I swear I sense autumn in the air. It’s too early, I know. But there are subtle changes of light, cooler mornings, a different…look. I know I said this yesterday, but I also want to add that I’m feeling that nesting/organizing thing kick in that always occurs for me in autumn.
This week has been lovely. Cool enough to mow without too much sweat, the plants don’t need to be watered quite as frequently, cool mornings and evenings. By the way, last night I insisted to Don that it was Tuesday. He assured me it was Wednesday. This morning I checked yesterday’s post and sure enough, I said “Happy Tuesday.” Oy. I swear it gets increasingly hard to keep track of the days of the week – and I have a planner! We haven’t worked in a long time, the pandemic rages on, and one day morphs into another. Anyway, apologies for that. I’ve since corrected it.
I don’t know whether I posted this on the blog or on IG, but a few months back, after looking for an armoire/wardrobe for the dollhouse, I chose to go with something relatively inexpensive that I could paint or stain. The photo of the armoire showed the doors closing cleanly with no gap.
This is what I received:
I was not a happy camper. I’m familiar with this brand and yes, they manufacture inexpensive furniture, nonetheless, this was unacceptable. I wrote the seller and she tried to say that this uneven gap was there to allow for layers of paint. Ummm….no. I am not new to working with miniatures and that, my friend, is total BS. I told her I wanted my money back and she said she would refund when I sent it back to her. Okay.
A few days passed and I realized it wasn’t worth the hassle. Packing it up, taking it to the post office, paying to mail it – all for something I got for $12? I did leave a review complaining about the difference between her photo and the actual item I received, but I decided to keep it. I had an idea to add a strip of wood between the doors that would look like part of the wardrobe. I found one in my stash that was just right and I cut it to fit. Fast forward a couple of months to yesterday and I finally painted the piece.
Here it is:
I think it works! I’m very pleased with it and I don’t feel the need to have clothes hanging inside, so I’m okay with it as is. Plus, I had to put something that was a little heavy inside the armoire because it didn’t have enough weight. I will most likely replace the hardware, however. The knobs came with the armoire.
This will go in the bedroom. I’m still debating about the bed, which is lovely, but I can’t help thinking it’s too high in relation to the other pieces of furniture. I’m looking into other possibilities.
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
Nice work on the armoire. The center strip looks like it was designed that way.
I am happy you are working on the doll house again. It’s inspiring me to get to work on mine. I have a kit that I plan to turn into a yarn shop. I probably won’t get to it until later in the fall. I have some projects in my real house to finish first.
Stay safe
Sometimes seeing someone else’s work is just what we need to jumpstart a project, Marilyn.
Stay safe.
i can see why you bought that little armoire and why you were disappointed in the one you received (and by the seller’s excuse), but you did a great job fixing the problem … it looks great now!
hotter weather to arrive here this weekend (on time for the state fair
… which my family and i most definitely will not be attending this year). if you want it, i hope it soon heads your way. i’d like 40 to 65 degrees all the time and plenty of rainy or at least overcast days.
happy, safe thursday!
kathy in iowa
ps … i’ve been a day ahead all week.
We’re already getting hotter weather, though not too hot. It turned very humid out there today!
Stay safe, Kathy.
Perfect revision to the armoire. And I love the paint job, too!
I can always feel the “Fall” in August. Reminds me of going back to school too soon (Ours always started in August.) Time to buy the Autumn Seventeen magazine and think of a new fall wardrobe! (Glad that phase is over, though.)
I loved the autumn Seventeen magazine! What a great memory!
Stay safe, Shanna.
I remember waiting at the Drug Store until they put the Fall Seventeen out!! That was such a fun issue to dream through! Had not thought about that in a really long time….
Neither had I!
You found the perfect solution for the armoire gap! Summer has been zooming by, the whole year actually has been zooming by for me.
Stay safe!
Time goes faster as we get get older. It seems to go so quickly!
Stay safe, Ellen.
Some things just aren’t worth all the hassle of returning. I think you found the perfect solution. With that extra piece of wood, it looks more authentic!
Yesterday, we spent the day with our friends, and we normally don’t get together unless it’s a Saturday. So…woke up this morning thinking it was Sunday. Oh boy.
I noticed some of my plants are winding down. Too much heat too soon this was the culprit. I am so ready for fall…sorry if that offends. We are back to watering our pine trees and evergreens as much as we can.
