Stalk

OK, I'm having some fun here. Even though I am being jokey, I did dress up this room a bit in my Kaleidoscope House. The lamp is fancy, no? It's vintage German (labeled "Made in West Germany") and looks like it is from the late 1950s or early 1960s. I checked the puppenhausmuseum website a bit, but did not turn up a picture to help with identification.

The little bot is from a Star Wars mini figure set. I don't know about you, but looks too big to be to be a key chain! The kitties don't seem too scared.

Notice those terrific monogram pillows?? Thanks to Dale of Dale's Dreams on Etsy -- she included them as extras with a recent purchase from her store. Check out her great offerings! Thanks, Dale!!

Credits: Lamp is vintage German; chairs are CB2 ornaments; ball clock is handmade by the awesome Pubdoll; monogram pillows are by Dale's Dreams on Etsy; flooring is Natural Woven from the Paper Source; wallpaper is from the DCWV "Downtown Loft" 12 x 12 scrapbook stack; chaise is PRD; plant is Manor House Miniatures in a Playmobil planter; cube side table is AG Minis. Accessories are Playmobil, Michaels, Re-ment, Manor House Miniatures, and random eBay finds.

The time it took me: 42 minutes

A-Frame Corner

I took my vintage A-Frame off the top storage shelf for some play yesterday. I hadn't really touched my minis all week or weekend, and I felt inspired to go back in time.

The house has been sadly neglected by me; it needs some touching up and renovation. The acetate inserts in the windows have paint drops or markings, courtesy of the prior owner, and much of the wood edges of the house are chipped and nicked. I also stripped mostly all the wallpaper off when I initially got the house, and have not replaced it.

OK, self-imposed guilt trip over.

For the sloped wall in the nook-like space on the main floor, I gravitated toward a remnant of a brown and creme vintage 70s wallpaper from German eBay (not from Claudia, as I had thought!) It's lovely, no?

The pattern is a bit large, but I cut a swath and put in a minimal amount of furnishings. I even economized by using two zig zag Reac chairs as a book shelf, having seen many innovative shelves lately such as these:

Pulseline by Salomonsen Design

Sum Bookshelf

Quad Shelving Unit

Asymmetrical bookcase

Designed by Francesco Passaniti

I'm drooling just looking at these...makes me want to commission an artisan to create one! Perhaps for my birthday...hmmm...

Finally getting around to my scene:

See that zebrano wood flooring piece? That's a gorgeous sample from Amtico International, a company that I found out about from the ever-resourceful Pepper. I got some other samples that I hope to use soon.

By the way, you likely know by now that photography is a big part of the appeal of doing this blog, since it enables me to "bring you in" to my little world. Hence, I have a deep affection for my camera, and cameras in general, especially *mini* cameras!! You can imagine the thrill of finding these wonderful little key chains from Lomography in JaZams, my great local toy store:

Incredible, right? While I didn't use them in any scenes yet, I will soon. They likely will be a bit large for 1:12, but definitely workable!

Credits: Console and stools by Paris Renfroe; lights are Lil' Bratz; bookshelf is made of two Reac zig zag chairs; planter is Manor House Miniatures, and plant is from an aquarium plant set; wood flooring is an Amtico sample, and wallpaper is from German eBay and from an Asian-themed scrapbook paper book from Michael's. Accessories are AG Minis, eBay and doll house show finds, handmade by The Shopping Sherpa, from my Mom, and Manor House Miniatures.

The time it took me: 34 minutes

Blond Contrast

I was going for a refreshing contrast of color here in the upper "loft" space of my Citadel. The new roll of Con-Tact paper (I used the darker wood here in my Villa Sibi) was the starting point, and the everything else fell quickly into place: shiny stainless, red, white, and brown. I tend to try to accessorize accordingly, so you will see those colors/materials in the new shelving unit I purchased from the recent miniature show I attended.

BIG fan of the Con-Tact! Easy peasy.

Credits: Couch and planter are vintage eBay finds; chairs and Eames elephant are Reac; shelving unit is by Bruce Dawson; pillow and rug are by minimodernistas; "coat rack" is an ring holder by UMBRA; artwork is handmade by me (pretty poorly!); mini knights by the door are by Accoutrements; outdoor tree is from a miniature show, and its planter is by Manor House Miniatures. Accessories are AG Minis, Re-ment, handmade by The Shopping Sherpa, beads, from JaZams, and Nancy Tobey.

