dollhouse — Page 129

Little House in the Den

August 6, 2009 at 6:37 pm by Claudia

It’s still here – my dollhouse. It’s sitting in a corner of the den. I won’t have any time to do anything with it until fall. But I look at it every day, while I sit in my chair and blog or watch TV. It needs a lot of work because its rather the worse for wear. The shingles need replacing, the outside needs a fresh coat of paint, I want to replace the shutters, and whoever assembled the house didn’t do such a wonderful job with the upstairs windows…they are crooked. And the inside is totally unfinished. Despite its flaws, I love it. Or maybe because of its flaws, I love it. Mockingbird Hill Cottage has a lot of irregularities. After all, it was built in 1891. Some of the windows here are slightly crooked, too.

Oh, and the front door won’t stay shut. I have no idea how to do anything. I’m reading a lot about dollhouses and everything to do with them. My blogging friends who are miniaturists inspire me every day. So when the days cool off and I start to spend more time indoors, I will be getting to work on this sweet, imperfect dollhouse.

Opening Night, A Dollhouse Shop & Scarves For a Cause

June 28, 2009 at 2:33 pm by Claudia

Cyrano de Bergerac opened last night and is a resounding success. What an absolutely beautiful production, in every way – costumes, set design, sound, lighting, music – and if I may say, beautifully spoken. It helps to have an outstanding Cyrano. We do. And to be perfectly honest, I didn’t have to do too much in the way of coaching him. He is a wonderful actor with an amazing voice. My colleague has directed it beautifully.

Everyone who works on each production always gets a single long-stemmed rose on Opening Night. The brilliant costume designer gave me a copy of one of her designs, another wonderful colleague gave me a plume, handkerchief and a lovely quote – all of which figure in the play. One opening down, two to go. Then I fly home.

I found the most amazing dollhouse/miniature shop the other day: Miss Peggie’s Place – located in Pacific Beach. Why oh why can’t I plop this place down in upstate New York? I could have gone nuts there but was saved by three facts: I haven’t even seen my dollhouse in person, I already have too much to pack and I do not want to spend too much at present. I did buy this mini sewing basket because I fell in love with it ~ and I plan to have a craft/sewing room in the dollhouse (since there is no room for one in the cottage.) Isn’t it sweet?

Miss Peggie’s Place has been in the same location for over 30 years! Miss Peggie ran it for most of that time until it became too much for her. She died a few years ago and there is a new owner. I lived here for 8 years but wasn’t into the dollhouse thing then or I would have been there all the time.

These are the scarves I decorated for Design Gives Back at Kelee’s blog. I used scraps from the Quilt Along quilt and cut out circles with pinking shears. Then I glued them on with fabric glue, sent them home to MHC and my husband took a couple of photos of the dogs in their new scarves. It is such a great cause. Just click on the link and you can read all about it.

Don tells me the dogs wouldn’t stay still – they had just had a walk (hence Scout’s pink-rimmed eyes – she was excited) but I think they look pretty cute!

Have a great Sunday!

For My Dollhouse

June 17, 2009 at 4:29 pm by Claudia

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. The people I have met through blogging are the most generous, giving people. Case in point: after I blogged about my dollhouse, I had a message from a fellow blogger, Marsha of Sassy Mini Dolls. Marsha is a miniaturist who follows my blog (and I follow hers.) She said she wanted to send me a couple of things for my dollhouse to welcome me to the mini community.

Look what arrived today!

She was going to shabby up this coffee table, but thought I would enjoy doing it. She’s right! Look at the little pitcher, the glass jar of seashells and the blue bowl. So sweet! Marsha made the cheesecake under the dome. I am amazed that someone can do this. Oh, I have much to learn!

Here is a lovely blue hutch, two yellow pillows along with a blue flowered pillow and two mini books, Jane Eyre and Aesop’s Fables.

Inside one of the drawers in the coffee table was a copy of Little Women.

I gathered everything together and was going to put it all back in the box for safekeeping, when I realized I had missed something – this sofa! Marsha, Marsha, Marsha (I bet I’m not the first to say that) you are generous beyond words and I am so grateful for this warm welcome. Everything is perfect and I can’t wait to get home and start work on the dollhouse. I am well aware I have much to learn, but I love a challenge!

Thank you, dear friend.

Update on the previous bird feeder post – there are 15 in the photo. Today I stopped by the tree and counted 18 and they were full of little birds and hummingbirds – I think it was lunchtime.

Little House in the Den

Opening Night, A Dollhouse Shop & Scarves For a Cause

For My Dollhouse

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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