Born Abroad

Marlene of Somerset House of

http://somersethouseaproject.blogspot.com/ 

sent me a goody package. I am happy to be

the recipient of 2 of her cross stitched rugs - the 

tiger and the green one in the middle. I know

exactly which apartments are going to get them.

I never learned how to crochet but I love those

items. The blue and green crocheted blanket is

adorable. If I just fold it in half one of my

little dolls can have a shawl.

The christmassy apron is so cute. It has

hearts, a snowman and a gingerbread man on it.

The little white cotton doily will make a nice addition

to my sewing apartment. I will place it under the

cutting table to make that area bright on the wood

floor. When I went to the camper I took the 2

magazines with me. There are some nice things

in those magazines. Can you see the package that is

between the magazine and the cross stitch pattern.

That paper is instructions for inkjet fabric sheets.

With my trusty magnifier glass I read the directions 

while at the camper.

Inside of the plastic are 3 fabric sheets.

In a couple of days I plan to check this out.

I do plan on cross stitching the rug pattern as

soon as my eyes heal enough for me to be

able to see the holes in the aida cloth.

All of these items were in a little black compartmented

box. Some of this was wrapped up in tissue paper.

 The white tablecloth is so soft. I do not know yet

where I will put it. The cameo's will make nice

needleminders. There are 2 toys for Elizabeth's

children Ally and Allison. They will love them.

The jewelry pieces are really nice. They just might

get a makeover and go into a shabby chic room

that I am thinking of making. Marlene made me

one of her pipe cleaner dogs. I had never seen one

of them before but it is so sweet.

The silk hat was a surprise. It is so lovely.

Thank you very much Marlene.

I do like your package and I am glad to know that

you like mine.

Thank you for visiting me.

Many hugs and kisses sent to everyone,

conny

I thought there were 2 chairs

but I was not sure. So imagine

my surprise when I opened up

another box of miniatures and

there was another chair!

This pic is just to show you the set.

The giveaway IS NOT OVER!

I would like to thank you all for the sweet comments.

It is good to know that you like the set.

Good luck!

conny

FRIENDS IN MINIATURE

ME AND MY HUSBAND IN MINIATURE. 

This picture was taken 38 years ago. Today I

unwrapped it and placed it on Berniece's mantle.

My hair was down past my waist and so just

before we had this photo taken I cut it off.

My husband was not too happy about that as

you can see in the pic.

Many hugs and kisses sent to you all.

conny



DOLLHOUSE - THE VAN BUREN - A Spooky Ole House

Many things went thru my head when

I first saw this dollhouse.
My daughter

and her mother-in-law Linda saw it first

and suggested that I buy it.
It cost only

$20.00.
That's right - this large monstrosity

was begging to go home with someone.
And that someone was me.
Of course they wanted it to be a Witch's
house right away.
But I don't know. 
Anyway they had to

talk me into buying it.
I don't know -  it looks like an

awful lot of work if you ask me!
But how can you go wrong with a house like

that - for only $20.00.
You cannot.
So I took off the tag

and marched up front and paid for it.

By the way this house was bought at the thrift store.
This is the front of the house.
As you can see the
front stoop and rails are missing.
That has to be replaced.
However, the house was put together really well.
Love went into putting this house together for someone.
This house is solid.
Whoever put it together, did a great job!
 

 

 The photo's here shows the house as being blue in color.
But actually the house is grey with a deep grey/black
roof.
Needless to say there is probably some blue in
the grey paint.
Gee - It is a big house!
I do not like the front doors.
The house needs to come alive.

 

There is a widow's walk on top which I am not fond of.

The reason will be obvious enough once you see the

inside.

 

 

Neither am I fond of the red chimneys.
After
looking at the inside - the fireplaces might be a
tight squeeze.
The roof could use some shingles.

 

The windows are not bad - I guess.
Maybe the house needs clapboard siding.

 

This is the other side of the house.

 

I know that I am talking negative
and at this point you are probably
wondering why I bought it.
However,
the house does have some amenities.
It is wired already.
Although I do not know the extent yet.
A close-up
reveals an outside lantern missing.
Needs replacing regardless if I
keep it lit.
I would like to see new front doors.
Hopefully they are
easy to replace - if not they will have
to stay.
And something has to be done
with that awful door knob!

 

Here is the inside view of the Van Buren

dollhouse.

It is and has been retired for

a long time.

It used to be an expensive dollhouse.

It must have been well-loved as there is hardly

any damage inside or outside.

Top floor definitely

has a small bathroom.

None of the floors sag.

This dollhouse must have been in a garage, or

a basement for quite some time.

 

 

Once you enter thru the double front doors you

enter into a little space and then into a

long foyer.

And where does it go -

why - it goes nowhere but towards

the back of the house.

This is an empty waste of space.

The last tenants moved out in a hurry.

They tried to take the lamp from the wall

but hastily decided to leave it. 

It must

have been a pain in the neck to remove.

The floor is paper.

Virgin walls - no paper - no paint.

Those walls are going to be mighty thirsty!

 

 

I do not understand why this door is here.
The tenants cannot use it.
Why does it
face this way - why not face the foyer??
Anyway what is its use?
Is it a coat closet or a pantry - what?

