Happy Easter 2019!

Happy Easter!

I made the one Easter basket out of coffee stirrers and cut a strip from a paint color sample card for the yellow handle. 

The crayoning book and crayons are the pre-order gift for ordering The Book of Mini by @dailymini. I bought the pink Easter basket at the First Annual Garden State Dollhouse and Miniatures Show in New Jersey last weekend (so much fun!) from the table of Whimsies Dollhouse Shop.

I also made the little bunny and purple bowl of eggs out of polymer clay - as you can undoubtedly tell. Unfortunately, the bunny's ear broke and the pen color smeared when I glazed it, but I still like it.

I bought that fabulous red lamp in the corner from Mitchy Moo Miniatures. It fits my living room perfectly.

The distressed truck with the bunny and eggs is from Mini Fun Times on Etsy. 

Yummy, yummy cookies. I bought these from Little Things by Anna.

The bakery has been busy baking spring cakes. I received this cake as a swap gift from one of the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts Online swap. I think that the theme was spring. It's so beautiful. My photograph does not really do it justice. It has very shiny chocolate frosting.

The bakery has made a varied selection of cakes and cupcakes from which to choose!

I made the cake in the middle out of polymer clay from a tutorial in The Dolls House Magazine, although I did make the flowers a little too big. The cupcakes in the front are from HBS Miniatures and the cupcakes to the left are from Ruth Stewart. My daughter bought the little lamb cake at the chldren's table at the IGMA show. 

Now the bakery is busy making bunny cookies:

(also bought at the show from Whimsies Dollhouse Shop)

Meanwhile Waterside Way Apartment 2 managed to find and put out its Easter egg wreath.

Hope you all enjoy your Easter or your Sunday!

Making Tulips

The National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts is having an online house party with the theme of  "Around the World in 8 Days."

It includes a swap where the theme is visiting various countries around the world. I decided to participate in the swap because I could make tulips as a gift from The Netherlands.

I combined two tutorials.

The blog My Small Obsession has a brilliant Paper Tulip tutorial.  And the UK magazine Dollshouse and Miniature Scene had a tulip tutorial by Marianne Cook in the April 2017 issue. I had printed it out in 2017 and kept it as a project To Do.

My Small Obsession uses coffee filters for the paper. And she uses a regular hole punch to punch circles.  I love when tutorials use supplies that I have around the house! I shaped the punched circles on an eraser or foam pad using a ball stylus.

Then I followed the advice of Marianne Cook and dipped the 50 mm wires into yellow paint. (That seemed easy). Per Cook, I added three brown threads around the "pistil."

Then I took three shaped petals and put them around the pistil, spaced evenly. When those dried, I added another three petals overlapping.

Then I cut the leaves as directed. I wrapped them around the bottom of the wire.

Once dry, I stuck each flower into self-drying clay in a bead. And luckily, since I had to make 18 items for the swap, one tulip looked lovely in the bead.

And off I mailed my 18 tulips. I should receive 15 swap items back in May (I think). I can't wait. I'll show you the swap packages when I receive them.

The Cook tutorial also suggests painting each petal for that tulip look, so I tried that with one tulip. I am definitely tempted to try to make more in this style.

Have a great weekend!!

The Cool Beans Coffee/Tea Shop

Several years ago, the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts (NAME) Online Group had a swap with the theme of tea/coffee. So ever since then, I've been intending to create a coffee/tea shop and I've been diligently collecting items for it.

 I decided to create a very small shop inside this container I bought from Michael's (on its side)--before I collect anymore--because there's no more space :). I also wanted to practice building a small kitchen because next I want to work on my restaurant kitchen.

As you can see, Tom the builder is quite busy thinking up ideas in his office.  One idea seems to have thrown him to the side in shock!

First, I made the back counter, using tips from Creating Dolls' House Kitchens in 1/12th scale by Julie Warren. 

I made the refrigerator separately using plastic acrylic from packaging and stainless steel drawer and shelf lining purchased on Amazon. I still need to add the handle.

(The Cool Beans sign is from aweebitteeny from the Chicago Three Blind Mice show-I think. The electric kettle is from Delph Miniatures, purchased in London; the box of tea is from Cinen Miniatures purchased on Etsy. The tiles were purchased from KES Miniatures at the Shelly Norris online show. The cow creamer/pitcher were purchased online from the store Dollhouses and More. The coffee maker was purchased on Ebay.)

I put some painted brickwork (purchased from HBS miniatures) as a backsplash and glued in the tiles. 

I also made the faucet using jewelry findings and various other findings around the house, but I wouldn't recommend my method as the pen spring part kept making my parts spring apart and I should've been wearing safety glasses.

I added the front counter. The brass and copper hot water pot is from Denmark, as we chanced upon a store selling several shelves of dollhouse items while on vacation there. I was super excited to find it!

(The Lipton tea and other teas on the shelf is from Sue's Little Things on Ebay. The cake is from Cspykersminiatures on Etsy.)

I added a top shelf for more of the coffee items that I had. 

I also found various dessert items from NAME online group swaps and put those in the front cabinet.

Here's a close-up of those items:

I found this potholder at the little show in Denver (sold by David's Dollhouse). It matches the colors of the tiles perfectly.  That was my subconscious working :)

(The yellow teapot is by Ginger Landon Siegel and the British flag tea pot is from Dollshouse Emporium. The tea cup clock is from Otterine (I think).)

I then added some signs I've collected:

And I managed to add the aprons I made. One apron has a tea theme, the other has a coffee theme. 

For the swap, I gave the coffee with whip cream, a coffee-themed apron and a pillow. (I was thinking of a coffee shop like on Friends, but unfortunately, I haven't figured out yet how to add my "coffee" pillows to the scene.)

And the latest iteration:

It's not done yet, but it's getting there.  

Have a great weekend!

Purchases from the "little" show in Denver

Luckily, I was able to attend the Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls and Toys "little" dollhouse show while on vacation in Denver. Unfortunately I didn't receive a show catalogue, so I can't find the names of all the artisans that I bought from.

Here are my purchases: 

The christening dress is by Bobbie Johnson (Etsy shop: BobbieJMinis).

Plus this roombox - I was so thrilled to find this (and it was still small enough that it could fit in my handbag on the plane:

I am thinking about making shelves on the white wall, and then putting my little 1/144 dioramas there. They'd be protected and I could look at them quite happily.

And all this fabric for $2.00.  

The flowerbox found a perfect spot in front of my bakery door. 

More flowers from the same artisan (I wish her name had been on the receipt because I'm so happy with these):

And then I bought these little puffy stickers from one person and stuck them on a cookie tray I bought from David's Dollhouse.

The potholder from David's Dollhouse unexpectedly matched my  backsplash tiles in my little coffee/tea cafe, so that was exciting:

Have a great week!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

We made the roses and the box of chocolates in my Big Apple Miniaturists meeting this past weekend. The roses are from an Artistic Florals kit and the heart-shaped box of chocolates is a Dragonfly International kit  (CB201) which came with the fimo chocolates pre-prepared. 

Watch out little kitty, those glasses might fall over.  The glasses are from a NAME online group swap.

It's the morning after and they are making banana pancakes in their pajamas! 

They've got some wild hair! I need to find a brush for them.

I made the pajama pants from a tutorial in  the Dolls' House Magazine.  I still miss that magazine. They had a couple similarly styled in the top and bottom as the picture for the tutorial (although they were not cooking food).

 (The making pancakes is from Artistique on Etsy. The spice rack, soap dispenser and little pasta bag is from Alma de Jonge from www.handmademiniaturesbyalma.com. The kitchen is from Elf Miniatures. The green tea pot is from TYA Kitchen.  The tulips in the can are from Artistic Florals. I made the mint and parsley plant from a tutorial in the Dolls House Magazine.)

Here's another picture of the roses in their greenery:

Happy Valentine's Day!

Making Valentine's Day Cookies

A closer look: 

Hope everyone is having a good week!

Gung Hay Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year!

I volunteer at my son's public school library periodically - I like to help the children find books to read. 
One of the head moms who volunteers asked me to make a Chinese New Year exhibit, because they liked the Polar Express train exhibit I made.

I took out a book from the library to learn about the Chinese New Year traditions. Fun!

I found a picture of cherry blossoms on the internet to put in the background because the Chinese New Year celebrates the coming of spring, signified by cherry blossoms.

Here's close-up of the final feast table. I made the dumplings with the sauce, the oranges, the whole fish, and the rice (too large - I'm not patient enough). And I made the flowers.

The dumplings in the bamboo containers are from Thailand. 

The wonton soup and egg rolls are Carolyn's Miniature Creations here.

 Here is some of the text to explain the pyramid of oranges and the use of red:

"Houses are filled with flowers and fruit.

Families display pyramids of oranges and apples.

The Chinese believe red and orange are colors of joy.

You will see the colors of joy everywhere at the Chinese New Year Festival."

And here is the text explaining the whole fish: 

"The Chinese like to feature whole steamed fish on the menu of their New Year’s feasts. Said to signify togetherness, abundance and long life, it’s a dish with symbolism that is as important as taste. Indeed, you’re supposed to leave the bones, head and tail intact, a way to help ensure that the new year will be a winner from beginning to end." I also read that you should leave some leftovers to symbolize a surplus in the year ahead.

I made the noodle dish (with green onions) from polymer clay. Long noodles symbolize longevity.

I made a little window in the room because at midnight the windows are opened to allow good luck to enter the house.

I made a little dress out of red cloth because people like to wear new clothes on the first day of the year.

Here's the Polar Bear Express train exhibit made from a shoe box, oatmeal container, and the little square box minis often ship in :). Our school librarian added some more to it, so it looked even more official. 

Here's the exhibit in progress, before I finished making all the food for the feast. The Chinese characters on the scrolls carry messages of Good Health, Luck, Long Life, Prosperity and Happiness. The broom is because the house is cleaned before the new year as a way of saying good-bye to the old year and preparing for the new year.

I was in the library today to pick up a book and I watched third-graders stop and gather around to look at the exhibit. It made me so happy. 

Happy Chinese New Year!