tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37266271795123436042024-03-19T05:19:01.993-05:00Merriman ParkJohnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-31917001975222499772014-07-14T20:40:00.000-05:002014-07-14T21:29:03.853-05:00Fairy Houses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>I</i> </span>am desperately trying to buck-up</span></b> and get some other projects done before the <span style="color: magenta;">LoLa Art Crawl</span> next month! Money is a little tight (because I am a <span style="color: magenta;">broke-ass ho)</span> so I'm just scrounging up found scrap materials, waiving my magic wand and praying for the best. But fear not, I am the absolute High Priest of <span style="color: magenta;">turning lemons into lemonade.</span> <i>BTW, thank you, Jesus, for giving me my unique ability to work miracles with nothing but Scotch Tape and sequins! <span style="background-color: magenta;"></span>Amen.</i><br />
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Here's my first fairy house, under construction. I'm going to have to break down and buy some<span style="color: magenta;"> snappy exterior-grade paint</span> to finish the job.<br />
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<i>Ages ago,</i> I used to make <span style="color: magenta;">similar-type bird houses</span> and peddle them around town and beyond, and fairy houses seemed like a natural, no-brainer progression, <i>right? </i> I'm going to <span style="color: magenta;">whip up a whole <i>mess</i> of them </span>and set them up around the little pond in the back yard. That is --I mean-- where the <i><span style="color: magenta;">'new, improved' </span></i><span style="color: magenta;">pond</span> is <i>going</i> to be...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beginnings of my waterfront fairy <strike>ghetto</strike> grotto</td></tr>
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There is an<span style="color: magenta;"> ambitious, new project </span>underway whereby the lovely, already-existing backyard pond is being expanded. Why settle for a perfectly adorable,<i> little</i> pond (with an attendant, amusing bronze frog that spits a delightful stream of water from its lips) when you can have<span style="color: magenta;"> <i>two</i> ponds separated by a sham waterfall? </span><br />
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I fear if nobody buys the fairy houses, I could quite possibly end up homeless --but at least the damn fairies won't be! <i>(P.S. Jesus: I know You were a carpenter, so please<span style="color: magenta;"> forgive me for providing housing to pagan woodland creatures.</span></i> <i>Amen).</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A page from the Fall, 1998 Legacy catalog</td></tr>
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<span style="color: magenta;">Way back in the day,</span> I ended up selling my birdhouses through a catalog, which meant that I had to sort of mass-produce the things. <i>Ugh!</i> I may as well been sentenced to hell because the only thing I like better than reproducing the same item over and over and over again is <span style="color: magenta;">chewing on wads of tinfoil.</span><br />
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I still have the original prototype from --ahem-- 1997-98. OMG, how <i>old</i> is that? ...Well, you do the math. <span style="color: magenta;">Fast-forward to today</span> and it looks rather <span style="color: magenta;">spooky in all its forlorn decay.</span> It's held together by a miraculous blend of <span style="color: magenta;">squirrel poop and spiderwebs,</span> a concoction that gives <b>Krazy Glue</b> a run for its money. Still, I'm afraid to touch the thing, lest it completely fall to dust and ruin. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My vintage bird cabin --<i>like its builder</i>--has seen its better days</td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: magenta;">In other exciting news:</span></b> I had a <span style="color: magenta;">blogger friend from Spain</span> drop by to see <i>Merriman Park</i> and share a spot of lunch last Saturday. Young <b>Rosell</b> from Madrid is here in town on a summer internship through the <b>University of Minnesota,</b> where I myself attended school as a mere <span style="color: magenta;">young slip of a boy. </span>We both simply gorged ourselves on chocolate-covered strawberries and other nibble-y things and talked smack about all yous other miniature bloggers. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosell & the Giant Floating Head of yours truly snap a selfie in front of <i>Merriman Park</i></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Rosell is a very talented miniaturist who doesn't have a blog <i>per se</i> but what she <i>does</i> have is a<span style="color: magenta;"> fabulous YouTube video,</span> (featuring the splendid Georgian mansion and garden built by her and her father). It was very delightful to meet you, Rosell! I hope to see you again before your internship is over.<br />
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<span style="color: magenta;">Enjoy Rosell's gorgeous dollhouse, coming up next!</span><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-84476273842832249802014-06-30T23:51:00.002-05:002014-06-30T23:51:51.653-05:00Dollshouses and Miniature Scene Article<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Today in the mail I received my copy of the August issue of <b><span style="color: lime;"><i>Dollshouses and Miniature Scene,</i></span></b> where my very own <i>Merriman Park</i> was featured on pages 50-52. I had to LOL when I read the article, which I pretty much wrote myself. It's a British publication, so they "corrected" my spelling of color to <i>colour,</i> etc: CLASS. I'm afraid in the article I sound rather scarily like <span style="color: lime;"><b>Jacqueline Kennedy</b> giving a tour of the White House.</span><br />
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Actually, I'm a little more like her cousin:<span style="color: lime;"> famous recluse,<b> Edith Bouvier Beale</b></span> of <i>Grey Gardens</i> lore.<br />
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The magazine asked me to write some more articles,<span style="color: lime;"> so <i>stay tuned,</i> darlings! </span> In the meantime, here's a music video starring<span style="color: lime;"> <b>Li'l Edie</b></span> and <span style="color: lime;"><b>Madge</b></span> to entertain you whilst you peck out your comments: <br />
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<span style="color: lime;">White pumps</span> are <i>such</i> a<span style="color: lime;"> summer staple:</span> girls, take note.</div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-53020328229624909162014-06-09T10:18:00.000-05:002014-06-09T10:18:19.532-05:00The LoLa Art Crawl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Has it <span style="color: lime;">really been <i>that</i> long</span> since I've posted? Sorry for such a long absence!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>ell,<span style="color: lime;"> Spring has Sprung</span> <i>(finally)!</i> and with the <span style="color: lime;">suddenly balmy temperatures</span> comes a dizzying flurry of activity. The Minneapolis neighborhood that I live in (which is called <span style="color: lime;">Longfellow)</span> is hosting their annual Art Crawl this summer. Artists of all kinds open up their homes or studios to display their work. I decided to join in the festivities and so I'm trying to get some <span style="color: lime;">new pieces ready,</span> and fix up a few old pieces, as well.<br />
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Here's a<span style="color: lime;"> blurb about the event</span> from the LoLa website:<br />
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<a href="http://lolaartcrawl.com/" rel="bookmark" title="Look out! Here comes LoLa!">Look out! Here comes LoLa!</a></h2>
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The biggest little neighborhood art crawl in Minnesota</h2>
LoLa (the League of Longfellow artists) is proud to announce the
sixth annual LoLa art crawl. Smaller and more intimate than many art
festivals, the LoLa art crawl will give you a glimpse into the creative
workspaces of artisans working on jewelry, glasswork, painting, collage,
photography, textiles, pottery, sculpture, and more.<br />
<em>The League of Longfellow artists is an artist-organized community
dedicated to bringing attention to the treasures of artistic expression
created by artists living/working in the greater Longfellow
neighborhood of south Minneapolis.</em><br />
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<strong>This year’s art crawl will take place from 10 am to 5 pm on August 23 and 24, 2014.</strong></h2>
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<span style="color: lime;"><strong>The following was posted today on the LoLa Blog:</strong></span></h2>
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<span>Monday, June 9, 2014</span></h2>
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John Elsner’s Marvelous Miniatures
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">By <a href="http://www.sharonscompendium.blogspot.com/">Sharon Parker</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It is one of my delights
as a volunteer publicist for the LoLa art crawl to discover the wonders of
artistic creation and talent right here in Longfellow, Minneapolis; sometimes
very close to home, even. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Elsner's house, where he'll be showing for LoLa</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have often walked to the
mailbox on 42nd Avenue and 44th Street, and when I do, I make a point of
walking back by way of 42nd Avenue to admire this beautiful garden and charming
house near that corner, with its pensive gargoyle perched on the porch steps.
How delightful to learn that this is the home of an amazingly talented
miniaturist, John Elsner, who will be joining the LoLa art crawl this year for
the first time, to showcase his historical dollhouse creations.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The images shown here are
from a signature house named Merriman Park, which is also the name of <a href="http://john-merrimanpark.blogspot.com/">his blog (click here for that),</a> where you can see and read about some of his houses as
they have unfolded.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merriman Park façade, by John Elsner</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Where will you be showing
for LoLa?</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">At
“The Lilacs,” my vintage 1908 bungalow, located at 4405 42nd Avenue South.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What media do you work in?</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
am a miniaturist and create historic period room settings in mostly<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1:12 scale. Wood, paint, fabric, resin,
plaster and metal are some of the media I work with to produce a complete
vignette.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jUVvQexJAa9c8cHSgMxKUlKWzl_8_R2uQM5ghC9ZaiZb8b89JkTNf0dLfY5DZN5HYRgkltQ0wduVZSEfKoMp4E-yw3Qoy_PL9uGWvavycvFvv2OQDqPzTGb-mSZ04K8HE5uRUU8YFvIe/s1600/Elsner_John_TheMusicRoom.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jUVvQexJAa9c8cHSgMxKUlKWzl_8_R2uQM5ghC9ZaiZb8b89JkTNf0dLfY5DZN5HYRgkltQ0wduVZSEfKoMp4E-yw3Qoy_PL9uGWvavycvFvv2OQDqPzTGb-mSZ04K8HE5uRUU8YFvIe/s1600/Elsner_John_TheMusicRoom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merriman Park music room, by John Elsner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What
inspires/informs your art?</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">History
and art history; period architecture and interior design. Old and new movies;
vintage books and novels; plays and TV shows set in the antique past. Magazines
of my genre (in fact I have been the subject of some of these publications) and,
of course, the internet: the blogs and websites of my peers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuVxmL42QBWVadiiKtFdtjMHiC-Wx5S9pvRCpnRT4go-SIWGNkhjRxB2vaKLJtAC1R3j5qARv4l9wdYLKlAzcvFn4eesC8YQd-KxkkXFpNS9n_zpWv4MxXjW2xXsv2B6IKBLIPUbliS1s/s1600/Elsner_John_Bedroom001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKuVxmL42QBWVadiiKtFdtjMHiC-Wx5S9pvRCpnRT4go-SIWGNkhjRxB2vaKLJtAC1R3j5qARv4l9wdYLKlAzcvFn4eesC8YQd-KxkkXFpNS9n_zpWv4MxXjW2xXsv2B6IKBLIPUbliS1s/s1600/Elsner_John_Bedroom001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merriman Park bedroom</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>What do you like about
LoLa? Why did you join?</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I was out walking my dog one fine summer’s day, when I happened upon a
sign that directed me to an art showing right here in my own neighborhood—literally
a block away from my house. I thought, “How cool is this? And right in my own
backyard!”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">It
is truly inspiring to know that there are so many talented, creative people
here in my neighborhood of Longfellow. I am thrilled to be a part of this
diverse, eclectic group.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a3lLtaatpYtzM_-GXw7huFHQC3ypAMDC28HSFYwGhJceExNyO9TKzyUXsU5LmI4pg2PeNlyr_jzbeBP6y-nfQ7z2pDUvU_uvoVmNAOq1YoZT4ViBCnoZNUQu9CgnZ2q0wM6SEacB5yAJ/s1600/Elsner_John_DrawingRoom003.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a3lLtaatpYtzM_-GXw7huFHQC3ypAMDC28HSFYwGhJceExNyO9TKzyUXsU5LmI4pg2PeNlyr_jzbeBP6y-nfQ7z2pDUvU_uvoVmNAOq1YoZT4ViBCnoZNUQu9CgnZ2q0wM6SEacB5yAJ/s1600/Elsner_John_DrawingRoom003.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merriman Park drawing room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Are you planning to do
anything special during LoLa?</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">I
thought I'd have iced tea or lemonade and maybe cookies or, better yet --bars!