The time it took me: 17 minutes

Dol-Toi Vintage Table

You might have seen me post on Facebook about a new vintage Dol-Toi table that I purchased from UK eBay. I missed the table the first time around (forgot to bid -- don't you HATE that?!) and it went for asking. I emailed the seller to see if she had any more that she was going to put up, and she did! This time, I did bid, but ended paying up. I found out later that I was actually bidding against my blogging friend Rebecca of Rebecca's Collections. I would have been sad to lose it, but much less sad if I knew she got it!

There is a book on Dol-Toi by collector Marion Osborne -- does anyone have this? It sounds like a great resource. I had never seen a Dol-Toi table with this mid century profile, so I would welcome any information about it and any companion pieces. It worked nicely in my Swedish Brio...I went a little wild with the colors, but I think it "flies."

This is the first time I've used this vintage set of Lundby curtains. They really do help enliven the window, and look like real fabric in the picture (actually molded plastic). The other burst of color is a lovely mod plate by PetitPlat -- she has a whole selection in her store. Check them out!

 

Have a great week, all!

Credits: Table is Dol-Toi; chairs are Reac; shelving units are Miner Industries; light is vintage German, as is the window flower box; plant is TOMY; curtains are Lundby; mirror is by Annina; rug is by The Shopping Sherpa. Accessories are by Petit Plat, vintage German finds, and Re-ment.

The time it took me: 37 minutes

VERO Deco

A few of my purchases from the Highstown Miniature Show have made it into a bedroom scene in my VERO. The Art Deco-style bed is very simple in form, and I like the black shiny lacquer finish. The galvanized tub worked nicely as a sleek receptacle for cozy blankets (actually scraps of fabric).

See the fireplace? It is part of the new modern line from Miniatures.com, as are the rattan stools, which I have used as bedside tables. The pieces are made of resin and so far I am pleased. The flames do not look entirely realistic up close, but do the trick from father away. And in the spirit of not-entirely-realistic, it is propped up against a column, which is not really a chimney!!

The flooring here is more of that shelf liner that I used in my Villa Sibi, when I (re)discovered Con-Tact adhesive paper. I like the texture a lot, but it does not sit flush with the floor and does not tack down easily; it curled a bit at the front edge of the room. Oh well. I tried not to show this in the photos :)

I was originally going to put artwork of some sort over the bed, but then I pulled out a piece of cardboard wrapped in decorative paper from the Paper Source...it was last used in one of my Umbra Fish Hotels as flooring. It came in handy as a decorative backdrop. Speaking of decorative backdrop, a Chilewich place mat conceals the mess of my worktable, outside the window!

Off to bed!

Credits: Bed and galvanized tub are finds from the Hightstown Miniature Show; side tables and fireplace from Miniatures.com; globe lights are minimodernistas; plant is toHOLD on Etsy; chair is Reac; flooring is shelf liner from the Home Depot; backdrop outside window is a Chilewich place mat. Accessories are AG Minis, Lilu Shop on Etsy, minimodernistas, and handmade by The Shopping Sherpa.

The time it took me: 27 minutes

Hightstown Miniature Show

Just a quick post to share my spoils from a local dollhouse show that I attended yesterday in Hightstown, NJ, about 15 minutes away from me: The Hightstown Annual Dollhouse Miniature Show and Sale. As I mentioned in my previous post, I rarely go to shows and had not been to this one, which is in its 33rd (!) year, but I really had no excuse, considering how close it is to me!

I'm glad I went. It was super crowded and often hard to navigate, but there were some gems to be found in the 1-1/2 hours I was there. Oddly, I felt like I was the only one negotiating...nothing crazy, and my offers were always fair, but I didn't see bargaining going on. Personally, I can't help it...it's how I was raised! :)

So, here's my finds. As you might imagine, traditional styles reigned, but I did manage to score some great modern stuff.

Check out these two gorgeous artisan-made shelving units sold by a mother and daughter team; the maker's name is Bruce Dawson, and he has an Etsy shop. You'll see his initials on the bottom of one of the units. They were marked down and I negotiated further to get them both for $20.

Some nice outdoor trees, two bags for $15 (originally marked down to $17.50)

Kids toys, accents, and games (all between .25 and $2) 

Two Native American looking rugs, for $4

An Art Deco style bed, for $5

A very surprising find of a Scandinavian style chair and table by Re-ment (one of my favorites) for $2 in a clearance bin

Some vintage TOMY bath items, for $2

Two cute patio chairs ($5), a galvanized tub ($1) and a basket of fruit (.50)

Cool wallpaper (two sheets for $5)

A carved wooden mini Asian shelf for $7

Not too bad, eh? Can't wait to use some of these soon!

