The Finished Tuscan Villa

Many thanks to SMRD Studio for creating my dream home in miniature! Now for the fun part... furnishing it!

Progress on the Tuscan Farmhouse

I just received these pics today and couldn't wait to share the progress of the Tuscan Farmhouse. There is still some painting and a bit of work left to do yet, but it is taking shape.

I am still undecided about what to do with the little room off the side. Shall it be a storage area? laundry? tool shed? breakfast nook? room for the wine press? Perhaps some of my knowledgable readers can tell me if a wine press would be located in a house or in a separate building?

My Tuscan Farmhouse

After planning and talking about building a Tuscan farmhouse for years, it is finally becoming a reality! Of course, in order for that to happen I had to relinquish the thought of building it myself!

I've asked SMRD Studio to create the Italian home of my dreams after seeing her work at the Chicago Independent Show in April. MR specializes in just the type of structure I'm seeking. I sent her photos of a bed and breakfast that I stayed in while visiting Greve in Chianti and asked her to use them as inspiration for my 3-room house. MR said that the structure should be finished by the end of the month. I can't wait! 

I wish I had a workshop like this!

Le Cetinelle, the inspiration for the miniature Tuscan farmhouse.

Should She Bake a Pie or Make Pasta?

I just received this resin doll designed by Marcia Backstrom. When I saw the doll in Carol's Etsy shop, I knew that she would be perfect in either of two projects that I am making slow progress on. Maybe you can help me decide which project? Should the doll go into the summer kitchen scene (America 1900) and bake a pie? OR should she go into the Tuscan kitchen scene and make pasta fresca? What do you think?

Tuscan Treats from After Dark

I returned from vacation to find a package from Eve at After Dark. I mentioned to her that I have a Tuscan kitchen in the planning stage, and she has supplied me with a fantastic assortment of Italian goodies. They are lovely. The tiny little nuts amaze me. I especially love the apples! Perhaps they will find a home on the window sill of the kitchen. Thank you Eve!

Below the photos is a quick video that I shot while on vacation. I thought that you might enjoy seeing some of the unusual foods available at the night market in Beijing; including snake's skin, squid, octopus, scorpion, silk worm larvae, etc. I wasn't brave enough to try any of them. However Hubby said that the scorpion and silk worm larvae were delicious! 

Tuscan Inspiration

I haven't had a chance to work on any minis lately, but I have been thinking a lot about the Tuscan farmhouse I'd like to create some day. While in Italy last fall, we stayed in a lovely farmhouse near Greve in Chianti, which has inspired me to plan for a future miniature project. I love the stone facades, clay tile roofs and wooden shutters of the farmhouses in the region. The colors and textures are in perfect harmony with their surroundings.

Here are some of the photos that I snapped for future reference. Notice how the cat was patient with this obsessed tourist!

I hope you enjoy this bit of Tuscan inspiration! Click on the photos to see them larger.