Zen

The Villa Sibi inspires zen-like moments...I think it's the slatted sliding wall panel along the back of the house and the soft birch color.  So, despite the work environment projected here, perhaps it comes with a certain serenity.

The desk and stool were on my "wish list" for quite some time. They are vintage Brio and came with some wear and tear, but otherwise met my expectations!

The drawer unit is Bodo Hennig, and they are two separate units that are stacked. I had not seen this before, but I liked the pop of color in what is a very practical design.

The wallpaper is from the Paper Source and I love the warmth and pattern.

By the way, there's some beauty in numbers today: 12-13-14!

Credits: Desk, stool, and couch are Brio Mobilia; drawer unit is Bodo Hennig; side table is Re-ment; plant and ladder are TOMY. Accessories are Ray Storey, Paris Renfroe, Bandai, Re-ment, and dollhouse show finds.

Villa Sibi, Twice

I really hope that I am not the only one out there who decides that she cannot fully harmonize a room setting, and then creates two different scenes in one.

It's frustrating on the one hand, because I feel like I failed at a unified interior, but then kind of challenging and fun on the other hand, because I end up with a creative solution that I am generally happy with...at least temporarily!

Question: Could the same person/people live here???

 

I'll let you decide :)

Credits: Couch is minimodernistas; wall covering is Paper Source; Noguchi table is PRD; fixture is vintage German, as is the table on the deck; gold chairs are CB2 ornaments, spray painted; shelving unit is Minisx2 on Etsy; chairs are an eBay find; side table and long farm table are doll house show finds; house wall art is from JoAnn Fabrics. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, dollhouse show and eBay finds, toHold on Etsy, Megan of Modern Mini Houses, Jazams, Bodo Hennig, Dragondee, and Cyd of Mini Mod Pod.

The time it took me: 57 minutes, mostly due to extreme indecisiveness!!!

Look Up

Yes, I know, we are often looking "into" or "down" at our miniatures, but I could not resist *finally* using my "Look Up" letterpress print by the very skilled Ampersand Duck.The print was made available as an edition through the Call of the Small exhibit, curated and masterminded by The Shopping Sherpa back in 2010. Perhaps this little shout-out to my buddy will bring her back from blog-silence-land??? Where are you and your minis, Anna-Maria??? Miss you!

I cannot recall ever covering the plexi back wall here in the Villa Sibi, and it was fun indeed. I wanted to mix some grey, black, and creme patterns, so I utilized scrapbook paper from Jo-Ann Fabrics and went at it. The "rug" is cut up along the pattern lines. I just wanted something other than a large square. Didn't really think too hard about how it would turn out. I love the snowy white owl paper -- it's new from the Paper Source, and has lovely flocked texture.

The red ladder was a spontaneous addition, but I think it works. It is from my TOMY Sylvanian house, and it was lying nearby. Sometimes things just work that way!

There are some new Paul MacAlister 1:12 scale pieces in here, recently won on eBay: a dining table, lamp table, and small coffee table. They are as lovely as my other 1:12 pieces, really well-made of fine materials.

The little box is glued on and hand painted!

Hard to see here, but the edges are turned down with an edge

Perhaps it was the dusting of snow we got here today, but this scene just feels wintry to me. Could be those puffy chairs, too. They are ornaments, after all (from Anthropologie)! Hope this winter is a gentle one...I'd take a little more pretty snow, but not too much!

Photo by Pepper of MitchyMoo Miniatures

A final reminder about the Call of the Small/Cubebot Challenge: its ends on this Saturday, December 1, so get your entries in for your chance to win $200 from AREAWARE! There are some really wonderful, creative entries so far in the Flickr photostream, like Pepper's at left. Good luck, all, and thanks for participating!!

Credits:Dining table, lamp table, and coffee table by Paul MacAlister; couch is minimodernistas; hanging lamp is Re-ment; table lamp is vintage German; storage unit is by Dragondee Miniatures; Eames chairs are Reac; ladder is TOMY Sylvanian; puffy chairs are ornaments from Anthropologie; wall hanging is a rug by Fran Made Minis; artwork and couch pillows by Cyd of Mod Pod Miniatures; Look Up letterpress print by Ampersand Duck; outdoor planter is a handmade paper creation by my buddy A.'s talented Mom. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, eBay and dollhouse store finds, Dragondee, Mod Pod Miniatures, and The Shopping Sherpa.

