Weather forecast? Rain. End of story.
Don. Simply stop here.
A bright spot yesterday – a package arrived in the mail from Elf Miniatures in England.
By the way, I want to clarify something: none of these links are affiliates or partners or anything other than companies I’ve ordered from and like very much. I understand affiliate links and I use them on the book blog occasionally, though I earn next-to-nothing from them – just enough to use as a credit toward a future book purchase! But I’ve seen a lot of affiliate links lately on other blogs and I must admit that too much of that sort of thing turns me off. Does every post have to be the result of a partnership?
So if you see a link to a miniature site or source here, it simply takes you to that site. I get nothing from you clicking on the link, except satisfaction in recommending a good source. (There’s a source list up in the navigation bar, also – under Dollhouse.)
Back to Elf Miniatures, an online company I really like – fast delivery across the ocean, great customer service, and a fabulous inventory of all things miniature. I ordered 3 items.
Well, I meant to order two. I got three items because, for the second time, I ordered two of something; this shelf unit, which is reminiscent of the IKEA units that are so popular. I have one in real life. Anyway, getting two of them is okay by me. I’ll use the other one in another project
I want to use this for records, but it has quickly dawned on me that I have to get a lot more albums! Oh, my heavens! Where am I going to get them all? I can purchase some through Etsy. I could make them, I suppose, and I’ll try to do some of that. My friend Susi, of Minibase, did that for her award winning Record Shop. Click on over at some point and see it. It’s incredible. She has even posted a very helpful tutorial on the subject of making albums.
See? I’m going to need a lot of record albums!
Also in the box that traveled across the ocean:
This oh-so-cool desk chair.
I love it. I can see the gentleman who uses this studio swiveling between a computer monitor and the keyboard, completely into his creative process. I bet you can, too.
Still going back and forth about the legs. I was just about to paint them silver/chrome yesterday afternoon when I decided to hold off. Today, I like the orange. Tomorrow? Who knows?
I mentioned that I made a preliminary stab at a mixing board. Really, what I did was build a three-dimensional housing for it, like I’ve seen in many home studio photos. It’s made out of mat board.
There it is. From here, it looks okay.
From here, the top is clearly one-dimensional. I’m not thrilled with that. I can probably fiddle with it and add some elements that give it dimension – like a knob and silver bits that function as those slides. The jury is still out on this one.
A rainy day view of where we are so far.
I have to do some work on the outside. I have a few more elements on order. But I’ve got about seven weeks, give or take a day or so, until Don’s birthday. So I’m in good shape, I think.
Blogkeeping: I usually have the volume on my computer turned all the way down because I dislike suddenly hearing something I didn’t plan on hearing. But lately, I’ve had it on a few times when an ad or two on this blog started making itself known via sound. I don’t like that. And, in fact, ads are not supposed to automatically play. The visitor to a site is supposed to be able to turn it on if he or she wants to, but otherwise, it should be mute. So I have my ad company looking into it and, if I have to, I’ll stop all video ads. My apologies. I’d rather earn a bit less than have intrusive sound on the blog.
Happy Tuesday.
My first reaction was “wow”. Every thing looks wonderful!
Thank you, Doris!
Nice additions Claudia! The TSP is looking amazing. I bet Don will be thrilled come birthday time!
I hope he is! I keep telling him he’s going to love it. Maybe I’m overselling it?
No…definitely not overselling! Also, intended to say that I love the orange legs…they work well with the fireplace and the pillows.
Thank you, Vera!
Hi Claudia,
The TSP is perfect! I’m sure Don will be speechless when he sees it. What an wonderful gift.
I like the orange legs on the table. They balance out the orange on the fireplace and over the couch. Plus they’re fun.
They are fun! Oh, decisions, decisions!
The TSP looks fabulous! You are so creative – I love it.
Thank you so much, Karen!
Looking great! I had a (probably crazy) thought: Can you use something thick like layers of nail polish to add dimension to the levers on the sound board?
Too much wet wouldn’t be good for the mat board, I fear. But thanks for trying to help out, Sylvia!
