What makes you happy?

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of doom and gloom in this world and there is enough talk about that on here, but.....

what makes you happy at this moment in time, what makes you feel good?

This can be people, hobbies, work, looking at a sunset, it doesn't matter, as long as when you think about it it makes you feel good. It doesn't have to be anything big. It's often the little things that count. Expand on it a little.

For me there are several things:

I'm fixing up a Dolls house and creating tiny things for it. I have always loved miniatures since I was small and I'm fascinated by all the stuff people can make on such a small scale. There are some fantastic artist out there making amazing things.

I'm finally renovating my garden as it had become messy and tired over the years (a bit like myself), so buying new plants, digging out old ones, redesigning the borders a bit, etc...At last getting some special roses with lots of fragrance. Roses are my favourite flowers. The variety is just immense. It's fun to select all new plants. I'm not a great gardener, but I'm sure I can create a little heaven to sit in.

I'm rereading some of my old fantasy books. At the moment Terry Brooks. I love reading and it gives me a lot of pleasure, but especially fantasy as it takes me into a different world.

I made a start with painting an oil painting of a fantasy bird for my eldest daughter. Something bold and colourful, but full of details to reflect her personality. It also makes me feel good to see her more happy again and making new plans for her future after losing her baby girl 3 years ago.

I love seeing how my youngest has grown in confidence and skills working for Warner Brothers in London as an apprentice. It is amazing to see her spreading her wings and flying at a speed that I didn't think she had in her.

And I do like to watch the sun set. I live in a built up area, but I'm on a T-junction and can see down the whole street in front of my house and in the evening I often sit at my dining table to watch all the colours changing in the sky. I might not have a view over glowing hills, but the bit I can see is beautiful.

So what about you lot..........................

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It fascinates me seeing the differences between peoples choices of beauty and art.

Like that jewel encrusted pen. A wonderful specimen of a work of art and craft and treasured by its collector,  and yet that doesn't appeal to me at all.

So true is the saying what's one man's rubbish is another man's treasure.  Xxx

Harry, I have often looked at the beautiful model houses and the collection of furniture and soft furnishings etc. It does appear to be a very expensive hobby. That is one of the reasons why I have not taken it up.  Do you find that yourself. Do you go as far as having to get the difference in time periods and fashion etc spot on. 

[right-then-petal]

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@right-then-petal wrote:

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Awwwww so cute.

So tiny xxxx  loves teddies xx

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wish I could do something like this. Xx

Amazing 

               

[Anonymous]

Well it can be an expensive hobby.  It depends a bit on yourself really. I've seen a dinner service that sets you back as much as a real one. They are beautiful though.

But I bought some good joblots of dolls house furniture and have been lucky with bidding on some other little stuff. I'm going to try to make my own dolls with fimo clay and also food stuff. I'll be making my own curtains and will be making wooden flooring out of lolly sticks and varnish those. There is a lot you can make yourself if you are a bit handy and artistic.

You can also paint the furniture yourself and make it more expensive looking if you like. Maybe in an oriental style or a bit French with lots of white and gold. 

I like to keep mine as much as possible in the Victorian style..,so you won't find a vacuum cleaner or a fridge freezer in my dolls house...hahaha. Of course there will be some stuff that is not totally correct, but that is allowed in my book. Also the scale of things doesn't always pan out very good, but at the end of the day it has to be fun.

[astrologica]

Harry....what size dollies will you be making? I have a little 1930's original baby dolly, just 3" long...and she needs a new home! I haven't got a doll's house, so yours sounds fab. Would she be about the right size? I'd love her to come and live in your house.

I have tried a few times to PM you, but it's not having it. 

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@Anonymous wrote:

Well it can be an expensive hobby.  It depends a bit on yourself really. I've seen a dinner service that sets you back as much as a real one. They are beautiful though.

But I bought some good joblots of dolls house furniture and have been lucky with bidding on some other little stuff. I'm going to try to make my own dolls with fimo clay and also food stuff. I'll be making my own curtains and will be making wooden flooring out of lolly sticks and varnish those. There is a lot you can make yourself if you are a bit handy and artistic.

