Lovin' the IKEA Rug

Hey Y'all! It's been a looooong minute since my last post, but I've just been disgustingly lazy!  I realize that it's much more fun to 1) read mini blogs to see what creative madness you people come up with, 2) shop for minis, 3) daydream about minis and 4) daydream some more about minis.  I really just want to post these pictures and not say a word about them, so that's exactly what I'm gonna do, 'cause I'm a grown A$$ woman!  BUT, as always, I'll be more than happy to respond to questions or comments.

Have a great weekend!
Beany

Seeking Metropolis

Life in the big city, or not!  I've always thought it would be so cool to live in the heart of  a big city, but I guess I'm destined to live and thrive in suburbia.  So, I brought the skyscrapers indoors.  I printed out a picture from the Internet and pieced six pictures together to create a ceiling to floor, wall to wall city scape. 

This coaster on the wall is metallic and reflective, but doesn't
show  in the pics, unfortunate, because it's really beautiful..

The paper is fan folded for dimension, but, once again,
 it doesn't really show in the pics.

I was tempted to retake the pictures, because I didn't capture it like I wanted, but no time.  I'm off to the BAHAMAS for a week!  YEA BABY!  Leaving tomorrow!

The stuff:
Love seat - Minis x 2
Coffee table - an upside down elephant stamp from World Market
Chandelier - Bauble from Michael's
Zig Zag chair - HBS
Floor - Wooden place mat from Target
Cabinet - iPhone box (I've used this before)
Vases - pen grips and something used in the electrical world (the black one)
Skyscrapers - picture from Internet
Art over the cabinet - coaster from Z Gallerie
Accessories- HBS, Michael's, Hobby Lobby and me

Until next time, Beany.

Soulful Notes

I finally got around to using my big, clunky, made-for-a-three-year-old, dollhouse.  I had been wanting to do a music room so I bought a saxophone and I already had some key chain guitars (which I didn't use), but the project came to a screeching halt after I priced a grand piano.  "YOU WANT WHAT?"  Well, on one of my  frequent thrift shop runs, I scored a piano music box for a mere $1.48!!! (and it actually works)  The project was on and crackin'!

This music room belongs to an accomplished musician and songwriter.  You wouldn't recognize him on the street, but he's well known in the industry and has played with some major names.  He works in a variety of music genres, but for his own listening pleasure, he favors soulful R&B, jazz and reggae (his favorites are hanging on the wall).  I'd venture to say that you've probably heard something of his very recently.  Yes, I think you have.

He likes to surround himself in warm colors, texture, and a bit of global exotica. (Is this about him or me?)

 

Is that you, Mr. Musician/songwriter?  See what I mean? I don't recognize him.

This is the dollhouse I used

I love exotic furniture, so I bought these lights to deconstruct to make doors, dividers, tables, wall hangings...   For the shelving unit, I used the back of a thrift store dresser and I attached two of these panels.  I made the upper shelves, painted them (already had paint that matched perfectly) and also attached them to the dresser.

Here's the stuff:
Sofa - Kalaidescope  (love it! love it! tempted to use it in every scene.  REALLY.)
Table - Etsy
Pillows - HBS (large) and me (small)
African heads - chess pieces
Piano - thrift store music box, spray painted white
Piano bench - me
Guitar - Michael's
Saxophone - HBS
Accessories - HBS, Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Etsy, me
Textured wall - place mat
Floor - contact paper
Walls - scrap book paper
Glass patterned window - thrift store

Welcome to a couple of new followers!  A new follower always excites me, so thanks for joining me in my miniventures!

Stay cool.  Beany

Turquoise & Brick

Orange is my favorite color, but I'm having this little love affair with turquoise, which just so happens to look fantastic with orange!  So I've been having a great time hunting for items as I incorporate turquoise into the mix and it's turning out quite nicely. There's so much great stuff out there and I want it all!  Now, back to the minis... I used this brick paper in my first post and I knew I'd use it again, and guess what, this won't be the last time you see it. In fact, I could do every scene with this paper, but I'll spare you.  So, the inspiration for this scene was a beautiful little beaded turquoise evening bag that I spotted at the thrift store.  It took some time before I had the heart to destroy it and it's not the only thing I cut up for the sake of this post.  I also amputated a doll  for her arm to make a jewelry stand, also from the thrift shop, but I chose one that was in really bad shape so I wouldn't feel guilty about depriving some sweet little girl of a new doll.  Now on with the show!

The stuff in my Lekman box:  

Bed - brass, painted white - ebay
Bedspread - napkin - Pier I

Headboard - evening bag - thrift store

Chair - Dollhouse Collectibles, I silver-leafed the frame

Dresser - makeover (last post) - thrift store

Rug - cut small squares from a chess board rug,Target

Tables - Jonathan Adler mirrored tables - CufflinksCowboyBoots - Etsy 

Bookcase, wall decor, most accessories, lamps - me

Some accessories from Michaels and Hobby Lobby

Hope you enjoyed the pics and welcome to a couple of new followers!

