Cabinet upgrade

Hello, dear readers!

How are all of you? I have not posted here in months, but I'm enjoying popping to other's blogs or seeing what turns up on Pinterest.  Not too long ago, someone in a forum mentioned that Michael's stores had a few miniature items, if you were lucky enough to find them.

I booked it to the closest Michael's a found this simple, naked cabinet. Hooray!

I sanded it a bit to smooth it. I slopped some ivory paint on it to see how it would look.  Not bad, but it was only the base coat. More ivory paint made the inside look clean. 

After that was really good and dry, I combined 3 shades of bright sky blue, robin's egg blue, turquoise, plus more ivory and painted it on muddled and streaky. A few spots got distressed with sandpaper and an Xacto knife. Finally, I took some tulle fabric, spray painted it bronze, then added it to the doors to look like wire mesh. I really love how it turned out.

Now, for some tiny things to go inside, I'm not sure if this will be a kitchen cupboard with vintage foods or a sewing supply cabinet.  Of course, I went back to Michael's hoping to find another one that I could do in pink, but they were all gone. Maybe I'll get lucky next time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Blue Star Quilt

Hi friends and happy new year!

It's time to reveal another project. I kept this under wraps while I was working on it. It's another cross stitch quilt.

This one is shades of blue and tan. The variegated tan and light blue DMC floss makes it unique. I actually finished stitching it back in July just before Natalie was born, but didn't get a chance to show it until now.

I still have to wash it and do the backing, but I couldn't wait to share this. Size-wise, it's a tiny bit bigger than the red dahlia quilt, so I can use it on the shabby PB-style bed  with the blue ticking stripe mattress.

I have another cross-stitch project in the works, but progress is crazy slow because of kids and mom-type reasons and new job! I left the library and started up as an office manager.  Now, I'm not ruling out returning to the library in the future, but I have a few career things I need to take care of at the moment. Sometimes you have to take a sidestep to move forward.

On that note, best wishes to you all in the new year. Take care everyone and keep on making your hobby projects. Bye for now!

Tea for Two update

Hi Friends. You  probably don't remember my little carriage clock room box from a zillion years ago. I think I've only shown it once on here and it was a work in progress.  It's almost done!

Not bad for something I built when I was 20.  I'm now 37.

AHEM. Anyway. Forget that detail about my age or how slow I can be when it comes to finishing projects.  Many irons in the fire, always many irons. And so on. Basically this project got stuck on the table and put aside while other things took over.

Also, good decorating takes time.  Mini collections don't become awesome over night.

Well, here are the details.  The table and chairs are House of Miniatures kits that I put together.  The blue tea set came from an Ebay seller in Thailand. I made the little punched tin bread box, tiny cakes, and napkins. The walnut plank flooring was leftover from the Willowcrest house.

The corner shelf is a pre-assembled bookcase that I painted. I think I bought the dog and floral plate from Shellie's Mini Mania. I made the cake stand on the top shelf. The other things probably came from Michael's.

I think this needs a few more things, maybe a rug, maybe some artwork, definitely more goodies for the corner shelf. I was trying to eye things at the Good Sam Show to use in here, but out of all the stuff I saw, nothing struck me.  That just means whatever it is, I haven't found it yet.

Bye for now!

Good Sam San Jose 2015

Hello friends, I'm back!

I was looking back at my last post and I'm sorry that's it's been such a huge gap from then to now. My newest "mini" was a huge investment and completely worth it. The baby came in August and she's in perfect health. I had plenty of Braxton-Hicks contractions to make me think she was going to be early. Instead she was a week late.  Bear with me a moment while show off our newest bundle, Natalie May.

Back in July, I started planning on attending the Good Sam Showcase in San Jose. I made hotel reservations and checked out the Friday workshops and the Good Sam Academy classes.  I was very tempted to do the copper class with Alan Hamer, but I ended up missing the registration deadline. Having a new baby distracts you sometimes, or in my case all the time.

Then, as we got closer to the show, the hot-shot 9 year old got invited to the yearly Pop Warner Scholastics Banquet to recognize his awesome grades. However, it happened to be the same weekend as the mini show. At that point, we decided to divide and conquer.  Husband stayed home and took the two big kids to the football game Friday, the banquet Saturday, then bird hunting Sunday.  I took the baby and mother-in-law and drove over the hill and down to the bay.

I have to say, after wanting to go for years, it was great to finally get there!

First, there were so many nice people! Having a baby was a huge advantage because she was a great conversation starter.

Second, the minis were fabulous. There were displays in the hall of different scales by various local mini lovers. Here's a sample.

 

The IGMA table had some amazing items on display advertising the guild school courses. Someday I might go that route.
 

Tons of talented artisans filled the room, people I had heard of for so many years plus new ones. There were things I wish I had the budget to buy. Ferd Sobol's furniture. Takumi Takanashi's animals. Bluette Meloney's roomboxes. Miyuki Nagashima's porcelain. Lars Mikkelsen's furniture. Red Dragon Pottery. Shaker Works West. However, I managed to get a few awesome things without breaking the bank.

I ran into Jan Patrie of Autumn Leaf Studio. I used to visit with her back in my college days when she worked at the mini shop in Reno. She hasn't changed a bit.

There were also the free tools and techniques workshops before the show opened on Sunday morning, I had a chance to make a box of soap taught by Deb Laue of Dragonfly International (shown way below) and get some punch needle pointers from Sallie Evans. This was her project from the Friday workshop.

 
Now for the loot. I couldn't help myself. I have been in a city lacking any real miniatures for far too long.

Baby doll and crochet blanket from the estate sale. Pat Boldt undressed and unwigged child doll. I picked this one because the sly, sideways look reminds me of Haley. Peaches and cherries in a basket, mug of cocoa, and crock of pickles by Jan Patrie. The pink bunny came from the White Elephant sale.

Hairy Potter Craig T. Roberts vase and bowl. Green pothos plant from Marie Petrik .

Peony arrangement from Marie Petrik. I actually won the peonies as a door prize!

Blue hydrangea arrangement by Laura Crain. Janet Uyetake Tiny Towne Hawaii grape basket and champagne tray. These bunnies are from Sylvia Mobley.

Unfinished Bespaq rocking cradle from Maritza Moran because her painted goods FLEW off the table.

More bunnies from Judy Orr. Soap box project from Dragonfly International.

Fireplace from A and R Miniatures

Jewelry from Bobbie Johnson.

I found tons of goodies for Haley from the White Elephant sale. She asked for a couch, a side table, and bunnies and I came through for her. She was my assistant while I photographed all the loot at home. Some of her shots were pretty good. I think she has an eye it.

So there you have it. My big weekend in the Bay Area. Stay tuned for more minis because I'm all fired up with this fresh inspiration from the show! Bye for now.

So Delicious

Hello again, friends.

I bought some more very yummy dollhouse food. It arrived a few days ago (OK, maybe a week ago) You've heard of Kim Saulter at some point, I'm sure.  I have a few of her adorable sets. She has a Facebook page and an Etsy shop that I watch...like a hawk.

I just recently ordered this fantastic Easter themed baking set. I think the combo of cake, cupcake, and cookies did me in. I love the tiny flower on top of the cake. (Just a note, all these photos came from Kim's Etsy shop and were taken by Kim Saulter)

Also, back at Christmas time, I got one of her Christmas cookie sets. There were tons of decorated sugar cookies, gingerbread men, and a loaf cake.

I've also shown off some of her other cute things, like the French toast set and blueberry pie in my Willowcrest house.

I can be so funny about what to add to a scene for detail, but when it comes to food I have no trouble. I guess I just love food, real or miniature!