I am so excited about how great this is looking. Don is going to love it. Maybe mix his next album there!! I know the rain is getting you down a bit, hope you have sunshine soon. This week we are having both days of sunshine and pouring rain! My allergies kicked up again so feeling puny today. I think I’ll rest and read!
hugs,
Linda
Rain is on the docket for the next three days. DEPRESSING.
Don is going to be over the moon on his birthday! You have done such an awesome job!
Judy
I hope he likes it, Judy! (I suppose it’s for me as well as Don because I get such a kick out of it!)
The TSP just looks fantastic! I still like the orange legs. That office chair is ….. I can’t even find a word!!
I was wondering if some “puffy paint” from the craft store could work to add some dimension to the slides. Probably have to experiment to get the perfect dab. I know Michael’s and Hob Lob (along w/ WM, etc) all carry it in the craft paint section.
Looks like it is really moving along! Can’t WAIT to hear what Don says!!
I’d like an office chair like that one. Don certainly would! Maybe puffy paint, but I think I lack a light touch, Chris.
I love the new chair – Elf Miniatures has the best product. I’ve seen downloads available for sale on Etsy for record album covers, although I haven’t tried them. I know that The Little Dollhouse Company sells the mini black plastic records to put inside.
I took inspiration from your latest creative efforts and made a little work table for a dollhouse we ‘re refurbishing for a fundraiser. I measured the height of an existing table and bought two wooden “X”s at Michaels to use as legs. The Michaels here has loads of painted and metal letters and numbers on clearance. I may have to go back and purchase an “A” to use as a fun bookshelf!
I may have to go check those out, Barbara. These legs are just a wee bit rickety.
WOW- seeing the last pic of the studio, it is really coming together. I see the need for a coat tree with a jacket and hat in the corner?
Maybe…but I don’t want too much clutter. The whole idea is that this is in the backyard of the artist’s home. Perhaps he can just run to the studio from his back door?
While vacillating about repainting the table legs temporarily wrap a bit of tin foil around them to see how you really feel with the chrome / silver approach. Silver may prove to detract from
the exceptional desk chair. No matter your ultimate decision your previous work will remain intact.
Good idea, R. Thank you!
Just a tip if you don’t want to hear anything while you’re playing online. Keep your earphones plugged into your computer; that way you don’t hear anything unless you decide you want to and put the phones into your ears. Easy peasey …
Thanks, Ann. I just mute the volume on the laptop. It works just fine that way!
This is coming along so beautifully! So far, so good with the orange legs, I think.
You’ve reminded me of the early days of blogs with music and all those horrible floating butterflies, flowers, fairy dust things people had because they could, I guess.
Oh my word, I hated that stuff. Everyone had a play list on the sidebar and snow and fairy dust kept falling and it made me want to scream! That’s exactly when I started to mute the volume on my computer.
It’s really coming together. Looks fantastic!
Thanks, Dana!
Hi Claudia, I think that you have made some Beautiful new purchases for Don’s Studio. Your mixing board looks Great ( I knew you could do it) and I especially like the rolling chair pulled up to the keyboard on the table. My only other comment would be to check to see that the keyboard is not too high for Don to play comfortably whilst he is seated in front of it, however I know that some musicians DO prefer to stand when they play. :)
I actually took the legs off the keyboard because it was too high! Desk level seems to be the norm for recording studios. Maybe because it’s all electronic? Don used a keyboard on his computer when he was recording, so I think this will be okay, Elizabeth. Any suggestions to make the mixing board look more three dimensional?
What a great chair! I would love one like that in real life! The Mixing Board looks great as well….I’m not sure how you could improve on what you’ve created. Although, to add dimension, perhaps you could use those sticky furniture protectors, cut to size, under the pic of the board…that way certain parts of the board would be raised to give it some height. Just a thought! ;)
Rather than go under it, I might put something on top of it, but I’m still weighing everything. Thanks, Donnamae!
