Hardwood floors for Victoria's Farmhouse

I have been wanting to put hardwood floors in a least one of the rooms of Victoria's Farmhouse.  I decided to put hardwood floors in the living room.  I found a really pretty stain called Sedona Red.  
I used skinny craft sticks. Measured out the room and began laying the sticks down on card stock paper. 

 

 

I started having a hard time with the sticks because they were not very straight...LOL!  Always love a challenge! But, it was fun to make it fit.  I thought it would give the floors an old world feel if I made them look like they were nailed down on the floor.

I added the nail marks before I stained the floors.  I think it made it look more real.  I looked around at other blogs and found that someone else had done this and it looked really nice.  I tried to find the blog again so I could thank them for sharing the information and give credit to them.  

Sorry about the lighting.  Here is the whole floor.  I think it turned out pretty good for my first time.  I had to trim and sand to make sure the sides were smooth and to make it fit the room as close as possible.

I didn't like the stairs that came with the house and I found a kit off of Ebay that was really pretty.  I haven't finished putting it completely together yet.  But, here is a preview.  I was so happy the door fit to!

Now, to finished the baseboards and walls.  Wish me luck!  I hope you liked the floors.  Have a great day!

Love
MMM

Goofing off!

This weekend was a goof off weekend.  Money is tight.  Too hot to be outside.  I was looking around for something to do. 
I have been wanting a fountain for the outside of Victoria's Farmhouse.   I had tried different things but all the things I tried didn't work. 
Then I found it.  I looked at the shape, the size...Perfect!

Ok.  It might be a little gross...LOL!  I washed the plastic container, dried it.  Then, painted it with a layer of gesso.  Let it dry.   Put a couple of layers of gray paint. Then I found a tile print cut it out the size of the bottom and then glued it down.  I found a wedding decoration that would fit as a statue for the center of the fountain.  I haven't finished all the details on it yet.  My mom gave me a little baggie of really tiny sea shells.  I put them at the bottom of the fountain. 

Until this picture was taken.  I didn't see the glue..ops!  Will have to go back and clean that up. 

I'm not sure if it looks like a fountain.  But, it was fun to goof off.   Have a great day!

Love
MMM

   

Looking inside of Victoria's Farmhouse

One of the hardest things I have ran up against is making up my mind on a certain look or style I want.   Or where a room should go.  That is one of the fun things about Dollhouses, they don't really have to fit into the norm of real homes.  It is a chance for us to think outside the box.  Have the house of our dreams.   We have visions of what we want...Then it takes on a life of it's own.  The is the rewarding part of dollhouses.
This being my first dollhouse owned or built, I wasn't sure what I wanted.  I started by looking online for something I could afford.  I found Victoria's farmhouse.   I was told it was new in box.  But, when I got it home and started to take things out of the box...I wanted to cry.   It had been put together a little bit.  And ripped apart to go back in box. They used nails to put it together.   The base was warped and almost broke.  The front gable was broke in half.  And windows and other items were missing. 
All hope was not lost.  Went online and found a lot of good information. Real Good
Toys helped also.  They sent me a new front gable and windows.   Thank you, Real Good Toys!
I painted the house.  Then, I found out that it helps if you put a layer or two of gesso on before painting...LOL!  Boy! Wood can sure soak up paint!
 I knew that this was my first dollhouse and that I was going to use it to learn with and become better as I go.  I decided not to have electric in it.  Instead, I found some really cool battery lights.  I love them!  Found them on Ebay.
So, know you know a little more about the history of this dollhouse.

During the painting of the inside.  I started to place furniture around.

Top floor- Sorry, the camera that I am using doesn't have a flash.

The other side of the top floor.  Or third floor.  One of the battery lights.  You can see, I still haven't put up wallpaper or flooring.  I'm thinking maybe green tile.  Not yet.

Some how I have lost all the pictures of the rest of the house.  I had pictures showing the different set up for each room.  Umm!  I will try to find and post them.  Sorry!


Love
MMM

Looking forward to Fall

I know many of you are looking forward to Fall.   I love the colors, the cooler weather.  A chance for creativity

 with miniatures and dollhouses.  The other day, I went into Hobby Lobby and found some really cute things to start the fall season.  Little pumpkins, little cookie cutters, snowflakes, Christmas lights.

I also found grass and some bushes for the outside of the house.   The grass I found at Hobby Lobby.  The bushes, I found at the Dollar Tree.  Tell me what you are doing for fall.  Have fun! 

Love
MMM

Wildfires- Texas

  We are in the area of some of the Texas wildfires.  I know that all the firemen have their hands full. I pray that they will all be safe. I'm sad for all the families that have lost their homes.  I know that it is hard for everyone.  I'm asking everyone to pray for the families and fireman.  I heard today on tv that 1300 homes have been burned between all the fires in Texas.  I took some pictures last night of the smoke moving close to us. Thank you!

Love
MMM

Dreaming of Miniatures!!

I'm so happy to be back to the world of miniatures! It has been to long.  I hope to get back to the projects that have been begging to be finished.  I have missed so much.  Keep checking back.   I will start updating soon.


Love
MMM