Woodsy

Mushrooms! I couldn't resist picking up a few of these brass mushroom drawer pulls from the clearance bin ($5.95) at Anthropologie. I love their sheen and texture and thought they might work as ottomans in a mod scene. I actually do not have a harmonious relationship with mushrooms...I've despised them since I was a kid, but have been trying to be more open minded in my adult years. They are on my list of things to try and love this year. Cucumbers and fish were last year (usually separate, not together!).

Why ottomans? Well, I guess they could be stools or a side table too. I actually googled "mushroom ottoman," and was pretty floored by all the results. Here are a few, some more literal than others!

Cream ottoman

A 1968 ottoman by Pierre Paulin

Plush ottoman on Etsy

Storage ottoman

Anyone growing any mushroom ottomans in their dollhouses?

Maybe I'll find a fungi or two at a local dollhouse show tomorrow morning. I haven't been to a show in a long while, so we'll see what I turn up!

Credits: Mushroom ottomans from Anthropologie; couch is minimodernistas; couch platform are two wood flooring samples from Home Depot; desk is ELF Miniatures; shelving is PRD (totally lazy and moved it directly from another scene); chair is a vintage eBay find; plant is AG Minis; croissant plate on couch by Petit Plat. Accessories are AG Minis, Lilu Shop on Etsy, Re-ment, Mighty World, my local toy store, beads, ELF Miniatures, and Manor House Miniatures.

The time it took me: 32 minutes

Forlorn

I didn't feel totally inspired to do a Valentine's Day post -- though I am very glad some blogging buddies did, like Mini Modern and Modern Mini Houses -- and instead ended up with a post-Valentine contemplative scene. I had this Kaleidoscope House doll lying around from my book cover job assignment (like Jasper, she did not make the cut either), and placed her looking off the balcony in a forlorn way...perhaps she just got up from her writing and is in a thoughtful space. She seems a little sad perhaps, but in control of the moment.

Credits: Table is vintage Bodo Hennig with an ornament on top from Crate & Barrel; chairs are CB2; shelving unit is ELF Miniatures; hanging shelf is Fischer Price; mirror frame is from Michael's; silver flooring is from Kate's Paperie; cork pieces are from a tag sale; doll is Bozart. Accessories are Manor House Miniatures, Re-ment, vintage German eBay finds, craft store items, handmade by Nancy Tobey, AG Minis, and Mighty World.

The time it took me: 19 minutes

VERO Mod

I moved my VERO house onto my new work table recently, so my attention has turned back to it for some mild renovating/decorating. This is one of the rooms in the house whose wallpapers have seen better days. I decided to go with some very retro mod scrapbook paper from Lee's Art Supply. I do love the color scheme, and my new "tootsie roll" couch from minimodernistas fit right in!

I've been experimenting with dolls for my current book cover project, and this one did not make the cut. I actually got him at the five dollar store on a whim a while ago. He's a doll from the Twilight series who looks sort of normal until you notice his intense look and um, red eyes! This could be his pad, though, don't you think?!

Credits: Doll is from the Twilight series; couch and pillow are minimodernistas; console is PRD; igloo chairs are CB2; zigzag chairs are Reac; side table is from Fab.com; rustic side table is a sponge; light fixture is an AG Minis table; orange shelving unit is also AG Minis; wallpaper is scrapbook paper from Lee's Art Supply; rug is a carpet sample; back curtain is a Chilewich placemat. Accessories are AG Minis, vintage German, handmade by The Shopping Sherpa, Lilu Shop on Etsy, and handmade by me.

The time it took me: 22 minutes

Betsy McCall Fireplace

Start with the hearth, I say! I stole a little bit of time this weekend to address the fireplace in my Betsy McCall house, which is in a large living area just begging for some renovation.

I was inspired to use some very unusual textured paper that I bought at Lee's Art Shop in New York City -- even the checkout dude was like "Now this one is cool!!" I thought it looked like stone and I do think it does the trick. I am going for warm, ethnic, crafty (and vintage) vibe here...I added some graphically strong paper from the Paper Source for the walls. I debated about this for a while and decided to go for it. Not sure what is going on the other two walls -- any ideas?

I only had a small amount of time to work on this over the weekend because I am working on a miniature styling job for a major book publisher! It's very exciting and extremely fun, and I hope to share more details once things are farther along and my work is finalized (and I can talk about it).

