Starting a new series....

Still on that different tack....

I have been subscribing to the Birchwood Club from Robin & Shaun Betterley, through Judith Dowden of 'In Some Small Way'.  So far I have received the 'taster' kit and the first five installments.  There seems to be a hold up with the sixth and final kit.

Last year I bought the 'Taster kit' - Percy's delivery wagon.  Percy is a grumpy turtle who collects scraps of fabric and dolls' clothes and delivers them to Edith the Fairy's little abode in the forest, where she sews them into clothes for the fairies.

This kit came complete with a lovely little badge, which I think I might attach somewhere near the cabinet when it is completed.

Each and every kit comes beautifully packaged, the taster kit with Percy's wagon coming in a brown paper bag with string handles, and a little story sheet giving some background of Percy and Edith.

The pieces are laser cut and the kit includes everything you need, including the Betterley's lovely artwork.  All that has to be supplied is paint, glue and varnish.

 

I wanted to wait until I had received more of the pieces before I started to construct anything, and they wouldn't start arriving until January this year.  So I put the little bag aside for several months.

The next installment was delayed by quite a long time.  When it arrived it had stickers all over it saying it had been opened by Australian Customs.  There was a note inside to say nothing had been removed, but they hadn't been any too particular when they packed it up after inspecting it.  This one had been packed in a paper bag, with a sweet sticker and tied with two colours of embroidery floss. 

I could see why it had roused some interest - it contained all sorts of things: some pebbles, landscaping materials, wire, water clay, beads, pins, fabric, lace - so many little bits that will be used for all the parts of the project.  The pieces for the mannequin were in this kit.  That is standing in the right side of the cabinet.

When kit #2 arrived, I realised just how badly

 re-packed the first one had been by customs - everything simply bundled back into the paper bag and the crumpled mess that it now was shoved back into the envelope and re-sealed and tagged with the customs tape.  This one is really plain - the plainest of them all in fact, but it is still packaged beautifully - so neat and the label giving it a really special touch.  And with each parcel being different there is the novelty of wondering what the next one will be like.   It is like receiving a gift, opening each one an adventure.  

Instalment #3 didn't have a pretty wrapping since it arrived in quite a largish box.  But it was still presented beautifully.  The box was lined with olive green tissue and contained the pieces for the cabinet, nestled in crinkled shredded brown paper.  Here is a photo of the cabinet that was included, sitting in the box.

I was tempted to start the project at this time but again it was delayed, and by then it was late March, and the Sydney Fair was approaching.  I had lots of things I wanted to prepare for the Fair and all my mini effort was devoted to that.  So the large box joined the small packages in the 'Birchwood' container on the shelf.

Below is a photo from the Betterley's site of the Birchwood cabinet, showing the rooms all furnished and completed.  The artwork is their usual high standard and having looked at the trimming in the cabinet kit, it is so delicate and beautifully done.

Installment #4 contained Edith's Fairy Bedroom.  It really gets the creative joices going.  It's so feminine and delicate.  Again it is in a paper bag, same as the rest.  This time it is tied with a sort of velvety ribbon, with a photo of the room on the front.

Isn't the bed gorgeous?  And there are bolts of lace, fabrics, boxes and bits that decorate the room as well.

That photo doesn't show the details very clearly, so here is a close-up of the picture at the top of the bag.  But I wanted to show you how beautifully it was packaged. 

If you visit Robin Betterley's Miniatures you can see how each of the four rooms on the left are decorated, and the exterior area on the right with the mannequin as well.

The final installment that I have received thus far, #5, is the Keeping Room/kitchen. 

This one has a bit extra on the front - a sprig of  lavender tied within the thread.  And there's a note saying to let it dry and put it into the drawer of the cabinet to give it a nice perfume.  My sprig was already thoroughly dried, and I love the smell of dried lavender.  I have carefully kept the sprig and any leaves that have become detached and will certainly add it to the drawer to perfume it all.

Here is a close-up of the note and the sprig of lavender. 

I said in my last post that I did the Birchwood Secret Book in an effort to get back my mojo.  I was blown away by the comments people left.  And you are so right, we don't have to apologise at all for our miniatures or the relief from stress that we can obtain from doing them. 