Pant

So, I totally stole the title of this post from an inspirational piece of seating. Back in July, I posted a photo on the Call of the Small Facebook page of a phenomenal ergonomic and eco-conscious rocker, then on sale at Fab.

Photo courtesy of Fab.com

Known as the Pant Rocker, it was crafted by Shiner International, and I loved the lines and warmth of the wood...this chair definitely stayed on my mind. Enter the amazing Pepper of MitchyMoo Miniatures and poof! Magic! I now have my very own Pant rocker, in 1:12!!

 

Isn't it a wonder?? I'm sure it caused her much pain and agony. I imagine it was a pesky build. Don't worry, I have thanked Miss Pepper with a swap box full of many things...she is still awaiting her package, but I hope she likes everything!

The lovely laser cut lantern in this scene is also courtesy of Pepper.

She wired it with a mini LED and I managed to blow it on the first try with the battery. Typical of me to screw up the loveliness! Sorry again, Pepper! I also received incredible kitchen pieces and a brutalist wall sculpture, but I need to do a proper setup for those, which I will do as soon as I can.

I've been a very lucky duck as of late, because not only did I receive Pepper's goods, but two surprise packages, one from Lene of Modern Minis by Dragondee and the other from Cyd of My Mini Mod Pod.

Lene, who specializes in 1:6, offered me some lovely pieces she created in 1:12 for the defunct I'm A Giant Challenge, which was launched by Emily Henderson almost a year ago and sadly fizzled without a word (Megan did a phenomenal roundup of all the folks who actually did complete the challenge). So, the cool desk and storage unit, along with some lovely accessories, came from Lene and went right into this scene in the Villa Sibi.

Wouldn't you like an office setup like this?? I also added a vintage German low credenza and put the cushions from my Reac Barcelona chair as a topper. Looks less bare!

Cyd was very sweet and sent a hip and cool credenza as a generous thank you after I provided measurements from my Artply Highland (Cyd got a kit with missing pieces). She did a great job on it, don't you think???

I wish I could have highlighted every bit and piece I received from all three here in this scene, but rest assured they will make appearances in the future! THANK YOU to all, and you each amaze me with your talent and artistry!

Credits: Rocking chair and lantern by Pepper of MitchyMoo Miniatures; credenza by Cyd of My Mini Mod Pod; office desk and storage unit by Lene of Modern Miniatures by Dragondee; zig zag shelving by  MinisX2; rug by Fran Made Minis; marble sculptures are from my husband's collection; low credenza is vintage German with cushions from a Reac chair; office chair is CB2, spray painted silver by me; lantern pedestal is brinca dada; office plant and light are AG Minis; flooring is Con-Tact paper; wallpaper in living area is scrapbook paper from Michaels; wallpaper in office is from Lee's Art Shop, and rug is scrapbook paper from Jo Ann. Accessories are Modern Miniatures by Dragondee, Pepper of MitchyMoo Miniatures, AG Minis, Re-ment, Mighty World, Lilu Shop on Etsy, Nancy Tobey, Playmobil, vintage eBay finds, and handmade by The Shopping Sherpa.

The time it took me: 47 minutes

Zig Zag Shelving

Patie over at Minisx2 on Etsy is working away creating her miniature marvels in 1:12. You may have seen her work elsewhere and I am pleased to own one of her lovely shelving pieces, a zig zag midcentury shelf with sliding doors.

The piece had a bumpy ride, and despite its secure packaging, it arrived with the top raised level broken off. Patie is sending a new one, but I told her I might not be able to wait! The shelf is so beautiful that you probably would not even notice the flaw!

It's exciting to have more artisans creating in the modern realm, and even seeing some 1:1 people seduced by 1:12. Have you read about Mini Modern's new house by John Bui, who creates mod pod cat retreats? CB2 got into the act with its petite Neville House, and who knows what will come of their new partnership with the Novogratz design team! Perhaps we should start petitioning them now...hmmm....

Credits: Zig zag shelving by Patie of Minisx2 on Etsy; Eames lounger by Reac; Arc lamp is an eBay find; console and stools by brinca dada (top of console is a card from my buddy K); rug is by Fran Made Minis; plant is AG Minis; wallpaper is American Crafts Campy Trails scrapbook paper from Lee's Art Supply; flooring is Con-Tact shelving paper. Accessories are handmade by The Shopping Sherpa, Manor House Miniatures, Lee's Art Supply, Re-ment, vintage eBay finds, and Playmobil.

