Breakfast Trays

Happy New Year!!

This morning all is quiet in the mini house. Breakfast trays have been prepared and ready to be delivered to the overnight guests.

On New Year's Day it is a tradition in our house to try and do the things that make us happy.... and to try and avoid anything we do not intend to do all year.

For example. On New Year's Day we try and connect with many friends and family members, spend time on the boat, take a walk, do our hobbies etc.

We try not to do housework, laundry or shop, just in case we set the tone for the New Year!

Best wishes to all for a healthy and happy 2012.

Breakfast trays by my friend Elizabeth:

Jane Austen Tray: Named for the image of a lady of that era on the teapot. Note the tiny Chickadee bird on the back. E. made the tray, teapot, napkin, pot of cream and cherry tart. Created a flower arrangement in a bead vase, painted the plates and teacup.

Empire Tray: Made the tray, clock, bead jam pot, pat of butter, scones and napkin, painted the plates and teacup.

I think E. thought I should have a bed & breakfast miniature house when she made me these trays.

Kitchen Complete

I have decided I have finished with the kitchen..... mmm perhaps I will change the meal on the table and the flowers..

Kitchen from breakfast table.

Kitchen complete.

Chair with basket.

Kitchen divider counter.

Free-standing unit.

Wall unit.

Kitchen table.

Counter with sink.

Before the breakfast table is added.

Decorated for Christmas

The entry is complete. The tree has been raised and the lights strung.

Hope you enjoy this "small" view of this space prepared for Christmas.

Hope everyone had a wonderful day!

Janine

Photos:

Entry viewed from dining room. Mirror reflects the lighted tree. Faux animal print on stool with small parcels on top. Cleo the cat examines the three small trees and the Architectural prints stacked on the floor. Under the stairs - chair covered with embroidered linen. You can see the Chinese-style ginger jar and the walking stick with the dog's head. On the floor a small tree with wrapped parcel. Wreath on the front door.

Viewed from the living room. The table has a mirror (formerly a Christmas decoration), Eiffel tower, ginger jar, books, orchid plant and coloured balls to match those on the door wreath and balcony rail.

Coming through the front door. Carved wooden angels guard the tree.

Looking through the window on the second floor you can see the enamelled decorations hanging from the hallway rail. These are the wine glass identifiers. We took them with us on our sailing trip to decorate small trees on the boat. You can also see the light covers I made from cutting a cow bell in half and the portrait made from an old earring.

Closer view of the arrangement under the mirror that also reflects the tree.

Working with the roof section off we have glued the stairs into place in the two-level entry:

This has been a bit of a challenge. The wooden stairwell has been marbled.

The hand rail made from electrical sheathing from the hardware store. Bamboo skewers create the spindles and brass beads create dimension.

I decided I wanted to use the space under the stairwell so I spray mounted more wallpaper to card stock then cut the shapes of the steps into this to create a curved wall. I glued the false wall on to the stairwell then installed the stairs. Fancy unnecessarily exposing myself to a craft store when I went to pick up card stock. I tried to wear blinkers and go directly to the department I needed ..... I was almost successful! You may not even be able to see this curved wall in the photographs but it will eventually have a mirror on it to reflect the opposite wall. I love the wallpaper. It is full scale wallpaper not miniature - a grape cluster pattern, very subdued, but so perfect for the large entry. The stairwell must be finished before I can put the roof into place. Perhaps it would be better if it could be removable..... something else to think about. No! thought about it and it would not work so you can see in the photos it has been glued and held in place with clamps till it dried properly. There are a lot of lights in the wall. To create sconces over the lights, I cut a small cow-bell xmas decorations in half and glued braid around the top edge. Yet to glue a small decorative circle at the base to finish. Today's work is done because of or despite my small assistants. Any questions? I would be happy to answer. Thanks Janine Photos: Stairwell through the empty dining room. Looking down into entry - Empire bedroom on left Down into entry. Doorway into bathroom on upper level. Lower level into living room. Can you see wallpaper better? Mini Helpers looking into kitchen - 2 & 5 years old. Labels:

Greetings All,

It has been 16 months since my last post. I was warned by my Mother that the older you get the faster a whirlwind time becomes. I now understand why people leave their Christmas lights up year round.

We moved into our new home August 2010, departed for Australia in November where we travelled for five months. Home again home again in time to do lots of prep for the vegetable gardens and host a wedding in May.

In July we left for a summer aboard on our new-to-us little boat. We meandered the BC coastline as far as the Broughton Archipeligo which is on the mainland, north of Vancouver Island. It is a natural wonderland full of whales, dolphins and plentiful supplies of prawn and crab, spectacular scenery and isolated anchorages.

Home by September we welcomed our middle son and his two children to live with us while he returned to school.

November arrived dark and dreary once again so I unpacked the mini house. I would really like to finish it before I have to pack it away again..... but we all know the saying that it is the journey not the destination that is the adventure.

Exterior Progress:

Quoins and trim under sills made of plastered bristol board. Decorative wood above windows created from combination of assorted trims.

I have made the summer window boxes but thought I might think about how it would look like with the vines in winter - just for fun. A few examples of different options.

No, the shutters are not upside down. I want them in an open position, when they are closed they will be placed correctly to shed rain.

Photos show:

Final choice of vines.

Vine options.

Progress steps of east wall.

Sunrise from our cottage.

Moonrise from our cottage.

Enjoying visiting so many of your blogs and then stepping to your followers. One can get lost out there. Such a lot of inspiration. Thank you.

Hope you are getting into the Christmas/holiday season spirit.

Janine