Country Armoire, Part Four

Before teaching my part of the birdhouse and bird’s nest, I took some inspiration from magazines.  One nest is from Victoria Magazine, the other is from Williams- Sonoma.  (Yes, those are chocolate eggs!  Yummy!) My turn came to teach the birdhouse and the nest, the inset shows the basic items.  Each person decorated to her own design. 

Birds Nest from Victoria Magazine

I used cardstock to make the bolts and cut tiny print cottons for the fabric to match my color scheme.  Marla Gilbert made the bunny; the metal etched glasses are a purchased item.  I made a little pin cushion with some wire with the ends dipped in paint.  I cannot remember but I believe the little yellow rubber glass was from a grab bag (?), and the flowers are centers of silk flowers.  They, too, are plastic.

You can see that I have moved on to add other items per the picture.  The little dress I taught at club, as was the heart vine topiary.  Cute, huh? The topiary was not complete at the picture taking.  My little white kitty (representing my late cat, Jack) sits curled up on the quilt.  

Finally, I used the samples I created for the La Petite Belle Pattern 1022, a shopping bag and hat, to fill out the corner next to the chair and to hang on the door.  (I was absent from the meeting when the hat was taught.)

Country Armoire, Part Five (Final)

This final post regarding the project shows more filling out of the armoire.  I have added lace to the shelves, and a knitting basket.  The basket is a purchase from Al Chandronait and a gift of knitting from Michelle Mahler of The Creative Doll; however, Michelle did not do the knitting.  The middle has a pot of plastic flowers. 

You can see from the pictures that I keep changing things.  I move them around a lot, and you will too when you create a vignette project such as this.  I have plates printed onto photo paper to stash, as needed, some ribbons, baskets, other porcelain china, as well as some Chrysnbon purchases with which to work.  Many items, like the copper kettle, did not make it into the final cut.  I found a tea set and knew I had the right thing for the top shelf.  The pitcher and bowl made it to the floor, and the excess china into the basket under the armoire.  Another china vase that Marla made shown next to the topiary is waiting for some additional something to add, and I snuck in a little Kewpie next to the chair. 

The next picture shows a Country Angel on top of the armoire made in a class at Suzanne Andrews Miniature Shop and a purchased country crock.  Kewpie is now gone and another bird’s nest placed in its space, while a mouse rests under the nose of kitty.  Another bag takes space behind the right armoire door.  More of the printed plates attached to the wall next to the chair.  Another bunny takes pride of place on the top shelf, and books complete the bottom shelf.   No doubt, you can see many things you would do, and I do too.  For example, I have a small china lamp to hang from the ceiling on the left to above the painting, but it is not there, yet.  For me, until I do that, this is a completed project.

I do hope you find a wonderfully inspiration picture and can turn it into a little memory box for yourself. 

Have Fun! 

Kathi Mendenhall

A Day of Dolls

I had the luxury of sneaking away from the office to visit one of my favorite dolly friends. Elise lives in a turn of the century house brimming full of antiques and delights. The best part of her glorious collection is of course her dolls. She had done some shopping with me earlier this year and was very excited to show me what she had created for her some of her beauties. I was gleeful to visit and play dolls for the day. I really LOVE to see what my customers create using my fabrics and trims. Elise's enjoys is combining modern textiles with vintage and antique fabrics and trims. She is always inspired by my classically designed fabrics and says they combine naturally with old world laces and trims.  I hope you enjoy the visit as much as I did.  Michelle  minidolls.com

French Fashion Lady 1870
(forgive her fastenings they have not been completed yet)

 Antique Dollhouse Dolls

Cabinet Size Steiner

More of her various collections to be found in all corners of her home.

Country Armoire , Part Three

I wanted to catch up, and finally, I am. We continue to build on the Armoire Vignette.

I kit bashed an armoire I purchased as defective. The doors, completely removed and turned around, flipping the sides so it appears that they shut. I sanded and painted the armoire, as well as made shelves and glue them in. The lace covering the door is my attempt at reusing some old lace pieces as draperies. They cover all sorts of sins.

Add your large pieces at the beginning, as you will be working from the back forward now. The second largest piece is the purchased ladder back chair. The quilt taught at miniature club. I think it is darling. The process was simple and I feel like I could make many more. I had previously fit the quilt to the chair and sprayed it with water and steam to hold its shape. I borrowed some country signs from the internet and played with them as well. Notice the Antiques sign over the chair. In addition, I started working with the items I had on hand to fill the armoire.

I took a class on stained glass in Chattanooga with Penny Champion, IGMA Fellow. My first piece of stained glass rests on the wall above the armoire. To the right of the armoire is another picture of a picture behind a windowpane. I often use only some clear holding wax. I often use only some clear wax to adhere things to the walls.

Kathi

Country Armoire Chapter Two

My New Year wish list consisted of doing a new blog every Tuesday.  I have already failed!  Sigh!  Last week was busy getting the painters in and out, pictures hung, and the furniture in two rooms switched.  That's right we flipped rooms.  I like it!  We painted the new dining room RED!  Ming Red.  It's beautiful.  Not at all "beachy" as I had thought I wanted.  I love the Shabby Chic look, but apparently it is not me!  Or I should say US!

So, here I am back, intent on catching up.  Hopefully the next chapter will be correctly posted on Thursday and I will be all caught up.  For now, I will tell you how I prepared the body or the background of the vignette or shadow box for the Country Armoire.

I printed a brick sheet of paper I created in MS Publisher by fitting together a picture of an old Brick wall.  My intent was to show this as an indoor sunroom.  Perhaps it is in a converted porch area of a home or even a small resell shop in the square of Anywhere USA.  The feel I am trying to achieve is that of comfort and home.  The picture printed on matte photo paper, cut to size for the shadow box and glued it into place.  What you do not see very well, is I did the same thing with the floor and the sides.  The sides are red painted wood planking, also printed on photo paper, cut, and glued into place.  I had some wood flooring, so installed it per the instructions.  I did use a little paste wax when it was completed.
The final picture is the shadow box prepared for furniture installation.

I hope to have more steps soon and you can create a vignette using your miscellaneous miniatures, too. 

Kathi