5 Year Bloggiversary

I can't believe I've been blogging about modern miniatures since April of 2011.  Over the last five years I have met a bunch of really great people.  It's been through blogging and reading blogs that I have discovered a world of dollhouse miniatures that I never knew existed. I've made friends, found amazing resources and learned a lot of techniques for making miniatures. So, I think it's time to celebrate and thank my miniature friends by having a giveaway.

I'm giving away this re-upholstered vintage Bodo Hennig chair along with the pillow and a few other things that I haven't decided on yet.

Just comment on this post and I will do a random drawing of all the names and announce the winner on April 25th.

Thank you for following!

Facebook Frustrations

I know you probably don't want to hear me bitch about stuff nor do you like to read lengthy posts without pictures, but this really pisses me off!

As many of you know, I also have a Mini Mod Pod Facebook page.  I've had the page for some time now and have created what I think is a pretty good following. As I'm sure some of you do, I try to keep my mini life somewhat separate from my personal life.  I don't want to bombard my personal friends with miniatures because quite frankly, they are not interested.

I do love to talk minis and share new and or old things I find interesting in the mini world. Facebook seems to be a good way to do that....and it's free...for now.  Recently Facebook is treating my page like a business page and won't let me share posts or comment on posts from other pages as Mini Mod Pod, only from my personal page.  I can't even see posts by pages or people that Mini Mop Pod likes!

Now I have to figure out a way to post mini stuff as Mad for Mod/Mini Mod Pod...maybe a new private group for modern and midcentury miniatures? Maybe I should just start a new account as Mad for Mod?

Eureka!

I think I have decided what I'm going to do for the this year's Creatin' Contest: 

I still need to do a dry fit to decide whether or not I'm going to do a loft or some kind of Murphy bed/sofa bed, but I think this will work.  I'm going to forgo the current porch and use the entire base as the house.  

I will add a deck on one end with a front door and the side where the big windows will be (like the one below).

...Of course, knowing me I will get half way into the build and decide to go another direction.  I think the trick for me is not to get too ambitious or impatient.

#HBSCreatinContest2016

In addition, I just bought this large lot of Bodo Hennig / German made minis off of Ebay. I actually only wanted to keep a few pieces and was planning of selling off the rest, but as I unwrapped the pieces I found that there were many more that I like and will be keeping.

Some of them are duplicates of what I already have so I will re-sell those or give some as gifts...maybe a giveaway since I haven't had one in awhile.

  I'm just curious what you think if I were to reupholster the pieces that I'm not fond of...like ALL of the floral prints.  Do you think that would "devalue" the pieces for those who are purists? or does it really matter as long as it is done well?

Too Many Ideas

I got my 2016 HBS Contest kit - The Backyard Bungalow a few days ago.  When I first saw the kit online, I was uninspired because it just wan't my style. Quite frankly, It's still not my style, but I can make it into something that is.  I haven't opened it yet for dry fit it, but I have spent days drawing out different floor plans for a Tiny house. Even at my RL job I sneak in a doodle here and there.  For some reason I just can't get it right so I decided to go on Pinterest and Google Images for some ideas....well, now I have too many ideas and can't decide.  

See what I mean? Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Do I use one kit or two?  Do I use two and stack them on top of each other or next to each other?  I want to use two, but my work space is limited...My work room is in an attic and the side walls are only 4 feet tall. so storage and usable work space is at a premium. Do I use one and go out or up?  Who knew that a seemingly uninspiring kit could inspire so many ideas?

Carpeting Dilemma Solved

The last time I posted about the Creating Contest Mad Men Office, I was having a bit of trouble with the carpeting and glue soaking through it.  Well, Thanks to Fran at Miniatures.com and her great advice, the carpeting is attached and looks great.

I know the picture is really dark, but I'll get a better one next time.  I've also gotten the teak veneer on the walls and silver edging up.  Next is getting the lighting hooked up then it will be time to start on Don Draper's decorating. 

#HBSCreatincontest2015

 I have been looking for a Millie August Magic Mini Pleater to make the window treatments for a couple of months now.  The last one I found on Ebay was a bit out of my price range. If anyone knows where I can get one PLEASE let me know.

I have also made a little progress on the Citadel Kitchen

The bottom cabinets are a dark grey gloss laminate from Formica and it's called...wait for it..."Citadel".  The uppers will be a white gloss.  The stove and fridge are kits from Elf Miniatures . I asked Elizabeth if she could either make an orange fridge to go with the orange cooker kit or even just some of the orange plastic that is on the cooker so I could make my own. Within a couple of hours she got back to me with this awesome matching fridge kit (which is now for sale on the website).

CC 2016 Inspiration

When I first saw the 2016 Creatin' Contest kit, I was a little uninspired.  Now that we are supposedly going to have an early spring (we cal only hope) I have had an aha moment and started brain storming.

This is the 2016 kit: The Backyard Bungalow

Here are a couple of ideas for a beach bungalow.

This is a pretty small kit, so I will have to buy two.

Another idea I had is to do a Tiny House.  One of those really compact 200 square foot homes with lots of hidden multi purpose furniture and storage.

I will probably just get the kits and play around with them until I decide.

#HBSCreatincontest2016

Working on the Citadel

Now that the HBS Contest is done, I've had a little time to get back to working on the Citadel. First I've been working on the lighting.   Several months ago I purchased a couple of the Alvar Aalto vases from Modern Mini Fan (AKA Modern Mini Houses) to make a light out of.  I started thinking about it and thought a larger version would be really cool as an overhead light so I contacted her and asked if she could make it in a larger size. She was very acomodating and quickly made a larger version.  I was originally going to use it for a dining chandelier, but since the ceilings are tall in the Citadel I thought it would be a great ceiling light. 

 Though the room has no finishings and I haven't decided what room it will be (probably a bathroom or office) I think the light looks awesome!

Next I got the recessed lights working in the kitchen.  

I've been admiring the colored cookers at Elf Miniatures for some time and of course my favorite color is orange.  I wanted to make a fridge that matches the cooker so I asked Elizabeth at Elf if she could either make one or send me a piece of the same orange plastic to make a matching fridge myself.  She blew me away by making a kit version of a picture of a fridge that I sent her. First, it's awesome and second very affordable.

I started laying out the kitchen using the cooker and fridge kits that I already put together from Elf Miniatures. 

 I  "planted" some succulents in the built in planter and added some paneling in the entry way.

The clock and cactus coat tree are from Piccoleidee Moderne on Etsy. I blogged about them recently here. I used pre-made single french doors for the rooms, but frosted the windows for privacy.  I started making my own doors but then decided it was a bit of a pain in the ass so I bought these from Miniatures.com  They are by Houseworks and you can remove the "glass" part to paint the frames and in my case frost the "glass".

I addition, I have done a little bit on Don Draper's Mad Men office

 The ceiling is done and the windows installed.

This is my third try on the carpeting.  The first one I cut one inch short, the second showed glue (water based) on the nice side that could not be remedied and the third time I tried spray glue to install the "carpeting" which is just faux suede. As you can see, even the spray glue shows through the fabric.  Next try will either something I already have or felt but I really don't want to go back to the fabric store. Besides when I was there I looked at the felt and I couldn't find the right shade of grey.

#HBSCreatincontest2015