"My Design Life" on Mode

Mode spent 5 hours at my house filming my collection and interviewing me for their web series “My Design Life”. It’s a cool series of eclectic artists and interesting projects; the Samurai Hairstylist is pretty wild.

I was so nervous in front of the camera at first but they did a great job editing it. I'll post pictures and more details about the rooms that were edited out.

Here are all of their "My Design Life" videos (now under Glam.com):
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Mode+My+Design+Life+Glam.com

Ornament Challenge!

Don't put those ornaments away yet. Why not see if you can fit one into a miniature scene? I bought the blue spiky starburst ornament on CB2 last year and jerry rigged it into a hanging light with the metal handle from a Chinese food take out box.

I got the ornament pendant light idea from Emily's blog, Go Haus Go, from her entry to the defunct I'm a Giant challenge.

Below are some more pics from the room I set up (I swapped the kitchen and living rooms). Kitchen, island, chairs, bar stools, credenza, painting are PRD Miniatures. The table, modern vase, bookshelves are mine, Modern Minis. All the knick knacks are miniature show finds and from dollhouse shops.


If you are up for the ornament challenge, email me a picture of your scene or send a link to modernminifan (@) gmail.com.

Have fun, Happy Holidays and all the best to you in 2015!!

20% off sale at minimodernistas.com ends Dec 3

Here are some of minimodernistas's new 1:12 scale items that are on sale for 20% off until December 3.

I love the new Open Platform Bed; you can see right through it! I think the design is so cool. The new Zebra Dresser and Night Table coordinate well with both dark and light woods, and pretty much any color for that matter. The rug, linens, pillows and chair are also minimodernistas, but are not part of the current sale.

You can check out all of Doris's sale items here minimodernistas.com/dollhouse/index.php?route=product/special

Real Man's Cave

If I were a man, this would be my cave.

Happy Father's Day to all the baby daddies out there.

Deets: Entertainment unit, console table, bolero bench, tribal cubes, picture frames, buddha head art are PRD Miniatures. Sofa by MIAIM Miniatures. Pillows and plant from minimodernistas. Stag and rhino head are by Dotsan. Coffee table is Peter Tucker. Mirror and rug by Pepper. Large planter and tray by me, Modern Mini Houses. Accessories are BuckyCubes lilu miniatures, Red Dragon Pottery, William Maranville, Gilbert Mena, RJT Miniatures, CW Lubin, and craft store beads.

What's new in the Antrim?

I finally found some time to share some of the new pieces I've added to my collection. I backed the kickstarter Modern MC tweeted Tiny Out Loud : A bigger than life miniature film and received this beautiful oil painting on the right side wall. I can't read the artist's signature, so I have to follow up with them to find out who painted it. The Paris wall art is a magnet from a set from Typo, a giveaway from The Shopping Sherpa. And of course, I took advantage of the PRD Miniatures summer sale and got some fab addtions to the house. Click on any image to enlarge.

NEW PRD Miniatures: ottoman and matching pillows, spatial side table, framed abstract art poster, bolero bench, emerson console table (matches the kitchen). The uno sofas, cole entertainment console, and custom fireplace are also PRD, along with some books, accessories, rug and metallic tribal cubes. Can you tell I love Paris?

The Repeat Bookshelves are by me and for sale at my shop here along witht the blue, purble and white vases and planter in the corner are available in a variety of colors here and the white tray on the ottoman here. Stag Head is Dotsan. Accessories: minimodernas, pouff by Pepper, orchid by fortunate island minis, CB2, Tap Plastics, local DH show, ebay finds. Coming next is some new minimodernistas!

It's on! 20% Off Sale until Sept 20

A few times a year Shapeways (the company that builds my miniatures) has sales on select materials. Right now my favorite material is on sale, "White Strong & Flexible Polished".

Shop now and take 20% Off all of my products when you select the "White Strong & Flexible Polished" Material! I added some new products that come in a variety of colors and materials, but only the white polished material is 20% off during this sale.

Use code odj9a at checkout. The coupon is valid once per customer. Sale ends September 20th at midnight PDT. Start shopping today »

Here is a room setting with some of my new pieces. See all of modern furntiure and decor at my shop: www.shapeways.com/shops/ModernMiniHouses

(other items: minimodernistas sofa/pillows, PRD Miniatures, Peter Tucker, The Shopping Sherpa, Susan, Dotsan, Tiny Tim light, Kaleidoscope House accessories, dollhouse show finds)

Loss for words

Here is my late-but-better-than-never entry for Studioseven's (Mini*Aesthetics) February Design Challenge. Challenge details: design a scene around some holiday or observance in February (Valentine's Day, Wear Red for Women, Chinese New Year). I opted for VDay - boycotting store bought cards but unable to find the right words.

