You may remember that the Storybook Cottage kit comes with some furnishings. I knew from the beginning I was going to use the daybed and have a little fun with it. I added some Dresden trims, some metal findings and am in the process of priming with gesso to get it ready for paint.
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| Photo from the trial fit in the bedroom months ago. |
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| Embellishments added and a decorative back piece cut with the Cricut. |
I received a lovely gift from our generous and thoughtful friend Birgit! She sent a variety of beads and findings that get my creative juices flowing!
She also sent four very special Schwibbogen (candle arches) which were so interesting to learn about! So many great Christmas traditions came from Germany! I still have the original Advent calendar roombox to make, so now it will include a four pane window so that each of these can be displayed! All of the things she sent to me will find their way into the design. Of course she sent marzipan, too, but Russ and I ate it all before I could get a picture! Yum! 😋 Thank you dear Birgit! Your package lifted my spirits like a big bear hug!
My birthday was made incredibly special by the people in my life. I got to spend the entire day with my amazing daughter Natasha who is now a grown and successful businesswoman. She took the entire day off just for me! We went to the local butcher to pick out the Christmas prime rib (which she cooked extraordinarily at her house, hosting Christmas for the first time), then had delicious Thai cuisine for lunch. We went to downtown Seattle to enjoy the Christmas lights and saw the movie A Star Is Born. Luckily, we are both criers when it comes to sappy movies! She also gave me a generous Amazon gift card to keep me in mini crafting supplies and a beautiful gold necklace that says "Momma".
My son, in spite of being sick with a nasty bug, came over to help me fix a section of fence that blew down in a freak wind storm. Russ was still working 80 miles away so Ande was a real hero! Then he brought me a box of yummy See's chocolates and a gift card for minis! I raised some incredible kids, and they make me feel so loved!
My wonderful parents spoiled me with a gorgeous flower delivery, a hilarious singing card informing me that 50 is the new 40 (to the tune Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer), and a very generous check with instructions to spend it completely frivolously! They are awesome, and because of them I am able to give the cottage kitchen appliances one more try!!!
I hope all of you enjoyed time with your favorite people, and were reminded how sweet life can suddenly turn again! 💗💗💗
Back (hopefully) next week with good mini progress!
xo xo,
Jodi
Glad to see you back in the game again Jodi and your daybed is off to a GREAT start! :D . Birgit's gifts are inspirational and so are the Schwibbogen and it looks like I'll be looking forward to your Advent Calendar Room in the near future too.
ReplyDeleteYour Christmas with your daughter and son sounds like it was a lot of fun with special time devoted to just to each of them. Your photo with your daughter is sooooo cute and I love that she calls you "momma" because my daughter calls me that too! :D
I will be on pins and needles to see what happens with the Phoenix stove and fridge : NUMBER 2 - as mojo seems to be Back in the Building- HOORAY!!!
elizabeth
Thanks Elizabeth! I hope I am truly back although the things I am working on require a lot of stages and drying time in between so productivity is still at a crawl. I have had that Advent project in mind since 2016 and Birgit's gifts have really=y gotten me excited about it again!
DeleteAw that's so sweet that you're a "Momma", too! Both kids have always called me that all their lives because that was also Tasha's first word! 💗
I am cautiously optimistic about the second set of appliances - at least the pink coat is going on smooth, and I am using Krylon with primer so that it's less risky/less coats. Keep your fingers crossed!!!
Happy New Year, Jodi. The holidays keep us occupied, don't they. I enjoyed 'meeting' your children who are treasures. Looking back, my little girls were darlings and sometimes challenging as teen-agers. Now as young women, mothers, and wives, they are amazing. Most of my friends have rocky relationships with their grown children, be we have managed to avoid conflict. They are my 'girls', who both share my love of minis. I, too, am anxious to see the reborn appliances. Such a thoughtful gift to help you replace them. It will be fun watching you work with the Storybook furniture. The daybed will be especially fun. It seems that we have something else in common, a December birthday (20th), so Happy Birthday, too. When you get a moment could you explain gesso? I've seen others who use it, but I don't know how or why. I'd appreciate a simple explanation as I have my Robin Betterly cabinet to finish.
ReplyDeleteHi Ann! There is that awful stage as a mother when your kids leave home for the first time to be away at college and start their own life. For me, the Empty Nest syndrome was extremely hard, and I not only missed them so badly, I had no idea what to do with myself. But now they are truly at the ages (29 & 31) where I am adjusted and they are settled so family time is great again! Unlike lucky you, though, there are no grandchildren on the horizon for me for a long time, if ever. I may have to resort to an
DeleteAdopt A Grandma program! 😜
Happy belated birthday to you and your daughter! I always feel special when my gifts come in real birthday paper and not Christmas paper!
