Day 7: Halloween in Miniature 2011 : Which Witch is Which?

Welcome to Day 7 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature!
(Don't forget, be sure to check in and get your ID stamped on Day 1.)

The party's in full swing and we've had a few more special guests stop by. Grab a drink, a Bloody Mary, naturally, and say hello.



Or perhaps you'd prefer something, ah, stronger? "Thing" also mixes an excellent martini... Oh, you didn't know? Why he's the best bartender around. Gracious of Morticia to let him work a few parties during the holidays! (Drinks by Kiva Atkinson, Kiva's Miniatures.)



Well, look who's here! Matilda's sister just flew in, (likely she heard about the commotion with the Frankensteins and wanted to keep her sister in check. Witch, and gossiping witch and ghost by Nancy Cronin.)

Uh, oh, looks like word's getting around... Did Matilda...? No, you don't say!



Please, please, just ignore the gossip. It will only mean trouble. And speaking of trouble, here comes the Black Witch... I sure hope she's not in a bad mood. (Not likely by the look on her face. (Witch by Nancy Cronin.) We better cut today's festivities short. Be sure to come back to the party tomorrow...



** NEXT: Day 8 - BACK: Day 1.
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IN MEMORIUM:



This post ends on a sad note I'm including this witch in tribute to a very special lady. Noted dollmaker Marcia Backstrom, recently lost her battle with cancer. She was a charming lady and such a talented artisan. A true legend in the miniatures industry. She'll be missed. (See obituary. The online guestbook is open for posts until 11/19.)

Day 6: Halloween in Miniature 2011 : More Spooky Places & Pumpkins

Welcome to Day 6 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature.

(** If you haven't, be sure to check in at Day 1.) (NOTE: Today also is the Internet Bookfair Blogfest, see info and check an excerpt of my spooky eBook at the end of this post. )

Let's get back to the party, shall we? We'll take the long way around...

Oh, careful! Mrs. Bones has been trying sooo hard to lure guests to her party in the graveyard (above). But I wouldn't do it - you know how cemeteries are.... guests check in, but they never check out! haaa!) Cemetery scene by Janet Whittig - see her Facebook page.

Here, I see a shortcut. Let's take this path and....

Ahhh! LOOK OUT! Oh, I didn't see the sign to THE HAUNTED FOREST! (Crazy tree and haunted tree by Jacqui, Ceynix Miniature Trees and Trains. )




Run-run! Oh there's another one--is-is it reaching out?

Hurry! Let's slip in the back door. We'll go to the kitchen first and get some goodies. Still thinking about pumpkins....

Mmm, Pamela of Pamela J Minis has a fantastic assortment of fresh pumpkins... So which one to pick?



Wait. Oh, I see it. There's one in the back...


Arrgh! Who would've expected the pumpkins to be so, well, aggressive? (Attacking pumpkin by Patty Benedict, Woopitydooart.)

Oh, and those pumpkins? Well... I'd be careful. The last person who tried to pick those left a few things behind (haaa!) - (Rest of the pumpkin scene from Pamela J Minis.)



Well, we don't seem to be having much luck with fresh pumpkins are we?

Oh, and you asked about the pumpkin pies again? Well, uh, there's a reason production's been kind of slow... Here's why: (Okay, kind of sick but hey, it's Halloween! Sorry I couldn't resist I saw this somewhere and it cracked me up. And if you did the photo, please share and I'll credit you, unless you'd rather not admit it. haa!)



Okay, next stop, let's mingle and meet more of the guests, so come back tomorrow...
** NEXT: Day 7 - BACK: Day 1

** ** Check out the Internet Bookfair Blogfest My entry:

Spooky reading, perfect for Halloween! A light horror short with a dash of humor....The Killer Valentine Ball by C.A. Verstraete:

BUY: Muse Bookstore - Other links

Excerpt:
The music played quietly in the background. When the shadows brightened, Jess caught a quick glimpse of one of the couples. The young man's mouth gaped open. His partner's gown glistened with streams of dark ribbons. The light flashed again and Jess gasped. Those weren't ribbons! The girl's dress shone with dark glimmers. Like-like blood, she thought. No, it can't be! She looked back at Dylan, who shook his head and urged her on.
"Light tricks," he whispered. "It's not real. It's Halloween stuff, like the movie. Don't worry."

