Decision #2

Color schemes

We're leaning toward green for the main living area.  Here are some of the samples that I collected.  I don't want a green that's too blue or gray. 

I narrowed them down a bit and added the chips of accent colors that I like.  They may change some but I think that it's getting close to the feel that I want.

And the kitchen colors,  I'm thinking citrus,  orange as the main color.  I want a bright sunny orange not a red or pinky orange.  Then a pale lemony yellow  and light  (but not pastel or minty) green  as accent.  I'm thinking that if I use a paler version of the green that I use for the livingroom it will help tie the rooms together.

I really like the little booklets and fliers that the paint companies put out.   They show lots of color combinations and even if they don't have just the right combination that you are looking for they give you ideas.  They also show lots of decorating details besides paint colors.  I love the open shelf with the pottery.  I like to keep a collection  of these free little idea books.   Sometimes I don't look at the paint at all, I look at furniture, windows, knick knacks and so many little details.  And we all know that it's the little details that really make a dollhouse come alive.

There are so many more decisions to think about,  I don't know where to start with the exterior.  The only thing I know is that I don't want clapboard siding but I have no idea what to do.

I need to think alot about what to do with the loft.   Jaynie says that she doesn't need a seperate bedroom, that a sleep sofa is okay, but that she does needs a place for her clothes (she says that she changes everyday, she just has alot of the same outfit).   She needs a bathroom even if its small and she would like an office/craftsroom.    I'm not sure about fitting everything, this house is small.

I hope that you enjoyed my rambling for today. 

Thank you for visiting, Mary

Decisions, Decisions

So many decisions.  Jaynie and I are trying to get a few of them made. 

Decision #1 is the stairs.  The ones that came with the components kit is very nice and fits very easily against the back wall.

I was thinking, if I use these stairs that I may be able to squeeze a bathroom under them.  I don't really like the stairs all staight down, maybe if I put in a landing and a turn, but that would cut into the small living room even more.  Would that make the space in the corner useable?  I don't know, and what might work there?

I made a mock up of spiral stairs, just to get an idea of how it would fit.  It's just a skewer, wood beads and steps cut from cardboard.

What do you think?  I really should have got a picture showing a wider view of how it fits in the house (maybe later).   I kind of like this, now more decisions.  What materials to use,  I have some stone tube beads that I think would look really nice as the support column but they have a very narrow hole.  The skewer will not fit,  what can I use?  Then what to use for the steps and then it also needs a hand rail.

I hope that you will forgive my rambing but I'm hoping that it will help me sort through all the decisions.  Feel free to give me your opinions, please let me know if you think that I'm doing something wrong or missing something.

I think that I'll leave most of my rambings and pictures about Decision #2 for tomorrow.
Decision #2   color schemes, I've been looking at  alot of paint chips.   I'm leaning toward green with  accents in brown and terra cotta for the main living area.   I'm thinking citrus for the kitchen, orange with accents of yellow and green. 


Thank you for visiting, Mary

Welcome

I want to send a warm welcome and a Big Mini Hug to a new follower.

Jazzi  has been very busy,  she has a  give-away   going on, go by and enter before 2/29.  She also just opened an Etsy shop   JazziMinis   to sell her very creative and pretty charms.   Visit her lovely blog and you'll see lots of great minis.

I also want to send a Big Mini Hug to  Amy of  Crafter's Delights,  she has also opened an Etsy shop Amy's Delights  to sell her sweet  little crochet bears and other creatures.

I wish you both Good Luck and Great Success in your new shops.


Thank you for visiting, Mary

My Loft Kit Has Arrived

I recieved my order from  Miniatures.com  yesterday afternoon.

I bought the  MiniTown Loft Kit  ,  the  Components set  and the  Single French Door

I think that this has to be one of the easiest house kits to construct.  There are only 7 pieces, including the dowel loft support, to be put together.  It has a groove construction, everything fits together very easily.  There are only 4 steps in the assembly instructions.   I'm glad that I bought the components set and the door,  I don't want to learn how to build and fit windows and doors as part of this project.  I'm not sure if I will use the stairs from the set, I may try to build a spiral staircase.  I think that a spiral staircase would fit the small space well.  I'm really not sure yet, there are so many decisions to be made.  I think that there are more than when we built our real house. 

