The House Next Door

I know I told Mike that I would not start another project until I finished his house. I just couldn't get my little Spanish Revival House out of my mind.

I wanted walls that were thicker than cardstock and easier to cut than wood. I decided to try this styrofoam plate. I'm saving the environment from yet another plate being tossed into the trash too!


I mixed up a pot of lightweight spackle, clear tacky glue and adobe wash paint. I wasn't sure that the spackle alone would stick to the foam. Adding the paint to the mix saves a step too.

I roughly cut out some of the walls then applied the stucco with a brush. I need to become better acquainted with my Exacto knife. I cut these with small scissors.


It looks like the styrofoam will hold its shape just fine. I like the color and the way the "stucco" looks.

This is enough for tonight. I need to find more plates. I got this one at work. Seems I'm always finding things at work to use for mini-making!

Sweet dreams!

Mike

Mike showed up at the job site this morning. He pleaded with me to finish his house before I start anything else.

So it's back to work here. We still have a lot to do!

The Problem With Paper and Pencils

As I was driving home for lunch today I remembered the Spanish Revival house that was across the street from mine in Florida. It was old, vacant and very run down. So was mine when I bought it.

I loved that old house and wished that I had the time and means to buy it and fix it up. I did meet the owner one day. His grandfather had built the house in 1920. The same year my house was built.

One day, Jimmy was puttering around in the little garage out back. I walked over and we chatted for a while. "It's not for sale," he said. Evidently there were family problems the he had to work out before he could put the house on the market.

He did take me inside. I was astonished that nothing had been changed, updated or removed from house except the furniture. Water had done its damage as well as termites. I still thought it was beautiful! Those things didn't stop me from buying my house!

As we walked around I fell more and more in love with the place. The fireplace was amazing. There were original arched windows and hardwood floors. The interior walls were roughly plastered. The ceilings were about 10 feet tall and had dark oak beams.

In one of the bedrooms upstairs there was a walkout balcony with a wrought iron railing. Pure charm! The original Spanish tile was in the bathroom too.

All of this is to say that now I have a problem! I got out my paper and pencils and sketched out a little house that reminds me of the one next door.



My memories are cloudy and sadly I don't think I took photos of the house. I just remember it fondly and would like to try make a mini one.

I know, Grandma is waiting for her sewing room. Mini Mike is waiting for his new modern house to be finished. Grandpa is hollering about all of the clutter in the Adelaide Beachy.

Do you dream about houses that you might build one day? If you put pencil to paper does that me you are committed to start another project?

I'm going to sleep on it. No time for minis tonight now anyway....

Making A Dollhouse For Your Dollhouse

Creating Dollhouse Miniatures just posted a video on how to make a dollhouse for your dollhouse! I just had to share this! Thank you Joanne!






I love making these little houses! You should try it too!

Teeny Tiny Art

I've been looking for some tiny art for my mini modern house. Sorry for the blurry photos. These are pieces of some 1/4" ribbon I have.


These two I did this morning. I used colored pencils, copper wire and a darling little parrot I found on Ebay. He is 3/8" tall.


I'm not sure I will use any of these? Just sharing some ideas here...

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Progress on the Little Modern House

I've been working on my mini modern house for two weeks now. Here are some photos I took today. The roof will have a large skylight. One exterior wall will be "glass."


I grabbed a diet 7 Up while I was out yesterday. Green plastic! Perfect for more furniture for the living room! If you poke the photos they should pop up larger.

Please ignore all of the things that have fallen into the pool. I just needed a place to put things. These tiny things have a way of disappearing! Here is the dining room.



I made the table out of a small piece of sea glass with a clear acrylic top. The hardest thing to make was this tiny chandelier. I wanted a drum shade. This one is a little less than 1/4" in diameter.

The house will be open on both ends. Fresh air and sea breezes are so good for you!

I want to make some plants and find some modern art for the walls. Then I'll glue everything down. I can't tell you how many times I've lost this tiny furniture!

Hope you all had a great weekend? Thank you so much for your birthday wishes!

Birthday Cake

My birthday cake from the girls at the office was delicious!

I'm keeping the box. Look at all of the lovely clear plastic! I just can't throw that away! LOL

I'm off to the flea market with my friend Judy. Then dinner and a movie with my daughter and son-in-law. We're going to see "The Help." Has anyone seen it yet?

Hope you have a happy day!

Two Tiny Chairs

I made two tiny modern chairs and a coffee table this morning. I used exposed xray film and a flower punch.

You could use clear plastic, but I like the blue. :D

Mini Modern Bedroom

I've been working on the bedroom furniture for my mini modern house.


I still have more detail to add to the bedside tables. I made a headboard but it was too BIG.

I love the fabric I found in my stash for the bedspread. It was part of a small quilted pillow top that I made a long time ago. I really didn't mind cutting it up. :D


Hope you have a nice day!

1 Inch Bathroom

It takes a very small plumber to install the fixtures in a 1 inch bathroom.



It will take an even smaller painter to go in there and touch up!

Hope you have a good day and thank you for your comments and prayers.

Gifts from Casey and Caterina!

Caterina sent me these beautiful things for her Holiday Summer Swap. Grandma LOVES them and so does Grandpa! :D They are perfect for a summer day at the beach! Thank you Caterina!


Casey sent gifts too! Love this tiny 1/4 scale furniture. Enough to furnish an entire house! The little chairs are adorable! Just look how cute the tub and toilet are! Thank you Casey!


Casey also included some little picket fencing and two of her beautiful baskets. I think the tiny orange balls will make great oranges on a tiny orange tree? That is, if I can see them well enough to add them?!


