The End

I recently published my first edited book,  Labor of Love: A Literary Mama Staff Anthology ,  with  Small Harbor Publishing . It's an anthology of writing from  Literary Mama  staff over the past 20 years. It's a beautiful collection and I am proud of the writers and proud to share the book.  It seems a fitting moment, as I pondered sharing about the book here on the blog, to reflect on my life as a blogger, and acknowledge that it is time to officially end this blog.   I started blogging in about 2007, when my baby was learning to toddle, when I was learning how to be a mother and stepmother, when I was just starting to see my way as a writer. I needed it back then. I craved it. I had a variety of blog iterations--family, art, creativity, writing things I delved into. There's a freedom in blogging, a casualness, an easy familiarity that's lacking (for me anyway) in other kinds of writing. I loved blogging and the words came pouring out.  Over the years since then, some
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Dollhouse Library

I had great dreams for the dollhouse library at the beginning of the project. And while maybe it didn't turn out exactly as I envisioned, I think it's come quite a long way.


I took apart an old Japanese fan and used the bamboo to make the second floor railing and ladder. The bookcase is made of balsa wood, cut to fit perfectly into the space.  


Cedar got me the mini typewriter for Christmas, which goes perfectly on the desk I made. The old clock is from my childhood, and the flower is sitting in a fancy bead. 


Note the 2021 calendar!



The dresser was bought used, new-to-me. I made the atlas and hanging map. It's important to have good maps in any library! 


And, of course, good books. 
Here are a few of the classics that you'll find on the shelves.


















And some more books and newspapers.


I also had my first try at reupholstery. I bought this ugly little armchair and knew it would find a new life in the library. 


I figured out how to take the backing off the seat cushion, then covered the front sides of everything in white fabric, to prevent the darker colors from coming through. 




The ottoman took a bit of figuring, but once I fiddled for a while, I found a way to made perfect corners. 


The odd shape of the chairback was tougher. I ended up adding a bit of cardstock and wool to cover up and straighten the notch in the sides. Then, using a bunch of oddly cut pieces of fabric, I proceeded to glue them on while preventing the seams from showing. 


I glued the seat cushion back on and added some beads for feet. 




And now you can put your feet up while you read.


If you've noticed a lot of birds in this house, that's because I've gone with a bird theme. Or rather, the birds keep showing up and are taking over the house. There's a story forming about the person who lives here, but I'll leave that one for another day. 
 

Comments

Andrea said…
Oh, my gosh, this is so great! I need a room like that in my (real!) house. I love the fan bamboo railings and ladder and that yellow chair is perfect.
January 27, 2021 at 9:12 AM
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