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You are here: Home / Archives for dollhouse

Dollhouse: More Recent Additions

November 9, 2014 at 9:17 am by Claudia

During the drive home on Friday, the sky treated us to an always changing, amazingly dramatic array of colors and clouds and vivid blue skies. It was late afternoon, that time before sunset, when nature sometimes puts on a dramatic show. Honestly, we kept gasping as we drove west in the Interstate – it was better than any movie, always surprising, always shifting.

I was driving and Don kept taking pictures with his iPhone.

Here’s how it looked when we got home (from my camera):

SUNDAY Sunset

I admit it. I am now fully into dollhouse mania. The only somewhat major thing I have to do is figure out the rooftop garden. Beyond that, it will be all about adding little touches throughout the rooms. I like adding accessories, but I don’t think I will be the kind of dollhouse decorator where every room is chock full of little things, as tempting as that may be. Maybe I’ll rotate things in and out of the rooms. I like creative clutter, as you know, but not clutter-clutter. And detail is wonderful, but the eye does need someplace to rest. But who knows? I may keep adding and adding.

Anyway, my friends, here are a few more photos of recent additions to the dollhouse; Hummingbird Cottage, if you, like me, sometimes forget that it has a name.

SUNDAY dh fabric bolts

These are the fabric bolts that I bought in Chautauqua at Chautauqua Miniatures.

SUNDAY plate 2

One of the plates from Barbara (it’s normally in the kitchen, but I propped it up here so you could see the pattern.)

SUNDAY flower pot

I purchased the pot of flowers from Chautauqua Miniatures.

SUNDAY trug

I’m calling this a trug. It’s from Barbara.

SUNDAY dh biscuits

The box of biscuits was made by Norma. The owner likes to sip her coffee and snack on some chocolate biscuits. Her name is Caroline. Why? It’s my middle name, in honor of my grandmother, Caroline. And it’s also the name of my great-niece.

SUNDAY dh painting

This pansy painting was one of the items I got in the mini swap. It’s very sweet.

SUNDAY kitchen tin

There’s the other tin from Barbara, right next to the mixer.

SUNDAY silver cup & Jug

At the top of the shelf unit is a lovely pottery jug from Barbara. And on the shelf is a little silver tea cup, another item I received in the swap – it was handmade by one of the participants. Amazing. (I have to straighten that tea towel!)

I added some links to the Dollhouse section up there on the navigation bar. They link to some dollhouse posts that give some helpful information to those of you who are interested in decorating and finding your very own dollhouse. Sue, your request is what got me thinking about adding the links, so thank you!

And I also started to write down – room by room – where I got each piece in the dollhouse. Some pieces have been purchased, some I’ve found and rehabbed, and many have been gifts. I want to do a post soon with pictures of each room and all the information as to each piece listed below. Then I’ll list sources and links.

Am I soon going to be done with the dollhouse? Doesn’t seem possible, but it just might happen.

Nah.

Tomorrow, a book review for a great new mystery. I really loved it. (I’ll be giving away a copy of the book.)

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: dollhouse, miniatures 29 Comments

Late Autumn: Back to the Dollhouse

November 7, 2014 at 9:06 am by Claudia

Yes, sure as shootin’, when the skies begin to darken earlier, and lamplight warms the cottage, and when I can no longer do anything in the garden – I start thinking about the dollhouse. That has been helped along this year by some lovely gifts from readers.

Ready for some miniature updates? (All photos taken early this morning.)

Fall dollhouse 1

The pink rug that Barbara sent turns out to be absolutely perfect for the office/studio. I mean, isn’t that rug meant for this space?

Fall dollhouse 2

That pink canister on the top shelf, the cake cutter, and the two plates at the top of the stack are also from Barbara. I’ll get a better shot of the canister someday soon.

Fall dollhouse 3

Coffee canister from Barbara, tin of tea from Lee.

Fall dollhouse 4

Don’t you love these? They’re from Barbara. One is in the studio/office and one is on the counter in the kitchen next to the mixer.

Fall dollhouse 5

There it is. I’ll get a picture of the one in the kitchen when the light is better.

Fall dollhouse 6

Liquor bottles from Barbara.

Fall dollhouse 8

I bought this little painting of a cottage when I was in Chautauqua this summer.

Fall dollhouse 9

The tray with books, writing paper and a cup of tea is from Lee.

There will be more.

Gosh, I love my dollhouse.

