February Design Challenge Round-Up

Seven short days ago, I laid down a quick & dirty challenge for modern miniature enthusiasts everywhere to create a scene honoring their favorite holiday (or observance) in the month of February. You've all responded so enthusiastically and I'm so feeling all the love! (cause who wants to be talking to themselves, right?) As of today, we have quite a nice round-up and while Valentine's Day was by far the most represented holiday, a few others had a moment in the spotlight even a few (gasp) that don't fall in the month of February.  We also had recurring themes like decadence and indulgence, as well as a few repeating icons. Any guess as to which ReacJapan designer chair made the most appearances in scenes?

The journey began with color and glitz of carnival over at Minis-B-Happenin' with a mini-sized float for one of the many Mardi Gras parades that was large on talent, creativity, and diva personalities. We were then asked to consider what makes Valentine's Day different from (college) spring break over at the Hard Way. Remember all the excess of young love? Apparently, there's a reason why the young guys want to make sure a girl's glass is never empty. Then we had three scenes that turn up the romance quotient.  There's a chic, mid-century scene set for a pair of "LOVE"birds over at Mini Mod Pod while Modernist Molly prepared a cozy custom made bed in a lodged decked out with all the modern trappings.  It's all hearts and rose petals at Mini Modern Mind. Wouldn't we all loved to be so spoiled (grins from ear to ear)? We're  then hit by a cold dose of heartbreak with Jazzi Mini's ode to the single woman. It's a macabre Valentine's scene that takes a turn towards the horror of Halloween. Finally, I created my own take on Valentine's Day that I called, A Love Supreme. It's full of love but  not solely the romantic kind (wink). It overflows with references to many other holidays and observances as well.

A Love Supreme, a room bursting with references to love.

Thanks once again to everyone for such a wonderful trip.  Haven't pulled together a scene? There's still time, just let me know the link and I'll add it in an update to this post throughout the rest of this month. Happy (holiday of your choice) Day to everyone!

Update 2/28/2013:

Mary's scene is at http://msminiandmore.blogspot.com/2013/02/happy-valentines-day.html

Mini Dork's scene is at http://modernminihouses.blogspot.com/2013/02/loss-for-words.html

  

Challenge Reveal: A Love Supreme

Earlier this month, I began working on a scene to feature some of the new items I purchased or received as gifts. Last week I decided to pull the rest of you miniaturist in when I posed a quick and dirty little challenge but then I went and got all more is more. Hey it's all still very modern, plus it tells a story or 10. 

Welcome to the craft room/studio for two sisters. Meet the Illustrator and the Cellist, neither has a valentine this year so they chose to be one another's. Their month has been busy thus far. They've attended a number of events from a Wear Red dress fashion show to raise money for heart disease in women, to a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day seminar, to performing in the Vagina Monologues which raises money to end domestic violence.

These ladies are so full of talent they each suffer a bit from adult ADD (attention deficit disorder) and this room truly reflects that fact.  

After spending time earlier in the week enjoying songs from the John Coltrane catalog like A Love Supreme and making cards and such, they've decided to spend the evening watching movies. Up first...Imitation of Life. A powerful story about maternal love. Followed by...KamaSutra. It's about...well, the name says it all! Breakfast At Tiffany's, The Notebook and Love Jones round out the roster of pull-at-your-heart-strings tales of love (and/or romance). The snacks are in place. Tonight they dine on sushi and chocolate. Why you might ask? Because it's great to feel sexy always, weather one has a man or not, no? 

Happy Valentine's Day! Be sure to click through the link to read more about the February Design Challenge reveals.

Details: Lil'Bratz Stylin' Space from eBay; cork side table with script from PRDminiatures, bottles filled with micro beads purchased from The Dollar Store; scrollwork mirror purchased from local flea market; red vase inside bookcase was swap gift from Mini Dork; "Love" cut-out was a gift from The Shopping Sherpa. 

Swaps, Giveaways & A Challenge

Parcels have been crossing the globe and two special one's have found their way to my mailbox. Each quite literally coming from opposite sides of the world.  I just had to share them. First during Inauguration week(end),  I received a hefty package from Mini Dork in California.

This is just my second swap. (Here's more on my first swap.) I'm still a newbie and get very, very excited. Thanks again M!

Quite honestly, I only discovered earlier this week while perusing the archives over at The Shopping Sherpa (TSS) that part of the etiquitte of a swap is to open only one package in the parcel per day until there are no more left. TSS explained it all but I didn't know this until after opening up all this "green goodness" (that was our theme) to discover exactly what I'd received. Now that I'm more informed, I think I just might try to exercise some restraint on the next go 'round. But I'm curious to know just how many of you all open just one package a day upon receiving your swaps? Please do tell!