Stay tuned and wish me luck...!

The time it took me: 1-1/2 hours over the course of the weekend.

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

Finding Time

Ah, the struggle of finding time...

Time has indeed flown by since I started this blog nearly three years ago, on January 24, 2009. As I have said before, I never would have guessed that this endeavor would result in the many happy posts, connections, findings, and surprises that it has. I am very grateful, and I carry that enthusiasm into 2012.

My goal is to post at least once a week, and I will try my best to do that, but life does have a way of pulling you into many directions! When I post, I want to be inspired to write and photograph, and not to force it. So, if there is a gap in postings, it likely means that things are taking shape. I appreciate your patience and willingness to "go with the flow."

As always, I am interested to hear from my readers with comments, news, and information. Thanks for following!

I wanted to share a quick scene in the Lundby Stockholm. I've always wrestled a bit with the unused electrical outlets on the walls. I've covered them up various ways in the past (origami paper strips for one), but oddly not with scrapbook paper as I do quite often in my other houses. I really do enjoy this room, especially the long window. This time, I decided to place a tree stencil over it for a decorative frosted effect. (Speaking of frosted, did you see what Megan did with her door in her Fashion House??? It's amazing).

Credits: Couch is Bozart; pixel chair is minimodernistas; shelving unit is an eBay find; table is a vintage door handle; plant is Re-ment; vase, cork pedestal, and mirror are from Michaels; tree stencil from the Paper Source; wallpaper from JoAnn. Accessories are AG Minis, dollhouse and craft store finds, and Re-ment.

The time it took me: 25 minutes

New Beginnings

I thought if I started 2012 with a post on updates on two of my doll houses in "rehab," I might set myself up for a year of progress on projects that have long been dormant. In order to make progress, though, there was some intensive cleaning and organizing in order. As with many organizing moments in our house, it's all a domino effect. In order for me to bring two of my "rehab" houses in from our garage, where they have been patiently gathering dust on a work table, I had to clean out other nooks and crannies in our basement to make room for them near my work table.

I recently cleared off the table for my brand spanking new Janome sewing machine, which honestly scares me to death. I received it for Christmas from my husband, who is (very sweet and) guilty of feeding my hobby. He started my hobby when he bought me the Villa Sibi back in 2008! I vow to learn how to use the machine so that I can start sewing up some curtains, pillows, rugs, who knows. Wish me luck!

The two houses in question are my Betsy McCall House and the Artply by Highland. Both are huge and I needed to figure out where to put them. I bought two saw horses and had a piece of heavy duty plywood custom-cut at Lowes for a table top. I had a huge remnant of Marimekko fabric, bought for $8.00 at my beloved Crate & Barrel outlet last year, and it worked perfectly as a covering. Here's the result:

The houses came in from the chilly garage and the McCall went on the new table with my VERO and the Artply now lives in the back work room with the Citadel. I was able to finish painting the exterior of the McCall; here's a picture that shows the original light blue paint, a test paint that was too violet, and then a custom paint I had mixed from one of the stones on the exterior. Believe it or not, this painting started in the summer!

As you can see, the resulting color is a neat grey/green:

My next step is to tackle the roof...I am thinking of some asphalt shingles. Any ideas on color and shape and best place to buy?

With the Artply, I decided to clean out one of the top floor rooms, which looked like this originally:

Y U C K.

I covered the one wall with the very last pieces of some vintage paper from the UK, which I used in a room in my Citadel, and then used a textured white paper for the other two walls. The wood flooring was a keeper. I set up a quick scene -- what do you think of this house? I love the height of the room! I also LOVE that this house cost me $20!!!

Accent wall done!

Almost there...

Done!

Now that the houses are safe and snug inside I don't think I can avoid working on them when I can make the time. Here's to a productive and fun 2012!

By the way, I've got a little giveaway going on now on the Call of the Small Facebook page. Leave a comment on this photo and you can win two Reed chair ornaments from CB2! Enjoy!

Credits in the Artply: Couch and pillow by Annina; rug and lamp are minimodernistas; side tables are vintage German; plant is AG Minis; table is by Paris Renfroe; Eames elephant is Reac. Accessories are Re-ment, handmade by Nancy Tobey, AG Minis, and doll house store finds.

The time it took me: Scene took me 15 minutes, but I lost count on the painting!