Deets: pencils are toothpicks made from Maria's Minis Pencil Tutorial.
PRD Miniatures: linea desk, tall bookshelf, and repurposed Reac chair. Pharmacy floor lamp is minimodernistas. Storage boxes, binders, books are minismodernas. Macbook and iPhone by Lilu. Magazine butler, catchall desk tray, trinket tray, pencil cup holder and paper tray are made by me and will be for sale soon here: shapeways.com/shops/ModernMiniHouses. Other accessories are from Studioseven, mini2b, miniatures show buys and Kaiser Craft.

Makeshift Lighting Rig

Using the lighting rig from my lightbox tutorial, I added some 36" plain-end PVC pipes to the top and maneuvered it around my house. The first picture is before the lighting set up, next the lights and voila, much better pictures. I still have a lot to learn (lights are too close, need to better adjust filters, etc.), but I will post a real tutorial with lighting tips from my photographer brother later. I threw this together so I could share these pics quickly and get to the bigger news of an upcoming Giveaway!

Now it looks like natural light is shining through the window onto the ultra modern xmas tree (Doris gave me the tree, I keep forgetting to ask where she got it, isn't it awesome?).

Click on the photos to see a close up of the Stag Head. Yes, it is amazing and you can get it here. I came across this life size version that is no longer available, but this 6"/150mm tall version is here and is a great size for an ornament. I contacted the designer Dotsan and he eagerly agreed to make a 1:12 scale version for us enthusiasts. It took a few revisions to get the smaller scale version to be printable through Shapeways, but now it is available in black and white for under $14. Check out the is 3"/75mm tall version here. (There's a cool video of the larger scale one that I wish was available, but was too difficult for the company to make, so my mini version will have to suffice.)

Deets: fireplace, sofa, painting, metallic cubes, books, are PRD Miniatures. Rug, ribbon lamp, tree, are minimodernistas. Bookcase and coffee table are Peter Tucker. Green chairs are Reac. Accessories are from CW Lubin, Pepper, Modern MC, Neen, mini2b, CB2 ornament, dollhouse show purchases and made by me.

Happy Holidays!

Ode to toilette

J'adore this Parisian bathroom. I've had the dual vanity from Paris for far too long, but no time to properly display it until now. The wallpaper is to die for, very cool Parisian print, click here on Paris' site to check out the detail pictures of the vanity. I've always wanted a black and white bathroom and I truly wish I had a bathroom like this to escape to.

Finding time for miniatures (swaps/emails/blogs, etc.) has been difficult. How do you all do it??? I wish I could carve out more time to keep up.

My oldest just started kindergarten, so what little spare time I thought I had between taking care of the kids all day and working nights, has gotten sucked into volunteering, PTA meetings and fundraising. Gotta love California public schools... parent participation or bust. I'm really hoping some of the propositions on the ballot will pass so we'll have much needed funding for our schools.

Deets:
Dual vanity with black Parisian wallpaper by PRD Miniatures, as well as framed wall art, silver mirror and toilet.
Bathtub from Minismodernas. Wood cut outs by KaiserCraft (idea from Modern MC) but I still need to paint them. Planter box by minimodernistas. Accessories: book and overhead light from Neen, ELF Miniatures, Minismodernas, rug from MoMA Modern Play House, Lil Bratz, AG Minis, Re-ment, local dollhouse shop and ebay finds.

New minimodernistas sectional

I am loving my new Long&Low Sectional from minimodernistas. I need better lighting to capture the great color of this sofa; the chartreuse cotton suede is really spectacular. The sofa was the inspiration for this room. Doris's sofas are my favorites, the sectionals are $65 and all her other sofas are only $40! I love the Knoll Presto fabrics she uses and the color selection is tops too. I can' get enough of these. You can see all of her Tootsie Roll, V-leg day bed, love seats, sofas and sectionals here at minimodernistas.com.


Ribbon lamp, ball clock, pillows, rug, slant shelves, green bookcase, green ottoman are minimodernistas. OOAK fireplace (with fire, video here), framed art, decorative accessories are PRD Miniatures. OOAK coffee table is Peter Tucker. Le Corbusier armchairs and Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chaise are Reac Japan. Accessories: Ferenc Albert, AG Minis, Rement, Petite Princess, HBS Miniatures, Kaleidoscope House Accessories, gifts, local DH shop, ebay finds.