The digital version is available!

My French Country house got a six page feature article and the tile tutorial is three pages long. Both look wonderful. Now I can't wait to get my print version!

Just a few more details

 No one gave an opinion regarding the bench but I decided it needed to be weathered and aged. I like it much better now.

 I added more family photo collages to the upper hall wall. The HBS catalog was a great source for pictures.

I gave the bedroom art piece a frame of sorts. I used a Sharpie marker on the outer edges. It makes the painting stand out a bit more, which I like.

I only added a few things but they give the house a more relaxed and cozy feeling. I need some sort of curtain over the low window in the bedroom. I just frosted the bathroom windows but  I think I need more than that in the bedroom. I'm still debating...opinions?

Final(?!) Details

 I made the small black bench and the light fixture this evening. The bench was made with scraps from my wood bin and painted. It fills the area under the window beautifully. The light fixture was made from a suction cup and the hook that came with it plus a small square of cardboard. Some tacky glue, super glue and a bit of paint and it no longer looks like a suction cup. I probably need to make one for the upper porch, too.

 I need opinions on the bench. Should I leave it as is or give it a worn finish?

My final project for the evening was the nightstand lamp in the master bedroom. I used part of a wooden chess bishop, two black metal jewelry findings and a bit of paper for the shade inserts.

I love that I can look at this house and see the areas where I've really grown as a miniaturist. Each project looks that much more real, takes that much more research, shows that much more growth. I've been "playing with dollhouses" on and off for almost 30 years. I guess it's about time I made progress, lol.

Wishing you the best of weekends, my blogland friends!

The roof is finished!

I have minor details to add - a lower porch bench, a lamp in the master bedroom, more family photos, etc. - but the house is essentially complete. Even though the roof seemed like it took forever, it was definitely worth doing. It didn't cost me anything but time to do and gives the house just the look I'd hoped for.

Here's a reminder of what the house would look like if I'd followed the directions. I'm so glad that I didn't. ;-) Now that I see the chimney, though, I'm reminded that I really need to put one on, and on the other half of the roof. More on that later, I guess.

Well, that didn't take long...

Joe and Joy just moved in yesterday and already they wanted to remodel the kitchen. In all fairness, I'd mounted the upper cabinets too low to be able to use the stove or lower counter and it had been bugging me. Just not enough to want to change it until Joy tried to use her kitchen, which then looked like it had been built for children. So, with a bit of heat and prying, the cabinets came out, the wallpaper was replaced, new tile was put in and the cabinets were replaced. I also got the other porch post/support in. The tiles are mini mosaic tiles from Hobby Lobby - another gift from my husband. They are a bit thick but I think they look great in the kitchen. Now, Joy's happy and if Joy's happy, Joe is happy. And I'm happy, too. Apparently, life is just happy here today, lol.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

Wow! Just....wow! (A New Project!)

My friend found an amazing bargain for me today at a local consignment shop. She found a partially built Allison by Artply complete with instructions and the rest of the kit.

 There are also ten kinds of wallpaper - some actually is dollhouse wallpaper and some is tiny print 1:1 paper. On top of the rolls of paper is a package of chair rail and rolled with the paper is a piece of pink carpet.

 These two books on making dollhouse miniatures were included.

 There are two types of shingles - regular wood ones and a package of cardboard fishscale strips. Also, look at all of the fancy railing!

 It looks as though the whole kit is here. There are also some miscellaneous bits like stair spindles.

And here's the proof on the cost. I am amazed and very excited.