Love ALWAYS Wins

Even though I have been pretty quiet since my last post, I have been very busy. Most of my projects are medium to pretty big. I will share the updates in a future post. So, I needed a quick project I could complete just to feel a sense of accomplishment.

I looked at my mini church. As most of you know, it was completely built when I purchased it. I drew out some ideas for a renovation and began working on it when coincidently tragedy struck.

 On June 17th the embodiment of hate walked into a church, prayed with a group in bible study, then, massacred nine of them. I live in the state where this happened. The victims were wonderful contributors to society. The victims consisted of a state senator/minister, librarian, grandmothers and other beloved people.

The gunman wanted to start a "race riot!" Instead people came together in love and peace against hate. In court, the family members forgave the shooter. How noble! The whole country has been affected with a lot of shifted  thinking . As a result, many changes have already been made. I want my grandchildren to always see this as an example of the power of love over hate and so...

I have decided to dedicate my church in memory of those nine saints. It will have a prominent place among my other projects.

REST IN PEACE

 

To be able to understand the entire story
PLEASE,CLICK ON ALL LINKS
THANKS

Even though I am still working on it, I wanted to show what I have done so far. Look for the completed project soon!

 Click on pictures for a larger/better view

 

dollhouse 1:12 Church as purchased



Downstairs is the Pastor's office. Notice the floor.
It is actually printed photo paper I purchased on EBay
(papers on the floor are for the mini wastebasket) The desk will either be painted or replaced.



 

 

The attic will be where out-of-season items will be stored

The floor/ceiling was taken out to be painted.
I painted over the downstairs "windows'

These ladies are ready for service! (this with the floor/ceiling dry fitted)
 I have a stained glass I am going to add to the sanctuary.

This curtain fabric came in handy and fit perfectly.

Sorry for the dark pics I used a light and it made even it worse!

NOTE: Several years ago nine heroic firefighters were killed while on duty in Charleston. They were memorialized as the Charleston Nine.  Many people have now re-memorialized the victims of the church massacre as The Emmanuel Nine as a gesture of  respect to the firefighters.

 

A backwards contest! HEHEHEHE!

The contest will be over on Monday December 15th. I will give you the rules then. Right now...just take a guess at what you think it is. :-D  HeHeHe!

See previous post.

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My Kind of Town III, Artist Highlight and Bedroom Update!

 

I am sorry I have been absent for so long. Real Life is trying to be the boss of me! Nothing bad...just busy. :-) Things are still a little hectic around here. Because I have so much to share and so little time right now, there are going to be three segments to this post.  So grab a cup of coffee or whatever your poison and enjoy!

This is the view from the plane about to land at home. Chicago was fun!  I was happy from the show and happy to be getting home! I was so worn out!

 

 
I thought I would show you an update on the "Chess-taurant" along with more purchases from Chicago. I bought the chairs from the Heidi Ott dealer. I love the way my Heidi Ott doll fits in it. The two soda taps, napkin holder and milkshake maker were all bought there.



These chairs are Heidi Ott chairs. See how perfectly my Heidi Ott doll looks sitting on one? I wish I had bought more than eight!



These are for my Chess-taurant too. They were bought from various dealers from both shows.

More on that soon!

An Heidi Ott hat that fits my doll perfectly

 

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Please visit this Etsy store to see the absolutely gorgeous mini quilts. All are handmade! I was so sure I took pictures of them.
Tracy and her hubby were so friendly. It was great meeting them! I know you hear this all of the time, but believe me, these pictures don't do her work justice! https://www.etsy.com/shop/AngelsRestCreations?section_id=14780194



I could not leave out this artist. Her dolls are even more realistic then they look in pictures. Elle is such a lovely lady. It was a real pleasure meeting and laughing with her and her better half! Her website is currently under construction. Please keep trying. She makes custom dolls of people you love! What a great gift for a loved one!  http://www.ellepiccolodolls.com/ Her email is epartdol@hotmail.com

 

 

There was a working TV in one of the roomboxes! (I think it may have been a phone and DVD player like I saw in a blog once :-)  I can't find the picture of it (maybe I didn't take one lol) At any rate it was amazing! I know someone who might have pictures. I will share if I get them.

 

  

*ARTIST HIGHLIGHT! *

There is a lady whose work always makes me reflect. For me, miniature scenes are a lot about how they make me feel. Mood is a large part of the scene because everything must be known about it without any words. I use words like mystery and secrets when I describe her works. They are the kind that make you stare and make up stories about who just left and more importantly...who is coming back!

