Dollhouse Renovation

Dollhouse Kitchen: Making a Tablecloth

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It’s Friday! I hope you have had a wonderful week. I know life can really distract with all it’s “have-to’s” and adult responsibilities but I truly hope and pray you are able to find a way to add your own unique, unmatched magic to everything you do. The world truly needs your magic.

For me, I have been thinking all things Christmas. I know, it’s not even Thanksgiving and I promise you I am a bit of a seasonal/holiday purist. Nothing gets decorated until the season is (in my opinion) upon us. I really like enjoying what is and right now it is fall and I love this season. I love the colors and the falling leaves so I don’t want to rush forward.

The holiday shopping however does take a bit more than the season allows.  In addition to the holidays my oldest daughter’s birthday is in December so once Thanksgiving hits, like many of you I am sure, time runs out.

And I do love making holiday gifts. Handmade gifts became a part of our family holidays about 8 years ago when I made these sweet felt dolls for each of my children. It was the first time I made anything like that and they have so many mistakes that I see now but the kids loved them. So I have extended things a bit and I am going to be sharing more about all my handmade gifts as the season goes on but for today I wanted to share a bit of a childhood dollhouse update.

As you may know I have been working in the kitchen of the dollhouse and I am happy to say that I have finished the stove! It looks so sweet and I have an idea to make a crocheted granny towel to hang from the handle. I had a great aunt who used to make us the kitchen towels that were crocheted on the top and would secure to your stove handle with a button and I just thought my little dollhouse kitchen needs one of these. I have never made one so it will go in the ideas list for now but I really think it will be fun.

You may notice a refrigerator hanging out in the back corner. I still need to do some sanding and probably a bit more wood filler to fill in the top to fill in the rounded look. I am going for a vintage style refrigerator and I used this tutorial for my measurements and initial instructions but I am changing things up a bit as I go. It’s a great tutorial if you want to make one yourself.

I have also made a table all on my own which I am pretty proud of. It’s a simple project of course but still it’s nice to have something be all your idea and creation. For the chairs I followed this tutorial and they came out really sweet. I need to still sand and paint them all but I really wanted to make a table cloth. I have some fabric I picked up for my handmade Christmas gifts and picked one that it so sweet and I love that it doesn’t perfectly match anything in the kitchen. It adds a bit to the whimsy of the whole space that I enjoy.

I was originally thinking of sewing the table cloth but in the end I decided to just glue myself some hems and add the corners so it draped nicely and away I went. It was a fun project that was a nice break from some of my other projects.

There is still more to do in the kitchen. I keep thinking I am almost done then I remember things like molding and refrigerator doors but there is no rush of course. I am finding that this project in particular is really my relaxing project when I need a bit of a break from the things that need doing all day long. I have even noticed that if I don’t work on something miniature in a day I can be a bit crabby which I find interesting. There is something about the tininess of the project that automatically makes me smile.

I hope you enjoyed today’s post and I hope you are getting on with some miniatures of your own. Please comment below and let me know what you are working on.

You can also watch the video of my making the tablecloth below if you would like.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Dollhouse Update: Sinks, Stoves & Stairs

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Hello everyone! I hope your week has been lovely and that maybe you were able to get in some creative time.

I am having one of those weeks where everything I try to do, doesn’t! If you read my post on Monday you know I am trying to make some Coraline inspired dolls for my kids and they are just not working out. I decided instead to just put them aside and try again next week. I did want them for Halloween but I remind myself that I make them for enjoyment and if I am stressing and getting frustrated that’s the opposite of enjoyment.

Since it is Friday however I wanted to share a little dollhouse update with you. I am making some nice progress on my childhood dollhouse. I finished 3 pieces of furniture. A bathroom sink which was my first furniture piece made from scratch. While it is quite wonky and unique I really loved making it and that is the most important thing.

Next I made the kitchen sink and some curtains for the kitchen and I just love the fabric! It works so well against the wallpaper. The curtain rod is one my mom used when she first decorated my dollhouse when I was probably around 5 or 6 years old. It’s nice having that little nod to the past hidden amidst all the new.