(The Midwest in me coming out, I guess). I'll probably have whatever project
I'm working on on display.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZZGSt3e8XutBwdhAE__t9IN8JIlXzGJk17yjqog6sSFzY1KII-tl6f4nABQupWmZO_4eY95MRIfB-e8r7USgf8Hg3q0MEaaybQzopdaUWx04xEFy1HoGNRAGLd3A0BWGTKzES-TwqjyZ/s1600/Elsner_John_library070.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZZGSt3e8XutBwdhAE__t9IN8JIlXzGJk17yjqog6sSFzY1KII-tl6f4nABQupWmZO_4eY95MRIfB-e8r7USgf8Hg3q0MEaaybQzopdaUWx04xEFy1HoGNRAGLd3A0BWGTKzES-TwqjyZ/s1600/Elsner_John_library070.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merriman Park library</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Is there any
other news you’d like to share?</b></span><span style="font-family: Georgia;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm
being featured in the upcoming August issue of the British publication, <i>Dollhouses
and Miniature Scene</i>. I should have copies of it in time for the
event. I'm debating whether to enter my latest project in the Minnesota
State Fair, but I would really like to show it at LoLa.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We
encouraged him to go ahead and enter the project in the State Fair, with our
best wishes. We were sure he could have pictures of it on display for Lola.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu0acPW8aZkYz7VIbgYuBwcnuU3j9iK7Nj7-o2J-nkjOmas9hDt0fm-SqcjpIh_HsNanUfc18zeOyYDLNrJ1w6UUQ4fz-MwbU2CAdge4ZpxetPNqySg2RuCrZG50ZWupU4CctDe1PEHEM/s1600/Elsner_John_TheDiningRoom.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="611" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCu0acPW8aZkYz7VIbgYuBwcnuU3j9iK7Nj7-o2J-nkjOmas9hDt0fm-SqcjpIh_HsNanUfc18zeOyYDLNrJ1w6UUQ4fz-MwbU2CAdge4ZpxetPNqySg2RuCrZG50ZWupU4CctDe1PEHEM/s1600/Elsner_John_TheDiningRoom.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merriman Park dining room</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;"><br /></span>
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<span itemprop="name">Sharon Parker</span>
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-33546499404051605082013-12-20T16:36:00.000-06:002013-12-20T16:36:33.676-06:00Karin Corbin's Mini Glitter Houses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxFBdKdIHvAMKNCm55pjEvu_xeCmGCitKH3aHzwZv2gdzTH5GPfNKWAwKHg76vZ5auoY9ozFqE_viRTVOec4ymLIVY1c7W7Hiy4IKXkEkNFanzJ9k_JQu4Yx0Z3XGhfwuxxDQbWOu4osG/s1600/SSPX00901(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxFBdKdIHvAMKNCm55pjEvu_xeCmGCitKH3aHzwZv2gdzTH5GPfNKWAwKHg76vZ5auoY9ozFqE_viRTVOec4ymLIVY1c7W7Hiy4IKXkEkNFanzJ9k_JQu4Yx0Z3XGhfwuxxDQbWOu4osG/s400/SSPX00901(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As luck would have it, I won not one, but <i>two</i> of <span style="color: red;">Karin Corbin's Glitter Village kits! </span> Karin designed the most adorable little houses which you can buy at her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/karincorbin">Etsy shop.</a> They are beautifully assembled into kits and when they arrived in the mail a few weeks ago, I couldn't help tearing into them and I put them all together in the course of a few hours!<br />
<br />
I was hoping to get my camera fixed by now but I'm still relying on the phone --sorry! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtfUAQ174kX_ocQKKwgKO11jiwQwAHSMS0acpktAxCI4Xav2h1PLMZMiupPi6DIeC64og4c2a7t3-k9edz6qpEs8PqtsVhUAWk4ZHR3wAV59u0_7A_uirEUWTh0EiYIFpsONLMh0oi2Hq/s1600/SSPX00911.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtfUAQ174kX_ocQKKwgKO11jiwQwAHSMS0acpktAxCI4Xav2h1PLMZMiupPi6DIeC64og4c2a7t3-k9edz6qpEs8PqtsVhUAWk4ZHR3wAV59u0_7A_uirEUWTh0EiYIFpsONLMh0oi2Hq/s400/SSPX00911.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I set up the village around a little square, just like 'Who-ville.'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
They are extremely tiny --this whole village square is just a few inches across. Karin designed them so that the first few houses are simple to put together --but they get increasingly harder as you continue through the series...it was like doing a puzzle --highly entertaining! <i>Thank you so much, Karin!</i><br />
<br />
After I had all the buildings assembled, I had to apply the glitter --they <i>are</i> 'glitter houses,' after all! I even used micro-glitter which is as fine as pixie dust --and I'm afraid I got it absolutely <i>everywhere</i>-- all over the kitchen table...tracked all over the house...all over myself...I can't look in the mirror without finding a minute sparkle somewhere on my face. I'm still cleaning up the mess and expect I'll be finding sparkles til next July.<br />
<br />
There are more buildings being planned for next year and you can get a sneak peek at <a href="http://karincorbin.blogspot.com/2013/12/welcome-harry-potter-fans.html">Karin's blog.</a> I can't wait to get the next set! <br />
<br />
The little village looks perfect with all my other decorations. Karin wanted to see photos so...here's a peek:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5TZvOjYQIW72Pz9QtGI2NauSWVkFmIevsqT0xWKWNBEFvwBXl4NuAz_vCDE_xb2geqbpdCv82Q_hpz0wEe-ub3XnhhlVaHqYNVByLr3jPn-15ORviIyUCHsSCxJdJSI5COg6JID4Q1Sy/s1600/SSPX00941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5TZvOjYQIW72Pz9QtGI2NauSWVkFmIevsqT0xWKWNBEFvwBXl4NuAz_vCDE_xb2geqbpdCv82Q_hpz0wEe-ub3XnhhlVaHqYNVByLr3jPn-15ORviIyUCHsSCxJdJSI5COg6JID4Q1Sy/s400/SSPX00941.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq-Y92U5iqS6vpBBPpNQw20jzWXq7WqpFPGlzmKKwPuNybA1-uiv3a0cXAC4HC1sxaZILvzq5YxKvdgBCXBBysMjpQhCADkrkSnLgvrszM8l4-vyANmpHuHFYXy0l3SDLfUFi-pAcrIMg/s1600/SSPX00991.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitq-Y92U5iqS6vpBBPpNQw20jzWXq7WqpFPGlzmKKwPuNybA1-uiv3a0cXAC4HC1sxaZILvzq5YxKvdgBCXBBysMjpQhCADkrkSnLgvrszM8l4-vyANmpHuHFYXy0l3SDLfUFi-pAcrIMg/s400/SSPX00991.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite Christmas book: 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zuBnG-S2HWSFqDyjY8Keicpai8sZf_sYSae3GMq_syaXJoE9XVKACNKKQ_ur1SEWPjZr57OXGfrp-P5I1TDoAYzcbpNcccgC8vOZtaQFfC8xEp4Fe7_-w2iiNMaqApwzqa-BZ8Oi_j_u/s1600/SSPX00921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zuBnG-S2HWSFqDyjY8Keicpai8sZf_sYSae3GMq_syaXJoE9XVKACNKKQ_ur1SEWPjZr57OXGfrp-P5I1TDoAYzcbpNcccgC8vOZtaQFfC8xEp4Fe7_-w2iiNMaqApwzqa-BZ8Oi_j_u/s400/SSPX00921.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
My little village sits on the cabinet in the dining room where <i>Merriman Park</i> usually goes. The dollhouse is currently at a holiday show at the <span style="color: red;"><b>Waseka County Historical Society. </b></span><br />
<br />
I got to attend the grand opening weekend of the show and met the absolute nicest people down in Waseka --both at the show and in the darling, little town itself. Here's the house set up at the museum:<br />
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I sort of decorated the rooms for Christmas though they didn't do much 'decking the halls' during the early 19th-century time frame: no trees, for example. But most of the fireplace mantles have magnolia and boxwood greens on them. And I placed garlands on the outdoor railings and wreaths on all the windows.<br />
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Look! The sign on top of the glass vitrine says that I'm <i>'internationally recognized!'</i> Well, how about<i> that?</i> <br />
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Sorry I have been so inactive, lately...between shlepping <i>Merriman Park</i> down to the Waseka County Historical Society, the holidays themselves, and general day-to-day drama, I just haven't had the time. But I look forward to catching up with all of you.<br />
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Growing up, this was one of my favorite Christmas songs in one of my favorite Christmas TV specials. We used to drive our parents completely crazy singing this song. I can't imagine <i>why... </i><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-48801036725224218212013-11-17T18:21:00.000-06:002013-11-17T18:21:39.500-06:00Playing with the Light<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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It's Autumn, and so my attention has been focused on putting away the garden hoses, cleaning leaves from gutters... you know the drill. But some new, LED lights arrived in the mail on Saturday and I couldn't resist having a go at playing with them in my new room box.<br />
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I have to admit that I have been leery of jumping on the LED bandwagon. I find their light rather garish. But for 'outdoor light' streaming through windows, they can't be beat!<br />
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Can't you see the elegant, silk curtains at the window? I know that I can!<br />
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The light from this doorway (above) is actually from an incandescent bulb and in real life reads much more amber than here --oh well-- I'm still using a phone for these pics, so what do you expect?<br />
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I'm enjoying the views with a smart. little cocktail and am inspired to get back to work! Have a great week, everyone! <br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-80167606480297078612013-10-28T12:41:00.000-05:002013-10-28T12:41:10.118-05:00Champagne Taste -- Beer Budget<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span>ow that there is a <span style="color: orange;">coat of gesso</span> up, it's starting to look a little more like an 18th-century <i>salon</i> and a little<i> less</i> like a log cabin (Not that there is anything <i>wrong</i> with a log cabin)! Gesso is a <span style="color: orange;">mixture of paint and glue</span> and is what artists use to prime their canvases. I keep a large jug of the stuff to fill cracks and use a <i>spray</i> version of it to give the walls a nice, clean coat.<br />
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The spray gesso is great because it goes on in thin coats so there are <span style="color: orange;">no brush strokes to sand down</span>. It also <i>dries really fast!</i> It gives a nice 'tooth' for the paint to adhere to.<br />
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Here's a shot (above) of the 'hallway' which you will only get a glimpse of through the door. The 'frame' of the room box will cover the open space in front. I am building a stair to fit toward the back of the hall, where an <span style="color: orange;">unseen light source</span> will (hopefully) pour down the stair and illuminate the room through the doorways and of course through the windows, too.<br />
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Still a few gaps to fill here and there...The floors are mainly down, as well! <br />
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Here we have a <span style="color: orange;">fresh coat of paint</span> up! It's a lovely cream color and I'm highlighting some of the moldings in white. I'm trying to keep things a bit neutral because I would like to sell this piece on <span style="color: orange;"><b>Etsy</b></span> or<b> <span style="color: orange;">Ebay,</span></b> or something. I have bought, but never sold anything through these sites so if you have any tips for me, please let me know! If you are reading this and might be interrested in purchasing the roombox --there's still time to 'customize' the space anyway you wish. Nothing is glued down, yet, so I could even yank out the walls and paint them in any color you so desire!<br />
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This would be a <span style="color: orange;">gorgeous backdrop</span> for your collection of beautiful furniture. The room could be set up as a drawing room, a dining room --anything your mini-loving heart desired!<br />
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I decided that <span style="color: orange;">my true love is in designing and making the backdrops.</span> The furnishing/decorating is <i>fun</i> --but too expensive for me! A room like this should have some <span style="color: orange;">artisan-quality furniture and accessories</span> in it. Of course, I would be more than happy to act as your decorator, too... <br />
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I've been adding little embellishments to the doorways in the form of <span style="color: orange;">masks and swags.</span><br />
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Let me know if you (or someone you know) is looking for some <span style="color: orange;">prime, 18th-century real estate! </span> </div>
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-76456891677531775392013-10-21T23:17:00.002-05:002013-10-21T23:30:12.748-05:00Log Cabins & Tar-Paper Shacks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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OMG, I just perused the photos in my last post and it <span style="color: orange;">looked like I was building a<b> log cabin!</b></span> It's <b><i>not!</i> </b> Believe it or not, it is going to be an elegant, 18th-century drawing room --not <span style="color: orange;">Abraham Lincoln's birthplace!</span>...I've added a few more moldings here and there and so it looks just <i>slightly</i> less rustic.<br />
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I've also started laying the <span style="color: orange;">floor boards.</span> Eventually, they will be <span style="color: orange;">French polished </span>and <i>won't </i>look like the flooring of a <span style="color: orange;">tar-paper shack.</span> Cross your fingers.<br />
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But <span style="color: orange;">back to the walls:</span> I am having so much fun with the paneling. It's all built up from stock widths of strip wood. The panels are 'framed' with a very small cove molding and then the chair rail and baseboard or skirting is applied.<br />
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I know it looks a little weird right now, but once it's all gessoed and painted --you'll see! <span style="color: orange;">Smoke and mirrors!</span><br />
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I'm planning to light the room indirectly from the windows and doors. Hopefully it will look <span style="color: orange;">dramatic</span> and not <span style="color: orange;">wack! </span> We'll just have to see (as I have never tried this before). I'm all about the <span style="color: orange;">dramatic lighting effects</span> --just don't even<i> try</i> back-lighting me or you'll get <span style="color: orange;">slapped into next week,</span> <i>m'kay?</i><br />
