Auralea's Creations

My Villa

2011-08-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

Wicker Love Seat Finds a Fabulous Home!

2011-08-02T11:35:00.000-07:00

Ginny Stucky purchased two of my wicker pieces and was sweet enough to send a photo of one of them in it's new home! I wanted to share her little room. She made beautiful new seat cushions for it too! Great work Ginny!
~Auralea

Beach house is finished

2011-03-14T15:20:00.001-07:00

Beach House

Sweet babies need happy homes!

2011-02-21T14:28:00.000-08:00

Baby Girl comes with pink striped blanket. Hand-sculpted from polymer clay.
$25

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Baby boy comes with blanket. Hand-sculpted from polymer clay.
$25

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Sweet Little Girl with flowers. Hand-sculpted from polymer clay.
Adopted

Roofing a Dollhouse

2011-01-24T08:52:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a quicker way to apply shingles to a dollhouse. The directions always say to use glue but I remember years ago when I did my first house how the shingles would curl up as they dried or slide down the roof a bit because of the wood glue. Since then I have been using a hot glue gun! I have had one of the houses I used this technique on for eleven years and not one shingle has popped off.

If you already have a glue gun, great! If not be sure just to buy an inexpensive one. They are all the same in my eyes and I got the least expensive one and have had it for over eight years. Be sure to buy a bag of sticks that match the gun you have. Follow all the directions for prepping your roof first. Most likely you have been given a bag or 2 of wooden shingles with your dollhouse. One end has a curved cut the other is flat. If you want a cottage look or Victorian go with the curved. If you are trying to get a more modern look use the flat end. Be sure your glue gun is heated and ready to use. The glue should flow out easy when you press the trigger.

Lay out a handful of shingles in front of you. I lay them out in the direction I will be applying them when i first start so I don't forget and accidentally glue them on upside down. If you are right handed then work left to right. The idea here is to not have a lot of webbing from the glue gun. Every time you glue and lift a small thread of glue is pulled and will make a mess later. As you can see in my photo as I pull away a web is made. So with your right hand on the gun put a dab of glue on the left starting corner. Put the dab where the top portion of the shingle will be. Don't pull the gun away; instead, touch the tip of the gun to one space over on the roof. Hold it there while you press the shingle down with your left hand immediately. Press the shingle down once more to be sure its glued then pull the trigger for the next one and repeat. By keeping the tip of the glue gun as close to the roof as possible there will be little to no glue strings to have to clean up later. Trust me, they are a pain!

After your first line of shingles are on (mine were not finished just yet) then measure up one inch and draw a line. Repeat until you get to the top. This should be in your directions that came with the dollhouse.

The great thing is even while painting your roof they will not pop off from being wet. Be sure to apply paint in moderate layers so the shingles don't get it sopping wet and so the paint won't run. I will give a demo on this when I get to that step!

Painting wood shingles for your dollhouse.

I will be sharing my technique but you will develop your own as you work. Just feel it out and stop once while, stand back and look at your work as you go.

The most important thing is to apply the paint thinly so the wood shingles won't curl and warp.
I would recommend using 2-3 colors so it have more of an impact. I am trying to achieve a beach house roof so I chose gray's and brown.
I used Acrylic Craft paint from the craft store-
Americana- Fawn
Folk Art- 936 Barn Wood
Folk Art -424 Light Gray

Use a flat brush that is about a half inch wide. Dip it into the Paint bottle of your lightest color (Grey)
and apply your brush under your first row of shingles then paint the shingles in a downward motion. This will get the paint up under the lip of each row.

Use a mixing tray or plastic bowl and put a brush full of your 2nd color (Fawn) and tap a smaller flat brush vertically up and down to get the bristle less saturated with paint.
photo 3
Brush on the paint lightly. Just here and there in a downward motion, starting just under each row of shingles.

Now you want to take some of your 3rd color (Barn) and water it down in your mixing tray.

Use a pointed or more rounded paint brush. Run it along the underside of the shingles. Where one row ends on top of another row.. Then brush back and forth quickly. This will thin it out even more so it will look more blended. Then run your brush down between alternate shingles. Mainly any shingles that have a bigger gap between them. But not every one.

Keep working at it until you are happy. If there are any spots you feel are to dark go back over it with your lightest paint color (Grey).

Touch up all the bottom tips of the shingles with the lightest paint.

