Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Day Three Hundred Seventy-One

March 19, 2021 at 10:41 am by Claudia

Wind. All last night and through the day today. Tomorrow ought to be lovely, as well as the week ahead. But the wind?

I’m over it.

Amidst the pouring rain yesterday, a couple of packages were delivered. I had to keep an eye on the porch all day long in order to retrieve them as soon as possible. One of them held my new puzzle and a book I had ordered. The other held – now, don’t get too excited – a new bathtub mat.

I was happy to see that new puzzle as it meant I could take the previous puzzle apart and start a new one. I didn’t get very far, but I need an ongoing project, as you know.

Speaking of ongoing projects, I did some work in the dollhouse.

I made the acrylic window inserts. I can’t tell you how frustrating this can be, mostly because I’m having to fit them into an already constructed window. I usually mess up the first one and have to make another. But, they’re done. And then I primed and painted the window trim.

Now for the baseboards, but I wasn’t in the mood to figure out how to do a mitre cut, so that will happen on another day. I have the tools, and I’ve done it before. I just have to remind myself how to do it.

We spoke a bit in the comments the other day about comparison being “the thief of joy.” It is. Nevertheless, I still struggle with it at times. Lately, I’ve been struggling with comparing myself to all the fabulous miniaturists I follow on Instagram. Some of them – especially younger dollhouse lovers – are so inventive and brave. I admire that so much. Others are so skilled that their work blows me away. Anyway, I’ve noticed this small, niggling little thread of doubt lately about my work. I won’t let it stop me because I know that I’m doing all of this because I love it and not to impress others, nevertheless, I’m just as human in my struggles with self-doubt as anyone else. My strengths are not in building furniture or adding rooms within rooms, etc. I don’t have many of the power tools and saws that they have – nor do I have room for them. I’m not sure where my strengths lie – maybe in an eye for color and detail? For a vision that includes the life of the owner and a story about that life and that house? Maybe a rigorous attention to scale?

The lesson in all of this is to just stop comparing. Everyone has different strengths, different styles. And I support and applaud every dollhouse lover and miniaturist out there. The most important thing is the joy of creating. That’s the lesson I keep relearning.

Just sharing in case you’re struggling with this as well.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: dollhouse, miniatures 30 Comments

Day Three Hundred Sixty-Eight

March 16, 2021 at 10:45 am by Claudia

March is a fickle month. Last week it was in the sixties and now it’s thirty degrees colder. Gray skies, snow showers…sigh.

Some additions to the English Cottage (aka Dove Cottage):

A miniature oil painting from Weston Miniatures on Etsy. I’m not sure where I’m going to place it. All will be revealed.

I’ve had this one for a while. Yesterday I decided to hang some pictures and I decided this one should be on this wall. It’s a Japanese print from MiniMyEye on Etsy. She often uses postage stamps for artwork.

Also new is the thumb latch on the door, from Weston Miniatures. I already had one on the outside of the door but it went on back order, so I had to wait for this one.

Also new is the painting on the other side of the front door, which you can see here. I briefly considered aging the frames but I like the pop of gold in this somewhat darkish room.

A closer look:

I’d have to look it up but I think these women are Muses. Another stamp art piece from MiniMyEye.

I received the baseboard trim that I want in yesterday’s mail, so the next step is to finish the windows in the last room – both the acrylic inserts and trim – and then I’ll start painting the baseboards to add to each room.

Don and I check in with each other every day about the studio space. He can record anywhere as his equipment is portable, but if I’m not going to do anything with the dollhouse, he goes upstairs. Not sure what today will bring!

I’m reading The Sentence is Death  by Anthony Horowitz, one of my favorite writers. We’re still watching A French Village, which is stunningly powerful. The acting is superb.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

Filed Under: dollhouse, Dove Cottage, miniatures 26 Comments

Day Three Hundred Sixty-Three

March 11, 2021 at 10:12 am by Claudia

Some thoughts this morning:

I had a little ‘discussion’ with someone on IG about a week ago. This person lives in Texas and was of the opinion that wearing or not wearing a mask should be up to the individual and that there should be no judgment involved. In other words, “To Each his Own.” You obviously know what I think about that. We politely discussed that issue and then I wished her well and ended it because how can you teach someone about caring for the welfare of others, about the greater good, about the fact that there are times when that is essential, that anything else is bordering on criminal?

That stuck with me this week as I read A Chelsea Concerto, which is all about London during the Blitz. As an American, I certainly have some knowledge of the Blitz, but let’s face it, I’m influenced by a slightly romanticized version of that horrific time, fueled by Hollywood movies and “Keep Calm and Carry On.” The reality was very different. Sometimes I have to put the book down because the enormity of loss that I’m reading about is just too intense. It seems as if everyone was involved in some capacity, volunteering for the war effort; as Air Raid Wardens, as Operators who helped to spread the specific warnings, as nurses and doctors, those who helped the enormous amount of refugees pouring into Britain cope in a new country, translators, and the list goes on and on. I’m thinking those who seem to be fine with that ‘whatever’ attitude about wearing masks during a pandemic wouldn’t have coped so well during the Blitz.

We’re also watching one of the best series we’ve ever seen, A French Village, which is all about a village that is occupied by the Nazis during the war. It’s historically accurate, as a famous and respected French historian advised the writers. The performances are excellent and the grim realities of those jockeying for power, whether German or French – those in the Vichy government who collaborated with the Germans to get along, those who were in the Resistance, local police and German police, the SS and the Gestapo, and those villagers just trying to survive – it’s all fascinating and horrific and heartbreaking and everything in between.

Two different views of that war from opposite sides of the Channel. It’s certainly consuming my thoughts lately. I cannot recommend A Chelsea Concerto  and A French Village (on Amazon Prime) highly enough. We are riveted to that series every night. Brilliant.

And now I’ll do a 180 and show you photos of two miniatures I received yesterday, from Tiny Doll House in NYC.

An umbrella for the umbrella stand.

And this teapot made by Keith Brown. The lid is removable.

Today we hit 65 degrees! Crazy, as the temps will soon drop about 20 degrees, but we’re going to enjoy it while we can and hopefully watch the last of the snow melt away.

Stay safe.

Happy Thursday.

Filed Under: books, dollhouse, miniatures 58 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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