Don: You know the drill. Keep Out!
There were only two items in the mailbox yesterday; two boxes designated for the Top Secret Project. As it happened, Don wasn’t home so I didn’t need to sneak them into the house.
First up: I ordered a couple of items from Brae’s Etsy shop. Brae, if you remember, is the brilliant miniaturist who blogs at Otterine. Brae told me she was throwing a few extra items in the box along with the order. She’s a gem. Here’s what I ordered:
I fell in love with these wonderful pillows that were made by Brae. That shot of orange in the modern print is perfect for the sofa, don’t you think?
And these lovely potted boxwoods, also made by Brae. I love the way she’s aged the pots. These have been on my Etsy wishlist for a long time, so when I decided to order the pillows, I added them as well. I’m thinking one will be on the front porch/deck – maybe both of them.
Here’s what she added to the package.
This wonderful bamboo rake, which is now residing in the Roof Garden on Hummingbird Cottage
Bottles of wine and a magnifying glass – wonderful!
And this print, taken from a calendar, which I would love to use as artwork in a future project. (Yes, I’m already planning one.)
Thank you, Brae!
The other box was from a company in England, Tumdee Dollshouse Miniatures. Love the name ‘Tumdee’ – it sounds so whimsical!
Could you die? Oh my goodness. Don would love a life-sized version of this guitar. It came in a mini guitar case, but the case is out of scale, so I’m stowing it away. I’m going to hang the guitars on the wall, I think.
And the other item, which turned out to be a bit disappointing, was a microphone.
The stand is fine, but the microphone itself is huge. I am sort of a stickler for things being in scale, or as close to scale as possible. It matters to me. I’ve seen another microphone out there that is more accurate in terms of scale but it’s really expensive and I’m not going to pay that much money for it. So, I’ll have to figure out what to do. (It’s looking more like a megaphone to me than a microphone!)
Yesterday’s instagram photo – isn’t this cool?
Gosh, I love this project!
Next project – the desk/work table. I’m going to start on that today. I’m debating whether I will stain the wood top or paint it aqua (a color Don really likes). I might paint it because I’m thinking the other side of the room, which is the recording/working/singing area needs a shot of color.
Here’s my big challenge, trying to make something like this:
This is from B & H Photo/Video’s site. FYI, it’s the Solid State Logic DAW Controller. I’m using this just as an inspiration photo. I need to build a tabletop version of something like this, so it looks like the resident musician is mixing and doing all sorts of technical stuff with his recordings. Any ideas on how to construct this, fellow mini lovers? Any ideas would be MOST welcome!
If it’s too difficult, I’ll have to come up with another idea. But I’d sure like to pull this one off.
Happy Thursday.
Love all the new items, especially the red guitar! It is coming along very nice.
Thank you, Doris! I love that guitar!
TSP is looking great! Love the new pillows and that print is beautiful.
It is. Perfect for that sofa, Sue.
Wonderful additions to your TSP Claudia – pillows are fabulous as are the guitar, plants and little itty-bitty bottles of wine. So clever!
The world of miniatures is amazing, Vera!
Looks so good. Don is going to love it!
Fingers crossed, Kathy!
Love the orange pillows and that guitar! I should take a photo of my Son in law’s studio/study when I’m over there. He has guitars on the walls, drums and other stuff . I’m babysitting Scout this morning so I’ll try to remember to take the photos. I’m loving the TSP so much.
hugs,
Linda
I thought of drums, but there would be no room. And when Don records he uses Garage Band on his Mac and a mike and his guitar. That’s it!
This looks so great, I cannot wait to see the finished product. You are very inspirational, and thanks for posting the sources too. It’s just amazing how talented people are. Love it!
I am continually amazed by the talent out there, Dana!
Love seeing the progress you’re making on the TSP. Those pillows are yummy.
They are. I’m really loving the bits of orange in this space.
So, for the mixer board…could you run a copy of a page with as many of the same image as possible? Then have it laminated. Then use an exacto knife to cut out some of the laminated details,—buttons and dials—and then glue the little cutouts on top of the photo of the whole board. This would make them stand out and give some depth. Then clear urethane over all.??
Tedious, but it might work.
That’s a possibility, Shanna. Thanks! I’ll see what I can do with that idea.