Peace,
Beany

A Quickie Makeover

I bought this dresser at a thrift shop last summer, along with some other beat up dollhouse furniture, with the thought of giving them new life.  Like everyone else out there, I feel like I never have enough time for all the things I want to do, but this weekend I stole a little time for myself and accomplished a few things on my list.

I've been hanging out in furniture stores lately, searching for a real life sofa, and I'm seeing sections devoted to salvaged wood pieces.  This stuff ain't cheap either!  But in the mini world, all things are possible, mostly. 

I've been collecting "salvaged wood" paper for a while now because it really appeals to me and I thought I'd use it for walls or floors, but after seeing the real deal in stores, I decided to try it out on furniture.  

For this little project I'll be using turquoise, white and green "wood".

First, I dry brushed the edges, nooks and crannies (did I spell that right? What's a cranny anyway?) with white craft paint and a stiff brush.  I was too lazy to do any sanding.

Then I measured very carefully, ("Artisan" at work, HAH!), cut the paper and glued them on with Mod Podge and a sponge applicator.

HELLO!  A mini "salvaged wood" dresser, for real!  I might add some blingy beads for door knobs or maybe not.  I really like the way it turned out, it looks so sweet.  I'll be using this little piece in my next scene.  Workin' on it now!

Until then, Beany.

Happy Mardi Gras! Pardi Gras! Fat Tuesday! Carnival!

Mini* Aesthetics put out a challenge to create a scene representing a holiday or observance in the month of February, and I chose MARDI GRAS!  I went to high school in New Orleans and I always looked forward to Mardi Gras!  Even though I've only experienced the G-rated, family version, it was great fun to attend the parades with family and friends.  Some day I plan to get back down there to experience the X R-rated version. :)  We like to attend the Bayou Festival and the Crawfish Festival in Long Beach, CA, during the summer to get a little "Nawlins" flavor.  It's a good time with some great Zydeco bands with a little Zydeco two-steppin', good food and New Orleans steppers dressed in traditional Mard Gras colors (purple, green and gold) that parade around the venue.  We've also gone down to San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter a couple of times for their celebration.  Today we're headed to the Farmer's Market in L.A. for their celebration.  

                                                        I love me some Mardi Gras!

  I really don't care to work with assistants because they always have issues, especially these creative types, but what's a float without riders?  So, meet my Krewe:

I know him as Lil Man.  His only concern was that he preferred to wear purple instead of green because green did nothing for his complexion.  Once I explained that I couldn't pull a switch because there wasn't enough green fabric to cover-up Big Boy, he was cool and happy to be there.  Such a sweetheart!

  She calls herself Butterfly (already reason to raise an eyebrow).  Butterfly rocks a tatted, bald head and she didn't want to wear the wig.  It went against her individuality and her creative spirit and she didn't want to look like everyone else... blah, blah, blah!   I told her it was my float, my design, my vision, and my vision had hair in it, lots of hair, dreadlocks!  So she just needed to shut-up, put on  the wig, stand up straight, and just wave and smile... just wave and smile....

OMG!  Big Boy!  Mr. I'm-too-sexy-for-my-shirt clothes!  He wanted to stand on the float (you see how big he is), NUDE, just wearing a hat and a mask!  I flipped!  Are you nuts?!  I told him it wasn't that kind of party and he better pull the stick out of his A BUTT (referring to the stand), sit his A BUTT down, and put some clothes on (you see he conveniently left his pants at home.)  This is what I was workin' with and this is why I don't use assistants!

  HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

from Beany and Richie

Glamboyance in Pink and Orange!

Help! Is this a Barbie world?  Not knockin' Barbie, but it's just soooo GIRL-Y!  But, I do believe that every living room should have a white sofa!

The stuff:  The sectional  is Kaleidoscope.  The table is a coaster on top of a bottle lid. The pillows, throw and ottoman are by me.   The fireplace is from HBS, mounted on "stainless steel" paper.  The floor is cork printed contact paper and the rug is a gift bag. The orange flower was cut from a calendar.  The wall art was made with Martha Stewart cut outs.  The clear chair is a wedding favor.  The tall floor vase is a pen part.  (I love these pens from Michael's, all kinds of designs for $1.50).  The mirrors are lids to jewelry boxes from Pier I.  The hanging lamp is half of a large plastic Easter egg.  The red desk came with a set of very cheap furniture that I purchased years ago and just found.  The wooden box under the desk is a napkin ring from Crate and Barrel. Accessory items include charms, dollhouse and wood items from Hobby Lobby.

It's always so exciting to see a new follower or two, so thank you for joining!

I need to go de-tox now from all the pink!  Beany