The Elephant in The Room

"Nature's great masterpiece, an Elephant; the only harmless great thing." John Donne


I can't begin to tell you how much I love elephants and I can't begin to tell you how often I have loved seeing art made out of ivory. And I'll bet I'm not the only one.

One of my favorite museums, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, has incredible things carved in the most intricate detail out of ivory. Certainly there are collections worldwide. I don't believe any of them have any inclination to rid themselves of their ivory masterpieces. Even though the killing of elephants for ivory is a travesty.  Something that is more in our consciousness now, when in the fairly recent past I think it fair to say we all took ivory for granted and never questioned how it came to be the artifact we so admire.

Ivory Memento Mori  Rosary Circa 1500 - Metropolitan Museum of Art

So what does one do when one loves elephants and owns beautiful things made of ivory?
I don't have an answer. Ivory miniatures and ivory used in making miniatures are centuries old.  And we love them. But the very sad fact remains that today love for ivory is not helping elephants. 


This piece is about ivory miniatures that I want to share here. I wish I could say they were made from the tusks of my pet elephant who passed away in sleep after a very long and happy life. Who lived out on the African plain with family and who came to visit me once a day to be petted. But I can say that the magnificent miniature pipes below came from ivory scraps used in restorations and subsequently sold on eBay. Where the selling of ivory is now banned. 

Enjoy the photos and think about the elephants who gave it.

All these meerschaum pipes are carved by Cliff Feltrope. They came out of the Adell Venus auction and they are breathtaking. Hard to believe they were made by human hands. With help from elephants of course.

Hand Carved Meerschaum Pipe by Cliff Feltrope

 

 

 

 

This meerschaum pipe by Cliff Feltrope has a gold helmet that opens.

The following photos are some other ivory miniatures in my collection. I was told that the tiny netsuke came from mammoth ivory so thought they were OK to buy.  The tiny animals are antiques. The snuff bottles, which have removable tops, were done by Ligia Durstenfeld.

I'd love to hear your thoughts regarding this touchy subject. Please comment below.

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Once more for the Gipper.

"My evil genius Procrastination has whispered me to tarry 'til a more convenient season."  Mary Todd Lincoln

Well, lets just say I won't be winning any blogger awards since I am so bad at it.  It's spring cleaning time again and my plan was to highlight my only dollhouse and contents once I pulled them out for cleaning LAST YEAR.

I decided to just put up the rest of the house to share with you and get it over with.  Like a band aid - just grab it and rip.

  So lets see, where was I ?

Attic Storage Room

This is the attic and it has a separate closure so I don't even see it much. Still an attic is fun.
The crazy doll trying on her wedding gown is by Lyn Trenary. Alligator suitcases are by the Dolls Cobbler. I got the darling mouse eating a book from Franzy at a show, probably Chicago.

The ship captain's trunk came from eBay done by a lady in the UK and the dress form came from the John and Ellen Blauer collection and it is tagged made by Frank Matter - but according to experts its not, although its pretty clever as it moves up and down.  One of these days I'm going to blog about Frank, but I digress...

Second Floor Hallway

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  Second Floor Hallway Miniatures Victorian House

 This is the second floor hallway between the 2  Bedrooms.  The rug is by Classic Carpets, Schnauzer by Kerri Pajutee, chair by Betty Valentine, Plant by Hiroyuko Kimura, Mounted Game by Linda Master, Painting by Paul Saltarelli, Photo Album by Terre Fernandez.

And here is the first floor hallway and the entrance to the house between the kitchen and living room.

 

First floor Hallway Items

Nicely done stairs, don't you think? Those dolls are by Amanda Skinner. The one in front looks just like my daughter when she was little. Plant by Hiroyuko and Kyoko. Umbrella stand by the late Joan Westphal. Rug by Classic Carpets. I think I'll change out that table... And the fruit plates are by Dominique Levy, as well as the painted plates and artichoke plate. I got those in Chicago once when Dominique came to the US and her prices were so very reasonable which is why I have so many.  Can't remember who did the painting but if you have to know, shout out.