Gesso is found in the paint section at hobby stores and I would describe it like a liquid spackle. It fills in cracks because it is thicker, prepares the surface for paint like a primer, can be sanded very smooth and is often what artists use to prepare their canvas. I like it because it often covers in one coat if you buy a good brand like Liquitex. I'll include more info for you in my next post with photos.
Hi Jodi! Happy New Year! I love the day bed, and recognize some of the jewelry findings. I really enjoy seeing all the different ways you use the same things I have! Happy Birthday, I hope you have a great time mini-ing and get more time with your family.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheila! I hope the daybed comes out nice and I love using these findings to make our common mini options unique, too! I have Dresden, jewelry findings, dimensional stickers, beads etc. and am always on the lookout for more! It was Elizabeth's post while making the bed for Green Dolphin that she used metal chain as a trim under paint and my mind was blown then expanded four times! I love when we inspire each other like that!!!
DeleteHappy New Year, Jodi! It sounds as though you had a wonderful holiday. What great kids and what nice surprises! It's amazing to look at the original house kit and realize that's what turned into your beautiful cottage after all the additions and decorations you made. You should have a lot of fun with the furnishings, and I'm glad you get to have a redo on the kitchen appliances. Even though I think what you had was just fine, I know how it can kind of eat at you when you wanted things to turn out a certain way. :-) Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deb! They are really amazing people, and I am so honored to get to be their mom!
DeleteThis Storybook kit was talking to me for a long time, and it has been so much fun to see where it could go with just a few little additions and tweaks! Making the furniture and what pieces to use will all come down to how much space I have to work with. What seems like a lot when it's empty often surprises me when I start to add furnishings.
Appliances 2.0 are going reasonably well at this stage, but I am taking it really slow and cautiously because there will be no 3.0! Keep your fingers crossed for me!
thank you Jodi to share with us these wonderful gifts of friendship! vous avez bien commencé en meublant votre house kit.
ReplyDeletehugs
Thank you Claude! I don't usually stay away for weeks at a time but this year December was FULL of extreme blessings and extreme challenges! I am so happy to know that slowly, the days are getting longer and soon we'll all begin a new year full of possibilities! And hopefully, this fun little cottage project will get moved into the "Accomplished" column and can just be enjoyed each day!
Delete¡Que maravilla Jodi con un nuevo proyecto! felicidades por tu cumpleaños, estupendo poder disfrutarlo con tu hija en su casa. Unos regalos preciosos de Brigit, disfrútalos y feliz año nuevo:-)
ReplyDelete
DeleteGracias Rosa Maria! Tienes razón, es una gran bendición tener una segunda oportunidad para hacer algo bien, ¡y espero que lo aproveche al máximo! ¡También fue una bendición ser el destinatario por primera vez del paquete de atención de Birgit! ¡Me siento como si estuviera realmente en el club ahora! 😀
Disfruta de las celebraciones de Año Nuevo, ¡y espero con ansias la cosa maravillosamente creativa que tienes para compartir en 2019!
Have a good break, Jodi! Sometimes being away from the things you enjoy doing makes it all the sweeter when you return.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Megan! Thank you! I have been working a few hours each evening part of this week, but the whole spray painting/drying process means very little to show for it yet. Once all the pieces have been painted and dried, I think the assembly part should go much faster. Hopefully, I'll have good news and some progress to share next week!
DeleteIt's not a lame excuse when you say you've been busy… I suppose we all have been… but most of us were "just" dealing with Christmas and not with a birthday on top! My best belated birthday wishes and of course I hope you've spent a wonderful Christmas time. It's great that your family knows exactly how to spoil you and to make you happy... and this daybed turned out awesome the way you've embellished it so far. I'm curious to see it finished.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Birgit
Thanks Birgit! It was a busy season with visiting my folks in AZ for Thanksgiving, fitting in birthdays, fixing blown down fences, baking 35 dozen cookies for everybody on top of the normal work/life duties. But it was six weeks full of blessings and love and just what we needed to fill up the tank again. Now here we are on the other side, refocused on what's important, ready to roll up our sleeves, ready to make life a little better for everyone we can and ready to get started on making our dreams come true again! I hope you enjoy a wonderful New Year's celebration and that 2019 brings ~love~hope~joy~ in buckets!
DeleteThe new house will be wonderful. Beautiful gifts from Birgit.
ReplyDeleteHappy new year 2019!
Thanks Faby! Happy New Year to you, as well!
