Hi All,
Yes I must admit to feeling a little disappointed with a couple of my online purchases. Above is a snap I took this morning when the early morning sun happened to be flooding the twins room.Real sun, no lamps....; )I had a trial run with my new arrivals, it looks quite sweet but I am disappointed in the colours of the wall paper and the Aubusson rug. I purchased both of these from Itsy Bitsy Miniatures On their website they look a definite blue but the overall effect is without question green, not a french antique blue with a cream boarder but green. It actually looks better in the photo than it does in real life.
As for the "Fabric" I ordered it is not fabric at all, I intended to use it to cover the little foot stool and perhaps as curtains in the cabinet/armoire but it's really only slightly more pliable than paper. Oh well, I guess you live and learn, I will just have to make do with what I have, I guess it's now a green room and not a blue one.
Please bear in mind that the colours of the furniture I am intending to change so they don't work together at the moment, this is just a play to check on positioning. I have very high ceilings on the ground floor so I will have to add some interest in the space above the beds. The dresser, armoire, foot stool and coffee table all came from the same seller on a well known auction site. That was not so successful either, the items are vintage Bespaq, originally from a miniature shop that closed 20 years ago, great buys, and I love the pieces but the dresser arrived in the box with one of the back feet broken off and the varnish crackling and loose in the box and 3 of the handles off. I originally intended on painting these items but close up the wood is lovely and I don't even mind the varnish looking cracked it's just I have no idea how to fix the foot of the dresser, it's not a clean break and looks like it's been like that for a while. I was supposed to get a winged back chair with the foot stool also but that didn't come because it was apparently damaged (I wasn't charged for it). I don't want to contact the seller about the dresser because during the communications he told me his wife had just died so rather than bother the man I would rather fix the dresser and keep it.
So all in all, not a lot of success with online buying. I will be more cautious in future, I guess it was a bit of a gamble buying vintage items anyway. Sorry it wasn't a more UP post, I promise next time to have some good things to show!
Welcome to my new followers and thank you for taking the time to have a look.
Happy minis every one!
ML Fi xx
Hello from Spain, i feel that the role of the wall with a color so clear. The carpet is nice. I hate shopping online. I prefer to see and touch the products in stores. Keep in touch
ReplyDeleteHello from Spain, i feel that the role of the wall with a color so clear. The carpet is nice. I hate shopping online. I prefer to see and touch the products in stores. Keep in touch
ReplyDeleteI'm starting to feel that way too Marta, you can be sure of your purchases that way, I think I would still buy on line from Artists I'm familiar with but no more online papers and rugs.
DeleteML Fi xx
I'm so sorry your purchases are so Disappointing, Fi! I think I would retire the carpet to another room and continue to try and get the blue you want!!! Some people have luck with printing their own carpets on a special kind of cloth... I have not tried this, but maybe it would give you more control of the color. As for the broken leg.... it does look like a difficult break to mend! At least it is the back leg... so if the repair is not perfect it will just look like the real damaged Antiques you see in old shops!!! I would probably try to just glue it with wood glue.... and fit the pieces together as closely as you can to their original position! A real carpenter might know better methods. Good luck with finding a fix!
ReplyDeleteOn a brighter note... I think the room looks Lovely with the morning sun coming in... it has an air of an old and not recently used children's room....! A very hushed and nostalgic feeling....!
Hi Betsy,
DeleteYes I'm now wishing I had printed my own, at least that way I could experiment with the colours and get it right. I think I will manage to fix the leg of the cabinet and I am lucky it is the back leg, it makes it a lot easier to hide.
ML Fi x
Hi Sweetie Darling, first off I am giving you a BIG Hug!
ReplyDeleteThe wallpaper... Yes it looks green! must add I don't dislike it. But you have a specific vision in your head about the room so if it isn't what you had intended... toss it! The dresser looks great, crackled and broken it adds a certian je ne sais qua. Buying online always has it's suprises... looking forward to see the transformation of the furniture. Hug AM
ps. you where right! Burt & Liz are Victoria and Albert!
