Dollhouse Renovation - Day Four

Before

Posting this as "Day Four" of my renovation is a little misleading. I've been working on my dollhouse every day while I'm on vacation! I'm just wanting to keep track of each major change I make.

Right now my goal is to finish the attic bedroom. I found an inspiration photo with a swinging bed (previous post) so I'm working on making that happen now.

I painted the room yesterday and worked on my little swing beds for a while. Here's a couple of photos of my progress. There is still a lot to do!

Colors are from my inspiration room. I added some skinny sticks to the wall but I'm not sure they look the right scale? Should I remove them and use matchsticks instead?


I've also been working on some little projects. This white chair may end up in the trash unless I can figure out how to make a slipcover for it!

I made a bar size table with a "glass tile" top. Fiasco is wondering where the drinks are...

I also gathered some fabric to make little quilts for the beds. Not sure I'm happy with what I have right now. I've never made a tiny quilt before so I'm looking for a tutorial for that.


So you see, I've been busy! It's so nice to be on vacation so I can play house!

Blessings, Kathi

Swinging to Sleep

I found an inspiration photo for my beach house attic bedroom! It does not include a trundle bed!

I'm having to remodel the entire ceiling to make this work. I've made the ceiling joists and am working on the bed(s). I really like the color in this room too!

I think it would be so much fun to sleep on a swinging bed! Don't you?!

I hope I can do this!?

Blessings, Kathi

Fiasco

No wonder Fiasco hasn't spoken a word to me since he arrived. I just realized that he's Italian! Not from Spain as I thought. I guess he doesn't speak Spanish either? I really don't know how this is going to work?! I don't speak Italian!

He was very interested in those wine glasses. Perhaps this is why?

Fiasco: Noun. Italian for FLASK or BOTTLE. Venetian glass workers operated stiff quality control; any ornamental vessel which wasn't absolutely perfect would be scrapped or sold as a mere wine-bottle. The word spread to include any sort of miserable failure.

I hope this is not a sign of things to come...

Royal Mail from the UK!

My package arrived from Matlock Miniatures this afternoon! I am so excited to show you what I got!
These little deck chairs fold up just like the real ones! I love the yacht! It will be perfect somewhere in my beach house! And yes, here's "Fiasco," the parrot. He flew in too! Isn't he beautiful! "Bienvenido Fiasco!"

He just made himself right at home on one of the chairs. He didn't have much to say. I think he was tired from his long flight. He did give me a look that worries me though. Not sure what that was all about?

I think he is thirsty too. The wine glasses are empty. I'm sure he will have something to say about that!

Guess I'd better go get him something to eat and try to coax him down from the deck and into the house. I don't want him flying off somewhere. I heard several seagulls calling to him but I don't think he speaks English. Looks more like a Spanish speaking bird to me. I sure hope we get along. I don't need any trouble around here! I've got too much work to do!

Blessings, Kathi

Trundle Beds

Thanks for the suggestions to make a trundle bed for my beach house!

I'm gathering ideas and wanted to show you some of them. This first one is my favorite, another bed from Maine Cottage.

I love the simplicity of this one. Gives me an idea for how to make the trundle part...

This little doll's bed is cute but I think it needs some feet on it to raise it off the floor?



The two below are from Pottery Barn Kids. I love the speed boat one! Too cute!


I know it would be easier to just buy a bed, but it's so much fun to make things!

Hope you have a beautiful day!

Blessings, Kathi

Attic Bedroom Ceiling

Well, I did it! I painted, cut and glued the dollar store place mat to the bedroom ceiling! I used spray adhesive and it stuck really fast!

I just dry brushed some white paint on for now. What do you think? Should I cover it with white paint or leave it as it is?


I would love to have a ceiling fan in this room! I still need to add some trim and do the floors...

I'm planning to paint the walls a pretty color too.

