Miniatures in Berlin (part 1)

Last week I visited Berlin and made a special trip to the Arikalex Miniature Museum to see some fabulous houses by the great Mulvany and Rogers (amongst others) in a display of 1:12 houses and interiors from the 4th century to the 20th century.  The museum was fantastic, though there weren't really any references to any of the makers as far as I could see.  I took a lot of photos though with the dimmed lighting (which showed up the lit interiors to the best effect) some photos were a little blurry.

I'll start with the miniature Sans Souci...

The real Sans Souci in Potsdam...

The mini...

The real!

Here are the interior rooms, all miniature.

More photos to follow in my next post!

My houses...Lundby Gothenburg c1979

Looking through old catalogues I think my Lundby Gothenburg dates to 1979.  I'm trying to fill it mainly with Lundby items from around the same era, but also I'm mixing in a few Barton bits.  Still looking for a matching fridge and sink unit for the kitchen.  Not all that much to show here yet.

My houses...Cath Kidston shop

Because I'm such an infrequent blogger, I've been thinking I need to post some photos on here of all my current projects, partly as a record for me to help me organize my thoughts and give me some motivation to get something done in the very little spare time I have at the moment.  I am very good at beginning new things but not very good at completing anything!  Not one of my houses has a room that I can say is finished, there is definitely a quantity over quality thing going on.

I'll start with the most recent first.  My Triang Spot-On bedroom had me thinking more and more about Cath Kidston's designs, and after spending much time looking at her shop layouts and catalogues I decided on what my much neglected little Sid Cooke shop will have to be.  I began to collect images together on Pinterest for reference.  She uses a lot of vintage repainted furniture in her shop displays, so what better way to re-use some old oddments I had no other use for!  I excitedly purchased some Humbrol gloss enamel paints in bright red, yellow and a lovely vintage pink and began to paint.  A lot of shelves now to fill with flowers and polka-dots.

I've been doing a bit of needlepoint, very easy to pick up and put down in spare moments to add a few stitches.  The isn't a Cath Kidston design but I thought it worked out OK, until I took the photo which makes the stitches look so chunky.  I've since bought her 'Stitch' book and found a lot of those designs will translate very well to 1:12 scale if worked on fine enough canvas or linen.

I have a little dilemma...I wonder if I should repaint the very chipped vintage DCMT stove with a new coat of cream enamel, and repaint the old wooden tea-set below?  The stove has been repainted in the past.  If it had it's original paintwork I would definitely not consider it (I do have another one with the original paint intact).  I usually don't like to touch or change vintage pieces, but it's looking a very sorry state right now.  The tea-set was once green but is now discoloured to ugly grungy greeny brown with half of the paint chipped off and missing.  Not sure how old it is or where it originated - I've seen similar ones, usually red, advertised as German.  Both of these were ebay purchases.

Grandad's House again

So here is the next room in my Grandad's House...a Triang Spot-On filled retro bedroom, a bit 60's, a bit shabby chic and Cath Kidston influenced (I scaled down one of her wallpaper designs for the chimney breast, though I think I've hung it sideways).  Yes, there's a very large gap between the walls behind the red chair, I may need to do something about that sometime!  My husband thinks it looks more like a tatty old hotel room that hasn't been updated in years.  All these rooms are just beginnings, they have a long way to go!

Grandad's House renovation

Again I must welcome new followers, thanks for following me although I so rarely post anything at the moment!  Sorry I haven't been able to mention individual followers, I'm finding it very difficult to find time to keep up but you are all very welcome.

Here are some photos of my old childhood dolls house made by my Grandad.  It had been stored away for at least twenty years so it all looked a little run down.

I have now repainted the interior and made a start on one bedroom, the lounge and the kitchen, putting a few bits of old furniture in that I've had from childhood or bought.  The house is a little rough and chunky (made for a child's hands) and a bit vague in scale and era, but it will be a good place for displaying bits and pieces of vintage furniture I pick up. I am hoping the kitchen will be fully kitted out with Brimtoy pieces eventually if I ever manage to get in the top bid on ebay!

Bedroom has dressing table I believe by Kensalcraft, chair is by Twigg and beds and little stool unknown, I think it's a bathroom stool.  Lounge has fireplace by Barton, bureau by Tri-ang, radiogram by Kleeware, and vintage handmade three piece suite and embroidered doily carpet.  Kitchen has a Brimtoy dresser (so cute and retro!), and a few Barton things.  Not sure who made the cooker.

Meanwhile, my new little mini has been keeping me extremely busy....

Still here!

Hi again, and welcome to all new followers, thanks for your comments!  I haven't logged in for a while but am still here and working on mini things whenever I have a spare moment.  I have a lot of catching up to do on reading other blogs too!  Various reasons for my absence include a toddler who no longer takes naps, and being rather pregnant (currently 27 weeks) - I'm feeling quite exhausted for most of the time and I guess I can expect even less time once the baby is born!

I now have two more houses to work on (as if I didn't have enough).  My old childhood dollshouse is now with me, built by my grandad, and currently being filled with vintage furniture (roughly 1:16 scale), and a 1970's Lundby Gothenburg!  I shall post some photos when they are ready.