DeleteYou know other peeps are reading this and thinking wtf are those two talking about ;)
what are you talking about???
DeleteHi Butch! ;)
DeleteHey Dudes!!
DeleteFirst up, I think most of the time peeps have no idea what we are prattling on about!
AM, thanks for your BIG hug.....I needed one when I opened the box.....I'm trying to decide wether to keep it or not, the trouble is the fern pattern has a particular significance as it is representational of my Mother. She was an incredible gardner and had the most stunning fernery, before I got married she helped me make beautiful hanging baskets of ferns, some I still have today. I am saying this very quietly but I even have a Tattoo of a fern on my hip....sshhhhh.....my sister and I got one after she died, both quite small and discrete and it was long before every one got one or many.
So maybe I will grow to like it (no pun intended) as I put some of the little bits in I had collected I thought it didn't look to bad. I'll look at it for a few more days and see how I feel.
ML Fi xx
I've had some disappointments, too, but sometimes those items end up being just what I need for a future project. :] For the broken leg, I would drill the tiniest of holes in the leg. Insert a small bit of wire (like a cut off sewing needle) then drill a hole in the foot -- you'll have to line it up carefully. Then use a dab of super glue gel with wood glue to hold the foot in place. The super glue holds while the wood glue dries for a stronger bond. The wire will strengthen the join between the pieces to prevent snapping the glue bond. :]
ReplyDeleteThanks Otterine,
DeleteI will give that a try, I'm not that confident with my drilling skills but a bit of practice first could be just the thing.
Can I tell you how much I enjoy your blog, I am so hopeless with computers I haven't had any luck with the following bit. I have looked at your instructions and thought I followed but will have to try again.
I have actually followed your tutorial for the mattresses on the twins beds. A bit more of a fiddle than I thought but I am getting there, i hope to show them soon. You are a very talented Lady.
ML Fi xx
Hi Fiona, I had the same problem with that company. I ordered what looked like white hardwood floor wallpaper, but I got taupe instead! The color looked terrible in Cupcake Cottage, so I returned the wallpaper and lost money on postage both directions plus a re-stocking fee. :-( Oh well, not all purchases can make me do a happy dance. ;-) Actually, I really like what you have there. That pale green is beautiful in its own right. I hope you end up loving it over time. :-) xo Jennifer
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer,
Deletewell perhaps it's a warning to others if we have both had the same disappointment. Funnily enough the green has , been growing on me. I quite like the touch of pink with the green, it wasn't intended but a few of the pieces seem to work in there.
ML Fi xx
Hi Fiona, Sorry to read you were so disappointed with your purchases. It is very difficult to shop online. The pattern of the wallpaper is very pretty, even if it is green (I can tell from your photo it is green!) I would say if is not what you hoped it would be, don't use it! I am sure it will come in useful some other time. I am very surprised to read the fabric you bought isn't actually fabric. What do you think it is? Do they print it themselves?
ReplyDeleteAs for the back leg of the cabinet, it may actually be an advantage that it is not a clean break as the glue now has a larger surface to hold on to. You should be able to match the two pieces up exactly. Try doing that, as a dry fit, while trying not to damage the break surfaces. If you have found the right position and are able to push them together firmly, then draw a pencil line across the break. This will give you the exact position the leg has to be glued back to. Now gently pull the pieces apart again and put a nice dollop of wood glue on both pieces. Put the pieces back together again, pressing firmly. Check if the cabinet stands level. Gently remove the excess glue with a damp cloth and let it dry completely. You could add a dowell for strenght (similar to what Brea just described), but I would do it after putting both pieces together.
Anyway, that's how I would do it. There are probably ten other ways of fixing the leg ;-) You can do it Fi!
Hi Josje,
DeleteI think I will go with your technique, I could try drilling as Otterine suggested but my drilling skills are not that great and I'm worried I could do more harm than good.
