MiniJoyMonth Begins!

A Favorite Red-White-Blue room.

This will be a fun month for minis with the start of MiniJoyMonth today on Instagram. Today I'm just sharing one of the many rooms I've made. This started with the patriotic furniture I found years ago at the living history museum, Old World Wisconsin.

*** Be sure to check the first post Greetings From... from the host, Stacey, at @vintagedollhouseshop on Instagram. * NOTE:  Each day has a theme (see schedule below.) If you're on Instagram, look for posts with #minijoymonth2026.

* Friend me on Instagram at cwrite12, and I'll also be sharing my photos here on the blog.  (* Click photos on the blog here for full size.)

 This is the sixth year for the event, and even better -- I'm one of the hosts this time around! 

*** I'll be hosting on Friday the 11th with the theme, Pet Parade. Perfect as you know I love dogs!! 

 

 Had to share! I like how Instagram makes you a collage: (at least they used the decent photos.) 😀 

 ** I'll also share all my daily posts, often with extra photos, here on this blog - see links below. They go live the day of posting. (I'm posting as fast as I can but I'll have them up by the day needed!)

* Looking forward to seeing you and seeing your minis!

Day 2: A Pair of...                           3: Something Floral                             4: My Style

5: Good Enough to Eat                  6: Made of Wood                                 7: Little Necessities

8: How It Started                           9: Think Green                                    10: By Hand

*** 11: Pet Parade (My Day)          12: Show & Tell                                  13:  A Little Light

14:  A Current Obsession              15:  Cozy Corner                                 16:

17:                                                 18:                                                       19:

20:                                                  21:                                                       22:

23:                                                  24:                                                       25: Books & Stories

26:                                                   27:                                                      28: 

29:                                                  30:                                                       31:

* Thanks for following along and visiting the blog all month. 

I'm still working on new projects, so be sure to come back again! * 

Mini Halloween Tea Shop Front & New Finds

 

Made some progress on the mini Tea Shop turned Halloween Shop. (*Click photos for full size. * See last post.)

The front is done except to glue on the steps and attach the building to the base. I'll do that after I put the lights in and paper the inside since I have to glue stones on after that. I used striped Halloween scrapbook paper for the awnings. The sides are papered the same as the front; just finishing adding on the gray "stone" trim. 

** Oops, just saw that the window decoration fell out so will fix that. Figures. haaa! 

Quite a change from the original blue colors as seen below. (website photo) The original is pretty but I'm more of a bold color - and Halloween - person!

Latest Halloween finds:

I got a big kick out of these Halloween decorative items I found at Michael's. They have those jars of different items and I saw these zombie heads I've never seen before and a jar of skeleton hands. These will be fun to decorate with! The hands will be perfect for shelves and trim. 

* Thanks again for visiting! Tuesday is the start of MiniJoyMonth on Instagram. I'll be posting on the blog here as well. See info here.

Lots of minis ahead!! I'll show more of the Halloween shop soon!

MiniJoyMonth is Coming!

 

 Almost here! 

September is MIniJoyMonth, a daily minis event on Instagram, sponsored by the VintageDollhouseShop.  

I joined in on this last year and it was fun seeing all the daily posts, daily hosts, and some giveaways, too! Lots of minis to celebrate and drool over!

I'm hoping to post daily here as well. Follow along, like the posts, enjoy the minis and share yours too! See the daily prompts above. There may be some repeats here, but the fun is revisiting old projects, too. 

Follow along and be sure to post your minis on Instagram  with the tag #minijoymonth2026 and @vintagedollhouseshop. ** And friend me -  cwrite12. See you there!

Halloween Minis & Halloween Tea Shop Progress

 

A while back I mentioned I was turning a half-scale two-floor shop kit into a Halloween shop. Yes, there's finally some progress. 

I finally got the outside front and inside wall papered, and all the windows in place. I also added a shelf inside te large bottom windows. * I forgot! Should've put the divider/planter on that line, which will really transform it! Next time... The lace curtains in the bottom windows were colored black with a Sharpie marker.

There are gray "stone" strips that go on the sides and top yet. The colors look light in the photo but are closer in real life (especially the top sand color) to my paint swatch below. (* Click photos for full size.)

