Lucy Clayton’s Doll House, Courtney Allison, Mrs Pedersen’s Garden and more on Weekend Meanderings.
WEEKEND MEANDERINGS
Good morning and a happy Saturday to you! It’s time for weekend meandering with Kim and Juliet, our weekly series where we share all of the things that piqued our interest and caught our eye over the past week.
How was your week? Are the kids back to school? Is the weather getting cooler? Have you sipped your first pumpkin spiced latte?
It’s been hot this week but cooler(80’s) weather is on the horizon.
We started to put the 2 rooms with the new floors back together and consequently the rest of the house is looking better. It is hard to believe that you can make such a mess remodeling 2 rooms. Hopefully by the end of the weekend there will be order restored, at least until the next project which is a beam in the living room. Is it just me or does anyone else get impatient when doing home projects? I like the planning, and even the process but I sometimes wish I could snap my fingers and get the the good stuff as they say.
On another note, I made this creamy chicken and rice for the second time this month and is is scrumptious! If you are looking for an easy, skillet meal this is it!
Speaking of the good stuff, let’s get to weekend meanderings!
Lucy Clayton Doll House
Did you have a dolls house growing up? We had a Fisher Price house when were were very little and a little dolls house with plastic furniture, nothing fancy but still fun to play with.
I was enchanted with the Fairy Tale Castle at the Museum of Science and Industry and could spend hours in front of that castle imagining myself in each room. Have you seen it?
It was built by Colleen Moore, a silt film actress in the 30’s and was designed and decorated with help from 100 people including her real life architect and designer and Walt Disney himself. It cost $500,000 to build which is staggering anytime but especially during the depression. You can read more about it you are interested.
Now that I have seen the amazing house Lucy Clayton created there is a rival for my affections.
Author, host of @dressfancypodcast and vintage fashion collector Lucy Clayton recently shared her AMAZING doll house with House & Garden UK. Did you see it? It is spectacular.
Lucy and her son decorated a specially commissioned 12 room doll house for her daughter. This labor of love is truly a work of art. The kitchen is my favorite room, I love the Blue Willow plates, the copper pots and the Aga range!
More About Lucy
You can read all about the doll house and details of each room in Inside a Magical Doll House.
Listen to Lucy’s Ted Talk All the rage – why dressing up helps us speak out.
Read Lucy’s Book: How to Go to Work: The Honest Advice No One Ever Tells You at the Start of Your Career
Why are dolls’ houses so appealing?
If you love doll houses make sure to check out the London Dollhouse Showcase.
Follow Lucy on Instagram
One to Follow~Courtney Allison
I have followed French Country Cottage blog for well over 9 years, and am always amazed at the beautiful rooms Courtney creates inside and outside. Her 1940s’ house and guest cottage as well as her garden are the focus of her family and blog. Over the years Courtney and her husband have completely transformed a house and cottage in need of love and character into a French Country Cottage.
Her blog and her design talent have blossomed into a full time career. Courtney is now an author, freelance stylist and photographers. Tuesday Courtneys’ third book, French Country Christmas will be released and I cannot wait to get my copy.
If you like design, gardening, and beautiful photography Courtney is definitely one to follow.
More about Courtney
French Country Christmas in Flower Magazine
Follow French Country Cottage on Instagram
Mrs. Pedersen’s Garden
If you love Englishes gardens and will be traveling to Denmark make sure to visit Mrs. Pedersen’s garden. This beautiful 2 acre English garden has a cafe and is also an Airbnb. There are special events in September and December so that you can linger and enjoy all of the special “rooms”, from a potage garden, to a shade garden and water features and covered terraces.
Weekend Links
The Most Unusual Cities in Europe
A Myron Goldfinger Mansion That’s Never Been on the Market
67 Dinner Ideas for Relaxed Weeknights and Alfresco Gatherings
Photographer Creates Mesmerizing Flight Trails of Winged Creatures as a Meditation on Time
7 Ways to Love Your Introvert Partner
This Paint Color Can Actually Increase Your Home’s Value, According to Zillow
On the Blog This Week
This week on the blog I shared a lot books among other things.
On Monday I shared The Homecoming, Mar Jennings’ gorgeous Connecticut home, Fall finds and more.
Are you a Kate Morton fan? Which of her books is your favorite? I think mine is The Forgotten Garden.
Pre-Fall and Fall fashions and decor are filling up my cart. So far my favorites are from Boden and J. Crew.
Boden has so many great pieces, classics to add to your Fall and Winter wardrobe that will last for years.
So does J.Crew!
Tuesday was back to school! I shared some of my back to school memories about uniforms, school supplies and first days of school . I would love to hear your favorite back to school memory.
Bookmark this post, no pun intended, but I think you will enjoy one or two of my 15 Best Fall Books to Read.
Baked cambozola was just one of the delicious recipes shared on Friday Favorites! You will also find several delicious chicken dishes, lots of links, a Fall Outfit and books, of course.
Here are the details on this casual Fall outfit. boots//pants//sweater//jacket//bag//scarf//mug . I am partial to the plaid bag, and the boots. Both are Frye and are available at TJMAXX!
UNTIL NEXT TIME
I hope that you enjoyed Lucy Clayton’s Doll House, Courtney Allison, Mrs Pedersen’s Garden and more on Weekend Meanderings.
Last weeks post included the beautiful Gravetye Manor, William Robinson, the grandfather of English gardens, Nora Murphy, and Lost Forest Jewelry on Weekend Meanderings, just in case you missed it. The Lost Forest jewelry is amazing and would make a wonderful Christmas gift.
If you missed any of the previous Weekend Meandering posts you can find them all here.
Have a wonderful weekend friends, thank you for stopping by!
Don’t forget to pop over visit my friends Kim and Juliet.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STYLE
This post contains affiliate links if you make a purchase from a link on the blog I will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
More Fall Fashion
Elizabeth, Hope your week was good and the weather is getting better! Your post is getting me excited for fall..I have to try your chicken and rice. It sounds like comfort food.
I loved this dive into doll houses! What a sweet one that is.. The rooms and the wallpapers…How cute are the boxes from Fortnum and so much else? I would love to get to that doll house show! It’s really an art isn’t it?
I don’t follow French Country Cottage, but I will look at her blog and the book!
I have to heck out your fall books. I just saved it! I love a good seasonal book..
My back to school memory is getting new clothes and then wearing them as soon as I could even though it was still too warm here.. My mom would warn me, but I couldn’t wait to wear things like argyle sweaters and cords and of course here in California I would sweat to death before November! I will read yours.
Love that blue stripe shirt and the Frye things are great.
Will sit down later and enjoy all your links.
I hope you have a great weekend! Will you be sharing your rooms you updated? I so understand wanting to be done!
xo
Kim, that doll house show sounds amazing! I too loved the F&M boxes and the champagne.
You will love Courtney, she is so talented!
I hope you bookmarked a few of the books, they are light and entertaining. A nice way to relax at the end of the day.
Have a wonderful day Kim.
xo
Hi Elizabeth,
Thank you for your post! I just finished Tom Lake by Ann Patchett which was superb and l am already missing it! My grandfather made me a dolls house which was much loved and l bought one for my daughter which had her name painted over the front door!! We would go to the toy shop and pick out furniture and things for the kitchen, magic! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Francesca,
I am sure that both you and your daughter made some wonderful memories playing with your houses. They are such a wonderful “toy” to play with. I cannot believe the miniature world, so much talent.
Have a wonderful week.
Elizabeth, I know exactly what you mean about home projects. We plan and look forward to them and it’s fun for a while … until it’s not. By the end of most projects I just want them done and lose patience. So congrats to you for being at the point of putting your rooms back together. A very good feeling! I didn’t know about Courtney’s new book … how wonderful! I believe she lives somewhere here in Northern California and has created a beautiful, romantic environment for her family … and as inspiration for all of us. I’m embarrassed to say I’ve not read Kate Morton … clearly I’m missing out so I’d better get on board! Hoping it cools down for you this week … I’m don’t think there’s been a year where so many are looking forward to leaving summer behind and embracing fall. . xo
Juliet, you are so right. I think it is a lot easier to have a home project that you are not living in the midst of. Still a pain but maybe not as much of one. I am excited to finish and move on to the next one.
I think you are going to love Kate Morton! She has so many beautiful books.
Have a wonderful week, see you next Saturday!
xo
HOW BEAUTIFUL are those doll house rooms?! Love your outfit of the week too!
I cannot believe the level of detail in the rooms Mary Ann. I think that you as a designer will recognize the paper and the fabrics.
Have a great week. Stay safe.