 

"I think of myself as something of a connoisseur of procrastination, creative and dogged in my approach to not getting things done" Susan Orlean

 

For years I have debated whether to make the kitchen a kitchen or a dining room. I really don't like to cook, had a fabulous kitchen in my other doll house,   and thought a dining room would be different.  Kitchens are much more interesting.

Here's what I have so far:

 

A painted Chrysonbon Stove. Could use some aging, I think.

And this gorgeous Irish Dresser made for me by Susan Plevan.  Its full of exceptional artisan stuff collected at shows, eBay, Etsy and websites. The bottom cabinets are for keeping chickens which hopefully will come later but I'll just let them wander around the kitchen. If procrastination doesn't kill me I'll show you the finished kitchen one of these days.

Please make me feel better about myself and leave a comment below. Thanks for your patience. XO

Let's Just Say, Before The Year Is Out.

"The creative process is a process of surrender, not control."  Julie Cameron

I give up.  I am never going to be a consistent blogger.  Look how long it has taken me to showcase just one, single doll house.  Nevertheless, here is the continuation of the  process of doing just that.  It has only taken me MONTHS. So, I surrender.

I apologize to anyone who was waiting to see the rest of the house, which by the way, looks like this:

Copied from a real house in Connecticut, built by T. J. Arnick Sr. Built in  1980.

 The house was originally painted white with black roof and shutters.  When I got it (in trade for one of my Noah's Arks) it had been painted shades of green with tinges of nicotine.  And I painted it as above.  Seems like it needs a change again.

I supposed I need a photo of the whole house opened.  The whole front pulls off and the peak that covers the attic pulls down.  The tower roof lifts off and I have not done anything with that room.  There is a train weather vane by Mary Carson in honor of my son who at the time the house came to live with us was mad about trains.  And he wanted it to be a haunted house.  

Anyway, the living room is here. Part of it goes out into the tower as does the bedroom above it.

Grandparents visiting for tea.

Little girl with bear at the tea table.

The grandmother is by Marsha Backstrom as is the little girl with teddy.  The gent is by Susan Wade (whom I have not heard anything of in years.)  The silver tray is by Guglielmo Cini and the decanter set by Frank Whitmore. Lamp by Niglo.  The lustre-ware tea set is by Karen Zorich, one of my very favorite miniature porcelain makers. The dining table and chairs are by Frank Hardcastle.  Grandma holds a cat by Amanda Skinner.

The display cabinet is by Gilbert Mena and it awaits something fabulous to display.  The caladium plant is by Hiroyuki and Kyoko.  Roses by Sandra Wall Rubin. Ruby velvet chair by Barbara Logan.  Bichon Frise by Kerri Pajutee. Tuxedo cat by Liz McInnis.  Floral still life signed by C. Sparrow. Several Bespaq pieces. Rug by Classic Carpets. Tantalus set by Frank Whitmore.  I can't remember who made the green velvet sofa but I know the lady is from the UK. The maker of the white cat is unknown and was a gift from Eileen Godfrey.  I do have a thing for animals and they are everywhere in my miniature settings.

Still have the attic, hallways, kitchen and that tower room. Looks like I can make a career out of blogging this doll house.  if you enjoy it let me know below.

So Now It's 'Autumn Cleaning'

"Aprils have never meant much to me, autumns seem that season of beginning, spring". Truman Capote

I always felt like autumn was the beginning of a new year anyway. 

So the spring cleaning I started in the spring has somehow morphed into autumn cleaning.  Well, nearly autumn.  But when I started writing about my doll house and the spring cleaning of it, I left off with the children's bedroom.  So I continue here with the master bedroom.

While it is the master, children have obviously invaded it.  

I changed the paper in this room and it  has sadly faded.  So I suppose another papering is in order.  This bed is from the same person as the other in the children's bedroom.