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<b>Em,</b> from <a href="http://chocolateriemaya.blogspot.com/">Chocolat </a>asked if the hole in the ceiling is going to be a dome. Ding! Ding! Ding! You are <i>correct,</i> Em! I learned a valuable lesson building <span style="color: orange;"><i>Merriman Park</i></span> --do NOT <span style="color: orange;">waste prime, attic real estate.</span> I can't tell you how much I've <span style="color: orange;">raked myself over the coals</span> because I <i>could have</i> put a <span style="color: orange;">glamorous dome or barrel vault</span> in<i> MP's </i>drawing room ceiling --if <i>only</i> I had planned better!<br />
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Oh well: <span style="color: orange;">Lesson Learned</span>...and so this damn room box will have a <span style="color: orange;">damned, dramatic ceiling, </span><i>dammit!</i><br />
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Pardon my French...<br /><br />
If <i><span style="color: orange;">only in time </span></i>for <b>Kate Winslet</b>'s turn on the spinet:<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-53031054093792599072013-10-18T19:11:00.000-05:002013-10-18T19:21:53.975-05:00New Project: A Room Box<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I started a <span style="color: orange;">new project --a room box. </span> Sorry about the <span style="color: orange;">rough, cell phone photos...</span>but I'm working with what I got, so don't judge me! It's all pretty <span style="color: orange;">rough-hewn,</span> right now but I guess this is how it all starts, right?<br />
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The room is based off one from 18th-century South Carolina from the <span style="color: orange;">Period Room collection</span> at the <b><span style="color: orange;">Minneapolis Institute of Arts</span></b> that I have long admired. At the museum, you can walk between the doors that flank the fireplace and they have the two adjoining spaces decorated as a dining room on one side and a drawing room on the other. They're <i>so</i> incredibly beautiful! Years ago I used to live across the street from the museum and so I <span style="color: orange;">practically lived there</span> --in fact I often used to stroll through these rooms pretending I lived there --I <i>know</i>...silly, dorky me...<br />
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At Christmastime, they <span style="color: orange;">decorate the rooms for the holidays</span> and <span style="color: orange;">costumed docents </span>give you guided tours. I memorized their <i>spiel</i> in like, five minutes and I SO wanted to be a guide.<br />
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"Hello! Welcome to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts <span style="color: orange;">Holiday Tours through the Historic Period Rooms!</span> My name is Mrs. Betty Beaverhausen and I am wearing a period costume in the romantic, Regency style from the <span style="color: orange;">world-acclaimed Guthrie Theater!</span> <i>(Twirls to appreciative murmurs).</i> This is my <span style="color: orange;">tussie-mussie!</span> <i>(presents silk flower bouquet and brings it to her nose, inhaling deeply)</i> Mmmmm! There were often rather --shall we say?-- <i><span style="color: orange;">odious aromas</span></i> back in The Olden Days, so ladies of the period often carried a fragrant <span style="color: orange;">tussie-mussie</span> to disguise these --shall we say?-- not very pleasant smells! <i>(takes another deep whiff)</i> Mmmmmm! Let's continue on to our first room, shall we?..."<br />
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OMG, I could SO do the tour in my SLEEP! <br />
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Here's some lovely music for you while you type your comment. MAJOR attitude at 1:59! Do NOT EVER disrespect a castrato with your <span style="color: orange;">rattling tea cup</span> while he is onstage <span style="color: orange;">serving Baroque realness. </span>As my BFF, <b>RuPaul</b> says, "Oh NO, she better DIDN'T!"</div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-50442917554800320942013-10-16T22:31:00.000-05:002013-10-16T22:31:30.892-05:00Party Pics<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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OK they're not from the actual party, they're from <span style="color: orange;">The Day After.</span> My camera is still down (hence, the aforementioned sucky blogging) so these murky shots of the flower displays are from the cellphone. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This arrangement was on the mantle, next to my grandmother's mirror.</td></tr>
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The floral theme for the evening was<span style="color: orange;"> 'white with touches of fall'</span> and I had a blast making these arrangements. In a former life, I was a florist so it's fun to play with flowers, now that it's not my<i> job,</i> anymore! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was my favorite arrangement. I love the cast-iron urn. </td></tr>
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The party, celebrating my <b><span style="color: orange;">Miniaturas</span> <span style="color: orange;">magazine</span></b> debut, was an enormous success! I haven't had a big party in ages and I think I need to remedy that. It really was a <i>blast!</i> I thought I preferred <span style="color: orange;">small-scale entertaining, </span>but you get so much more <span style="color: orange;">bang for the buck,</span> large-scale! <i>Plus</i> --it's not even that much extra work, (unless you make it so). For example: I made <i>two</i> batches of my award-winning <span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Recipe">pâté, when <i>one</i> would have perfectly sufficed --but leftover </span><span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Recipe">pâté for breakfast and lunch --OK, dinner, too, isn't so bad, <i>right?</i></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roses, dahlias, lisianthus, stock, snapdragons, larkspur, viburnum, bells of Ireland, zinnias, waxflower, magnolia, orange berries and a big ol' side of candy corn!</td></tr>
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<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Recipe"><i> </i>The only downside is that <i>you, <span style="color: orange;">gentle Reader,</span></i> was not there! Now <i>that</i> would have been awesome!</span><br />
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<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Recipe">XOXO,</span><br />
<span itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/Recipe">John </span><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-13174959137712209432013-10-08T20:21:00.003-05:002013-10-08T21:00:52.904-05:00Sucky Blogging Ahead...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: orange;">Sorry my blogging has been so sporadic, of late. My camera is down and I'm not sure where to take it as there does not seem to be such a thing as a "camera shop' anymore. Or should I say <i>'Ye Olde Camera</i> <i>Shoppe?'</i> Oh wells... Here are a few shots of Merriman Park, opened up. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">It's kind of weird seeing it all together, isn't it? I mean, you get used to seeing the rooms individually and so it's a little surreal viewed as a whole. Even when I look at <i>Merriman Park,</i> myself, it is seldom from afar --I usually pull a chair up close and stick my head right into the particular room I'm focusing on at the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">I did spend a considerable amount of time making sure all the colors, the architecture and to a lesser degree, the decor, flowed from room to room. I really like how the arch in the Entrance Hall (ground floor, center) echoes the arches in the niches in the Drawing Room above it. Because every room has touches of the same colors --in this case: black, white and gold-- it helps to 'unify' the separate compartments of the house. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZLz0YMCsAiGAvN8ftAWV6f33-3YsWbqX6iGY2WGj-e1Zp4XFgUcZsyofxxwgds-JSmmk6YuTxGgeCyrlCaKWFv4U_ZUjeS-T4Awf7TnHojcjkUqz434i4q9cZxtBG__npZoI8m6XQYpk/s1600/a+bedroom+185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsZLz0YMCsAiGAvN8ftAWV6f33-3YsWbqX6iGY2WGj-e1Zp4XFgUcZsyofxxwgds-JSmmk6YuTxGgeCyrlCaKWFv4U_ZUjeS-T4Awf7TnHojcjkUqz434i4q9cZxtBG__npZoI8m6XQYpk/s400/a+bedroom+185.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;">Some people have asked why I did not 'finish' the inside swinging door/wall panels to the house. Here's my answer: When I started<i> Merriman Park</i> I was a complete <i>newbie.</i> All I had in my repertoire was my fond memories of <i>The Thorne Rooms</i> at the Art Institute of Chicago and the book<i> Magnificent Miniatures,</i> by Mulvany and Rogers. I noted that M & R did not 'decorate' the front, swinging panels of their houses. So I simply assumed that,<i> that </i>is <i>that!</i> Three, four years later, I have discovered many, <i>many</i> gorgeous dollhouses with fully decorated front, interior panels. So it was a large conundrum for me --should I go back and try and 'finish' my 'bare' front panels? It was only after the house was completed when I realized that I <i>like</i> how the 'doors' receed into the background and so your focus is on the rooms, themselves. And not on the doors. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">There is no <i>'right'</i> or<i> 'wrong'</i> way --it's just a matter of personal preference. </span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">What do<i> you</i> prefer?</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">In other news, I recently joined a local miniatures club! It's been around for like, thirty years but I had no idea it even existed. My new BFF, Brad, from <a href="http://leroyslifelikes.blogspot.com/"><i>Leroi's Lifelikes</i></a>, a blogger buddy who, I find out --lives a mere ten minutes from me-- turned me on to it. The club was awesome --treated me like Royalty --and they even want <i>li'l ol' me </i>to teach a class, next meeting! (which is kind of surreal). But anyway, go on over to<a href="http://leroyslifelikes.blogspot.com/"> Brad's blog</a> because he is awesome --and tell him I sent ya!</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">I'm having a little <i>soiree</i> to celebrate the <i>Miniaturas</i> magazine article this Saturday, so if you're in the neighborhood, do drop by! </span><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-69130539895050506592013-09-25T14:36:00.000-05:002013-09-25T14:36:27.755-05:00The Little Free Library Movement<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIBxIvt0dlZxPby94WT_qLTeU77vHbo3vgUePItLlPBBSRdpQkBk1ddOgcS_qHQ_bTG_2Ew4kxjL1FcC7OPMRzK545TuR8l0z8eDgT7c51_mDbMCyXTHWnBngdzqy59tyG-lFEq6eTAUt/s1600/A+library.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixIBxIvt0dlZxPby94WT_qLTeU77vHbo3vgUePItLlPBBSRdpQkBk1ddOgcS_qHQ_bTG_2Ew4kxjL1FcC7OPMRzK545TuR8l0z8eDgT7c51_mDbMCyXTHWnBngdzqy59tyG-lFEq6eTAUt/s400/A+library.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;">Have you noticed these cute, little mini-libraries popping up in your neighborhood? I have counted three so far in mine.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6O7kV_w9GpE_UdmPpixFhxu8qrWWNu6SfcogG532SEviGUNDcS00g8xqieHPRe8DX0ahaV7VKX3q0nBWbwyrjlgckY8jlRm5O9vjIv7haXW4uaHdZGTjq9EtaMUGYfo-xkXsmhICR3c-/s1600/a+library2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6O7kV_w9GpE_UdmPpixFhxu8qrWWNu6SfcogG532SEviGUNDcS00g8xqieHPRe8DX0ahaV7VKX3q0nBWbwyrjlgckY8jlRm5O9vjIv7haXW4uaHdZGTjq9EtaMUGYfo-xkXsmhICR3c-/s400/a+library2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;">Some of them match the architecture of the homes they stand in front of, others are more fanciful. I think they are adorable!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdykzUSbtW9S2sEp92XktHKv4B3OGIXl2N2SwUyQK1EHDsTOc4V1nwcBE-GyDDLXyGcK9dwGt3AJ4-zGtM-sWt35sjqhl5GXs9dkCSTHtyc5HvY9emFrzV72HO-3cRXuat0bjfxzjxSiM/s1600/a+library3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdykzUSbtW9S2sEp92XktHKv4B3OGIXl2N2SwUyQK1EHDsTOc4V1nwcBE-GyDDLXyGcK9dwGt3AJ4-zGtM-sWt35sjqhl5GXs9dkCSTHtyc5HvY9emFrzV72HO-3cRXuat0bjfxzjxSiM/s400/a+library3.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;">It's all part of the <b>Little Free Library</b> movement. It was started by <b>Todd Bol</b> in Hudson, Wisconsin and has quickly spread across the United States and beyond.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-1xrom3UVtmYNV5FuCdV-4m8MxBiKq9HRUe17eljCA0rkiTDFhbdjqiGRx-3j85S10F7v8CmcOefAVuxdxu2MsG5kFrv9PP0BlE6QSWxemIzRKNI09gFI6oLl-NRN2OKekRa7lX-_Fad/s1600/a+library4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-1xrom3UVtmYNV5FuCdV-4m8MxBiKq9HRUe17eljCA0rkiTDFhbdjqiGRx-3j85S10F7v8CmcOefAVuxdxu2MsG5kFrv9PP0BlE6QSWxemIzRKNI09gFI6oLl-NRN2OKekRa7lX-_Fad/s400/a+library4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="color: orange;">Visitors to the Little Free Libraries can borrow a book, bring it back, and sometimes even add a book of their own! Isn't that a great idea? I am in the process of making one, myself. I have WAY too many books, most languishing in my basement...why not share them with my neighbors?</span><br />
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<span style="color: orange;">For more information on Little Free Libraries click</span><a href="http://littlefreelibrary.org/"> here.</a> <span style="color: orange;">or visit littlefreelibrary.org. Maybe you will want one, too?</span><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-45763270287173604532013-09-09T16:03:00.000-05:002013-09-09T16:03:41.717-05:00Merriman Park in Miniaturas Magazine!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08xcKui7tfEL0TCoKg7ggsWiBjJqBUU2p2yZuhyphenhyphenO4HVdOrNwxcKZQp6Jwqyd0RTu1qwQGb11IgL4oDAYV7QGfmM2INB488p_5EYZgihqTN42-ifuIHipDFkTSGdyiSCL0DQpta-lW8cxe/s1600/john1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg08xcKui7tfEL0TCoKg7ggsWiBjJqBUU2p2yZuhyphenhyphenO4HVdOrNwxcKZQp6Jwqyd0RTu1qwQGb11IgL4oDAYV7QGfmM2INB488p_5EYZgihqTN42-ifuIHipDFkTSGdyiSCL0DQpta-lW8cxe/s640/john1.jpg" width="433" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a four-page centerfold!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: cyan;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span>his just landed in my mailbox, today! I can't believe they threw it together so<i> fast </i>--in July they asked if they could do a story on <i>Merriman Park</i> for next September but who'da thunk it would be <i>this </i>September? Many of the photos are even ones I took, myself --taken right from the blog! I guess maybe I'm not such a hack photographer, after all? (The best ones were taken by my friend, <b>Eric Lindahl</b> --thanks, Eric)!</span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;">The best part? I AM A<span style="font-size: large;"> CENTERFOLD!!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;">Sorry for gushing, you guys, but this is, like,<span style="font-size: large;"> MAJOR!</span> Eight pages,<i> <span style="font-size: small;">no ads!</span></i><span style="font-size: large;"> SWEET!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: cyan;">OK, I'll stop, now. Sorry. How utterly RUDE of me, especially since I've been on <i>hiatus</i> all summer and have so terribly neglected everyone. ...Well, I look forward to 'catching up' and will be back real soon to let you know what I did on my 'summer blog-cation.'</span><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-27697407868844368292013-07-08T19:38:00.000-05:002013-07-08T19:38:19.443-05:00The Master Bedchamber--Revealed!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></i>t last...the <span style="color: lime;">Master Bedchamber</span> is <i>finished!</i> Well, a dollhouse room is never <i>completely</i> finished, is it?<br />