Day 5: Halloween in Miniature 2011: A Sweet Side Trip

Welcome to Day 5 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature.

(** Make sure you check in at the door on Day 1.)

Got your costume? Today, we're going to take a side trip and go Trick-or-Treating! I know some unbelievable places to satisfy the biggest sweet tooth so grab your candy bucket and let's go!



First stop, wow check out the window! Barbara Adair (Barri) of Belfast,Ireland LOVES Halloween. Well she has a good reason, she says: "My birthday is October 25th so we always used to have a family combined birthday and Halloween celebration. I have happy memories of dressing up, ducking for apples, fortune telling and so on."

The "treat" is that Barri was the first in her area to get into miniatures and it took a while, but finally got a few others to join in the fun. "There are four branches of a club operating once a month in the Belfast area and a group of five of us also meet weekly in each other's houses. I started all by myself in 1961, thinking nobody else would be interested," she says.

Her fun project is neat - one of four shop windows (Summer, Christmas, Easter, Halloween) she made to fit into sweet shop post office scene. "I can suit the window to the occasion (when I remember to change them - it is often Christmas in July!)" She made the shop, filled the sweetie jars and collected and/or made all the rest in the window.

Next stop is another place to fill your goodie bags. Oooh, look at all the candy!!!





The amazing "Powell's Sweet Shoppe" in miniature is a dentist's nightmare. Miniaturist Kim Saulter of Kim's Miniatures, (known for her exquisite cupcakes!) made much of the goodies, and added others by fellow miniaturists. Dolls are by Bonnie Justice.



Our tour wouldn't be complete without a stop for some yummy cupcakes, also by Kim Saulter, at the "Little Cupcake Bakeshoppe." Yes, this is a miniature scene. Wow!




* Blogs:
* Visit Kim Saulter's blog, Kim's Miniatures

* Check out more of Barbara's minis

** NEXT: Day 6 - BACK: Day 1

Day 4: Halloween in Miniature 2011 - Haunted Places

Welcome to Day 4 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature. It looks like some of the guests are wandering around, so we're organizing a little tour to some of the spookier properties nearby.

(** If you haven't, please make sure you check in first at Day 1.)

Oops, tiptoe past Hays House (by Dorothy Hays, see above and below.) Dorothy, who only began making minis a year ago, (welcome!) made this house from a Michael's puzzle house so she could have a haunted house that lights up.



Oh, no, hurry-hurry. I see Mrs. Finster peering out the window and she does not look happy!

The old bag HATES strangers sneaking around her house. Make sure you stay away from that cane of hers.(Ghost by Nancy Cronin).



Maybe the owner at Henry House is home. I hear she's a fantastic baker! (Kate Henry made the house last year for her granddaughter as a way to cope with the loss of her oldest Pug.) Funny thing about the house though, Kate says her 4-year-old granddaughter, who loves Halloween, "decided it's too scary to go home with her so it should stay in my workshop 'till she grows up. It's nearly a year and she can now look inside without screaming out of the room, but she doesn't want to be any place around it when it's lit up at night."

Kate, who's been making minis for over 10 years, found out how giving miniaturists can be when she moved from Florida to New Mexico to escape the hurricanes.

The late doll maker Beth Lane and her husband invited the Henrys to stay with them, offering the family (including nine dogs, two cats, and a then-pregnant daughter) a place for three months until their home was finished a half-mile away.



Everyone please, back in line. The next house....

Oh, no. Sorry. RUN!

It's the Skellie Dogs, Spike and Fido. Run.... oh, heh, look at that. He wants to play. What do you know? Well, let's keep moving anyway, shall we?


These amazing original dogs are handmade by Alice Zinn.

Alice, who makes an assortment of realistic dogs, also has the distinction of creating a miniature version of the Obama's dog, Bo for the White House in Miniature.

Shall we continue the tour?

Blogs:
* See more of Dorothy Hays's miniatures photos. See more photos here.
* Read my story about Alice Zinn here.)

** NEXT: Day 5 - BACK: Day 1

Day 3: Halloween in Miniature 2011 - Sweet Rooms, Sweets for the Sweet

Welcome to Day 3 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature for 2011.

