Category Archives: Memoir

Fish & Fries, 1988: Kitsch on the Line

Posted on March 17, 2013 by

1988 was a leap year, and the year we took a leap of faith on how funky a project our students would sign up for. Noel was always pushing the edges of the miniatures world, while I was trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Houses, Memoir, Teaching | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Minis, Knitting, Rocket Science–When It’s Over, It’s Over, But Then It’s Never Really Over

Posted on December 7, 2012 by

“I can’t believe you were actually able to part with (the Greene & Greene house) after all that.  Do you ever go to Tucson to visit it?”– Question from Kathleen after my last entry. Thanks, Kathleen, that’s one of those big … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Miniatures | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

A Tale of Twin Kitchens—Souwester and Shelburne

Posted on August 4, 2012 by

To round out 1986, we completed two house fragments–the Shelburne and Shoalwater Kitchens, named after two Seaview, WA inns.  These were smaller pieces than usual, but labor intensive—the women commissioning these projects were our two best and most supportive customers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Houses, Memoir, Miniatures | Tagged , , , | 13 Comments

Why Miniatures?–Uncle Cecil’s Wheelbarrow

Posted on June 17, 2012 by

The other night I was eating out with friends in Portland, people I have known for years through my life as a poet. They had another friend along who was visiting town, one of those people who thrives on asking … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Miniatures | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

The Whittier: Travels & Tales in the Black Ambulance

Posted on June 2, 2012 by

Starting with our 2ndmajor miniature show, Sarah Salisbury was an eager and repeat customer—she was open to suggestion, and introduced ideas of her own. Her enthusiasm for our houses had a lot to do with our ability to keep making … Continue reading →

Posted in Houses, Memoir, Miniatures | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

The Garden Shed: Bird Poo 101

Posted on May 12, 2012 by

The Gardener’s Shed, project #33, marked the start of our official teaching career. Prior to that our “teaching” was more like the blind leading the blind, as those of you who took our early garage classes in Seattle can attest … Continue reading →

Posted in Houses, Memoir, Miniatures | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

It’s a Matter of Perspective: Pippen Hill, Part II

Posted on May 5, 2012 by

Making Pippen Hill was far more fun than should be allowed for a job. Almost everything we did was with new materials and methods, but the design was pliable, and organic, inviting experimentation. A house and shop for a puppet … Continue reading →

Posted in Houses, Memoir, Miniatures | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

New Tricks: Pippen Hill, Part I

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

Coming in sideways, I am running late with this post, which is no way to treat the slew of you who read and responded to my last post. Before I start a new entry, I assemble the photos on hand, … Continue reading →

Posted in Houses, Memoir, Miniatures | Tagged , , , | 16 Comments

The Bungalow: Once Bitten

Posted on April 14, 2012 by

Somewhere in the late 70s we ran across a copy of American Bungalow magazine. Inside its covers lurked photos of the Craftsman bungalows of Pasadena, CA designed by Charles & Henry Greene. One look and we were smitten, or more … Continue reading →

Posted in Bio, Memoir, Miniatures | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments