Spring is almost here! Little lavender pots to brighten the day

Hello Friends,
Just a quick little post while I am waiting for the furniture delivery men.
I am awaiting our new sofa and loveseat.  Please don't take that as braggadocio, lol, if you saw our ten year old sofa you would understand. The dogs and children have done their duty - it is a filthy, saggy mess and I cannot wait to see it leave my home and go on its way to sofa heaven.

So, anyway, here are some little miniature pots and planters filled with lavender and other greenery. These were made using the ground up paper from my last post.

 Have a great day!

~Daphne

Nordic French Brocante Style Chest of Drawers in 1 Inch Scale

Good Sunday Friends,

I've been playing with some ideas. We've got 'weather' again (read that blech, more snow!) so the Nordic French style is quite apropos with its coolness and light. Doesn't necessarily make one feel 'warm and fuzzy' but it is lovely in its stark, time worn way.

Don't mind the crazy over-sized lavendar, lol, I need to get out my flower making supplies and make some more realistic looking plants.

I really like the motif on the chest of drawers - what do you think?  I definitely want to explore this technique.

The dress form and chair are  Chrysnbon  kits (available in my shop, contact me if you'd like to order) that I have painted and distressed. The little chaise lounge is a cheaper wood piece that I reupholstered with linen. In retrospect, I wish I had made it a little more plush with a thicker seat cushion with piping...maybe I will re-do it.

Hope you have a lovely evening!

~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.

On My Work Table...

...waiting to be finished. :)  Two Bespaq pieces.  The legs on these are so delicate.
Please be sure to visit my new website - www.courtofgypsies.com 
I have placed my first order with my supplier and will have some lovely things listed soon. I'm very excited as this has been a dream of mine for a long time. Someday, I would love to open a brick and mortar dollhouse shop but for now, it will have to be online.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

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!

Shabby Morning Light

  

The latest room box.

A customer of mine requested a room box similar to the little room box used in the header image of this blog. I was surprised that she wanted something as 'dirty' and distressed as the original little box but she said, "Yes, please make it as close to the original as possible".  It's funny but I really struggle to make the same thing twice, things always turn out differently. In the end, she was quite pleased with the images, just waiting for the package to arrive. Makes me nervous, hope she loves it as much in person as she liked the photos.

This little box can be completely disassembled for storage and the walls are reversible. Many possibilities there :).  The room box is in 1:12 scale.

The little day bed is from a vintage kit - the table I really couldn't tell you, I think it came in a lot of furniture I found in a thrift store. The chair came from the same vintage lot. The little hutch is a Michaels craft hutch. I printed the wallpaper on my home printer and distressed it with chalk pastels and inks. Basket and teapot and linens by me.

I have another, larger scale roombox in the works and I do have a chalk painted bombe chest to share with you in my next post. The chalk paint worked beautifully.

On a non-mini, side note; is anyone else having trouble with their blogger dashboard reader?  I was using it last night with no problems but when I logged in this morning - poof - it says I'm not subscribed to any blogs??!?!? wha?? *cry*...Hope it's just a glitch as I had the max of 300 or 350 (whichever it is) favorite blogs in there!

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"

Dreaming of French Dollhouses

Hello Dear Readers!

This is our new friend :) Well, actually two new friends, this little fellow has a brother that looks very much like him. They are both very sweet but have different personalities. We need to name them. Name suggestions??

We took them both so one wouldn't end up in the pound.

I've been working on the Vermont Farmhouse... Still a work in progress. I've been playing with the French Brocante look but it really doesn't suit this house. I love this style though and will eventually have to build my dream house. I will probably change most of this out but for now, I am having fun!

I made another little chair and received my lovely desk and side table from Minis De Eva. Thank you! I love them.

The little book was made by Cockerina, it is so lovely!

I also made this little sofa a la Christine Lea Frisoni's pattern and instructions. I am going to try one in wood with sculpted legs and arm rests.

The outside of the house is farther along than this but I didn't get pictures of it yet. The windows and door are installed and the gable is finished. I think I am going to leave out the stairs and plug up the hole in the second floor - only because I want the extra space! Maybe not, haven't decided yet.

The swap gift for Cockerina's Swap is finished. I hope she likes it! It's so hard not to post photos until the appointed time ;)

My Minis Available in my New Shop

Hello Friends,

LOL, sick of the bedding yet? I have created a shop page. This set is available on that page.

The set consists of a fluffy ruffled comforter, three pillows, a bolster and square throw pillow.

The comforter and throw pillow have been embroidered by machine.

I want to apologize, for some reason, I can't post comments on my own blog and have been getting notes from other members stating that they cannot 'follow' me and some that can't comment...I don't know how to fix this...anyone know?

Frustrating....

EDIT!! THANK YOU CATERINA! :)

I have changed my settings in my blog dashboard and can now respond to comments and hopefully, those who couldn't comment earlier, can do so now.

I switched the setting for the comment box to a popup and was able to post my comments.

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

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