One...Two...Three

Life's a process, step by step. It's more apparent to me now, more than ever, that you never stop learning about yourself and others. This past year brought challenges, growth, and changes, and I have no doubt that 2012 will bring similar. My very best to you and yours--thanks for all of your enthusiasm and support!

A few pictures in my Lundby Stockholm to close out the year, with three different approaches to the room. You'll see different chairs, rugs, and the addition of a canine friend!

Credits: Wallpaper is from greendesign in Princeton, NJ; desk units are vintage Brio; center desk and trash can are by AG Minis; cowhide chaise is by PRD; side table is Re-ment; black barrel chair and yellow Eames chair by Reac; gray rug is handmade by The Shopping Sherpa; blue rug is embossed felt from Michaels; deck plant and desk lamp are vintage TOMY; deck table and chairs are by Mighty World. Accessories are handmade by The Shopping Sherpa, JaZams, Bozart, Manor House Miniatures, AG Minis, and Michaels.

The time it took me: 35 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).

Rad Pad Completed

It was a mad dash against time and daylight but I got my Rad Pad completed and photographed before tomorrow's deadline for the "I'm A Giant" Challenge. My son is very under the weather with a stomach bug, so my Rad Pad plans today had to take a back seat to ensuring he was comfortable and hydrated.

This was a particularly challenging experiment for me. I struggled with what to do for quite some time and found inspiration where I least expected it: Staples! In reviewing all I have been working on over the past few weeks in light of the end result, I am left feeling the following things:

1. Satisfied that I made the deadline
2. Happy to have found something new to repurpose
3. Mixed about the pressure of a deadline
4. Disappointed not to have realized the stairs and catwalk
5. Excited that this challenge has exposed more people to the hobby
6. Relieved that it's over

While I am happy with the end product, there's always more ideas and refining but I had to resist those impulses over the past few days. I did add a large "table" to the entryway (it's actually a votive holder from Crate & Barrel), which functions as a hearth of sorts. Fitting in the living area was a challenge, and I decided to abandon it, save for a white couch and rug. The stairs were a big disappointment...I did not have time to order from TAP Plastics and was concerned that I could not DIY-it satisfactorily. My kids' Jenga blocks didn't work out either. So, I went without -- you will have to use your imagination in this airy house...

I cannot wait to see what others have come up with, and hopefully Emily Henderson will post an update of her own tomorrow along with the others bloggers she recruited!

UPDATE, 12/16/11: Emily posted yesterday that she was extending the challenge until February 1, 2012, so that gives me and others time to refine and complete their homes!

Credits: I focused on the bath in my last post, so you can see all the credits there. Office: Wallpaper and flooring are papers from Michaels and the Paper Source; desk by ELF Miniatures; plant is Playmobil; shelving unit by Re-ment; chair is an ornament from Crate & Barrel; magazine holder is AG Minis; light fixture is by minimodernistas; accessories by Re-ment, AG Minis, handmade by The Shopping Sherpa, eBay finds, and Lilu Shop on Etsy. Kitchen: Wallpaper and flooring are papers from Michaels and Kate's Paperie; sink unit and stools are brinca dada; table and light fixture is vintage German; accessories are Reutter, Re-ment, and eBay finds. Bedroom: Wallpaper and flooring are from Michaels, the Paper Source and a dollhouse store; bed is vintage German; chair is Reac; bench is by Logan at OneFortyThree; accessories are Re-ment, ELF Miniatures, minimodernistas, and handmade by The Shopping Sherpa. Entryway: Flooring is made of two Crate & Barrel place mats; table is a votive holder from Crate & Barrel on a table base by Bozart; the couch is also Bozart; rug is by FranMadeMinis; moss bowl is by Gigi 'N Studio; planters at the doors are napkin holders with diorama trees from Michaels.

The time it took me: forever.

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

Rad Pad Bath

I hope you don't mind my Rad Pad updates, but the "I'm A Giant" Challenge ends on December 15, so I am trying to sort out all the finishing touches. The first room to be sorted is the bath on the lower level.

The bath features a lot of simple repurposing of common objects, and I want to share my store sources in case you want to keep your eyes out. I changed the flooring to a cork sheet of scrapbook paper and added some gorgeous white-on-white mod patterned paper too; both are from the Paper Source. I also reinforced the curved wall (a West Elm placemat) to make it "hug" the shape of the file holder. The gold accented "wall" behind the tub (a condiment dish from Crate & Barrel) is a porcelain tray from West Elm. The bamboo base of the tub is made of two pot scrapers from Crate & Barrel. I used some craft mirrors on the sink and added some beads as vases to the top of the bath wall; both are from JoAnn Fabrics. The round leopard print rug is a cutting from a rug sample.

