I'm still here

...but we've been busy with our new project - chickens! Since we changed our diets last summer to grain free and no processed foods, we eat a lot more eggs.  So we converted our kids' old bus shelter into a chicken coop and now we're working on a fenced in run. The chickens currently play outside in a cobbed together "playpen." Unfortunately, several have figured out how to get out so the fence is an immediate priority. Once the fence is finished we will paint the coop and our shed and move on to planting the garden. All of that means less mini time for awhile but I do have a project in the works. I've been commissioned to make another stone cottage for a family member. So when the outdoor chores are caught up I will be back with minis. In the meantime, here are a few photos of our newest additions to the menagerie.

 Meet Aurora (on the left), Gemma (front right), and an as yet unnamed Buff Orpington. We have five and I can't tell them apart yet. Once I can they will have names, too. That's half the fun!

 Esther is the white Easter Egger. Fred and Wilma are the Golden  Polish chickens with the black feathers on their heads. Dovey is the beautiful gray bird. Electra is the Red Star just under the "veranda." The last chicken is another of the five Buff Orpingtons that I haven't named.

Here's a closer shot of Wilma, the female Golden Polish. Her coloring is so pretty. Eventually her tophat feathers will close into a bun sort of shape. Fred, her partner, will have feathers that droop down on either side of a center part. They are really fun to watch.

All together we have 15 chickens. Four Red Stars - Aurora, Bellatrix, Electra, and Gemma. All are named after real stars in our galaxy.  Two Golden Polish - Fred and Wilma. Three Auracana/Amerecaunas - Houdini (she was the first to escape), Dovey (beautiful shades of gray with copper edged feathers), and Henny Penny (the smallest chicken with black and copper feathers.) One Easter Egger - Esther. Five Buff Orpingtons who are waiting for names, lol.

I did not expect to enjoy watching the chickens as much as I do. It's a very relaxing way to decompress after a crazy day with elementary kids who just want to be finished and enjoy summer break. :-)

Sometimes you just have to create!

Still not a mini project but this is what comes of spending time on pinterest in the evening. I just had to make this pendant last

night, lol. I used the pinterest photo as inspiration and put my own twist on it. I am very pleased with the result.

Ten hours later...

 The bridesmaids and flower girls will carry pinecone balls. My older daughter, the MOH, had to leave early so hers isn't finished but here are all of the others. Four of us worked all afternoon and evening (past midnight!) to finish the "flowers." Each bridesmaid is decorating her ball so they will all be different. It's hard to tell in the photo but they are so pretty! The two smaller ones in front are for the flower girls. My daughter, the bride, did those.

 I purchased several varieties of pinecones on ebay. The ones I used for the tree are gorgeous but older daughter calls them satanic, lol. They have wicked spikes on them. Rather than risk someone getting a spike splinter on the wedding day, I used them to make a tree for the guest book table.

 This is the bride's bouquet. I spent five hours just on this but it turned out well. I used pinecones given to her by people in our family. We also gathered some from the woods behind our house. Her grandfather planted those trees and he passed away several years ago. Those cones are in memory of him. The roses are pink burlap and several of the pinecones have outlined petals in pink or iridescent glitter.

 The lace is from my wedding veil and the beaded charm was made by one of her bridesmaids as her something blue.

And, as you can see, the bride to be is happy with the results. :-)

As soon as Hobby Lobby gets another of the paper mache houses in the right size, I'll be starting a new mini project. Hubby's cousin commissioned a stone cottage as a Christmas gift for one of her daughters. Stay tuned!

It was a beautiful day!

We spent a wonderful Easter Sunday with loved ones. The worship service and message were uplifting and thought provoking. The dinner with family and friends was great. And I got to spend some time this weekend with our soon-to-be granddaughters. Aren't they adorable all dressed up for church?

Wishing you all a joy-filled week!

It's looking more like home

 The plant pots are caps from some medication of my DH's.

 The ivy is a plastic plant in a barrel made from a small cardboard tube with tea dirt.

 The sofa and dining set are reclaimed from my zibbet shop. I made new pillows for the sofa to match the fabric I used for the chair. The base of the chair is a polymer clay one I made for the half scale colonial. I changed some of the furnishings in that house for some of my vintage pieces several months ago. The side table was made from more of the cardboard tube with a lamp made from a bottle of pink fingernail gems and a paper lampshade. The artwork is a framed doodle from church this morning. (I serve in the media booth and the sermon is not quite as interesting by the second service, lol.) The yummy chocolate lava cake in the kitchen was made by my friend, Brenda.

 All of this furniture used to be in the colonial as well. The bed got pretty new bedding. The dresser just needed a lace scarf and a plant. The slipcovered sofa is another polymer clay piece. Draped in a white "sheet" it looks very cozy. The little house is a Monopoly game piece that I painted to look old.

 I found the little straw hat in my mini stash. I think it adds a bit of country charm.

 The little pillows on the couch are the polymer clay ones from the original version.

 This is just a closer view of the living room side.

And here's a closer view of the kitchen. I haven't done any thing more with the bathroom yet so no new photos there.

I apologize for the poor quality of the pictures. My camera needs charged so I used my phone. I still want to add a few more personal touches but I am so glad I changed from the vintage furniture. Now the little house looks like the vision in my head. :-)

The cottage is finished but...

I still need to make furniture for it. Marisa is right. The little house needs custom furnishings. For now, I took photos with the vintage pieces. I'm still planning to use the kitchen and bath fixtures. (I love the olive green kitchen! :-) )

I'm usually happy with every project I work on but I am extra proud of this one because of how different it now looks from its humble origins.

 A rather boring bathroom at this point but at least there's a garden tub. ;-)

 I do like some things about the lavender bedroom set but I think it's a bit too regal for the cottage.

 I don't know whether I want a couple of wing chairs or a sofa in here. I would love a rocking chair.

The second floor looks a bit wonky in this photo but I don't think it really is. Of course, most everything in an old house usually is somewhat off kilter so I guess I don't mind if it is off. LOL.

Stay tuned for new furniture. It's back to work on Monday so the weekend is likely my best chance to finish things up. Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! Oh, and a little side note: my hubby now has a blog about our home and garden. Newest addition will be chickens! Check out Hoosier Country Home to see the babies. :-)

Still plugging away

As usual I was too impatient to wait until all the stone work was finished to add shading and seal it. The front and one side are completed. I still have the other side and the little bit of back left to do. To add to the cottage look I think I will add faux black iron hinges to the door when I add the knob. I haven't decided for sure whether I will add interior dividing walls or just leave the rooms open. Anyone have an opinion you'd like to share? I am open to ideas.

My furniture is not very "cottagey." I may keep the kitchen and bathroom fixtures and make the rest of the furniture for the house. Again, I am open to your thoughts on this.

I'm waiting for my daughter to arrive so we can go thrifting. There won't be much progress on the cottage until this evening or maybe tomorrow. In the meantime, leave a comment with your thoughts and have a blessed day!