Good Old British Summertime...

Cool and raining... Can we please, please have some sun?!

This blog entry is transcribed from the blog on my website 

1:12 Grapes in preparation...

My fruit displays with grapes all sold at Kensington Dollshouse Festival last weekend - so guess what I'm doing LoL!

It's been ages since I wrote in here, I know... all kinds of 'stuff' has been going on since this last Christmas (including having the flu twice!?) - I NEVER catch colds, but after the two bouts of flu - it was amusing to say the least and nothing more than a mild and mere hindrance...

My 'big PC' as I have always referred to it, is no longer happy on the internet - all manner of alerts telling me to upgrade this - I wont work if you don't do this (LoL) and all the rest of the 'modern technology issues' confirming my often used phrase "What price modern technology?" But, after fifteen years of truly wonderful service - I can still use it for artworks and my photo's, archives - and so on. It was built for specifically for me; and I still like it. However, I have had to buy something to be able to update my website and related things. A used MacBook seemed a great option, bought an older refurb, so here I am. My iPad wasn't powerful enough to update everything and this is! Yayyyy!

I broke my favourite macro lens on my camera, that was so, soooo frustrating, I managed to replace that last month, settling for a refurbed Nikon lens instead of the usual Sigma I've bought the past couple of years - absolutely love it! The thing is, I don't have my beloved Photoshop on this MacBook, as it's for PC, so that's the only downside - I can't edit photo's and pop them straight on.

Already started working towards my next show, plus commissions and smaller orders, as most of my OOAK's went at Kensington Dollshouse Festival last weekend... I was so complacent on arrival last Thursday evening, I walked up the steps to the stage to set-up, only to find I had been moved... That'll teach me not to look before I go! Won't do that again she says eyes rolling. I'm guessing a couple of orders for collection from the said show were due to not finding me - all is not lost - I'll bring them to the next one.

Bye for now...

That Friday Feeling . . .

Just thought I'd pop by and share an image with you all - I just love rhubarb! I think my favourite is rhubarb crumble . . . nom nom nom . . . perhaps I should make some; and use the rhubarb up that I bought to make the mini with {:O)

Did you know it's really a vegetable - I didn't! Anyhow, have a fab weekend everyone and the rhubarb's on my eBay this week. Bye for now!

When Is A Door Not A Door . . . ?

When it's a Jar! I know, I've been missing for ages and ages, life just got in the way again, but now it's onwards and upwards (hopefully) so I just thought you might like to know. 
Currently working towards The Kensington Summer Dollshouse Festival, so really, really busy.
I'm also back on eBay - here's a link to this week's auctions ending and a piccie of a little jar on there this week . . .

Carol's Auctions . . .
Thanks if you take a peep! Have a wonderful day everyone . . .

Easter's Almost Upon Us !

Well, before we all get totally eggbound this weekend, I thought I'd post a pic of one of my all time favourites with my followers . . . these are teeny-tiny; and are so pretty!

I have now recovered from Spring Miniatura {:OS - but - my feet are still a bit sore, hope everyone that visited enjoyed it; and thanks to all of you who popped by to say 'hello' and saw my minis 'in the flesh' and bought some {:OD Thank you, thank you, thank you . . . I now have to build up more stock for the next one . . . sharp intake of breath! Bye for now then . . .

Tomatoes on the Vine . . .

Now I'm not really sure why it's been fashionable to market tomatoes as 'tomatoes grown on the vine' etc., as - aren't they all grown on the vine . . . ?

Whatever, I succumb to creating them now and then; and it's not an easy task I can tell you! But, well worth the effort when you see the end result - hope you like them too!

P.S. I'm frantically trying to get as much as I possible can together for Miniatura in a few weeks' time . . . so I'll be a bit hit and miss with me blog - what do you mean - 'she is anyway' - LoL! I know {:O) Bye for now.

Mediterranean Veggies . . .

I know, where have I been - panicking for the most part! I have a show at the end of the month; and I NEVER feel as though I have enough mini's - do we ever LoL!?

Anyhow, just thought you may like to see this lovely little display that's 'up for grabs' this week; and the DH turned the Olive wood platter the veggies are fixed to . . . I love the pitting I managed to create on the Aubergines - really pleased with those - Egg Plant I think I should also call them {:O)

Bye for now!

P.S. - Thank you Kiva, Karin and Glenda! For the award . . .

My IGMA Submission Pieces . . .

These were the pieces I submitted to IGMA for Artisan evaluation last October; and yes, most of you already know I did receive my Artisan status . . . should have posted this ages ago!

You'll have to click on the image to enlarge it - then you'll be able to see the little displays even clearer . . .

What the . . . ?!?

I just had to come back and mention the 'security feature - type in these letters before posting a comment box' . . . can you believe it came up with the word  'pumbies' for me to type in a few moments ago LoL?! Sounds like a 'google whacker' ROFL - we'll have to post the funny one me thinks . . .

