Anyone Else Watching This Gem?

I've been watching this wonderful vintage house on German eBay (currently 204 Euros!) and have noticed with interest how the price has been steadily increasing over the past few days. From the stenciling on the side, it looks like it is "Haus Carmen," and resembles the house styles on this page of the Puppenhaus Museum website. All quite lovely!

The window hanging below resembles one on this page of the Puppenhaus website.

Less than four hours to go on the auction if you are interested!

All pictures from the German eBay listing.

UPDATE, 12/3/09: The auction ended after 102 bids (!) at a healthy sale price of 697.67 Euros! That's about $1,052 in USD! Wow!

An Aerie, Below

What a weekend of cleaning! I have finally cleared out a corner of our basement for my houses and related possessions. Four homes have been living upstairs and now three have made their home in the new (old) room. The Villa Sibi had to stay upstairs for the time being. I also have a workroom where the VERO and Citadel live (I moved the vintage ranch out), since they are in active rehab.

I started organizing furniture and other items in a large shelving unit that we were using for assorted tools, wires, paint, you name it. Do others store their stuff like this? Usually mine is literally one on top of the other, but I am now trying to sort them so things are easier to find. My tiny items are still in little drawers or in bowls awaiting sorting.

I cleared off a shelf in my workroom for my growing collection of 1:144 and railroad houses, so I feel they are a bit safer than crammed in a box.

As I was clearing out, I made a little scene inspired by the K House roof being absent from the move (by the way, my little, apparently very strong daughter was the one who helped me carry the house on its somewhat perilous journey downstairs - unbelievable!). Wouldn't it be great to have a colorful little patio like this for a nice bite or perhaps to gaze at the stars (or bark at the moon)?!

The small house is actually a discontinued Re-ment item made only for the Japanese market - it is actually a Donut shop (see below), but I saw some minimalist potential!

Credits: Picnic table and chairs, dogs, elephant, light, "rug," small house and furnishings, laptop, and Thai wooden piece and stool by Re-ment; wooden cubes under house by Paris Renfroe; cafe table and chairs by Mighty World; plant below is an aquarium plant; pot is from a craft store; plant on patio is vintage TOMY; accessories are Re-ment and from my kids!

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with some exceptions. The two dogs are from Dogs Enjoy Life, #8, and are a bit small for 1:12, but work. The Thai stool, wooden piece, and elephant are from the Room Series, # 3, and are also on the small side for 1:12, but can work nicely. The house is the Donut Shop, and works as a doll house in 1:12.

Wired

We're wired for anything today -- computer, bath, sleeping!

The scene started with the bath, which is actually a very inexpensive bowl from Target. I usually put greenery with my bath scenes, which is funny considering I have never had such a bath, but I guess a lot of what I set up is not true to life :)

The sink is totally makeshift! I used a lovely silver bowl received in a swap with Oese and then fashioned a faucet out of a vase from a Re-ment set. The white consoles and table are vintage VERO and were all purchased in two separate auctions from a German eBay seller for 1Euro each total (shipping was extra of course). Their condition is excellent, and they also came with a duplicate couch that I already have in my collection and seen here.

The Mac on the other side of the room was handmade by Lilushop on Etsy, and is amazing in its attention to detail. It's a bit large, but dominates in a good way! My obsession with the Re-ment My Favorite Stationery set continues with the globe and colored pencil set. They just make me smile.

By the way, I purchased some vintage Marx furniture from the Imagination doll house [fellow blogger Rebecca wrote about it back in March] and the pieces are too small, closer to 1/2 scale. I did use a piece as a "trellis" in the bath, but will likely not use the rest. Anyone interested in swapping? There are 20+ pieces and they are in good condition; some need small repairs. Let me know!