The time it took me: 23 minutes

Contact

While purchasing a strip of clear wallpaper corner guard (a great idea from Fran of Fran Made Minis for my Rad Pad stairs), I again found some treasures at my local hardware store, this time at Home Depot: adhesive Con-Tact paper! I bought one oak wood roll and one blond wood roll. After imagining the many possibilities in my doll houses, I put aside all those bad middle school memories of covering my text books in this stuff!! I'd always end up with too many air bubbles!!

The paper is easily removable and has a realistic look for wood flooring. I did a test run with the dark roll in the Villa Sibi. What do you think? Any other Con-Tact paper users out there? I'm hooked!

This "rug" is actually from a roll of non-adhesive shelf liner. Lots of possibilities!

Credits: Couch is Hall's Lifetime Toys; chair is by Logan of OneFortyThree; boomerang coffee table and MCM shelving unit is PRD; rug is by Fran Made Minis; planter is Manor House Miniatures; magazines and Eames pillow are hand made by The Shopping Sherpa; light fixture and side table are eBay finds; round table and chairs are from the Adda-Room set; bench is brinca dada; marble heads are my husband's; standing lamp was my mother's; wallpaper is scrapbook paper from JoAnn. Accessories are AG Minis, toy store finds, beads, ELF Miniatures, and Mighty World.

The time it took me: 22 minutes

Decked

The Villa Sibi is decked out for the holidays, a move prompted by our local newspaper, West Windsor & Plainsboro News. The Editor asked me to decorate one of my houses and also participate in an interview about my hobby. The article just came out, so I now can share some pictures of my own of the house. I referred to my preparation in this post and decided not to add snow. I did, however, add some lights, a tree, and a fireplace (at first for the Villa Sibi!), along with some foresty greens and browns and silver and gold accents. And some red, of course.

Enjoy and happy holidays!

Credits: Main house and patio: Couch is minimodernistas; pillows are handmade by The Shopping Sherpa; chair and "live edge" bench on patio is by Logan of OneFortyThree; fireplace is from a swap with Oese, revamped by me a few years ago; mini trees are Lemax with bases from Lemon Cadet; boomerang table is by Paris Renfroe; round rug, arc lamp, chrome table and chairs are all eBay finds; hanging lamp is vintage German; Christmas tree is from Manor House Miniatures; angel tree topper is from JaZams, as are the Christmas lights (necklaces by Carolyn Forsman); presents are AG Minis; flooring and wallpaper are from the Paper Source; patio table is vintage Brio; white igloo chairs on roof are ornaments from CB2; reindeer and green rug are by Fran Made Minis; small side table is Re-ment. Accessories are AG Minis, ELF Miniatures, eBay finds, and from J at work. "Funk" Room: Stereo, speakers, and plant are all eBay finds; couch and chair are vintage Lundby; hanging snowflake is by Maryann Roy; red lights are a necklace by Carolyn Forsman; accent wall is paper from Michaels.

The time it took me: 1-1/2 hours over a few different days (a lot of changing and rearranging).

Setting the Scene

A quick departure from the Rad Pad into...the holidays! I know this does not look very festive, but I have just started to set the scene for what I hope will be a mod decorated home. One of our local newspapers has asked me to decorate one of my homes for the holidays as part of an article about me and my hobby, so I chose the Villa Sibi.

I got a bit sidelined with some recent goodies: the awesome green rug is from Fran of Fran Made Minis. Isn't it GREAT?? I love the shade of green and the pattern. Fran also put in a few other treats that will make their way into my holiday scene. Thanks, Fran!! The "live edge" table is made of solid walnut and the chair is teak with brass. These beauties are by Logan of the blog and Etsy store One Forty Three and I am very happy to have two pieces from his inaugural "micro" collection. Keep 'em coming, Logan! Logan is also participating in the "I'm A Giant" challenge with a geodesic dome house--check it out.

Shall I add snow to the flat roof? I'm leaning toward no, but would love your thoughts on material and technique if you think I should go for some minimal flakes! I'll share my completed holiday house after the article appears. The photographer is coming on Saturday, so I need to get cracking (or crackling???!).

