dollhouse — Page 49

Where to Put the Table?

October 2, 2019 at 9:53 am by Claudia

I’ve been “miniature thinking.” When I purchased that incredible Arts & Crafts style table at the IGMA show, my thoughts went immediately to the antique dollhouse. It seemed like it might be the ideal fit for such a piece, mainly because of this:

The fireplace flanked by built-in bookcases. This is exactly like the fireplace/bookcase combo we had in our Craftsman bungalow rental in San Diego. The only thing missing is the glass doors on the bookcases. It even matches the fir used on all the woodwork in that house.

By the way, I had to retake this photo this morning because I had placed the painting upside down.

So, late in the day yesterday, I climbed up on the ottoman and turned the house around. It sits on top of the china cabinet in the den. I think I found a good place for the table.

Isn’t it perfect there? I really love it. It’s a keeper.

When Don came downstairs, I called him over and asked his opinion. He loves it. (Honestly, I couldn’t have a more dollhouse/miniature-supportive husband.) He suggested a lamp for the living room as well as turning the dollhouse around so we can see into the rooms. I took him up on his suggestion. I do this periodically with Hummingbird Cottage, as well. It’s most often turned with the exterior facing outward, but every once in a while I turn it around so I can see all the details.

The next hour was spent with various camera lenses and settings, playing with finding the best way to photograph the rooms. It’s very tricky, but fun. You just have to be in the mood.

This wallpaper is temporary. I cut it quickly and I attached it with tacky wax. I may go for something a bit more permanent. I’ve also briefly considered painting the walls. But that seems too rash. I don’t want to lose the natural wood used by the maker of this house.

However, I am entirely capable of cutting the wallpaper a bit more accurately and maybe even using some in the other rooms, though the bedroom is almost inaccessible. I’ll have to play with that.

The more I work with this house, the more I fall in love with it. It’s so charming. You know, I brought it to the counter at the antique shop without really seeing the fireplace and bookshelves. I just knew I wanted it. When I took it out to the car and looked more closely, I gasped. What a bonus!

Imagine all the loving care that went into this little abode.

Once, I accidentally dropped something down the chimney top on the roof. Believe me, the opening goes clear down to the hearth. Amazing.

I did a lot of work around the life-sized house yesterday, which I find helps me in battling anxiety. If I have a chore to focus on, I don’t have any symptoms. So today might involve a little mowing and/or work on the rescued dollhouse that is sitting in my office/workroom/studio (I never know what the heck to call it.)

Happy Wednesday.

Gearing Up: On Rehabbing a Dollhouse

September 30, 2019 at 9:53 am by Claudia

Sometimes I do this. I play with my new purchases, placing them in some unfinished project. This is partly because I need to shrug off my inertia and get back to work on the current rescue. It’s also because my favorite part of any dollhouse project is decorating the rooms.

But I have a LOT to do on this house before it reaches that stage and that is my least favorite part of the process. If it was all decorating, I’d be happily immersed in that as we speak. Although, to be honest, decorating a dollhouse – if you want to do it with style, and I do – can be pricey. I can repurpose things, and will, but there are a few pieces that will require saving my pennies. I don’t dare think about all the money that went into my first dollhouse over the course of the 6 years I worked on it. But that’s the thing, if you take your time, it’s like collecting something. Every so often, you buy a piece. But you don’t buy a piece every day or even every week. I did the same thing with Don’s mini studio. It took a few years, including the actual building of it from a kit, and I bought the furnishings over time. It was also delayed at times by the death of my father and Scout; I just didn’t have the heart to work on it.

As you know, I’m very strict about scale. Even after all of the painstaking work I did on Hummingbird Cottage, there are a few pieces that aren’t quite to scale and I’ll most likely replace them in time. I know that other dollhouse lovers don’t care about that as much, and that’s fine, but I’m so visual that it really bothers me. I can’t help it.

I also don’t like what I call ‘clunky’ pieces. I guess that means too boxy, too unrealistic, too child-like, not defined enough. My dollhouses are adult dollhouses and since I don’t have grandchildren, I can get away with that!

Here, I’m testing out my other new rug purchase in the modern dollhouse. I sort of like it there.

Anyway, it’s all doable if I take my time. Building materials first, along with paint and shingles, and in the case of the rescue house, some sort of stone exterior that I will have to do by hand. There are several pieces of trim that are missing and I’ll have to replace them with parts of the kit that Barbara sent me. Then inside: floors, walls – wallpaper or paint or stucco? – trim, baseboards and after all of that is done, decorating. Rehabbing a dollhouse is much more complicated because you spend a lot of time trying to undo someone else’s choices and/or errors. I had to do a lot of that with Hummingbird Cottage and I expect I will have to do a fair amount of it with this project. I have already spent hours and hours melting old glue and removing it.

I have a picture in my head of how I want it to look, both outside and inside. We’ll see how that works out. The one thing I do know is that whatever picture I have in my mind at present will evolve as I start working on it once again.

As for the modern dollhouse, it’s just white walls and floors right now and I’m still not sure what, if anything, I will change. I’m thinking of adding a modern fireplace to one of the walls. But that’s all I’ve got at the moment.