Speaking of paint. Do you use flat, satin or semi-gloss paint in your houses? I used flat paint on the walls here. I think it might look better with a little bit of shine?

I'm having trouble getting the right shades of paint. I've painted the exterior shutters four times now!

I started to draw lines on one shutter to see if I'd like more detail. I think I'll just paint over that. I also have some tiny starfish that might look cute on the shutters.


The acrylic paints I've found in the stores are too bright for the interior. Can I mix them with latex interior white paint to lighten them up? Have you ever mixed up your own paint colors? What did you store it in?


I think I'll make a couple of twin beds for this room. The ceiling is too low for bunk beds but that is another idea I had. You need to have lots of beds in a beach house for all of the guests!

This is my first bed and mattress. I still have to finish the linens for this bed. I just keep getting distracted with other things!

Thanks for any advice you can offer me. It's fun to see at least one room coming together!

Blessings, Kathi

Dollar Store Placemat

I've been trying to decide what to do with the upstairs attic bedroom ceiling. I'd like to have a bead board look. I found this placemat at the dollar store and think it might work?

There is binding sewn around the edges. The back has a fine mesh for support and it's made of wood. Here's a close up photo.

I'm in the process of removing the pink binding. I was pleasantly surprised at how even the edges are. The mesh on the back is holding it together too!

The width of the placemat is exactly the right size for the ceiling too! Sure beats gluing a bunch of skinny sticks up there! :)

Now I have to decide if I will paint it white or leave it as is? What do you think?

Blessings, Kathi

Inspiration

Inspiration for my beach house comes from many places! This is a photo of one of Edward Hopper's paintings. I love the beautiful way he used light to capture the feeling of a scene.

I've added some links under "Beachy Inspiration" here on my blog. If you love the beach and beach house decor check out some of these great sites!

Blessings, Kathi

Dollhouse Bed and Dolls

I feel like Goldilocks this morning! My bed looks too big? I measured before I made the bed. It's 6" long, 5" wide and 4" tall. I love the way it turned out, but it seems to look too large for the bedroom? What do you think?

As you can see, I haven't finished the bedding or painted the bed. I just wanted to see what it will look like when it's done. I need to make another pillow or three too...

I've been looking for dolls for my little house. I found these online this morning. So cute! They are made of wood and poseable! I'm not crazy about the clothes in the first photo but I can always make new ones.

I love this pirate family! What a motley crew! I'm thinking that I'll need a group like this to keep "Fiasco" the parrot in line!?

Cheeky Junior

Check out their cool bathroom too! Very unusual but I love it!


I'm excited that I will be on vacation next week so I'll have lots of time to work on my dollhouse!

Hope you have a happy day! Thanks for your comments and ideas!

Blessings, Kathi

Making The Bed

I decided this afternoon that I would start making a little bed for my dollhouse. I'm copying this one I found online. I don't think I'll try to do the little cutout. I'm afraid I'd ruin the whole thing!



Price $2,160 at Cottage Home!

Here's where I started. So far, so good.



Right now it's propped up in the kitchen while the glue dries. I'm going to add little beads on the bedposts like the inspiration bed above too.



I still have to make a mattress and bedding for it. I'm excited that it's almost done!

I'm going to paint the bed and make white sheets with coral trim. I found the perfect fabric for a bedspread! Of course, there will be pillows to make!

This bed was a lot harder to do than I imagined. Lots of wood cutting and measuring! I think it turned out pretty well, don't you? I'll post more photos when it's all done.

Sweet dreams!
Kathi

Dollhouse Renovation - Day Three

Before

I'm trying to make my dollhouse look more like a beach house than a two story colonial. I think color will be the key!

I primed over the dark blue doors and shutters. Then I put the first coat of paint on the house.



I'm not really happy with the aluminum spray paint I used on the roof, but that's another story...

I got sidetracked with the deck floor. It's plywood, so I scored it to look like deck boards. I'm planning to try to age it to look like weathered wood. Another project!