Well I hope I helped! Have fun creating your mini dream house. : )

My Last Garden for Sale

2010-10-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

“Bird House Garden”

Sold to Private Collection

This garden is a handcrafted one of a kind. Using a variety of materials which include, tissue

paper/shaped florals/reindeer moss and a small riverstone. The birdhouse is made of wood and handpainted. This garden is signed underneath.

Photos are enlarged to show detail. This Bird House Garden is 5”wide! 1:12 Dollhouse Miniature Scale

Miniature Wicker for sale!

2010-10-25T10:11:00.000-07:00

Complete your sun room, garden, or even indoor look with these beautiful creations!

This NEW line of wicker furniture is hand-painted and accented with tiny hand-made cushions and pillows.
To order call me at 443-616-7224

Rattan Wicker Love Seat
4 1/2" Wide Cushions and pillows are removable.
SOLD

Wicker Chair - White Cushion
2 1/4" Wide
$26.00

Wicker Love Seat - Plaid
4 3/4" Wide Cushion and pillow are removable.
SOLD

Black Table with 4 Chairs
Table 3" Wide Chairs 1 3/4" Wide Cushions are removable.
$62.00

Wicker Table with 4 Chairs - Brown
Table 2 1/2" Wide Chairs 1 1/2" Wide (Acorn vase of flowers sold separately. $8.00)
$62.00

White Porch Swing
4 1/2" Wide x 2" Deep Cushion and pillow are removable.
$28.00

Published Features and Tutorials...

2010-10-25T09:10:00.001-07:00

2011 Dollhouse Miniature Magazine

May/June 2011 ISSUE 21
Beach house porch/Whindchimes

March/April 2011 ISSUE 20
Hydrangeas and Easter baskets

2010 Dollhouse Miniature Magazine

January/February 2010 ISSUE 13
My Villa (shown above)

May/June 2010 ISSUE 15
"Fabulous Flowers Always in Bloom" "Wreath Tutorial" "Making Curtains"

July/August 2010 ISSUE 16
Twilight Pixies

September/October 2010 ISSUE 17
Mini's On A Budget

November/December 2010 ISSUE 18

Christmas Trees and Wreaths

American Miniaturist

June 2009 ISSUE #74
My Gardens

June 2010 ISSUE #86
Sculpting Babies

July 2010 ISSUE #87
My Surfer House

Kiki's Dream

2010-06-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

5x7
Text reads "I'll meet you at a magical place"

Be Brave

2010-06-21T13:02:00.000-07:00

8"x10"
Whenever I had problems about work, school or boys my father was always there to give me advice and support. After one of our talks he would give my hand a squeeze. If I close my eyes and concentrate I can still feel my hand in his warm hand. Now that he is gone I still feel his support even with my eyes wide open.

Sold to Private Collection

Whiskers have souls too!

2010-06-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Commissioned for Olivia
Sold to Private Collection

All for you

2010-06-18T10:25:00.000-07:00

The Taj Mahal, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. She was his third wife and his true love. She gave him 14 children but died after giving birth to the 14th. The gardens are filled with sweet roses and blossoming fruit trees. Imagine how deep their love ran.

Kiss the Moon

2010-06-18T10:24:00.000-07:00

Commissioned for Miranda
Sold to Private Collection

Shelter

2010-06-18T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sold to Private Collection

Creating Popsy's

2010-06-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

My name is Auralea Krieger and I am a freelance Graphic Designer/Jewelry Maker.
This new expression for me through paper came to me after my father had passed away. I had already illustrated four of the little girls you see in the art a year or so before and I also love beautifully designed papers and patterns, but have never been into scrapbooking. After having a vision of my first piece, I found a container of buttons my dad had been saving, I added it to the piece then I just started creating one after another. My dad was always a snappy dresser and was meticulous about taking care of his suites and clothes. He always wore a hat and tie even up to age 90! The first piece, "My Dads Button", was a simple way of expressing the importance of spending time with your loved ones while you can. After this one, the others started to flow out of me. Memories from my past, important shifts in my life, memories of my father while he was sick that hurt too much to think about but was able to transform into a beautiful image. I also wanted to show hope, nature's beauty, validation and most importantly, love.

I realize these come off a bit childlike. My work it usually not like this at all. But I think there was a connection going on with the "inner child", so to speak, to deal with healing and growing up with out my dad in my life anymore. We all have to handle grief at some point, and I think staying in tune with your playful child side helps a lot.

