Michelle's Mad World

The new Craft Room starts to take shape and even a tiny amount of mini work gets done!

2012-02-13T18:21:00.018Z

The room is almost done…but I’m not going to show it all just yet…..a few more things to arrive. It’s been hard work, lots of sorting out which has been both physically hard and mentally hard! The only thing I have left is more labelling! I will do this bit by bit. :o))

Firstly a change in the line-up already! Sugar Plum's roof overhangs a bit too much, so much so that it pushes the tea shop too far over the edge. I did think about shortening the roof, but this will make it difficult to fit the roof. So I will making a shop to go here instead. It was already a planned shop and I will be using the Sid Cooke windows that I bought a while back (not direct from Sid Cooke because they do not sell them as separates).

Today I’ve been playing the dollshouse(s) shuffle! They moved up and down these chests like goodness knows what! I have a number of other kits to think about and where I want them. Not all will fit onhere, but I have a home for them.

For Christmas I was brought 3 shop kits, one is a corner shop. In total they are just under 3 and half feet wide by just under 18 inches deep and they all have 3 floors. Borgin and Burkes kit won't be here....this is simply showing where the 3 shops will start and will have to be pulled out to due to their depth (I have plugs on the back wall too). Directly in front of Sugar Plum's will be a square, I could have a street vendor or two here or a few wizards and wizards standing around chatting! lol

The first row of grey card is where the last shop will be, it's a corner shop. The grey card represents an alleyway to....

A shop here, which I will be making myself. I have a few ideas what it could be. ;o)

It will be a creepy alleyway! Not sure I'd want to go down it!

I’ve also glued in place Slug and Jiggers sign…at last, I’ve only had for goodness knows how long! This has been aged and distressed and I’m very happy with it. :o)) I have put Jain's witch on the roof...she's about to take off! Wheeeeee!

Late edit!

Slug and Jiggers is going to have to be moved and swap places with the teashop! It has to be turned so that I can open it and that would mean the bowed window would be facing the wall and I'd need a gap. The teashop has a window on that side too, however it is a flat window and does not stick out so it will be moved to where Slug and Jiggers is now.

Also, Sugar Plum's front ledge needs to be cut a bit (under the window), because the front needs space to open. You can't butt these shops up close because of that extra piece at the front of this kit. Janice, you will have the same problem with your line up if you haven't spotted it already. ;o)

I’ve moved the smaller half of Hogwarts onto my table as well as my mystery project. I have space for both and plan to work on them simultaneously (to the best of my ability!). lol Today the wallpaper arrived for it and I have aged some on a practise piece. I prefer it aged. :o)

I haven't worked on this part of Hogwarts today, I did this a while back...before the Craft Room was redone.

The new look Craft Room as you look in the doorway. It's not quite there yet...

My new chair.

This cushion is only as a make do for now, it will have a proper seat cushion, courtesy of my Mum who will make it for me.

The high up shelf unit is in situ and now dressed…this will change over time no doubt. I need to get a feel for my new table and what kind of table top storage I want…probably only a little seeing I have quite a lot!

I mentioned to my Mum that I wanted my name, ( I have a wooden set at work on my desk, only it's mirrored - red colour!) and I was going to buy the wooden letters myself and decorate them. She told my Sister and between them they battled it out who was going to make them for me! My Mum won, my Sister sent over the letter's from Luxembourg. My Mum then stole my stash of trim and recycled scrap-booking bits (some new bits were used too). These were completely created from items I already had. I cut and painted the wooden base they are on

I love them to bits! She will make me another set for when I have the brighter décor out.

My Mum's works fast, but these took her nearly 2 days to make. ;o) Even the backs of the letters are tidy and just as neat as the fronts!

The other shelving unit. This will eventually have kits on them too. In time, the telly can go and I can have a project on a moveable plinth (like Highgate or Centenary House (which I have) my Edwardian house).

More soon!

Michelle xxxx

The Craft Room and Summer House reorganisation goes on..and some new Bistro Table's etc

2012-02-06T19:08:00.018Z

Well I‘ve not been idle, but still no mini work though!

I have added a number of pages to my blog (the the right of this post), these will be updated as and when I get time and when I have something new to add. There will be more pages, again, as and when I start on those projects. I also have approx. 4 or 5 kits that are currently themeless because I haven't decided what to do them as ! I have seen one more kit that I'd love...it's out of stock at the moment so I have to wait. Again, it will be a Harry Potter project (let's hope they restock it!). :o)

Anyhow, the space is clear on top of the chests of everything other than projects! YAY! The throw will be removed once my kits have their sticky foam pads on their bases (to protect my chests from scratches).

I have been sorting out and repacking on a grand scale. This weekend I sorted out my Summerhouse and took up there the majority of my supplies. I still need to go through some of the drawers in my craft room and check there‘s nothing lurking in there that I want up there now. It’s not easy when you have a fair bit of stuff…one's mind can get a bit overwhelmed!

It's getting there....

The unit with the ceramic and chrome handles will go under my new craft table when it arrives.

I have ordered the remaining pieces of furniture and it should have been delivered on Friday, IKEA rang last Tuesday to say it would be delivered this Wednesday instead. I have bought the largest white table in the design I wanted, the double shelf unit and a chair. Hopefully these will be in situ by next weekend. :o)

The delay has given us time to paint the wood and more time to keep tidying up! I have one more box to pack away…this can’t be done until I go through the drawers in the tall units.

As I was sorting out the built-in book case I had an idea. ;o) This was to take off the door and use this cupboard instead. I originally wanted a two foot wide unit but I couldn’t see one so I opted for two, one foot units instead. Using the bookcase meant I could now add smaller projects on the shelves. I’ve had the top shelf removed and I now plan to have a kit on new top shelf and a room box or small kits on the two other shelves. Books or DVD’s will stay on the very bottom shelf. For now I have other items on it…again it will be re sorted once the room is more done. The cupboard has been tidied up and redecorated.

