Sorry, internet issues at home

So I haven't been able to post my current progress. I'm at the church right now so I can give you a quick update.

I made a climbing vine for the chimney side wall. The vine is moss and the leaves are little paper punched stars.

Sandy got some real stockings and leather shoes. Her skin is so pale that I thought she needed the color on her legs. I tried painting first but couldn't get a realistic effect. I cut a bit of real nylon and glued it in place (complete with seams up the back). The leather shoes cover the edges of the stockings and look good, too!

I was on the phone with our telephone provider for almost an hour today trying to add internet to our package. We live in the middle of nowhere and we're right on the edge of the phone company's ability to provide. I'm crossing my fingers but won't know for a couple of days. On the plus side, the representative gave us a better telephone package so at least I'll be saving nearly $30/month. :0)

Harriet has her own ideas

Now that Harriet has been settled in and actually working in her kitchen she decided it was time to make some adjustments. First she wanted some more cabinet space because there just wasn't enough storage. So we found a smaller scale hutch in the drawer and reworked it - took the shelves off and added a bottom to that unit and hung it on the wall. We turned the base upside down, added a new top and bead feet. Then Harriet added some gingham to the doors and at the back of the shelves. Looks great and added the much needed storage. Putting the cupboards in place made the cooker look out of place so that was moved to the opposite wall. Once the green and white cabinet was sitting next to the new cabinets the green looked awful. So out came the blue metallic paint to cover the green. The kitchen is once again functional and Harriet is very happy. She doesn't get grumpy very often but when she is it's best to just do what she asks, lol. The boarders much appreciate it, anyway. ;)

I love this part!

The part that involves filling in all the last details that make a dollhouse look like a home, that is. I built this little upholstered bench with leftover bits from the Brimble, some gingerbread trim and a bit of ribbon.
The coat rack now has a purpose in the foyer with a fedora and an umbrella hanging from it. The hat was cut down from a plastic flocked cowboy hat. I colored it black and added a band and feather accent. The umbrella started as a toy but the handle wasn't long enough. I lengthened it with a toothpick, painted everything and added an umbrella cut from a gray plastic bag.

It's all those little details that really make it look like a real house.

Sandy

It looks like Sandy is just getting home to the boarding house after a long day at her secretarial job. She's a lovely young lady but is still grieving for her fiance who died in the war. She needed to get away from some of the memories and that's why she now lives at Harriet's boarding house.

I spent a long time (for me, lol) making Sandy. I'm very pleased with her suit and her eyes. I'm improving! I studied the doll my friend Brenda made for my saloon - Pansy has beautifully detailed eyes. Sandy's aren't even close to that good but they are a huge improvement over my previous dolls.

Last night I ordered a doll to be George. I recently had a good sale in my etsy shop and rewarded myself. :) I made so many men for the saloon that I just didn't want to make another one. I'm glad I did decide to make Sandy, though.

A few more details

The table is ready for dinner. There must be a guest coming since the table is set for four. The chicken and the jello were made by my friend, Brenda. Gaye of My Small Obsession made the salad, the plates and the pitcher. Gary (in New Hampshire) made the cake stand the jello is on. I made the drinking glasses from lite pegs and I hand cut the silverware and serving pieces from a piece of heavy foil. The cloth napkins are actually pieces of tissue. I glued the silverware to the napkins so I don't lose them - even though the table isn't set correctly. The bubbles in the light pegs make it look like the glasses are filled with ice water.
The glue on the hooks isn't dry yet but I couldn't wait to post a photo of the coat rack. It looks very like the one we had at home. The simple style suits the boarding house, I think.

I was able to check several things off my long list today. This project is coming together quickly. Once DH gets home from his business trip we're gonna have to figure out where in the world this is going to go. It can't sit on my dining room table forever, lol.

It's all in the details

I decided that George has done a lot of world travel. The war put an end to that so for now he's happy with his maps and dreams. You can tell by the labels on his well worn suitcase that he's done a lot of traveling. His open armoire reveals stacks of white shirts and folded trousers. I added some rolled and folded maps to the empty shelf area of the desk. I think this room is finished...maybe.
Harriet has a couple of dresses peeking out of her armoire. They were actually quite fun to make.
I added several plants to the porch. Two green plants in hanging pots, a couple of flowering plants in pots on the steps...
And this overflowing planter under the window. I didn't make the planter but I filled it.
Here's an overview of the whole porch, including the "Johnson's Boarding House" sign. You can also see that I added rose paint to the urn shapes at the top of the posts since my last porch photo. The porch is finished and I'm so happy with the results. It looks like a place I'd like to spend some time in.

Welcome friends!

I've been a bad host and gotten way behind in welcoming our new friends. Thank you all so much for stopping by!
Rosella of ilsalottodellerose - Rosella has minis and needlework posts - all of it is beautiful!
Berri Jones - I don't find a link for Berri
Julita of Villa Caroliina - Julita's blog is fairly new. Stop by and see her dollhouse under construction.
Pepi_mali - I don't find a link
Jenya of Knotty by Nature - Jenya is working on a lovely dollhouse and a Petite Blythe doll just moved in
Rosa Maria of Illustratus - Stop in to see some interesting contemporary art
mini-babies - No link information
Julia & - I think they must have a blog based on the profile information but I couldn't find a link
beckynot - Rebecca doesn't have a blog but you can visit her etsy shop here - http://www.etsy.com/shop/beckynot

As always, please stop by and visit. Thank you all for following!