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

A Fantastic and New (to me) Sculptress and Battling Facebook and Other Social Media

;)  Hello Friends,
How does that title grab you? Haha!

So, I ran across these little 1:12 figures on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/181494789/ooak-miniature-artdoll-112th-by-tatjana

 

Her name is Tatjana Raum. Tatjana, I hope you don't mind me posting your photo here.

You can see a gallery of her works on her website - http://www.chopoli.com/index.htm

and her blog - http://www.chopoli.blogspot.com/

Prepare to pick your jaw up off the floor. ;)

On to other, less pleasant topics.

Battling social media.  What? Why? You say?

I've been catching up with blogs for days now and I've noticed a trend.  Many bloggers have mentioned in one way or another the lack of posting by many (I plead guilty!!) and a decline in blog traffic. One blogger mentioned that she can remember a short while ago, opening her blog reader and being overwhelmed by the number of posts and not being able to keep up and read them all.  I have been thinking this myself. Where did all the beautiful posts and photos go? I really enjoy reading wordy, informative posts accompanied by beautiful photos!

 Many have pointed to social media as the culprit. I agree to a point. I think the combination of Google's betrayal by way of totally ruining/dropping Google Reader along with Facebook, Twitter and the multitude of other social media goodies out there has resulted in scattering us all to the four winds. 

Here is my challenge.  Let us do battle with the other social media venues! Let's start posting again on our blogs and promoting those posts via social media.  If you are having a giveaway, by all means, post it on Facebook, but direct traffic to your blog, have entrants post a comment on your blog rather than on your Facebook post. Push readers to your blog, entice them to slow down and once again discover the delight of a full blog post rather than a few lines of text. So many, more intimate friendships to be attained! 

I have nothing against Facebook (I just plain ole' don't get Twitter...bores the heck out of me, I'm too visually oriented for Twitter). I use Facebook often but I love blogging; blog posts to me, are akin to hand written letters from distant friends....Let's keep that alive!

Stepping down from the soap box. ;)

Have a wonderful weekend my friends.

~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

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