Eames planter

 I am trying to make a bullet planter out of the plastic tip to my outdoor umbrella and the base of a miniature outdoor bar b que.

sculpture by mini dork, antique vase, mattel coffee table, Barbie tv stand and tv, minimodernistas shell sculpture and rug, Barbie plastic leaf, mini magazines from e bay.

This tv unit used to be hot pink. What I am realizing is I am going to have to move the work table to the center of the room to access all sides as the I house is growing so big.

I am planning a trip to Toronto at the end of the month to visit my fellow blogger Shale, of Susan's mini houses. Her blog is in my blog list. So I better finish this pronto. CM

Modern miniature The I house: Going Stainless

I solved my need for a modern house by buying a Imaginarium doll house.The lines are simple and the ceilings lofty and it won't fall down. I needed a bedroom, living room, kitchen, dining room and office. (because I had the furniture and wanted to play with it...)Then I could add a family room, but the dollhouse would have to  be large. More than a roombox.

The color scheme of the Imadinarium was not for me. (Fashion Dolls LOVE it!) But now that I (hacked it) spray painted it white and tan it needs some pop!
The roof and trim are silver. So I am thinking of going Stainless or galavnized steel which translates to miniatures as Tap Plastic pieces.


AND
I want this in miniature for the family room.
It is on Fab.com/ today.
Sale Ends in 2 days and 23 hours.

fire place design of Wall Flame Stainless
Designer
Michael Rösing Brand Radius Origin. I can make this in mini right?
How tempting to use a tea light?

and this was in today's Crate & Barrel Winter catalog. A table runner by Chilewich. I think Call of the Small and Mini Modern have used placemats. Wall paper? Flooring?  The funny thing is everything I do is gray. My plan was to devote October to the I House but my budget is running  low... Maybe a metallic Christmas tree? Hmmmm. CM
Update: for pictures of yesterday's earthquake damage to the I house go to http://Leftcoastmini.blogspot.com/ No 1/1 damage thank heavens! C

The I House continues

The I House is a hacked Imaginarium Glitter Suite, Barbie size dollhouse. The scale is 1/6 but many of the items are1/12 or vintage and in between.

The front door

Do you see the stainless steel handle? It needs house numbers.

It opens to the living room with the kitchen and dining room in the back.

pdr designs

Facing back to the front door is a phantom chair and coral sculpture.

The Dining room, and first floor stairs.

The Kitchen

The Office. So far. I will be adding the wall calendar when I get it from my house...

Stairs from office (2nd floor) to bedroom (3rd floor). Barbie is a therapist and yes, she deals with a lot of people with eating disorders. Body dismorphia...

Outside patio and yes, there will be an infinity pool.... :) C

Before: Eek! Happy Halloween!

Update: Total House, ok roof struts not done, walls not finished...
Don't tell my little granddaughter I took her roof and set of stairs...

Designing a Mini House: The I House's turn

Case study modern houses of the world. My inspiration.

the building in reality.

So after owning 18 houses, some antique, some vintage and some modern, I decided last year I'd like to try my hand at building my own.

I knew I could not copy the masterpiece of a Gottschalk. The charm of a Bliss, the beauty of a Tynietoy or the edginess of a Marx split level.

I knew from photographing mini scenes that you can use any backdrop, from a vent filter to a distant view. It's all how you place it because so much of mini photography relies on illusion.

In this picture from 2008 the room is a plastic Nike shoe box.

So I decided last January to take a contemporary house and hack it, which means play with it, change it. By using a manufactured form I knew it would be sturdy. So many of my constructions are temporary.  Here is the house I chose, The Imaginarium Glitter Suite Dollhouse. Quite a mouthful. (why glitter?) It is shockingly colorful but really nothing is reflective.

before

It is1/6 scale which is a departure for me. Everything I buy and make is 1/12 scale unless it is antique (Grecons, Dol Toi,  Tootsietoy etc.) And if you know me you know I had to buy my little assistant one of her own for Valentine's Day. (to leave mine alone).

during

 And so the neighbors wouldn't hear her blood curdling screams of protest as I obliterated the hot pink walls.

during...

And here it is, the "I House". Ready to transform... Kinda blah without all those lithoed walls... C