Ebay obsessions and my next project (already!)

Well... after being good - I've been a bit naughty. I have been trawling ebay, and have 'won' quite a few items - mostly furniture and mostly in keeping with my Georgian house, however... I have a 'thing' for all things vintage, all things 40s/50s/60s and so on... and I have also bought quite a few items for my 'next' project - despite not even having started my FIRST one!!

My star find has to be this vintage 1950s kitchen - which will be the centrepiece of the house...

So as well as a Georgian house, I am also going to have a 'vintage' house - which will be more of a mish mash of everything I like, rather than being historically accurate at all. I also forgot to mention I have a big 'thing' for Cath Kidston, so her designs will also be a big feature of my vintage house.

Ah well.... will keep me out of mischief on these cold, dark, winter nights I suppose....

Today I came home to my Georgian House Book, Floorboards and teeny tiny milk bottles in a crate - it's going to be like christmas over the next few days when those little ebay packages come popping through the door!

The excitement is too much.....!!

My First Mini-Purchase!

Well after a day of literally driving myself crazy looking at all things miniature but trying to be restrained.... I bought some floor boards from ebay! Am going to try making my own floor, but will see how I get on & haven't ruled out buying sheets. Surprised I managed to be quite so sensible, but I am determined to concentrate on the exterior of my house, followed by the walls & flooring inside, before I go mad buying all the gubbins for inside. So, not a very flamboyant first purchase.... but a first nonetheless!

Also had a bit of a lightbulb moment, when I realised I was making life a bit difficult for myself in wanting to be as 'authentically Georgian' as possible - I'm just not sure it would be possible and while I admire the 'purists' who pull it off - I feel it would also limit me with regards to decor etc and as this is my first house, I would rather just have fun for now & fill it with fancy, potentially 'incorrect' items - simply because I like them. This also gives me scope to maybe add a black and white kitchen floor (something I've been obsessed with since childhood) and maybe a belfast sink...... decisions, decisions!

We have visited a lot of National Trust properties, one that really sticks in my mind is Cragside House - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-cragsidehousegardenandestate

Also, Culzean and the 'big house' we got married in, both manage to retain their original splendour but are also functioning buildings - that are still full of life (and a few home comforts!) even now.

So.... my first crime against the Georgian era will be a fitted, flushing bathroom suite - have my eye on a new DHE one. Off to browse!

The world of miniature awaits!

Well... I am fast approaching the big 3-0 and as I count down the last of my twenties, I have finally taken the plunge into the world of miniature. My lovely Husband has bought me a Georgian Dolls House for my Birthday - http://www.julie-anns-dolls-houses.co.uk/the-dartmouth-dolls-house--basement-39-p.asp , and so far I have been very good and while I have been doing lots of research online; I have managed to resist buying a single tiny item for my new house!

Well... That's not strictly true. I have bought a book (Making Georgian Dolls Houses by Derek Rowbottom http://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Georgian-Dolls-Houses-Rowbottom/dp/0946819289 it was less than £3 on ebay and looks like a good starting point, just to get some ideas.

I have always loved the Georgian era, and am lucky to have got married in a local Georgian style Mansion House - http://www.hillhouse.co.uk/

We also have the beautiful Culzean Castle - http://www.culzeanexperience.org/ just a short drive down the coast from us. Culzean is one of my favourite places in the whole world - we are members of the Scottish National Trust so we take advantage of getting free entry to the park and head down there very often throughout the year.

So I have two very special places as inspiration, and will document my progress in this blog!