Mini-Vacation

the master bedroom

I hope you all had a delightful Thanksgiving.  I thought I'd share with you, a sort of renewed hobby of mine -- miniatures!  When I was a kid, my dad made me a dollhouse that I loved so much. I spent hours upon hours setting it up and making things for it.  Well, when I met my husband, he also shared my love of miniatures -- but his is in the form of O-Gauge model railroads. (Dan used to work for Lionel and I must say, is a truly amazing model-maker. Incidentally, his layout is on the cover of the January issue of O Gauge Railroading magazine, in case you want to check it out. We're very excited.) 

Anyway, as my story goes, I sometimes accompany Dan to different hobby shops. Although I think the trains are great, I'm always drawn to the dollhouses. So a few years ago, Dan bought me a dollhouse kit that I somehow managed to put together (with him fixing my many mistakes, of course.) The house has sat for years until recently. After looking at a bunch of phenomenal blogs (otterine's miniatures and 1 inch minis by kris -- to name a couple), I finally took the plunge and began my endeavor. I had wired the house a couple years ago. Although who knows if the lights will even work once I buy some fixtures! But I don't care -- I figure this is my learning house. Especially after reading lots of blogs and figuring out that it's best not to put the entire house together first. Oh boy.  :)  Anyway -- here are some progress shots so far. I dabble when I can, so it's slow-going. The master bedroom is the closest to being completed, but it too has lots of details still left to finish.  

I hope you enjoy this little side-track for today.  Thank you for coming by.

The oil painting above the bed is an original by artist Cynthia Wilson.
It is an Artist Trading Card that I bought on DPW - doesn't it look fantastic?

corner of hallway looking into the bathroom and guest bedroom
the bathroom wall is removable

the jewelry section at Michael's has lots of treasures to be used as little mini-things!

I "bashed" up a Michael's cupboard and used the bottom to make a little chest for the end of the bed.

the downstairs hallway - the paper is just "dry-fitted" - that's why there isn't any on the front door wall
obviously the stairs need railings, side finishing, etc.

dry-fitted floor in the guest bedroom

looking out into the hall from the guest bedroom

a little mirror I made from findings at Michaels

the upstairs hallway - and looking into the bathroom
that wall is removable

upstairs hallway - door leading into the master bedroom

the bathroom