Yesterday was a creative day – Don was recording music all afternoon, and I was working on miniatures. I stained the table that I made a while back. It’s going into the kitchen at Hummingbird Cottage. Photos will be coming. And I painted and wallpapered the bedroom in the English Cottage.
Wallpapering these little cottages is a wee bit difficult as there are nooks and overhangs and eaves and whatever name you want to call them. In other words, they’re very much like our real life upstairs rooms.
Now honestly, I forgot about that wicker table and did not choose these colors so that I could use it in this space.
But I can and isn’t that nifty?
There are different ways to wallpaper a dollhouse, but I do – for better or worse – what I did for Hummingbird Cottage. I grab a piece of paper – usually something I’ve pulled out of the printer – and I place it against the wall and trace each section, including where the windows are. I place the pattern on the wallpaper and trace it once again, making sure to include the windows and doors. Then I cut it out, and tweak it a thousand times as I try to fit it to the actual wall. This was much more finicky than Hummingbird Cottage. By the time I did the last wall, the one on the right, I was over it.
I wanted to pull out one of the colors in the wallpaper for the sloped ceiling (is that what you call it?) And I wanted to do it with paint I had on hand. So I mixed a color that echoed the green-gray of the vines but was a bit brighter, because I didn’t want it to look too gray.
Now, for the floor…
I have no furniture for the bedroom yet. I do have that wicker table and I have my eye on a bed. I’d also like to find a narrow wardrobe and a smallish chair. And maybe a narrow fireplace.
I want to share a movie that I think you’d love. It’s on Netflix and it stars Sophia Loren. It’s called The Life Ahead. It’s the first movie she’s done in ten years (she’s 86) and it’s directed by her son, Edoardo Ponti. It’s wonderful. The cast is uniformly excellent. The story centers around a young boy named Momo played by Ibrahima Gueye. Gueye is simply extraordinary in this role. Words cannot express how talented this kid is, how natural and moving. And it’s beautifully directed. There’s much I could say about it but I don’t want to spoil your experience if you haven’t yet seen it. Watch it. Your heart and soul will be full.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
Claudia, I am amazed at the painstaking work you put into the mini-mansions. I can visualize how things might look but I lack the patience needed to do the detail work. I can’t even line my drawer shelves with any uniformity. Can’t photograph any of my work. I am currently organizing my desk and trying to make some order of the scraps of notes with passwords and phone numbers and receipts. I get distracted easily and look forward to your blog . every day. I have decided that this year I am too emotional and teary to put up any decorations on our tree (artificial) so we are leaving it green with white lights. There are too many memories when I unwrap each ornament and I am hoping to get thru this holiday without too many mood swings. Right now my husband is playing his guitar in the other room while Pandora is streaming jazz downstairs. Break is over and I have to get back to work. What gives you the most satisfaction? The process or the completion?
I don’t always have patience, but I try my best!
Always the process. I like to take it slow.
Stay safe, Maria.
Love the colors you chose. I am a very detail oriented person, but I’m not sure I would have the patience for wallpapering.
I’m glad to hear Don is able to continue playing despite his finger issue.
I am avoiding the news and watching Christmas movies. I will definitely check out your movie recommendation.
Take care
Yes, he’s adjusted by using a different fingering, Marilyn.
Stay safe!
Love the wallpaper and the paint color works well. I think this bedroom may so far be my favorite room (a choice that is perhaps a bit premature). The wicker table is one I’d like to have in real life. When I was working with my doll houses, I was inspired by you to try wallpaper. What a challenge, made more difficult by the fact that I did not have a craft knife to cleanly cut the window and door openings. You do a professional job! Stay safe.
Thank you, Nora.
I’m hoping it will be a pretty retreat for the owner(s).
Stay safe.
This post brought a few tears. It is evident your spirit is lifted and even though times are still really tough right now, you are choosing hope and optimism. I think that is the case for “us” in general, so the happy tears.
By the way, the cottage is coming along beautifully! Thanks for sharing it with us.
Take care…
Thank you, Kelly.
Stay safe.
The paint and wallpaper are gorgeous! I wish I could live in that room.
As always thanks for the movie recommendation of The Life Ahead. I had it on my list but now I will be sure to watch it soon.
Our real bedroom seems rather boring now!
Stay safe, Kay.
The doll house is coming along. I really love the wallpaper. I have that movie on my watch list. Hugs!!
Thank you, Linda!
Stay safe.
Love the house… prayers of course.
Lots going on here.
Thank you, Brenda.
Stay safe.
Terrific ceiling color! It’s perfect with the wallpaper. I wouldn’t mind a room with that paint and paper combo myself! And the wicker table is the best!
Me either – as I said in an earlier reply, my real life bedroom is looking pretty boring!
Stay safe, Jeanie.