Sophia's Dollhouse Project

Macarons for Sophia, original watercolor,9" x 11"

Sometimes I get funny requests from PB readers, like a Mumbai CEO wants to order macarons for his bosses' private jet. I get a lot of orders for real macarons. If only I could bake and if only I had a patisserie like Sophia's dollhouse project.

voila Sophia's dollhouse project. 
"I am very pleased with the way it turned out and would be delighted for you to do a post. 

 I am making a very, very big dollhouse and was searching for French minis for it one day on the web. I found the facade on the website of La Boite a Joujoux, the miniature shop in Passage Jouffroy.

The picture on the back wall is the ceiling that I manipulated on the computer and then glazed with stained glass medium to add the brush strokes. The chef doll is by Marcia Blackstrom.

...for quite a long time and enfin.
 At 20€ I decided it was just too tiny to go with other pastries and returned it the next day with no regrets. I figured out how to make my own boxes happily.
Et voila!

 BIG MERCI Sophia for sharing your dollhouse dreams with us. 

Simply adorable!

Musee de la Poupee Paris

 My interest in dollhouse miniatures led me to search out French versions at the Paris Musee de la Poupee.

Many treasures await you down this cul de sac at Impasse Berthaud, 75003 near rue Rambuteau.

Plenty of dolls, but more a trip in a time machine back to 19th century Paris.

So evocative of the old Paris we read and dream about.

 Plenty of Parisien dogs in almost every tableau.

Such serious faces on these porcelaine dolls.

An ornate china teaset caught my eye and heart.

Are these the Barbies and Blythes of the 1890's?

More 40's or 50's dollies. Tableaux are arranged chronologically according to materials used, their functions and educational role.

Like browsing through an old scrapbook full of photos.

All from the private antique doll collection of father/son Guido and Samy Odin as well as the donations. The museum opened in June 1994, but it feels much older.

A well kept secret but one that must be shared.

Don't miss it next visit!

L'Ile Flottante

Did you have a dolls house when you were a kid?

I bought this silver tea tray on the Ile Saint-Louis at l’Ile Flottante.

And this doll's tea set I bought at the puce.

 Dollhouse memories came flooding back.

A dollhouse can be a refuge - an escape from reality.

If you happen to have an older, bigger sister, who isn't thrilled you showed up, then your dollhouse is a sanctuary.

Like Alice, you choose the "drink me" bottle.
You become very small. You hide inside your dollhouse.

Inside you can dream up anything you want. Your imagination takes off. Out of adversity comes...creativity.

This tiny shop, L'Ile Flotantte on the Ile Saint-Louis is heaven for former and current dollhouse addicts.

If you can't run over there today, take a look at their wonderous website.

Or take the Metro to the Pont Marie stop and just cross the bridge.

I still have this tiny sewing machine - the last remnant of my dollhouse. It never stitched up anything except the fabric of my dreams. Perhaps I should thank my sister ☺️

Aux Puces

Here is just a little of the bootie I acquired at the Sunday puce in Provence... And here's what I broke while browsing... I didn't take it with the rest my items. Was that a mistake?A terrific coffee moulie for the wall. Ah Ha! Bleu de Provence!!!I thought this was fun - A dealer's petit dejeuner...Lots of dollhouse petit dejeuner sets... Who could resist? I bought one. Complet tea sets for grownups too... And in so many beautiful colors.The puce went on forever down so many avenues and lanes in the park.Here Corey Amaro, expert flea market shopper searches for special goodies. 4 eyes are better than 2, and I'm used to looking for still life objects, so we each found things the other would like but not necessarily spot . There has to be penny candy at a puce! Can you find the Fraise Tagada here?

Bon Voyage...Peut-etre

This entry is about whether I make the trip over to Typepad or stay put. I started out at Typepad & made no headway for 20 of the 30 days alloted free trial. After much tearing of hair & tears, I decided to give Blogger a try. I was up & running in 2 hours! Bravo!!! But there are a few bells & whistles missing over here & perhaps way too many at Typepad... Hmmm...

So I'm showing you my "desk top" littered with chewed chocolate, Blogging For Dummies book, favorite soothing music (not working today), Lucky Cats (also not working today) and...

A 2" high (2 3/4" when opened) sewing machine formerly a resident in my dollhouse long time ago. The little blue wheel actually drives the needle up & down!? No, the peddle does not work, nor does this sew anything. But it has survived as has it's owner. So I'm trying to stitch together this blog with the bits & pieces of my life...

This 1 1/4" garbage pail is another dollhouse remnant originally bought at Woolworths 5 & 10. It does say "GARBAGE" on the lid and the peddle used to work, but I lost an important metal pin in transit somewhere...So I'm going out to clear my head of pixels.

Cya :)