Where'd the year go?#Dollhouse #Miniatures of 2020

 Wow. December already? Where'd the year go? Where does time go?

A good time, I guess, to do a looking back post on what I got accomplished in minis this year. When you feel like what have I done?, it's always nice  to see a full list of things completed.

(I try to connect posts but you can also search Half Scale Victorian or look in the archives list in left column for previous posts. NOTE: I'm being lazy and just copying/pasting photos so I hope they show right.) 

There is much more I got done. Scroll through the posts in archive to see lots of other photos.

January: The Half Scale Victorian House got started, or rather restarted since it had sat for some 10-15 years at least. 

March: By this month, construction made good progress and I decided to try something new with those wooden fans. 

April: I was working on windowbox plants and got the dreaded (dollhouse) shingles. But I also got the travel den bookcase done and the outside window and tower decorations done.

May: Big accomplishment! The roof was finished; den bookcase underway; kitchen pieces started; and love that swap mailbox as a neat addition!

June: Moving in! Also some views of the deck, attic and kitchen. A neat idea for the deck table umbrella. I love this fuchsia plant!

Summer means there's lots to do outside, but I still like to do a few mini things here and there. This was a long project getting everything done and put inside. My favorites were filling the double dressers and decorating this beautiful bed. 

July: Besides finally getting to go to a dollhouse show, here's a view of the kitchen, dining room, and a few other rooms, and my front flowers, all before the final touches. (I mentioned in a previous post about my show finds and mentioned the filligree carved shelves made by Ron Chase/D-Tales from last year's HS swap, which I put outside the bedroom. I love that wall decoration, too.)

August: I started the new Halloween dollhouse, the HS Greenleaf Van Buren, (still underway). Plus some of my great dollhouse finds at Goodwill and some of the updated rooms (parlor, craft room table, dining room, Monticello house items. That swivel chair fits perfectly in the den.) I love how the parlor came out, too.

September: I finished a video of the Victorian dollhouse. It's posted at my website miniatures page. 

October: A favorite time of year! I posted five days of Halloween in Miniature. See day one here. Besides some fabulously spooky guests, I also shared my Halloween shop on day 3. (Photo: hats by Kat Hazelton, Kitty and me.)

 

 

 I also finished a new Halloween version of my dollhouse book, In Miniature Style: Halloween, with projects you can adapt for any season! It's available on Kindle and will be in print soon. Some unique things to make here. See photos and details at website.

November: Went to the second dollhouse show of the year. One of my finds there: got a HS Fairfield dollhouse kit. I've always admired the style of this kit. And the building has begun; also some progress on the Van Buren Halloween house. (The FF fireplace is built and I'm starting the stairs now. Have to fit some walls to see what goes where and what to paper first.)

So, that's it for now. I'll be posting some more house updates and Fairfield construction updates soon. Thanks for visiting again. 

Keep checking back for further progress this month (I hope.)

#Halloween + Fairfield #Dollhouse Update

 A "little" progress on the half scale Halloween house I started -The Van Buren dollhouse from Greenleaf. (Stock photo from site.)

The frame is together, door and stair walls are papered/built (not shown). Here's the papers I have in so far. Also putting brick on the alcoves on third floor and news print style paper on the slanted walls. I use scrapbook papers mostly as they're heavier and offer good variety.  (Click photos for full size.)

The room on the right will be the sitting room. There'll be a stair wall going to the hole/stairwell above. The bottom brown part is box card painted lightly for a weathered old look. I'll put a rail above it.

The room above the sitting room on the second floor will be a library den. Yeah, I can't seem to get away from making a zillion tiny books. ha! But they look so cool when they're done! The paper (scrapbook paper) is cool as it has a kind of spooky skull and cat print.

At left is the dining area. I'm thinking of a kind of Miss Havisham spooky table. It may hold a compact kitchen/cooking area on the front brick wall. Have to see how it fits. The room above (not done) is a bedroom with gray wallpaper. 

Progress is ongoing.

And.... The Fairfield box (also half scale, 1/24th) has been opened. (Hey, that's a start!) And... oh, so many shingles and sheets. haa! (Run! You can turn back now!!)

Well, it gets to be a looooong winter with no outdoor work to do and not much to do inside, so a dollhouse project seems like a good idea. (Everyone to their corners. Let the fights begin! I am not kidding. haa!)

Here's the foundation floor. Hubby is still cutting out the foundation pieces, so he hasn't given up... yet. (Oh the horror of this already...) A TIP : To get the foundation to line up -and stay lined up - wedges of 1/2" square pieces of wood were glued in against the foundation pieces to act as braces on the underside.)

