Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Life in our little cottage in the country

You are here: Home / antiques / Forgotten Treasures, Dollhouse Update

Forgotten Treasures, Dollhouse Update

at by

Good morning! It was 9 degrees below zero when I woke this morning. During the middle of the night the temperature was supposed to go to at least 11 below; I have a feeling it went even lower. Don had to go into Manhattan today and I have to go in tomorrow. You’d better believe I will be rewarding myself with cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery!

We all have little treasures that we are used to seeing around the house. We get so used to them that we don’t really see them anymore until something makes us look at them with fresh eyes. That happened to me the other day. I ‘saw’ this box which has a home on our spinet desk.  I bought this little cigarette box when I was in Edinburgh in 1991 – oh my gosh, it’s been 20 years!  I well remember walking into a little antique shop, hoping to discover some little treasure that would always remind me of my trip.

The copper has transformed into that wonderful blue patina that I love. The flapperish female figure is looking elegant while enjoying a cigarette. Isn’t she fabulous?

A confession: When I gaze at this lady, I get that little twinge that reminds me how much I loved smoking years ago. Don’t worry. I haven’t smoked in 26 years and I’m not about to start now.

The inside of the box is wood.

It’s full of memories: chaperoning a group of Boston University students who were performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, staying in a lovely flat for 2 weeks and having the luxury of time to explore that gorgeous city, traveling to London for 5 days to explore some more. Those students were members of a class that I adored teaching. We had such fun together – at Boston University and in Edinburgh.

This weekend, I painted the roof of the dollhouse.

I wanted the shingles to look a bit weathered, so I used 2 different shades of gray. It’s subtle, therefore hard to see in the photo. I hope this gives you somewhat of an idea of what I was going for.

Today, I’ll start painting the house itself, which will be white, then the shutters, which are on order. I’m not sure what color I’m going to use on the shutters – maybe a turquoise mixed with some gray? After all this is done, I will start on the inside and that, my friends, will be the biggest challenge.

Hope your weather is a tad warmer than mine!

Comments

  2. the roof is gorgeous! I love the grey with the white- I think a grayish turquoise would set everything off so well. Beautiful Claudia ♥

    PS- It’s been horrible cold here too- don’t worry…spring is just around the corner. That’s what I keep telling myself anyways :)

  3. Goodness Claudia, I must stop griping about 16 ABOVE! Poor you with such deep cold along with snow and ice to contend with. Be careful driving to Manhattan both of you.

    Yes, aqua shades will be perfect on shutters – how about going with a beachy theme inside – they even build this style of house at the shore nowadays, guess anything goes!

    What a lovely reminder of your Scotland visit – sounds like that was a fun trip. Like you, gave up those dastardly ‘fags’ 35 years ago – and have never slipped back, not even for one puff!!!

    Happy week dear – we’re awaiting the plumber as we have leaking pipes under the house, probably due to the cold weather, ugh!

    Hugs, Mary

  4. Saturday morning it was -8 here in Ohio….temps are going up slowly but surely maybe even warm enough for a walk today! I have a doll house too and have thought about doing that to the shingles too…a weathered look. My 2 granddaughters play with it all the time. I had it electrified some years back and have a lot of furniture for it….the girls have been sort of rough with that stuff but they sure enjoy it when they visit! Stay warm! ~Hugs, Patti

  5. G’day Claudia ~ We awoke to a heatwave of 8 above this morn (MD.).

    Such a gorgeous box & I so love the lady on it.

    Did you go to Glasgow, we so loved it there & the Highlands.

    Pop over for our VALENTINE GIVEAWAY
    Have a beautiful week ~
    TTFN ~ Marydon

  6. The house looks beautiful! I love the grey roof too. I think it would look lovely with turquoise shutters. We are in Ontario so I am getting very tired of the cold, snowy grey weather.. I am trying to talk my husband into a trip!

