New peoples!!

I am still busy beavering away trying to get as much as possible done for next weekend!! I decided I needed a few more characters for the village. I had sold some stuff on Ebay and decided to reinvest it in dollies! Its getting harder to think od people I don't already have!!

So these are the new arrivals!

First up Sarah the new receptionist in the doctors surgery.

Next Martin the milkman. You will prob notice his bottles say Milch! Its because its a Reutter set but its so nice I decided to use it anyway!

There's also a new pirate at the fancy dress party. His nickname is Shakespeare after a character in my favourite movie Stardust. He loves to dress up and the pirate frills are def his cup of tea!

I couldn't resist another member for the WI. I just loved her slippers and stockings and she looks just like my Nan!

And last but not least is Stu. He's a surfer dude who would rather be on the beach than working! He earns enough to get him by renting out scooters to holiday makers and will be back on the beach as soon as it hits 6pm!

Today I was also thinking what should be my next job! I was looking at my clown and although I love him he didn't really fit into the village. I had an idea to make the empty blue front into a party come fancy dress shop! That meant the clown could then be outside trying to drum up business. I was looking on Ebay for ideas for the window but didn't really want to spend any money so raided my Bratz stuff! I found a dress that could pass for a sexy pirate and a little babygro that would do as a bunny outfit. The ears aren't exactly how I hoped as the pipe cleaner was a little thick but I had run out of white ones! There are also some wings a tutu and an Indiana Jones hat along with some balloons. Enough to get any party started. I knew exactly what I wanted for the back drop some silver fringing. I found an old happy Birthday banner that was plain holographic silver on the back and cut it into strips and it was perfect! really pleased with it and that's another business added to the list in Quayside!!!

Here is a better pic of the fronts. I do love them they add so much interest to the Upper Quayside shelf! The best thing about them is they don't need access so I can put loads of things outside and I don't have to keep moving everything!!! I almost put them up for sale at one point so I could get some more little shops instead, but really glad I didn't as the village wouldn't be the same without them!!!

A little Christmas in August!!

I know you will all groan and think not Christmas already but I do have a reason for doing this project so early!!! Next Sunday I have 15 ladies coming from a local dolls house club to see my houses so I wanted them to all be ready! I had my little Christmas shop but have been wanting to do a whole house so I could use all my Christmassy things in one place. I first had to decide on the house and after many hours of trawling Ebay and changing my mind on what I wanted I decided to go with one I already had!! When the new cottage arrived last week I didn't actually have a space for it so I decided if I used one of my existing houses it would save me buying one and make a space. It came down to between this one and Seaview. I decided to go with this as firstly it will be upstairs most of the year and I didn't want to not be able to see my sea view cottage all year round as its one of my favourites. I also thought this one with its lovely bay windows had a bit of a Victorian feel to it and would suit the Christmas theme a bit better.

First thing I had to do was repaint it as although the lilac was very pretty it wasn't very Christmassy! I chose a nice fir green paint from B and Q and with much trepidation I started! It turned out a bit darker than it looked in the jar but I do think the green suits it. The darker colour shows of its features more I think.

So here it is before its makeover................

And here it is after!!!

 

 

 

The inside needs lots more done I literally just put in everything I already had!

No idea I had so many little things to fill that big shelving unit!

And all my lovely cakes from Small Portions!

Still lots to do in here! I need a coffee table, the sink needs dressed and I need to make a fireplace to surround the aga or there's no where to hang the stockings! I also need to make some paper chains but I remember how long it took me to make though in my old house!!!

The tree is lit up but its hard to see with the flash!

The bedroom is very bare with just a few spare bits I had for now but it needs a new suite! I think I have found the one I like but not 100% yet!! I want a nice bed to show of Debs gorgeous patchwork!

I also had a little play with my Grinch! Bethany got him for me for Xmas last year but I thought he needed a longer coat. I had some nice fleecy red fabric and decided to have a go!

Here he is before!.............

And here he is after in his lovely new hat and coat!

I have to say I am super chuffed at how it turned out as I haven't made any clothes before so I was really pleased with it!

This house has a back entrance perfect for a sneaky Grinch to steal the presents!

The village gets new houses!

Gosh I have so much to tell you I don't know where to start lol! Its been such a lovely summer and its been so nice having family around and although I have still had time to play with the village there wasn't so much time to tell you all about it so this is a bit of a catch up and hoping there's nothing I miss!!

First up is a new addition! Ocean View Cottage! Not a purchase though it has a bit of a story attached! As you know I bought Lobster from my friend Deb and to make room for it I had to sadly sell one of my other houses. I decided to sell the pink shop (formerly Rose Cottage) not because I didn't like it, it was just the only one that didn't really have a proper identity in the village. I had changed it so many times nothing ever seemed quite right for it!

I had it on Ebay and when another good friend Carol said she quite fancied it. She had a lovely little cottage called Sea Shanty and suggested we swapped. We just paid the postage at our own end to send them and we each got a new house! I must admit I dithered for about an hour and then thought why not! The only thing holding me back was I was supposed to be selling it to pay for Lobster....oh well!!  As it happens I am soooooo glad I did go for it. It arrived safely on Tuesday and it is the cutest little cottage ever...in fact wondering how I missed it first time round lol

It has a brick effect finish and a lovely stable door which I have always hankered after! It has 3 floors which is a real bonus and I love the little staircase! I am so chuffed to bits with it and I am really grateful to Carol suggesting it in the first place!

