Mini Class Previews for Spring Bishop Show

Here are sone pix of some of the neat projects that'll be coming up at the spring Chicago International Show. The preview was at the fall show at the Holiday Inn in Rolling Meadows. Interesting hotel as the whole inner meeting area and pool was all decorated like a giant tiki room and a Hawaiian setting.  Quite unique.

half scale

half scale

New Miniature Style Ebook Cover - Now on Kindle!

If you don't have it already, my first ebook In Miniature Style is now on Kindle - with a new cover!

You should know we changed the cover from the original pink/purple ebook cover above.

The contents are the same unless you want to get a version for your Kindle.  See Amazon page for In Miniature Style: Original Homes and Rooms, Big in Quality, Small in Size.  You can get more details on the contents on my website. - Here is the link for all the Amazon pages.

Happy minis!

Note: there may be an issue with too small text on captions that is being worked on.
 
** Projects original to this version include:

* Handmade kaleidoscope
* Coordinating picture frame
* Antique reproduction mantle clock
* Pigeons
* Fun flowers
*  Wall a room and make hats
* Original lamps and tables
* Art rugs

Half Scale Dollhouse Living Room

It's been a while since I posted photos of the Half Scale Country House,

I had one room left to finish the details in - now the living room is done!

I made the furniture from the d. Anne Ruff half scale furniture kit. The table and chairs are the cafe set kit from SDK Miniatures.  The console is a magnet, too.

Hopefully I'll have some kind of case made as I want to take the house to the county fair  - gasp- next week. Already!  (More photos - attic.)

The chair under the stairs is one of those smaller plastic dollhouse chairs. I covered it in fabric to match my curtains. I also made the clock. The phone table is a magnet.

Margaret Grace talks Manhattan in Miniature!

 
Today I welcome fellow author Margaret Grace (Camille Minichino) whose latest fun miniatures mystery, Manhattan in Miniature: A Miniature Mystery , recently released for  Kindle and in ebook, as well as print. (See Barnes and Noble, print and Nook.) 

This was a fun addition to the series, with Gerry and her granddaughter Maddie heading to Manhattan for a craft show, where the pair also find some deadly mysteries to solve!

About the book:

Perhaps Manhattan, like Christmas, is best seen through the eyes of a child. Gerry Porter provides both magical experiences for granddaughter Maddie when a SuperKrafts manager takes them to New York City for a huge crafts fair. They get to work on both making miniatures and solving crimes, the detecting duo’s favorite pastimes. All this, plus Rockefeller Center and Radio City, too! But a crafty murderer wants to make sure they don’t make it safely home again to California…. (Amazon.com)

Let's see what Camille has to say about the book. And.... be sure to comment about why you like the series - two winners will be chosen to win either a PDF or a print copy (Print - US shipping only.)  Make sure to include a way to contact you. 

What was your favorite part of writing this book?

“Researching” Manhattan! I lived in New York during my grad school days and have always loved the city. I visit as often as possible, spending entire days in museums. It was effortless to recreate the streets and sounds in this book. And a huge crafts fair set in Midtown was too tempting to resist! I was able to give Maddie a “small crime” of her own to solve at the fair while Gerry was pursuing major trouble on the Upper West Side.

How do you see Gerry and her granddaughter in the future? What’s next for them?

I’m currently writing #9, Matrimony in Miniature, so you know what’s up for Gerry and Henry! As for Maddie, she may never get past 11-years-old — I’m not sure I want to deal with a teenager!

Oh! Another book is coming? When?

Matrimony in Miniature is scheduled for Fall 2016. Of course, a murder puts a damper on wedding plans.

Why did you pick Manhattan?

I’ve never taken Gerry out of fictional Lincoln Point, California, and I wanted to take her back to her roots. She’s from the Bronx, but her old neighborhood is quite changed. She decides to take Maddie to Manhattan first. Maddie is beyond excited, loves the Rockettes and the city, and wishes Lincoln Point had doormen!

How about a short excerpt of your favorite part of Manhattan in Miniature: A Miniature Mystery? 

When I was in Manhattan last fall, I was in a fender bender on Fifth Avenue! I thought I'd have Gerry experience it, too. So here’s how it reads in the book:

I still felt a little jet-lagged and tired enough to grab a few minutes of sleep. If a cab could be a phone booth, why not a bed? We were traveling slowly enough in midtown rush hour traffic. I scrunched down a bit, got comfortable, head back, legs stretched out as far as possible, volume turned to zero on the video display in front of me, then . . .

Crunch!

A flat tire? In the middle of the crowded Lexington Avenue? From the quick stop and words from the cabbie, words that were directed to an SUV driver and not fit for Maddie’s journal, I guessed No, not a flat, but a fender bender. At a rate lower than the speedometer could register, I’d hardly felt the jolt, which was less violent than what I remembered from operating the bumper cars on the boardwalk at Coney Island.

“You okay back there?” my driver asked, opening the door to exit and examine the damage. He sounded more like a man who hoped to avoid the inconvenience of an injured passenger than one who was concerned for my well being.

“I’m fine,” I said, as he slammed the door. A light changed somewhere and traffic started to flow, but without us.

Thanks again, Margaret/Camille for stopping by!

** Readers - be sure to comment about what you like about the series and share your favorite part for a chance to win a PDF or print copy (Print-US shipping only.) Be sure to leave a way to contact you. -- ENDS Fri. 5/15/15---

New Artisans in Miniature Free Mag!

New free issue #54 is now up. Free download here How to's and more! 

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A to Z Blog Challenge - AmaZing Julie Campbell dolls

  * Today is Letter  Z  of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

It's "Zee" End of the Month and my daily minis venture!

