Caterina's Holiday Swap

For the second time I participated in Caterina's Holiday Swap.  I received my swap gift from Antonia at Minicositas.  She makes beautiful food and these treats are no exception.  Thank you Antonia!

My swap gift went to Eliana of Terros dos Gigantes:

Thank you Caterina for organizing!

Happy Holidays and this and that...

Happy Holidays!

My son wanted a tree for his house, so I threw this one together for him.  It's made out of evergreen piper cleaners.

Miniature Nativity Scene from Michael's craft store Ornaments

A wonderful picture that my son drew for me after my last post.

A car from Napa's Candlelight tour of Craftsman homes.

Mini Skulls

Taking a clue from our real life Halloween decorations, I turned some mini skulls from Michael's into glitter skulls.  I will add these to my Halloween house which I should be able to show you shortly!

A Year and a Giveaway, finally...

I've been wanting to do this for so long!  I thought the year anniversary of this blog would be a good time to do a giveaway.

I have really enjoyed my last year of creating miniatures, blogging about it and being inspired by all the wonderful miniaturists out there.

All you need to do is be a follower and leave a comment!  I'll pick the winner on May 26th.  The one-year anniversary of my blog!

Thank you!

Giveaway

Shabby Chic Window/Mirror (made by me using a Michael's hutch door, some trim and mirror materials)

An Orchid (made by me using this tutorial found at My Small Obsession)

A nest (made by me using this tutoriall that I first saw referenced on Otterine's site)

The Three little bears...

 

I've been working on the entry of the Glam 1930's townhouse.  I have all the elements it's just a matter of getting to work!  

As I'm working, I've been trying to figure out a table for the entry.  I built the above console from a kit.   I thought it might be too large for the space so Emerson (baby bear sized at 5 inches) and a glamorous visitor (papa bear sized at 5.8 inches) are checking it out...

Maybe a little big...

 And a smaller dollar store find for reference...

Maybe a bit too small...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hmmm.  I think the key is a Momma sized one somewhere in the middle!

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!

A couple of dolls and what's next...

When I made my son his little girl doll, I played around with a couple of other dolls. My first attempt at a baby...

a friend for Emerson...

And the beginnings of an older gentleman...

All of these were made by using a Sculpey push mold to start.  With a little more practice I should be able to attempt some from scratch!

I'm itching to move on to my next dollhouse project. 

When I started the daydream cottage I bought a Greenleaf Laurel/Primrose kit to make a contemporary family home.  Since then I acquired the Strawberry Patch which I envision turning into a townhouse inhabited by a glamorous actress or artist!  Then yesterday (don't tell my husband) I acquired 3 new kits. Greenleaf's Harrison and two old kits from S/W Crafts called the Victorian Stucco Cottage and The Lakeside Manor.  They were a great deal on Craigslist ($75 for all three!)

So now my plans have changed.  I think the Lakeside Manor will be a contemporary family home. I'll do a simple build on the Laurel and donate it to the family auction at my kid's school.  The Victorian will become a "Practical Magic" type witches house and the Harrison will become the home of Miss Marple type who has traveled the world.

But where to start and where will I put all these houses!!  The possibilities are endless.

I'm off for a week in the mountains.  I'll have plenty of time to think about it!

A little girl doll...

My son wanted a little girl doll for the Ponderosa. Still a little heavyhanded with the paint. But I like how she turned out.  She is sitting with a basket I made using this tutorial at Bricolages & Compagnie.


I'm taking the kids to see their grandma for a few days.  I am trying to think of what mini-making items I can bring along.  I might try my hand at some needepoint using these books.  I should be able to bring everything I need if I keep it simple!

A chair and goodies

I find that I've been trying out all of the wonderful tutorials that I come across in blogland.  Hopefully the experience of creating these wonderful miniatures will help me to come up with some original ideas!

A few weeks ago, I tried out the Louis XVI chair from Lea Frisoni's beautiful blog.  I was very happy with the results except I've somehow lost the fabric for the arm rests in my pseudo craft room:

This will go in the Daydream cottage living room. 

I was excited to receive today in the mail an order from Carolyn's Kitchen esty store.  I was so intrigued by the recent giveaway on her blog that I had to order these two little dishes and the metal picture for the daydream cottage...

They are so sweet and came so fast from New Zealand to California!  Thanks, Carolyn, for the great service!

Making minis...

My first attempts at making furniture and other little bits.

A bed for daydream cottage. Roughly made from leftover scraps from the house kit and a hack saw...

A chair made from the Jennifer's Printables tutorial.  Originally for the daydream cottage, but may end up elswhere.  And the first attempt at a mini jug and mug made from paper which I first saw on Liberty Biberty...

And the second try, a little neater. On top of an augmented Michael's Hutch...

The little jugs are very addictive!