Thursday, April 30, 2009

The country bedroom

Today's been a catch up day for household chores. The laundry piled up while I was battling the flu! So I haven't gotten to any minis today but I would like share a country style bedroom I made a couple of years ago. The quilt on the bed was the inspiration for this room. My friend, Tina, in the UK designed the quilt as a kit and needed some testers. I got to test the kit and ended up with this beautiful quilt. Tina wanted photos and I didn't have a bed on hand so I threw this one together with craft sticks. I ended up really liking it so I put it together for real and gave it a whitewash finish. The rest of the furniture in the room was made and/or finished to match. The armoire is a Michael's hutch but the rest of the furnishings were made from scratch. The vanity chair is one of my favorite items. I made it without any pattern or kit. I just used what I had on hand and I'm really happy with the result. The rug was printed onto a T-shirt transfer and then ironed onto the back side of camel colored corduroy. That gave a wonderful texture to the rug. The wallpaper came from Jim's Printminis - the colors coordinate perfectly with Tina's quilt. This room is a favorite - it looks like a place I could really be comfortable. There's even a mug of coffee and a copy of my devotional Bible on the stool next to the upholstered chair.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

What a difference a little paint can make!

I spent a little time last night on some of the lights I've been making for the new dollhouse. The little metal connector doodads I found for the bathroom sconces are really cool but I added some red glass paint to the shade area and I really like it. Now they look like red glass shades. I even glued clear glass bead "bulbs" inside the sconces so they are good to go. :0)
I also added some paint to the living room chandelier - I painted the bead candles cream and the ivory bead at the top of the chandelier, gold. I'm much happier with it now.

Spring is really here!

In honor of Spring's arrival I've brightened up my blog's appearance a bit. The colors are brighter and I've also posted pictures of some past mini gardening projects. The back porch is highlighted in the banner. I made the porch to showcase Small World's back porch swap. My contribution was the red metal lawn chair. Many of the other items were made by my SW friends. In the side bar are photos of my garden center in a watering can and an area of the aquarium garden. The aquarium garden is also highlighted in the photo at the bottom of the blog. Are you all inspired to get out in the garden now?

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Second time's a charm

Although I liked the finish on the round vanity, I was just not happy with the size or scale or general feel. So I went on a scavenging mission through my miniature stash (and came out alive! lol) and found this little cabinet. It's really a 1:16 scale plastic nightstand but with the sink basin mounted on top it's the perfect size. I had previously stained it for some other project so I added a couple of sheer coats of pearl glaze to soften the color and I painted the brass hardware a chrome silver. Now I love the way the vanity looks. It's perfect with the other bathroom fixtures.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Sample room settings

Probable plans for the Duracraft Brookfield:

I spent some time tonight with wood scraps making temporary mini rooms to see how my furniture and chandeliers are going to look together. This is just a rough idea and the ceiling is way too low but you do get the effect of a room.

The bathroom is going to be contemporary/romantic. Old fashioned tub but with chrome trim rather than brass, crystal chandelier but modern lights at the carved mirror, contemporary bowl sink and round vanity...I think it's going to look really pretty. I have a cream background with red flowers wallpaper in mind.


I really like the colors of the living room chandelier with the furniture. The green matches the interior of the hutch. This will look much better when there's a bit more clearance between light and flowers, lol. This room will have cream and gold striped wallpaper with a coordinating border and maybe a carved effect wainscot. I'm still thinking about that. Probably wood floor with an area rug.
The kitchen will be papered in a neutral check pattern with a fruit border. I think I'm going to do the cupboards in a sheer pearl finish with dark granite look counter. The floor will be terra cotta tile. All of this is open to change since I don't even have the kit yet but these are the plans in my head right now. I almost always have most of the furniture made and the decorating figured out before I even start building. The project goes really quickly then since I've already made a lot of the decisions. At this point, I have no idea how I'm going to finish the exterior. I also am going to want to do something different with the stairs as it is an ugly opened back thing. Looks more like basement steps than the main staircase.

Another chandelier

I couldn't sleep last night so I got up and made another chandelier. This one is for the living room and the first will go in the bathroom over the tub. It's going to be a very glamorous little cottage. ;-) In the pic you can see the ceiling plate on the little chandelier, too.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

My chandelier using Casey's tutorial


I used Casey's tutorial to make this smaller version of her chandelier. I really like it. I found a round brass mounting bracket that I've painted silver to match. I'm planning to use it as a ceiling rose.
This was the clearest photo I could get. It doesn't show all of the details but you get the idea. :-)

Houses and bathrooms and more, oh my!