Credits: Couch is minimodernistas; coffee table and chair are by One Forty Three on Etsy; Christmas lights are  necklaces by Carolyn Forsman; rug is from Fran Made Minis; brass decanter is an eBay find; candy canes are AG Minis; white platter is from ELF Miniatures; pillows are handmade by The Shopping Sherpa; wallpaper is scrapbook paper from Michaels.

The time it took me: 10 minutes

Stroke Chair by Diatom Studio

Isn't it great when you can clear your head and focus solely on one task and on nothing but that task? I had a nice half hour of brain task time putting my new "Stroke" miniature chair together. The chair was a "thank you" from the London-based Diatom Studio for donating $25 toward their successful SketchChair Kickstarter campaign, which was for the creation of a free, open source software that allows you to design your own furniture. The concept is pretty great: provide people with a cool digital tool to design and create functional objects, and at the same time, those people share that knowledge with a broader community who can contribute further. And...there is potential for miniature designs as well!

I'm glad that I made my little contribution to help Diatom reach its goal -- they raised over $30,000 on Kickstarter, and I was among 100 + people who got to choose one of five miniature chair designs. You can see all the contributor names on their website -- I am 96, and my chair was numbered accordingly.

I chose the "Stroke" chair for its beautiful, undulating lines. According to Diatom, it is sized to 1:9 scale. I'd say this is accurate, since it is definitely larger than 1:12. The chair comes on a die-cut sheet of wood with instructions, and was packaged beautifully.

I should have paid closer attention to the numbers and letters and worked more systematically, but I was too excited to put it all together. In my eagerness, I had to re-do some of the pieces, and broke a few. Luckily, the flaws are not too noticeable in the final product, and I took it for a spin!

Thanks, Diatom! Any other proud owners of these mini chairs out there? Show your stuff! And THANKS to the wonderful Mini Modern for sharing news of this opportunity back in May (and thanks to Paris Renfroe for tipping her off). See, there's already a community of interest! Just wait, we'll be cooking up our own miniature chairs yet!

You have until 11:59 p.m. EDT this Wednesday, August 31, to win some Re-ment and storage containers! Go to this photo on the Call of the Small Facebook page for the August ***FREE ALERT***and leave a comment for your chance to win!

Credits: Stroke chair by Diatom Studio; round table is vintage Brio; low table is by Mitchy Moo Miniatures; planter is a condiment vessel from West Elm with an aquarium plant; shoes are AG Minis; car is a miniature Mini Cooper from our local dealership (gift from my hubby). Accessories are Lilu Shop on Etsy, Manor House Miniatures, ELF Miniatures, Mighty World, and Ryan's Room.

A Giveaway and a Getaway

A quick post to highlight my monthly ***FREE ALERT*** giveaways on the Call of the Small Facebook page -- the July one ends on Saturday, July 30, at 7 p.m. EST and yes, it is an opportunity to get a piece from my collection! Last month, I gave away a set of traditional furniture, and encouraged my Facebook fans to come up with a creative use for the pieces. I chose Margaret as the winner, with her neat inspiration board approach -- congrats again!

This month, I am giving away a rocking chair in the style of Thonet, as seen above: the chrome gives it a very modern vibe, no? If you are on Facebook, "like" my page, and just leave a comment for a chance to win! I'll choose the winner using the Random Integer Generator, and as of right now, chances for winning are pretty good -- less than ten of you have commented!

And, if you're not on Facebook, no worries. I am planning a giveaway on the blog for the near future (perhaps when I crack 500 followers!).

An endnote: a trip to Bed, Bath and Beyond never disappoints if you've got your mini goggles on and your stack of 20% off or $5 off coupons. We went to replace our kitchen sink mat and came out with a bag of stuff completely unrelated to it, including this funky curved guest towel holder:

Room divider? Crazy ceiling accent? How about an outdoor trellis wall for a private outdoor getaway space? Here's the result in my Villa Sibi patio area:

I think I can feel the breeze! :)

Credits: Trellis is a towel holder from Bed, Bath and Beyond ($7.99 with $5 off coupon); table is vintage Brio; stools are stereo speakers; bench is by MitchyMoo Miniatures; plant is vintage German. Accessories are vintage German, Ryan's Room, and random eBay finds.

The time it took me: 11 minutes

Slice

I love when I see potential for a scene in a space rarely utilized in one of my dolls houses. My Villa Sibi, designed by Wolfgang Sirch and Christopher Bitzer ("Sibi!") is one of the few houses that inhabits our main living space. It was my first house, and the impetus for what is now my passion for collecting modern miniatures.

