My love of wicker continues....

I have long admired the work of miniature artist Lidi Stroud .....in particular her wonderful French picnic basket (with wine carrier attached). So you might imagine my delight (& immense joy!!!) when it arrived in the mail. As we all always say....a photo never does real justice to someone work, but I tried very hard to capture all of its detail.....it is REALLY wonderful!!!

Many many thanks to you again Lidi x.

...dont forget to visit Lidi's Etsy store!!!...

Chippendale Bookcase....

Just this morning I added the final details to the exterior of this kit. I used little  draw pulls and key plates I purchased on-line from  Janny at Art of Mini.....I am very pleased with the result. But what also pleased was ALL the Elisabeth Causeret (France) porcelain I found to fill it. I am a huge fan of Elisabeth's work (if you cannot tell..?) and when I get the chance to do so I add to my collection. If it will remain this way I do not know, time will tell when I have more work to my 'shop' completed.

My wicker train basket....

Can you imagine my delight when this order (finally) arrived. I say finally as it seemed to take for ever to get from the Netherlands to Tasmania!....BUT well worth the wait!

I am having a love affair with 'wicker' at the moment and was thrilled with this little gem. I am amazed at the skill required to make something like this....it is so detailed, see the lovely detail at the base of the basket....and it sits perfectly.

The artist responsible for this beautiful piece is Will Werson, I have previously purchased from her  in the past and find her work amazing....Thank you so much Will, I know the postal service made us both very nervous, luckily it all ended well.

If you do not know Will's work, please take a look....you will not be sorry!!!!

Thank you so much for the lovely comments on my last post.....it was so lovely to read them all, so pleased to know you are all still 'out there'.

I am back....

I am back!....back from where you might ask?....well, from absolutely 'no-where'!! But I am back into my miniatures with a refreshed vigour and new interest. With no work what-so-ever done on 'sous le figuier' (my latest project) for several years....well, since 2014 to be exact it was time to start...again!!

I have bought many miniature treasures in that time, so my collection for this project kept growing....but sadly no actual work was happening. But over the past few weeks I have once again been working on the house/shop. I have done lots of work on the windows to finish those off prior to painting and I am presently painting shutters.....10 pairs in all!!

I have also been playing with ideas for (faux) ironwork for the front door....but something didn't sit right with me....the window above the door wasn't what I wanted anymore. So...with a bit more thought and a pair of corbels that have been floating about for about 15 years, I redesigned the area above the door. I enclosed the 'hole' and used a wonderful French finding and made a new pediment....sounds a bit easier than it actually was. I think (hope) it all comes together nicely once painted.

You will see that everything is simply sitting in place (and held with Blue-tac)......but to silence my dear friend I have done this 'post'. Catherine thought you would be interested in my progress...? (as small as it is!!) 

a kitchen refresh....

I must confess that I am enjoying this little change about far more than I ever expected. It is lovely to pull everything out, change a few things about.....give it all a good dust and put it all back again.

I love my little glass cloche with the butterfly.....I've had the cloche for ever (like wise for the butterfly) and when I went for a walk the other day I went hunting for a 'stick'.....then assembled it on my return. Please excuse the blob of 'blu-tack'.....this will be replaced  soon, but I was so excited by the photo I wanted to post it asap!

.....okay, onto the next room!

Changes....lots of changes!!

Lots of changes.....? You might be looking at the photos and wondering what on earth is she talking about! I did infact make changes....lots of them!!! I spent most of the weekend moving furniture about in my petite maison.....taking photos, standing back surveying the changes, making more changes.....until I realised I had changed everything back (almost) to where it was originally!!! I'm not saying I got it right the first time, I'm just saying with the furniture to hand I think I must have made the best choice way back then!!! So being terribly frustrated with not a lot of furniture changes, I decided to 'refresh' a lot of the accessories.....this was a lot of fun. The entrance hall is the only room that I can show you at the moment, but I have replaced the floor rug, some of the content on the side table, all of the content of the centre table, a new picture over the couch etc. They are sutler changes but I think it freshens it all up.
Frustrations were (again) high today trying to get my lovely little Ray Storey lamp to work.....nothing wrong with the lamp, just the electrician (me)!!

a new purchase....

While anything (and everything) 'miniature' related moves at a snails pace here.....I do try and find time for the occasional (on-line) purchase. This Etsy buy is from "MundoMini" (a Spanish site).......I adored her 'Vintage look trunk'.  Nyork has covered the trunk in a linen (type) fabric and has aged it to perfection, as it is non-opening I think it will be used more as a coffee style table in one of my upstairs room at Sous le Figuier.....but only time will tell.
For the purpose of the photo I decorated the trunk with lovely pottery pieces by Elisabeth Causeret and pretty daisies which are a Pascale Garnier kit.....(still without their leaves!).
Hope you are doing better than me at finding time for your miniatures!!!!

"sous le figuier"....