Inside front wall next to the building box, which I'll start papering and put lights in next:

And 'tis the Spooky Season so found some new spooky items at Michael's:

Love these unique chairs and bookshelf, which is 2 1/2" h. Will have to go back for two more chairs. So fun finding new Halloween stuff that's kind of different!

These resin ghosts (2" h) are kind of neat. Made me think of the York, UK Ghosts that come in different colors. Not the same, but I'll paint my own, though I'd love to see what's called "the most haunted place in Europe" in person. Maybe someday.

Also found some of those cool lenticular (changing image) pictures and in a smaller size. They hadn't had these for a while.

* That's it for the moment. 

Thanks again for visiting. Come back soon for more minis! * 

Lavender Cottage Halloween Update

I finally got the rooms switched around in the Lavender Cottage. (* See last post. Click photos for full size.) 

The house had been set up as a vacation cottage, so I switched things around for Halloween and changed some of the rooms.

Ta-dah! I won't say how long it took to get a slideshow video made since I had to try different things (and ended up on Canva), but give it a peek. Nothing fancy (and no annoying music to mute!)... 

 ** Be sure to subscribe to my dollhouse channel on YouTube.** I need more followers! 

 ** See the video here. Be sure to "like" it. 

You can also see the room photos and changes below. There are a couple below that are only on this site. But do check out the video link above.

First floor:

First floor: Before

The kitchen on the left stays the same. I changed the sitting room on the right side to a dining room. The table and hutch are rather close, but I may change the table later to a smaller one.

New dining room

Here's the dining room now. I may move the stools by the counter too, but the Skellie really doens't mind. And a new server! 

Here's the table set-up. Fresh salad, Halloween cookies and... of course! A finger sandwich!

Second Floor:

Second floor: Before

The second floor was a bedroom with double beds, a snack table and bookshelves. I changed it to the living room on the left and a library/sitting area on the right. I also added long curtains and a few Halloween touches. (Yes, I have to fix that center curtain. ha!)

New living room/library

Floor 2 living room, left side

Floor 2 right side

I think the layout makes more sense now.

Floor Three:

Attic bedroom: Before

The attic/third floor was a storage space with a small bedroom. I decorated a larger bed with Halloween fabrics and added some other Halloween pieces for the new space.

 I also added long curtains. I made another bed cover to change to later which matches the curtains.

Different kind of Halloween colors.

Right side of attic. That photo picutre has a spooky side (lenticular image) but it doesn't show in this.

Who is that? Someone's been sleeping in my bed....!! ha! 

Here's the outside lit up for Halloween:

So, that's it. What do you think? 

Now back to working on something else...Maybe I'll make some progress on that Halloween shop I set aside and brought out again.

* Thanks again for visiting. Come back soon for more minis! * 

Halloween Dollhouse Redecorating

 I mentioned in the last post how I was redecorating the Lavender Cottage for Halloween. * Click photos for full size. See all posts in archives in left column.

While the front of the house has been decorated, I'm still working on the inside and switching rooms around.

Some progress! I put new curtains using a colorful batik print fabric on the third floor attic's side windows. It may not quite go with the Halloween decor, but I have another bed covering to match the curtains that I'll change to later. Decorating is still in progress. 

I also made a small slipper chair and side table. I used a 1" foam square block for the chair since I didn't have any wood blocks the right size.  I have to see if I have a small chest or dresser to use in here. Maybe I'll put a sewing machine in the corner, too.

 I think the bed came out pretty good! I cut the front and end headboards from cardboard, adding some covered padding and glued sticks for posts to the front. Not traditional Halloween colors, but I loved the pumpkin print and had to play off that. I love the spooky pillows! I did put a Halloween picture the main wall since I took this photo. Still changing things around in the room itself.

 Later I'll take the end board off and the spread, and put on a new top to match the curtains.  Or maybe I can make a Christmas spread for it in-between. I might do that as I like to put a Christmas tree in the room, too. 

Here's the attic before, which was an extra small bedroom and some storage since it was more of a summer cottage layout.