I am very excited! I am getting a DuraCraft Brookfield dollhouse from my hubby for Mother's Day and a RealLife Miniatures kitchen kit from the kids. I used the kitchen kit in a house I did in the early 90s and loved it. At that time you could still get it in mini stores. I've been trying to get one on ebay for the past year but kept getting outbid. Got it this time, though!
I'm planning to make this a very elegant little house. I'll be using the gold furniture I made for the living room and I redid this Dollar Tree bathroom set so it will fit in.
The tub was all originally the same red as the exterior. I've textured it a bit though and added the magnolias. The toilet was bright blue and had embossed hearts on the tank and lid. I sanded those off, painted the tub interior and toilet with a metallic pearl and then decoupaged magnolias on the tub, tank and lid. I used a silver paint pen to put a chrome finish on the hardware and feet of the tub.
I think I'm definitely getting my $1 worth!

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Victorian style

Well, I am still sick so I don't have much new to share. I was able to do a little mini-ing last night but it's for a swap so I can't share pictures. I will, however, share some pictures of some Victorian style things I made for friends in the past.

This fire screen was very easy to make. The base is a wooden wheel and the post is made from 1 1/2 stair spindles. I used a wooden circle for the frame and the inset is the embossed top from a winebottle - the wrapper that goes over the cork. I dry brushed paint onto the embossed areas to look like stitching. I still need to make a couple of these for myself!

The bed was also a quick and easy project. I started with ready made bedposts but the headboard is a leftover scrap from a dollhouse. Actually, the entire frame of the bed other than the posts was made from leftover bits in my wood box. The patchwork quilt is actually glued rather than sewed since the bed covers are all glued permanently in place and I didn't have to worry about durability or flexibility of the quilt.



Friday, April 24, 2009

Come on in!


Please join me in welcoming Susan of http://susanshouses.blogspot.com/. Stop by her blog and say hello.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Welcome


Please help me welcome two new followers - Deborah of Deborah's Daily Dish at http://dlsarmywife.blogspot.com/ and A. Wright of http://everylittlethingakw.blogspot.com/. Stop by their blogs and say hi!

Sorry for not posting more....

...but I'm sick this week. Getting dressed about does me in for the day so I haven't been able to do much. I apparently gave this stuff to my son, too, and DH's been out of town this week. Poor man gets to come home and take care of both of us. :0)

I'll get back on track once I'm well, I promise!

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

New additions for the "Elegant Room"

I made a coordinating chair and refinished a Michael's hutch today. The only major piece of furniture I still need is a fireplace. It would be helpful to have the roombox, too. :0)

"No Theme Swap" items

These are all of the things I received. Aren't they wonderful?
This is what I made. The gold finches are white plastic doves that I repainted.

The last person finally got her swap items last week. I promised photos of everything so here they are!

Monday, April 20, 2009

I did make those daffodils

And I altered and finished a table, as well. This coffee table is the same unfinished table in the first daffodil photo from last week. I shortened the legs, used the Dremel to shape them and added small lace medallions to look like carving. Then I finished the table the same way I finished the sofa parts. The mixed daffodils are in a brass vase - a lamp finial in real life.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

I'm back!

I know, you didn't even know I was gone but I was away for a youth convention with 33 junior high kids and 7 other adults. We had a great time but I didn't get much sleep. :-) I also didn't get any mini time this weekend. I'm hoping to make some more daffodils yet today and this week I have plans for a chair to go with the sofa. Pictures will follow.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Spring fever

I've only had one daffodil bloom in my yard so far but I am so ready to see more. I decided to try my hand at making some mini ones today. My friend, Jayne, of Tallulahbelle Originals makes absolutely amazing daffodils but I used a much simpler idea. Not bad for the first attempt. The bowl on the table is part of my prize from Katie at Katie's Clay Corner. The bucket of flowers on the floor is a gift for a friend.

These are very easy to make. This tutorial is a variation of one I read online somewhere. I don't remember where so I can't give credit but I didn't come up with it on my own. I've combined that tutorial with some ideas from Jayne to make these. The first step is to paint a coffee filter, front and back, in the colors of choice. I used one filter to make both types of daffodils and the leaves. While the paint dries, cut 2 inch or so lengths of green florist wire. Make a tiny loop in the end of each stem and dip the loop in a bit of paint in whatever color you want the flower center to be. I used orange. Poke the stems into some foam or clay while the paint dries. By now the coffee filter is probably dry. I used regular office style hole punches - a circle punch for the cup and a star for the back petals. Using a small ball stylus, press the circle into a mouse pad to form it into a cup shape. Poke a straight pin into the center for inserting the wire stem. Put a bit of glue on the stem at the painted loop and slide the cup onto the stem and around the loop. Roll the cup between your thumb and finger to form it to size. Next poke the straight pin into the center of the star, slide it onto the wire into a small dab of glue. After the glue has set, thicken the stem at the base of the flower with a bit of green paint - I used forest green. While that dries, cut narrow leaf shapes from the green painted filter. Cut short lengths of florist wire, drag through the glue and attach the leaf shapes. Next I mixed tacky glue with my dirt (coffee grounds or dried tea) and put it in the potting container. Shorten the leaf stems so that the base of the leaf is at ground level and plant it. Bend the flower stems to a right angle about an eighth of an inch from the base of the flower, cut the stems to length and plant them. Arrange to your liking and let dry.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

The day got better

My day did improve...and DH brought supper home so that was even better. I even had some time to try out that tutorial I posted earlier today. This is my version:
Assembled and coated with several coats of gesso.