What do you think of the color?! I love it! Looks more "beachy" to me than before!

It's the same paint I used for my kitchen.



Of course my kitchen does NOT look like this now! There is "evidence of creativity" everywhere! I can't even find a place to put my coffee cup down!

Now I need to find "just the right blue" for the downstairs porch floor and "just the right pink" for the shutters! I'm till trying to decide on a color for the window boxes. Might just leave them white?

For now, I'm off the put the second coat of paint on and trying not to get distracted with something else! Like this little tassel I got at the dollar store!

I love the little bead at the top! The chains, wooden beads, glass beads and white ones...
Oh, the possibilities! It doesn't take much to take me away from what I need to do!

Hope you have a beautiful Sunday! If you are near the beach, please build a sandcastle for me!

Blessings, Kathi

Painting the House Today!

Today is the day! I'm going to paint the outside of my beach house!

I started it the other day but couldn't decide on the colors. I'm going with my favorite color punched up with some pink and sky blue!

Here's the "before" photo! I'm so excited to show you the "after" later!

Here's a peek at my real house in Sanford, Florida. I painted that house too. It's wasn't as easy as painting a doll house!


Hope you have a beautiful Saturday! Weekends are the best, aren't they?!

Blessings, Kathi

Dear Daisy Cottage Chairs

Look what my friend Kim posted today at DearDaisyCottage! Beautiful little chairs that match her beautiful little home! Click on over to see Kim's wonderful blog! She is so inspiring!

Photo from Dear Daisy Cottage

Kim mentioned today that she does have a dollhouse! I really hope she will join the wonderful world of miniatures! Her cottage is SO cute! She is a doll and her home is a REAL dollhouse!

Blessings!
Kathi

Check out Jenny B's Flicker Pool for more beautiful ideas!

Monopoly Anyone?

I was thinking that maybe I can use some of the pieces from my old monopoly game in my dollhouse?


I found some Playdoh this morning. I also have some little bricks from days gone by and a whole lot of wooden blocks that my kids used to play with! I know I have some Lincoln Logs too.

Maybe I should get in that toy cabinet and see what else is in there?! I knew there was a reason I've been saving these things for all these years!

Wouldn't it be fun to make a Monopoly village? I can see a jail, a waterworks building, a parking lot, a railroad... Then there could be all of those mini houses with cool addresses!

Sweet dreams!
Kathi

What Is It ?

It looks like a tree to me!
Can you guess what it really is?
:)

Miniature Animals, A Parrot and A Shell Mirror

While browsing around today I found this amazing artist! She makes the most realistic miniature animals! Her website is Kerri Pajutee Miniature Animals.

I've been looking for a golden retriever, a cat (or two) and a parrot for my dollhouse. I wish I could afford to buy one of Kerri's dogs and cats! I can't believe how precious they are! She shares her technique on her website too. Absolutely amazing!

I did find a beautiful little parrot at Matlock Miniatures. I bought a few other things too. Their prices are very reasonable. I don't plan to purchase many things for my dollhouse but I fell in love with this parrot, a sailboat and a couple of beach chairs...

Look at all of the beautiful detail and the colors! He will be the star of the "Beach House Blues" for sure! Any suggestions on a name for this gorgeous and trouble-making bird?

I spray painted the roof of my dollhouse last night and started painting the exterior. I also made a little shell mirror. It turned out so nice! Hard to get a good photo of it but I love it!
I used my hair dryer to loosen a mirror from a free Clinique compact, glued it on a piece of cardstock and then added the tiny shells I found at Michael's. I can't believe this Florida girl had to buy sea shells! I need to make a visit back "home!"

As you can see, I have lots of painting to do. I just wanted to see how the mirror would look in the living room! I would love to make a fireplace/mantle too but don't think my beach house needs a fireplace!?

Hope you have a beautiful day!

Blessings, Kathi

Monday Musings and An Award!