I must say this also. Elizabeth at Studio E is more than an artist. Her warmth as a person comes through her encouraging, sincere comments and humor. Her presence, on my blog, or her own shows her to be a miniaturist you want to be around and always glad she is there. Somehow she seems to see the best in every blogger and their work! Even when she gives loving advice.

When I highlight an Artist, I like to say how they have affected me. I wanted to make nice window dressings, but they would never come out right.  After Elizabeth gave her tutorial on using the pretty pleater,  I have been having fun making all sorts of curtains (I have three sizes of pleaters)! The two curtains below were made using her tutorial. I was even able  to use synthetic fabrics!
THANKS ELIZABETH!

Please stop by her blog and make up your own stories with her mood stimulating rooms.
http://studioeminiatures.blogspot.com/

  Here are a few things I have been up to lately...




Looking for a few accent colors to break up the matchy matchy. Probably some pillows, wall accent or the dust ruffle etc. I still need to adjust those hanging lamps, Arrrg!

This was originally either a napkin or placemat. I really like it. Wish there had been two of them. 

 

That wall area behind Nyla's head needs something. I am just not sure what. Thought about shelving, hooks with bathrobes hanging from them, a mirror or a bookcase. I don't know. hmmm  I even tried moving the "love" poster to that spot. No go.

  Also to come is the door frame that I forgot. I changed the mirror that came with the vanity. It was  Art Deco and didn't fit well. I am really excited about the chairs! The color is just right and they fit well with the vanity




The red on the back is really from the rug behind it.

You know, I really like this guy. He is just so hard to pose!



I like to make my family part of the process. My daughter and her daughter thought this magnet should go in here. So in it went!

If I had two placemats/napkins I would have been able to make the draperies longer. I wanted them to match the bed so I had to make the short version. I got a lot of glue on them so I will be doing something about that too. I was just too tired to take it apart and fix it. (These were made using the Studio E tutorial)

The table was cream. I painted it black and gold to match the decor.

 

 Hope you enjoyed it all!

Click on pictures for a larger view

Changing Room!

 My dolly friend came over to my duplex apartment/studio for the first time. The rooms definitely needed  reorganization and she gave me some advice. So, now I am going to make more room boxes to keep it less crowded rather than more large houses. Also, I wanted to be able to make quick scene changes for the doll stories instead of having static and unchanging scenes as with a house.  It would also be nice to be able to try things out before making them permanent in another roombox or house.The Universe heard me again! Every time I take pause about spending so much time and money on minis, I get confirmation that it is a perfectly fine thing to do. How did I get it this time?

Another great find! This is what is known as an Illuma-room. It was designed for the mini American Girl doll.
 At first when I saw it, I didn't know what it was, but thought it would be perfect for a room-box. The walls, floor and ceiling are inserts and removable. They are attached by magnets on the outer walls, floors and ceiling and within the inserts. All of the inserts are reversible meaning twice the options. They come complete as sets with furnishings. The rooms have ports in them for lighting and other electrical items. You can use a detached battery compartment, an electrical type platform or a transformer which  are sold separately. The ports on mine can't be tested as I don't have any appliances. I bought it for $4.89 not sure if I used a discount also or not. Even though I am excited about it, I still can't figure why it is made on an angle. Was it to save money?

Later, I went to the this store  and purchased wood panel wall inserts that I was going to use for flooring. I didn't realize what they were until I noticed the shape was the same as the Illuma-room. I never found the ceiling piece. It was probably there, but shopping in that place is hard work!! They were pretty heavy to buy by the pound because of both the wood and the magnets in them, but well worth it!

 American Girl has discontinued Iluma-rooms so it was a real find!

 Here is a website that shows a little more.
American girl-illuma-room

With the "Purple Room" walls that came with it

Here it is with no inserts and the magnets showing

The paneled look . It seems to be from the stable set. The walls are reversible to redwood.I didn't see the ceiling and I got tired of digging lol

A complete stable set found on Google

                                              

Gladys Bell is showing the scale is just right for her. Hi, Gladys Bell!

Here is the stable door

Found this on google images. They can be configured all sorts of ways. Things stick to the walls by the magnets

                                                

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Prying Eyes

Trey and Niecy were just about to snuggle closer when he noticed someone at the window...

Trey: Uh, Miss Haversham, may I help you?

Gladys Bell: Oh...I, I just happened to be passing by...er....how are you Trey?