The final version. I painted three coats of pure gold paint over the gesso and then rubbed a brown glaze into the gold after it had dried. I didn't have Bristol board or even mat board on hand so I used regular old glossy white on one side cardboard. I would prefer a heavier cardboard but this one is sturdy enough for a doll to sit on.

Hello!

I'm having a rough "mom day" so I don't have any new pictures to post today but I've been thinking about what my next project might be. Someone in another group posted this link to a tutorial to make a French sofa. The tutorial is not in English but the pictures are very self-explanatory. I recently purchased a new mini that needs a special home for display and I'm thinking an elegant room with the French sofa and a matching chair, a formal fire place...The thoughts are beginning to come together.

Here's the link - http://creeretrealiser.oldiblog.com/?page=articles&rub=517781

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Not much happening here...

I'm off to the doctor's office (the real one, lol) in a few minutes but I thought I'd post some updates to a couple of dolls. Both are in my etsy shop but I thought Susie should have some ballet slippers and Talia's photo just wasn't clear enough before. So here they are...Susie and Talia.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Come on in!

Please welcome Traci of http://random-aspects.blogspot.com/. She has a cute Noah's Ark and a lovely little ME style cottage featured on her blog right now.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Complete with trim!

I got some trim on the dr.'s office last night and decoupaged a caption on it as well. Other than needing to add a few odds and ends, I think it's pretty much complete.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

I think it's finished!

Except for exterior trim and some sort of ceiling, of course. The interior is mostly complete, though. Mr. Smith is no longer "nekkid". To his right you can see the xray reader and the blood pressure monitor.
The cupboard is stocked with extra medical supplies. The soap and paper towel dispensers and round box of tissues are all near the sink. The small packets at the front edge of the sink are gauze pads still in the packets.
So sorry for the delay, Mr. Smith. Oops, maybe he had to wait a bit longer than the usual patient! This is a view of the entire office.
The left side of the office.
A closer view - you can see the open file, an otoscope, a stethoscope, a jar of tongue depressors, a box of latex gloves and an open box of cotton balls (with real, tiny cotton balls inside.)

Progress!


The doctor's office has come a long way. The last time I posted I wasn't even sure what I was going to use for the structure but I raided my wood scraps and I have the basic room built. (I have a woodworking friend who saves his scrap wood for me. It's wonderful!)

Doreen suggested keeping the skeleton as the patient with a caption to the effect of "Sorry for the delay, Mr. Smith." I really like that idea so Mr. Smith will be getting a hospital gown later today. Forgive his "nekkedness" for now, lol. I still have a lot of equipment and supplies to make, too.

Friday, April 10, 2009

And the winner is...


Rachel of http://senamena.blogspot.com/. My email address is at the bottom of this page. If you will email me your mailing address I will get the rose bench on its way to you next week. I hope you like it!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

The doctor is in...I'm not so sure about the patient, though!

I made some progress on the doctor's office. I converted the table to an exam table, painted the cupboards, and made a rolling stool. I still don't have a room to put this stuff but I'm getting things organized.
The patient still doesn't look too good. Eventually, I want to make a stand for the skeleton and find a more alive looking patient, lol.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Welcome, Mel and it's baking day!

First, please welcome Mel of http://melsminiatures.blogspot.com/. Thanks for stopping by!
Second, I want to share the project I spent the day on. I am really happy with how the mixer turned out. It's sculpted from polymer clay with wire beaters. The hutch is a Michael's one that I bashed. I extended the counter, ripped off the door and added bun feet. Then I crackle finished it. I love the aged look you get with that stuff.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Thanks for stopping by!

Please welcome Sylvia and Heather! Sylvia has a blog at lotjesdollshouse.blogspot.com and Heather's blog is thislittledollhouse.blogspot.com.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Updated photo of rose bench for give away

I found my extra camera memory card so I can take photos again. I promised that the hat box looks better now - I hope you think so, too. It certainly photographed better this time!

Meet Talia

I'm still waiting for inspiration on the doctor's office so yesterday I worked on a different project. I made this little baby, Talia, and decorated a hutch to match her crib. I also made the crib mobile. Talia is a full body sculpt and I sculpted sleeping eyes. She just popped her thumb out of her mouth.