Miniatures Monday - Victorian-style cabinet

This is one of those wood cabinets from Michaels. I want to fill it with a bunch of different type boxes. I decorated it with scrapbook paper on the back and top, then glued Victorian lady figures on the front and inner doors that I found at The Graphics Fairy.

 I love how this came out!  There is lace on the shelves and the shelf edge. I put Victorian lady stickers on the back walls. I replaced the knobs with regular dollhouse knobs that I painted white.

Next, I want to decorate another cabinet with a large door and a pole inside to hang miniature clothes. These will go in the display room for my miniature ladies' shoppe that I'm planning. More minis are at my website.

New zombie book bookmarks, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie

I had to share! Just got my bookmarks for GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie. Aren't they cool?? (minus the fingerprint of course!)

The black is glossy in front which is kind of neat. Stay tuned for a giveaway with some other stuff.

Blueberry Muffins, a treasure among the Vikings? Yes, in The Buttersmiths' Gold

Taking a break between A Story A Day to share this book  - a cute concept! Check out the trailer at the end and be sure to enter the contest for an Amazon gift card!

The Buttersmiths' Gold

BATTLES. BLUEBERRIES. BOVINES.

TORBJORN AND STORFJELL’S HISTORY UNFOLDS IN AN EPIC Evertaster NOVELLA.

Everyone knows the most coveted treasure of the Viking Age was blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins so succulent that if you sniffed just a whiff, you'd want a whole bite. If you bit a bite, you'd want a batch; if you snatched a batch, you'd stop at nothing short of going to war just to claim them all. 

Young Torbjorn Trofastsonn comes from the clan that makes them. He's a Viking through and through – he's thirteen winters old, larger than most respectable rocks, and most of all, a Buttersmith.

That's what he thinks anyway, until a charismatic merchant makes Torbjorn question his place among the muffin-makers. When Torbjorn lets the secret of his clan's muffin recipe slip, he calls doom and destruction down upon his peaceful village and forces his brother Storfjell and his clansmen to do the one thing they are ill-prepared to do: battle for their lives.

   About The Buttersmiths' Gold

The Buttersmiths' Gold is a spin off novella in the Evertaster series that tells the story of two Viking brothers and their adventurous past.

The Evertaster series (Book #1 released June 14, 2012) is about Guster Johnsonville, who goes searching for a legendary taste rumored to be the most delicious in all of history. Along the way he meets a slew of mysterious characters, including two Viking brothers Torbjorn and Storfjell. The Buttersmiths' Gold is their story. 124 pages. By Adam Glendon Sidwell. Published by Future House Publishing.

Evertaster, Book #1:

A legendary taste. Sought after for centuries. Shrouded in secrecy.

When 11-year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother’s casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him into the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city they meet a dying pastry maker. In his last breath he entrusts them with a secret: an ancient recipe that makes the most delicious taste the world will ever know — a taste that will change the fate of humanity forever.

Forced to flee by a cult of murderous chefs, the Johnsonvilles embark on a perilous journey to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves. Along the way they discover the truth: Guster is an Evertaster — a kid so picky that nothing but the legendary taste itself will save him from starvation. With the sinister chefs hot on Guster’s heels and the chefs’ reign of terror spreading, Guster and his family must find the legendary taste before it’s too late.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



** Watch the trailer

Mini Treasures Miniatures Award for 2013

  A nice surprise! Candid Canine was named one of the 25 favorite blogs that help bring visitors to  the Mini Treasures Wiki, a great resource site. Tons of mini links and things to find there.

Thanks Johanna!

* Check out the Mini Treasures Pinterest board

* Mini Treasures blog

Story a Day 2, Disconnect, a zombie story

Today is Day 2 of A Story A Day for May.


(I've deleted many of the stories so I can use them elsewhere... but here is one to read:)

Disconnect

By. C.A. Verstraete

As his memory faded, Josh bemoaned the loss of his life, the loss of friends, family, and oddly enough, the loss of his phone and being connected.

Minute by minute the essence of who he was grew weaker as the zombie poisons made their way into his bloodstream and attacked every living cell.

In those last few moments before the world, and life as he knew it, disappeared behind the milky white film forming over his eyes, he took one last longing look around him.

As darkness fell, he gave a final, sad cry. The phone dropped from his hand, pulling with it one of his rotting fingers, both shattering like broken dreams on the blood-spattered sidewalk.

