Nesting In The 21st Century

Mini Croissants

I am so excited to show you what my daughter has made.  She is madly in love with all the wonderful Club Little House goodies and so this time she signed up as well.

I won't give too much away but these itty bitty croissants and pats of butter will give you a clue.  She is working hard on her dollhouse but has not selected the color for the outside yet.  She takes her time, unlike me.  It will be fun to see how she expresses herself with this project.  She has definite ideas about what she does and does not like.  As a Mom it is wonderful to not only express herself but to reveal her creativity.  I feel like I am getting to know her all over again.  Bonding over croissants.

CLH Three

Here is a sneak peek of my Club Little House Three contribution.  I think the theme is obvious.  I've already discussed my love for Halloween and I thought it would be fun to do some itty bitty Halloween things.  I don't want to give too much away so I won't say much more.

I love that I got to combine two of my favortie things:  Dollhouses and Halloween.  I already have tons of ideas for Christmas...

Club Little House Heaven

I thought it would be a good idea to go through the "Club Little House Experience" step by step.  This is a very picture heavy post without a lot of comment from me.  I think the photos really speak for themselves.  What I do want to say is thank you so very much.  Everything is amazingly lovely and adorable!

This label let's us know something special is in store from Amy.

  It is almost time....

It looks like Christmas!

Almost...

What an amazing selection of little goodies.

The Joggling Board is from Maggie

The Christmas Tree is from Jamie

The Hat Box, Hat and stand are from Vicki

The Toy Chest is from Monica

The Spa Basket is from Debra

The Trunk and Quilt is from Cerri

The Birdcage is from Rosanna

The Braided Rug is from Janet

The Bassinet is from me

The Peg Rack is from Alicia

The Lunch and Pie are from Amy

Thank you to all who  made such amazing Little House things!  If I don't have your blog link next to the item you made do send it tom me so I can include it in this post!

Club Little House Mini Swap

I was so delighted to receive this wonderful package from June in the Club Little House mini round swap.  (By the way I just love that it is a mini round...so appropriate.)  Anyway, June sent me this adorable chair with an embroidered pillow  (a W of course.)  The photo album has tiny prints of dollhouse photos from my blog.  How thoughtful is that!  As if that wasn't enough there is a photo envelope filled with mini photos and itty bitty strips of film. I so love this thoughtful gift and I can't wait to place everything inside the little house.

I forgot to mention how it was packaged...in a blue box with the cutest decoration on top.  A mini wire clothes hanger with a dress...and the skirt is a white lace hankie.  Love it!

Thank you June for such  wonderful treats.  And thank you also Amy who continues the Club Little House fun through the Club Little House Swaps and now this wonderful Mini Swap.

Dollhouse Renovation Part One

I have begun the renovation of the dollhouse.  The Gray paint and yellowing trim was just so sad.  First I painted the trim my favorite Benjamin Moore Dove White.  It is my favorite white and it made even the drab Gray look better.  Next came a pretty green (Benjamin Moore's Saybrook Sage.)  Lest you think I went out and bought Benjamin Moore paint for the dollhouse, I did not.  It was left over from projects around my real house.  In the photo the colors looks like an okay blue but in reality it was very drab gray.  These two photos don't look that different from each other color wise but they really are.  I may try to photograph the house in another room so the color is clearer.

The porch had been the drab Gray and I painted that Dove White as well.  I would like to find some lights for around the door.  Coach lights of some kind.  All in all the house is in good shape. The inside is a mish mash of different colors and I haven't decided what to do there yet.

I have lots of planning to do.  I want one room to be the nursery complete with the bassinet I made.  I think I may try and do a canopy for it.  I envision a room like the one in the movie "Father Of The Bride II"...still the most amazing dream nursery I have ever seen.  I am like a little kid waiting for the Club Little House goodies to arrive...I am hoping to get a lot of inspiration from all those little treasures.

My Mother picked this house up for me.  She is undoubtedly the best thrift store sleuth I have ever met.  She can find the most amazing things at the most amazing prices.  Whenever I ask her where she gets something she'll say "In my travels..."  She really has thrifting down to a science.

When I asked her to let me know if she saw a dollhouse this one was what she found within a week...for $50.  I love it especially because she found it for me.  I can't help thinking about her every time I work on it. 

I am putting together lots of things for inside.   Isn't it funny to be doing little details when the rooms themselves need so much work.  Honestly I just love all the tiny little accessories.  I purchased some of the wonderful donuts and vases of flowers from the Dollhouse Sweets and Petite Treats Etsy shop.  My daughter was so excited when they came in the mail.  She couldn't imagine where I had come across mini donuts complete with sprinkles.  I just said "In my travels..." except my travels are the cyber kind.   I guess some things don't change from generation to generation.

By the way, if anyone has any dollhouse sources they would like to share I sure would appreciate it!  I would especially like a black and white checked floor for the kitchen. 

Club Little House

I just finished up my Club Little House projects and the twelve little bassinets are on their way to the wonderful Amy.  This has been so fun to participate in. 

I must say I got a bit caught up making these little beds along with reversible comforter (dots on one side, creme chenille on the other), polka dot pillow, mattress and a little bear for each.  They took way longer than I thought they would.  I actually started a completely different thing and then thought it might be more appropriate for a future Club Little House (perhaps in the autumn.)

I am so caught up in baby fever with my newest nephew due in September that I had to go with a baby theme.  I made 14 total so that both my daughter and I could have one as well.

Amy has opened up a Dollhouse Gift Swap  where everyone will be matched up with a partner and do a little swap between the two of you.   Sign ups run through August 14 and everyone will have until August 31 to send their goodies out.  Okay, I admit it, I signed up for the swap as well.  It will tide me over until the next round of Club Little House.

Life in Miniature

I have spent this week making lots of little things for the dollhouse.  I have always been very fond of miniature food.  Actually, I have always been fond of food in general but especially the tiny type.  These little strawberries have been fun to create.  They are about 1/4" but I am trying to make them even smaller.   I love the way they look piled in a little bowl with a gingham cloth underneath.  I have been inspired by the wonderful things going on over at Club Little House.  As you can see over at Alicia's Blog these gals are very talented.  I love the bright colors and whimsy.  Sometimes even dollhouses can get way too serious. All the heavy Victorian furniture and ornate trimmings.  They become a bit stuffy and formal.  Silly really.  Dollhouses are for kids (wink wink) and kids aren't stuffy or formal (not even at the times we'd most like them to be....weddings, concerts and other everyone-needs-to-be-silent-type events.)  I love this dollhouse makeover from Jenny.  For me, this little gem is everything a dollhouse should be.  Approachable and whimsical with a great sense of humor.  All around yummy.  I might just need to send her a tiny bowl of strawberries. First of all because I think they would look perfect in her little house.  Secondly, and perhaps most importantly, because I should send a little thank you for the whimsical inspiration.               

I guess I should go and make s'more...okay...I do think making miniature food can make one a bit loopy.  Or perhaps I always was.  My son told me over breakfast this morning that I should work on little pieces of toast with itty-bitty pats of butter.  That sounds like a fun project for a summer afternoon.  I can count on him to keep it for getting too serious around here.