Pinch of Pepper + dash of TinyFixation = Ultimate Dream Bedroom

Seriously pinch me, I must be dreaming. Hands down the best part of this ride is the friends I've made along the way. You all are the kindest lot I've ever met. My heart still skips a beat seeing all of this talent in one room. I've admired Pepper/Carol/pinchofpepper's work (mitchymoominiatures) and great tutorials for years now. When she was game for a swap I almost lost it. I mentioned I loved this table she made shown on flickr and that one thing there aren't enough of are modern wardrobes. What she sent was a package full of items I couldn't have dreamed up any better, all carefully crafted and meticulously packaged.

All of the dresser drawers slide open and fit perfectly snug.
The plastic/laminent fronts are all my favoite colors and I love the patterns. The design on the standing wardrobe couldn't be more me. The asymmetric circles are just the coolest. I finally have a closet!

And in this corner... On top of all of the other amazing goodies Meagan (TinyFixation) made and gave me, she was reading through my old posts and decided to make me these chairs I coveted as a surprise. I was shocked. Back in 2007, I bought these West Elm ornament chairs that would have been a perfect match to my dream headboard. Alas, I didn't check the size and they ended up being closer to 1:6 in scale. Over the years I've kept my eyes out for something similar, but had given up, thinking it wasn't meant to be. Meagan knocked me out with these two gorgeous chairs in 1:12 scale and I'm still seeing stars. The chairs look so delicate, but the construction is reinforced invisibly and they are suprisingly sturdy. Meagan has some serious mini skills. Now I have to make the headboard and bed to match. For now they work well with my favorite PRD Miniatures platform bed. I think they are the perfect accent to this Peppered room.

Pepper also made this incredible bookshelf that works vertically as well as horizontally. I love the light wood and how she balanced the boxes. The desk is even dreamier than I imagined. These pictures aren't the greatest, so I'll take more detailed pics and post later, but I love the floral print she created on the surface with stickers and spay paint (check out her post here). Now the lamp, oooohh the lamp. I love floor lamps. Working floor lamps, ooo la la, dream come true. I adore the detailing in this lamp and Pepper even sent batteries to light it up. Her lamps truly are art.

Here's a shot of the whole room, as I always like to see the big picture. And here is a detailed shot of the Mimobe linens from PRD Miniatures.

Deets: Dresser, wardrobe, poufs, working floor lamp, desk and shelf by Peppper. West Elm chairs by Meagan. Painting, platform bed, mattress, pillows, linens, duvet and throw by PRD Miniatures. Shell art and silver pharmacy desk lamp by minimodernistas. Tripod lamp and blue chair by Paul MacAlister. Luggage and white end tables by HBS Miniatures. Accessories by PRD Miniatures, ModPodMiniatures, Lilushop, CW Lubin Wood Turning, CB2, Tap Plastics, Kaleidoscope House Accessories, Re-ment, hobby shop and miniature show finds.

Margaret Loves a Wallpaper Challenge

Margaret Loves threw down a challenge to create a scene inspired by a random (or not your style) scrapbook paper. Here goes. My kids picked out these papers, and I tried to find a way to bring both together. I split the room into thirds; hers, his and shared in the middle. I was able to add a lot of gifts and items I haven't quite found a home for yet.
Deets: Pile of pillows, bunk bed and linens - minimodernistas. Ms. Pac Man arcade game - Retro Heart. Bicycle is swap gift from TinyFixation. Bubble Chair gift from ModPodMiniatures. Purple and green poufs are swap from Pepper. Shelves, dresser, chair - ebay seller Mini dream world. Books - ELF Miniatures. Clock - LiluShop. Lamps, side table, desk, stool, waste basket, plates - AG Minis, Lil' Bratz, Re-Ment and Might World. Mini video DS and PSP video games - Miss Flynn. Lego car on desk built by my 5 yr old. 1, 2, 3 art are bookmarks from CB2 with ends cut off, put in magnetic frame from CB2 by me. Red dog card holder from CB2 (copied from Modern MC), red robot is key cover from CB2 as well. Cardboard playhouse made by me from TinyFixation swap supplies. Can't remember the brand name of the animals and eraser heads, I picked them up from a local mom and pop shop before it went out business :( Mini table and chairs in playhouse are Paul MacAlister (I finally found a use for!)


After seeing StudioSeven's post, I remembered I had the same Reac set, so I took some new pictures with the elephants. And added AG Minis diner benches (gift from Modern MC) and table base from IKEA table to make another seating section/play area. I'll probably remember something else I have buried for a kids room, so more photos might surface.