I've admitted this before, I'm not so talented with polymer clay. I haven't given it a good shot, but I also have other loves that come first. So, keeping my own talents in mind, I have no problem supporting other artisans. Keep up the cuteness, Kim!

Bye for now!

Dolls are coming

Hi again my Friends!

I'm excited about something new. I have never really gotten into dolls for the dollhouses before. Ages ago, around 1997, I ordered a kit doll from Dana Burton of MiniatureArt. I was able to request the doll pre-painted and wigged, so that was great. Then never finished it. I sort of got hung up on what I wanted her to wear, so she's been incomplete and naked since.

BUT, I'm ready to give dolls a try. No kidding!

I got the naked doll out and I'm getting some really good ideas for her. I bought some tan yarn to do her body wrap over the wire armature. Then when I get some time in the coming week, I'm going to sit down and work on her. We'll have to wait and see what suits her style.

Just two days ago, I ordered a wonderful new kit, for a steampunk/Edwardian lady, also from Dana Burton of MiniatureArt. She's called Phaelon and you have to see her. Click this link to look.

I'll definitely share some more pictures when she comes in and I work on her.

See you again very soon :)

Sunny Miniature Quilt

Hello friends! I have been very quiet lately, lots going on. The kids are back in school which means homework, field trips, and football practice. I started,  and have already finished, a new cross stitch project. You know I have been on a quilt kick.

I was inspired by sunflowers. We grew some in the garden this year, so they were just outside the back door whenever we looked out. I charted some simple little blocks and tweaked the colors to be sunny. Then, on August first, the first night of football practice, I started my stitching.

After two weeks, I had this much done.

Ten days later, I was up to here. This was a slow stretch, but no giving up. I finished all the yellow, then went back and added the brown. Much more efficient that way.

Then I had all the little fussy little leaves to add. And I lost my favorite needle. I had to buy new needles, two different packs to test them out. All of them pale in comparison to my old needle. Some were too fat, some too short, but all were stamped weird so they were hard to thread. Bummer.

So here is the top. I still need to get some backing fabric and finish it.  It's small, not bed size. It's more like a wall-hanging art quilt. It's just a tad too big to be a half-scale quilt. The stitched area is about 3.5" square.

Now, I need to wash it, iron it, cut it out, find some backing fabric, sew it all together, and then it can be done.  In the meantime, I'm ready to start another quilt project. It's nice to have a portable project that goes to practice!

Thanks for stopping by, my friends!

New Cross Stitch Patterns

Hello friends.  I decided to branch out and try something new.  Since I'm a little bit good at cross-stitching (being modest here) I thought I'd try out making some patterns of my own.

I bought some software and I've been absolutely bonkers making up patterns. At this point I've made so many patterns, I will never ever have enough time to make them all. Ah, to dream happy little project dreams.

At the moment, I have two patterns for sale in my Etsy store. These patterns are meant to be "quilts" where you stitch the top and then sew a backing on.

First, is the simple blocked baby blanket. (If you'd like to buy the finished blanket it's also available here.)

Second, is Haley's Heart quilt.

I have a bunch more patterns in the works. If you have any suggestions, I'm open to them. Thanks for stopping by!

Orcara Miniatures

Hello friends!  I couldn't help it. I bought another Orcara set off eBay called Cooking with the Master. It took forever to get here from Hong Kong. It was so slow, I think someone swam across the ocean with it instead of putting it on a ship.

But it was here! I was super excited to open it. I didn't have a chance to open each little thing, just enough time before bed one night to make sure it was the right set.

Then, the next night, without my knowledge, Haley got out the scissors and opened everything herself.

I was really disappointed. The little kid in me wanted the joy of opening everything. You don't get that much as an adult. So, it's not the end of the world. She didn't mess up anything, but jeez I waited a MONTH and didn't get to open it. Boo.

So I did the next best thing crazy busy people do. I set it aside in the closet until I forgot what was in it. And THEN I opened it up to see what I had!