I also made a little cupboard that I planned to put in the kitchen but instead decided to add to the upstairs hall and it looks so cute! I am already imagining a small vase of flowers sitting on it.

Lastly I am working on a stove and brick surround. It is so sweet and I think I have finalized it’s location but I would love to hear your ideas.

In addition to the dollhouse makes I am so excited about my new serial I am making based on the dollhouse! It’s going to be a fantasy mystery style story that I will share in installments each week here on my blog and my Substack. I have already started chapter 1 and I am having so much fun!

So that is my update for the dollhouse! I hope you enjoy hearing about the project and if you would like you can see the video about the update below. Be sure to comment and let me know what you are working on I would love to hear!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Dollhouse Day: Haul Video & New Items

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Happy Friday!

I wanted to come on here to share some new items I picked up for my dollhouse as well as some items I received for my birthday.

The video is a little choppy and I am sorry for that. I filmed it in different sections and it wasn’t until I was going to edit that I decided I wanted them to be a video all on their own. Still I think you will enjoy seeing what I got.

The first things were items from Miniature Crush. This was my first time ordering from them and I am really happy with my purchase.

In the video below you can see my purchases but I ordered a 3 pack of adorable guinea pigs which I really just love! They are so sweet! I was going to also make them a little C&C cage like we had for my real life guinea pigs but my son suggested just having them placed randomly in the house and I kind of love that idea!

I also purchased these pretty door knobs for the interior doors of the bedroom and bathroom. I am building my own doors so these are going to work out really well.

While I was shopping around I saw they had these little light switches and I loved the idea of adding this detail to the rooms. I am considering decorating them first but we will have to see how ambitious I get.

I had originally started my order because I needed to get these faucets for the upstairs bathroom and these railings for the bottom of the staircase. I am happy with these as well and think that the spindles may need to be trimmed a bit but that they will look great once they are all painted.

I also was kindly gifted some lovely dollhouse items for my birthday. The first was this book on building a garden shed by Julie Warren. If you haven’t visited Julie’s channel I always recommend it. She is such a talented miniaturist and an amazing teacher. I also received another of her books on building furniture and there are some really wonderful projects. The last item is the puzzle dollhouse and furniture. I had mentioned in the video I thought it might be 1/24th scale but it’s actually half scale from what I was able to research. I am still thinking of putting this together soon I have so many ideas! I was also realizing that I haven’t added anything to the Alice’s Dreamy Bedroom room box since the first video and I was wondering if you would like to see more on that? I also have a Christmas room box kit I would love to get done for the holidays!

The last items were from The House of Miniatures and I was able to pick up 3 kits on Ebay. I am going to use the Chippendale Desk Kit (Kit #40042) to make new pieces for my old childhood kit I had put together in 1988. It’s missing a drawer and the drop down so I am going to use this kit as a template to remake those parts and then use the new kit to make furniture for another project.

As part of this purchase I also received the Chippendale Low Boy (Kit #40024) which I may put in the living room right next to the front door.  Lastly I received the Chippendale chest on chest (Kit #40009) that I think might go in the bedroom along with the desk.

So there you have it! Lots of fun dollhouse ideas. What do you think, should add to the Alice Dreamy Bedroom or start up the puzzle house? Please let me know if the comments.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante


 

Dollhouse Updates: Painting the Ceiling, Door and More

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I was able to spend a little time in the dollhouse today.

If you read last week’s post you know that I had a few things I wanted to work on this week and I was able to check them all of my list along with painting the ceiling-a project I have been putting off for some unknown reason.

I was able to paint the exterior window trim trying out the gray color I painted the door and I really like it. I am still deciding if I want to add shutters but with the door fully painted and the exterior colors mostly settled on I was ready to wrap up some things on the first floor.

I spackled the kitchen window and touched up the paint there. I used a fine wood filler and just smeared it into the cracks where I didn’t cut the wood perfectly. I also added some to the scallops on the front of the house to close up some very noticeable gaps I had.