Next, I was quite surprised to learn that TSS decided to make it rain goodies from one of her favorite stationary shops called Typo. (At least, for everyone who commented on her blog post that day). Woohoo! I like receiving international packages. It's so fun thinking how far it traveled just to reach me.

I received this package of cool laser cut wood icons and one of TSS's postcards showcasing her mad photography skills. It read, "I can't wait to seeing what you make with these."

So I've decided to put out a quick and dirty small challenge. Design a scene around some holiday or observance in February (Valentine's Day, Wear Red for Women, Chinese New Year) you see where I'm going with this, right? I'll be publishing my reveal post next week on Valentine's Day (February 14th). Please try to post your own challenge reveal on (or as close to) February 14 as possible, then link back to this post. I'll add links for everyone who participates, as well. Everyone is a winner here as we add to our blog conversations for this month. Tell me, are you in?

Getting Ready for All Hallows' Eve

Played the characters:
Cole & The Source

The Book of Shadows

Accepting Mini Mod Pod's challenge, I pulled together this scene for Halloween.  Looking at it now, it's hard to believe I began with the idea of creating a haunted house but that quickly turned into a room decorated for a Halloween party which finally morphed into...the witches lair. Think good witch as in the television show, Charmed. One may perhaps seek the counsel or protection of a witch just like a palm reader or fortune teller.  But it's not a place that's just easily accessible off of the main street. After all, a witch needs privacy to create potions, cast protection spells, or hold The Source (of all evil) imprisoned in crystals---that's a third Charmed reference in case you missed it. 

When not casting spells and such, the witch takes a load off by
 reclining on the daybed writing in her journal, My Life As A Cat.

This little set up is a private party for the witch and some of her most beloved clients on All Hallows Eve.  There's a chair and a place to recline in the lair.  The real workspace has been cleared of pots, potion bottles, and the Book of Shadows and replaced with party treats...champagne in midnight colored flutes and serving trays full of sashimi and sushi (okay, that's the only tiny food I have.) And for dessert, tiny cakes decorated to look like rolling dice.

Approaching back deck from the right side.

Take a closer look inside.

Guests enter through the door on the left.

Details: Chair, ReacJapan; orange storage tower, Rement; table, orange tray and round platform, The Container Store; food, (magnets) Urban Outfitter; black bird (a wineglass charm) and dice, Morgan Imports; champagne flutes, The Dollar Store; disco ball and picture frame, swap with margaret_loves; dress with hat, The Enchanted Pumpkin--an Etsy store; rug, TheShadeStore.com; yellow book, orange vases and daybed with pillows, Kaleidoscope House accessories; wooden sign, bowl and black barrels, AC Moore; remaining accessories from Dolls House Emporium or eBay; "leather" daybed cover, pumpkins and leaves made by me.

See more Halloween Scenes at Jazzi Minis and MinisBHappenin.

Challenge Reveal: Design Within (my) Reach

Magazine/Catalog Challenge:

Many may be elbow-deep in major undertakings such as the DHE Creative Competition, Greenleaf's Spring Fling Contest or the Miniatures.com Creatin Contest. However, after the fun and near immediate gratification from the wallpaper challenge, Cyd of My Mini Mod Pod took up the gauntlet and suggested we recreate a scene from a catalog or magazine in miniature.  The deadline was May 1st. Fortunately, in the realm of challenges for inspiration and fun, deadlines are shall we say flexible. Ha ha. Thanks also to Megan of Mini Modern Houses and her insatiable archival needs, no challenge is ever forgotten.

I'm so captivated by the recreated in miniature scenes.  Be sure to check out the Home Beautiful Magazine scene recreated by The Shopping Sherpa in the link below. It continues to be a stunner, even today.  When it actually comes down to doing a scene of my own, I always seem to get stuck. I feel my inventory of miniatures furnishings is too small or my miniature craftsmanship skills are too limited.  That being said, my approach to this challenge was...let's just call it...minimalist.

modern and miniature Design Within (my) Reach

This was taken from a July 2007 Design Within Reach catalog. Hence, the title of this post. Why do I have such an old catalog? For research, of course! (I'm not so sure if the DWR.com website was the powerhouse of resources it has become today.) 

Like everyone else, there were elements to this set up that I had to make by hand. The "Little Field of Flowers" rug required that I painstakingly punched each and every tiny leaf from scrapbook embellishments---which were themselves leaves made from mulberry paper.  I also made two of the books.  So there you have it!