DeleteJodi, you really are a magician when it comes to those cheap furniture kits.. the things you do with findings truly amaze me. That little daybed was always going to be cute but you are taking it next level! :) Don't you just love it when you are given explicit instructions to spent a money gift frivolously! I usually just pay bills with money gifts but on the odd occasion I decide to indulge myself the money always goes to minis :D I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed for the outcome of appliances take two. :) Your lovely Natasha is a beauty and you two look sooo cute in your snapchat. :D How wonderful to spend the day together doing fun stuff. Wishing you and the whole family a wonderful, happy and safe New Year! ((hugs)) Sam
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam! It is a lot of fun to see just what these cheap little pieces can become! It's a bonus when they come out great and you really like them, and it's not a big loss if they end up in the "Lessons Learned" box! :O) They are also a great way to practice with new products and techniques before you try them on your "good" pieces! Wish I'd learn to practice more!
DeleteThe new pieces are progressing thru the days and days of paint and epoxy rounds it takes to finish them. I do like them better, so far, but interestingly have learned (or realized) so much about myself in the process.
I tend to go in spurts of frivolous spending at times and almost competitive frugality at others! I have let so many great sales go by me this year, maybe because I am getting older and need to be even more serious about retirement saving! Or maybe because I already have so much and the guilt makes me want to make things and use up what I have. Who knows? I do know that at 50 I still have so much to learn about myself!
Natasha is beautiful through and through and is always the brightest light in the room! She grew up as the chubby nerd girl so in turn is kind and inclusive to everyone! My son is soooo wise, so caring, so tall (6'6") and extremely loyal. I am so grateful to have raised little people who grew up to be adults I truly admire!
You are preaching to the converted on the retirement savings issue. I do battle with myself every time I want to buy minis on whether I should really be saving this cash also... My hubby is kind of a "live for today, don't worry about tomorrow" kinda guy.. and I'm more of a "save for a rainy day" kinda gal, so it's up to me to take the lead on this big issue. It's scary to think about how much we will need to be comfortable in retirement and how much we need to save in the interim. :O Your kiddo's sound like fantastic people but I would expect no less with a Mum like you! :)
DeleteIt's all on me to be the "saver", too, so whether we eat cat food or steak in our retirement will be up to me. It's scary! And thanks for the vote of confidence about my mothering skills! I was so young that I would have done so many things better knowing what I know now, but love was never in short supply and that may have saved the day! :O)
DeleteHi Jodi! I am so glad you are finding your Mini-mojo again! This little cottage is going to be amazing! I understand the difficulty of "shifting gears" from an exterior landscape mode to the living indoors one.... but the wintry months should give you inspiration for the coziness you are making! The daybed beginnings are looking sweet and I am sure you will astonish us all again and again! The gift from your folks is awesome! Starting again with the appliances is probably the best way to go. I am so glad you got quality time with your children... they grow up and move away but somehow never move out of our hearts or minds!!! I love that Birgit's gifts are giving you some great ideas too.... they have a way of doing that! LOL! Here's to a Great New Year for Family and Friends and Minis too!!! :):):)
ReplyDeleteHi Betsy! I am so glad I am finding the desire to work on this project again! Not thinking about or being excited to work on minis leaves such a void in my life! Especially with Russ working away during the week! It's good to be back on track again! The new appliance finishing is a slow one, but patience pays.
DeleteI hope the New Year brings opportunity to enjoy all your favorite things, too!
La casa es muy bonita y seguro que quedará genial. El diván pinta muy bien.
ReplyDeleteFelicidades con retraso y feliz año nuevo
Gracias Eloisa! ¡Estaba tan emocionada de comenzar con el acabado interior y estoy tan feliz de poder volver a trabajar en ello!
Delete¡Espero que el Año Nuevo te traiga muchos mini tiempos y sueños cumplidos!
Hello, Jodi - I'm glad to see that the daybed do-over is underway - I really like that piece. You've made a good start, and it looks pretty already. How thoughtful of Birgit to send those unique gifts that will be so fitting for your Advent calendar room box. I look forward to seeing that project! It seems that you had a lovely, special birthday. (I send my belated Happy Birthday wishes.) I love the photo of you and your daughter. You look so much alike! Have fun with your new cottage kitchen appliances - how nice to have a second chance! Yes, life is sweet because of the wonderful, favorite people in our lives, and I appreciate them everyday. (Including, of course, all the special people out there in Miniature Blogland.)
ReplyDeleteMarjorie
Thanks Marjorie! Now that I have the base coat of paint on it, I am torn about whether to leave it or highlight with gilders paste. Always afraid to make the wrong decision!
DeleteIt was such a lovely package full of items! I am excited about the Advent calendar, but I know I won't start on it until at least next fall. But when I am ready, I have a great start for decorations thanks to Birgit!
Thanks for the birthday wishes! Natasha and I do look a lot alike - the same face/eye shape but she got pretty green eyes and light hair thanks to Russ' genes!
The second round of appliances is coming out more like my original idea for the kitchen, so I am once again excited to be working on the cottage! Thanks Mom and Dad!
I'm with you, Marjorie! The folks in our mini blogland are some of the best ones I know, including you!