Yes they have printed it them selves, I can only describe it as a mock fabric. I wish I had followed your tutorial and printed fabric of my own, I think I may give that a try in the end. The most disappointing part is the rug, so much of the appeal of the Aubusson rugs are the soft blues and greys and I could live with the colour being a little off if the cream wasn't green, it's just all wrong.
ML Fi xx
Hello Fiona! I think you should stick to your vision of the room. Otherwise, you will never be happy with it and every time you look at it, you will feel disappointed. It will take a bit longer to finish the room but you can work on something else while you're waiting because if antique blue is what you have your heart set on, it's not green. I don't know if the wallpaper is just a mock up or if you have already glued it but regardless, I would not keep it. As for the rug, I would save it for another project or perhaps you could use it some time in a swap. Brae's suggestion sounds perfect. If you take your time, you should be able to do it. It's a lovely dresser! Perhaps you could try to print your own rugs. From what I've seen of your work, I'm sure you could do it.
ReplyDeleteI always order my fabric from Little Trimmings and I've always been satisfied. Yesterday, I ordered wallpaper from Minimum World. It was my first time ordering wallpaper and now after reading your post, I hope the colours will be what they seemed to be on their website. We don't have a miniature store in Ottawa so like so many others, I have no choice but to go online.
Hi Lucille,
DeleteI have just remembered to send you my email.
The wallpaper is not stuck on yet, I thought I would see if it would grow on me. It's just as well I was planing to have a wainscot because the ceilings are so high it wouldn't have gone the full length.I hope your order is what you had in mind, it's all so tricky.
Good luck!
ML Fi xx
Dear Fiona, buying things online is always a bit of a risk, unfortunately. Just like you I have bought fabric and wallpaper in the past that did not happen to be what I had expected....so dissapointing. But the good thing is....most of these things however found their right place later on (just as Otterine already remarked). xxx Liduina
ReplyDeleteHello my lovely,
Deleteyes I think you are right, the down side of ordering on the net......oh well, I'll sit with it for a bit and see what I think. It's just frustrating because I thought I had it all sorted and ready to go!
Much love,
Fi xxx
I'm so sorry you aren't happy with your online purchases.
ReplyDeleteI know the green isn't the color you were wanting but that first picture really is lovely. You might consider changing the rug out for another but it is a lovely rug.
I used to buy broken furniture intentionally just cause it was cheaper. The legs are the most common problems with those old bespaq pieces. I would glue it as best you can (Otterine's suggestion is a great one) and use the piece as is. You can always disguise the break later with a plant or another accessory. The cracked finish actually gives the piece a lot of character I think. The handles will be easy to reattach.
Hope you can find a way to be happy and enjoy these items.
Hugs
Dale
Hi Dale,
Deleteyes I think I'm as torn as you, it is prettier than I thought, and perhaps I just need to alter my idea of it.
I also like furniture with a bit of character and whilst I had thought about painting it I quite like it the way it is.
I hope all is going well with you and your family.
Much love and big hugs,
Fi xx
Hi honey
ReplyDeleteI'm SOOOO sorry you aren't happy with all that arrived. I agree with AM that the wallpaper, though not the colour you were expecting, is very pretty. But if it's not in keeping with your mini vision then it's all the more frustrating.
As for the vintage thing - well, I think everyone has said enough on the topic. it's a risk and, knowing you're a little like me, I would have a romantic idea of how the pieces would be and high expectations on the condition/quality. No offence to the guy who sold them to you, but as soon as you mention uber personal issues like that one has no choice but to accept t the situation. the last thing you would want to do is be a pest. But I can't help feeling a little annoyed on your part.
xxx
Hello my lovely,
DeleteDitto on all the above!!
I think the green IS quite pretty but I know you are the same in the sense of expectations, it all comes down to the vision, I also thought the pattern was larger but that is my fault because I didn't calculate the scale they showed. I think if the pattern was larger the blue and the cream wouldn't blend to a green, if you know what I mean??