Credits: Bathtub is a bowl from Target; bath platform is from the Villa Sibi; plants are Playmobil City; green trellis is vintage Marx; towel rack, bed coverlet, and lamp are AG Minis; white consoles and white table are vintage VERO; mirror is vintage from eBay; cowhide rug is handmade by Oese; bed and vases are Bozart; artwork is from my VERO house; Mac is by Lilushop; cowhide chairs are Reac; globe, pencil set, and shampoo/conditioner are Re-ment. Accessories are Re-ment, Marimekko, and Manor House Miniatures.

Re-ment: I've written about the Re-ment in this scene with some exceptions. The globe and pencil set are from My Favorite Stationery, #7, and are good for 1:12. The shampoo, conditioner, soap on sink, and rubber duck are all from Puchi Drugstore, #1, and are a bit big for 1:12, but workable.

VERO Revealed

I have done a little extra detective work on my new VERO house, and think I have found some original wallpapers under the more recent wood grain papers. They are not in good condition, so I may cover them unless anyone has any bright ideas on some restorative touch-ups for water stains. There are also parts that unfortunately stripped down to the wood wall.

The worst room is the "fresco" room. The overlay of paint and paper is pretty bad, and I could only strip down to the walls themselves with just shreds and glimmers of what was original. What a shame! I am still very pleased to have the house, however. I think I will tackle the front door next.

On a house note, I wanted to share some snaps of two vintage 1/144 houses I just received in the mail. I love the details of the windows and patios!

When One Door Closes...

another one opens!

My VERO doll house from Germany has finally arrived at my door, just as I mailed out my vintage Brumberger Tudor, which sold on eBay -- the guilt of the VERO was somewhat alleviated and justified by the selling of the Brumberger :)

Acquiring this VERO house entailed a nail-biting bidding process, then a more hellish payment process (wiring funds, trying to locate seller's bank in Germany, etc.), and then what seemed like a endless shipping process. And, perhaps the most expensive package to ship that I have ever received.

Alas, it is here, and quite dirty! After I made myself a nice cappuccino...

I proceeded to carefully unpack it down in my work room in the basement. Here are some pictures of how I "birthed" it from its box, little by little:

Now some shots of what I found:

It looks like the blue and yellow flooring is original to the house. I don't mind them, but they are not in the best shape. One of the downstairs rooms looks like it is filled with ancient frescoes, I swear -- layers of paper and then a cobalt paint. I have started stripping some of the paper and have cleaned the ceilings, which were filthy. The windows on the top corner of the house is actually very thick plastic and it is ripped in places. Not quite sure how to replace it altogether or fix those tears. Any ideas? It's such a nice part of the house.

I set up a quick scene, too. As cool as the wall storage panel in my work room is, it is visible in the background. So, I put up an "awning" of some Marimekko fabric to create more of an outdoor space and hide it a bit. There is likely a large window missing from this part of the house.

Lots more work to do here...!

Credits: Couch is vintage VERO; boomerang table, chairs, and two small consoles are vintage German; coffee table is Ryan's Room; Barcelona chair is Reac; wall painting is original to the house (or at least to this house); ball clock handmade by Pubdoll; lamp and wastebasket are AG Minis; plant near Barcelona chair is vintage TOMY; plant on patio, small frog sculpture, bowl and fruit, and potted plant on coffee table are Re-ment; tea service is vintage MAR Toys; rug is by The House That Jacq Built; fabric "awning" is Marimekko fabric. Accessories are MAR Toys and from France.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with two exceptions. The frog scuplture and potted plant on patio are from the Room series, #3 and are a bit small for 1:12, but work.

WorkMom

Yes, it is a little workroom for a Mom's hobby :) Inspiration for this type of scene is always present! I decided to use this room off the main living area in the K House, which I have adopted as the default garage. I am trying to use all the rooms in the house, so now I have officially done this!

I must acknowledge the amazing custom work of Susan Karatjas of SDK Miniatures, as seen in the wonderful 1/144 white modern couch and chair. Her attention to detail is amazing. I also bought a 1/144 room box and shelving unit, but need to put them together (with large amounts of time for tiny, tiny work)! Susan is just one of the many reasons to go to the Philadelphia Miniatura this weekend, and I am going to try to get there.

I found the N scale yellow house on eBay -- it is by Bachmann and is made for railroad scenes. I was looking for a while for a modern structure (I love vintage ones too), and think this looks pretty neat.

Credits: Figures and clear chair are Bozart; N scale house is by Bachmann; 1/144 white couch and chair are by SDK Miniatures; curved couch and dollhouse table are vintage Fairline; tub stool is vintage Lundby; shelving unit is made of two vintage Fisher Price beds; blue wall covering is scrapbook paper from Target; dog is from my daughter's collection; pillows are handmade by Tarkus; green and orange stools are Lil' Bratz; accessories are Re-ment, Elf Miniatures, and Mighty World.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in the scene with the exception of a few things. The two pink filing boxes are from Beauty Storage #10 "Pretty Placement," and are good for 1:12. The flowered three drawer box is from I Love Kyoto #7 "Candy Treasure Box," and is good for 1:12. The little stool on the bottom shelf is from Dogs Enjoy Life, #8, and is too small for 1:12, but can be re-purposed.

Mini Meaning

Not that I need more excuses to like minis...but my nine-year old daughter and I are able to have fun and connect through them. I think she is genuinely curious about my hobby, she knows how important it is to me, and in general is pretty careful with my things.

I stayed home from work on Monday since I fell down a flight of stairs (don't ask, it's been a crazy few weeks), and she was feeling a bit punky, so we stayed home together. I was cleaning up the carnage from three different scenes, and she suggested she do a scene in the Villa Sibi, but NOT with too much of my help. It's hard to resist my control freak mechanism, but I did indeed let go and she set up here very own scene!

I did not move anything around or switch things out, even though I was tempted. :)

Credits: Could I pass on credits since this is not my scene? I feel very lazy tonight. White sectional couches by Bozart; wooden stool is made of two salt cellars (OK, that had some help from me); "rug" is origami paper; Eames elephant is Reac; dog is my daughter's; guitar and piano (check out her sheet music!) are Nodameggaki; Hello Kitty light is Sanrio; Easter Island head is from Barnes & Noble; plant and small round table by dog are Re-ment; table and chairs are vintage Topper Toys; Mini Sibi is handmade by Oese; Mini Sibi table and Easter Island head pedestal are from the Villa Sibi; and artwork is gift packaging. Accessories are Re-ment, our local toy store, Manor House Miniatures, and handmade by Oese.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The place mat, knife, and cups on the table are from Megahouse Pop 'n Kitchen #5 and are all good for 1:12. The chair and light in the Mini Sibi are from Beauty Storage #10, "Pretty Placement" and are good as minis in 1:12!

Skeleton Crew

I find it very hard to pass by the $1 bin at Target (or walking out of there without spending $75 on things I did not come there to buy). I recently saw these skeleton party favors and while not a big fan of Halloween, thought I might put them to use in one of my houses.

A $1 package of scrapbook paper also made it into my bag, so that has shown up as a "carpet" for these carousing and contemplative skeletons and their spider friends.

Credits: Skeletons and pumpkin "carpet" are from Target; orange chairs and couch are vintage Bodo Hennig; guitar is Nodamegakki; Nelson couch and black lounger are Reac; fuzzy cabinet, orange flower side table, and bar are AG Minis; gold ball chair is Lil' Bratz; white round table is vintage Lundby; blond wood coffee table is vintage VERO; checkers table and striped lamp are Bozart; orange dresser, tiny "egg" stools by fireplace, chicken phone, and s'mores set are Re-ment; large orange vase is vintage Fiestaware; small yellow and white chairs are vintage Fisher Price; Ibsen book is handmade by Oese; orange polka dot pillows are handmade by Tarkus. Accessories are from my kids, Re-ment, Manor House Miniatures, Ryan's Room, and Mighty World.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The s'mores set is from Mini Sweets #10, and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. The fish-shaped wine bottles on the bar are from Black Cat Italian Restaurant # 6 and they are good as large bottles in 1:12. The Pellegrino bottle is also from Black Cat Italian Restaurant #1, and is good for 1:12. The orange dresser also comes in white and is fine as a large piece in 1:12. It also comes with a workable lamp, which I have not used here.