You can also paint the furniture yourself and make it more expensive looking if you like. Maybe in an oriental style or a bit French with lots of white and gold. 

I like to keep mine as much as possible in the Victorian style..,so you won't find a vacuum cleaner or a fridge freezer in my dolls house...hahaha. Of course there will be some stuff that is not totally correct, but that is allowed in my book. Also the scale of things doesn't always pan out very good, but at the end of the day it has to be fun.

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Sounds grand, I think I would try making my own pieces, I could copy from books to get the styles right. Good idea about flooring though using lolly sticks. 

I reckon the fimo idea is good too, I can do sugar craft and have used fimo before so that shouldnt be too difficult.

I would love to see some pictures if you have any  it sounds like you have a beautiful hobbpy going there xxx you have aroused my dormant interest Harry. My twin girlies are nearly six already and I am sure they would love something like that at nannies house.  xxx

[theelench]

A garden with enough silence to hear the birdsong and the breeze rustling the leaves in the trees.

[theelench]

Nice to know there's another Art Deco Glass collector here.

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@theelench wrote:
Nice to know there's another Art Deco Glass collector here.

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I've just googled, as I wasn't sure what it was.  

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!

[theelench]

Glad you liked it. Try searching A.H.Williamson, his designs for the Bagley glass company are a particular favorite of mine.

[Anonymous]

Astro,

I'm going to keep my dolls at about 4.5 inches. At the very most 5 inch. Most of them are a bit bigger than that, but it looks a bit weird to me when the dolls are often taller than the doors.

I would love to give your baby doll a new home. Is it a proper baby though or could it pass for a child?

[Anonymous]

Quibono,

I love Art Deco. I have a big collection of Czech uranium glass on top of my kitchen cupboards and dotted around the kitchen. The green gives it all a really fresh look and it goes well with a modern white kitchen as well.

I have two ceiling lamps by Jobling with beautiful birds on it and a big bowl in the same design. Those are real treasures of mine. And I have several vases by others.

My Art glass is one of my passions. I have a house full of glass.

[astrologica]

It could pass as a small child Harry. The legs and arms are moveable, so you can pose it sitting, if you know what I mean! It has a little outfit of a tiny dress, and an over apron, and a tiny hat with a little pom-pom. It was given to me by a friend, who made the outfit for it. Her mum kept a toy shop and it came from there when the shop closed down. My friend has passed on now, but I know she would love the idea of the dolly boing in a dolls house, I haven't got a dolls house, or any small children to play with it. 

Can you try and PM me, and then maybe I can reply.

[theelench]

I've loved Art Deco since before I knew what it was.  I started by buying furniture in the 80s (first mortgage and money was tight), it was out of fashion and house clearers were practically giving it away.  Sadly when I moved to more modern property, central heating and a dryer atmosphere, the beautifull veneers started to peel off so it all had to go. 

By this time I'd started collecting glass and my collection has been growing ever since.  The style is unique with influences ranging from King Tuts tomb, Hollywood epics of the day and new technology of the period, all mixed together to give such weird and wonderfull designs.

I have some Uranium glass but mainly by accident, I like the Stolzle "fish scale" pattern and bought some pieces not realising that it was uranium.  A favorite piece is my "Alien" creamer.  Your Jobing "Birds" pieces are indeed beautifull, I've been trying to assemble a set of the Jobling "Lalique" designs plates for some time.

I could go on and on but will likely get a "Ticket unmatched" notice soon.  Good luck treasure hunting in the future, it's amazing what turns up in the most unlikely places. 

[Anonymous]

Ok, Astro I will try to message you.

[Anonymous]

It's a very addictive thing isn't it. I love it.

You good luck hunting as well.

[right-then-petal]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-37185272

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Attending one of this guy's classes would make me very happy 🙂

https://youtu.be/lM54La1zA0g

[Anonymous]

Wow, that is wonderful. Too beautiful to eat!

What is stopping you to attend his classes?