12 Days of Christmas in Miniature 7: Night Before Christmas - It's Santa!

Welcome to day 7 of The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature for 2009.

This year we are following along with the Christmas classic, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." (Click link to go to day 1.)




'Twas the Night Before Christmas

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;

A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.

* Santa photos by Diane Pietrocola

New Yorker Diane Pietrocola has been collecting miniatures for 14 years, with pouring, painting and dressing porcelain dolls one of her favorite activities.

Instead of the usual Thomas Nast-style Santa in a red suit, Diane wanted to make a more classic Santa.

"I have wanted to do a Victorian Santa for a few years and this year I just decided to do a Google search and find several that I liked," she said.

She chose several elements of different Santas and joined them, with great success, wouldn't you agree? He looks like he stepped out of Victorian Christmas card.

Her favorite part? "Adding all the gifts. He just wouldnt' be the same without all the presents. It was so much fun to see him 'finished.'"

Diane sells her dolls (Ebay seller id, dollartbydiane. See more of her work here.

* Next: Christmas in Miniature Day 8.

12 Days of Christmas in Miniature 6: Night Before Christmas; Santa's Toys

Welcome to Day 6 of The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature for 2009.

This year we are following along with the classic tale, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas."(click link to start at day 1.)


'Twas the Night Before Christmas
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,


With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.





And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.



* The darling toys are by Massachusetts sculptor Morena Ciambra. Morena hand-sculpts these adorable little animals working in porcelain and recently in polymer clay. She often accents her charming figures with vintage laces and trims, or with hand-crocheted touches, only a few of the steps she takes to make each doll or figure special. She also includes a signed certificate and gift box to make them truly collector's items.

"There is something about the feel of these older pieces that brings that magic to miniatures," she says. "Crocheting tiny accessories that I have trimmed with tiny thread roses just finish these tiny dolls and give them that handmade feel.

"I sometimes will make a little wicker basket or crib if the doll needs something special. Each of my little ones has it's own personality. I do not make two that are exactly the same. Presentation is very important since these little ones are passed down through the generations. Nothing leave my hands unless I feel that it is my best work because my name is on it. Each piece finds its way to a good home, for that I am grateful, because I know that a new creation is just about to appear."

* Photos: Handmade toys and Santa with toys by Morena Ciambra. Visit her blog.

* Handmade reindeer with sleigh by Alice Zinn. Read more about Alice and see other animals and dogs she's made here.

* Next: Christmas in Miniature Day 7.

12 Days of Christmas in Miniature 5: Night before Christmas; Read Christmas at the North Pole Compound Ebook

Welcome to Day 5 of The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature. (Click link to go to day one.)


'Twas the Night Before Christmas
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!

(Hey, don't forget Rudolph!)




To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"


* Photos: My Christmas house

** Next: Christmas in Miniature Day 6.

* Enjoy a fun story during the 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature.

TODAY: Featuring my story, "Christmas at the North Pole Compound" by Christine Verstraete

It's not all Fa-la-la and Ho-Ho-Ho at the North Pole. Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty is on the case. Can he find the missing gifts - and save Christmas?

In the story, Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty is not only alarmed by the decrease of Christmas cheer (it's enough to threaten Rudolph's ability to pull the sleigh, he says!), but is even more disappointed that crime has come to the North Pole – and is most likely an inside job.

Excerpt:

"Before I continue, let me introduce myself. I'm Finius Flaherty, Chief Elf Investigator. No, I don’t bake cookies. I leave that to the West coast cousins.

My branch of the family was hand-picked by the big guy for his security team at the North Pole. Big responsibility, though I’d prefer to sit on a beach in Florida.

Not that I don’t enjoy my job. I do, but unfortunately, our services have been needed more in recent years. Christmas spirit doesn’t prevent crime, you know. We’ve been feeling that lack of spirit lately ourselves, too. Just ask Rudolph. This is a real hazard as even the smallest drop in Christmas cheer influences his ability to pull the sleigh. Can’t have it dragging now, can we?"...

*** BUY: Christmas at the North Pole Compound

12 Days of Christmas in Miniature 4: The Night Before Christmas, Santa's Sleigh!

Welcome to Day 4 of The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature where we are following the classic tale, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." (Click link to go to day one.)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow



Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,



With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick!

* Next: Christmas in Miniature Day 5








* Photos: Sleigh: Simon Howden

* The amazing Victorian Santa was made by New York dollmaker Diane Pietrocola. (dollartbydiane). See more of her work here. I'll share more about her work and additional photos on another of the 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature posts.

* The cool sleigh and reindeer are by Florida miniaturist Alice Zinn. She made the reindeer and their leather tack. Don't they look like they're ready to take off?


