Is The Party .. Over....?

So - is the party is over?

All the Christmas and celebratory china has been washed.

 All the linens carefully laundered.

 Decorations are transitioning from display to storage.

Still time to enjoy a contemplative cup of tea and macarons with friends not expected but happily received.

A quiet moment before preparation of a warming winter's feast.

Outside the cold air casts a steely light but inside all is warm and all is bright.

May your New Year be bright, sometimes still, but mostly healthy and happy.

warm regards Janine


My mini house is filled with gifts from Elizabeth http://www.studioeminiatures.blogspot.ca and Fatima at http://www.beauxminis.com

We have been friends for some time and they are both generous and enthusiastic about sharing their talents. In the "through the window" picture you can see my Xmas garlic that Fatima made - also to be seen in StudioE - although the character of our houses are completely different the garlic fits perfectly. Fatima also bought me the casserole dish on the winter work table scene from Jason Feltrope at the Seattle Fair in 2014 when I was in New Zealand. I do hope he will be at the Seattle Fair in 2015 as the Miniteers will attend together this year.  You may notice the hanging pot rack that was a Hallmark decoration that Fatima found and bought for Elizabeth and me.

French macarons and box on the kitchen dining table by Fatima. Selection of breads by E. as well as cake and tarts under glass covers and Paris platter on the dividing counter. Bowl of icing and pierced bowl beside the sink and jug in sink. I think she made the soap and bubbles on a plate.  Linda Park of Sydney Australia made the yellow kitchen gloves.  Thanks Linda!

If you have visited StudioE you know she is the Queen of fitting wonderfully appropriate things in her house.  Many of the items on the winter food prep table were a birthday gift from her a couple of years ago but the pot of chives are new from StudioE.

In the formal dining room - Christmas gift 2014 from Elizabeth included the birds on a blue-rimmed plate by Christopher Whitford. China by Teresa Welsh to the left of the bird plate, on the Stokesay platter and in the display cabinet - gifts from Elizabeth in 2002. Fatima gave me the little silver plate with handle - cannot remember which year sorry!

You can tell I have been well spoiled by the Miniteers.  Thank you, thank you!

I did remove two postings - one on our garden renovation and the other on our main floor renovation. I did so because I realized that those postings were probably not of interest to miniature enthusiasts. I am sorry it caused some confusion. I had been most preoccupied by our renovations in 2014 but hope to be back in the mini fold in 2015.
J.

Photo Finish:

Dear All,

 If you do not want to be overexposed to my mini-photos now is the time to turn back!

This will be my last post and I know one should edit, edit, edit but here are the photos Bruce took just before he headed to Australia.

The Entry:
A view from the dining room.  Mirror gilded and aged by Janine - actually a Christmas decoration, orchid by Elizabeth of studioeminiatures. displayed in a silver-coloured tea caddy. Entry table by Bespaq. I purchased all of the French-styled furniture unfinished.

Below:

A small addition of a beautiful umbrella made by Fatima. I hope that you will soon see her blog Beauxminis as I know she is working on it.  I have to warn you that she is a perfectionist and it is reflected in her work!

If you wish you may see a more detailed summary of the entry in an earlier posts: December 2011 Decorated for Xmas and January 2012 Entry. 

Above: Photo taken from the Grand  Salon through the dining room into the entry. You will see the broken bowl that in this scenario the curious cat has knocked to the floor. In actuality two soccer playing sons landed their soccer ball on it and broke it. Will I ever forgive them....... I'm trying! Of course that was almost twenty years ago!

Bathroom:

Now we should run up to the bathroom for a quick view. Yes all is in order. 

However after consultation with the Miniteers there may be some changes on the horizon. Perhaps the molding will be bulked up a little and a transom window appear above the door.  Hopefully that will enable us to look through to the large lantern light in the entry.

Assorted bead bottles above the sink.  Cupboard filled with towels, soaps and more labelled bead bottles, Jean d Arc figurine and gilded bird cage on top. Unopened drawer filled with toilet rolls. 

Above the bath,  jewellery findings and gel caps form candlesticks, print of a young girl, roses from the garden and a vintage travel clock.  In the bath, shampoo and bath oil bead bottles, shell with soap, wash cloth and sponge.  On the wall next to the bath - more lovely soap in a pedestal bowl, fluffy towels, bath salts etc etc.

Time is flying, quick, better head back downstairs to see if the silver should be polished or left to develop a time-worn patina.  Mmm, my vote is?

China Cabinets Dining Room:

Bespaq painted with suede acrylic paint and gold highlights.  I removed the glass shelves and glued French prints onto the backs of the cabinet. I then replaced the shelves but attached the displays to an acrylic sheet the same size as the glass. This enables me to change the display if I should choose. I think I had more cranberry glass and less silver in the display when I posted in the planning stages February 2010 Dining Room Display Cases.

The Grand Salon:

Oh yes, still in limbo but I will apply myself to this room when I return. Note the nice light from a French door that leads into the entry. 

I did make a little breakthrough when I found a table mat that reminded me of sisal. It is a flat weave in light gold. I layered a print of a rug onto suede paper that looks like one of the soft coloured over dyed rugs one sees about these days.

Elizabeth just gave me a fire screen, made particularly for this room, that matches the blue willow wear jars on the bombe chest at the far end of the room. ( You wonder, what do I give Elizabeth - well not nearly enough but I did take several bags of seaweed and sea soil for her garden earlier in the week. As an aside I encouraged her to post her amazing real-life garden. I hope she will.)

Back to mini: I am considering doing a full wall of books and putting a campaign type table-desk under the window to create a library. This room certainly needs a reason for the imagined occupants to come and linger. Below - great spot to read.

The dining room: 

What no chairs - no, far too many people will be meandering about the table and heading out into the garden to eat in the soft summer night. 

The ice tub filled with pear cider and white wine replaces the broken bowl in the entry. Breads by studioeminiatures.

 Thank you so much for all your encouragement and comments.  I really appreciate that you actually follow my site. It amazes me.

I have had such a lot of pleasure from working on this little house. Still unfinished, but what house is ever quite "done". 

To those in the Northern Hemisphere, have a wonderful spring and summer and to those in the Southern climes I hope you have a mild winter season.

I will try and visit your blogs from time to time while we travel but I will really enjoy catching up when I return. 

All the best. Keep safe and happy. 

regards Janine