Halloween in Miniature 8: What a Character!

Welcome to Day 8 of The 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature. (Link will take you to day one if you're checking in late.)

The best part of a Halloween party is seeing what costumes the guests are wearing. Some people have amazing imaginations!

It's much the same in miniature. Doll makers come up with an incredible array of costumes that rival any in real life.

Louise Goldsborough, who makes 1 inch - 1/12th scale dolls under the name Angelique Miniatures in England was thrilled to tell her "friends" about the party. Believe me, they caused quite a stir when they arrived.

There is a legend of the lovely "Spectre at the Masquerade" (pictured above), whose presence has been reported by several guests. (No, not the ones drinking the Golden Eye wine.)

According to eyewitness reports, "suddenly the temperature of the room dropped and all eyes were drawn to the hazy figure of a young woman standing in the corner. Her skin seemed strangely pale and her clothes were very fine but belonged to an era long ago. She seemed to shimmer in the gloom of the candlelight as she gazed wistfully at the revellers who stood gaping at her, open-mouthed in surprise. Then she gave a faint smile and faded away!"

If that wasn't enough to give visitors a fright, then "The Ghost of Anne Boleyn" would surely do the trick. Dressed in lavish brocade and sparkling trim, poor Anne still wanders, carrying her head in her hands.

Connecticut miniaturist Anne Larson has been making dolls for about 20 years. She began by assembling painted and wigged kits. She now starts with porcelain blanks so she can make the doll completely herself from the assembling and painting, to the wigging and dressing. She also enjoys doing character sculpting such as the winged monkey and the hawk sculpture in her Wizard of Oz scene.

Well, look who's arrived! It's Mother Goose! This figure was made from a Marcia Backstrom doll kit (resin made from her original sculpt; the face is molded), also dressed by Anne Larson.

Anne found the doll kit on clearance at her local miniature store. She says the kit "had been hanging around for years. I think if you don't make dolls, it's hard to see the potential in a doll kit, so that's why she never sold." But Anne knew what to do! (Good idea, too!)



Backstom, a Pennsylvania artist and IGMA Artisan (International Guild of Miniature Artisans) also creates fully hand-sculpted 1" scale figures in polymer clay. Her witches, ghosts and older people are amazing. This one called the Headhunter Witch was recently on Ebay with a starting price of $350. Her work is featured in museums worldwide.





** Next, Day 9: Some Halloween decor

** Check out Haunt Jaunts - a travel blog for restless spirits. Cool haunted places!

** Get printable ("printies") Halloween toile wallpaper

** Make a miniature scene in a pumpkin and a miniature lion costume

** Free dollhouse doll tutorials, all kinds of costumes

Halloween in Miniature 7: Halloween Pumpkins and More!

Welcome to Day 7 of The 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature. (Link will take you to day one if you're checking in late.)

I've still got pumpkins on the brain, especially once I read these pumpkin songs at this teacher website. (I didn't know pumpkin songs existed either. Beware the Little Teapot/Little Pumpkin song. You've been warned!)

Thought I'd share an assortment of Halloween items today like this group of different sized pumpkins shown above.

Many visitors who don't collect may not know that there are several scales smaller than the 1 inch scale items I've been showing. It goes down in increments to 144th scale (dollhouse for a dollhouse) size and even smaller micro minis.

I like half scale (1/24th scale) which is roughly sized down in half from 1" scale. I've been collecting things to design a couple rooms in a Gothic clock case I bought at a garage sale for $3.

Here're a few cute Halloween and seasonal cakes of polymer clay made by my friend Kitty. See her blog, Kitty's Minis.

(That's a penny in front to give you an idea of how tiny these are.)

This draped table is from a past half scale group swap.



Even smaller is this charming scene in a pumpkin, what Canadian Chris Shibata calls her "Pumpkin Party."

While the pumpkin itself, which she made of FIMO polymer clay and hollowed out on the inside is 1 1/8" tall in 1" scale, the interior figures are roughly 144th scale.

Holy cow! Though it's hard to see (best photo she had) there is an even tinier pumpkin inside on the table that has the same scene in it!

I bet even Peter Pumpkin Eater would be amazed!

** Next, Day 8: Meet some characters!

** Official Halloween movies site

** Check out these incredible half scale houses from the UK's Petite Properties

** To give you an idea of size, here is a free half scale couch and chair pattern to try. (It is in Dutch but simply cut and upholster.)

** Wow, check out this guy's amazing pumpkin carving gallery

Halloween in Miniature 6: Halloween Pumpkins!

Welcome to day six of The 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature. If you're coming by late, you can check in at the start of the party here.

