Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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Mystery Solved

January 29, 2016 at 9:25 am by Claudia

As to the mystery item….where did we leave off?

Ah yes. I ordered it online and drove to another Target location to pick it up. But first, some back story. Last week, when I was back home, I read a post on a favorite blog, Call of the Small, about a child’s dollhouse she had picked up at Target. Call of the Small is one of several miniaturists who love the midcentury modern look in miniatures and dollhouses, and it’s hard to find dollhouses that have that look because most of them are more traditional in design.

This particular dollhouse was $49, and it was part of a line called Our Generation, the Lori 6″ dollhouse – Loft to Love. The 6″ notation refers to the doll size. Dolls for dollhouses are not something I am into. But the house itself looked to me like a great roombox (which just got auto corrected to rhumba!) and a fun way to play with the midcentury modern look – a look I’m not at all interested in for my real home, but one I’ve really come to love in miniatures.

I was going to stop at our local Target on my way back to Hartford, but I didn’t. Thus began my Hartford-area search. And now I have it.

1-29 roomboxoutside

Here’s a glimpse of the outside. The door is plastic and huge (probably for the dolls) but it can work. Green felt top for a roof garden.

Here’s the inside:

1-29 roombox1

You can see the loft and a battery operated yellow light, which I’ll probably remove at some point. I’m in love with the tall windows. Since this was designed as a kid’s toy, plastic furniture sets are available for the rooms, though there were none available at the Target store I went to. It comes with a kitchen.

1-29 roomboxwithkitchen

It’s okay, but it’s plastic. It takes up too much of the main space. And it’s a little bigger than 1:12 – maybe 1:10? I’m not sure. I think I’ll be ‘redesigning’ the kitchen.

1-29 roombox2

1-29 roombox3

I think it’s really cool.

I brought a couple of pieces back with me, just to play a bit. But not enough to truly play, darn it!

1-29 roombox4

Such a neat space and so full of possibilities. After all, though I have midcentury modern in the Top Secret Project, it is for Don. So I can’t really play with it after it’s finished. I have to be a good girl and leave it alone.

Reader Bridget solved the mystery and I was shocked and delighted that she did! Good for you, Bridget. I left one clue in yesterday’s comments and replies: miniatures. That, coupled with the fact that I was looking for the item at Target, was apparently enough for Bridget. Bravo!

It’s available online here, if you’re at all interested. Target: once again I am referring readers to your site.

Ahem. Hint: Loveseat.

The Target I went to yesterday had about three of these left. I think they’re quickly going out of stock because the one I visited the other day had none on the shelves. And none of the Targets had the accessories, but since I wasn’t interested in them, it was fine. In other words, they’re pretty picked over, due, I’m sure, to it being post-Christmas.

So I have added a little dollhouse to the temporary digs. I wish there was a miniatures shop nearby but there isn’t. Sigh.

And I do have to work. Right?

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Tagged With: TargetFiled Under: dollhouse, life, miniatures, On The Road 36 Comments

A Mini Saturday

January 9, 2016 at 9:41 am by Claudia

Don: Stop here. Do not read!

A package from England arrived in the mail yesterday, just in time for me to spirit it away from Don’s curious eyes and open it up in my office. I ordered two small appliances from Elf Miniatures for the Top Secret Project.

1-9 minifridge

This under counter Miele refrigerator, which opens:

1-9 minifridgeopen

The shelves are removable, the crispers slide in and out, and it came with some rather bizarre plastic food. It was made in Korea. Maybe for little kids playing with minis? Anyway, I won’t be using that particular selection of food, but it’s fun!

1-9 minimicrowave

Also in the package – a Miele microwave oven.

1-9 minimicrowaveopen

It also opens and has a turntable. Apparently, I mistakenly ordered two of these, so Hummingbird Cottage has a new microwave, as well!

1-9 inthecorner

My idea is to build a little counter that has the microwave and a coffee maker on top, the fridge on the bottom, and maybe a stool that Don would perch on when having a snack. The whole thing would go along the same wall I have the fridge and microwave on in this photo.

When I get back. No time now.

I woke up way too early this morning and could never get back to sleep, so I’m pretty tired today. I have to get my hair trimmed, run a few more errands, and do some laundry.

Yesterday, I spent a few hours looking for a new pair of jeans. A very frustrating few hours. Here’s my question for you. Where do you get your jeans? Where does a tall woman (I’m 5′9″) with a curvy tush and hips find a good pair of jeans? Keep in mind that I don’t have a lot of money to blow on jeans. Any suggestions would be welcome!

Can I just say that I hate dressing rooms, fluorescent lighting and the mirrors in those dressing rooms? I felt fat and pale when I was in there. Well, I am pale as a rule, but I’m not fat! But my formerly angular body is definitely curvy.

Two thank yous to share:

1-9 scout's gift

Kathy from Iowa sent Scout a birthday present! Two bags of her favorite treats (she really loves them and they’re nice and soft for chewing) and some chocolate treats for her parents. Kathy, Scout hasn’t had time to send you a thank you email yet, but she will. I’ve taught her good manners.

And Nancy sent me these Christmas minis:

1-9 minigift

Thank you, Nancy! Nancy, I lost your email address. Can you message me with it, so I can write a proper thank you?

It’s clearly a Mini Saturday!

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: gifts, miniatures 53 Comments

Small Scale Mid-Century Modern

December 29, 2015 at 9:09 am by Claudia

Ice, sleet and snow overnight. This morning, there’s a very small amount of snow on the ground and a layer of ice over everything. My dad’s Florida car, now mine, has never seen snow or ice. It must be shocked! (I apologized to it.)

Scout managed to do her business safely and that’s all that matters to us. We’re going to sit back and wait for the temperatures to warm up. Fortunately, we don’t have to be anywhere

12-29 tree

I’m happy that I waited to put the tree up because we’re far from tired of it and the glow of the lights is such a lovely antidote for these dark, gray mornings. The outside lights are still glowing on the porch railings. I find it all very warm and comforting.

12-29 tree2

Don: Do Not Read Any Further!

In my searches on Etsy, I discovered a wonderful miniaturist, Gabrielle of In the Twelfth Scale, who lives in Australia. I was drawn to her work because she had designed a modern sofa that I thought would be perfect for the Top Secret Project. I had to wait a while to place the order, as she had other commissions to finish, but it was worth the wait. This arrived on Christmas Eve:

12-29 dhsofa3

Isn’t it wonderful? Quite frankly, I would love a life-sized version for our den! It’s long, deliberately so, and it looks very nice in the TSP.

12-29 dhsofa2

I’ve begun to feel the urge to work on this project again. But I have to finish putting my office together and then I have to do all my research for Romeo and Juliet, which starts rehearsals January 12th. (We won’t talk about the fact that I don’t want to leave home for five weeks.)

Maybe I’ll be able to do a little work on the TSP before I go. Fingers crossed.

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Christmas, miniatures, Top Secret Project 28 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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