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The decor reflects the 'modern,' <i>Empire </i>trend, which was coming into fashion at the beginning of the 19th century.<br />
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Things are still arriving in the mail. The other day, these<span style="color: lime;"> lovely, hand-turned, ebony wood urns</span> turned up...<br />
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I think they look terrific on the mantle. They were made by an artist in Arizona who goes by <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Oppies-Store-Miniatures-More/Handmade-by-Artisan-Oppie-/_i.html?_fsub=4287222016&_sid=270316886&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322">'Oppie.' </a>I found him on Ebay and asked if he would make a pair of the urns you see (he only had a single) and he explained that he couldn't make an <span style="color: lime;">exact, matched set</span> because of the small scale. But when I told him it didn't matter to me that they were <i>perfectly</i> matched, he<span style="color: lime;"> immediately went to work</span> and produced the set you see above. The tops, turned from Osage Orange, are removable. (BTW: they are <span style="color: lime;">drop-dead gorgeous</span> and I can't tell the difference between the two)! Thanks, Oppie!<br />
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The swagged curtains turned out so well --I thought-- that I made a<span style="color: lime;"> full-scale version</span> for my 'Real Life' powder room! Next, I'm going to attempt to make a 'RL' pelmet for my bed --why should <i>dolls</i> have all the glamor?<br />
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What do you think of the cushions I made for the window seats? I also stitched all the bedding. The <span style="color: lime;">mini-patterned fabrics</span> were found at the Chicago show. Well, the white coverlet I made from an old table runner I almost tossed because it had a red wine stain on it. No, I did not do the diamond patterned stitching --it came that way. I'm not the 'hoarding' type but recently,<span style="color: lime;"> everything I once threw out with impunity</span> gets the once-over! <i> Spooky.</i> Speaking of stitching, believe it or not, I am going to try and petitpoint a seat covering for the chair --so wish me luck on <i>that</i> endeavor because I've never tried petitpoint before! We will have to revisit this subject at a later time...<br />
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My wardrobe closet is <span style="color: lime;">stuffed <i>chock-full</i> with fashionable clothing from Italy.</span> No, not <i>Gucci, Pucci,</i> or <i>Fiorucci</i>! They were made by <b>Paola,</b> of<a href="http://paolaesara.blogspot.it/"> Paola & Sara,</a> who also made the duo of <span style="color: lime;">devastatingly, handsome dolls</span> who reside in <i>Merriman Park.</i> I feel so lucky to have my <i>armoire</i> stocked with <span style="color: lime;">bespoke Italian <i>ensembles!</i></span> (More on that subject, later)... <br />
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On top of the wardrobe is the <span style="color: lime;">aforementioned hatbox,</span> also from the Chicago show. It reads: <i>Dunn & Co. Hat Makers. London.</i> The <span style="color: lime;">vase of jonquils</span> is from non-other than <a href="http://www.marthamcleanminiatures.com/store/ds1_control.php?page=home_page.php"><b>Martha McLean,</b></a> whom I had the great honor and pleasure of meeting in person while in the Windy City. Her floral work is just superb. <span style="color: lime;">(Spring had barely sprung</span> when I picked up these seasonal favorites and now that summer is in full-force I might need to go back and get some lilies or roses or something)!<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">A few more items of clothing from Paola:</span> velvet-lapeled jacket, red silk waistcoat, buff-colored pants and silk cravat. All the drawers in the room are filled, too. I've got stockings, gloves, folded shirts, garters, handkerchiefs, unmentionables --you <i>name</i> it! If you look hard, you can sort of make out the diminutive slippers and shoes Paola made in the lower, toile-papered drawer. Isn't everything just <span style="color: lime;">too cute for words?</span><br />
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I'm still trying to find/make things for the vanity table. The framed silhouette is one of a pair, vintage 1950's <span style="color: lime;">Grandmother Stover</span> pieces. The mirror is by Jim Coates. <br />
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I have some framed, architectural prints in the room --does anyone recognize<i> this</i> particular one?<br />
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Last but not least, check out the opera pumps made by <b>Sylvia Rountree</b> of <a href="http://dollscobbler.com/index.php">The Doll's Cobbler.</a> (They're on the rug). Sylvia gave them to me as a present at the Chicago show and they are <span style="color: lime;">one of my favorite things </span>in the whole house!<br />
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Well, I guess that's the Master Bedchamber! Thank you, everyone, for all your comments along the way. I've been asked <span style="color: lime;">what my next project will be </span>and to be honest --<i>I'm not sure.</i> I have a<i> lot</i> of ideas so it's just a matter of picking one out. So, you haven't seen the last of me. Just go ahead and <span style="color: lime;">try getting rid of me.</span> I am a <span style="color: lime;">one-hundred and seventy pound<i> boomerang</i>,</span> darlings! I have a few more <i>Merriman Park</i> posts in store and then I think I might branch off and start a new blog --<i>so stay tuned!</i><br />
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Someone recently asked on their blog<span style="color: lime;"> "what kind of music do you listen to while doing miniatures,"</span> and I had to laugh because I usually listen to classical music, not the cheesy pop I have been posting. (Not that there is anything <i>wrong</i> with that)! Then I remembered that one of my <span style="color: lime;">absolute favorite classical pieces</span> was in a movie I had once seen: <b><i>Farinelli, il Castrato.</i></b> So I looked it up ...and <i>found</i> it! Anyway, I hope you like <i><b>Lascia ch'io pianga</b></i> as much as I do...<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">CONFIDENTIAL TO SIMON</span> (if you're reading): Check out <span style="color: lime;">the baroque theater</span> in the video. It's so <i>you!</i><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-53535400222651833652013-06-27T15:42:00.000-05:002013-06-27T15:42:44.551-05:00More Neat Stuff!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here's a shot (above) of the <span style="color: cyan;">glam, new chandelier</span> that I got at the Chicago show. Ain't it purty? It was made by <b>Gerri DeCave,</b> with whom I spent a highly entertaining half-hour (at least)! getting the 4-1-1 on all the behind-the-scenes goings-on. Of course my crap photo doesn't do the chandelier justice at all!<br />
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In addition to <span style="color: cyan;">magnificent, sparkly baubles</span> for your dollhouse ceilings, Gerri specializes in re-vamping off-the-shelf Bespaq furniture, giving her pieces her signature, high-end flair. All of her drawers are lined in lovely papers, (so naturally, when I got home, I had to do the same)! <br />
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And here's the <span style="color: magenta;">Stokesay Ware </span>pattern I'm collecting...they only had one plate left in my pattern in Chicago --which was probably lucky for my wallet! <br />
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I guess you can't really tell that I lined the silverware drawer with fancy paper from <span style="color: cyan;">Brodnax Prints.</span> The drawer is a tad disorganized --it looks rather like my 'RL' drawers, LOL!-- perhaps I should make dividers for the various utensils?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candle tipped over in the background.<i> Ugh!</i></td></tr>
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I picked up this <span style="color: cyan;">perfectly adorable hat</span> from The Doll's Cobbler, a.k.a. <b>Sylvia Rountree.</b> Mere moments before stumbling across Sylvia's cute-as-a-button booth at the Chicago show, I had procured a hatbox just down the isle --so <i>naturally</i> I required a hat to go<i> in</i> the box, <i>right?</i> Well, the hat has ended up on the <span style="color: cyan;">Entrance Hall</span> table, <i>not</i> in the hatbox, where it <span style="color: cyan;">tragically would not even be seen</span> --<i>duh!</i> (The hatbox is in the <span style="color: cyan;">Master Chamber,</span> but <i>that's</i> another post)...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's already a speck of dust on my new hat :(</td></tr>
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Perhaps here you can see the newly-papered drawer holding a pistol? <i>(above)</i> You know us Americans --we always have <span style="color: cyan;">loaded</span> <span style="color: cyan;">firearms lying here and there about the house.</span> Note also the <span style="color: cyan;">added flourish</span> of a tasseled key. Because you can't have a <i>deadly weapon </i>without a fabulous, hand-made <i>tassel.</i> Yes, darlings, I <i>made</i> the tassel with my own two hams --er, I mean <i>hands </i>(no small feat with my definitely <i>un</i>dainty digits)...<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>NEXT WEEK:</b></span> The Bedchamber <u>REVEALED!!!</u> (If the rest of my stuff gets here).<br />
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This week's music video is in honor of the --<i>finally</i>-- <span style="color: cyan;">hot, sticky, summer weather</span> we're having --YAY! Enjoy it with a <span style="color: cyan;">refreshing ice cream treat</span> while you leave a comment!<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-10020402660314047482013-06-19T16:53:00.000-05:002013-06-19T16:53:44.648-05:00Thank You, Sophia!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span>ell,<span style="color: lime;"> your humble reporter</span> <i>finally</i> reclaimed his camera, so I thought I would show you the lovely, black and gold urns that <span style="color: lime;"><b>Sophia</b></span> from <a href="http://smalltalk-minilover.blogspot.com/">Small Talk</a> gave me at the Chicago show. They're simply di-<i>voon</i> and I <i>love</i> that the little lids are removable! <br />
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Sorry that I've been sort of MIA the past few weeks. Life certainly has it's <span style="color: lime;">ups and downs,</span> right? You <i>do</i> understand? Of <i>course,</i> you do.<br />
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On the mantle are the <span style="color: lime;">new clock and trophies</span> from <a href="http://www.davidiriarte.com/?lang=en"><b>David Iriarte.</b></a> (I should probably take a better photo of them that will do them some justice)! To the right of the fireplace is a <span style="color: lime;">firescreen</span> I made from a <span style="color: lime;">House of Miniatures</span> kit. Actually, it's<i> two</i> kits because the screen came with a square panel and I replaced it with an oval one. No, <i>mes chers,</i> I'm afraid I did <i>not</i> paint the floral image --I could probably have pulled it off in <i>'real scale</i>,'-- but I don't have the patience (nor the expertise) for that sort of work and so I decoupaged it.<br />
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BTW, Forgive me for not lately <span style="color: lime;">commenting on your blogs...</span>I'm afraid I'm <i>dreadfully </i>behind and I am<i> </i>desperately<i> trying</i> to catch up!<br />
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It's been nothing but <span style="color: lime;">rain, rain,<i> rain</i></span> here in Minneapolis --but the sun somehow managed to peek out for approximately five minutes today so I <span style="color: lime;">snatched the op</span> to snap these few photos. Did I mention that I am <span style="color: lime;">absolutely <i>coo-coo</i></span> for those urns?<br />
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<u>Coming up:</u> the <span style="color: lime;"><b>Master Bedchamber,</b></span><i> revealed!</i> But first, in honor of <span style="color: lime;"><b>Marisa</b></span> from <a href="http://steinworks.blogspot.com/2013/06/baltic-trade-days.html">Steinworks:</a> a MUSIC VIDEO! <br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-77900134937150576672013-05-01T12:30:00.001-05:002013-05-01T12:30:12.281-05:00Chicago International 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Oh. My. God. I'm still processing the whirlwind experience that was the <span style="color: cyan;">Tom Bishop International.</span> I thought<i> last</i> year (which was my 'first time' --and you <i>know</i> what they say about the<i> first time)</i> was incredible, but <i>this</i> year proved to be even <i>more</i> enthralling!<br />
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I know I'm terribly late in reporting on the show, but I left my camera down in Chicago --not that there were any photos on it anyway-- my blasted charger stopped working for some reason, so I wasn't able to snap many pics at all! Hence the delay... <br />
