Have You Figured Out...

...that I have the attention span of a gnat on most days? ;-)

After being stabbed by the junction splice I decided I needed to not look at the Greenleaf today. Things to go inside it are fair game, since they aren't involved with the electrical. Other unfinished projects are ok too.

First, here is a picture of the furniture I have for the Big Dollhouse. This gives me a great idea about what I still want to purchase or make in terms of the furnishings and gave me an excuse to play with it for a bit. The middle attic room is currently playing host to the electrical schematics.
I'm really not sure about the furniture in the master bedroom. I don't want to modify the pieces, other than redressing the bed, and I don't really know if I like the wood color with the room's decor. I thought I would try it out and see if it grows on me. As I stare at it I believe a lighter color would be better...still thinking.

The library is missing it's bookcase. I left it on the kitchen table to decoupage and forgot to put into the room for the picture. No, I haven't started the decoupage either. I need to build or modify a fireplace for the living room. And I think I have settled on a big, white couch for that room. The kitchen will get more Reutter pieces because 1. I like them and 2. they will go well with the Reutter stove that is in there already.

I have drawn up a design for a headboard for the girl's room. Have any of you ever seen the headboards like look like a dollhouse and has little shelves to put 1:144 scale furniture in? I fell in love with one when I saw it years ago and plan on recreating it for the room.

The other thing that I've played with so far today is my Independence Day vignette. It's not finished yet, but there's enough complete to show off. I'm debating whether to build a quilt rack or display the quilt draped on a chair.
If I build the quilt rack I would need to do something for the empty patch of floor. If I drape it on a chair I can have a cat or dog napping on the part that has reached the floor, thus taking care of both issues.

The other dilemma is what to do with Franklin's picture. Currently he's propped up next to a bag of teddy bears. He doesn't look bad there but Washington and Jefferson are shown off a bit better. It just doesn't seen right to have the old womanizer on the floor. His personal habits aside he did alot for this country and it just doesn't fit well to have him down there. Maybe if I made a frame for him it wouldn't look as bad.
I just got tired of messing around with frames. That's why Jefferson is being held by the big teddy bear.

Holly took me to the "Lobby o' Hobby" where I was able to get a new junction splice. But I refuse to fart around with the Greenleaf still. I think I will go take advantage of the light and get some stitching done.

I *would* be playing with the chunks of pineapple cane that Katie so kindly sent me [Thank you, Katie! :-)] or working on sculpting a doll, or Pallas, or a raven, or some reptiles... but the whole punctured thumb it putting a cramp in that thought. Stupid bloody junction splice....

Ok... Here is the Big Dollhouse

Ok, here are the front and back views of "the Big Dollhouse." As you can see the door, windows, and porch railing have been removed for painting and the shingles are only half done.

Of the three rooms with both floors and wallpaper cut, I'm only happy with the bedroom, which is the one with lilac carpet on the second floor. The living room wallpaper is horribly bubbled. So much so that I think I will have to take it out and do it over. The kitchen wallpaper didn't do well either. I think I want something different in there anyway, so no big loss. None of the floors are glued down and there are no baseboards yet.
The lighting still works on the first two floors. Apparently I need to redo the junction from the second to the third floor. Not bad since it got moved twice.

The ceilings are all bare. I need to do something with them too. I have to replace a post on the bottom porch. The whole thing almost fell the first time I moved and Brad was barely able to catch it. I'm happy to loose one post versus the whole house.

I had planned on putting some of the goodies into their respective rooms and taking some pictures for you but the camera batteries barely let me get these pictures downloaded. So sometime after we get another package of batteries because these were the last two from the package. That's how it always works. [We recycle our batteries in case you wondered.]

FH and I determined that the transformer and lead in wire that we purchased for the Greenleaf do work. The junction splice does not. In fact in figuring this out I ended up being stabbed with the splice in my right thumb. Not quite sure how I managed that one. FH came running down the hall upon hearing my cries for help. Isn't he grand?

Now my thumb looks like it's bit snacked upon by a 1:24 scale vampire...

Upon further inspection the two prongs on the splice are bent. So I think we've discovered the problem. We are going to get another splice and try again on the Greenleaf.

Almost like Yule....

I spent the afternoon searching for some of the lights for the "big dollhouse." Three plastic file boxes worth of miniatures have been gone through and photographed so I can have a chance of remembering what is in them.

A few things were pulled out for newer projects, like the Chrysenbon rocking chair I painted black and tried putting the decal onto and the decal came part-way off. It was heart-wrenching at the time as I had never done decals before and couldn't afford a second chair kit. Today I decided it would be perfect for one of the Attic Lamps.

In 2003 my mother purchased every furniture set from the Smithsonian catalog for me. I believe it was my birthday. There's a dining set, with sideboard and silver chest; a bedroom set with dressers, night table, and mirror; and a set of bunk beds with rocking horse. I did remember having them but had no idea where they were.

Furniture that I painted in my miniature club in college was tucked away with painted furniture by a new deceased artisan who I dearly loved.