The set is cute, lots of kitchen goodies. A toaster oven. Bread. Pasta. A blue Le Creuset style pot of spaghetti sauce. Coffee. Salad. Mucho Cuteness! Haley and I played together with some dolls and the new goodies in the Barbie kitchen.

I'm starting to think about reclaiming my old Barbie kitchen set and getting Haley a different kitchen. I really like my old Barbie kitchen. (That's why I kept it!)   I can picture all this cuteness together in a room box, a playscale kitchen full of baking. I certainly don't need another project, but the kitchen minis are calling me!

Cake and Tea for Two

Hello friends! I have something new to share.  I've been working on a shabby tea set. I was thinking of something fresh and summery.

 

 

I built and painted the furniture bright white and added the blue and yellow check fabric. I had to think about what else would be cute and tea party appropriate. So I added strawberry cupcakes, napkins, plates, and the cake stand.

 

I need to make up a few more things, like the cups, a teapot, maybe a doily or table runner, and a centerpiece. It's a work in progress, but it's coming together. Doesn't it look nice?

More PB style bed

Hi friends!

I hate it when I get clumsy.  Clumsy happens and it sucks. I was getting the Pottery Barn knock off bed out to give it a fresh coat of paint when I dropped it.

The headboard came off the rails.  At least it was a clean break at the joint, so it was easy to fix. I got it re-glued and managed to give it some more paint yesterday.

This paint job is so much better!  I even sanded down the edges to give it some wear and tear aging. I really like the ivory paint this time around. I'm considering just how much wear and tear I want. Maybe just a little. It is still a work in progress after all.

I'm not sold on the blue ticking stripe mattress. I might have to change that to red so it's more matchy-matchy with the redwork dahlia quilt. They clash when I turn down the quilt.

I have some solid red cotton and more of the red ticking stripe to work with. Maybe solid ivory sheeting?  What do you think?

By the way, I still haven't finished the dahlia pillows. Maybe when I nail the sheeting, I can finish the pillow backing.

Thanks for stopping by!

News for Now

Hello again, my friends. The weather here has been amazingly warm for February.  I was expecting more cold, dark evenings which are perfect for staying warm by the fireplace making minis.  Instead, we've had sunshine and weather in the 50-60s.

The boys have been in love with the new RC cars. Justin has made some ramps in the backyard and strategic rock piles for climbing with the cars. He's has even ordered a bunch of new aluminum parts to replace the broken plastic factory parts.  The Axial Wraith is getting red and orange new parts. They even have a plan to change out the body for a custom painted one with a 49ers logo and flames. I'm not sure what they have planned for the Vaterra Twin Hammers. It's been out of commission. They've had issues with the battery charger not charging. I think it's defective.We even made a special trip to Carson City's hobby store to get a new one. No luck there, though.

Anyhow, I've been trying my hand a few new things as well. I posted a few things on the Greenleaf forum, but I will share them here too.

I've been working on a scratch-built bed to go with my redwork quilt. Together, it looks like something straight out of a Pottery Barn catalog, which is what I was going for. I had the bed assembled, but the paint wasn't behaving so I took it apart. It will get re-painted and reassembled now. Here's before it was painted.

Of course I love my mini kitchen stuff, so I've been making some kitchen utensils. I've made some whisks, mashers, wooden spoons, pastry cutters, and a big strainer. Eventually a few sets will show up in my Etsy store, and I've even been thinking of doing a giveaway. Here's a shot of a few things to give you a taste.

I'm still working on Haley's heart quilt. I was hoping to be almost done now, but I was sick last week and spent three days home from work. My head cold was so bad, I couldn't even see well enough out of my watery eyes to cross stitch.

My poor head has been brimming with ideas for other projects, too. I keep telling myself not to get distracted from things I've already started. Must. Finish. Something!

Good luck out there. Stay warm (if you're in the East Coast freakish snow zone) and I'll see you again soon.