A Name for My Dollhouse

I woke up this morning with two new ideas! A name for my dollhouse and an idea for the conservatory.

My dear Aunt Adelaide continues to be my inspiration. Here is a photo of her at her 100th birthday party!


She still watches the golf channel, gets around with her walker and is as sharp as a tack. She finished the Harry Potter series of books right before this birthday!

So... in honor of her 102nd birthday (!) next month, I'm naming my dollhouse after her. Her last name is Beachy. I think "The Adelaide Beachy" is the perfect name for my house!

I had a "why didn't I think of that sooner" idea about the conservatory too. If the conservatory wall goes up against the house it doesn't need the glass there at all. All I need is the frame work.

I'm going to try to remove the glass all in one piece and then add the door. Should be a lot easier than cutting a hole in the glass? I'll let you know how that goes...

Hope you have a beautiful day with lots of new ideas!
Blessings, Kathi

Cutting Plexiglass?

I have a problem to solve. I would like to attach my conservatory to the house. I would like for the french doors to open out into the new room.

It looks like the door frame will fit? I just need to make an opening for it.

My problem is, how do I cut the plexiglass? It is in one big piece across the entire bank of windows. I want to cut an opening in the center but I don't want to break it!

Got any ideas?

New Sofa for the Conservatory

Did you ever wake up and think, I'd better hurry up and make this before I forget what I was going to do? This little sofa was one of those early morning ideas.

I made it with Star Bucks coffee stirrers, shish-kabob skewers and chop sticks. The wooden cut outs I received with one of my Five Star Christmas Swap gifts.

I made the cushions with this beachy fabric I found. Then I let Grandpa and one of the dogs try it out.

I think it will look great in the conservatory. I'm off to work on that now...

Hope you have a happy day! I hope I don't get distracted again!

Blessings, Kathi

Coming Soon to a Kitchen Near Me!

Check out this awesome fridge I won on Ebay! I could never make one like this!

Okay now, back to work Kathi.

Coming Soon to a Bathroom Near Me!

I got an email from Pottery Barn Kids this morning. Check out all of the great ideas in this bathroom!

Now you know why I keep getting distracted from my current projects. There are always MORE!

Today is conservatory day. I promise.
Blessings,
Kathi

I had fun setting up this little scene to show you more of the plants I've made. The background photo is from Sanibel Toot's great blog. I enjoy visiting her when I need a beach fix. Her videos will take you there too!


Love this little flamingo I found. Isn't he just too cute?

Here's the staghorn fern I just finished. I like how it turned out.

I want to make another larger palm tree to add to the one above. I used Leslie Shepherd's tutorial at About.com. Most of these plants will go in the conservatory. Building that is on my "to do" list for the weekend.

Hope you have a sunny day!

Blessings,
Kathi

SPAM!

If anyone knows how to stop this madness, please let me know!!!

Ideas and Projects

Not much getting accomplished here this week. I'm still making plants and should have something to show you in a few days? Here is one inspiration plant that I'm working on.


I like to find a photo of something I like and put it up on my desktop. Then I try to copy it in miniature. I had a huge staghorn fern like this in Florida. It was about five feet in diameter! It was so heavy that it couldn't be moved from the tree where it was hanging! My little one will be about 1 1/2 inches tall.

I like this post today at Completely Coastal. This shadow box gives me lots of ideas for my dollhouse! I want to make a tiny shadow box like Mercedes did. So cute!

My next project will be to build the conservatory. This is the one I purchased.

I want to see how it looks against the house before I cut the hole for the french doors.

Hope you have a happy day!
Blessings, Kathi

A Letter to My Dollhouse

Dear Dollhouse,

I know you don't have a fancy name and didn't even come from a store but I love you just the same. I think I like you best because I found you waiting for me at a garage sale. You looked like you needed some love and attention. Sitting in that garage must have been awful for you. I hope you like it better where you are now?

You've endured many hours of cleaning and painting. I have great plans for you, you know. In my mind I see you becoming the house you were meant to be. Everyday I imagine new things for you. The best is yet to come, I promise!

