Hello Every One,
First of all I would like to welcome my new followers. Thank you so much for joining, I truly appreciate you taking the time to have a look and I hope you enjoy your time while your here.
I have called this post 'Just Pretend' because that is what I will need you to do. I need you to pretend that the wallpaper is indeed a Chinoiserie mural. I have had in mind from the early days of decorating this Dollhouse to make the Drawing room/Living room Chinoiserie themed. The challenge of painting such a mural in miniature is quite exciting. I have many sources of inspiration, the original from a book I love, Early Georgian Interiors by John Cornforth there are many beautiful images but here are just a few I have taken photographs of. I particularly like the colours of the bedroom which is in Erddig in North Wales and the design in the Bird Cage Room at Grimsthorpe Castel Lincolnshire if think this is very pretty and whimsical and it is a feeling I would like to create in Ambrosia Place. Perhaps with a little more patina though. I have a collection of Chinoiseire images on my Pinterest but I haven't worked out how to put the gadget on my blog so here is the Link if you would like to have a look. I keep a lot of my inspiration there.
The whole point to this exercise was to show you my new fire surround and lamp. The fire surround is from Pheonix Miniatures but I happened to come across it at the my local Dollhouse shop which is where I found the lamp which is Clare Bell. I have jumped the gun a little and gone off focus because am actually working on the Twins room, but, I have been painting the iron bed steads and thought why not the Fire surround as well...... My New Years Resolution - to do more posts. Post as you go Fiona!!! Take snaps of the work you have done and move on!! I couldn't help setting a little scene though......you know how it is???? I just want it to look nice!!
I have painted the fire surround in many THIN coats of off white because it has such lovely detail and I didn't want to spoil it. Above is a close up although still doesn't do it justice.The rather strange coloured table is a cheepy I stripped back and haven't painted yet. I think Si's mirror will look better with the chinoiserie, this one will go in the master bedroom. SO, this is why I want you to pretend!!!
Imagine how it will look!!
This is my moody shot of Pears, next is a warming shot, i have noticed the stem of the lamp is crooked so I must fix that!
I made the little Pears and thought it was a good opportunity to show them to you along with the lovely plates I told you about from Carrie A Lavender Dilly I have shown all but one that was too difficult to get out of the cabinet, it is a black Roster.
Now before I come to a close I would like to do a Shout Out for a couple of rather fabulous blogs I have come across in the last few weeks. AM first introduced him self here last week and I just love what he is doing, along with his adorable cat Thunderbird South Hampton Grey is his blog so please check it out, I know a few of you already have. I can't remember how I stumbled across Liduina's blog
Miniature House but she has so impressed me with her Brick work and her beautiful House I think you should all take a look!
Well thats it from me folks! Happy Minis!
ML Fi xx
Hi honey
ReplyDeleteScott and I have often been refered to as a moody pear - spooky!! Lol
I used my imagination and your drawing room will be just lovely. I live that whole look. I hope the mirror gets to you soon - at before you finish the room!
Thanks for the heads up on AM. I found through you yesterday. I love his idea of house/antique shop.
Take care my dear xxx
Hello to one half of the moody pear....lol
DeleteI know, I love AM's idea with the house/antique shop too, it looks like it is all going to come together well.
Well you know as well as I do Si, that drawing room ain't gon'a happen real quick!!
XX
Have a great weekend honey -x-
DeleteHi Fi! I Love the "Imagined" Chinoiserie wallpaper for your room! I can't wait to see what your painted one will be like! I hand painted the Chinoiserie walls in my Lovely Old Dollhouse.... and you will smile when you see the development of the Next Room in my Tree House.... a bedroom in You-can-guess-what style!!! :) Here is the link to my Chinoiserie bedroom in The Lovely Old Dollhouse http://aboutmydollhouses.blogspot.com/2010_08_01_archive.html
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy,
DeleteI just had a look at your beautiful room, it must have taken you forever??? All those pretty birds....and your RL house was amazing. I hope the new owners maintain it!