Well. Took all day as have to glue, let it set, wait... But.... so far, so good. The foundation so far:

One word of caution on these kits - sure laser cutting may prove to be a smoother-finish wood BUT it also is thinner, and cheaper. The Van Buren (laser cut) is 1/16" thick. The Fairfield (an older kit from 1979) is 1/8" wood, but this type of wood also splinters a lot. The VB does have some warping and the FF also is prone to warping but thicker wood is sturdier.  (Photo: VB on top compared to FF.)

Yeah, I know, sooo boring, unless you are building and/or curious about these kits. So fair warning given. Stay tuned for progress updates if we (hopefully) don't give up. 😉

Happy (#Miniature) Thanksgiving!

 Happy Thanksgiving to all!

At some point, I'll have to make a half-scale scene to fit in my houses, but for now, here's some 1" scale items. I got these in a food swap a while ago.

A Heartfelt #Christmas Promise Blog Tour!

 It's nearly Christmas and what better way to get in the mood than with a Christmas love story,  A Heartfelt Christmas Promise! Welcome back to USA Today Bestselling Author Nancy Naigle!

 About the Book: 

Vanessa Larkin was supposed to be spending Christmas in Paris, France on a business trip she hoped to enjoy as a working vacation. Instead, she’s been assigned to Fraser Hills, North Carolina—home of the Best Fruitcake in the USA—to convert her company’s property into warehouse space and shut down Porter’s, the fruitcake factory. Offering retirement packages and selling locals on new job opportunities may not spread holiday cheer, but Vanessa believes she’s helping secure the town’s future.

Mike Marshall’s family founded Porter’s. For decades, the factory served as the lifeblood of the community until his grandfather sold the business to a Chicago corporation. The sale cost the town its independence—and the Marshalls their family ties. A horse farmer, Mike was never involved with his grandfather’s company, but still felt Fraser Hills lost part of its identity. And as a widower raising a teenage daughter, he’s suffered enough losses in one lifetime. News of the factory’s closing means losing another piece of the town’s legacy.

Far from the skyscrapers and rapid pace of the city, Vanessa finds herself enjoying the easygoing rhythms of rural living. With Mike as her guide, she learns to appreciate the simple pleasures found in shared holiday festivities among friends. Fraser Hills is a town she is growing to love—and Mike is someone she is falling in love with. Now all Vanessa needs is a Christmas miracle to give her newfound friends and home a gift they’ll cherish for many New Years to come.

* Learn more at her website. -- Get some fun freebies, a coloring page and trivia questions here. -- Catch her on Twitter - Instagram *

* Review: I've become a fan. I read her last book, The Shell Collector (see post), and am enjoying this one just as much! Nancy has a light, warm style and this is another good-feeling, fast-reading story that you'll finish too fast and wish there was more!

 About the Author: USA Today bestselling author NANCY NAIGLE whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. Now happily retired, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she currently calls North Carolina home. Nancy is the author of Christmas Joy and Hope at Christmas, both of which have been turned into film for Hallmark Channel. Follow her at Goodreads and on Bookbub. 

* Check out the giveaway!  

A Heartfelt Christmas Promise

Blog tour!

Tiny TV Classics #Miniature #Christmas

 So FUN! This year's Christmas miniature scene is even better thanks to the new working miniature TVs from Tiny TV Classics. The miniature TVs so far come in four styles and eras with Batman, South Park, Back to the Future and Friends.

So cool that technology has made it possible to have a working TV that plays assorted clips from TV shows and you can even change the channel with the tiny remote! This is the Batman TV in my room  (though I also have the Back to the Future model.) 

So, since I decided to have a vintage-flavored Christmas using my miniature vintage dolls, I thought what's better than having them waiting for Santa and watching TV?  You can see a bit of it and even hear some of it in the video below. Isn't that cool???? I got such a kick out of this!

The shelving unit contains assorted Christmas teapots made by my Dutch friend, Kitty.

Yes, it's early but...

Merriest of Christmases to you!

Back from the #Dollhouse Show! What'd I get?

(Dragons and centaur statues from WCD Miniatures) (Click photos for full size.)

I'm baaaack! Went to the annual fall dollhouse show in Elk Grove Village, IL, what was the Wee C show, previously run by a NAME club and now run by T&D Miniatures....

Small,  but not a bad show,  at least for me as I had some good finds! The sad thing is it was the end of an era - the club has pretty much disbanded as most of the members are older and many had died, so no more display room or discount table. They had the best (and only) show display so sorely missed that. (Type Wee C Dollhouse Show in search to see previous show pix).

Well, the discount table proceeds used to be donated to charity and I always found some great deals and cool stuff.  The new show apparently had some things out but most of it was gone by Saturday.

The centaur and dragons (above) were a cool find from WCD Miniatures. He always has a great selection of Egyptian  and other unusual statues. I have a Pan statue that's in the front yard of my other Haunted House. The centaur was the only one I saw and I envisioned it in the center of a garden room or a hall and the dragons out in front. They all are about 3" tall. I also bought that aged rug from the entry table.

The cool thing is I won a door prize! I picked a great frame display made by Ron Chase (D-Tales Miniatures.) I'm going to paint it black, turn that bird into what looks like a crow or raven, and put spooky family pictures in it! Second time I won a door prize at this show. I won a 1/2" scale house kit a few years back that I made up for Halloween. See photos here.

I had bought a 1/2" scale kitchen cupboard kit and a radio from Ron at the last show and really admired his clocks, so I was surprised he was at this show, too! So I got a carved clock! (Oh, it probably won't be the last one. ha!) I also have a beautiful carved filigree shelving unit from him in my 1/2" scale dollhouse that I got in last year's Half Scale group swap. (I can't find that post showing it outside the bedroom, but I think it shows in the house video. See miniatures website page. - Found the post and photo here.

The clock is just under 2" tall.

So... what else did I find?

Well... got some cool frames and a cat rug... Witches love black cats, you know. Plus more metal minis to paint like some tiny phones and a bust statue from J and K Minis. I thought it would be fun to make a time-stood-still dingy kitchen with a wall phone on the wall. ha! And well, you'll see what I do with that dagger and saw! heh-heh.... 

Found a few 1/2" scale kits.... I haven't seen these resin couches in eons. Have an idea to make them look old and dirty with stuffing coming out. (See the examples below.) I had a similar set that I used in another project. (Here's the other couch I painted and added trim to for Christmas.) The old-fashioned stove will be perfect for the kitchen, too! I had used this same kit in my Country Victorian Dollhouse kitchen but I shortened the back. The chair is one of two in a set (one is undone.) The small package is a chest kit (with the teeniest brads that I doubt I'll be able to get in the hinges!)

And... ta-dah! Another dollhouse kit! But.... I've admired (and dreaded doing) the 1/2" scale Fairfield. But I always liked the style of this house. Well, this was a price I could NOT pass up! (I would've kicked myself if I didn't buy it!)  So... this will be the main haunted house, I think. (Yes, the other one is still underway and I am wallpapering it now.)

As I mentioned about shabby/old couches... saw these at a table. No vendor was there, but I think it was named Behind the Attic Door (or something similar.) I thought they were well done.

Oh, and I also found this beautiful silk tie at a Goodwill that will be perfect for some curtains or upholstery... The color is a pretty goldish-yellow with a nice print. 

So, I didn't buy a real lot (but it still adds up. ha!) But I was happy with what I found, esp. as I love kits and you don't always find half scale. 

 ** Thanks for stopping by again. Stay tuned for more project updates! ** 

Annual Fall #Dollhouse Show!

(Photo: 2019 dollhouse show display)

 I'm off to the annual Dollhouse show held today and tomorrow in Elk Grove Village, IL. 

It used to be called the Wee C show run by the local NAME (National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts) club, and now has been renamed the Chicago Autumn Showcase run by T&D Miniatures. 

Hoping they still have the big club display room and the discount table, which are both fun (and big draws, in my opinion!)  Will take photos of the displays as I always do so be sure to check back for the posts.

Here are the photos from the 2019 show  here at the blog. (There are three posts with photos.) Type in Wee C Dollhouse Show in the search box to see other years back to  gasp - 2012. Maybe even earlier.

After #Halloween in #Miniature

Photo: My Halloween store

Well, another year's HALLOWEEN IN MINIATURE event is done and it was a good one!

What? You missed it? You can still follow the Halloween in Miniature posts - start at Day 1. 

Re-Cap: 

* The favorite post: 

Thank you for all the visits overall. But the favorite, with the most visits, was my miniature Halloween Store. See Day 3.

* Giveaway winners:

Nadine wins an ebook copy of In Miniature Style: Halloween

Veronica R. wins the mini spellbook! 

Emailing you both.

Thanks to all the entries!

What's Next?

More miniatures posts are coming up here, so stay tuned. Halloween is NOT over! I'm still working on the mini Haunted House. Maybe, just maybe, I'll make some progress to show you soon! ha! But I will be taking my home display down. I'm in a mood for putting up a bunch of mini Christmas trees! haa!