* Enjoy a fun Christmas story, sure to brighten your holiday. Buy: "Christmas at the North Pole Compound" - see ebooks

12 Days of Christmas in Miniature 3: The Night Before Christmas: What's outside?

Welcome to day 3 of The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature celebration as we follow along with the classic tale, "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." (Link will take you to day one.)


'Twas the Night Before Christmas
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,


I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.








Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash...


* Next: Christmas in Miniature Day 4

* Photos: The lovely governess and Grandpa William are from Kitty's Canal House. See more photos at Minis By Kitty. The window is from my miniature Christmas house.

* Enjoy a fun holiday story - "Christmas at the North Pole Compound" - see ebooks to buy.

12 Days of Christmas in Miniature 2: Hanging the Stockings

The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature continues with day 2 of "'Twas the Night Before Christmas." (click link for beginning of story.)



'Twas the Night Before Christmas
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;



Uh-oh, one bed is empty...

Well, it looks like all the children aren't sleeping like they should be! This charming little girl is too excited to get to bed - yet! (I hope that doesn't mean she'll get coal in her stocking!) She's an original sculpted doll by Massachusetts doll maker Morena Ciambra.

Morena began making dolls for her grandmother. She used to sculpt dolls as large as 32 inches and mostly in porcelain. She taught making antique reproductions in her own studio and for a time, sculpted original dolls for a series from The Hamilton Collection.

She discovered miniatures in 2002 and found that "they touched my heart." Now she loves making original little ones, her charming cat figures and adorable animals that touch others. (See more of her work on other days.)

While porcelain remains her favorite medium, Morena has since enjoyed sculpting in polymer clay: "It helps me get the ideas out of my head much quicker," she says. "There is so much that inspires me to create these pieces...music, colors, people, fabrics, etc."



* Next:Christmas in Miniature Day 3

* Photos: stockings and tree, C. Verstraete

* Sleeping baby in the cradle and the beautiful bed are by Kitty Balke; see more of her work at Minis by Kitty

* The little girl, "Clara," is hand-sculpted of polymer clay by Morena Ciambra. she's 3 1/2" tall. Baby Kitty is also by Morena. See more photos here or at her blog.

12 Days of Christmas in Miniature 1 - 'Twas The Night Before Christmas

Welcome to The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature for 2009.

This year I'm featuring the classic Christmas poem, "Twas The Night Before Christmas" by Clement Clarke Moore, which I'll attempt (as best I can) to illustrate with dollhouse miniatures.

The poem, originally called "A Visit From Saint Nicholas," was published in the New York Sentinel on Dec. 23 in the mid-1800s.


'Twas the Night Before Christmas

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse...



This adorable mouse in a teacup was made by Canadian Karin Foster from FIMO polymer clay.



The mouse was formed over tin foil. He has wire whiskers and was flocked with yarn. It's her first time flocking, she says. See more of Karin's work at her blog.

The little mouse even has a note to Santa! It reads: Dear Santa I have been a good mouse all yr. Pls bring me some Swiss cheese & a new cat detector.

Oops! Looks like another mouse found something better than sleep!



This little guy by Kiva Atkinson decided that the leftovers looked pretty good!)

* Photos: (Mini gingerbread house & miniature Christmas house by C. Verstraete)

** Next: Christmas in Miniature, Day 2



** Stop by each day and comment for a chance to win a plate of Christmas cookies made by me - in miniature, of course!

(congrats to winner Camille Minichino!)

* Check out my fun holiday story - "Christmas at the North Pole Compound" - see ebooks to buy.

Cyber Monday: Christmas Book Pre-orders and Christmas Shorts Ebooks

Christmas is coming, so what's better than a book or something fun to read?

** Coming Dec. 5: "Christmas at the North Pole Compound" - It's a crime wave and Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty is on the case. Can he find the missing gifts - and save Christmas? Coming to Echelon Shorts. For some Christmas cheer, come back here tomorrow for The 12 Days of Christmas in Miniature, with links to mine and other great stories.

* Pre-Order The Bitter End: Tales of Nautical Terror at Amazon.com.

A collection of horror and other stories related to the sea from Pill Hill Press.

In my story, "My Dear Mrs. Jones," a woman in Victorian times faces financial disaster, but a mysterious suitor offers a way for her to save her family.








TIMESHARES Time Travel anthology from DAW Books: visitors to this (time) travel agency get to take the trip of a lifetime.

In my story, "A Night to Forget," a woman visits an exhibit on the Titanic that is more real than she ever expected.

* PRE-ORDER The Bitter End: Tales of Nautical Terror at Amazon.com.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving! Enjoy every single bite!