It appears that I didn't give you 'enough' in my last post? I hope this post shows you more detail and answers some of your questions......not all questions can be answered at this point as I do not know all of the answers.....colour etc., etc...
All of "sous le figuier" is self made......at this stage I have only purchased the windows and the stairs, but I have made exterior changes to the larger windows. The shop front, the body of the house, all the cladding, doors, shutters and all external details are 'scratch' made....(not sure if I like the term 'scratch made'....but that seems to be the term that is used by many....?).....but anyway, made by me!!!
Sadly I do not have any wonderful electric tools etc., that can cut multipal pieces of wood to the same length....instead I sit here and work away (slowly) with my (trusty) "Easy Cutter". It is the same cutter that I used to make the 'petite maison'....I did buy what was supposed to be a 'new & improved' "Easy Cutter" but I quickly returned to my old one.
This house is as deep as the 'petite mason' but not as wide or as high. I wanted the same depth so that I can have a rear room etc (dimension), but I didn't want the ceilings to be as high, so the over-all height is (obviously) lower. I am very happy with the over-all proportions...it is important to me to get this correct!!
I love working with 'strip-wood'.....I sit for hours with a bundle of different shapes and sizes to make details such as the 'lip' around the top of the house (where the roof meets the house) and of course the shop front.....I can't wait to get started on the interior, to make wall panelling, floor tiles etc, etc.....if it can be made out of wood, then that is what I choose!
There were/are so many wonderful building in Paris that gave me inspiration for this house and of course the 'petite maison'....but unlike the 'petite maison' this time I do not want all the fancy detailing and corbels etc.....I choose a 'plainer'  (less elegant?) house.
Okay....there you have it.....enjoy!!! Linda x

Progress....?

I have made (some) progress...? I have been making shutters.....10 pair in total. I have not finished them as yet, as I have run-out of 'detailing' and must wait for a 'wood' order to arrive. But I couldn't resist putting the shutters in place to see what it (might) look like when finished. Mmmm.....so far so good????
The exterior is still just the 'raw' craft-wood (MDF). I still have to design and make a chimney, make roof tiles, and sand many (many) little (wooden) cobble stones for the front foot-path. I have a few ideas as to what colours I might paint the exterior....but at present I continue to concentrate on finishing all the work (detailing) before I worry about that too much....but my fingers are itching to get involved with the interior.......!!!
I hope you enjoy seeing what progress I have made so far, it might be more frustrating for you watching the slow progress of this project than it it for me.....because the days I am not working on my house I am playing with little Hudson who is now 9 months old and a total delight!!!

Apricots, lemons, plums & cherries....

These little delights I have just recently purchased from the wonderfully talented Teresa Martinez. I was thrilled to bits when I opened the parcel, thank you so very much Teresa, I adore them!!!

A very quick thank you to those who have emailed me recently to see if I am still about.....the short answer is yes! The long answer is that my eldest daughter was married over the Easter. It was such a special day....who knew that weddings could be so emotional...wow!!! Of course the bride looked gorgeous and the groom was terribly hansome. I shall pop a photo on my blog when it comes to hand (that is if you are interested of course...lol!) Back into my miniatures soon....very soon!!!!

Simply stunning....

This stunning little chair is the most amazing thing I think I have ever seen!! It was made for me by the very talented Catherine of  http://kilmouskiandme.blogspot.com  It arrived this week and to say I am delighted is a total understatement! I hope my photos do justice to this piece...(but I sincerely doubt that they could)....I am so thrilled to have this little delight now in my collection.
Many many thanks (once again) to you Catherine...x

I must add....if you too would like one of these mini works of art (in the choice of your own fabric) please contact Catherine through the above link....you will NOT be disappointed.

Sewing box kit....

Kits offer so much satisfaction....and this sweet little sewing box kit which I completed recently was no exception. I am sure I will find a place (somewhere) for it in my new project. Gosh!!!!....I really must think of a better name than...'new project'!!!!

Enjoy your week-end. x

Sampler....

I bought this gorgeous little printed sampler at SIMP last year....and finally yesterday I made a frame for it. I love the detail of the sampler and I think it would make a very pretty addition to any miniature room
.
For those of you who very kindly ask about the 'next house'.....well what can I say?? I have the house (box) built and I have had the design drawn for the shop front...(yes, there is to be a shop)...for well over 2 years now, but sadly nothing more!! My iPad is full of photos I use for inspiration and I have collected many many miniatures, but none-the-less it all sat idle. BUT...this week as if by magic (or was that Catherine constantly willing me on?) I have started the shop and thoroughly enjoyed every mitre cut I made. The shop front is now finished...but not painted...and I am thrilled with it and happy to say that my enthusiasm has returned!! I am not to sure as to when I will show my progress....but I am happy to say that (finally) there is progress!!!

A Very Merry Christmas

I am wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and hope that 2013 brings you health and happiness.
The photo is of course 12th scale miniatures, just a few new pieces I have added to my collection lately.....nothing nicer than pink bubbles and cheese cake.....Enjoy x

SIMP 2012....

I have been terribly slow to photograph some of my purchases from SIMP this year.....but I expect that it is better late than never?
I am drawn like a moth to a flame to certain miniaturists and here are but a few. The fabulous little folding...(yes, folding!!..) French bistro chair is made by French miniaturist Catherine Soubzmaigne. Most of you may recognize the beautiful white pottery by Elisabeth Causeret (it is so fine and delicate), she also made the blue cup & saucer, while the box of French sweets is from 'Paris Miniatures'.
I bought the lovely hat from Lea Frisoni, it is so sweet and even features a hat pin. The gorgeous (fixed) display that you see on the seat was a gift from Lea, I was so excited when she handed it to me....a beautiful little souvenir of my time in Paris.
Peiwen made the amazing 'open tins' of food.....I soooo love these, plus I also bought her book, what a delight that it!! I might never make anything from the book, but I enjoy seeing the process that goes into make such delights.
Lastly, a selection of pots. I'm not sure of the maker of the round pots but the embossed planters are from 'Le miniature de Eurosia'. I hope to fill several of these with 'ariculas' (kits) that I also bought from Pascale Garnier.
.....sorry it took so long to do 'show & tell'....! I have only one regret and that is that I won't be at SIMP next year!!!!