Living Room

The first room I worked on was the living room. As you walk in you'll find a very cozy family room. The picture on the wall was made from a present tag my brother attached to his gift to my daughter a few years ago. I thought it was perfect for a painting. The backgammon game was a kit I put together for my brother who taught me to play. The Christmas tree I made from scratch and I am not totally happy with it but it'll do for now. Presents are piling up with so many people celebrating together. The baby walker is for my children when they were babies they had one very similar. There's a Loto ticket on top of the tv for my dad who likes to play the quick pick. The massive tv is a nod to my childhood and we have pictures of my brothers laying on the floor watching it.. There will be a scene of Charlie's Brown Christmas on it eventually as my brothers used to watch it each year. In the corner is White Christmas album. There are many reasons for this besides that I love albums. 1) Bing Crosby is one of my favorite singers. 2) After I discovered him for myself I found out later that my grandmother,  who had by then passed on and I hadn't gotten to know well, was enameled with him. So much so she nicknamed my uncle Bing.  Always felt that gave me a connection to her I didn't have before 3) The first time I watched the movie I was spending a month one summer with my brother and sister in law. She had me watch it while we painted ceramics and it is one of my favorite memories. The sewing/crochet chair is for my mom who loved to crochet as I was growing up and the sewing for myself. We crocheted many blankets together. Of course there is a glass of lemonade at the ready as anyone who knows me knows I am addicted to Koolaid Lemonade. I will be making pillows for the glider rocker. My mom has always loved having one. There are still many tiny details I want to add to this room such as an area rug, more yarn in the basket, a project in progress in the craft chair, and wall shelves for Christmas statues and decorations. That completes the tour of the living room for now, on to the dining room.

2 years later...

Where to start?  My last post I hoped to not have a huge space between posts. I guess I shouldn't have said that because it has been two years since I posted here. So much has happened. A quick summary of my life since then will catch you up. Both my kids are now in school and doing great. I changed jobs after 8years and am now an accounting specialist and am enjoying it. I no longer dread going to work and I am not so angry and unhappy. I hadn't realize how my unhappiness with my jobenvironment  was leaking over into my home life till I changed jobs. We have moved two times. The first was back in with my parents while we saved and searched for a home to buy. We found one in November 2015 that was being built and we were fortunate enough to be able to purchase it and move in February of 2016. Two story home with seperate rooms for my kids and a craft room with walkin closet for me. I lost one of my fur babies right before the move. He was a beautiful 9year old Red Point Siamese and it was a complete shock. Ok, all caught up. With the new space and after everything had calmed down I have gotten back to my miniatures. My larger House of Memories has the first two floors  completed and are just having accessories added as I find or make them. The attic needs the trim and lights installed and will be done. As blogger is giving me fits upoading pictures I will be doing a post for each room. That way I can talk about them in detail too.

Lots of stitching

It's been a very long time since I last posted. I haven't done any miniatures lately, although j did get some furniture for Christmas for my large dollhouse, but mostly I have been cross stitching. I finished 3 felt stockings before Christmas and almost got a 4th done. Besides those I have also gotten 3/4 of the way done on my daughter's afghan and worked a lot on my cross stitching. I have multiple projects on the go in the cross stitching department and have a loose rotation of working on whichever one is the loudest. Here is where I am at on these as of this morning.

Pansies is working up fast. I have a very small portion of the chart left that will fill in the vase and one flower and leaves at the bottom.

This is Boreas by John Waterhouse, a Heaven and Earth Design Pattern. I have lost count how many times I have started this one. This one is for my husband.

This one I hope to finish and hang in my office at work. It is titled Hit Any Key by Randall Spangler, another Heaven and Earth Design pattern.

I finished the first page of 12 dancing princesses. HAED, I absolutely love these patterns. I have another one I will be starting called Mini Kathleen and Summer by Hannah Lynn HAED. This one struck a chord with me and I will be stitching it with my daughter in mind. I have two projects that I am fighting becoming UFOs, Moonlit Waters and a SODA pattern that I started as a match to the one I finished of my kids. MoonLit Waters I still love but I have been unmotivated to work on it. The other one I haven't worked in in months, so I dragged out yesterday and put in about 20 or so stitches before setting it aside.