* 117 words, inspired by a post at Story A Day, http://storyaday.org/writing-prompt-social-speech/

(c) 2013 C. Verstraete

*** Why the weird stories, why zombies, you ask? Well, it begins with my book, GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie, coming in August...

A to Z Blog Challenge - W to Z - White Hutch & Yellow Dollhouse

 * The posts are part of the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013. **

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I fell behind so I'm doubling up a few posts to catch up.

I wanted to share some of my favorite dollhouse projects. Hope you enjoyed seeing some different minis this month.

W- for my White Hutch and White Cabinet 

  

 I am planning a large ladies shoppe and a smaller display room so am painting some furniture. The first is the Michael's wood hutch. I used scrapbook paper and a Paris graphic from the Graphics Fairy. Love how it turned out! I put regular gold knobs that I painted, too.

X -  Extremely - dare I say it? Cute.  Joy Cox makes the cutest faces on her mini dolls like this half scale witch on ebay uk. 

Y - See Yellow House below.  Z: Zombies, of course. I want to leave this post up a few  days so Z will be for Zombies and a Walking Dead mini scene made by miniaturist Dorothy, which will be featured shortly at my other blog, GirlZombieAuthors. And check back here for a Story a Day for May. Well, I'll try.

The cabinet was the standard mahogany color. It simply looks better painted and papered! I plan to fill it with miniature shoes and purses. (Ignore the fingers and dirty mirror. ha!)

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Y - My Yellow House 

This is one of my favorite miniature projects. Had some pix up a loooong time ago, so this is probably new to most.

The house was a kit I bought years ago which though half scale was sold as a children's playhouse. (Wish I'd bought the other kit as they're long gone; forgot who made it.)

(One of the sides.  Lilies were handmade. Other flowers were a kit; resin birdhouses on wall.)

  I didn't stick to scale as at the time I had these kits which were a smaller 1" scale and filled in with other things, which to me still fit. I did use a half scale chair and items on the porch. 

The stones in the chimney and outside of front porch  are those polished rocks you find at museums attached in stucco (lightweight Spackle - wall compound.) 

I tried to do other different things like use a small wood birdhouse topped with a woodsie for a table.

(Other side has iris, trailing vines and a bench where someone stopped for a break. And  had to have a flamingo!)

(Just about every house I build has to have a dog, of course. The flowers were made in a film canister (remember those?) that is scored, painted and has gold metal tape attached.) 

Hope you enjoyed seeing the project! 

A to Z Blog Challenge - V is for Miniature Violin -the real thing

  * The posts are part of the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013. ** 

I fell behind so I'll have to double up posts next week.

(Photo: David Edwards)

Today I wanted to share an amazing miniature violin, handmade by UK artisan David Edwards. It is an incredible 2-inches long.

Edwards made the 1/12th scale violin last year in pearwood with fingerboard, tailpiece and pegs in ebony. The bridge is recycled ivory. The strings and tailgut are real gut. There is a sound post inside just like the real instrument and it is resting on a full-size violin peg. 

See more of Edwards' work at his blog or Facebook page.

A to Z Blog Challenge - U is for Unusual Minis

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is U for Something Unusual in Miniature ....

Sharing a little Halloween bed I made - Love the bat pillow!  This is half scale (6 inches = 1 foot)

A to Z Blog Challenge - T is for Miniature Christmas Tree

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is T for Miniature  Christmas Tree


'Tis not the season, but you can't have Santa (see yesterday's S post) without a Christmas tree...

A to Z Blog Challenge - S is for Seeing my zombie book Girl Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie in person!

A second post I have to add! for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013!

  Got the advanced reader copy today for GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie!

A teensy slight change - and it looks really cool!

A to Z Blog Challenge - S is for Miniature Santa

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is S for Miniature Santa

Couldn't think of a better fit than Santa for S, right?

See my Santa's Christmas Cottage on the website, click miniatures. 

A to Z Blog Challenge - R is for Red Miniatures

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is  R for  Red Miniatures

Thought I'd share a couple miniatures in a fun color -  RED!

Cake in a red tin for the Queen's 60th anniversary
Victorian purses with a red lining.

A to Z Blog Challenge - Q is for Quick Miniature Jars and Canisters

**Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 

(click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)**

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is Q for Quick 
Mini Canning Jars and Canisters

Tough one! I wondered, what to do for Q? Then I thought of the quick, easy project I wanted to share. So here goes:

Mini Jars and Canisters - C. Verstraete 

Materials:

 * Round beads (the beads are in a package with several colors from the Dollar Tree.) What's neat  is that unlike pony beads, these beads are cut "straight" on the sides and across the top, almost like a straw, which makes them perfect for jars. (They are 1/4" high.)

