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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Undersized Urbanite, Art Deco House Update, and Giveaway Announcement

Did you ever have a day where you simply did not want to work at your day job? I am having one of those days, and my boss is a real dragon lady (me). So, while I wait for motivation to tackle the immense amount of work on my desk, I will take a "fun" break (after this, I will have no more excuses not to work).

As you know, I am going to create an Art Deco house as my entry in the Undersized Urbanite dollhouse contest. I started kit bashing one of the HBS MiniLoft kits, but it wasn't going where I thought it should. I still may use it in conjunction with the piece I decided to use as the basis for the house. Here it is, a mid-size,1930ish radio cabinet.

It needs a lot of work.

The front and inside with speaker still in place:











Side:


After I removed the speaker,


You can see how rough the inside is:


From the inside, this is where the front door will be, there will be steps in front and a step-down entryway inside:


This is the dial, which I will incorporate as a work of art, or even as a loft "floor,"








I will use a 1:16 scale in order to have room for this to be a studio or small apartment. I have two other small, radio cabinets from the same period. I think I can add one to this cabinet and still maintain its design "bones" if the second, smaller cabinet becomes the second floor with an outside staircase...maybe. If you have ideas on how to add room to this "house," I will appreciate any and all suggestions. I always give credit for any assistance.

On another note, Cyd, Rebecca, StudioSeven, Debbie and Kyle, assisted me in my quest to determine the "identity" of my new mystery dollhouse. Thank you guys! You all will be receiving a CB2 chair and small elephant footstool in your choice of colors.

GIVEAWAY! There will be another give away on February 20, in order to celebrate the first anniversary of my blog. One of my mother's miniature canvases will be the prize. My mother is a professional artist, and I have used her paintings in several posts. Here is one, bear in mind the colors are much more vibrant in "person."


In order to be eligible for the giveaway, all you need to do is, 1. Be a follower of this blog, and 2. Leave a comment on any post that I put on the blog between today and midnight, February 20, 2013 (starting with this post). My mother will dedicate the painting to you, and the provenance of the painting will include your name.

Many famous artists, including Marcel Duchamp and Man Ray, provided original paintings for inclusion in Carrie Stettheimer's dollhouse. Here is a picture of the art in the dollhouse:


I like to think that my mother's paintings will have the longevity of those works of art.

Wishing you only good things, Neen

35 comments:

  1. what a great project this will be, will be watching with interest on what you do with it, and yes please I would love to have one of your mum's fabulous paintings, will put you on my blog, glad I was able to help a bit on your old dolls house, did you find out what it is?

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    1. Thanks for commenting Debbie! No, we are still on the hunt for its identity, but Rebecca pointed out it has been listed on the UK eBay several times, so I think it is a vintage British house. The open side, combined with the open back, reminds me of Caroline's Home dollhouses, so it could be from that era.

      Thank you for posting my give away on your blog!

      Best,
      Neen

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    2. Hi Neen -

      I researched for a while about your dollhouse, but no luck. I wish you luck with your radio rehab. It seems like quite a challenge!

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    3. Linda, that is so nice of you! Send me an email, I will extend the giveaway for one more person, you!
      Yes, it will be a challenge, but I am inspired by the design of the radio and that makes it easier to do all the hard work. Thanks for following my blog and commenting!

      Cheers, Neen

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  2. Hey Neen! This is going to be fabulous! What a great idea, this radio carcus has fantastic lines. I can't wait to see how it turns out. It reminds me a little of the steam punk/art deco build from Wildwood. http://wildwood-dollhouse.blogspot.com/ The statues in Carrie Stettheimer's dollhouse are great. I wonder where she found them? It see that artistic talent runs in the family! I would love it if you would include me in the give away and congrats on your blogoversary!I'll give you a shout out on my blog.

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    1. I love the term "radio carcus"! Thank you for your inspiring comment! I will have to check out the Wildwood blog, sounds very interesting. I am very intrigued by the Stettheimer family. They ran a social salon in NYC in the 1920s through the early 40s (I think those are the dates) and surrounded themselves with artists, writers and so on. Carrie Stettheimer created the fabulous dollhouse and people were always giving her things for it. I am sure the statutes in the house were probably Rodin or something like that, it would be interesting to try to re-create them in clay. You are definitely in the giveaway, and thank you so much for including me on your fabulous blog!
      Cheers, Neen

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  3. This project looks like a lot of fun :))) I am looking forward to seeing more. Your Mothers painting is beautiful please count me in.
    I post the link on my sidebar.
    Hugs Maria

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    1. Thanks Maria, my blog has such wonderful people following it! My mother is so thrilled that you like her painting, I am conveying all of the comments to her. My step-father, her husband, died 6 years ago, and she still very sad. I have pushed her to keep painting, and have put her paintings on the blog. This has helped her quite a bit, so thank you for such nice words, and for posting the link on your blog!