Valentine's Day? Is it that long since Christmas!?!

Now I know I've been away from here for a goodly while, but after spending the day in bed ill on Christmas Day, recovery seems to have been in fits and starts . . . this pc I use - it's up in the converted loft space; and soooo cold, during the snowy, hard frost weather we've been enduring - that I couldn't bear to be up here! Anyhow, it's warming up nicely now; and so I hope to indulge my blog some more; and more frequently {:O) Meantime, I'm sure Kiva's been keeping you entertained, I said in previous posts that 'Kiva's blog will be more entertaining than mine' and it is!

Anyhow, for the more romantically inclined of you out there, here's a little something I created for this weekend's special day . . . catch you soon!

My husband creates the wood turnings BTW - and this one is Ebony - mine, mine, mine! Cheesecake is up for sale though {:O)

This is sooooo tiny! Love it! Only have the one though, I don't enjoy making 'sweet treats' as much as the other minis I create . . .

Bye!

Two Of The Houses In My Own Collection . . .

After seeing Ron's beautiful buildings, I thought I'd post this - I have two 'Tudors' both 1:12 scale, then a further two houses in 1:12 that are unfinished; and then two vintage 1:16 that I'm not sure what to do with, but can't bear to part with them . . . these two are my favourites though {:O)

Panettone!

Still in that festive mood 'mini food' wise . . . like this for real too! I actually like it toasted with butter - does that sound weird? Whatever, I like it {:O)

Still excited about my IGMA Artisan Status . . .

Festive Piccie . . .

Thought I'd add a little 'festive' piccie to get us all in the mood for the first of December tomorrow . . .

falalalala-la-la-la-lahhh!

Kiva's Gala Apples . . .

I think these are Kiva's BEST apples yet! My favourite anyway . . . everything is just so perfect!!! You can taste them in your 'mind' just looking at them - FAB Kiva!!!

http://kivasminiatures.blogspot.com/

Click This Title for 'This Time Last Year . . .'

Thought you might like to see this link {:O)

The food was 1:48 scale (quarter scale) and I created it for Food Delivery Company, 'Ocado' to launch their Christmas Delivery Dates; and the launch of their toy miniature delivery van, that's available online - they deliver for 'Waitrose' up and down the UK!

I really enjoyed the whole experience . . .

A Fish Of My Own . . .

This was a little tricky, as the person who commissioned me to create this Scottish Salmon, wanted to be able to pick it up and look at it all the way around!!! As well as be able to lay it on a table as though freshly caught and ready to be cooked . . . created with the new Fimo - it's so soft to work with! Well worth the effort though {:O)

With Thanks To My Good Friend Kiva! 'IGMA Fellow' WooooHooooo!!!

Now I'm not very good at keeping up with online blogs and suchlike, but, I have to say a big thank you  to Kiva, for including me in her own mini food blog; and perhaps that's why I now have five followers LoL! I guess we miniaturists are all a little busy this time of year; and I'm no exception - Christmas and all that! Miniatures make such wonderful gifts . . .

Anyhow, here's Kiva:- http://kivasminiatures.blogspot.com/ a most amazing and talented 'IGMA Fellow' 'now! Soooo well deserved too! An inspiration to us all . . . she creates the most unusal and 'oddball' (to quote her good self ) miniatures and in such a divine way - I love her work! Here's a few piccies . . .

I Love this Kiva - so cute!

Well, thats' all from me today; and I do hope you'll take a look at Kiva's blog - MUCH more entertaining than mine {:O)

How bad am I? Not keeping up with this 'blog' I mean . . . yet again working towards my next show, which is next Spring - not too far away in the grand scheme of things! So busy busy busy!

As I write all I can hear are fireworks, Bonfire Night is a little wet and miserable this evening . . . but hopefully everyone will keep safe and have a good time!

Here's a little something from me this week to get us into a festive mood - yep - I know, it's not food, but cute all the same!

Tad Warm . . .

As I've just written in my website 'blog' page - if anyone had said to me a number of years ago, that we'd have air conditioning installed into a house in Yorkshire - I'd have split my sides laughing . . . but there you go . . . it's been on all week . . . switched off now though as it's been raining all day; and much cooler - phew!

Here's a link in the image below to show what mini goodies are on offer for anyone to buy; and they all end on Thursday 9th July, 2009 - thanks if you click and peep!

Preparing for my next show . . .

Now I've only just set this blog up, so don't expect volumes of text; and I also know we prefer pictures instead of reading - so here's an image of the kitchen in my Manor House to show I'm also a crazy collector as well as creating the mini's . . .

Now I really must go and carry on replenishing my stock of miniatures for the next show . . . bye for now {:O)