B E A N S

Canned Green Beans :)

Ooops...Did it Again

I couldn't help myself. I really want to finish the farmhouse and it was just not doing it for me. The cottage chic look was cute but just not right. Sooooo....

Need to brush some aluminum paint on that faucet...way too shiny...

 I ripped everything out, including the dividing wall on the ground floor and started from scratch. Still working on the other half of the open floor plan.

 I still have quite a bit of trim to do and am thinking of washing the yellow to tone it down a bit. What do you think? Is it too bright? Nothing is glued or fixed permanently...thank goodness for museum wax! But, I learned NOT to leave the house sitting in the sun too long..*snicker and a few choice words*

 Much better...wish this was my kitchen!

 Ahhh, yes, and I made some canned goods! Oh my, am I ever hooked on that. :) So much fun. I tried a couple of different methods and really like the glass jars the best...wish I could find some a little bit smaller.
The tiny jars are clear resin poured in molds or pencil erasers...thanks to a tutorial found here...brilliant!
*TIP - I cut up the stems from tiny plastic plants found at the craft store (never, ever throw anything away!) for some of the green beans...they look amazingly like the real thing. Will take some better close up shots of the jars later.

 Not sure about the white shelf above the window...does it look wonky? Should I custom make one to go straight across at the same level as the top of the cabinet and window?

 The corner cabinet is scratch built, not sure if I like it here either...oh, no...there I go again....

 I made the sink...err...well part of the sink. I had the little cabinet but needed a sink!

Here are the pieces, but if you notice, I decided to extend the counter top and put the little curtain beneath it so I had to cut another top and make a 'leg' for it. The top is balsa wood and the sink is made from plastic packaging (from who knows what?  I have no idea but again, don't throw that away!!) ;) I've found that Apple Barrel brand GLOSS paint will stick to plastic really well and is perfect for faux porcelain and enamel. Dries really fast too. I haven't tried to sand it though. I do light coats so as to minimize brush marks.
Hmmmm...now to clean up the messes I've made....

Happy Day!

Away Too Long!

Well....Hello! I have missed you and missed blogging! I am so sorry, I didn't mean to stay away so long. It's been an icky winter. There won't be a long list of excuses, just life in general, getting in the way of hobbies. I hope to try and catch up on all my favorite blogs.  And, I come back to find that Blogger is yet again doing something crazy to layouts and my beautiful fairy background is gone all wonky and I couldn't figure out how to fix it..ugh...sorry for the ugly, plain blog. Will try to find time to work on it.
I have 'unburied' my ministuff and dusted off the farmhouse (as well as acquiring two Coventry Cottage kits) and am eager to work on some new ideas.
For now, I've redone the kitchen in the Vermont Farmhouse..ahem, but I'm really thinking I might start all over on that house and make it a country primitive style, which I love very much..almost as much as shabby.
I kept looking at the house and just knowing that the French/shabby/elegant theme was all wrong for that style of house. I knew it when I bought it.
Still can't make up my mind, maybe that means I need another kit for the country/primitive house, a saltbox and yet another for the Shabby French? HAHA, any excuse to build another house?  I do love this front opening house for the French house:

http://shop.greenleafdollhouses.com/Cheltenham-Front-Opening-Dollhouses.html
or this one (I saw one at a show and it was much cuter than this pic and I would add another floor to the bottom:

Still looking for a true New England style saltbox kit. I may have to coerce hubby into helping me build one from scratch. I would also like to tackle some room-boxes, my father cut some for me in 1/6th scale but I asked him not to cut the windows as I hadn't decided what size or where to put them...duh, now I have to try and do it myself.

Meanwhile...

I've been painting little hutches and cabinets and decorating the farmhouse kitchen.

Sorry for the above, horrible photos...hubs has misplaced the camera battery charger - had to resort to my phone camera.

 I love making kitchens ;)

I found the little stove in a local antiques mall. It is metal and sooo cute!

I think it might be 3/4 scale though? I purchased a new/old fashioned stove and it dwarfs this one.

Some ReMent that is really too large for this scene but I love the Pyrex colors :)

I hope you are all well, and happy.

XO

Pay It Forward

Hello friends :)
I think it's time I did a little pay it forward.
When I first started blogging, a very lovely member of the miniature community featured my blog on her own.
This was such a nice gesture and brought me quite a bit of traffic very quickly.  I would like to do something similar in turn.
If you haven't visited Carrie's blog -  http://alavenderdilly.blogspot.com - you are missing out!
Carrie is very talented and has a knack for realism.  Go check it out :)



I've been busy busy but haven't any photos of minis today :( sorry about that!
I've got several things finished and some new projects in the works.
Hope you are all well!
Hugs,
Daphne

Happy News!

I just got word that my application for membership with AIM has been accepted. I am happy. Truthfully, I thought I had been denied membership as I hadn't any response other than one back in July stating that my application had been received.
The new issue of AIM Imag is out as well.

I've missed blogging and sharing with you, my friends!! I apologize for being away so long and a special apology to Sonya, I haven't posted pictures of her generous swap gifts! So lovely! I adore the little canisters.
Here they are:

Thank you so very much Sonya and Thank you,Caterina for organizing the swap!

I've been so crazy busy, just no time to play with minis really, at least not enough time to stage photos etc.

I've also been stocking my shop with Fall dresses for Blythe dolls:

I've also given this little dolly a make-over...gotta' love those freckles!

Click to enlarge.


And, I found a great deal on two dollhouse kits...couldn't pass it up. I bought two Greenleaf Coventry Cottage kits (I didn't buy mine at the link, got them from an individual).
I'm thinking about kit bashing and maybe combining the two kits to make one larger house...I don't know if that will work....

I have lots more things to show and tell and will post again soon!

hugs,

Daphne