I'm In!

Since the "I'm a Giant" challenge has been extended, I'm in!

Blue (I mean Turquoise) Christmas

I just couldn't go without making a Christmas scene.  I love this "tree".

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, Happy Kwanza and any other holidays that are happening!

Cozy Winter Eve

The black chairs are Warren Richardson that I bought on Ebay.  The lamp is Kaleidoscope house by Bozart.  The accessories are Rement and everything else was bought on Ebay.

The sculpture is Kaleidoscope house and pony print chair is Reac. The background is scrapbook paper.

Refacing the Kitchen

These are the pieces that I used to make up the kitchen in the Atomic Bungalow.  The two white and beige pieces are vintage that I got off of Ebay.  I liked them the way they were and I was going to make new cabinets, but it just was a hot mess.

I cut the larger piece apart to make an upper and lower cabinet. I sanded, veneered and sanded some more to turn the pieces into this.  The blue wall cabinet was also sanded and veneered to match.  I really like the way they turned out.  The silver trim on the counter top is just stainless steel contact paper I found at Lowes.  The flooring is a cork sheet that I put a couple of coats of polyurethane on to make it shiny.  I tried to use finishes that they really used in MCM homes.

Ta Daa!

The atomic Bungalow is now officially done...at least until I decide to renovate which is inevitable.

I do think the living room is a little plain, but that's how minimal design is...clean and simple.  All the furniture in the house is either vintage or hand made by myself or someone else, with the exception of the patio furniture which I got on Ebay.

Power Tools

Does anyone have a mini table saw or know someone who does and likes theirs?  I really want to get one, but there are very few reviews on them online. I'm looking at Proxxon and Microlux.

I bought the Mighty Mite from Harbor Freight Tools and returned it.  It was bogging down and stopping just cutting 1/8" plywood.

I'm having a little trouble getting info on these mini tools so if you have any advise, please comment!

Retro Renovation

Just when I think I'm nearing completion of the Atomic Bungalow...(which it has to be done before December 15th) What do I do?  Start cutting things up and renovating that's what. ;-)

My husband said he was surprised that I didn't open up the doorway between the rooms...I thought "He's right, I should open it up"...so I did at least a little bit.

This is from the other side.

This is the plan, unfortunately I may have to find something else to fill in the space.  I cut the bases off of these pieces and now the opening is too tall...I'll figure something out.  I love this orange herringbone paper!





I'm also giving these kitchen pieces a bit of a facelift.  I cut apart the longer set of cabinets and made some wall mounted ones and sanded and veneered them along with the blue wall oven.

Here they are in their current state.  I still need to do a little more work on them.  Any suggestions on how to mount the upper cabinets on the wall?

I made this little sputnik lamp, but I think it needs to be gold to better suit the era.  I also made the table using an AG minis table as the base.

A sneak peek.  I just got the fabtastic sofa from Minimodernistas. She got it to me really quick!

Last, but not least...meet my little friend the mini cut off saw.  It makes cutting trim a breeze and makes great little angle cuts.  The only issue I have is that it will only cut wood up to 1/2" wide.  I wish it was 1".  I got it at Harbor Freight Tools.  They always have 20% off coupons, so it was only $20.00.

Very Mod Ebay Finds

I bought this amazing Miniature Living set on Ebay.  I fell in love with it when I first saw a set in April.  I'm not sure who it is, but I've seen it on someone's blog which made me want it even more!  It all seems to be well constructed, functional and most of all very cool mid-century modern!

I would just love to have this in human size. They are still in the package and I have had this set for a few weeks.  I'm afraid to take them out as they apparently have never been removed.

Look at the detail on the table and chairs.

This pic is right side up on my computer.

They are so tiny and delicate, smaller than I thought.  I work with 1/12 scale and these are much smaller although some of them would work fine with 1/12 or 1/16.

Now, the looming question...do I "Rebay" them or not?  I'm leaning toward Ebay as the pieces I really fell in love with are the dining room pieces.  Maybe I could break up the set and make a really tiny room box for the dining room. This is such a difficult decision for me...sheesh! Sell the whole set or sell them in room groupings?