Here is it revamped and ready for kits as and when they are completed.

The new high up shelf will hold lighter and smaller kits that I have...maybe one or two.

The plastic chests that were in my craft room are now in two's under the worktop. They were made in two sections already, so no sawing was required. :o) I have them all in there and this type of storage is far superior than numerous stacked boxes on top of each other! I will label the drawers for more obscure things that I have. It stays mainly damp free, and my mini’s are fine. I did spot that some of the paint pots were wet with condensation, so I’ve added some silica bags in the drawers to keep things dry. I will get some more in different sizes and I will add the smaller one’s inside my witches house (hidden from view) just to be on the safe side.

It will make my life so much easier and it shouldn't take me so long to get to some of my more obscure supplies!

Pull out drawers at my disposal!

New mini's! I haven’t shown everything I have received recently as I have no where to photograph them. :o((

I have some new mini's for Mrs Puddifoot's Teashop and these photo's, well they do zero justice to Jason and Jacqueline Getzan's outstanding craftmanship! I love them to bits! They are quirky and wacky! They wouldn't be to everyone's taste because of this, but they are perfect for a project such as this. :o)))

I bought this table in November/December 2011 and Jason and Jacqueline so graciously put the other two aside for when I was ready to purchase. :o))) Rather than choose all the same type table's (which I couldn't as I bought the last cherry cupcake table), I chose to have 3 different ones.

The Blueberry cupcake Bistro Table did not come with any chairs, I was given the option of design and type of chairs I wanted...I chose all matching chairs, so I had to wait for them to be made, and these two tables etc arrived today. ;o))

I have been looking at wallpaper's for shop and I think I have seen the perfect one for downstairs at least. :o)

They popped this current magazine article of their work in and it mention's my Bistro Tables etc. :o))

Hopefully by my next post I will have my craft room set up. I still have the smaller storage items to buy (the type to go on my craft table etc), but I will be able to resume my mini work though when the new table is in situ!

A big warm welcome to my new followers….I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx

The new look craft room is taking shape.

2012-01-25T22:57:00.020Z

The new craft room is taking shape, but oh so slowly! Well, Rome wasn’t built in a day now was it!? :o)

The furniture that I have bought so far is in situ. I plan on keeping all the furniture white even the small storage that will eventually go at the back of my craft table, this is mainly because I have two sets of soft furnishings that are both different colours etc. So the colour in the room will be made up of other objects etc. :o))

A few nice drawers to fill up!

Well, it took over a day to decide on really how I wanted it to look overall. Some ideas just didn’t look right or work at all! The room isn’t too pokey but neither is it big, but I have enough space for plans and ideas to change etc.

I had planned on moving my craft table this way, but by the time I had the moveable storage pieces in and a smaller craft table on the end, it looked too much and unorganised . So I moved it back under the window and had another idea....

Back to square one! lol I am now having one long craft table, but bigger than the other one I had originally selected to buy. It is 175 cms long by 75 deep and I have at present 3 units that can be moved about and their tops could be used as worktop space and will eventually have permanent projects on them.

I’m no longer having the lower moveable drawer unit under the window, it looked horrid against the chest of drawer units that I have. So this will now live on the wall behind the door and in front of the pull out table. I will be getting some more furniture (for the other wall), hopefully in March (I’m having to fit round my other financial priorities too!). A shelf unit, two narrow cabinets (one an open bookcase for books and the other a tall drawer unit to match the lower moveable drawer unit for mini‘s and/or DVD’s ) and the new craft table will be bought then.

I plan on having small unit’s of storage space at the back of my craft table for immediate needs as well as my unit under my craft table.

I love this unit, and it was solely bought for practical reasons. It moves soooo easily, though I do have laminate flooring in this room so this helps!

This is tidy...

This is the descent into madness! Arrrgh! lol

I have been busy for 2 days so far unpacking and moving mini’s about. At the best of times my craft room has looked like a bomb has hit it, but you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs as they say! I have also bought in all my mini’s from the Summer House, I just have a few mini’s in the garage that need to bought in too; I will get them in over the weekend. :o)

I have some (cough) ‘form’ of organisation at present (but not in many drawers as yet!!), but until I truly work out what I want where and what drawer I don’t have the final system in place. I also don’t want to spend heaps on proper inner drawer storage, this is because mini’s won’t always be in there and I don’t want to end up with loads of good storage and nothing to fill them with. So, I am opting for catering plastic boxes, they come in all sorts of sizes, you can bulk buy and they are cheap…they can also be labelled. For smaller mini’s I am going to use plastic business card boxes, again cheap to buy in bulk and they too can be labelled. These can be placed into the bigger storage boxes too. :o)

This pull out table has been hidden for a while! It will be moved onto the other wall next to Highgate. My Mum made the spotted box for my new décor (when it's up and in!)

Highgate dollshouse will be moved along by the door and the pull out table will be next to it. I will empty that internal cupboard and put the larger wall unit in front of it, with two new narrow units next to it. I will completely remove the plastic drawers from this room.

This drawer is mainly filled with some of the furniture for Hogwarts. :o)

Having bought all my mini’s in from the Summer House I have now gained a lot of storage under my work bench out there. We are going to try and cut one of my plastic storage drawers and put these under my bench. The idea should work, if so, then I will the others cut in half and I can put a lot of my supplies in these drawers and make even more horizontal space in there. I can then have smaller projects out here. There is not anyway I can completely redesign my craft room to accommodate all my projects. If I was starting from scratch I probably could, but I don’t want to move everything about in there, but as luck would have it, I have space in the Summer House now. :o))

I'm not having this mix of ornaments together, but I do hang things on knobs. In my bedroom I have Christmas decorations (they don't look Chrismassy). So, a few things to brighten the room. :o))

This gorgeous little pixie was made by the supremely talented Nikki Rowe. I just love her and she sparkles too!

