Orchard Cottage Renovation

Sorry to be gone for so long - my grandad sadly passed away and my Sylvanian room was being used to store his possessions so unfortunately I couldn't access my collection :(

It has all been cleared now so I can finally give my collection some love!

Something I have been working on for a while is the repaint and complete redecoration of Orchard Cottage. Currently I have only finished the upper room of the home, but I thought I would share some pictures!

 I didn't take any proper pictures of the inside but here is the cottage all taped up before the repaint!

And there is the cottage after the exterior repaint! So glad to see all the yellow gone.

To give an idea of what the interior looked like inside before, I found this picture of one on eBay:

I painted the ceiling white and then painted the beams "wood-textured". I also painted the floor the same colour. Makes it so much more traditional and quaint!

I wallpapered it in a faded-style Cath Kidston wallpaper and made new bedding for the bed as the original really didn't match the walls! 

The Tomy bathroom is just so cute - I love the fact that the toilet and bath are ceramic 

I am very happy with the end result! Now I just need to hurry up and finish the downstairs so a family can finally move in :)

Sylvanian Families Care Home Part 1

Margot Marmalade the bear stood outside Little Chestnut Care Home with her elderly father, Quincy Marmalade.

"No! I refuse to be dumped in a horrible care home whilst you go off on holiday!" Exclaimed Mr Marmalade. 

The rest of the Marmalade family were going to the Isle of Wight for a family holiday, but Quincy Marmalade gets awfully bad sea-sickness. So it was decided Quincy would go and stay in the Care Home for the week, rather than the whole family listening to the old bear grumble on. 

"Mrs Hazelwood will take excellent care of you, Dad. You can't just stay at home." Margot explained. Quincy Marmalade was rather wobbly on his paws nowadays, and she was worried he would take a fall.  

Gossip travels very quickly in Little Chestnut, and so the current residents of the Care Home were already expecting him.

"I hope he's not as grumpy as I remember!" Carmen Cottontail the bunny said.
"He certainly won't like Mrs Hazelwood telling him what to do!" Mrs Renard the fox said, looking up from her newspaper.

After much grumbling, and with the help of some of Mrs Hazelwood's best biscuits, Margot Marmalade managed to get Quincy settled down into a nice armchair.

The main lounge in the care home consisted of a mismatch of different sofas and armchairs, newspapers and tea pots. Mrs Hazelwood kept it very clean and cosy. 

"Is that the Sylvanian Times you're reading Mrs Renard?" Mr Marmalade said, nosily peering over.

"Yes, did you know we all get a free copy everyday?" Mrs Renard explained. Mr Marmalade tried very hard not to look impressed by this; the Sylvanian Times was the best newspaper around. 

Mrs Hazelwood got him his own copy of the newspaper, refilled his tea, and gave him some more biscuits. Quincy Marmalade was very surprised to find himself almost enjoying himself!

The other side of the room, Mildred Mulberry was watching television and sipping tea.

"Is that Classical Music at 6, Mildred?!" Quincy Marmalade jumped up from his armchair and bounded over to the television, completely forgetting his walking stick! 

"We don't have this television channel at home", thought Quincy Marmalade to himself as he settled down in front of the television. Maybe Mr Marmalade was going to have a better time than he'd expected....

Baking With Grandma Cottontail

One day, Primrose Cottontail went to her Grandma and Grandad's house for the day. Grandma Cottontail wanted to make sure that Primrose had a lovely time, so she spent lots of time thinking about what they could do together.

Whilst drinking her morning coffee, Grandma Cottontail was reading through her favourite baking magazine.
"Baking! What an excellent idea," Grandma Cottontail thought to herself.

"Hello Primrose my dear, would you like to bake some biscuits?" Grandma Cottontail asked.

"Ooh yes please, my favourite!" Primrose beamed.

"Could you whisk the eggs Primrose dear? My elbows are very stiff nowadays!" Asked Grandma Cottontail.

"Of course Grandma!" Primrose laughed, as she picked up a fork.

After a lot of giggles and messy flour, they put the biscuits in the oven to cook.

"These smell delicious!" Grandma Cottontail said, getting them out of the oven.

"And they look like they'll taste delicious too.." Primrose put her paw out to take one.

"No not yet my dear! You'll fry your whiskers if you eat that! Let them cool down first," Exclaimed Grandma Cottontail. Primrose grumbled to herself before finally agreeing she did quite like her whiskers the way they were already.

Finally the biscuits had cooled down, and Primrose helped her Grandma arrange them on one of her best plates. 

"Hmm," Wondered Grandma Cottontail. "I wonder who else would like one of these biscuits..."

Vintage Mansion, Nursery & School

Because I haven't posted on my blog in a while, I haven't had the chance to show you my new purchases!

The first thing I got (a couple of months ago), was this Grand Mansion from 2001. It was mint in box, the only things it is missing are the hanging basket in the conservatory part and the shoe-cleaner. Considering the extremely low price I paid for it, I was thrilled.

This is my next project to wallpaper / decorate / furnish so I imagine you'll be seeing it again soon :)

Next, I brought the Vintage Nursery from 1989. Again, mint in box. Not even a single accessory missing, even down to the tiny little bowls and bottles.

I absolutely love the little curtains in this, for me they make the whole building! Although, they are quite yellowed with age, so I am considering unpicking them off the rails, giving them a wash and then sewing them back on.

Finally, the Vintage School from 1988, mint in box, and as far as I can work out, with all the furniture and accessories.

It is actually so tiny and adorable! I love the way it looks like an old church. 

The school even has a little door that opens to the bell tower (the bell can actually be rung by pulling the handle!). 

I only showed the buildings with the original accessories/furniture but I'm sure you will see them in stories when I have put some other things in them too :)