The Christmas Cottage

Christmas has come and gone but I wanted to finally show you what I have been working on since early November.  It was intended to be  Christmas present for my sister and her family, but it did not get done in time.  Luckily, she moved into a new house last week so I finally gave it to her as a housewarming present this past weekend.  I wanted to show is sooner on the blog but since she reads it from time to time, I didn't want to ruin the surprise.

So, at last, The Christmas Cottage....

I used Greenleaf's Primrose cottage which was at one time intended to be used as an extension to the Laurel that I bought before I discovered the wonders of craigslist!  (The Laurel will now be simply made and donated to my kids school auction.)

 I love how some people have bashed this cottage but I wasn't that adventurous and just added an egg carton fireplace siding and fishtale shingles which I had for my Craiglist Strawberry Patch but won't be using...

 A simple cottage with just a sitting room and bedroom...

The bedroom...

 The shelf is the top of a Michael's hutch (the bottom is the dresser in the Daydream Cottage.)  The little toys I stole from our Christmas decorations.  I added a baseball bat and a framed bicycle to give the room more of a boys feel in honor of her husband and son.   The picture is  of the three of them on Christmas day...

 

 The insides of a Christmas music box that I tore apart.  It is a train and little village...

A simple white stocking...

The sitting room...

 Presents under the tree. (Bottle brush and Lycopodium tree)...

 The fireplace with mini glitter houses and a Beauty and the Beast picture (my sister is a big Disney fan. The card in the foreground is my families Christmas Card...

Chair made by me. Michael's Hutch in the background...

Shabby Chic table (a la Liberty Biberty) with champagne cork legs.   The Santa mugs are just like the ones my sister and I used as kids. From Minikitz painted by me.

I tried to use furniture I had already.  The rocking chair is from the furniture that came with my Strawberry Patch Craiglist buy and painted white.

 A messy wire wreath Christmas card holder (my wire work needs some work.)

 A miniature of a painting I gave my sister for Christmas.  It is by Janet Hill.  I love her work and own five of her paintings.  I think she somewhat inspired my miniature work. Her interiors are wonderful.

 

 I added three different battery operated lights. The fireplace and the tree (the battery packs are hidden under the house. And some colored lights on the front (battery pack hidden in the ceiling.) The lights are a combination from Minikitz and Evans Designs...

 

I envisioned the exterior as a dark green from the beginning (my sister's favorite color is Green.) I also knew I wanted to keep the interior palate mostly white with red accents. I found inspiration in  Les Carnets de l'atelier Blondie's Scandinavian Christmas Room and Three Pixie Lane's Swedish Christmas decor.  Though I touch with the red and other colors was a bit more heavy handed than their calm and serene environments!

This was a lot of fun.  I burned out on minis after Christmas but the last week of putting this house together has peaked by interest again!

A little Daydreaming...

The other day I turned the Daydream Cottage around so that a young visitor could check it out.  I was a sunny day and I liked how the light was coming through the windows.  Just a few shots since I haven't posted is no long...

The door is off its hinges!

Christmas Swap: What I made...

This is what I made for Maria Narbon during Caterina's International Holiday Swap!

A FALL wreath. 

 

A Christmas Hutch.  Started with a Michael's hutch and added to it.  I used Carolyn's Little Kitchen Tutorial on waterslide decals to make the plates (the pictures are the first three days of Christmas).  The jug is from Marlies Minies. The Candy Canes and Santa Mug are from MiniKitz.

  

This is a little pull toy.  I left this for the last minute so it was kind of rushed.  I used the same decals that I used for the plates earlier.  This swap was a lot of fun.  Can't wait to do another!

International Christmas Swap

 Christmas has come and I finally got to open my International Swap gift from MiniMumm:

Such wonderful little treasures!

She even included some little gifts for my two boys:

 

So very thoughtful.  Thank you MiniMumm from my boys and me!

Thanks Caterina for organizing such a fun swap!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

To all our miniature Friends,

Merry Christmas!

 With Warmest Wishes, 

Heather, Emerson and her Saint Lucia Day Friends!*

*Saint Lucia Day Friends made from a kit I bought a few years ago from Alicia Paulson at "Posie Gets Cozy".

The New Upstairs Downstairs...

I'm sure I'm not the only one very excited about the return of Upstairs/Downstairs. You lucky British get to see it  starting on Boxing Day! In the US, we have to wait until April.

 I loved this series when I discovered it about 10 years ago.  I've watched it several times since. I particularly liked watching the sets and costumes change over the passing years to reflect the times.  I thought of reviewing the last episodes when I started working on the 1930s Townhouse, but realized that the shows timeline ended in about 1930.

But it looks as though I've got my wish.  The new series starts off in 1936! Just where I'm setting the townhouse!  Can't wait!

Christmas Miniatures?

Having twin boys born on Christmas makes for a very busy December. 

Since I don't have any current minis to show, I thought I'd show you some Christmas decorations that are sort of mini!

A couple of years ago, my son was obsessed with Nativity Scenes.  I didn't want to splurge on something that would probably get some wear and tear so I created my own from half a Michael's birdhouse various wood pieces, a little paint, felt and glitter...

(oops didn't notice that the star had fallen over)

The three wise men

Some angels and livestock

I have been making some minis but most of my time has been spent planning a Harry Potter birthday party for one of my boys (they've decided this is the year to have separate parties.)  I must say that I've been having a lot of fun researching for the party and making wands and robes.  This may inspire some future Harry Potter minis!