Working in the Dollhouse and Where I Have Been

     2 Comments

It’s been a minute since I last posted. Thankfully all has been well and there is nothing major to report other than a bit of creative block.

The short of it is I was feeling like I had to create interesting content and I didn’t really want to and it just blocked the creative flow all together. So I just allowed myself to not make anything (although I grumbled and fought that for a bit) and then I started re-organizing my studio and that slowly lead me to start creating a bit more. My studio is still mid-re-org and I am planning some major de-cluttering but thankfully I was inspired to delve into the dollhouse again and try out painting.

I wasn’t sure how the cereal box I put up over the walls would paint and so I just tried some not expecting much and it covered! I was really happy with the results.

I didn’t use anything special just regular craft paint and I did 2 coats. Then I went ahead and added cardboard to the rest of the second floor. I have pretty much settled on finishing the interior walls and floors before I move forward decorating too much. I still need to work out how to mount the front door and what I am going to do for the upstairs floor. I really want wall to wall carpeting from the bedroom to the hallway so I might see what I can find for that. An online search didn’t really yield much so I might visit my localish dollhouse stores and see what they have.

I am taking part in another no-spend month. If you were around last year you know that I was in a 6 month no spend which honestly was pretty amazing. It really helped me creatively come up with ideas like the cereal box siding of the dollhouse. For now I am just planning it for the month of June so any supplies I use will need to be from my current stash of goodies. And to be honest-that’s pretty plentiful as I have been crafting and making art my entire adult life.

It’s also a good time to learn and I am buckling down on French and I took my flute in to be serviced. Years ago Scott and the kids bought me a second hand flute. I played when I was young but to be honest I don’t remember as much as I would like. I am planning on teaching myself again and so I brought the flute to be serviced. Hopefully it won’t be too expensive and I can start playing again. I have also been listening to a French class in the evening which has been great. I have a Skillshare Membership (affiliate link) too so there is always something fun to learn on there.

Well that is what I have been up to. Below is the video of my dollhouse update. I hope you have been well and your summer is off to a great start. I have been sharing some garden photos on my Instagram and I will try and post some here too.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

February Reads: Once Upon a Faebruary Challenge

     Leave a Comment

February is wrapping up and I am looking forward to March. I have seeds started already and I cannot wait to get out in the garden. For now I’ll content myself with all the books I want to read.

If you saw my February TBR video you know that I was super excited to take part in the Faebruary Challenge and it did not disappoint! I just loved the books I chose and only DNF’d one from my list. The best part was finding a new to me genre that I absolutely love.

For the challenge I read:

Scarlett and the Dark Woods by Mary Mecham: Red on the Cover, On a Quest, Girl with Long Hair and Animal Integral to the Plot.

To Defy a Dream by Mary Mecham:  Short Book and A Notorious Villian

To Break a Silence by Lydia Mae: Book Incorporates Music/Singing

Becoming Hook by Mary Mecham:  Last to Read Book, Male Main Character, Magical Creature

Bluebeard and the Outlaw by Tara Grayce:  Lesser Known Retelling.

I didn’t finish “Court of Swans” by Melanie Dickerson. I was listening to it on audiobook and I felt the book was going to be darker than I anticipated so I stopped it. If you have read it and have any information on it I would love to know.

In short-I loved them all! I also found that I enjoy books around 200 pages for everyday reading. There is just something so satisfying to complete a book every other day.

Did you take part in the challenge? I would love to hear what you read.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Junk Journal: Window with a View

     Leave a Comment

In today’s post I am sharing a window I made in my newest junk journal that is going to house my paper doll. I grabbed some magazine pages and tore them into strips to make what looked like wallpaper. Then I took some corrugated cardboard and cut it into strips to make the window frame. If you are going to do a scene behind it you may want to wait to glue these down until after you create the scene but as I was figuring things out as I went I didn’t do that.

You also would want to paint the cardboard strips first before gluing them down.

I had picked out a fun sketch to use as the view from my window and adhered that with another piece that looked like sky. I used matte Mod Podge to glue and seal everything down. Then you can glue the cardboard frame to make the window. I used Tackly Glue for this and it worked great.

I then cut some pieces for the criss cross of the window and glued them with the tacky glue. I finally added some scrap fabric to make some rustic curtains and there was my junk journal window with a view.

In my next video I am going to make our girl (who needs a name still) some clothes and I am pretty sure she will need a closet to hold them in-what do you think?

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Dollhouse Updates: Painting the Ceiling, Door and More

     2 Comments

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

Paper Dolls from Cardboard

     2 Comments

I am trying out something today. I am playing and having fun making some paper dolls in a cardboard journal.

I was inspired by this video by A Bit of Birdsong where she makes what she calls “trashy dolls” out of cardboard. I love the freedom of making something out of items that are normally tossed in the trash or recycling bin. There is nothing to do but play around and see what you come up with.

I decided to make a small journal to house my doll using cardboard I had here in the studio. I drew a face on the back of some scrap paper for her head and attached arms and legs using brads so they would move a bit.

It was such a simple project and this is only the first phase. Next I am going to make her some clothes and possibly a friend or two. I had thought of making each page in the book a different room in a house for her so that might be a possibility too.

I will be doing more of these so you can be sure to see how she progresses but for now you can watch a sped up video of me putting all the basics together below.

Until next time…

-Michele, aka The Dreaming Dilettante

Dollhouse Update 2024

     Leave a Comment

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