Roo's Art

My son Roo is a pretty talented little artist. He is 7 years old and takes art classes after school on Wednesdays at the community center. He's vaguely interested in my dollhouse world and sometimes I wake up and come in to the living room to find my dollhouse rearranged (no, I don't mind).

But he's under the illusion that "dollhouses are for GIRLS" so he'll rarely play with it WITH me. Although, the other day he did play with some Calico Critters stuff I had bought and tucked a baby into a cradle. I think he's just desperate for sibling, which won't be happening any time soon.

Anyways, he saw my blog and said he just MUST be featured. So here is some of his artwork. A combination of his favorites and mine.

A dragon head. Drawn in pencil. No he does not trace anything though he sometimes uses pictures for references.

A Triceratops. Drawn in pencil.

Roo calls this one "Yew Nork" (We lived in "New York" for a year). Drawn with fine line pen and colored pencils.

 A Chinese Dragon. He actually drew this when he was 6 years old. Drawn in colored pencil.

A school assignment that I really enjoyed. Drawn in crayon.

Another picture he drew at school for a book report. I like the teacher's shoes LOL. Drawn in pencil and crayon.

 A horse! Drawn in pencil, fine line pen, and chalk pastels.

This one just cracks me up. Roo should be a cartoonist. heh. Drawn in ballpoint pen.

He made this one for meeee!! So I framed it :D Drawn in chalk pastels and Sharpies

 A Chinese brush art Fox.

The piece de resistance. Roo's spectacular apple. This is actually being featured in a magazine. Drawn in chalk pastel.

AAAAAAND presenting the arteest!

Roo would also like me to note that Eric Carle (author of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" among other books) acknowledges him as a talented up and coming little artist. He saw Roo's artwork via my Godfather who is friends with Mr. Carle. 

MAIL!

I got some minis that I won on Ebay in the mail today!

 And I filled up my storage unit. I may never add the rest of the dividers haha

Unfinished Things

I did a little work on a little bit of the rooms in my dollhouse this weekend. The photos aren't too impressive because nothing is finished. I think have dollhouse ADD. I keep switching around and never finishing any of the rooms! Except Roo's cause he whined and begged and forced me to finish it first.

The half wall papered babies room and half stained crib

 My room. So far, very bare.

 The rather unfinished storage unit Ikea thing. I haven't put in all the dividers yet haha

It was very hard trying to cram my hand and phone in, to take this picture.

 The kitchen. I got the flooring and wall paper done and a corner cabinet.

 And I filled the fridge!

I wish the weekends were longer.

LOL my boyfriend just started singing "It's a tiny world, in a tiny houuuuse" to the tune of "Barbie Girl"

Bargains!

I went to Toys R Us today during my lunch break at work, in hopes to find some much needed dollhouse accessories to put in my newly made dishwasher, refrigerator, and cabinets.

I didn't walk away empty handed! (That's for sure)

Has anyone ever heard of Squinkies? I think they're fairly new... I could be wrong.
Anyways, they're tiny little figures of characters. I got a Toy Story set to use as toys in Roo's Room! So cool.
And they're pretty cheap, considering how expensive dollhouse minis can get.

Roo has REAL Buzz and Woody toys and LOVES them. So it's just perfect!

I also got this Playmobil kitchen set. Although the furniture is of course, too small, all of the accessories are really just the right size! I guess they make the accessories scaled a little larger for Playmobil? Well it cost me $25.00 and considering how much useful stuff came in that box... WINNING!

 

This isn't even all the stuff that came in the box. This is just the stuff I'll probably be using.

I just need to repaint some things (like maybe that orange dish rack and that red and yellow serving stuff and mugs)

This is what the box contained:

A close-up

Yay!! I can't wait to get out of work and go fill my mini fridge!

Countertops!

I have started adding countertops to my kitchen units. It's proving to be extremely time consuming, though I'm not sure why...

I wanted to make each piece individually so they'd be able to be put in any formation because I'm not building them to specifically fit in one dollhouse. So each piece is separate so they can be put in any position I want. The sink is ELF miniatures.

Now I just need to start wallpapering that kitchen!

...and build an oven, microwave built in- oh- and a island with a stovetop. ...and perhaps more cabinets. *sigh* so much work to do!

New and Improved

DISHWASHER!

I disliked my first dishwasher, so I re-did it... 

The most time consuming part was making that darn dish basket!

Stage 1

Finished

 I made it out of paperclips.

 Bragging from all angles!

Finishing a mini gives me such satisfaction.

What I've Been Working On

I'm getting more comfortable working with wood. Whew. Had to make many trips to Home Depot for different kinds of tools but it's been worth it :)

A dresser (unfinished, but assembled)

 My crib! I think I am going to stain in a dark color. Somehow. (I have no knowledge of stain-age procedure, but I guess I'll learn!)

THE REFRIGERATOR

Probably my most involved project yet. Lots of components and different materials = lots of angst.

Phase 1: The shape takes form

 Phase 2: I covered it in shiny stainless steel looking contact paper and after MUCH trial and error, (and swearing) figured out how hinges work. 

 Phase 3: The door(s) go on. I had to have a water dispensing door!

Phase 4: I painted the inside white, covered up the brass hinges (I wish I could have found silver ones, but no luck at the local hardware store).

Phase 5: (Or was this 4?) Drawer shelves attached and some accessories added just for the photo op

 Phase 6: Aaaalmost done

Phase 7: All it needs is door handles.

 I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

THE DISHWASHER

This is what it looks like closed. The top is unfinished because I haven't added a countertop yet to any of my kitchen stuff.

I'm not satisfied with the inside of the dishwasher. I made the metal parts out of paperclips but they're extremely fragile and too messy looking for my OCD perfectionista to love. 

They do pull out though.

I don't love it, but I can't bring myself to start all over at this point.

I made some cabinets too. 

My fingers hurt :( lol