Today was a difficult day.  I wasn't looking forward to our visit to the nursing home and it was rather as I expected.  But I decided I was going to be kind to myself and to see whether starting on Birchwood would improve my spirits.  Last night I took out Percy's Wagon and started that and then went on with the cabinet.  This morning I continued with the cabinet and this is how much I've finished so far (left). 

I also started the mannequin, and have done quite a bit on that as well.  Bit of an accident though - it dropped on the floor when it had the tree branches in the top and one of them broke off.  I tried gluing it back on but it didn't take so I have to buy some super-glue and try again. I also need to get some more varnish.  I have satin and gloss but no matt - and of course that's the type I need. 

I'm not concentrating very well on it all.  I become distracted very easily and just go back to the computer and start doing a jigsaw or puzzle game, but at least I've started it.  And knowing that I want to share it with you gives me motivation to do it :)  So thank you!  I might not have my mojo back, but at least I can think about something else than worrying.  For that I am grateful.

Trying a different tack.....

Will it help get my mojo back?

When a family crisis of any kind hits, it certainly brings true priorities to the fore.  I have always found comfort in miniatures during times of stress but have to admit that at the moment I am struggling to keep my mind set on anything.  I am of course very concerned about our daughter Kirsten.  Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of the more successful cancers as far as treatment goes.  But when one has four young children to care for and has to undergo the far from pleasant process of any of the treatments it is difficult to put it mildly - not only physically but coping with the emotional issues on her side and the childrens' side as well.  I am naturally ready to hop in the car and go with the caravan to stay for an indefinite period to assist as much as possible as soon as she gives the word and have told her so.  She will let me know once we have a path of treatment mapped out from the doctors.

Then there is my mother who is in a Nursing Home.  I have felt so guilty ever since she had to move into there.  My husband and brother vetoed the idea of my nursing her here at home because I physically am unable to do it - her needs are too high and I have problems of my own.  But still the guilt persists, and her resentment persists too.  Her mind is sharp as a tack but her body is failing fast.  At the moment I am trying to visit her daily to get her on her feet with Peter's help, in order to improve her ability to stand and mobility.  For someone with a bad back this is taking a toll.  But the nursing staff are no longer able to do it because of OH&S and the only other alternative is a full lifter and she would no longer be able to use the toilet - this has implications that involve loss of dignity, total loss of any remaining mobility and independence, and of course everything that goes with that.  This is totally distressing for me as well as my mother.  And she is lashing out at everyone in her anxiety and frustration.

I have in fact lost my mojo regarding minis and when I try to find solace I end up just dithering.  And I find myself unable to participate in the groups at the moment, though I am still receiving emails and scanning some, doing my best to answer a few.  The other day I had a massage (I was a 'little tense' - wonder why???).  I have one every fortnight and believe me, they help!  Not relaxing though.  Gary is a 6'2" soccer player and he shows no mercy - gives me what my muscles need, not what I think I want vbg!  I always come home feeling spaced out and exhausted but it does really help.  After I recover! 

In the morning before I went I dug out the kit for the Secret Book that had arrived a couple of days prior.  I fiddled around a lot and it took me a long time - all morning in fact - but I did get the book and the cover assembled and painted before I left after lunch for my appointment.  These are the approximate size of a box of matches and are Robin Betterley's new release (www.robinbetterley.com).  There are 13 in the series, and a bookcase that holds 12 of them and has a display stand to go on top to hold the 13th, open for display.  Here is the exterior - sorry the photo of the spine isn't very clear, I need to take another photo.

Front cover

Back cover

And here is the interior.  First, showing the 'drawer' or secret book sliding out of the cover:

Then the two in the palm of my hands to show the size - it's very hard taking a photo with one hand and holding things with the other vbg.

Here's another view of the overall interior totally removed from the cover, in the palm of my hand:

And here is a close-up of the detail in the ground floor:

And the 1st floor:

As usual with anything from the Betterleys, all artwork and every little detail was supplied and the kit was beautifully presented.  The only things one need to supply are glue and paint.  As you can see above I didn't do a terribly good job of trimming the label on the lower side of the ribbon reel table - fortunately it doesn't show in real life.  My scissors just wouldn't trim any closer.  And after everything was glued into place I realised that I hadn't put in the pretty little rug that was supposed to go on the floor upstairs. But there is so much there that I don't think it is missed.  I will of course save it to use somewhere else.

