better yet

"Not perfect, but better" was the title of my last post.

THIS one would have to be "better yet"!

My husband spent New Years Day transforming the exterior

of the doll house -- all with paints and brushes that we had on hand

(and all of them garage sale or thrift store finds).

All that remains to do is the interior.

not perfect, but better....

 Yesterday, my husband brought this dollhouse into our living room,

lifting the wing of a gate-leg table we'd recently moved in to set it on.

He spent a couple of hours repairing/re-doing parts of the

partly assembled piece I'd purchased via a facebook garage sale site
earlier this year.

 He's a patient person, this man of mine!

He's at it again this Christmas Day--at least until it's

time to drive the hour distance to spend the afternoon with my parents.

"Not perfect, but better," he pronounced as he stepped back to

view one of the improvements....

the bottom of the bin

The doll house served a unique function yesterday.

I had used it as a bribe to encourage practice on the part of my piano student.
The bribe was successful, and
she spent a full hour redecorating the entire house.

 I have SO many miscellaneous pieces.  I collect them anywhere I find them.

Few are in proper scale.  It makes it more fun somehow.

I think I could spend hours at the Toy Bin at My Favorite Thrift Store!

That's where I find my BEST treasures--

at the very bottom of the bin.

more where it came from

 While at My Favorite Thrift Store, I found these treasures 

in addition to the ones I showed in my prior post...

 All of these books are in near-perfect condition.

The one below is illustrated by my favorite illustrator of children's books - 

Eloise Wilkens. 

I also found the red desk and rocking horse for pennies!

Technically, they're Christmas ornaments, 

but I will use them for doll house furniture year 'round.

 Oh!  How I love this little desk!

more (treasures)

 It was a great day at my Favorite Thrift Store (FTS) yesterday!

The cabinet above housed a Singer sewing machine with all the attachments.

I'll be calling today about the possibility of repair.  

If financially feasible, I'll have it done.

If not, this sweet cabinet will be great for a computer station.  

My capable husband will do the repairs - including new glass for the doors.

$5.00!

 These four bowls will be a gift for a friend who is "doing" her kitchen in black and red...

...and Christmas cometh!

 With the purchase and placement of this "A" frame, 

Santa's workshop on one side of the 3rd story of my largest dollhouse is complete!
(Note the Christmas plaid on the lower part of the walls.)

I have two more items to show from yesterday's excursion.

Stay tuned!  Total spent?  $6.