Atomic Bungalow Update



The Atomic Bungalow (yes I came up with a name for it). I love how it's turning out.  I considered puting in a pool, but I just didn't have the room. The large glass window is a sliding door that works.



The "slate" front porch.  The door knob is part of a snap.

I used teak veneer to panel the wall.

A friend good of mine has a real curved fireplace (lucky!) and I just adore it.  That's where I got the idea for the curved fireplace.

COMPLETELY UNRELATED

Intestines: spinach and artichoke dip stuffed in puff pastry

Bloody glass cake

Tasty Turds: peanut butter rice krispy treats dipped in chocolate

Bloody glass cake

Worms made of Jello and cool whip

This is totally unrelated To miniatures, but I just wanted to show off some of my really gross yummy food I made for our Halloween party last night as well as a few of our decorations for the holiday.  I just love Halloween, it's the only holiday that is just for fun!

Mini Bubble Chairs

Just a little blurb about these really cool midcentury modern bubble chairs: I have been making these chairs and I really want to use one in a scene.  I just haven't had a chance yet, make that I just haven't done it yet.  This one has the silver cushion like the real thing, but I can make them in just about any color.  They are about three inches in diameter and hang on a three inch silver chain.  They can by hung up by using a small cup hook.  They have been selling well on Ebay for $14.99 if anyone is interested...hint, hint... ;-)

It's All White With Me



Just a quick post.  I've been making progress in organizing my work area.  I'll post pics on that later.  I took just a few minutes to make a mini scene.

I decided to use all white furniture for this one. Please excuse my striped shirt in the window reflection.



See you next time!

Raising the Roof

      I haven't posted on here in a few weeks.  There are two reasons.  The first being that I have in just since April run completely out of room to work on my doll houses.  So, my husband galantly offered to trade me sides in our attic room.  His side was the same size, but has two built in book cases and actual wall space to make in to a large work space.  My guess is that he really offered just to be nice but I held him to it.  ;-)  The thing about this is how much crap we can accumulate.  This room has never been uncluttered or organized in the six years we have lived in our home.  My two boys have also talked me into letting them have their own areas for art, chemistry and model building.  I thought this was going to be my space?  I'm such a push over!  This is going to be a long transformation...

       The second reason is that I have been working on a little secret project.  I  have decided to enter the HBS "Creatin Contest" with their Fascination Station kit.  Yes, I know I probably shouldn't put it out there, but I'm just so excited about how it's turning out.  I've really only been working on the structure, but I want to move in here!

This is the Fascination Station made into an antique shop.  From what I got on the HBS web site, it is based on an old 1950's gas station.



This is the Fascination Station structure which I am modifying a bit.

This is why I made the limestone bricks.  This is how the structure looks in it's beginning stages. See what I mean about no space?  This is on the floor!

The roof line was at an angle as flat roofs were in the day to allow for water run off.  I had to raise the back part of the roof to be able to add the features I wanted to.

This is the current state of the outside structure.  Now, do you see why I want to live here?  I have always loved midcentury modern.  I have a Heywood Wakefield bedroom set, so does one of my boys and we have a Heywood Wakefield dining set  along with an eclectic mix of midcentury, modern and traditional.  But that's another blog...By the way if anyone know where I can get a couple more Hey Wake dog bone chairs at a reasonable price, please let me know!

Ths is part of my inspiration.  These were my mother's interior decorating magazines from 1954, shortly after my parents were married.  I have always loved them!  I have also recently gotten into Mad Men.  I have always wanted to see it then a couple of months ago, AMC started showing the episodes from the beginning on Sunday mornings.  I'm totally hooked!  I will be all up to date when the new season starts in 2012.  I am also enamored with the work of a miniaturist named Mary Ann Roy.  She does midcentury play scale for fashion dolls (Barbie size).  She is amazing!  Her web site is called Welcome Home.  If you like mid century, you will LOVE this!!!



I hope I don't get in trouble for this, but this is a photo that she had in Atomic Ranch Magazine.  It looks real doesn't it!  I just wish she did 1/12th scale!