I took the Christmas decorations down yesterday – since we don’t do a whole lot of decorating, it isn’t all that time consuming – and then I moved the egg cup cubby cabinet away from the wall, which is always scary, opened the door under the stairs, and stored everything for another year. Then I moved the cabinet back, which was a bit tricky this time around, but I finally got it in place.
Then I vacuumed like crazy.
(By the way, Don broke a glass yesterday and then I proceeded to break a glass and a bowl. What’s with us? We’re down to three glasses.)
I sorted through the sheet music in our music cabinet. That cabinet was one of the very first things we bought for this house. We got it at an auction. I have a lot more music than I had remembered, some of it from my childhood, some of it from my grandmother (a hymnal, and three songs from Oklahoma, which means the sheet music is from the 40s,) and my first Beatles Songbook, which I got when I was 11 years old. I wrote the names of each of the guys under their photos – in pencil. And look what I found:
Neither of us can remember how this got here and we were shocked and thrilled to discover it! Was it in my grandmother’s music? Doubtful. Was it from my parents? Also doubtful. Was it a gift from someone after we moved to the house? Or did we find it when out antiquing and forgot about it? Either is possible.
It’s getting framed, that’s for sure.
After all the chores were done, I moved the vintage dollhouse onto the coffee table in the den to give it a cleaning. Eventually, the exterior will need an even deeper cleaning but for now, this will do.
I took some pictures.
By the way, the chimney on the roof actually connects to the fireplace. I dropped something down there by mistake and the object ended up in the fireplace.
I put this in the living room to see if the scale worked and it does.
There are arched doorways into the adjoining rooms.
The other two rooms, which are small. And I can only get into the front room from the doorways, so that will be a little awkward!
This is the opening at the back of the house and it’s the only way to get into these rooms. There’s a high, vaulted ceiling. I briefly debated painting the walls, but it would be very difficult. I can’t lay the house on it’s front because the porch is there. I think I’ll put battery operated hanging lights on the ceiling just so I can see more of the room. But that’s down the road.
A corner of the house. Aside from a deeper cleaning of the exterior, I plan to leave it alone. These shutters, by the way, are adorable. They work. They completely cover the window space.
Just playing around. I don’t really have a large stash of miniatures – a few things, but nothing like other miniaturists have. The painting is a mini Wallace Nutting given to me by Barbara. The books were in my stash.
Since I’m currently working (or not working, which is more the case at the moment) on three different houses, and since we are back on a strict budget, I’ll have to take my time. That’s what I did with my first dollhouse. I did what I could, when I could afford it.
My thoughts are still the same with this treasure. Keep it rustic – maybe a little removable wallpaper, maybe not – and honor the work of the creator. Living room, bedroom, kitchen…and we’ll assume there’s an outhouse somewhere nearby.
I really love it.
We have a wee bit of snow on the ground this morning, but once again, it’s not covering all the grass. Still, it was neat to see some snow-covered tree branches this morning.
Happy Thursday.
Thank you for the tour of your new country retreat. The shutters, the arched doorways – utterly beguiling.
It is, isn’t it? Thanks, Barbara!
Such a wonderful find. I’m looking forward to more decor but I do understand it takes time and $$. It is raining again here and I’m feeling a bit under the weather. So it’s got to be a day of rest and hope I can shake whatever is trying to make me sick. Hugs.
I’m in the same state. Fighting something off and not feeling good!
You might try laying the house on it’s front by placing it on an open box so the porch goes into the opening of the box and then the box supports the rest of the house.
Good idea! Thank you, Paula!
bet you’re glad that moving the egg cup cabinet is over for another year! i’m glad for you.
the dollhouse is very sweet and looks great as is. miniatures aren’t one of my things (i have a few … ha), but i can see why you had to get it.
and the mockingbird hill sheet music?! perfect for you and your home!
maybe new dish soap or lotion on your hands caused the dropping of the glasses and bowl?
hope you have a great day!
kathy in iowa
Nope. Just klutziness!
We have that klutziness around here, too. Many a cute vintage glass has come here to live, only to be smashed into bits soon thereafter.
We really did a number on our things yesterday!
I’m so happy that dollhouse found its way to you. You will give it the respect and love it deserves. I cannot wait to see how you decorate it. I desperately need inspiration for my own!
I wrestle with the same thing, Andrea! And with feeling uninspired to do any work at all! Sigh.
I love this house. It reminds me of my cottage with the wood walls and fireplace. It’s a treasure (as is the music). Some things need to just be kept as is.
That’s what Don and I thought – it’s like a cottage at a lake, a hideaway.
a wonderful post!
though I do wish you felt better. naps are good. and something comforting always
to eat or drink. I too just love that little house. it will tell you how it wants to look!
but it has the look of one of those craftsman homes from the old Sears catalogue to me.
Stickley miniature furniture might be nice in it! wonder what that would cost?!!!
we had ice all night last night and this morning. crazy. 15 car pileups. and semi trucks overturned.
nobody can drive on ice. and everything that thawed a bit today will re freeze tonight.
then it’s to be like Spring over the weekend… 50’s and 60’s! definitely the yo-yo factor!
I met an artisan at the miniature show a few months back who lives in Canada and makes some craftsman-style furniture. Fortunately, I have his card and I’m going to visit his website.
that’s where those shows are so worth visiting!
you make me want a doll house now! LOL!
