I Am Covered in Paint, Stain and Varnish....

...but like a pig in a mud puddle, I couldn't be happier than when I have worked hard and made a mess. ;)
Do you like the new look for the blog? Let me know your thoughts, I don't want to make anything hard to read or hard to find, etc.

Here are some things I have been working on this week, some are up in my etsy shop.

I couldn't really capture the grandiosity of this armoire. It is really striking in person.

I'm not entirely sure of the official name of this dresser? Anyone know?
**EDIT** It is called an 'Empire Chest'. I Googled "dresser with columns" ;)

I've been making corsets and stockings. Fun!

I am still working on the tutorials for you! Would you like a tutorial for the stockings?  I've seen lots of tutorials for the corsets but never for the stockings (not saying there aren't any but I couldn't find any).  Hope you've all had a wonderful week and here is to hoping you have an even better weekend!

XO
Daphne

Another Bombe

I can't get enough of these. One day I will find one for my 1:1 scale home but till then...

This is the first time I've attempted faux marble. It was fun to do. I would like to try a black base with white veining next.

This piece is for sale in my Etsy shop.

I'd also like to invite you to visit my web shop. www.courtofgypsies.com
There you will find many DIY miniature items. I am still stocking the shop, there is lots more to come, it's just very time consuming.  I will have furnishings from JBM, HanaMini and many others. Lots of accessories and building/decorating items as well.  I will announce sales and specials and new items here on the blog. :)  Please feel free to contact me with any requests. The shopping cart is not currently set up to accept international orders but you may certainly contact me and make arrangements for shipment outside the USA.

Have a wonderful day!

~Daphne

Typography on Furniture

Hello Friends,
I've been busy. Still having fun with furniture makeovers. Have you noticed the trend of typography being transferred to furnishings? I think it's been around a while but I really like it.
The sideboard above has had an antique french advertisement applied to the drawer fronts. The whole piece was repainted and distressed and then sealed with satin varnish.  I'd like one of these, please, in 1:1 scale.

The little pouf ottoman in the pic with the sofa was made using the cardboard tube from a roll of ribbon.  Easy peasey!

Hope you are having a wonderful week!
~Daphne

OOAK Rehupholstered Parlor Set Fantasy French Victorian

This is what I've been up to the past few days. I love mixing patterns and textures. I will try to take photos on the next set for a little tutorial. I'm still learning the best ways to do things. I think I would like the next set to be a bit more plush with thicker padding - Just have to learn the proper way to do diamond tufting.

Shabby Dollhouse Planter Box in Tiffany Blue

Available in my Etsy shop.

Hydrangea in Brocante Style Planter

Hello Dear Friends,

Well, I didn't stay up very late. LOL, I'm getting too old for that...just can't cut it anymore. I did make one more little planter and then went to bed.
Got up this morning and made some Hydrangea to put in.
This is the first time I've tried Hydrangea and I got a little frustrated. My punch doesn't like to cut painted paper and the little paper petals weren't holding their shape very well after cupping them with the stylus. My observation is that I definitely need some crisper paper. Anyone have suggestions for papers to use?

I did manage to make some for the planter. Hope you like it :)

Cathedral Window Planter

Haha! Two posts in one day...ah well, hope I'm not boring you, dear readers.
I've just finished up this little cathedral window. I really like the way it turned out. I'll probably be up late making more and different styles of these, that is if I don't go to the hardware store looking for wire and solder! I'm hooked on wire now... :D

Shabby Miniature Bedroom Remake

Hello Dear Friends,

I've been refinishing some old furniture. What fun! The armoire was originally a very dark brown piece with ugly thick doors. I took those off and added the open doors from a cheap Michael's hutch. I added some mesh to them, painted everything black, sanded and then painted several coats of white, sanded some more and then added some gold stencil cream.

I still need to make rugs and some more soft furnishings and find a night stand. I also need to add some artwork to the walls and a chandelier for the ceiling.

Just a gentle reminder that my giveaway ends tonight, my time, @ midnight.
So far here are the entries. Please, please if you don't see your name here and you have previously contacted me because you couldn't leave a comment, let me know so I can add you!

