Just a Few More Christmas Ornaments.....

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Best Wishes for 2010 !!

I need to show and share a random sample of the Christmas Tree Ornaments

I created for friends, relatives and customers this holiday season.

If you have photos or ideas for a personalized ornament - for next Christmas,

that will give you and I both plenty of time for creativity......

CuteHandmade.com

I would like to thank Brooke at CuteHandmade.com for featuring my items on her site. It is off to a great start and I look forward to seeing other artists profiled in the future.

What beautiful treasures we can't part with.....

My mother's little doll, a wonderful antique cradle and a totally hand-stitched "miniature" quilt made for her when she was a child.

Handcrafters of Miniatures Show

Last Sunday was our semi-annual Handcrafters of Miniatures Show in Dedham, Massachusetts. We had quite a good turnout, considering the economy but it did seem that people are watching their spending with this wonderful "little" hobby.
It is great to see familiar faces who show up year after year to see what's new.
These people become friends and very happy to chat with during the show.
Our next show in Dedham will be on Sunday, March 14, 2010 at the Dedham Holiday Inn. Pray for no snow storm that day !!

Living Cozy Article

I wanted to thank Laura Hardy of Living Cozy for her “Where to Buy Miniatures?” blog entry. She profiled my Miniature Garden Bench along with other Teammid's items. Boy, don't those fried eggs look real!!!

My Kitty Cat

This is my beautiful Blue Point Siamese Cat

Animals...

My artwork and my love for animals began a long time ago..........
Of course, I've painted larger, but I was drawn to the smaller version - called miniatures.....
A "miniature painting" is considered anything 5" x 7" or smaller
Here is a random sample, but for a custom painting....
As you know, every one of our pets have their own unique look.

The Wonders of Woven Wicker

I've made wicker chairs (just for fun)

Then I tried 1/2 scale wicker chairs (just for fun)

Then I thought little dog and cat beds would be fun... I love making them !!! I've made a lot.... Sold a lot.... and plan on making many more! Fun to do.... and all slightly different.

This is where it all began...

...with the dollhouse my grandfather built for me when I was 7 years old!! What a wonderful gift it was!! A white cape - an exact replica of the house I grew up in.... and I can't part with it!! Now many of my mini things are in my other dollhouse - the one my father built for me. I'll show that to you later................

Miniature Show Display with Fish Tank

Come into my world of creativity, imagination and a wonderful fun hobby of miniatures.............
It's relaxing, satisfying and a form of therapy!!!

This is one of my displays I had at a recent dollhouse miniature show.
Note the fish tank - It didn't take much for me to put that together....

A small, clear plastic box, a little gravel, a tiny piece of a real plant, and 5 or 6 of my "real" baby guppies.... with a little light on top!!
Needless to say, it was an attention-getter!!
I've seen miniature fish tanks with fake fish, and fake water, and fake plants, etc.
Mine was a lot easier to make!

P.S. The baby guppies were fine and made it back home safely to the big tank.

The Making of a Miniature Lobster Buoy

1" scale dollhouse - 2" in length

A carved and sanded block of Balsa wood and a length of thin dowel is the beginning of my
 miniature lobster buoy....

Painted as the real ones are with colors, when bobbing in the ocean, signify the owner of those
particular buoys and the traps they are attached to......
....and if they're not yours - DON'T TOUCH THEM !!!

After painting them, sanding my buoys again slightly will create a worn and weathered look,
then also dipped in stain to add the rustic realism.