into the rehearsal space, my books can stay there and I will once again have my camera in hand. It will be fun to share some shots of the city with you.

Where did I stop? Do you have to guess?

The Magnolia Bakery, of course. As you gaze upon these lovelies, say a fond farewell. This is the last hurrah – at least for a while. We have been indulging in way too many sweets this winter. After the last cupcake has been consumed (and two of them are already gone) it’s lights out for sugar. This winter is one of the toughest we’ve had in a long time – more snow is due tonight – and since we have at least 2 more months of it, we’ll really be packing on some pounds if we continue at this rate.

I will miss you, pretty and delicious cupcakes. Sob.

Forgotten Treasures, Dollhouse Update

January 24, 2011 at 12:35 pm by Claudia

Good morning! It was 9 degrees below zero when I woke this morning. During the middle of the night the temperature was supposed to go to at least 11 below; I have a feeling it went even lower. Don had to go into Manhattan today and I have to go in tomorrow. You’d better believe I will be rewarding myself with cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery!

We all have little treasures that we are used to seeing around the house. We get so used to them that we don’t really see them anymore until something makes us look at them with fresh eyes. That happened to me the other day. I ‘saw’ this box which has a home on our spinet desk. I bought this little cigarette box when I was in Edinburgh in 1991 – oh my gosh, it’s been 20 years! I well remember walking into a little antique shop, hoping to discover some little treasure that would always remind me of my trip.

The copper has transformed into that wonderful blue patina that I love. The flapperish female figure is looking elegant while enjoying a cigarette. Isn’t she fabulous?

A confession: When I gaze at this lady, I get that little twinge that reminds me how much I loved smoking years ago. Don’t worry. I haven’t smoked in 26 years and I’m not about to start now.

The inside of the box is wood.

It’s full of memories: chaperoning a group of Boston University students who were performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, staying in a lovely flat for 2 weeks and having the luxury of time to explore that gorgeous city, traveling to London for 5 days to explore some more. Those students were members of a class that I adored teaching. We had such fun together – at Boston University and in Edinburgh.

This weekend, I painted the roof of the dollhouse.

I wanted the shingles to look a bit weathered, so I used 2 different shades of gray. It’s subtle, therefore hard to see in the photo. I hope this gives you somewhat of an idea of what I was going for.

Today, I’ll start painting the house itself, which will be white, then the shutters, which are on order. I’m not sure what color I’m going to use on the shutters – maybe a turquoise mixed with some gray? After all this is done, I will start on the inside and that, my friends, will be the biggest challenge.

Hope your weather is a tad warmer than mine!

Crochet, Weaving, Dollhouse & Snow (Again)

January 21, 2011 at 11:37 am by Claudia

This just about sums up my snowbound life of late. If you added a copy of The Merchant of Venice and some cookies, this vignette would be perfect. And no, I didn’t arrange this photo. I looked up from my laptop and this is what I saw on top of the music cabinet: Monty the cow surrounded by dollhouse furniture and another obsession scarf on the hook. Speaking of scarves, here is #6:

Blocked and ready to send to my Best Friend Since Junior High. It was not called Middle School in those days. I much prefer Junior High. “Middle” sounds like a sort of limbo, but “Junior High” sounds like one is right on the edge of experiencing the wonders of High School. Why did the powers-that-be feel the need to change it? Leave well enough alone, I say.

We had more snow last night. I’m not kidding. We’ve had 5 major snowfalls since December 26th. I did manage to escape the house yesterday. I broke out of our icy prison and ran errands. It sounds mundane but after being stuck here for several days, it was heaven. I hit Michael’s, Lowe’s, the supermarket, the Vet’s and the yarn store. Then I chopped away at more ice on our driveway. This weekend we are supposed to have below zero temps. We’ve changed the name of Mockingbird Hill Cottage – it’s now Ice Station Zebra. (Remember that old movie?) Here’s one positive – in one of those conversations you have while shoveling snow, my neighbor told me that when the snow pack stays around for a long time, it’s bad news for ticks. And that’s good news for us.

You know I adore my sister, Meredith. Besides being a wonderful person, she is a mega-talented knitter, crocheter and now, weaver. She bought a loom a year or so ago and she has been creating such gorgeous stuff. Look at this scarf. (I stole this from her blog.)

She has an extremely busy life, with two teen-age boys, her work as an Occupational Therapist and caring for my parents who live just a few miles away. The loom is set up in her bedroom and gives her the perfect excuse to retreat from the craziness in her house and create. You know I’ve mentioned setting up an Etsy shop….well, Mer and I are thinking seriously of setting one up together. We’d carry handmade items as well as vintage. And you’d have a chance to buy her gorgeous woven creations. And maybe some of my scarves…or whatever else I can dream up.

My Stuff is Everywhere (& Cupcakes)

Forgotten Treasures, Dollhouse Update

Crochet, Weaving, Dollhouse & Snow (Again)

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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