It took over three hours to make, paint, and glue this section of the dollhouse. The stones are necessary for the look of the house but tedious in the making! Anyway, I couldn’t get to it yesterday, but I’m going to do some work today.
Doing that video of Hummingbird Cottage helped to motivate me. Through rediscovering that house, I remembered how much I love renovating a discarded and badly constructed dollhouse and I’m excited about the process once again. But I have to finish the stone work before I can move on to the fun stuff inside.
Hummingbird Cottage was a real learning experience and there is much I would do differently if I could do it again: narrower and less bulky baseboards and trim (I made those improvements when I made Don’s studio;) a different method of installing wallpaper, especially on an old, used dollhouse with uneven wall texture; that kind of thing. I learn something new every time I work on one of these structures and I have much, much more to learn. But I was taught a valuable lesson many years ago when I was a beginning quilter. I took an introductory class and my teacher made a comment that stuck with me: “You have an issue with perfection, don’t you?”
Bingo. She was right. I didn’t like to make mistakes. I didn’t like to be wrong. I wanted everything to be perfect. Some of that is just me. Some is due to control issues from being the Adult Child of an Alcoholic. That kind of insistence on perfection needs a big dash of humility. Otherwise, it’s a recipe for taking any joy out of the process. I still struggle with these issues and probably always will to some degree, but what I love about any creative endeavor is the process. And if I love the process, I’d darned well better cut myself some slack so that I can enjoy it. I thank that teacher to this day for what was the perfect observation at the perfect time.
So my quilts are beautiful, but I can show you exactly where the imperfections are and I’m fine with that. Same with the dollhouses. I remember as a kid wanting to cut and run if something I was learning seemed like it was going to be too difficult for me. That’s a very strong memory. I’m glad I’ve moved beyond that.
Don’s appointment went well yesterday – no pain, lots of rinsing, and he’s doing well. I’m glad I drove him there and back. He took it easy for the rest of the day and now – of course – he’s eager to get back to his trails and his hoe.
We had huge thunderstorms throughout the afternoon; big, loud, and wonderful. It looks like more are coming this afternoon and every afternoon except for Thursday. Big summer weather.
Stay safe.
Happy Tuesday.
When I was watching your video, it struck me that you love puzzles! Putting together those miniature houses with all of the many parts is so similar to your work on the jigsaw puzzles. Finding all of the perfect pieces and getting them all in place! You do a lovely job and I love your attention to detail. Can’t wait to see what you will do next with this house.
I love jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles and dollhouses.
Thanks so much, Ellen. Stay safe!
I’ve always loved dollhouses. One year when I was about 5 I asked for one for Christmas. Well, they decided to tease me and keep it on the patio until I’d opened everything else.NOT GOOD! After I’d opened everything and there was no dollhouse I threw a major tantrum. When they brought it in I was beside myself with joy,but not about the tantrum. Every time we went to Knotts Berry Farm I wanted to spend hours looking at the miniatures in the doll housemuseum.. no rides back then. Who would have thought the very first blog I began to follow, way back then, would be a woman who designs dollhouses!!! I love you and Don and your work, your property, your home, your pets and books, but your dollhouses…there are not enough words to explain the happiness and joy when you are displaying or working on your wonderful dollhouses !! 😊👍😁👏🎶🎉🎈
Oh, Carol, what a lovely thing to say. Touches my heart! Thank you and stay safe!
Looking good! I have been avidly watching miniaturist Julie Warren (UK) on YouTube. She is presently redoing her (very) large dollhouse and has some excellent tips on replacing wallpaper and trim. She also offers all sorts of tutorials – from building furniture to stocking the mini kitchen. Definitely worth a look.
Thanks for the tip, Barbara. I’ll check her out. Hope all is well with you. Stay safe!
The best news is that Don’s appointment went well!