It took me all afternoon and evening up until midnight or later to finish it off, but I was determined to do so.  I am reasonably pleased with the result but not totally.  It was more a matter of doing it to try and get inspired again rather than doing it because I was inspired.

I also dug out the Birchwood packs that I have received.  There is a hold-up of some kind with the 6th one, the last of the first series, but I have the rest.  I am wondering whether it will help if I start doing this series.  I know I am in the middle of so many Petite Properties things, and I have several other things from Debbie Young and also from Karen Benson, but perhaps a complete change of theme will get that old mojo back again.

Keep posted and we will see!

Visiting our family....

and the fluffball too....

We travelled to western NSW to visit our daughter Kylie and her family, and our younger daughter Kirsten and her family also visited later in the week.  We all wanted to have some time together before Kirstie had results of another aspiration biopsy of a lymph gland in her neck.  The tests have been going on for some time now and the Pathologist is fairly sure that she has Hodgkin's lymphoma. 

I knew that the fluffball would remember me, but I was surprised that she actually recognised the car - she ran out welcoming us, shivering with excitement and demanded attention before I even had time to greet my daughter and grandchildren vbg.  She is impossible to resist, jumping and barking and getting between you and the person you are trying to greet - I am sure she climbed to my waist while I was cuddling Kylie and the boys.  Once I picked her up she went straight to her usual place sitting in the crook of my left arm and putting her head near my shoulder, in between kissing me and wriggling lol.  This is a photo to the right of our farewell cuddle just before we left for home.

We had had an eventful trip, with another blown tyre on the caravan - again, one of the set of tyres we were given.  No fishtailing of the caravan or anything this time, just a soft clicking noise that I noticed but Peter couldn't hear.  I mentioned it, he stopped to investigate and this is the state of the tyre:

Isn't it beautiful?  But that's not the end of the story.  When Peter brought out his brand new, expensive jack - it would not work!  He hadn't tried it out when he bought it, and of course he has no idea where the receipt is.  So we had to ring Road Service, and once the new tyre was in place, it wouldn't move - the mechanic investigated and found that the rubber from the old tyre had wrapped itself around the axle and around the electric brake and we now had no electric brake on that wheel.  I am grateful that we had crossed over the mountains and also that our van has tandem axles!  We were a bit shattered by it all but now I give thanks to God for this incident.  Strange, you think?  Not at all - when Peter bought the new tyre and had it fitted, he had the other two tyres from the same source thoroughly checked.  They both still had plenty of tread on them but they both had tiny, tiny cracks in the wall!  If we had driven home on them they would have blown as well.

We had a great time with our family.  I would dearly love to put photos of my gorgeous grandchildren here but with things the way they are in this day and age I make it a policy that I don't do that.  There are six of them - four boys and two girls.  The most beautiful grandchildren in the world and I love them to bits.  The oldest, James, is 9, Cameron and his cousin Grace are 8, Luke and his cousin Chelsea are 4, and Michael is 20 months.  Our girls are both wonderful mothers.

We enjoyed a day by the river that runs through my son-in-law Ray sister's property.  You could see the damage from the floods earlier in the year and last year. The boys had been fishing the previous day and left lines in overnight.  They caught a catfish and  Cameron caught two Murray River cod, one about 15" long, one over 24" long.  He was so proud!  We had a big bonfire going, and a small fire of coals to barbecue our lunch.  And we had umbrellas for the intermittant rain lol!  We spent most of the day there until the rain decided to get a bit heavier and to set in.  Fluffy wasn't sure she liked the damp sand and decided my feet would be a good place to sit and keep warm and dry.  A sulphur-crested cockatoo was an interested spectator for part of the

time, along with other birdlife.  These are really commonplace for us but on my other blog you said to make sure to post photos of our birdlife Marlene in California, so I'm doing just that vbg.