The little girl with the doll is by the late Marsha Backstrom. She made wonderful dolls and she is missed.  

Here's a better photo of that bed, the Backstrom doll and a secretary by Beth Berman. The filled sewing stand is made by Susan Harmon.

This desk and chair are made-over Bespaq pieces by Jill Diane.  The roses are by Sandra Wall Rubin.  The stationary box is by Terre Fernandez.  Can't remember now who made the lamp, anyone? The gold compact is by Don Henry and I got it from SP Miniatures

More dolls by Gudrun Kolenda.  Puppy by Kerri Pajutee.  Rug from eBay.

Little girl painting her toes.

This amazing little crocheted doll came in a snake skin suitcase with an entire wardrobe of tiny crocheted clothes.  That's my engagement ring, which I have grown out of.  So it might as well work as a prop. The ensemble is by Helen Davies

The little suitcase with more dolls and a crocheted bear is by Dianne Yunni.  I got that incredible cradle on eBay and the baby is by Sally Brennan, who seems to no longer have a website.

These rosaries are truly 1:12 scale, have all the beads and pile up just like the real thing.  

Here's a better shot of some of the accessories.  The gouache is by Allan Waters after a painting by Mary Cassat.

The doll in chair with her bunny are all made by Jill Diane.

More detail of the Dianne Yunni things, painting by Josephine Meyer

Lamp is by NiGlow, figurine is by Chris Okubo, Book is by Jane Bernier.

Hopefully I will get to the rest of the house before winter.  Where I don't decorate for Christmas anyway. 

The Mad Hatter At Home

"Begin at the beginning and go on till you come to the end.  Then stop."  
Lewis Carroll

My favorite character in Alice in Wonderland is the Mad Hatter.  Inspired by the fairly recent Alice movie starring be-still-my-heart Johnny Depp and made by the quirky Tim Burton my miniature motivation started brewing and an old clock case called to be put into use.
 
I envision the Mad Hatter to be a curious fellow, for whom it is always teatime. Of course, he is mad, which is his charm, but also creative, messy and he lives in clutter because imaginative and mad people really do not have time for tidying things up.  He's also absent minded and forgets where he left his tea.

Old clock case now a miniature diorama

" Would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."
"I don't much care where -"
"Then it doesn't matter which way you go."  LC

Sometimes you just have to start.  Jump in and go. There had to be the black and white checks but the rest was up for grabs and became purple.  Probably because I found scrap book paper with a Mad Hatter theme.  And that was the start.  I already had a tall chair I had made for a customer for whom it did not suit but I liked the chair and it looks like the Mad Hatter's chair so that became the first furnishing.  

Bit by bit it grew from there keeping in mind the Mad Hatter lives here.  But he is not here.  

And yet the Cheshire Cat, who can vanish at will, is.   

The amazing cat was made for me by Kerri Pajutee. 

How about that grin?

The Cheshire Cat made by Kerri Pajutee

Following is the stuff the Hatter needs in his room including all the tea things and those items he needs to design and make his mad hats. All messy.  When you can't figure out why a raven is like a writing desk you do the best you can.

"How do you know I'm Mad?"
"You must be or you wouldn't have come here".

The Hatter's work desk

Padded Bulletin Board

Mad Hatter Hat Making Supplies

 "Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast"

There is an inherent weirdness in the Alice tale written nearly 150 years ago and it is as popular today as it ever was.  Wonderland finds itself the subject of many miniature translations and this is mine.  I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to be at Oxford University and heard the history of the characters as they populated the school back in Lewis Carroll's day and the eccentric characters are as endearing as ever.  And everything about Alice in Wonderland translates very well into miniature.


 "Yes, that's it!, said the Hatter with a sigh, "it's always tea time"

There are lots of tottering tea things here that are certainly impossible. But without a doubt things like this happen in Wonderland every day.  Sometimes, I think it would be pleasant just to stay there.