I guess we all think alike don't we, AM as I mention above is planing one in his house!
ML Fi xx
It took me Months, Fi! But I didn't hurry it as it was exhausting to paint inside the already built room... trying to get the paintbrush in the right spot and still be able to See where it was going...!
DeleteHI Fi,
ReplyDeleteI LOVE your new finds! I can't believe you managed to track down a Clare Bell lamp in Australia!I too haev that beautiful fire place surround. Phoenix Miniatures have such excellent detail don't they. Can you tell me which shop you visited?
Emily
Hi Fi, I love your moody photos (with the lovely light and all). Your room is going to look fantastic. I love playing "just pretend." Seems like that's what we're doing with miniatures ALL the time! xo Jennifer
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
Deleteand don't e just love to pretend!!....; )
ML Fi xx
Hi Emily,
ReplyDeleteThanks I'm glad you like it, I can't believe the detail in it, the tiny little fine teeth that are on the edge are so small, I cant imagine how the get the moulds that fine.
As you know there is only one in Melbourne and it is the very same "The Doll House" I have seen you have made a post on. Kerry does have a lot of good pieces, you just have to look hard. She had quite a range of the Clare Bell lights but they did sell quickly. She has lots of Pheonix/ Warwick pieces but my advice is check the internet first before you go in as it is a lot cheeper even including postage.She tends to put quite a big mark up on them so make sure you are familiar with the prices before you go. Some times it's nice to pick something up straight away without having to wait.
ML Fi xx
Dear Fiona, how sweet of you to mention my blog to all your readers. I've been silently working on my dutch doll's house for years. Now I suddenly can share my enthousiasm with lots of people and looking at their own creations really inspires me a. It almost feels like a being part of a special kind of "family" :-) Thanks again! Love, Liduina.
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a very special kind of family where we all support and encourage each other. Be silent no more and enjoy the company of other enthusiasts.
ML Fi xx
Dear Fiona, here is another member of your big family :D!!
ReplyDeleteI am in awe of your pears (great job) รกnd the beautiful pictures, thanks :D!! Also for sharing the pinterest link, great to see all those beautiful pictures and it is a huge source of inspiration for me, that's for sure!
Those plates, the fireplace surround (good work: thin layers because of the wonderful details) and the lamp really are gorgeous, like real life ones! There is almost no difference to see :D
ML Ilona XXX
Thank you my lovely!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice family we are too!! No disfunction here : D
I hope your toes are not frozen and you are keeping nice and warm. Today we had a cool change so it is much more pleasant now!
ML Fi xx
Hello Fi,
ReplyDeleteI love your ideas for the chinoiserie room. You arean insanly talented artist and I know you'll do a fantastic job on the chinoiserie...just wait and see! I also have to say I love the mantel and the lamp. Great finds! They will look wonderful in the room. As for the paltes, Carrie's work is lovely. I really like the ones you chose.
Keep up the fantastic work Fi, you never dissapoint!
ML
Giac
Hi Giac,
DeleteThank you my dear! You know I should just get cracking and get on with the Twins room but I can't help stopping to have a play??
ML Fi xx
Hi Fi, *BLUSH* thnx for the lovely compliment. Your figurative art collection on pintrest ia amazing. Can't wait for the chinoiserie. I am going to browse your pintrest somemore. gr. AM
ReplyDeleteHi AM,
ReplyDeleteThank you! I have been wondering if your blog pic is one of yours? Whichever way I really like it!!
ML Fi xx
Hi Fi,
ReplyDeleteHope all is going well for you and your family at the moment! I love this imagine room so much! I am glad you take the time out to stop and have a play because when you play, it inspires the rest of us so much!!!
Fantastic work as always!
Hugs, Mins xxx
Thats so sweet of you Mins.
DeleteHow is your little bub going?? I imagine you have your hands full??
ML Fi xx
Hello, Darling!