Kylie, Kirsten and I spent some 'girl time' together doing craft shopping on Sunday while the grandchildren went on the ritual trip to the ten-pin bowling alley with Pa and son-in-law Jason (Kirstie's husband).  The girls and I enjoyed browsing through Spotlight to our hearts' content, then since Michael was asleep in the stoller I walked him around and around the large furniture shop next door while the girls browsed in peace - a rare treat for mothers of pre-schoolers. Tuesday was back-to-school after the winter school holidays so Kirsten's family returned home on Monday and we left on Tuesday. 

 Before we did though,  I was able to finish Kylie's

crochet rug that I started in September. I wanted to do a longer one for her than the previous one, so that it would cover her completely when she snuggled up on the lounge. And it's a good job that I did because the first one mysteriously disappeared. But Kylie loves this one too, and was delighted that I finished it in time to give it to her this visit.  That's her hiding behind the rug - isn't she photogenic lol?  Well, actually she is, very much so, but you cannot convince her of that!

The trip home was quite slow, raining or so foggy it was very limited visibility.  Temperatures ranged between 2-4 deg C all the way.  We were well on our way when we heard that the highway was closed just after Bathurst because of snow on the road.  That was the way we go, and we debated whether to keep going or detour and take the long route going down south and coming home via Cowra.  But there was no guarantee that it would not snow down there as well so we decided to keep going to Bathurst, stay overnight and consider options in the morning.  If necessary we could just stay at Bathurst until we could get through, though Nathan wasn't impressed that he wouldn't be able to go to work at the sheltered workshop where he has employment 3 days a week.  We assured him that they would understand and he rang them on the Wednesday to let them know what was happening. 

When we were settled in the caravan park, Peter went off for some milk and diesel.  The shop owner said it was only 2" of snow, but that people are stupid in the snow and don't drive sensibly.  The thing is of course, that unless we are visiting the snow country, or live where it does snow most of us don't have chains for our vehicles.  And unless you have the means of pumping up your tyres again, you can't deflate them either for safe driving.  We would have loved to have taken Nathan up the mountain to Oberon where snow was falling heavily, but after such a slow trip Peter was really tired and we weren't equipped for driving in the snow.  It is years since we have seen any, but now wasn't the time.

Next morning, after a lovely warm and cosy night's sleep, we heard that the roads had opened overnight so we set off.  Peter still drove with care - there were some residual patches of snow by the road under the trees, but nothing of significance and none in a position where we could stop and take a photo. We were thankful that we were tackling the slippery roads over the mountains with four good tyres and four working brakes on the caravan! 

And to finish here's another photo of my trusty lap-warmer, the very spoiled but  lovely Fluffy.  She really is a sweetie!  I am laughing here because every time I went to put her off my lap she clambered back on, kissing me and pawing at me and hanging on for dear life.  For sure she knew we were about to leave!

Cameron will be happy to have his dog back though!  She loves it when we are there because I let her sit on my lap and I don't hop up and down all the time - I indulge her seriously lol.

.

 

And another Welcome

....for Monika of Nostalgic Dolls (I hope my translate button worked correctly!).  Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me here in my little corner of mini-land.  I made a return visit to your blog and it is just lovely!  All you people who have such imaginative and creative blogs - I really want to do more with mine and must buckle down and do it, but there is are so many places to look to try and find just what I want.

I hope you will come back often and leave comments and feedback on my posts about my little efforts - little because at the moment I am working mainly in quarter scale.  I'd love to know just how you found my blog?  Perhaps you could leave a comment to tell me?  A. nd other people too - I'm really interested in how you all found 'me'.

However it was, I am truly honoured that you chose to visit and to sign on as followers.  Thank you one and all for doing that, and as you know I really love having feedback other than the 'hm that's okay' that I receive from my darling husband who I might add is wonderfully supportive in many ways but not very encouraging or forthcoming when it comes to comments :)  And I don't have many friends who are interested in miniatures that I actually see in the flesh, so my online mini life means a lot to me - as I know it does to so many of you too for the same reason.

.....and now it's 92!

Welcome Maria & Anna

How lovely to welcome two more Followers today.  Thank you both for visiting and for following.  I have had a look at both your blogs.  Maria, I have to say that you are most prolific in your making: when you do something you seem to do heaps of the one thing and each one is just so lovely!  Anna, I had a look at your blog too and it is delightful - you seem not to have posted for a while, which is a shame.  I want to explore both of the blogs further because they both have so many interesting things on them and they are both really attractive blogs.  It makes me even more honoured that you have visited my humble offering when I see the beautiful blogs that others have. 

