I'm trying to figure out how to make a carnation. It's been trial and error so far...
I found that the table paper we use on our exam tables at work doesn't tear like regular tissue paper. I'm going to try painting it to see how that works too.
Don't laugh. If you have tried making your own flowers, you know it's not easy! Back to the drawing board...
I hope to have something better to show you soon? I would really like to have more than one carnation for my garden!
Blessings,Kathi
Thanks for all of your sweet comments about my Aunt Adelaide. I really do appreciate your kindness!
The pretty lady you see in the center of this photo is my dear Aunt Adelaide. This photo was taken two years ago at her 100th birthday party. Adelaide passed away peacefully yesterday. She was 102.
When I was a little girl, my mother and I lived with her for a short time when our life was not going so well. Adelaide was my mother's older sister and best friend. She always had a house full of family. Her home was a treasure chest of beautiful things and happy days.
Adelaide was an true artist. She not only created a gorgeous home, she did beautiful oil paintings and had the most perfect gardens. The last time I visited her house the gardens were covered with snow. I remembered sledding down the hill as a child, running back up and going down again and again!
There was a lovely rock garden outside her kitchen. There were always little surprises tucked in there amidst the beautiful flowers. I know she place them there just for the children...
Her kitchen was one of the smallest I've ever seen! It was decorated in red and white. There was an old refrigerator and stove from the fifties. Lots of yummy cookies came out of that oven! They were always served with a big glass of cold milk. Adelaide never felt the need to modernize her kitchen. It was perfect just like it was!
"My" upstairs bedroom had two antique twin beds with crocheted bedspreads and handmade quilts. I love sitting by the dormer window and watching the birds in the big tree outside. There were little hiding places under the eaves and shiny hardwood floors that you could slide on in your socks. I loved that room. I also love sliding down the banister when no one was looking!
I hope you'll understand my need for all of these wonderful memories today. I hope they put a smile on your face and gratitude in your heart if your life has been blessed by someone like my dear Aunt Adelaide.
Adelaide never got to see the dollhouse I named after her. I'll have to tell her and my mother all about it when I get to heaven. I'm sure we'll have lots of time to talk then...
This little town is located in Shartelsville PA. It is not a real town, but a miniature village created byLaurence Gieringer.It's called Roadside America and you can visit by watching this video. It's a bit corny at the end, but still amazing.
I'm planning to try a weathered wood technique for the deck on my beach house. I purchased some "Weather-It" from MicroMark but haven't tried it yet. I also bought a tool that I've been wanting for a long time!
Now I can finish those picture frames and something I'm working on for my summer swap gift!
It seems there are lots of ways to get the look of weathered wood. Here's an idea from Leslie Shepherd at About.com miniatures. Here is another technique I found. Click on over to see how Darryl Huffman created his awesome railroad bridge! I also found Darryl's Ebay link where you can purchase his instructional videos. Everything you need to know about making outdoor scenes.
Railroad modelers have great ideas and tips! Here you can see some layouts and buildings. Larry Rickert shows some wonderful photos of a 2007 Model Railroaders Convention. This is one of them!
Now that I'm inspired and armed with tools, it's time to get to work! Real life work, that is...
I just paid off my real life Nissan and am really looking forward to no more car payments! I hope it continues to run great for another 53,000 miles!
Since I am NOT in the market to purchase a car for myself, I'm thinking about getting a car for my dollhouse dolls? The cars you see above are in 1:18 scale. There are not too many available in 1:12 scale and they can be very expensive!
I have an idea for Caterina's Summer Swap and I am going to need a car! How can I go on a road trip without one?
Does anyone know if a car in 1:18 scale would work? Do you have a car for your dollhouse? Am I the only one who has wondered about this?
Today is the first anniversary of Beautiful Mini Blessings! I was so excited this morning to be able to draw the name of my give-a-way winner!
As you can see, the was nothing scientific about this! No fancy random generators, no helpers, just all of your beautiful names scribbled on a note pad.
I tossed them all in a salad bowl, then closed my eyes and picked ONE.
I had to smile when I visited Savannah's blog to let her know that she won. Savannah is about to celebrate her 25th birthday. In one of her recent posts she said she was in a creative slump and was asking for ideas to get her out of her dry spell. I hope that winning my give-a-way will help her with that?
Savannah :D
I am almost finished with my gift and will post a photo tomorrow. There are lots of little leaves that still need to be glued on!
