Dressing The Bed

Please double click on photos for a close up.

I am working on dressing this Phoenix kit bed I painted. This is the first time I have ever played with fabrics to use in a miniature setting. At this point nothing except the bed skirt in fixed in place. I still have choices. I also haven't used any hairspray on it yet. Luckily I was able to end the scallops at all the cornes in the same place on the pattern.

I am not sure pure silk was the best choice for a duvet cover I don't like the sheen I am seeing in these photos. I think if I use it I will fluff it up a bit using fiber fill under the covers to make the bed look like a feather one. I still need a folded blanket at the foot of the bed. Hopefully in cotton with a pattern of some sort. Oh... And lots of small pillows.

To those who do not speak English my apologies for the Google Translator. I will reinstall it as soon as possible! It seems to be broken in several of the blogs I read too.

Crabtree & Evelyn Kit

Oh how I used to LOVE walking into Crabtree & Evelyn! That was before they changed all the packaging!

I didn't care what the product was or the scent if I loved the box it came in! I loved the tins that had powders in them. Bath salts, soaps, beautiful tins of biscuits. It was all about the images for me they could have sold them all to me empty in the mid 1980's. Next door was Laura Ashley. Also something that I loved before Laura passed away.

So in memory of that.... When I found this Crabtree & Evelyn kit in 1: 12 scale I bought it. They had all of the fragrances to choose from in miniature. When the kit arrived I wasn't too impressed but as I started putting it together I thought all these items would look great in the bathroom cabinet I am working on. That will contain linens, bowls of soaps and filled glass apothecary jars.

I still miss the old Crabtree & Evelyn look.

By email request...I have been asked to restore this link for the monograms... http://www.etsy.com/shop/Yebisu?ref=seller_info

Sandi Has Started Her New Blog!!!

I hope you will join me in welcoming Sandi Quance to Blogland. http://sandivq.blogspot.com/

She has posted several photos of her beautiful petit point.

Thank You Sandi!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am sure everyone of you have within your collection what you could define as your five star pieces. They maybe things you paid dearly for, made yourself or someone made for you.

I have a few of those five star pieces I adore. All of them are things made for me by friends. Things that can never be replaced. Now I can add these lovely petit point pieces to that category. They were made for me by Sandi. Who's work I am sure you have admired many times on Linda's blog http://une-petite-folie.blogspot.com/ and in Mercedes blog http://libertybiberty.blogspot.com/

Sandi works on 60 count silk gauze. That is 3, 600 stitches to the square inch! It has to be stitched with silk sewing thread. Embroidery floss is much too heavy to stitch on 60 count gauze. I am thrilled beyond words to have received these lovely, lovely pieces from her. They are really astonishing!!! Sandi also made another piece that I can stitch on my 1: 12 scale embroidery frame (not pictured yet).

This is a gorgeous tea cozy Sandi designed to compliment my Stoksay Ware.

A gorgous sampler!!!

Sandi has a blog... With no entries to date. I hope that you will let her know in your comments here how much you would enjoy seeing more of her incredible work. I happen to know she has just finished the most beautiful petit point rug for her own collection. I have never seen anything so fine.

I am just in awe of your beautiful work Sandi. I will take good care and treasure these forever! Thank you so very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My SIMP Purchases

For a close up... Double click on the photo.

How lucky am I to have a friend who would shop for me at SIMP! These arrived in today's post.

Marie-Laure emailed me lots and lots of photos from the show in Paris of Elizabeth Causeret's work. Once I saw the photos, I emailed her in return and she bought several things for me. I am still amazed by the technology that allows this.

I just love the ginger jars with the crackle finish on them. I have always had a soft spot for those. I also loved Elizabeth's beautiful bowls. These are not all the pieces Marie-Laure sent. I will post those another time.

Once again.... Thank you so much Marie-Laure. http://recreationminiature.blogspot.com/ How very kind of you.

BTW... The telephone is solid brass. The part you speak into can be positioned. It is something I have had for many years.

Pascale's Irises... Think Purple

I wish my camera would see the right color. It drives me crazy. These are a beautiful shade of purple not blue!!!

I think I made a mess of this kit. Which of course means I have to order another one to do them all over again. Though in their defence I will say they look a lot better in person then in these photos.

I was happy enough with them until I added the beard to the irises. I think I would like to try a different material for that. The bright yellow (super fine) flock I used to make 1:44 scale flowers for the walnut houses might work better for me. I just lost control of the yellow sand that came with the kit. Though I am sure Pascale works with it beautifully! Everything she makes is perfect! You may have great success with the sand too.

This vase is a one of a kind. it has a frosted finish. At the top (in the back behind the flowers) the rim of the vase comes to a point. Would you say it was art nouveau? Frank Whittemore made it for me long ago. The first time I saw it I thought it needs irises in it.

A big thank you to Marie-Laure http://recreationminiature.blogspot.com/ for translating the directions from French into English!!!

The Garden

It is wall to wall flowers in the garden at the moment.

I love these huge moon flowers that open up at dusk. The vine has grown up and over my brick wall. So pretty sitting out in the courtyard at night. Next year I think I will plant a white garden.