I’m driving to get Don this afternoon! Yay! And, he got to see Hamlet last night. That makes me so happy. I am enormously proud of Hamlet. Most of the time, Don and I do not get to see each other’s work because of distance or dog responsibilities. I can’t tell you how long it has been since Don was able to see a play I’ve worked on. This time we’ve had in Connecticut, working 40 miles apart, has been lovely. I got to see his work in Our Town. He got to see mine in Hamlet. He went backstage after the show to talk to the cast, many of whom he got to meet when he visited me in Hartford. My worlds came together and I actually cried this morning when Don told me how much he loved it. I love knowing he chatted with the cast and that they know me and know him now, as well. And last week, many of the Hamlet cast went to see Our Town and saw Don’s excellent work onstage. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.

Enormously happy about that. It meant so much to me.

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: dollhouse, Don, miniatures 42 Comments

Fun House Tour

November 3, 2014 at 9:45 am by Claudia

No, I don’t mean a Fun House of the carnival sort. I mean our house.

From my observation station in the den, I sometimes look at the cottage with the sun pouring in the windows and see the colors that are everywhere and the things we’ve collected and smile. The other day it hit me. We have a Fun House. It brings a smile to our faces and the faces of others who visit us. Remember the cable guy that walked in the door and immediately said, “This is a happy house. I can tell. This is a happy house.”?

No greater compliment.

Don and I are, in all modesty, very funny people. We have a strong sense of the absurd. We make people laugh. And we love offbeat, whimsical, silly and happy. We also like comfortable, well-worn, and vintage.

So with that in mind, I took some photos of the cottage for you.

funtour-LRshades

First off, some views of the living room. Can you spot Scout? She is most definitely fun. (Still waiting for the other Emmie blind.)

funtour-montythecow

Monty the Cow is watching over the living room.

funtour-lookingintothekitchen

An old film can that has been painted and decoupaged adds a touch of whimsy. As does the McCoy pottery that is everywhere in this house. That cream colored planting bowl holds bright yellow Mah Jongg tiles.

A closer look:

funtour-jumpingjacks

Don’s Jumping Jack collection, which hangs right under the chalkboard in the kitchen. We often give them a little pull when we’re heading out the door.

funtour-lambwiththepartyhat

The canvas wrapped print I had made of the Lamb with the Party Hat. It hangs in the living room.

funtour-Scoutinden

A dollhouse, definitely fun, sits in the living room. (There’s Dame Scout again.)

funtour-dollhouse

funtour-lifeisveryshort

A sign and a photo of Abbey Road Don sit on the piano. Adding to the whimsy, McCoy birds are singing. What better place than on a piano?

funtour-Vernors

In the kitchen, a bright yellow Vernors crate sits on the island. I smile every time I see it.

funtour-papertowelholder

I smile when I see the vintage chain display rack we transformed into a paper towel holder. I can’t imagine our daily life without this wonderfully rusty rack that we found at an auction and bid for on a whim.

funtour-cookiejar

Our Bunny Rabbit Cookie Jar sits on the window ledge over the sink. We often spot the real thing right outside these windows.

funtour-hanginglamp

A hanging lamp made from an old lamp shade frame and some vintage doilies hangs over the kitchen table.

funtour-stairway

One of my favorite things: the vintage Use Other Stair sign that hangs above the landing. (There is no ‘other stair’ in this cottage.) Add to that the alternating red and blue carpet treads, the Border Collie doorstop, the found-for-free desk Don brought home and that I transformed, and the aqua pottery lamp.

funtour-mantelwitheggcups

Then there are the whimsical figural egg cups that are everywhere. Here are some on an old mantel that I use as a shelf in my ‘studio.’

funtour-eggcups2

More in the bedroom.

funtour-lambchop

Lamb Chop, who supervises all activities on the upper level of the cottage.

funtour-bigboy

Big Boy, who sits on the desk in the guest room/office/studio. (And looks a little spooky here.)

funtour-guiltyascharged

And this souvenir from a Law & Order shoot. Don played a Judge who owned a car dealership. How could we resist?

There’s more, of course. The McCoy pottery with colors that cannot help but make us smile; the miniature pottery on a little shelf in the den; the dolls that live on top of the cabinet in the studio; Little Lamb, Wayfrum and Maggie Rabbit, who currently live on top of the bookshelf in our bedroom…all of these things have been welcomed into our home and add to the fun, whimsical ambience here.

It’s nothing we did on purpose. It’s just a reflection of our personalities and our sense of style.

Though I love looking at all kinds of homes, I tend to be drawn to those with PERSONALITY. In caps. Personality that is immediately evident when you walk in the door. Frankly, I cannot imagine having a home that looks ‘decorated.’ Of course, this house is decorated, but you know what I mean. A home might be beautiful and luxurious and sleek and lush (all of which are very nice, indeed) but if a sense of the owners’ personality is missing along with a little touch of fun, I don’t want to linger there.

Apparently, from looking around our home, we’re big on fun and laughter and whimsy.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: decorating, dollhouse, jumping jacks, McCoy pottery, Mockingbird Hill Cottage 52 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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