Sunlight is a very rare commodity these days. So when the opportunity presents itself to catch some of it, one must make sure it doesn't go to waste.
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Dolls house number 30. Behold its staircase in all its desolation. We can see a rusty chain, which once supported a lamp shade, hanging from the ceiling.
The dirty windows allow the frail daylight in to light the emptiness. A secretive spider calls the house its home.
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
As the weak sunlight fights an unequal battle against the intrusive shadows of December, my disfigured living room transforms into a place removed from reality. The Praying Girl captures the evasive light in the palm of her hands, and incorporates it into her eternal conversation with the Divine. The Girls watch from the distance of yesterday. Nothing moves, and yet, everything breathes.
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
The bus is ready to go, departing from one of my old Triang dolls houses. The destination is the "Parque de Recreo," or Leisure Park. There are lots of nice things to visit there: a theater, a zoo, and not to forget the fireworks at the Grand Palace!
In sum: a great way to spend the day with the family! Let's go!
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well!
Here's a sneak peek of one of my old dolls houses. It's an all metal construction -no wood whatsoever- and quite worn and rusty, which gives it the magical, 'spooky' appearance which I love so much! I believe it to be a Triang, but I'm not sure. Ok, that's it for now, got to go. Have a great day!
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
The Conservatory: a very special greenhouse.
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Hi friends, how are you doing?
This is a very old metal wall fountain I have; all rusted and with chipped paint. It's also incomplete, and maybe because of all this, I love it!
It's just one of the hundreds of items I have, destined to be used in one project or another. The wall it's up against was made by me a while ago, and was used for a photo shoot of some old toy trains. I think they go very well together, don't you?
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Hello friends! Here's another picture of the little porcelain robin; this time resting on the parapet of the old "Centennial" dolls house. Isn't it a beauty!?
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well!
Here's a photo of a very small and cute porcelain robin that I took today.
It was love at first sight when I saw it in the miniatures shop, so I decided to 'adopt' it.
I made it a little diorama with wood and hand-made paper flowers, so I could take a few nice pics of it, and here's the result. The flowers are not made by me, by the way!
Below is a pic of the robin in the palm of my hand for scale. Have a great day!!
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Enjoy your Sunday, and keep yourself and your pets cool!!
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Sunday
Car wash
Cemetery
Flowers for the dead.
Side by side
Our loved ones lie
Sleeping in their bed.
Back to Life
Coffee in a bar
Feeling like a foreigner.
Happy people
A birthday party,
and a deejay in a corner.
A poem dedicated to all of you, who are still alive, and value it. Have a great week!
©
2022 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
W.jpg)
Sind wir alleine? (Are we alone?)
©
2022 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Have a great Sunday, my friends!
W.jpg)
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
As cute as she may seem, this little one is quite well acquainted with darkness. She blends with the shadows and becomes one with the night; all that remains is a sigh, a whisper, and the faint pulse of a beating heart.
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
No matter how short or long your journey through time is; you can be sure that there's light at the end of it. Keep that in mind, dear fellow traveler, and aim towards the light, always!
W.jpg)
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
An empty room. The golden hour, and the scent of stillness, mixed with the breath of the flowers in the garden, seeping in through the cracks in the ancient doors.
No one there, yet one can almost feel the presence of someone, or something, in the room. Voices and memories from the past cling tenaciously to the old walls and curtains. It's just another afternoon in the Centennial, that peculiar, silent majesty.
W.jpg)
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
The toy rocket launch pad is real to the mind of a child. The wish to reach for the stars in ingrained in all of us from a very early age. I bet those brave men who took us to the moon never stopped being children to begin with.
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Hi everybody, how are you doing?
Here's something different and interesting: a little chopper made from an old spark plug, some screws, and bits and pieces of scrap metal. Not my own design, but I couldn't resist buying it, when I came across it in a shop with products made in the so-called "third world."
You see this peculiar dragonfly sitting here on top of one of my old and rusty steam engines. It couldn't be any more "rust and steel" than this!
Thanks for visiting, and see you next time!
© 2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.
On this beautiful Saturday, let's "identify" as.... NUTS!!
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Dare to believe; to believe in something bigger than yourself, and to believe in you!
This pic: cute doll photographed in my living room.
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
It's a bleak day in February, as the three little sisters Mies, Corry, and Magda play inside with their dolls house after enjoying a warm, afternoon snack.
The house was made specially for them by their father, mister Willemse; a gentle and wise man who adores his three little angels. It has a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and two other big rooms that can be used for various purposes.
The girls play, fully absorbed in the magical world of children's make-believe, and their spirited chatter sounds like music to the ears of their proud dad.
These are the precious moments of happiness that are revealed to those who have the wisdom and open heart to recognize and value them.
W.jpg)
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Behold the latest -and smallest- addition to my collection of antique and vintage dolls houses!
Pictured here inside the big 'Centennial' dolls house, this little beauty stands only 9 cm tall. Its width is 4,5 cm and is 6 cm deep (for my American friends, that is: 3.54x17.7x2.36 inches).
The house is made of plywood and is covered with paper. The inside is an empty space with no floors, but that can be changed if desired. I have no idea about her age, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's from 1950s vintage.
I'm thrilled with this little gem, as she mimics the 'look' of my bigger dolls houses perfectly. Just like her 'big sisters' she shows her age, and that makes her so fascinating! I couldn't wish for a better item to decorate one of my dolls houses with!
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author. Lost Reflection lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group.
Sweet little Rain, sometimes I wonder: what happens in the living room while I sleep? Does stillness reign in shadows? Do your eyes see?
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
An old Dutch-style warehouse looks gloomy and ominous in the fading light. And that's exactly how I love it to be!
Outside, a little wheeled cart sells German evening papers; "Zeitungen" being the German word for "newspapers."
W.jpg)
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
The "Centennial" is one of my favorite -if not the favorite- dolls houses in my collection. It was generously given to me for free by a very nice elderly couple living in the beautiful city of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The house was built in the early 1920s by a Dutch gentleman named Mister Willemse for his three young daughters Mies, Corry, and Magda.
Being obviously a wise man, as well as an excellent carpenter, he ensured that the three girls would be able to play together, by building it in such a way that it could be accessed on three sides simultaneously. The above image shows the house in the "closed" mode, i.e. with the removable wall panels attached.
Naturally, the house has seen quite some wear and tear throughout her 100 years history, as well as some alterations, some of which were not for the better, I must say. Even so, I totally love the way she looks today because, to me, all her 'scars' are a testament to her longevity.
This blog posting is focused on the outside of the house, and is meant to show you its 'battle scars' in detail. People often tend to see tear and wear on old dolls houses as something to be 'fixed', while in reality they just show the passage of time, and definitely add character and charm to an old lady such as this. They call it 'damages', I call it LIFE.
Needless to say that I keep this beauty 'as is', and the only things that I might consider 'fixing' are really minor, 'post Mr. Willemse' alterations, such as the white paint on the glass window above the entrance door.
W.jpg)
Thanks for visiting, and I hope you enjoyed this post! If so, please consider 'following' me on this platform, Instagram, or Facebook. Your visits and comments are highly appreciated! See you again soon!
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
A handsome blackbird landed today on the Centennial dolls house. Such a cute little fellow..!
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Hi Friends, I hope you're doing well!
Below is a pic of my latest miniature painting, titled "Autumn evening." Acryl on canvas, 7x7cm (2,75x2,75 inch).
I've decided to dust off my brushes and get going with some new stuff! And I must say that I enjoyed doing this one very much! If interested, I invite you to take a look at the other paintings on this blog. Thank you and have a great day!
A little boat rests perched on a wall cap inside the Centennial dolls house. I'm sure she's sharing her adventures with the miniature steam engine that chose the same spot to relax.
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Mommy, the garden is full of birds! They're all dancing, and singing a song..!
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
I had this huge, heavy, old scale gathering dust at home for a while. It looked very cool, pure weathered wood and rusted metal! It was love at first sight when I laid my eyes upon it, and hence bought it with the idea to use it 'for something' at some point.
That moment came when I bought this wonderful, vintage 'Dutch' style warehouse. I saw the two and somehow knew that they belonged together. So I added wheels to the ancient scale to make it more easy to move around, then placed the warehouse on it, and the rest, as they say, is history.
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Below is a 'sneak peak' of one of the rooms of "The Centennial," which is my favorite dolls house. She's over one hundred years old, and my first dolls house of that age, hence the name I gave her.
I have more "centennials" in my collection, but this one, which I got as a gift from a nice elderly couple in Amsterdam, definitely holds a very special place in my heart!
© 2023
José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
As King Winter reigns over the Northern hemisphere, the days are short and the nights endless; the wind is chill and rain abundant, while the temperatures hover just above the zero mark. Sometimes, the landscape gets covered with a thin layer of snow, as if to make a point that it is truly winter.
Inside her home, little Elise enjoys being cozy and warm. "Let the wind howl and the icy rain drop like needles from the sky," thinks Elise, "I'm all nice and warm inside! With my dolls houses and fresh croissants I think I can weather the winter!"
I hope you liked this blog. If so, leave a comment, and see you next time. Thank you!!
© 2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.
Enjoy your Saturday, everyone!!
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
My lover died a century ago,
Her dear heart stricken by my sland’rous breath,
Wherefore the Gods forbade that I should know
The peace of death.
Men pass my grave, and say, “‘Twere well to sleep,
Like such an one, amid the uncaring dead!”
How should they know the vigil that I keep,
The tears I shed?
Upon the grave, I count with lifeless breath,
Each night, each year, the flowers that bloom and die,
Deeming the leaves, that fall to dreamless death,
More blest than I.
W.jpg)
‘Twas just last year—I heard two lovers pass
So near, I caught the tender words he said:
To-night the rain-drenched breezes sway the grass
Above his head.
That night full envious of his life was I,
That youth and love should stand at his behest;
To-night, I envy him, that he should lie
At utter rest.
John McCrae (1872 – 1918)
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Your picture ignited a poem in me.
A brusque stirring of the soul,
a thunder, and then, finally,
the words came crashing down like rain.
Oblivious of the conquest your image achieved,
you sleep.
Will you answer my heart's muffled scream?
Will you meet me, in a dream?
José Pereira Torrejón
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Hi all, this is a follow up to my visit to the dolls houses and miniatures fair in Houten, The Netherlands, last Sunday.
It was very nice and inspiring, as such events usually are! I got to meet very dedicated and creative people, and to see their wonderful work up close!
One of the 'memento's' I bought that day was a beautiful small doll, very delicately dressed and measuring only 7 cm (2.75 inches) in height, as well as a even smaller doll from the same artist. The small one is only 3 cm (1.18 inches), and as you can see below, she has become a doll for the 'big' one!
I cannot imagine any better way to start the new year! ⭐
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
Today I'm attending a dolls houses and miniatures fair here in The Netherlands. Such a fair is always a great opportunity to meet people I haven't seen for a while, see what they've been up to, and 'discover' new artists and their work.
Looking very much forward to it, I must say!
(SQ)W.jpg)
©
2023 José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of
this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior
authorization from the author.
