Making it Lovely

Category: Projects

  • Like a Peeping Tom: A Peek Inside the Dollhouse

    Like a Peeping Tom: A Peek Inside the Dollhouse

    Here’s a little peek into the dollhouse from the outside. It’s ready (enough) to show you today, but I won’t be able to take and edit photos until I get the kids down for a nap later.

    * It’s up! Take a look, right over here.

  • The Mad Dash Toward the Finish Line

    The Mad Dash Toward the Finish Line

    I’ve spent all weekend dollhousing. My father-in-law has been instrumental, further cementing himself as perhaps Eleanor’s favorite person. While I painted and wallpapered walls, he built the foundation. Then he picked up the pieces to build the frame (my mother-in-law assisted in the building process too), while I moved on to painting windows and furniture, and making bedding.



    * My site was down all day yesterday, so the first half of this post was originally set to go up Monday morning.

    I’ve made a lot of progress in just one day, thanks to my in-laws (for assembling), and Brandon (for watching the kids so I could work)! It will not be completely finished by the deadline of December 15, but it’s getting closer.

    Here’s a little peek at what the dollhouse is looking like now.


    Still to do:

    • build and attach the dormers
    • paint the exterior
    • add shingles to the roof
    • build the front porch
    • paint/stain the stairs and railings
    • glue the ribbon runner to the stairs
    • flooring for all rooms
    • trim out the windows and doors
    • add baseboards and crown molding
    • sew curtains
    • finish sewing all of the bedding
    • make/find a dining table
    • make/find a desk (if including an office)
    • determine which room is which (I made some last minute switches)
    • make/find end tables and nightstands
    • lighting for all rooms (battery powered or just decorative)
    • make art for all rooms
    • build counters and countertops for kitchen
    • assemble the farmhouse kitchen sink
    • sew a sink skirt
    • add a fireplace
    • arrange and decorate all the rooms
    • paint the exposed edges
    • touch ups

    No, there’s no way to do all of that by tomorrow (so that I can photograph it to show you on Thursday). I’m not just working on this for the challenge though; This is going to be Eleanor’s dollhouse. She’s only two, a bit young for the dollhouse, so there’s still plenty of time to finish it for her.

  • Star Wars Guys in Bathtub

    Star Wars Guys in Bathtub

    Eleanor has created an art installation. She has titled it: Star Wars Guys in Bathtub. They’re taking a bubble bath, just so you know. I’m so proud of my little conceptual artist!

    OK, for real though… The dollhouse? It’s slow-going. E is enjoying playing with all of the furniture, and I’m enjoying the idea of the dollhouse, but construction has yet to begin. The dollhouse kit (sanded and primed, thanks to my mother-in-law) is currently living on my dining room table.

    Have you all been following along with the “I’m a Giant!” Challenge? Some of the people playing along on twitter are rocking it, but I’ve noticed a lack of activity from everyone else lately. Perhaps I’m not the only one preparing to make a mad dash toward the finish line.

  • My Colortopia

    My Colortopia

    One of my favorite things to do is to choose paint colors. One of my other favorite things to do is to talk about do so. Clearly it’s a good fit that I’m now writing over at the new blog, My Colortopia.

    I’m happy to be in such good company too! There are some great bloggers contributing. I’ll be adding a new article every month, and my first is already up: Tips for Choosing Paint Colors. Take a look if you’ve ever wondered about the nuances of picking the perfect shade.

    I have partnered with Glidden/ Akzo Nobel Paints to participate in the My Colortopia program but the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

  • The Dollhouse Floor Plan

    The Dollhouse Floor Plan

    The dollhouse is starting to take shape! Figuratively speaking. The actual dollhouse is still very much in its flat-pack form. I’ve been waiting to assemble it because the instructions recommend painting and wallpapering first. So that’s what I need to concentrate on now: choosing paint colors, determining the layout, and deciding which wallpapers to use where. Here’s the plan so far:

    I’ve shown the pink/lavender bathroom fixtures to you before, and the dollhouse wallpaper and stair runner choices too. As for the layout, there’s an eat-in kitchen on the first floor, along with a large living room. The second floor will house the bedroom (with a bed like this, perhaps?), bathroom, and nursery. Two kids are sharing a bedroom on the third floor (inspiration photo here), but I’m not sure what to do with the other room up there. I thought about leaving it as an unfinished attic, complete with boxes and miscellaneous stuff strewn about, because come on. That’s funny. Right now I’m leaning toward making it into an office space, or maybe a craft room. Any ideas?

  • A Lovely Life List

    A Lovely Life List

    This isn’t a bucket list. These aren’t things I need to cross off before I die. Will I ever accomplish everything here? Probably not, but that’s not the goal. This list exists simply as a collection of things I would like to do in my lifetime. If writing them down helps me focus, and in turn helps me achieve some of them, the list has served its purpose.

    A life list should never make you feel guilty for not accomplishing something! It should serve as a compass, opening you up to experiences that you may have discounted otherwise. I started this list in 2010, inspired by Maggie. My hope is that by sharing this publicly, I will hold myself accountable and achieve more than I would otherwise. I tend to do well with public lists.

    I come back and edit this post as I cross things off, and I fully expect this list to change as time goes on.

    Experiences

    Sights

    Just Plain Fun

    • Make a dollhouse for Eleanor
    • Finish a paint-by-numbers painting
    • Wear a ridiculous hat to an event
    • Dress up with friends for a showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
    • Experience weightlessness
    • Beat the classic Super Mario Bros. game
    • Learn how to solve a Rubik’s cube
    • Wear a sequined dress to a party
    • Have the Thriller dance in my repertoire

    Family

    Home

    Style

    • Only wear lovely undergarments
    • Ruthlessly edit my closet down to only my favorite things
    • Find my perfect shade of lipstick
    • Sew a dress for myself that I would actually wear
    • Wear perfume regularly again

    Skills

    Professional / Career

    • Publish a book
    • Be a keynote speaker
    • Have a monthly column in a magazine
    • Start a charitable creative movement (like a chain letter but more fulfilling)
    • Do/create something worthy of being nominated as a MacArthur Fellow
    • Meet Martha Stewart
    • Meet Jonathan Adler
    • Redesign Making it Lovely
    • Sell my designs through a nationwide store
    • Art direct a photo shoot
    • Name paint colors
    • Design wallpaper
    • Judge a design competition
    • Create a proper portfolio for myself
    • Decorate someone else’s home from top to bottom
    • Make enough money to support my family
    • Make an appearance in five forms of media (book, magazine, television, radio, internet)
    • Have my home featured in a Domino-like magazine or book

    Projects

    • Take a photo every day for a year
    • Start a family tradition
    • Choose a good cookbook and cook every recipe in it
    • Give only handmade gifts for a year