Needless to say I have much in the way of material for my weekly "stash posts," but here is a preview since there is so much and some of you are probably overly curious by now... I would be if the situation was reversed. ;-)

This is the furniture I have collected so far for the bathroom in the "big dollhouse." The sink and mirror are by Reutter. I don't know who did the shower, but I bought it from the local mini shop back in college. The tub is from a Chrysenbon kit and was left over from me using the sink and stool in another setting.
This is a curio cabinet for the same dollhouse's living room. If I remember correctly it was a gift from my then-boy-friend's mother. This was the guy who let me get away, much to FH's advantage. His parents were lovely people and I miss them more than I miss him.
I found the little bits that I had gathered to decorate it before I took the picture. It looks so much better with the treasures in it.

These are orchids that FH bought me from a miniature show right after we moved out of the college town.
The artist's name is still on the bottom of the display box. I couldn't find them when I put together the Conservatory Bag. It's just as well because they are destined for the library in the "big dollhouse."

I keep mentioning that beast of a house. I really need to take some pictures of it to show you all. You can kind of see it in the middle picture from the craft room cleaning post. Look for the blue house with junk on the porches. It's nowhere near finished... in fact I took apart the porch railings, windows, doors, and stairs to paint them and finals weeks got in the way of getting them finished and put back.

FH is going to help me turn it around so the open half is exposed tonight. I should be able to get some pictures then. I'm going to go clean off the porches so we can turn it.

Snarl and Growl

Well I got the minor walls glued to the Greenleaf. Then I started the electrical. Yeah... about that. grrrrr.....

Either the transformer or the lead in wire is DOA because none of the circuits seem to be functioning. Now in the past I usually end up redoing one junction of tape wire per project... but I've never had none of them work.

And insult to injury some of the glue joints worked loose while connecting the tape wire junctions. No sense in re-gluing them until I get the mess figured out. *dirty words*

Tomorrow FH is going to help me spin the "big dollhouse" around so I can get at the junction splice on it and test the wire and transformer. I know the electric works in the big house.

Of course this means I will have to unpack the lights for that house... which means I have a file tub full of minis to search through in order to find them. And inevitably I may end up distracted further from Poe and the Greenleaf by the presence of those minis. *sigh*

So while FH is working I guess I will be building the next bits of furniture that I've worked up for the Greenleaf and unpacking more minis.

Oh and Tessie, if you read this over Casey's shoulder... if you bring Spike back from where you have hidden him, I would be willing to make you a tough dog of your own. This fella is just a puppy but I'm certain he has a bigger brother or sister waiting to come out of the clay.

A Snail's Pace

At least that's what it seems like when glue is drying...

I promise once the contest deadline is over I will post pictures of this stuff. :-) The main walls of the Greenleaf are together. I have a couple minor walls to put in place and then I can start running the electricity. My lights haven't arrived yet, but I can get the tape wire going and tested for now.

I designed and built a set of shelves for the setting. I have some more furniture to design and build yet. I also put together some accessories for the scene.

With the help of FH and Holly's hubby, B, I chose a mode of transportation for the person who lives in the Greenleaf.

Placed an order for some more accessory supplies and viscose for my person's hair. Not sure whether or not I will successfully make a person for the setting before the deadline or not.

I do want to get back to Poe at some point in the near future and I have some other clay work that is begging for attention... the creepy, crawly, dark, and legless kind.

FH is pondering going out to Hunter Safety tomorrow which will leave me to my own mini devices for the day. I will see how much I am able to do with the Greenleaf's requirements before I give up and start playing with clay while more glue dries.

Day Trip

Back from the capitol with FH! Had a very nice time. On the way home we stopped at the Russell Stovers outlet in Lincoln. Then we tried a local mom and pop eatery for dinner.

We're trying to decide what to do with the rest of our day. Until then, here are some pictures of pretty things on a lovely spring afternoon. :-)

Glee!

Glee! I ran out to check the mail before FH and I left for the state capitol to wander the museums and found my package from Kat the Hat Lady!

This hat will belong to my witch, Ezzie, who I really need to start sculpting. I've had her in my mind for ages.

This one is proof that Kat's hats are addicting! I just couldn't resist! I may end up doing a witchy hat shop just to house them all. ;-)
These next two pictures are of the "witchy surprises" that Kat included in my parcel! Aren't they awesome?! An extra hat and dragon eggs! So cool!

Thank you so much, Kat! Everything is lovely and I can't wait to order some more hats! :-)

From My Stash 4-1-09... Two Days Late

I got back to my craft room and discovered I had left my water glass in the office and that I never posted a Stash post on Wednesday. The camera happened to be on my worktable so I snapped some pictures and came back for my water glass. :-)

These gorgeous foods were made by Barb Lewis. I could not resist the watermelon. It's her specialty but the picture does not do it justice!
A friend of mine who had never met FH walked right up to him at a show and informed him that he needed to give me $20 for celery.
He did. Without batting an eye he pulled out his wallet and handed me a $2o bill. I laughed... then I went and bought the celery. The picture doesn't show it well, but Barb made the veins. It's a fantastic piece.

Here's an aerial view that includes part of Barb's business card. I try to keep a piece of card or contact information with each item. If I use it in a scene I store the card in a folder with other things like preliminary sketches, wiring diagrams, etc.

