Lavender Cottage Miniature Kitchen Counters

 

Still working away, so that's why the posts are sporadic. (Click photos for full size.)

I am making a "little" progress on the half-scale Lavender Cottage. I mentioned in the last post about working on the kitchen cabinets and counters. Well, they are done! The funny thing is that I don't really like the color green but I do like this shade (Wedgewood) or a Sage and the Light Hauser Green I used on the outside trim. (* See the latest progress in archive list or here.)

First one-wall unit I've made. Lower is a combination of cabinets: Petite Properties stove; plain cabinet/box I had; CastleCrafts sink; 2 MiniEtcher.com cabinets. Added trim on first cabinet. Paint and handles make it work together. Cut mat board topped with textured card for countertop.

I started out thinking I'd use beads for knobs, but then digging in a sequin box I found these pretty green bugle beads - and they are perfect! I love the color and the glow they have! I also added the faucet using crystal beads, cut straight pins, a small metal plate, and a piece of cut solder for the faucet itself. I glued on a metal piece cut from the back of a silver paper fastener to look like the handle. I think it turned out well. Here's the island also:

I also wanted to show how much better these chairs from the MiniBrands Home items look once they're painted. I used a purple acrylic called Heather, which I really like. I'll give it one more coat yet.

The stained glass doors are also painted and look very pretty! But I'm not showing them yet since, as usual, I'd thought I had some doorknob plates - and I don't. So have to wait until they come. The space at the door edge to the stained glass is very small so I didn't think it would work to drill holes for regular knobs.

The outer trim is painted and I cut the porch flooring, but I'm held up by figuring the best way to cut and measure the post holes without messing the paper/card up. Have to gather my courage on that! So just a couple things done but good results! 

Lots of steps to do before things can be assembled: have to put front door, windows and lights in, plus porch floor. I won't be able to get my hand in once the post-trim is put in so all this has to be done first. Then I can solder any lights on the walls inside, and start wallpapering and flooring plus anything else on the first floor.

More to come so be sure to stop by again and thanks for visiting!

Some Miniature Lavender Cottage Progress

 

Yes, progress is slow. I am working on things but don't have a lot to show at the moment. Above: considering this tile floor for the porch since it has a purple tone. I think it contrasts well with the colors. (Flooring: Melvin's Minatures.) I'll use some of the same design to accent the stairs, too, I think.

 I cut down the top frame design as it seemed too busy and added a railing piece (painted green) on the bottom. I'm painting in single colors as I really don't want to do all that multiple color painting this time.

The doors have gold stickers to use as a base for stained glass. The triangular top design piece has to be glued on yet. There will be lights next to the door frame on each side.

Here's the beginning of the kitchen pieces: gluing assorted cabinets I had on hand together to form the counter. 

 The trimming and finishing have to be done yet, and the counter and island tops are not glued on. It looks much better once it's painted!

The pic (above) isn't real clear, but I wanted to show the color scheme so far. The counter, stove and fridge are all Wedgewood green. The counter has a brighter green textured paper on top. All has to be glossed yet. The kitchen area will be on the right side of the front doorway.

I used several cabinet pieces I had on hand for the bottom counter section, using a couple kits I had from MiniEtchers. The sink unit is a CastleCrafts kit. The stove is a Petite Properties vintage stove kit; I cut down the back. I got the island counter in a past swap and glued on side shelves.  The fridge is partially made from one of those Chinese small room kits. I made a new front and will add handles as it had to be a certain size to fit in the space next to the window.

Will cut the other window to fit above the sink and didn't even think on the curtains yet! (Maybe shades in the kitchen and I can use the purple colors in the living/dining area with a vintage style purple fabric I have as curtains. I wanted a part modern and part vintage look.) 

Floor choices 1: brick. I am thinking of using the large green flower wallpaper on the kitchen area walls. It will be split up with the wall cabinets, shelf, and a brick tile border. I may just just use the white brick as the border by the wall and sink. (I took the green paper off the countertop for the moment and set the cabinet/shelf there.)

Floor 2: "wood" parquet 

I am thinking of using this on the other side of the room for the dining/living room area, having a split floor. 

Floor 3: tile pattern

This might work, though it might be too busy next to the wood? Showing these as it lets me compare, too. I may instead use the grayish-brown toned laminate-style print floor I also have (not shown) for the whole thing. Maybe that is better. I had done another small house before using a two-part floor for one big room but this might be much busier so it won't work as well. Thinking on it.

Here are some other pieces from a Hobby Lobby kit that I thought would be good for the office/craft room on the second floor. 

Lots of things to finish, so it's taking a while!

So, that's it for the moment! Thanks for stopping by. I'll show more as things get finished!

First Miniatures Project & Writing

 

Yes, I've been busy so that's why I haven't posted as haven't really had anything to show yet.