This is where Mrs Puddifoot's tea shop will go and Sugar Plum's Sweet Shop will go along side it, by the wall. I thought it was a different layout from what you normally see, and you get a view of the shops before you actually enter the room. :o)

This is how it will appear and look once you are in the room.

Well, I am off work till Tuesday of next week, so I hope to have the room looking fairly normal by then (until March that is!) and I may even have time to do some mini work? Hmmm maybe not, well not if I want to tidy up and sort out the Summer House too! ;o))

I'm in the middle of adding extra pages to my blog, most don't have any info. at the moment, but some will soon! The others will be updated as and when I do that project. I have more pages to be added, but I will add them at a later date. :o)

A big warm welcome to my new followers….I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx

My Craft Room Revamp and Hogwarts

2012-01-11T21:34:00.010Z

Firstly, Happy New Year!!!!

Well, I was going to call this post Armageddon has hit! As you can see my craft room is in one atrocious state! The daybed has been removed, but its 3 drawers have been stacked up with boxes of mini’s, supplies, kits and buildings!

As you go into the room, it just gets so much worse! I’m currently working on Hogwarts, so I have all the kit in here, plus lots of supplies for it.

This is what I call Hell’s corner…I really hate looking at it, it’s dire! lol

The new furniture for storage was due to arrived tomorrow, but apparently there has been a change to IKEA’s drivers rota’s so it’s all now coming on the 18th January.

The new storage will go along the wall as you look into the room and go under some of the window too. There will be approx. 11 feet of work-top to have my projects on, that’s also 2 feet deep. I am hoping to have all of my Diagon Alley project’s here. I will only know if they will all fit once they are all put together!

There will also be a deep shelf above that will have smaller projects on as well as other non mini items on there.

I plan on having two craft tables to create an L-shape. This should make my life so much easier overall. I need to buy lots of internal storage that will all need labelling too, I can‘t begin to tell you just how much time I have lost just looking for something! Once a lot of that is done, I will also sort out the other units in the room as they are poorly utilised and could hold so much more than they do. I also have a pull out table behind the 2 plastic storage chests that again could come in handy. ;o)

The tapestry that I printed on was washable linen. My very first attempt. I have printed 2 others and I plan to print more and then decide what I want to use. I prefer this one, only because the colours are more muted and therefore look more aged. It will be hang on an aged wooden pole which you can't see here! I'm not having them cover the whole of the walls like in the film.

I have been busy doing some work on Hogwarts, a few of the lights have been fitted, I’ve printed off one of the Lady and Unicorn tapestries for one wall too. I have started on the exterior beamwork and done most of the plaster work too.

I have hand cut and whittled the beams and they have been stained, they will be aged further once the plaster has been applied and then the beams will be glued on. The support beams (short chunky ones) would have been like this, but the other beams, I have cut them in a rather wild way as they are emulating Whomping Willow beams! ;o) I did these for Hogwarts' alley way, so I have to continue it throughout the whole of the project.

The third row design has changed from this and more plaster added in-between the beams. The 3rd row though as been left for now, as this has to tie in with wood on the roof (sides).

The front now hinged on.

A lot of the time has been taken up in adapting the kit as two (as it was one before it was cut in two). We’ve also had to (of course) cut the roof in half and see how that fits together (this kit is not easy!). The main problems have been the warping of the MDF! I did seal the MDF before I worked on it, but it was largely ineffective (I have since used Dulux’s Difficult Surface primer) and the kit warped something chronic, not just the building but the base too. This has prevented the front panel opening and shutting easily, so it’s taken a lot of sanding to get this to open smoothly. I had to cut over half of the front (base) off.

Now the front is on I have lots of things to do on it…but of course I have to sort the craft room out too! So, I have no idea just how long that will take to do…as I only work 4 days per week, I might have 2 days sorting the room out and 1 day of mini working….I will see! I’m gonna be busy though!

My main plan this year is to complete as many of the kits (shells) as I can, I can worry about filling them a bit later. There will of course be some mini’s bought, I have some commission’s due and some shortly…some for Slug and Jiggers, one for Sugar Plum’s (the Gob Stopper maker!) and one for Hogwarts too. They are key pieces. :o)

I have also bought another kit for Diagon Alley…oh dear I hear you say…’another one’?! Yes, another one! I have pretty much decided what it will be and I hope to be able to open it the opposite way to the other kit that I have of it. I have no idea whether that idea will actually work…but I can only try!

I have been busy buying kits in 2011, some have not been seen on my blog and most are unusual. I haven’t decided on their fate yet….I might add 2 or 3 of them together. I pretty much plan to turn them into buildings from Harry Potter..but this is a while off yet methinks. I’m hardly short of decided projects to do!

A big warm welcome to my new followers….I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx

Christmas is coming and the project list is getting fat…

2011-12-14T19:56:00.005Z

One of my Christmas presents wrapped up in children's paper!! I think it was because it was the widest paper in the house! It is my 3 new shop kits.

Well, as my lights weren’t ready at the weekend I caught up on some jobs and oh yes Christmas! I’ve been wrapping presents and oh so slowly writing my cards….the latter is a job I truly hate doing! Lol

I have been doing a little work on Hogwarts, I’ve toned down the walls and filled in the gaps in Doleres’ office and painted her walls pink, it still needs another coat. The lights are now ready and are in the post, so I should be able to fit them over the weekend.

I have lots planned for the New Year project wise, I’ve just been deciding on what to start on whilst I work on Hogwarts. I can’t continue with Sugar Plum’s till the main commission piece is ready and that won’t be for quite a while yet, so the Summer House is standing empty with no ongoing projects. One is always waiting for things to dry…so I don’t like to waste time. :o))

For Christmas I am getting 3 new shops for Diagon Alley and I also bought 2 more. So I’ve been thinking what one to start on next?!