It's just that it takes so much to get me organised....I was ready to go and now I'm left staring off into space again.....grrrrr!
ML Fi XXX
Oh honey! DOn't get despondent, you'll work it out. I know what you mean though about finally getting your act into gear and taking the plunge with a decision and then this happens and it completely knocks you back - settle for, or settle down? as we say...
DeleteYou'll work it out, and you'll probably find it in the most unexpected way - what about using the wallpaper but going for a washed out vintage look, or try putting a colour wash over it? Or put a lower dado rail with a solid blue colour and try and force the green away ??
I have every faith you'll sort it xxx
Hello Fi,
ReplyDeletePoor thing! sorry to hear of your frustrating purchases! Buying stuff online can be tricky as you have demonstrated, but all will come right in the end!
Firstly, the wallpaper could go elsewhere if it's not what you want. If you can't find a paper in the colour you like, use paint's in just the right shade. I like the paper myself, and shades of pale sage green and soft duck egg blue look very restful in a bedroom, mixed with neutral shades like cream or beige. Have a think and if it isn't exactly what you want, go for something different.
The rug is nice too, and could easily go into another room if it isn't right in the bedroom. Tell you what, if I go to the Dolls House fair in Birmingham next month, I'll see if I can find a nice blue rug for you. OR you could try using embroidery to sew your own special rug, there are books available with patterns to stitch in the right scale, and you could change the colours. I have a pattern I might be able to copy and post to you, it's one I am thinking of stitching myself (I know, needle madness, right!!?) which has pink, but could be made blue.
You were lucky to get all those old Bespaq pieces, they are usually so expensive. I'll let you into a secret, there are two or three pieces of furniture in my Georgian house that have had broken legs, I find a good quality wood glue, like Tite-Bond works well. As Betsy says, it's good that it is at the back so won't be noticeable, and you should have more of a surface to glue if an uneven break. Otterine's idea of using a tiny pin is great too, if you have a small pin vice and tiny drill bits available. See if it will glue first though maybe.
If You aren't happy with the finish of the varnish, lightly sand it back and re-varnish or paint it. It is a lovely piece of furniture, especially with the mirror behind. I'd paint it how you originally intended too, trust your instincts.
The other furniture looks good too, love that french style glazed cabinet. The stool does look like it would be improved with a new cover, but you would only need a tiny amount, so have a rummage around and see what you can come up with, the stiff fabric you got doesn't sound like it would be any good, but does it just need a couple of washes?
Anyway, keep your chin up, as they say. You may be a bit despondent today, but with some fresh thinking and ideas, it will all come up trumps.
The beds look perfect in the bedroom by the way, and it's nice to see them 'on location'. Love those toys too! The room is going to look fab!
Cheering hugs
Andy xxxxxx
Hi Andy,
DeleteYou always make me feel better with your good sense of things. I might take you up on that offer of the rug from the Dollhouse fair. I think maybe once I put the floor in it might make a difference, I can judge then which way I will go. I will let you know.
That little foot stool is covered horrible fabric, there was a winged backed chair that was also in an undesirable fabric but it didn't come. The plan was to cover them in something more appropriate. I thought the foot stool was quite sweet in the room on it's own, Jay had one in his room when he was little and he sat on it all the time. I'll figure it all out some how....who knows?
ML Fi XXXXX
Hi Fi, well I guess the others has said it all, but I am sorry about your disappointment, I am one who don't like to buy online unless I know what to expect like with the furniture kits you bought the other day. I think with colors it is always difficult as each screen and camera show colors not like they really are, that is in any case what I experience with my own photos of fabrics and paper..
ReplyDeleteAs for fixing the leg I would go with Josje's suggestion. Good luck with fixing it.
And on a brighter note, I love your room, the beds look great with the antique dresser and I also like the wallpaper, maybe it will grow on you and if it doesn't, well I hope you can then find what you really want.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHello my Dear,
DeleteI completely agree, I guess I have to put it down to experience and be more cautious next time. I'm sure I'll come up with something. I'm glad you like the room so far though! I'm sewing mattresses at the moment and it's not as easy as I thought. I think of you often when I have a needle and thread......I don't know how you do it!