Did you know there is a pool attached to the Villa Sibi? It is a very neat, narrow rectangular box with two sets of sliding doors -- one set is white opaque, the other dark clear. As I walked by the house last night, I thought this little slice of real estate would make for a nice airy sitting room, much like you would find in modern floor plans, where it opens up directly to the outside.

So, I removed the white opaque panels, and in went my (new) vintage Lundby leather couch and chair (1:16 works best in this space) along with a vintage Swedish desk...a quick scene was born!

By the way, there has been a Villa Sibi up on eBay for quite some time now, for $499 BIN. This is certainly not cheap, but it is less than what they normally go for. I myself found mine on Craigslist for less than this amount, so it's always worth scouring online listings for a buy. It is a great house.

My love for the Villa Sibi has extended to Flickr, where I created a group for pictures of the house. If you are on Flickr, please join to add your own photos, or just to lurk!

Credits: Chair and couch are vintage Lundby; desk is vintage Swedish; wall art is a card from my buddy D; side table is a cork crafting item from Michaels; magazine holder is from a vintage chrome set of furniture; watering can is Bodo Hennig; Mini Cooper was a gift from my husband. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, Mighty World, Lilu Shop on Etsy, ELF Miniatures, and random dolls house store finds.

The time it took me: 23 minutes

Chromed

The Villa Sibi is the setting for some chrome this week. Check out at this vintage set I bought recently, which includes a table and six chairs, a shelving unit, an arc lamp, a mirrored planter, coffee table, and stereo and speakers, all in 1:12 scale. Most everything is metal and the tables and shelving units have plexi inserts; the chairs are covered in leather. I don't have any pieces like this (with the exception of the arc lamp), so I was excited to win it on eBay. The set may also help solve a little mystery...I have two of the same arc lamps, and always wondered about their maker and if they were part of a set. Seeing them all together provides a bit of a clue...anyone know anything about this set?

Even though the Sibi has a post 90s minimalist aesthetic, the 80s chrome works I think!

I tried to fashion a clustered pendant light out of holiday decorations bought at a yard sale. Not entirely successful, but I enjoyed the detour!

Some real cluster lamps...

Lamps by Kathleen Hills

British-made ceramic cluster lamp on lightingstyles.co.uk

Then some cheap (.25!) decorations...

Credits: Chrome shelving unit, table, arc lamp, chairs, plexi magazine holder, stereo, speakers, and mirrored planter are all part of a vintage set; rug is handmade by The Shopping Sherpa; couch is minimodernistas; Barcelona chair is Reac; long planter is vintage TOMY; stereo table consists of two AG Minis tables; zebra print wall art is scrapbook paper; peacock wallpaper is from the Paper Source; pendant light is made (badly) by me out of holiday decorations. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, Lilu Shop on Etsy, random eBay finds, and beads.

The time it took me: 48 minutes

Peacock Bloom

Peacock feathers have bloomed in my Villa Sibi, a lovely backdrop for some modern miniatures by Carol, also known as Pinch of Pepper, who blogs at MitchyMoo Miniatures. Have you seen her great tutorials?? There is one on wiring your own chic LED lights and how to fashion a simple, yet ingenious S chair, and she recently posted on modern wallpapers. Welcome, Mitchy Moo! Keep it up!

I had the fun task of trying out some of Carol's creations: LED lights; a credenza; and a coffee table. It is clear that Carol is talented and is a nimble operator when it comes to the very tiny parts of the lights, and the smooth, precise edges of the credenza.

I rarely use electrified lights, but Carol makes it pretty easy. See the lovely African boxwood column lamp? It's a cool, versatile piece, like modern sculpture. The coffee table reminds me of vintage Bodo Hennig. Made of solid zebrano, it is a sturdy complement to my Paul MacAlister sofas and holds its own against the (yes) zebra print carpet.

This is how it all lights up! I really should use electrical tape, but this did the trick for the photos

The credenza is fun, with its single sliding door in accent purple; the wood is magnolia.

The other light did not make it into this scene--it is an industrial-looking black hanging fixture...would look great in a "tough" modern space. Hope to use it soon!!