I'll show another room next time as I finish items and more of this room once it's done. The regular bedroom with two beds was on the second floor. That is turning into the sitting room and a library area. Stay tuned for more!

* Thanks again for visiting! Come back soon for more minis!*

Halloween Items & Dollhouse Redecorating Ideas

 

My favorite time of year and there's so much tempting Halloween stuff showing up!

Michael's has a cute array of dollhouse items, the Ashland Miniatures (nice mini spooky paintings and a ghost cake The cake is actually cute. I'll have to try to get that.) I love these colored cafe table sets. Close to half-scale size; I have a yellow one but I had to go get the orange set I've admired for a while. (See on left side of porch below.) Also got a summery blue/pink set in clearance.)

Then I saw this really different skeleton girl and dog figure (left, 2.5" h.) Hadn't seen it online and just had to bring it home for one of the houses. The look of devotion says it all. Isn't it sweet? (Click photos for full size.)

Also got this other dog figure and skeleton owl. Cute though the dog is more 1" scale (1.75" h.) But I liked it as I try to get a new skellie dog when I can. It can go in the roombox I decorate for holidays.

This got me in a Halloween mood, so I decided to do an early Halloween decorating of the  front of the Lavender Cottage. 

Here's the front of the stairs. Lots of pumpkins!

Looks like a party's going on! Even the musicians showed up!

The porch is perfect for some nighttime music!

Can you hear it? 

Moving along slowly, but I'm working on the new bed for the house, the start of the redecorating project. That's part of the crazy idea I had to re-do the house. See last post. Do you ever totally re-do your house once it's finished?

Well, I never really re-do my houses, but summer's about over, so maybe I'll change the way the Lavender Cottage is now set up as more of a summer cottage. I can always put it back later if I want. 

That means changing the rooms. The first floor kitchen and counter/island would stay. (see photos at above link). I'd take out the sitting area on the right side and put in a big dining room table and dining room. I have another Gothic table set (SDK Miniatures) and will probably add a dining cabinet or hutch. I want to set the table - but also have a pumpkin carving scene there. Maybe I'll add long curtains on the windows, too.

2nd floor - I'd take out the double beds and bookshelves, and make a bigger living room and a library/reading space on the right side, maybe with a craft work table and/or art area. My friend went to the library to try out quilling, so I'm going to try the idea of rolling paper strips for tiny jars for paints and other supplies. You then print out a label and punch out a circle for a top. Easy, cheap way to do lots of jars and containers! I found a box of quilling paper and the needle tool at Goodwill.

3rd floor attic with bed: take out ping-pong table, put in larger bed and dresser for a regular bedroom.

 Here's another bed I made before. I re-dressed the bed (made of foam core) that's in my Fairfield bedroom.

 (My favorite bed and colors (I just love that swirly fabric on the bed and the coordinating fabric for the curtains) is still the main orange bedroom in my Fairfield house. See page for other room photos.) I'd like to try multiple colors on a new bed.

I'm thinking of maybe making new long curtains and adding some Halloween decor for now in the Lavender Cottage. This will require some planning as it's a bit like doing a new house without doing the whole thing over. 

Why, since I already have projects going? Well...now that I have the idea, it'll stick in my head until I do it. That's how that works. ha!

I'll add a couple other posts soon.

* Thanks again for visiting! Come back soon for more minis, update, and other stuff! * 

New Lavender Cottage Furnishing Ideas

Assorted furniture for...? A couple Halloween pieces, too!

 

I'm in a Halloween mood (Summerween!) Yes, I'm still stuck on the idea of re-doing the rooms in the Lavender Cottage. Crazy, huh? 

I decided to switch the rooms around and change the furniture to make it more "home-like" and to add Halloween touches. Like I don't have enough projects? haaa!

Here are some furniture pieces (above) and kits I might use:

Kits, CastleCrafts and SDK Miniatures

I have two of the Victorian daybed kits so maybe I'll make one more Halloween style and save the other for another house. I can always change the cushions again, too. I have an interesting gray spooky tree fabric I could use.

** See the finished bed here. **

Re-doing a resin bed. Yu'll see how it looks soon!

