The Best Gifts Come in Small Packages

Do you remember how when you were small, the biggest gift seemed so exciting?  My mum always told me       " The best gifts come in small packages."

Well, she was right!  Look inside:

Do you see that copy of Flea Market Style in there?  I received all this mini goodness just because I offered to send a life size copy to a gal in New Zealand  as they were not available there.

Mercedes has the sweetest little shabby chic dollhouse and she makes so many things in miniature it is unbelievable.

The little magazine even has pages in it!  She made all the little rusty jugs,  the sweetest little birdhouses, and the dear little nest!

She is so sweet that after she accepted my offer of the magazine, she was contacted by the editors and sent one by them, she said she was going to send me some minis anyway!

So I sent her a copy of Cottage Style instead.  Mercedes said magazines are so expensive in New Zealand that she just doesn't buy them.  I hope she will be pleased, she hasn't received my parcel yet.
I am continually amazed at the kindness of strangers friends we have met online.  Everyone is so sweet and generous.

Please hop over and visit her blog.  Even if you are not into minis, you will be inspired for your real sized home!  Thank you so much Mercedes!

A Place of My Own part two: Mini Bedroom

When I posted pictures of my dollhouse living room I got a chuckle because some of you thought it was my real house! I'll take it as a compliment.
This is my mini bedroom. I tried to make it kind of cottagey, shabby chic style. The pink bedspread is a silk hankie I found at an antique shop. The little dresser and the crates came from Jemjoop, she has a wonderful shop on Etsy.
The armoire came from Michael's. I just painted it and papered the inside back.
The rug came from Ebay and was super cheap. I searched high and low for the spool bed, I had one like that as a girl and then Daughter #2 used it when she came along. I don't know if you can tell but there is a diamond ring in a box on the night stand. I can (waste) spend hours online searching for minis!
Sorry for the picture quality, I'll try and take some using daughter #2's camera while I still have it.

A Place of My Own

Ever since I was a little girl, I've always wanted a dollhouse. My favourite toys were always miniatures of something, be it dolls or houses. A few years ago, when we first became empty nesters, I decided to fulfill my life long dream of owning a dollhouse. Thank you Ebay! We don't live near a large enough city, so all my purchases came from online. I've made a few things but mostly bought the furniture, etc. There are lots of great blogs and other online sources with tons of ideas.
The living room rug is hand stitched. The walls are Benjamin Moore Natural Linen and the tea set is real silver in honour of my hubby who collects real size silver. The little mat at the foot of the stairs was made by me stitched totally in french knots which mimics rug hooking. My husband wired the house for me and the lighting just brings the place alive. You notice I have a dining room table but no chairs, still hunting for the perfect ones. I think if you click on the pics they will get bigger.
Thanks to Jayme of Tales from the Coop Keeper she has got me going on my dollhouse again. I kind of put in the background lately. Next time I'll post pictures of the kitchen. Stay tuned!