I am really impressed with Carol's work, and I have encouraged her to please keep up her involvement with modern minis. At this time, she cannot devote herself to creating and selling modern minis, BUT she is adding new content to her blog all the time and welcomes your suggestions for tutorials, projects, etc! To see more pictures of Carol's work, check out her Flickr stream.

Thanks, Carol!

If you are on Facebook, like the Call of the Small page! I post there frequently on things of interest -- check it out and LIKE me. There's a gadget on my blog sidebar.

 You can also find me on Twitter, @callsmall

Credits: Couches by Paul MacAlister; coffee table, lamp, and credenza by MitchyMoo Miniatures; light base is an AMAC box; shelving unit is a dollhouse store find; rug is scrapbook paper from Michaels; peacock wallpaper is from the Paper Source;  plant and wastebasket are AG Minis; vase on table is a bead made of recycled paper, purchased as part of a Bead for Life sale at a friend's house -- Bead for Life is a great organization that provides "sustainable opportunities for women to lift their families out of extreme poverty." These enterprising women create the beads by hand and fashion them into jewelry. They are beautiful!! Accessories are AG Minis, Re-ment, Playmobil, Manor House Miniatures, ELF Miniatures, and Crailsheimer.

The time it took me: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Working with Brio

Don't we all have a holy grail list? I know I do, and it's hard to tell how long it will take to tick off each item. The Kaleidoscope House was on there, and it took over a year to cross that one off. Brio Mobilia pieces are on there too, and I have just happily crossed off one set: the office! It popped up on UK eBay as a regular auction recently, and then disappeared, only to come back as a BIN. There was a bathroom and kitchen set as well, all mint, as well as another office set. I actually tipped off a collector friend on the NIB kitchen set, which was on his holy grail list, and he snapped it up!

The office is a fab set, and I had so much fun working with it in the Villa Sibi. I devoted one side of the house to it and some other furnishings, including my first piece from the very talented Annina (check out her Etsy shop, here). See that lovely tulip-shaped mirror on the wall? Nice, huh? I also got some pillows, but have not used them yet.

 

I took a bit of a leap on the other side of the house. A while ago, I bought Ryan's Room "Bathroom and Bubbles" furniture that is geared toward the younger set. While a bit clunky, it is well-made and I decided to give it a whirl. Here's what the set looks like:

I've been in a big silver paint and Japanese washi tape phase, so I painted the faucets over and added a bit of tape to the tub. The pieces are a bit big here, I think, but I do like their simplicity.

What's on your wish list? ;)

Credits: Desk set is Brio Mobilia; rug is a Chilewich place mat; Medrazzo stool is Reac; zebra couch is vintage Creative Playthings; wall mirror is by Annina; wall plate is a scrapbook item; black and white mini artwork is from the Paper Source; coffee table is Lil Bratz; apple bowl, wastebasket, and plant are AG Minis; white shelving, globe, and recycling basket are Re-ment; divider is from the Villa Sibi; lucite bench is a vintage drawer pull; artwork is a postcard showing Kristian Vedel's birds from the Architect Made booth at the Gift Fair, edged in washi tape; bath set is Ryan's Room; rug is handmade by The Shopping Sherpa; bath mat is a window shade sample from Lowes; cork stool is from JoAnn's Fabric; flower pot is vintage German; artwork in bath is the packaging from an Ajiri Tea Company package (thanks, K!). Accessories are Re-ment, Liv, TOMY, AG Minis, ELF, Delph, Manor House Miniatures, Playmobil, beads, handmade by me, and random eBay finds.

THANKS for voting for me in the About.com Readers' Choice Awards for Best Miniature Blog! I am currently in 4th place, and have a chance at 3rd! Please log in a *daily* vote if you feel inspired HERE. You can vote through March 8. Much appreciated!

Stark

The Villa Sibi is the first house I purchased (or rather, it was purchased for me as a gift), and it has a place of honor in our living room. The rest of my houses reside a floor below. It's actually more of a place of necessity, since the Sibi is quite large and could not fit elsewhere. Sometimes the house becomes a dumping ground for minis, which is not good for a variety of reasons. And sometimes, the people around me get a bit fed up with its appearance.

So...the perfect excuse to whip up a quick scene with a few new things! You will see that a few of these pictures feature a ceiling light -- it is actually a battery powered "flameless" tea light that I picked up at West Elm this weekend, along with the porcelain origami squirrel ornament. The squirrel's a bit odd, I know, but I think its lines are pure and beautiful. He inspired me to go (almost) all white. Scurry over to West Elm if you have one near you -- lots of interesting things for 1:1 and 1:12!