Your porch is the perfect spot to while away an afternoon. Enjoy! ;)
It doesn’t offend. I’m just not ready for it yet, though I think these little changes that I notice help prepare me for it.
Stay safe, Donna!
Talk about making lemonade out of lemons! Great job on the armoire!!
SO wish we could see some Autumn here in SD. At least here in OB, it’s still cool enough not to have to use the a/c.
Thank goodness you get those ocean breezes, Priscilla!
Stay safe!
Your fix for the imperfect armoire is beautiful! I can’t wait to see it in the dollhouse!
Thank you, Jane! It turned out well.
Stay safe.
You certainly made lemonade out of that lemon!
ceci
Thank you, Ceci!
Stay safe.
Claudia since Keith and I retired we are having a heck of a time knowing the day of the week! So we are keeping track with food. Sunday’s breakfast is a Dutch Baby. Tuesday is Taco Tuesday so we always have something Mexican inspired (this week it was fresh halibut Vera Cruz) and Friday is a seafood/fish day (Keith is a recovering Catholic 😏). So far this is working for us. Cause otherwise, who knows?
I have to ask my husband what day it is, and he has to look at his watch to find out!
I often have to look at my phone, Denise.
Stay safe!
Good idea, Becky! The only days I’m sure of are Towels Saturday (when I wash the towels) and Sheets Sunday (when I wash our bedding.) The rest is a blur.
Stay safe, my friend. My best to Keith.
Hi Claudia,
this happened to me many many times. Not worth to be angry. Help yourself and you can create your own style. Nice armoire now, isnt it?
Stay safe!
Helga
I’m happy with the result, Helga! It’s always good to find a creative solution.
Stay safe, Helga.
When I saw Happy Tuesday yesterday on your post I just assumed you were correct because it’s so busy at my work NONE of us know what day it is any more.
Happy Thursday!
Mo :)
Thank goodness it’s not just me, Mo!
Stay safe.
The Armoire looks great!! I love it. I just retired last week, and one of the items on my list for retirement is to re-do the dollhouse my Dad made for me in the late 60’s. It’s a Colonial style, copied from an F.A.O. Schwartz dollhouse of that time. Santa did bring me the actual F.A.O. Schwartz furniture, a bit more modern than the house. I’ve got wallpaper, furniture, and accessories in my future. I’m excited to use your resources and recommendations along the way!!
Glad you’ve been enjoying Elly Griffiths. She’s one of my favorites.
Have a great rest of your week!
-Jayne
Oh, you’re going to have such fun, Jayne! It sounds like a gorgeous dollhouse.
Stay safe!
congratulations on your retirement, jayne … enjoy every minute! especially working on what must be a very precious dollhouse/keepsake from your father.
from retirement-ready and very jealous (but happy for you) kathy in iowa
Love the armoire now but I feel your frustration when ordering something and its not as advertised. Still you made it work. I think the light is a bit different but still hot here in GA. My Grands started school yesterday. I’ll talk to them this weekend for updates on school, teacher and friends. Hugs!
Oh, they’ll have a lot to share with you, Linda.
Stay safe!
Claudia — excellent save for the armoire — less hassle is always the best way, I think. hope you get your days straight — I have this trouble also, haha!! stay safe/healthy
It’s a sign of the times, I fear – not working and the endless stretch of the pandemic.
Stay safe, Linda!
It looks great! The color really shows the lovely lines.
Thank you Lynda! I’m glad I finally got around to painting it!
Stay safe.
It looks just terrific, Claudia. Well done. Much better than the product in the box.
And your porch is divine.
Thank you, Jeanie!
Stay safe.
It really looks nice!! Great save.
Our county as well as the county Madison is in are now in the red. This is just so depressing. It makes one wonder if we will ever truly be out of this mess. The numbers are just awful. The same people seem to take it seriously, and the others still have their heads up in the clouds or up in some such place. Who knows.
We are supposed to get very hot and humid again this weekend. Same old. Take care.
I’m so sorry to hear your numbers are way up. I suppose that will eventually happen here, as well.
Hot and humid here, as well, Chris. (I was surprised as I hadn’t checked the weather forecast.)
Stay safe.
Well, gosh, you sure solved the armoire gap problem! Before I finished reading you, all I could think was to just use it with doors wide open and put something interesting inside to showcase.
Thanks, Vicki!
Stay safe.