October 31, 2023

Halloween in Miniature 23-15: It's Halloween!

Welcome back to the end of Halloween in Miniature!

(See Day 1)

IT'S HALLOWEEN!!!!!

I hope you enjoyed the event these past two weeks.

Did you visit the Halloween party and see who showed up?

Well, it was fun! Back to regular posts now and... what will I be working on next?

Hint: Started...

Well, that's all I got done  - so far - on the Park Ave. Mansion.... ha! 

The base: Exciting, right? ha! Well I have to paint it before I attach the walls, and have to paint those too, I think.

I did find some cool new papers I thought would make nice wallpaper in the mansion. I like the pattern... I looked at it a couple times, but I like it, at least for one wall...I like larger and different patterns sometimes.

I'll post a monthly update tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting and voting for my miniature project too.  I do appreciate it!.





 


October 30, 2023

Halloween in Miniature 23-14: The Witch Cottage

Witch Cottage: The potion room

Welcome back to Halloween in Miniature!

(Start at Day 1 -  Next: Happy Halloween!)

While the guests are enjoying the party, the witch kindly invited everyone in to tour the cottage. (Click photos for full size; see other posts in left column archives.)

Ta-Dah!  The Witch's Cottage I've been working on all this time is finally pretty much finished. Have changed a few small things since then but it's mostly done.. Well, you're never really done, right? 

I added the potion shelf back in the room instead of the chest after the video.


The second floor bedroom/sitting area:



The potion room: 

Here's the table I put in the first floor, right-side potion-making room. You can't tell here, but the cup glows inside.


Mr. Skellie was relaxing and having a snack... finger sandwich, anyone?  Or.. let me give you a hand! (Ugh!) (Made by me.)



Wait, what's that noise outside? Can't even sit in peace and quiet! 



Here are some better views of The Witch Cottage:

 

* Thanks again for visiting and following along on my projects. I appreciate it! * 





October 28, 2023

Halloween in Miniature 23-13: Monster Mash

 

Welcome back to Halloween in Miniature!

(Start at Day 1 - Next: Day 14 - Tour the Witch Cottage!)

Yes it's been a long haul to get here! Thanks to those who've stuck with me these past two weeks. I think I'll go back to the shortened event next year!

The food is still out, so let's see who's here early for the big party!

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REMINDER: Last Chance - Don't forget to VOTE for The Witch Cottage at the Halloween Challenge. **** Please VOTE at link here - scroll down -Row 7**** 


Oh, look it's Frank! Not the monster, he insists. Don't believe what you hear, This guy has some great jokes. He's the "life" of the party, haa! (Fantastic hand-sculpted figure by Sharon Cariola)


 Step up to the bar. The ghostly bartender, a past hand-sculpted project from Julie Campbell, is pouring drinks. House wine, anyone?


The house wine? Don't worry, there's plenty! It's a never-ending bottle, it seems.


Or maybe you'd prefer a glass of this, er, "glog" from Patricia Paul. Well, maybe it tastes okay. Go ahead, you try it first. haa!

The Skellie sisters said they'd try it.... Sorry, we're not responsible for how they act afterward! (Skellie ladies in my fortune teller room.)


Ah, it's a nice evening, a full moon, the wolves are howling.... Some of the guests decided to sit out on the porch and enjoy the night air. Don't worry, the dog's bark is worse than his bite. Really. (My front porch project.)



What's that noise? Oh, sorry, gotta run. Matilda says it's getting kind of rowdy in the parlor. Some guests just can't hold their liquor. (The ghosts likely.) Better go see what's going on. See you tomorrow and come back Monday for Halloween - a tour of my Witch Cottage! 

* Thanks again for visiting. Don't forget to vote for my half -scale Witch's cottage (above) in the Halloween Challenge (Row 7). Last chance to vote!!  Thanks, I appreciate it!* 


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This year, I'm doing something different by posting on Instagram and here, according to the day's themes. The difference is there'll be at least a couple more photos included on this blog. Be sure to friend me there (cwrite12), play along and share the list!!

