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New Whitledge-Burgess Kitchen: "A Culinary Classic"

April 24, 2013, 4:00 am
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Before I even do a single general post about the Chicago International, I must show you photos of the new Whitledge-Burgess kitchen box, which Ray and Scott have called "A Culinary Classic."

It is absolutely the best kitchen ever!  And I'm not the only one who thinks so:  so many people are signed up for the classes in July and November that they may be adding a class in October.  The response has been remarkable.

Here is the whole box.  It was a little difficult to photograph on the show floor.  It consists of a fabulous kitchen with a Wolf range and lots of countertops and cabinets for display, and a butler's pantry for the overflow china and glassware.


I love the double windows and the display space above the sink, the lighted cabinet above the fridge (right side) with even more space for cool things on top, and the fabulous display unit in the butler's pantry.  Actually, there is nothing I don't like about it!

Now for some close-ups. 

Here is a good look at the stove side.  Love the hood, love the stove, love the space to display food and kitchen items.  Nice space on the island, too.


This is the right side with the fridge with its paneled doors.  And another view of the island.


Here is the butler's pantry--straight on.  Love the aluminum bar sink!  And the wallpaper.  And the big display cabinet on the right side.  Have I got china to fill that????



Here is a better look at the wallpaper.  It's composed of little French labels.  How cute is that?



Here is the china cabinet on the right side.  So many shelves to fill!


Needless to say, I will be in the July class.  And I'm already setting aside things to put in my new, fabulous kitchen!

Well done, Ray and Scott!!!!

You can find out more here:  http://whitledgeburgess.com/studio/index.php?main_page=document_general_info&cPath=5_2&products_id=75

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Designer Dollhouses Offer Miniature Life of Luxury--from the LA Times

April 28, 2013, 4:00 am
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A friend sent me a link to this story -- you have to read it and check out the amazing photos.  

http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-designer-dollhouses-offer-miniature-life-of-luxury-20130409,0,4853777.story       

10 doll houses, designed by architecture firms and decorated by LA interior designers, will be auctioned in mid May to benefit the UCLA Children's Discovery and Innovation Institute.  If you happen to have an extra $15,000 sitting around, that's the starting bid.

This is a replica of Monique Luhillier's flagship store in New York.


Photo credit:  Modern Mini blog

Here are a few rooms...look at those gowns!!!!

Photo credit: Monique Luhillier Facebook


Can you stand it? 

Photo credit:  WWD.com

And just to give you an idea of the size.....


Photo credit:  Monique Luhillier Facebook


Instead of repeating what other bloggers have covered, I refer you to these posts with more amazing photos.

 http://minimodern.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-10-houses-of-designer-dollhouse.html

http://modernminihouses.blogspot.com

http://call-small.blogspot.com

WOW!
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Chicago International Round-Up

April 30, 2013, 4:00 am
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Here it is a whole week later and I haven't done a round-up post on the Chicago International.  Time to rectify that!

The show was amazing, as always.  241 dealers in three ballrooms.  Even for dealers the array is almost overwhelming.  Although we are at the show to sell, many of us also love to buy.  As a result, we have to get someone to watch our table while we run around.  I am fortunate to have my friend Emily as a helper.  She is irreplaceable--couldn't do it without you, Em!

I won't bore you with my table set up.  Instead, I'm going to post some photos of favorite artisans, starting with TYA.

I covet their big restaurant kitchen units and hope someday to buy one.


They brought some new pieces this year, like this salad bar.  The detail is amazing.


Also new this year were this big stainless steel stove with its integral hood and back splash and dishwashing sink.


I love this work station.


This photo shows their stainless refrigerator, all the way over on the right, another new piece.


Here's another photo of their table.

And one more...

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More Chicago International Photos

May 6, 2013, 4:00 am
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A few more photos of artisan work at the Chicago International.  These are some Christmas decorations that I was particularly taken with.

Karen Markland's display.  I bought the angels on the back wall.