Drink Me

Forgotten Hats

Sleeping Dormouse

Tea Cart

We all fall down the rabbit hole from time to time and being there need not always be tragic, however bizarre that journey might be.  This was a fun journey for me so I hope you like it.  Please tell me below what you think.

Furnished Room Box
Portrait is a watercolor from the J. Depp Hatter. Photo of the original Alice.

Miniature Spring Cleaning.

"A bright person can always think of something better to do than housework" - Ruby L. Barnhill

I am certainly one of those smart people. But it's time for spring cleaning again, (already) and this time my attention has turned to spring cleaning my doll house.  Oddly, its the only doll house I own, well, except for the haunted one in the garage.  But that's a another story for another time.  Anyway, I did indeed clean up the house by pulling everything out room by room and rearranging it back again.  A lot less intense than real spring cleaning and a lot more fun.

Since I had everything out I thought I would photograph everything, since I had never done that before and so might as well share it here. I don't keep much of what I make so this house is full of the work of others.  Stuff I love and made fit in the house.  This was, of course, all collected after my disaster .

I started with the children's room.  The house only has 4 rooms and an entrance hall, staircase and a hall on the second floor.  There is also a room in the turret and an attic.

Children's Room in The Doll House

 I got the house finished in a trade for one of my Noah's Arks.  I painted the whole house and replaced some of the wallpaper, but this room is the same as it was when it came to live at my house. It had a few owners before me.

Dolls by Feathers Lace and Clay

 I found the bed at a show in Westchester - boy I miss those shows.  The artist was on her way out of miniatures and was selling everything at great prices.  The trunk was made by Alan Waters, an amazing artist from Australia who also dropped out of miniatures. We became friends and he made a lot of special things for me but are gone now (see disaster). I should really get more photos of that because it is really special.  The little boys are both by Gudren Kolenda of Feathers, Lace and Clay.  She is one of my favorite doll makers.  The rug is by Classic Carpets.  The rocker is a Chrysonbon kit that I bashed.

English Hand Carved Rocking Horse

Artisan Made Children's Toys

The rocking horse is from the UK, purchased from Eileen Godfrey, where I used to get a lot of spectacular treasures and there are more in this house.  I made the stick horse, the only piece of mine in the house.  The pencil box is by Alan Waters. Paint box by Lawrence St Leger.  Would you believe the paint tubes hold real paint and the caps twist off?  The stacking blocks are by Terre Fernandez.  ABC book by Barbara Brear .  Both of these gals are wonders at what they do.  The castle is by Jeanne Abil.  Goat pull toy is by Barbara Logan, again, another wonder who unfortunately dropped out of the field.  The teddy is one who escaped the disaster and is by Emily Farmer, a wonderful bear maker.  The horse pull toy by master wood carver, Linda Master .  The bird in the cage actually flaps its wings and I think it might be another St Leger. Oops. The carved bunny on wheels is made by me... 

"My idea of cleaning is sweeping the room with a glance."  Erma Bombeck

And yes, I dusted and swept and shook out the carpets.

The wash stand is an artisan piece but I don't recall the artist.  The Beatrix Potter pieces are early Karen Markland and are porcelain.  The pitcher and bowl and all the matching pieces are reproduction pieces of those that were made for The Queen's Doll House and they are stunning.  I wish I had more.

 

This charming little desk is signed R.R.Moos and is just perfect for a kid's room.  Mother Goose book by Terre Fernandez.  Watercolor box by St. Leger. 

These are the art work that hangs on the walls.  The ship is by Linda Master who is an outstanding painter.  The needlepoint was done by my own husband who was fascinated with Sharon Garmize's work and bought a few kits.  That was the only thing that interested him at miniature shows.  Go figure.  The poppies painting was done by June Field. I like having original art in my doll house even though no one really cares if they are prints. 

I think I will do this house one room per blog.  I like the idea of having a record of this here and dear, Blogger, please do NOT disappear.  If anyone recognizes pieces for which I do not have the artist named I would appreciate the information.

Please comment and tell me about your miniature spring cleaning adventures!!