Every Picture Tells A Story

As you've probably noticed from my last post date I have been on a little blog hiatus. I've been new creations for Barbie and Blythe. I thought I'd share a few photos. More photos are available at my etsy shop. Type in Etsy.com and go to my shop, reallifeminis
Here is my first suitcase wardrobe conversion. I love this little piece. It has such great portability and function and it is pretty darn cute. I plan to make a few more of these. It took about 10 hours over a few days to pull this one together. I think it turned out great.                                                                                       

The story behind this little banquette sofa and table began with a discarded wooden bed footboard I had decided not to use in another design. It had been sitting in my work area for a few months and I kept thinking there must be something I can use this to create. Finally I picked it up and decided to apply a few layers of paint and distressed silver leaf to the posts. Next, I upholstered the front and back center inserts. I built a custom base, applied upholstery, some trim and a decorative box pleat skirt. It is a unique piece that reminds me of a couple of the grown up pieces in Ballard Designs.

Robin's egg blue is one of my favorite colors. It invokes such a feeling of calm and serenity. I couldn't resist building a cottage style table and finishing it in this cozy color. Blythe and her kitty look pretty cozy too.

Oh and the lamp...I love pulling together different parts and pieces to make these.  Sometimes the balancing act of getting it to all stay together is a trick.

 All dolls love to party.  This next room is ready for ghoulish good times.  Beverages are chilling in the coffin cooler.  A cottage style island serves up some cider and tasty treats.  I love getting out the clay and making these fun foods.  The bat cookies and drink decanter are my favorite.

Here's a fun grouping I pulled together by up-cycling a couple of plastic furniture pieces.  Paint can transform anything.  It was a lot of fun to experiment with different paints and layering techniques.  Last year I built one of these pumpkin topiaries.  It was so much fun I just had to make another one.  This grouping has a happy home with a collector in Michigan. 


That's all I have to share for now.  I hope you enjoyed seeing my creations. Maybe your creativity has been sparked a little along this photo journey.

All items are for sale. Check them out on Etsy or email me.
Smiles.

Gardening Joy to Brighten A Rainy Day

Hi All,
It is a rainy day here so I thought I'd share some mini looks at Spring.  The seedlings are sprouting and the Spring Bulbs are budding.  Sit down and enjoy some lemonade with Sophia, June and Callie...their faithful, furry friend.  Callie is ready to romp and play in the garden.  Careful not to trample the flowers. Julius the cat is ready to curl up for an afternoon nap.

A few design details...The rustic garden cart (formerly a pink storage cabinet from Barbie's veterinarian set) is filled with seed packets and wooden marking stakes. The patio is made from tiny rounds of wood I found at my local super store. The settee was a formerly white plastic piece which has been given a little paint redo. Several up-cycled items were used for the planting bed. Think twice before you throw something out to the curb.



It was so much fun to make the little planter box.
I just finished a similar egg box which you can see on my Etsy shop page.

Hope this brightens your day.

I Love Turquoise

Happy Valentines Day!  On this day of love,  I thought I 'd share a little room in Veronica's Malibu Escape.

I do love the ocean, the swirl of the turquoise water and the warm sand and sun.  That was the inspiration for her modern dining nook
Things I love...
The table with its driftwood inspired table base.
The two modern cube ottomans in turquoise, sandy tan and sunny orange.

The buffet with its beautiful turquoise lattice design front panel, top and sides of gold and accents of white and silver on the legs and pull accents.  A girl always needs a little touch of glam.
The little lamp that actually flickers.  This is the first time I've actually made one functional.

Hope you like it.  Looks like it's time to get out the box of chocolates.

So Here's the Answer

Hi All.  I mentioned in my last post that the orange side chair was made from a recycled item. Here is a picture of what is left.  It is a watch box.   The cardboard is extremely sturdy and pretty easy to cut.  It makes a great chair form.  Just add a little creativity, fabric, some plexiglass legs and trim detail.  I only wish I had another box so I could make a pair.
I have to thank my husband because it was his new watch.

Rest of the Story and Bedroom Beginnings

To quote Paul Harvey..."and now you know the rest of the story", or something like that.  Anyway, here is a little chair I made to finish off the menswear sofa room I shared last week.  It still needs a matching upholstered seat cushion.  I would have loved to have a made a pair of these chairs but I only had raw materials for one.  Do I dare give away the secret component I used for the bones of the chair seat???
I think I'll share that in the next post.  I'll give you a few hints. 1.  It is cardboard. 2.  It is a form of packaging. 3.  It was going to be discarded.    Now let's get some comments posted with possible guesses.

Moving on to another room...I thought I'd share a few pics of the beginnings of a beautiful bedroom.  Lots of creating left to do but I think it is off to a very tranquil beginning.  I made the lamp.  The table is a repaint.  The headboard is also an original.  I added upholstery and  trim detail.

Hope you like it.
Next time I'll be revealing how the chair was made and sharing a few other trash can bound accessory ideas.  I might also throw in a little garden project mini style.

Not Quite the Whole Story...But Close

Mini greetings to you all.  My fingers are covered in glue residue and gold paint that wouldn't quite wash away.  But  I couldn't wait to share part of a room story that it not quite the whole but close.   A few minor details need to be buttoned up or sewn up.  Hopefully before too long the pillows will be hemmed and a decision will be made regarding accessories.

This story begins with a desire to build a feminine high back, curved arm sofa.  I thought it would be fun to collide the femininity of lines with a menswear feel in grey suit fabric.  Of course I do love tufts and nailhead so those details had to be in the story.   

To create a little added tension I wanted to add elements of "glam" with gold vinyl.  I've been seeing gold ottomans everywhere.  Just take a look at this over the top chair and ottoman in gold.

http://interiorconnector.com/product/mis-en-scene/11.10.10/mini-brazil-chair-w-ottoman

Well here's my story.  Check back soon for the ending.

 A little animal print is always interesting.

Leather and exotic wood are unexpected.

Dara's Office for Etsy

As I mentioned on the Facebook page last week, I've been trying to finish up Dara's office for my Etsy shop.  Yay!!! It is finished.  It combines elements of wood, leather, zebra and metallics.

The desk which could double as a dining table or library table features and "X" base with gold metallic trim.  I gave it a white wash finish.  The rug is real leather, cut in an irregular cowhide shape.  
Don't you love that computer!  I ordered that a while back from Elf Miniatures.  That one is a keeper for my personal collection.

Before Christmas I began experimenting with bending balsa wood.  I took a piece I had bent to form the curved back for the desk chair.  I applied a gold finish and upholstered the inside seat back.  The seat itself got a little padding and was topped with the same cocoa zebra print.  I had been hanging on to a piece of the pale blue and gold trim.  I thought it would pair nicely with the zebra.
I made the lamp before Christmas, too.  It has just been waiting for the right room.

The art pieces were fun to make.  They are held up with a little double stick tape.  Tiny mounting squares work well too.
I had a little help from my dad with the bookcase frame construction.  (He has more power tools.)  I added the dividers and gave it a nice navy finish.

Too bad my own office isn't as pulled together.  Hope you like it.