Its a tiny bit shallower than my other houses, its about the same depth as Porthole. That actually works really well as it sits in the corner and means the doors opens up much better than a bigger one would!

Its a fantastic addition to the village it really is I just love it to bits!!

Now I had to decide what was going in it! This actually really stressed me out for a couple of days cos I had that and lobster and couldn't decide what to have where!! In the end I went with the nursery shop on the first floor. This looks much nicer in a smaller space than in Lobster or the new Rose where I tried it in both!

Still loving my little knitted dolly from Ebay!

This pram was also Ebay and is one of my favourite minis!

I love that the new house has a little attic room! In here I decided to go with the day care/crèche

There's no school in the village the nearest one is in the big town 5 miles away, so there's a little day care centre that runs an after school club and holiday cover.

A cute teddy bed with one of Debs gorgeous patchworks for anyone who needs a nap! It did have a lamp when it arrived but I have swapped it for a wall light as it was getting in my way!

I still have  a whole floor to fill downstairs so been thinking up some ideas. I may go with a home wares type shop something like CK with pretty co-ordinated items. That way I can make a feature of the fireplace. It has a lovely window at the back which I need to put a light behind and the stairs are so cute!

Next is Lobster which has also arrived safely! I have to say opening the box I was terrified lol its a big house and could so easily have got wrecked on its journey! Luckily it was a bit of repair to the chimney and that was all....big phew all round!

Again really glad I went with my gut that was telling me (screaming at me) I had to have it! Its a lovely big property and I really like how it adds a different aspect to the street.

It has a lovely outside space for which I am just waiting on a table and chair. I also have the scooters for hire here and have just asked Detta to make me a surfer dude who will be in charge of the hires! They are a little bit small for 1/12 scale but they look ok. I had to make a quick bike rack as they are friction powered and kept driving off!

I moved Bestys tea room into the bottom but it wasn't quite big enough for the pine tables and chairs and the kitchen units! I found the oven in Luigis which was nice and small and a cheap sink from ebay although is has cute baskets and looks really good! I also have some white wire tables and chairs coming as they are much smaller!

 

Babs has moved into the two upper floors. This took me an age to decide as I really wanted the doctors in here! But Babs needs quite a big space and it just fitted better.

Theres clothes on the first floor..........

...and shoes, bags and accessories in the attic!

Its really is a lovely big building and so glad its now part of Quayside!

I had a little move around and moved the pub up to fit the new cottage in.

It works better as I have now put the tables on the plaza rather that out the front as I had to keep moving them which drove me mad! I did buy the awning to go at the side of Lobster but it was too wide so used it here so as not to waste it! At least Ernie won't get wet when it rains.

 

Last but not least was the doctors surgery that needed a home! I thought that might work in Rose cottage so I gave it a try!

It actually fitted perfectly and meant the reception and surgery could be separate which is much better for the patients than the partition wall!

Nurse Mags has had a promotion and is now out from behind the deck and assisting in the surgery!

This means a new job opportunity has arisen and a new receptionist has been ordered! This is a fun cottage there loads more details I can add to it so I will have to get my creative cap on! I have also bought some matching paint so I can add a couple of false doors made from lolly sticks! Its such a cute cottage I am so glad it now has a purpose!

Still not filled the new pink shop!

I got a nice unit from the DH shop and feel it does sort of scream jewellery displays at me so that might be an idea!

Of course as a new house went in that meant one had to come out!! This was an incredibly hard decision!! I was not prepared to sell anymore I couldn't part with them so I had to think of another use. I have my little Christmas shop but I really wanted to make a whole house as I seem to have so much stuff! I had been scouring Ebay and then thought about using one I had so I didn't have to part with it!

I had to decide which house would best suit the purpose. After lots of too-ing and fro-ing I decided that Butterfly cottage was the one that had the most Victorian style and would lend itself to a Christmas theme. I have some lovely fir green paint to redo the windows and doors I just have to have the nerve to start it! I hate changing them I am always terrified I will spoil them!

Everything inside will be red and green and it will be Christmas overload lol!

Still with me??? I'm not done yet!!

I ordered some toilets from china a few weeks ago and they finally arrived today! Everyone kept telling me they were too posh lol but I didn't listen and got them anyway! I am really pleased and love my posh bogs!!

 
Edna doesn't look quite so thrilled! I am!!! this is one of the best ideas I ever had for the village and Julie made an amazing job of them I just smile every time I see them!!

Almost done!! Just had to take this picture as its just a cute scene! I had a couple of hippy dolls and thought they would look sweet sitting on the old beach! Of course he needed a guitar and prob should have been a wooden one but they are always a bit chunky and not very real looking. I got this one on Ebay for £1.50 and its so cute!!! I will eventually add a few more details, maybe a little fire or bbq and a picnic but for now they are just enjoying the sun and the peace!

 

That's it!!! Big thanks if you stayed with me I know there was a lot to read! I promise to update a bit more often now the summer is coming to an end! :-)

There was a reason I have been so busy in the village over the summer! I was trying to fill it as much as possible and make it the best I could for the DHMS mag lady coming in Sept. Sadly she cancelled this week and have to say I was really disappointed :-( I have spent so much time and money getting it ready and could prob have spread it out much more had I not had that deadline in my mind. Never mind it may happen another time but it didn't stop me feeling really deflated for a day or too! Onwards and upwards though and don't regret for a second having all the lovely new addition's!