I have gotten such a great reaction from people that see them. I think we all go through the same hurts, trials and heart aches in life. The trick, I think, is instead of those hardships weighing you down they need to be shifted to make you love harder, feel stronger and laugh louder. I have these at art festivals and they seemed to open up viewers hearts and make them smile. One piece can mean so many different things to each person. It is such a great feeling as an artist to see my art attracting people with big hearts and even though they may have been wounded they are still willing to love.

Venetian Masquerade

2010-04-20T07:32:00.001-07:00

Sold to Private Collection

Create and Inspire

2010-04-07T14:23:00.001-07:00

Sold to Private Collection

What if...

2010-03-03T12:34:00.001-08:00

8" x 10"

What if is an inspiration of all the unanswered questions I have about the human spirit and this magical world we live in.

Media consists of hand-cut paper, charms, buttons (all were from my fathers button collection) and beads, stickers, silk flowers, flower punches used for some flowers, markers, colored pencil and ribbons. All characters, people and animals, are my own original design and are cut paper built up by gluing each layer on top of the next and adhering them with a small piece of sticky foam to create a 3-D effect.

Sold to Private Collection

The Path I Chose

2010-03-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

I had a vivid vision while day dreaming at a pivotal moment in my life. In it there was a road that was filled with mud and pot holes and dead trees along winding curves, which is the road I was headed on then I looked to my left and there was a path with lush trees, some in fall colors and some bright green this road turned to mist in the distance but I felt that what lied beyond the mist was worth the risk and full of promise. I knew I had to take that path. I changed the direction of my life that day and have never regretted it. I've also never had such a strong vision since then.

Sold to Private Collection

Shelly’s Little Owl

2010-03-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

I found a piece of paper my father left behind that read; Nec Scire Fas Est Omnia - translation- (It is not permitted to know all things). I scanned it in and added it to this piece at the last minute. This art was inspired by my friend Michelle who is a writer and I look to her sometimes for facts and knowledge. I like that the quote contradicts the quest for knowledge. Sometimes it’s the mysteries in life that make it fun.

Sold to Private Collection

Peek-a-boo

2010-03-03T12:29:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

I sometimes feel like even though you may be confused or lonely that there is always someone there if you look around. Weather it’s on this earth or a spirit from your past.

Sold to Private Collection

My Dad's Button

2010-03-03T12:18:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

My Dad’s Button
I lost my father in 2008 and when making this first Popsy piece I found a container of all his buttons. At first the perfect accent and then the piece became about him and his button.

Sold to Private Collection

Miss Molly’s House

2010-03-03T12:12:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

When my father moved from my home to assisted living he had his own apartment, then he spent time in and out of rehabilitation hospitals and he said to me he wanted to go home. I asked if he meant my home or his apartment and he said “Wherever home is”. My heart broke and I wish I could of taken him back with me to where his home always was but I just couldn’t take care of him on the level he needed.
Sold to Private Collection

Miss Lizzy’s Garden

2010-03-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

7" x 5"

This was inspired by my mother's English Spaniel named Molly who chases shadows in the garden as if they were her best friend. Her tail wags and she won’t stop until you call her. I named her invisible best friend (The shadows) Elizabeth. So now when she is spending all afternoon chasing shadows she is playing with Elizabeth (Lizzy).

Sold to Private Collection

Mika

2010-03-03T12:09:00.000-08:00

7"x 5"

A Picnic at Midnight

2010-03-03T12:05:00.000-08:00

8" x 10"

Molly, Milly and Miggi share a special adventure together as sisters and best friends. No matter how scary things are they will always have each other.
Sold to Private Collection

Love Is Simple

2010-03-03T12:03:00.002-08:00

5" x 7"

This is Millie, Molly’s sister from “Molly’s House”. She believes that is so much easier to love then hate. If you get in touch with the core of who you are you will find love for all and everything.

Sold to Private Collection

Invincible

2010-03-03T12:03:00.001-08:00

Sold to Private Collection...Me!

Isle of Skye

2010-03-03T12:01:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

I visited the Isle of Skye where my ancestors are from, the Macleod Clan, and I have never felt so at piece and like I belonged.