And finally, the embroidered phoenix. An Anchor freestyle embroidery kit that my husband got me for Christmas two years ago. This works up quick. In fact I have most of the stump done and the first section of the tail feathers completed but apparently forgot to take an updated photo. It only took me a few days to do this.

On an non stitchy or craft topic I bought myself a 19" TV for my bedroom so I now have my own TV to watch while stitching. Much better than fighting for the living room. As a birthday gift my parents bought me plugin speakers for it and a bluray player with built in wifi so I have access to all my favorites like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, Vudu and YouTube. He speakers are amazing, makes the sound so much better than the TV. I think my setup is now the best in the house. Plus my kids can come sit on the bed and play board games while I stitch. Very cozy. 

Another birthday present to me was a trip alone to Phoenix to spend the weekend with my sister-in-law. It was wonderful. Full of laughs and stitching and shopping. I had my very first professional pedicure and I now know what the draw is. That was relaxing. I also made my first trip to the Attic Needlework shop in Mesa. I have wanted to go for about 2 years now and finally had the opportunity. Oh my! It exceeded my expectations. We ended up spending hours there and I could have stayed all day. In fact we ended up at the checkout counter 11 minutes after their closing time. We didn't realize how late it had gotten and they were kind enough not to remind us of their closing time. I will be going back with a large allowance. So many wonderful things to see and patterns to buy. I bought quite a few things but I didn't take pictures to share yet. Untill next time, let's hope it's not as long a wait.

Cross stitching

I have been working on my cross stitch project and trying to be good about finishing it before Christmas. However, lately I have been needing something for myself alone so I dug through my stash and found a Mar/Apr 1989 cross stitch magazine that had patterns for a set of the 12 days of Chtistmas ornaments. I have always loved this Christmas carol in ornament form and decided it is about time I started them. Here is the first day of the partridge in a pear tree, only half way done due to a misread symbol. The first try had the partridge looking like it had chicken pox. 

If it hadn't been for that incorrect color used originally this little guy would be almost finished. I am doing them on 14ct aida, mainly because I have a lot of that and want to use it up. There are supposed to be little hearts on either side of the main design. I am contemplating skipping those. I'm not sure I really like them. We'll see.

A 1950's housewife

 I finally found an inexpensive season one dvd set of the Donna Reed Show. I am ecstatic! I have been on the hunt for this for a while now but it seemed to be out of print. When I had found any for sale they were $60 to over $200! Outrageous! But on a whim I  checked  eBay and  found a used but very good condition complete season 1 for a whopping $35 including shipping! Needless to say I snatched that baby up. I don't have any of the other seasons but this is the best place to start I think. I have seen episodes online and just lived this show.

The other night I ordered season 4 of I Love Lucy. I have the first 3 and am almost finished watching season 1 and have loved it. When I was little I couldn't stand this show. Her cry was like nails on a chalkboard to me. For some strange reason (maybe it was the less than $10 a season price tag) I decided to give it another shot. I am so glad I did. Elora has climbed up beside me to watch, too. She likes Lucy but doesn't know her name. She refers to her as the mustache lady after an episode that Lucy glues a beard and mustache to her face to get Ricky to shave his, and then she can't get it off. She laughed so hard over that, it was great. 

No progress pictures this time, haven't had time. Tonight was meet the teacher night and Aidan got to meet his first grade teacher. He is super excited about his first day tomorrow. I can't wait to hear how it goes.

End of summer blues

 I have been somewhat quiet lately. The end of summer is fast approaching and my son will be starting first grade this year. Both kids are growing up so fast I feel like I am missing a lot of it. Elora is already excitedly talking about kindergarten next year. I'll have to take that day off definitly! LOL. 

