Halloween in Miniature 2010 - Day 7: Dressing for Halloween with Kat the Hat Lady!

Welcome to Day 7 of The 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature. (If you missed the beginning of the party, go back to Day 1.)

There was once a time when no well-dressed man, or woman, considered themselves properly attired without a hat. The same holds true today for those looking for the proper haunted attire.

(Zombie Hat)

As mentioned in an earlier post, anyone looking for fashionable "witchy" wear knows to go to British mini milliner Kat Hazelton, also known as Kat the Hat Lady.

From pretty and stately, to dramatic and a touch scary, Kat's witch and wizard hats reflect her love to create, and a love for all things Halloween!

Kat, who began making miniature dolls, beaded jewelry and even pig magnets, has been making mini millinery for 12 years now and can't think of anything she'd rather be doing.

"I also dream about hats a lot," she admits. "Mad Hatter is now my middle name - ha-ha!"


(Vampire Killer hat)

Interestingly enough, Kat began making mini hats after a request from her Nan, which led her to study real-life millinery.

"Many, many moons ago I made a 1/12th scale doll for my Nan’s birthday and I was trying to make a hat for it, but the hat I made was awful!" she recalls. "At the time I couldn’t find any information on miniature hat making so I took myself off to my local library and started researching about full-size millinery.



"After weeks of researching, I finally managed to create a decent hat for Nan’s poor doll. My Nan was so pleased with this hat she showed it to her neighbours who then all wanted hats! So it was my Nan that started me off. I then used all this money to buy more millinery books. I got brave and went to college to study full-size millinery and I haven’t looked back."


(Stargazer hat)

Kat attended York College and studied millinery for more than two years. That she found success with her mini creations is no surprise considering she worked as a professional milliner in a shop making fashionable hats for the women attending the Royal Ascot horse races where the rule seems to be "the wilder the better!" (Check out the wild hats at the link!)

Some of her creativity also seems to be part genetic and part exposure: her Nan used to dye feathers for ladies' hats and her mother was a chair caner.

"We attended many craft fairs when I was a child," she says. "I used to spend hours watching all the craftspeople blowing glass, sewing, weaving and making jewelry."

Kat's other jobs have included working as a cake decorator and a chef. "I have done lots of interesting things, but I've also worked in offices, stacked shelves, made bacon butties and cleaned for a living, so it’s not all glamorous!"

The hats, though, remain her passion, and the ideas keep on coming...

(Blue Star hat)

Inspiration comes, she says, "from books, films, art, fabrics, fashion magazines, haberdashery shops, I can get ideas when I am walking the dog or visiting a museum. I often have a notebook in my handbag which I jot little notes in. I also go to Gothic events and medieval fairs so there is a huge amount of inspiration from people's costumes and head wear. I am forever stopping people and taking their photos, ha-ha! "

So, how many hats has she made?

"I have lost count," she admits and laughs. "I used to sell over 200 each time I did a fair in the ‘good old days’ so it must be a thousand of them! Funny to think of all these little hats all over the world made by me! How cool is that?"

Very cool!


** See Kat's hats for sale in her Etsy shop

** Back: Day 6.

** Next: 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature - Day 8.

Halloween in Miniature 2010 - Day 6: Meet More of the Guests!

Welcome to Day 6 of The 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature! I hope you're enjoying yourself. If you didn't check in, go back to Day 1.

Do you hear that? Such a haunting melody! Let's step into the parlor, shall we? We are so fortunate to have the lovely Louise (above) come in to play a few tunes for us.

This wonderful figure is one of several hand-sculpted porcelain dolls by IGMA Artisan Anna Hardman. Anna, who also makes her own molds from her original one-inch-scale sculpts (1"=1'), came from Russia to the US in 1993 and now teaches middle school in Ohio.

Her Victorian Bride, Livia, won a Doll Of The Year (DOTY) Industry's Choice award in January 2010 and was the DOTY Public Choice Award winner in July 2010. (Be sure to check out her incredible bride dolls, especially the portrait doll of her new sister-in-law!)

(Louise - Anna Hardman)

While this wonderful beauty below is not Halloween-related, the ethereal white skin of Anna's interpretation of Anne Hathaway as The White Queen from Alice in Wonderland does seem to fit here. (Can't you almost picture her as one of Dracula's lovely ladies?)

Well, let's just sit and enjoy the rest of the recital. Please come back tomorrow and see what else is going on...




** Back: Day 5

** Next: Halloween in Miniature: Day 7

** Free public domain book for Kindle or Kindle for PC - download here free

Halloween in Miniature 2010 - Day 5: Wizards and Dragons, Oh My!

Clotilde and her pet dragon, "Muffy"

Welcome to Day 5 of The 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature! (If you misplaced your ticket, you can get in the door at Day 1.)

For today, we'll forget the witchy and gorey part of Halloween and turn to the more mystical side of the holiday. Nothing seems more magical and evokes more awe than wizards and dragons, right?

But forget the idea you had of dragons being mean, horrible creatures. (Shades of How to Train Your Dragon anyone?) These magical creatures are actually lambs at heart. (Well some of them...)