Then I bought a few supplies

Museum Wax   I need this to tack down all of Jaynie's vases and things. 
Grandmother Stover's Glue   It says that it is the same as Yes glue,  I'm going to try it for making books.
Lycopodium  This is a big package.    I had bought a small package from some where else and I really like it.   I want to make a few Christmas trees, this package will be plenty and I will have lots left for plants.  The piece in the picture is only a small portion of the package.

And some plastic sheets

White Small Hexagon tile      I think this would be good for lots different tiling needs.  This comes in a large   11 x 17" sheet.   I think I may try painting it for backsplash tile in the kitchen.
1/4" Square Clear tile     A  7 x 12" sheet.
Rippled Water     A   7 x  12" sheet.

I really like these but not sure how I will use them.   I may save a piece of each to use to texture clay.

I also bought some electrical supplies but I'm not sure if I'll use them on this project.  I could not resist buying them while I was getting 20% off my first order.

I bought a few miniatures, some that I really like and  some that I was really dissapionted in the size.  I really should know better by now not to buy miniature if the measurements or materials are not listed.  I'll try to get pictures to show you tomorrow.

Your comments and advice is welcome and appreciated.

Thank you for visiting, Mary

Do you do the Zentangle?

Have you seen Zentangles?  Have you drawn any?

I had not seen them until I saw them on Casey's minis blog, thank you, Casey.
Casey  has been working on making 98 Zentangle squares, they are fantastic.

I had to try it myself, mine are not as detailed as Casey's.   The important part is that it is fun and relaxing.  I do not have any artist pens, just what was around the house.  All you need is a few minutes, a pen or two and a piece of paper.  You don't need any drawing experience,  just start putting your pen to the paper.   You will probably like more pens if you decide that you like it.   I like it, I want more pens.

There are videos on YouTube that show how to start and some of the patterns.  There are lots of example to see if you google 'zentangle images'.


Here are my first few attempts,

Then I did a few more.

I think that I see a  little bit of improvement already.  I made a few small squares of different patterns, they help me get ideas when I get stuck on what to do next.

I've also been practicing drawing some patterns using a 'lazy S' , I like them. 

 I also realized that I like  leaf and feather type patterns and borders.

Planning Jaynie's Loft was put on hold for a while today, while I played with  Zentangles.  While I was looking for ideas  I found a pattern for a fret work screen that I  had printed.  The swirly patterns made me think of Zentangles.  I copied the pattern at 200%, then started filling in the sections.   You can find the pattern for the screen here       Here's how it started and what I've done so far. 

I like most of it but not all and I'm stuck for now, so I'll put it aside for a bit and come back to it later.

What do you think?  Have you tried it?  Have you posted pictures?  I'd love to see your Zentangles.

Now I have to go back to trying to figure out what to do with Jaynie's Loft.  I have lots of ideas but no real plans yet.  My kit should be here Monday, I need to do some reading on putting a house together.  Do you have any advice, anything that you wish that you knew before you started your first house?

Thank you for visiting, Mary

Planning A New Project

I ordered a  MiniTown Loft kit  from  Miniatures.com.  This will be the first house that I build,  I think that it's a good one to start with.  It's not too big and doesn't seem too complicated.

Since this was my first purchase from Miniatures.com  I received a 20%  discount, so I also bought a few other supplies and things that I have been looking at.  I'll show you some of it after it gets here, hopefully in the next few days.

I'm not sure if I will enter the Creatin' Contest , I will wait to see if I can figure out how to build and decorate the house first.   I'm glad that the deadline is not until December,  I know that I would not be able to do it very quickly, there's a chance that I could do it by December.  I guess that I just have to take it one step at a time and see how it goes.   I'm sure that I will be asking for alot of help and opinions.

I'm hoping that this will be a good space to display some of the miniature pieces that I have made, collected and received as gifts.  Jaynie has been wanting a space of her own, she is really looking forward to having a place for some of her things.  We are going to need alot of shelves for all of her stuff.

I need some help already and I don't even have my kit yet.  Does anyone know where I might be able to get thin corrugated cardboard?   Jaynie is so excited, she wants boxes so that she can start packing for the move.   I'm heading over to    Jim's  to print some newspaper to wrap breakables in.


Thank you for visiting, Mary