miniatures — Page 41

My Quandary

December 14, 2019 at 11:03 am by Claudia

Quick post. We’ve spent most of the morning measuring, talking, debating…about this:

I went to look for one more putz house at the Clinton Shops (where we were earlier this week) and when I walked in the door and saw Sydney’s booth (Fox Run Antiques) I saw this.

I was stunned and had to catch my breath. I then proceeded to spend over an hour there, taking pictures, texting my sister, talking to two of the guys who work there – basically trying to figure out if I could swing this in our small house. It’s big – 23 inches wide and 31″ long. It’s handmade. The sides come off in sections in order to see the rooms. Part of the roof lifts off. The front and back are permanent. I’m not even sure if it’s to scale – probably not.

But my heavens, look at it! I’ll never see anything like it again. Don thinks it’s folk art, and I agree. He’d like to display it permanently – as a piece of folk art – on the kitchen table. Remember, my first dollhouse sat on that table for months while I worked on it. There are a few other places we would stash it; my work table upstairs, a cabinet in the bedroom. But Don thinks it should be downstairs where we can see it.

He wants to buy it for me for Christmas.

We’re going to go to the shop so he can see it and so I can stick a piece of furniture in it to determine the scale. It might need smaller furniture. I have no idea.

So that’s where we are. Maybe I shouldn’t have gone to that shop yesterday!

I’m in a quandary.

Happy Saturday.

Mini Christmas Decorating

December 8, 2019 at 11:07 am by Claudia

Gosh, what did I do yesterday? Cleaned up the office, stashed bags that hold decorations in the closet in the office. At the same time, I retrieved the boxes which hold my mini Christmas trees and looked for the smaller mini decorations in my drawers. I brought everything downstairs. By the way, I found a little basket and, I don’t know what it’s taken me this long to think of this, used it to corral all the small minis and bring them downstairs.

I still have much to do with this modern house. I haven’t committed to wallpaper or flooring or any other furniture. But I did make this tree last year and I like the way it looks in this room.

Caroline decorates her den because the tree works better there than in the living room. She’s just about done; she just has to put that box of Shiny Brites away.

She made a Christmas cake.

Living room decorations are on the spare side. Just a mini tree here and there.

And the vintage house is sitting on top of the china cabinet where there’s been a fresh snowfall. No tree yet. I’ve yet to make it. It involves a lot of glue. A lot of glue. So I have to be in the mood.

All in all, the houses look rather festive, except for the house-in-progress, where the contractor is very slow and the owners are frustrated and not in the mood to decorate this season.

It’s very cold here today. But rain is coming tomorrow. Need I say the weather has been all over the place here?

Happy Sunday.

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.

My Quandary

Mini Christmas Decorating

Where to Put the Table?

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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