 * You can still get In Miniature Style: Halloween ebook!

* See photos and all links at the website.

#Halloween in #Miniature 5: Happy Halloween Surprise!

 Welcome to Day 5 of Halloween in Miniature!

I hope you enjoyed this year's event as much as I did in planning it. And thank you again to all my guests who shared their work! 

    If you missed it, start at Day 1: https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-2021-party-begins.html

Pop in a movie. (My favorite! Right click to save for your dollhouse den wall!) And how about some dancing to end the party?

(And a free gift! Get the album cover in miniature! Download Halloween album cover printies pdf at my website Miniatures page!)

 

The guests have gathered... well this trio said they don't quite feel like dancing... no bones about it. haa!

(By Patricia Paul Studio - sign up for her NL and get some free book printies!)

And don't forget to have some pie! There's a couple pieces left, I see... Or make your own! (Ghost pie by Lauren Bathory, Too-Damned-Cute-Bakery/Etsy. See Day 4 for "recipe.")

Go, Frankie, Go! At least someone likes to dance! Who knew the big lug could boogie that well? (By Sharon Cariola, See Day 2) 

Whew, that was fun. Did you enjoy yourself?

And now.... A HALLOWEEN SURPRISE!!!

Last minute that I am, I began working on the new Halloween book I'd mentioned before, but I  didn't get really serious about it until the beginning of yes, this month. 

My idea was I wanted to offer a small collection of books on themed projects, so I think you'll like the dozen projects I've included in this one. These are some of my favorite projects and things I haven't shared how to make before. The bonus is you don't have to stick to the Halloween theme. Change the colors and fabric choices to fit into any of your other projects. 

Ta-Dah!  Up on Kindle:

Make a dozen accessories for Halloween - and all seasons!
   Don't like Halloween? (What?) The projects included here are easily adaptable. Change the colors or themes to fit your own project!
       BUY:  Pre-Order Kindle/Print, Amazon US - Amazon UK - Amazon CA - Amazon AU  - Amazon DE  

More details and photos at website - https://www.cverstraete.com/in-miniature-style-halloween-dollhouse-book.html

Note:  It takes time to get to other online bookstores once the print comes out.) Also check at my website for updates. https://www.cverstraete.com. There's a sporadic newsletter signup if you want to join. Put dollhouse in the entry so I know.

** Sign up for the giveaway below to win either copy.  (BONUS! One person will also win a copy of my handmade mini spellbook!  Instructions are in In Miniature Style: Halloween! ) Please include your email to contact you and to be included in newsletter notices on updates. (Actual print book is US shipping only and it may time time for me to get the proof and then actual copies.) 

Halloween in Miniature 2021 Schedule:

Day 1: The Party Begins

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-2021-party-begins.html

Day 2: Meet the Guests

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-2021-2-meet.html

Day 3: Shop 'Till You Drop

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/09/halloween-in-miniature-shop-till-you-drop.html

Day 4: The Party's Not Dying

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-4-partys-dying.html

Day 5: Happy Halloween Surprise!

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/happy-halloween-surprise.html

** Happy Halloween! For more book updates, see my website.

*************

GIVEAWAY! 

(Enter here if display not working: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f1cf9a545/?)

* a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Halloween in #Miniature 4: The Party's Dying Down

 Welcome to Day 4 of Halloween in Miniature!

* Be sure to start at Day 1 and get some snacks! https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-2021-party-begins.html

*See schedule at end for other days.

* Back to Day 3: https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/09/halloween-in-miniature-shop-till-you-drop.html

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Wouldn't you know it? The party's winding down and finally - at the stroke of midnight - who shows up? Why's it's Marley... You know, Mr. Scrooge's longtime, and long-suffering, former business partner?

A sad soul he is, so we'll let him "hang around" for a while as we move on... (Marley is hand-sculpted by Sharon Cariola. See more of her work and about her on Day 2's post: 

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-2021-2-meet.html

Hungry? Let's stop and have a snack. Mmmm, how about some Ghostie Meringue Pie? It has just a "hint" of flavor!

 (Pie by Lauren Bathory, See more of her fun & creepy offerings at her Too Damned Cute Bakery on Instagram. Find the pie pic there for more instruction photos.)

                            https://www.instagram.com/too_damned_cute_bakery/ 

👻 Want to Make One? 👻

Materials- Bottle cap, Liquid polymer clay, dough and yellow colored polymer clay; chalk pastels in terra cotta and dark brown,  Liquitex modeling paste gel medium, Black acrylic paint, Clear varnish (one compatible with polymer clay).

