Mockingbird Hill Cottage

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You are here: Home / Archives for Top Secret Project

Curves and Crabapples

April 25, 2016 at 8:59 am by Claudia

Yesterday was a hard one, as was expected, and when I found some of Scoutie’s white hairs on my flannel shirt, I lost it – sobbing in my husband’s arms for all the loss we have endured over the past two years.

Sometimes I think I’ll never be quite whole again. I know you understand. I move forward, doing what is necessary, trying to endure – and for the most part, I do endure, I do move forward. But there are periods of grief and despair. That’s just the way it is for now.

So let’s look at something pretty. My little crabapple tree has bloomed again.

4-25 crabapple1

Is there anything prettier? Delicate pink buds that open as lovely white flowers.

This tree is over on the edge of the property and getting a photo or two involved climbing over fallen branches, avoiding pricky wild roses – it’s quite the challenge.

4-25 crabapple2

As always with these beauties, the bloom time is short. I guess that makes it all the sweeter.

4-25 crabapple3

Everything else around here, save for the Flowering Quince, is still coming out of the ground so it will be a while until I see any blooms.

And for those of you who either never saw or forgot about the curved roof of the Top Secret Project, here it is:

4-25 TSP curve

See what I mean? It presents a problem. Can you shape plexiglass? I fear that is not in my skill set.

In other exciting news, I got a new pair of Muck Boots for working in the garden and around the property, after making do with some that I had grown out of and were wildly uncomfortable. Love my Muck Boots!

We have a wildfire on the top of our mountains that has been raging for two days. Send a prayer for the safety of the firefighters and all the animals in its path.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: flowers, Top Secret Project 34 Comments

Top Secret Project: Oh, That Orange!

April 18, 2016 at 9:11 am by Claudia

Don: Do not read any further!! Stop here. xo

Don was out and about yesterday morning, so I took the opportunity to work on the TSP, along with cleaning out the big garden bed. Spray painting was on the docket, which has to be done outside, so I painted, then started raking out the big garden bed in between coats of paint. I managed to get it done and hide all traces of my activity before Don came home. (I even finished raking out the garden bed.)

When I went to Lowe’s the other day, I was also looking for just the right color of spray paint for this:

10-19 fireplace

Do you remember this little project that I made last year? It’s from a tutorial by Kris at 1 Inch Minis.

As I was ready to dip my toes into the TSP once again, I thought this would be a good start.

I taped off the interior of the fireplace, went outside with spray paint in hand, and sprayed two coats of orange paint. After it was all dry, I hand painted the interior.

4-16 tsppaint

To my surprise, it worked! I love, love the way this looks!

The paint is by Valspar. It’s Premium Finish Interior/Exterior High Gloss (paint and primer all in one.) The interior paint is from FolkArt – Black Metallic. I already had that on hand.

When I look at this fireplace, I see an A-Frame house built in the sixties – perhaps a ski getaway, or a house on a lake. It brings back memories, that’s for sure.

4-16 TSPfireplace1

Now, doesn’t that just make you smile. I love the way the orange shows up in the Beatles canvas. On Paul, of course – my young girl crush.

4-16 TSPfireplace3

The pipe will look straighter when I can attach it to the roof, which has yet to be painted. To be honest, I love the way the light pours in the TSP without the roof. I’m not sure yet if I want to put it on! I’m pondering that one.

4-16 tspanotherview

In the TSP: a mini guitar. Outside the sliding doors: Don’s real-life guitar stand. Real Life meets Miniature Life.

I told Don I was real excited about ‘a secret thing I worked on while you were away.’ He is eager to see the finished product so we have now set a deadline. I will have it done by June 24, his birthday. I mentioned that it would look finished but that I reserved the right to tweak it as necessary.

So now I’m making lists of Must Haves.

It felt good to do something, to accomplish something. Ever since my dad died, my creative spark has been missing. It’s slowly reemerging. Slowly. That makes me happy.

4-16 DHlivingroomwithroseville

A late afternoon shot of Caroline’s living room with Roseville pottery.

I have a book review up on Just Let Me Finish This Page: I Let You Go  by Claire Macintosh. I won’t give away anything except to say the this is an incredible read. Stop by.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: miniatures, Top Secret Project 66 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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The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

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