Then there's the bed. The small bed and bedroom in the attic will be changed to a full bedroom, with a larger bed. I'm using this resin bed I bought at a show. The headboard pieces above are cardboard and painted white since this pic. I rounded them slightly by tracing around a small plastic container lid.  I cut center inserts from cereal box card that'll be covered and trimmed. I chose a unique color/pattern that may surprise you but matches the fabric below. 

I'll have to trace the pieces in case I decide to make a second set using more purple colors to match the room and also make another blanket set to put on top if I don't want to keep the Halloween fabric all the time. Maybe a Christmas set too? (Turning into a monster project! haa!)

Really liked the pumpkin fabric!

Here are the main colors: not-so-typical shades of Halloween. But I will have some fun spooky elements, too. You'll see!

Bedroom by miniaturist J. Star

Some inspiration! This is one gorgeous bedroom re-do by J. Star. I'm getting ideas on adding more trim and using more colors on my projects from this. 

* Check out the YouTube video of how he did his bed and furniture.

Victorian half-scale bed

I've done a couple more detailed beds before like the  Halloween-flavored bed in the Fairfield house, and the Victorian bed (above) from my Yellow Victorian house. This was a fun bed to do. So we'll see how the current project turns out! The more I think on it, the more it's expanding!

So far, so good! Stay tuned for more updates. 💀

* Thanks for visiting. Come back soon for more updates & Halloween stuff! *

More Fairy Tale Kit Miniatures

Tiny containers & items for a larger cabinet. Yes, that is a teensy chair!

 I made some progress on the Fairy Tale - Once Upon a Time Dollhouse Shop kit. Oh, soooo many pieces! (See link for past post. Click photos for full size.)

If you haven't seen the inside, here's why it takes so long to do: Great detail, but LOTS of components.  (On Amazon, $45, website pic. But I got it cheaper at Temu.)

Okay, a "little" progress. Further along than the last post anyway...

As you see, the key is sorting, sorting, sorting, all those pieces into packets for each tiny project. I label them all with those yellow pieces of paper. That makes it sooo much easier to pick something to work on without the aggravation of all that hunting for the components! I have another plastic bag with other small bags as well. And I haven't sorted everything yet, but it's a good start! This really is a good idea as it's easy to get overwhelmed and then give up!

After several hours(!) of doing that, I finally, finally got this smaller cabinet built and filled. Yeah, one cabinet. Don't laugh. It really takes a while to get everything done on that! 😉 I didn't quite use all the paper pieces, but it came out cute. At least I finished something! That's after fighting to get those wire rods to stay in and the faux teacup (on bottom) to stay together. 

Now... on to the next pieces!

Soon, I'll also be sharing some 👻 Halloween book nooks and kits I came across. Oh, there are some good ones! And I already got in a Halloween decorating mood for one of the dolllhouses. I couldn't resist! Stay tuned for that!

So, a short post today. 

*Note: Amazon affilaite links may provide some compensation to blog owner.

* Thanks again for visiting! Come back soon for more updates & minis!! * 

Another 1920s Mystery is Coming!

 

 

 How'd I miss this? Just saw in author Julie Mulhern's newsletter (sign up and get the link to the prequel, too!) --- there's a sequel coming in December to her delightful 1920s mystery Murder in Manhattan, featuring fashion writer Freddie Archer!! Based on real-life 1920s Atlantic fashion writer Lois Long.

*** Read my review on book 1 & some interesting background on the inspiration and historial tid-bits here. 

This was such a fun read! I love this time period and think I'll be doing more reading in this era. I've read a couple others and she had some great suggestions in her recent newsletter. Guess I'll be doing a post on that soon.

The upcoming book, A Crime of Fashion, is on pre-order and releases Dec. 8! (There's a day after birthday present!! My birthday is on Dec. 7!!) * See the publisher site with all sales links.

Ooh, this one sounds good! This time Freddie is investigating the whereabouts of a missing family friend and gets into the sights of mobsters like Dutch Schultz and Lucky Luciano. Bootleggers, Louis Armstrong, and more, this one's set in 1925 and sounds like a rollicking good time as well!!

* Note: Amazon affiliate links may offer some compensation to the blog owner.