Typing Time

Seeing this typewriter reminds me of being in high school (before the age of personal computers) and typing out my papers. I kind of miss the simplicity, but appreciate the (simple) complexity of today's conveniences. :) I am motivated by color, so the yellow and black set the tone for the scene, hence Mr. Penguin had to make an appearance!

You'll see some photos with a wall covering, some without. I decided to put up some strips of origami paper, mostly to see if I could succeed in hiding the outlets!

Pubdoll is a wonder, and has created this beautiful ball clock for me. It is amazing and looks fantastic. I am so pleased to have it. Now I need a 1:1 one!

Credits: Bed by AG Minis; Eames elephant by Reac; table is vintage Bodo Hennig; chair and lamp are vintage German; small table is vintage Petit Princess; typewriter, coffee pot, storage unit, plant, crayons and sketch book are Re-ment; "wallpaper" are strips of origami paper; artwork is a tarot card; cowhide rug and books are by Oese; ball clock by Pubdoll; pillow is by Tarkus; small instrument is by Nodamegakki; vases at foot of bed are Bozart; glass vases are beads; clear shell was a freebie with a Re-ment order. Accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, Bozart, Mighty World, and our local toy store.

Re-ment: I've written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. Coffee pot is from Black Cat Italian Restaurant #5, and is good for 1:12. The storage unit is from Storage Beauty #10, "Display Shelf," and is also good for 1:12. The plant is from the Room series # 3, and is a bit on the small size, but good for 1:12. The plant pot is actually a cooking stand for a pot from I Love Kyoto #1 "Traditional Conger Cuisine." It works for 1:12 as I have re-purposed it. The typewriter is from one of my favorite sets, Natalie's French Sundries # 5, and works for 1:12. The crayons and sketch pad are from another terrific set, My Favorite Stationery # 8, and are good for 1:12.

But I Couldn't Help It!

Yes, I have purchased doll house #8, this time from German eBay (shipping = ouch). I don't yet have a great picture of it, just this tiny one from the listing**:

I truly love this style of house. It is definitely German, likely from the 1960s. The seller could not tell me of any markings on the house, but said it was from the DDR (former East Germany) and rare, but lots of sellers say their items are rare, so not sure. I could see it looks like it needs some rehab, but hopefully is not in too bad a shape. I do not yet have a copy of Zillner's International guide, so I don't have a quick reference to identify it, but will do more looking.

I did see on the Puppenhaus Museum website a Gottschalk house that is not the same, but looks a bit similar:

(photo courtesy of Puppenhaus Museum website)

My challenge, as always, is to find space for it. Right now, we are considering selling our piano (which came with our house) in our living room to create a distinct area for display and storage that looks attractive. But that takes time and money, so for now, the house may stay boxed up after it arrives to me. I have not purchased a house from overseas, so I am a bit nervous about it arriving in one piece! I am also a bit frightened of the work that may need to be done, and the time I do not have to accomplish it!

**10/12/09:Oese sent me pictures from the eBay listing that are larger -- thanks, Oese!

Brown Time

Well, I really mean "Down Time," but the scene ended up with lots of brown/yellow/creme hues. The anchor of the room is a new (but vintage) shelving piece I scored from German eBay. The round table came with it, as did a smaller rectangular table I did not use.