The second portion of my Stash today is from another Barb, Barb H. from my St. Louis mini group. This Barb loves miniature food. Loves it! I have no clue how much of it she's got stashed away. Not only does she love buying it, she loves giving it too. This piece was a birthday gift a year or so ago.
I think this platter is too cool! I love the onion rings! The plating is perfect, right down to the garnish of celery and ranch to go with the spicy hot chicken wings.

Here's the best gift though.
Barb found the cookie jars as a Christmas ornament and made the cookies to go with.
Aren't they adorable? I love them to pieces! I'm either going to use them in a Christmas setting in the near future or use them as seasonal decoration in my "big dollhouse" when I get it finished. I haven't quite decided. Of course the Christmas setting in question hasn't even been started and the big dollhouse hasn't been worked on in ages. I really need to do that. Maybe once the Greenleaf is finished...

Post Nap Blogging

After a long nap today I am back... I think. I haven't taken a nap in years but I felt chilled and nauseated so I curled up with the kitties and some books on making miniature furniture. The Sun was out so I pulled back the black out curtain on the bedroom window and left the regular blinds closed. The sunlight was a nice change. At night there is a horrid streetlamp that shines right into the window, hence the black out curtain.

FH and I talked the neurologist out of the glucose tolerance test. I was right, she hadn't received the record about the hypoglycemia. Instead she had them check hemoglobin. I have always thought hemoglobin sounded like the perfect name for a goblin or other creature. Not sure why.

After discussing the MRI contrast dye with the lovely folks at the imagining center I opted to refuse the dye. The scans without the dye were very good and I didn't see the point of risking a reaction to it. The tech agreed with me. Even though less that 1% of the population reacts to the new contrast, I was in no mood to find out if I was in that 1%. I tend to be in those small fractions for everything else which gets old after a while because it's never the small percent for something good.

So now we wait and see what the results are and I go back to see Dr. A in three weeks.

Since FH was already off for the morning he took me by a morning clinic to see if I indeed has a sinus infection on top of all this. Yep. I think the medicine for the infection is what turned my stomach earlier.

I think I'm going to go play with the Greenleaf. The exterior bits are mostly done. I want to work up an estimate for how much electrical stuff I need to get. I have some furniture to start building too.

More Welcomes! and A Thank You!

Hello and welcome to Tiffany and Debie, the two newest followers of my humble blog!

Tiffany showcase both miniatures and fiber art at her blog called Mini Mischief. She is currently working on San Fran dollhouse, which is really cool in my opinion because one of these days I will be able to work on mine as well.

Debie is a miniaturist new to the blog world. Her blog is called Piskies and Poppets. There are some adorable pictures there to see and a link to her website.

As always please go over and say hello. :-)

And a thank you to Tiffany for awarding me the Proximity Award again! I think this is one of the best awards to receive because of the meaning behind it. Thank you so much, Tiffany. You brightened my day.

Thank You

I wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone for their well wishes and positive thoughts. I should be back sometime tomorrow afternoon after I sleep off the last of the tests.

FH gives me the best of care. I'm certain there will be a good deal of relaxation this weekend with a trip to the local museum, a visit to our favorite brew-on-premises pub, minis, and lots of Flogging Molly.

Walk in Harmony

Welcome Sabiha!

Hello and welcome to my newest follower, Sabiha of Sabs Mini Interiors! Sabiha is an interior designer who uses her wonderful talents in the miniature world. Pay her blog a visit and see what I mean. You are in for a treat! :-)

An Award, A Smile

Jayne at Tallulah~Belle Originals and Mary of Sunny Sunflower Miniatures have both awarded me with the I Love Your Art Blog Award. Thank you ladies, for the smile today. I needed it.

Now I'm supposed to list seven things I love:

1. FH
2. Our pets
3. Chocolate
4. Being alive
5. Popcorn
6. Real Mexican food
7. Miniatures

Next should come the list of seven blogs to pass it onto. But given the way things are right now and the fact that the award has flitted around to many, many wonderful bloggers today already. So what I'm going to do is give this award to everyone.

Cop out? Possibly. But given the talents of the people who visit my little corner of the web, I think it's well deserved.

Wish the News was an April Fool...

...but it's not.

MRI with contrast of my brain and c-spine tomorrow. I guess we'll find out if I'm allergic to the contrast dye the hard way.

More blood work on Friday, beginning with a glucose tolerance test. Note that I've had my blood sugars checked on a yearly basis and there has been no signs of diabetes but I will be on tap and have my carefully controlled hypoglycemia f@$^ed up all day. I am not pleased. My glucose levels will be screwed all day.

However, the neurologist is very nice and worked with my father's neurologist's husband (another neuro guy) back in St. Louis for her residency at one of the best hospitals in the city. If she wasn't good, she would have never been accepted to the program. At least I appear to be in good hands.

She is not happy with the strange symptoms and has ordered this barrage of tests to go with the previous battery from two weeks ago.

Welcome, Kim!

Hello and welcome to Kim of Flowers and Art! Her blog is full of beautiful garden pictures and artwork in varying media. Please go over and say hello.