I've been writing, too; re-editing a few stories so have three sent out for this month and still waiting for others that were out previously. Also have two other stories I'm finishing up, including an odd one I rather like. Been busy! Fingers crossed!

* Also heard that the cover will be revealed - soon! - on the upcoming anthology with my story, "Some Kind of Friend," based on the song of the same name. To be published soon in, A Killing at the Copa: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Barry Manilow. (So looking forward to this one!!)

Between that, I have been working on the Miniature Book Nook and doing some more painting on the Lavender Cottage.

TA DAH! The book nook (called The Magic Library on Amazon) is done and even got the outside papers glued on. I had a hard time as one of the bottom pieces was cut wrong, but new holes were cut, and thanks to my "building team" of friend Gigi and "Don's Electric," everything was fixed, glued, and wired! So, it lights! Interesting as it has a sensor, so it stays on for a bit and then goes off; motion will turn it back on. There's a door in back for the battery box (2 AAA batteries. (Click photos for full size.) 

It's actually a pretty cool project though I'm not sure I'd do another, but I do like how it came out.

The Cottage (so far):

* And... yes, I changed my mind again (don't be surprised. ha!) and with the input from my friend, decided the exterior colors will work for the Lavender Cottage. Once I see it together, I think it works well.

I tinted the lightweight spackle with Lavender acrylic paint; the trim (and windows) are light Hauser Green with antique white and African Violet. There's a design piece that goes on top of the door plus there are filigree rails and posts that go in front and around the house. A lot of painting, so not much progress yet.

 I sorted out some furniture for it, still figuring it out. I am thinking of using quite a few plants in this one. Have to see which purple plants I already made, too.

I am looking at all that painting on the outside railings... wondering if I should cut the side railings down as the porch is too closed in. I hate to do that but... thinking on it. We'll see.

That's it for now. Not a lot, but getting there! 

Thanks again for visiting. Stop back soon for more updates!

Top 10 Fiction in Readers Poll

Finished in the Top 10 for the annual Critters-Workshop Readers Poll! 

My entries in the Top 10 Include: 

* Anthologies: (Includes my story, "Wildfire," based on the song of the same name.

8. (I Just) Died in Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired by One-Hit Wonders, White City Press

 (I Just) Died in Your Arms: Crime Fiction Inspired by One-Hit Wonders 

* Horror Short Stories: (My Story, "Blink!")

 4. Blink! in Behind the Shadows II, C.A. Verstraete, Inkd Publishing

Behind the Shadows II. 

* Other Genre Short Stories:

3. Secrets of the Last Mine in Noncorporeal II, C.A. Verstraete, Inkd Publishing (They didn't have a ghost category and it really didn't fit Sci Fi)

 "Secrets of the Last Mine," in Noncorporeal II 

Just for fun, but be sure to check out the great stories in the entries!

The Miniature After Christmas House

Quite an improvement!

 It's January (already!) but I wanted to share photos of the small Christmas House I finished last month.

It came out pretty cute even if I'm done with it now and it's in a box. ha! Figured I'd better share it!

The outside is vastly different This is how it started. Above: how it ended.

I'd say it's much better now!

 I used a Milk Chocolate color acrylic paint on the roof to resemble gingerbread. The lines were painted with glue, then glittered. Everything was painted and covered with something!

All the poinsettias were punched out from painted paper.

First floor:

 

Second floor:

Easy enough! All made using plastic furniture I covered and stuff I already had lying around.

Next: 

Work on the Lavender Cottage is underway. The first floor front is stuccoed and I do like the color. The inside is electric taped. Nothing more can be done as certain pieces have to be added and painted first - the door and the railings to put the second floor on - and it's a ton of painting! 

And... the more I think on it, first time I've had to do this - I painted the windows green and I really don't like the color contrast. So.... I painted a few over for the inside - probably going to do the rest - all antique white. Maybe. We'll see. The contrast on that plant (below) does look good. What do you think? Ugh!! Stay tuned for updates!

Maybe if I change my mind and piece a print (still looking) for the porch it will bring the colors together more. Or do green flooring... (There are some great vintage linoleum rugs and mats here.)

* Will think on it. That's it for now! Thanks again for visiting!

First 2025 Miniature Projects

 

What's on the worktable this year?

Made some new furniture (above). (*Click photos for full size.)

Awfully cute pieces so far. The empty shelves will have books, lots of books. It's all part of this Magic Library book nook kit I got for myself and my friend for Christmas. I have to say, it's a nice kit. Cute stuff, goes together well. No maker name on it but I got it on Amazon.

Then this got started:

I mentioned in November that I got the half-scale Abriana Country Cottage from Laser Dollhouse Designs, which I'm calling the Lavender Cottage. (website photo).

