Special swap gifts from Jennifer at Plushpussycat

How gorgeous is this corset  ...

... and these pretty antiqued Czech glass bead perfume bottles?!

They are the handiwork of Jennifer at Plushpussycat.

(The photos are also by Jennifer, the setting is her Lover's Cottage.)

Thank you Jennifer, they are so lovely and will suit Emily's French bedroom perfectly.

Giveaway winners

Congratulations to Sharon (Hollyshan) and Flora (la casa delle bambole di flora)!!  

Yes that's right - there are two winners!!  Ann asked me to draw two names - my husband did the draw from an old straw hat :) - as the first name out of the hat Sharon gets first choice of either a modern or vintage grocery set and either the children's book or the cookbook - the remaining set of groceries and remaining book will go to Flora.  

If you didn't win don't be sad,   you can purchase groceries and books of your choice at a VERY reasonable price from Ann.  Click here to see my previous post which mentions her prices.  You can also visit her website (click here) or email her at logan@optusnet.com.au  Purchases are paid for via Paypal and Ann happily ships internationally. 

Thanks to everyone for entering, and thanks to Ann for providing such special prizes.

M. Culat takes a bath - at Emily's!

Thanks for all your interesting suggestions regarding my bathroom issues, I think that Emily's neighbour, M. Culat may have come up with a solution.  He is trying out the brass bathtub and he seems to quite like it.  I suspect he's going to try to talk Emily into letting him move it into his place next door, not a bad idea as it would allow Emily to choose a new bathtub that would perhaps suit her (and the shower unit)  better.  I think M. Culat would be quite happy with a very simple tap system, he's not really a shower type of guy preferring a leisurely soak in the tub.  

Beginning the bathroom (and seeking your opinions)

Firstly thanks so much for your encouraging and interesting comments on the previous post about the kitchen, I appreciate every single one of them.

As I mentioned I've started on the bathroom, still lots to do but at last I can see how the brass bathtub looks.   It's actually a soap dish, to my great delight I found it on eBay - Susanne @ Miniature Dreams used to have one on her blog header and I always admired it so I was excited to find one of my own. I thought it would be perfect for the old French bathroom and I'm happy to see that it looks right at home.

The bathroom is at the back of the house, above the kitchen.  Part of the bedroom will be in front of it with a doorway for 'ensuite' access.  (The door that you can see below is the hallway/bathroom door.)

When the dividing wall between the bedroom and bathroom goes in the bathroom will be visible only through that doorway and the side window.  There will also be a mirror on the wall opposite the vanity so that it, and the accessories on it, can be seen (perhaps 'glimpsed' is a better word) from the front.

I couldn't find an old fashioned toilet so I made one.  

I started out with this modern unit...

I microwaved it on full power for about 3 seconds to soften up the glue holding the two parts together so that I could pull the cistern away from the base.  About half of the back of the base was cut off so it fits closer to the wall.

I made the cistern from a small block of balsa adding some trim and a lid, also the flush lever, chain and downpipe.  The downpipe is a black plastic drinking straw painted silver,  it has a bend at the bottom just like a real one where it connects to the toilet pan.  I don't remember where I got the straw, I've had it for ages in my 'found things' stash just waiting to be turned into a toilet cistern downpipe :)

At the moment it looks like it would be impossible to flush this toilet because the lever is sitting on the top of the window blind but that's because both the wall and the cistern are temporarily held in place with blu-tac which is pushing them both forward a little.  Once everything is fixed in properly the lever should fit behind the window frame. 

I'm going to repaint the cistern (it's too dirty compared to the rest of the bathroom) possibly in a creamy colour to set it off against the white wall, but it might even go black!

I have a dilemma that I'd like your opinion on...

I'm thinking of spray painting the shower unit to dull it down a bit. It's a bit hard to tell from the photo but  it looks totally shiny and new compared to the bathtub, and the bathroom in general - I bit too shiny and new I think.  On the other hand it does match the toilet chain and the taps on the vanity, but they too may yet get an ageing treatment. 

The two paint options are a more aged gold/brass look or matt black.  The third option is to leave it alone, it does add a nice little bit of luxury to an other wise very practical home and I quite like having some contrasting features. 

Please feel free to share your opinion - (a) paint to look more aged gold/brass (b) paint matt black (c) leave it alone (d) some other option I haven't thought of.  

I'd appreciate knowing what you think!

Plumbing and Paint

I love my "goose neck" tap set in the French kitchen - but it created a frustrating problem I hadn't anticipated. 

As you can see (below) there isn't enough clearance between the bottom of the window frame and the tap lever.  I confess I said several rude words when I discovered my mistake! 

I considered a few different options to solve the problem but decided on the easiest fix and out came the sandpaper.  The bottom of the window frame is no longer a tight fit on the window sill but at least it clears the taps.  The gap isn't noticeable from the inside.  I added an extra strip to the exterior framing to cover the gap that certainly was visible from the outside but it's not really necessary in the long run because a window box will be added  later.   However, in the meantime it'll keep Emily safe from cold draughts when she's washing the dishes ;)

Also I've overcoated the green on the cabinet with a coat of chalky pale grey as I decided the original colour was too strong in such a tiny kitchen, especially when there was no other similar green to link it to.  I think this new colour sits much more happily with the surrounding grey shades.  

Since taking these photos I've also added a touch of off white to the sink to diminish the pristine look of it. 

The last couple of days I've been busy fitting out the bathroom - more plumbing, but at least no troublesome taps - photos to come soon.

The kitchen tap set was purchased from www.miniatures.com - click here to go directly to the set on their web site.

'Miniature Supermarket' giveaway

Ann at The Miniature Supermarket (and bookstore!) has generously provided a 1:12 scale giveaway prize package of a pack of groceries (modern or vintage) and a vintage book (children's or cookbook).  

The winner can choose from 

this pack of modern groceries

OR 

this pack of 50s/60s groceries

PLUS

either this vintage children's book 

OR

this vintage cookbook

The giveaway is open to Australian and international readers but please note the groceries are Australian brands. 

If you are an international reader don't let that stop you entering the draw - this is your chance to add something a little 'exotic' to your pantry.    

To enter just leave a comment on this post - you don't have to be a follower of this blog to enter, and it's not a requirement that you post the giveaway on your blog but of course that would be appreciated. 

If you don't have a blog please be sure to add your email address to your comment. 

Closes 30 June!!   

Click here to visit Ann's catalogue and see all the other groceries, books and flower arrangements that she has available in her store.

This giveaway is now closed!

Progress in the French apartment

Making cabinets is definitely not my favourite mini activity but in order to make Emily a home I had to make her a kitchen.  Although I suspect she will spend very little time in here I decided to give her a full size cooker rather than the little bench top hotplate I was planning on. 

The cooker is made from Lea's instructions in her book Le Grand Livre de la Maison Miniature - it's inclined to be slightly too big for this tiny kitchen so I may eventually remake it downsizing it slightly.  However it doesn't look quite as large in reality as it does in this photo, I think it's 'grown' slightly because it's closest to the camera.

You might recognise the flooring - it was originally in the hallway (see post of 8 May below) but I decided it was too 'informal' for that space, after all this hallway provides access to the salon - so it now has a slightly more formal looking floor ...

I probably would have left the wooden flooring had this been a country house but although this is an unpretentious and very time worn property it is still Parisian and there are some standards which one must uphold ;)

By the way, that door is not the salon entrance, it is a linen storage cupboard, or perhaps a doorway to a secret room, whatever your imagination desires.

Inspired and inspiring Mother's Day gifts

I just had to show you the lovely gifts I received on  Mother's Day (yes, I'm a bit late getting around to it sorry!).

This gorgeous pouch was made by my cleverly creative daughter-in-law Lamina - not only the pouch but the screen printed/stamped fabric as well!!  As it happens the clothes I wore to lunch that day were red, black and grey so it was the perfect accessory :)  

Hidden inside were gift cards for the HUGE local hardware store ** - the perfect place to buy all the materials I need to make a project inspired by another gift...

this awesome book

  

700+ pages of inspiring images and text ...

if this doesn't get me dreaming about another French project nothing will!

A big thanks to my wonderfully inspired and inspiring family xxx

** Last year they gave me a Dremel 300 with attachments - do you see a theme developing here? ;)

I've been playing in the French house

Part of the first floor hallway

By the end of the month Emily may actually have somewhere to live!

Pretty skirt by Susanne at Miniature Dreams

click here to visit her online boutique

 'Petite Brocante'

and here to visit her Etsy Store

'Petite Brocante Minis' 

Looking for mini groceries?

The Sydney Miniature and Dollshouse Fair was on this past weekend. One of the traders I had an interesting chat with was Ann, the owner of the 'The Miniature Supermarket' - THE place to shop for groceries for your dollhouse.

Note: the AUS $2 coin measures 2 cms =  3/4 inch

This is just a sample of what's on offer at

 The Miniature Supermarket 

Ann produces her mini groceries with the Australian market in mind but her range includes global brands so international miniaturists should not be deterred from checking out her range.

Groceries range in price from a $1.50 for a box or packet item, $2.50 for cans and bottles, 3 litre milk/juice $3.50

All of the packaging is reproduced in miniature with the permission of the copyright holders.

And be sure to browse Ann's vintage mini book store

Book prices $6-8 (photo albums $12)

and the flower shop

 Flower arrangement prices $10-20

All prices quoted are in Australian dollars

Click here to go to Ann's store

For enquiries contact her by email at logan@optusnet.com.au

Happy shopping!!