It all started with wanting to move the antique table that is in the living room over to the left, so I could move my monstera plant under the window. It needs more light than it’s been getting. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before, but I guess I was fixed on centering that table under the window. That lead to me moving it to the corner, Don holding on to the monstera so it didn’t tip over, and lots of wrangling of plants and furniture. (This also led to a clean out the following moring of that corner, which is right next to Don’s chair. The domino effect.) In the course of moving the table, one of the mini Adirondack chairs fell on the floor and broke apart. Adding that little mishap to the fact that I really needed to clean the interior of that dollhouse led to me carrying it over to the kitchen island yesterday, where I worked on it for a few hours.
Moving it to the corner is going to keep it out of direct sunlight, which is a good thing. And it’s now closer to Don, which he likes.
I glued the various parts of the chair back together, dusted, cleaned, re-glued some pieces that I made for the mini studio and gave it some love. As I started in on all of this, Don disappeared upstairs. When he came back down, he handed me a piece of copier paper with a photo of the late, great John Prine and asked if I could hang it on the wall. He managed to reduce it to the right scale, as well. He’s so darned adorable.
So here’s a little tour, since we haven’t done that for a long time.
The exterior of the studio. Sorry it’s on the kitchen island but it was raining yesterday and I couldn’t take it outside. The chair on the right is the one I had to repair. I built this studio from a kit, by the way.
Another view. I made all the board and batten siding.
Inside. I made the fireplace in the corner, truly one of my happiest mini achievements.
I built the kitchenette counter and the desk/tables. I miniaturized Shanna’s sketch of Scout, made a frame, and hung it on the wall. Scout had just passed away, my dad left us a few months before that, and I was so heartbroken that I had a hard time motivating myself to finish this for Don’s June birthday, but I did. I knew Don would love to see Scoutie featured.
I figured mini-Don would need a little area where he could make coffee and have a snack. There is a back story on every one of these items, and you can find that under Dollhouse/Miniatures on the navigation bar.
There’s John, just above the sketch of Scout. I mounted the photo on cardboard. I’m not totally happy with it and was thinking of redoing it, but Don is thrilled with it, and that’s all that matters.
Rest in Peace, Scout and John.
And Rest in Peace to Burt Bacharach. I loved everything he wrote, starting with my first encounter with Walk On By when I was a kid. I couldn’t get it out of my head. Thus began my love of songs written in a minor key. Haunting, beautiful; it drew me in and I became a fan.
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Fun to see Don’s Studio. I remember watching the video you took when he “opened” his beautiful, creative gift from you. And I remeber how excited Don was. It hasn’t lost its magic for sure. Enjoy your day. Hugs, Elaine
Thanks so much, Elaine!
Stay safe.
Thanks for the tour of Don’s studio. I had forgotten a lot of those details.
It’s kind of funny how one thing inevitably leads to another when rearranging things in our home. I’m sure your monstera is delighted to be getting sunlight…I know mine enjoys it very much, and it shows in her new leaf production. Please take a pic of the new arrangement.
Burt Bacharach’s music is forever. So many of his songs, I can associate with certain people in my life, or experiences. He will forever be remembered.
Enjoy your day! ;)
It was definitely suffering from lack of light and I could kick myself for not thinking of this sooner!
Stay safe, Donnamae.
Magnificent gift for your husband.
Thank you, Brenda.
Stay safe.
thanks for the tour of don’s mini studio … it looks great. i love and feel that twang of poignancy for you two about the john prine poster and scout drawing but am glad they are in the studio. :)
also glad the tiny repair and furniture/plant shuffle went well. when i’m wanting something different yet not full of ideas, i putter and appreciate the domino effect/results that usually follow one little change. :)
running late on things today. didn’t fall asleep until 5:00 am (ugh) but need to get going.
happy friday to everyone. stay safe.
kathy
Sorry you didn’t have enough sleep, Kathy. I feel your pai.
Stay safe.
Don’s mini studio is fantastic… inside and out! It’s so detailed….it actually looks like a magazine spread…and the personal touches are so nice. Yes, I enjoyed all of Burt Bacharach’s music, too. Since I’ve practically always lived near or in San Jose I felt a connection when I heard Dionne Warwick sing…Do you know the way to San Jose? Happy Friday!
I was a huge, huge fan.
Stay safe, Barrie.
I enjoyed the visit to Don’s studio. I forgot how amazing it is and how well you did Claudia. Nice to see John and Scout in there. Oh Burt Bacharach! What a favorite throughout my life. His songs just stay with me. As I’m getting older starting to lose so many who influenced my life.
I know. It feels like another loss happens every day. Makes me so sad.
Stay safe, Linda.
Oh dear, I had missed the news of Burt B having passed. Yes, a big part of our 60s and 70s; the songs with D Warwick; soundtrack of our youth! Was reading about him a little just now; I guess he was still performing in his 80s; he lived a good, long life, didn’t he? I’m thinking maybe I should read his autobiography now.
Don’s studio; so nice to see it again. It’s just a masterpiece, Claudia; I love seeing its details. Very unique. Makes you just want to jump inside the images and live there.
Aw, thank you, Vicki.
Stay safe.
Don’s studio looks like you could just step inside, it’s so realistic. Bacharach’s songs are timeless, I love most of them and often give a rendition of Anyone Who Had a Heart when singing in my kitchen (not that anyone would want to hear it!).
I think my favourite is Dusty Springfield’s version of The Look of Love.
Happy Friday
I consider that song to be the sexiest ever written and I have several versions of it. But I especially love Dusty’s smoky and sultry version. And one by Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66.
Stay safe, Dee Dee.
Burt Bacharach’s music was loved around here, too. I don’t know how you could live through that time and not love those songs. The news of his death made me a bit misty.
We haven’t seen the mini studio in a while! It is a lovely space. I always wanted that fireplace when I was a kid and had nowhere to put one. Nice to know my sketch of Scout is sharing the wall with Mr. Prine, too.
Your sketch looks wonderful there, Shanna. Thank you.
Stay safe.
I love the studio! Almost motivates me to start a new hobby and I am very good at starting things!
Burt Bacharach’s music was the sound of fun in the sixties. Just to hear it brings back mini skirts, psychedelic art, Laugh In, and just plain happiness. It was the flip side of the War, Nixon, drugs , and unrest. It’s still the best sing-in-the-car music.. 🎶
I have so many recordings of his songs!
Stay safe, Suzanne.
If I didn’t know you were showing pictures of a miniature house, I’d think it was a real, life-size house. It’d be fun to shrink myself down and hang out in there! You did a fabulous job on it; inside and out — so fun to look at. thanks for putting the pictures up. Burt Bacharach’s music takes me right back to my childhood; lying on the living room on my stomach listening to music while my parents talked or played cards with friends. I agree with the minor key music — I’ve always been drawn to it.
Thank you, Carrie!
Stay safe.
So cool – you’re very talented Claudia!
Thank you so much, Deborah!
Stay safe!
This is simply enchanting, Claudia. Such stellar workmanship and creativity on tap here with all the touches.I’m amazed at all you built yourself, especially the fireplace! A pat on the back and three cheers. I hope mini-Don is playing a mini-tune on those sweet guitars!
He is!
Stay safe, Jeanie.