A very kind person spotted this little kit selling on Ebay, I bought for an absolute bargain with a hard backed book on Victorian dolls houses included! After I’d won it another friend and I had a closer inspection of it and we both wondered whether it was an early Sid Cooke house. It was listed as Victorian, but I think it’s Georgian.

The inside is not done at all. I plan to take the front off as I work on it.

The little house arrived today. It’s solid plywood and the logo on the bottom confirms it is indeed a Sid Cooke house. What a fabulous little gem of a kit and what a lucky find!!! It’s not been finished at all and the stairs aren’t glued in either, which what I wanted. I was going to change to windows with Sid Cooke’s Georgian ones (like the other kits I have), but everyone seems to like these ones!

I have lots of plans for it….I was going to do it as a combination of two Harry Potter’s buildings, only when I watched the films did I see that most, if not all the things I liked were in one Harry Potter building! Hmmm…..I am now busy planning on how to do it. You’ll have to wait and see to find out what it will be, and it’s not an obvious one at all...or maybe it will be! I won’t be changing my mind again on what to start on next! :o))

A big warm welcome to my new followers….I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Have a truly Merry Christmas and a great New Year!!!!

Michelle xxxx

Hogwarts…is in two!

2011-12-04T18:58:00.000Z

Not too much to show, Christmas etc kinda takes over big time! Lol ;o))

Well, Hogwarts has been cut in two and successfully I might add! I hasten to add too, it wasn’t me who did the deed….goodness knows what it would have turned out like if I had done it! I did however, leave the room like a total coward when it was being done!

It was a nice clean cut with very little damage to repair, I was most impressed with the result. However, it would have been better if the idea had been thought of before I had done this amount of work on it! lol

The other bigger side.

The floors didn’t bow or anything, but I did put in some odd bits of loose wall to support the floors whilst the two new sides were cut.

The new side on!

So it was glued and pinned in place and left to dry on the dinning room table over night and weighted down by numerous boxed dolls house kits! Lol

I decided to forgo the door in Gryffindor’s Common Room and also the other door in Dolores’ office. Her room is so tiny as it is, and having only one door into it gives me more space. ;o)

The main front has had to be cut too. It's not perfectly straight the cut side, that was because the paperclay cobble stones are slightly higher one side, so if it had been cut straight I would have had a gap! I can easily compensate for this with plaster etc.

I then had the task of redoing the inner walls to match the ones already done. There were a few gaps in the walls where it was joined, but I knew once the plaster was on it would never show. I also intend to add lots of strong glue in from the back and along the bottom down the joins to strengthen it all.

I’ve been busy since plastering the walls and ageing and painting them. Once a few coats were dry I noticed some gaps in the plaster…so I’ve refilled them (hence the white bits!) and will repaint/age once that is dry.

Dolores' office. I've had to refill in here too and fill in the gaps between the joining walls. You will notice that the right and left sides are a different pink, this is because when I bought Dolores' chair it didn't match the side (the left) I had already painted (!!), so I've changed the shade and will redo all the walls once I have finished refilling the gaps.

I've started to age the wall joins in here too, I still need to finish the left side.

I'm ageing the ceilings too, still lots to do yet!

You might wonder why everything is not hanging straight? This is because I have laid both parts of the kit on their sides as I work on them, it makes life a lot easier and stops the MDF from bowing!

The photo shows the gap between the wall and ceiling on the left side...grrrr, I will have to fill that, too bad I didn't see it when I was refilling earlier today!

I have bought Dolores’ fireplace, it is a lot bigger than the original one I was going to get, so I am having it on the back wall in her room, so I can see it. ;o))

I treated myself to this! I have been having masses of fun watching my favourite films! It comes with a fantastic photo album too as well as lots of extra discs of cut footage etc., from the films.

I was having a few major problems with my blog etc, so those who are regular/old visitors will notice a big change. I hope it will be okay now…we shall see!

I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx

Blogger problems!

2011-10-06T19:40:00.015+01:00

Hi Peeps!

I have been having ongoing Blogger problems with adding photo's and editing when I compose a blog post. I switched back to the old editor in hope this would help, only to be informed that I had no more photo storage left, so I switched back to the new editor! I have no idea how much photo storage space I have left, and I have been to the Help bit in Blogger...it just doesn't take me to the bit I need when I click on the link that says 'to find out how much space you have'. Grrrr!

When I click on my own photo's the vast majority do not enlarge (they stay small no matter what I do in editing) so that you can see the + in the cursor. Even this post in preview is nothing like how it looks in editor!! Grrrr and double Grrrrr!

I have been using Google Chrome for well over a year and was mainly immune to the many Blooger problems others where having a while ago when they couldn't comment...but I on the other hand couldn't see the text in some posts amongst other things! lol

I'm going to purchase some more photo storage space to see if this helps...unsure what I will do if that doesn't work, as I don't really want to delete this blog and have to start all over again. :o(((

A big warm welcome to my new followers….I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx

Christmas in the UK and Luxembourg

2010-12-11T19:40:00.031Z

By now I normally have Christmas in the bag and I’m all ready for the big two day event. However, this year I haven’t yet finished Christmas shopping and we are way behind in wrapping presents so much keeps cropping up and biting us on the bum, but hopefully we will be all wrapped and ready by Christmas Eve! :o))

As I’m really pushed for time and haven’t made it out to the summer house to decorate my witch’s house and I don’t have any other mini project near completion that I can decorate in Christmas decorations, so instead I have chosen to show you some real life ones. :o))

The much smaller tree that we have used for the last 3 years, I much prefer the other one.

Firstly, Christmas in the UK and my home. In the main part of the house the decorations are more traditional, but in our other room (that goes by various labels) our day room I usually have a mix of modern/Gisele Graham look and the colours are a hot pink Christmas tree decorated with plain (no pattern etc) brightly coloured baubles and lights only, and modern decs around the room. I haven’t decorated the room this year, so I have no photo’s and oddly I don’t have any old one’s to show you either. :o(

One of our round windows. I did try and get a better photo of the lights, but the picture quality was too poor to show the lights off at their brightest.