* Standard 1/8" round hole office punch
* Thin clear plastic, like from a package covering
* Colored clay - I use air-dry, Crayola Model Magic clay, which I paint with acrylics.
* Bits of herbal and black tea from tea bags
* Small flat-backed black bead.
* Canning label printies, shrunk down with names written on
* Printed cotton, tacky glue
* Thin cardboard or box card (tea or cereal boxes work well)
* Smallest size gold brad
* Smallest pony beads
* Silver alphabet bead
* Printie tea label

 NOTE: These are all smaller beads so I made the jars for my half scale house. Use larger size beads for 1-inch scale.

Directions:

* Canister:

1 Punch out round piece of plastic and glue to bottom of bead. When dry, fill with tea from a tea bag.

2  Punch out second round plastic piece for top and glue to bead. Glue small flat-backed black bead to top for "handle."

3. Glue label to front of jar. (which was on but I have to re-glue them. ha!)


* Canning Jar:

(Photos: back row, from left: Pony bead, dollar store bead.)

1. Form pieces of clay into shapes like vegetables, and paint desired color with acrylic paints. Note: these are so small that you don't have to be exact; it's just to give an illusion of something being in the jars.

2. Punch out plastic circle and glue to bottom of the dollar store bead (as in first jar in front.) Fill with clay "food" shapes. Punch out three circles from card. Stack and glue together, then glue stack to underside of desired fabric.

3. Cut fabric around stack in a circle shape, leaving a slight edge. Glue stack to top of jar. Put dots of glue on fabric edge and fold around jar to make a fabric covered lid.

(You can try gluing a piece of string on fabric edge and glue on a separate small bow to give the illusion of a closing tie, but the jar is pretty small.) Add a canning label to front with desired name penned in.

* Small pony bead jar - Square tea tin:

(Photo: left regular, larger size pony bead, smaller pony beads for half scale topped with smallest brad; silver alphabet bead)

1. Pony bead jar - stack and glue together two of smallest size pony beads. Use different colors to match  contents if possible. Glue smallest size gold brad to top. Print out reduced canning or fruit label. Wrap around beads and glue.

2.  Square alphabet bead tea tin: I had a bunch of these beads and realized the size is perfect for a half scale tin. Print out reduced tea package art or scenery for a label. Glue label to all sides of bead. Glue smallest size gold brad to the top.  (I use a small square piece of wood for a 1" scale tin.) 

(--From Candid Canine)

A to Z Blog Challenge - P is for Miniature Pumpkins

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is P for Miniature Pumpkins

I love these. Pumpkins are fun in real life and in miniature, of course!

A to Z Blog Challenge - O for Other things in miniature but real

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is O for Other Things in Miniature - but real

Since I already scheduled S I thought I'd share  something else you might like to see.
We also raise dwarf seahorses.  You can friend me on facebook to see more pix and videos -  (christine.verstraete) Here are a couple pix:

  

A to Z Blog Challenge - N for Miniature Notebook

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is N for Miniature Notebook

This was  fun project. Even in miniature you need to take notes, right?  I should make a totebag to go with it too...and matching shoes, and.... you know how that works in real life.... ha!

A to Z Blog Challenge: M is for Miniatures, of course!

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is M for Miniatures, what else?

It's easy to post about what you love to do  -and I love creating new things or thinking up new projects It's just getting them done that's the problem. haa!

Today I'll share some miniature books I've made. The books in the bookends are free miniature book printies on my website, click miniatures. Coming: mini zombie book covers so check back!

 ** So, what's your favorite hobby? 

A to Z Blog Challenge: L for Miniature Lingerie

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is L 

Here's a small corset in a box I made a while ago. Love this stuff!

More minis and stuff are my website.

A to Z Blog Challenge: K is for Miniature House Kit

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge  2013(click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is K  for Miniature House Kit

Thought I'd share the before pictures of a miniature house before it's all pretty.

This is a half-scale house I bought partly built. I usually like to build it myself from the beginning - and now I know why as I made several changes! I blocked in some windows and had to remeasure the front windows as I wanted more wall space. I didn't want the house to be colonial but am giving it more of an old stone-stucco house look. I'm adding a base to build a shed with a pantry on the one outside wall and a small greenhouse for plants on the other side. 