I have been keeping myself busy working on multiple projects. The biggest one was re-organizing and cleaning out my craft closet. That took awhile but it is done and looks sooo much better. I know where everything is and I have made a huge downsize from the previous craft room to a craft closet. I also cleared off and around my craft table, and set my sewing machine up in it so it can actually be used without wresting it from it's storage spot. There is still my bookshelf to tackle and my plastic storage drawers of ceramics to weed through. It feels good to get rid of things I am never going to use or do. Makes me able to breath better.

Not the clearest picture but is the best I can do, ignore the shoes. This happens to also be my clothing closet, all on the other side of the closet. Also, on the side you can't see are three large dollhouse kits. 2 are House that Jack built kits, Cheryl's place and KottonKandy. There is also a large plastic tub full of felt kits and about six small plastic rectangle boxes with scrap fabrics, glues and foam brushes. I have taken all magazines and books not associated with an in progress project and moved them to the office so I can go through them all at the same time.

The other projects I am working on: I am attempting to finish some UFOs, mainly the ones I want done before Christmas this year. I dragged out Pansies cross stitch and have been working on that each night. I also have Elora's plastic canvas Calico Critter house in easy reach to work on when I am not in the living room. 

I got a little further on the bottom right corner last night. This is a very easy and relaxing project.

In the meantime I have put aside my quilt blocks untill I have finished these. I have fully enjoyed piecing these blocks together (the little I have done) and have already picked out my next quilt. I never start small and simple so my full on learning quilt will be a Dear Jane. What a challenge that will be. I have the software in the mail and will begin playing with colors soon. I already ordered a 12 yard bolt of fabric for background fabric. Fingers crossed that will be enough.

Quilting

I took the plunge and started quilting. I have been wanting to learn for years and the other day I decided it was time. I have been working on some embroidered blocks for a twin size quilt for my daughter but I wanted a practice quilt first. Using the book Jelly Roll Samplers I started the classic sampler quilt. I tried using my sewing machine but I have never felt comfortable with it so hand piecing and hand quilting it will be for me. 

There are a lot of things I learned from this first block, and there is room for improvement but I really love how it came out.

And I have already cut the pieces and sewn the half square triangles together for the second block, it's already to be put together.

I did the first block over the weekend. Last night I sewed the last  5 of the half square triangles together for the second block. Already my stitches are becoming more uniform and tiny, I am very pleased with the results and by hand is definitly relaxing.

Another stocking done

Another stocking front completed. I was going to do the liners and backing a to all the completed fronts but I misplaced the font I wanted to use for the names so I am stuck untill I can reprint it. In the meantime I cut liners and backs for two of the stockings. I need to buy some more red felt to do this one. I completed 55of the pieces over the past two days. 

Here are some detail photos:

Tonight I organized my box for another kit. This one is for myself and I love the color palette. Here are the threads. 

PC Barbie House

I only need to sew the front door in place and my daughter's bottom hallway to her plastic canvas dollhouse will be complete. I have had a blast making this for her. Each time she sees a new section complete her excitement is contagious. I want to start the kitchen next but I think I will make the foundation (again, last one was crushed during our move) that way when I do get the kitchen done maybe she can play with the first floor while I make the rest. I say maybe because I am seriously considering giving the complete house it to her either in her birthday or Christmas. We shall see if I can hold out that long. 

That is the front of the house where the door will be seen to cover the back of my stitching.

And that is Elora's favorite part, the stairs. It is amazing how sturdy this feels once it is all sewn together. You can see the  pattern book under this with it's pages all a mess. I haven't been rough with the book but all the pages I have finished have fallen out. The rest of the book is still held together. I did buy it used and the glue felt a bit brittle so I think that has more to do with it than me being destructive.

In a way I feel guilty about this project. My son watches me working on this, knowing it is for his sister. He oohs and ahs along with her over each new part and is excited to see it come together. The guilt part comes in that I have nothing to make him. When this is finished and I give it to her I would like to have something I can give to him that I made just for him. Any suggestions out there? I thought maybe a plastic canvas car carry case but I can't seem to find a pattern for one that I like and think he'd like. The one I did find hangs on the wall but I want one he can carry around with him. Or maybe something not plastic canvas, I'm not sure.