Trey: Fine thanks and you? ( to himself: That Miss Haversham is something else. lol)

Gladys Bell: Ooh, I am just fine...Well, uh anyway CONGRATULATIONS!

Trey: Congratulations? On what?

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Hair today...

 My love for dolls aren't limited to 1:12 scale.  Barbies, BJD, reborns, you name it; I love them all. That's why when I was thrift shopping  one day my eyes and heart went towards these two beauties. At $1.49 cents each and  a 25% discount they had to come home with me. I snatched them up so fast I didn't notice a problem with one of them.

Seems someone, feeling creative, took a pair of shears to the head of one.  "No problem," I thought. I will just cut off all of her hair and make her a boy ala my froggy stuff.

As it turns out, the doll wig fairy appeared at a local thrift store a few days later. A shopping cart with an assortment of new dolly wigs was at the front of the store. They were only.49 cents apiece! I picked up a few in different sizes. Now several of my other dolls including my five Liv dolls have hair options. They wanted to show you themselves, but I told them we would do a post about it another time.

Aren't they pretty?

She is so brave smiling although she is hurting inside

OUCH!

(Apparently she is hurting on the outside too!)

To the rescue

Ahhh so,so much Better!

What a difference a wig makes!

Yes, they are pretty!

Click on picture for a larger view

Circular Wall

 When I saw this wooden place-mat, I knew I would find a purpose for it. And of course, I did! The color was more green than the teal look it has here.  The kitchen in the largest dollhouse (I need to give them names) is going to be black and white with red accents.

The walls needed something more than the usual. So... I painted one black, then painted the place-mat red and put it over the black wall. 

I had a difficult time deciding what color the crown molding should be. I have decided to make it red to give the wall a complete look.

Surprisingly it was easy to cut to size!

 I took the pictures before I added the crown molding and touch-up so you can see the black wall

I like the way the diamonds between the circles match the ones in the flooring.

It actually makes the ceiling appear higher!

The cabinetry has an oak finish. I wanted to use the marble kit in my stash for the counter tops. I also have something similar to black granite. I  thought of painting the cabinets black, but I love the oak. Hmmmm Maybe I will just buy another set of cabinets.

Click on pictures for a larger view

Retail Therapy

 Nora does a little retail therapy at the mall where she runs into an old friend. I refer to her as an "old friend" because I really like this doll. She is posable and has red hair. She will show up later with a name and a life in the hometown. lol Right now she is just a fill-in.

The store is in the mall I started some time ago. I now have a lot to go into the various stores so I am working on those too. Ah, the throes of A.D.D.! LOL

Old Friend:    Oh my goodness!Nora!
Nora:      Hey there! How have you been? 
Old Friend:  Great! I just got a promotion, so I am treating myself to a pair of shoes. What's up with you these days?    (I love that  circular rack behind them!)

Nora:  I am moving back to my home town.
Old Friend:  When!
Nora:   In a couple of weeks. We are waiting for Troy's transfer to be complete
Old Friend:   I wish you two all of the best.

                                                             

Nora: Thank you. I will keep in touch I promise! Bye!
Old Friend: You better! Bye!

The yellow and white shoes are glass rings that go on stemware. The ring part came off easily and can be used for a choker necklace. I don't have the faintest idea where that other shoe comes from, but I love it!

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Latest goodies

 When you work with minis it almost seems your eyeballs become smaller. Or maybe it is your brain. At any rate when my eyes saw this my mind said...O-O-O-O look at the bookshelf/wall unit! It is actually a printer's draw. No, not the kind you plug in,but the person who used to print newspapers and things with a machine. One end has an easily removable handle and is just the right size for a mini scene. I put some of my magazines in it to show the scale. It is also compared with a standard commercial dollhouse bookshelf I bought on eBay.

I love the various size shelves

There is one screw on either side of the handle. I am sure I will find a use for that too lol

The smaller one does not cover a whole wall. The larger one can be a whole wall lol

Speaking of magazines...here is another one I made

Interior two pages of same magazine

These folks are just hanging out and deciding on what kind of room this will be.

I thought this would be a cute store front once the back is taken off...and used for something else of course.  This is to show the size compared to the  other box.

As  you can see the racks are the length of the walls in the larger box.  A store maybe? The little red house is somewhere between a large dog house and a child's playhouse. 

 Some of the cashiers at the thrift shop I bought these in just can't figure out what I am doing with all of this stuff. There doesn't seem to be a rhyme or reason for the things I buy. One day I will explain. LOL

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