Gracias...Not The Small Honduran Town

A really nice reader (psst...it was Call Small) of this blog sent me the above PRD coffee table as a gift. I actually got quite misty when the item arrived in the mail--which must come as a huge surprise to all of you since I know that I come off like a very streetwise, intimidating and tough-talking modern dollhouse enforcer. Believe it or not, there exists a much softer and gentler side. Anyway, I promised that I would share pictures when I used it in a scene and, well, a promise is a promise...okay, okay, a promise is a promise when it is convenient. Chuckles.

The Goods: The daybed sofa is Mini Modernistas; the white divider screen is Mini Modernistas; the two mid-century modern chairs are Kitty Puppenmobel; the coffee table is PRD; the rug is PRD; the kitchen is PRD; the dining table is Bodo Hennig; the Mezzadro stools are Reac; the art sculpture on the wall is Selecta; the art photography is Magnus Hastings (Yeah, I'm a fan); All the accessories are Playmobil, Re-Ment, Bodo Hennig, Mighty World, Plan Toys, and LiLu.

Happy Holidays 2009...Can't Help Myself

Wishing you all the best for 2010!

The Cool Holiday Scene Goods: White Corbusier sofa and chair are Reac Japan (note: the pieces are two different shades of white = Aww man!); rustic log coffee table and hearth are Selecta; the rug is Paris Renfroe Design; Christmas tree is Crate & Barrel; Mirror is Lundby; fireplace is an inverted oven hood from Streets Ahead Dollhouse; the room divider is Mini Modernistas; the kitchen table is Bodo Hennig; the sink component is Miele; all accessories are DHE, Battat, Plan Toys, Re-Ment, Playmobil, Mighty World, and random craft store finds.

The Warm Holiday Scene Goods: The daybed sofa is Mini Modernistas; the Egg chairs are Reac Japan; the coffee table is Selecta; the Christmas tree is Crate & Barrel; the rug and floor lamp are Mattel; the entertainment center is a jewelry box insert; the side table is AG Minis; the Andy Warhol art is a postcard from the MOMA; the Apple monitor used as a flat panel TV is by Zuri (thanks Linda!); all the accessories are Mattel, AG Minis (err...is that technically Mattel too?? Shrug), Irwin, Lundby, and random craft store finds.

TTFN

When I started this blog, I didn't think anyone would read it. This venture was basically a way for me to catalogue the miniature scenes that I put together. Well, two years later, it looks like I wasn't really talking to myself all of this time. Ha! I have had great fun with this blog. I have also enjoyed meeting other modern miniature enthusiasts. The hobby world would have you believe that we don't exist but here we are! I'm vacating this blog for an indefinite period of time to work on some other projects. Will I return? I do not know. Will there be a book? Maybe. Maybe. I'm still working out the opportunity and all of the issues that come with it.

I do expect to continue watching the amazing things that other modern miniaturists do on their blogs and websites. I also expect to still be buying every modern miniature that I can get my hands on. Ha ha!

Thanks to everyone who has watched my "crazy" at work.

The Goods: Paris Renfroe made the beautiful kitchenette and based it on a transportable kitchen featured in Dwell Magazine (Sept. 2009) by Cecilia Tham and Yoel Karaso of Habitan Architects. Paris made the appliances and cabinetry stainless steel. He also made me the bathtub/sink component featured by this duo. You can see that work on Paris' site. All wood stools are PRD; the natural edge wooden bench is PRD; the daybed is Reac Japan; the desk is Kitty Puppenmobel; the Eames chair is Reac Japan; the room divider is DHE; All accessories are McFarlane Toys (guitar), Mighty World, Plan Toys, AG Minis, Irwin, Re-Ment, Sanrio, Battat, Breyer, Lundby and Character Options. The artwork is Kara Walker.

The Nest

No open flame by the crib, please. Actually, no open flame anywhere in this, um...very child safe nursery. Yeah, there's lots of kindling. Chuckles. I put this room together a few weeks ago, didn't complete it and had horrible lighting for the pictures. Oh well, at least the Argington Eiffel Book Case looks fabulous. Thank you, Jenny!

The Goods: Bookcase is Argington; chair is Reac Japan; the crib is Oil of Olay packaging; the rug is PRD; the large art on the wall is called "Caging the Forest Bird" by kgb; the other art is Anne Geddes and West Elm; All the accessories are AG Minis, Plan Toys, Re-Ment, and random pieces from the craft store and some old potpourri.

Yard Burger

I really like the PRD Freight PODs. I want to get one of the new versions that Mr. Renfroe has designed, but I am quite happy with the original thus far. I started making a nursery with this structure but changed my mind midway and went the burger stand route. I imagine this restaurant to have originally been a popular lunch truck that the owner decided to convert to a shipping container after they bought a vacant lot in the city's downtown. There's always a line at lunch time during the workweek! Chuckles.

The restaurant name is a play on a couple of things: the shipping yards and the slang term for chicken, plus the phonetic similarity between "bird" and "burger". Shrug. Without spending a lot of time on this scene, I worked with standard fonts and images to give the restaurant's branding an industrial edge that is supposed to be reminiscent of a shipping company logo. It didn't come out too too bad considering my half-ass attempt. I had fun putting this one together so I guess that's what really matters. Oh! And man, did I want a burger and fries after!!

The Goods: Counters are Selecta; cabinet and drink maker are Playmobil; seating outside is Bodo Hennig and Sirch; seating inside is Voila Toys; All tables outside are Re-Ment; All tables inside are MegaHouse; All accessories are Mighty World, Re-Ment, Breyer, Lil' Bratz, Playmobil, Lundby, and run-of-the-mill hobby store purchases.

WANTED: Tom Buchta

Mini2b sent me this contemporary dollhouse from the September 1981 issue of Nutshell News. Whoa! It's pretty fantastic. I have never seen this house before. Reminds me of the Brookwood meets the Garden House with a side of Merrimack fries. Hey Tom Buchta! Are you out there?! I'm getting zero leads on a quick Google. Anyone know more?

P.S. Mickey B---is this the dollhouse you were looking for??

Image: Nutshell News, September 1981

Haystacks

Uh oh. I'm back to the restaurant thing. This scene actually started with a trip to the MOMA store. I sometimes browse through the museum's shop after meeting my significant for lunch. During this trip, they had some unusual sponges made out of walnut shells. The woman at the counter raised her brow at how many I was purchasing and asked me if they worked well. I told her "We'll see". So far, I'm quite happy with them, however, I have no idea how well they clean. Chuckles. The Goods: The counter is the walnut shell sponge and a combination of Voila Toys and MGAE; the shelving unit is DHE; the grill is Voila Toys, Streets Ahead Dollhouse and Re-Ment; the tables are Bodo Hennig; the chairs are Reac Japan. All accessories are AG Minis, Re-Ment, Megahouse, Plan Toys, Lundby, Playmobil, Mighty World, and several other run of the mill pieces that came from dollhouse/hobby shops and ebay. The art is a combination of more walnut shell sponges, standard clip and Williams-Sonoma. The figures are Character Options and Underground Toys.