Moving in!

Beware a picture heavy post awaits! The first and second floor are finished, the attic walls are done and the templates laid for the flooring. At the moment that is as much as I can do to the attic until I get supplies but I have deemed the house move in ready. The kitchen will have a few more accessories later but essentially it is done. I have a tree I will be re-trimming and the quilt will be formed to the bed.

Second floor complete

I am really happy that I was able to complete the second story as well as the first this weekend. I trimmed the hallway, added two lights, framed out the bathroom doorway before adding the door so that the thinness of the new door would be covered, added the interior door trim to the hall door, installed te bathroom door and trim, as well as the light and trimmed the room. I was impatient to be finished and forgot to paint the bathroom ceiling untill after adding the crown moulding. It isn't as nice as the rest but I figure I will chalk it up to an old house and the humidity of the bathroom. ;) not too noticeable unless you get close and inspect it. 

That is the doorway before I added the door. This completely covers up the styrofoam edges.

Room for one more

I was able to get one more room finished tonight. The bedroom...

I ran out of shrink tubes so I can't plug the light in yet as the wires are too short, but I did test it before installation and it was working just fine. The hallway has been started, crown moulding installed and flooring tacked down. Maybe tomorrow I can finish the baseboards, install the door frame to the porch and glue the stairs in place. The bathroom doorway will be an issue, the door I bought is thinner than the one I used to test fit. I have some trim ideas that should fix it, or at least hide it.

First floor completed!

It is with great excitement I announce the first floor of the House of Memories is ready to move in to! First the living room...

On to the dining room...

Another view...

And now the kitchen...

The seam is as good as it is going to get but it is better than before.

Now I need to move to the second floor...

Lights!

Three lights to be exact. I installed the entry light and hooked up the two porch lamps. I love the look this gives to the house. I need to paint the ceilings of the other rooms before continuing. I thought of using sparkling for a rougher finish but to be honest I am beyond ready for this structure to be finished so I can start the decorating portion. So plain, smooth white ceilings will work fine for me.

(The light from the back window is in the kitchen, it was being tested)

The seam in the kitchen I thought I could live with but I just can't. Tonight I plan to fix the part that shows. The rest of the wall I can live with being gappy because there is no way to view it unless you pull out my cabinets...so don't, please. The light choices are proving problematic. 1) I don't like some of the ones that I have, 2) I am almost out of shrink tubes ( I ruined four by improperly heating them) and 3)I don't think I have enough to finish the house. I have some old fashioned type lamps I am thinking if I repaint them from black to enamel white or other color I could use two in the hallway and the two hallway lights I was going to use would look better in the kids room and laundry area. I have a light I can use in the kitchen but it involve a bit of light bashing for me to be happy with it. I have also made a list of the last things I must do for this structure to be finished. Landscaping will have to wait till I have money for the supplies I want. 

Seeing it like this I can really tell how close to done I am :)

Uh-oh, another mini project?

Last weekend I made a trip to the dollhouse shop in Tucson, Miniature Memories. I absolutely love this shop but seldom have a chance to go there. I picked up enough trim to finish the Holly Ann. I also bought my ceiling fan for the living room, the bathroom door, extra greenery for garlands, simple doorknobs and a new magazine. My dad went with me and bought me the cutest baby walker, the modern kind with moveable toys on it. My children had one very similar and they loved it, so this was a great accessory. On a side note I really dislike the name of this house and have been calling it the House of Memories, so it may be referred to it as such from here on out. I was able to finish off the trim an wall of the entry way. I just need to install the light, which I have because I stripped he lights from he Gloucester to repurpose them. I don't have room for both large houses and have decided to use as much of the supplies from the Glouceter to save a little bit of money.

Above: From the living room to the entry.

Below: through the frot door.

I made a decision not to trim the ceiling, or even to do the ceiling. No matter which angle I try to view it there is no way to see it. So, I saved some time and skipped that part. Even when he light is installed you won't see it.

