Decision made.. Tea Rose Too

Well first off my eBay order arrived today, good news, the main street four square is complete, bad news, all the main pieces for the Dutch Colonial are missing. I was forewarned in the ad so I'm not angry with the seller, it was listed as estate sale. Still, the cost of both together is still far less the either one alone. So all in all I'm happy with what I got. I'll attach a picture that came with it as googling it was really difficult and only returned 1 result for me. I fell in love with the front porch. Strangely the kit comes with stairs but there is no hole on the second floor for the stairs to come out of. Only guess is you're supposed to imagine this as only part of the house and the other half is somewhere else.

As to my decision on which kit to do next I've decided on the Tea Rose Too. I have definite ideas for the interior as well as landscaping. The kit is for the house alone and landscaping pictured is for inspiration only. It will be super cute. I'm going to go for a modern English cottage feel on the furnishing, semi-shabby chic, muted colors, overstuffed furniture. The feeling of home and comfort, a place you would like to hide away in with a good book.

Happy belated new year!

The holidays were super busy and great, there was no time to post. I finished my niece's and nephew's stockings on Christmas Eve. Talk about cutting it close! They were a hit. My three year old nephew hugged his and was showing anyone who'd look his new stocking. That was the best reward for the rush. Now I have 16 more to do before this year's Christmas for family members.
As far as minis I haven't had much time to work on them but I did get some little mini kits for Christmas. One thing I received that i was excited about was a quarter scale fireplace tool set. I glues it in place in the Pickett Hill. They are so tiny and in scale they are hard to see. I also worked some on my Pickett hill kitchen and it is half finished.
Since I am so close to completion on this one I have been going through my other quarter scale kits trying to decide which one to do next. Last night I happened upon to estate sale Debbie Young kits, main street four square and a Dutch colonial. I hadn't ever seen them before and for the price to hard to pass up. I speed bid on them lol. The person selling was pretty sure everything is there. Hopefully they are right. They are super cute. The interior staircases sold me on them. I love stairs in dollhouses and Debbie Young designs are so detailed.

Preview

I figured I had done enough posts without any pictures so here is one. Ari's stocking close to finished. Sleeves and the pink pieces of the skirt are only pinned in place. Ready to do the embroidery tomorrow.

Stockings galore!

I just found two stocking kits from 1998 and 1999 cheap on EBay! I'm stoked! They are super cute. Normally I don't like the older Bucilla designs but these two were too cute to pass up. I did some research and found out that these were designed by Maria Stanziani who does the current designs I have become addicted too. Go figure. I haven't had a moment to spare for minis because I have been sewing like mad and am enjoying every minute. I have finished my aunt and Uncle's stockings, they were so much harder to do because they had requested hem be 3 inches longer. So I added a 3 inch cuff and sewed a semi removable lining so the stress when filled wouldn't be put on the seam. Then I had to wait for my felt order to arrive for the backs. Bucilla's patterns are adorable but I don't think they are designed to actually be used. I cut new backs to give more room. They look great. I have one finishing touch to add to my uncles and I can mail them out, hopefully tomorrow. Once they recieve them i'll post pictures of them.
My niece's stocking is close to half done. After that I have 2 more I need to finish by Christmas. I've been working late each night so my sew time has really been crimped. I better get cracking though. Not that long till Christmas Eve. I am looking forward to when those are done so I can work on one I want to rather then the one I have to. Too much fun!

Bathroom furniture and a kitchen hutch

Well I have completed the bathroom furniture of the Pickett hill and started the kitchen. I have the pie cupboard done except the counter and the sink finished minus the knobs and the stove begun. I am waiting for the whole kitchen to be assembled so I can do all the counter tops at once.
Tonight I started my 1/2 scale Colonial Christmas house. I cut the opening for the second floor stair case, stained and glossed the floors and painted the exterior walls. I believe this will become another house I will be emotionally attached to. My dad chose the stain color and my daughter "helped" me paint the walls. I'm happy with the progress. Tomorrow I am hoping to route the grooves for the wires and drill the two holes in the front of the house for the coach lights. I will also start the window painting.
My nieces stocking is shaping up well. I finished the top cuff and have the cuff trim sewn in place. These stockings work up quickly. I placed an order for more felt for new backs and liners and am anxiously waiting for them to arrive. Sorry about the crooked bathroom picture I'll have better pictures soon.

Perfect weather

I just had to share. Woke up to the most perfect weather, cloudy, drizzling and chilly! I'm in heaven. I may live in the wrong state, bright sunlight gives me headaches, I'm one of the palest residents of Arizona because I avoid the outdoors during sunny hours. LOL my DH mentioned in passing we should move to Oregon and I balked at first, I hate the idea of leaving family behind, but the more I think of it the more I want to try it. Can't imagine what it would be like to be able to go outside in the daytime and not squint behind dark glasses.

Sewing is fun!

Well, no progress has really been made in miniatures. At least none that can be photographed to show a huge change. I finished the hollyhocks and "planted" them around the Pickett Hill. I'm really pleased with how they came out. I moved on to painting the fern leaves and stopped. Had a shocking comment from my hubby about it. He saw the Pickett Hill and said he doesn't mind those houses it's the massive 1/12 scale he doesn't like. I interpreted that as "go ahead and do as many quarter scale as you want and I won't complain" : ) closest thing to a compliment about my miniatures I've gotten from him so I'm taking it! LOL

I have 't been idle though. Aidan's and Elora's stockings are 100% complete. I lined the inside with another piece of felt and cut a bigger back from the same felt. The one that came with it was too small you could hardly put anything in it. I've also finished the fronts of my aunt and uncle's stockings. Waiting for the order of more felt to come in before I can finish and mail them to them. Their's will be harder. They requested an additional 3 inches be added to their's so i am making a three inch cuff and will have to use a fabric liner and a bigger back felt piece, which is why i needed to order more felt. I want the felt to match the fronts. Elora's worked with two colors but if i try that with a cuff it would be too patchy. Can't show my Aunt and Uncle's as they are surprises but I can show off my kids'. I have had a blast making these. I have a ton of other kits and I plan to start making them up for sale next year. I still have 3 more to do before this Christmas or I would try for this year. It has taken me approximately two weeks to complete each one. Between working full time and two kids i'd say that was pretty good.