Halloween in Miniature 2014 Coming Soon!

Stay tuned for this year's Halloween in Miniature 2014!

All kinds of Halloween goodies from various miniature artisans, fun miniature Halloween scenes, and spooky reads!

 ** Coming October 27 to 31! ** 

(mini witch, C. Verstraete)

New Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Mag!

The latest Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Mag #52 is out!

Includes some great pix, how to's and my feature on my Victorian and Writing rooms, and some Victorian decorating tips. (Pg. 78)  Download the PDF. Enjoy!!

Click to Open Door.

Dollhouse Book In Miniature Style II Top 10!

Just a little plug. I normally don't check, but... IN MINIATURE STYLE II is in the Top 10 (#9) in the Crafts-Hobbies-Home category on Amazon.  It also had a discount so check it out.  (You can also get it in pdf or downloads, and see other Amazon links on my website page.)

Profiles of other miniaturists, how to's, photos and more, a "little" something for everyone! 

(I was in the process of loading a new video preview of the projects for my website; lost my computer so have to start over!) 

New Historical Dollhouse Book - The Miniaturist

  

Just came across an interesting new historical fiction book, The Miniaturist: A Novel, which is about Petronella Oortman - the original owner of the  beautiful Cabinet House housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Description from Amazon.com: 

On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office—leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.

But Nella’s world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist—an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .

Johannes’ gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand—and fear—the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?

Enchanting, beautiful, and exquisitely suspenseful, The Miniaturist is a magnificent story of love and obsession, betrayal and retribution, appearance and truth.

New Miniatures Food Book

For those who love to create realistic miniature food from polymer clay, French artisan Stephanie Kilgast of PetitPlat has released her first book, "Repas de Fete  - Party Food in Miniature"

The book contains instructions in English and French to make 21 party, holiday, and wedding foods as pictured on the cover. 120 pages; 24 euros + shipping. Order at link above. More photos are on the website.

This looks fun as there haven't been any different food books lately, and not for desserts and cakes.

Cookie Ziemba Miniatures Auction

  Collector Cookie Ziemba is having her vast and beautiful collection of collectible miniatures auctioned by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. The auction, "Miniatures from the Collection of Cookie Ziemba and the Estate of Eunice Gold" will also be online live at 12 pm (Central), Weds., July 23. 

You can view the collection online or see the incredible catalogue here.  The catalogue can also be downloaded in pdf format.

Profile in new AIM Miniatures Magazine Issue 51

Besides some fantastic pix and great projects, the new issue 51 of the AIM (Artisans in Miniature) Magazine features a new profile of me in combining my writing and miniatures. (page 58) Download pdf or read online HERE.

Miniatures Monday Garage Sale Finds

Summer is great as I find all kinds of things at garage sales and church rummage sales for a few bucks.

Some finds this week: (so far!)

Boyd's Mini Bears, 3 1/2 inches high

This little tree is kind of cute, made of glittery garland it looks like. It's in a dome and is 6 1/2 inches high.-- and it was only $1!

Mini Half Scale Update - Books!

I think mat board is the greatest thing ever invented (well, maybe after the internet. ha!)

It's great stuff that cuts easily with a razor blade so anyone can make things. I've made small furniture out of it as it's sturdy and cheap. I was lucky to get a whole box of small pieces at a yard sale a while back.

I just made a pile of books with mat board inserts. Made it easy to fill them since you don't have to cut paper or card inside. Just paint the edges and voila! Done. I want to make some antique-looking books next. After all, all houses - even dollhouses - need lots of books!!!

* And what are you working on on this "lucky" day?

Half Scale Dollhouse Update - It's Curtains!

* Latest update on the Half Scale Country House - 

Curtains are in!

Today's lesson learned - had to move the light I had positioned on the center ceiling in too close to the doorway when I realized it should be hanging over the staircase. 

Bedroom-sitting room curtains - I wanted an old-fashioned kind of print and like this even if it's slightly larger. I decided to do a flat cloth top trim.

Living room - I really like how these came out as the print has a 40s-50s feel to me.  I added little gold beads on the ends of toothpics for decoration.

(I have to trim the door yet.)

 (See  house Trimmed -  Lights -  First pix/pantry/hutch)