Wee C Dollhouse Show 2019-1

I'm back from the annual trip to the Wee C Dollhouse Show in Elk Grove Village, Ill. Always a fun time with my good friend, Gigi. Lots of minis and lots of exhibits. (See Post 2 tomorrow.)

The best part is the amazing display room, a chance to see all kinds of cool projects. So enjoy some of my favorites that I took photos of. There were more than this, too! Come back tomorrow for more photos!

All are 1" - 1/12th scale unless specified. Click photos for best and largest size.

Unusual Settings and Structures

One of the best displays, I thought, was this circus wagon. Really well decorated and nicely done. 

Anthropologist's office in a container. Clever use of an interesting box.

Tick-tock. Neat when you have lots of the same items.

Market Stalls

Traditional German stalls. Love the tiny houses and ornaments. 

You can get a lot of detail in a small space. 

The Halloween stall is fun, too!

Back view:

Rooms in a small cube.

A picture really says it all.

 Like the colors. You can do a lot in a small space.

This is that window room display box that was a past kit from NAME (National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts). I did Raggedies in mine, too. (See photos.)

Nice to see someone else did one!

More tomorrow!

#Paris #Miniature Project 23 Update - Really!

Yes... now that Halloween is over (oh the Halloween mini making is far from over Chris says!), it's time for a new Paris Miniature Project Update! (You can see the beginning by clicking the photo in the left column.)

I know, nothing has been posted since the Curtains post in August but... back to school, her classes, work, and all that has Gigi really busy!

But.... she has been working on things. See top photo... (Chris says, trust me, I nag her and can see it in person. ha!)

So...  here are a few photos. 

The insides of the rooms are papered and the curtains are up. She finished her flowers on the balconies and will be attaching those. (And they look nice!) The rooms are being assembled and trim is being put up on the outside. She now is starting the outer stucco work. Like everyone else, we're saving the outside views for later.

For now, how about some shopping?

Here are some items in the cabinet on the first floor shop.  Remember the mask theme mentioned in the first post? You might spot a few in here... (Click photos for full view.)

 Souvenirs, anyone?

I had to add this photo - look at the key board and more masks. That looks great!

I know, it's only a sneak peek, but the reveal will be coming soon. 
Until then, Happy Creating! 

Happy #Halloween in #Miniature! 6

Well... sadly, it looks like it's the end of our 2019 tour! (If you missed it, go back & start at Day 1.)

(Ha! I couldn't resist this photo of The Asylum's Morgue by Debra Hinton.)

Before you leave, be sure to join the party!

"Ooh, such great snacks. Even Uncle Ed decided to hang around for the goodies. haa! " (Table and food, C. Verstraete. I bought the ribs.)

"Mmm, don't forget to have some pie, too. Cook just made it. All fresh! heh-heh." (Pie, Linda Cummings.)

"Don't be in  a hurry to leave... Stick around. I hear Mr. Skellie has some drop-dead jokes to share. haaa!"

"Okay, okay. Here are  a few of his favorites. Hey, no groaning!"

1. Who is the most famous French skeleton? Napoleon Boneapart. (Get it?)
2. How did the skeleton know it was going to rain? He felt it in his... bones.
3. What song do skeleton crooks listen to after a heist? Why, what else? Bad to the Bone.
4. What do skeletons order at restaurants? Spare ribs!
5. What was the skeletons favorite rock band? The Grateful Dead.

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** Be sure to visit the websites and pages of those who were featured! Thanks to them for making this week special! **

💀 Christine Verstraete, miniatures and books.

💀 Debra Hinton, Darkside Morbid Miniatures and The Kangley Hill Asylum

💀 Georgia Marfels of Germany. Spooky minis on Etsy.

💀 Haunted Orchid Dollhouse Club on Facebook

💀 Linda Cummings, IGMA artisan - Etsy page  

💀 Mary K (HalloweenGirl) on Instagram

💀 Patricia Paul Miniatures (Sign up for her newsletter and get some free book printies, too!) - Check out more of her cool work on her Etsy page and visit her Facebook page.


💀  Sharon Cariola's Facebook page - hand-sculpted miniature figures

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Thanks for voting! 

(**** Don't forget - Please VOTE for my Mr. Skellie's Porch 

at Miniatures. com - click HERE - Or see all, Mine's on Top of Pg. 2 - 
Please vote daily through today Oct. 31 ***** )

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**** COMMENTS MAY NOT BE WORKING - Enter rafflecopter (day 1) or send comment to me at my website page. I'll pick a random winner for a book, ebook or a mini Halloween goodie bag. (Gifts US Mailing only.) ****


WINNERS: I ran the random number generator and based on comments - #4 and #8 - Irina and Nadine won! I'll be emailing you!


I hope you've enjoyed all the posts and photos this week. It really is a treat (no trick!) to share the amazing work of fellow miniaturists! I just love Halloween minis!-- Chris Verstraete




 * Free Halloween animations: https://www.fg-a.com/halloween.shtml

BONUS: Don't forget the giveaway on Day 1. - Back: Day 5. 

