Friday 5 April 2013

# 43, THE PARLOR (unfolds)


The Parlor
at 
#43 Green Dolphin St.

Okay, I guess you are thinking that this is finished.
No, everything is still in a state of flux.  I spent all day yesterday and all of last night, trying to decide on what to do about the walls.  I had originally opted for red wallpaper and had it all ready to install and found to my dismay that by using that particular color,  the room was becoming way to contemporary and all the cottage charm was sacrificed for something that was beginning to look like a designer show house and so out it went.

NOW WHAT DO I DO?


I must have tried out 10 different prints all taken from scrapbooking tablets.  I have 4 books of papers that have some usable prints but I confess that much of it is wasted as the prints are far to wild and big for what I want to do.
But out of the various tablets there was enough variety to keep my mind in a whirl!
What about this one, or this one ?  Each pattern had its plusses and its minuses.  What I wanted was something that would read "Victorian", something that would allow the contents to be easily viewed, as well I needed something to go with the printies of the carpets that I still have yet to transfer onto fabric.  Just when I thought I had found a suitable wallpaper, I would load it into the room and my face would fall and I would become disgruntled all over again.  I was a frustrated artist and my muse was NOT COOPERATING with me.
The rooms were pretty but.....

I want pretty but I also want some "history" and so I ended up with this creamy beige wall paper that has a repeating squarish print in it.  It is a tone on tone and keeps the walls light enough but also warms it up visually. There is a pattern but it is subdued and very discreet when viewed at a distance.
 I think that you can see how cosy this tiny room has become with it propped against the walls.
I also painted the frosted glass wall sconces with Amber glass paint by Gallery Glass and then while it was still damp I went over it with a Black glass paint by DecoArt which I picked up at the $1 store and although it was black it was so thin an watery- looking that it gave the globes a thin greyish wash that gave the shades a more antique-look, not so

 "See what I bought at the home improvement store" look. 
***
 This lady hunted high and low at every flea market that she could find to secure these lamps and now they look as though they have always been there.

You can see them clearer in this photo.  The wires are hanging down the wall or sticking out
 'higgley -piggley' in some of the photos because they have to wait a wee bit longer for me to drill the holes through the walls an draw the wires through to the outside.  I didn't want to do any of that until I finalized the choice of wall paper...... and so it goes.
***
You can see that Nate the Great Dane has commandeered the lady's slippers!
She better return Quickly!  These are her favorite pair!

Nate seems to be preoccupied by "Tai" the cat,  named after another character from the novel.
Tai is perched on the arm chair that I have stuffed temporarily with the fabric that I THINK that I shall be using to cover it.  I chose it because it is dark and I needed dark to off-set the really dark chest of drawers next to it.  I may have to do something with the hardware on that chest because I think it reads heavy but that will have to wait a while longer.  I wanted a pattern for the chair and this works also because of the lighter tan in it that continues the color that is in the walls.  I moved Janines, orange roses to the tea table which I raised up onto some ball feet which will need to be painted. I did this because the kitchen will not be able to have a table and chairs in it at all.  The staircase will be preventing it and so this wee little table will serve as a eating space and also hold the typewriter  for when inspiration hits.


Here you can see the progress of the Parlor in relation to the kitchen space next to it. The doorway is covered over with wallpaper but you can see the edge of it.  The staircase that used to run up the middle of the house is going to be re-located to the left outside wall and make a two step return right under the kitchen window.  I have never tried this before so it should be interesting.  I will probably mess it up as it involves math, but I shall press on anyway.  If I just allowed the straight run it would not give me enough room at the top of the step to the second floor landing.  As it is, I will be using the ugly stringers from the kit but I shall refinish them and MAKE them useable and pretty.
That's my job!

haha

Tai the cat 

Tai is actually looking at the cage of  lovebirds  that are on top of the sewing table directly opposite and in his line of vision.  What was that lady thinking!?  She better get back soon or those two little birds are in danger of becoming "chicken dinner".  Maybe that is why Nate is not moving on the slippers.  He is guarding the lovebirds.
***
next up
FIRE!

I purchased a lucky find at Wal-Mart this past Christmas season.  This is from a package of battery operated grain of rice LED lights that are on ULTRA FINE wire on a straight 6 ft run!  The package cost $8 and puts out a lot of light.  I made them red with glass paint and then darkened them more with orange fabric paint in red and orange and then let it dry and bunched it up and placed it into a cut down empty CASE PACKAGING of ORANGE FLAVORED TIC TAC.  I saw this used on a tutorial blog site and as soon as I get the name I shall post it for all to see because I thought it was clever and it makes a wonderful fire!

p.s.
(I found the name of the blog and it is posted in the comments below as a reply printed in CAPITAL LETTERS)

When the lights were painted I took half of the Tic Tac case cut in half  to fit the firebox and stuffed the lights into it.  Because the case is orange, it intensifies the color of the painted lights.
 Results in a
 ROARING FIRE!

Keep Warm Marisa of Steinworks! 

***
Silver Serving Trays
Here was another "Find" for $2.99 from the thrift store
A 'silver' locket that i bought to make into 2 silver trays for the Parlor.

The Before and the..
AFTER
***
ROOM WITH A VIEW!
This was a fun shot with a view of sailing ships in the distance.  I like to have a backdrop when I am composing a project because it keeps me focused on the feeling that I am trying to evoke and not get so distracted.  It works for me.
You can see the little silver tray on the tea table and Janine's roses and Fat's umbrella on the hat rack which I decided to move from the corner so it is more in the entry.  The doorway will make it more accessible when I cut the wall to allow more traffic flow from the Parlor to the kitchen.


After much hesitancy about the size of this picture I think I have decided to keep it after all and when the wall paper is installed I shall HANG it on the wall rather than have it leaning against the wall is it is now doing.   I have made some minor changes to the top of the dresser and it will probably be revised again before I am done.
 Playing with doll's houses is

 WORK!
but

still fun
 even when it is frustrating
What can I say about the curtains, except that for the first make-over of the parlor they were not wanted.  Once I got the wall paper up I had a change of heart and so the lengths of tea stained toile that are temporarily bunched on either side of the window will be informal curtains with a soft swag valance above.  I will keep as much of the window available to allow maximum light and I shall hang the swag as high as I can to visually elongate the window.  You can see what I mean in the picture below
An overview of the PARLOR with the temporary curtain panels propped against the wall and the lace swag valance high on the wall to make the window look bigger than it is.

HEY?
Tai the cat must have fled through the open front door!
It seems that Nate is pretty good as a guard dog.

GOOD BOY!
*********
elizabeth

49 comments:

  1. Hello Elizabeth,
    It is so great to go through your project step by step...I love to see how a genious mind works. Everything you chose is just perfect. The paper, the fire light, the lamps...all wonderful.
    Paper is very tricky...it looks so different once it is in a miniature room. Also, I love the fabric you chose...I think the hardest for me is coordinating print fabrics with print papers...it might be victorian, but what works in real life does not always translate to 1:12. Keep it up, your work is awsomeness!
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Hello Giac! You a quick on the draw my friend! I only just posted this and I am just getting ready to head out to work in the real world! Good timing!
      I totally agree, things look different when installed inside the confines of a miniature room and that was the core of my frustration.
      Thank you for liking the fabrics that also was a challenge and of course what things look like in person can be so different on camera. You are not alone in trying to coordinate the fabrics and the paper successfully. I go through the exact same thing which is why I stay up so late because I want to get it right, RIGHT NOW! Sometimes though it better to walk away and not get so anxious about it but it is hard to be defeated by a toy! hahahha
      Thank you Giac and a Big Hug Back to you!

      elizabeth

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  2. Hi Elizabeth, amazing work, well done! I especially love that roaring fire, to curl up under a warm blanket, hot coco and staring into the fire.....:D! Thanks for sharing the tips of how to do the fire!
    Hugs, Ilona

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    1. Thank you Ilona! I am so pleased that you are enjoying this and the fire was so nice to have in the fireplace as it is really visible and make the room really cosy and like you say a cup of hot coco would be lovely! Feel free to throw the afghan that is draped over the arm chair over your shoulders, that is what it is there for!

      elizabeth

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  3. Fantastic room so many wonderful details. I love the fire it makes the room so cosy. Wonderful work.
    Hugs Maria

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    1. Hi Maria! Thank you for the lovely compliment! I love details and the more the better. To me every little detail is like a word in a story. You string each word together to make a sentence and each sentence to make a paragraph,etc., in other words, every thing counts big or small to make the story make sense. I also love the fire and the fact that it is blazing is a bonus! I didn't know how I was going to use those mini lights other than on a Christmas tree and I already had some for that. Using them this way, 'warms' my heart!

      elizabeth

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  4. I just love this room and its contents. Love the shot with the sailing ships in the background and thanks for the tip of using a locket for silver trays. I'm sure I've got a couple of old cheap lockets around somewhere! Sometimes I give wallpapers a light wash of black or gray to give them a bit of an aged feel - just enough to take the newness away but not enough to make it look too dirty or grungy (unless of course you want that effect). Well done Elizabeth and good boy Nate.

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    1. Hi again Sharee! I love the shot of the sailing ships in the background too and I know that I said that this is a contemporary time in a victorian home so the way I have reconciled the 2 is that this is a REGALIA. There just happens to be a lot of participants for this one as it is a 2 page spread of a flotilla of galley ships preparing for a sea battle. I just liked the misty water, part of the picture. hahah. I hope that you can find the lockets as I found that they look really good as serving trays especially with the engraving on them.
      With this particular scrapbook paper, it had a lot of aging on it already and as you say, Sharee, sometimes you want to add more. I have used a watery brown for age and yet I think that a grey wash would also be effective. I shall have to remember this tip, thank you!
      I shall also pass on to Nate the pat on the head from you; he IS a good boy!

      eliabeth

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  5. Hi Elizabeth,
    If only your followers could have heard the frustration in your voice yesterday as you tried to find appropriate wallpaper that kept the spirit of your vision instead of heading in a new direction.

    However it all looks great! The fire is particularly interesting being so bright it brings ones attention to the heart of the house.

    I like the pattern of fabric for the upholstery of the chair. I know,however, that this room will go through many changes before you consider it finished.

    Hugs, I miss you already.
    Janine

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    1. Hi Janine! Yes indeed! I was at my wits end yesterday and the paper I almost chose was PINK! It completely changed the direction of the room and it began to look more like "GIGI" instead of the GREEN DOLPHIN STREET that I had originally, envisioned. Wall paper or color is the foundation of the room as it usually takes up the greatest visual space and it sets the tone for what is around it so until I get it right, nothing else can happen. I think that I am back on track now with this beige tone on tone.
      Isn't the fire amazing!? I am so happy that I remembered the tutorial and I shall give the credit out once I am able to locate the name of the blog, as it prompted me to buy TIC TAC just for the case and I gobbled those breath mints down at record speed, just to be able to get at the empty case. Once it was empty I tucked it away and forgot about it until Marisa , from Steinworks, mentioned wanting to curl up in front of the fireplace and wished it had a fire burning inside it. Enter the TIC TAC container as I remembered seeing it on the blog.
      It is really effective and I sit and look at it with the lights off.... it is magical!
      I am happy for now, with the chair fabric and will soon commit to it fully and get it done! I will make a small cushion from the curtain fabric to tie the 2 sides of the room together once I have the chair finished. Thank you for your comment Janine! Just think of the fun we shall have once you are home again!
      BIG HUGS BACK!

      elizabeth

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  6. Es preciosa la habitación y esas luces son perfectas, una suerte encontrarlas.
    Un abrazo

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    1. Hola Rosamargarita! Thank you for your comment and the wonderful compliment and I am so glad that you like the lights! I am thrilled that I was able to use some of the collection of lights that I have, as well as some that I have started making from scratch. I never know how to leave things alone so I was bound to customize them regardless. I am happy that they turned out as well as they did, and thank you for liking them!

      elizabeth

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  7. Oh, what a lot of changes you go through!!! I can see there is method to your creating! You have to see it in place to see it.... isn't it frustrating when the imagined look isn't what happens? I think you are right about the wall paper needing to be on the light side... I can't make out the pattern from your pictures! I LOVE the fabric for your chair and I love the paintings you have chosen! I look forward to watching how this evolves... as I am sure you have a feeling you are trying to create and you will know it when you see it! I Love the pets.... they look so at home! And the Roaring fire is great! I need to make a big one like that for my Castle Hearth in the Great Hall! I can't wait to see more!

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    1. Hello Betsy! Yes, I drive myself CRAZY with the way that I work and yet it is the only way for me to understand the house and develop the atmosphere as I go along. I am a visual person and as Giac pointed out what looks right outside the doll's house may loose its luster and become entirely different when applied to the 3 mini walls. The pattern on the paper is hard to see in regular light so it reads only beige unless you have your nose right up to it. I didn't choose to have beige and really didn't want beige. BUT, when I placed it inside it was the only paper that didn't try to grab the spotlight and it kept the room calm in the midst of all the 'goings on'. You just never know. The fabric came about as the wall paper was finalized and once it was stuffed inside the chair frame, it made perfect sense and I've grown quite fond of it. It is funny that you said just exactly what my sister said when she saw me trying to select the wallpaper, trying and failing, over and over; "You will know it when you see it"
      Hey Yah!!! the fire would look great for a log fire for your castle fireplace!!! I am going to make a serious search for that blog and post it in the comments here when I find it! Stay tuned!

      elizabeth

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  8. Hi Elizabeth! I can see you have been working very hard and that everything is coming together. I like the window treatment and the lights in the fireplace. This is going to be a spectacular room when it is finished. You have all the ingredients to make it so. Your chosen fabric for the chair is very nice and I love that afghan. I agree that wallpaper is difficult to select. I am in the process of doing so myself and can vouch for that. I love that huge picture. It complements the room beautifully! You have lovely furniture and accessories and you can't miss. Is this the Arthur? Because if it is, I have never seen a room in an Arthur so very well appointed. You have a style all your own and I find it most refreshing!

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  9. Sorry Elizabeth, of course it's the Arthur. How could I have forgotten?!! It's just that you bashed it so much that it's unrecognizable but so much better. I think what got me mixed up was the door being on the right side of the dividing wall rather than on the left. It's so much better this way.

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    1. HELLO Lucille! Don't apologize for mistaking the Arthur, in fact, thank you for NOT recognizing it as the Arthur. That is wonderful! I bought the front door and the door swung left to right and so I had to make the living room the opposite side of the house. It pays to check first, rather than later as I mistakenly did. I am pleased to hear that you are working on your lovely victorian house again, Lucille. You had so many good ideas that you mentioned when you sent in photos of your delightful Edwardian bed! I am now looking forward to what YOU have in store!

      elizabeth

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    2. HELLO AGAIN EVERYONE! I AM GETTING A LOT OF INTEREST IN THE ROARING FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE AND SO I FINALLY REMEMBERED WHERE I PLACED THE INFORMATION ON HOW TO MAKE ONE. I FOUND THE BLOG ON PINTEREST AND THE NAME OF THE BLOG IS

      "THE TUDOR-MEDIAEVAL-JACOBEAN-QUEEN ANNE DOLLHOUSE PROJECT"
      THE POSTING IS DATED MARCH 20, 2012

      HAVE LOTS OF FUN DOING IT AND GREAT RESULTS!

      elizabeth

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  10. Add me to the long list of thankful readers for your tip on the fireplace :).

    This room is filled with details. Amazing, intricate details. Well done , E!

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    1. Hello Sans! What a difference a fire can make! I had a teeny tiny light in the firebox originally and I could hardly see it but as soon as I amended it and inserted the cut down TIC TAC box;
      WOW! The little embers suddenly were fanned to FLAMES which casts a beautiful rosy glow to the walls of the room that makes me happy and I am glad that it has pleased you too!
      Now, I have to get the actual work done on the room and quit just play with fire!

      elizabeth

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  11. Great work! I like the roaring fire and the adorable cat.
    Greetings, Faby

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  12. Hello Fabiola! and many Thanks!! The fire seems to be something that everyone can use it their dollhouse projects at some point or other and when I saw how they did it at the blog site that I listed for reference just above Sans comment, I knew it was a keeper! So I hope that you will be able to incorporate it into a project of yours too! They used black acrylic paint to "mess' up the exterior of the box to make it look like coals but I didn't do that because of the black firescreen that was already doing that job! So have fun and I hope to hear back that you have given it a try and now can 'keep warm' too!

    elizabeth

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  13. Well my dear Elizabeth. You have been a busy bee. Did I tell you I love the firescreen and now more so with the addition of the roaring fire. I just want to come and cuddle with Nate by the fire perhaps reading the book? The chair material is great and the little afghan suites it perfectly. What a great job you are doing.
    Big hug
    fats

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    1. Hello Fats! Thank you for stopping by again and yes I have been busy but now I am Lazy again.
      I have to take everything out to begin work on the floor and all I want to do is just look at it some more! I know that I am stalling but I also like looking at the fire and a good book and a throw over my legs would nice too. I have your little Battenburg cake slices next to the tea service, Fats but I think that they are hard to see in the photos! I am having soooo much fun with this space now that the wallpaper is decided upon. I really want to enjoy the moment just a wee bit longer.
      How are things going on your side of the city? How is the GARFIELD PROJECT coming along?
      And also BEAUXMINIS web page? You will have an eager line-up when you are finally on the air!

      elizabeth

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  14. May I say it with one word.......? Excellent!!!!!!

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    1. Hello Sab! I shall reply with 2,.... THANK YOU!!!!!!

      I'm looking forward to seeing your 'goodies' from the miniature fair. I know I'm in for a treat!

      elizabeth

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  15. oh Elizabeth
    your room is just wonderful and thank you for the fire I just love it! all I need is my ratty bathrobe and for Nate to give me those slippers then I can sit there with my book ,a nice cup of tea, maybe a few cookies while I enjoy the fire warming my tooties :)


    Mini Hugs
    Marisa

    You are wonderful!

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    1. Hello Marisa! I love the ratty bathrobe idea! hahahhah You are so funny; I always have a smile on my face after reading your comments, they are always so refreshing and full of humor. I am happy that you are enjoying this space and I am too. Thank you for the idea about the fire it was such a GOOD IDEA and now I sit and look at the fireplace and when it is lit and blazing away, a feeling of contentment envelops me and I sit in the half finished arm chair and sigh ..... Ahhhhhhh.

      elizabeth

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  16. Привет!!! Ваш камин потрясающий!!!! Собака и кошка выглядят как настоящие!!!!!! С удовольствием просмотрела ваш блог
    Ksandra

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  17. Hello Ksandra! Welcome and Thank you for your comment. Nate the dog and Tai the cat are very popular suddenly and they are now everybody's pets! I am glad that they meet with your approval too.
    I love the fireplace and the fire in it as well and I am glad that I was able to make it realistic enough to satisfy the close ups of the camera! I will be working on the floor of the cottage now and will be giving an up-date on my progress as I try to translate my "vision" into miniature. I hope you will stay tuned in.

    elizabeth

    p.s. I have joined your blog and I must say that you do some wonderful things in miniature totally unique and well crafted! I am glad to have the opportunity to be a part of it.

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    1. Thank you! I am pleased to be visiting your blog

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  18. That fireplace with the glowing fire absolutely makes the room! It is so cozy. You have achieved a gorgeous cottage look. Beautiful!!
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

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  19. Thank you Caroline! I too, am pleased that this fire in the fireplace has turned out so well. When I turn the switch on especially at night, all I want to do is look at it, and then look at it some more! I think a blazing fire in real life is just as fascinating to watch at anytime; whether it is a bonfire on the beach or a barbecue pit smoking away, there is a continual draw that it has for people to move in closer and stay awhile. I am glad that you like this project, Caroline and I am totally enchanted by yours!

    elizabeth

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  20. Hi, The room with the fireplace looks so inviting and cozy! Love the fabric you chose!
    Tai the cat is wonderful, hope you did find her! ;)
    Hugs
    Kikka

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  21. Hi Kikka! Yes indeed, the cat came back! haha
    Thank you, and she is right back to teasing Nate, but he will NOT be moved!

    elizabeth

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  22. Playing, setting up and staring is a very important part of mini-ing and definitely time well spent. It's nice to see your thought processes and the fire is excellent. I'm also very impressed with your little trays. I'm going to have to train my brain to spot things like that!

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  23. Hi Irene! Thank you for reaffirming that the LOOKING is also important to the process and that playing with the arrangements is very therapeutic. I hope that you will be able to find some lockets that will be suitable for trays, but keep on the look-out for tiny ones as well as they make wonderful little picture frames! I like the fact that everyone that I have come across has the wonderful little engravings on them. Happy hunting!

    elizabeth

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  24. You dit a fantasic job! I love the fireplace!! Fantasic idea!
    Greetings
    Melanie

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    1. Hi Melli! Thank you for your comment and your compliment too! I am busy working on this room and am almost ready to get the progress report up and on the air soon. Let me tell you it has NOT all been smooth sailing in doing this room, but more on that a little later. Meanwhile thank you for enjoying this posting. See you soon.

      elizabeth

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  25. Elisabeth, your posts are are always a treasure trove and you allow us to benefit from it. Thank you!!!

    Ersilia

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    1. Hello Ersilai! I am delighted that you have left a comment and I thank you for it! I try to bring something a little different to each post without scaring people away! Each time I air a post I am always holding my breath hoping that people will like it and respond to it; then I am always surprised and very pleased when they do! I really DO appreciate it. I am working hard to get the parlor done enough to post before I move on to another tutorial, so thank you for all your patience; a new posting is coming soon!

      elizabeth

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  26. You did a fantastic job on the parlor. I can see how much work it took, no less than decorating a 1:1 room. I am sure you enjoyed finding all those beautiful miniatures which found their place in this lovely room.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Hello Drora! Yes it was lots of fun decorating this space. So much of it was finding the items that were stuffed into boxes that had been stored in the garage. It was good to get them out again! I have just finished the parlor and have just done a posting on it so hope that you enjoy the completed project.
      Thank you for your comment!

      elizabeth

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  27. Hi Elizabeth, this is just my sort of room. Packed with detail and atmosphere. I love the vase of flowers and the way it draws the eye into the centre of the room and then you can explore the rest.
    Love it!

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  28. Hi Janice! Thank you! I know that you enjoy the Victorian style in your own projects and so this too would be relatable. I have found myself really getting into this project much more than I had originally imagined. I was so reluctant to begin this doll's house and it sat all forlorn for quite a while in the workroom and now I don't want to stop! I'm Having way too much fun!

    elizabeth

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  29. I love Tai the cat! Where did you get such a realistic and quirky kitty? :)

    toddlindsey.com

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  30. Hello Lindsey! I really can't remember exactly who I bought him from but I do believe that He was purchased at one of the miniature shows that I attended down in Seattle Washington many years ago. There is no signature on the bottom of this piece but it is made of resin as is Nate the dog and these pets are usually found at almost any mini fair that you can go to as well as available at most miniature shops and stores. So look on line if there is no store in your area. The cats and dogs that they produce now are UNBELIEVABLE and you will for sure find something to your liking! Also check out the blog by Catherine of 'KILMOUSKI AND ME'. She has a long haired cat that is LONG HAIRED and you will see what I am referring to as 'Unbelievable'. Ejoy!

    elizabeth

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    1. Woah! So amazzzinnnggg! Thanks for the great referral. :)

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  31. SEE, didn't I tell you? Work such as what is produced now is like the Miniature Olympics; there are 10 out of 10's popping up all over the place!

    elizabeth

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