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  4. An excellent unusual idea, using the vintage 'wireless' for a miniature scene. I am immediately on the hunt for one myself.... The painting is wonderful too and I would love to be included in the giveaway xx

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    1. Thank you elbey for such a nice comment! My mother is very happy with all of the great comments, like yours, about her painting. I have been trying to convince her to have a showing of her paintings that includes miniatures scenes and her miniature paintings. She is always being asked to take part in shows, but she has been reticent about doing it. I think a miniature and big painting show will inspire her and everyone that comes to the show! I found my radio cabinets on ebay, they sell for very little if they don't work and are beaten up. It took a while, but now I have three 1930s cabinets, and two 1960s cabinets. I used one of the 1960s cabinets for a little reading nook on my blog last year, it made me want to move in with a book! I hope you find a cabinet you like. Thanks again for commenting.'

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  5. So creative, I love that you are using that radio as your dollhouse.

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    1. Thank you Christina! And thank you for holding the contest, it has ignited so much interest in the miniaturist community, you are wonderful for doing it! I have to say this is the only contest that has really inspired me, and I look forward to working on my radio-Art Deco house in all of my free time. Thanks again!

      Cheers, Neen

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  6. Hi Neen! Man Ray art in dollhouse size---I love it. Oh you have so upped the ante. This old Art Deco radio casing will be beautiful!!! I'd say more but it's already been said. Please do include me in this give-away as well. You and I both have a blogiversary in February. Congratulations.

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  7. Imagine having Man Ray give you a painting..... What a time that was. Thank you for the inspiring comment, and happy blogiversary to you as well!!

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  8. Hi Neen. Consider me a new follower. Your mother's art work is beautiful and anyone would be lucky to have such a special piece amongst their miniatures. I love the idea of converting a radio cabinet. I can't wait to see what you do with it.

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    1. Welcome 12Create, and welcome to all followers of my blog, both new and old. Thank you for such a nice compliment about my mother's artwork. I am feeling a little relieved today because I finally figured out how to expand the radio house without losing any of the design. I will be posting about it soon. This weekend, I hope to major inroads on sanding and priming the interior. Thanks again 12create!

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  9. What a terrific idea for a dollhouse. I look forward to seeing it progress. I,m blogging UUat mollymini.blogspot

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  10. Continuing on..I,d love to be included in your giveaway draw. I'm also having one for a custom made sofa to be drawn 14 Feb. hope you will join in.

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    1. Thanks Molly, you are definitely entered in the giveaway, and I am going to enter your giveaway! BTW, I loved your CubeBot entry, so clever!

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  11. The radio cabinet is so perfect for minis. It is such genius to use it! You mother's work is gorgeous!
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

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    1. Aww, thanks Caroline, I appreciate your nice words, and so does my mother!

      Cheers, Neen

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  12. Greetings! This is so good. I have never seen anything like it. Show us your progress!!!! CM

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    1. I will, as soon as I get through this week (lots of work pressure), I am pleased with where it is going and I will share!

      Cheers, Neen

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  13. Hi Neen.
    Congrats for the Anniversary!
    Your radio cabinet project is cool, Love that! Can`t wait to so see more!
    Your Mothers Art is very esthetic and sensitive and it would be an honor to own her Art.
    I`ll put the link into my blog.
    Hugs
    Kikka

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  14. Wow! I don't know ow I missed this beautiful giveaway. Your mother is a wonderful artist. If I'm still intime please count me in.
    Thanks and hugs, Drora

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  15. I love your Mother's paintings. Please include me in the draw!

    I also love the radio to dollhouse thing. Now you've got me looking for suitable antique radios. Like I need more junk. lol
    Susan

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  16. Susan, thank you! I know what you mean. A fellow was selling three old radios for $15 each on Craigslist, guess who bought them? One was very 1960s, one was 1950s and the third was from the 30s and is now the small second floor in my Art Deco House. He sold the radios to clear out his mother's attic. My descendants will be scratching their heads and saying " why did she have so much junk?"!

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  17. I love your mom's paintings!! Congrats on your blogiversary! The radio cabinet is such a great idea for an art deco house, can't wait to see how it comes out!! Best to you!

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    1. Thank you, there wouldn't be a blog without your very helpful guidance!

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  18. Hola Neen! La casa art deco en un radio es preciosa! Mi reader de blogger va muy mal y no había visto esta entrada.
    Tu madre es una verdadera artista!
    Puedo participar por favor en el sorteo?
    Aunque ya esté muy próximo, lo anuncio con mucho gusto en la sidebar de mi blog
    Un abrazo

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    1. Thank you Rosamargarita for the nice comment, and for putting the contest on your blog! Yes, your name will be in the draw. Thanks again!

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  19. Hola Neen! Me parece un gran proyecto el que estás realizando. espero no haber llegado tarde a tu maravilloso sorteo: Me encantaría poder participar. espero tener suerte. Gracias, Ana (mucuy)
    acamarah.50@gmail.com

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