miniatures — Page 97

Dollhouse: A Hardwood Floor

October 4, 2011 at 5:49 pm by Claudia

Today: I’m cutting popsicle-type sticks with my Easy Cutter. Why? I’m going to stain them and construct a floor for the living room. Cut, cut, cut….then stain. Cut, cut, cut some more….and stain some more. Here’s what it’s starting to look like:

I haven’t glued anything down yet. I’m going for a wide plank look to the floor with a dark stain. I tested it out by putting my little chest of drawers on the wood. I like it. Visualize some faded oriental rugs on that dark wood.

I’ve had such fun the last two days, pouring over my catalogues and looking at all the amazing dollhouse miniatures on Etsy. Since I have a budget of just about nothing, I’ve just bookmarked my favorites. I did order some wallpaper and beadboard, as well as some molding and trim for the windows. I’m going to tackle this house one room at a time.

With all the stress and worry concerning my mom and dad, I find that working on the dollhouse provides me with an escape of sorts. For a few hours, I am immersed in the creative process and it brings me great pleasure.

My friend Norma wanted to see a close-up of the chest of drawers:

A little grainy, but it will do. Let me tell you about this piece (which is one of my favorites.) When I was a little girl there was a line of mini furniture for girls called Petite Princess – Fantasy Furniture. This was during the sixties. I remember bugging my mom to buy them for me but she didn’t go for it. A few years ago, I found some pieces which were mint in the box at a nearby antique store. This is by far the neatest piece and it’s made of plastic. You’d never know it, would you? And I love the fact that it was Shabby Chic long before our current craze. It’s been distressed (not by me, it came that way) and has a faux marble top. The drawers open, as well. The scale is a little off on some of the other pieces, but this one fits in perfectly.

Don’t forget Reality Shot Thursday. I will most likely have the post up just after midnight on Thursday. I’d love to have you join me! If you’re so inclined, please spread the word about my little meme.

I just so happen to be looking at this week’s bit of reality as I sit here writing this post. I wonder what it will be?

With Deep Sympathy

September 23, 2011 at 11:29 am by Claudia

I have to take a moment to write about loss. Sometimes I am hit with news that stops me in my tracks. That happened this week when I read the latest post by my blogging friend, Jayne. Jayne is a talented miniaturist who has the most generous of hearts. You’ve seen one of Jayne’s creations quite often on this blog.

Jayne created the lovely statue with flowers on the right.

What you might not know is that Jayne sent me a wonderful package with all sorts of miniatures, including this statue, simply because she likes giving to others and I was new to the dollhouse world – because her heart is a giving one.

Jayne and her husband, Mick, are British and live in California. They bought a home last year and had been working on it together. Last week, Mick suddenly died of a heart attack at the age of 51. He was on his way home on his motorcycle. Jayne wrote eloquently about Mick and shared with us what a wonderful and kind man he was.

My heart breaks for Jayne and her family. I am not writing this in order for you to go to her post and leave a comment. I’m writing this because Jayne is part of my blogging life and has touched my heart with her kindness in the past. I have shown that statue in many photos over the past week. To show it and not acknowledge the heartbreak and loss this lovely woman is going through feels wrong.

We can be here one day and gone the next. Life is precious beyond belief. As Jayne says so movingly in her post, “tell your family you love them each time you are saying goodbye.”

Dear Jayne, may you be enveloped in the love of your family and friends and may peace and healing find their way to your heart.

A New Perch for the Dollhouse

September 17, 2011 at 9:43 am by Claudia

The dollhouse is now on a ‘new’ table, which replaces the coffee table. The coffee table is now functioning as…a coffee table. Brilliant on our part, isn’t it?

This dollhouse is so hard to photograph! Since the den is tucked in behind the porch, it doesn’t get as much light as in other parts of the house. I’ve resorted to a ‘special effect’ to make this look like an artistic shot. Gosh darn it, I keep entering The Pioneer Woman’s camera giveaways and I never win!

Another angle:

I keep some of my supplies on the shelf. There’s more in those Trader Joe’s bags in the corner. As usual in this house, somehow or other a dog manages to get in the picture. Hi Riley.

His little adventure the other night seems to have left him no worse for the wear.

Today I am going to change out the front door. Wish me luck.

Have a great weekend. Ours is cool and very fall-like. And the leaves are changing. I’m ready.

Dollhouse: A Hardwood Floor

With Deep Sympathy

A New Perch for the Dollhouse

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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