Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • The Beacon Hill Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for miniatures

What are the Mini Owners Collecting?

May 13, 2026 at 8:38 am by Claudia

I stayed in yesterday (except to water the zinnia seeds.) I mowed the lilac side of the lawn on Monday and, even wearing a mask and the goggles that I use for spraying the sealer I use on the dolls, I ended up feeling sick yesterday.

Yes, my friends, imagine how lovely I looked in that get up!

So, until the worst of the pollen is over, I’m going to have to limit my time outside. But that’s okay, I have my Beacon Hill project to work on. I’m about to start in on the bedroom wallpaper. I just finished painting the formerly brown ceiling in that room white.

I ordered a few more mini Roseville vases and they arrived on Monday. And then I had an idea: what if the ‘collection’ that I’m planning on displaying in the green cabinet was Roseville pottery? So I stole some of the Roseville from Hummingbird Cottage, and added the newer pieces that I had just received. The cubbies themselves are narrow, so any pottery that is rounder and wider than the opening won’t fit. Some of those pieces of mini Roseville went back to Hummingbird Cottage.

Anyway, this is what I ended up with.  (You can still see some of the tacky stuff I use in mini world to attach pieces to various surfaces. I’ll clean that up today.)

I need at least 2 more pieces of narrower Roseville, which I’ll attend to in the next couple of weeks.

What do you think?

By the way, this is a closeup of the cabinet and at the top you can see the diagonal lines from the 3D printing process. That’s okay with me because in real life, you really can’t see them when it’s in place in the dollhouse. But I thought you’d find that interesting.

Gosh, I took so many shots of this cabinet trying to get its actual color. I’ve never seen a color change so much depending on the light. It’s maddening! I finally had to place it on Don’s desk.

So. Wallpapering today. Flooring starting tomorrow or Friday.

Still pondering this, but it’s quite pricey. I’d have to sell some things first.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: Beacon Hill Dollhouse, miniatures 20 Comments

Beacon Hill Living Room

May 4, 2026 at 8:10 am by Claudia

It was a windy and cold day yesterday, so I delayed my plans to sow some zinnia seeds and work outdoors because of the dreaded pollen. Instead, I concentrated on finishing off the basics of the Beacon Hill living room. On Saturday, I had added all the baseboards, patching all the joins (they look good!) Yesterday, I rubbed some paste wax on the floor and then kept the window open the rest of the day. That stuff has a strong smell! I stained and painted the fireplace. And then I built a table from a kit that I had on hand. It’s the same style of table that I built for Hummingbird Cottage.

Anyway….I may add another layer of either stain or paint to the table but I’m holding off on that for now. For fun, I added the furniture that I have so far, placed the fireplace in its spot between the baseboards, and took some pictures.

I’m real happy with it so far.

The Knole sofa was made by Joanne Shimakawa. I won it a couple of years ago in an auction for a very good price. It is the inspiration piece for this room.

The fireplace came with the Beacon Hill kit. I used a pecan stain and painted the interior a mix of black and gray. That’s one of my mini Roseville pottery pieces on the mantel. I need to get a few more. There are quite a few in Hummingbird Cottage but I don’t want to steal them, though there is one I have my eye on.

The black chairs are vintage Bespaq, a sort of upscale line of dollhouse furniture. I won them in an eBay auction.

That’s the table I put together yesterday. It may need another coat of stain.

Whoops! I need to sweep the floor again. I want a large cabinet/wardrobe/china cabinet for the wall to the left. I have a table kit that I’m going to put together for the area next to the sofa. I need an easy chair. I have my eye on one, it’s a bit pricey – but, oh would it be perfect as a companion for the sofa!

And then, of course, the room needs all the little extras: rugs, plants, books, pottery. That will come later. I don’t have much left in my stash. Everything has been used in other dollhouses. I only buy specific items for the houses. (Budget, budget, fixed income, budget.)

I hope you like what I’ve done so far! I’m having fun and I’m so grateful to finally feel engaged and committed to this project. Now I have to figure out what room to start in on next. In the meantime, work outside today!

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: Beacon Hill Dollhouse, miniatures 32 Comments

Home Again

October 29, 2025 at 8:59 am by Claudia

First: I’m wiped out from the past 4 days. The work itself was lovely. But traveling back and forth, having to arrive in Manhattan 3 hours earlier than I needed to be there because of bus schedule changes, killing time for those 3 hours on a very windy day, speed walking to make from the theater to the bus station – all of that took a toll.

And, of course, it’s been a while since I’ve worked in Manhattan, so I’m not used to the pace of walking around the city.

I’m so grateful for the work, an unexpected gift from Darko. And the staff and creatives at the Roundabout Theatre Company are wonderful. It’s a terrific place to work. I got to see and work with old friends – a sound designer, a lighting designer, an actress who I had worked with many times. The young men I coached were wonderful. They were eager to get feedback. So the work part of the trip was extremely satisfying.

We’re having lunch with an old friend of ours today. She is an actress. Don has known her since he was 19. They both worked at the Old Globe. I have coached her many times over the years. She’s been in Maine doing a one-woman show and now she’s on a road trip, visiting all her friends that live out here in the Northeast and Canada. She is the best at keeping in touch with people. We’ll grab a bite to eat with her today and it will be so nice to catch up.

This miniature arrived here on Monday. I found it on eBay. It’s a vintage Morris Chair and it reminds me of our version of that chair and my grandparents’ version of the chair, and I had to bid on it.

It’s handmade. I don’t know who the maker was as there is no signature.

The cushions are leather.

And the back has three positions, just like a real Morris Chair.

It will be in the Beacon Hill. In fact, it’s stashed there right now.

I really love it.

Okay. Time for more coffee.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: miniatures 18 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 100
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

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.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2026 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in