An English Country Kitchen
Many years ago, I bought an instruction booklet on how
to build and furnish an English Country Kitchen. Although I loved the project
and wanted to make it, it was beyond my skills at that time. Back then I
did build a four story half timbered English dollhouse though, and
furnished it with the best I could get. In a short time I discovered that
the rooms in the house were not large enough to do up the way I really wanted,
so I took everything out of the house, including the windows, doors and
lights, and put the house out on the curb, where it was immediately picked
up by a woman (who I hope has enjoyed it since). The furnishings I removed
remained packed up for many, many years.
This year, 2013, my club decided to have Unfinished Objects
as their project. Among my many UFOs was that old booklet on the country
kitchen, and I remembered all those boxes of miniatures that were packed
up. When I went through the boxes, I discovered all sorts of wonderful things
that I had completely forgotten I owned - it was almost like going to a
miniature show after winning the lottery! Many items were made by people
who are no longer around or who no longer make minis.
So I decide it was time to make some room boxes, and the
first would be that English Country Kitchen. I already had just about all
the furniture the booklet called for plus the accessories.
At the left side of the kitchen is a stove inside a fireplace,
made from a kit by Valerie Casson, back when she did the Brown Bag Kits.
Hanging on the front are her horse brasses. To the right is a Hoosier cabinet
that I made as In A Miniature Manor. The border collie is by Gail Morey,
the high chair by Warren Dick. Flower arrangement in back by Clara's Cuties.
In the center of the room is a large table by Warren Dick
with Windsor chairs by Ron Hammond.
Against the right wall is a Welsh dresser made by me as
In A Miniature Manor. The sink was made from a Valerie Casson kit and the
cup rack above it from a Flight of Fancy kit.
By the door is a shopping cart by Sondra Knight and a pair
of muddy boots by Valerie Casson.
Just outside the Dutch door is a little flower bed with
flowers from Clara's Cuties and a porcelain watering can by Diane Burger.
The shallow back yard features a fence with a moon gate that is overhung
with flowers, and a metal planter by Masch Miniatures holding geraniums
by Ginger Peebles, which you can just see in the picture below.
The Mrs. is on her way out shopping, but stops to tell
her husband what he should do while she's out. He's planning to finish his
breakfast first!
Woman doll by Elizabeth Staryk, man by Heritage Dolls of London.
The plate on the windowsill is by Lynne McVay.
On the table is a goose being plucked and a leg of lamb
to cut into chops.
A lovely trifle will be their dessert tonight!
Back on the wide windowsill is an innocent looking cat
by Valerie Casson,
with his eye on a box of trout by Pride of Plaice!