The piece is a nice way to show off some nice handmade books by Oese, as well as some smaller Re-ment items on the bottom shelf that took a lot of patience to situate properly (the bird candle kept falling down). The coffee table is a Re-ment invention -- a tray from the Lovely Chocolate series (received in a swap with Tarkus) atop a shelving box. Now there's a thought...edible furniture!!! :)

UPDATE, 10/10/09: While looking through the Puppenhaus Museum website, I came across a few pictures of Modella furniture, and saw this picture, which leads me to believe the shelving unit* is indeed Modella (photo courtesy of the Puppenhaus website):

Credits: Striped console by Paris Renfroe; abstract artwork and white poof are Lundby; white chair is Reac; standing light and brown hanging light are AG Minis; daisy stand and white couch are Bozart; dog is from a game called "Lucky Puppy Math"; shelving unit and round table are vintage German eBay finds (Modella?)*; gold drum chair is vintage Petite Princess; antique marble bust is my husband's; coffee table and stand, potted plant, and tea service are Re-ment; "rug" is a paper coaster; long grasses are aquarium plants; white "rug" is gift wrapping; lucite chairs are an eBay find; and "Drink" wall art is a cork coaster. Accessories are Re-ment, Manor House Miniatures, Pain d'epices; MAR Toys, and hobby shop items.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The coffee table is from Lovely Chocolate, # 9, and is a bit large for 1:12, but can be re-purposed. The bird candle is from Beauty Storage, # 3, and is good for 1:12. The two jars are from Is Dinner Ready Yet?, #9, "Fried Dumplings," and are good for 1:12 as condiment jars or display. The teapot is from the Megahouse set "Cafe de Cake," # 6, and is a bit large, but good for 1:12.

Creative Chaos

Don't we all want the work + play combo? I know I do. I guess when I think of that concept, I envision a thirtysomething-type deal, where these cool dudes work in an ad firm and play basketball during meetings. I forget if they brought their pets to work, but that would just about complete the vision.

This is one of the most chaotic scenes I have created -- there's lots of stuff in here, perhaps because I decided to create different work/play spaces: the eating space with coffee and treats; three workstations: Hello Kitty table; tulip table; and low coffee table with couch as chair; and the middle for endless play!

If anyone has a job like this, more power to you!! :)

Endnote: I bought a new lens for my camera, so I am happy camper!

Credits: White couches, striped lamp, and Hello Kitty desk by Bozart; glass coffee table by Ryan's Room; orange chair and white tulip table are vintage Bodo Hennig; office chair, black lounger and ottoman, and tulip chairs are Reac; two mini dollhouse scenes/figures on floor are vintage Galoob Toys; "rugs" are origami paper; cow rug, books, and some of the pencils are by Oese; Hello Kitty desk lamp and box next to desk are Sanrio; wood block table and blond coffee table are Paris Renfroe; orange side table is AG Minis; artwork is a postcard from France; lots of accessories by Re-ment, tech decks, our local toy store, Mighty World, and Pain d'epices.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in the scene with a few exceptions. The green paint set is from My Favorite Stationery, #2, and is good for 1:12. The pencil sharpener, yellow pencil box, notebook on white table, and ruler and pen in pencil cup on Hello Kitty table are all from My Favorite Stationery, #10, and are all good fr 1:12. The detail on these sets isamazing, and I wish I had more of them! The strawberry clock on the white table is from Merry Strawberry, #9, and is good for 1:12. The white laptop is from the Room set, #2, and is good for 1:12.

Shared Space

Full disclosure: photos taken with my cell phone. Apologies in advance for the poor quality.My camera broke and I am still working out the solution, but couldn't keep away. :)

My brother and I are three years apart and our bedrooms were usually in close proximity while growing up. The older siblings tended to get the larger rooms, or shared a very large attic space. When we moved into a brownstone in New York City, we shared the top floor, and our rooms were separated by a bathroom. The room setup in the Kaleidoscope House inspired me to think back to those years.

His room was usually pretty tidy, but he had a weakness for bringing food upstairs. To this day, we make fun of him for his love of Pop Tarts and fruit (eaten together), and peanut butter. He is a big snacker, and at 6'5" had all sorts of excuses to keep his body fed on an hourly basis.

Me, on the other hand...I loved to sit and play with office supplies. I had lots of knickknacks and wrote letters all the time. My room was usually messy, but I couldn't bring myself to mess up the scene!