We've been collecting Father Christmases and Snow men for a few years.
One of my favourites. He's up high as he's fragile.
Twisted Hazel decorated with decorations from Luxembourg. The Hazel is left plain the rest of the year! ;o)
The large Father Christmas is one of our most recent.

The garland normally goes around the fireplace’s arch, but my Hogwarts will be sitting on the hearth this year so there seems not point putting the garland there as it will be hidden from view, so it’s been moved over the entrance to the living room. We have a much larger tree that used to go where the telly is now (not in view), but we have used this this tree for the last 3 years as it’s less intrusive when we have lots of family and friends round.

This is how it looked last year and it also reminds of how many presents I still need to buy and wrap and add to the pile. The presents are normally stacked here.

We spent Christmas in Luxembourg with my Sister in 2007, we nearly didn’t get there as there was thick fog and our flight was delayed for 5 hours and we were fearful it would be cancelled all together! We should have landed in Luxembourg at 6.00pm, instead it was 11.30! I never ever what to be stranded in Gatwick’s North terminal again, for various reasons it’s dire!

We flew out on the 22nd December and did some Christmas shopping in Luxembourg City. Luxembourg is very cosmopolitan and it has a mix of German and French culture…the the supermarkets etc., sell just about every meat, delicacy and luxuries to be had…yummy!!!

My Dad enjoying a hot and freshly made waffle topped with cream! My whole family had one each, sadly because I am a Coeliac and have a very bad dairy intolerance to name a few things, I missed out. However, I was never one for liking cream, so it wasn't too traumatic to watch! lol

The Christmas stalls in the city.

This is where peeps stand to eat their food, it staves off the cold! I had hoped it would snow whilst we were there, Luxembourg has lots of snow. Sadly it didn't decide to snow until two days after we left for the UK!

The main living room tree.

My Sister has been collecting decorations for years and from all the countries she’s lived in. They have a real Christmas tree in the main living room every year and my Sister is sure that the man who collects and delivers their tree every year has a dodgy measure as every year it gets bigger and last year they had to cut the top off it! Lol It’s normally just over 12 foot and takes 6-8 sets of lights and they have to stand on a step ladder to decorate it and go on the mezzanine floor to dress the very top of it. :o) She has an artificial one in the other living room and she decorates it in Villeroy & Boch ornaments, they bring out a few new ones each year which she buys. We all move rather gingerly around that tree as her floor is laid with tiles! I love my Sister's decorations, they so suit the house to a T! :o))

Taken from the mezzanine floor where the tree is dressed from.

The other living room's tree just don't get too close! lol

Our other tree was very near to this size, I will have to put a case forward to bring it down from the loft next year and put it in the other corner. ;o)The spice chest decorated for Christmas.

We both decorate our kitchens too. ;o))

Another decorated piece in the kitchen. I couldn't take too many of the kitchen as it was a hive of activity! lol

The dinning room.

I should get time to do some mini’s tomorrow, before or after I’ve done some more Christmas stuff. ;o))

I promise to reply to my previous post comments as when I get some free time. ;o)) Big thanks to you George though, for the contact for Gatorboard...superb of you to find that out for me! :o))

For now a very Merry Christmas to you all and a very happy and healthy New Year!! :o))

Michelle xxxx

More snow anyone?!

2010-12-02T14:34:00.019Z

The above and below photo's were mostly taken just before 7.00 am this morning.

I think we were one of the last counties in the UK to feel the effects of the recent heavy snow and early cold snap. We only had a light scattering a day or so ago and last night we got close to 30 cms in a matter of a few hours. Some peeps in the UK have received almost 2 feet and for the UK even this is a lot especially this time of year. The coldest temperature today was -4c and the warmest was -2c, we are lucky as some peeps in the very North of Scotland are getting night time temperatures of -26c. :o(

So I’m home today from work…no public transport and using ones car is a no go..they just don’t grip the snow and ice. I live on a hill so it makes getting around even worse, out came the snow shovel from Luxembourg so the paths and driveway around the house are sort of clear.

Thankfully we have loads of supplies to keep us going, but snow, ice and fog is now forecast. There is no thaw in sight before the weekend at least and then more snow is forecast from the West! (sob!)

To cheer myself up I have ordered some mini supplies online…hopefully they will arrive sometime soon?! Lol I can’t get down to the summer house and if I did, it might be a tad nippy in there…yes it’s heated and this can be turned up whilst I work, but I just don’t fancy working outside the house. ;o))
I'm wondering whether KDF will go ahead okay. The poor artisan's and peeps who want to attend.

A bit too chilly to be in the summer house?! lol

A big warm welcome to my new followers….I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx

Stay safe and warm!

Update on my mini summer house.

2010-06-26T12:32:00.034+01:00

Late edit...night time view with the lights on.

As a few of you asked about the progress of my mini summer house I thought I’d show you some photo’s of it so far. ;o)

I’ve taken these photo’s today. The inside is almost complete, it’s still a bit of a builders yard as I am having some extra plug points fitted, but the main middle ceiling light has now been fitted and is working! I have opted for 3 spot lights as this will enable to me have a light on me whether I am working and also lights on my dollshouses that will be out there.