Sold to Private Collection

Freedom

2010-03-03T11:58:00.000-08:00

8" x 10"

Fireflies

2010-03-03T11:57:00.000-08:00

5" 7"

While walking my dogs on a summer evening all the lightning bugs were just starting to come up from the ground to fly high into the sky as the night progressed. The air was sweet with the scent of flowers and earth.
Sold to Private Collection

Butterflies

2010-03-03T11:56:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

Oh the feeling you get when you fall in love! The words in the circle were written by a young girl in love for the first time.

Happily Ever After

2010-03-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

A Better Place

2010-03-03T11:54:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

I created this the day after I witnessed a deer that was struck by a car. To be sure her sweet life was not in vain I created this piece to be donated to an auction to raise money for a family in need. All those critters we have loved in our life are sure to end up in “a better place” after they leave us.

Donation for Fundraiser

Warm Heart

2010-03-03T11:41:00.000-08:00

5" x 7"

Sold to Private Collection

Dollhouse Curtains ~ Hangin' Hem Free!

2009-12-26T11:56:00.000-08:00

If you want to make curtains for your dollhouse but don't want to pull out the sewing machine or switch out the bobbin and thread here is a small idea.

Here is what you will need

fabric
shish kabob sticks
beads
miter saw and/or utility knife
tacky glue
fabric stiffener spray
needle and thread
velcro with sticky back
paint and brush (optional)
scissors
iron
ruler
chip board (or something with similar thickness) cut into 1/4" wide strips

Fabric
Step 1: Measure out your length and width. For a standard single dollhouse window I created 2 panels at 2 1/2" wide x 6" long. This size will fall just a tiny bit below the bottom molding. For longer ones measure out a longer piece but don't forget to add the 1/4" fold for the top. Cut out your panels.

Step 2: Fold down top about 1/4" then iron. Spray with 2 bursts of fabric stiffener. I would recommend doing this over the sink for less of a mess.

Step 3: Using the boards will create a more realistic look to the fold in the curtains, instead of a sharp flat fold which real curtains just don't have. Lay fabric front down and iron over top fold again. Put first piece of board along right edge. Fold fabric over and run iron across it. Put another piece of board down, fold fabric back and run iron across. continue these steps.

I made 3 pleats that come away from the rod (show in front of the curtain) for mine but you can add as many as you like depending on how wide the boards are and how wide you cut your curtain. Just be sure your last fold has the good side of the fabric showing up. Let cool. Trim off any extra.

Step 4: Take all the boards out carefully. Give the top of the curtain one gentle touch with the iron to get the top a bit flatter.

Curtain Rod
Step 1: Measure rod to hang beyond window molding just a bit. I measured mine around 3 1/2". Mark and cut shish kabob stick using a miter saw then use the knife to be sure the ends are clean and smooth.

Step 2: Paint rod if you want. Let dry then dab both ends with a blob of glue. Let that dry just so it gets tacky. Dip the side of the bead that will touch the rod in a bit of glue and press on beads on both ends. Let dry. If you don't like the tiny holes showing on the other side of the beads you can put some spackle or wood filler on the tip of your finger and work it in and touch it up with paint.
Assemble
Next you will be attaching the curtain to the rod with thread so that it has the appearance of curtain hangers behind it. Take your thread, knot the end and push the needle in from the top back of the curtain on the first fold that touches the rod, (see photo) and pull it through then go back in very close to where you came out. You don't want the stitches to be seen to much from the front. Now do this again a few times but be sure to wrap it around the rod over and over as you go then move to the next fold and do the same. Knot and cut the thread. Do this to the other panel on the other end of the rod as well.

Once your curtains are on the rod you can snip away and threads that frayed.
If they are uneven then pinch the fold at the base of the curtain base flat between your fingers and trim with scissors. You can also do this anyway just to have a clean bottom.

Lay curtain with rod sewed on upside down on table. Cut small pieces of sticky back velcro. Put soft side(loop) on the back of curtain just under the rod. Then attach the hard side (hook) to that and peel off paper but put it back on while still holding it so your finger doesn't get stuck to the sticky back. Then peel it off.

Stick to your window by gently pinching the front of the pleats over top of where the velcro is. Try to get it right where you want it on the window molding the first time (it is a bit difficult to rip off and move but not impossible). Then press and let go.

There you have it, a nice window treatment with out a sewing machine! You can also add ribbons, lace or bows to the base or top for a fancier look.
Email me if you have any questions!

Dollhouse Miniature Magazine ~ My Mediterranean Villa!