Fall is here, winter is coming, and I’m ready to dig in.

Happy Monday.

The IGMA Show

September 22, 2019 at 10:37 am by Claudia

Hello! I’m back from the IGMA show and want to share some of it with you.

But first, I think I wasn’t clear when I spoke about Don saying he would go with me. That was in reference to the November show in Philadelphia, not yesterday’s show. Don had to be in the city yesterday. Sorry for the misunderstanding. I went on my own. It takes 2½ hours to get there, as it’s actually north of Hartford. And I stopped at Trader Joe’s on the way back to grab a bouquet of flowers and something to eat. So it was a long day, but a good one.

The show was great. Some of my favorite vendors were missing, but there was plenty to see. It’s rather overwhelming when you first get there, so I take a 1st stab at seeing all the booths, then I go back and look more closely. And then a third time, to narrow down what I want to purchase.

I ran into 3 readers of this blog, which was absolutely lovely! First, Barbara and Janet, sisters who read the blog and who love dollhouses and miniatures. As I was looking at something or other, I heard “Claudia?” and it was Barbara, who had left a comment on the blog saying they would be there yesterday morning. We had a great chat and I so enjoyed talking to them; seeing photos of their dollhouses and their adorable dogs, talking about travel, and taking their picture.

Then, later, as I was walking around I heard another “Claudia?” I looked up and there was another Barbara, this time from NJ, who reads the blog, as well. We had a chance to chat a bit, though I was remiss in taking a picture. Sorry! Barbara, it was so nice to meet you and your friend. Thank you for reading the blog!

(Insecurity: I always worry that the “reality” of me will be disappointing to those blog readers that I actually meet. Hopefully, that’s not the case. I’m not fishing for a compliment, just being honest.)

Anyway, on with the show. I didn’t get as many photos as I would like, but here are a few.

Bubba’s Country Cupboards. I purchased that mustard-colored hutch from them last year. Their work is impeccable. Such incredible detail.

More from Bubba’s.

Hand turned wooden bowls, among many other gorgeous pieces, by Bill Studebaker of Studebaker Miniatures. Some of the woods he uses are exotic and gorgeous. Incredible work.

Some amazing miniatures from Tiny Doll House in New York City. They are located on the Upper East Side. I’ve been there once, but it was several years ago, and they’ve recently remodeled. Their display was fantastic and full of handmade originals by well-known miniaturists and many of the items were quite pricey. But, in the larger picture, I can see why. I see things there that I don’t see anywhere else. Check out the Alice and Wonderland table, the little theaters (do you know how much I wanted one?) the amazing handmade pottery.

This miniature set of a Clarice Cliff-inspired teapot, sugar, creamer, and plates had me salivating. You don’t want to know the price. I had a nice chat with one of the proprietors and am now going to make sure I get there sometime this fall.

Also part of the display by Tiny Doll House, this fireplace and urns – handmade in England. Oh my heavens. The chair on the right is extraordinary. It rocks back and forth.

More from Tiny Doll House: Some of these pieces are by Paris Renfroe, a well-known miniaturist who works in a modern style. I find this inspiring, as I’m now thinking of adding a fireplace to my modern dollhouse.

Just stop. These are so adorable.

There were so many miniaturists there and such excellence everywhere I turned. It’s an honor to see it all. I was there about two hours and then I headed home with my purchases.

Do you want to see them? I made them with my current projects in mind.

This Arts and Crafts/Craftsman table was made by Keenderson Miniatures. I was much taken with their work last year and regretted the fact that I didn’t buy a piece then and there. So I was happy to see Glen’s booth. Glen lives in Canada and we talked a lot about Craftsman style houses, which are rare in that country. You remember that Don and I lived in a Craftsman bungalow in San Diego.

Isn’t this amazing? I can see it in either my little rescued dollhouse or in the antique dollhouse that’s in the den.

This covered cheese plate was made in England by Veronique Cornish. I found it in The Little Dollhouse Company booth. They are a well-known shop in Toronto. I can see this on the counter in my former-dump-rescue-soon-to-be-English-cottage.

Also from the same booth:

Two pastel bowls and two Christmas tree toppers. I’m thrilled about the toppers because my past efforts to fashion one on my own were a dismal failure.

From McBay Miniatures:

For my English cottage – this beautiful piece. How could I resist sheep?

And two larger-sized rugs, which are hard to find.

I love them.

And finally, from Maddie Gerig Shelly –

This gorgeous piece. You may recall that I bought a modern vase from her last year. I was quite taken with her work. She is the niece of the great miniature pottery artisan, Janet Graber. Janet wasn’t here this year as she is preparing for a show of her pottery.

This will go in the modern dollhouse.

There are plenty of things that I buy and make for my dollhouses that are inexpensive and do the trick. But I do like to collect the works of true artisans, as well. Having a signed piece with a story just adds another layer to the work. And you know I like stories!

There you go. A long post, but I hope an interesting one.

Happy Sunday.

Where to Put the Table?

Gearing Up: On Rehabbing a Dollhouse

The IGMA Show

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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