Too bad my neighbours garage roof spoils the view! lol
As you can see I need some proper flooring! No, that leg isn't staying there either, it's only there as a temporary thing! lol
A view from the summer houses' doorway in Summer. :o)
Somewhere to sit to have a bit of sun and a drink! lol
Arh, a bit of a builders yard still! lol I plan to keep some smaller projects on the high shelving and also it's a good place to leave things till they dry off.
A few of my mini's and also DIY items for mini building, etc.
I'm having some the extra plug points fitted hence all the tools out and about! lol

I've got some PVC type cloth to cover the top of the shelves, this will make it easier to wipe away dirt and mess, although I will eventually get some glass sheets (with bevelled edges of course! lol) to work on. I have seen a mini oven in Argos to bake my polymer clay in, so that's next on my list of needs. I also have a mini fridge (thanks Kate for reminding me what a good idea one would be and I had one in the garage!), so that will be going up there too...I need something to keep me cool too! lolI have yet to buy the flooring, it will be something that can be easily swept and washed! I am also going to buy some nice storage boxes rather than have odds and sods for storage containers! I will move in before I have the blinds as at the moment I need the light to work. I am going to get a proper daylight lamp with a magnifier attached, there are 2 that I like, but I can’t decide which one I prefer and as they are £100.00 I want to make the right choice. :o))

Miss Sally World sent a link to her Mum's blog Susan Trodden. Her Mum has the most amazing projects not to mention her truly fantastic garden, allotment and conservatory, please take a look yourself! I gave the link to Jayne of Tallulah Belle and she loves it too! :o))

More posts soon on a swap, some new mini's and an update on Hogwarts.

Michelle xxxx

An update on my mini Summer House

2010-05-20T23:44:00.018+01:00

Whilst my Meniere’s gives me some peace (it’s only a fleeting moment) I’m here with an update on my mini Summer House at the bottom of our garden. The outside has been painted and we are in the process of cleaning the inside and preparing to widen one of the longer bits of staging to give it more depth for my dolls houses. It will also have new tops put on as at the moment the staging is all slated wood. I have pondered on what to paint the inside colour (the inside roof is white to reflect the light down), I’ve thought about a buttermilk cream, the same colour as the outside and pashmina pink! What do you think? The outside wooden boxes (they have a name!) will remain natural.

The door furnishing have been removed for now as they are being repainted (I can't think what the process is really called...it has a proper name?!) lol
A view from the mini Summer House.
Er...and another one! lol

There is a little utility area (the slated gate and fence, where we have our compost heap etc) and the building in the background is our garage. I love this time of year, Spring it’s my favourite season where everything is fresh and new.

When I asked my Sister what colour the mini house should be painted (before any work was started on the outside), she suggested in Nanny MccPhee house colours! lol Hmm….I can imagine how many different pots of paint we’d need, I’d also be made instantly homeless for even suggesting such an outlandish idea! lol :o)

I can’t wait to move in and get to work on mini making! :o))

****Update on the interior colour lol In that particular paint type (outdoors paint) they only do a warm cream (not white), so now it's been suggested that it could be mixed with a little of the green for a paler shade! So now it's a choice of warm cream or pale green! ;o) *****

I will reply to all the comments in the last posts, when I am well enough. ;o)

A big warm welcome to my new followers! I do hope you like it here you don’t mind my ramblings and whatnot! :o)

Michelle xxxx

Kensington Dollshouse Festival...Part 1 of ? :o)

2010-05-15T21:29:00.027+01:00

I’m still recovering (I’m shattered) from my day trip to Kensington Dollshouse Festival in London! :o)) It was a very long day…but surpassed all my expectations of it!

Kate has done a grand job of taking lots of photo’s of KDF and has lots of detail of the day too! So, I won’t go into too much detail. ;o)

You will not believe what sort of day I’ve had….I’ve been busy all day, but achieved little! Lol I have taken over 300 photo’s and a lot are no good, the light here today has been odd, the photo’s are coming out either too dark or too light or blurry; it’s been a nightmare. I didn’t help that my cousin’s arrived today to look at my new mini’s just as I was trying to photograph them! So I am going to show you a few photo‘s of Kensington Dolls House Festival and a few photo's of my new mini’s per post. I will have other posts inbetween about different topics, otherwise you will get very bored of reading about KDF! lol The photo's will not be in any order or preference. I won't group the photo's per artisan or seller, and with most artisans/sellers I bought more than one item. ;o)

I must first say though that is was truly wonderful to meet so many lovely people who were all so generous and kind. I met I think 8 fellow bloggers! Kate, Kat, Lola, Janice, Jain Julie, Nikki and Doreen. Sadly, I missed Bob (Doreen's husband), I went passed his stand so many times, but it was packed and I meant to go back at the end. It was only by chance that I met Doreen when I went back to Nikki's stand at the end to pick up my mini's, Doreen asked if it was 'me' when she heard my Mum call me Michelle! lol

Just here were about 12 chairs, if only we'd seen these earlier, rather than plonking ourselves by the stairs like some vagrants or bag ladies! lol ;oP The seating and cafe area was poorly served in my opinion, only 3 tables!

The entrance at nearly closing time for that day. :o)
Nikki looking very calm! This was taken not long after we got there, but after the madness! lol

Anyhow, without further ado, my taxi picked my Mum and I up at 9.30 and we arrived at Kensington at 12.00. However, we would have arrived half an hour earlier if my taxi driver hadn’t have missed a turning like the SatNav told him to turn down and instead of double backing and going down the right road, we had a detour around Twickenham and over some very nasty speed bumps! lol So, we eventually arrived in the Town Hall about 12.10 after trying to find the entrance. ;oP

I had my money and vowed not to use my debit card or visit the nearest ATM only if there was something I knew I couldn't get anywhere else, etc.

I got to Nikki's stand at approx. 12.15 and I couldn't get near it! This was after the first buying session! A lot of things had been bought even when I got there!