Speaking of sharing...it's been great to do a few swaps with Oese and now Tarkus! Oese made some wonderful books and pencils and also sent a lucite box and other mini treats. Tarkus and I swapped Re-ment and she threw in a few of her handmade pillows! Lovely!

Credits: Yellow beds, bathroom set, and toy chest (actually a refrigerator) are vintage Fisher Price; red chair is vintage Fairline; red and white dresser is vintage Jean of West Germany; plant is from Lolly's; egg table, fish bowl, peanut butter, Pop Tarts, pink clock, rocking horse on top shelf, "Happy" lunch box, brother's side table, bathroom back splash, and sewing items on toy chest are Re-ment; Easter Island head is from Barnes & Noble; speaker is vintage TOMY; bowling pins are Japanese toy erasers; red striped bed cover and green bath mat are IKEA; purple flower bed cover, flowers and silver box on top shelf, pouf, magazine holder, and lamps are AG Minis; pink vanity and pink cup are Sanrio; violet desk and matching lamp and bathroom mirror are vintage eBay finds; bedside table is vintage German; bird pillow is by Tarkus; accessories are AG Minis, TOMY, Pain d'epices, Re-ment, KidRobot, and my kids!

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with a few exceptions. The stamp set is from Girls in the City, #3 "Accounting Essentials," and is good for 1:12. The sewing items are from the Primary School Stationery set, #10, and is good for 1:12. The Pop Tart is from Fun Meals, #7, "Morning Grab 'n Go," and is a bit large for 1:12, but works. The rocking horse is from Princess Tea Party, #5 "A Rocking Horse Cutlery Tree," and is good as a toy in 1:12. The "Happy" lunch box is from American Kitchen, #5 "Fun at the Cafeteria," and is too large as a lunch box in 1:12, but can be re-purposed as a small suitcase.

Less than Picture Perfect - A Small Call for Help!

The weekend was going great until...I dropped and broke our very nice Nikon D40 camera!! I set up a new scene in the Kaleidoscope House using three rooms (read= time+ effort) and ran to get the camera off a top shelf (so the kids don't paw it) and boom! It came crashing down (lens first) out of its bag and onto our computer desk and then made a resounding thump on our wood floor. The automatic focus seems very broken and it now makes a horrible-you-just-mangled-me-inside noise. It still takes pictures (when switched to manual), but they are not in focus at all.

The camera is my friend, my buddy, my essential item to document and share my hobby, so I am royally upset at myself for doing something so stupid. I am working to get it repaired, but will likely be without a camera (and blog material) for a couple of weeks.

The light at the end of the tunnel emerges, however, through the vision and patience of my dear hubby, who said, "You know, with the kids and all, we should have a smaller, less expensive camera anyway, and who wants to lug that thing around on bike rides or other such activity?" Smart fellow.

SO...does anyone in this talented community have recommendations on a good, not-so-pricey ($200 or so) digital camera that works really well for you and your mini scenes? My priorities for a new camera would be the ability to focus on those (very) small details and have it produce photos well in natural light. I'd really appreciate any words of wisdom as I continue to research the options to remedy my klutzy move! Thanks!

UPDATE, 10/2/09 - I brought my camera to a camera shop and they let me know I had only broken the lens, not the camera. So, I decided to purchase a used lens for under $100. Problem solved (for now)!

Image from www.clipartheaven.com

I like Your BoConcept

A BoConcept store opened near me, and while tempting to sink some dough into the fine modern furnishings, I decided to part only with a free mini catalogue!

I cannot really say why they did it (other than what seems to be a company play on the very large), but I am not questioning the cute freebie, which is better suited for 1:6, by the way. :)

Animal Eyes

I was looking at this scene through animal eyes. I wanted to use as much animal-related pieces I could dig out of my collection. It was quite a challenge, and of course not all of it fits the bill. But, there is some cow, leopard, zebra, canine, feline, chicken, and egg (!), so perhaps I succeeded a little.

