In the days since Mom’s death, I’ve found pockets of time to work on the dollhouse. Having a creative release has helped a great deal. On Wednesday, some items that I ordered from Carrie Lavender’s Etsy shop arrived. I also tweaked a couple of the items that Karen sent, as well as some things I had on hand.
Would you like to see them?
This will be a picture heavy post. I had a lot of things saved up to show you.
Do you remember this dress form? It was one of the treasures Karen sent me.
It is made out of plastic and was missing the spindle/pole that extended from the base to the form itself. It needed some tweaking.
Here it is now:
I thought the wire frame was too long, so I checked some photos of vintage dress forms that I found online. Sure enough, it was. So I cut off the bottom part of the frame. Then I used some silver Rub n’ Buff on the frame and base. After many attempts to make some sort of pole, I found that the wooden part of a Q-tip worked rather nicely. Then I found some linen fabric upstairs in my stash and fashioned the bodice of the form. That took some fiddling!
And there it is in the studio/office, right next to the cutting table. Do you see that miniature tape measure on the table? From Carrie Lavender’s Etsy shop – A LavenderDilly Miniatures. Eeek! It’s so cute!
One of the tweaks I performed on Saturday was that shutter you see on the left.
It’s the perfect place for the owner to stash notes she has received, post cards from vacations, or any sort of reminder.
Once I did that, I came up with another idea.
I had this piece left over from a Michael’s hutch that I took apart. (The other piece that is just like this one is on the mantle.) The vintage wallpaper that I backed it with is a scrap that Elyse sent me. It will be a pinboard for the lady of the house. She’ll find it valuable as she works from this table.
Added to the kitchen: the graniteware pots and pans came from Karen, the cutting boards came from Carrie Lavender, the enamel pans and cookie sheets also came from Carrie Lavender and the cake is from Karen. I mentioned it in an earlier post, but the tea towel is from Norma.
An Aubusson rug for the living room – from Carrie Lavender.
The flatware with cream colored handles – from Carrie Lavender.
Another Aubusson rug for the bathroom – from Carrie Lavender. (Can you tell I am in love with her shop?)
A close-up of the enamel baking pans and sheets. Incredible.
There was some silverware in the box from Karen, so I made some dividers for one of the drawers.
I added some posters to the walls of the potting shed – a butterfly chart and a botanical drawing that I found online and printed:
I also made those seed packets.
A new Greengate tea towel from Carrie Lavender:
And finally, I tweaked the unfinished wardrobe that you see in the very first photo (from Karen.) I’m still not entirely happy with it and I’ll be working on it some more.
I want some of the furniture to be shabby, aged and slightly funky. And just like in my real house, I avoid matchy-matchy. I want the furniture to look like it’s been found a piece at a time.
I wallpapered the inside.
And then I had to rearrange the bedroom of course.
The mirror is also from Karen.
Whew! Truthfully, my friends, this kind of work kept me grounded during the past five days. It gave me a very much needed outlet, enabling me to lose myself in the creative process. In a sorrowful time, working on the dollhouse gave me joy. Thank goodness.
There are still problems with the email delivery of my posts, but I’ve found out it really isn’t due to Feedburner, but to a change that has been made by Yahoo and AOL and that most likely will be made by others in the future. To make a long story short, the emails never get to you because they are bounced right back by Yahoo and AOL – as if they were spam. There is a fix that I’m working on. I just haven’t had the time yet. But hang in there. Hopefully, it will work.
I’ll be back with another Evolution of the Dollhouse post tomorrow.
Happy Monday.
Wow! Claudia,
I love all that you’ve done with the dollhouse. It looks like so much fun and a creative outlet for you. It makes me want to have a dollhouse also! Please keep letting us see all that you do in it.
Hugs
Linda
I will, Linda. Thank you!
You are so uniquely talented with the dollhouse decor. I thought the dress form was just fine in black. But with YOUR eye it is now perfection. So happy you were able to focus on being creative during this difficult time. The loss does not go away, but with time it seems to be easier to bear. You are so loved, Claudia, your web friends will wait for you to heal. Take all the time you need.