When I first saw the pillows I thought it was regular lol. But its all mini. I love it , the pillows are perfect. I need to read back a bit catch up. The guitar is amazing. Have a wonderful day. With love Janice
Thank you, Janice!
I am loving the TSP – the new additions are perfect (except the microphone…agree too out of scale). I have a doll house in my basement that my great grandfather made for my aunt. I’ve always wanted to renovate it and you are getting my creative juices flowing. I hope Don doesn’t check your instagram!
Goodness! Get that dollhouse out and start in, Karen! Don isn’t on Instagram very often, so I think he’ll miss that photo.
Wow Claudia! The TSP is coming right along. Your additions look great, especially the guitar and pillows. I would have never notice the microphone thing until you mentioned it. I just know Don is going to love this.
Blessings,
Betsy
Well, the mike is too big. Maybe I can use the base and figure out something on my own…I don’t know!
The guitar is fabulous!
I was thinking just the other day how awesome some of Brae’s cushions would look in the TSP –
she has some great retro fabrics. And now you have some! She is indeed a gem – as generous as she is talented.
I’ve had my eye on her pillows for a while. I just had to pick out the ones I liked the most for this space. She’s so talented!
Love the guitar and those pillows…they really add some more punch! The more I see the TSP….the more I love it….it’s really a cool room! Reminds me of a room in my son’s home…his “vinyl” room…he listens to his vinyl collection there. Good luck on making the Logic Controller. Enjoy your day! ;)
It’s definitely a cool room!
Love, love, love it! Don is going to be blown away.
What are the dimensions of the house?
Sharon in Dallas
Counting the front deck about 20 x 20.
Yepper, the orange pillows, on the gray sofa, next to the orange fireplace – perfect! And I really love that fireplace – so 60s-cool! I’m not a miniaturist whatsoever, but could you build the controller with a print of that photo you have here, mounted onto a small square of plywood or balsa or something? Of course I guess the table would need legs of some kind – have to think about it. You’re not kidding, that controller is quite the challenge…
It will go onto one of the desk/tables I’m making. So it in itself doesn’t need legs. I’m not sure how the heck I’m going to do it yet!
Janet, your idea is a good one! I was thinking along those lines of traceing it then paint it or
yada yada yada. -Judy A-
xo
Hi Claudia, I am not much/any of an artist, but I will say you HAVE to be picky about these things!
If you let one or two things slide then before you know it, your work is looking junky, and terriblie unprofessional. You have to much of your heart and soul in these projects to ever let that happen. Best Wishes Judy A-
Exactly! Thanks, Judy. I always think that if it doesn’t look to scale, find a substitute or another way to do it.
Wow! TSP is so beautiful. I can hardly wait to see Don’s reaction. Seeing the shots of TSP you would think it was an actual studio.
Always wanted a doll house for the front of my fireplace, instead of a screen, opened up with the front facing out. You have started me dreaming again.
Oh, Rose, that’s a great idea! I think you should really think about doing that.
Hi Claudia! WOW, things are really coming together with your TSP! The red guitar is the equivalent of owning a pair of sexy red stilettos- Don will swoon! :D
The items from Brae look wonderful especially the orange cushions, which look PERFECT on your sofa.
As to the Mixer Board, I agree with Shanna 100%. Take a photo of it to scale and build a unit around it. Some of the dials could also be applied to the surface to give it extra dimension.
As for the mike, I think that I would paint the brass dark to visually diminish the size. My dad was a jazz musician and during the 70’s, I recall that his microphones were of a lot of different sizes and shapes. But if you really don’t like the scale of it, why not try to make one of your own? The shape looks simple enough and the components easily available. And I know that you could do it! :D
Well, I know you could do it, because you are so darned great at putting things together out of bits and bobs. I don’t know whether I’m up to it…but I did think about painting the brass and I might try that first. Thank you, dear Elizabeth. If I had a smidgen of your talent I’d be able to do a heck of a lot more than I can at the moment. xoxo
This is probably crazy, but when you showed the mixer board, I was thinking maybe somehow you could use dominoes (ones with as few dots as possible) and put them together and paint over them? That’s just what popped into my head, for some reason.
That’s a possibility but I think dominoes would be too heavy for the dollhouse. Most miniatures are very light-weight and this mixer board would have to be positioned on top of the desk. But good idea, HeidAnn!