Today, let's look at one of the most popular elements of Halloween - the pumpkin. Funny or frightful, simple or extreme, nothing says Halloween like a pumpkin.

Pumpkins are the ideal decoration for Halloween and fall, inside and out. Or like this full-size carvable pumpkin, it's a little bit of both!

Miniaturist Chris Pecherzewski of New York state used this pumpkin as a great setting for her own miniature Halloween party!

Quite possibly, the pumpkin's appeal comes from its color. Feng shui describes orange as an energy color that is vibrant, but not as pulsating as red. Basically, it's a feel good, "happy" color. Who doesn't feel better around orange?

Pretty in Orange



Louise Goldsborough of Angelique Miniatures, England, was inspired by the color to create this pretty Pumpkin Witch. The 1/12th - 1 inch scale doll (1 inch = 1 foot) is dressed in a Tudor peasant style in earth colors.

Decorating with Pumpkins

The pumpkin makes a great decorative accent however it's used.



It can be carved, displayed alone, or used as a festive planter like this flower display by Washington state miniaturist Nancy Day.

Nancy also made this great cornucopia styled pumpkin planter.



The Awww Factor

Then there's the awww factor. IGMA Fellow Kerri Pajutee has been sculpting for more than 30 years, 22 of them in miniature.

She made this adorable "Boo Kitty" as an alternative to the traditional Halloween black cat. The cat, also of polymer clay, has alpaca fibers, green eyes, and can be removed to be used in another scene or in the dollhouse. (Cute!)

Had enough Halloween?

Hey, you don't have to apologize if you already feel sick of the holiday.

Guess what? Pumpkins get sick about it, too. haa! Love it! (Well, sorry, maybe it's just the idea of, you know, all that pumpkin abuse this time of year. See video link at end as way of explanation.)

Kerri Pajutee also made this scene, she says, "on a whim after seeing a multitude of real life puking pumpkins folks have carved for Halloween." (Yeah, nothing says Halloween like a puking pumpkin, right? haaa!)



** Next, Day 7: More Pumpkins!

** Carve a virtual pumpkin

** Funny, weird, award-winning short film, Life and Death of a Pumpkin

** Assortment of pumpkin recipes

Halloween in Miniature 5: A Pink Halloween!

Welcome to Day 5 of our virtual Halloween party! The 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature is going strong. You're not too late! You can still check in at the beginning of the party here.

Today, as it's also Pink Saturday over at Beverly's blog, I thought I'd introduce you to a few more party guests, including a few who are thinking Pink!

**(Perfect as October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month!)**


Most of us, of course, associate Halloween with the traditional black and orange colors. This witch and little girl dressed in a cute pumpkin costume certainly fit the bill.

This perfect rendition of the Holiday theme is by New Jersey miniaturist Camille Townsend. Cam has been making miniature dolls for 14 of her 17 years collecting miniatures.

Cam pours, dresses and china paints miniature porcelain dolls for her own scenes and says it "totally absorbs my mind and I'm truly a happy camper when I'm creating." (And isn't that what it's all about?)

But no matter the holiday, some things are better suited to PINK. How about this miniature rat with a pink cape, or a fun Halloween mask of a cute dog face - yes in pink.


Party in Pink

A few guests got "in the Pink" and dressed to show it!

How about the ultimate "Pink Lady?" I mean the lovely Glinda, the Good Witch of the North, as portrayed by the beautiful Billie Burke in the Wizard of Oz? This gorgeous miniature version is also by Cam Townsend.

The lady with her pink boa (pictured above) by Nancy Cronin definitely knows how to get "in the pink!"

And what better way to celebrate pink than with a lovely pink tea set?


These wonderful witches, hand-sculpted and poured in resin by Nancy Cronin, certainly think so! The scene was inspired by an old photo. (Ooh, and Nancy says that she is working on an online workshop centered on this scene, so stay tuned for details sometime around January!)

** Next: Day 6: Halloween pumpkins



** October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - click daily at the Breast Cancer site to give women in need free mammograms.

** A fun change: How about a pink Halloween?

** Cute idea: miniature pink and black Halloween items at Etsy

Halloween in Miniature 4: Which Witch is It?

Welcome back! I hope you'll mingle and meet some of the guests. Be sure to get a drink - you can check in here.

Toil, toil, bubble and boil...

What's Halloween without some witches? (Note: witches shown are in 1/12th scale - 1 inch = 1 foot.)

Well, looks like the party is rocking. You know how there's always one guest at every party who loves to be the center of attention?