1. Eliana
2. Inês Paiva Raposo
3. ultsu
4. Carmen
5. Plushpussycat
6. Patty
7. Maria Ireland
8. Linda Carswell
9. anna
10. Norma
11. Jennybee
12. Rosamargarita
13. Sharon
14. babette
15. rudoo
16. Dark Squirrel Victoria
17. Susan
18. Sans!
19. Britt
20. carmen
21. Kleine Vingers
22. TINK - SONIA
23. Margriet
24. Janne
25. Linda
26. Pilar
27. Eva - tatalamaru
28. maria l.
29. NarinaNäpertää
30. M Carmen Casanova
31. ANTONIA
32. Caroline
33. PAKY
34. Mona
35. No soy Job
36. Ascension
37. Terefer
38. sorty0
39. SaMiRa73
40. Katakliptiko
41. Contrastes-Rosa Mª
42. Marian
43. LavenderDilly
44. Heather
45. Iris
46. CrisColás
47. Sassy Marsha
48. Ingrid
49. linsminis
50. malu2
51. Pity
52. Flor
53. Patrizia
54. micia
55. miniaturista
56. Ana
57. Drora's minimundo
58. El bichillo
59. Fabiola
60. Yayin
61. by Sonya
62. b_e_i_s_
63. MALUGA
64. Teruka
65. Meapuntoatodo
66. Rosella
67. MAIJA
68. Roelie
69. Susi
70. Craftland
71. Post
72. MelyMel
73. Margot Ensink
74. Marta
75. Rosa-kreattiva
76. Marver
77. Virginia Isabel
78. Ana
79. otterine
80. auzilio
81. riekie
82. monique
83. Phred
84. Arantxa
85. Lilith
86. Minteriors
87. mcddiss
88. Maru
89. sylvia
90. Carolyn
91. Mari@
92. Margaret
93. amy fletcher
94. Marja
95. Loly Rodriguez
96. OLESHA
97. Eva
98. Dees
99. Blanca
100. rocinash
101. Chris P's Minis and More
102. Daydreamer
103. Estefanía

I will print the names along with the corresponding numbers and have my daughter draw from a hat in the morning :D

Good luck!

Hugs,

Daphne

Bed Linens

Greetings Friends,

It's a beautiful day!

I finished up the bed last night. Thank you all for your comments and advice. I agree that with the linens on the bed, the edges are softened making the bed look less clunky. I did like the idea of using the foot board as the head board but after repairing and painting the whole thing once already, I didn't want to tear it all apart again :)

The bed linens were made from a Rachel Ashwell, Shabby Chic valance that I got on clearance at Target...I've used the fabric from that for so many projects. It has beautiful embroidery on it and is a very fine, lightweight cotton.

The 'painting' above the bed is another Hobby Lobby find. They are putting out their Christmas items and this was among them. It started as a small metal plaque in a dark mossy green. I painted it and distressed it and then added some translucent stickers and topped it with some gloss.

The two little white pillows are made just like real pillows with cases and filled with fine glass beads so they will 'scrunch' naturally. The roses pillow was kind of a cheater pillow, I just made the pillow case and then filled and stitched closed. I want to add some smaller square pillows and a bolster.

Working on the Vermont Farmhouse Jr.

Hello Dear Friends!

Wow! Thank you all so much for your kind words!

I am tired...yes, I am. I've been building my first dollhouse. I've made roomboxes and dioramas for some time but this is my first dollhouse. The kit is the Vermont Farmhouse Jr. from Real Good Toys. I love the front porch on this one and it was very reasonably priced, especially with a 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby.

Putting the house together is not super difficult but it is time consuming. Kudos to the pros out there - it's hard work.

I must confess that I couldn't resist 'dressing' one room before finishing the porch and have not put on the roof! The temptation was just too great ;) I wonder how many newbie dollhouse builders have caved in to impulsiveness as I have?

I feel that this bed is too large and clunky for this room. What do you think? I am trying to use what I have or what I can make with what I have. This bed was mine in my childhood dollhouse and has been through many nephews and nieces...needless to say, I had to glue it back together. LOL. I have a whole box of things that need repair.

The little dressing table needs mirrors. Perhaps if I rearrange things a bit, the bed won't overwhelm the little dressing table? Perhaps I should just take out the dressing table but I really like it.

Of course the little chair won't be staying but I will make one specially for this room.

As you can see in the top photo, I've only gotten one cornice and drapes finished. I got really frustrated with them and so now must force myself to do the other one *grin*

This little dresser still needs knobs. It was missing all eight of it's drawers so I used strip wood to create false drawers and doors. The woodwork around the room was also made from strip wood.

Still a lot to do but it is fun fun!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Daphne