Sandra, not only do we have the same name but we shorten our names with the same spelling too lol!  I visited your blog too and it is beautiful.  Love the background you have chosen, and I have left some answers (sorry they are so long winded) to some of the questions you ask on it.  Hopefully they will help but thank you you for your email and please feel free to email at any time.

I know I haven't updated about my minis for a while, I have been visiting my daughter in Narromine, western New Soouth Wales.  Our other daughter was there too (plus both their husbands and all six grandchildren).  With my husband and our son, there were 13 of us and I will share some of our time there with you soon. 

Mini hugs

Sandie

90 Followers - what a buzz!

 I'll have to finish getting the prizes ready!

Thank you Sandra and Miniteriors for signing on as two new Followers!  I can't believe the number is now 90.  Sandra, I couldn't find any blog for you - but with our name and mutual love of cats as well as (obviously) our love of miniatures, we have a lot in common.  Minteriors - it feels strange not using a real name for you but your pseudonymn is very apt vbg.  And I really love your blog 'Pie in the Sky'.   We too have heaps in common - doing minis for a similar time, other things I've mentioned on your blog - especially lots of unfinished projects!   

I've also seen lots of blogs that you follow that I would love to explore too.  So many wonderful sites, so little time lol.

Welcome to both of you and thank you so very much once again for having a look at my mini world and sharing some of my journey with me.  I do hope you will join me often and offer suggestions and comments as we explore this wonderful world of creativity and imagination.

The cats have moved in......

and they look very happy too....

They are obviously enjoying the sun. 

Meanwhile upstairs Campbell Constructions, Decoration & Renovations has been busy, readying the first floor for the occupants to move in again.  Very busy company, Campbell Constructions, Decoration & Renovations!  Very popular in Ferny Creek vbg.

And just who are the owners of this cosy cottage, you ask?  Rachel and Richard Grenfell, village bakers and pastry cooks.  They own and operate the village bakery/cake shop, which you shall see very shortly.  Richard loves to cook and he is the main chef.  Rachel works in the shop of course and also runs the miniatures club in the village.  In fact, the upstairs front room of the bakery premises is the meeting place for the weekly Ferny Creek Miniatures Club get together, as well as a place for the members to come and work on their projects in between.  Of course there is always a selection of yummy morning and afternoon tea delights to choose from the shop downstairs for the mini ladies!

So now it is is time to show you the cottage so far.  Here is the front bedroom overall.  Of course, still lots of accessories to be unpacked from 'storage' and put in place.  Rachel couldn't decide at first about the walls.  We tried cream paint, to make a change from the green wallpaper downstairs.  We tried green paint.  Neither looked right.  With the furniture it was all too plain.  In the end she decided on this wallpaper after all (printed from the green wallpaper book from Sandie Burchell) and it looks good with the simple lines of the furniture.

And here is a view of the left side.  The bedroom furniture is all Heywood-Wakefield  a style popular in the 1930's and very sought after today (kits from sdk miniatures),  The colour is as close as possible to that of the furniture I googled on the web.  Above the three drawer chest on the left wall is an art deco mirror (from BJ Miniatures).  And that is not a blank area between the bed and the corner - there is a door there.  Can't see it?  Look really hard.  After all, how else do Rachel and Richard gain access to their bedroom if there is no door?

On the right side of the room you can see the chimney - one of Petite Properties Victorian chimneys.  It was too short for this room, so I glued several layers of cardboard together and lengthened it.  Then the surface was covered with spackle to even out the sides and cover the join.  The whole thing fitted perfectly - until I wallpapered it and the top fold is now a bit bulky so will have to be adjusted in order for the roof to sit properly.  Hope the paper doesn't get ruined in the process.

 A four-drawer chest is snugged into the alcove beside the fireplace.  The vase of flowers has been moved from downstairs to sit on the mantle up here.  The firesceen (BJ Miniatures) covers the empty grate - it is summer time after all - and the fire tools (from Grace of Vitrual Dollhouse) sit ready for when they are needed.

