I recently completed a four month online course in illustration –Lilla Rogers and her “Make Art That Sells” Bootcamp. The class generated so many ideas, including a children’s book based on this Mouse House, but it took up most of my time and I was unable to work on this beloved project. The exciting news is that I shared this blog with Lilla and many of my classmates so they can follow my progress and share my enthusiasm.

I finally finished the Mouse House Study last week. It’s a spot for the scientist mouse who tracks and collects butterflies all over the world; plays the violin; dabbles in geology; experiments with chemistry; and enjoys reading newspapers in front of the fireplace.

I started with the fireplace which I designed and built myself. (See previous blog post here: The Heat Is On!)

I then focused on the table and all of the accessories I wanted to display. This included a microscope I made out of an IKEA shelf support and a tape dispenser lid. I also made a box of mini slides with dabs of paint on teeny pieces of plastic.

After that came the butterflies: I made a framed display and also made domed dioramas to put on the table and the mantle. I printed butterfly prints for the walls and added a map with string “markers” to document the butterfly excursions.The room was completed with books I made and other accessories I have built or collected.

I made the Bunsen burner and stand out of a few of the tiny electrical parts my dear friends Mark and Leann have given me over the years. The “flame” in the bottom of the burner is an orange bead.

I filled the beakers on the table and on the bookshelf with nail polish also given to me by Leann. The “white” beakers are two of the things I like the best in the house so far–the nail polish glows in the dark! Here are a couple of photos with the lights off. Isn’t that cool?!!

Next up: the Art Studio. I’ll try to duplicate a bit of what I have going on in my own space. Wouldn’t it be fun to make a Mouse House in the Mouse House? Don’t hold your breath!!