Thank you so much, Dottie. My readers are the best people!
Love what you did with the dress form! It actually looks authentic…as opposed to manufactured! I understand the need to channel feelings and changes into something creative…that’s why I garden…inside and out. The dollhouse is looking very much a home…warm and welcoming! ;)
I’m gardening today, Donna – ahead of the rainy week that is coming. Gardening is always healing for me.
Lucky you! It’s raining cats and dogs here…and it’s very windy and cold! Happy gardening! ;)
I am in awe of all those tiny pieces in the dollhouse and all of you who make them. I’m so glad you had this creative outlet during this sad time. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time as are those of all of your blog readers.
Thank you so much, Janie.
So happy you have had some time to work on the dollhouse and help you grieve. It’s a little refuge isn’t it. Love all the new additions.
Wishing you a good week my friend.
hugs, Linda
It is indeed a refuge, Linda.
Claudia, did you ever think about being an interior designer when you were a kid? You could have been a great one. I can totally see you moving from room to room, giving your clients ideas, planning rooms, tweaking throw pillows and bookshelf displays etc. PS – love those copper pots and the Aga cooker. The lady of this house has such quality taste. And what a godsend for you to have the distraction of your dollhouse right now. Big virtual squeeze, my friend.
I did want to be an interior designer when I was young. I used to think it would be such a great career. Then Theater emerged and I was a goner.
The dollhouse looks amazing! Love the dress form~~~the wardrobe looks good too. Maybe you could paint some simple tiny flowers on it or some scrollwork. Thinking of you.
XOXO, Linda
Not sure what I’m going to do yet, Linda. Thank you!
Claudia, The more I see your doll house, the more I wish I had one too. I love all your new things…the little enamel pots are amazing. Hogs to you , Susie
Maybe you’ll get one someday, Susie! Why not?
My..you have been a busy girl haven’t you??..I love it all..I love what you did with the dress form..it look so much more real..Those little rugs are just gorgeous..The shutter is perfect for that spot..Did you know that there are zillions of free dollhouse printables online??..You probably do but I didn’t and was so excited when I found this out..Just Google..FREE DOLLHOUSE PRINTABLES..there are grocery boxes..wallpapers..magazines..toys and games..and just so many things..now for the best news..I found a dollhouse!!..at a local thrift shop..$10.00..but it is still in the box and I have to build it..I am making room to work on it and I am so excited..I can hardly wait until it is together and I can start the decorating part which from what I have learned from you is the most fun!!..I am so glad that you have yours at this sad time to occupy your mind and put a little cheer in your heart..Hugs..Nancy
Whoo hoo! Yippee! You found a dollhouse! Is there a name to the dollhouse and a manufacturer? (I want to picture it in my mind!) I’m so excited for you……the more dollhouse lovers, the merrier! xo
I have it in my storage unit about a mile down the road..Keeping it there until I get the space ready where it will be built..I’m going there tomorrow if it is not raining to bad so I will grab the paperwork so I can see what work I am in for..Let you know then..I am so excited I keep looking for miniatures everywhere I go..
OOhh what a wonderful doll house. I’m impressed.
Thank you, Lucy!
Claudia- I long to shrink myself and move in to the house you are creating. It just takes my breath away. When I looked at the dress form I actually gasped and said out loud- she even put darts in it!!! Your attention to detail is amazing. You should be featured in a miniatures publication.
Thanks for coming back to us. Take your time. Take care of yourself
hugs SueZK
Oh thank you for your kind words – I’m learning very slowly – my miniaturist friends are so much more skilled but I love learning new things and I figure, why not give it a try?
xo
I love your doll house! Everything you put into it looks so much like the real thing and you work so hard to “tweak” it to make it fit and look genuine. Have you ever thought about going into business of doll house decorating? You have the eye! So glad that your little house gave you a little piece of calm at this time.
