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

Hand Painted Miniature - French Rococo Kidney Side Table

 

Hello Friends :) Thank you so much for your kind words, so much appreciated.

I've done up another little Rococo piece. Still rusty with the painting...have get smaller!  I feel like the roses are a bit too large on this piece. It is so tiny and delicate. Very well made little piece that I purchased unfinished.

Still working on the website so I will probably list my first few pieces in my Etsy shop.

Hope you are having a wonderful day...trying to stay warm around here!

Chalk Painted Rococo Bombe Chest in 1:12 scale

Hello Friends,

It's been one of those weeks..really, I should say, one of those months or years, as it's just been one thing after another around here. Trying to keep my chin up.  I try not to post personal junk but life is getting in the way a bit here and I am a bit down. It will all work out. :) I apologize, not trying to dump on you, just had to get it out.

On to the fun stuff, I promised to post about chalk paint. I should have taken pics of how I mixed up the paint but I didn't...so, I will just explain. It is very simple, anyway.  I also wanted to give credit where due. I first saw the chalk paint mentioned at about.com in an article from Lesley Sheperd.

You need:
Acrylic or Latex Paint
Plaster of Paris
Water


I used regular old acrylic craft paint, folk art brand that comes in the small bottles. The kind used for decorative and tole painting.  I had some small jars here to mix the paints in.  I poured some bottled water into the little jar - about half full - and then put in small amounts of plaster of Paris till it was the consistency of a little bit thicker than liquid hand soap. Don't make it super thick and not super runny either.

Next, add your paint. I used about equal parts paint and plaster of Paris/water mixture.

My little jars have tight fitting lids and so far, only one has set up a tiny bit in the bottom and by chance that was the one that had a little bit less acrylic paint in it.

I made this paint in small batches, about two oz. or so.

So, here is the result. I only used the chalk paint as the off white base coat for this piece. It covered really well, I used two coats. This little bombe chest had a shiny red varnish on it to start. I did run some fine sandpaper over it just to give it some tooth but honestly, I probably wouldn't have had to. I distressed this piece a little more than I meant to but I kind of like the result. :)  I'm a bit out of practice with my decorative painting, I want to do some of these little chests with some pastoral scenes.  I also learned that my gold leaf paint needs to be sealed before you put antiquing gel on top...

All in all, really really like the soft, flat look of the chalk paint for base coating and the nice coverage it gives.

Hugs and kisses for now,  I hope you will try this and hope you have a wonderful weekend!

A New Face on Things or The Blogger Rage Epidemic

Seems everyone in blogland is pretty upset with this new interface. Thought I would take a look and see if I dislike it as much as everyone else.

It does seem to be a POS....

Just now, I typed a paragraph and then wanted a photo beneath, so typed paragraph and clicked little pic icon up top...hmmmm pic went above paragraph. DOH

Now, I have worked in graphic design and web development for a number of years...I can fix this, but, honestly...I don't have the flipping time to fool with this...Blogger, stop mucking around, will you?

First, you take our "Friends Connect" followers and fling the non-blogger ones out into the void...now yer messing with posting.

WordPress is looking rather fetching at the moment...

Ahem, the photo above is a little roombox I am working on. It is not 1:12 scale but closer to 1:8 scale. Somewhere between 1:6 and 1:12. For Lati Yellow and or Blythe but a bit shy height-wise for Blythe.

It is further along towards finishing now but I haven't taken pics. I have the window 'glass' cut and in place and all the trim on the inside finished as well as the furnishings.

Hmmm, okay so I WAS able to drag the photo around to wherever I like on the page...I won't lie and say I don't like that...but see, I haven't clicked preview or publish yet...let's see what happens....

Oh, I just noticed a little gear over there on the right...says 'Options'\

I'm thinking this may be a very important clue as to why so many are struggling...take a look at that...the last radio button choice there says "Use <br> tag or "Press "Enter" for line breaks"

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

A First Giveaway

Good Day!
I am honored, humbled, excited, thrilled, pleased, overwhelmed, joyful and flattered by the huge response and following of my blog postings. Thank you so much, I don't know what to say, I never expected to be of any interest with so much talent out there in the world. I wish I could invite you all over for tea and get to know you personally - unfortunately, that isn't possible but we do have this wonderful online venue to share, admire and encourage one another, no? Life is good and I am thankful :)

To all my followers, WELCOME! I will be mentioning and linking you all in a later post.

Without further ado, I present my first giveaway. I do sincerely apologize for not getting them finished last evening.

I am offering this little handmade Shabby French styled chair, a tiny framed wall portrait of Marie Antoinette and a lovely handmade French Flower Can with paper roses. The roses are not handmade by me.
I hope you enjoy these goodies as much as I enjoyed making them for you.

EDIT! I totally forgot to add a drawing date. Please be a follower of this blog and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing. The drawing will be held on Sunday July 31st, 2011 my time. Please become a follower and leave a comment by Saturday July 30, 2011.

Of Husbands and Mid Life Crises..Oh and Some Minis

Happy Weekend!

HAHA! As I write this, my husband has cranked up the Ramones on the stereo. I really think he is having a mid life crisis. He just bought a Karmann Ghia. Anyone want to give me advice on a middle aged husband? Feel free to email me or leave comments with tips on taking advantage of his condition, please ;)

WOW! 21 followers! I'd better get to work on the giveaway prize! A big WELCOME and Thank you for sharing my little world with me.

I have something special in store for you in the coming weeks. Nana will be making her debut along with some narrative and a bit of mystery. (aggh, hopefully, I dunno if I'm so good at writing mystery but I will try to make it fun.) The idea for the mystery/humor just hit me a little while ago. My husband was...ahem again, being childlike and setting off firecrackers...ladyfingers....and BOOM, the idea hit.

Enough babbling...here we go...
Paper Jug and French Can Spam...sorry. ;) I just love them.

I would love to know who came up with the idea. I saw them in a Japanese craft book and thought maybe that was where they originated? Anyone know?

I also attempted a paper pot, it needs lots of work. I might try them in clay instead.

The two little cake stands are cast in resin. I need practice and patience with that as well. LOL, I couldn't wait and took them out of the molds a little too soon. One thing about that though, the resin was still soft and malleable so one could shape it if desired. They do look like milk glass. I put the roses on the plates and the labels on the canisters a la Carolyn of Carolyn's Little Kitchen Thank you Carolyn!

Well, that's it for today, I must go entertain the children...even the big one.

Hugs,

Daphne

So, Hello! Diving back into the blog world...

It's been a long time. Hello.

I've closed all my other blogs and have decided to blog about miniatures and creating them. It's been a passion of mine from a very young age.

What is it about tiny things that intrigues and fascinates?

Why am I happiest when creating a tiny representation of real life?
Why "Court of Gypsies"? The Gypsies are my beloved dolls. This is their realm. ;)

So, here is the first of hopefully many happy postings :)

Welcome to Nana's Cottage.

I spent the weekend working on "Nana's Kitchen", the 1920's domain of a lively, lovely, little old woman who was "Shabby" when shabby wasn't cool. Her domicile is nestled in a rural valley; amongst many lovely old trees and a tinkling little brook.
She spends most of her time either in the garden or bustling about her tiny kitchen. Occasionally she will pull out her old Singer (okay, ahem, yes, I need to check some dates on sewing machines but for the sake of imagination, let us continue) ;)
... As I was saying, Nana, drags out her trusty machine for mending and the occasional fancy dress for Church.