The party went on so late last night that some of the guests stayed over, so we're serving breakfast before everyone gathers for today's festivities. (** Don't forget - before you go into the dining room, get your ID checked at Day 1.)

It's best to start the day with a good breakfast, so today's menu features some protein-rich Witch's eggs and some fortified orange juice made by these bloody red oranges. Oh, and never mind, please ignore the screams in the kitchen. (Foods by IGMA Fellow Kiva Atkinson of Kiva's Miniatures.)



Before you go through the door into the courtyard where the buffet is being set up, you may want to peek into some other rooms for the party. (Courtyard by Tracy Topps, Minis on the Edge.)





Matilda is allowing guests a quick look at her Potion Room, but hands off! This is mighty potent stuff. (Sorry, no children are allowed!) (Handmade potion cabinet and contents by Victoria Dark Squirrel, Dark Squirrel's Miniature Asylum; doll by BellaBelle Dolls.)



Oh, it seems those mischievous Pumpkinhead twins (BellaBelle Dolls) are sneaking around again. Excuse me while I scare them off with a warning about the guard dragon under the stairs. What, you don't believe me? Do you really want to see if this is real?

If any of the kids (or adults) are up for a little snack, there's a great selection of sweets on the party table.



Help yourself, I hear the Graveyard Cakes are nice and chewy. Or how about a tempting green marshmallow Franken-cookie? (Table and sweets by Amelia Schmelzer, The Frippery Factory.)





Amelia, who 's 16 and started making minis in grade school, says her items today are a far cry from when "a lot of the stuff I made looked like something you'd scoop out of a litter box!" (ha!) She loves making minis, plus practicing and improving her skills.

Btw, Amelia invites readers to craft with her in the "I'm a Giant Challenge" to make and furnish a dollhouse by Dec. 15. She says, "mini making is expensive, but I want to prove that you can create an awesome scene without spending hundreds of dollars. I'm thinking there'll be lots of tutorials and maybe some swaps (it's much easier for me to swap mini food than it is for me to actually buy things), so if you have any resources and/or friends who're thinking along the same lines, let me know!"

* This sounds fun! * Read more about the Giant Dollhouse Challenge.

* Blogs:
* Check out the amazing original Paper Clay houses and scenes by Tracy
Topps, Minis on the Edge
* Amelia Schmelzer, http://www.etsy.com/shop/FripperyFactory
* Julie Campbell,BellaBelle Dolls
* Victoria, Dark Squirrel's Miniature Asylum
* Check out Amelia's new venture, free mini food tutorials

** NEXT: Day 4 - or BACK: Day 1

Day 2: Halloween in Miniature 2011 : Meet Some of the Guests

It's Day 2 of the 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature party for 2011, and wow, what an event! (* Before you enter, get your ID checked at the door on Day 1.)
)

We've got some great guests this year - celebrities even!

Why, can it be? Yes, it's the Bride of Frankenstein!

Frank's lady (by doll maker Doll by Julie Campbell of BellaBelle Dolls) is a little cranky, it seems, as Mr. F. has been making eyes at one of the witchy Gagnon sisters! (Witches by Gina Gagnon of Lone Wolf Mini Creations. )

(And in case you didn't know, figures are 1" scale - one-inch equaling 1 foot, so female dolls are under 6-foot, 6-inches-tall, usually about 5 1/2" tall.)



Of course, I'm sure you know which witch caught Frankie's eye without my saying! Ah, but that Mildred, she's a flirt. She's positive Frankie is keen on her. Look at her checking out Frankie when Mrs. F's not looking. Sly witch!


The guests are getting a little nervous, it seems, hoping all this will pass over as you know what havoc happens when Frank loses his temper! And I hear the Mrs. has quite a temper, too. We certainly don't want them ruining the fun!

In fact, Mrs. Stevenson's so nervous, she's lost her head over it! (Groan, couldn't resist! Headless ghost also by BellaBelle Dolls.)



Maybe everyone will feel better when they have a bite to eat. There are some tasty tidbits, sure to please anyone with a "monster" appetite. haaa!

First up are some to-die-for treats from IGMA Fellow Kiva Atkinson. Her food is always a big hit with the guests, and no wonder, considering how yummy everything looks!

