A to Z Blog Challenge - G is for Mini Groceries

* Today is the Letter G of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

G is for... 

Miniature... Groceries. 

Was wracking my brain trying to think of what I had in dollhouse pictures that started with G! Then I remembered I had a pic before assembly of the inside wall of the shed for my Half Scale Country House. (See the D post to see pix of the house exterior.) 

The attached shed is part bathroom, laundry and storage, perfect for a small, old house! The inside was coated with lightweight stucco and aged with tan paint.

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - F for Miniature Food

* Today is day 6  - Letter F - of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge * 

What else? but...

F is for... 

Miniature Food. 

One of the most fun parts of miniatures, I think, is how real some of the food can look.  A few pieces from my collection. I made the food. Directions are in my book,  In Miniature Style II for the burgers, hot dogs and potato salad. Believe me, there are others who make food waaay better than mine!

For fun, check out some of the amazing, realistic food made by PetitPlat, Kiva Atkinson  and Angie Scarr, to name a few. (Angie has a bunch of how to videos at the link.)

Talk about real looking!

   * More minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - E for Dollhouse Exterior

* Today is day 5  - Letter E - of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge * 

E is for... 

More Exterior Photos of the Half Scale Country House (from letter D).

I did some redecorating already. Just like real life!

Someone left an Easter basket at the front door! I have to match the two flower pots yet.

Left side flowers. Removable flower box.

Center, chair. Avon resin set.

Right side, birdhouses and flowerpots.

   * More minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook and PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - D is for Dollhouse

* Today is day 4  - Letter D - of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge * 

Back to the Half Scale Country House I've been working on.


D is for... 

Dollhouse!   

I've been working on my dollhouse, what I call the Half Scale Country House, for a while now. It's nearly done! Here's a few of the latest photos I've shared of the outside. I'll share more interior photos on upcoming days.

The house was colonial style but I didn't want all those windows, so I closed the sides and took out the center window. The front is paper clay. The sides are individual wood strips. I hand-painted the clay and wood with acrylic paint.

(I've also removed the flower bed and am making a better one seasonal flowers that sets in the space.)  The "vases" by the front door are actually ceramic electric caps from inside a 1960s stove we finally got rid of.  The color might look off in some photos but the blue shutters and trim are actually turquoise.

I used painted scalloped plastic brick sheet for the flat roof (not shown). It also is used on the shed and will be on a partial-roof potting shed (not finished yet). Yes, the shed roof opens. There's a bathroom and storage. I have to make a wringer washer yet.

   * More minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II 

A to Z Blog Challenge - C for Mini Cake

* Today is day 3  - Letter C - of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge * 

Back to the Half Scale Country House I've been working on.


C is for... 

Cake of course!  

The cake is made by a member of the Half Scale Yahoo Group from one of our annual swaps. The bowl and cookies are from this year's swap also. (To give you an idea of size: the table is 2" wide; the cake is just over 1/2" wide across.) 

   * More minis, profiles, photos and how to projects - (some food ideas, too!)  -  In Miniature Style II 

A to Z Blog Challenge - B for Mini Barbecue

* Today is day 2  - Letter B - of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge * 

I had to share one of my favorite projects again. 

B is for... 

Barbecue. 

Nothing better than a cookout with fresh fruit salad and fried chicken! I made the food of polymer clay and copied the picture from a  vintage cookbook cover. Was fun to do!

I made a half-scale version too. (Have to find the pic.)

* To Letter C





   * More minis, profiles, photos and how to projects - (some food ideas, too!)  -  In Miniature Style II

A to Z Blog Challenge - Day 1 Apples

 * Today is the first day - Letter A - of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge * 

(See calendar at end of post for the days and letters.)

I'm going to share some of my minis, hopefully new things you haven't seen. I've been working on my Half Scale Country House. (See previous photos.)  It's nearly done though I'm still adding new things. (I will share the latest pix for Day 4, letter D).

I haven't done a full house in a while, so it's fun to get as much detail in as you can. 

A is for... 

Apples! An apple a day doesn't keep the miniaturist away. ha!

These are in half scale (1/2" = 1 foot) and made by a member of the Half Scale Yahoo Group. I got them in one of the annual swaps.  (Of course they could be green tomatoes too, I suppose.)

   * More minis, profiles, photos and how to projects -
 In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF


 ** Go to:  Letter B

A to Z Blog Challenge Coming

I've decided to join this blog also in the daily A to Z Blog Challenge beginning April 1 and going all next month.

Over 1,000 blogs join in sharing something new and linked to the alphabet each day. Of course I'm sharing minis and miniatures-related topics so be sure to stop by!

I'm also sharing some new short fiction and other things at my GirlZombieAuthors blog so check it out!

Got the New Miniatures Mystery!

Oh fun! I got my (signed!) copy today of Margaret Grace's (Camille Minichino's) latest miniatures mystery, Manhattan in Miniature: A Miniature Mystery! Not only is this a fun book in her dollhouse series, but I blurbed it and got a quote on the back. How cool is that! Thanks, Camille!

(I'm not biased but I think this is one of the prettiest of her covers, too!) (The Kindle and ebook aren't out yet - official release is April 6. Stay tuned for an upcoming interview!)

New Scary Doll Book

Something slightly different for the doll lover.  I love dolls and love reading scary stories. The bonus is that this also includes doll photos!

 The Doll Collection, (releasing March 10) edited by World Fantasy and Hugo Award winner Ellen Datlow, features all kinds of dolls... the ones that you likely won't want to meet... 

Featuring everything from life-sized clockwork dolls to all-too-human Betsy Wetsy-type baby dolls, these stories play into  true creepiness of the doll trope, but avoid the clichés that often show up in stories of this type. 

 The collection is illustrated with photos of dolls taken by Datlow and other devoted doll collectors from the science fiction and fantasy field.  

Stories by: Stephen Gallagher, Joyce Carol Oates, Gemma Files, Pat Cadigan, Lucy Sussex, Tim Lebbon, Seanan McGuire, Carrie Vaughn, Stephen Graham Jones, Miranda Siemienowicz, Mary Robinette Kowal, Richard Bowes, Genevieve Valentine, Richard Kadrey, Veronica Schanoes, John Langan, Jeffrey Ford. - From Amazon.