Credits: Shelving is Re-ment; squirrel and tea light are from West Elm; couch and pillows are AG Minis; luscious white rug is hand knitted by The Shopping Sherpa; coffee tables and chairs are Bozart; TV is by LiLu Shop on Etsy; wall divider is from the Villa Sibi; lattice wall covering is a Chilewich placemat; toilet is IKEA; "hot tub" is a soap dish; wine rack is actually the base of the coffee table from the Kaleidoscope House Living Room set. Accessories are Bozart, Michaels, Manor House Miniatures, Playmobil, Re-ment, Mighty World, and random dolls house store finds.

Rec Room

This vintage Lundby ping pong table brings me back to the 70s. We had one at our summer place and it was endless fun. My brother and I would play constantly when we were smaller, and even our older siblings wanted to get in on the action! While all the ping pong memories are happy, I do recall my Mom not being too thrilled when my brother and I would try to burn the balls on the grill (I guess we got bored...).

The table really set the rest of the scene. I recently won some AG Minis 50s diner seats on eBay, and was wondering if and how I'd put them to use. Well, they seemed to fit right in here!

The flooring consists of tag sale finds -- they are trivets. Looked like they belonged underfoot to me. :)

Credits: Ping pong table, crystal side lamp and standing lamp are vintage Lundby; diner seating is by AG Minis; table and three chairs are vintage German; white shelving is by Re-ment; wall art is a card from the Paper Source that I colored to bring out the pattern (thanks, Henry!); ball clock is handmade by Pubdoll; flooring/trivets and fabric visible on right side through the sliding panel were bought at a tag sale; purse is from a swap with Oese; chess set is from eBay; plant is vintage TOMY. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, Mighty World, Playmobil, Tynies, Bozart, Manor House Miniatures, and random eBay finds.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with one exception. The lovely green covered bowl in the shelving unit on the right is from Tea Time #4, Antique Japanese Glass, and is good for 1:12.

Villa Sibi Sitting Room

It always surprises me when larger scale furniture fits into the Villa Sibi. The Sibi is smaller than 1:12, but somehow it accommodates 1:10 pieces...perhaps it's the boxy length or airy open front. It's a puzzle to me, but one that I am willing to live with :)

On puzzles, the shelving unit is actually comprised of wooden blocks from a children's toy puzzle that challenges you to fit them all into a cube shape. I gave up after I saw the potential for a modern piece!

The clear lucite sitting chair was from the bargain bin at FAO Schwarz, and its transparency led me to include the two Petite Princess tables into one, and the chrome Bozart table with the clear top. A standing silver lamp -- yet another great creation from minimodernistas -- provides slim contrast to the broad curves of the vintage German sofa.

Credits: Sofa, dresser, stool, table, and side table are vintage German; lucite chair is from FAO Schwarz; coffee table and striped lamp are Bozart; rug is AG Minis; double curvy table is made of two vintage Petite Princess side tables; shelf is made of puzzle blocks; standing lamp is by minimodernistas. Accessories are from our local toy store; Manor House Miniatures; Re-ment; Mighty World; AG Minis; eBay; and Elf Miniatures.

Cars

OK, I admit it...this scene is merely an excuse to use some amazing little HO scale 1:87 cars by the German maker Schuco. I found them in my local toy store last week and they ranged in price from $6-7, very affordable given the quality. They are so incredibly well-made --the detail and finishings are phenomenal.

I bought three: the Jaguar with the trailer, the VW bug with flames, and the VW bus. There were a lot more tucked away in the back of the toy store, so maybe I can go back and clean them out. I think they had motorcycles, too. Heaven.

I also was able to use the bed from the Kaleidoscope House, which I have not incorporated into any of my scenes before. It's quite large and bulky and does not fit well into the smaller K House rooms, but the plaid drove (no pun intended, hee hee) my color scheme.

The yellow table is actually a candle holder from Crate and Barrel (.40 on clearance!), and I flipped it for the tabletop.