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Our trip to <span style="color: cyan;">the Windy City</span> almost didn't happen due to yet <i>another</i> freakish, late-season snowstorm. Yes, <i>mes chers,</i> you read that correctly! Snow. In <i>April.</i> <i>Late</i> April. <br />
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Was I going to allow the likes of <b>Old Man Winter</b> to keep <i>me</i> from driving eight hours in order to purchase <span style="color: cyan;">Gorgeous Little Things?</span> Oh,<i> hell,</i> no! Even the fact that the snow plows had missed our alley (where the car was parked) did little to deter your Intrepid Reporter...though the snow bank that the plows had deposited at the end of said alley <i>did</i> manage to <span style="color: cyan;">jar lose some kind of thingamajig</span> under the car. We had to listen to whatever it was dragging all the way to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where it thankfully fell off. Our little gift to <i>you,</i> Eau Claire!<br />
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This was the view on the way out of Minneapolis...good <i>riddance! </i> Hopefully it will all melt by the time we get home!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">photos courtesy of the local news.</td></tr>
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<i>Ugh!</i> So the first leg of the trip was, shall we say, <i>nasty?</i> Fortunately, by the time we lost the aforementioned<i> thingamajig,</i> the snow eventually gave way to green grass --and <span style="color: cyan;">even a few daffodils!</span> Things were looking<i> up!</i><br />
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We arrived in Chicago Friday afternoon at our friend <b>Roland</b>'s tastefully-appointed, Rogers Park condo. I haven't seen dear Rol in <i>ages,</i> but as it often goes with old friends, we all quickly fell into our<span style="color: cyan;"> accustomed camaraderie.</span> After an evening of delicious food, scintillating conversation <span style="color: cyan;">--and <i>copious</i> <i>amounts</i> of martinis-- </span>it was off to bed. And even though the excitement for the next day's event was building to a <span style="color: cyan;">colossal crescendo</span> I quickly dozed off, while visions of GLT danced in my head!<br />
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<span style="color: cyan;"><b>THE SHOW!</b></span><br />
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We arrived at the show just as it was opening at ten o'clock. <i>Oops!</i> <span style="color: cyan;">Mr. Moneybags</span> forgot to visit the cash machine, not-so-conveniently located at the other end of the hotel. By the time we returned to the ticket counter, the line stretched all the way down the hall. I noted that, though your Humble Reporter is himself, <span style="color: cyan;">no</span> <span style="color: cyan;">spring chicken,</span> he seemed to be the <span style="color: cyan;"><i>youngest</i> miniature enthusiast in attendance.</span> This doesn't bode well for the future of the miniatures hobby! <br />
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Tickets finally in hand, I took a deep breath and waded in! Where to look first? These were among the <span style="color: cyan;">finest miniaturists in the world,</span> all competing for your attention! <br />
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I was only in a few short minutes before I started bumping into and catching up with friends like<a href="http://www.erikgoddard.blogspot.com/"> <b>Erik Goddard,</b></a> who is also from hometown Minneapolis. Eric makes the most marvelous room boxes and scale models in all manner of styles and I especially like <span style="color: cyan;">his take on modern design.</span> It was great to catch up with Erik and see his latest and greatest work, which you can check out for yourself on his<a href="http://www.erikgoddard.blogspot.com/"> blog.</a><br />
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At the sage advice of <a href="http://dollshousesandminiatures.blogspot.com/"><b>Andy,</b></a> I made a very specific <b><span style="color: red;">Hot</span>List</b> of items to shop for, the main thing being a <span style="color: cyan;">glam chandelier </span>to replace the one in the Music Room. I found a particularly <i>gaw-jess</i> one at the booth of<b> DeCave Designs,</b> where I spent an amusing half-hour (at least) talking to the <i>Devine Ms. DeCave</i> herself, Gerri. Gerri turned out to be a <i>kindred spirit</i> because not only does she create the most spectacular chandeliers, but she takes ordinary Bespaq furniture and gives it a marvelous, <span style="color: cyan;">signature DeCave re-vamp. </span><i> Faux bois, faux marble</i> --Gerri does it all with particular <i>panache</i> and a fine eye for the slightest detail, like mini silk tassels on all her drawer pulls. Check out her <a href="http://decavedesign.com/miniatures/">website</a> and <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/gerrysminis">Etsy shop.</a><br />
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While I was<span style="color: cyan;"> dishing the dirt</span> with Gerri, my better-half was busy next door canoodling with another dish, namely <a href="http://www.davidiriarte.com/?lang=en"><b>David Iriarte,</b></a> a very young and very charming, talented, young, --(did I mention he was very <i>young)? </i>furniture maker from Spain. David makes finely-crafted pieces in the manner of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and though he spoke <i>nary a word</i> of English, <span style="color: cyan;">dove-tailed drawers speak for themselves, darlings!</span> My better-half, I daresay , was not the <i>least</i> bit interested in <i>joinery a l'antique,</i> and though exquisite, <i>Louis Quinze</i> furniture was decidedly <i>not</i> on my <b><span style="color: red;">Hot</span>List,</b> David had some rather lovely mantle clocks and other <i>tchotchkes</i> available which fortunately fit into my budget (if not my <b><span style="color: red;">Hot</span>List)</b>. And so your Intrepid Reporter picked up a few, miscellaneous nic-nacs. Flexible,<i> mes chers,</i> is my middle name!<br />
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I have been stalking<b> <a href="http://www.marthamcleanminiatures.com/store/ds1_control.php?page=home_page.php">Martha McLean</a></b> <i>a la distance</i> for quite some time. She makes the most stunning, miniature floral arrangements in the biz. As a former, floral designer, I<i> knows me</i> a tasteful arrangement when I see it and Martha, (as <b>Marge Simpson</b> would say),<span style="color: cyan;"> simply<i> screams </i>good taste. </span> Understated<i> eleganza</i> is Martha's<i> forte </i>and I just<i> had</i> to have something from her booth, though it was not technically on my<b> <span style="color: red;">Hot</span>List, </b>either! (Thank <i>gawd</i> I'm <i>so damned flexible)!</i> I can't wait to show you her little bud vase of daffodils, sitting on the windowsill of the bedchamber. Martha also has a great <a href="http://www.exquisiteminiatures.blogspot.ca/">blog </a>to peek at, too.<br />
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Right next to Martha's booth was my BFF <b>Sophia</b> of <b><a href="http://www.davidiriarte.com/?lang=en">Small Talk.</a></b> It took me a while to find Sophia's booth because --well-- she is<i> rarely there, </i>lol! Thank god her friend, <b>Emily,</b> whom I remembered from last year, was on hand to greet me! While having a perfectly lovely chit-chat with Emily, Sophia eventually showed up, after completing an <span style="color: cyan;">epic shopping excursion</span> of her own. <i> <span style="color: cyan;">Girl after my own heart!</span> </i> Sophia always knows the T of the show and after finding out that I was <span style="color: cyan;">on the hunt for dinnerware</span> she guided me over to the Spokesay Ware booth.<br />
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I had already <span style="color: cyan;">blown my wad</span> on the chandelier, and so perhaps it was fortunate that the <a href="http://www.stokesayware.com/"><b>Spokesay</b></a> booth had already nearly sold out of the <a href="http://www.stokesayware.com/gk.htm">china pattern</a> I was interested in. <i>Divine intervention?</i> <i>You</i> decide. Still, I was able to snap up a dinner plate bordered in the <span style="color: cyan;">Greek key pattern</span> I so admire. And at least now the huz knows what to get me on birthdays and anniversaries,<i> right? </i>I mean<i> besides </i>sweatpants.<i> </i><br />
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Yes. Really.<i> Sweatpants.</i><br />
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Also on my <b><span style="color: red;">Hot</span>List:</b> pillows for the bedroom window seats! I scoured the show from top-to-bottom but could not find <i>anything</i> in my color-scheme of <span style="color: cyan;">Dijon-mustard yellow and black </span><i> Oh wells,</i> I <i>did</i> find some mini fabric I can fashion into my own cushions --though I had my heart set on needlepoint.<br />
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It was about this time that I ran into the legendary<a href="http://modernminiatures-whitledge-burgess.blogspot.com/"> <b>Ray Whitledge</b>. </a> How can I even explain the experience? I've been blog-buddies with Ray for <i>ages,</i> but here was the Real Deal! For me, I guess it was like a <span style="color: cyan;">comic book geek running into <b>Batman</b> or <b>Superman!</b></span> --or the guy who invented Batman and Superman?-- well, you get what I mean. Only it wasn't like that at <i>all.</i> I wasn't tongue-tied, or nervous, or <i>anything,</i> because Ray is so cool, I felt like I was talking to my bestie the second I met him!<br />
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My history with Ray goes back to when I was trying to <span style="color: cyan;">wire my first room</span> and was having a hard time with it. Ray sent me his email address and offered to help. I had <i>no idea</i> he was a <i>famous miniaturist!</i> Yet he took the time to give me, a mere beginner, the encouragement I needed (I was on the verge of giving up) and eventually, I got my room lighted. Sometime later I found out (thanks, <b><a href="http://englishmanordollhouse.blogspot.com/">Giac</a>)</b> who Ray was and OMG was I bowled away that someone like him would take pity and give<span style="color: cyan;"> the likes of me</span> basic, introductory lighting lessons. I will <i>always</i> be <i>so indebted</i> to Ray for taking the time to <span style="color: cyan;"> give a newbie a little push</span>. Ray, did you ever know you were my hero and that you are the wind beneath my wings?<br />
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Well anyway, at the show, Ray tipped me off to artist<a href="http://store.lorrainescuderi.com/servlet/StoreFront"> <b>Lorraine Scuderi,</b></a> for the aforementioned pillows I was relentlessly searching for. Unfortunately, Lorraine had no pillows in my rather odd colorway, though she<i> did</i> have a hatbox --which conveniently fell into the 'bedroom accessories' category on my <b><span style="color: red;">Hot</span>List.</b><br />
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So I had a hatbox , but it just seemed so --so <i>empty!</i> Fortunately, a few booths down, I ran into <a href="http://dollscobbler.com/index.php"><b>The Doll's Cobbler</b>,</a> who had a whole mini hat rack, chock-full of hats! <i>YAY! </i> My <span style="color: cyan;">newly-acquired hat</span> now fit perfectly into my <span style="color: cyan;">newly-acquired hatbox.</span><br />
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We had another lively chat with artisan <b>Sylvia Rountree,</b> who like us is <span style="color: cyan;">coo-coo for all the jazz-age greats! </span> Sylvia has actually met many of our<span style="color: cyan;"> American Song Book</span> idols, like <b>Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett,</b> et al and we had a lovely time comparing notes on all things jazz! Sylvia eventually shooed us off, as time was passing fast, but not before bestowing a<span style="color: cyan;"> cunning pair of shoes</span> as a gift for the boys of <i>Merriman Park. </i> Wait til you see them --they are <i>too</i> cute <i>for words!</i> Thank you so much, Sylvia! I will cherish them, forever!<br />
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We high-tailed it back to Ray's because I wanted<i> so</i> much to spend a little more time in his company...unfortunately, as I approached Ray's booth for a second time, the ballroom lights were shut off! <span style="color: cyan;"><i>Last call!</i> </span> We had little more time than to exchange phone numbers and murmur our parting good-byes: <i>Adieu,</i> new, old friend!<br />
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But I had <i>one more item</i> on my <b><span style="color: red;">Hot</span>List</b>... would we make it back to the booth in time?<br />
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The pair of urns I had my eye on were back in Sophia's booth, and when I pointed them out to her, as the lights grew dimmer, <span style="color: cyan;">Sophia gifted them to me,</span> the most lovely parting gift, <i>ever!</i> I can't thank you enough, Sophia! (And your urns look <i>fantabulous</i> in my Drawing Room)!<br />
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I left the show<span style="color: cyan;"> higher than a kite,</span> hehe, no small coincidence since the show <span style="color: cyan;">fell on 4/20,</span> LOL! It was a <span style="color: cyan;"><i>major</i> rush</span> and I didn't even tell you the<i> half </i>of it. SO many, many artists, each displaying the very best of the best...The whole thing was so utterly inspiring! When I get my camera back I'll show you all my booty<i> in situ.</i><br />
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Til then...have a lovely spring! (Or fall, for you southern hemisphere followers)...<br />
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XOXO,<br />
John <br />
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P.S. Here's what <i>we're</i> now dealing with, weather-wise --kind of <i>spooky! </i><br />
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This is what happens on a warm spring day in Minnesota when the lakes are still frozen!<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-84326413969470087912013-04-14T15:03:00.000-05:002013-04-14T15:03:47.070-05:00Curtains 'n' Cushions 'n' Things<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Normally this time of year, I would be <span style="color: lime;">mucking about in the garden</span> by now...but not <i>this</i> year! It's snowing <i>again </i>and this was the view out the back window when I woke this morning:<br />