Our lovely red-haired witch might have had a teensy too much Golden Eye wine. (Told you it had a kick!) This fiery beauty is by Gina Gagnon of Lone Wolf Mini Creations,

Gina, who's been making miniature dolls since 1987, says she loves "the freedom to make what I see in my head and heart!" Her dolls always show her great imagination!

International Guests

Oh, look! Why, it's Imelda! She and her friends flew in all the way from Austria for the party.

She even brought in her own special mushrooms to share with the other witches. Isn't that sweet of her?

(She's sure lucky! Flying in at that altitude, she bypassed customs officials who surely would've confiscated her plants and goods!)

This adorable group (who says witches are ugly?) is by dollmaker Karin Bohusch of Austria. Karin, who has been collecting miniatures for only three years, began sculpting her own dolls in Oct. 2008. She will be selling her dolls at the Minimenta miniatures fair in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany in November. It is her first time as a seller. See more of her photos.

"I started sculpting because a friend asked me if we can try to sculpt dolls," she says. "She needed some special dolls for her dollshouse so we bought some polymer clay and tried it. She gave up after one afternoon and I was addicted."

Our next guest, Baba Yaga hails from Russia. Her name means Russian Witch. Okay, we won't say that she is anywhere near pretty, but she has a charm all her own. (Don't say that to her face! She may hex you!)


The old crone is hand-scuplted of polymer clay by Russian doll maker and International Guild of Miniature Artisans - IGMA Artisan Anna Hardman. Anna, who is also a middle school teacher in Ohio, creates amazing dolls full of character and beauty!

Oh, will you look at the time! Some of the guests are leaving. Something about a meeting in the woods. Better say a quick goodbye.

Glynnis (also from Gina Gagnon) hurried outside to wave farewell to her friend taking off on her broom.

"Helen," she called out, "you forgot your underwear!" (Gina shared that joke last year but it's worth repeating! ha-ha!)

** Next, Day 5: A Pink Halloween!

** Interesting story. Pardon sought for executed witches in the UK.

** Witch clip art and graphics

** Read about the Salem, Mass. witch trials

Halloween in Miniature 3: Meet the Skellies!

Welcome back! Are you having fun? This 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature is a great party, isn't it? Please, be sure to help yourself to some food and drinks. You can check in at the start of the party here.

Today, I thought I'd introduce you to some of our special guests. The Skellies are our most prominent family. They have branches in all walks of life and in a variety of professions. They sure get around!

Like all families, there's the good, the bad, and well, you know, there are those "other" cousins...

Looks like Cousin Mel (pictured above) got himself a new job walking around with a sandwich board at the Halloween Shop at April Gill's Wildwood Dollhouses. We told April, that well, Mel's you know, kind of unreliable, but she says one of those potions he's advertising seems to have fixed his problem! That's certainly good news!

Miss Lydia, for one, is certainly glad to hear that Mel's straightened himself out. (Skeleton by Chris Verstraete.)

She was just telling her friend, Bonerella, that when they last met for tea.


Bonerella, by the way, runs a right fashionable millinery shop, so says her creator Wanna in El Paso. (Wanna's quite the storyteller in her own right, so be sure to check out her pages!)

Miss Lydia says she loves the new hats Bonerella and her charming pet Harriet are wearing these days, and to please set a few aside for her to try on!

Then there's Uncle Ferdinand. He has this habit of traipsing around town all dressed up, and well, he keeps tripping on those long-tailed coats he insists on wearing.



Last time, he landed right on one of the graves in the cemetery and his wife Gertrude told everyone to leave him there she was so embarrassed! (Skeleton by Nancy Cronin. Be sure to come back to see her hand-sculpted witches!)

Oh, but don't let Gertrude fool you. The talk around town is she's sure got some "skeletons" in her own closet to cover up.

Like this old photo that someone "dug up" of her and that scruffy Jack Jonas. Folks been talkin' that there's a lot more going on here than meets the eye. (If they had any eyes left, that is!)(Skeletons by Chris V.)

Hope you enjoyed meeting some of the guests. Be sure to come back tomorrow to meet some others!



** Next: Day 4: Meet Some Witches!

** For fun, check out the creepy reel and other Halloween stuff at My Pet Skeleton.

** Cool! Compare different animal and human skeletons at the eSkeletons Project.

Halloween in Miniature 2: Fern's Fun Halloween Foods!

The party for the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature is in full swing! Glad you could stop by!

Did you get some wine and goodies? Be sure to introduce yourself - the party starts here.

Today, let's sample some of Fern's fabulous Halloween goodies. Fern makes an assortment of fun miniature scenes and clay miniatures. See her work at her website.