Jazzi has been been keeping tabs and posting great wrap ups on the wallpaper challenge and the magazine challenge. If you haven't noticed by now, I'm a total hoarder. I hoard as many challenge photos as I can find, as I like to have your blogs at my fingertips to easily spy on be inspired by. :P But seriously, I built a page to showcase the mini challenges. If you'd like to join one, take a look and join the fun. modernminihouses.blogspot.com/p/mini-challenges.html
Please send me entries I've missed. modernminifan (at) gmail.com

Christmas in April

A few months ago I threatened to steal TinyFixation's ModFire (made from Pepper's plans) and I had no idea what I was in for. Meagan offered to make me one, and didn't stop there. She surprised me with these chairs from an old post of a dream lost. Modern MC blogged about these West Elm ornaments, but after buying several at full price, they were sadly not 1:12. Megan completely blew my mind with these gorgeous 1:12 scale versions of the West Elm chairs I never thought I'd own.


The party didn't stop there. Meagan was in the process of cleaning house and she sent me a TON of extras she didn't need. 3 boxes filled with toolbox, tools, leather, metal, fabric, foam, sanding blocks, and so many hilarious yellow sticky notes, I peed my pants a few times. How does a girl get this lucky!?!?


The promised ModFire came safely packaged in this cute box easily used to create a scene. But again the surprises were the cord wood, cozy throw and ModFire FIRE! Check out these flames! So cool!!

Meagan also made these really cute little hangers. I'm impressed at the level of detail in everything. I am really going to have to step up my game up to make her something half as cool and impressive. Game on.

Swap from TinyFixation by Me again without the i.

Personal non-dollhouse related post

I saw the story below on facebook today and it really hit home hard. Before I had kids, I ran a dance venue and started teaching private dance lessons to one of our students, Chod, a 68 year old ballroom dancer who wanted to learn Lindy Hop. Over the years I became his computer assistant and helped him with everything from paying bills online to setting up dictation software to write a book. I also assisted his neighbor Carolyn as well, who earlier this year lost to brain melanoma at 71. Chod is now 74, and after 3 rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant from the Mayo Clinic, his bone cancer is getting the better of him. I'm now helping him publish his book before he passes. Why am I telling you all of this? With all of the madness, anger and acts of violence in this world, every day we have the opportunity to make a difference. It may seem small and insignificant but you never know how far a little bit of kindness can go.

A NYC Taxi driver wrote:

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her... 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.'

'Oh, you're such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'

'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly..

'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice... 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

'How much do I owe you?' She asked, reaching into her purse.

'Nothing,' I said

'You have to make a living,' she answered.

'There are other passengers,' I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light... Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

AFTER: Rooftop Modified

Long story short. Modern MC asked for suggestions on how to build a 1:12 version of the ModFire. Pepper built her this and made us this fabulous tutorial. I'm still intimidated by metal (and I'm lazy) so after threatening to steal the one tinyfixation built, Meagan offered to make me one, and ensued the beginning of a beautiful friendship (more on that this weekend). Meagan didn't just make me one, she lit it on fire, literally. I'm still in shock at how life like the "flame" really looks.

So out with the old and in with the new, it was renovation time. I installed a new deck and poured some concrete for the fire pit area. A modfire this nice needs a big stinkin' pool. Now this rooftop is ready to party. Bring your suits, drinks are on me!

Deets: Modfire, amazing fire element and cord wood from tinyfixation. ornaments, igloo chairs and reed chairs are from cb2.com. Pillows on white igloo chairs are made by me from fabric sold on Spoonflower by ollipoppies. Pillows on grey reed chairs are minimodernistas. Ribb chaise loungers PRD Miniatures, along with large verde plant. Chrome side tables by lounge chairs, IKEA drawer pulls. Brown block end tables by HBS/miniatures.com. iPad by lilushop on etsy. "Concrete" under modfire are laminent tile samples from Amtico International. Magazines are X10NY. Accessories are Mighty World and Re-Ment. Topiaries are gift from mini2b, can be purchased in sets as photo/place card holders online.

BEFORE - Rooftop

I bought a few other ornaments when CB2 was selling the igloo and reed chairs. I know several of you also bought the tear drop ornament reminiscent of the modfire, but I thought the blue and green wire ornaments could be cool pieces of art.

Deets: ornaments and reed chairs are from cb2.com. Pillows are minimodernistas. Ribb chaise loungers PRD Miniatures. Side tables, IKEA drawer pulls. Accessories are Mighty World. Topiaries are gift from mini2b, can be purchased in sets as photo/place card holders online.