I’m thinking it might be addictive.
xo
I love the new old house, and am looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
Mockin’ Bird Hill was a very big hit when I was a very small girl. That summer I surprised my parents by joining the line of participants in the annual talent show at my grandparents’ club (I had no discernible talent), determined to sing it, as I knew all the words. To my dismay – I couldn’t have been any older than four or five, but I remember this very clearly – several others had the same idea, so I substituted Silent Night because I knew the words to that, too. My parents thought this was hilarious; I thought it made perfect sense. The sheet music will look great framed. When do the piano innards return?
Great story, Margaret!
It’s supposed to take a week and that would be tomorrow or Saturday. I imagine I’ll see the tuner next week.
Just looked up the song, and from the date, realized I was six.
Love that!
I love the arched doorways. I have them in my own house, which is quite old. My husband and others wanted to straighten them out for a more modern look, but I flatly refused!
I wish I had them in my real house!
When I remodeled, I wanted an arched entryway into the back of the house, which is where the kitchen and family room are. The contractor made an upside down “U” and I said, No, straight along the sides, and a more shallow arch along the top. He did a great job with little pieces of wood to get the right arch and then repeated it for the passthrough window to the dining room. I love my arches!
Melanie, never get the arches in your house straightened!!
xo
Tra la laaah twiddely dee dee, it gives me a thrill—to wake up in the morning on the Mockingbird Hill! I think my parents had a 45 record of that one. Not sure, but my Dad was (is?) a big Les Paul fan and I grew up singing it! How fabulous that you found the sheet music!
Don loves Les Paul!
What a thrill to find that sheet music…bet that made your day. And, what’s not to love about that dollhouse?
All Christmas decoration made it downstairs, but not under the stairs. Hubby thought we ought to clean out that area first. So that’s our project today.
Enjoy your day! ;)
There’s always something to clean, isn’t there?
Fun to see the sheet music, which reminded me to mention to you about Hal Leonard as a major vendor of sheet music (the real thing, not downloading – http://www.halleonard.com). Also, SF’s best music store (Byron’s) went out of business a number of years ago, but Sunset Music in SF on Irving still exists, selling sheet music in person and online.
So happy you have an interesting project in your new/old dollhouse. As my mother-in-law always said, if a door is closed, a window will open.
And since I have missed to wish it — Happy New Year to Don and you! Wishing you many open windows in your future.
Yes, I’m aware of Hal Leonard, but I didn’t think of visiting their site – thanks, Martha!
Martha, my daughters got a lot of their piano lesson books at Sunset Music!
I just love this dollhouse. I have one that my Dad made for me in the late 60’s – he copied the colonial one that was in the FAO Schwartz catalog at the time. When I get to retire sometime in the next 5-ish years, I plan on spending time re-decorating it. I look forward to watching what you do with this one, and I love seeing your other ones. Thanks so much for sharing!
Oh, that will be such fun for you, Jayne!
Claudia, looking forward to seeing photos of your work in progress. How do you deep clean the doll house? Isn’t it fun to live in one style of house in real life, then create all the other styles you love in miniature?! My brothers and I used to use graph paper (Dad was an engineer, so he had lots of that in the house) and draw to scale architectural plans, complete with furniture. I spent a week measuring furniture and household appliances and scaling them down, then completing a table so my brothers and I could “furnish” our plans. (Mom and Dad approved, as I was using my math skills!) Then we’d color them like home decorators. One brother eventually grew up and became an architect, but his interest lies in commercial and public use.
I use a small paintbrush and dust it. But I don’t do it often.
I’m not skilled in math, but I can scale down some things. It’s a challenge!
Math was one of my favorite subjects, and science was the other, so I’m pretty good at math. But, isn’t it great there are proportion and scaling help on the internet now? Sometimes I just don’t want to deal with those ratios to solve “x”!
I could never deal with those ratios!
That sheet music is a treasure. I love that doll house.
Marilyn
Thank you, Marilyn!
Loved the closeups of your newest house. It is just cute as can be and obviously made with so much love. It’ll be fun to see what you do with it. I’m sympathizing with you guys and your broken glasses. Seems everything I touch lately ends up on the floor.
And Waukesha, Wisconsin’s favorite son, Les Paul! My younger son’s college band had one married member. They had a baby and, being huge Les Paul fans (and Waukesha residents), named their little boy Gibson. A local music store heard about it and gifted the little guy with a real toddler-sized Les Paul Gibson guitar and tiny amp. I just love old sheet music too. I think I may have mentioned once before I inherited all my mom’s (and her dad’s) when she passed almost a yr ago. Some even date back to the 20’s. I squealed when I found one with Fred and Ginger on the front.
Love the story about Les Paul and Gibson! Les Paul was an incredible musician!
Like people houses, each doll house has its own spirit. This one is extraordinary. So much careful, working detail. I wonder if it was a miniature version of someone’s beloved real home. It makes me feel cosy just peeping into the rooms. Have you gotten a feel for the inhabitant? I think one time you mentioned it would be the summer cabin for–OMG I’ve blanked on her name! Anyway, it’s a great space and I’m glad you grabbed it. The Mockingbird Hill sheet music is a find!
I’m not sure if it is Caroline’s cabin or someone else’s…we’ll have to see!