I can’t remember who first introduced me to Michelle, but I have been smitten with her writing, her life on a farm, and her too-adorable-for-words dollhouse decor, sewing projects, and whimsical illustrations ever since.
If you’re ever having a bad day or just need a little extra joy in your life, I highly recommend heading over to Michelle’s blog. Her tagline is: A happy place of sewing and drawing. Well, I can neither sew nor draw, but I want to assure you neither is a prerequisite for falling in love with her creations. Not convinced? Check out her recent pint-sized Halloween party. If dollhouses aren’t your thing (if not, why?), she writes books! Reading not your thing? She sews!
She is basically a real-life embodiment of Mary Poppins. I would not be at all surprised if she has a magic carpet bag…
Without further ado. Welcome, Michelle!
Q. What aspect of your current life would most surprise 20-year-old Michelle?
Twenty-year-old Michelle would be very surprised that I married a rancher and stayed in Montana. At 20, I couldn’t wait to see the world, and once I saw some of it, I couldn’t wait to go back home. I’m so glad my life turned out the way it has! [Aww. This is just such a lovely sentiment and a wonderful thing to be able to say at this point in your life.]
Q. Do you have a go-to reset when you’re feeling overwhelmed or struggling to stay focused?
A 15-minute nap. I’m a big believer in naps! If I can’t have a nap, then I guess it’s coffee. [In my opinion, naps are very, very underrated.]
Q. What was your favourite purchase (under $200) so far in 2024?
I got a Buffy Wiggle Pillow, and I love it! It’s a super-long, soft, flexible pillow that can be used in many different ways. It’s so versatile and cozy. [I’m intrigued…]
Q. If you could eat only one meal on repeat for a week, what would you choose?
Scrambled eggs and toast. I’m so happy you showed me how to make scrambled eggs in the microwave! [You are most welcome!]
Q. Did you have a dollhouse growing up? What sparked your interest in all things miniature? How do you decide how to design each room?
I didn’t have a dollhouse as a child, but I did have lots of dolls and stuffed toys. My interest in miniatures was a surprise to me. I saw a dollhouse bookshelf on Amazon when I was looking for something else. As soon as I saw it, I couldn’t stop thinking about it! About a month later, I gave in and ordered it. Then I was fed advertising for all the cutest miniature items, and how could I resist? They’re not expensive, and they’re so adorable. The room designs have just developed naturally and are very flexible. I like to change and rearrange things.
Q. What’s your favourite art form – illustrations, sewing, etc?
You opened up a can of worms with this question! I love sewing bags, dolls, wall hangings, table runners, etc. I have a dedicated sewing room, and I spend a lot of time in there! I used to sew my clothes, but that’s not as fun. And I don’t enjoy mending or hemming!
I also love to draw. I love drawing on my iPad with an Apple Pencil, but I also love drawing with physical materials. Colored pencils and markers are my favorite supplies. I often use my drawings to design fabric at Spoonflower.com and then I sew with it!
Q. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Spam. Spam phone calls, emails, and blog comments! Aarg!
Q. If you could snap your fingers and have all the capabilities necessary to excel in any career or hobby (e.g. if your wish was to be a famous rockstar, you’d magically have the necessary vocal/instrumental skills), what would you choose and why?
When I was younger, I wished I could be a figure skater! If I could have the agility, flexibility, and grace, I’d choose that! [Me too! I can still remember crying in the bathtub one Saturday night after we got home from the rink because my parents wouldn’t/couldn’t afford to put me in figure skating lessons. I now realize my un-flexible and stocky body type would not have been conducive to figure skating, but it was heartbreaking at the time!]
Q. List five things that would happen as part of your idealized “perfect day”.
1. A good night of sleep, waking up refreshed and energized.
2. Time spent reading, sewing, and drawing.
3. Good food.
4. Time outside with gorgeous weather.
5. Time with my favorite people and pets.
Q. If you could only wear one colour for the rest of your life, which colour would you choose?
Turquoise.
