Ebay post

Hi everyone! Sorry, I have not fallen off the face of the earth, just the blogosphere! lol Anyway, just putting it out there that I have posted some dollhouse items on eBay in a lot. We just moved to a new apartment and I did some purging in the process.

Hopefully there's something here you like!
Dollhouse miniature lot

Hope all is well, readers. I hope to pose some new and interesting things soon!!!

Follow-up and update on Pam, the doll

Pam is all dressed up! Not terrible for my first go at dressing a doll (if I say so myself!). And those of you who commented on my last post, thank you! As you mentioned, fabric glue is LOVELY when making dolls' clothes in this scale. I did use the sewing machine on Pam's skirt, but fabric glue took care of the more fiddly sleeves and bodice. I used Beacon Adhesives Fabri-Tac. I love this stuff as it quickly dries so there is not much waiting between steps of a project. 

Also to answer a question from Iris March, the doll was made from a Teresa Glisson mold and painted by Jan Hughes (who sold me the doll). Her eBay page is here in case any of you are interested. (Her shipping was SUPER fast!)

If you noticed, I put Pam's hair up. I like it better that way. She looks quite elegant (and ready to meet her new neighbors!)

I also made a cute tote bag out of some scraps. I might make more of these. They are easy and fun, too!

I will be doing a photo shoot soon of Pam in the Glencroft, historical society, and herb shop soon. Stay tuned!

New Items on Ebay and Etsy and the Creative Everyday Challenge!

Just a heads-up that I have updated my Etsy shop with some items AND I have added a few things to eBay which may be of interest to you.

First, on Etsy, I've made a bunch more crystal balls with colorful bases. I love these vintage bead findings; they are so bright and cheery!

I have also added these vintage glass balls which are much too big for 1/12th scale gazing balls but could be fun in other applications...

On eBay, I have listed this Holly Hobbie collectible wall telephone miniature (seems a little big for 1/12th scale):

And last, a lot of 6 American Miniaturist back issues from 2005 - 2010:

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Okay, now that the shameless plug is all over and done with, I did want to highlight something I am trying this year. On several other craft and mini blogs, I have found mention of this cool Creative Every Day challenge and I think it's a great idea. I am pretty busy, but it's nice to make some time for creative activity. However, there are times I get a bit stuck and don't know what to work on. I think this challenge will be helpful in lighting some creative fires and at least act as a bit of springboard for new ideas either for ongoing projects, new projects, or the Etsy shop. :) You can read more about it on this page and sign up on this page! I am looking forward to reading what some of the other participants are working on! :)

Trying to pare down the miniature stash a bit...

I just listed a lot of dollhouse miniatures that are great for general store or antique store scenes. Check out the link here.

Happy Saturday!

I picked a winner for my giveaway over on Linda's Minis facebook page! I am all excited to ship it out. :) Here's a pic of everything all wrapped up and ready to go. :)

I am just waiting to get her address (again) to send it out. She did give it to me once and I copied it down into a text file on my computer. Before I could save it right away, my computer suddenly decided to reboot itself and I lost the file. I also deleted the comment on facebook where she left her address for security purposes so I am just waiting for her to return my message. :( Ugh. I think I am due for a new laptop soon anyway. Sudden restarting like that is no good (and maybe I should learn to save things right away...).

Anyway, I thought I'd show you my latest purchase (from eBay) - a wooden dress form.

I am going to try and make a historical costume for it and place the finished object in my historical society. :)

I am also in planning mode for some *cute* projects. I found some items while out shopping the other day which would make fantastic containers for mini scenes. I don't want to give it away but if I whip something up, I will definitely share!

Hope everyone is having a good weekend, whatever you plan to do!

New mini goodies and some stuff for sell. :)

I picked up two more Carolyn Curran pieces last weekend and want to share. I love these things! I talked to one of the nice people at the shop in Queensbury, NY (Sutton's Antique Marketplace, if you're ever in the area) and they told me that the dealer who sells these also collects life-size pottery. A lot of these minis were copies of pieces of his collection. I love hearing background stories about these items! Anyway, here's a pic of the two newest pieces added to my collection:

Behind the pottery in that picture are some goodies I just placed on etsy: a framed print of a lighthouse and a basket full of knitting goodies. Here's a link to my shop and a pic of all the stuff that's up for sell as of tonight (except for the table, which is only for display)!

