I see the Harbor Lights..........

Ooooooooh, this build has been so much fun! The new laser cut kits at Greenleaf totally rock! I built the lighthouse from start to finish in 6 days. There's no more sanding with the laser cut kits and that not only made the build go faster, but it was so much easier on my hands.





I'm a landlocked girl and always have been so it was kind of surprising for me to build a lighthouse. Never having seen a lighthouse in real life, I didn't even know where to start. Oh wait a minute. I *have* seen a lighthouse in real life, but it's in the middle of Kansas so I don't think that really counts. Anyone who would put a lighthouse in the middle of Kansas probably wasn't much on historical accuracy anyway. I couldn't resist adding a little dazzle to the floors after I found out that the floors in stone lighthouses often had a decorative pattern. This one has the moon phases which is very apt for a lighthouse, don't you think? All in all, I'm pretty happy with the way it came out.





Click on the video below for pics of the lighthouse and pier, or you can go to http://www.debsminis.com/ and find the album for the lighthouse in my 1:12 scale gallery.



Sing along with me!


~~Sittin' on the dock of the bay...............~~

A little seduction never hurt anyone

I have a theory that one of the things miniaturists find so appealing about dollhouses is that we can create our fantasy worlds in miniature. Things that we may not be able to do or have in real life become possible in dollhouses and room boxes. Actually, that's not just a theory. I know a lot of miniaturists and I've asked around. They all agree. It may not be the primary reason for why we do what we do, but it ranks up there in the top ten. That's why there are so many dollhouses featuring witches, wizards and fairies. We love to exercise our fantasies in miniature.

So, why is it that mainstream miniatures are all so traditional? Are manufacturers missing a huge demographic? I mean, it's not like they don't ask around about what miniaturists like. If I can find out about the fantasy thing, I'm sure they know about it too. So why is it that all we see is the same victorian, mahogany, white upholstered, cabriole legged, brass handled furniture? Oh, there are examples of modern furniture and the occasional side trip into rustic country or shabby chic but who made the rule that all dollhouse furniture has to fit into a stereotypical form? I'm pretty sure that not all our fantasies have to do with victorian houses and Queen Anne furniture.

I know, I know, it's all about mass appeal and manufacturers and retailers are always going to cater to the mainstream. Believe me, I'm not complaining because it's that mainstream philosophy that gives us artisans a place in the miniature world.

I've made so many of the furnishings in my houses because I couldn't find retail miniatures that fit the themes. I built kimono chests and tatami mats and futon frames for my samurai's house. I ventured into the world of paperclay because I wanted leaf shaped furniture for my fairy's house. It's been more fun than the law should allow.

When I started dressing furniture for sale I began with the traditional styles. After all, according to the retailers, that's what people wanted. It didn't take long before my Muse insisted that traditional is just not what we do and pretty soon there were four-poster beds with enough sequins to make a mirrored disco ball feel inadequate and other four-poster beds made of leather and lace that came with accessories like a little leather whip.

I'm a very sensory person (a handy thing for a textile artist to be) so when I create miniatures I like to use a lot of textures so the owner will enjoy handling them as much as looking at them. I still make mainstream miniatures that fit into victorian or country decor and but they use vivid colors, textures and patterns that put a sparkle into small rooms. But more than anything else, I love using sensuous fabrics like silks and velvets. I love seeing a rumpled silk bed that makes one wonder what the little person of the house has been up to!

Sometimes it's a touch of virginal innocence and sometimes it's the steamy passion of heavy velvet and animal prints, but isn't it all delightful to see a hint of seduction or a touch of sensual expression showing up where you least expect it!

Phil O'Dendron

I get really tickled when I find a special miniature. I know I'm easily amused but there are some miniatures that just appeal to my sense of humor. This little book by Blue Kitty Miniatures is one of them. When I saw him, I knew he had to come live with me. Isn't he adorable? I named him Phil O'Dendron.

There was quite the mini disturbance when Phil arrived today. I won't go into details, but you can read about it here. I think I have all the scorch marks off the wall and the dragons are sedated.

My hubby usually takes everything in stride but when I told him about the disturbance, he asked if I'd been mixing up my meds again. Okay, so maybe I got a little too involved with my minis today, but damn, it was fun.

I've discovered that minis bring out that side of me. For example, a few weeks ago I was cleaning the living room and needed to move C'est Si Bon off the glass table where she resides. I moved the dolls off the patio first and laid them on the floor under the table so they'd be safe. I cleaned the table to a sparkling shine and replaced the house, totally spacing out that I hadn't put the dolls back. A little while later I was walking thru the living room with my hands full and noticed the dolls laying on the floor. Now I often talk outloud to myself when I make a mental note so I don't forget things. The talking to myself doesn't bother me. However what I said was a bit disconcerting. What did I say?

"You need to pick up your dolls"

*sigh*

I don't think that's something a middle aged woman should be saying to herself.

Greenleaf Spring Fling!

What's better than a Cadbury egg and three pounds of chocolate bunnies? The Greenleaf Spring Fling contest!

I love spring because there's so much new life bursting out everywhere. Everything gets green and fresh again. After a winter full of brown and grey, I can hardly wait for things to turn green again.

The folks at Greenleaf are as excited about Spring as I am because it's time for the annual Spring Fling contest. And what is a Spring Fling you ask? It's the best miniature contest ever. Every year Greenleaf releases a new kit with a super low price and invites miniaturists all over the world to get creative. There have been some fabulous entries in the past but this year is promising to be the best ever.

Greenleaf designed a totally new house this year! It's a 1:12 scale dollhouse kit with two rooms and the coolest design for a dollhouse you ever did see. People are already excited about what they're going to do with the kit and they just started shipping out this week! If you hear news reports about mailmen being stalked over the next week or so, you can put it down to Spring Fling.

I've already had a chance to build one of these little darlings and they are such a delight to build! For an expert builder, there's plenty of challenge with all it's potential but it's still easy for a novice to build. That was definitely planned by Greenleaf because this year they've added a junior division of the contest. How cool is that!

To find out more about Spring Fling and how to get your kit and enter the contest, visit Greenleaf here.

I've put together a little slideshow of mine. This one isn't entering the contest since it's going up for sale in my Etsy store this weekend. As the Editor-in-Chief of the Greenleaf Gazette I sometimes get to test new prototypes like this one. Some lucky person is not only going to get a great dollhouse, but they'll get one of the first of these houses ever built.