Here you go!

You'll see most of the photos show the top open. There will, of course, be a floor above (the office), and while I really like the openness of of the holes, I'm not sure I will leave it open (would you want to be able to see down into your bath from your office??).

I'm going to try to tackle the kitchen next! I am waiting for some new brinca dada pieces. I also need to figure out a stairwell -- perhaps I can get some acrylic slabs from TAP Plastics in time.

By the way, I have inquired with Emily Henderson, who launched this challenge, on next steps for people to upload their completed projects, etc. As soon as I hear more, I'll let you know. You may also want to keep tabs on her blog, where she is sure to post updates of her own!

The November ***FREE ALERT*** is going on now at the Call of the Small Facebook page. I am giving away some terrific modern planters. Just leave a comment on this photo for a chance to win! Comments close on Friday, December 9, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. GOOD LUCK!

Credits: Sink is an eBay find; toilet is IKEA; tub is a condiment dish from Crate & Barrel, and the bamboo base is from there too; tub wall is a tray from West Elm, and the curved wall is a placemat from there as well; flooring and wallpaper are from the Paper Source; air plant is from toHOLD on Etsy. Accessories are Re-ment, beads, Ryan's Room.

The time it took me: 1 hour, 10 minutes (including wallpapering)

Rad Pad Progress

The long weekend is over and one of my goals was to make some progress on my Rad Pad for the "I'm a Giant" challenge. Well, I wallpapered the exterior and figured out the layout, so I think I am on my way. I need to add wallpaper and flooring to the inside rooms and furnish fully and accessorize, but here is where I am now:

I want to add some level of realism, so I need to figure out a stairwell. A bit stumped right now; would love a lucite one, but not sure I can swing it. I also have a catwalk in progress to connect the two upper levels, using a slab of plywood covered in a Kunta placemat from Crate & Barrel (the Kunta is now discontinued, but it is close to the Jakarta). Will share more on that soon -- wish me luck!

By the way, I am spreading the word about a great dollhouse for sale: a vintage VERO from the 1960s! I actually have this one in my collection, and it is a fantastic find. Mandy from Germany is selling her pristine one, and I have posted pictures on the Call of the Small Facebook page. If you are interested, I can connect you with Mandy. Email me at call-small(at)call-small(dot)com for more information.

Rad Pad, Configured

After much experimentation, I think I have finally arrived at the configuration of my Rad Pad for the I'm a Giant Challenge. I tried so many different things, and got a lot of recommendations for going circular. Circular looked way cool, but I felt like something was missing...perhaps not knowing which was was in! I also wanted more contrast of textures, but could not figure out a way to do a wood roof. I remembered I had two wood slatted place mats from Crate & Barrel and thought they might work. They did not, BUT they did work as the base. Once I saw the rectangle formed by the place mats, I stacked the file boxes, two in each corner. A space formed in between them and I thought "doorway!" I kept it open at the back, like a traditional doll house.

The result:

What do you think?

I used a piece of acetate for the doorway and outlined the frame using deco tape. The flooring, siding, and roof material is still not finalized (in fact, the green paper on two of the walls is the original Staples label!). I experimented using a variety of papers and fabrics, but am still not convinced. I might use a brick paper for the exterior, perhaps on the bottom level, and then mark out some windows on the top using deco tape. The interior layout is also not completely finalized. I know I want the bedroom and office on the top levels and the kitchen, bath, and living area on the bottom, but the bath is a bit of a puzzle. Space is limited and I would like to put a full bath in -- what do you think of my little wooden platform solution?

Time is running out--December 15 is around the corner! What has everyone else come up with??

Credits: Even though this is not fully furnished, I'll share: white couch sectional and coffee table are Bozart; desk is ELF Miniatures; chair is a Crate & Barrel ornament; kitchen units are vintage Lundby; bed is vintage German; bath set is Ryan's Room; ladder is from my TOMY Sylvanian house; indoor plant is Playmobil; outdoor planter is a napkin holder from West Elm with a diorama tree from Michaels; doorway platform is made of two coasters; base consists of two placemats from Crate & Barrel. Accessories are Lundby, Lilu shop on Etsy, handmade by The Shopping Sherpa, AG Minis, random craft store finds.

The time it took me: I fiddled with this for a few hours today, in between cleaning up my work room!