I would also love for my work to be faultless. Supposedly, Amish quilters intentionally include an imperfection to remind us that we are human and only God is perfect. A lovely quilt store owner in Truckee once told my craft group that “it’s not brain surgery” as we obsessed over our project. So true! There’s a time and place for perfection , and then there’s do the best you can. I think your best is beautiful, my friend!
Stay safe and strong.
Yes, Don always reminds me of the Amish when I get frustrated. Thanks so much, Roxie! Stay safe.
Hi Claudia, your joy shows through your work and in your writing about it, I guess that’s what gives us pleasure reading your blog.
By the way, I really could use a thunderstorm here in my neck of the woods. Not one that damages trees and other things though.
Take care,
I’d be happy to send you one! So far, only a little rain today and no thunderstorms. Stay safe!
Yay for Don’s eye!
There’s a thin line between getting it right (better than good enough) and getting it perfect and boy, that thin line can take you from happy satisfaction to crazed obsession. I’m a little bit of both, though the older I get, the less perfect I become!
Of course, I’ll paint the same damned cat image ten times till I get it perfect. Still…
LOVE the stonework on the dollhouse. It’s beautiful!
I completely understand! Love your paintings, Jeanie. I’ve been looking at them on Facebook. Stay safe!
We need the rain…love the dollhouse…I also enjoy the blog…so so so much…you and Don are so enchanting…keep writing…brendab
Thank you, Brenda! Stay safe!
Good news that Don’s eye appointment went well.
I really enjoyed your doll house tour!
Caroline has such a cozy home. I have always loved doll houses and miniatures. I am looking foward to watching your new house develop.
Stay safe
Thank you for your kind words, Marilyn. Stay safe!
So good to hear that Don’s appt went well. Glad he also took it easy for the rest of the day!!
We were supposed to have rain every day for like 8 days in a row, but they have taken that out of the forecast & now we are just to have 90* temps for the next week with little rain. So, off we go to water the plants every morning. The temps & humidity are crazy.
My favorite saying as of late is “Progress, not perfection.” As long as I am moving in the right direction, I am good with it!!
I still have to water the porch plants, but it’s nice getting a wee break from watering the seedlings!
Stay safe, Chris.
glad for don that his eye appointment went well. may it always be so … or, better yet, not needed.
i’m also glad for you getting some much-needed rain … and admittedly jealous about your thunderstorms!
and look at all that pretty and realistic-looking “tile” you’ve made! great work, claudia!
tomorrow marks 21 years at my job. i know it well so nothing really shocks me there anymore … like maybe i could not coast, but at least relax, huh? nope. now i feel on edge there all the time … so many people i work with still are not social-distancing or wearing a mask … because they aren’t required to. some are extremely critical (name-calling and put-downs) about those who wear masks/are scared (i get told that one a lot … so i calmly state again reasons why we need to take precautions …). ugh. i am glad to be home. might paint a little.
hope you all have a nice night and stay safe.
kathy in iowa
and yeah … ditto (and gratitude) for moving past the need to be perfect!
kathy in iowa
xo
I am so sorry you have to work in those conditions – with people who are so threatened by the use of a mask that they have to make disparaging comments. It’s all fear-based, of course – they’re afraid, though they will never admit it. It doesn’t make it any easier.
Stay safe, Kathy.
Glad that Don is ready to go again. Those bricks are very tedious, but how rewarding the results. And that quilt teacher gave you a great gift. Also an adult (well, mostly) child of an alcoholic, I struggle with perfectionism. I noticed tho that what I loved about antique needlework including quilts was the individual quirks, a substitute fabric for a motif, stitches that were crooked, the out of line cross stitches, etc. So I enjoy those things in my own work, but if I want to give someone a gift, I sweat over mistakes. Some people really want hand work to look machine made, and that’s OK–I just don’t want to burden them with items that bother them. Stay safe and sane!
Yes, you’re right. I’ll accept something less than perfect for myself, but not when it’s a gift for someone else! Stay safe, Nora.