Q. Did you have any pets as a child?
Yes, I always had dogs and cats. I also had a big white rabbit named Yoda. He was a BEAST! People think rabbits are nice, docile creatures—but not Yoda. He would squeal if I tried to pick him up and kick me with his big back feet. I took him to the fair for my 4H project, and he won a blue ribbon! [Yoda sounds terrifying.]
Q. If you were doing it for fun – and money was no object/didn’t factor into your decision – what would your dream job be?
At this point – retired! I’ve had several jobs over the years, but my favorite was being a librarian. I was the assistant director of my small town’s library for 13 years. It involved a lot of dealing with the public, which wore me down. The part I loved most was cataloging and processing books. If I had my dream library job, it would be doing that. [I’ve dreamed of applying for a job at my local library, but I wouldn’t want to have to make small talk with people, so I concur on this one!]
Q. How and when did you meet your husband?
We met at Montana State University, and he lived in my apartment complex. He asked me on a date, and I said no – and then I changed my mind and asked him on a date! And he said yes! Meeting him was the best thing that ever happened to me, and we’ve been married for 30 years. [Cue the collective awwwwwww from everyone reading.]
Q. What is your favourite time of day?
I used to say mornings – but my mornings have gotten so early that they’re technically in the middle of the night! I generally get up at 3:00 a.m., drink tea, read blogs, email, etc. [That is so early, Michelle! You and Coco and Kyria and SHU would get along famously…]
Q. Tell us something about your personality you think might surprise readers!
I don’t think anyone would be surprised to know that I’m quiet and socially awkward. I need a lot of time alone. I’m an extreme introvert! Blogging is a good fit for me because it’s socializing without socializing!
Q. If you had a warning label, what would yours say?
Make sure she’s not hungry!
Q. Favourite book/song/movie of all time?
Book: Anne of Green Gables
Song: She’s Got the Look (Roxette)
Movie: The Wedding Singer
Q. Savoury or sweet?
Sweet. I didn’t eat sugar or carbs for over 20 years, and I’ve certainly made up for it this year. Actually, I’ve noticed that I’m starting to calm down on the sugar now that I know it’s “allowed” in my life.
Thank you, Elisabeth! I’m so honored that you asked me to be a guest on your blog.
Wasn’t that fun? Thanks for adding whimsy and delight into our Monday, Michelle.
Your turn. Any questions for Michelle? Have you (or do you still) own a dollhouse? Does anyone else live on a farm? I also met my spouse at university – what about you?
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Kyria @ Travel Spot
I love this post, and I found out a few things about Michelle that I did not know! It is currently 4:30 am here I am a drinking coffee and reading blogs! Twinsies! As you know, Michelle, I love your little dollhouses. My Dad made me a dollhouse when I was a kid and it is lovely and I think my parents still have it in their garage! I don’t think I had very many accessories though, and I definitely did not have ones as cool as you do! I am still in awe at the tiny water bottle that you showed in your Where Do You Keep It post. PS I am not 100% sure, but I think that Michelle found me, and I am so glad!! Isn’t it cool that we can just pop over into someone’s space and say hello without knowing them, which is something that I think a lot of us would have a hard time doing in person!
Elisabeth
I knew you’d approve of her wakeup time 😉
That’s so sweet your dad made you a dollhouse! And sweet they still have it!
Michelle G.
Kyria, I’m thinking you were a guest on someone’s blog, and that’s how I found you. Could that be right? I’m glad I did find you because you do so many cool things!
Nicole MacPherson
MICHELLE!!!! Michelle is one of my favourite people on the internet. I adore her. Whenever I’m feeling blue or need a pick me up, I go to her blog where I’ve bookmarked all her dollhouse posts, and I just stare at them for a while. She’s such a light! I took figure skating lessons as a kid and while I wasn’t good at it, I still love to skate. Also, my first “real” job after babysitting was working as a page in the library. I shelved books!
This was SO great to read! I can’t sew or draw, and I love seeing Michelle excel at both.
Elisabeth
Nicole, I knew you would be in raptures of delight. I mean…what not delightful about this post and Michelle and he dollhouses!! I cannot wait until Christmas things drop in doll world.
It’s fun seeing someone else excelling in an area one knows little about; I feel zero pressure to hone the skills of sewing or drawing, so I can just admire her abilities and cheer her on.
Michelle G.
Thank you, Nicole! You’re one of my favourite (with a u) people on the internet too! ❤️
Michelle G.
Awww, thank you, Elisabeth! ❤️
Julia
I used to sew some as a teenager- I mostly liked to make small purses and bags. But I haven’t done it in years! And nothing nearly as intricate as what Michelle is making. It is fun to see her projects!
I do live on a small farmette; we have chickens and two cows. I don’t really consider myself a farmer, though, and certainly not a rancher! It is much more on the hobby level.
Michelle- it sounds like you grew up on or near ranches? Did someone teach you how to sew, or are you self- taught?
Elisabeth
I’ve never heard of a farmette! That seems both adorable and like such a helpful term to qualify scale!
Michelle G.
Julia, nice to meet you! My mom taught me how to sew, plus I also took sewing lessons in 4H. I also love sewing bags. I was obsessed with bags until I discovered dolls!
Jenny
Ooh! I’ve heard people raving about Michelle and her dollhouse posts for a while now- obviously I need to head over to her blog! This was a fun guest post. I like naps; I would not like getting up at 3:00 am (when do you go to bed, Michelle??)
Love the black cat : )
Elisabeth
In my small group at church yesterday someone suggested we spend our hour testing silence/solitude (what the message was about) by taking naps. I would not have been opposed (and came home and promptly took a 1-hour nap!)
Michelle G.
Jenny, I do go to bed ridiculously early – about 7:00. It happened a couple of years ago when my husband was night-calving. We got our sleep schedule messed up, and this is what stuck! 🤣
Elisabeth
When I was growing up we lived next to a milkman (back when they did morning deliveries). They got up at 2:30 am (2:30!!!!) so he could start his rounds. His wife always got up with him and her house was always spotless. She had basically lived a whole day before most people got up. They went to bed very early, too.
If I happened to wake up in the middle of the night, I always made a point of looking over to their house and, sure enough, the lights would always be on.
Cattis
Wow, I’m totally checking out Michelles blog after this! You’re so talented, Michelle! I love the quilt in the post and those pigs too 🐷 if I could do whatever I wanted I would be a miniature pig farmer! My dad has a farm and my mum was a librarian (and her mother to actually). When I was younger I used to skip classes and go to the library and read instead, what can I say I’m cool like that 😆
Elisabeth
If you’re gonna skip class…that’s about the best excuse out there 😉
Michelle G.
Thank you, Cattis! You are so cool, skipping class to go to the library! Miniature pigs are adorable.
Michelle G.
That’s so nice! ❤️
Birchie
I would love to work in a library! It would be like an alcoholic working at a bar, but still…
My two favorite Michelle creations are her drawing of the “pepper pot” lighthouse at Port Clinton and her “where do you keep that?” for the dollhouse!
Michelle G.
Thank you, Birchie! ❤️When I worked at the library, I had the first choice of anything new. It was overwhelming at times! 🤣
NGS
I have a documented dislike of rabbits and Yoda is not making me reconsider my stance.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but 3am is NOT A REAL TIME. It’s a black hole of time in which EVERYONE SHOULD BE SLEEPING.
Michelle G.
Thank you, Birchie! ❤️When I worked at the library, I had the first choice of anything new. It was overwhelming at times! 🤣
Michelle G.
Engie, Yoda definitely would’ve only added to your dislike of rabbits! He was terrible but beautiful. Ha! Ha! 3 Am is a black hole! 🤣
Elisabeth
I agree. I think anybody who wants to get up before 6 am is…well, let’s just say I have thoughts about them. Sigh. But there are too many wonderful bloggers who get up in the middle of the night that I guess I need to rethink my stance. I WISH I could be someone that got up at that time. Alas, the world would be a very unhappy place for the people that have to live near me if I regularly got up at that time!
Lisa's Yarns
It’s nice to meet you, Michelle! You are so talented! We are kind of opposites in terms of our talents. You are very right-brained/creative, I’m extremely left-brained and have literally no artistic ability (I am not understating this…). I can do artsy things if I can follow directions, like knitting for example. But I couldn’t make up my own pattern. So I am always in awe of people who can draw, paint, sew, create, etc.
I was set up with my husband on a blind date by his co-worker that I went to college with. She told him I was a math major and that was very intriguing to him.
Eggs + toast is my go to breakfast as long as I’m not running! That’s what I had today and I made my eggs in the microwave, too!
Michelle G.
Thank you so much, Lisa! I really admire left-brain thinkers, and my husband is one of them. I am a disaster with math and numbers, but my husband is a human calculator. When sewing requires fractions (why can’t we move to metric?!) I rely on my husband to help me figure it out!
Tobia | craftaliciousme
This was such a fun read. I love all the cow photos Michelle had with her. I would love to stroll the pastures and see them in real life. Sigh…
And that cool house eis just amazing. I am in awe with all the fun little parties happing in here.
Thank you for hosting Elisabeth and thank you Michelle for the glimpses in your life.
Michelle G.
Thank you, Tobia! ❤️
iHanna
Love this interview series! It’s really nice to learn new stuff about the bloggers we read.
I love minatures too, but have no room for a dollhouse or I’d have gotten myself a village of houses to decorate! 💕
Cheers from Sweden 🇸🇪
Michelle G.
Elisabeth writes such nice interviews and helps connect all of us bloggers. I’ve met so many bloggers through her.
Elisabeth
Awww. As always, you’re too kind, Michelle <3
Kristen | The Frugal Girl
3:00 am??? HOLY MOLY. What time do you go to bed?
I’m an early bird but not that early. lol
Elisabeth
I’m with NGS that 3:00 am is not actually a real time! But imagine how many hours of consecutive quiet there would be getting up at 3 am. I will just have to imagine. No way I’m going to regularly get up at that time!
Michelle G.
I go to bed around 7:00. I know – it’s an odd schedule, but I actually like it!
Melissa
What a fun post. I love looking at miniature things. While I was in Paris, I went to a shop that had all sorts of things for doll houses. So cute! I did have a doll house when I was a child, but it was nothing like this. What is it about arranging little things in a little house, that is so enjoyable?
Michelle G.
Hi Melissa, a shop dedicated to dollhouse miniatures sounds like a dream come true!
Ernie
Great to meet you, Michelle. I like to sew, too. I don’t have a dedicated sewing room, and I’m envious of yours. Maybe when the kids are grown and we have a spare room. I don’t sew very often anymore – I used to sew a lot of Halloween costumes. Those are very forgiving, but now my kids are older so not as many excuses to make costumes. Your projects, especially the stuffed animals are so cute. And you live on a ranch, which I find so interesting – but the waking up when it’s still dark out? That wouldn’t suit me at all. BTW – I’m in total agreement with you . . . there’s nothing quite like a quick nap, and I’m a sweet tooth too. The doll houses are amazing. My question is do you sell the doll houses that you create, or do you have a collection of them, or do you create various scenes in one or two doll houses?
Michelle G.
Nice to meet you, Ernie! I only have this one dollhouse, just for me, just for fun. I enjoy redecorating, especially for the holidays. I don’t have plans to buy more dollhouses or sell them; this one is delightful enough! I’m sure it’ll keep me entertained for years, and if I get tired of it, I’ll probably donate it to our local thrift shop. Wouldn’t that be a fun find for someone?!
Elisabeth
As a frequent thrifter, I can safely say whoever might find your dollhouse one day will be both thrilled (and lucky). What a fun find indeed.
Grateful Kae
I don’t think I knew Michelle! What a fun post and introduction. I am WOW’ed by the 3 am wake up time!! haha. I do love the quiet dark of the early mornings though too.
Michelle G.
Hello Grateful Kate! Nice to meet you! It’s funny because I slept in until 4:30 today and I feel like I’m running behind!