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<span style="color: lime;">Too<i> gruesome</i> for <i>words!</i></span> Oh well, it's nice and cozy inside and my bedroom curtains aren't going to make <i>themselves!</i> So best to just<span style="color: lime;"> buck-up and get to work,</span> right?<br />
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They say it's best to use <span style="color: lime;">100% natural fiber</span> cloth for miniature projects because they're easier to manipulate. My other rooms have silk curtains and in the Bedchamber I decided to use cotton. I chose a bold, black & white stripe, because --<i>well</i>-- what can I say,<span style="color: lime;"> <i>I like stripes!</i></span> I don't know if they would have paired this fabric with this wallpaper back in 1830 or so (the wallpaper has a subtle, stripe background) but <span style="color: lime;">stripe-on-stripe</span> is<i> all</i> the <i>rage</i> nowadays, so I'm pretending my dolls are a little ahead of the game.<br />
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I found the pattern for my curtains in an old dollhouse book. Lo and behold: the pattern belonged to our own<span style="color: lime;"> <b>Ray Whitlege!</b></span> He posted the same pattern on his blog a while back, if you would like to use it yourself.<br />
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I was a little concerned because the pattern called for it to be <span style="color: lime;">cut on the bias,</span> which makes sense because fabric drapes more naturally when cut this way (think slinky, 1930's bias-cut gowns) <span style="color: lime;"><span style="background-color: lime;"></span></span>but I want my stripes to go <span style="color: lime;"><i>up and down</i></span> --not at a 45 degree angle! So I was a little worried it wouldn't work. But <i>all's well that ends well</i> --the fabric draped properly, after all --<i>Phew!</i><br />
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After cutting out the patterns I <span style="color: lime;"><b>Fray-Check</b>ed the edges</span> and then used <span style="color: lime;">Spray Starch</span> to wet the pieces down. Next, I pinned it to some foam core on which I drew an outline of my window. It's just a matter of pinning and re-pinning until you're happy with the result. The tail section is simply folded over on itself to form the pattern. Once you like it just <span style="color: lime;">hit it with a blow-drier</span> til set.<br />
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After trial & error, I found it easier to glue the trim to the edge of the curtain first, before starching and pinning. <i>Eww!</i> <span style="color: lime;">My hand looks like a<i> sharecropper's!</i></span> <br />
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Well, <i>anyway</i>...I made my fringe<b> ala Jeffry</b> by cutting a 1/2 " piece of ribbon in half, lengthwise, then pulling out threads to form the fringe. <span style="color: lime;"> <b>TIP:</b> Grosgrain ribbon works better than double-faced satin!</span> I wanted the fringe to have more 'heft' so I glued one piece to the front of the fabric then turned it over and glued another piece to the back edge.<br />
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I love this treatment because there's <span style="color: lime;">absolutely no sewing</span> involved. A dab of<span style="color: lime;"> fabric glue</span> to hold the pleats in place is all it took, then glue the whole ensemble to a rod. It's that easy!<br />
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I used the same patterns to fabricate the <span style="color: lime;">pelmet </span>which will go over the bed. I made the pelmet from a piece of resin molding that I<span style="color: lime;"> heated up over a candle flame</span> and bent it around a small tin can. I keep telling you: I'm <i>pretty</i> AND I'm <i>smart! </i><br />
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Then it was <span style="color: lime;">on to the window seat cushions... </span> I'm on a<i> roll!</i> To make those, I first cut out thin pieces of foam to fit the seats. Then I traced the foam patterns onto the back of the fabric. Add a 3/16" border around the outline and cut out, notching the corners.<br />
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Press the edges up on the lines. Set the bottom piece down and place the foam on top. Glue around all the edges and set the top pattern in place. <br />
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Use your fingers to press the two edges together. Then make an edge strip by cutting a long ribbon of fabric three times the thickness of the foam (1/2" in my case). Fold over in<br />
thirds and press. Glue down the flaps. Run glue around the entire edge of the cushion and apply the edge strip, starting in the most inconspicuous corner.<br />
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Add piping to the edges by applying a thin line of glue over the seam and lying the cord on top, starting and ending in the most inconspicuous corner. I used my handy-dandy <span style="color: lime;"><b>Crazy Cords</b></span> machine to make my piping, but any appropriate-sized cording will do.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look: striped <i>and </i>toil cushions on the chair, <i>LOL!</i></td></tr>
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Again: <span style="color: lime;">NO sewing</span> involved! I'm now looking for a complimentary fabric for a few toss pillows...perhaps I'll find some at the <span style="color: lime;"><b>Chicago</b> <b>International? </b></span> We're leaving in just a few days...OMG, my <i>face!</i> My <i>hair! </i>My <i>nails!</i><br />
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Will I see <i>you</i> there?<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-10759181378280091372013-04-10T17:15:00.000-05:002013-04-10T17:15:22.979-05:00Backtracking a Little Bit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: lime;"><i><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>appy Spring!</i></span> Woke up today to an <span style="color: lime;">inch of new snow </span>on the ground with a <i>whole</i> <i>foot </i>possible tonight! Oh wells, best just not to think about it --<i>right?</i>-- and dig in on the Bedchamber... <br />
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Because I changed my original plan and hung two chandeliers downstairs in the Library instead of one, I had to make a <span style="color: lime;">whole, new plank floor</span> for my Bedchamber. But this gives me the opportunity to show you how I wired the chandeliers, since<b> Elga</b> and <b>Fi</b> are on that subject. (Sorry the photo is so blurry --I had to take it, one-handed)! Anyway, as you see I made small <span style="color: lime;">trap doors</span> over the chandeliers and routed out a shallow 'junction box' to house the wires in case something goes awry --as it often seems to do. The traps are hidden under rugs and I like to pretend my dolls are in <span style="color: lime;">constant peril, LOL!</span> <b>Ray</b> gave me the junction box idea back when I started wiring my first room, the Entrance Hall, its <span style="color: lime;">checkered, marble floor </span>can be glimpsed to the bottom left. It's worked out great in all the rooms, so thanks a bunch, Ray!<br />
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And now, the fun part! after cutting the<span style="color: lime;"> illustration board </span>to fit all three walls (and doing several, careful 'dry fits' to make sure everything lines up), you can<span style="color: lime;"><i> start decorating.</i></span> I always start with the 'back wall.' I papered the illustration board panel with my <i>toile</i> wallpaper, which I'm absolutely<i> coo-coo</i> for. It was completely<i> worth</i> the six, long weeks I waited for it! I like to use Super 77 Spray Mount from 3-M for my wallpaper but I know some of you <i>hate</i> it! <span style="color: lime;">Here's a little tip:</span> instead of cutting the paper to fit the panel, wrap it <i>around</i> the panel and secure with white glue in back. Not only will the paper<i> never</i> peel away, it finishes the visible edges off beautifully. The moldings are from the <b>Lawbre Company,</b> the skirting is an inch wide and makes an elegant statement in an otherwise plain room. The cornice, also from Lawbre, is a<span style="color: lime;"> classic egg and dart design.</span> I hung a picture frame molding about an inch and a half from the top of the wall and here is where I started the wallpaper. This leaves a nice, wide <i>frieze </i>at the top of the wall, which I decided to leave plain. <span style="color: lime;">Less is<i> sometimes more!</i></span><i> </i> I already showed you the<span style="color: lime;"> lovely door surround </span>I made from bits of scrap. And I can never resist playing with artwork even at this early phase: the <span style="color: lime;">silhouette portraits</span> are vintage 1950's pieces from an old, dismantled dollhouse.<br />
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The 'plain' wall across from the fireplace will have the bed placed here. Unfortunately, the skirting was ot long enough to make the span so I will have to do some filling and sanding at the joint. I use gesso (a mixture of white paint and white glue) for filling gaps. Here's another important tip: don't glue down any moldings permanently <span style="color: lime;">until you have dry-fitted them first</span> --slip all your walls into your house and mark in the corners with a pencil where the moldings butt together in the corners. Make sure <span style="color: lime;">they match up precisely</span> <i>before</i> gluing anything down! You will be constantly putting in and pulling out your walls --don't expect to get it all right in one try.<br />
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Here's the fireplace wall, under construction. The <span style="color: lime;">window seats </span>are simply trimmed and I tried to unite all the different elements: windows, seats and mantle into one, cohesive composition I ran out of cornice in the upper left and so had to order another length! Don't you just <i>hate</i> that? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />I remembered to take a photo of the hearth, under construction. It's all just illustration board and card bricks. I paint it up in scrumbled shades of grey.<br />
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It's all <span style="color: lime;">starting to come together!</span> Here, I slipped the illustration board panels into the carcass of the house for another dry fit. Lookin' <span style="color: lime;">pretty good in the 'hood!</span> I don't glue the cornice in til the very last thing because you want a tight fit with no gaps. The floor needs a few more coats of lacquer, some joints need filling and touching up...and then I can tackle the wiring! <br />
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<b><span style="color: lime;">ONLY A COUPLE WEEKS TIL THE CHICAGO SHOW...I"M GETTING SO EXCITED!!!</span></b><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-73687955431782714962013-04-07T11:49:00.000-05:002013-04-07T11:49:27.080-05:00Spring Will Be a Little Late, This Year<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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...<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span>nd yet, your intrepid Reporter is<i> pretending</i> that <span style="color: lime;">spring has sprung,</span> nevertheless busying himself with all the <span style="color: lime;">mundane, hum-drum tasks</span> put off all winter --like cleaning! Still freezing outside? Who <i>cares?</i> Crank up the furnace, throw open the windows and let in some fresh, albeit<i> frigid,</i> air! Still a slushy layer of ice on the patio? <span style="color: lime;">(with a whole winter's-worth of frozen doggy-doo on top)</span> A quick sweep of the shovel will take care of that. Yes, I <i>know</i> it's too early to hose it all down --Damn it, <span style="color: lime;">I DON"T <i>CARE</i></span>-- it's getting damned <i>hosed,</i> dammit!<br />
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And that rag-tag, sofa slip-cover that I've been meaning to redo forever? It's getting DONE. <i>NOW!</i> <span style="color: lime;">WITH <i>PIPING!</i></span><br />
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Yes, it has been a virtual <span style="color: lime;">hive of <i>Real-Life</i> activity</span> <i>chez moi.</i>..I shan't rest until every last cobweb and dust bunny is banished from my sight! Of course, all this <span style="color: lime;">frenzied, dreaming of spring-induced OCD-ness<span style="background-color: lime;"></span></span> means that life at <i>Merriman Park </i>has come to a bit of a stand-still. <br />
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Until yesterday, that is, when a <span style="color: lime;">long-anticipated package</span> from the <b>Lawbre</b> company finally made its way to my doorstep. And so work on the Bedchamber can finally continue...<br />
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Hey! Anyone else going to the <b>Chicago International</b> miniatures show later this month? Drop me a message if you would like to catch a cup of coffee, or something!<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-14787854842266421612013-03-17T10:25:00.001-05:002013-03-17T11:44:13.525-05:00Inspiration, Ceilings & Doors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Thanks a bunch for all the encouraging comments! They are like a tonic for my soul. You see, I tend to go rather into a tailspin this time of year, what with the weather in these parts being so incessantly and relentlessly drab, dismal and drear --not to mention harrowing-ly cold, cold, <i>cold!</i> Your intrepid Reporter almost <i>forgot</i> that he started his beloved <i>Merriman Park</i> in the first place to keep himself from committing <i>hari-kari</i> with an enormous Minnesota icicle. (Talk about Seasonal Affect Disorder)! I could snap one of the frozen daggers off my ice-dammed eaves and end it all <i>right now</i>, darlings, but then my mini bedroom would <i>never</i> get finished...<i>Quelle tragédie!</i><br />
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So instead, I'll spare you the histrionics and get on with the decorating...<br />
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I am often asked where I get my inspiration and ideas from and the answer is: <i>I have no clue!</i> I think my mind is sort of like an gi-normous sponge that sucks up anything and everything that has to do with architecture and design and so I have a catalog, of sorts, stored in my head that I can readily reference.<br />