Check out other miniature catalog/magazine layouts at these blogs:  Jazzi Mini, Left Coast Mini and My Mini Mod Pod

We were also inspired by the works created by these great blogger pre-challenge:  Raum für Raum and The Shopping Sherpa

More Details:  bamboo floor samples from Lowe's; Eames chair by ReacJapan; yellow book from Kaleidoscope House Collection by Bozarts Toys; rug made by me from eco-friendly felt covered with leaf-punched scrapbook embellishments, both by Recollections.

Retro Lake House Tour Concludes

Back in tha' day: when visiting my grandmother's house as a little girl, my mom
and aunts bathed the youngest children (including me) in a washtub like this one.

Let it rain...

The Retro Lake House tour concludes with the most private space, the outdoor shower and bathing area.  Ironic no? bathing outdoors. Hope you enjoyed the walk-through as much as I enjoyed creating this space.  Thanks so much for all of your kind and enthusiastic comments on the other lake house/I'm a Giant posts.  The feedback was so encouraging.

Details: rain shower head and faucet by ELF miniatures; metal tub and mirror from local craft store; mirror frame is metal lid of seamless tin from The Container Store; screen and towel holder are Rement.

Challenge Reveal : What's for Dinner?

"Pizza's served..."

I've completed margaret_loves challenge to design a room around a decorative paper that we wouldn't normally choose.  This was my first kitchen scene. Can you believe that? I am so delighted with the way the table turned out.  It's made with a sample from The Rubber Flooring Company placed on top of two round tables I nabbed off of e-Bay.  The slate and marble table gives plenty of room for the family to gather. My inspiration piece, the kitchen icons wallpaper also looks great.  With the kitchen unit and storage shelves in front of the wall, the giant scale of the pattern doesn't seem so overpowering.  What do you think? I gave the all-in-one unit a face-lift because I felt the dark blue fought with the other colors.  I'm not in love with the results but sometimes we experiment, no?

The eat-in kitchen is a feature we don't see so much anymore.  I grew up in a house with both an eat-in kitchen and a formal dinning room but today's open plan houses don't really lend themselves to such duplication.  So this kitchen is a nod to the luxury of the eat-in kitchen. It's a little bit industrial, a little bit modern and completely contemporary.

As the command center, the bulletin board holds a calendar and a menu from a favorite restaurant (because sometimes you just gotta carry out) and space to catch as many messages as needed. But, there is plenty of cookin' going on in this kitchen, so several cookbooks are close at hand near the stove.

If you forgot how this room started just take a look over here.  Jazzi Mini's  has completed her version of the challenge and Mad for Mod has gotten started as well.  It was certainly a challenge partly because I chose to do a kitchen, taking about 3 hours (spread over different days) to pull this together. Thanks Margaret for giving us a little creative motivation.  I look forward to seeing what everyone else creates.  

Details: kitchen unit, storage shelves and all accessories except where otherwise specified from Dolls House Emporium; all chairs ReacJapan; bulletin board, pizza board, wallpaper and flooring from local craft store; ice cream maker from eBay; pizza from Rement.

Update: See the other finished rooms.  Wild and Sexy Ladies' Lair by Margaret and Fun and Colorful Kids Room by Mad for Mod

Retro Lake House Tour Continues

The main space of the house is for eating, lounging, reading, sleeping, TV watching and more.  The sheep skin rug and floor cushions make it comfortable for sitting around the coffee table or looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows to gaze at the lake. How tranquil is that? We aren't totally cut off while here at the lake, there's a phone and the antique TV.  There's loads of natural light inside during the day, but a paper lantern style pendant gives enough light when the sun sets. Let's take a closer look...

The television is on. (Oh no! nothing but static.)

Corner Kitchen: a bar size refrigerator sits atop
 a cabinet holding kitchen supplies.

The wood burning fireplace doubles as the kitchen oven 
except on the days when we grill over the fire pit outside.

Details:  wood sculpture is PRD miniatures; red cabinet is Mighty World; coffee cups, overhead light, refrigerator and telephone are Rement; wall mirror, coffee table components and bowl are craft supplies from Michael's; white rug, pitcher and red books are Dolls House Emporium; TV is keychain charm made by Kikkerland; yellow book, vases, bed and floor cushions are Kaleidoscope House; neck rolls are handmade by me.

Welcome to the Retro Lake House

Welcome to my Retro Lake House.  The first room we'll be touring is outdoors. (The outdoor space is as important as the indoor space with this structure and I really love that). We southerners love sitting on the front porch, even when there is no porch. The Rietveld chair is the perfect perch for people watching and enjoying an evening fire. The address is Lakeview Way because we're right on the lake. Looking over at the zen garden is so peaceful. It has been modified. In addition to pebbles, we've placed a large round sculpture in yellow, of course.  Everything rests upon gravel rather than sand (simply because it doesn't make a mess).   

