That Voo Doo that you do so well...

So my younger daughter was attending a family dinner at a friend from Cal's house this weekend. The friend came here from the Middle East when she was 13 years old.

My daughter was asked, "What does your mother do?" She replied, "She collects doll houses'"

"What is that?" they asked politely, "we do not know 'dollhouses'."

"Oh", she said,"they are small versions of houses and she has a little doll that looks like her she takes pictures of".

"Oh," they asked after a pause,"Like Voo doo?"

In the Conservatory of Flowers, Colette is not sure what she thinks of this Carnivorous plant. The pockets are taller than she is!

Colette enjoyed a cable car ride.

She liked the exhibit!

She thought the Castro Movie theater was clever, showing MILK, of course.

She really liked Pac Bell Park where the Giants baseball team plays.

Then it was time to go.

It was "just another day in Paradise" as the song goes, and she was thankful.

Repurposing....

Someone asked me what I do. I thought about it and replied, " I'm a retired Mommy being repurposed as a Nana..."

I think I got the idea at this exhibit at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

These are the famous Victorian Houses in San Francisco nick named "The Painted Ladies"

See Lombard Street?


This is the Mission Delores, one of the first missions in California and in the City itself,

This is the Gate to Chinatown in San Francisco.

All made out of recycled material.

Why? To heighten awareness of the use of old material. To repurpose it.

Especially in a way to make it appealing to children, and Mommies, and Nana's. I can vouch for that!

Hacking and I don't mean coughing...

If you are a creative person you've been copied. Creative ideas are contagious. Back when I was a young Mommy and running my house I had a friend who copied whatever I did. If I made a wreath and put it on my front door, she bought one... When I got the first Market umbrella, one appeared on her deck shortly there after. When I bought legging and tunic outfits for my daughters with the big grosgrain ribbon headbands, she bought her daughters just the big headbands.(OK it WAS the '80s) I wouldn't have minded but her stuff was always more expensive than mine. Plus she never acknowledged it.

We all watched Greenbean Baby and her case of having her art copied.

http://greenbeanbaby.typepad.com/

Recently a miniturist used a gift in a scene from another. She didn't think to say where it was from and the giftgiver called the other a thief. Painful. I hope something was lost in translation.

We all grow from each other. Usually, I feel complimented when some one copies me. I think I may have used some wording I read on Pioneer Woman's blog http://thepioneerwoman.com/ because it was so catchy.

And the next blog I am posting about was covered by someone else. It is about a public exhibit my friend took me to and I can't remember where I saw it. SF Girl by bay? http://www.sfgirlbybay.com/

PS read these blogs if you don't already...

So if you posted about this exhibit email me and I will include a link in my post to your blog. Thanks CM

Dollhouse as ART

So I decided to display the remodeled Triang facade. It was a duplicate and ruined so I experimented with it.
After removing the paint I sprayed it galvanized grey. I really didn't need another house ( I have two other functioning Triangs) but love it's lines so I decided to make an arrangement on my bedroom wall.

I chose four items to make the arrangement.

With the Triang I framed a Tootsietoy add from the 1920's,

and framed the direction's Wes sent with the WesDesigns

Modern House 1 (MH1).

Yes there was a beautifully illustrated letter from Wes that came with the house. I should have noticed the placement of the chimney. The letter is a work of art itself!

Two of my favorite chairs,

The dollhouse add from the 1920's. (Six rooms for $3.00!)

I'm really happy with the way it came out and it is just another way to live with dollhouse pieces you love.

In my opinion it IS art. CM

Furthermore... she continued about the award...

She peered at me. There is someone we think needs recognition. (I smiled inside)

This is the first "Rosetta Stone Award". It is given to a dollhouse blogger who has contributed greatly to the information of dollhouse history.

As we all know dollhouses were originally the hobby of rich women or tools to teach girl children to keep house.

Today women all over the world are interested in them. Note the number of bloggers and that Dollhouse blogs are a world unto themselves. Though these houses started as toys and may have led a perilous life, once they are in the harbor of the collector they have a story to tell. This award is to acknowledge the sleuthing it takes to discover that story.

Furthermore this award is issued to only one person, must be kept for 6 months then passed on to another worthy recipient. There are many worthy of this award... (I smiled again)... and this year we are bestowing it on... Rebecca of Rebecca's Collections for her serious and valuable work on English dollhouses.

So I was summoned to the Boardroom....

chairs 041
Originally uploaded by More2view

and I thought "How cute.
Old Mrs. Vaness from the Painted Lady Victorian House cleared her throat, "My Dear, we have had a good discussion and this is what we have come up with."
I thought of all I do for these Dollhouses and smiled, they were going to thank me!
Mrs. Vaness continued, "We have a list of Demands... and an award".
"Oh boy I'm getting an award", I smiled again.
"First", she said sternly, "we want more protection from Grandchildren..." she nodded toward Senora MasCabesa who's Hacienda House had recently been scribbled on.
Hmmmm... I thought to myself if it is a choice between dolls or grandchildren there really is no contest... and the winner isn't dolls...
"Second, we want ample warning before vacuming,
Third, Dust Covers", she gave me a disaproving look.
"Fourth, Equal budget allocation for all Houses...not JUST MODERN". Colette looked uncomfortable at this and shrugged her shoulders and sniffed.
"And last, NO cats."

Welcome 100th follower!

Hooray Swantje is my 100th follower. I think the dolls are having another party to celebrate. I wonder which house will host it?

Hmmm... there is a lot of buzzing coming from the Boardroom. I wonder what is going on.

Old Mrs.Vaness from the Painted Lady Victorian House has called a board meeting! One doll from each house is attending.

Going clockwise I see the Governess from the German Kitchen Roombox. Next to her is Amelia Hacker from the Mystery/ Christian Hacker Dollhouse, then Mrs. Celluloid from the Triang House, Young Mrs. Revere from the Colonial House, I can see Alberta from the 1920 Tudor's skirt, the Black Father from Tomy Toys, Mr. Grecon in the red spot on chair from the Eagle Hexagon house, the Smoking Mother from the Imagination House, Mrs. Bozart (hey what is she doing there, I don't have a Kalediscope House?) and Colette Caco from the Wes Designs MH1 House. I wonder what is going on, C