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The most tangible inspiration for <i>Merriman Park</i> is undoubtedly my now dog-eared copy of <i>The Thorne Rooms, </i>which has somewhat become my 'miniatures Holy Bible!' Before starting any room, I inevitably revisit this sacred tome. To me, Mrs. Thorne was, <i>and still is,</i> the Gold Standard of Miniatures.<br />
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Seeing the Thorne Rooms at the Chicago Institute of Arts for the first time is what originally made me decide to build <i>Merriman Park;</i> and so revisiting the source inspiration helps keep me grounded and 'on point." (I am a Gemini, and we Air Signs <i>need</i> these sorts of crutches to<i> stay focused)!</i><br />
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If you're like me, books, magazines, movies, plays, blogs... all provide fodder for future projects. <br />
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Once I get a few ideas in my head, I'm ready to plan the room. Sometimes, I'll draw up detailed plans...<br />
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...But most of the time, I have such a clear picture in my head that I don't bother with a drawing. In the case of my Master Bedroom, I'm forgoing any renderings for that reason. All the rooms of <i>Merriman Park</i> are similar in their basic lay-out in that they're all rectangular with a door on the 'back' wall and with a fireplace flanked by two windows on each side. To liven things up a bit, I varied the mill work in each room, adding arches here and wainscot there, and in the Master Bedroom, I decided to include built-in window seats<br />
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My plan<i> (such as it is)!</i> in place, it's time to begin... I don't know why, but I always seem to begin with the ceiling --I guess you have to start somewhere! As you probably already know, I use illustration board panels, cut to fit the walls, floors and ceilings of my rooms. I apply the trims and moldings, wallpaper, etc to these panels, and then install them into the room. The advantage to doing it this way is that you can work on a flat surface instead of trying to reach into your little dollhouse room. And the panels hide all the wiring, too!<br />
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After cutting a panel to fit my ceiling I penciled in where the fireplace chase hits. My plan for the ceiling is pretty straight-forward: a beautiful ceiling rose from Sue Cook Miniatures centered, and a simple molding to frame the room. I penciled in where the moldings were to go by measuring 1 1/2 inches from the wall all the way around. The moldings are cut with a mini miter box using forty-five degree cuts at the corners.<br />
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Once everything is glued down, I use 'spray gesso' as a primer. You can get it at an art supply store. I use spray paints whenever I can because it doesn't leave brush strokes --and it's <i>really fast!</i> Now is the time to sand down any rough spots and fill any small gaps with gesso, applied with a small brush.<br />
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Then it's a few light coats of what I have begun calling<i> 'Merriman Park White,' </i>which is simply an off-white spray paint that I used in practically every room. <br />
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All ready to install --just pop it in! Much easier than trying to fit all those little pieces onto the actual dollhouse ceiling!<br />
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That finished, I thought I'd try something a little more fun, so I turned my attention to the door surround. I do not own many fancy tools or gadgets, but by using stock moldings, strip wood and a mini miter box, you can come up some fancy designs of your own.<br />
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My design is based on classical motifs, you can find examples everywhere and once you see something you like it's all just a matter of breaking it down into parts.<br />
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I started with plain strip wood going around the door frame and then outlined it with stock panel molding. I found a teeny, half-round molding about the thickness of a toothpick and use it to outline the inside of the door frame.<br />
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Sitting on top of this is a block of wood, about 1/4" thick. I wrapped a dentil cornice around this block and used 'Victorian skirting' as a shelf on the very top. It's all smoke and mirrors: simple forty-five degree cuts but once everything is glued up I think it looks as good as my expensive, 'bought' surrounds.<br />
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Well, that's about it for this week. We're supposed to get even <i>more</i> snow tonight for St. Patrick's Day --last year it was an unseasonable 80 and I was in flip-flops and shorts...<i>Ugh!</i> California is looking better and<i> better</i>....<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-55177564252312324622013-03-10T10:31:00.000-05:002013-03-10T10:31:24.751-05:00Bedroom --the beginning<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: yellow;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>ello there, remember <i>me?</i> So sorry to have neglected you, darlings, but we have been dealing with some 'real life' issues around here...thus, the long absence. I'm trying ever so hard to get caught up on all your blogs so please bear with me! And I'd like to welcome my new followers and send a big thank you to Tina from <a href="http://justasmallthing.blogspot.com/2013/02/featured-blog-friday-merriman-park.html">Just A Small Thing,</a> who wrote the absolutely <i>sweetest</i> things about me recently on her weekly blog focus. Really, I'm <i>still</i> blushing --and pink is definitely <i>not</i> my color! Check out her blog for yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">I fear I have done hardly a thing on my latest --<i>and last</i>-- room. Yes, you read that right: I am on the <i>very</i> <i>last room</i> of <i>Merriman Park!</i> This will be the Master Bedroom. </span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">It's been a long haul. And coming to my last (but not least) room stirs up some mixed feelings. Of course I am completely <i>thrilled</i> to finally draw this project to a conclusion...after all, it's been <i>three years</i> in the making. Oh, how I must cover my lips with my hand and suppress a wry titter, as I recall believing way back then (when <i>Merriman Park</i> was but only a rough sketch on the back of a paper napkin) that I would have the <i>entire house finished</i> by the end of that first winter!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sketch that started it all...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: yellow;">Well, we all <i>know</i> how <i>that</i> naive notion turned out! ...But while I am happy to finally be galloping toward the finish line, I have to admit the idea of completing <i>Merriman Park</i> makes me just a little --sad. <i> </i></span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;"><i>Ugh,</i> lets not go down that road, shall we? </span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">I have ordered many of the new components for the bedroom and they are now finally starting to trickle in. Today the fireplace mantle showed up from</span> <b>Braxton Payne Miniatures.</b> <span style="color: yellow;">It's pictured leaning against the wall in the first photo (above). I chose a simple design that seemed appropriate to a bedroom and I like it much more than I had anticipated. The detail is very fine.</span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">The wallpaper came a few days ago after being on back-order for a whole month! I was afraid I might have to chose another pattern but I'm glad it finally showed up. I lovz me some <i>toile de jouy!</i> </span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">I thought that, since this is my last room and since people seem to enjoy seeing how I put things together as much as seeing the 'finished product,' I would show my working process from start to finish. So her is the blank room, just waiting for a few more bits and pieces to arrive and then we can get started...</span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">Thanks for sticking with me, and I hope you all have a great week!</span><br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-14447820195518623102013-01-28T10:27:00.000-06:002013-01-28T10:27:34.631-06:00The Reveal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></i> just spent a lovely, snowy, three-day weekend working on the <span style="color: orange;">finishing touches</span> of the Library.<br />
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I had hoped for a sunny day to take the photographs, but if I waited for <i>that </i>I'm afraid it might be <span style="color: orange;">May or even June</span> before you see any! I'll eventually have my photographer friend over to <span style="color: orange;">snap a few decent shots</span> but until then you will have to put up with mine.<br />
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One of my favorite new additions is <span style="color: orange;">the red-shaded lamp</span> on the desk which I picked up at the local dollhouse shop, <b>Little Enchantments.</b> It throws just enough light to catch the desk's painted detail. The built-in bookshelves are all filled with books and <i>objet d'art.</i> I'm afraid I did not make the books --they are all bought-- but I did add a little <span style="color: orange;">gilding to their spines</span> with a gold pen. Eventually, I would like to have books that have printed pages, but for now, these will do...<br />
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I also<span style="color: orange;"> 'color blocked'</span> the books and think they look neater than when I had them just thrown in willy-nilly. Not sure if they would have <span style="color: orange;">hung a little painting</span> on the shelves like this, but I happen to like that effect --so <i>there!</i> I received the little steps from <b>New England Miniatures</b> right before I got sick a couple months ago and sort of forgot about them. But here they are! Hey --check out <span style="color: orange;">the gold piping</span> on the back of the chair! I made the piping from embroidery floss on my <b>Krazy Cords</b> toy! (Thanks for the tip, <b>Catherine</b>)!<br />
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Here's a shot of the fireplace side. I have a<span style="color: orange;"> lamp shining through the windows</span> because it's so terribly gloomy outside in real life...but<span style="color: orange;"> it's<i> always</i> sunny at </span><i><span style="color: orange;">Merriman Park!</span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VXF_PtGucXgpLz5nrIDarnWfr2OGRSfv0uXHrrttwCHrnmHG_T90TnerZqwLWGsdkhX3pJ2tUK2OHT1wQIqn3EUHhaYfvAqWnPToynWIbixwRpfcUxDhcG5eIkB_rG9KsubiQ9tVLKGc/s1600/library+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VXF_PtGucXgpLz5nrIDarnWfr2OGRSfv0uXHrrttwCHrnmHG_T90TnerZqwLWGsdkhX3pJ2tUK2OHT1wQIqn3EUHhaYfvAqWnPToynWIbixwRpfcUxDhcG5eIkB_rG9KsubiQ9tVLKGc/s320/library+073.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still having 'issues' with these chandeliers (grrr)! & I may replace them!</td></tr>
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I added a fire in the grate of my <b>Braxton Payne</b> fireplace. A fire in the Library is always so cozy, don't you think? I was going to place an <span style="color: orange;">ormolu</span> <span style="color: orange;">clock on the mantel</span> but I figured with the grandfather clock standing just a few feet away it might be a little redundant, so I placed some tulips there instead. A touch of spring in the dead of winter. Wish you could better make out the<span style="color: orange;"> figurines on the mantel shelf.</span> They're 'vintage Japanese' totchkes I found on Ebay.<br />
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Now, I have to show you a closer view of the portrait hanging over the fireplace:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ_MIs9vykl48sQ8nW5IlIB7ZU1m6NcpFnzkYwtar9AJebuSLAK0GDsmQlm1b8fdNJBxnWVkeChR_-HpypgO2NsqQwHeUar7W4R6XvJZcTVkO2uEHLV76EJkCuxZSc0_KDs2bVrG1LANV/s1600/copley32.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXQ_MIs9vykl48sQ8nW5IlIB7ZU1m6NcpFnzkYwtar9AJebuSLAK0GDsmQlm1b8fdNJBxnWVkeChR_-HpypgO2NsqQwHeUar7W4R6XvJZcTVkO2uEHLV76EJkCuxZSc0_KDs2bVrG1LANV/s400/copley32.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mrs. Nathaniel Allen</i> (1763) by John Singleton Copley</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">N</span>o doubt <span style="color: orange;"><i>Mrs. Nathaniel Allen</i></span> would have been labeled 'a handsome woman' in her day. Her curious, life-sized portrait hangs in the <b>Minneapolis Institute of Art</b> and remains one of my favorites, perhaps because she is the very image of my friend,<b> John Brewer. </b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNzSV1F7xhM-APgS4z06h2lHYwPKutOBMErHZHhFc7TtXpdnJa4TLaqWOno4vt3-JkF2Q3j5y5dnfRI9WpSlE7dMocx4A5w_AdCk2mwrE3K8TOoISUiJ3gf_YLbWK80leQuVRSb6bF_ir/s1600/1763+John+Singleton+Copley+%28American+Colonial+Era+artist,+1738-1815%29++Mrs.+Nathaniel+Allen+%28Sarah+Sargnet%29+Minneapolis+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNzSV1F7xhM-APgS4z06h2lHYwPKutOBMErHZHhFc7TtXpdnJa4TLaqWOno4vt3-JkF2Q3j5y5dnfRI9WpSlE7dMocx4A5w_AdCk2mwrE3K8TOoISUiJ3gf_YLbWK80leQuVRSb6bF_ir/s400/1763+John+Singleton+Copley+%28American+Colonial+Era+artist,+1738-1815%29++Mrs.+Nathaniel+Allen+%28Sarah+Sargnet%29+Minneapolis+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mrs. Nathaniel Allen 1763, or Mr. John Brewer 2013? </td></tr>
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To the best of my knowledge, my friend John does <i>not</i> have a secret <span style="color: orange;">penchant for eighteenth-century drag.</span>
His family came to this country in the nineteenth-century by way of
Germany and Norway, so there is scant chance that he had an <span style="color: orange;">ancestor who frequented molly bars</span> in ye-olde Colonial Boston.<br />
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And yet...<i>there</i> hangs<i> this</i> portrait<i>...his</i> portrait?<i> Hmmmm...</i><br />
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I shrunk down an image of <i>Mrs. Nathaniel Allen</i> --(or my friend, John)--<i> whoever</i> it is! Anyway, I shrunk it down and over-painted it with <b>Mod Podge,</b>
using a tiny brush and trying to mimic the same strokes as the artist.
