Box lid update

A while ago I painted the box lid I'd found by 'Handcast Designs Ltd' to resemble carved wood.  I used some leftover paint that came with a Chrysnbon kit, as I thought it would be suitable for the type of resin material the lid was cast in.  The paint seemed to take to it very well, and I'm quite pleased with the result.  In the end, however, I decided that I won't use it for the caravan.  I think it will work better somehow mounted on the wall of the library in Manderley (yet to be decorated!).

Morning room sofa

I re-upholstered and painted this sofa...a lot of tea-staining later and I think I'm happy with the result, though still not sure about the gold.  I think it probably needs to be seen in the finished room.  It's for the morning room in Manderley.  I'm not exactly sticking to the novel (I'd need a huge mansion for that), but I am using some of the descriptions of the rooms to influence the decorations and contents.  The morning room should be filled with rhododendrons and will take it's colour mainly from them. I made a few from tissue paper and punched leaves, but there will be many more to make.  The sofa fabric is a hydrangea print - I used the reverse to give it a more faded feel (the front side is a very vibrant pink).

The Green Lady

Here are a few pieces for Manderley.  The photograph is an old ambrotype of an unknown lady, bought on ebay.  I thought it was so sad that on the back was written 'Not to be given away to anyone'. This lady was once loved and this image was once treasured by someone, but now although this may be the only existing photograph of this lady, her identity is now lost and forgotten.  Now she will be treasured once again!  She deserves a beautiful room I think.  I love the patina of the frame and the way the oxidised green on the frame matches the tinted colours of her dress.  The salon of Manderley is in similar green tones, very unfinished at the moment so I'll add pictures once it's in a more presentable state.  The lilacs are made from an Anja van den Doel kit, the cushion I embroidered on 35 count linen using a pattern in 'Embroidered Projects' by Sue Hawkins (Dolls House Do-It-Yourself series).  There was an extra line of stitches, oops, but I am very new to needlepoint so I was happy anyway with the result and hopefully it isn't too obvious!  I bought the Biedermeier commode second hand in a German market, pre-made, I think it is by Mini Mundus.

Welcome!

Well, there's a first time for everything....hello! I have followed and enjoyed so many other blogs out there over the years that I thought it was about time I started my own, so hopefully I will no longer be the invisible 'lurker' and will have enough time to write something of my own and post a few pictures. I've been interested in dolls houses and miniatures for as long as can remember, ever since my Grandad built me my first dolls house as a child. I'll begin on here with a list of my current and possible future projects, though time is in very short supply for me as a stay-at-home mum with a fifteen month old toddler. Miniatures provide a just a little relaxation and distraction for me whenever I find a few moments to spare - here goes....
1. Manderley house, inspired by Daphne Du Maurier's 'Rebecca' (this one is my main project, a second-hand Manor House by Dolls House Emporium bought for a bargain price on Ebay, already built and decorated but in need of renovation)
2. Swedish Summer House (half-finished, a little Buttercup by Greenleaf)
3. Vintage/white/Scandinavian inspired house (a cheap import bought on Ebay, this was initially meant to be a 1930's house but I lost track of what I was doing with it and totally changed direction)
4. Gypsy Caravan (recently purchased in a charity shop, not sure if exactly 1:12 scale but I will see what I can make of it - the picture above is the caravan before renovation, although I'd already started to pull off the ugly trimmings. I'm currently very excited about this one!)
5. Sid Cooke shop - a small shop kit I bought a constructed some time ago, but couldn't decide what to make of it...a bakery, a Cornish seaside shop selling beachy things, a 1920's newsagent, a Victorian photographer, an early ironmonger? I'm thinking of reconstructing from imagination one of the shops my ancestors used to run...
6. Shop window display box - this will probably sell Greengate style interior items, maybe some Maileg toys
7. Various boxes and display frames which could end up as anything - I'd like to do some kind of Thai roombox using the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok as inspiration
Those are just the projects I have already in mind and some I have started, but I am constantly picking up new ideas and dreams for future houses....in reality I don't think I have the space, or time! Within this hobby are many 'miniature' distractions - needlework, polymer clay sculpting, miniature painting, wickerwork, flower making and so on, all of which I enjoy. I will try to keep this blog up to date as a record of whatever I'm currently working on.