ReplyDeleteWhere to start? I love how you staged your little vignettes --all your little lovelies look fantastic...from the mantle to your pretty lamp, plates and great job on the pears! We must be on the same page because I'm doing the bedroom in a chinoiserie theme. So I'll have to check out your Pinterest page. Glad to hear there will be more posts from you this year. And thanks for the blog shout-outs...
John XOXO
Thank you my lovely!!
DeleteI'm not surprised you are doing a Chinoiserie room, I can just imagine how perfect it will be, it is something I know you will do so well.
Watch out for the picture I chose as my board cover for miniatures, it might be a tad familiar....; )
ML Fi xx
Hello from Spain: I love chinoiserie room. Your doing a great job. Your furniture is very nice. Keep in touch
ReplyDeleteThank you Marta, I'm pleased you stopped by.
ReplyDeleteFi XX
Your lamp is so very realistic Fi. I love the moody pears (of course), which would be quite at home here at the castle. We have moody pomegranates here (the chosen fruit of the underworld). The chinoiserie is also inspired. I really like the cabinet. It reminds me of the Chinoiserie room in a stately home not far from here called Claydon House. Andy came home from his dollshouse exhibition in London yesterday with a beautiful chinoiserie eighteenth-century chair - plus a few other choice items I'm sure he'll tell you about.
ReplyDeleteDavid xx
Hi David,
DeleteI'm glad you like my moody pairs!! Yes that cabinet is amazing. So many beautiful examples of architecture and interiors in that wonderful country of yours. I have a whole list of places to look at on my next visit.
Can't wait to see Andy's finds!
ML Fi xx
Andy and I could show you more than a few places here in old pile land - not that you need ideas! Ah, so many teashops and National Trust shopping opportunities, so many nice places to sit and eat ice cream. So many places to look elegant or imitate the poses of statues...
DeleteAndy's new table looks fantastic, by the way. He put his collection of miniature blue and white ginger jars on top of it. If only we were the right size, we could move in and be two eighteenth-century gentleman together. But alas, we're stuck in the twenty-first century - what a terrible fate!!!!
Love
David
It's nice to have a little play occasionally and you see things with different eyes when looking at a photo of the arrangement. You have a lovely selection of bits and it gives us just a taster of what's to come.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links, I hadn't come across AM before but I've added my name to his followers. I'm already a follower of Liduina's blog - very impressive brickwork!
Fi, I love all your inspiration photos! Your lamp and pears looks wonderful with all the different plates, isn't playing with miniatures just the best of fun ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe Absolute best of fun....; )
DeleteHi Fi!! I finally made it here. The internet is back for north Queensland. I am really looking forward to seeing more of this project. So very elegant!! Big thank you for the plate pictures. They look great. It is really very rewarding to see how people who have bought them use them in their miniatures. A very big thank you!!! Carriexx
ReplyDeleteHi Carrie,
ReplyDeleteI have been wondering how you guys are???? You have all had such a bad run of it these last few years. My husband has been up in Queensland checking out some of the damage to some of the banks branches have had. Not too good!!
I'm glad you like the plate pictures.
ML Fi xx
Hi Fi, I'm so glad to have met you and can escape from my chaos of building and sawdust to the calm beauty of your blog with all its treasures. Wonderful inspirational photos. Christine xx
ReplyDeleteHi Fi,
ReplyDeleteLove the fireplace, I think its the same one I have in my dining room, so you clearly have very good taste!! ;o) The lamp is lovely, it's hard to get good lighting in the UK, unless you pay a lot of money, so I am pleased that you can get yours quite locally. The moody pears look lovely too, and the plates, what a collection!
It's funny, I have some greetings cards with exactly the same Chinoiserie bird designs on them that you have selected in your images! I love them so much I can't bear to send them to anyone! I wish I had used a proper Chinoiserie paper in my bedroom, Though I do like the paper I have in there. Ah! David letting a little cat out of the bag! Yes, I will be putting a few recent purchase on my blog soon!
Look forward to seeing the twins bedroom soon!
PS thanks for all those links, will check them out later!
Hugs
Andy xxxx