ML Fi xx
Oh, I was probably born with a needle in my hand ;-), I loved making doll clothes from a young age, my family was full of women sewing, crocheting and doing embroidery.
DeleteSouth Africa is also small on supplies, fortunately there are a few people in Johannesburg that import and sell miniature supplies, although they don't always have what I want.
For papers though, I wonder, we have a great printing shop here in Pretoria that does printing jobs for graphic artist students and they will print anything in just one sheet if that is all you need and on a wide variety of paper thicknesses, maybe you can investigate if there is such a shop near you.
Hi Elga,
DeleteWould you believe that I grew up in a household similar to yours, my mother was a seamstress, my sister, my Grandmother and my Aunty.......what do you think went wrong? Haha, I picked up a paint brush maybe. I do surprise my self sometimes, I go to sew or stitch something and I some how remember how to do it, I even taught Mia how to crochet, literally by starting and letting my instincts got to the next step, last time I crochet I was Mias age. I think it takes a special kind of patience and accuracy to be good at it, something I think you demonstrate with your furniture.
I think thats a great idea about the print shop, there is one in the next town I could try.
ML Fi xx
Sorry to hear about your purchases. Broken legs on items seems to be quite common. I purchased a little stove a few years ago (not online but in a shop) it was packaged really well and looked fine. It ended up the back two legs were broken. Since then when buying in shops I check before I take it home......so.... even when your face to face....even without being posted...you can get broken things. I'm sure you will make them work.
ReplyDeleteHi Indy,
DeleteThat makes me feel a bit better, I guess it happens and I'm sure the man didn't realize it was already broken when it was sent.
I'm sure I'll work it out!
ML Fi xx
O dear, so sorry for your disappoitment of yourpurchases. I am old fashioned, because I don't like to buy online. It is like Andy said:tricky and I love to see what I buy. Therefore I love the internsational miniature fair twice a year here in The Netherlands. And of course I love inventions for making miniatures by myself :D!
ReplyDeleteThe broken back feet the others told you what to do. But perhaps you can drill a very tiny hole in the two broken parts, a bit of glue and fill up with a mouldable wood filler?
Everything can be used in an other way, don't throw it away, dear.
Much Love, Ilona XXX
Hello my dear,
DeleteOh I wish I had Dollhouse fairs to go to like yours. What we have available here is so limited compared to Europe. I will have to be more careful now I know the limitations with colour.
Im sure I will find a way to use them if not in the Twins room.
Much love, Fi XXX
I have bought fabric from Itsy Bitsy too. I thought the very same thing as you did. It felt stiff and a lot more like paper then fabric. Still it made a gorgeous wing chair (the one with roses on it). Though I have to say, I couldn't imagine making curtains or using it on a bed. If I remember right they tell you that fabric cannot be returned. No wonder!
ReplyDeleteI am sure you will be able to fix the leg to your chair. Since you plan to paint it the repair should be invisible.
I just got an order from Susan Bembridge. The cotton fabric is WONDERFUL!!! Though rather expensive.
Hi Catherine,
DeleteI feel relieved that someone as experienced as you found the same with Itsy Bitsy and it's not just my inexperience. I'm also encouraged to know you did actually use it for upholstery and that chair ( the one you did for Linda I presume) is stunning, you must be very skilled to have such a success with it. The foot stool is a good place for me to start I think but as you say no good for anything you need to drape!
John did advise me to use Susan Bembridge so I will keep that in mind.
ML Fi xx
I'm sorry your last several on-line purchases haven't gone that well, I've so had that happen with wallpaper I have ordered and it stinks. As far as the dresser I really hope you can fix the foot and its small so hopefully the mend won't show. On a better not the room does look great :)
ReplyDeleteHi Tina,
DeleteIt seems misleading wallpaper colours are a common issue, I guess it's trial and error.