Sometimes I wonder what I did before I found you? I guess I had other interests and projects but I can't even remember what they were now. Dreaming up things for you has been so much fun! I'm using the skills I learned in the real world to make things for you now.

I think you'll like the changes I have planned for you too. Your new french doors will be great! Imagine being able to walk out from your kitchen into a beautiful sun room. I'll be very careful when I cut the hole for the doors. I promise it won't hurt much.

I like having you here in this room with me. I know I haven't kept you clean and tidy but that will change soon. You've seen all of the pretty things I've bought and made for you! I can't wait to put each of them in their special place.

You've really given me so much over these past months. You probably don't realize that because of you I've made lots of new friends. They love their dollhouses too. I think we are all just little children playing out our dreams. I want to thank you for that. I'm so happy to have you and can't wait to help you become the best little dollhouse ever!

Well, that's about all for tonight. Hope you sleep well. See you in the morning!
Kathi

More Plants in Progress

Since it's cold, dark and dreary here today I thought I would make some more tropical plants.

I bought some pretty pots from BeautifullyHandmade on Ebay and they arrived this week. She really has some nice minis!

Here are some leaves that are waiting to be planted...

These are the little wooden hanging baskets I made from matchsticks. I can't decide if I will paint or stain them? I want to make some fern plants for them. I'm going to try using the coffee filters I painted. Wish me luck!

This is one plant that I finished today. It will probably go in the conservatory or on the deck.


I'm really itching to cut the holes in the house for the french door and new window. I bought a Craftsman set of saws. Now I'm armed and dangerous!

Hope you are having a nice weekend too. It's so much fun to have mini time!

Blessings,
Kathi

"Feathered" Friends from Nikky!

I'm so excited to have found and purchased two of Nikky's little seagulls. They will be perfect for my beach house!

Can't wait for them to fly in!

Thanks Nikky! Your little creations wonderful!

Blessings!
Kathi

Found Art

I found some really cool art for my dollhouse over at Little Roomers.

Here's the link. This site is great for art work and graphics. You can search by theme or topic for art work, then save the picture on your computer.

I like this one for my bathroom!

I stopped at my favorite thrift store yesterday and found a bathtub for my dollhouse. It was a Christmas item from Bath and Body Works. It came with a little moose and some bath bubbles and lotion. I packed the moose away and let Grandma try out the tub.

Perfect.

Free art and a 99 cent bathtub! Can't beat that!

Blessings,
Kathi

"Knock Off Wood" - New Found Blog

I just found this blog, Knock Off Wood. I am so excited to share it with you!

Amy builds "knock off" designer furniture for her real home. Any of her ideas could be reduced to dollhouse scale. She offers photos, measurements, cutting lists and step by step instructions!

Her friend Kristi built a little kitchen for her daughter Gracie. Check it out!

This is Pottery Barn's Hyde Console Table. I love Pottery Barn, but who can afford their furniture? Not me. Amy also makes furniture like Crate and Barrel, Restoration Hardware and the Land of Nod!

Pottery Barn Image

Check out Amy's post on how to build this beautiful table. I also think it would look great in Debbie's kitchen below her new birthday shelf?

I'm thinking smaller here - furniture for my dollhouse. Thanks Amy for all of your great ideas and tutorials. I love copying real things in miniature!

Blessings, Kathi

Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Moe

I'm thinking about adding a window to my upstairs dollhouse bedroom. It will look down on the conservatory room downstairs. Here are three I'm considering. Which one do you like?



I would like a view like this!
Or maybe stained glass like this?

So while I'm cutting holes in my house, what would you suggest?



Blessings,
Kathi

Sticky Subject

I have a question. I'm getting frustrated with my glue. It seems fine when first opened but after a while it gets so thick I can't get it to come out of the bottles! I've resorted to taking off the top and digging some out with a craft stick but it's still too thick. Got any ideas?

Puzzled,
Kathi

Bare Feet Welcome!

