Cynthia's Summer Rose Cottage

Cynthia's made this lovely miniature house from a kit called the Orchid by Greenleaf dollhouses.

 In Cynthia's words  "In my mind, this cottage is most likely sitting on a beautiful piece of property on the Island of Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. She provides weekends away with best girlfriends and romantic vacations for me and my sweetheart :) She's tiny, but all our needs are met here. That's the simple version of what "Summer Rose" means to me."

Though I'd already posted about Cynthia's miniatures, I just couldn't resist pictures of her Summer Rose cottage. Its' the most charming cottage that ever was - with every little detail perfect - dinner out on the table, dishes in the sink, enticing dishes of macarron and other delicacies, floor rugs, mats, softy-plumpy sofas, elegant vintage chairs and other knickknacks and best of all a lovely cosy-cosy bed to sink into at the end of a long dolly day!

creams, whites and soft pinks for a feminine, romantic tea setting

Love the China hutch with the cake, utensils, books, teapot...everything so homey and yet so divine

Fresh laundry with the scent of lavender - a scent of delight for every homemaker

 Dishes in the sink - detergent, soap, tea towel to the rescue

Love the little blackboard menu over the oven

Nothing better than a plate of cupcakes nestling next to a vase of lilies

Vintage cookbooks - a must to make dishes the way grandmama did

What kitchen can be complete without canned pickles in stock?

A warm cosy fireplace for those winter nights

Candle-lit dinner with just the family. So love the gingham seat covers and the carpet with red ticking

Cynthia's love for the artwork of Susan Branch is reflected in this little painting

Chintz armchair, footstool, and fire logs...what more does one need for comfort?

Love the feminine details like the hatbox and flower vase in the bathroom

And then we come to the bedroom

We kick off our shoes and sink into a nice, warm bed and off to build castles in the air in doll-land!!

My Medusa

I loved Medusa when she was a child,
Her rich brown tresses heaped in crispy curl
Where now those locks with reptile passion whirl,
By hate into dishevelled serpents coiled.
I loved Medusa when her eyes were mild,
Whose glances, narrowed now, perdition hurl,
As her self-tangled hairs their mass unfurl,
Bristling the way she turns with hissings wild.

Her mouth I kissed when curved with amorous spell,
Now shaped to the unuttered curse of hell,
Wide open for death’s orbs to freeze upon;
Her eyes I loved ere glazed in icy stare,
Ere mortals, lured into their ruthless glare,
She shrivelled in her gaze to pulseless stone.

-- Thomas Gordon Hake, The Infant Medusa.

As told by Ovid in Metamorphoses, Medusa was a beautiful young woman whose crowning glory was her magnificent long hair. She was desired and courted by countless suitors. Yet, before she could be betrothed to a husband, Poseidon (Neptune) found her worshipping in the temple of Athena (Minerva) and ravished her. Outraged at her sacred temple being violated, Athena punished Medusa by turning her beautiful tresses into snakes and giving her the destructive power to turn anyone who looked directly at her into stone.

My Medusa holds a stone heart in her palm -- blazing red with the torment that burns within her.

My Princess Suhana

Princess Suhana: as dazzling and regal as the star that is her namesake. She is an incomparable beauty of the Orient, dressed in Indian brocade and exotic jewelry. Her wrapped dress, draped in the style of a sari, is made of a chocolaty plum silken fabric shot with gold: an intricate floral design woven on the achal. Her jewelry is accented in faux turquoise. Her hair is arranged in a braided chignon, but most of her thick shimmery copper curls flow freely about her shoulders.

In Hindi, Suhana means beautiful; in Arabic, it is the name of a star. Princess Suhana will grace a Persian Harem as befittingly as she would an Indian Palace.

I had a wonderful time making this doll, but the journey has been strange to say the least. When I started out, I was quite set on making a blond beauty wearing a Regency styled gown. I had even set aside the goldenrod chiffon fabric for the dress, and made yellow polymer clay roses to make into a bouquet. But when the doll was ready to be adorned, it was almost like she insisted on wearing a different dress: very much like the princess she is! I had been saving this fabric for later, but had to give in. She preferred copper curls to blond that I had in mind for her. And she had to have all the jewelry: even the anklets although they are normally covered up by her long skirt.

My Princess Sabah

Princess Sabah: as beautiful as the glow of the rising sun. Her pearly complexion, dreamy brown eyes and soft pink lips have stolen the sleep of many a prince. Her ebony hair falls unbound to her waist. She is a vision of innocence in her billowy white dress trimmed in gold.

My New Red Brick Orchid Dollhouse

So here it is, my latest from a long line of Orchids. This one is extra special to me, since it is my first try at both paper-clay bricks and internal wiring for lights. It sports 4 lights: 3 tulip sconces and a ceiling light. The exterior foundation is covered in river rocks and moss, which has become a signature of sorts for all my houses.

The interior is done in harmonious tones of cream and beige, creating an excellent backdrop for furniture and decorations. The floor, and ceiling moldings match the mahogany floor and window frames. Little details, such as the golden doorknob, or the raised details on the exterior trims, makes this dollhouse a truly one-of-a-kind creation.

This dollhouse is on eBay right now. Here is the link:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=290170879650&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT&ih=019