Time for a change?

I was being very lazy this morning (it's Saturday here) sitting on the couch flicking through Kim's beautiful book.

Kim's minis always inspire me...and I've decided it might be time for a makeover in the Country House.

 

The Country kitchen as it is now.

 

 

There are plenty of things that annoy me about this house. For one: it is a big and heavy house and it takes up a lot of room in my tiny craft space. And for another: the configuration of the rooms leaves a lot to be desired. But with a bit of thought (sometimes it's hard to think with kids running around all the time!) I'm sure I can solve a few of my issues.

Every now and then I think I should get rid of it but then I look inside and realise I can't part with it!

It's the house that started me off on my mini-making adventures...and what amazing adventures I have had!

 

So now I'm thinking it's time for a complete makeover...a new look!

Watch this space...I'm excited!

 

Mercedes

Balustrade Candlesticks

I'd love to have some of these in real life.

Giant candlesticks made from old stair balustrades.

But because I haven't seen any real life ones here I thought I'd make them in mini!

I was a very lucky girl to recieve this in the mail from Sylvia the other day.

How cute is that card?!

Incredible work! I especially love that tiny bag.

It would seem there is nothing Sylvia cannot do!

Mercedes

A bed for the country house

Things have changed a little since you last saw the country house...

this room was the girly pink bedroom!

Now it's slowly becoming the boys bedroom.

I made this little iron bed months ago but it's been lingering around waiting for the perfect bed linens.

Sylvia sent me the tiny castors, they actually work!

If you give the bed a push it just whizzes across the floor!

I found these napkins at the op shop.

They have the perfect edgings for miniature bed linens!

I got some inspiration from Liberty's (real life) antique bed.

I LOVE how the iron work looks so spindly and the brass knobs are so big.

Plenty of work still to be done in this room!

Mercedes

A little country basket

I made this basket from a tutorial I found here. It's all in French but her tute is full of easy to follow pictures.

As with everything I do I made it in a great hurry...

so it's a bit wonky but I think that just adds to its country charm!

Mercedes

A visit to the country house

Just before Easter my hubby had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful Linda Carswell at her home in Tasmania.


Linda sent two of her beautiful Aubusson rugs home with him!
One day I will have a French house but in the meantime I thought the Nylon family might like a little luxury in their country home.


Ah, yes, Mr Nylon is a VERY happy man!

Here's the other rug in the master bedroom. It's the perfect colour for this room.

Gorgeous!

Linda also sent this fabulous hutch dresser for the as yet unfinished country kitchen.

The Nylons are feeling very pleased with their new good fortune...the decorator may even be inspired to return and finish what she started quite some time ago.

Another spectacular gift from Linda was this little sewing box all beautifully painted and papered by Linda herself.

Thank you Linda!

I'll be there soon!!

Mercedes

Questions, quilts and cushions!

So many of you wanted to know where those exquisite glass bottles came from I asked Benedetta and she emailed me the link so here it is Glasscraft. I'm sure you'll agree I am a very lucky girl!

I've also been asked about the little bird picture, it is a scrapbooking brad and was part of a very useful set!

Benedetta sent me the bottles in return for a country quilt and some other things I made for her.

This is the country quilt that I made for Benedetta.

And this I just had to show you. It is a cushion stitched by the one and only Rosanna.

Rosanna is a friend of Benedetta's and when she saw the quilt she was inspired to stitch this perfectly matching patchwork cushion, how fantastic is that?!!!!!! Pop on over to Rosanna's blog and tell her how great she is!

Mercedes

A side table for the lounge

A very long time ago Katie sent me a little 'House of Miniatures' kitset to make a Hepplewhite side table.

I have finally made it and found the perfect spot for it in the lounge. I need to do something to 'country up' those lights!

I think the table needs some little house keys on it. I bought the little jar of roses on a trip to Melbourne.

Sorry about the lack of posts lately. I look after baby Lucy three days a week now and it's very exhausting and doesn't leave me with much spare time.

Thank you for all the blog awards!

Mercedes

A bookshelf for the country lounge

One of the best things about blocking up that extra doorway in the lounge is that now there is room for a bookshelf.

As usual I got out my box of wood bits and this is what I came up with.


I had a LOT of fun making the books. If you click and enlarge the photo you'll be able to have a good look at the titles. A few of them are there for a bit of dollhouse humour!

After all, this hobby is all about having fun!

Mercedes

A hutch dresser for the country lounge

You may have noticed that the dining table has been moved from the kitchen to the lounge, there was always too much unused space in the lounge. And now the hutch dresser that was in the kitchen is also in the lounge, although it has been given a facelift!

Here's how it looked in the kitchen. I had painted and papered it to match everything but was never happy with those drawer fronts, they just seemed too chunky.

So I've given it some new drawer fronts and covered them with wallpaper. And there's a basket of toys where the cupboard was. I figure that as the children's rooms are all in the attic Mrs Nylon won't want to be trekking up and downstairs with toys all day...'cos let's face it, it's not like the kids will ever put them away!

The stripy wallpaper is the exact same colour as the gingham wallpaper in the lounge.

And some of you may have noticed the new curtains have gone already! The dresser has to sit by the window there and the curtains were in the way so I've made a roman blind. (Sorry Linda, it doesn't actually work, lol!)

Mercedes

A country couch for the new look lounge

I finally decided on Sunday it was time to make a new couch for the country lounge instead of just thinking about it.

So I got my box of wood bits out and this is what I came up with.
Even hubby was surprised at how well it turned out.

I just get happier with this room every day!

'What Mr Nylon saw in the kitchen' is coming soon!

Mercedes