This style of bed usually just had a simple covering so I used a cream on cream fabric to make one.  The room is nicely understated, and ready for accessorising now.

 Downstairs Rachel and Richard have changed their large table and chairs for a smaller drop-leaf table, deciding the previous one took up too much floor space.  The entertainment centre has been discarded in favour of Rachel's beloved stained glass cabinet and she has already unpacked things to go in this even though they are hard to see.  And her favourite display plates featuring houses are featured on the open area, along with a bowl of sweets.

The books haven't been unpacked for the bookcase (sdk Miniatures) but it does fit nicely into the ground floor alcove beside the fireplace, and the chime of the mantle clock is a homely, familiar sound (BJ Miniatures).

And here is the cottage interior overall so far:

There are a couple of additions to the kitchen table: a bowl of fruit that I made when I did the other one for Flowerpot Cottage, a plate holding a bagel with cream cheese (from Virtual Dollhouse).  I have done a few bowls and pots to put on the bottom shelf of the table as well.

Still a lot more to do, so do keep tuned.  I'd love to hear what you think so far.

Mini hugs

Sandra

Chris has seen the answer to problems with posting comments

Thank you Chris P

Chris P posted this on her blog 'Chris P Minis and More'.  I've taken the liberty of copying it here- and thank you very much Chris for sharing the information!  Hopefully it will save us all a lot of frustration.

Trouble posting comments-answered for now

Ok we all have had trouble and now I have the answer. Saw this a on a blog.
When you go to sign in uncheck the box that says keep me signed in.
Then you can leave a comment on the blogs..worked for me so we wait until this is fixed by blogger.

Again, thanks for this hint Chris.  And hopefully Blogger will get it's act together soon.  This has been going on for far too long already!

I have at last had success in removing the ads on my blog by removing the 'Funny Cat Pictures' gadget - a shame because I love cats (not that you'd ever have guessed lol!) and enjoyed having the pictures there even though they were quite small.  But the newest thing to pop up - or rather disappear - is that my photo doesn't show whenever I post a comment no matter where.  I'm not going to worry about that though, it's no loss vbg.  But it's just another sign that Blogger seems to be having problems all over the place.  And  the paragraphing problems continue.  Also I keep getting notices now that there are problems with different pages - even though they are scanned thoroughly.  It does all get a bit boring.

But now I am off to post the latest progress on Gooseberry Cottage, which is much more interesting.

Thank you new followers....and I have a question for all of you

Welcome to my mini world

Susi, Jollie, Diane, Eliana and Marta - I am really happy that you have signed on as Followers.  Thank you, and welcome to my world of miniatures.  I truly appreciate your visit and your interest and hope you will continue to call in often and share my adventures in this world that exercises whatever interests we want to include in it, and that we can shape to our heart's desire.

I often wonder whether being a schoolteacher in my previous life has anything to do with wanting a world that I can make as I wish, that doesn't have behaviour problems, that has no beurocracy, no limits to speak of (except for the minor matter of money of course lol) and in which my creativity can be challenged and, I hope, grow.  There are lots of teachers in the world of miniatures - lots of other occupations too I know.  Is it something about our previous occupation that makes it more attractive, or is it our creative urge?  Or are creative people drawn to certain occupations and therefore more likely to become miniaturists?

What do you think?  Please share your comments......

Grrrrrrr.......

I'm getting very frustrated with Blogger!

I suppose everywhere on the net has it's problems.  All I want is to have my little area to share minis and other hobbies with like-minded people.  First of all there is the problem of adding comments.  Chris kindly shared the answer to that - when you sign in, make sure that the 'keep me signed in' box is not ticked.  Then you can add a comment.  Thank you Chris for that hint, it makes things much easier, even if it is a nuisance going back to sign in every time at least we can now leave a comment!  This problem has been known by Blogger for a long time yet still no solution has been found.

Next thing was my fault - I tried to make a slideshow of selected mini photos to put on the sidebar of the blog.  That wasted two whole days - it wouldn't upload.  I went through the whole open a Picasa account, to find that it hijacked all of my photo albums - over 1,000 of them!  I removed all but the one I wanted from Picasa to save storage space, and tried over and over without success to load the one designated.  No luck.