I also have a little Reutter Porzellan Beatrix Potter tea set (dollhouse mini size, of course) up on eBay here. :)

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend! I have a lot of grading to do this week, so my posts may be minimal, but the crafty gears are always turning. ;)

PS: Linda's Minis has a facebook page, too! Check it out here. :)

House of Miniatures!

Who likes House of Miniatures kits?

I think I am becoming a collector! I bought my first one just a couple of months ago at Aunt Katie's Attic in Scotia, NY. She has a basket in her shop (on the second floor) that is chock-full of miniatures (of varying scales) on any given day. I always love to stop in and see what she has (plus there's a lot of life-size vintage goodies, too!).

I then discovered the wonder of shopgoodwill.com about a week ago, thanks to a friend on Facebook. I found a lot of 3 kits for very cheap and bid on them there.

So, right now I have 4 kits: Chippendale Desk, Single Low Post Bed (Chippendale), Chippendale Wing Chair, and Hepplewhite 3-Piece Dining Room Table.

Well tonight, I won 3 more on eBay (2 different auctions) for very low prices (yay!), so soon this collection will grow to 7. I've no plans for them at the moment, but I love having kits on hand in case I get the creative, need-to-build-something-now feeling and am not inclined to work on a bigger project (which happens more often than one would think). And there is a bit of pride in displaying furniture that one has made herself. :) Who knows? I might make a period-specific roombox! Or perhaps one of the dollhouse kits still in their box will become a scene with HoM furniture? We shall see! :)

Oh, I also found this useful site, if you are interested: http://www.houseofminiatures.info/hom.php

It not only lists all of the different kits out there, but includes pdfs of the instruction sheets! :)

(And HELLO to the newest readers of my blog. Just 5 more subscribers until I announce the giveway!)

NH Farm Museum furniture; similar hutches

As mentioned in an earlier post, I had gone to the NH Farm Museum in Milton, NH over July 4th weekend. There I bought two pieces of furniture: one hutch and one chair.

Yes, the hutch's price is correct...it was 3.95. And the "captain's chair" was 0.95! Very cute and very inexpensive.

I also like the shopping bag the Museum used to pack my goodies in...

I think it would be awesome if the scale on the ads were smaller, for the antique shop. But I do have a camera and a computer, so I could make it possible. :)

Now, the thing that struck me about the hutch was that it looked an awful lot like two other hutches I have in my collection.

The hutch on the left is the one I found at the antique shop in Maine. The one in the middle came in a lot from eBay. The one on the right is the one from the Farm Museum. They all have the same heavy, sturdy construction and similar hardware. In fact, there were others at the Museum gift shop that were similar but I had to drag myself away before I bought everything. ;)  I am thinking of making a display with these three hutches if I don't use them in any of the houses.

 

Of course, if you're wondering, Oscar would love to have them in his yet-to-exist antique store, but we'll see. I told him he could have the chair.

But he complained his hind end didn't fit in there too well. Then again, his hind end doesn't fit in any other chair that well, either...

In the mean time, Esme is relaxing on the chaise lounge she insisted on having in front of the shop. It's the weekend after all, and it's time to kick back and relax.

Introducing Oscar and Esmerelda...

Well, two new folks have moved into town. Meet Esmerelda:

Esmerelda's dream is to run an herbal shop...with wares from around the world. Hmmm, I think I can hook her up with such a place. Tomorrow, I might have to show her a shop I know that needs such a person.


Her friend Oscar has also moved into town...

He's a packrat, and really into antiques. In fact, he's been known to wear some vintage early 1900s clothes. I don't know how he can stand wearing a suit in the middle of the summer, but I suppose if he isn't complaining, then neither should I. Anyway, like I said...he's a bit of a packrat:

Stuff he's inherited, bought, received as gifts, etc. has piled up considerably and he needs a place to keep it all. In fact, he'd love to open his own antique shop...something with an apartment above it would be ideal - nothing fancy, a studio would be fine...he's a bachelor after all. I might have another piece of property I could show him. It may need a little work, first, however.

The bedroom does need to be big enough to fit his antique bedroom collection, though.

Oscar: "I hope I can find a first floor apartment. I don't want to move all this stuff."


Esmerelda: "Well, don't look at me..."


Oscar: "Awww, come on. I'll give you 10% off at my antique store!"