Hmmmm….dollhouse decorating – that would be such a fun thing to do! Thanks, Melanie!
Hi Claudia, I have missed you. I am glad you have the dollhouse for a source of comfort. Missing your mom is an ongoing process. I have been processing for 20 years. I feel her with me every now and then. Especially if I inadvertently use poor grammar.She would always give me a light tap upside the head. I feel that to this day. I love knowing she is with me.
I have been living dollhouses through you. While visiting with my aunt and cousin we started talking about dollhouses. I said how I had always always wanted one. My cousin told me how he has always wanted to build one. He is a furniture builder, and a cabinet maker. May I have a drum roll please? He is going to build me a dollhouse! I am to find the style and rooms that I want and the type of house and he will draw up the plans. I am so excited that I am eating, sleeping, and dreaming of decorating. Thank Claudia for inspiring to keep my dream alive.
I’ve missed you all, as well. I needed the time away, but I also missed talking to all of you.
Now, let’s cut to the chase – CONGRATULATIONS!! Oh my goodness, I am so excited for you! What makes it even more wonderful is that your cousin is making it for you (what a guy!) and that your dollhouse will be like no other. You are going to have such fun, my friend.!
Love all of your dollhouse posts! You continue to motivate me as I work on my two dollhouses found on a trash pile and a yard sale. Thank you, Claudia, for your creative ideas and lovely pictures.
You are very welcome, Sharon!
So glad that you have this outlet during your grief. Your Mom was beautiful. Treasure that picture of her.
Now, getting to the doll house…I think that you might need a rug for the bedroom floor. The tiny couple will have cold feet when they get out of bed in the winter:)
Balisha
Just haven’t found the right one yet, Balisha.
Thanks for your kind words.
Oh my goodness – I’m LOVING all of your new additions/changes! The changes you’ve made to the dress form are positively amazing! I think you need to get back to your Etsy shop and include “tweaked dollhouse miniatures by Claudia” :)
There’s an idea!xo
Hi Claudia,
Yesterday I just decided to try and re-subscribe and it worked. I received your post from today!
Debbi
So glad, Debbi!
You are so creative, Claudia.
The photos of your mom in past posts are so pretty – have you thought about framing one for the dollhouse?
Now that is a wonderful idea. I will definitely try that, Sylvia.
Dear Claudia, I just read the sad news. I have oh so recently gone down this same path. It is one none of us ever want to walk yet we have no choice. I am not going to tell you that it is easy, because it is not. As I am gathering my thoughts to write this I am looking at a little plastic box filled with snaps and hooks from my Mom’s sewing kit. I keep so many of her things near me now. I too have spent time with my miniatures, especially during those first few days. Take care of yourself. Sleep when you need to. Don’t rush into anything. Lean on Don. Please know that you are in my thoughts and my prayers. I am always here if you need to talk. My heartfelt condolences to you and your family.
Much Love,
Susan and Bentley
I know you understand, Susan. I’m just giving myself space to reflect and miss my mom and cry if I need to. Love to you, my friend.
Oh that dress form! and the rugs!! and the little enamel pans!! and the shutter!! and on and on and on. Love these posts Claudia and am really enjoying seeing the transformations you are making. so glad you had this project to occupy you in recent days. and, so glad Don was with you (and Dame Scout, of course). Looking forward to more pictures! Take care of you.
I’m so glad Don is here – I can’t imagine going through this without him, Vera.
Wow Claudia! I love what you’re doing in your dollhouse! It looks like a French cottage. Love all the little details. So glad that decorating your little dollhouse is helping with the grieving process.
It is, Sandy. Thank you.
I love everything you’ve done with your dollhouse, Claudia. Love the dress form and all the other wonderful details you’ve added. Your furniture pieces are so vintage looking and love those shutters. Floral wallpaper and wainscoting, oh my! I was so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing, What lovely photos you shared of her and I’m sure you have wonderful memories as well.
I do. She was a wonderful woman. Two of my oldest friends said that when they think of her, they remember her laughing. I love that.