Organization...Catch it! It is Contagious! & Artist Highlight!

Hi everyone!

 Two posts in one day!?

I can't explain it. It just happened! Ok, there are always things I could be doing other than working on minis. Given a choice, I usually chose minis! The last few months, I have not put much time into them or even the blog choosing to do other things. Well, I had fun, but minis were always in the back of my mind.

ARTIST HIGHLIGHT!

And then it happened! I saw Hey it's Muff's last post. It was on organizing her fashion dolls et al.  When you go to her blog you can be sure you will come away having learned something new, fun and useful! I wish I were as skilled as she is. Her blog is such a positive place and her pleasant, friendly and playful personality really shines through as she shares her knowledge with everyone!  Isn't that why we all log into mini world? Stop by her blog and educate yourself while having a few giggles.

Anyway, something inside of me became motivated and I started cleaning, sorting and organizing my doll studio like a mad woman! The more I did, the more...I did! That was the answer! Clutter and disorganization dampened my creativity. Before then every time I would go in there I would do a little then just stand there not knowing what to work on next and I wasn't satisfied with what I did work on.

Now, I have created the Barbie section in the outer room liked I always wanted. I had to dismantle my beloved park. I tried setting it up in another location temporarily. It has to be moved to a better spot that will give it justice.

In my madness I got an idea for a high rise office building overlooking a park in the 1:12 room. I like it because it adds a modern-urban look. I may tweak it and remove most of the park area out front.

Today is the third day and I still have the organization bug! Sometimes we just need a little positive energy from our friends.

Thanks Muff! :-)


The shelving on the right will be changed to Barbie dioramas to keep the theme in this section. Right now there are 1:12 scenes. Landscaping will spruce up the neighborhood.  Something will have to be done with that boring wall. The car parked out front is actually a radio!

 

 

I bought this Barbie house the day before the organizing blitz. Would you believe it was only $5! I  just placed here, but with a little clean up and remodeling plus nice window curtains in the background the whole area will be gorgeous! I already had the shelving section at the bottom. It will become two more rooms!




Sitting out on the  side balcony watching the sun go down

I didn't realize how much Barbie stuff I had.
There is a boxful waiting to become dioramas.
 

The 1:12 Room

       
Two views of  the table with the office high rise and part of the park in the front. They are two shelves one placed on top of the sideways one on the bottom. I like them because they add a touch of urbanism to the 1:12 room. I like the atrium area.
 I have two more shelving sections left. Wondering where they may pop up. hmmm

These guys are just hanging out in the lobby for now  :-)

These are a few additions to current projects. Before now, I just couldn't really get into them like I wanted.

 

The partially finished bathroom in the big house. Some things like the tub tile wouldn't cooperate. I have a few more great features waiting to be installed

 

 The Chess-taurant.

 
That is a window frame on the left wall. It is not attached. I could not find just the right window scene to go in there. Then my printer would not function right sometimes. I had to back off for a while. There are a lot of accessories waiting to be added to the room. Note the chalkboard menu specials sign on the front left

I tried out the logo on to-go bags and a menu

 

The candy store in the Mall

Here are the new glass shelves in the mall candy store. I still need to make lots more candy to fill them! Click on the picture to see the details!

 

A bit more work and I will be finished. The candy dispenser on the left wall is micro beads glued into acrylic battery packaging. The shelving in the top picture on the right wall used to be scrabble tile holders now painted red.

More pictures to come soon!
 

 Click on pictures for a larger view

A Little Fashion Help From My Friends

There is a blog I follow called Desperately Seeking Dolls. The dolls in her collection is fabulous! She also shares the dolls on her wish list. So often I wish 1:12 dolls were so glamorous. I knew I was going to if not complete a repaint at least change a few things on one of my dolls at some point.

One day, while enjoying the posts I follow, I saw an action packet from the dollar store on a blog called Hey it's muff. I had the feeling the little boots (actually a cast!) would fit someone in my mini town. I looked in two stores before I found three packs at a dollar each. Since each pack only had one boot that meant I would have one and a half pairs of boots. lol

My intention was to mock them up by painting or adding other things. I did a fitting on one doll and fell in love with the way they fit. This particular doll has on permanent pumps which makes it very difficult to give her a change of shoes. You may remember her as Niecy the boutique owner from my doll stories. By the way, I am still getting scenes together to start them up again. The opening in the back will be closed with silver duct tape.

 Her dress is a Monster High skirt. This outfit gave me the courage to glam up her make-up.I gave her some new eyebrows (modeled after Desperatly Seeking Dolls' friends), refreshed her lipstick and blush. Her hair is a mohair  wig I ordered a couple of years ago. I wish I could remember who I ordered it from. It looked better when I first got it. I will have to either tame it, have her get a reroot or just make another wig.