 

This was the kitchen and the breakfast area.
Of course that lamp is so low that it
might hit your head.
It must be raised.
Yes - see one of the amenities - some
lights were left here in this house.
Again there is paper down on the floor.
It is not in scale.
Oh! that thing on the
floor has something to do with the
lights.

 

This is the living area.
Look!
Another
lantern was left hanging on the wall.
Flowered paper on the floor to resemble
carpet or linoleum?
Look at all of that electrical tape.
I sure
do hope that the lights work!

 

This is the area under the first floor
stairs.
The coat closet or pantry area?
Striped paper on the floor here.
Maybe the lawn mower goes in here?
Hehehehe

 

Look down from the stairs at the front
doors.
Kind of steep and bare.
Notice
how the stairs at the bottom kind of
curve.
Kind of nice!
Nice detail.
Sorry for the blur.

 

This is one of the 2nd floor bedrooms.
Apparently it was a child's room.
Notice the paper on the floor.
It is sweet.

 

This bedroom is located on top of the
child's bedroom.
I love the vaulted
ceiling and the round window.
I do like
the floor paper but I will not keep it.
I wonder what the previous
tenant used this room for?

 

Can you see it.
This was the clue to show
that this dollhouse was a kit with big rooms!

 

This is supposed to be the master bedroom.

Its of a nice size.

Cute floor paper.

This room has lots of potential.

 

 

 This is the reason why I do not like the
widows walk.
The stairs block the view of the
window and it also breaks up the room.
These have to be removed.
Again more floor paper.
And there is a light hiding in the corner.
Who wants to look at the backside of stairs?

 

 These stairs look down from the widows walk.
I would like to close up this area.

 

 Oops! no glass panes.
I had better start collecting plastic.

 

 Isn't this an interesting angle.
It looks like there
is a step going down into this room.

 

 This is what the stairs look like going
up to the widows walk.
You have to stick
your head into the dollhouse to see them.
Messy with the glue.
And that's okay because
the stairs were not made to be seen.

 

 This photo is of the child's room.
It looks
towards the balcony doors.
There appears
to be a bunch of wires to the side??

 

 

I have not put all of the photo's of the dollhouse
up here. I forgot to take pics of the 2cd floor stairs.
And behind those stairs is a closet.
You can only
see that closet thru the balcony doors.
My only hope is that I can do the dollhouse justice.
Only time can tell!

 

 This pic is of the living area.
Wires are showing thru.
Another sign on the walls shows this to be a kit.

I hope you have enjoyed a visit thru this dollhouse
and keep checking back to see what I do with it.
Mini hugs and kisses sent to all of you,
Conny



TUTORIAL - Make 2-layer Cake From Stamps!

Come on over for some CAKE!

I do not know why the middle of my cake

sank in like that.

Maybe I pierced it too hard with

a toothpick!
Hopefully by the end of this

posting I will have figured it out.
LOL's
 

These are tiny RUBBER STAMPS.

Why do they call them rubber?

It is only because of the little piece on top, I guess.

The bottom half is foam.

The orange smiley face is not a stamp too??
Actually, I do not know what orange smiley face is.

But every once in a while

I come across these and I throw them away.
Now, that I have found a use for them - I
cannot find them anymore.
Go figure.

 

I do not know anything about rubber stamps.

I do not do that craft.

 

 Anyway, the tops of these stamps fell right off.

Maybe these stamps are old.

However, it made me 2 very nice round cakes!
They are perfectly round!

And they are just the right size!!

 

My intentions is cut out a slice of cake.

1st -  I drew a large X on the top of one of the stamps.
Cut out one of the pie shapes.

 

Then I placed the stamp with the X on it,

on top of the other one and drew
a slice.
Again, cut out the pie shape from the bottom
stamp.
You should now have 2 pie shapes cut out.

 

 2nd -  I took the trusty toothpick and made holes

in each cake where I sliced off the pieces.
I saw that trick where they were
doing it to clay cakes. So thought I would try it.
This is to give it some texture.
Paint one stamp any color you like.

 

 3rd - For Icing.
PUT A LOT OF WHITE GLUE on a small
piece of cardboard.

I know it doesn't look like it - but there is

a lot of glue here!
Mix in a little bit of white paint,
stir it really good with a toothpick.

You must let the glue set a little,
so it is not so runny.

Keep checking it and stirring it
with the toothpick.
The glue has to harden some
so it does not run off of the cake.

Once it has set - then frost your cake!

 

I painted one stamp chocolate and.

painted the pink stamp a deeper pink.

There is a lot of frosting between my cake layers.

 

The pecans on top are tiny pieces of cork.

 

The little stamps fit perfectly in the

little glass cake dish.

 Here is what the back of the cake looks like

in a mirror.
Not too bad!
I even put my leftover

glue frosting into a bowl with a spatula in it.
Oh, and do not forget to paint and frost the pie shapes
that you cut out.
Be sure to remember to put some
pecans on top!

Time to clean up the mess after Daisy licks

the spoon.

Yum-yum!!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Hopblogger