As I mentioned I painted the ceiling and I have decided to move on to the second floor and get the walls prepped and the floor done before going forward with the kitchen. I think it will be nice to see all the walls and floors done ready for “moving in” so to speak so I’m going to see how that goes. I really want to tile the bathroom and make my own tiles so I need to do some research on the best way to do that.

So that is my little update for this week. For next week I am hoping to have a little character ready to introduce to you. More on that to come.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettant

Dollhouse Update 2024

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I am excited to finally be sharing a dollhouse update with you.

If you remember I shared how I was focusing on my shop and getting things ready for the holiday. My dollhouse had become a storage place for fabric as I made lots of handmade gifts for the kids and friends. January has been filled with colds, a new job and lots of just being.  I had some amazing plans for the new year but things that needed my attention were coming first so my little dollhouse sat patiently waiting.

Then I was able to get some work done and do some filming! Only to lose the footage lol. Ah well, things happen. Still I am excited to share my little update for my fellow miniaturists and let you know that I should be able to plan regular weekly updates going forward. So let’s see what’s new!

I stained the floors on the first level. I am really happy with how it came out. I used Minwax Natural 209 and it really makes them look like hardwood floors-instead of cut up Popsicle sticks!

I finished the kitchen window and painted the door white on one side but have decided instead to make it gray. I was going to have the outside of the door be white which I liked against the pink siding but decided I really like the gray so I am going to have the door gray inside and out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I also started cutting out the pieces for my first ever piece of furniture! I am following Julie Warren’s tutorial in her book “Creating Dolls’ House Kitchens in 1/12th Scale” and making the sink unit found on page 120. I want to put the sink under the kitchen window and then want to see how much room I have so I can plan out the way the front door will swing open and also the direction of the stairs.

This week I am hoping to finish painting the door and then decide what color I want to do the window frames on the outside of the house. Do I want shutters? That might be fun! Once I decide I would like to finish the outside frame, spackle the interior of the kitchen window, touch up the paint and then continue on with the sink. I am planning to put all the fixed pieces into the kitchen and then move on to the next floors before I go ahead and decorate etc.

So that’s where I am at. I am really excited to get back into my regular miniature making and sharing the journey with you.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Dollhouse Update: New Wallpaper & a Front Door

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Happy Sunday everyone!

Yesterday I visited a dollhouse store that’s about 20 minutes from me. The owner was wonderful and I was able to pick up a few little bits for the dollhouse including a door knob. I also found a really neat old book about doll houses and miniatures that really made me happy! It’s called “Chats on Old Miniatures” by J.J. Foster and it was written in 1908. I was still able to find copies on Thrift Books (affiliate link) if you are interested. You know how much I love journals and books so this was a really fun find. I plan on keeping the book in tact and haven’t decided if I will try to repair it at all-I am thinking I will leave it as is as a collectible with my miniatures but I might have some plans for some of the imagery in it.

I also picked up some nice wood from the shop. I don’t know about you but one of the hardest things for me to find is wood for miniatures so this was a nice find. I am planning to use it for making the furniture and the kitchen cabinets.

I designed a fun wallpaper for the kitchen. I am calling it “tea party” as it has some fun tea pots and tea cups on it along with yummy treats. If you would like it for your own dollhouse you can buy it in my Etsy shop here.

The door has been built and I am really proud of it. I haven’t made anything like this before so I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. Now I am just trying to decide on what color to paint it. If you have any ideas I would love to hear it!

I am also trying to think of the name of the little cottage. I want to write a story around it and I am feeling it start to form so I will be sure to keep you updated on it as well.

I have decided to change the direction of the stairs so you can see them better and I plan to use this tutorial from Julie Warren to build an under the stairs cabinet but that’s going to be down the road a bit. As I am writing this I am thinking that once I do the window in the kitchen and attach the door I might move upstairs to do the walls and flooring and then let Season #2 of the dollhouse be the decorating and furniture making. It’s so much fun I just keep coming up with ideas.

Well that’s it for me today. I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante