Solet Luna Studios

Owls and Daffodils

2012-01-27T11:33:00.000-08:00

I've two new rugs to show you!
The first is called Midwinter Owls

And the second is simply, Daffodil. Thank you David for inspiring this one!

Both were listed on ETSY this morning.

:)

105 Puffs! and a mini cabinet too!

2011-12-15T13:59:00.000-08:00

Aren't they pretty? :)

I've been participating in yarn swaps which is really helping with the variety of yarns in the quilt! The more variety the better!

I'm thrilled with how this 1/12th Chrysnbon cabinet turned out! The weathered paint effect was done with water-based stain. It looks wonderful in the Casa. :)

In the Pink

2011-11-26T10:59:00.001-08:00

Don't know if I'm feeling particularly pink lately or not but the items I'm crafting are! Another rug for the ETSY shop is a holiday-ish celebration of pink!

And since Gromit has been moping around, snuggling up to baseboard heaters, moaning about the change of weather I decided it was sweater time! He likes being warmer...even if he's dubious about the sweater! :)

Catherine Muniere's Dolls

2011-11-18T10:42:00.001-08:00

If you haven't heard about this doll artist, you really must. :) Her children are so......no, I haven't a suitable adjective, nor list of them. Look at those cheeks, the expressions, the eyes and the clothes...! I understand they cost a small fortune if you are lucky enough to find one for sale - but good heavens, look at them! They are surely worth it. :)

I was excited to find that she has a website now!
http://catherinemuniere.com/index.html

Catherine, I stand in awe. :)

Beekeeper Quilt Progress

2011-11-17T14:39:00.001-08:00

I'm up to 71 puffs! Gromit was helping me this afternoon - sometimes you just have to play with the little puffers! I think my layout is going to be completely random. It's really rewarding to lay them all out, nestling them together, matching up wibbly-wobbly sides (ahem!- but I like things not perfect!) and picturing the finished piece.

Here's what I'm storing them in - going to need something bigger....

Gromit is definitely not seeing the point in this...perhaps he would rather I be working on his new sweater?

All 71! Actually, it's 70 - one of them was under my knee! :D

3 Snowmen and a Sled

2011-11-10T09:24:00.001-08:00

New rug listed on ETSY today!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T10:09:00.000-07:00

We're not doing much this Halloween but in the spirit of the day Gromit says, 'Arr Matey!'

A Good Tomato Stake in the Casa

2011-10-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

I sacrificed a beautiful, mostly straight, very long tomato stake for the sake of supporting the floors of the Casa. It held up a tomato plant very nicely for me this year! Once I find the swiss army knife I mean to whittle the bark off and get the right look. Rather than using a dowel I wanted the knots and imperfections of the actual 'log'.
It's great to be working on both the Casa and the Burrow again! :)

Snowy Santa

2011-10-22T15:06:00.000-07:00

Another rug is out of the hoop! Listed on ETSY today! :)

Frosty and Friend

2011-10-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

Listed this morning on ETSY!

The weather has taken a decidedly cool turn and got me thinking wintery thoughts!

Dunking Duckies Rug

2011-10-09T10:51:00.000-07:00

New listing in our ETSY this morning! Dunking Duckies Rug listing

I'm so pleased with this rug! I love the colours and think it is super cute!

I've been wanting to create this in miniature for a long time.
Somewhere I saw a full size rug something like this and thought it was wonderful.

Little detail shot of the rug's texture.

It's so great to be creating again!

Sweet Halloween Giveaway

2011-10-03T11:03:00.000-07:00

Kathy Olaf-Obrenski of WeeLittleWest is having the loveliest giveaway!

http://weelittlewest.blogspot.com/2011/10/3-raffle-gifts-for-you.html

Check it out! Num!

12 puffs and counting!

2011-09-30T15:34:00.000-07:00

Goodness but these are fun!

Beekeepers Quilt

2011-09-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

It was the perfect storm! It is knitting - using sock yarn none the less!, it is a quilt, it is adorable, beautiful and has the name,'Beekeeper' in it! Once I saw tiny owl knits' pattern on Ravelry, I knew it would be my next pastime obsession!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-beekeepers-quilt

Here is the link, in case any of you fall in love too and wish to start swapping beautiful mini skeins of yarn with me!

Exfoliate!

2011-08-30T11:37:00.000-07:00

In this incredibly busy summer I haven't minied. Not even once. I've barely had the time or energy to use my imagination, let along act on it. But what I have been able to do is knit and crochet. Mostly in preparation for selling bits and pieces at the Garlic Festival - but also some other fun pieces which I shant be selling.

If you are a Whovian like myself. these evil, little squid-like creatures, living in a metal tank constructed of hate need no introduction - but perhaps even if you do know who the Daleks are, you mayn't recognize them on a washcloth! Isn't it great?
As soon as I saw them on ravelry I had to try! These are my first bobbles - I do love learning a new stitch!

Penwiper at Ravely shared this fantastic pattern of her creation:
http://www.entropyhouse.com/penwiper/who/dalekcloth.html

I love them!

My Summer is nearly drawing to a close and I'm so excited to tell you I will be back to minis and a sense of balance soon! I can hardly wait! :D

Happy Harry Day!

2011-07-15T15:29:00.000-07:00

I wish I could share photos of the Burrow nearing completion to celebrate this day; when the last Harry Potter movie hits theaters! But no.

However - the fates brought me something else wonderful and magical to boot! The ATM Life of Merlin swap! It turned out to be Christina and I participating alone in the end - so I got back one of my 'Merlin's Slightly Singed Book of Dragons' books, (which isn't a bad thing as I never make one to keep and I wish I would!!
Christina outdid herself! This freshly hatched dragon is so seriously cute! I've got a petbed here somewhere for him to make a nest in I think! Thanks so much Christina!

So on that magical note...time to get ready to stand in line for tickets! So excited!

The Burrow Today

2011-05-30T14:14:00.000-07:00

I have been working on the Burrow whenever I can - but sequencing is turning me back to those millions of gazillions of bricks over and over again - I really have to finish sculpting and painting those bricks before I get too carried away with walls, floors and whatnot. But I really, really want to be putting up walls! I've another few hours of bricking ahead of me yet but I've slogged through about half of what was remaining and then it's just painting time. :)

Whenever the millions of gazillions of bricks just got to me I'd work on some things for inside the house and here is Molly with a few of them in various states of completion.

I do love the Burrow - are you all counting down to the 15th of June like me?

Some treasures from the show!

2011-05-01T12:37:00.001-07:00

Gorgeous little porcelain doll by Sherrill Bedu from Calgary. Soo tiny!

Detail of the half scale porcelain beauty! She has five movable joints and it so pretty! I just love her little face and hope to use her tiny size as a guide for making my little Weasleys and of course Harry and Hermione too!

Fantastic half scale daffodil by Sherry McGirr - I will use in the Burrow too.

This detail is really too small to see with the naked eye!

Also by Sherry - this wonderfully icky bottles of potion bits!

I came home with lots of other bits that you will see in both the Casa and the Burrow as they develop!

Kathy Barbier also SO kindly offered to do what she could to help increase the audience for Muddy End. I'm unable to travel to the Westcoast Dollhouse show or the Edmonton show this year to show different people who might be interested in the swamp house that it is for sale for $350 - but she said she would put a printout in a stand on her table advertising it! Isn't that wonderful?! I am so grateful!

Good amount of sales, visiting with miniaturist friends and being surrounded by great minis!

It was a great day all around!

Please don't feed the plants!

2011-04-29T15:17:00.000-07:00

My daughter suggested Piranha Plants (think Super Mario Bros.) when I was looking for inspiration for this year's plant offerings to sell at our local mini show tomorrow. I'm really tickled with how these turned out!

Each one has such a personality!

3 new mandrakes - also with glow-in-the-dark leaves! Why should the Audrey Jr.'s and the Piranha plants have all the glow?

And a bunch of new Audrey Jr.s. I do love my vicious little plants!

I think I'm almost ready!

Wonderful Giveaway

2011-04-27T18:58:00.000-07:00

I've just started following the talented mini food artist Hanna Lindroth - just in time for a give-away!
Please check out her blog; http://miniature-chef.blogspot.com/

...and while you are at it, look at the peeled mandarin orange she make for Linda Carswell on her blog; http://une-petite-folie.blogspot.com/2011/04/thank-you-hanna.html

Such outstanding work!

'Concerning Hobbits' nearly done

2011-04-26T17:25:00.000-07:00

I'm in the final days before our local mini show, April 30, and I really wanted to finish this wall box to display! I will also be making some plants and attempting to dress a couple of naked dolls that I sculpted last year. I've pulled everything out of my Etsy shop until after the show. Wouldn't it be a nice problem if I had nothing to put back in it after Saturday? :)

Ok one more photo!

2011-04-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

I've done nothing today but play with the Burrow and Burrow-related things! What a great day! Here are all the floors in place!

The total height at this point is 3 feet - but I'm going to have to add a little on the chimney! :)

Burrow Stuff!

2011-04-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

In honour of Friday fast approaching - and as we all know Friday is the day that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows P1 comes out on DVD -and you can well imagine what I will be doing Friday night! And Saturday....and Sunday.... :)

This first photo is a great little project I'm working on - a chicken dresser! It still wants the top bit for storing plates and other traditional kitchen bits but the bottom is for keeping chickens in during the winter, when brooding or if a fox is giving them grief outside. Isn't it wonderfully Weasley?

The project was in a Dollshouse World and Miniature Scene projects book (very difficult for me to find here but my favourite mini publication by far!) that I borrowed from my friend. The funny thing was that the measurements were all wrong! I thought they looked a bit big at first glance but cutting out the first 2 pieces removed all doubt! They published the measurements of the 1/12th version not the 1/24 one! The artist makes both sizes. Easy to fix mind...just divide by two! I will continue to take liberties with the design too by changing the top a bit. I just love it!

I haven't gotten back to the pipes but the area around the sink has developed a bit.

I've actually been doing quite a bit of work on the actual building but it's difficult to photograph interestingly. This shows a little of the main floor's wall, those large iconic windows on the sides of the main floor and the staircase joining the first floor; which is home to Ginny and Bill's bedrooms. The staircase winds up to the second floor which is Percy's and the twins' bedrooms. There's four more floors to come! I'm using the UK's way of speaking about floors...the main floor is the one on the ground, while the first floor is upstairs and so on... :) I figure it's only right. Hope to be able to show you more soon!

Prescription for Laughter!

2011-04-08T19:47:00.000-07:00

My daughter told me about this video! If you could really use a laugh - check it out! Just don't press play with tea in your mouth or anything!

Bricks and Window Frames

2011-03-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I began putting wood into window frames and started building those useful corner shelves that eliminate wasted space in the Burrow. I like the above shot; the way it shows the staircase landing above the kitchen.

Here again are the walls gone - but the paperclay bricking is done for the first level. I hope to paint them today. Only five more levels to go! Thankfully every other floor is much less in height! :)

Oh my goodness this is fun!

Burrow Pipes

2011-03-04T13:23:00.001-08:00

I love these pipes. Actually I love everything about the Burrow!

These pipes were such an important part of the kitchen to get right and I think I'm getting close! I've just leaned the back wall of the house against the base so you get an idea of placement. I'm going to put off making those walls permanently in place until I've done any bit of interior finishing on them I can.

The current finish that you see on the inside wall is from a product also made by Creative Paperclay (all the writing on the bottle was in Japanese!)- it was just more fluid. It gave a really neat finish on the Styrofoam that I'm going to tweak a bit more.

The sink is being held in place just you you can imagine where this is going!

And do you see the tiny valve on the pipes? It was the only watch piece I had that was small enough to be suitable of valves or handles! If anyone out there has tiny watch pieces that they don't think they will use I'd be delighted to trade for them!

I also wanted to put in a shot with a recognizable object - in this case a paint bottle - so my friends who work only in 1/12th scale can appreciate how much smaller this is! :)

First Glimpses

2011-02-11T14:54:00.000-08:00

Doesn't Molly look pleased? She's certainly been waiting long enough for work to begin on her house! I will have to help her arrange some new clothing by the time we're done though...she's already gotten paperclay on her dress!

The paperclay is still a little wet...but she wanted to demonstrate that the fireplace was plenty tall for stepping into and travelling with floo powder!

And although the area around the stove is nowhere near ready for showing it does offer the best view of the staircase - that wonderfully twisty staircase - as it's coming together.

I'm really happy with the flagstones too...also paperclay. There are walls, but I've taken them off for this particular work.
More soon!

Cate :)

My Burrow

2011-02-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

In 2006, a wild and wonderful dream burst into possibility for me...I would build my rendition of the Weasley family home; the Burrow.

(good heavens, it was really 2006! Five years!)

I started drawing floor plans on the back of blueprints David brought home from work - trying to get my head around how to build this crazy, wonderful building that is held up by magic. Eventually I built a cardboard model; trying to get some flavour of the Burrow as it was represented in the movies (because really, they did a beautiful job!) - while trying to line up those wild roof lines with my floor plans with walls, making rooms that actually work - envisioning viewing points for us outside the dollhouse and following what we know of the Burrow from the books as closely as I could (while always allowing myself artistic license if it suits!). It also changed from being 1/12 scale to 1/24 scale. Maybe it's not so surprising it's been five years! Actually, it's more honest to say that the greatest reason I haven't been working on the Burrow is too darn many irons in the fire; mini and otherwise. But such is life. :)
And maybe it isn't such a bad thing...my idea of the build certainly has developed over the duration. And the subsequent movies have given us new and delicious views of the Burrow after the fire to further influence design...

But, it's time. It doesn't matter how close other projects are to actually being finished...or how many bits I have collected for my other projects...the Burrow is happening. If for only the reason that I love it - and I've been building it in my head long enough.

How wonderful to again be absorbed in the world of Harry Potter and the Weasleys! Makes awaiting the second part of the Deathly Hallows a little easier to bear! :)

David's BBQ Building

2011-01-10T09:10:00.001-08:00

David's exciting Southern BBQ build is being documented on our other little blog;
City Hearth

This is going to be delicious! :)

Beacon Hill Blog to Share

2011-01-07T15:54:00.000-08:00

A friend from my local mini group is putting together a Beacon Hill and blogging it - the really fun part is that she set herself the goal of finishing it in 365 days!

I've really been enjoying watching so far!

http://beaconhillrosecottage.blogspot.com/

Fun Commission

2011-01-06T10:17:00.000-08:00

A while back I was contacted on ETSY; enquiring if I could make a rug in the style of the round pumpkin one below - but long and narrow enough to fit in a photoframe wallbox Halloween scene. This is the result! I do hope she likes it! :)

First Sock!

2011-01-02T10:05:00.001-08:00

I am so proud of this sock! I've wanted to kit socks for years - but turning the heel melted my mind! This year, I was determined to try again! I asked my daughter for a sock knitting book for Christmas and when we went away on holidays I started - but it was thanks to YouTube and knitpicks that I was able to knit the heel flap, turn the heel and knit the gusset - returning to the computer at my mother in-law's house to watch over and over again!

I'll be sitting in front of the computer when it's time to do the tricky bits again on the second one - thank you Kelley!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCpI2CL2vuo&feature=channel

Happy 2011! - and a very tiny piano!

2010-12-31T15:00:00.001-08:00

Isn't this beautiful? This is the piano from the Cynthia Howe french country music room kit. I've been having such fun today putting together a few pieces - the first chance I've had since I opened them on Christmas day! I'm really loving these kits!
Here's hoping that 2011 is a beautiful and peaceful year full of blessings and joy for all!

Tiles Galore

2010-12-07T12:42:00.001-08:00

These photos are taken in the Casa's bathroom. I've been doing much experimenting with tiles for this project! This is the evolution of a few different ideas. The wall surface; foamcore board has been scored in a grid - an already quite convincing tile surface! Then I glued each little printed tile in place. How I wish I had this product I recently learned about through microminis - Triple Thick - made by DecoArt! Unfortunately it isn't available locally and to have it shipped to me would turn a $4 item into a $20 one so that isn't about to happen! So instead, I'm at two coats of glaze squarely on each tile, (on the bottom 3 rows so far) trying to achieve a little more dimension and realism.

I think we're getting there...but the thing that's bothering me...and let's face it, if it's bothering me now I'd better address it because you know it's not likely to bother me less in the years to come!...is the size of those grout lines. There is a cavernous space between those tiles. I think I need to print some tiles even a fraction larger because it's too much work to do and have done it wrong.

That's my thought today anyways! :)

Grandbaby's Stocking

2010-12-01T11:06:00.000-08:00

The concept of the stocking; the snowflakes on a blue background was his Mummy's - and I really wanted to try something with punchneedle. The lovely blue velvet I already had in my fabric stash! I'm really happy with it and Spencer really likes the feel of those snowflakes! A first Christmas is so exciting!

Sock Monkey x 2!

2010-11-29T10:24:00.000-08:00

The Grandbaby needs a sock monkey for Christmas! I'm really interested in learning to knit toys - I'd love to do the Noah's Ark designed by Alan Dart; http://www.alandart.co.uk/products/product/80

But crochet is what I can most easily just rattle off a 3D shape in - at this time anyways - so Grandbaby's sock monkey is crocheted! And I just had to try to make one of those adorable sock monkey hats for him too!

His stocking is being put together too...I'll post it soon! :)

ATM Halloween Swap

2010-11-08T11:03:00.001-08:00

What a wonderful swap this year!
Inside the adorable Party Favours box were these ridiculausly small monsters made by Christina! http://www.dragonscaleminiatures.com/

And Karin's tiny little screaming candle! http://orrlakemusings.blogspot.com/

My crows sitting atop statue heads before they were shipped out:

Ara http://afminimansion.blogspot.com/ made those lovely masquerade masks, Kim did the mask and cape, Cia http://briarwoodminiatures.blogspot.com/ did the orange candles and cards and Laura http://laurasminiatures.blogspot.com/ did something...some of us (guilty!) didn't mark our swaps with our names! :)

Gee I hope I didn't forget anyone! If I did - poke me. I'll fix it!

Even if it does arrive in November - the Halloween Swap is always so much fun! Now to finish up the Christmas one!

1/12 Scale Cacti

2010-11-08T09:59:00.000-08:00

Aren't they extraordinary?

We had the best time on Sunday making these kits that our friend Rosemary put together with plant material from her own backyard! I love how realistic they are!

Rosemary also made the containers they are in; out of egg cartons, quilling paper and cardboard!

And even better still - I have another two of her kits to fill the various pots I've picked up already for the casa! I love them so much! :D

Happy Halloween! The Winner is....Lori!

2010-10-31T11:15:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Lori! Please send me an email with your contact info and I'll send your little spooky rug in the mail to you!

Thank you everyone who played along with our give-away!

The above photo was taken one Halloween when we haunted the house...it's all disintegrated now - but we think we may do it on this scale again one day. It was so much fun!

Pug-o-ween Cuteness Overload!

2010-10-30T13:56:00.000-07:00

Gromit was able to visit the annual pug meet-up this year! - without costume sadly. We just couldn't find it! Unlike last year when he had the costume but we didn't have the truck to get there. So this year was better!

Soccer player!
Loved the banana!
Gromit really liked the skeleton dog!
Cute!
There were a few lobsters there...
Waiting for a treat!
Another lobster!
Gromit on the move!
Tired out!

Super pug!

Bum-sniffing train!

Lookit that tongue!

Just too cute!

And a little Snow White!

It was such a visual feast of puggy beauty...and the snuffling orchestra was pretty sweet too!

Cia's Books!

2010-10-29T15:49:00.000-07:00

...arrived today!

The photos really don't do them justince Cia - they are beautiful!

They are titled;

A Book of Herbal Cunning

Magickal Stories for Magickal People

and Dr. Frankenstein's Views on Human Anatomy (nicely splattered with what appears to be a blook-like substance!

You sure didn't have to do it Cia - but lucky me, you did! They are just super!

Thank you again! :)

Giveaway Time!

2010-10-22T12:39:00.001-07:00

To celebrate Halloween and having 70 followers I figured it was time for a Giveaway! I have been so blessed by the generosity of my fellow bloggers, I hope my little Spooked Rug will make someone's day too! The little pumpkiny-fellow is looking quite alarmed by the wreath of ghosts swirling around in the border - but he's still cute!
Just leave a comment on this post please...and I'll enter your name into a draw on Halloween day itself! :D

She's Here!

2010-10-20T12:39:00.000-07:00

...and she's so tiny! I had no appreciation of how small she is from her photos! How could so much detail be so small!?!
David's hands are in these photos so you can admire how very lovely and tiny she is!

This perfect little box was the first clue that the beautiful little doll I had won from Sandra Morris at http://towerhousedolls.blogspot.com
was smaller than I had imagined! Then to open it and see the sweet little Jumeau style, precious little doll looking up at us!

Thank you so very much Sandra! I will always treasure her!

Schematics!

2010-10-17T10:14:00.000-07:00

David and I were playing with the electronics of the Casa yesterday! He patiently explaining and re-explaining how electricity works and me trying to let the knowledge seep in and use it to figure out how I was going to create what I want in the house! For the first time ever I drew some schematics! Then I started drilling holes! Oh how much fun!
I want to be able to control each light in the house by a switch so I can have on just the light over the sink...the Christmas tree and fireplace...the pumpkins or luminares outside...and thanks to David I think I can actually do it! :)

Kiva Fireplace Sculpting and Casa Wood Flooring

2010-10-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun carving insulation with a wood rasp to get the basic shape of the Casa's kiva fireplace with bench seating on either side for a snug place to sit with some pillows! I'm thinking of putting a space for firewood beneath the opening. Once I'm happy with the base shape, out comes the Paperclay! :)
My current flooring choices are on the floor in front of it. I really want to try to use materials I already have and these are them! Tongue depressors make nice wide floor boards, Popsicle sticks, smaller floor boards and some wooden business cards that I bought from Lee Valley; which are crazy-thin and not super easy to cut even strips of - but much to my surprise they didn't warp all out of whack when I stained it.
I'm leaning towards the wide, thicker floor of the tongue depressors - but cutting all the curved ends off (which takes more pressure than you'd think!) is a little daunting.
It's been so much fun to be working on this again!

A Treasure!

2010-10-11T13:58:00.000-07:00

A dear lady in my local mini club; Elizabeth, was blessed to attend the IGMA School in Castine Maine this year and she was further blessed to attend a class led by Jamie Carrington! Elizabeth offered to take along my copy of Jamie's book and ask him if he would sign it! He graciously did! I really hope to meet him one day - he seems such a generous, funny, kind and talented soul!

My MAKE for Kim - 1/4 scale Honeydukes

2010-10-08T11:11:00.001-07:00

Kim opened this a few days ago, so I can share it with you all! I've never worked so small before and found it a real challenge - but so much fun!
Unfortunately it didn't make the trip in one piece. And Kim, I mean it! Please let me know if I can send you any parts, materials, printies...whatever it takes to make it look like it did in these photos! :)

I am such a lucky blogger!

2010-10-07T12:30:00.000-07:00

Look who I won!
Sandra Morris at Towerhouse Dolls was having a give-away to celebrate 100 followers and I wrote a poor haiku to be entered in the draw - and I'm blessed to have been drawn! :D

I have been having gremlins afoot in my computer ever since...first blogger didn't allow me to respond to the congratulations post and now my email won't send - it will only receive (weird eh?)! But (knock on wood!) Blogger appears to be working! So please allow me to share my thank you haiku here. :)

What a happy day!
When into my email came
such joyful surprise!

Good thing I'm a miniaturist not a poet! :D
Thank you so much Sandra - she will be treasured!

Kind of Retiring...

2010-10-04T15:11:00.000-07:00

For the last few years I've been trying to build my sculpting ability and doll/miniature selling business - but life seems to have other plans for me. And I'm excepting it now - at least for the time being. Maybe in the future I can pick the dream up again.

The good news is that now it is just a hobby I can enjoy it as such. I've been trying to sell some dolls at a significantly reduced price, I'll give some away too. I've proposed to donate Muddy End to my local group to auction off at our show next year. Along with sifting though my materials I've been enjoying getting things together to just work on my own things. I want to finish the Southwestern Bungalow; Casa Galina. And have a finished house to enjoy in my home. Crazy thought eh? I'm still keeping the Burrow and the Chateau on the burner too, since each has been begun and would be of no use to anyone else in their current state. Whether or not I ever have the space to display them remains to be seen! :D

But the only doll sculpting I will be doing is for my own projects...or if a friend asks me to make one. If a commission came my way I'm pretty sure I'd accept it too. It was always my favourite thing to do - make something specific for someone.

I've been shedding a few tears but it's good too. And I'm really enjoying working on the Casa and cleaning things up! :)

It's an evolution...moving away from something but moving into something else. And maybe when I'm old and in my dotage I could try again? Or not...whatever may come. :)

Serious Sale happening...

2010-10-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

...in our ETSY shop. If you've liked some of our characters but the price wasn't quite right - have another look! :D

Dressy Witch - $60 in time for Halloween!

Anne is now $50...have a Tudor home she might live in?

Hermes is also now $50 and ready to cast a spell or two!

Please come and see who else is listed today and over the next week or so!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SoletLuna

October Issue of AIM Magazine out!

2010-10-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

http://www.artisansinminiature.com/

Looks great!

85 days til Christmas?

2010-10-01T12:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Sandra at http://towerhousedolls.blogspot.com/ I now know three very important things...it is October 1st, Christmas is 85 days away and the UK has some brilliant Christmas stamps this year!

Aren't they wonderful?! I wonder if I could have a sheet sent to Canada? :)

Molly gets a garden bench!

2010-09-27T16:29:00.001-07:00

At our mini meeting this past Sunday we made kits cut for us by a fellow group member; Rosemary. She generously offered to make us kits in either 1 inch scale, 1/2 inch scale or 1/4 inch scale! I was delighted to make a half inch one for Molly to sit on when surveying her garden in a rare moment of taking her ease! :)
Can't you just imagine the garden gnomes peeking out of the plants in the planters with their beady little eyes out of their potatoey-faces?

I put together everything I've collected for the Burrow so far...but was really dismayed at how small a collection it is! Part of the problem is I started planning my Burrow in 1/12 scale but switched to half scale because a 3 ft tall house is much easier to live with than a 6 ft tall house. The blanket that I knitted for Ron's bedroom may still be pressed into service as a carpet though...it is terribly orange! And the sweaters that are a bit large for half scale may still work too. Those I didn't knit! I'm still working on my first full size sweater! :D

Cia's MAKE for me arrived today!

2010-09-24T12:42:00.000-07:00

The writing on the framed parchment says:

Merlin's Museum of Wizard Artifacts and Oddities
In this room:
Fairy Dust
Dragon's Blood
Ancient Map of Atlantis
Ancient Armillary Diagram
Water from the Fountain of Youth
Elixir of Life
Leprechaun's Lucky Hat

Please refrain from using magic on the
premises as it could awaken certain artifacts
that are better left sleeping. Thank you.

The Management

I have to tell you how fine the craftsmanship is in this piece! Each paint finish is so beautifully done! Really beautiful work Cia! Thank you SO much for making this for me! :D

Holy Exploding Apples Batman!

2010-09-20T12:52:00.001-07:00

I don't know how to explain what I'm showing to you! This morning this is what the apples in the fruit bowl on my table looked like! I'm guessing that they should've been in the fridge...? Never seen an apple do this though?!? We're eating apple crumble tonight! ;)

Slightly Soggy Garlic Festival

2010-09-15T13:27:00.000-07:00

It's a testament to the quality of the company and spirit of the Hills Garlic Festival that we had a good time despite being rained on a large portion of the trip! We had interludes in between wind and rain though - and we took a couple of photos then!

Walking back from the Farmers Market Friday morning:
The view up the Highway before the crowds arrive!
Our first dinner at our gorgeous campsite!

Photos taken of the garlic animiguri - they and the hats sold quite well in the damp and cold! :)

Feeling Halloweeny!

2010-08-31T11:29:00.000-07:00

I've just finished the ATM Halloween Swap - but can't show you those shots yet! I'd love to though! I'm so happy with how they turned out!

I'm the meantime, I'd like to show you something else I'm really happy about! This is a photo of my first-ever actual wearable sweater that I'm knitting! And I've figured out intarsia - which is the knitting of another block of colour into the knitting; twisting the other colour along the backside of the work as you go. It took some doing to figure out so I'm pretty tickled that it's working! The pattern is 'Scully' from the Stitch N' Bitch knitting book. :)

I have been working...

2010-08-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

...but again, it's on an ATM MAKE and so it has to be a secret until it is in the recipient's hands! The theme this time around is, "Little Shop of..." It's really, really quite small - and I can't wait to share it with you - but I have to. So I'm sharing with a photo of silly Malt eating his way through a sheet of newspaper (with his more sensible brother; Barley in the background). :)

Oh Happy Day!

2010-07-31T12:24:00.000-07:00

What a very Happy Day!

This morning David, our son Noah and John the contractor lifted the mosaic into place and we saw light come through the back for the first time! It was a moment over 4 years anticipated!

The photos are blurry action shots - they were moving faster than I could keep up with! David took some professional-type shots that we'll post later!

Tuesday I'm going back in to polish any remaining specs of grout off the glass tiles...and just look at it...I expect...smiling... glowing-away happily! :D

Dratted Crack

2010-07-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

I'd hoped to be making a blog post with a photo of the Divine Mercy Mosaic grouted and ready to be installed as the construction at the church is nearly ready for it. But early this morning when the contractor was pulling off the temporary supports that were holding the mosaic in its crate we discovered this little crack; about an inch long and a little less than a centimetre from the body of the actual mosaic work. Oh dear.
I quickly got on the phone with my brother-in-law who knows glass and got his expert opinion on whatever could we do. No epoxies or anything of that ilk would stop a run like this.
One option was to drill a hole at the end of the run and stop it cold - but really risky.
The second option was to apply a security film on the backside of the glass, so that even if the run does crack it should hold secure. Good heavens.
So film it is. Tomorrow morning, they are going to flip it over - terribly carefully because any movement will send that crack shooting off - (I'm going to stay away, no need to make them any more nervous about moving it than they already will be!).....and apply the film. It needs to cure a few days, we'll flip it back and God-willing the grouting will follow!

Who would've thought that such a dratted, little crack would cause such a quandary?

Casa Stairs and Santa Fe Swap Items

2010-07-02T13:50:00.001-07:00

These are the great items from the ATM June Swap; Old Santa Fe.

I had to get in on this swap because having handmade art pieces by ATM miniaturists in my Casa is especially cool. I took a photo of them in the living room of the casa - which is still very much a construction zone - just because the light coming in through those windows is so darn pretty.

Here's a couple shots of the staircase inside the front door - as yet still perilously perched - til I finish tiling and staining the stairs, plastering the walls and creating the railing. The kit comes with a very attractive wooden railing but I'd like to see what I can come up with to appear to be black wrought iron. I'd also like to see a niche in the wall somewhere along the climb somehow.

Happy Canada Day!

2010-07-01T12:42:00.000-07:00

In honour of Canada Day I'm sharing with you one of David's lovely shots of a Maple leaf and one of Canada's culinary treasures; the Butter Tart! Enjoy! :D

Butter tarts: A national treasure - Recipes - Food & Entertaining - Style At Home

2010-07-01T12:31:00.001-07:00

Butter tarts: A national treasure - Recipes - Food & Entertaining - Style At Home: "One of just a handful of genuinely Canadian recipes, the butter tart, with its sweet, gooey filling cradled in rustic home-made pastry, manages to seduce everyone who bites into its scrumptious shell (Sir John A. is said to have eaten them by the handful). So how does this homey, yet deeply decadent treat manage to stir up more debate across the country than the last election? Squabbles arise over everything from pastry texture to whether the filling should be runny or not (and if so, how runny?) and, most contentious of all, acceptable additions (pecans, walnuts and raisins are the usual suspects). But no matter what recipe you prefer, get ready to indulge: in this country, we believe that biting into a butter tart is nothing short of a patriotic act."

Butter tarts: A national treasure - Recipes - Food & Entertaining - Style At Home

2010-07-01T12:31:00.000-07:00

Butter tarts: A national treasure - Recipes - Food & Entertaining - Style At Home: "Old-fashioned butter tarts
Makes 12 medium tarts
Ingredients
Five star pastry
2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp icing sugar
1⁄4 tsp kosher salt
1 cup shortening
1 tbsp white vinegar
2 tbsp ice water
1 egg

Filling
1⁄2 cup corn syrup
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1⁄3 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 eggs
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1⁄2 cup golden raisins
Directions
1 Sift the flour, icing sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl. Pinch the shortening into small cubes and rub lightly into the flour mixture until all the shortening is broken into small crumbly pieces. In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, ice water and egg together with a fork. Pour mixture around edges of flour mixture and pull together with the fork to form a ball.
2 Flatten pastry into two disks and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Chill at least 30 minutes before rolling.
3 On a lightly floured surface, roll out one of the pastry disks into a circle about 1/8' thick. Using a 4-inch cutter, stamp out 6 pastry rounds and ease them gently into medium muffin tins, pressing softly so that they reach the bottom. Repeat with the remaining pastry. Chill the prepared pastry tart shells for 30 minutes before baking.

4 Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a bowl, beat together the corn syrup, brown sugar, melted butter, eggs and vanilla. Divide the raisins among the prepared pastry tart shells. Fill almost to the top with the syrup mixture.

5 Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the tart shells are golden brown. Allow to cool before removing from the muffin pan."

Koi is Finished!

2010-06-18T13:43:00.001-07:00

And in the hands of it's new owner! Well at least until she gives it as a gift later today! David did such a beautiful job of the frame - I'm sorry this photo doesn't show it to its best!

Roses and Koi Ready for Grout!

2010-06-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

The weather has been unusually cool and damp and the roses are bursting out all over the yard! Here's some along with a climbing Hydrangea that is nicely over-taking the deck!And speaking of wet - The Koi mosaic is finished and ready for grouting! David is going to whip up a temporary frame so I can get that done - then we'll pop off the temp frame and he's making a beautiful, dark-stained and Japanese-inspired frame to be its final resting spot. Then it is off to it's new owner!

Sherr Colvin's new Resin Doll kit site

2010-06-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

Check this out! Sherr Colvin is an ATM buddy and has just launched her newest endevour: Miniature Resin Doll Kits
What a cool option for great character dolls that you have a part in creating! Best wishes for success Sherr!

Long time quiet...(and the koi mosaic)

2010-05-29T19:49:00.000-07:00

Sorry about that! Life's been really happy-busy! I've got a child graduating high school (and needing a tie-dye suit to wear to prom!) and a new grandbaby to play with so I haven't been having allot of mini time! But there's no complaints here! Babies grow so quickly!

I do have a commission to finish and that's been fun to work on - here's a shot in progress:

Unfortunately I'm unable to go to the Westcoast Dollhouse and Miniatures show this year - but we'll be there next year with bells on! And maybe I'll even have 'Concerning Hobbits' done! :D

My Minishow Treasures

2010-04-28T13:36:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday I picked up these presents to myself at our local mini show!
I wasn't selling anything this time around and I found that I did much more buying! A few of these items were presents though because it was my birthday!

Everything together

A beautiful Dutch Baby House! The price was SO good I just couldn't refuse! And another friend from my group bought its' twin so we're going to have to get together for our decorating binges!

A sweet little cactus for Casa Taos!

A birthday gift from my talented friend Kelly - the one whose roombox, Generation Gap, I made the 4 dolls for - yes she knit this! Isn't it gorgeous?

The most perfect little table in 1/24 scale for the Burrow!

I'm such a sucker for anything William Morris and this needlepoint rug kit has been on my radar for a while! These are crazy-tiny stiches - I've made one of her pillow kits - and this rug will take ages - but what a beauty!

And these were gifts from Cheryl and Maureen; two Canada Mini ladies I had the pleasure of meeting and lunching with!

Generation Gap

2010-04-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

Here are the dolls I posted about last time - installed in their scene by my friend Kelly! She named it Generation Gap! Didn't she do a great job?

Four new dolls!

2010-04-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

A friend commissioned me to make 4 dolls for her two-floor room box; a very clever thing with an elderly, grumpy pair living downstairs and a couple of rowdy, young men living above. The couple downstairs have had quite enough on the evening in question and he takes a broom to rap on the ceiling. I have had so much fun making these characters! I really love them and can't wait to see them in their home!

These shirts are actually tie-died!

This was the first time I've attempted teeth! Or a tongue I think!

My friend made the couch that they are cavorting upon!

The lady is developing a twitch! She may be knitting as shown or holding a paper...

This fellow is easily one of my most favourite dolls ever - I just love him!

After my friend is done moving them into their apartments I'll have to take a shot to share with you! :)

Happy Spring Everyone!

2010-03-27T15:18:00.000-07:00

I've been working away on the Hobbitses! The cottage garden is shaping up and this morning I started poking around and finding minis I already have that might suit the Shire. Here's some shots!

Concerning Hobbits Today

2010-03-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

I'm looking forward to beginning the dressing of this scene...the flowers in the garden, the vines climbing the walls, the meats hanging in the kitchen, the produce spilling across the floor, the pipe resting by the arm chair, stacks of books...But here is how it's looking today!
The pipe cleaner people are going to eventually be the Hobbit's family; Mum stirring up something in a bowl, Dad sitting in his chair, the baby crawling across the floor and a friend popping in to visit - poking their head in through the door. The sheep and piggy are already looking at home though!

Rose Topiary Workshop

2010-02-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

This Sunday - During the men's gold medal hockey game no less! (oh what commitment!;))- I'm teaching a project to our local mini club at our monthly meeting. Remember the Rose topiaries I made for the ATM holiday swap last year? That's what I'm teaching. I've made up 14 little kits and made an instruction pamphlet in Publisher (which I'd not used before, but really like!)...and am gearing up to do this! Hopefully they don't string me up after becoming horribly frustrated with tangles of ribbon roses!
I'd really like to do workshops at minishows - it's sort of on my long term plan. Within the next 2-3 years I'd like to have a scaled-down version of Muddy End that I could teach in a weekend as a workshop. I'm pretty excited about that possibility!

Sunshine!

2010-02-25T08:34:00.000-08:00

I too woke up to snow this morning - but our snow was nasty slushing-rainy stuff and it's mostly gone now! Must've been the effect of the Sunshine award that Karin, Mini Ramblings and Musings sent us!

I need to now pass the Sunshine onto 6 other bloggers - we will spread the Spring!

Grimdeva at Cauldron Craft Miniatures also helped to make my day today by including some of my work in her wonderful collection of all things Swamp Witchy on her blog - It's a delightfully dark and magical place to visit! Her magical wares are to be found in her etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CauldronCraftMinis

Kim Saulter at It's a Miniature Life is also thinking Springy thoughts with her adorable Easter/Spring Inspired cupcakes! Kim's Minis is her etsy shop full of her delicious and beautiful minis.

Gah! I started this post yesterday...and this morning all of the blogs I follow disappeared! I'm certain they will be back though...for now, here are these 2!

:)

The Hobbit's getting pretty excited!

2010-02-16T12:32:00.001-08:00

I have decided to commit a couple of hours a day to this project in hopes of finishing it in time...so our little hobbit friend is feeling excited and optimistic!

One of the things I love about a build like this is the stages. First comes the initial vision. Then flashes of inspiration - individual areas of interest within the build. Then, sometimes slowly...comes the 'how'. I like to say, "first comes the 'what' then the 'how'!" :D

I've been paperclaying for a while now and it's been fun!

I've just received a bunch of beautiful Bonnie Lavish flower kits for adding some delicate beauty to the garden out front - I'm excited to get to those! And the Hobbit parents and baby! Not to mention all the food and such! Here's hoping I can get it done! :)

A Very Special Work in Progress

2010-02-12T12:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I finished sewing the top of the quilt that I am making for my beautiful, little Grandson due in April.
My daughter and I saw a crib quilt made by Lamb and Ivy which she thought was 'super-cute' so I set out to make one inspired by this design, but made by Grandma. I'm looking forward to quilting it...and once he is born and named; sewing his name into there somewhere.
What a joyful time!

Hobbit gets a floor!

2010-02-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

I've finally been able to spend some time with the minis! I put the floor into the bottom half - which is the inside of the Hobbit house. The outside of the Hobbit house will be on the top. Started on the fireplace and oven chimney...(see chunks of foam!) The large black circles will be window and door frames. The Hobbit is looking hopeful!
The show is April 24th...we'll see if I can get this finished! I've four dolls commissioned to complete before then too...I'm going to have to find more mini time!

A Chair for a Hobbit

2010-01-29T09:52:00.000-08:00

I've finally finished the chair for the Wall box; Concerning Hobbits.
I used one of those lovely chair kits from House of Miniatures but used the fabric from a blouse I picked up at a thrift store hoping it would look a little like chinz! I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! :)

First time ever!

2010-01-23T13:28:00.000-08:00

...with my name in a mini magazine - and it's 2 of them!
How crazy-exciting is this?
Thank you Marie for making this possible! Marie's fantastic creation, #12 Grimmauld Place is published in Dollshouse World and American Miniaturist this month! I was able to buy Dollshouse World at our local Chapters yesterday and see my name in print; even if they did spell Solet Luna Studios like Solent Luna Studios - I'm tickled pink!
I'm looking forward to making some more characters for this piece!
Kreacher needs some company...grumpy little dear. :D

Speaking of the Queen's Garden in Wonderland...

2010-01-17T13:16:00.000-08:00

Ara mentioned that the rose topiaries reminded her of the Queen's rose garden in Wonderland. That reminded me, I don't think I've shared photos of my Alice; Inside the Book, here! I love Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass and this was my first miniature take on it. I don't think it will be the last! It's now in a private collection.

For a full gallery of images of the scene, including the cards painting the roses red...and the Queen herself (who is one centimetre tall!) please see the gallery here:
http://www.soletluna.com/miniatures/alice/index.html

Rose Topiary

2010-01-15T08:34:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Mimmi and Karin I can show you photos of the rose topiaries I made! It was really fun making all those roses - I do look forward to making some again!

Holiday Swap

2010-01-13T11:44:00.001-08:00

Here are the items I received in the ATM Holiday Swap! Lovely eh? Unfortunately I cannot find where on my computer I stored the photos I took of the rose topiaries I made to swap! And I didn't make enough of them to keep one for myself. Gah! So I'm going to keep looking! If I can't find the cool group shot of them I will post a photo another swap recipient shared!

New book for me!

2010-01-05T19:14:00.000-08:00

One of my intentions for this next year, and the foreseeable future really, it to improve my dolls; to raise the quality and details in every way I can conceive. I'm also curious about creating some different sorts of figures with jointed construction and different scales. So when I went to spend one of my Christmas gifts; a Chapters gift card this was my choice!

Designing the Doll

It looks like a great book, just full of creative wisdom!
Try to flip through it sometime if you get a chance! :)

The Mini-time Machine Museum

2010-01-04T11:32:00.000-08:00

Valerie at allthingsmini recently posted a link to the The Mini-time Machine Museum in Tucson, Arizona. It's really got me wanting to go! Maybe we can tag a visit onto our trip to the Hot Air Balloon festival in Albuquerque one year!

"... to visit the recently opened miniature museum "The Mini-time Machine Museum". The January issue of Miniature Collector has an article on the museum. The 16,000 square foot building was built just to house the 30+ year collection of Pat Arnell. The museum is beautifully done and contains, the brochure says, 200 houses and roomboxes. Miniatures by April and Ron Gill, Bill Lankford, Pat & Noel Thomas, several roomboxes by Brooke Tucker and her one and only completed house "Texas Rose" which is the biggest thing I have ever seen and many more. There is also a history section that contains houses dating back to the oldest from the 1500's. So if you ever find yourself near Tucson be sure to check out the museum I am sure you will truly enjoy the experience."

http://www.theminitimemachine.org/

Merry Christmas and Happy 2010!

2009-12-31T10:11:00.000-08:00

This wonderful time of year has been full of family and friends and not a great deal of time for anything else like blogging; so I'm terribly behind on interesting things to share and on reading all the blogs that inspire and delight so many of us!
Just before Christmas both my gorgeous Ghosty Girl from Julie Campbell and my incredible Wuthering Heights bed from Ara arrived! The Wuthering Heights bed has me thinking that rather than being inspired by just one beloved novel (the Forsyte Saga) for my Victorian Row house; perhaps I should be inspired by several! I could work in some Empire-era too...with Jane Austin? The ghosty girl is currently taking residence safely in the upper portion of the MAKE Marie made. :) She will grace any surroundings I make for her! What an exquisite creation she is Julie, I cannot thank you enough for her! I will treasure her always!

May 2010 be full of blessings for you and yours!

Karin's got her Merbed!

2009-12-10T08:16:00.001-08:00

I was so happy a couple of days ago to learn that Karin has received the bed I made for her through the ATM Bed MAKE! She quickly repaired the damage done by the post and took some fantastic photos...better than what I achieved before I mailed it in fact! http://orrlakemusings.blogspot.com/2009/12/november-make-swap.html
Karin generously said 'surprise me!' - but she also gave me some fun suggestions; including a bed for a mermaid! I can't wait to see the mermaid she sculpts to find her rest on this bed! :D
Here's what it looked like before I mummified it with bubble wrap and sent it on it's way!

I am bursting with glee!

2009-12-06T21:57:00.000-08:00

The wonderfully talented doll artist Julie Campbell recently held a giveaway to celebrate earning IGMA Artisan status, asking people to post their reasons for being cheerful! I really admire Julie's work and was happy to add my congratulations to the chorus and list my reasons to be cheerful!
Late tonight while looking over the blog reading list...what do I see? That Julie's darling little Granddaughter Elora pulled our name out of the hatbox!
I couldn't believe it! It really took a while to sink in, but this wonderful news is true!!!

http://bellabelledolls.blogspot.com/2009/12/and-winner-isgiveaway-result.html

This beautiful little ghosty girl (who was one of the dolls sent to be evaluated by the IGMA) is actually going to be coming to my home to stay! I'm going to have to create a very comfortable home for her! She's only just crossed the pond and now she's going to be flying back again to Canada!
I don't think I'm going to be able to fall asleep for a long while - I'm too excited! :D

Oh my Goodness...