Esmerelda: *Sigh...*



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So everything shown above came in an AMAZING lot I received from a seller on eBay. I was looking at the listing, staring wistfully at the items, thinking it wouldn't be feasible to spend money on so many minis right now. Jason saw what I was looking at and decided to bid on it for me and he won! Yay! I was so excited to get all this stuff, and I love the dolls! Even though Oscar's wardrobe is a little dated, I think I can weave a story to make it work. Esmerelda's clothes translate nicely to a hippie/new agey style, especially when I make her some jewelry. :)


Here's the rest of the stuff in the lot:

New kitchen stuff. The copper items are definitely going into the Glencroft kitchen!

Flatware set. And I LOVE the whisk!

Some odds and ends...shutters, a window pane and a neat display.


Tune in for more adventures, when Oscar and Esmerelda check out their new digs and visit some of the other houses in the area. ;)

Goodies to come...

Hello everyone! I'd like to welcome all of the new readers to my blog. :) Thank you for following me...nearly 70 followers?! Wow! I am thinking of putting together a give-a-way package when I get 100 followers, but more on that later.

I've been away from minis for the last month or so, since this summer has been dedicated to career-job hunting. I am working locally for the time being, which is great for the wallet and the bills. ;)

I am inspired, as always, to complete some of the projects that are waiting for me in my craft room, first and foremost - Glencroft. She needs her chimney finished and her roof shingled. I think I made a decision on the chimney and that can be completed while I wait to get shingles (I want to be permanently employed first - lol).

Jason nabbed something awesome for me on eBay and as soon as we get it in the mail, I'll show you. I am very excited!

Here's something the New England locals might be interested in: the New Hampshire Farm Museum. I took my sister and nieces there on July 4th weekend. First of all it was a real treat for my nieces (one is 16, the other is 4), but also for us adults, too. We saw animals, old farm tools, and a very lovely homestead from the late 18th/early 19th century. For those working with a historical miniature scene, it's quite a treasure trove of ideas. In addition, there is a lovely dollhouse in the parlor, fully finished and furnished. :) I was quite happy with that. And in the gift shop are wooden dollhouse hutches and other pieces for very low prices. In fact, they are very similar to some pieces I already have. I did pick a couple pieces up, but for now I do not have pictures of them. I will get them up on the blog asap.

Another thing I have been working on in the meantime, not related to minis, is the website of our bath salt company. Jay and I create salt blends by hand and pack everything here in our home. I apologize for the shameless plug, but if you are interested, do check it out here! :)

I think that's it. I just wanted to update so you know I am still around! :) I enjoy reading my friends' blogs and am constantly inspired by all of the amazing projects I see on them. Keep it up!

Peace,
Linda

Happy December!

Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long. My dissertation and post-school job search have been taking over my life, so my time for minis has been short. Unfortunately! However, I plan on making time tomorrow to complete my entry for the HBS Creatin' Contest. I am not set on winning, but the piece I am making fits perfectly in with another of my mini creations. :) I promise pictures after it's finished.

There's not much new in the mini world over here, unless you count that I just bought myself a little something on eBay last night: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=300376276394
I am not sure where it's going to go, but I think it may be a nice chest of drawers for my Glencroft bedroom.

Anywho, hmmm, what else has happened recently? Oh yeah....I very recently turned 30. And so my wonderful partner has been bestowing me with many a lovely gift, one of which was Doll's House Inspirations by Jean Nisbett. Love that little book! So many great ideas and tips!

I am planning on a total renovation of the Glencroft bathroom again, I am going to keep the Japanese style but it will be very simplified...hopefully, I will make time to work on that during the Winter Break from school. I am also looking for ideas for the "Wine Country" kitchen in the Glencroft. I found a few possible appliance sets I like, and a few dining tables and chairs I thought I liked. Then I found this: Harvest Table. If anyone has experience with Daisy House kits, I would be happy to hear it. I was thinking of having the table pushed against a wall, with a bench and two chairs. What's cool is I can paint the table and bench to match my decor!

Well, I believe that is all for now, but I am really looking forward to finishing up some projects soon! After the Glencroft I am going to tackle that General Store! I have a great idea for it!

YAY!

The weather here in NH is strangely like that of early September, when the summer weather becomes less humid and the air is crisp and clean. It's my favorite weather, but unexpected for July. *shrugs* Oh well.

Anyway, I am getting a new addition to the dollhouse family.