The amazing dragon, "Muffy" at top is hand-sculpted of polymer clay by IGMA Artisan and doll maker Lucie Winsky. Lucie, who sculpts many of her own dolls and paints her own miniature oils (I have a copy of her amazing "Starry Night,") is a master at giving a doll character. (She did an incredible series of dolls fashioned after famous painters and paintings. See one of the posts on Goya. Put her name or Art in Miniature in search box in left column here to see others.)

Of course, some wizards are not quite so charming... This guy sure looks like he got out of bed in a bad mood.... (Evil Wizard - Lucie Winsky)

Other wizards, however, are more likely to have a softer side... helps in the magic, so they say.

My wizard prefers his magical dog to a dragon, though. (In case you didn't know, the dogs of this special breed are identified by their golden toenails!) (Dog and wizard, C. Verstraete.)

If I had to pick a favorite dragon, however, it would have to be the baby pet dragon held by Angela Haworth's half-scale wizard, Kapell. Awww!



If you still think otherwise of dragons, check out Carolyn Brown's incredible hanging dragon skin tutorial (and see her amazing cakes too!) You can see the dragon skin hanging in the Medieval castle hall in the top left column in her gallery.



** Back: Day 4 ** Next: Halloween in Miniature: Day 6.

* Make a clay dragon - tutorial

Halloween in Miniature 2010 - Day 4: Meet some of the guests

Halloween Appetizers: C. Verstraete - Finger tacos or eyeballs anyone?

Welcome to Day 4 of this year's 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature party! Wow, quite the crowd! (Hey, where's your ticket? Sorry, if you missed the front door, go back to Day 1.)

I hope you had enough to eat and are enjoying yourself? Grab a few appetizers I made and let's meet some of the guests, shall we?



Shh! Better step lightly. Matilda's prone to get a bit grumpy if she doesn't finish reading the latest issue of Ghosts Weekly, so we better let her be for now.



Florine the half-Scale Witch, however, is a right friendly soul and loves to talk! Say hello and keep moving unless you don't mind hearing about her latest spell and her failed baked toad recipe for the next hour! Oh, look it's Wizard Adair. Such a handsome fellow and I hear he's got some spells that make Merlin look like an amateur!



The dolls are all by British doll maker Angela Haworth of Molly's House. (Dolls are 1" to 1 foot (a man is 6" tall) and half or 1/24th scale is 1/2" to 1 foot or 3" tall.)

Angela, who's been creating in miniature "for as long as I can remember" first began crafting as a girl by making accessories for her Sindy and Barbie dolls. Years later, she hoped to get her daughter interested in miniatures, but it never worked out that way.

"I got into dollhouse scale when I was expecting my daughter 14 years ago," she says. "I was planning on making a house for her, but it turned into a hobby for myself."

A limited budget forced her to make her own dolls and furnishings, but it was something she found she enjoyed. When she received a 1/24th scale furniture set as a gift, Angela realized she liked working even smaller.

She now sculpts her own dolls in polymer clay in both scales (along with trying some quarter scale figures too!), and also dresses porcelain dolls from parts she buys.


Which witch?


Sculpting has been fun, she says, as "I love the characters that come from the clay. I can start off making one person but another, totally different character will emerge."

Angela's favorite themes are Medieval, fantasy and Tudor. Lucky for her, she can find real-life inspiration just a short distance away. "We are so lucky to have three Tudor houses, all decked out with Tudor furniture, just a short bus ride away (I don't drive). In the summer holidays we visit some of the larger Georgian houses that are a little further away. Walking around these old houses, I like to imagine the characters that might have lived there, and I come home and try and turn these into dolls."

Wasn't that a great visit? Well, let's see who we run into next...



** Back: Day 3 **Next: Halloween in Miniature, Day 5

** Visit Angela's blog and say hello.

** Cool free Halloween signs.

Halloween in Miniature 2010 - Day 3: The Revolt in the Kitchen

Welcome back to 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature 2010: Day 3. (If you arrived late, enter the party at Day 1.)

Now, as to all that banging and yelling going on in the kitchen... Have you ever seen what the term "bad" vegetables really means? It looks like Pat Benedict of Woopitydooart, has been trying to do some "veggie taming" again... and it just doesn't work!


Revenge of the Veggies... where's that Pepto when you need it?

These wild veggies are just part of an amazing array of creatures that come from Patty's creative mind and hands. She also is known for her one-inch-scale witches (see day 1) and amazing witch brooms with faces (a how-to on her brooms was in the Oct. Issue #90 of American Miniaturist Magazine).

A fan of Halloween in all scales, (her real-life party decorations should be featured in Haunted Homes and Gardens!), Patty began sculpting with bread dough "way back" in the Seventies. "I was a stay at home mom who created a little business while our three children were growing up," she recalls.

Heh,heh, where did those veggies go? (Older castle witch)

"I went back to work in the late '80s as a visual merchandiser (retail window displays) for major shopping mall developers, but I always created dolls (now made from polymer clay) for an extra income."

In 2003, she decided to work full-time on her newfound love, dollhouse size dolls, and. she says, "I've been working ever since trying to perfect the 1:12th size . . . it’s an exciting and fun challenge that keeps me totally involved in my work."

"I have a quirky style and love to create unique Halloween-theme miniature dolls that have a lot of expression and interact with the other miniatures around them. I’m excited about the future and the next challenge I'll meet when I walk up the stairs to my orange Halloween-theme studio in our attic."

Oops, we've been talking so long, I fear we're neglecting our other guests so let's go into the other room, shall we?


* Back: Day 2

* Next: Halloween in Miniature: Day 4

* Vintage Halloween postcards

Halloween in Miniature 2010: Day 2 - Grab some Halloween Treats!

Thanks for stopping by for Day 2 of this year's 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature. If you missed the kick-off, see Day 1 here.

Are you hungry? Oh, I heard some growling... yeah maybe with this crowd, it's best to get the food out early. Well, have we got some fantastic treats for you!

Miniature food artisan and IGMA Fellow Kiva Atkinson has been busy slaving over a hot oven, cooking up some creepy favorites, sure to kill, er, tempt your tastebuds. haaa!

In fact, it's surprising that Kiva hasn't blown up her oven yet! (Did you hear a big ka-boom?)

"I am really going nuts this Halloween," she says. "I'm making more stuff than I've made at any other time during Halloween. This season always puts my creativity into overdrive!"

Bone Soup, anyone?

She says she's inspired "from looking at cooking magazines..." (Hmm, Martha Ghoulert maybe? Sorry, couldn't resist!)

As for those delicious bones, Kiva says that like any good cook, she never tires of trying out different variations on old favorites, like some bone soup or roasted bones or... Femur anyone?

Salty Bones, better than pretzels!

She does "cute" just as well, however. After all, every ghoul needs something for their sweet tooth, right? haa!

Witch Treats


Speckled Pumpkins

Skull Cookies

Oh, will you look at the time! Uh-oh, what's that noise in the kitchen? (No, it's not Kiva!) It looks like one of the guests is having some kind of problem...

* Next: Halloween in Miniature: Day 3.

* Get some free Halloween clipart.

Halloween in Miniature 2010 - Day 1: Welcome to the Party!

Welcome, Welcome! Please come right in and make yourself comfortable for this year's 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature! It's going to be a fantastic party!

Don't be shy! Make yourself right at home. There are tons of spooky but fun people expected to attend, and there'll be plenty of great Halloween treats to eat -- and no tricks, promise! haa!

Oh, look, there is Pat Benedict's Witch CC - (short for Cotton Candy). The lady has a real sweet tooth - but watch out - her treats definitely have a bite! (Haa!)

Don't worry, this witch is a friendly soul, they say, besides being a real whiz at coordinating! Love the stylish witchy hat! I wonder if she got it from a certain well-known English milliner? Wait'll you see her latest creations. Wow! Well, be sure to say hello, and we'll be visiting with Patty and that "hat lady" in an upcoming post.

My little witch Imelda will take you around to meet everyone. We don't want anyone feeling left out now, do we?


Have a sip of our house specialty, the Golden Eye Wine, (still has quite a kick!) and come back tomorrow to meet more of the guests!

** Contest: For fun, one person commenting during the 12 days will win a couple of my handmade medieval books for their own haunted setting or wizardly table.

(Note: each day's next event will be linked at the end of each post.)

How About a Swap?

I'd love to swap one of my flower-filled pumpkin planters and/or a small medieval book for?? Email me at profile and let's see what we can figure out!


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

* Go to Halloween in Miniature 2010: Day 2

* Enjoy my Halloween miniatures menu

Upcoming Blog Halloween Parties!

IT'S HALLOWEEN PARTY TIME!!

Got your costume? Let's go trick or treating!

Don't forget to stop back here tomorrow, Weds. 10/20, for my 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature.

Comment during the party and you could win two of my handmade mini medieval books. (Dollhouse size in case you didn't know!)

Then how about some party hopping? See some more great stops below!









My friend Courtney over at Haunt Jaunts, a travel blog for restless spirits, is having a boorific Halloween Party all October!

Knowing Courts, she'll have all kinds of weird stuff (she's already posted on gruesome masks, (Ick!) and match your dog costumes! ha!), plus she's having some great giveaways, and all kinds of Halloween fun!







** Mark your calendar for next Monday, 10/25 for the Open House at Karin's blog, Mini Ramblings and Musings. Karin's gonna have the punch out, so stop by and say hi! Make sure you follow her and comment for a chance to win your very own mini Jack O'Lantern (not sure if it's haunted or not!)



** After that, let's go across the pond where Kat the Hat Lady in England is also having a party from Oct. 30-Nov. 2! Visit her party blog and post a comment with your Halloween link and join the fun!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Miniatures Monday: New Wizard Boxes

After seeing the amazing magic and amulet boxes made by members of the Mini Doll List (I'll share the link later when I find it again), I was inspired to make some magic boxes for my wizard.



















The room is done in paper clay but needs to be painted and decorated yet. I thought it would look neat to have some shelves and cabinets filled with various boxes and potion bottles. I wanted it to be slightly different from the fortune teller's house, which will have an assortment of crystal balls and other items.