 *** Plus -- A little treat for you: Some Freebie Halloween Printies!

💀 Crayola.com has some fun Halloween coloring pages. (Bonus: Right click to save the thumbnails at the site as minis.)
HINT: Make some mini colored pencils by cutting down a toothpick. paint the body and end with a matching color acrylic paint. Seal with Mod Podge, gloss or matte.
   Crayon: You can make a crayon in the same way but cut the toothpick tip down slightly to the fuller point to make a bigger tip. Paint the whole toothpick with matching acrylic paint. Seal with Mod Podge matte. Find a crayon label online and shrink it down. Find more crayon and pencil box printies at printmini.com.

👽  Cute Halloween boxes  (Chinese blog; just save and follow the images. Right-click wasn't working so you'll need to use your snipping tool and save. Some may need to be resized.)
  
 👽 Elegant spell book covers (large size. I reduced them in the photo program to 342 pixels on the larger side to see how that size fits.)

 👾  Full page of different Halloween printies at Happiness is Home

💀 Potion labels on Pinterest (Some are for sale, some are free, and some you might need to save as the preview image (right click.)

👹 Tutorials, videos and printables page at My Small Obsessions.

💀  Simple box-style kid's dollhouse to download and build.

** I have freebie Halloween record album covers and mini books on my website Miniatures page.  Follow the printables links from there.





💀 Mrs. Skellie's Reading List:

* There also are a few spooky and other books relating to miniatures in my 2017-19 Dollhouse Miniatures Books list. See the tab at the top of the blog under the logo or click here. New books added! I'll be working on 2020 books next so be sure to check back!

 New! The History and Haunting of Salem: The Witch Trials and Beyond, Rebecca F. Pittman - Over 600 pages with history and new photos surrounding the history of the infamous witch trials in 1692 in Salem, Mass. 

 Weird Tales Magazine #363 - Return of the classic horror magazine with new stories, now edited by Jonathan Maberry. 90 pages.

Happy Halloween!

 Hope to see you again soon! Please stay in touch as I hope to update my miniatures books and hopefully add a new one in the future!
 * You can also subscribe to the blog updates  in the first box in the left column. *  -- Chris Verstraete

#Halloween in Miniature 2019 - 5 - The Cemeteries

 * Welcome back to HALLOWEEN IN MINIATURE! * 

(Start at Day 1 )

(Photo: pixabay.com)

By Christine Verstraete

Now that everyone has toured the house, it's time to head outside. What's better than a walk in the cemeteries on a moonlit night? Ah, hear the wolves howling in the distance. So comforting! (Double click photos for full size.)

No, the dog won't bite. Really. Trust me. Never mind that leg bone he has... 

(**** Don't forget -  Please VOTE for my Mr. Skellie's Porch 

at Miniatures. com - click HERE - See all, mine's on top of pg. 2 - 
Please vote daily to Oct. 31 ***** )

Nice night. Take your time so we can give chef a chance to make some of her delectable desserts. Watch your step. Look out for that tombstone there! (Cemetery, C. Verstraete)

Someone screams. "What's wrong? Did someone get killed? Oh, no. Him again!" She lowers her voice to a whisper. "Just run past, hurry. Do NOT look at him! DON'T LOOK! RUN!" (Cemetery section of personal project, Chris Verstraete.)

"There. We're safe now. No, he won't follow us. He'll stay over there. Now, please follow me..."

Someone else screams. Mrs. Skellie looks over and laughs. "Oh, never mind. It's only one of the rats. Don't worry. They're actually quite friendly - and smart! He likes to hang around the Pet Sematary. Why, of course we have one. Oh, it's perfectly safe. Just, um, don't go over the wall there!" 

 (Rat by Georgia Marfels of Germany. See her Etsy shop She has some fantastic animals and spooky items! - Pet Sematary, Nury Larissa Romero)

"Come along, now. No dawdling. The quicker we finish the tour, the faster we get in for some of those delectable goodies!

"Don't be frightened. We know it can look a bit scary out here, but you're perfectly safe. Trust me... heh-heh...."

(Full view of The Asylum by Debra Hinton. (I think this view would make a great Halloween postcard! Ii'd love one!)

The amazing Asylum project was scratch-built by Hinton and her husband. The huge project has 28 rooms plus hallways. There are even embalming rooms and a morgue under the table it sits on! The project is 3 meters/over 9.84 feet in length. It includes a hospital wing on the left adapted from the Laurels kit. The center has the asylum with the doctor's surgery and apothecary at the right. This isn't a project for the weak and has some dark aspects, but it really is well worth a look. The creativity on this is incredible! (See photos and more of her work at Darkside Miniatures. Warning: it can be gory at times. Also see more photos at The Kangley Hill Asylum FB page)

"Don't worry, it's perfectly safe to walk around," Mrs. Skellie adds. "Just watch where you step!  Uh-oh. Uncle Herbert has popped out again. He insists on greeting visitors. Don't worry, he's harmless. Be sure to say hello. He says haunting can be a lonely business..." (Graveyard, Janet Whittig.)

