Bit of a catch-up

before I finish the dealer packages for Sunday.

Each year I take a picture of this piece of art at the hotel with the intention of making it in miniature. Maybe this will finally be the year!

The shingles came off this side of the roof very easily......

but this is causing me problems. Am hoping the hair dryer will loosen them...

Three years ago I made a bunch of little Christmas tables for Meals on Wheels. These two were left over so I spoke with my friend, Joan, about doing them again this year so she put me in touch with the Meals on Wheels co-ordinator at the St. Albert Seniors' Centre who was thrilled with the idea. So I committed to doing 40 of them for her. I think I have enough items in my stash to do them so I plan on having some friends over in October or November for a work party to make them up. Looking forward to that.

Leanne gets home tonight so she'll be picking up the rabbit tomorrow. Friday night, we have our first STARFest writer, Saturday, we pack up and go to the hotel, then Sunday is the Show and Sale.

The Dollhouse

As I mentioned in my last post,  I was sorely tempted to buy Jodi's dollhouse for myself. It has such big rooms that it would have been a joy to furnish. BUT I showed some restraint and found a buyer in my DS Marie who bought it for her grand-daughter, Elizabeth (with David and Laura's permission).

This is an incredibly well built dollhouse. It's constructed from  1/2" wood (doesn't even appear to be plywood). And it is HUGE! It is 38 3/4" w. x 26" h. x 18 5/8" deep! I'm pretty sure that the size deterred most club members from thinking about buying it. (As did I.)

The roof appears to be shingled with tar paper but that's in poor shape and will have to be replaced. My biggest concern was how the shingles had been applied but I've pulled on them and they're coming off quite nicely.

Because Elizabeth is very young and will have a new brother soon, I will have to keep it very child-friendly.

With that in mind, I think I will put on a simple roof (perhaps matboard) with a drawn-on simple scallop design.

I have a few strong, age-appropriate pieces of furniture and a doll to put in it. And some ideas for a few other things.

On the other hand, Elizabeth may choose to use it simply as a toy storage box.

This is the view from the open side of the house.. The books under the staircase are there to level the house since the "crawl space" has only three sides.

Right side of the house: Other than a good wash, this doesn't need any work.

Left side of the house: Both corner pieces have to be replaced.

Couldn't get a good shot of this side of the house but it needs a good wash, one window shutter and a front step below the door.

Master bedroom: wallpaper needs to be glued down in the back corners, wallpaper needs to be refreshed and the carpet needs to be vacuumed.

14" w x 15 1/4" d. x 8 3/4" high (low end of vaulted ceiling)

Upper staircase: just clean wallpaper and carpet

6" wide

Nursery/Child's room: Walls and carpet

14" w x 15 1/4" d. x 8 3/4" high (low end of vaulted ceiling)

Downstairs:

Lower left:  Kitchen (L-shaped 15 1/4" deep and 14" wide at the back with a 6" x 6" bathroom in front). The ceiling is 8" tall. Just general cleaning and remove the toilet and replace it with something modern.

 Staircase: Room is 6" wide by 15 1/4" deep and 8" tall. Again, general cleaning.

Living room: Re-gluing wallpaper and cleaning. This room actually had a light in it so I will have to check out the bulb and see if I can figure out the battery set-up.

14" w x 15 1/4"d  x 8" h

I am really looking forward to bringing this house back to life.

Dollhouse, Chess set and new container

I had a long post all planned for yesterday. M.E.E. was given a dollhouse to sell on Tuesday night. It didn't sell then so I was going to tell you all about it as it would have taken up too much table space if we sold it at the show.

Then I got thinking about it (and, yes, I was really tempted) and emailed pics of it to DS Marie as I thought they might like to get it for their grand-daughter. And they bought it!

At our meeting on Tuesday, we finalized everything for the show and sale on September 17. It is going to be great! 

Dave Armstrong (?), who is a friend of Tina's song, is an incredible artist with metal minis. He has been doing quite a bit of painting for club members and Tina will have some of his work available on her sales table.

I bought a metal mini chess set from Lorry's estate sale and had Dave paint them for me. You have to keep in mind that the tallest piece in the set is just under 3/8". Quite honestly, I would have been pleased with plain black and white pieces but these are magnificent! Black with gold accents and white with silver accents. And only $25!

In addition, Tina was kind enough to make me a board (with an optional frame) and print out 5 marble chess boards.

Then, last night, I checked out the Put and Take room and found this candle holder which will make a container for a miniature...not too sure when and what will go in it but it's a nice little piece. The base is 5 1/4" square and the straight sides are 9" tall. The door and three straight sides are glass.

More great publicity for the Show and Sale and M.E.E.

Joanne has had a busy summer drumming up publicity for the Show and Sale and the Club.

Here is the latest (think it's on pages 8 and 10.

Great article. Thanks Joanne and Edmonton Prime.

I really fouled up!

I decided to finish the library vignette this afternoon. I slipped a piece of paper on the floor and taped it in place so I would be able to mark the curve of the plexiglass and use the paper as a pattern to cut out the carpet.

Then I put the plexiglass in place....and the minute it slipped in place....I thought "how the heck am I going to get it out?"

Good question - and I have no idea yet what the answer is!

Hope I can figure it out soon and complete this.

Some new art

Since Mom came home from Glenrose  Stroke Rehab last year, DS Marie has made a point of sending her a piece of mail every day - a card, a note, a picture. Don't know how she comes up with something new everyday!

One of the last pictures was this great picture of a double rainbow framing an old barn near Grande Prairie, AB.

It's so lovely that I asked Marie to send me a copy and I miniaturized and framed it. It will go in one of my art galleries.

Not too sure what to do about staining/colouring the frame.

Here's another frame that I made for the picture. I may end up using it a couple times - once in the art gallery and again in a roombox. Again, still don't know how I'll finish the frame.

BIG Disappointment!

Pat Jackson, Winnipeg doll artisan, has had to cancel her appearance at our Show and Sale, due to health issues.

We are disappointed both on her behalf: Pat, we hope that you'll be feeling better soon; and on our behalf as Pat was the only dealer who dealt in artisan dolls.