I think the foot of the dresser will work out.
ML Fi xx
Sorry I'm so late, Fi, but I just had to add that your broken leg should be fixed quite easily with a drop of wood glue and a small clamp. I cannot even TELL you the number of times I have caught my sleeve on a piece of furniture only to watch in abject horror as it crashes to smithereens to the floor! (I do not open the dollhouse after two G&Ts anymore so these sad occurrences are rarer lately). Some of my poor little furnitures have been glued --and re-glued--and RE-glued-- several times! Plus, I think almost every piece I have bought on-line has arrived with a broken leg or wobbly arm, so it doesn't even bother me anymore as I've become rather brilliant at making fixes!
ReplyDeleteAs for the wallpaper, I have a file cabinet stuffed chock-FULL of papers that didn't make the stringent Merriman Park cut. If I ever --god forbid-- take up scrap-booking as a hobby I will be well set up. (Please shoot me in the head if that happens). I'm currently waiting for some back-ordered paper and it's been weeks so you KNOW it's gonna arrive and it's gonna suck. Oh wells...
I just bought a tea set from 'a well-known auction site' --(is it trรจs gauche or something just to say Ebay? Sheesh).-- Anyhoo it was listed as a 'dollhouse tea set' but when it arrived, it was more like, Barbie-doll scale so I can't use it...oh, PLUS the handle on the creamer was snapped off!!! (Fixed, with a dab of SuperGlue). I asked my niece if she wanted it and I got the hairy eyeball which I took to mean: "I am SO too OLD for BARBIES, like DUH!" so if you know someone who wants a Barbie tea set...let me know.
Hello my lovely,
ReplyDeleteSOOO good to hear from you, in more ways than one....; )
Yes I have noticed how some people list them as Dollhouse miniatures but they really aren't to scale. It's comforting to know that even an old pro like your self can be fooled!
I think having a rummage through your stash would be awesome!! That basement of your looks like it holds all sorts of treasures!!
Big Hugs.....I'm glad your back!
XXXXXXX
How disappointing that delivery must have been especially when we all get so enthusiastic about imminent deliveries! I would stick with the original plan and you never know, the other items may just be ideal for something else. Nothing is every really wasted in the stash!
ReplyDeleteTo true Irene, I will just have to see where the road takes me!
DeleteI hate it when I get something that isn't quite right. But, don't give up! I order quite a bit from online and most of the time very satisfied. The stores in my area have things that look too toy like.
ReplyDeleteThe room looks so homey and realistic...keep going. Sometimes rooms have minds of their own. It will let you know how it wants to look. lol
I tend to agree with you....rooms do have minds of their own, a bit like paintings, it's best to just go with the flow!
ReplyDeleteIt´s really sad when this kind of things happen but... you always can change your mind and the color scheme (we must see the "good side", mustn´t we?)
ReplyDeleteI´ve followed you for a long time, so now, that I´ve created a blog I´ve linked you! If you like to take a look here is the link http://riversidemanorproject.blogspot.com.es
I know your suffering when subject to the inconsistencies of online shopping! Sadly it is about the only choice out here. Your items look lovely but disappointing if they aren't what you really wanted.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the warning on the fabric. I often visit the site and plan so might just leave it at dreaming stage. :-)
Hi Fi! I think a big irritation is that you had to wait so long to Be Disappointed! The walls and the rug are such visually large accessories and the room stops until they are settled and installed. You had to wait for them to come in the mail, and now you shall have to wait some more, until you can settle on them or something else! That is most distressing and I feel your pain. The broken leg is fixable and once the beds are dressed, the focus will be on them and the back leg will fade quietly into the background. But the 'Waiting and Indecision,' is complicating what WAS already completed in your mind's eye before the pieces all came together and your vision has been forced to reconsider other options. Take the opportunity to find a way to make it feel like You, again. Sometimes the problem presented works to our advantage in the end.
ReplyDeleteelizabeth