2009-12-04T08:08:00.001-08:00

It's been busy and I've nothing I can show you yet! Marie is still waiting to receive my holiday swap, yet alone send it out again and have everyone else receive it, so I can't post that. Karin's bed MAKE is enroute and I can't share that. Our studio is nearly finished and is in such a state I definitely cannot share that!
Tomorrow is our mini group's Christmas lunch so hopefully I can share some photos regarding that.
What I can share is hopes that as the holiday season picks up steam you are all well and warm with the best this time of preparation for celebration offers! :)

Maybe I should go back to bed?

2009-11-26T10:19:00.000-08:00

Some days...
Woke up this morning to a certain disgusting and immediately recognizable smell along with a thoughtfully penned note by the original discoverer, 'Watch out for poo!' The main offending pile (clearly the work of the little dog) was in the crossroads of the living room and kitchen and was carefully marked by that same original sign maker by a plastic shopping bag. Prior to this tenting however....the big dog got up for his nightly household pacing and trod steadily through it. Poopy paw prints ran the length of the house...
After the initial pick-up and pouring of oilsoap on wooden floors, Mr. Clean on linoleum...I attempted to sit down at the table for a couple of fortifying sips of coffee. Upon pulling out a kitchen chair I came across a yellow stain that seemed to be acquiring the consistency of gelatin. I didn't know urine did that. Ew.
More toilet paper to the rescue...we're out of paper towels....
After running various people to places they had to be, I came home and found that the big dog had again found where the burrs are in the yard....I figured that would be the only photo of the day's recent events that I'd share... ;)

I think I need to mini... :)

Cabbage Roses

2009-11-04T16:50:00.001-08:00

This too is part of a secret project - for the time being - but I wanted to share these roses with you! The first few were a little glue-y but they got better! Each measures about a 1/4" across.

November Issue of AIM Magazine

2009-11-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

http://www.artisansinminiature.com/issue10.html

Wow it's huge this month! Tons of great projects and eyecandy! AIM has also announced a fun project Advent calender - a new project tutorial every day in December! How fun is that?!

AIM Advent Calender

Pirate Pug!

2009-10-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Oh so this is the shape our Halloweens are going to take for the next little while! And then there'll be grandchildren's costumes...ohyeah! And of course decorating my dollhouses for Halloween - if I ever finish one... ;)
Gromit will be wearing the Pirate costume (sans hat, he'll only keep that on long enough for a photo and besides it's probably a choking hazard!) to the local Pug Meetup Halloween Party on Saturday...I'll be sure to post photos!

Halloween...really?

2009-10-26T20:06:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's nearly Halloween! This is the strangest Halloween-season in recent memory. I haven't built any new props - in fact we hauled Gary the Gargoyle and Hamish to the dump a few weeks ago. They finally disintegrated under the wear of years and the weather and needed to pass on. The only thing I have to set out on the day is a couple of tombstones and a few bones. If it stops raining by Saturday I may set out Jack the Pirate skeleton...otherwise poor ol' Jack may go the way of Hamish and Gary! I haven't even set out my potion bottles and spell books on the mantle! (And to be honest, I feel like at this point it's just silly because then I'll have to expend the energy of putting it all away again!) A very weird Halloween indeed. I haven't even purchased a pumpkin let alone seven or more! The ironic thing is that all the years I was haunting my front yard; with soundtracks, smoke machine and lights...handcrafted monsters and scares for the older ones...stuffed toys for the little ones...I yearned for Halloween to fall on a Saturday so that I could have some help setting everything up. It was an all-day job just for the haunt and I usually was cooking up a spooky spread for friends and family who may drop in. It was a really splendid day and a Saturday would've been great! Here's the Saturday and I've got no plans to do much with it. I will buy some chocolate...just not yet because I know that I'll eat it and I suspect I won't be alone!
So in celebration of those Halloweens recently past...and in embracing the new ones whose shape has yet to fully take...here's a photo of Hamish when he was first standing in all of his 7+ ft, intimidating wonder.

Things

2009-10-24T09:27:00.000-07:00

Now that the last person - me - has received their September ATM Swaps; The Addams Family, I can post photos of what I made for it. I made Things!

The swap package arrived yesterday! I adore everything - Ara and Christine did such fine work!
The reason it took such a long time to reach me this time - despite being mailed air mail - is that Canada Customs opened it! Not just the box but each of the items too. Everything looks fine - great in fact! Perhaps when people post photos I'll see if anything is missing but I don't think so. But the funny bit is can you imagine the people at Canada Customs? They must've really wondered! My daughter suggested that they probably called everyone in the office to come and have a look....took photos.....
I'll try to take quality photos of the items I received later today so you can better appreciate! They really are just the best items! I can't wait to find them a home to display somewhere! I'm considering adding them to the bottom level of my 'What's That Smell?' MAKE that Marie made for me for now at least! :D

The Colvin Studio

2009-10-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

The wonderfully talented Sherr Colvin has a new website! I met Sherr through AllThingsMini and she's a real sweetheart. Her dolls are just splendid, please do check the new site out!

http://www.colvindolls.com/

Secret Projects

2009-10-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

I've actually been very busy mini-ing! I've worked a couple of days on Karin's bed for the ATM MAKE and did a project for the ATM October swap; Addams Family...but I can't show you anything - yet! Once everyone receives their swaps and experiences the surprise I can post! I'm excited to share these projects! Karin's bed is just tickling me...I've never done anything quite like this! I sure hope you're going to like it Karin! :D

October Artisans in Miniature Magazine

2009-10-02T09:37:00.000-07:00

Artisans in Miniature Magazine

AIM has done it again - 99 wonderful pages, free for your enjoyment!
October edition now up for your viewing!
Great job guys - another wonderful issue!

Basket Weaving

2009-10-01T09:35:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday our mini group got together and did basket weaving - there was much concentrating and muttering! I unravelled several times and after four hours was astonished to learn how much time had passed! I had to finish it at home. This was supposed to be a laundry basket but I think it looks more like a large shopping basket....I didn't weave loosely-enough to be wider at the top. I think I might just put long handles on the sides and be done with it! :D

The other two were given to me by my friend Marnie at the same meeting. I was saying how I would have to weave some baskets for the Casa and she gave these to me! I think they are just lovely and don't you just love having minis made by your friends? :)

The Divine Mercy Mosaic Window

2009-09-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

Four years ago - almost to the week - my order of glass tiles arrived from Italy and a few days ago I felt I could say that the window is finished. It still requires grouting of course, but we're considering grouting it in place - I may yet grout it as is but I need some more info about the flexibility of the grout.
Now is the exhilarating stage of having the anonymous contributor of the cost of materials see it, the church that is to receive it to view it, to stand it up and remove the paper backing - seeing light pass through the glass for the first time...and to have it installed, God-willing by next Summer in it's new location. What a joy! The whole process has been a blessing and while there's fulfillment in the finishing I will miss having it here; to work on and to be with. But it's going where it should be, where it always intended to be and I'm so grateful. :)