Playing:

Playing:

I do have a habit of buying something and then not unwrapping it for some time. I usually feel that things have to make their way gently into their new space. Not this time. I arrived home from the Seattle Show and next morning my Granddaughter and I found places for all but one purchase.

Fatima bought me this delicate doll from Bobbi Johnson, she has a porcelain face and arms.  I thought she would go into the children's room but Granddaughter #1 correctly decided she should be in the Empire Room.

The fire has burned down to its embers. Cleo, the cat, is checking the remnants of a midnight picnic - did that naughty cat knock over the glass? The electricity magically began to work so I was able to put a fire into the fireplace. This was done by using the base of Orange TicTac's with a light bulb placed into a hole drilled into the back of the box. This was then painted and cellophane paper crushed to create more of a glow. Elizabeth at http://www.studioeminiatures.blogspot.ca bought our attention to this technique when she created her fireplace in her living room.

Sometimes a small project takes more time than expected.  Does that sound familiar? It was not difficult to chop the wood for the basket but at each chop the piece would go flying off, never to be found again.  Wine glasses and decanter on tray by Janet Uyetake.

I did tell you about the single pea and other veggies that I bought from  TwinHeart minis. It is difficult to get a photo but I hope you can see the fully formed peas nestled inside the pod. The parsnip has gone missing.  I cannot remember if I put it somewhere to keep safe, obviously I will have to defer vacuuming until it is found.

The final photo is of a gift of a planter from Elizabeth.  Is it a hint to get on with my perimeter garden ... perhaps ...
A grotesque keeps vigil over a broken pot while the little plant bravely blooms on.  If you look closely at Elizabeth's current post you will see this very pot. The grotesque was found many years ago, a topper for a dollar store stamp.  It takes so long to go anywhere! I have to look closely at everything to see if there is any possibility of a miniature treasure.

All will be quiet on this blog for a while. Think of me as I spend long evenings hovering over the computer searching for specific book title covers to reduce for the salon library wall. Who knows when I may emerge.

regards Janine

Escape:

Escape to the Seattle Show:

The Miniteer's long-planned visit to the Seattle Miniature Show took place last weekend.  As a birthday gift for Elizabeth ( November birthday), Fatima and I booked an overnight stay at the hotel where the event was being held.

A very convenient place to stay as by the end of our first day we were absolutely wiped out. I am sure it is the same for everyone. Hours of staring at the displays, feverish catching up with other miniaturists coupled with the anxiety of limiting ones purchases to those most relevant with consideration of exchange rates and custom import restrictions.

It makes me quite dizzy. Sometimes I wonder if I actually breathe properly as it is just all so overwhelming.

It was a great show - in that there was such a good collection of vendors, but not as many exhibitors of houses as I remember in the past.  The last Seattle Show that I attended was in 2013.

I did go wild and most things have found a place in the French House already.

A Christopher Whitford chinoiserie-style teapot sits beside a pie server on a new table.

 A new table and four chairs!  Was that really necessary? My sober, restrained side says "NO".
My wild extravagant, what-the-heck side (rarely seen) says, "Why not?". The usual excuses - I don't smoke, drink and definitely don't buy, well stuff ...... you know, all the irrational excuses when you see things you really, really want!

Did you notice the little wine carafe by Janet Uyetake, corkscrew and small glass cheese plate & dome - yes all new.

Table and chairs by Laura Crain of Dollhouse Land. Laura has created some wonderful items and her display was inspiring.

 Table and chairs by Laura Crain of Dollhouse Land. Laura has created some wonderful items and her display was inspiring.

I have not quite decided if I should give up my blue dining set. Perhaps the scale is better for this space than the rectangular table.

I love the little glass cannister with the cookies. They remind me of custard kisses my Mother made when we were children.

The etager welcomed the blue pottery from Bren's Miniature Pottery from Calgary, Alberta. The rim of the pottery looks yellow in this photo but it is beige. While I examined each display table I acquired quite a few inexpensive additions - the little square glass cannister and brown-lidded pottery casserole plus the white lidded cannister on the next shelf down.

I also added a labelled salami and ham also from Janet Uyetake to Fatima's garlic and onion braids.

I also bought an artichoke, a  parsnip, a bunch of celery and a single pea pod that has peas inside.  Pat Richmond of TwinHeart Miniatures who makes fantastic vegetables said I could open the pod and remove the peas if desired.