Here are a couple of close-ups of Karen's work.




I was rather taken by this little shelf but didn't buy it for some reason --which I now regret.



Another artisan who had a wonderful Christmas display was Veronique Bailleul from France.  Her little Christmas tree  (on the extreme right) is just wonderful.


Volker Arnold was also at the show--with his lovely daughter who speaks perfect English -- I bought a bunch more of his kits and have more coming by mail.  Unfortunately, neither of the photos I took came out very well but I will post them anyway.



I love this (blurry) castle--one of the kits I bought.


That's it for Christmas at the show.

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Last Post on the Chicago International

May 12, 2013, 4:00 am
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As I said, I didn't seem to take as many photos this year as I have in the past.  And it also seems that a lot of the photos I did take are blurry.  Guess I'm not used to using my iPhone as a camera!

But here are the displays from some of the other dealers.

Master's Miniatures UK--Gary and Heidi Masters hand make their furniture and have a broad range, as you can see here.  They also accept commissions.


The inimitable Ray Storey's fabulous lighting....and yes, I did replenish my website stock with some beauties.  Love the lanterns.


Ray also makes chemistry items...he started out as a glassblower with Phil Grenier.


This is the very talented young silversmith Greg Matusovsky and his lovely financee Julie....Greg introduced a new piece at the show--a repoussé vase--which sold like hotcakes.  You can see them filled with Martha McLean's flowers on the left and right at the bottom. Mine is filled with red roses and is going in the living room of my big house.


Geoff Wonnacott was there with his exquisite furniture and a full workshop.  Anything he brings leaves his  table fast and there's always a waiting list for his work.

 

Leslie Smith brought an array of paintings, including new Fragonard's.  The one I wanted is the little Fantin-Latour roses on the bottom but someone beat me to it.


Here's a close-up.  Hopefully Leslie will paint it again for me.


Lastly, this amazing boulle piece by Rohit Khanna of Rohit's Miniatures (India).  I heard an extremely knowledgeable collector say that he thought this might well be the finest miniature he had ever seen.


Little history lesson:  André Charles Boulle (1642-1732) was a French furniture designer who developed a distinctive style of furniture inlay that consists of tortoiseshell with inlay in brass, pewter, or copper.  As cabinetmaker to Louis XIV, he produced desks, cabinets, clocks, chests, and even parquet floors, working in an ornate Baroque style. His influence continued into the 19th century.  And into the 21st, judging by this extraordinary piece.

That's it for the Chicago International this year!
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What's the Appeal of Miniatures?

May 16, 2013, 4:00 am
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You may recall that back at the beginning of March I asked what drew you to miniatures and what keeps you coming back --your responses were fascinating--so many personal variations on the theme!

Now I'm writing an article on this very subject and need your help again.  I have your responses to my initial post, but I would love to hear from more of you.  And it would be absolutely wonderful if you could email me a photo or two to illustrate story....your first dollhouse or the dollhouse that inspired you....something you fashioned out of an everyday item....a treasured artisan piece (maybe the first one you purchased?)....or a piece, roombox, or house you made yourself that you are particularly proud of....or just a collection of little things you display in a curio cabinet or shelf or drawer.  Does anyone out there have a Cabinet of Curiousities like the Victorians did?  I want to see it!

If you came to miniatures as an adult, or back to miniatures after a hiatus, tell me what or who in your life inspired you to become involved as an adult.  Do you think you've inspired others to become interested in miniatures? 

So let me hear from you.  I love learning and collecting your stories and want very much to tell the world why we love the world of miniatures!

Send photos to:  info@smalltreasuresminiatures.com.

Thanks!

Sophia

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Redecorating My Big House

May 22, 2013, 4:00 am
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Because my beloved husband would move out if I were to announce I needed a new dollhouse, I am instead redecorating my big Federal house.

This was the first house I did--all 14 rooms and two rooftops.  What was I thinking?  I did not have the requisite skills nor knowledge to do this house justice.  That said, it turned out pretty well, all things considered. 

This is what it looked like when I was finished.  All the floors are mahogany except in the studio (maple) and the kitchen (quarry tile) and those will remain.

The first floor consists of (L to R) the kitchen, DR, Foyer, LR, Library.  The second floor is all bedrooms:   guest, master, girl's, boys'.  The furniture was mostly Bespaq with a little Glenowen thrown in here and there, along with a few pieces that I made or reupholstered myself.   The decorating style was highly eclectic, but on purpose.  I figured that just because the house was Federal style it didn't need to be decorated that way--it could accommodate "antiques,""family heirlooms, etc.


This is what the house looks like today.  All the furniture is in boxes and much of it will end up on ebay.  I have a new Phyllis Tucker crystal chandelier for the LR, a new 3-candle Georgian lantern for the Foyer, and am talking myself into buying a 12-arm Georgian chandelier for the DR.  In for a penny, in for a pound, I say!



I am redecorating the DR, Foyer, LR, and Library on the first floor; the bedrooms on the second floor, and the bathroom and upper Foyer--in other words, most of the living space.  I'm not changing Elizabeth LePla's beautiful kitchen, nor am I redoing the third floor so far.  I may paint the laundry room but I haven't made up my mind. The art studio and study I am more or less content to leave as they are.

Part of the reason for redecorating is that I have come a long way in my taste.  I want to fill as much of the house with artisan furniture as I can.  To that end, I have been slowly buying, both directly from artisans like Alan Barnes, Michael Walton, and Ron Hubble, and occasionally from people selling collections on ebay.  I have picked up some wonderful items that way.

To guide my changes, I have done a huge amount of research. As a result, I have decided to add more Georgian touches to the house since Georgian/Regency period in the U.K. coincided with the Federal period in the U.S. and was a strong influence on architecture and home decor (although Federal tends to be a bit more plain).

The first step was deciding what to do with the walls in each room. In the original house almost every room was wallpapered but now I feel there was too much going on visually, so that won't be the case this time.  I am using Susan Bembridge's historic wallpapers in many of the rooms, but others will be painted. My friend Bill McGuire is helping me out, thank goodness.  We are using medium weight illustration board rather than papering over the existing paper because we didn't want to wet the paper to get it off and drip all over the floors.  Nor did we feel comfortable that the new paper would completely cover the old.  Why take the chance?  So illustration board makes sense, not to mention how much easier it is to paper outside of a room than in!

The first step was removing all the trim wood, stairs, and other extraneous stuff.  Then Bill made templates of the walls and cut the boards.  The paper is going straight on to the boards and then the boards will be glued to the walls.

I realize this post has been mostly talk and not many photos.  Sorry.  I promise to show each room before and after in future posts.
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The Redecorating Begins

June 3, 2013, 4:00 am
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The boards with the new wallpaper for the Library are finished but not glued in yet.  This room isn't getting much of a sprucing up other than the new wallpaper and furniture.  There really isn't too much I can do about the bookshelves and fireplace as they are built in.  The mahogany floor is fine as is.

This is what the room used to look like.  I reupholstered that Bespaq chair with a pair of boxer shorts I bought my husband in London and reposessed.  Not sure what I am going to do with that but I sort of want to keep it for sentimental reasons if the colors work, which I don't think they do.  The cabinet on the left is a bar that I outfitted with wine shelves and booze in case someone needed a wee dram while reading.  The inside is more fun than the outside but it looks dumb open all the time.  It also takes up alot of space on the wall and blocks the view of the corner of the room.  So I'm not sure what the fate of that piece will be, either. Maybe I should put a sofa there instead?  I'd also like to get that Mel Kopin globe out of the right corner and out where it can be seen, too.  And get rid of that awful plant.



Here is the same room with the new wallpaper.  It's a striped moire which I have had forever and really like.  The green really perks the room up.  It was too dark before.  No idea what I am going to do for a window treatment.  Suggestions welcome!


In terms of furniture, so far I have a beautiful Roy Sherwood desk, lamp, chair, and set of spiral steps that I got from a collector in the UK.  At the Chicago International I got a lovely new green leather wing chair from Gail Steffey.  I hope Gail will make me an ottoman to match. One needs a comfortable chair for reading, right? I am also having a favorite artisan make me round table for the middle of the room but I will save that for until it is ready.

The Clare Bell chandelier will have white shades.  I guess that means I need to replace the shades on the sconces, too.  Or paint them.


I need to tone down the spines on some of the books.  They really poke you in the eye.  I'm not sure what will go above the fireplace--I will have to chat with Leslie Smith about an appropriate scene. Last year a friend gave me four beautifully done hunting enamels from England that will go on the opposite wall.



One room mostly done....only seven more to go.  I must be nuts.
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Renovations Continue

June 17, 2013, 10:06 am
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Last week was a busy one.  I ripped up a fair portion of the LR floor because the position of the fireplace, which was not centered properly when I first made the house, had always bothered me.  I decided if I was going to do this, I might as well correct as many of the newbie errors as I could.

This is what the LR used to look like.  I hate that Rosel's light fixture and cannot imagine why I bought it.  A beautiful Phyllis Tucker crystal chandelier is going in its place.  I have a new Jim Coates fireplace, too, one that is more in keeping with the new English decor.  Jim is also providing the egg and dart crown molding for the whole house.


You really can't tell from this photo, but the fireplace was centered on the wall between the front of the house and the door opening into the Library.  The result was a very limited ability to arrange the furniture and a fair amount of wasted space.


This is what I did.  Gulp. I was able to save most of the flooring and found some additional pieces in my stash.  Once the new fireplace wall is in place, (hiding the main wiring) along with a new hearth, I will retrofit the flooring.  I hope.



This room is going to be painted with Farrow and Ball's "Dorset Cream," which is a golden creamy color.  Very sophisticated and subtle.  It will also have panels picked out in F&B's "Wimborne White." If you don't know this brand of paint, take a look at their website:  http://us.farrow-ball.com/.  Lucky for me they have a showroom in the Merchandise Mart in downtown Chicago, and even luckier, my middle son works in the building so he very kindly picked up 100 ml sample pots of all the colors I want to use (sample pots should be enough--it's a dollhouse after all!).

The other thing I have been struggling with is the upholstery for the furniture for this room.  The centerpiece of the room is going to be the Classic Carpets oriental carpet that I paid dearly for.  Ron Hubble is making the sofa and chairs--so I have been playing with fabrics I had and even ordered some additional fabric from Les Chinoiseries, which arrived on Saturday.  I intend to make a decision soon so that I can send Ron my choices.

That's it for today....



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My Secret Project Revealed

June 24, 2013, 7:07 am
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Last winter, before I even considered the possibility of renovating my big house, I needed a project.  Because I love the beach and have always wanted a cottage on Nantucket, I decided to make one in miniature.   This is just one of my inspiration photos.  How much would I love to live here???????


You've all probably seen that laser cut beach house kit?  I thought I wanted to do that, with a few changes.  I even bought the kit and scrapped it.  Again.  No more kits for me, ever!

Even though the cottage was essentially complete months ago, I just put the finishing touches on this week.  I will spare you all the in progress photos.  This is the front (obviously).  Martha McLean made the half basket of hydrangea--I think this was the very first piece I bought from her.  The rockers were custom made by IGMA artisan Linda Westerlund of The Petticoat Porch and are authentic Nantucket rockers, with their open weave backs, close weave skirts, wooden arms and braid trim.  I just love them!



See all those wood shingles?  I put every one of them on myself.  Over 1500 on the whole house.  What a nightmare trying to keep them straight and lined up all the way around!  The wood trim on the edges helps disguise the worst of it.  Bill McGuire weathered the shingles.  All the windows open and the roof with its skylights comes off in two sections.

This is a partial side view.  My parents' beach house has a bay window that looks down the beach to the inlet at Ocean City, so that's why I put one here. See the sign pointing to the beach?  I got it on etsy.





This is the back-- my favorite part of the exterior of the house. Elfi & Hans Meier made the fully functional umbrella and the folding table and chairs.  That's the bathroom that the wooden boat and all the fishing, crabbing, and lobstering supplies are arrayed on along the back wall.  Most of those items were made by Amy Robinson.



In the cooler there's a lobster on ice--right next to the trap in which he was caught.  Of course, if you know anything about lobsters, they aren't red until they are cooked but what can you do?  Suspend disbelief.


There are burgers and brats on the grill along with Anne Caesar's fabulous crab feast table.  I don't' usually do kitsch, but when I saw that grill on the Doll's House Emporium website I had to buy it.  There's a battery in the bottom and a switch to make the coals glow.


This is the other side of the bathroom wall--where there's an outdoor shower.  When I was in college I would go to Chatham, MA on Cape Cod with my best girlfriend, whose parents had a house there with an outdoor shower.  I loved showering in the open air.  That shower offered a little more privacy than this one, though.  Again, suspend disbelief!




In case you're wondering...it's a long way to Ocean City from Nantucket.




Isn't this fun?

Next time I will show you the interior.
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Quick Post

July 2, 2013, 4:00 am
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Last week I had the honor and privilege of having my little study taken over by a film crew from across the pond.  When I found out they were coming I had to scramble and do the big clean up.  Heaven forfend anyone but my family and closest friends should see my usual state of chaos.  My bookshelves were the absolute worst because I had stuffed books, pictures, papers, and everything else under the sun into every available space.  Needless to say, that would not have looked good on camera.   That big ugly printer also had to go, as did all the stuff that usually resides on the floor in front of the bookshelves.  As you can see, that didn't last very long.



The crew spent nearly 8 hours filming my various roomboxes and houses -- including the big house in its deconstructed state.  I showed them photos of what the house looked like before and they were pretty shocked that I tore it all apart.  As am I, every time I look over there and see those empty rooms!



It took lots of set up time to get the lighting and the angles right but I think they got some good footage.  (In RL I have made films before so I knew what to expect, and I very much prefer being on the other side of the camera).

They interviewed me about my experience collecting miniatures--I so hope my face ends up on the cutting room floor and they just use my voice!  In fact, I suggested that very thing several times!

I was the only collector to be interviewed but they have interviewed a number of the most famous artisans in the miniature world.  Exalted company, indeed!  I hope I didn't bring shame on the collecting world!

Anyway, it was a great experience to work with such a professional and enthusiastic crew.  When I know more -- which will likely be a while given all the post-production that goes into these things -- I will let everyone know.
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More on the Beach Cottage

July 8, 2013, 9:37 am
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Since the beach cottage is essentially one big room (with a bathroom tacked on the back) I had to create some discrete areas with furniture.

Here is a look at the whole interior (minus the new watercolor I just got for above the sofa).


Here's another photo from a different angle.  The sofa and chair are Bespaq, I don't know who made the table but I shabby chic-ed it up since it was a very ugly shade of brown.  I had the rug made, too--it looks like a Claire Murray Nantucket scene.


On the bay window ledge we have stick birds, carved decoys, shells, and a telescope.  This closely resembles the ledge at my mother's real beach house.



Don't you just love those beds with the kitchy captain's wheel headboards?  They are cheapies, dressed with TigerLily & Rose sheets with sailboats.  I had intended to put a dresser between the beds but decided the pirate's trunk was more interesting.



Another angle, this one through the front door.  I love the surfboard, too.


I had the kitchen made because I couldn't find anything else that would fit.  It's quite snug but it works for me.  Anne Caesar made all the food on the island and the crab pot on the stove.


Next time I'll post photos of the bathroom.

My son says he would like to live here.  How about you?




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The Adell Venus Collection of Miniatures at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers

July 14, 2013, 4:00 am
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Last Wednesday was the first day of the preview for the Adell Venus Collection of Miniatures at Leslie Hindman Auctioneers, right here in Chicago.

So naturally a group of us went down to check it out.  We were among the first in the door. 

The auction itself is Wednesday, July 17th at 10 am.  You can bid live on the spot, on the phone, or over the internet.  You have to register in advance.  Read the fine print if you are not familiar with auctions--there is what's called a "buyer's premium" added to your bid.

Adele was an inveterate collector who lived in Chicago.  From the catalogue (which of course I bought for future reference--great photos and even better descriptions--well worth the $10!):

"The Adell Venus Collection of Miniatures encompasses a diverse selection of miniatures, dolls and accessories, ranging from antiques to modern day miniaturists' works. Spanning five decades, Adell's passion for collecting led to the accumulation of tens of thousands of items and is undoubtedly one of the largest and most profound collections of its kind."

I don't know about profound, but we saw tens of thousands of items.  There are 767 lots.  Most were bundled together in zip lock bags displayed in cases along the walls.  The staff were very helpful and took out anything we wanted to inspect.  Lots and lots and lots of porcelain of every type.  Books, paintings, antique and vintage.  It was really a varied collection.  I spoke at length with two of the young people who organized the auction, John Walcher and Caroline McCarthy--what a lot of work they had to do to research the items and their makers, especially as neither knew anything about miniatures before now.

This is the furniture case.  Next to it is one of several antique dollhouses also on offer.



Among other things, this case held some fine early Denis Hillman.  What I was most interested in (no surprise) was the Louis XV gilt and parquetry bureau plat, two commodes, and a pair of gueridon tables (be still my heart).
 
These are photos from the catalogue, courtesy of Leslie Hindman.
 
Bureau plat--which is a kind of desk.  There is a really famous one at Versailles.
 
 
This is one of the commodes.
 

This is the other one, called a commode d'appui, which means mounted commode.  No snickering, svp. Look at the intricate inlay.

And here are the tables.  Would that I had the checkbook for these.  Wouldn't they be fab in my Salon?

 
There was also furniture by Ernie Levy, John J. Hodgson, Geoff Wonnacott, Jeffrey G. Gueno and Frank L. Hanley of Le Chateau Interiors (lots of their porcelain, too)plusBill Robertson, Stan Lewis, Joe Ryan, and others I was not familiar with. 
 
Adell commissioned a number of interesting structures, this Asian shop being the most unusual.  She had a large number of Chinese porcelain and ivory pieces that she apparently displayed in this box.
 
 
She had not one, but two Kupjack silver shops, but very little silver comparatively speaking.  Some Acquisto, a couple of Jens Torp's pieces--maybe 50 pieces in total and not all of them 1:12 scale.  Go figure.  She also was fond of Jim Irish's crystal--there are 11 lots of it.
 


I liked this antique shop that she commissioned and used to display odds and ends. 


What I've shown here is just the tip of the iceberg.

Here's a link to the online catalogue.  You really should take a spin through.

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/42402_adell-venus-collection-of-miniatures/page5?rows=20

Are you going to bid on anything?
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Whitledge-Burgess Kitchen Class Starts Tomorrow

July 17, 2013, 4:00 am
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Today I am driving up to Milwaukee with  a trunk full of homework and tools.  The class itself starts bright and early Thursday morning and I want to be one of the first in the room so I can grab a seat by the window so I can see.

The pre-work arrived in a big box about 3 weeks ago.  It's always so exciting (and daunting) to open that box to see what's in there.  And then to realize how much work there is to do!

This is my box.  It is going to turn into a lovely kitchen just like the pumpkin turned into a coach for Cinderella.  Except that it won't turn back at midnight.  At least I hope not.


I was very fortunate to have good photos to look at while I was working.  It helped a lot in figuring out what was what.  Notice my dining room table became work surface central.  It is nice and big and has pads and I didn't have to move everything every evening so we could eat, which is what I usually have to do when I use the table in the family room.


The first thing I did was the cherry floors.  I'm OK at floors so I wanted to start with something I felt confident doing.  Here they are finished.  I didn't stain the wood, I just used Bartley's gel varnish on them to bring out the natural color of the wood.  I did sand between coats--4 times--the last being with 00 steel wool.


Next I glued the fronts to the backs of the cabinets.  Not too complicated but you have to be precise so that everything fits together right in the end.  Just a little bit off creates problems to deal with when fitting things into the box.  This isn't all of them...just a sampling.


Next I tackled trimming out all the cabinets.  Bill came over and helped me by doing the mitre cuts.  I always seem to smash the wood using the scissors cutter (and yes, the blades are sharp). This is how he did it.  He used a white wax pencil to mark the angles on a small cutting mat.


Then he positioned the cove and cut it with an Exacto knife.  So much simpler and at the same time much more precise.  Almost no waste!


Bill cut and I glued.  And glued. And glued.  There were 61 separate areas that need to be lined with trim. This is a photo of just half!  It took us about 4 and a half hours--9 man hours.  I could never have done it without him!


Then everything had to be painted.  I used Farrow & Ball Wimbourne White.  It is a wonderful paint to work with, it is highly pigmented and has a very smooth texture.  See that baggie?  You absolutely have to keep everything in its own baggie or you will never be able to assemble the cabinets.


See what I mean?


The ceiling was next and not terribly complicated.  But only because I had enough wood not to have to make too many cuts and piece the boards together in the center where the beam goes.  I know my limits and measuring and cutting are not my strong suit, even when I measure twice and cut once.  I taped groups of wood together and cut them to size in the mitre box.  No way was I going to cut them one by one.  If I had a table saw I could have buzzed them right through.  Mike, are you listening?


Notice all the holes that I covered up?  Those are for the can lights and had to be drilled out.  Some people can cut them out with a knife but my dear husband set up a drilling station for me in the garage so I could use a drill with a 3/8th bit.  I cleaned up the edges as much as I could with a rasp file.  Which doesn't matter terribly because they get covered up with grommets anyway.


Ta da!


More to come....
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Recovered

July 29, 2013, 5:00 am
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I'm finally recovered from the intense four days I spent in Milwaukee taking the fabulous kitchen workshop with Ray Whitledge.

There were 12 of us in the class, mostly experienced mini people who had taken WB classes before.  It was a great group--no prima donnas, no divas, and no whiners (except me when I had to cut crown molding).

The first day we started out wallpapering the walls.  These are mine drying on the floor.  I brought my own, as is my practice.  I never put enough glue on anything but it turns out I put too much on a couple of these and had to ease it out with a credit card.


While the walls were drying Ray demonstrated how to put the refrigerator together.  He had kindly built a box for each of us.  But as no good deed goes unpunished, it immediately became obvious that I had to take mine apart since I am having a fridge made by ELF Miniatures.  What I needed was just the housing for the fridge to slip into.  


Then we started making the cabinets.  I had bought a fancy new metal gluing jig since my wooden one has never been that good.  Unfortunately, I should have bought different magnets like the ones this smart person had because my cabinets didn't stay square and I had to take more than one apart.  This is where not using enough glue comes in handy.


Here are some of my my cabinets made up.


The next step was putting on the handles.  Ray handed out a template so we knew where to put them.   We punched the holes with metal push pins.


Believe it or not, the handles are made of staples and beads and are the perfect scale.


More to come...
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Quick Post: Tom Bishop's Chicago Fall Show This Weekend

August 22, 2013, 4:00 am
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I know I've been MIA this month...too much RL going on!  I will be exhibiting this weekend:


Tom Bishop presents the 2013

CHICAGO FALL 
MINIATURES SHOW

NEW LOCATION!   
     Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows/Schaumburg     
  3405 Algonquin Road
Rolling Meadows, IL  60008 
Telephone: 847-259-5000

Exclusive Preview Show & Sale
Friday, August 23 ~ 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Tickets Available at Door - $12.00
Includes Early Buying Privileges and 2 Day Admission    

Saturday, August 24, 2013 ~ 10 am - 4 pm
Admission: Adults $6.00 
Children under 12 - $3.00 (No Strollers)



Come Visit!
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Another Quick Post

September 23, 2013, 7:22 am
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I promise to get back to blogging regularly very soon.  Meanwhile, the cover story of the November issue of Miniature Collector features a story I wrote about Rik Pierce.  Rik is amazingly talented and was great to work with.  So enjoy the story!



You can subscribe to Miniature Collector here:  http://www.scottpublications.com/mcmag/

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My Kitchen

October 8, 2013, 4:00 am
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I have finally finished the kitchen I made in Ray Whitledge's class last July.  There were lots of little things I wanted to complete before posting photos and it has taken me a while.  Once again I am indebted to my friend Bill McGuire who helped so much with the finishing touches. There is still one element to come -- the mural I commissioned from Tiny Ceramics-- but I decided to go ahead and post photos now anyway.

I am going to start with the whole box and then post a few photos of the kitchen side first.  Recall that I used Farrow and Ball's Wimborne White on the cabinets--it is a lovely bright white which is still warm.  That's a Heidi Ott chandelier which I painted silver.


Elizabeth LePla of ELF Miniatures made the stove, island, and refrigerator.  I could not be more pleased with the way they turned out!  They look so real and fit the mood perfectly. I especially love the wine chiller in the island. 


On the other side there is a wine rack.  What you can't see is the open shelves where I have placed cooking equipment that isn't being used tonight.


The island is set up for a party--all the hors d'oeuvres are displayed as if someone would walk into the kitchen for a bite.  I have so much food I had a hard time deciding what to place here but ultimately I like the selection.  Martha McLean made the lilacs, which, as you will notice, perfectly match the window shades --which she kindly gave me the fabric for-- and the Stokesay Ware Blue Willow china in the back display cabinet.

On the stove and around the kitchen there is TYA's stainless steel work--pots and pans. The tile mural is going to go behind the pots.


 Below is TYA's fabulous espresso maker and their new mixer is in the right corner.


Speaking of Stokesay Ware, I have had this Blue Willow for a long time and just knew this box was the right place to display it.  Isn't it pretty?  I almost every single piece in this pattern.


Following through on the blue and white decor, I have placed a grouping of china on top of the refrigerator cabinet.  There are five Stokesay pieces plus a couple of estate pieces I picked up from somewhere.


More to come....
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Good Sam Show This Weekend in San Jose

October 10, 2013, 4:00 am
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I will be exhibiting at the Good Sam Showcase of Miniatures this coming weekend in San Jose, CA.  I've never been to the show but I am looking forward to it and to seeing friends and fellow dealers.


2013 Good Sam Showcase of Miniatures

Largest Sales and Exhibits of Dollhouse Miniatures west of the Mississippi

October 12th & 13th, 2013

Saturday 10-5
Sunday 11-4 

Doubletree Hotel San Jose 

2050 Gateway Place, San Jose, California
Come Visit!
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Good Sam Show Exhibits

October 16, 2013, 9:06 am
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I had a great time at the Good Sam show last weekend.  In addition to the showroom, they had an Exhibitor's Gallery of projects local people had done. 

Here are a few photos of those that intrigued and inspired me.  Some of the photos aren't great because of the reflection from the glass but you will get the idea.   Miniature people are just so creative!

I liked this over-the-top shop.


 And all these Christmas stalls and carts--no wonder I took the most photos of these. Apparently the cart was a NAME project.  I am trying to get the kit so I can make one of my own.
 

 




 
Then there was this rather imposing structure.  Not sure what it is --a shop, I think.  

 
This Mediterranean kitchen is wonderful!




And this shop is so clever!  I've never seen anything like it.



Thanks to all who stopped by my table.  I'll be in San Jose again next year!
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