* If you like to make your own turkey (in miniature!), here's a great tutorial at the Mini Food Blog.

Preview: The Bitter End anthology cover

Very cool looking cover for The Bitter End: Tales of Nautical Terror anthology coming out in December from Pill Hill Press. It includes my story, "My Dear Mrs. Jones" by C.A. Verstraete.

(The skeletons in my miniature haunted house are clamoring to read this too!) haa!
Link coming soon!

Happy Thanksgiving in Miniature

Since everyone will be busy Thursday with their own turkey, I figured I'd share my miniature Thanksgiving table today.

The food was made by other collectors in a miniatures food swap several years ago. I forgot I had the items and finally dug them out a few weeks ago.

The cabinet is an antique medicine cabinet hanging on my kitchen wall.

I had originally papered the walls yellow, but decided to tack in different paper backgrounds on each shelf to match the holiday. I think it looks much better.

There is a dark scratched paint look for Halloween at the bottom; gold pattern paper for Thanksgiving in the center; and a green print for Christmas on the top shelf.



It's a good way to share a few miniatures that would be sitting in a box until the holidays. I'll share the other shelves on another day.

* Do you have a special holiday display or an all-seasons display at your house? What is it?

New Story Coming in The Bitter End by Pill Hill Press

I've been a busy little bee! Another story has been accepted, (yay!) this time to The Bitter End: Tales of Nautical Terror anthology, to be published by Pill Hill Press.

My story, "My Dear Mrs. Jones" is set in Victorian times and involves a woman's mysterious suitor, Mr. D. Jones, and her financial decision on how to save her family. (Hint: I loved the pirate movies. ha!)

Here's the lineup from the Pill Hill Press blog:

Titles (in no particular order):
With Open Arms by Patrick Rutigliano
Deadliest Cachalot by Jameson T. Caine
Drift by Lucas Pederson
Food Chain by Laura Eno
Between the Devil and the Deep by Sam Battrick
Wellenkrieg by Stephen D. Rogers
The Beastie of Loch Dhu by John McCuaig
Sirens' Folly by Jessica A. Weiss
The Occurrence Out At Sea by Jacob Henry Orloff
Black Gold by Christopher Jacobsmeyer
Hanover's Gold by Kelly M. Hudson
Driftwood by Michelle Bredeson
Blood for Passage by Miles Boothe
The Revel by Allen Wise
Blackbeard's Ragnarok by Alva J. Roberts
Last One Standing by Anthony Giangregorio
The Thing in the Crosshairs by Anne Maclachlan
My Dear Mrs. Jones by C.A. Verstraete
Lifeboat by Joel Arnold
Welcome to the Hotel Marianas by Mike Chinn
Last Vacation by Kassi Shimek
The World in Strips by D. Nathan Hilliard
Flotsam by Scott Harper
The Devil Hunger by Bill Ward
Those Left Behind by Flora Winters

Got a Kindle? How about Kindle ebooks for your PC?

The ebook war is getting hotter, with ebook readers like B&N's Nook being listed as "the" hot new Christmas gift this year.

But Amazon jumped ahead with what seems logical: a Kindle app for your pc.

Now almost anyone can read Kindle ebooks on their computer, well at least a pc, as well as IPhone and IPod Touch. Apps are also expected soon for Mac, Blackberry, and Droid users. Is there anyone left after that?

Think it's a good idea? Bad idea? Indifferent?

Consider this:
* The Kindle store offers more than 373,000 ebooks.
* There's a free daily new Kindle book offering and plenty of free classics. Can't beat that.

* Yes my kid's book is in Kindle:

* Searching for A Starry Night









* Other ebooks to try:

COMING SOON - Christmas at the North Pole Compound - someone's tampering with the Christmas gifts... can Chief Elf Investigator Finius Flaherty find the Grinch -- and save Christmas? See ebooks for details.

New Short Story coming in Timeshares Anthology

In my new story, "A Night to Forget," by C.A. Verstraete, a woman's dream of visiting an exhibit of items from the RMS Titanic gives her a closer look at the fabled ship than she ever expected.

The short story will be published in the TIMESHARES anthology from DAW books, coming March 2, 2010. The book is available for pre-order, see link below.

About the book: Sixteen original stories about taking your dream vacation-in any era you desire.

Take a vacation through time with the help of a Time Travel Agency offering excursions into the past and future. Readers will find themselves in exotic, adventurous locales-and in all manner of trouble and mysteries. And figures from the past will be able to squeak by the other way.

Picture Cleopatra in modern-day New York City, or Hannibal searching for elephants at Wisconsin's Circus World. And that's just the beginning of the thrills and danger...