Publishing has its problems too - the paragraph spacing changes, pictures don't stay in place and the print size also changes.  Blogger is aware of these problems too.  It's about time it was fixed.

Now today I open my blog and there are ads on it.  No, I did not authorise these ads.  I do not want these ads.  I have not done anything to cause the ads to appear that I know of.  I have not subscribed to AdSense nor do I plan to do so.  The whole morning has been wasted trying to find a solution to it - without success.  So I am frustrated with Blogger! 

If anyone has a solution, please, please, let me know!  It gives me a headache - literally!  Now I'm off to try again, instead of furnishing the first (upstairs) floor of Gooseberry Cottage  :(

More red and green

Progress Inside & Outside

More geraniums - this time in a hanging basket.  That front door called out for a basket of colour hanging there.  For now it is geraniums. 

 It might change in the future, but for now it is geraniums.  They can be unhooked and changed in the future if I want to. But I think the geraniums look nice. 

 And I'm particularly proud of the little hanger - I made it out of the strip of metal edging from the metal rose leaf sheet that I made the climbing rose for Rosebud Cottage.  It had a thin edging around all four sides and I kept it.  One of the strips was perfect for this little hook.  It could be curled around into shape with my fine tweezers, cut with scissors and glued with plain white wood glue, with a spot of tacky glue for a quicker grab.  I didn't use any superglue though I thought I'd need to, and was pleased about that because superglue and I don't get along very well no matter how careful I am! 

So that's the outside.  I've also been busy on the inside though I would have liked to have had a lot more completed.  First there was the lighting.  I fed that through the back wall and across a groove in the ceiling, which I then filled with wood filler.  I just have to figure out how to get the light shade that I want to use over the light - the hole is too small to have fed the wires through and drilling a larger hole just resulted in destroying the shade, which is a jewellery finding.  I think I'll have to resort to another alternative somehow.

The walls are done with a wallpaper that I printed out from a book I bought from Sandie Burchell.  I have all of her printable books for miniature wallpaper, fabric and quilts etc.  I printed the paper out on the option for 6 to a page to reduce it.

It has a lovely subtle pattern, in a pretty green.  I also printed some out on silk organza from Crafty Paper for curtains but that wasn't very successful - it was too fine for the pattern to show. 

The rug is one of Sandie's patterns as well, printed on some cotton lawn from the same source.  It also came out a bit light once I peeled the lawn off the backing so I added some of the scrap lawn to the back of it and it looks okay.  The edges are folded over and glued underneath. 

The fireplace is the Victorian style one from Petite Properties, and there is another one upstairs.  I have just painted the surround brown for a wood finish, then the interior is black as is the wall behind it.  I was tempted to do little tiles on the sides but ran out of enthusiasm for doing that because I wanted to get on with furnishing the room.

So here it is, with a 'trial run' of furniture - some of which will probably change.

The green wing chair to the left of the fireplace still leaves room for a book case in the alcove.  I'm pretty certain the entertainment unit will go, and I'll probably put a smaller dining set in there - I always worry about leaving a decent pathway for my mini people to move around in the house lol.

I had the lamp from the 2007 Sydney mini fair and it was the perfect colour.  The green wing-back chair is a kit from Karen Benson.  It still needs a bit of trim to cover the raw edges on the sides - being a plain fabric, they show.  The lounge and chair are from Pam Junk - I  really like her kits and have a lot of them.  They are covered in my own fabric.  At first I did a cream set but they looked too formal.  So I made up another kit and this time I made both the chair and the sofa shorter and covered them in this print so they look more 'cottagey'.  I've done some cushions using the cream patterned fabric but forgot them in the photo.  I'm really happy so far with this part of the room and will be even more so once  more accessories are added.

Not so happy with this side of the room though.  I did another rug but it needs one that is much larger, to cover the area under all the chairs and the table - I really don't like chairs scraping noisily on floors.  And I think a smaller table is in order here too.  It might just be because two of the chairs have arms, but this one takes up a lot of room.  And if one of the mini people falls on this hard slate floor it will be very painful.