"Now over here we have the mausoleums and... Ah, here we are. Surprise! Isn't this wonderful? We're going to have a picnic in the cemetery!" (Graveyard picnic  and ghost by Janet Whittig.)

"Did you know the Victorians used to do that all the time? They designed cemeteries as park-like settings where people could walk around and enjoy the peaceful surroundings. See, Gus Ghost has the right idea getting out a book! 

"Everyone, gather 'round, take a seat. Let's all take a moment to reflect, then we'll pass out some desserts! Mmm, stale donuts and moldy cake. Now that's quite the treat!" (Food table, C. Verstraete)

"Coffee, anyone? No, of course we don't have any decaf, sorry. I'd be an absolutely horrible host to offer that! What, you don't want to stay up all night with the rest of us and see the ghouls rise?" (Coffee by Patricia Paul.) "When you finish your dessert, we'll continue the tour."

**** COMMENTS MAY NOT BE WORKING - Enter rafflecopter (day 1) or send comment to me at my website page. I'll pick a random winner for a book, ebook or a mini Halloween goodie bag. (Gifts US Mailing only.) ****

** Back: Day 4 - Go to Day 6 - Happy Halloween!

(Free animations - https://www.fg-a.com/halloween.shtml)

💀 Mrs. Skellie's Reading List:

 

 199 Cemeteries To See Before You Die, Loren Rhoads - Information and more than 300 photos on unique cemeteries across the world and in the US. 

Pet Sematary, Stephen King - Some things, like old Indian burial grounds, should be left undisturbed. A favorite book!

#Halloween in #Miniature 2019 - 4: Food & Don't Touch That!

Welcome to Day 4 of HALLOWEEN IN MINIATURE.

(Back: Start at Day 1 )

The tour continues....

By Christine Verstraete

Mrs. Skellie directed everyone through the house, inviting guests to one of her favorite places in the house, the library. 
(Click photos for full size.)

(Mini spooky library by Mary K. Visit her on Instagram. - I love this project. I have this  kit and will definitely make mine spooky!)

Mrs. Skellie looked in the stacks. "Why weren't those books shelved properly! I wanted everything straightened up before we had guests!" A crash sounded on the other side of the room. "Oh, now what was that?" 

She hobbled over to the reading area on the other side of the wall. 

"The books!" she yelled. "Who threw them on the floor again!" (Book display above and half scale books, C. Verstraete)

She stomped her foot and frowned (not that you could tell the difference from her usual dour expression.) "I keep telling those ghosts to put things back when they push them off the shelves. The housekeeper (well, it's me, if  you must know!) gets terribly angry when she has to keep redoing things!"

She let out an ear-curdling screech. "WHAT? No food, either? Oh! I'm sorry, excuse my yelling! Where is that servant of ours? She's completely forgotten her manners in not serving everyone the refreshments!

"I'll be back in a moment. While you're waiting, please, do go down the hall and visit my sister, Henrietta Bones. She gets lonely sitting by herself."  (Room, C. Verstraete)

"Hello, welcome everyone. Please come in. What am I reading you ask? Well, I have a copy of a delightful book, Girl Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie. The author still has a few print copies, I hear. Quite entertaining. I'm waiting to read her next book about Lizzie Borden. I hear it's bloody wonderful! heh-heh."

"While I'm waiting for my sister to return, can I offer you some snacks? I have some special goodies made by my UK  chef, Linda Cummings. They are simply, shall I say, to die for? Heh-heh."

She spun around, her bones creaking with the effort. "You there, kid. If you put your fingers in that cabinet again, well..." She points to a jar on the shelf. "See that? That's what happened to the previous nosy visitors. Now... Well, I hear my sister calling. She's waiting for you in the other room. Thank you for stopping by, but I'm quite tired now. Good day."

Mrs. Skellie came back, wondering at her sister's angry expression.

 "This way, please," Mrs. Skellie cautioned. "My sister can be a bit curt, but never mind. She needs to get out more. Now... I think we all need a little fresh air. Follow me. We'll take a walk out in the cemeteries. Shall we?"

(Food: IGMA Fellow Linda Cummings, Lin's Minis on Facebook. She also makes incredibly realistic non-Halloween food! * Visit her on Etsy. * See more of her work on Pinterest.) 


**** COMMENTS MAY NOT BE WORKING - Enter rafflecopter (day 1) or send comment to me at my website page. I'll pick a random winner for a book, ebook or a mini Halloween goodie bag. (Gifts US Mailing only.) ****

(**** Please VOTE for my Mr. Skellie's Porch 

at Miniatures. com - click HERE - (or see all - mine's on top of pg. 2 - 
Please vote daily to Oct. 31 ***** )

*  Next: Go to Day 5  - Back to Day 3 *

Halloween animations: https://www.fg-a.com/halloween4.shtml

* Some freebies for you:

Build your own library. (Right click to save.)

 

** I also have several pdfs with free book printies on my website miniatures page.

💀 Mrs. Skellie's Reading List:

 100 Word Horrors Book 3: An Anthology of Horror Drabbles -  A collection compiled by Kevin J. Kennedy of over 100 short-short horror stories.  Includes my story, "A Mother's Love" by C.A. Verstraete.