I've made a pretty little garden arbor with climbing flowers on the side. It has a bench for relaxing and enjoying the sunshine. I'll include a mini book or two, some potted plants and maybe a tiny surprise?
Thanks to everyone who entered my give-a-way! Congratulations Savannah for winning!
I was inspired when I saw this post by Elyse at Tinkered Treasures this morning. I've been following her for a long time. There is a wealth of inspiration on her blog! She has a lovely Etsy shop too.
I made this little pillow to add to my give-a-way. I'm so excited to see how many of you have entered to win!
It's not perfect but I like it anyway...
It would have been a quick and easy project if it hadn't taken me 15 minutes to find my floss, 10 minutes to find my needle threader, 20 minutes to find my magnifier lamp and 5 minutes to realize that the battery was dead and I couldn't get it out!
When this give-a-way is finished I really need to clean up around here! Thanks Elyse for your beautiful inspiration!
Now I can get out the pink and red and yellow and paint some more!
These guys have been watching me with great interest. I have five of them now. These are the three I just bought. I guess that means I'm a "collector" of Nicky's wonderful birds? :D
Hope you are having fun today too? Blessings,Kathi
I received the prettiest package from Kim at Flowers & Art yesterday! It's not even my birthday! I couldn't wait to open it to see what was inside!
Kim said she found a little fish bead and thought of ME! Here is the note she placed inside. Love her drawings! Poke the photo so you can read what she said...
Now look what was inside her gift! Kim made a beautiful white wicker chair that is PERFECT for my bathroom vanity! I LOVE it!!!
She also sent the pretty perfume bottles, some little shells and the cute glass fish you see on top of the vanity!
Kim, you are SO thoughtful and so sweet! Thank you SO much for these beautiful things! They are all PERFECT for my little house!
Thanks to everyone who has signed up for my anniversary give-a-way on June 18th! If you would like a chance to win, just comment on yesterday's post.
It's time to start making gifts for the winner! I've been gathering supplies and ideas...
Here are some things I've already made that may be included?
There will be lattice somewhere in my design too.
This is an inspiration photo I took behind Ron's Dollhouse Miniature Shop in Orlando Florida. I think everyone (including me!) needs a little backyard get away!
Sorry I can't show you anything else right now but I will post a photo when I have the gift completed. You have 7 more days to enter!
I'd better get busy now... Hope you have a lovely day!
June 18th will be the FIRST ANNIVERSARY of my blog! To celebrate I am having a give-a-way!
My first post was about the dollhouse I found at a garage sale. It is slowly becoming my little dream beach house. :D
After just one year I have acquired not only that house but a conservatory addition, a kitty condo, a trailer, a general store that doesn't know what it wants to be (?) and my most recent find - another dollhouse!
Still looking for the perfect pink!
I still can't believe so many of you enjoy reading about my adventures in miniature! I love reading your comments and suggestions. You are all so helpful! I have received so many wonderful gifts too! Thank you so much!
If you are a follower, please take this little friendship award for your blog. Mini friends are the best of friends!
I love reading your blogs too! In fact, it's the first thing I do every morning and the last thing I do every night. No wonder I wake up dreaming of more minis!
Over the past year I have enjoyed trying so many different things. My favorites so far are making things with beads or shells, mini art and tropical plants.
I would like to learn to make clothes for my dolls, baskets and wicker and many, many more things that you have inspired me to try! Thank YOU for making this year the best ever! If you would like a chance to win my give-a-way, just leave a comment on THIS post. I will draw the winner on June 18th!
I've had this gallon of paint for a long time. I thought I could use it for my dollhouse but it is not quite the right pink.
The little bowl on the right is a "custom" mix that I whipped up. I kept adding paint but never did get the color I wanted. Guess I'll start over or go buy more paint?
I'm looking for a "tropical" pink just like this! There is a BM dealer not far from me too! I wonder if a couple of their little sample jars would be enough to paint my house?
In my quest for all things pink I also found this little book. I think I'll make a mini one...
Now, IF I had a million dollars, I would buy these cottages in Sebastian Florida! 18 of them to be exact! Isn't this one just too cute!
I won this entire set of windows and a door on Ebay this morning! Got a great deal too! Some days it really pays to get up early!
I will be adding windows to the sides of my craig's list house and an outside staircase like my inspiration house. I also got a porch railing that is already assembled so I can add the upstairs balcony.
I just love all of the details on this house! Can't wait to start get started on mine!
I found that the table paper we use on our exam tables at work doesn't tear like regular tissue paper. I'm going to try painting it to see how that works too.
