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