The living room was stained dark so I lightened it up by painting the walls and part of the fireplace ivory. The ceiling will be stuccoed after I paint the staircase opening. I also am adding a staircase but had to make a small landing that has to be turned since the stairs enter from the back instead of the front. A lot of planning. You have to keep steps in mind when you're doing a house like this. But in the end it's worth it!  In case you're wondering, the strip on the outside of the wall is electric tape for lighting the house. 

A to Z Blog Challenge: J is for Miniature Jar

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge 2013 (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is J

I have a couple easy tutorials I want to add yet, and hope I'll find a day to fit them in.

For now, here's a fun tea display stand I made... 

The easy display includes a jar made by gluing two pony beads on top of one another. Top with a gold brad, fitting the prongs inside. Then glue an appropriate label to the front. You can use this method to make food and perfume jars. Use clear, colored or the frosted color beads for perfume jars.    

The square tea jar uses a small square wood block covered with aluminum tape. Add a jump ring on top to simulate the opening. Add a small food or other label to the front. The tea box was purchased.

A to Z Blog Challenge - I is for In Miniature Style II

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is I 

The most fascinating part of creating in miniature is, done right,

 it can be enough to fool the eye into thinking it is real.

It's a unique experience to enjoy the trappings of real life shrunk down to Lilliputian size.

It's even more fun to do it yourself.

I love decorating in miniature, figuring out the interior design, picking the colors and the items that make a miniature house a home. The top view of my logo includes two room interiors - the left is part of a small scene set in a birthday card. The right is one of the rooms in a half scale shadow box house. Below is my favorite room from my miniature "Dogcatcher's House."

The room is one of the projects featured in my book, IN MINIATURE STYLE II. The book includes profiles of other miniaturists' work, photos and over 40 how-to projets. Available in print, eBook and PDF. 

A to Z Blog Challenge - H is for Miniature Handbags and Purses

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

Today's letter is H for Miniature Handbags & Purses

Many prefer modern styles in miniature, but Victorian and past decades are always popular in miniature. There's something appealing about making super frilly and feminine items  that you see only in a museum or in old photos. (See more of my miniatures.)

While the thought of corsets doesn't sound too appealing, (though the steampunk crowd has made them look really good,) you have to wonder what it would be like to dress in the silkiest, prettiest, most feminine of Victorian gowns with all the accessories, even if just for a day, right?

A to Z Blog Challenge: G has to be for GIRL Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

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Today's letter is  G for  Girl Z: My Life as a Teenage Zombie!

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my upcoming zombie book, being published in August.

Check the GirlZombieAuthors blog for the cover reveal contest.  
(Last pieces  being shown today; contest ends 4/10 with full cover)

But here is one of the title cover pieces:

For fun, here're the puzzle pieces  of the cover (part of them): 

Here's the synopsis:

Life can suck when you're sixteen. It can suck even worse when you're not-quite-dead.

Sixteen-year-old Rebecca Herrera Hayes faces every teenager's biggest nightmares: bad skin, bad hair, and worse . . . turning into one of the living dead.

   Becca's life changes forever when her cousin Spence comes back to their small Wisconsin town carrying a deadly secret—he's becoming a zombie, a fate he shares with her through an accidental scratch.

   The Z infection, however, has mutated, affecting younger persons like her, or those treated early enough, differently. Now she must cope with weird physical changes and habits no girl wants to be noticed for. Then she meets Gabe, a good-looking part-Z like her, and fears falling for him. After all, how can he, who shows hardly any Z symptoms, be interested in someone like her?

   But time is running out... Becca needs his help as she and her cousin Carm search for their missing mothers and fight off hungry Zs.

   Most of all, she needs to find something, anything, to stop this deadly transformation before it is forever too late...

A to Z Blogging Challenge - F is for fancy miniatures

Thanks for coming back for the A to Z Blog Challenge (click link to see the 1,000+ blogs enrolled. yes that many!)

(And if you like horror and all things zombie, I and my co-bloggers will also be blogging daily over at GirlZombieAuthors so be sure to check it out.)

My friend Kitty has a knack for making all kinds of things, as well as working in clay. Here are a few things she sent me in one of our recent swaps. We're both working on lady's shops which let you indulge in all kinds of fancy and feminine things no longer in style (or you would't be able to afford or maybe wouldn't want to wear!) She, of course, is much further along on it than I am!