The Best Time of Year! Halloween Minis!

Oh it's that time of year! Time to see what new stuff is around.

Amazingly Hobby Lobby and Michael's all have Halloween, Fall and Christmas stuff out already. Get them all at once. haa!

I love mini Halloween stuff, though. Michaels had their Spooky Town stuff out with a few new figures.

But the mini section caught my eye. Lots of fun stuff to choose from so I'll be making many trips!!

Here's just a few I got today. Love the skellie animals!!

Dollar Tree also had some new LED lights - these look like fiber optics in a thin plastic tube. Pretty cool. I can see these around a house or for trim. Use two AA batteries. There is also a purple strand. And at only $1, who's complaining?

New Miniatures AIM Magazine

The new July '17 (Issue 63) of the Artisans in Miniature (AIM) Magazine is out!
Download or read here. You may have to sign into Scribd to read or download.

I've got a show report and the small scales story in the issue. Happy Reading!

Mini Lp's! Record Store Project!

Finally got a "little" something done for the Record Store Project! (See previous pics.)

Yes, little. Making record albums - LP covers. This is only a  "small" start considering how many I'll need. ha! But they're pretty cool, huh?

Oh, only 100 or so to go. haaaaaa! Who's counting? (Well, not yet.)

Decorated Miniature Glass House in Shabby Chic

Here's the finished glass house, for now. I really love the shape of this structure! Nice way to display some items that'll eventually go into a full roombox or house. (Previous photos)

The back wall is just a piece of mat board covered with scrapbook paper. Loved this print! The floor is the tweed side of a piece of picture frame mat board. I probably should add a pretty throw rug, too.

Every place needs a dog, even in mini!

The interesting chair and sofa were actually sold as Christmas ornaments! 

(Resin from Hobby Lobby.)

My friend, Kitty, made the great drink and cake.

The Latest Miniature Finds! Shabby Chic!

Summer is flea market time here in Wisconsin! I'm lucky to come across some great finds, meaning neat things  - and  cheap! 

One of the finds was this bunch of flower punches. Oh, happy me - they were only $5! 

Of course, it also means another project is in the works. Kind of. I've been planning a Ladies' Shoppe for a looong time, so I've been making things and putting them away. Well, this great glass case I found last week lets me display things until the projects are ready! Always a shame to have stuff stored in boxes unseen, isn't it? Of course, who knows, I may like it enough to keep it this way in the end!

 Pretty cool case, it's 8 1/2" square at the base. I found that a picture frame mat I had has a nice tweed side I'm going to use, for now, as flooring. I'm adding a false wall in the back with that shabby rose print. I like to have a wall for art and shelves. (See finished, decorated case here.)

Here are some items I made before, too. The pretty couch is resin and actually was sold as a Christmas ornament at Hobby Lobby. I have several pieces I was lucky to find since they don't seem to offer them anymore.  I repainted and added French labels to the small chest. I love the shabby chic style! The tall corner case was one of those cheap punch-out furniture kits, and I repainted the smaller bookcase. I have another larger bookcase filled with perfumes, too. I'll share more photos as I progress. 

Another Mini Record Store Update!

A few new items I'm working on for the miniature record store project (See previous post.)

What will these be? Got in the mood to paint some furniture. I know, they don't look like anything yet. Stay tuned! They're going to be very colorful! I have some beautiful papers I'm working with!

And.... well, vintage record stores sold a lot of different things... I thought these "accessories" would fit perfect! haa!

Update: Miniature Record Store in Progress!

Remember the miniature record store project from the previous post?  A little progress!

Update:

The store/roombox is  being painted, glued and nailed now. Still have to touch up the paint, but I really like the purple/violet and lilac trim. It's a nice contrast! The windows are painted pink with a neon pink trim. Still deciding on the door color yet.

Have to paint the base, deciding on the color, and I'm thinking I may do egg carton stones so I can paint them in coordinating colors. I'm thinking of multi-color tiles for the front porch. Lots of color but this is fun! I'm a gypsy at heart. I love lots of colors, glitter and anything that sparkles - which will all be incorporated here!

Also found this fabric. At first I was thinking of the blue to go with my eventual beach house, but this purple and pink, also orange and yellow, could fit in here, maybe for curtains or pillows. LOVE the colors! I still want to try some tie-dye. Remember that? ha!

Then there's this... remember that plant I mentioned? Here's the leaves I need to paint and then assemble. Too funny!!!  I do have some record album covers folded, but soooooo many more to do. But this is a fun project!!

The Latest Dollhouse Miniature Project-in-Progress

Realized I haven't posted in a bit, been busy writing, but here's what else is going on:

A Confession: I've become a terrible miniaturist. ha!

Why? Because I start too many projects! Lately, it seems that it's only a deadline or some goal that gets me to finish something.

I  say this because, yes, I started another one. One that really is too big for my space, but I'll find a place for it and get my other living room displays back to how they were.

A month or so back, I found a HUGE dollhouse at the thrift store, and well, it was a steal for $10. I actually bought it for the windows and door since I just don’t have room for the whole house. (Never mind that I have two other built unfinished houses yet to decorate.)

Then I got an idea—yeah, dangerous. Real dangerous...I hated to do it, well, kind of...

 So, I took off the top sections and saved the bottom floor. Ready-made roombox! It's still fairly big - it fits the length of  a square folding table. It's being painted now - the outside is purple with probably a violet trim and the windows a light pink with neon pink trim. It already looks better in the purple!

 Lots of color will be going on here. Found an array of fun scrapbook papers, including a colorful pineapple print I like. Basically you can't have too much color in this one! And... I recently got a beautiful scrapbook paper book full of '60s style prints and Indian designs...

Yes, it will require making dozens, a hundred or more (?), mini record album covers. I really don't like making them all, but the end result makes it worth it. There's something about seeing a bunch of the same things. Check out this mini record collection.  Then I'll have some slightly larger record albums on the walls along with posters. 

You'll laugh - I even found that one of the miniature flower makers has a "certain" plant and leaf kit available for that added touch of realism! I'm a DIY'er so I ordered the kit. ha!

Other additions include:
* Finding some great, dark walnut wood slat placemats for flooring. All I have to do is remove the fabric edging around the front.
* A tie-dye kid's kit. Figured for $5 it's cheaper than having to get all the bottles and stuff separate. Am going to try dyeing curtains, pillows, and some floor pillows.
* Bugle bead necklace to use in making a beaded doorway curtain.
* Gold necklace with a wire insert for some kind of hanging decoration.

 Since it's two rooms, the first room will have the record displays. The larger second room will have some more records, stereo equipment and a place to hang out. 

Fun thing is my friend Gigi found a great little dollhouse size turntable key chain! Perfect size. I found another one though it's plastic and I might see if I need to paint it. I need to make a small, long side table with the turntables and headphones to preview the records!

So I began folding records and will have to glue some. Folding and gluing... but I've barely begun. ha! 

 I don't like repetition, but having a collection of dozens, hundreds, of the one thing is really kind of mesmerizing- and addicting. It'll be the same when I start the Horror bookstore idea I have. I have a small store kit set aside.. and there'll be lots and lots of books to make...  No, I'm not starting it. Not yet... (But some book covers are already printed out...) 

I'll add more pix when I make some real progress.

Chicago Miniatures Shows 2017!

Had a great weekend going to all three miniatures shows in Schaumburg and Chicago!

As always, there was tons to see. I didn't take as many photos this time, but wanted to share a few things I did get pictures of. I'll also have some of the photos and information in the upcoming issue 63 of the AIM - Artisans in Miniature Magazine. (Click pix for large images.)

I always find some great deals at the Three Blind Mice show (http://3blindmiceshow.com/chicago_spring/) and this year was even better - I won a half scale (1/24th) dollhouse kit from the door prize raffle! Believe me, I was pretty shocked!

 I always find a bunch of accessories here. The fun stuff I found was a mini silver garbage can (hard to come across those now and I have fun filling them!), some small half-scale end tables, flower boxes, tiny tables, plant hanger, cigar box, mini computer, shoes, etc. I got a kick out of this Pan statue, (at left) as it was definitely different (kind of creepy!) and will fit perfectly in the half-scale, haunted house garden once I do that project! I got an interesting sofa kit, too, that I may use in my upcoming record store project. (Yes, another new idea. ha!)

Now, not to inject politics, but these cut-out server figures cracked me up! Oh, the jokes I could make, but I'll control myself. ha! (From William Cambron Miniatures, Missouri.)

This was a pretty cool spooky house by April and Ron Gill of The Wildwood Dollhouse from Michigan, which will be going to The Museum of Miniature Houses in Carmel, Indiana. (http://museumofminiatures.org.) The interior features a full array of potions for that wizard or witch, along with a unique table on skeleton legs. (I hope it doesn’t walk away!)

The newer dollhouse show, The Miniature Show, (http://theminiatureshow.com/) was even better in its second year with more vendors. Much of the items are high-end, but I found some great kits in three scales from first-timer Jane Harrop of the UK. I love finding new half-scale kits. She had some interesting vintage-style kits like the table and vegetable cart. And the filligree screen is also great. I really liked her assortment.

This incredible Steampunk scene in a giant top hat by Bette Jo Chudy was part of the displays for the show's artisan competition. 

The Chicago International (Bishop show) (http://www.bishopshow.com/blank-chv5.) always has a ton of stuff to see, as well.

This was a cool idea using those plastic skellies. Will have to try something similar -chandelier from Magic-N-Miniatures of Ohio. (ignore the guy in the makeshift bathroom in the back.) ha!

First-time exhibitor from the UK - These dolls from Bags of Character from the UK really do have a lot of character. Love the expressions!

So, just a little taste of the shows!

Yellow HS Kids' House

Wow it's been a while since I posted! It's not that I haven't been working on things, just haven't had a chance to share!  The small trailer is coming along. Will be posting some pix and tips soon.

For now, here's a trip down memory lane. Since I cleaned the cover and was moving the house, took a few new pix. This was always one of my favorite projects.

Yellow Half Scale Kids' House

I bought this kit years ago when my local dollhouse store was closing. It was labeled as a kid's playhouse, though it is half scale. I used smaller 1" scale furniture inside and outside. I kick myself that I didn't buy the other kit at the time.

** Just found this original pic of the kit - it was called "Backyard Bliss" by Betty's Wooden Miniatures. (I'd seen that pink kit on left (Tulip Cottage) back then; should've bought it. And that other kit, Storybook Playhouse, shown on right is cute. Here's a link to someone's projects. (Not sure if it'll work as it's a private forum on Greenleaf.) 

(Click pix for full size)

** And it seems every time I take a pic, then I see something wrong after. Like the bird (Cockatiel) hanging down on the chair inside. Oh, he's just looking at something. haa!

The stones in front and on the chimney are those polished colored stones. I put them in tinted lightweight spackle. (stucco) The bird on the chimney is from Barbara Meyer, Mini Gems.