In my needed list I had included a reading chair, coffee table and blue ginger jars for the salon. I did find a chair to compliment the library wall. Bruce made the shelving unit for me

It will have a window seat and has lighting above the window seat. Above you can see the chair I bought as well as a tea or games table - not the coffee table I was looking for. The cushion on the window seat is a silk rug rolled up to see if it will suit the room. I think it does. This room is demanding my attention. I am hoping to show my house at the Vancouver Miniature Show in June, but this room must be finished .   ... also the garden on the perimeter needs to be completed as well.

I think the show is about ten weeks away.

I am hoping to include, on the shelves, the books I have read with my book club over the last twenty years. That would be 200 book covers to print and use to create books.  Yes, I can do it!!

Well you can see the room needs a lot of attention.

I am feeling quite inspired actually distracted. Will post more acquisitions soon.

On the home front Bruce has torn out the main bathroom. That will teach me to go away for the weekend!
regards to all Janine

Thank you to Keli Cerulean Blue.

Thank you Keli of http://www.iseeblue.typepad.com  blog for sending me a collection of jars of preserves. I was away when they arrived in Elizabeth's safe hands and she bought them to me last Saturday.

Keli, if only you knew what a domino effect your jars had on my kitchen. I wanted to display them not put them behind doors but despite what Elizabeth says. "I AM running out of room in the kitchen".  Necessity is the Mother of invention - so off with the door of the corner cabinet and two new display shelves revealed.

To get the corner cupboard out

 I took the kitchen counter out,

 to take the kitchen counter out I had to take the work-island out .....

and while they were out I took the fridge out (this is not good for my peace of mind). Then when the fridge was out I put a light over the stove.

Keli, Keli be careful in future when you draw those prize names, you just don't know what effect you will have!

I like how they look in the cupboard very much! Thank you again Keli.

regards Janine

Brisbane Show:

February is often the hottest month in Brisbane but we were able to spend a cool afternoon meandering the displays at the Dollhouse & Miniature Extravaganza.

I enjoyed seeing fellow-miniaturists projects especially those that were distinctively Australian.

The Cobb & Co Coach is 1/8 scale and the gentleman who made it also made the blacksmith shop, the saddlery and the wheelwright shop above. I am sorry that I do not have his name.

 I had hoped to see hand-made items at the tables and I was happy to discover .....  Janis and her husband who made a special trip from Christchurch NZ to attend the show.

Janis makes hats, shoes, handbags, clothing and needlework. You can see her work in TinyFinery on Etsy http:/www.etsy.com/shop/TinyFineryDo drop by online, or if you have an opportunity, visit them at the Sydney Show in May 2015.

I thought her cloche hat might find a place in the attic space of  Elizabeth's http://studioeminiatures.blogspot.ca  Green Dolphin Street project

& the shoes, well if you follow Elizabeth's blog you know she will eventually find a place for all treasures.

and for Fatima - hats and shoes will not go astray!

 for me a little French-style hat - perhaps for the bird room.

no shoes as ... sometimes you just have to show restraint!  Did I actually say that!

We received an enthusiastic welcome from http://www.fairymeadowminiatures.com.au  reputed to be the "largest miniature store in Australia". The new store is in Port Kembla south of Sydney. It has just moved from Woollongong and will be celebrating its opening very soon.  Lorraine displays bear and duckie who have all kinds of adventures. She is a wonderful ambassador for the miniature world.

Lorraine kindly delivered a parcel from Linda Park http://lindasminiworld.blogspot.com.au  It seems my friends are urging me to move on to my next project. Perhaps I did mention the possibility of a beach house and it seems Linda and Fatima have been of like minds making beach baskets for my project but from opposite ends of the globe.

Thank you Linda

and thank you Fatima http://www.beauxminis.com

                               

We arrived back in Vancouver March 1st to an early Spring.  In my garden many of my bulbs are in full bloom - the ever cheerful tete a tete mini daffodils sprinkled with blue muscari (grape hyacinth) and  fragrant hyacinth oriental. A large pink camellia takes pride of place under the golden plum which is heady with blossoms. It makes one quite giddy to look through the white flowers to blue sky and the activity of euphoric bees.

Every day of sunshine at this time of year is such a gift.

All the best from my house to yours.

Janine