YAY! I just won it on eBay. I am very excited as this is pretty hard to find and definitely one of the cutest houses on my wishlist. :)

Battery's charged, so here come the pics

Here's the Glencroft bedroom, currently. I haven't done a thing with the ceiling yet...I am trying to figure out how to finish it and whether it should have trim (my thought is yes, it should).
I got this little brass bed with a mini lot of furniture. I am very pleased with it, but I think I will paint it...now to figure out how to do that. I will also add a piece of foam to make a more lifelike mattress and dress it well.

Also in the lot was this highboy. It provides a lot of storage space, but I haven't figured out which room it belongs in. I am tempted to put it in the bathroom as I have no cabinet.

What I really like about it is that it matches the hutch I had posted about earlier (the one I got at Reed's Antiques in Maine).

I've finished putting the chimney together. Now to figure out how to finish it...brick? stone? hmmm.

The brackets are on. The one thing I thought I'd have covered are the holes in the shell...I assume that Greenleaf assumed one would stucco this house? Time to get the wood filler and repaint.

Thanks to the new sheet 13, I was able to finish the half-timber on this side! :-D

And now for something completely different: I fell in love with Re-ment. Look how adorable! Newbury Comics sells these items in blind boxes. I got a breakfast set, sushi set, grocery set, donut set, and cookie set. Now, some are the right scale, others are too big...strangely enough, this variation happens in one box. *shrugs* I am keeping a display on a shelf in our dining room. Some of the 1:12 scale stuff may find its way into the dollhouse when it's finally completed...we'll see. I just adore the cuteness. :)

Our local Barnes and Noble carries Miniature Collector, issues of which I do have. But when I took my sister and nieces to Earth and Tree last Wednesday (a week ago? Really?), I picked up an issue of each Dollhouse Miniatures and American Miniaturist. One of the magazines has an adorable chaise lounge which looks easy to make.

And our local used bookstore had this treasure:
This is perfect because my project for HBS will require me to make a garden. ;)

Oh my - so much to do, so little time!

Okay, I am waiting for my camera to charge but I really wanted to blog so you, my dear readers, didn't think I became dust and escaped into the atmosphere. I just want to comment on all the projects I've suddenly found myself involved in, on the mini side of things, at least.

First, there's my dear Glencroft. I just put the window box, brackets and chimney on it over the weekend. It still needs windows, doors, and the front yard/fence added. I am considering doing that over this long holiday weekend. But I can't decide if I should fix up the inside before I put the windows in. I am not happy with most of the paint job on the walls, and would like to fix that. I am not super crazy about wallpaper, in general, but I may need it to hide the slots in a few of the walls. I think a trip to Michael's or AC Moore is in order. (Well, I always think that.)
On top of all that is the problem with the gaps in a few places. I think adding extra trim could be very useful, so that's what I will probably do. I think it'll help. I also want to varnish the floors, they're looking a little dull and I put far too much work into the flooring for it to look boring.
And how the heck am I going to finish that chimney? So many decisions to make! Imagine if I had to build a 1:1 scale house...gah. LOL I am picky enough with 1:12 houses as it is.

As for the shop, I am always looking for more goodies for "sale." I am adding lots of stuff to the shelves. When my sister and nieces came to visit last week, my older niece made some cool stuff out of clay which I am proudly displaying on the shelves, including candles, witch hats, and even a broom. She also made a cute clay hanging flower pot complete with a plant. She's getting pretty good at this hobby! I think someone may have returned home with a bit of a mini-bug! :)

And lastly, I have my HBS Creatin' Contest entry. I am trying to keep it a secret until the deadline (not 'til Dec. 15, thankfully!) but it's hard. I've developed some pretty nice ideas since even the last time I wrote here. I can't wait to get started on it, but I really want to finish the Glencroft first. Gah. We'll see. I think my best bet is to work on the project I feel like working on at the moment. That's the only way it'll get done well.

Oh, by the way, I want to applaud Greenleaf for sending along another Sheet 13 so quickly after I requested it. As I mentioned before, the first one was not cut through completely and was impossible to work with. They also sent me the new glossy of their dollhouses (one of which is brand new and I would really like to add it to my collection...)


You know, the collection that is inevitably going to include the Westville, the Harrison, RGT'S Lincoln Home, and one very possibly for-real addition soon. ;) I might add that I've made a bid on eBay for a little treat - let's see if I get it. I'll know in a little over 4 days.

We'll definitely need a bigger house.

I think that's it for now. When my camera battery charges, I'll take pics of my accomplishments on the Greenleaf, and possibly a few more mini-related things. :)