Also it is quiite difficult to arrange such a small space so that anyone sitting in the chairs can actually see anything on a tele if I have one in the entertainment centre where it is.  And I can't move it to the other wall because there will be a door in the wall and there needs to be somewhere for a table and chairs.  More thought needed on this matter, obviously!  I will consult the owners of the cottage and see what they prefer - and introduce you to them as well.   They will be moving in as soon as the rest of their furniture arrives, or so they told me today.

On the outside of the cottage some roof work has been done.  The chimney has been moved over to the left of the scullery, where it should have been in the first place.  So new tiles are needed where it was removed.  But overall I think the exterior is looking quite nice.

Yes, the kitchen/scullery will probably be set back a bit from the cottage rather than being level with it - so that the door from the cottage can be at the rear of the side wall rather than smack bang in the middle.  But until things are done, they can always change - that's the way it is with me!And at the moment I am experimenting a little, thinking about how to set the completed cottage on the base that Peter has kindly cut ready for me.

Keep tuned - I'm on a roll now, and will move on to the first floor tomorrow while I make decisions about the ground floor...... 

Welcome.....

Judith, Christy, Flor and Yvonne

 It is lovely to see growing interest in this little blog and I am honoured when people sign on to be followers and when people leave comments too.  You are very kind to do so, and I do check each day to see whether someone has looked and left a comment for me.  It means that I don't feel I am doing my minis in a vacuum, which is how I would feel if it weren't for this blog and for my online mini groups.

I also really enjoy visiting and looking at your blogs and am in awe of the work you do.  There are so many very, very talented people in the miniature world.  So many of us have tried all sorts of hobbies before discovering the wonderful world of minis, and this is one hobby that gives us a chance to combine so many different things that we love: making, needlework, woodwork, scenics, sewing, ceramics, metalwork, painting, papercraft - you name it, we can use it in miniature.  It is such fun to share - and such fun to read about your creations too.  So thank you for joining me on my mini journey!



And what goes with green?

Red geraniums of course......

I've spent quite a bit of time over Thursday night, part of Friday and tonight, doing some geraniums for the front of Gooseberry Cottage.  I had two long pots - or rather troughs - from a Templewood kit of pots, and these ones I painted the same green as the doors to the cottage and the scullery kitchen.  They are the perfect size to sit one at the front of the main cottage and one at the front of the kitchen.  And I'm thinking that a hanging pot on the front wall might be a nice touch too.

Here they are so far:

Aren't they cheerful? and really appropriate for that 'cottagey' feel too, I think.  I have the new charger for my camera now and I am much more comfortable using it than I am using Peter's camera.  I tried taking a photo of the kitchen with the light on and the front wall in place and it certainly looks homey and welcoming.

A lot of people have indicated that they are intimidated by the thought of doing quarter scale flowers.  I do use kits for all of my flowers, because the punches for the tiny petals are so expensive and the range of punches required for the variety of petals is quite large.  So I thought I'd show you how they are made.  I'll use the geraniums, which are not the simplest of the flowers in the range but they are the ones I'm doing at the moment so it is convenient to use them as the example.

First, here is one of the petals on my finger:

Yes, they are tiny.  In fact the most difficult part is separating the petals - they come pre-coloured and several layers of paper are punched together, so the petals tend to stick together.  It can be fiddly seperating them but rubbing them with the ball of a larger stylus helps or sliding the point of a scalpel between them does the trick.

After they are separated, they are rubbed firmly with a small stylus on a bit of old mouse pad to make them cup-shaped.  When enough of them are done they are glued to the end of a wire which has previously had a tiny bit of glue added to it to form a tiny 'bead' and allowed to dry. You can see the importance of very, very pointy tweezers for doing these!

It takes between 8 and 10 of the petals to cover the 'bead' and once they are all on, it can be moulded into the proper shape with one's fingers if they have become a bit distorted. 

The leaves have a tiny 'stem' on the end, and this is bent over and attached to a wire stem. 

After trimming the wires to a good length - slightly different for a bit of variety - some air drying clay is glued into the troughs.  This is topped by a more glue then bit of 'soil' is sprinkled over that.  The stems are dipped into glue and arranged into this clay, and it is all left to solidify and dry.

And there you have it - quite straightforward really, just requiring a bit of patience and fine pointy tweezers.  And of course some good kits from sdk miniatures or somewhere.