So far, all the windows are painted (22 larger, 2 small, what a chore!) though I still have to fill in the line around the window. Was trying to decide what color would look better? Leaning toward a darker green (marker).

Here's the base and first floor level  - so far. I know... real exciting. ha! This is a much smaller house (14" w x 10" d x 19" h) and funny as I didn't realize it doesn't have the exterior scribing for siding like the Witch Cottage has.

 I don't want to glue on siding, so I'm going to try something different - I'm thinking of using stucco (lightweight spackle from the hardware store) - in Lavender to match the theme idea. It can be tinted with acrylic paint. I'll share how that goes when I get to that point. I stuccoed a small house, the bakery, previously, which turned out fine. 

 I might have to change the name of the cottage as I am hoping to add a lot of wisteria vines to the outside. We'll see if I can do Lavender plants, too. Some plant ideas: SDK Miniatures has an ageratum plant kit, which could look nice in clumps for a border; 

I could also add purple pansies, some delphinium (but in purple), (website photos) and I've made some African violets before. We'll see what I have on hand and what I find at the Spring shows. I also have a lot of punches if I can figure out some other flowers.

There are always lots of decorative things to make when doing a house, so I'll be working on various kits and other things as well.

I shared earlier about the first two pieces I made for the Lavender Cottage, this chair and a plant, along with the clematis trellis, which really came out pretty. There are other pieces set aside as well.

An interesting find:

Found these nice 1/24 LED lights on ebay. Reasonable too ($6.49 pair) and they have a bright yellowish tone light to them. Ordered some more in black and a coach-style light. Going to use these on the front of the cottage. They come with a 3-volt battery pack (2 AAA batteries) but will probably run an electric tape line and use a small 3-volt transformer as you can go through a lot of batteries over time.

Just a small update. That's it for the moment! What are you working on?

Here's to more miniature fun this year! Thanks for visiting and your interest in my projects!

Miniatures 2024 Year-End Round-Up

Happy Miniatures New Year!

(Image: pixabay.com Free license)

 Can't believe it! Where did 2024 go???

At the end of the year, I like to share and link the projects I've finished. It's a good way to see what I've actually done for the year! haa!

January:

I was finishing up the trim and other things on the half-scale Park Avenue Mansion. * Here's the tour part 1, with link to part 2. (Yes, that's a gargoyle on the roof!)

February:

Diner counter

The real fun of working on the mansion was doing something different - making a diner in the bottom floor of the house. I'd always wanted to do a diner so this was fun making one in half-scale. * Here's the finished diner tour.

March - April - May:

Besides working on flowers for the mansion in March, I shared a bunch of my miniatures projects for the A to Z Blog Challenge in April. (See archives list in left column for posts.)

May - June:

I began working on a Tiki Bar in a former photo box. See the finished project in June. I loved doing this one. The drinks and food were a lot of fun to make!

July:

It was back to making Halloween items for the Van Buren dollhouse I finally got back to finishing. * Tour the finished Halloween Van Buren Dollhouse. Part 1 - Part 2.

August:

Between finishing the Halloween house, I got it in my mind to do an abandoned room in another former photo box I had on hand. This was fun to do as I'd seen similar rooms and thought it would be fun to "wreck" a room. I might, just might, do a small house kit I have this way eventually. It can be a lot of fun being intentionally messy!

September:

Did some early Halloween posts this month using the tag "Spooky Season." See other posts in the left column archives.

October:

Different accessories I've done - even a "haunted" garbage can. (Look for the eye!) 

November:

For variety, I finished this half-scale Clematis trellis. I'd been putting it off, but the results were worth doing it! I'll be making more purple colored flowers for the latest project listed below.

I also started painting parts for the next much-smaller half-scale project, which I'm calling the Lavender Cottage.  * Update: the base and first floor are assembled and glued. All windows painted. The door has to be painted next. Then there's lots of tiny trim to paint on the arches, plus the exterior walls.

Set up for Halloween.

Also worked on the camper kit, that I turned into the Coffee Camper for a Christmas Campground display at my friend's house.

December:

I did the Halloween-themed house on the right. (Of course!)

Did several Christmas projects. First, making a tiny Gingerbread House turned into a cute Gingerbread House Decorating Contest as part of the Christmas Campground.

Outside flowers (before finishing)

I started repainting a toy plastic house as a Christmas house. * Finished house post to come and will be linked here.

It was fun this year opening our own Advent Calendars for a Miniature Christmas. Fun gifts like the new addition to my Halloween house lawn. (See right side.) Made different assorted items for that and for some gifts.

It was a really fun miniatures year! Here's to more creativity in 2025!

* Thanks for visiting and sharing minis all year! The best to you and more fun next year! *