I had a chat with Grandma and "little brother" this afternoon. We agreed that everyone should go barefoot at the beach. No shoes needed here!

It took some talking but even Grandpa gave in. He can be a little stuffy sometimes. I know he'll feel more comfortable when he gets that jacket and tie off. I think retirement has been a little hard on him.

I sat them all down and painted their feet/shoes with flesh colored paint. Grandma and Sandy wanted a pedicure but that will have to wait. Little Shelley never liked shoes anyway.

I'm not sure what to do with the heels on the girls? Do you think I could fill them in with some clay?

I finally took my Christmas tree down today and cleaned the house. I even straightened up my workspace! I'm going to turn on my electric blanket now so I don't have to wear socks to bed!

Sweet Dreams,
Kathi

photo from saunzee.com

Heidi Ott - I am NOT!

My dolls finally arrived yesterday! I am very pleased with them all. They are what the seller calls "budget priced dolls." I purchased all five of them for $28!

The first thing I did was remove grandma's dress, scarf and apron.

Her clothes are nice but not appropriate for the beach house. They were sewn together and lightly glued in place. I had no trouble removing them. Grandma is made of porcelain with white hair and a lovely face.


I also undressed the "little boy in checked shirt." He doesn't have a name yet. He is made the same way as Grandma.

I copied the pattern I purchased and tried to make him a yellow T-shirt this morning.


The shirt is too small! I'll have to try again.

I'm trying to make him some blue shorts too. Has anyone used fabric glue? I used it here for the hems. I'm thinking the glue is still show when it's dry?

Here's a photo I found of the perfect boy's beach outfit! I would love to know how to make a hat and shoes like this! I found lots of inspiration at FunkyKidsClothes.com.uk!


I can only dream of being able to make doll clothes like Heidi Ott. If you haven't seen her darling dolls you really should! Her attention to detail is wonderful!


So anyway, I'm armed with scraps of fabric, a needle and thread, glue and lots of ideas. This is not going to be as easy as I thought!

Blessings!
Kathi

Dolls and Doll Clothes

My library didn't have any dollhouse books! So I went to their online library and placed these books on hold. I want to learn how to make clothes for my dollhouse dolls.

I just picked the books up tonight. They are filled with beautiful photos, instructions and even patterns!
I can see a lot of tracing going on here. Shhhh...

I also bought a doll clothes pattern. This one has an entire wardrobe for 1:12 children. I've made Barbie clothes before so I hope it's not too difficult? I want to make clothes that can be taken off and changed...


Sadly, the dolls I ordered seem to have been lost in the mail? They will be shipped to me again soon. I can't wait to start making some clothes for them!

These are the children. As you can see from these photos, they are not dressed for the beach! The first one is the teenage granddaughter. I'll have to watch her around the lifeguards.

This is her little brother. He doesn't look very happy in that awful shirt and suspenders he's wearing! How could he possibly build a sand castle or fly a kite in this?!

This precious little girl is the "baby" sister. Isn't she cute? I'm sure she is spoiled rotten.

I can't wait for them and their grandparents to arrive. In the meantime, I'll be reading some books!

Blessings, Kathi

Projects In Progress

I've been working on a couple of projects. I made a "mosquito" net canopy for the bed.

Here's how it looks in the room...


There is a lot more work to be done here! I'm waiting for my new bedding before I continue. Here's another little project I'm working on.

I'm making two wooden planters. Should have them finished today? I'm also trying to make some ferns to plant in them.

More later... I have to go to work now! Hope you have a lovely day!
Blessings,
Kathi

New Bedding

Here's a photo of the new bedding I bought on Ebay.
Love the tropical pattern and colors!

This will mean a change in plans for the bedroom but I'm inspired to add more color in my house.

I got some bright fabrics for the living room furniture too.

So do I make more plants? Recover the sofa? Cut the hole for the french doors? Make curtains?
My list is growing!

Hope you have a bright sunshiny day!
Blessings, Kathi