I've been thinking today about how helpful and encouraging all of you mini bloggers are! I love visiting each of you and am learning so much! I have another blog that is sadly neglected now. I have become addicted to miniatures!

I never thought I would love this new craft as much as I do! I think it is because it has given me a way to encompass all of my creative interests all into one place! I love to decorate, paint, wallpaper, re-purpose, salvage, shop thrift stores and craft stores. I love to sew, do counted cross stitch, garden, make things and experiment with new techniques.

Most of all, I love to PLAY! I didn't have a great childhood and feel like some of that time was lost. I was forced to grow up too fast and was given too much responsibility at a very young age.

Some of my happiest moments were to wander down to the stream behind our house. I would find little things to play with there. I made boats out of leaves and wood, people from sticks and gathered beautiful little flowers. I made castles from rocks and built dams across the water to make miniature lakes. Sometimes I would take these things home and hide them in my room so I could play with them later...

I think finding the world of miniatures has taken me back to those special times. I find that I am absolutely engrossed in what I'm doing when I'm working on my dollhouse! Time just seems to fly by! My creativity has come alive again and I want to thank all of you for your inspiration!

I received a very special award today from Casey at Casey's Minis. Thank you so much!


The Bella Sinclair Award is dedicated to a true artist with a very special gift! Her art is simply beautiful! I feel humbled to have been given the opportunity to share this award too! I'm limited to five but if I could, I would include every one of you! Each of you has given me something to enjoy, something to strive for, something to spur my creativity but most of all
someone to share my progress with! It is so wonderful to find so many others who also love little things! You have been such a blessing to me! Thank you!

I would like to pass this award to:

1. Liberty Biberty - Mercedes is one of the first bloggers I found. I love how she shares her craft with her daughter, Liberty. They remind me of myself and my own mother. I hope she knows what precious memories she is creating with Liberty! Her miniatures are perfectly made too. I am inspired each time I visit her!

2. Miz Mary's Miniatures - Mary has given me so much encouragement and so much helpful information. I love her stories and I love how she shares her thoughts as she is making things. Her tutorial page is one I visit often too! I need tutorials! Thanks Mary!

3. Lotjesdollshouse - Sylvia has the most beautiful ideas and makes the prettiest things! I love the fact that I can visit the Netherlands any time I wish! Her little beach house is absolutely perfect! I love her three dogs too. I'm sure if we lived close to each other we would be best friends!

I must add two of my very favorite places to go for inspiration. They are my constant source of ideas!

4. Completely Coastal - a website dedicated to all things beachy! Of course, since I'm making a beach house, you'll find me there every day! They have compiled the artistry of many into one absolutely beautiful place! I am seeing everything in miniature now so I go here often just for ideas!

5. Dear Daisy Cottage - Kim is a friend from the RL blogs. She has a heart of gold and the most colorful and happy home! She not only shares her home but her beautiful photography too! I love her little daschund, Maggie too! Kim was the inspiration for me when I was trying to find my style for my own home. Her colors have brightened my world and her blog is one of my very favorites! I wish she did miniatures!

I know this is a very long post! This award really got me thinking about artists in a whole new way. You are all artists! Each and every thing you make and share gives me a glimpse of who you are! I love being part of your world! Thanks for making me feel like we're friends!

Love, Kathi

Dollhouse Renovation - Day Two

I've been working on the roof of my dollhouse this afternoon. Why is it that I spend most of my mini-time waiting for glue to dry?!

Here's the before photo:


First, I primed over the red. Then I drew lines down the roof for my little sticks.

It was easy to figure out the scale because the RL metal roofing panels are 12" wide.

I can't believe what a difference a few sticks and some glue has made! From the side it really looks like a real metal roof! I'll paint it with the aluminum spray paint I got later.

I did all of this while it was pouring down rain outside! Couldn't do that on a real life house!

Hope you have a good evening and have a nice dry roof over your head!

Blessings, Kathi