I've been down with a virus this week, and finally got myself some antibiotics for an ear infection, so I am feeling more human and less like a sick...beast. :)

Credits: Cowhide daybed from Paris Renfroe; orange side table is Bodo Hennig; Nelson couch by Reac; coffee table is Ryan's Room; cat picture, furry TV cabinet, rug, and orange trim side table (with phone) are AG Minis; TV is Lundby; dog is from Lucky Puppy Math game; striped lamp and Easter Island head base are Bozart; high cafe table and chairs from Battat; coffee pot, potted grass, chicken phone, and egg tables from Re-ment; Hello Kitty clock is Sanrio; zebra couch is Creative Playthings; antique marble head behind couch is my husband's; Easter Island head is from a desktop set from Barnes & Noble; accessories are AG Minis, Re-ment, Mighty World, and from Paris.

Re-ment: I have written about the Re-ment in this scene with the exception of the egg tables and chicken phone. Both are from Beans, Egg, and Strawberry #8, and are good for 1:12. The set comes with tiny, tiny stools that are way too small for 1:12, but they could be re-purposed for a table decoration or candle.

Three Rooms, Apart

Perhaps you have done this too -- create a scene (s) as an excuse to try out some new acquisitions. I am guilty of this today. These three rooms -- a tea salon, powder room, and playroom -- really don't totally relate, but I wanted to test out a lot of things. I bought two of the traditional, Deco-like couches for about a dollar on UK eBay, and felt compelled to use one here since stylistically it is not a typical choice for me. The same goes for the large rug and the tea set items.

In the powder room (and on the deck), I was able to use some things from the Mighty World Town Life Cafe set, which I *finally* got a hold of online, through a toy store in Connecticut. I also purchased some Re-ment from PlayscaleMinis to try out a few different pieces from the "Girls in the City" office sets.

Upstairs, I decided to use a 1/16 scale vintage Jean of West Germany playroom set, which goes with the bubbly wallpaper.

Credits: Tea salon: Deco couch, rug, picture above sweets, and side chair are eBay finds; sweets table, white coffee service table and lamp are AG Minis; round table is vintage Petite Princess; pictures above couch are Calico Critters; purse is Re-ment; jacket is from one of my Euro Minis dolls; accessories are Re-ment, Mighty World, and Bozart. Powder Room: Sink is DHE; rug is from The House that Jacq Built; mirror is AG Minis; side table and makeup shelf is Mighty World; small vanity is Re-ment; accessories are Re-ment, AG Minis, Petite Princess, and Lolly's. Playroom and Deck: Shelf, dresser (really a wardrobe on its side), and rocking horse are vintage Jean of West Germany; table is vintage Lundby; chair is Reac; corner table is Re-ment; light is AG Minis; cafe table and chairs on deck are Mighty World; accessories are Re-ment, Pain d'epices, and eBay.

Re-ment: I've written about the Re-ment in these scenes with the exception of the following:Tea Salon: The small cakes on the tiered tray are from Elegant Sweets, #5 "Delicious Artisan Cakes," and are good for 1:12. The tiered tray, tea pot and cup on small table, brown and white cake cup along the back of the long table, the white platters, and the butterfly plates are from the Princess Tea Party set, #8 "The Princess' Favorite," and are all good for 1:12. The chocolate treat in the glass vase, the chocolate top hat cake, the strawberry dome and the white dome on the small table are from the Special Cakes for Me, # 4 "Patisserie Collection," and are good as large, fancy treats in 1:12. The gold purse is from Girls in the City, #4 "Hot Date After Work," and is good as large bag in 1:12. Powder Room: The white mirror and brush, gold and blue perfume bottle with a cross, white scalloped box on bottom shelf, and pink puff in box are from the secret set of Cosmetic, #1 "Princess," and are all good for 1:12. The two square eyeshadow boxes and the lipstick are from Cosmetic, #5 "Actress," and work for 1:12. The blue Tiffany box and purple watch on sink are from Girls in the City, # 4 "Hot Date After Work." The watch is good for 1:12, but the box is too large as a watch box but can be re-purposed. The pink cosmetics bag and hair rollers are from Girls in the City, #5 "Overseas Retreat," and are good for 1:12. Playroom: The yellow school bus is from American Kitchen, #9 "Family Christmas," and is good for 1:12. The red water toy and pink pencil sharpener are from Primary School Stationery, # 8 and # 9, respectively, and are good for 1:12.