After finding our bearings we headed for Nikki’s stand…to find a flock of peeps all around Nikki’s stand! She is one very popular lady and once you viewed her stand you could see why! :o)) We managed to find a gap and also found Kate and Lola having a good look at Nikki‘s truly wonderful creations too! I have to be honest there was so much to see that you couldn’t actually take it in all in at once. I hadn’t set my heart on anything specific as I had no idea what would be left (!) or really what items I fancied, as we didn’t know about everything for sale. I had two separate shopping trips to Nikki’s stand, one when I got there and one just before we left. ;o))

I picked up items off Nikki stand, I was very good I bought what I wanted/needed and didn’t really buy any ’nice to haves‘ (I think Kate might have bought one of the nice to have items I liked, but she or someone did me a huge favour as I had more money for things I needed! lol). Kat then arrived with her hubby and it was equally lovely to meet her! I think us bloggers were hogging the stand a bit lol as behind us there was row upon row of people either trying to get a look or get past! I left Nikki’s stand and the mayhem and made a rather slow journey (stopping off to look at a few stands along the way, I think my Mother would have looked at them all, but believe me there wasn‘t time) to Jain and Julie’s stand on the lower foyer.

Nikki's fabulous table!

It was truly lovely to meet Jain and Julie and what magnificent displays! Jain said that she had already sold a few dolls to American trade person’s (one whole display - The Hatter set was bare and this was after about half an hour after opening!). I bought two dolls and two other items from her (photo’s later!). My Mum was busy talking to Julie as I was looking over Jain’s wonderful creations and Mum was also picking Julie’s dolls up and saying oooh I like this, oh this would look good etc! lol So, as Jain was packing my purchases up I was eying up Julie’s dolls! I had already mentally made my decision what dolls I wanted to from Julie..and duly bought them! lol :o)) I am having a couple of commission dolls from Julie, these are scheduled for June/July…for much loved projects one in existence now and a project to be started as soon as I buy the dolls house kit! lol

I must say hello and welcome to my new followers! I hope you enjoy my ramblings! ;o))

Michelle xxx

My mini Summer House...for mini making.

2010-05-12T21:11:00.021+01:00

As some of you may know I am having my octagonal greenhouse converted into a small summer house. I thought I’d show you a little preview of the progress so far! It will be where I will doing most of my mini’s and dolls house projects. We’ve just had the glass taken out of the roof, so that it could be felted and tiled. The finials on the top have already been painted the new ‘willow’ colour, it’s a grey/green.

We had to take out the shelves etc so that the men could get in to do the roof etc so I will also be able to have small dolls houses and room boxes on these shelves.. It’s not huge by any means, about 8.8 feet by 6.6 feet, but it‘s big enough for me and my needs. It already has electricity with a hot and cool fan. I will have a main light fitted so I can see better in poor light and I am having some more plug sockets fitted too, for a lamp, lights for my dolls houses and power tools! It will have cream roller blinds to help keep the strong sunlight out and the heat down etc., although it should be cooler now the roof is no longer glass.

It’s not that old, and it wasn’t that hideous colour on the outside either when we first bought it! It was a lovely warm natural wood colour (like it still is on the inside), I came home from work one day and erm it had been re-stained to this truly awful poo/mud colour! I was very angry and not in the least bit impressed and was told at the time it would fade, has it heck!l lol ! Thank goodness THAT will be going and I will have the colour I like! :o))

It now needs a really good clean on the outside and inside, the staging re done, they will be made a bit deeper and will be solid wood (not slates). I am having the interior painted the same willow colour. I am having pink and white flowers in the hanging baskets that hang on the end of the summer house outside and two little wooden boxes full of pink flowering plants with some green foliage plants too! lol

Once the above is done, I will move my Witch’s House out there and my Gingerbread Cottage kit and start to prepare it. I’m also going to move a lot of my craft materials and tools out there and a lot of my mini’s too. Hogwarts will stay in the spare room, but I will do some of the work for it in the mini summer house. :o)

As I have company tomorrow night I have been busy preparing for Kensington a bit earlier! I have my shopping bag all ready, my money, the camera, food and snacks including my Soya milk (I have one very sick tummy so I can’t eat much that you buy off the shelf sadly!) my KDF floor plans and one or two lists. I was going to take my little note book, but I couldn’t be arsed to flip between the pages, just too much hassle! lol ;o)

Will give you an update on KDF when I get back, as will all the other bloggers who are going too! :o)

Michelle xxx

An award!

2010-04-09T22:58:00.026+01:00

I have been given the Premio award from Debbie !!! Many thanks Debbie, it was so kind of you! :o))

So, I have to pass on the award to 5 other blogs:

In no particular order or preference and I love all the blogs I follow no matter how quietly, so it makes it very difficult to choose! ;o))

Nikki of http://nikkinikkinikki72.blogspot.com/

Kate of http://whittakersminis.blogspot.com/

Debie of http://piskies-and-poppets.blogspot.com/

Julie of http://diaryofanedwardiandollshouse.blogspot.com/

Sylvia of http://lotjesdollshouse.blogspot.com/

I will reply to comments left on my previous post ASAP! :o))

Michelle xxx

Little Update....

2010-03-12T21:19:00.007Z

Hi all,

This is only to say that I have a stinking cold and thus haven't been doing anything apart from taking Paracetamol and drinking lots of tea and water! So apologies to those I haven't been adding comments on the blogs I follow, I've just not been online and gosh does blogland move fast when you're away! lol

Before I was unwell I was making headway with adding all the papier mache to the main and larger walls for Hogwarts...alas, it's all come to a grinding halt for now. Once I am better I will back to mini's etc. :o))

To top it off, my most used DVD recorder has packed up, so I need to get another and my Sky+ box will be full in no time I'm sure!

A big welcome to all my new followers! So sorry the update wasn't very exciting! ;o) I do hope you like it here!

Michelle xx

My Sunshine Award!

2010-02-20T21:07:00.020Z

I've been awarded the 'Sunshine Award' from the lovely Jain Squires of The Giddy Kipper the creator of some truly fabulous characters! It's my very first award, so thank you Jain! :o))

I've also been awarded the Sunshine Award from Kate (and John) of Whittaker's Miniature's , so very gracious of you both! :o))

My ramblings at least make sense to some! lol ;o))

So the rules are to name and list 6 blogs that I enjoy and let them know and post the award! :o)

http://njdminiatures.blogspot.com/
http://caseymini.blogspot.com/
http://piskies-and-poppets.blogspot.com/
http://debbiestinytreasures.blogspot.com/
http://katthehatlady.blogspot.com/
http://kc-design-kc.blogspot.com/

I think I've done it right! I'm sure someone will tell me if I've done it wrong! lol

Michelle xxx

Look Who's Going to Hogwarts.....

2009-11-08T13:48:00.017Z

Sylvie and her pumpkin (that glows in the dark) and a little baby troll (who I won!) and her ghostly friend! :o)

Sindee and her pumpkin and Wee-Gee and his witchy board. These little trolls reminded me of Dobi & Co, albeit cleaner and far more mischievous!! lol

I bought Sylvie, Wee-Gee and Sindee from Dolores Marple at 'Trolltracks' http://www.etsy.com/shop/trolltracks

I won the little baby troll as part of Dolores monthly giveaway!! I was sooo chuffed as I am the type of person who can buy half a book of raffle tickets, and not win a single bean!!! Dolores also very kindly gave me the troll magic book and ghost! :o) All will live at Hogwarts. The baby will go in the bedroom, Wee-Gee in the Gryffindor common room and Sindee and Sylvie will go in the garden. I may make the bigger ones little outfits similar to Dobi's attire! :o)

I love them all to bits and I'm sure they will all love it at Hogwarts!

I was hoping to start putting Hogwarts together today, unfortunately the kit doesn't have any inside doors and I don't particularly want modern conventional shaped doorways. So, I will have Gothic shaped interior doors (like the witch's shed door) and tweak the current doorways. Once they arrive I can fit them etc., and then start gluing the house together! I wish I'd noticed and thought of this sooner!

Have a fab Sunday!

Michelle :o)

Welcome!

2009-11-06T11:27:00.008Z

Before I am accused of being tardy and remiss, a big welcome to all my new followers! Great to have you here! I won't mention you all by name, just in case I miss one of you off and I don't want to upset you! ;o)

I've been taking some photo's of some new little people for Hogwarts, or at least trying to! Most days are just grey and hopeless for pic taking, I know anyone would think that I live in a house fit for a vampire because of the poor light I seem to encounter! lol :o) However, I did manage to take some and I will update them onhere tomorrow or the day after!

Bestest wishes!

Michelle ;o)

Hi to all my new followers!

2009-10-28T12:16:00.006Z

I'm so new to 'blogosphere' and still very much getting used to blog etiquette! So a big welcome to Katie and The Lone Dollier my newest followers! :o)

I'm still trying to take some decent photo's of the Witches House, the weather has been dull and grey, so my little house has been moved all round my home looking and chasing good light! lol Even the first pics show it in the living room where the light is normally good for pic taking. No doubt I will get the hang of it!

Michelle :o)

Hello and welcome!!!

2009-10-24T14:02:00.000+01:00

Well, Julia of http://bearcabinminiatures.blogspot.com/ said that she's following my blog! Actually it was her idea that I have one, so here I am! lol I honestly don't know how often I will post items on my blog as I do work full time, but I will endeavour to do so! At the moment I am off work with a serious knee injury which may need (no pun intended!!) an operation to put right, eeek! So I have more time on my hands than normal.

Recently I was in a dolls house shop in Winchester and a fellow shopper said that dolls house making and collecting was like having a disease! Hmm... I hastened to add a 'likeable and friendly one'! I have been making mini's for a few year's on and off and now have 6 dolls houses, and if I had my way I would keep buying them, as I'd love a couple more themed ones! They are all in various stages of completion..... My first house was a Victorian shop (called Erica's Emporium) and sells a variety of things (hence the name) and I do change the stock as it makes it more interesting. I want to revamp it, mainly the kitchen!

My favourite house to date is my witches house (made from the Dolls House Emporium's Toll House), my Mum bought it last October as a little pressie. It's mostly complete, but it does need some serious tweaks and more work to be done. I've added a garden and a potting shed and a metal spiral staircase that I made from a kit..I am very happy with the final result, even though the men in white coats nearly carted me off as it nearly drove me mad to make, it was a nightmare! lol I recently sent my witches dressing table (that I stained and aged) to the US to a well known and very talented artisan to dress it, as I was so stuck for ideas (I'm normally not like this! lol).

I also have a Sid Cooke house (my most refined house). One of my favourites is my Nanny McPhee cottage, it's made from a kit from Corona Concepts - The Orchid Dollshouse, it's tiny, but I love it! It will have a mixture of bright colours (like Nanny McPhee) and pastel's, in a shabby chic sort of style. I will be adding a back to the house (and make it front opening), as like most American dolls houses they don't have backs and I think you lose a lot of space. It will also have a large tea pot collection that will be on a large shelf in the kitchen (I have bought many to date).

I have a 1/16th scale Honeydukes, actually it's more of a large room box, so I'd love a proper sized shop in 1/12th scale! Just don't tell the family! lol ;o)

My latest addition is Hogwarts, I couldn't see a decent castle kit and I'm not that great with wood to create my own houses (I wish I could!), so instead I'm going to transform a large Tudor Coach Inn kit, it will probably end up looking like in belongs in Diagon Alley as I want to have the house in Rik Pierce's style (old cracking render and bricks showing). It has a large forecourt and I plan to add Sid Cooke's Orangery and a small walled garden. It's the largest of all my dolls houses and I have the design and plan's already in my head!

I'd love to do a Ron Weasley's home, and I have seen the perfect kit for it! Hmmm....not sure I could convince anyone I would like another house! lol

I will be adding some photo's of my houses on here, but I am the world's worse for taking photo's of anything or anyone, and I really take so few when I make anything (my family and friends are always telling me off for not doing so!! lol). I plan to take some as I complete work on my houses from now on, though when they get uploaded on my blog is anyone's guess! lol :o))

Michelle :o)