Fern's latest project is a fun Halloween book scene. You can use a paper mache book, or some people use the outside cover of a real book as the backdrop for their scene.

Fern used a fun, colorful book, GHOULISH GOODIES, A Frightful Cookbook, as the background for her scene. (I saw it at Borders. Cute Book!) She glued the pages together to make the book sturdy enough to use for the two walls.

The party tables are held up by a skeleton body (Resin/plastic skeletons. You can get a string of four at the dollar store. Michael's also had some for $4.99.)

Love the floor! Fern used foam core board which she painted black and cut in a zig zag pattern, then covered it with scrapbook paper, leaving some of the black edge showing.


The darling little girl dressed in her party finery is by Deborah McCain (Whispers in the Woods).




So, What's to Eat?

Don't want you to go hungry! Fern made a great assortment of fun party foods. The choices? Yummy!

Table 1: Caramel apples, eyeball drops and black jellybeans, three-layer cake, spiderweb tea pot, fancy orange iced cupcakes, bat turnovers, candy apples, candy corn, Halloween layered squares, candy bars and lollipops.





Table 2:
Pumpkin cookies, mini Halloween cake and a Halloween gingerbread house in progress. Fern, thanks for sharing your Halloween goodies!






** See fun Halloween cake recipes.


** Make a (full-size) Halloween gingerbread house.


** Next: Day 3 - Meet some guests - Meet the Skellies!

BUY:

12 Days of Halloween in Miniature: Welcome!

My little witch bids everyone welcome! Please come in, hang up your witch hats, and be sure to check your potions at the door.

Today marks Day One of a 12 Day celebration of all things Halloween - and in miniature! How can you beat that?

Nothing evil, nothing too scary, I just want to offer my readers a glimpse of work by some amazing miniature artists and have some fun! So stick around and be sure to comment. For fun, I'll send one winner their very own eyeball salad for their dollhouse, so leave a comment and don't forget to note where to contact you (group, blog, email, website, etc.)

So, let's start the party!

First off --- no party is complete without food! I suggest a glass of my very own Golden Eye wine. Careful now, sip it slowly. I hear it has quite a kick! (Fyi: this is 1" scale so 1" = 1 foot. The bottle is about 1-inch tall.)



* See other samples of my food at the Verstraete Miniatures Gallery/Halloween food

Now for the main course. Mmm, who can resist spaghetti and eyeballs? My favorite!



The "Spaghetti Alla Eyes" is by Stephanie Kilgast, who sells her great miniature food under the name PetitPlat on Etsy. See some of her work at her blog.

Now for a close-up: Here's looking at you, kid! (ha-ha-ha!)

** Yum. Enjoy some other Halloween recipes like these Brittle bones. Yum!

The party is just getting started so kick back, relax, and mingle. Have fun!

Come back tomorrow for more Halloween food.

On Day 2, let's dig into Fern's great Halloween party treats. No trick! Boo!

Vintage Black Friday - miniature black dress

Since it's almost Halloween, I figured I'd share the miniature witch doll I dressed, now part of a miniature museum exhibit.

The little witch's dress was made from a piece of vintage black silk. It looked like part of a corset. It had hem lines sewn in it. I reversed it and used the "wrong" side to use as the hem and for a design in the dress bottom.

The hat also is black silk.

See more miniatures at my miniatures gallery.

I will be sharing more Halloween miniatures during the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature from Oct. 20-31 so be sure to stop back!

** More Halloween Fun:
It’s him vs. them…. Who will win?

Excerpt from THE WITCH TREE by C.A. Verstraete:

What he noticed first was the sound.

Jimmy Grayson lifted his head from the grimy pillow, stared at the open window, and cringed. The onslaught seemed to come from every direction. He placed a hand over his ear to try to block it out. No such luck. High-pitched screeches, nonstop chattering, the endless wall of freaking sound was making him crazy.

In one swift motion, he threw off the dingy, worn quilt, catapulted from the bed, and rushed to the window. "Shut up!" he screamed, not caring how unhinged he sounded. "Shut the hell up!"

It stopped.

Ahhh. A deep sigh escaped him; an appreciation for the quiet filled him. He exhaled in a soft whoosh of air. The muscles in his neck relaxed as the tension left. His eyes closed almost of themselves-then popped open as the cacophony started up again.
The endless, unendurable shrieks, chirps, and chatters surrounded him from all sides like a blanket. With each passing second, the sound from hundreds of blackbirds increased in volume.

** I dare you to read on! Turn the lights low, or fire up the laptop and read THE WITCH TREE. Oh, don’t forget to lock the door!

* Buy THE WITCH TREE at Fictionwise