 


October 27, 2023

Halloween in Miniature 23-12 Eye C U!

 

Here's looking at you. The giant eye on the Fairfield Dollhouse porch.

Welcome to more Halloween in Miniature!

(Start/see schedule at Day 1; Next - Day 13. Click photos for full size; see other posts in left column archives.)

Yeah, I admit it. I like weird stuff. When I found that giant rubber eye, well it had to go on the porch. It's lit, too. haa!

A past Halloween display: What would you do if you saw this guy watching you? (Or that tree with the giant eyes? haa!)


How about an eyeball cake? (Made by my friend Kitty. For my someday witch's bakery. I still have the corner shop in the Houseworks Street of Shops left to do. I've already made a Witchy Greenhouse, the Halloween store and a Teapot Shop with those buildings.)


Other Halloween cakes, also by Kitty.


Speaking of eyes... 

Image: Watercolor on Ivory, 1840, Met Museum (OA collection)

 Ever hear of Lover's Eyes? They're small Victorian-era portraits of someone's eye or eyes, namely the eye of the person admired. I always thought a wall of them would look cool. I'd like to do that in some project... maybe the half-scale gothic Victorian library I want to do in a book box. Yeah another project that's been on the list... I might work on that between the mansion project.

Here are some photos and history. Pretty fascinating.

Some cool fabric on Spoonflower, too.

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REMINDER: Don't forget to VOTE for The Witch Cottage at the Halloween Challenge. **** VOTE at link here - scroll down - Row 6**** 

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This year, I'm doing something different by posting on Instagram and here, according to the day's themes. The difference is there'll be at least a couple more photos included on this blog. Be sure to friend me there (cwrite12), play along and share the list!!


 


October 26, 2023

Halloween in Miniature 23-11: Seeing Red


Welcome back to more  Halloween in Miniature! 
You can see past years' posts on the top tab. (Click photos for full size; see other posts in left column archives.) Start/see schedule Day 1 - Next: Day 12

Today's theme: Seeing Red, which can have several meanings. Funny, as there isn't much red in my Halloween houses... I didn't make my latest, The Witch's Cottage, bloody/gory at all! ha! That house is mostly greens, yellow, and orange.
But don't lose your head about it... ha! 


The Headless Horseman by Lisa Tabbanor fits right in with today's red theme! (See her hand-sculpted, half-scale figures in her Etsy shop.)

While my half-scale Fairfield house isn't exactly a Halloween house, I did add some spooky elements and a lot of red. The outside, for one, is brick and a reddish-brown.(See other photos and links on top tab.)


Here's the chaise lounge and pillows in the parlor. The Eastman-style settee is a kit from MiniEtchers. I made the chaise from the d. Anne Ruff half-scale furniture kit.


I added a Wednesday-type portrait on the wall by the desk in the girl's circus-themed bedroom.


Or there's some other unusual Vampirish portraits in the main bedroom.


Here's a video of the bedroom:


The saying, Seeing Red, can also mean --  what makes you mad?
* I hate when I take a photo - and then I see something I missed. Or a flaw. Or a mistake. Then have to fix that and take the photo over and over. ha! I have to fix it otherwise it will bug me. No one else may see it, but I know it's there. ha! Know what I mean??

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REMINDER: Don't forget to VOTE for The Witch Cottage at the Halloween Challenge. **** VOTE at link here Row 6**** 

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This year, I'm doing something different by posting on Instagram and here, according to the day's themes. The difference is there'll be at least a couple more photos included on this blog. Be sure to friend me there and tag me, (cwrite12), play along and share the list!!

October 25, 2023

Halloween in Miniature 23:10: Skellies!

Early setup of the viewing room. Have to add a base too. And those pillars have since been partly painted gold. You'll see; it looks pretty cool.
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 Welcome back to HALLOWEEN IN MINIATURE!

If any creatures convey Halloween, it may be skeletons! 

 (Click photos for full size; see more posts in left column archives.)

Start/see schedule Day 1  - Next: Day 11

Since I already posted some skeletons on Day 3, I thought I'd share some progress on the would-be skeleton funeral parlor. Maybe it'll even be mostly ready by Halloween. haa! Not that there's any hurry, you know. They're already dead.  😆

The roombox was papered ages ago and then I let it sit. I had decided to put some wood on the walls, then never finished. I had green wallpaper on the bottom as in this photo below. I guess it's the year to finish the UFO's, like the men's store I did earlier in the humidor/cigar box.

Early view of the parlor:

Well! I finally got one side done (hey that's progress!) and I decided to add a faux doorway from a couple doors I had from an old dollhouse. I think it came out pretty good! I glued a garden scene from a calendar behind the curtains. Not really visible, but didn't want wallpaper showing through. Ignore any little flaws that I'll touch up yet.

I'll add wall lights here I think and some art.

Next, finishing the electric tape, soldering lights in once I drill holes, and finishing the other wall and baseboard. Then I have to find some art to print out. I think I'm going to change this out later to a store and maybe a library as the room is flexible, so I'm going to add some art with Velcro tape that I can switch later.

The front came out pretty cool. It looks much better with the curtains. Sheer but add a little class to the design. The trim around the windows turned out well - I painted strips of hat straw and glued it in. I was thinking of adding a vintage General Store sign to the front and maybe a mortuary sign on the side, like it's an older building that has had various tenants. I'm either putting brick paper or stucco-like paper on the sides.

I didn't want to glue the front on, so I'm thinking of using clear plastic corner moldings so I can slide the front in place and hold it on that way. I'm probably putting clear acrylic or part-acrylic on top, too. Maybe. Hope it works.

Some of the mourners, so far, who have to be posed yet. Yes, there is a human mourner to finish up, too. 

So, getting there. Just something I've been toying with while I decide on the Park Ave. Mansion. Yes, I got it out and glued the base together. A start.

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REMINDER: Don't forget to VOTE for The Witch Cottage at the Halloween Challenge. **** PLEASE VOTE at link here - scroll down Row 6**** 

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This year, I'm doing something different by posting on Instagram and here, according to the day's themes. The difference is there'll be at least a couple more photos included on this blog. Be sure to friend me there (cwrite12), play along and share the list!!



October 24, 2023

Secrets Laid to Rest Mystery Blog Tour


 Time out between Halloween posts for a stop on the blog tour for the mystery, Secrets Laid to Rest by Catherine C. Hall.

About the Book:

It’s the Golden Girls meet the Ghostbusters when four women find themselves in an unlikely career: Southeastern Paranormal Investigations. Ree Lane, a stylish widow, is more cynic than true believer, while her childhood chum Elle Harper has a knack for getting sensitive info with the help of her homemade pies. The preacher’s wife, Betsy Jones, can’t be seen with SPI unless she’s in her disguise as Nora, a psychic-in-training with a gift for Tarot. And the recently-returned-home Gillian Buchanan is a whiz at technology, especially of the supernatural sort.

 Their first case lands on the doorstep when neighbor Doris Tucker is sure her prized vintage dolls are haunted. But there’s hardly time for ghost-hunting when the bank director’s wife mistakes SPI for a private eye venture. Now they’re also hot on the trail of a misbehaving husband. It’s a wild ride as the sixty-something sleuths start digging into the past. But have the Ladies of SPI gone too far? And how far will Sutter go to keep its secrets dead and buried?

Review:

A fun mystery with lots of Southern charm as the ladies try to solve problems while sometimes causing others. A good group with lots of banter, though sometimes there are some too-fast point-of-view shifts. But enjoyed their adventures. ✫✫✫✫

* Add it on Goodreads.  * Visit the author's website.


 About the Author:

 Catherine C. Hall grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where she got hooked on the area's haunted history. As she says, "you can’t throw a stick without hitting a ghost!"

 Broadcast Journalism hooked her as well, leading her to Valdosta State U, working in radio, and ending up in Macon where she met and married a cute deejay from Sandersville, Ga. A second book in the series, Secrets of Cole House, is coming soon.