CHESS-TAURANT UPDATE!

Hi everybody!

WOW! I can't believe I have not posted since July! I totally missed August! Well, I am here now and want to show you a few updates of the Chess-taurant. I plan to do a few things more tomorrow so I will be closer to finished or finished. There will be more details because we know how important details are for a mini scene. There are also wall etc. touch-ups

Sorry, everything looks a bit jumbled. This was just to share something with you in case I don't get to post again within the next few days. Things will be neater once finished.

Don't forget to tap on the pictures to make them bigger!

Front view. The scene from the window on the left is  from photo I took of the outside of the Chicago Art Institute. I still have one more panel to put in and work on the window frame 

Things are still a little out of place. The window frame is actually the mat from a picture frame painted gold. I don't think I will keep it that color. The right wall will have framed pictures.

Right under the posters on the wall will go a cooler. I made the barstools.
The bowl is one half of a party favor rattle. I will go more into detail on the other things in the next post.

Sorry you can't see this very well. These are chips I made from clay

I made the platter of sandwich rolls and the sparkling cider bottles were once bowling pins.

The right wall needed something so I decided to make it comfortable with a fireplace like Panera Bread or Atlanta Bread company restaurants.

This is the women's restroom. It says "Queen" on it and the men's says "Kings."
Sorry you have to turn your head to see it. lol I just couldn't seem to get it right side up!  I will have to take a better one

 HOPE YOU LIKE IT!

 

( I have more projects I have been working on to share with you soon!)

 

Click on picture for a larger view

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

Click on picture for a larger view

Getting Set Up For The Doll story-a Living Room

Life has been interesting to say the least. I am performing at my highest ADD level! I don't think I can add another project on my plate!

Right now, the move to the duplex apartment behind my house is the most taxing on my creativity. Half of my supplies are out there and the other half is, well,  your guess is as good as mine. LOL Nobody told me you had to be organized to get organized!

I am taking this opportunity to add to some of the projects I started some time ago. Here is a traditional living room with a pass through to what will be the kitchen. The furniture will have to come out because  I have lots more to add to the room.
Will keep you updated!

 I put in the floors. I need to knock out those wrinkles on the wall.



I doubt if I will keep the "bamboo" shade. I need to put a nice finished edge on all sides. 

Click on picture for a larger view

The Front Porch Part III

I know you have been wondering what happened to The Front Porch III. I was trying to hold off until I could get back to Greenville and get a picture of the creator of those wonderful dollhouses and roomboxes.
Well, between my schedule and his we just could not get it together.

So, I am going to tell you a little about the man behind the dream dollhouses and roomboxes. The Front Porch has been in operation for over fifty years. At one time, the owner, Tom Henry had the largest dollhouse business in the South East United States. His work has included miniature duplicates of local mansions. Many years ago, before many of us were even involved with miniatures, Tom was in his local newspaper for his lovely houses.  The "well to do" sought him to make duplicates of their own  homes, orginal dollhouses and supplies or to have their dollhouses repaired. Here are some of his other works of art:

Thank you so much Tom and Karen for indulging me and allowing me to get these great photos.





One of the many houses in Tom's photo album



The Front Porch "a step back in time"

Tom makes the news. Click to see the date in 1977

Click on picture for a larger view

The Front Porch Part II

I had a hard time deciding what I would show next. So here is a collection of the various houses I saw at the Front Porch. Part III will be about the trains, the rest of the shop and the man who created it all. Enjoy!

Front
We can't forget the military!

Back



Front.
I really like this one with the porch and shingles. It isnt fancy, just neat and homey.

Back

Notice how thick the walls are. This was made pre-kit days. It is actual lumber laid out, measured and cut.
The people add to the vintage feel.

Roomboxes are also a part of the collection.

I loved his collection of period dolls.

Barbie lovers and other dolls collectors aren't left out

This is a cute set up with Ken. Notice the kitten lol

Click on pictures for a larger view

The Front Porch Part I

I have found that when you let someone know about your passion they usually can't help getting a little caught up in it too. My son happened across a man who happened to be a dollhouse icon. Forty years ago he was busy building dollhouses and roomboxes from scratch lumber. The kinds of houses we dream of today. More about this man later [after I get pics of him :-)]. First, lets look at his magnificent work. While you look, notice the sturdiness of the walls and floors. The Front Porch is an unassuming store that defies definition. In it you will find a fine collection of dollhouses, buy some vintage clothing or housewares or just a nice juicy peach to eat.

I will have to break this into several posts for you to be able to appreciate this treasure.

For the last fifteen years I have passed this store several times when in Greenville, South Carolina never noticing it or knowing of the  treasures within.

When you pass these on the shelf on the actual front porch you get the feeling there may just be a mini lover within.

This is the view as soon as you walk into the store and look to your right.

This is one of the first houses in my view

I walked behind it to see this set up. Miniature train and all!

Karen, a mini-lover for over 40 years,was happy to explain the history of the houses. This house was first built for a customer in 1981 who returned it recently to have it refurbished for her granddaughter.

Look at all of those rooms to decorate!

View #1 of the front of the largest house in the house.

 EVERYTHING in this house was HANDCRAFTED! The furniture was hand made by a craftsman from Africa.

Can you imagine the work that went into paneling those walls? These kind of details are evident in all of his work.

View #2 the other end. I love that little door!


Keep looking for parts two and three. I think I can squeeze it all within three posts.