It's Friday already--and the 17th of December at that! My-oh-my the days are just flying by. Does it seem that way for you too? 'Tis the season. I just looked up from my piles of various ongoing projects and realized I hadn't shown you guys the pictures of the FARM STAND. If you missed the part about why we made another dollhouse, the back story goes like this . . .in 2009 the girls and I entered a contest hosted by Hobby Builder's Supply--the challenge was to do something with their GAZEBO kit. Our theme was for a "Garden Party Reception" (see it over here.) We didn't win, but were surprised to get a great BIG BOX in the mail a few weeks later; the consolation 'thank you' gift from HB, containing THIS dollhouse kit for the 2010 contest. (This is their 17th annual -- check out the gallery of past winners and entries--all very inspiring.) Well, we were in no way obligated to participate, but found we could not resist doing so! However, at that point in time, I was still working on my book, Embroidery Craft: Stitching Through the Seasons, and had absolutely no time to start anything new, so it just sat in the box until the December 15th deadline started creeping up, and for the past few weeks it's been a mad rush to get it done in time. (When I tell you that I am bouncing from one activity to another I am so not kidding.) Anyway, here it is and we think it turned out pretty cute.
Here's a close-up of the "shop". I knew I wanted scales, but for the life of me could not imagine how to make them. I asked Grace, and she made both scales by cobbling together bits and bobs from old spice can lids, broken Barbie accessories, jewlery rings, and chain. She is just SO brilliant that way!
I made the chalk board signs and fashioned a produce stand. Ginger has tiny delicate little hands and went to work making miniature crates of goods, preserves, fruits, & veggies . . .
. . . free range eggs, impossibly small fruit pies and wee jars of honey. Those innocent looking honey jars had us reeling. Ginger hand-painted the labels and spent quite a bit of time on them so I was trying my best to handle them gently. But as I attempted to place the three jars in the basket, old fumble fingers here, dropped the whole thing and it went tumbling down under the table. There's a very colorful wool braided rug under that table and in the fading light I could not find those honey jars, (which are actually glass beads with lids on top). I crawled around under that table on my hands and knees for ten minutes. Then Ginger joined me with a lamp and we both crawled around looking--and eventually we found one. The other two seemingly had vanished into thin air. We lifted the rug and looked far beyond where they could have possibly traveled, queeried the cat who was watching from the corner of the room. Hmm . . It was a mystery...until I stood up and felt something in my slipper. Sure enough, that's where they were hiding. What a shock! I still can't figure out how that even happened. After our hysterical laughter died down, we got back to work and glued them into place once and for all.
We made the crates and tried to use Oregon packing labels for authenticity.
And pickles! Of course had to have those.
Here's the front porch. I am so happy with my Dutch door!
Grace made the perfect paper flowers in the window box. We gathered moss and lichen from tree branches for the greenery. Those cedar shingles were left-over from another dollhouse roof (made long ago), and Ginger and I spent days and days and days gluing each one down. I forget where I found the wheelbarrow. It seems we've had it a very long time as it was broken, and needed repairs to stand upright. I couldn't resist adding the 'Happy Bee' crate label.
Here's the back side view. I've got another dollhouse to show you too, along with more thrift shop treasures. But now it's cookie baking time (still bouncing here), so until next time...have a great weekend!