Happy belated birthday! Looks like you got some great gifts that will not only keep you busy but also keep us entertained as we will read about the purchases or projects ;-)
ReplyDeleteI spot new kitchen appliances as a replacement for the bumpy painted ones?
I retreated from blogland too for a few days. Sometimes it's good to go off line for a while and connect in the real world.
But I am so grateful for blogland and all the inspiration and friendship I find here too.
I wish you a very happy new year and looking forward to following your blog in 2019.
Hugs,
Veronique
Thank you Veronique! It was a lovely birthday with lots of love showered by the incredible people I am lucky to share my life with! As for purchases, there are a few supplies I need to replenish, but I am keeping my eye out for a few special things! ;O)
DeleteYou are right - I was able to purchase a new stove and fridge to have another try with a tried and true paint. It is so cold here and rainy, too, so the paint is taking several layers and several days to dry. I am hopeful, though! I am glad to be back to feeling inspired by my mini projects again!
I wish you all the best 2019 has to offer, too, and hope you'll continue to come along on the journey with me!
Hugs!
Happy Belated Birthday Jodi! It's wonderful to be able to "spend" it (get the pun?! ha ha) with those you love and whom love you. Wishing you all the best in the year ahead!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Teresa
Ha ha! Yes, Time is one of the best things to spend with our favorite humans and pets! Hope your New Year is one filled with lots of time to spend doing the things that make you happy!
DeleteHappy New Year and Happy Birthday! And of course 50 is the new 40! (But I am going to look for that song sung to the tune of Grandma got run over by a reindeer :) )
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to spend the holidays!
Thanks Penelope! I hope 50 is the new 40 because I still have so many mini projects to get to, lol!
DeleteThe card is an American Greeting card, and the UPC is 6 45416 81685 4. The other number I found is ASW19760400E. Hope one of them helps you locate the card! It had me in tears!
OOPS! Ignor the above info - I had grabbed Russ' card on accident!!!
DeleteThe right info is:
0 68981 79600 8
NINV139128001
Also American Greetings
:O)
Happy Belated Birthday Jodi!
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with you parents. 50 is the new 40 but 80 is the new 60. You only have to be healthy as you grow younger.
I love seeing your photo with you daughter. You both look lovely!
Great family!
Happy New Year and cheers to more posting and blogging.
Hugs,
Drora
Thanks Drora! If we only age half as fast I think we're all in great shape! My grandpa was 83 and still incredibly active and healthy, but fell off the roof as he was putting a new one on. An infection in the hospital was too tough to beat, otherwise I know he'd still be with us, keeping us all in belly laughs and sore cheeks from smiling!
DeleteHappy New Year and continued blogging!
My first thought was that you had bought another dollhouse kit! haha. So great to see you using some of the furniture from the kit. The day bed is looking fabulous. Can't wait to see it upholstered.
ReplyDeleteAnd that is such a cute photo of you and your daughter! So happy to hear you had a great birthday (and Christmas)! Getting money to spend as you please can be a big bonus in this hobby. Personally I always put off getting lights and whenever I get a gift like that I splurge! I think getting a do-over of the appliances is fantastic especially since they fit the cottage so perfectly. At least you'll know what you're doing and which part goes where this time around.
Wishing you a happy new year and the very best mini filled year yet!
Hi Kristine! As tempting as a new kit always is, I have too many already!!! Not nearly as many as some of the ladies over at the Greenleaf forum, but enough to keep me busy for the next five years, anyway!!!
DeleteOMG she is snapchat crazy, and I hate getting my picture taken, but your kids have a way of talking you into things or doing them before you know what they're up to!
Money for minis is so much fun and completely guilt free shopping! You're smart to get the expensive stuff out of the way!
Yes - putting the new kits together was much easier the second time around! And this set even had the "L", "R", and "Front" markings like the instructions indicated, so it's going much better!
Happy New Year to you too, Kristine! I know you'll delight us with all the plans you have going for that beautiful house!!!
Money for minis - the ultimate gift! hahaha Wishing you a fabulous New Year with tons of great mini adventures. :D
ReplyDeleteYes! Yes it is!!! No one knows better what we want than we do! :O)
DeleteHello Jodi,
ReplyDeleteHappy belated birthday! I am so sorry I did not write sooner, but I was sick over the holidays and did not check posts. I am happy it was a nice birthday and I wish you all the best.
You received wonderful presents and I am really liking the daybed.
Big hug
Giac
Oh no, Giac! I am so sorry to hear that you were sick over the holidays! Bugs seem even nastier these days, but I hope it didn't keep you down for too long and that you were still able to enjoy some of the festivities anyway!
DeleteTurning 50 was great, and spending the day with my daughter was truly wonderful! I can't get her to enjoy minis, but we are taking a candle making class next month. Hopefully, any kind of gateway crafting will eventually bring out the mini addict! :O)