The mixing board looks okay? Just okay? Uh yuh, right. And when it comes to being prolific, I guess Stephen King has done “okay” too. I think that mixing board looks pretty darn GREAT, not to mention about 10x better than anything I could do [no matter how many dimensions]. PS – for the first time in 4 days, it’s sunny in Rochester. Yay! How about y’all? ☀️
I fear it’s raining here, Janet. It got sunny at the end of the day yesterday, but then it rained all night – and it’s going to rain tomorrow and the next day. Yikes.
Thanks for your kind words!
as a “friend” let me tell you something. You are way too hard on yourself. That mixing board is amazing!! You are so very talented Claudia. You see something you want and you make it happen. That is talent . I know you are modest but friend, you are talented too
Well, I know I’m a perfectionist, but I would have loved to figure out a way to make the knobs and slides three dimensional! Thank you, Sue, for your kind words.
I’m normally VERY cottage, shabby chic, antiques, china, etc when it comes to the decor I’m attracted to … but I have to tell you, I’m IN LOVE with this room, and love each new mini addition. Everything about this room looks so inviting and comfortable – it’s so easy to imagine being creative here. Ahhh, don’t you just love miniatures??
FYI, 99% of the time I read Mockingbird Hill Cottage Blog on my Kindle, and never have I had issues with any of your ads (video or not).
That’s good to know, Debbie. I’m glad you don’t have issues with the ads.
You know me, I tend to be eclectic and vintage in my decor, but I’m a wee bit crazy about this project, too!
Just to reassure you I haven’t had any sound issues from your blog. The TSP looks really great doesn’t it!! I showed my husband some of the pictures zoomed in so that he couldn’t see the “surroundings” and he thought it was a real room! I love the style of it!!
So glad you haven’t had issues, Amy! That’s good to know.
Oh, I love hearing that people think it’s a real room. That makes me very happy!
Keep the orange legs.
Nice job.
m~
Thanks Monica.
Good morning Claudia love Don’s project so much can not wait to see it finished! Just a thought instead of all records what about cassettes and the A tracks I think they were called I am sure Don would love them and a few of the reels of tapes for recording! I am sure with your amazing creative you could make something! J
Well, it’s going to be pretty modern, so I don’t know if he’d want cassettes (we threw all of ours away) or 8-tracks. And everything is taped on MP3s nowadays. He’s going to have a computer monitor, remember, and I think a lot of home sound studios record via the computer! Thanks, Janine!
Love your blog, but have never posted. My daughter recently told me that her boyfriend bought a 3-D printer and it prints out real looking objects. Maybe that would be a way to do your sound board. You just need to find such a printer! hope this helps.
Yes, I know about 3-D printers though I have no idea how to use one. That’s a good idea, Joan. I’ll see what I can find out.
It is so coming together! I still vote for orange legs. They just make the eye pop on over there. Rain coming in a couple of days….just a little bit.
I’m glad you’ll be getting some rain, Wendy. I know you need it out there.
You could change the orange legs but I think that side of the room needs some bright color to compete with the other side…I think Don will be amazed at all of the realistic miniatures you have found..Well..the sunshine here lasted until night and then the rain came back so we have the same forecast as you now..
And more rain today, Nancy! I know we need it, but maybe we’ve had enough?
I love the TSP but I’m not a fan of the orange legs. They aren’t as masculine as the rest of the room. Craft stores have 2 products that may work to add dimension to your board….Liquid Pearls are made for making dimensional dots, comes in many colors and has a fine tip, also dries glossy. Heavy hand? Put some on scrap paper and use a toothpick to apply it to the knobs etc.. Another product is Glossy Accents, pretty much the same as Liqiud Pearls but it’s clear so it will be whatever color you put it on. Both are made for paper. You always seem to do the perfect thing so I’m sure you’ll figure it out!
Thanks for the tips, Cheryl. I’m not as concerned with ‘masculine’ as I think there’s a lot of that already in the TSP. It just comes down to whether I end up liking the color combination. I’ll check out those products! In fact, I might get them on my way to Hartford today.
This is just amazing, if I didn’t know I would think it was a real life size studio! You are doing such a great job. Don is going to be so surprised. Have a wonderful day.
hugs
I have to control my excitement until June, Nancy!