Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016.

Greetings all, I do hope you managed to spend time with those you love.  It is so very special when all of those near and dear can gather under one roof.

We have had an active year traveling and I must admit there has been very little focus on my miniature world.  I had more enthusiasm for decorating my mini house than our Real life home. I was soon cured of that disinterest when we looked after three of the four grandchildren for the week prior to Christmas eve. Their enthusiasm and ideas were refreshing and I now know how to attach dinky-type toy cars and Shopkins accessories to decorate a tree.

Meanwhile in the French House Boxing Day has arrived - the good china has been hand-washed and the silver is ready to stored for another celebration.

Already the tree and wreaths seem to have lost their lustre.

and the house has become some what disarrayed in the aftermath.

 A friend has arrived unexpectedly bearing a gift of summer sunshine in the form of a jar of preserved Anjou pears.

A lovely visit to reminisce over coffee and to share some Christmas baking.

 The shortest day has passed and the dark brief days will begin to expand into Spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Soon the bright lights of Christmas will dim to be replaced by the optimism and hope for a healthy, happy and safe 2017 for all.

Best wishes and regards,
Janine

You may recognize the work of:
 Elizabeth:  http://www.studioeminiatures.blogspot.ca coffee pot, petit fours & cake
Windypoint Miniatures http://www.windypointminiatures.blogspot.ca Pear preserves
Bren's Miniature Pottery  Calgary Alberta No website Blue pottery on kitchen table
 Ff                                                               Pink sweater

:

Miniteers Meet

Miniteers' Visit


This month Elizabeth brought the incredible storage basket gifted to her from Lidi of BasketCase Miniatures to show us.

Fatima is amazed and jealous... me too!

Elizabeth is so thrilled and happy to have received this wonderful little work of art.

It is fantastic, actually nicer than the photos on Lidi's site http:///basketcase-miniatures.blogspot.com/  It is very finely woven, beautifully finished and has such nice weight in the hand. Such a kind and generous giveaway.

Lidi, can you see how happy she is?

But down to more serious discussions (in the kitchen of course).

It was my turn to host Elizabeth and Fatima for our monthly mini fix. We do communicate regularly by phone and email but when we are together we have so much fun and the hours slide past so quickly.

Both E. and F. are full of enthusiasm for this wonderful hobby and each month produce something new to amaze me.
 Elizabeth has been producing flowers for her garden on http://www.studioeminiatures.blogspot.ca and has also made bee skeps. If you look at her elbow on the counter above you will see a basket but the left item is a skep.  I wish that I took a close up photo of it but I think you will see one very soon on her blog.  E. also bought an assortment of artificial plant material for me to try and kick start me back into my miniature landscaping.


Below they are discussing the petit point pieces that Elizabeth has given to Fatima for her Garfield House. The theme of her house is the night before Christmas and the house, although modern, reflects its Victorian-era past. Elizabeth suggested that Fatima might be able to make cushions or upholstery using the petit point.

Conversation can be quite lively. Fatima says she will find it difficult to cut into the petit point. Elizabeth says she has been holding on to them for years. Two were taken from evening handbags. Do you remember seeing the bags at the Thrift Stores at one time. I still look for them but have not seen any for years.

Elizabeth insists they should be cut up and used ... and she must be obeyed! Show and tell next month perhaps?

On a challenge from Elizabeth,  Fatima has made onions - perhaps she will make them available soon on her site http:/www.beauxminis.com but she is often busy creating something different so we will have to wait and see.

Onion braid by Fatima, market basket and petit fours by Elizabeth

Teapot, cup and saucer by Monique Jouvenel. 

The onions look good beside the garlic!

In the afternoon we worked on little additions to Fatima's collections of Xmas items. Elizabeth made Christmas crackers, Fatima made rolls of wrapping paper and I made boxes. We cannot do anything that takes too much concentration as we are ..... no, we are not drinking too much, we are simply talking too much to apply ourselves to anything difficult.

We will not meet again until March when we go to the Seattle Show for a weekend escape.

I am heading back to Brisbane, Australia for a month and I have just noticed that the Brisbane Miniature Show will be on a few days after we arrive. I am looking forward to meeting some of my fellow miniaturists there and seeing their work.


I was excited that Minworks was featured in the Spanish Magazine Miniaturas in January 2014.  I know being published is old hat for many of blogland miniaturists but I was pretty excited.

I was amazed when Madelva, the Editor, connected with Elizabeth in 2013 to ask permission to use photos from my blog for Miniaturas.  I must admit I did not believe they would actually print them so it was a wonderful surprise when Elizabeth emailed me when I was travelling in New Zealand to say she had received several copies of the magazine.

I do note I have made quite a few small changes since these photos, most evident  is that
the bathroom is completely different now with a lite added over the door and heavy crown molding as well as a different colour on the bath.

also the linen cupboard is filling up.

Finally a small victory!

The bedside lamps have been lit because after an ongoing battle with the electrical tape it seems to be working! I should say that very quietly as next time I turn them on they may not work .... again.

 What a difference it makes to the bird bedroom - so named because of the blue birds in the wallpaper.

This is a reminder to all to make sure you take photos of your houses so you can appreciate how things develop over time.

regards to all
Janine

Door to Outdoors

To door or not to door:

I tried to convince myself that it was too much trouble to remove the window. The windows gave symmetry to the wall, how could I balance a single door against the weight of  windows with shutters and how could I match the stucco if it was damaged.  I knew the electrical tape would have to be cut but after checking the original electrical plan realised it was the end of a run. Most importantly - I thought I was finished with that wall of the house!!

Whatever excuse I thought up it did not help. I really knew I had to take out the window and put in a door to access the walled courtyard.

This is how it all started.

So sad, removal of the louvres damaged the wall.

The floor is damaged too!

Mmmm starting to like that damaged stucco look!

I can tell already that the space is looking better!

Just add trim and the door... and door hardware, of course. Cute little lever on the inside and knob on the outside - both with a little escutchion made from a jewellery finding. Thanks Bruce.

Cleo, the cat, likes it and I do too!

The photographs make it look a simple project!

What do you think? Was it worth the effort?
Regards Janine

Lantern:

I had been looking for a suitably sized and economical lantern for the entry. It will not be lit but the space needed to be filled. I found a night light at the Dollar Store that was half a lantern. I also had a plastic filigree and lamp base in my supplies. It almost matches the one in the kitchen.

The interior and exterior of the plastic night lights were spray painted antique gold. I then made a hole for the chain at the top and secured it before wedging the filigree lamp in the interior. Once everything was securely glued in and together the join was filled and the exterior given another coat of spray paint. A metal medallion from my, who knows when it will come in useful, collection is perfect scale and colour for a ceiling medallion.

My willing sidekick made a frame for the print that fills the wall space above the stairs. You can see the wallpaper clearly in the photo of the print. The tone in her dress matches the one on the opposite wall. I have used the print that I showed in the blog "Bird Room - long view" March 2011". It is of a woman wearing a long gold dress and I am very happy with the counterpoint of this print on the opposite wall. Both prints can only be seen through the upper front windows.

When I complete the decorative cast-iron look rail for the top centre windows, and finish the front door, I will show you the lantern and the prints in place.

Photos:

Close up of lantern.

Print for large wall above stairs.

Full length of chain - finished product.

Dollar Store night lights.

I think the entry is done!! What next?

J.

Flooring Closeup:

Further detailed photos of the sandstone-styled flooring in the dining room which are squared tiles.
Salon is in a diamond pattern with edge.

Kitchen - continued

Etagere.