Weekend: This wallpaper glistens

Skimm’d with money on our minds — Check out what we Skimm’d for you today December 9, 2023 [Subscribe]( [Read in browser]( [theSkimm Logo] Daily Skimm WEEKEND [Together with]( [Bank of America Logo]( Skimm’d with [money on our minds]( [Update location]( or [View forecast]( Weekends are a good time to unwind. For that, we’ve rounded up the most fun and interesting stories we came across this week — the ones we texted our friends about. Enjoy. [Teal Quotes] “I’ve always dreamed of being pasta” — [Anne Hathaway]( on wearing a spaghetti-inspired Valentino gown. Ramen to that. theSkimm With Big-Time Miniaturist, Kwandaa Roberts On Instagram and TikTok, [a new generation of artisans and miniaturists]( are designing, building, and decorating their dream homes — but on an itty-bitty scale. Instead of stuffy Victorian houses filled with antique furniture, brownstones and A-frames are outfitted with tiny versions of items sold at places like West Elm and Lulu and Georgia. We spoke to [Kwandaa Roberts]( (aka, [@tinyhousecalls](), a self-described “OB-GYN by day and accidentally-crafty miniaturist by night.” Here’s what she had to say... Q: When and how did you first get into dollhouses? Five years ago, I bought one for my daughter, but I didn’t like how it looked — it was pink, purple, and just weird. I thought, If it looked more like a real house, it’d be more fun for her. So I wallpapered and painted it. I’d get up in the middle of the night to work on it. I loved it. I didn’t want to give it to her ... but I did, and she loved it. [That’s when] I got the idea I should have my own. I’ve always been obsessed with interior design ... but I only have one house, right? So that meant remodeling my real house a lot. Every six months I might change the chandelier, which is just crazy. This was a way I could do that — and it’d be cheaper and easier. Q: So is it fair to say that you’re more into dollhouses than your daughter is? Definitely. Although every year she wants another one. I’m like, ‘You have them.’ And she looks at me like, ‘You have them too’ … [In total], I’ve had about 16 dollhouses, which I know is a little problematic. But I’ve given a few away, because I’m running out of space ... I know this is going to sound crazy, but I literally would like an addition to my real house for my dollhouses. Q: Do your dollhouses resemble your own house? Or, are they what your dream home would look like? It’s a combination. People have come over, looked at the dollhouses, and said, ‘Oh, I see it’ ... I like so many different design styles — I like mid-century modern, minimalism, and maximalism. I like rooms that are painted. I love wallpaper. I like all of the stuff. Dollhouses are a way to do all my design ideas, without my own house looking like a mishmash ... Also, part of the fun is that you may not be able to afford waterfall countertops, marble and other stuff in real life — but when it’s only five inches and I make it, then I can have it. Q: Which projects have been your most memorable — both good and bad? My [mid-century modern house]( is my favorite ... I’ll probably never get rid of it ... [It] was from a kit made in the 1980s, but I took the ‘80s out of it, and I made it more modern. In the dollhouse world, we call that “kitbashing” ... My first scratch-built dollhouse — meaning it wasn’t from a kit or something I bought, but something I made from scratch — was a [Spanish colonial](, which had lots of arches ... [To go with the arch theme], I wanted to make a [canopy bed](, and I lost years of my life making that bed. Trying to figure out [what material] would bend, but still be sturdy was really hard. I made it a few times, then it fell apart. In the end, I used tubing, and I love it. But I’ll never make another. Funny enough, it was a recreation of something I saw in a Crate & Barrel catalog ... When I made it, I tagged them in the post, and they thought it was real. They put it on their website, with a caption like, ‘Look at this beautiful room.’ I had to call them and be like, ‘Didn’t you read the caption? It’s not real.’ Q: There have been articles recently about a new generation of dollhouse devotees, who tend to be younger and into more modern designs. Is that something you’ve also noticed? I remember going to my first dollhouse convention — which, I mean, who knew [that was even a thing] — and all the people there were older and selling colonial things. And then maybe two or three years ago, there were [people more like me]. It’s just become a thing ... [Still], when I tell people I make dollhouses, [I know] they’re not thinking of [things that look like mine]. I’ll show them pictures, and they’re like, ‘Oh my God.’ [Because they were imagining something] kind of Victorian and fussy ... [But] it’s the world’s best hobby ... You can create this tiny, perfect world — whatever perfect is for you. And it’s relaxing. It’s almost meditative. You can get lost in this happy, joyful toy [world]. Psst, this interview has been edited for length and clarity. [Facebook]([Twitter]([Email](mailto:?body=Miniaturist Kwandaa Roberts on how small, small worlds are having a big moment #theSkimm%0A3Ftype%3Demailurl%26r%3DSKIMM%26utm_source%3Demail%26utm_medium%3Ddsshare%23custom) What's Happening 🍰 In food… Feeling spicy? Consider adding [wasabi to your cocktail](. Meanwhile, ’70s-style desserts (see: Black Forests and Baked Alaskas) are [making a groovy comeback](. Oh and if you’ve ever wondered why international chip flavors are so much more fun, here’s [something to chew on](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 💇‍♀️ In beauty… [Side bangs]( — including, yup, those Myspace-era ones — are once again, well, banging. Also having a meow-ment? [The kitty cut](. And, if you haven't heard, some people are lending their ears to [rearscaping](. --------------------------------------------------------------- 🎄 In Christmas creep… Calling all [gingerbread girls](: ’Tis the season for [all the holiday cookies]( — from [cereal wreaths]( to [9-inch maple sugar cookies](. Same with [regressing](. Plus, pressed over [picking the perfect gift](? You can regift — if [you do it right](. We’ll raise [an ornament-shaped glass]( to that. theskimm beta We're building a tool to help you cross off the to-dos keeping you up at night. Meet [theSkimm Beta](, a space where you can learn how to [manage your debt]( and [get more pleasure](. Check it out. Forward this to a friend. [Click here](mailto:?&subject=Check out this Daily Skimm Weekend newsletter&body=Check it out . Skimm Reads “[Flores and Miss Paula](” by Melissa Rivero…Just in time for the holidays, a complicated mother/daughter relationship has entered the chat. In the wake of the death of her father, Flores, a thirty-something with a job at a startup, finds a cryptic note near the urn that holds his ashes. Flores lives with her mother, Paula, and the two pick at each other (Paula thinks Flores should be looking for a husband; Flores doesn’t approve of her mom’s friendship with a married man). This one is a sweet, empathetic look at how we relate to the people we love across generations. Skimm Picks Here are today’s recs to help you live a smarter life… 1. Nonstick pans you need if you hate doing dishes. Say ‘bye forever’ to scrubbing the life out of your pans with [this Le Creuset set](. It includes two easy-to-clean, oven-safe pans, plus three stack-friendly pan protectors. Psst…it’s on sale right now.* [Shop on]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Personalized gifts for people who love their name on everything. A gifting best practice: When in doubt, [put their name on it](. No one can resist a [monogrammed blanket](. [Start shopping]( --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Up to 40% off the chili sauces we put on everything. Fly By Jing is offering [up to 40% off holiday gift sets]( through December 20. The [sauce four-pack]( or [hot pot seasoning box]( would be the perfect [gift for the foodie in your life](. Even better if that foodie happens to be yourself. [Add to cart]( Psst…love our recs? Follow [@skimmshopping]( on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag). Gifts of the Day These plush [lounge socks](, an [electric kettle]( for tea, and the [softest robe](. Skimm’d by: Rasheeda Campbell, Hannah Parker, Melissa Goldberg, and Clem Robineau --------------------------------------------------------------- Photos courtesy of ‎Kwandaa Roberts, Ecco , Brand Partners Design by theSkimm --------------------------------------------------------------- *PS: This is a sponsored post. Want to wake up with us every morning? [Subscribe to the Daily Skimm](. --------------------------------------------------------------- [Instagram Icon]( [Tik Tok Icon]( [Linkedin Logo]( [Twitter icon]( [Facebook icon]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [theSkimm']( Skimm'd something we missed? skimmthis@theSkimm.com Issues? [help@theSkimm.com](mailto:help@theskimm.com) [Advertise with us]( | [Careers]( [See our full sponsor agreement]( | [Update Your Preferences or Unsubscribe](esource=syl&date=20231209) --------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright (c) 2023 theSkimm, All rights reserved. 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