2009-12-26T08:09:00.000-08:00

Order Dollhouse Miniature Magazine Jan - Feb 2010 Issue to see my Mediterranean Villa!

Miniature Wicker Furniture!

2009-11-23T05:10:00.000-08:00

NEW WICKER FURNITURE!

The wicker furniture is made from weaved wire and is handpainted to have a realistic look and accented with complimentary pillows!

Each piece is an original and may not be created again.

click the link to see more

www.naturessoulminiatures.com/WickerFurniture

Painting Your Dollhouse

2009-11-08T06:34:00.000-08:00

Painting your Dollhouse is easy and quick! You can use paints from the craft store, they have a large selection to choose from. But remember it will look a little darker/brighter then the sample on the lid of the paint bottle. I bought a foam roller first but it ate up all my paint and was a little sloppy to work with. Then I went to the hardware store and got this roller...

This roller works great!
Tip: Use a tupperware dish for a paint tray, only squirt as much paint as the roller will pick up at a time. Once you have used up all the paint in the tray put the roller in the tray with a damp small rag or paper towel and cover with a plastic bag or plastic wrap. The damp rag will keep the air inside moist so the paint won't dry while you are waiting to put on your second coat!

Use Blue paint tape if you have to section off an area to paint.

These rollers can be rinsed out when you are done so you can use them over and over. If you hold the handle with the roller on it under the faucet just right it will spin and spin and you can move it back and forth to get the paint out.

From Mini's to Jewelry

2009-09-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Come see my creations at ebbflowjewelry.blogspot.com

Here is a sample of one of my necklaces...

NEW Twilight Pixies!

2009-04-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

I have been busy busy busy! I am proud to present my new line of pixies.

Great Books

2009-03-18T09:17:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some books that I have learned a lot from about different craft skills...

The Polymer Clay Techniques Book by Sue Heaser

Family and Friends in Polymer Clay by Maureen Carlson

Making Miniature Gardens by Freida Gray

I have been busy creating lots of new flowers for my inventory for the upcoming shows. Finally I have finished and can get back to using my spare time (so hard to come by) to start my beach house! YEAH!

NEW Garden

2009-03-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

I have a new garden for March.
The Angel garden...

You can see more photos of this garden by clicking here! Be sure to get on my emailing list if you would like to know when a new garden has been put up.

Frederick Show Reminder

2009-02-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to go to the Frederick Show on March 8th!

It will be at a NEW LOCATION:
Independent Hose Company Fire Station,
310 Baughman's Lane (Exit 14 off of 15 North Rosemont Ave.
Hours: Preview 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Cost: $10.00
General Admission: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Adults $5.00 Children under 12 $3.00
Information: Barbara Morgan, 502 Valley Street, Frederick, MD 21701 (301) 662-8025
(No pets or Strollers, Please)

Nature's Soul won't be there this show but will be back in the Fall!

Have a great time!!!

Starting a New Dollhouse

2009-02-19T16:38:00.000-08:00

Mariska said...

Hi Auralea,

Thank you soooo much for doing a blog. I just got my doll house from my mom, from when I was a child, and I am dying to refurbish it, to look beautiful. It is just a plain old house, that needs lots of TLC. It has spent ages in the garage, so it is dusty and a little damaged. I have never done anything like this, so all your tips and advise have come in really handy.

I would love to send you some before and after pics, (one day when I have finished it). Please keep posting some ideas.

Thanks
Mariska

February 19, 2009 3:49 AM

Hi Mariska,

Thanks for your feedback! Wow that sounds like an exciting project. That is how I started. My mom bought me a 3 story house when I was 16. I didn't really work on it until I was in my late 20's. I fixed it up and sold it. Then I was able to get the Tudor House Kit. So I am 40 now and still buying them! The last one...The Villa, I built from my own design, this new one was a kit.

I plan on it to be a beach cottage! Here it is in it's raw format! Ohhh the possibilities!

Definitely take photos as you work. I would love to post them. I will be posting my progress on this one as well.

Here is a link that may help for anyone wanting to install electricity. I am forgoing it this time only because there always seems to be one or 2 lights that don't work and I want more freedom in decorating this time. With electricity you have to do some planning ahead. It is worth it if it is something you want to do. You can get a good priced electricity kit at www.miniatures.com. Get on the emailing list and wait for a 25% off sale. The have them frequently. Oh and ordering the free catalog is a must!