Come a little closer. A glance through the door reveals a cozy daybed and two generous floor cushions. A mirror topped coffee table holds a collection of seashells.  Beside the sofa, a crate of books sits in front of the very old black and white TV. (It's a real antique but don't laugh sometimes you need the news, right?) Well, that's all for now. Sorry, only the family dog is home.  We're out on the lake. Gone fishin.' 


Details: chair, ReacJapan; yellow sculpture is a miniature letter 'o' from Barnes & Noble; miniature zen garden kit also from Barnes & Noble; firepit is a condiment bowl from Ikea with four mighty magnets from The Container Store; sign, coffee table components and bowl are craft supplies from Michael's; white rug and red books are Dolls House Emporium; TV is keychain charm made by Kikkerland; yellow book, vase, bed and floor cushions are Kaleidoscope house; neck rolls are handmade by me.

Color - Schemes & Backstory

Transforming the Neville House into the Retro Lake House involved a serious design decision. In the last post, I shared materials I had purchased for this project.  Ultimately, I left the wood surfaces unfinished.  The structure itself prevented good access that would allow me to do a top rate job covering or painting the interiors.  Without a second house, I didn't want any decor to be irreversible. Besides, the wood is just too fabulous!  I may give it a clear wax coat down the line, but for now the wood shall remain naked unfinished.  With that decided, here's how the rest of the design emerged.

The yellow fireplace got me thinking about a color scheme. Since its style is straight out of the 1970's maybe just go with it. I then looked for materials that were from or felt like they were from that decade. I went all out with the yellow and grey and came up with an inspiration board. It felt more modern than yellow and black.  

But, as I began selecting furniture to work in this small space, a new co-star and complement to the groovy fireplace emerged.

So it was in with the Rietveld chair and out with the grey. New color scheme? Why, all the colors of the chair, of course.


Every mini home becomes easier to design and outfit with a backstory, right? The wall of windows screamed, "setting with a wonderful view".  To me, wonderful view is almost always synonymous with a body of water.  But this Asian-influenced design didn't strike me as a beach property.  Then, it came to me...a lake.  A vacation property, a weekend home...but just how luxurious or stark would it be? I came up with this mood...

I'm A Giant Wannabe

Emily Henderson's Famous Dollhouse Challenge

I know, I know the audacity of me to launch into this series of posts and associate them with the famous and now defunct apparently ended dollhouse challenge.  But alas, this is a true story and maybe Mini Dork wouldn't mind adding this wannabe me to her Giant Roll Call. *wink, wink* There appear to be no prizes at stake, so friends give me some latitude, okay? *Wry grin from ear to ear.* 


With the launch of the I'm A Giant Dollhouse Challenge last fall (I didn't stumble on it until mid-October), I was motivated to finally remove my Neville House from its box.  It had been sitting in my craft room for months, waiting for me to clear away a space to set it up and give it some design attention.  At that point, I had not done anything with my dollhouse miniatures for some time because play-scale dioramas had been getting all of my attention. 

my first adult dollhouse purchase, the Neville House from CB2

Never-the-less, I got all sorts of ideas, thinking the challenge was just what I needed. But I still wasn't committed to blogging about this hobby of mine...maybe I'd document the updates on Flickr.  I was so moved, I hopped online to Miniatures.com and purchased some materials...flagstone flooring paper, tin roofing material, and wood wall paneling.

Perhaps, the Neville House should really be tricked out!?   But alas, the more I cruised the other participant's websites to enjoy their updates, the more intimidated I became.  People were doing scratch-builds and working with large multi-room homes. My house was just a shack okay a well designed studio, but one room nonetheless.  Then, I check out my regular blogger hangouts only to find over-the-top creativity in the form of unconventional structures.  Dazzling! So my inertia won out, partially. I just decided to continue being a stalker.  However, I did follow through with creating what I think is a nice design for this beautiful architect's model dollhouse. Allow me to share just how the Neville became the Retro Lake House. More to come... 

Going Bold in A Small Space

I came across this photo while web surfing.  It was part of an article entitled Go Bold in A Small Space and I was reminded by the scale of the wallpaper in this bedroom that there is a miniature challenge under way.  The task is to begin with a sheet of speciality paper and see where the inspiration takes you.  With that said, I considered these choices...  

but settled on this.

The iconography makes for an easy room choice, huh? So, I reached in my stash...

This is what's slowly taking shape so far.  Stay tuned...