I hope you enjoyed the journey and seeing some of my miniatures.

Be sure to visit my website and check out my book, 

In Miniature Style II!

****

I don't have a mini zoo - or a zebra....  but I did want to show this "amaZing" creation from one of my favorite doll makers, Julie Campbell . 

I first wrote about Julie a while back (get the pdf on my website) and while her dolls were wonderful then, her style has continued to change and mature. 

Take her incredible hand-sculpted interpretation of  Joan Crawford and Bette Davis from my favorite movie, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane... terrific likeness! Simply Amazing!

See a couple scenes from the movie...  (And if you've never seen it, be sure to!) 

And  Campbell's likenesses - even the wheelchair! Joan Crawford is uncanny! (And so you can get perspective, the dolls are about 5 inches tall - 1 inch (1/12th) scale, 1 inch = 1 foot)

And,,, a clip from the creepiest scene in the film -- ever!




Thanks for visiting this month. 
Be sure to come back for more minis and some mini books - a giveaway is coming! 

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 

 In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF 
- 1 inch scale and some half scale too!

A to Z Blog Challenge - Y for Yankee!

* Today is Letter Y of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

Y is for ....

Yankee Candles!

You'd think this would be a hard letter to fill but for the project I just finished! Fun project using the bottles of nail decorations from the Dollar Tree and catalog labels.

The purple candle used real candle wax and is scented. 

The smaller black and green candles are for half scale (1/2" = 1 foot.) The table below is in  the sitting room in the Half Scale Country House.

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 

  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - Explaining the Why of Miniatures

             * Today is Letter  W-X  of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

So... today, an eXplanation of Why I like miniatures...

1 Creativity. 

2 It combines many crafts - painting, art, design, construction, decoupage, doll collecting...

3 Fun! What better reason?

And what better thing for X but a... Xmas (Christmas) tree... 

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 

  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - V for Mini Victorian Room

* Today is Letter V of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

My Victorian sitting room in double roombox. It features curtains beaded by hand- never again!), gold trim, stained glass windows, beaded/decorated ceiling, lots of patterns and floral prints gives a pretty good representation of some of the Victorian era's love of excess decoration.  The photos are family photos I reduced.  The other side is a writing room. (not shown.)

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - Utterly Cute Miniatures!

* Today is Letter U of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

Yes, "cute" is one of those words many miniaturists would rather not hear, but I think it may apply here.

"Cute" little dog I got from a swap in the Half Scale yahoo group and a chair I made for the Half Scale Country House.

A to Z Blog Challenge - T for Miniature Table

* Today is Letter T of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

Table and chairs in the Half Scale Country House. This is the cafe set kit from Sdk Miniatures. I also made the pizza and flowers. This is in the living room by the windows since there's no room in the kitchen. The lady of the house likes to sit in the living room and listen to her vintage albums. 

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - S for Miniature Sitting Room

* Today is Letter S of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

A portion of the sitting room on the second floor of the Half Scale Country House.

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - R for Mini Rabbit

* Today is Letter R of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

Thought this was cute. It's a stuffed printed rabbit I got in a set of second-hand minis I bought a while ago. (In the Half Scale Country House attic.)

I had to include a photo of this cute knit tea pot cozy made by Suzanne Lonsdale. Isn't it cute?

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - Q is for Quiet - Dollhouse Bedroom

* Today is Letter Q of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

Q is for ....

Quiet! 

I have nothing in my collection that starts with Q. No kumquats in the fridge. No quinine.

To symbolize quiet, here's a view of the bedroom in the attic of my Half Scale Country House. This is where the grandkids would sleep when they come to visit. (oops! The bear fell over!) 

A to Z Blog Challenge - P is for Potting Shed

* Today is Letter P of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

I have a few small things to do yet. I built a small potting shed on the other side of the Half Scale Country House. Happy how this turned out. 

The shed's on the left side. 

I also made another flower bed, this one with petunias in the middle. 

Hmm, someone didn't plant that bucket yet...

I love the potting shed! (The potting bench is a kit from SDK Miniatures.

 I made the hutch from picture frame mat board.) The seed box is a small bookshelf I got from one of the Half Scale Yahoo group swaps

Those are Polly Pocket boots. Perfect size!  

Even have copies of my local newspaper on the bottom shelf of the bench (and for the planting!)

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects (a few half scale too!)  -    In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z blog challenge - Not Only Miniatures

* A Double Post for N and O for the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

One of the other important  parts of my life - my dog. (No longer miniature but that's okay!) ;) 

A to Z Blog Challenge - M for Mini Mixer!

 * Today is Letter M of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

I had to include this - the cutest mini mixer and crock pot. I got these in this year's half scale group swap. (In my Half Scale Country House. See D)

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - K is for Dollhouse Kitchen

* Today is Letter K of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

K is for....

Kitchen -- From the Half Scale Country House

I also added a cherry print border  (not shown) around the ceiling. It matches the yellow and green in the room. I was trying for an old-fashioned look to the kitchen.

The stove and sink are kits from Petite Properties in the UK. The stove is handmade and my design. I used pieces of coated colored wire from paperclips for the handles The shelves inside are pieces of plastic fence. 

The cool appliances on the side table are from a recent swap in the Half Scale Yahoo group. the teapots and jugs are by my friend, Kitty.

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF

A to Z Blog Challenge - J for Just Mini!

* Today is Letter J of the daily A to Z Blog Challenge *

Oops! I forgot today's so adding Just Something in Mini! 

A great mini tie gift from my friend Gigi. She also made the table scene for my Christmas gift. Worth a re-show! 

   *  See more minis, profiles, photos and how to projects  - 
  In Miniature Style II - print, ebook, PDF