Lost and Found

2009-02-09T18:14:00.000-08:00

So how many times have you picked something up off the ground and thought "Hmmm I wonder where that came from?" Well put it in a jar and one day you will know just what to use it for. I found this strange tiny gold vessel shaped thing one day, held onto it then I needed something that looked like a shower head. Viola!! I glued it onto a soap hanger I bought!

Then 2 weeks ago I was walking in the parking lot and found a puppy dog charm! Once lost but now he is a little puppy that needs a good home! You can't tell in the photo but he has a little pink nose and belly. Let me know if anyone would like to adopt him.

There are some other items that work great for little details. A cake icing tool for a trash can.

Beads make great figurines. Here is a buda statue in the bathroom and a turtle in the living room.

This is the best time of year to find things in the garden because they are already dried out. I found these within old seed pods of some weeds years ago. I broke them up to look like pasta!
Have fun searching for unexpected treasures!

I made hats!

2009-02-09T18:06:00.000-08:00

I finally figured it out! It took a lot of trial and error but they turned out great! I needed to
make hats for my beach cottage I am working on. Then I thought I would create some to
sell at Nature's Soul. They are on page 10 of the catalog.

Floors and Walls

2009-01-13T15:59:00.000-08:00

There are so many things you can use for walls and floors that are affordable and easy to find.
Let's start with floors.There is a product call WonderFoam. It is used for kids to cut shapes and letters. It can be found in the child craft section of craft stores in 8 1/2 x 11 sheets of many colors. Above is a tile floor I created for my villa. I cut out a bunch of 1 inch by 1 inch squares and glued them down with a small space between to spread the mortar. Then you can faux paint them anyway you want and varnish for some shine. This is great for helping to keep your dollhouse light in weight.

If you want to make a stone patio or path you can spread wood filler with a spackle knife onto a 1/8th thick piece of wood (cut to your shape) then use a tooth pick to mark out the stone pattern. Let dry and sand to perfection. Faux paint it and add some darker paint in the cracks.
You can also pick out a linoleum tile at the hardware store. Score it into the size tile you want with a utility knife. Score long sections first then break those down to smaller pieces. Bend and snap off. Glue down leaving a small space for mortar or glue really close together.

Wood floor sheets can be bought in the miniature section of AC Moore or on internet miniature stores. You can stain them or paint them. If you paint them be sure to fold each scored plank and sand paper them a bit after the paint dries so when you lay it flat there is a definition of space between each plank. The paint will fill in the cracks if you don't.

To make grass you can use terrycloth and paint it for more texture or you can buy dried panels of moss and piece them together. Moss is shown on the right. You can get the Moss at craft stores.

For a gravel path I used sesame seeds. I used unseasoned ones. If your dollhouse will be in a place where mice might be looking for nibbles. I wouldn't recommend this technique, your path may be gone the next morning. : ) Spread white glue down and sprinkle seeds down. Flatten them out with something you can use like a stamp for pressing (not to hard). Go back and fill in areas after the 1st batch dries.

Carpets: Towels are great for shag carpet. Use No Fray on the edges. I have found a ribbon style called Jacquards is great for runners or stair carpet. Finish off the cut ends with matching thin trimmings.

If you have a tropical setting and want rattan or wicker for your rugs, place mats and thin coasters are great! And of course a doily for an area rug in any style house.

Walls....
You can obviously buy dollhouse wallpaper but you can also use Scrapbook paper!
I love Martha Stewart's paper! I have just come up with the idea of using ribbon for border wallpaper. We'll see how it works. The smaller the print the better.
So if you want a stucco effect, I would recommend Pre-mixed Tile adhesive and Grout. Spread it on thin with a putty knife, you have to practice with it a bit to get the right texture. Then paint when its dry.
If you want a lot of that texture in your house but don't want the house to get to be too heavy in weight I would suggest sand paper sheets. I used a medium grit, #60-#80. It is a bit of a challenge to work with but worth it. I used wood glue and spread it all around on the back of the sheets but left some places without glue so it would pop out from the wall in places to look a bit more rustic. Where the sheet seams joined I filled it in with some of the grout I mentioned earlier. You have to add grout here and there all over the wall so it's not a straight line where the sand paper sheets join. Try and make the joints minimal above the windows and doors. Then paint. It can be hard on your hands so when you burnish the sandpaper to adhere to the wall, put notebook paper on top of the sandpaper so you don't tear up your hands.