Oh, dear, one of the guests asked about fresh pumpkin pie, but it seems there's a problem in the pantry. Well, we'll have to use the frozen pies. Shhh, Mummy's the word!



Besides the sweets, I'd suggest some fresh fruit to start. How about a juicy papaya?



Then there is a wonderful fresh fish plate, though many of the guests prefer the special Eyeball Stew. (Try the blue ones; extra crunchy. haa!)





Still hungry? We'll have some desserts after we tour a few more of the rooms, so see you tomorrow!

Photos:
Dolls -
* Visit Lone Wolf Mini Creations on Facebook.

* See BellaBelle Dolls on Facebook - Download a PDF story I did on Julie on my miniatures page.

* Foods - Kiva's Miniatures

Blogs:
* Kiva's Miniatures

* BellaBelle Dolls

** NEXT: Day 3: Visit some of the party rooms - BACK: Day 1

It's here! Welcome to the 2011 - 12 Days of Halloween in Miniature

IT'S TIME!!!!

Grab your spookiest duds, put on your favorite witch hat and...
-- Get ready to P-A-R-T-Y!!

(Photos: clock, Patty Benedict, Woopitydooart; hats, Kat Hazelton, Kat the Hat Lady)

This is the 3rd annual 12 DAYS OF HALLOWEEN IN MINIATURE. I began the event since:

1. I love miniatures.
2. I get a kick out of Halloween
3. What better way to share my love of both and introduce my visitors to some fantastic miniature art.

So, get on your broom, or if you must use conventional means, hop on your mouse and stop by through Oct. 31. We'll have all kinds of fun tidbits, and maybe even a prize or two so be sure to leave a comment - and don't forget to check out the participants' blogs and websites!

NOTE: If you get lost along the way, each day will have the beginning and next page links at the bottom, so be sure to read to the end of each day's post!

Hungry? There'll be plenty of goodies to sample, so grab a glass of the house wine and enjoy! (I'd sip it slow, though, as it's an oooold vintage and has quite the kick, I hear! haa!) (Wine, C. Verstraete)

Oh, one of the first guests have arrived! Why it's my little witch Minerva. She says she'd love to act as your hostess and introduce you to some of the guests.

But beware, I hear behind that sweet smile, she likes to play a few tricks on the unsuspecting. haaa!

WARNING!

LURKERS will be put in the dungeon! heh-heh-heh (You'll get a better glimpse soon during the tour - skeleton by Karin Foster).

Photos:

* Real-life vintage clock with handmade sculpted ghost by Patty Benedict, Wooopitydooart. You'll be seeing more of Patty's amazing Halloween figures in polymer clay in the coming days. Check out more pix on her Facebook page.

* Witch hats - wonderful, handmade witch and other hats made by British miniaturist Kat Hazelton (Kat the Hat Lady), who studied millinery and has fashioned original hats for life-size and miniature clients. Read more about her, and see more of her hats, in my short interview in last year's Halloween blog here.

* Visit the Kat the Hat Lady blog - and her Facebook page.

* NEXT: Go to Day 2

*** CONTEST: Comment along the way for a chance to win an ebook copy of IN MINIATURE STYLE II (make a Halloween screen!) or a Halloween salad and cake. (Pic on the website, see Halloween page)!

New Mysterical-e Author Snapshot for Fall: Mystery Reads and new anthologies

My latest fall Author Snapshot column at Mysterical-e is now up!

This issue features short and long reads, books and eBooks, in quite an assortment from '30s style pulp and stories with an ocean theme and real estate background, to a mystery with a punk PI sidekick, an inner city lounge owner, and more.

There are stories by S. Furlong-Bolliger, Kaye George, Teel James Glenn, Nancy Lynn Jarvis, Percy Sperlark Parker, Jeanne Matthews, Tim Wohlforth and a cast of others in two anthologies: "Fish Tales" from the Sisters in Crime Guppies and "Mystery Times Ten," a YA anthology, so check it out!

Talking Animals, Gracie and Fala 'talk' about writing and such

Today, author Nancy Lynn Jarvis's cat Fala and my dog Gracie (see her pic in the header) are meowing and barking today about why we're not paying attention to them when we're writing.

Read more at Nancy's blog