I've been admiring how Casey uses nadina to make plants. Now I have some of that too! The "ready made" plants look like palm trees to me? I love the little "pumpkins!"


Thank you SO much Caterina and Casey! You are so kind and generous! I love each and every thing!

My daughter received very sad news yesterday. I'm sad too. Please continue your prayers for her. We are trusting in God's goodness and love. He gives us comfort and hope.

These gifts made me smile. I am so thankful for you, my blogging friends!

Mini Modern Progress

I'm making some progress with the mini modern house. I found a perfect piece of foam for the base and pool. The pool will be six feet deep or 1/2 inch in scale. :D


The bathroom upstairs is not quite finished. I'm trying to decide if I want to stain the exterior or paint it? I also need to add the windows and roof.

I really had fun making this teeny tiny sofa and pillows. It is 1/4 inch tall and 5/16 inch long. The pillows are 1/16 inch square and are reversible. They keep getting lost (!) so I may have to glue them on.


I've had some issues with glue for the "glass" wall. Nothing seems to want to stick... Anyone have an idea?

Yesterday MORE gifts arrived in the mail! They are from Casey and Caterina. I'll post photos of them tomorrow. There are more things for Grandma and something for me too! Can't wait to show you!

Hope your day is a happy one!

Gifts For Grandma!

For those of you who were concerned about Grandma, look what she received in the mail yesterday!! Lovely gifts from Rachel in South Wales!


They are all so beautifully made! Thank you SO much Rachel! I love every thing! These things should keep Grandma happy while I work on my little house. :D

Today I am working on building a new bathroom for the mini modern house. It will be one inch square.


The glue is drying on the match stick walls. I think they will look much better than the cardstock I used before.


I've changed my mind about one of the exterior walls too. It will be "glass" so you can see inside better. I think I've found a new glue that works on plastic and wood. I'll show you that later.

Right now I need to go mow my yard before it gets too hot or rains again...

Hope you have a beautiful day!

I Wonder If . . .

I wonder if wearing 3-D glasses would help me build my little house?



Laying my head on my work table and looking at the house sideways is not working. Neither is standing on my head.

I did find this video very helpful. Thank you "Sillywesties" and YouTube.

Hope you have a nice day!

Mini Modern Kitchen

Please bear with me while I take photos of my mini modern kitchen in progress. It's the only way I can see where changes need to be made. :D



The idea came from the new AIM Imag Issue 36 AUGUST 2011. This issue is full of modern minis! Great timing for me. Check it out!

I'm loving all of the wonderful minis you are making! Thanks to everyone for inspiring me to improve!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Wavy Walls

Two quick pics of my mini modern house in progress.


I have some wavy walls to deal with and I plan to change the upstairs bathroom. I'm going to make a new room out of wooden matchsticks.


I do like how the fireplace turned out. More to come. Stay tuned. :D

Hope you have a nice day!

Mini Modern House

I've had this idea in my head for a long time. I want to make a 1:144 scale mini modern house.


This is what I've done so far. It will be a two story house with an open patio and pool.



I'm making it up as I go along. I think it will be fun to try to make some tiny modern furniture too.

Beach Basket

I made this little beach basket for my daughter who loves the beach just as much as I do.



I found a navy blue basket at Michael's that is about the size of a shoe box. Then I started adding things to make a beach scene. First I made a palm tree. I LOVE to make palm trees!

I used my painting for the background. Then I made a sand dune with styrofoam covered with real sand from my last trip to Florida. Spray adhesive works great for this.

I built the dock out of Starbuck's coffee stirrers and wooden dowels. The fence is a bamboo placemat that I painted and weathered. Then I added some real driftwood, shells and sand. The sea oats are made from real pampas grass flowers.

I like how Sharyn's basket looks in a different light. At night, the fire really flickers and looks so real!


I used the LED fire kit by Evan's Designs. It can be ordered with a small coin battery that has a switch attached. I hid the wiring. The battery and switch are on the back of the basket so that it can be turned on and off easily.


I bought the sea gull from Nicky. Nicky make the most perfect little birds. Now she is working on other things, like dolls and dragons and more magical things!

If you haven't visited Evan's Designs you need to go there. They have the best customer service and prices. I bought another fire kit for myself. I think there should be an outdoor fireplace next to the garage. :D

Hope you have a great weekend. If you can't go to the beach, make one yourself!

Breaking Eggs

I'm happy to be back to making minis again. Today I'm working on the table top for Grandma's little table. First I had to break up the painted egg shells.


Then I used Mod Podge to glue them on to the wood.


Now I'm waiting for this to dry so I can add another coat or two. Seems we are always waiting for something to dry!

Hope you have a beautiful day! Thanks for your prayers. God is good and all is well.

Life and Minis

I've been too busy to post these past few days. I have been making minis but I can't show you what I made just yet. I finished my gifts for Caterina's Summer Swap. I will be sending them to Monika in Germany today.

My daughter had surgery yesterday. Her hubby is taking good care of her at home and she is doing well. She will go back on Wednesday for another procedure. Please keep them both in your prayers.


I've also been trying to study. I'm reading about pain management for my continuing education class to renew my nursing license in Florida. Yes, I'm still keeping that license current. Just in case I ever move back "home."

Hope you have a beautiful day! I'll be back soon.

Coloring Eggs

I painted some egg shells this morning. I want to try to make a mosaic table for Grandma. She needs a place to set her cup of tea while she reads her magazines.


Here is her little table in progress.


I'm going to try to make decorative sides on the table with cloth covered wire.


Nothing is glued together yet. I need to finish the top first. I'm just waiting for the eggs to dry...

Hope you have a great day!