Janine Antoni Wears a Dollhouse

Now this I had not seen before. I spied a picture in an ad in Artforum for Janine Antoni's upcoming show at Luhring Augustine:

In case you are intrigued too, this is a metaphor for mothering, according to the artist, where the mother "wears" the house like a skirt, as a way of bearing the family drama. You can read more in the gallery's press release. I have always been a fan of her tactile works made of chocolate and soap, and her body performance pieces too. Now I am a bigger fan! Very clever! Too bad the show is on the west coast.

Photo is from the Luhring Augustine website.

Kids Rule

I felt like using figures today in a scene, and have really been wanting to use the Bodo Hennig kitchen I received in a swap with Oese. I also wanted to use the great mini Sibi handmade by Oese, although I need mini furniture -- for now, it is a very upscale barn!

Kids tend to take over, and that's what's happened here in this home, full of activity. I wonder if kids know how lucky they are...???!

Credits: All figures, wooden sculpture, green pillows, and dollhouse counter are Bozart; dog is from a game called Lucky Puppy Math; refrigerator, stove, sink and cabinet are Bodo Hennig; chop block is an eBay find; couch, small tripod stools and table, and funky purple flower vase are AG Minis; couch coverlet is from Lolly's; side table is Lil' Bratz; dishwasher is Theo Klein; kitchen table is vintage German; chairs are Reac; vase in fireplace is vintage Fiestaware; mini Sibi is by Oese; other house is a vintage eBay find; blocks are from DRAP; R2D2 is from my kids' Star Wars Lego set; skateboard is from Tech Decks; round "rug" is a coaster; dartboard is from Pain d'epices. Accessories are vintage Topper Toys (Penny Brite), Bozart, Lolly's, Pain d'epices, Manor House Miniatures, Re-ment, and from my kids' collections!

Re-ment: I have written about all the Re-ment in this scene with the exception of the loaf of bread on the chop block. It is from the Re-ment Bakery set #7 and is a bit large, but good for 1:12.

Not-So-Green Thumb

I'm pretty under the radar about my mini life at work, but I have shared my hobby with a few close colleagues. One of them passed along a glass box to me, initially thinking my daughter would have some fun with it. But, I saw some potential and confided to her that I would likely try to work with it as some sort of greenhouse.

I did go through with this scene, but realized that the box is a bit too shallow (warranting 1:16 or smaller furniture) and challenging to photograph. I gave it a try, though, and even took it outside in between rain storms--it has been endless rain on the east coast--and got bitten alive by some hungry mosquitoes.

Overall, not a great experience, but I put some Saturday afternoon time into it, so here it goes. I'm crabby today.

Credits: Plant box is a console by Paris Renfroe; plants are aquarium plants from a rummage sale; "birdbath" is Bozart; bench and radio are from the Mighty World "Hanging Out" set; white table is vintage Jean of West Germany; Asian shelf and watering can table is Re-ment; watering can, shears, small hoe, and sunflowers are from Pain d'epices; gardening caddy is vintage TOMY; sailboats from DRAP. Accessories (including potted plants and vases) are: Re-ment; Pain d'epices; Bozart; Michael's; Manor House Miniatures.

Re-ment: The Asian shelving unit and watering can table are from the Megahouse My Room set #5, and is better sized for 1:16 or 1:18. The green potted plant to the right of the console is from the My Cats set, #7 "Fujita's Potty Cat." It is fine for 1:12, but the rest of the set is huge, better for 1:6. The white pig vase is from the Oriental Season "Summer" set and is good for 1:12 as a household object. The cigarette holders (masquerading as vases) are from the Megahouse My Room set #2 and are a bit small for 1:12; better for 1:16, but usable.