Hopefully some of this will help you create your master piece!
~Auralea

Making rustic wood shutters

2008-12-21T15:27:00.000-08:00

My Mediterranean Villa.
I designed and built the actual house from scratch!

you can download a 2.2 mb pdf of it at
www.naturessoulminiatures.com
click on "My Houses"

I thought I would share how I made the rustic wood shutters.
You can create them the way I did or paint then for your finished effect.

Step 1
Measure out the size you want your shutter to be. Standard would be full height of your window and half of the width of the window. Cut out a piece of Balsa wood. Balsa wood is easy to use because it is soft and you can cut it with an X-acto knife. I used a Pilot Hole Punch tool from my Dollhouse electricity kit and a ruler to create the three indentations. So it appears there are 4 pieces of wood side by side.

Step 2
The next step is to stain all your wood. You will need 1/4 wide planks (You can get all the wood at craft stores) as well as the shutters you have cut out. I prefer Minwax Woodsheen because it has varnish in it that makes the balsa wood hard when it dries. You can also mix stain colors to get the tone you want, as I did. Use two coats to get a rich color. Let dry.

Step 3
Cut your planks to equal the width of the shutter. Two pieces per shutter. A mini miter box makes this easier to get a straight cut. Trim any rough edges with the X-acto knife.

Step 4
Using Wood glue and a toothpick put 3 tiny dabs of glue on the planks and adhere to the shutters. As you finish one shutter put the next one beside the finished one to be sure you line up the planks evenly. I put my glue on a small piece of wax paper for easy clean up.

Step 5
Now put a small amount of Acrylic black paint on the same wax paper and use a small paintbrush that the tip comes to a point. Get enough paint on the tip to make small dots that have some rounded height to them but stay the width that a miniature nail would be. Put one dab per “vertical” plank along your horizontal plank. So in this case “four” dabs.

You will also need some tiny rings that will be used as handles. You can make your own out of wire or get some in the jewelry section of a craft store. While holding them with your tweezers, paint those black on the outside, inside and front (you won’t see the back). Let them dry on the wax paper. Take some flat headed pins and use a wire cutter to cut about 1/8th off the top.

Step 6
Use the Pilot Hole Punch tool to make a hole in the shutter where the handle will be. Use the tweezers to pick up the pin top, dab the cut end in glue and put it in the hole with the flat top facing up. Dab with black paint. Pick up a painted wire circle with the tweezers, dab one tiny back section in the glue. Hang on the pin top so the glue section is making contact with the pin top. Touch up any place on the ring and pin with black paint. Let dry standing up straight so the handle leans as a real handle would. Touch up the sides of the planks with brown glue to match the stain.

Finished!

Hopefully that all made sense if not, be sure to ask me any questions!

~Auralea

Creating a Story

2008-12-18T14:44:00.000-08:00

While I am waiting to get new photos of my Villa I thought I would share somethings that I have learned along the way. I wanted to talk about staging and creating an atmosphere in your little house. It's all personal preference of course but I find the houses I like the most have small stories all around them if you look close. Above is a story about a naughty kitten getting into a basket of yarn. Or a surfer barbecue with lots of grub.

FYI those chips are dried bell pepper seeds! Just scrape them out of the pepper as you are slicing it for dinner. Put them on a paper towel and let them dry out. Pour them into a tiny bowl and let your imagination take over!

I read a while ago that the best way to achieve a story is to really dig deep into who the residents are. What are their names/careers/hobbies, what time of day is it? Capture a moment in time. Also I find when it's packed with things and there is tighter spaces the more I'm drawn in. This is hard for me because I like a spacious room in real size life! If you have a tight budget and make a lot of the items yourself be sure to spend a little on a few important fancy pieces this will make the room feel like you spent more then you actually did.

I also highly recommend aging things a bit. I know new things are so nice to look at but just by adding a little wear and tare to the center of each step of the stairs or ash build up around the fire place. Things that make a home lived in. Well that's all I have time for right now. ; )

~Auralea

My English Tudor

2008-12-17T12:31:00.001-08:00

This is my English Tudor Dollhouse. I am currently building a Mediterranean Villa. Which I will be posting in the next week.
I want to use this blog to share projects, ideas, and other artists site that inspire me. More coming soon. I am still learning how this blogging thing works! You can download a pdf brochure that shows more of this house at www.naturessoulminiatures.com
under "My Houses".

~Auralea