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Moving Day, Minis, and a Big Old Thank You

July 19, 2015 at 8:34 am by Claudia

Yesterday was moving day.

Scout, as you know, has arthritis and her hind legs aren’t nearly as strong as they used to be. Much like Riley, she isn’t always steady on her feet, especially when making turns. We spend a lot of time helping her maneuver and picking her up after she’s stumbled. Lately, we’ve been watching her round the corner where the dollhouse is situated in the living room. She often stops and loses her balance, causing her to bump up against the table.

We’d been talking about switching the dollhouse out with the desk in the den. When Don saw the dollhouse swaying yesterday after one of Scout’s encounters with the table, he remarked that it was time. I agreed, as the vision that came to my mind of the dollhouse crashing to the floor wasn’t a pretty one – for either the dollhouse or Scout.

So now I get to look at it from my blogging chair. Not bad. Not bad at all. (I’ll show you a photo tomorrow – it’s rather dark in here in the morning. The den gets the afternoon sun.)

In the meantime, I did a little mini work yesterday.

7-19 rosevilleshelf2

I made a little shelf out of some trim I had in my stash and now the mini Roseville pottery has a home.

7-19 lazysusan

I repurposed a table top that had detached itself from its legs (a gift from my friend, Jill) and now it’s a lazy susan.

And a little package arrived from Chautauqua Miniatures.

7-19 planter on balcony

I had planned on buying another one of these white wrought iron planters on my last visit to the shop but forgot all about it, so I ordered it online. Here it is on the upper balcony.

7-19 gazingball

Also from Chautauqua Minis: a gazing ball. It’s really tiny, so I stuck it in this planter. And I purchased another hanging plant, but you’ll see that when I get around to hanging it, along with the two I already had on hand.

Look what they included in the box:

7-19 chautauqua minis bag

A mini Chautauqua Miniatures bag. Adorable! Hmmm. Now, I’m thinking Caroline needs a dollhouse, if only to validate the presence of that bag in her bedroom.

If you haven’t figured out yet that Caroline is my alter ego, I would be very surprised indeed.

A quick note of thanks. I wrote in the American Miniatures article about blogging and how my explorations online led to my interest in getting my own dollhouse. But something else occurs to me. As I’ve renovated and decorated the dollhouse over these past six years, I’ve shared with you, my readers and friends, photos of the process. The blog has become a timeline of sorts, chronicling every new addition, every new skill learned.

What would I have done without all of you watching and cheering me on? I don’t have a dollhouse/miniature shop nearby. I don’t belong to a miniatures club. Let’s face it, not everyone is into this sort of thing. But I’ve had something precious and dear – all of you. You’ve kept me honest. You’ve kept me on track. When I didn’t post something about the dollhouse for a month or two, you asked about it and I got moving once again.

Thank you so much! It would have been fun to work on the dollhouse no matter what, but it is so much more enjoyable and rewarding sharing it with you. You make the difference.

By the way, several readers have mentioned Pocket Mags as a site where you can view a copy of this month’s American Miniatures. It can be hard to find copies of it in bookstores as I don’t think they carry it. Here’s the link to their site. You can buy a single issue for $5.99.

The winner of a copy of Bum Rap is Annie G. I’ve sent you an email, Annie. Congratulations!

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

 

 

Filed Under: dollhouse, Don, life, miniatures, Scout 34 Comments

In The Garden And In Print

July 18, 2015 at 8:50 am by Claudia

We went on a Target run yesterday morning (more throw rugs for Scout, food, etc.) with a stop along the way at Five Guys.

I know. Greasy french fries. Wonderfully greasy. I can’t help it. They’re the best fries in my little world. Lunch consisted of an order of fries, some root beer, and when I got home, a couple of slices of cheese for protein.

Anyway, we checked the mailbox on the way up the driveway and, lo and behold, there was a big white envelope from a certain magazine.

Just to prepare you, my hair was a mess and I had no makeup on. Sadly, this is often the case around here, whether I’ve been running errands or not.

7-18 me holding magazine

There it is!

7-18 me holding article

And there’s the article. In print! And it’s 7 pages long, not 6. I miscounted!

Don, always my biggest supporter, kept saying how proud he was of me. All day long. He’s a gem.

7-18 copies of mag

I purchased five copies. One to cut up and frame. One to take down to Florida to show my dad and sister when I visit. Three to save.

I’m dead chuffed, as they say on the other side of the pond. Translation: I’m very pleased, indeed.

Does this make me an American Miniaturist? If so, I’m thrilled!

7-18 self-seeders

Garden news: the Rudbeckia/Brown-Eyed Susan I planted down in the far right corner of the big garden bed self-seeded and I have two new (and big) plants that have been rather conveniently situated in what was previously a bare patch.

Lucky me!

7-18 browneyed susan1

I love these incredibly cheery flowers.

7-18 browneyed susan2

This one looks like it’s raising its petals to the sun. Or perhaps it’s performing an interpretive dance?

It’s a rainy day here. Reading, cleaning, and some mini work are on the docket. I hope your Saturday is a splendid one.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: American Miniaturist Magazine, dollhouse, flowers, garden, miniatures 80 Comments

On the Side

July 17, 2015 at 7:18 am by Claudia

Thanks so much for all your kind and supportive comments about the roof garden. Caroline read them all last night – I saw her at her desk, reading the blog on her laptop – and she was quite pleased. Since her house was just published in a magazine, she’s been basking in the glow of all the publicity. I think she’s quite proud of the way it looks.

I know I am.

7-17 daylily

I can’t remember the name of this day lily, but I have several of them growing in the side garden. This year, they’re super tall and gorgeous. I’ll have to check my plant labels, which are stashed away in my garden journal.

7-17 liatris

I see purple flowers emerging on the liatris (also in the side garden.)

7-17 white coneflowers

White day lilies – blooming in the… you guessed it… side garden.

We have a theme for today’s post.

All of the garden beds look rather exuberant at the moment. The plants are lush, somewhat out of control in a good way, and colorful. The endless rain we had this spring and early summer has paid off in more blooms than I can ever remember in the almost ten years we’ve lived here.

I just love the midsummer when my gardens are at their peak.

7-17 unopened coneflower

Heavenly.

And also in the side garden.

Several of you asked about future dollhouse projects. Even though all the major elements have been finished for Hummingbird Cottage, I’ll still be tweaking and adding things. There are little details that are dancing about in my head: towel racks, toilet paper holders, a shelf for the Roseville Pottery, an easy chair for the studio, lamps….

However, this week has been a creative one for me (and isn’t that the nicest feeling?) which always seems to generate more creative ideas and I have two projects in mind. One I’ve already mentioned; a smaller Chautauqua-like cottage. The other project idea came to me this week and I can’t wait to get started on it. But it’s a secret, so I’ll have share details with you on the sly. It involves someone who lives with me and that person, though he doesn’t read the blog every day, does stop in now and then. More will be revealed. Think one room: music, hideaway, instruments, recording, retreat/studio.

Can’t wait to get started!

Edited to add: Just found out that one of the victims of the horrific shootings in Chattanooga was the nephew of my dear lifelong friend Debbie. Words fail me. Such pain, such a senseless killing. When will it end?

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: dollhouse, flowers, garden, miniatures 41 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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