Christmas was lovely and low-key just the way we like it, and now we're ready to take a sleigh ride into the New Year--and like everyone, we're hoping for a thrilling fun-filled journey! I'm getting back to some little projects again. My dollhouse is still sitting on top of my work table in various stages of completion. I forgot how much fun it was and can't seem to think about anything else at the moment. It's rather comical.
In fact, I woke up one fine and glorious morning with nothing more on my mind except making a wreathed mirror to hang over the tiny fireplace inside my dollhouse living room.
I had been pondering this before I fell asleep--having been unable to find the raw materials I needed to make such a thing, and was thinking 'outside the box' of possibilities. By morning, it suddenly occurred to me that the solution was in my makeup drawer! So, out of bed I sprang, eyes barely open, half-focused on my dressing table, to find that empty face-powder compact.
I remembered I had an empty one I hadn't thrown out yet . . . it being a visual reminder for me to replace it. (Just wait until your in your sixties and you'll understand that logic.) Anyway, after breakfast I got to work and removed the compact cover, plugged in the hot-glue gun and found some greenery stashed away in my craft corner. In no time it began to take shape.
I love those tiny sequin pins (from Hobby Lobby), they sparkle like fairy lights, so I added them too, along with a miniature snowflake for extra cuteness, then lightly brushed the whole thing with gold glitter nail polish. The effect was exactly what I was looking for.
Simple and festive. Exactly what I wanted. I used a padded-foam mounting dot to stick it to the wall.
And voila! It worked perfectly. For me, one of the fascinations of building miniatures is discovering novel uses for discarded items; another way of recycling 'trash into treasure'. It's fun looking at things in a different way and seeing the possibilities. Sometimes, when you can't find what you're looking for you have to make it. Necessity being the Mother of Invention. Speaking of that, here's another peek at the progress and compromises I've made in the dollhouse kitchen.
This cute work-table is made from an unfinished $1.oo "sofa table" I found at the Dollar Tree. I purchased two; glued them together back to back and added slats underneath. Some whitewash and light sanding added a nice time-worn effect. It's perfect for displaying the treats I got for Christmas from my favorite miniature bakery: The Dainty House.
After much image perusing, I chose an AGA Rayburn-style wood-burning range, and added a "tiled" back-splash and plate shelf like they have in old English houses. This I made primarily from foam-board and painted it with chalkboard paint to make it look like cast-iron. It's actually light as a feather. The minty-green fifties-style fridge was fashioned from an egg-carton. A metal clasp from a pen fell off in my hand one day and I found it made a great door handle for it. See what I mean? It's all about how you look at things. As they say, "One man's trash is another man's treasure".
I was explaining this to The Mister and his face lit up. Apparently, he had this wonderful collection of odds and ends he was about to throw out, but thought maybe I might be able to do something with them. I do so love a challenge. We shall see . . .