  7. pretty sure it’s not any warmer here, in chicago. ugh, it’s the worst, right?
    love that blue box, the flapper lady is fabulous glamorous!
    i imagine i will want to live in your dollhouse when you are done with it…

  9. Oh yes we are much warmer down here in FL. I’ve been hearing of the very cold temps and don’t know what that would feel like anymore. Enjoy those cupcakes! Yum! Ann

  13. WHAT A LOVELY BOX, ISN’T IT AMAZING HOW LONG WE KEEP STUFF. I GUESS WE GET SO ATTACHED TO IT, AND LIKE YOU SAID IT’S A REMEMBERANCE OF SOMETHING SPECIAL.
    YOUR DOLL HOUSE IS SO PRETTY, HAVE A DONUT FOR ME TOMORROW TOO.
    STAY WARM, RIZZI

  14. Nine below is just waaaaaay too cold. I love the cigarette box- those deco images always seem so worldly and sophisticated- it seems only right that you got it while “jet setting”.

  15. Hi Claudia,
    I’m feeling cold just reading your blog! I feel bad complaining about 47 degrees, but we are at the beach!! Too cold.

    I love the patina on your memory box and the doll house is looking so sweet.

    hugs
    Sissie

  16. Hi Claudia,

    Your doll house is looking very shabby. Will you wallpaper the inside?

    I’ve been sick for over a week. Just so fed up with it at this point…this is the first day I’ve felt like visiting any blogs.

    Hope you warm up a bit. I’m supposed to have snow again on Wednesday…OH JOY! {NOT!}

    Hugs,
    Stephanie ♥

  18. Happy Tuesday, Claudia. Brrr! That is just too cold. Stay warm. And, I would love one of those cupcakes, too.

    Your box is gorgeous, and I am glad you opened it to share the memories with us. Memories are such special treasures.

    I am so loving the dollhouse project. Like so many others, I have always wanted to “do” a dollhouse, but I already have so much.

  19. Brrrrrr………I’m shivering thinking about the cold weather you are having. Your dollhouse is so pretty. I can’t wait to follow your progress on it.

  21. I feel for you! We were happy this morning that it was above 32! It’s been the coldest longest winter ever in Georgia!

    I love the doll house! I’ve always wanted one to play with but don’t know where I’d put it. Love the roof – sort of looks like weathered slate.

    Manuela

  24. It is going to be so fun seeing you create your own dollhouse. It will be fun to see the colors you choose. Try to stay warm and feel free to tempt us again with a peek at what you get at Magnolia Bakery!

  25. My poor little dollhouse is just sitting on the fireplace. I should get to work on it too!
    I won’t tell you what our weather was today. We had 60 degree weather today, but, we pay for it with terrible, awful, dangerous fog in the mornings. I’m not sure if I’d trade the cold for it though.
    Be careful tomorrow…try to stay warm.

  26. I would love to visit England one day. Your little box is a beautiful memento of your trip to Edinburgh. Isn’t it funny how just looking at something can bring all those memories flooding back.
    The dollhouse is looking great, love the shingle color!

  27. Hello Claudia,
    Your trip to Scotland sounds like it was amazing. What a lovely memory and what a beautiful box you brought home!
    Your doll house is coming along! Seeing yours makes me want to work on mine too…it needs window treatments….and maybe some interior decorating.
    I am wishing for you less snow and more sunshine!
    Hugs,
    Terri

  30. I can’t wait to see what you do with the dollhouse! I made these scarves for my daughters for Christmas. It was such an awesome pattern that worked up so quickly! I love to see them wearing them! I wish I had access to the type of yarn you use to get the color patterns you have. But that’s out of reach for me. Thank you for sharing all that you do!
    Carolyn

  31. I like the color of the shingles you chose for the dollhouse, Claudia, and your little cigarette box is the perfect shade of blue. I was a smoker, too. I loved them more than anything, and if I ever picked up one, I would be at it all over again. But I quit years ago as well. Glad I did, too.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

Please check back to follow the conversation!

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives