Cynthia Howe delightfulness

I am considering buying a desktop laser cutter when I get my tax return this year, but then got to thinking, there are websites that offer small lot custom laser cutting... but which website did I see it on??? I went searching, and Cynthia Howe's website is one that I thought might've been where I saw it. I was wrong, but I did find this:



It's so sweet! I adore it! It's an online class that you can register for and the kit includes everything (other than accessories). Just adore it.

I also found this cool dollhouse for sale on Ebay a while back. I love the non-traditional dollhouse. I decided a while back that any dollhouse I build from now on has to open either at the front or side, unless it's a small (1/2 or 1/4 scale) one. Except for the tiny cottages/shops which can be moved easily.

It is based on a real-life French house. I'm thinking it forms a good base for an art nouveau house I will build 'sometime'!







And as for the laser cutter, I found which website it was (Karen Cary's) and need to carry out further investigations to figure out whether it's worth it.

Yes, I've been slack!

I haven't been doing too much mini-ing recently. I intend on doing some purchasing this weekend for my French shoppe (and yes I believe shopping IS a ligitimate mini-ing activity!!) and hopefully get a bit more undercoating of the roof shingles done (it's a terrible job).

So anyways, found some really cool pics recently so thought I'd share.

First up, not sure where I found this (maybe Flickr??), but it's sooooo cute! I MUST recreate it one day:




Found this one on flickr today, and absolutely fell in love with it. Take a look at their account.



Next one I found on a website for the special effects company that worked on the Lemony Snickett movie (can't remember the name of them). It would be so awesome for a witch/haunted dollhouse. Love it.



And last one, again, can't remember where I found it but love it. Such a pretty room with a modern twist. Love the colours.

New little house

I don't really like it much. Well, I like the exterior but will probably redo the interior. Which may be difficult given it is basically impossible to get the bed out - it broke as I was trying to get it in, it was such a tight squeeze. It was for the Greenleaf Spring Fling, and I just didn't have enough time to do it. I kept changing my mind about what to do, so that didn't help!

Here is an overall shot of the interior.



Next is a shot of the living area. To the right is the kitchen part. I have some better photos, but they're on my other computer. The Phoenix stove (on the far right) is now in my French shop!



Next, the bedroom.



Next is the exterior. The front has a telescope for watching ships and sand castles.



Lastly, a side shot. Not too exciting. For some reason, the stick was to be standing up.



I think when I redo the interior, it will be in the colourway of the exterior - more blue-grey and rustic colours. Also needs more seaside-y things inside.

Photos of the Petite Trianon

I could quite happily live in the Petite Trianon. This was built by Louis 16 and Marie Antoinette and was where Marie Antoinette spent a lot of her time. It was just so seriously gorgeous and many of the rooms were quite small and cosy.

This photo shows her bedroom with the fabric made especially for her.The furniture all matched and it was sold off after her arrest, but most of it was recovered and put back in the Petite Trianon (from recollection by Napoleon), except for the bed which was never found.



Next is the sitting room which was beside her bedroom. It had a panel which was on some sort of sliding track which came up through the floor to cover the window (you can see it reflected in the mirror - it's halfway over the window).



Lastly is a small sleigh, which looks much larger than it actually was. I don't think it would even fit a child in it (except for a very small one!). Very cute.

More France pics at long last!

I have chosen some more pictures to show you all - they're mostly cute buildings and some interiors that I'd like to reproduce in miniature if I had the time, patience and space! It was pretty much the basis for taking all the pictures I took in France!

These first four pics show some houses in the seaside Brittany town of Vannes (think I showed some pics of the old walled part of town in an earlier post).









Next is a row of tudor houses with shops/cafes beneath. Also in Vannes I think. Most of the places we visited had these old districts full of narrow cobbled streets and tudor buildings all on top of each other.



Next is a pic taken inside Chenonceau I think. It is a chateau in the Loire valley - called the ladies' castle I think, as it has mostly had women own it over time. It was all decorated for easter and looked great. It was a little disappointing as there wasn't much furniture but that was probably typical of the era for many of the chateaus.



Next is the bridge where my fiance proposed to me (that's him leaning over the rail). It was taken the day before he proposed.



Lastly is a picture of Versailles, not long before my camera died (dammit!). Luckily we didn't go anywhere with only one camera - my other half took lots of pics for me. It was truly spectacular and I will have to visit it again one day.

Veronique Lux cuteness

Found this awesome website today: Veronique Lux. Such very cute vintage mini toys for a little French child's room. So cute. Here are some pics:

New love is grand!

Well, today I managed to secure one of these lovely little ladies!!!



She is so cute, and I am so enamoured!

Yes, I know it has nothing to do with minis. But I had to share!

I have been working on a mini project - the Greenleaf Spring Fling but can't show pictures at this stage - obviously! I am looking forward to getting back to my French shop as soon as I am done with the spring fling.