Merry Christmas Everyone

I started working on these houses at the beginning of November. PHEW! They are Christmas gifts for friends who don't collect miniatures. What was I thinking? They are going to end up on a Christmas trees, clanging around in boxes with other ornaments after the holidays. Oh well... I am ready to clear off my home work space and start a new project. I had fun figuring out how to make the garlands for these houses. I used a heavy dark green thread and covered about three inches of it with Aleene's tacky glue. Then I laid the thread in a pile of super fine Flower Soft making sure all areas were covered. The glittered snow covered tree was decorated with Martha Stewart's no hole beads and tiny holographic stars. Those stars came from Sally's beauty supply and are normally used for finger nails. They are about 1 !/2 mm. I have used them in most of my nutshell houses but they can only be seen if you peek in a window. I bought gold ones but when they catch the light they blink in a rainbow of colors.

I did some tests for the snow. I didn't like the way it looked when I first painted the acorn caps white and applied the glitter (by Martha Stewart) . So I made a paste using the glitter and Aleene's " Easy Flow" glue. I tapped it on the places I wanted it, smoothing the paste with a small dampened artists brush. Once covered I shook on dry glitter. That gave the effect I wanted for the snow covered areas.

Merry Christmas Everyone! I am looking forward to seeing what Santa puts in your stocking. Fingers crossed for that certain miniature you have had on your wish list. Catherine, Kilmouski, Groupie and puffy.
XXX  
http://host-d.oddcast.com/elfyourself2012/?mId=46621015.2

Somewhere In France

Would someone please tell me( in the comments) what is going on with this post today (March 04, 2013) There has been 2,655 views in the last few hours. Just curious about what is going on here. ENJOY! :-)

What a nice bunch of visitors from FACEBOOK! Thank you all for answering my question (ABOVE) I understand now what has happened to my stats. THANK YOU ALL FOR VISITING today and for kindly explaining what has been going on. 

In all the searches I have done looking at French architecture, I have never found anything like this. It is a little slice of magic. I want to move in and plant lots of pretty beds of flowers and flowering trees. And no, I didn't find it in Pinterest (I have never joined). I bet it will be there before the day is over. ;-D

Black Friday

For those who do not live in the USA. The day after Thanksgiving is referred to as Black Friday. It is the biggest shopping day of the year. There are lots of great deals if you are willing to brave the crowds.


It appears someone has been doing some rather posh Christmas shopping today. Chanel, Burberry, Gucci, Liberty, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton!

I found a gorgeous L V purse, wallets and journal. The journal opens and has blank pages. I have to get busy and make a pen and some pencils.

BTW... No, You're Not Seeing Double...

Though it is hard to see in these photos (frankly, There is so much going on I am almost dizzy looking at them). I have made another 100% silk William Morris wing chair. This one I made to sell. Though I haven't figured out how I want to do that yet. Perhaps in an auction. Or I could send it with a friend to be sold at the show in Chicago next spring.

Happy Christmas Shopping to all!

Lovely Gifts From Catherine. And....

Last summer Catherine from  NINETTE & CO. http://miniaturemaisondesouris.blogspot.com/ sent me a parcel that never arrived. I had no idea she had even sent something for months. Worse, in retrospect... That she probably thought I was so rude I didn't bother to acknowledge her gift. I was horrified!

Undiscouraged, Catherine sent another parcel, which happily arrived safely. She made this GORGEOUS straw shopping bag and all the vegetables that are in it. I love how many of them are in paper bags. She also made the crusty baguette. I just adore it. Her work is always beautiful!!!

As if that wasn't enough, she sent me one of her lovely paintings of a vase of roses. Thank you so much Catherine I love it all. XXXXXXX

There is also a new acquisition... A garlic braid by Linda Cummings linsminis.blogspot.com . I was so amazed by her work. At first I thought the bulbs had been glued on. The 'dried' stems actually come right out of the top of the garlic bulbs which she then braids together. Astonishing!

Yesterday

How incredibly lucky am I to have friends that remember my birthday. It is so exciting to get an unexpected parcel in the mail.

Linda  http://une-petite-folie.blogspot.com/ sent me a gorgeous vase by Margaret Crosswell,  The painting on it is so soft next to the pretty pink roses. I love the fluted edge around the top. It will be just perfect in the master bedroom.  Thank you so much Linda, I adore it! XXX

Several months ago I shared a story with Linda Master http://miraclechicken.blogspot.com/ about a Paris apartment that was literally a time capsule. Although the rent had always been paid, no one had been inside it for 70 years. 

Linda and I loved a painting that was found inside the abandoned apartment by Giovanni Boldini. Rather than repeat the story, I will let you read about it here... http://www.messynessychic.com/2012/05/09/the-paris-time-capsule-apartment/

Yesterday I was totally blown away when I opened my gift from Linda. It is a miniature copy of Giovanni Boldini's painting painted in oil. Linda used her special router bits to make the frame and then hand carved the design around the edge. Thank you so much Linda! Your talent never ceases to amaze me. XXX

Ottoman

I hated to throw away the silk that was left over from making the chair. There was just enough left to make an ottoman. Not that I feel I have to use it in the house but at least it is an option.

A Sampler Gift & New Chair

Linda http://une-petite-folie.blogspot.com/ sent me a beautiful red and white sampler she bought at SIMP this summer. I have just finished framing it. Isn't it wonderful! Thank you again Linda! I adore it.

I bought the fabric for this chair at the Tom Bishop show in 2010. It is really heavy unlike the silk and made the job a lot more difficult. I thought I would just make another wing chair while all the do's and don'ts of upholstery were fresh in my mind.