Tools- Pasta machine or something to roll the clay flat, small cutters or punches, even the end of a plastic straw will work, Stiff paint brush or a tooth brush.

Roll out the dough colored clay to form the pie crust. I rolled it out on the medium setting of my pasta machine. Put a little dab of liquid polymer in the bottom of bottle cap (this helps keep the clay in place) and press the clay in to form the pie crust. Texture the crust by dabbing at it with the stiff brush.

Roll out some more dough colored clay to the same thickness, and texture with your brush. Use your small cutter to cut out little shapes to form the edge of the pie crust. Use a little dab of liquid polymer to ‘glue’ your cut out shapes in a ring on the top edge of your crust.

Lightly brush the terra cotta chalk pastels onto the pie crust to develop a nicely baked look. Bake your pie crust according to the directions of your polymer clay. To make the filling, mix together the yellow polymer clay with the liquid polymer until you achieve a custard consistency. Spread this into your pie crust and bake again according to the directions.

Put some of the Liquitex modeling paste into a small plastic bag and snip off the very corner of the bag. Carefully pipe the Liquitex in little piles forming your ‘ghosts’. It is a good idea to do some test ghosts before you start piping them onto your pie to get a feel for it. Once the ghosts have set (I like to give them overnight to fully dry) use a wet paint brush to lightly ‘toast’ your meringue ghosts with the dark brown chalk pastel. Paint on your tiny ghost faces, and then coat your entire pie in a clear lacquer to protect the chalk pastels. 

About the Creator: Lauren had a creative dry spell after being diagnosed with MS, but was inspired to start creating again by YouTube videos. She recently relocated to Georgia where she now works on miniatures full-time. She has a growing collection of various cabinets to house her haunted bakeries full of  "ghoulish goodies" and hints that there are likely more to come! 👻

 Back to the guests... Look who came in! Now this is more like it, talk about contrasts!! Look at that smile! (Mr. Bones also by Sharon Cariola.)

Mr. Bones is a rather notable entertainer. At the graveyard, he has guests just "dying" to hear his act. Get it? haa!

As the party excitement "dies" down, I hear that Mr. Bones has added some new jokes to his repertoire. Jokes "to die for." Seriously.

Okay, okay, let's hear some:

* Why didn't Dracula have any friends?

 - He was a pain in the neck. (groan)

* Who won the skeleton beauty contest?

- No body. 

* What's the tallest building in Transylvania?

- The Vampire State Building (haaa!)

*  What kind of shoes does a ghost wear?

- Booooots

Okay, okay, hey got you to chuckle a little, right? (See free printable Halloween jokes for kids.)

OOps! Watch out for that web. Please excuse the spiders hanging around, too. Honestly, they're friendlier than they look!  (Spiders by Georgia Marfels/Etsy. Georgia, who lives in Germany, started working in miniature at age 9 and fell in love with making spooky items since it's more creative. "It gives you more opportunities and freedom than just creating real stuff in miniature," she says.)

Uh-oh! Oh, never mind. This ghostly fellow won't have any trouble getting around the webs!  

(1/24th scale figure by Lisa Tabboner. Read more about her and see more of her work here: https://miniatura.co.uk/the-enchanting-world-of-lisa-tabbanor/ and see her FB page: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.tabbanor.)

So, what else????

                                          ********************************* 

Ta-Dah! What I am Working On... Kindle up for pre-order: (Print in the works)

Make a dozen accessories for Halloween - and all seasons!
   Don't like Halloween? (What?) The projects included here are easily adaptable. Change the colors or themes to fit your own project!
       BUY:  Pre-Order Kindle/Print, Amazon US - Amazon UK - Amazon CA - Amazon AU  - Amazon DE  

More details and photos at website:  - https://www.cverstraete.com/in-miniature-style-halloween-dollhouse-book.html

* Don't forget to enter the giveaway on Day 2 and tomorrow Day 5.

** Be sure to come back tomorrow for more Halloween fun! (Links are not live until the day of post.)

Day 1: The Party Begins

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-2021-party-begins.html

Day 2: Meet the Guests

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-2021-2-meet.html

Day 3: Shop 'Till You Drop

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/09/halloween-in-miniature-shop-till-you-drop.html

Day 4: The Party's Not Dying

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/halloween-in-miniature-4-partys-dying.html

Day 5: Happy Halloween Surprise!

https://candidcanine.blogspot.com/2021/10/happy-halloween-surprise.html