If you haven't guessed, I love a bargain. :)

Credits: Bookcase is vintage German; plant is Playmobil City; plates on wall, mirror, Asian beauty box, teddy bear, strawberry doll closet and table, puzzle, bunny candle, and crafts on table are Re-ment; bed, strawberry coverlet, and chairs are Bozart; side table, lamp, purple coverlet, and rug are AG Minis; yellow table top is Crate and Barrel; table is Battat; cars are Schuco; pig is a Japanese eraser.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with some exceptions. The crafts on the table and puzzle on the floor are from Natalie's French Goods # 9, and are all good for 1:12. The Asian beauty box and fan are from I Love Kyoto # 9, and are good for 1:12. The strawberry closet is from Eggs, Beans, and Berries #5, and is good as a plaything in 1:12. The mirror is from Princess Tea Party # 3, "You're Invited to a Champagne Party," and it is good as a large mirror in 1:12. The bunny candle is from Pretty Placement #3, and is good for 1:12. The powder puff is from Flirty Pink #5, and is large for 1:12. The plates on the wall are all from Sushi Bar #9, "Wasabi Makes My Eyes Watery," and are good for 1:12.

Before the Next Flight

I saw the movie Up in the Air recently. George Clooney plays a professional hatchet man who travels over 320 days a year. His "home" was a spare and bare bachelor pad, and was merely a stopping point until his next flight. He used his frequency as a flier to completely distance himself emotionally from others. Eventually, he gets in touch with himself and reconnects with family, but overall it was a bit of a downer movie. Nevertheless, it inspired me to create a scene for the flight attendant who might be on his next journey. I wonder how relaxing that job is...I, for one, likely would be stressed out most of the time, in need of a nice dip in a pool or a soak in a hot tub. :)

Credits: "Hot tub" is a soap dish from Bed, Bath and Beyond; white shelf, shoes, tea set-up on table, thermometer, and "rug" and flight bag inside are Re-ment; table is vintage Modella; white chairs are Reac; towel hook, standing lamp, and pillow on bed are AG Minis; "towel" on hook is Marimekko fabric; chairs inside and cabinet are vintage German (thanks, Oese!); "towels" in cabinet are tissues; flower stand and lights on cabinet are also vintage German; kidney-shaped side table is Ryan's Room; chess set is an eBay find; bed, bed platform, and hot tub platform are from the Villa Sibi; coverlet is Bozart; painting is Lundby. Accessories in cabinet are Re-ment and from dollhouse stores.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The honey jar and honey stick are from Re-ment Bakery # 5, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. The cup and saucer are from Megahouse Pop 'n Kitchen # 4, and are good for 1:12. In the cabinet: the pink clock is from Storage Beauty #10, "Pretty Placement," and is good for 1:12. The pink perfume bottle and larger pink jar are from Flirty Pink, #5, and are large for 1:12. The flight bag and thermometer are from Natalie's French Goods #6, and are good for 1:12. The flowered creamer is from Princess Tea Party # 2, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. The deer head on the top shelf is from Princess Tea Party # 3, and works for 1:12.

A Different Kind of Tree

Each year, we buy a 12-15" potted herb like rosemary and have that as our holiday "tree," like this year. My youngest usually makes paper or pine cone decorations in his preschool, so those go on the tree, as do ribbons and other odds and ends.

I created this feather tree to illustrate another way people might celebrate and gather 'round in the holidays. The feather and its fixings came on a gift my husband received and I grabbed them, believing I might put them to some use. A craft store-bought pot holds the tree -- I used a silver marker to color it for a more festive look. My children's Legos came in handy for the presents under the tree. Which reminds me...I have some wrapping to do!

The cats have their little corner den to themselves -- their present is being able to frolic without supervision. I wonder if the cake is in jeopardy!

Credits: Couch and table are vintage VERO; trumpet and black cat stool are Nodameggaki; wallpaper is scrapbook paper; green floor trim is vintage Marx; marble head is my husband's; table with cake is vintage Puppenstuben; wall art is a postcard from France; hanging lights are from the Dolls House Emporium; clear chairs are Bozart; orange chair is vintage Bodo Hennig; rug, pillow, cat art, and lamp are AG Minis; side table is vintage Fisher Price; plant is from Lolly's; cat tower and cats are Playmobil City; orange stacking cubes, espresso maker and cups are Re-ment; cake is a Japanese eraser. Accessories are Re-ment, eBay finds, and from my children's collection!

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with one exception. The book on the side table is from Primary School Stationery, #9, and is good as a coffee table book in 1:12.