So now that I have what I need to hopefully finish the structure that means my mind is off on another project and fun planning. For some reason I have the half scale Chantilly stuck in my head. Which is strange because it hasn't ever appealed to me before. It won't leave me alone! It is calling to be purchased and bashed. I keep seeing a Bavarian or Tudor style home. I would leave the porch off, brick the bottom half and exposed beams on the top. No fancy gingerbread trim but would make slate roofing tiles from air dry clay (a first for me). I also envision a large English inspired garden, lots of greenery and floweryplants.

The interior would be plastered walls and more beams. Inspiration from Tasha Tudor's kitchen and Pam Throope's fleece inn for a start. I have ideas for the decorating but can't place it. I have images of what I think is victorian country,  with Rosemaling details on furniture and trim. Lots of burnt reds, browns and greens. The upstairs I would add an extra wall on the right side by the stairs for a smallish bathroom. I have seen some amazing chantilly's where on the left room the attic had been removed and beams installed for a vaulted ceiling and I want that too. I would leave the tiny attic on the left for a storage space of sorts and make a false folding ladder. I can't but anything till next Friday. I am half hoping that by that time my mind has changed. I really don't need any more kits....

Itty bitty furniture

The last few days I've been sort of in a slump with the big dollhouse so I decided to focus on some furniture for my Pickett Hill. I made the shelf with accessories for the little girl's room, the bed an nightstand for the little boy's room, lawn furniture and the dog house. It is always fun to work in this scale.

My thumb is for size reference.

Ignore the turned up rug, I will be fixing that.

I painted the little dog, too. She was just a blank resin piece. It was hard matching to the inspiration photo with how tiny she is. It's hard to see in this angle but he weathervane is actually a dog. Also, impossible to see is a rug inside the doghouse for the dog to lay on. A nice touch even if it's never seen I know it is there.

Slowly coming to a stand still

I worked hard this weekend. The bedroom was carpeted with painted fabric, the hallway's wood floor has been finished, upper hall stairs stained, linoleum cut for the bathroom, replaced bathroom wall, doorway cut, then installed and everything is temporarily tacked in place until I can buy my lights and install them. I have just enough mouldings and trim to trim out the entryway but after that I will be out. Untill I get those and lights none of the rooms will be fully finished. I need a bathroom door, too. I used the bedroom one to cut the doorway the right size before installing the wall. I did have a problem with the wallpapering on the hallway by the bathroom, it had a HUGE bubble and I was trying to fix it and tore it. I patched it up, re-painted and now you can't see it. I was really worried it would be obvious but today after fully drying all night it looks good.

The second floor stairs and railings aren't installed yet. Can't do that till the floor is permanent and can't make it permanent till I have the dining room, entry and kitchen lights in place. The space between the false wall and actual wall of the kitchen will be patched when it is installed. 

So what I am able to work on are the remaining second floor frames, third floor kids room and laundry room wallpaper and flooring, cutting interior frames for the oval windows, making templates for the ceilings and making the back steps. Originally I wanted all the floors wood but I don't have enough to do them all and the  Home Depot here is out. So I raided my fabric stash and found this fabric that almost feels like suade but isn't, and I painted it the color carpet I wanted. I like how it looks, like low ply carpet would look if shrunk to 12th scale. At least it does to me.

Finally, my list of supplies needed as of today are as follows: baseboards, crown moulding, 1 interior door, 10 interior lights, trim for floor and wall edges, heki late autumn grass mat, and scenic snow products. Once I have those I can finish and start furnishing and accessorizng. This build has been super fast when I am actually working on it.

Stairs! Woohoo!

The stairs are a pain to stain, plus there are glue spots that have been impossible to cover up. So after this dries and I can see it in the light of day I will be touching up with acrylics.

Floors and more floors

The dining room floor is finished and in place and the kitchen has been cut to fit. It hasn't been glued in place but it is heavy enough not to need it at the moment.  I used a real tile I bought at Home Depot for this floor and I really like the look. Originally I planned to cut this into small square tiles but I think I am going to leave it like it is rolled linoleum.