Once dry and framed, it is difficult to tell that it is not a <span style="color: orange;">'real'
miniature oil painting</span> that cost hundreds! (Thanks, <b>Ray,</b> for the tip)!<br />
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I like how the painting's cool tones bring the similar colors of the hallway beyond the doorway into the room.<br />
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Well, I do hope you like the Library. Of course, there are a few more <span style="color: orange;">odds and ends</span> I would like to add here and there but <i>you</i> know how it is..<span style="color: orange;">.is a dollhouse room ever <i>completely</i> finished?</span><br />
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Have a great week, everybody!<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-70685107826010991992013-01-26T12:27:00.000-06:002013-01-26T13:20:50.632-06:00Curtains & Crown Molding<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The thing I most<span style="color: orange;"> love about this hobby</span> is that one minute you're <span style="color: orange;">shooting sawdust everywhere</span> and generally making a huge mess and the next minute your working with<span style="color: orange;"> sumptuous, silk fabrics!</span> First of all, here are my 'finished' curtains:<br />
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I ran back to the bead store and picked up some<span style="color: orange;"> brass jump rings,</span> which are the perfect thing for hanging miniature drapes! They're simply stitched on to the pleats. There were a few tense moments trying to <i>finagle</i> the rods through the tiny eyelets and around the fireplace chase, but thankfully, it all worked out in the end. (I have to run some more starch through the curtain fringe --it's sticking out a little, LOL!<br />
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In front of the window is the<span style="color: orange;"> sweetest little globe</span> I received for Christmas --thanks, Greg! I LOVE it! It came from <b>Masters Miniatures</b> in England.<br />
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As you can see in the above photo, I STILL have not installed the <span style="color: orange;">crown molding.</span> Someone asked me this week <span style="color: orange;">how you cut the pieces of molding</span> to fit the corners and so I thought I'd show you, before they are all glued in.<br />
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First of all, I always<span style="color: orange;"> mark my crown molding with little 'X's </span>across the top side, which will butt against the ceiling. It's very easy to get mixed-up because sometimes the molding looks pretty much the same up-side-down as right-side-up! And it is<span style="color: orange;"><i> quite</i> upsetting</span> if you cut your molding up-side-down when you only have enough to go around the room once, with <i>no mistakes.</i> (Not that<i> that</i> EVER happens to<i> me</i>)!<br />
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I always start with the 'back' wall of the room. This happens to be the easiest --just measure the length of the wall and cut your molding to match<i>.</i> Use <span style="color: orange;">straight (ninety degree) cuts.</span> (above) You can make the cuts with a<span style="color: orange;"> miniature miter box</span> if your molding is wood and less than a half inch thick. My molding is a little thicker than that (and it also is made from cast resin), so I used a normal-sized,<span style="color: orange;"> power miter box</span> just to speed things up a tad.<br />
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Next, we'll make the <span style="color: orange;">first corner cut.</span> For this cut, you need a <span style="color: orange;">coping saw.</span> <i>(below)</i> You can pick one up at any hardware store and they're not too expensive. Make sure you get some extra blades!<br />
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It might help before we continue if I first show you the next cut. This is how the corner joint will fit: <i>(below)</i><br />
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See how the<span style="color: orange;"> angled edge</span> will fit on top of the other piece, like a little puzzle? <i>(above)</i> Here's how to do it...<br />
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With a pencil,<span style="color: orange;"> trace the outline</span> of your molding onto the corner. <i>(above)</i> This is your <span style="color: orange;">cutting line. </span> You can use your <span style="color: orange;">miter box</span> to remove the section up to the pencil line. Then use the <span style="color: orange;">coping saw</span> to remove the small bits up to the line.<br />
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Here's how the corner fits together. <i>(above) </i>You can fine-tune the joint with a small file or sandpaper. Any small gaps can be filled with Spackle, gesso or wood putty.<br />
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Make the other corner of your room the same as above. If you have any <span style="color: orange;">'bump-outs,'</span> such as a <span style="color: orange;">fireplace</span> <span style="color: orange;">chase,</span> the corners are made by making two, forty-five degree cuts on the miter box: <i>(below)</i><br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><u><b>TIPS:</b></u></span><br />
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When cutting<span style="color: orange;"> resin molding</span> by hand, take your time: the heat generated by the moving blade will start to 'melt' the resin and gum up your saw.<br />
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Do not try to make the 'coped cuts' in one pass. Remove small pieces at a time until you meet up to the penciled line.<br />
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Buy<span style="color: orange;"> extra molding</span> in case you make a mistake!<br />
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Some of the fancier moldings (such as <b>Sue Cook</b>'s) can be purchased with <span style="color: orange;">pre-formed corners. </span><br />
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And that, my dears, concludes our little<i> lesson</i> <i>du jour!</i> (I hope it helped, Gwendolyn)... Next time, I promise to have the crown molding <span style="color: orange;">glued into place!</span> But before I sign off, I wanted to <span style="color: orange;">thank everyone again</span> for your kind words regarding my recent ghastly run-in with the shingles virus! I am happy to report that all is well and I can't even<i> begin</i> to tell you how thankful I am for all your thoughtful, well-wishes! <br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-40182931530255341762013-01-13T15:08:00.000-06:002013-01-13T15:08:52.523-06:00Library Progress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Work on the<span style="color: orange;"> Library</span> came pretty much to a <span style="color: orange;">complete stand-still</span> while I was ill, but here I am again, faithful Readers, back from the dead, <span style="color: orange;">fifteen pounds lighter</span> and raring<i> to go!</i> I even felt inspired enough this weekend to<span style="color: orange;"> reupholster some chairs</span> I received from Santa, as well as re-doing my aforementioned <i>recamier.</i><br />
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The set of chairs are part of the <span style="color: orange;">Thomas Jefferson Monticello Collection</span> and were originally covered in red "silk" (polyester). Fortunately, when I purchased my wallpaper from <span style="color: orange;">Chinoiseries Miniatures</span> a while back I also snapped up the matching fabric in 'real' silk. Of course, I want to pipe the edges a la 'Krazy Kords' <b>Catherine</b>, but I haven't gotten around to that, yet!<br />
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The <i>recamier</i> I decided to re-do in a gold/red stripe from <span style="color: orange;">Renaissance Fabrics.</span> (I think the fabric cost more than the sofa but it was well-worth it).<br />
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The curtains are made of the same stripe-y fabric. So once again out came the fabulous <span style="color: orange;">Pretty Pleater! </span> I know that some of you have in the past <i>poo-pooed</i> the Pretty Pleater, but I personally LOVE it! Not only does the name itself make me<span style="color: orange;"> titter like a little school-girl,</span> but I find it so easy to work with. And if you remove your curtains from the handy-dandy, Pretty Pleater apparatus while they are still a little damp and block your fabric on foam board, the results are a lot less 'tortured'-looking. <br />
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Once complete, the curtains will hang from brass rings on a matching rod...but I seem to have misplaced the tiny hoops...oops! Back to the bead store! I will then be able to finally glue all my wall panels in permanently. It seems that I cut my poor, neglected crown moldings<i> ages ago</i> and at long last I will be able to dust them off and officially install them!<br />
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I copied the design of the <span style="color: orange;">curtain pelmets </span>from a photo I found on the internet...don't you love the fringe? I made it from a gold ribbon --thanks to the advice of fellow blogger <b>Jeffry</b>-- just sliced a ribbon lengthwise in two and pulled out enough threads to form the fringe. How easy is <i>that? </i> (Thanks, Jeffry)! I am trying to train the fringe to hang downward by combing them with a little starch on my fingertips.<br />
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Santa brought me the delightful <span style="color: orange;">desk and chair,</span> as well as the<span style="color: orange;"> grandfather clock</span> and the <span style="color: orange;">library steps.</span> I also am receiving a beautiful globe from <span style="color: orange;">Master's Miniatures </span>(thanks, Greg)! which is still<i> en route</i> from England. I have a pretty mirror on order that will eventually hang over the desk. Really, all I need to fill out the room are some desk <i>accoutrements</i> and a few other odds and ends...<br />
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My favorite Christmas gift of all was a new harp for the <span style="color: orange;">Music Room!</span> Ain't she<i> purdy? </i>I can't believe all the little strings it has! I think I might pick out some of the harp's carving in gold, what do you think? <br />
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I take that back..<span style="color: orange;">.my absolute <i>favorite</i> Christmas gift of all</span> was <i>not going blind</i> in one eye! That little episode was kind of --<i>scary-- </i>I guess you'd call it...but I want to<b> thank all of you</b> who wrote or phoned with your best wishes. It was very kind of you to go out of your way, (especially this busy time of year), to check up on <i>li'l ol' me.</i> Now that I'm getting my mojo back, I look forward to catching up with all of you and all of your blogs...<br />
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<span style="color: orange;"><b>Best Wishes for a<span style="font-size: large;"> healthy,</span> prosperous and<i> fierce</i> 2013!</b></span><br />
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XO,<br />
John<br />
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Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3726627179512343604.post-7409277785359455902012-12-05T09:28:00.000-06:002012-12-05T09:28:57.710-06:00Technical Difficulties<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We are experiencing some<span style="color: magenta;"> <span style="color: cyan;">technical difficulties</span></span> here at <i>Merriman Park</i> involving a nasty virus and your intrepid reporter's right eyeball. Needless to say, it's become rather unpleasant to try to do any computer work much less perform the subtle intricacies of miniatures! So I'm afraid I must go MIA for the time being. <br />
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Fear not, faithful Readers! It will take more than <span style="color: cyan;">a bout of temporary blindness</span> to keep this bitch down! <br />
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I look forward to catching up with everyone's blogs at a later date...til then, hope you all have a lovely holiday season! </div>
Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10792529272804861727noreply@blogger.com21