Just trying on for size. I would like to add a little cuteness to the next pair



They are just on the border of looking weird or like casts (which they are supposed to be :-)

The split makes them fit well but a little silver tape couldn't hurt!



How about a glamour shot. lol

 P.S. Hey Muff your name will be mentioned in the next post too!

 

 

Click on picture for a larger view

Hope to see you soon!

Hi everybody!

Blogger is acting really wacky these days! It won't let me see more than one of the blogs I follow at a time and stays on that one post! I know I am missing really great posts, because that is why I follow you in the first place! I hope I can get back to you soon!

Lots of love and hugs
Grandmommy

Shelve It!

Hi Everybody!

Life should be slowing down in about a week or so. Then I will have more mini time (crossing fingers). I still think of them all of the time even when I can't get to them or blog about them. This post actually took me a week to get up!

I just had to show you this. I have had this idea for a long time. I finally decided to try it. Most of you probably already know about this trick. I wanted shelving and I didn't want to have to do a lot to get them looking right. You know, keep it simple. I also wanted the look of floating shelves with no brackets.

So, I bought some inexpensive microscope slides. The box of 72 came last week. I was anxious to try them out. I had to move everything around in the shops. When I put everything back in place, I know they will look great! Take a look at the shelves all over the place! I only had around 50 slides left within 15 minutes. LOL Perfect! Most of them went into the mall. I did put some in the Chess-taurant, though I really need to fix them better.

Now to order the slide covers for other ideas!

I had to make the pictures somewhat dark in order for you to see the shelves well.

CANDY STORE: I can put so many more goodies here now!

 

MEN'S STORE: Sorry I had to make it dark so you could see them better.
I also put some on the opposite wall

 

 

 

BRIDAL SHOP: The dove on top looks like he is flying, but he is on the glass shelf

 

SHOE STORE: On the upper left you can see more shelving.

 

 

This will be the new,
JEWELRY STORE:  You can be sure there will be shelves there too!

I do have a few tips for using them.

1. Try to keep them vertical while putting the glue on. I used superglue on most surfaces and just let it slide down the side.   After a few tries, you can do it without it getting glue on the flat shelf surface.

2. Remember you can not reposition if you use superglue so get it right the first time. It wouldn't stick on some wallpaper at all.

3. Once you get  superglue on the sticking side surface, you must clean it off well before trying to
 re-glue if it didn't stick the first time. It just won't stick to itself and the other surface.

4. Make sure the side you are gluing is flush against the wall so it won't be slanted when dried.


                                               Click on picture for a larger view

 

 

 



The other draperies influence by Elizabeth

Sorry, I deleted this picture from the last post in error. I used the tutorial from Studio E to make this one too! These are in the dining room.

Click on picture for a larger view

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

 

*********************

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

My Kind of Town II!

This is how I felt during and after leaving
                          Chicago!

This is just one of the three rooms and a long hall area lined with goodies at the Tom Bishop Show! Can you tell how far back it goes?
 There were three filled smaller rooms at the Linda Frye Show at another location

Look for the creators of this house at: TheLittle Dollhouse Company



This house was huge!



This is just to show the extensive electrical set up
 

What is so cool is all of his electrical parts are in the wooden compartment at the bottom. Those are real bricks!

The general store on the left was sold when I saw it. If I told you how much it went for I would have to use smelling salts to re-awaken you! lol



That is not the creator. Seems someone was always engaging him and
 I never got a picture of him. These two are by the same artist. Make sure you read the sign in the lower right for contributors

These sweet babies were created by Helga Sadowski of Germany
www.miniaturen-sadowski.de
ADORABLE!

Yes, her finger is in there. HAHA!

 

  

 

Anybody recognize  Karen? 
http://www.dollshouse.tv/programmes_searched.asp?skill=0&product=&presenter=55&searchbox=&Submit=Go? Click here to find out who she is!

Here are some of the things I purchased.  I was anxious to use some things so they are not here. I will have to tell about those in part III

Those are pillows on the left! Can you see the tiaras?

 

Heidi Ott shoes that actually fit my girls! Boots for my guys. Heidi Ott's son was actually the one selling them!

Unrolls to beautiful hair.
 I bought several more colors, but playing with them with my girls.

 

UPDATE!

If you look closely you can see the beak on the right.

This is where we are now! When my grands told me about it they said one egg, when I ran out and took pictures there were two eggs...now how...? It was so cute. It stretched open its mouth when I came. I guess it thought I was its mommy. I tried to get him to do it again for the camera, but I guess he was either tired or disappointed. lol There are two red colored birds that are always in that tree and squawk then fly away when I come. Are they the parents of one or all of these!  Hmmm



While I was outside taking pictures of my goodies...this guy showed up!