Spell Candles

Eucalypta got up early this morning and when she stepped out she discovered a full box of spell candles on her doorstep.  There's a choice of black or white ones.  Don't know what the difference is (except for the colour LOL), but Eucalypta will know!

As you can see I always have problems with applying decals.  The 'spell' has gone from the candles. ;-)
Well, let's say it got damaged in transport....

This will be the last item for a while, as I am going away for a few weeks and when I come back my witch's cottage is going on display at the Brisbane Club's Open Day on the 19th of September.  I had hoped to have it finished, but I'll just have to call it 'work in progress' at little bit longer.  I received the clear resin for the swamp last week, so want to have a try and finish that before I leave, so it gets plenty of time to set.

I have noticed that the number of followers is rapidly approaching 100.  I am thrilled.  I will have a giveaway (and will also welcome my recent new followers), but that will have to wait till I am back from holidays.  I am still thinking of something suitable. Ah well, I've got plenty of time to do so while I am relaxing away from home. :-)  In the meantime I would also like to tell you that I so much appreciate all those comments.  Everybody is so kind.  That's what keeps my blogging going.  It's nice to know one has so many friends out there in blog-world.

See you all
Marion

And there is still heaps more space

The cottage only has the one room downstairs.  You would think that it can be filled easily, but I keep finding more space, more stuff in my containers and I keep having all those ideas in my head. So, I've been working hard again. ;-)

Let's see, what are the latest additions?  I have taken a lot of pictures tonight.  I am tired and the light isn't the best, so I'll just post all the piccies I have.  Easier than sitting here and trying to make a choice.  You be the judge of which you like most. :-)

Two canisters made to look like they are made of enamel and two old leatherbound books.

A series of pewter items that I've been painting to look like china.  The pewter isn't Warwick, so not the best quality, but once they're in the cabinet you won't see much of it anyway.

Long ago I have tried my hand at wood turning and this stand was the result, but I never found a use for it.  Well, the owl did!  He's been sitting in my containers for just as long I think and was happy to be let out....

He was sitting on a stack of books, but it was all pottery stuff, so didn't look good.  A router got rid of the books and I've placed him on a stack of real books.  He looks much happier now.

This picture isn't very sharp, but I am not going to take it again. ;-)  It's near my bedtime!!!  It's also a pewter item that has been sitting in my containers for jonks.  It must be really hungry and in search of something to eat.

These mice have already found their diner.... Aren't they cute?  I bought the set at the Convention in New Zealand and knew just where they were going to go: right next to the mouse hole in the wall!  The table is just a place holder at the moment, to fill up the room and next to it an old carpetbag with some paper rolls and a skull.  The things Eucalypta comes home with!!!

Same picture, but with different lighting.  Too dark I think.

A picture of my favorite corner again.  I have now added the little cookbook on the chair.  Eucalypta is a bit like me.  Has no imagination whatsoever when it comes to cooking. ;-)

I don't know if you can see it in the picture, but the mushrooms on the board are the same as the mushrooms in the cookbook!  Actually, it worked the other way around.  I first found the picture of the mushrooms (through the Graphics Fairy site) and then made the mushrooms to look like the ones in the picture.

Just a pretty picture with the sun shining in...

And another one through the front window.

And last but not least, two pictures of the magic wand.  It's laying on the table, but I thought I'd take a separate picture, because it was a bit hard to see on the table.  It's simply made of a toothpick, a fancy bead and a glitter stone.  They were in the stash of beads and things Jody sent me. 

It's later than I thought.  I'm off to bed and will welcome my new followers tomorrow.

Bye for now
Marion

A few more faces

Generally I don't like repeating things that I have made, but the containers with the faces were so much fun to do that I have made a few more: 

The funny little thing on three legs was supposed to be a cauldron, but I realised too late that the shape isn't quite what it should have been and the little attachments for the handle broke off when I started working on it, so I didn't bother.  I might use it as another pot to grow mushrooms in...

I have also put up the birds houses that I received for my birthday.  I was going to use only two of them, but the I thought, why not, I can hang them on either side of the house...  Should I try my hand at making a little birdie too??? Mmmmm, that requires some thinking.

In the meantime I want to welcome a few more followers.  It always pleases me when I see that there are so many people interested in what I am doing.  So a warm welcome to: Marie at Le Petit Monde Merveilleux de Marie and Jeannette Bashore at JRB Creations who I both have been able to welcome on my other blog as well.  So welcome again!  There's also Joy - Adora Bella Minis with no blog or website that I could detect.  Welcome Joy and do you have a blog or website that I can add?

Small stuff

I had a bit of spare time this week and tried to make a few things to fill the cupboard, and some other corners and shelves (later) in Eucalypta's cottage.  So I got the Fimo out (and Sculpey and the rest of the clays, because I use all sorts, depending on what I want to make) and set to work.  Admittedly, I have had a good look around at a lot of your blogs to get some inspiration.  Since I don't have any glass jars yet, besides a pot with wild honey that I used 'as is', I had to come up with something else, so if some of you recognise containers, I must have tried (with the emphasis on 'tried') to copy them.  I don't think you'll mind, as I only use them for my own pleasure.  I am not into selling stuff, so won't make any money using your imagination. :-)  Besides, I am not at all good with working with clay and I can only dream of making scrumptious food like I have seen a lot of you people do.  The mind boggles sometimes and I admire everyone who can work so precisely and so small and produces such perfect cakes, cookies, lunches and what not.  Chapeau!!!

Enough of that.  Here is what I have produced:

On top (you can hardly see it) is my first attempt at a skull.  Not very successful, but I may try again....  On the top shelf the jar with wild honey, a fancy jar (bead and finding) and a pottery jar.  I made a few of those to compensate for the lack of glass jars.  On the next shelf down, a few more pottery jars and another one with a funny face.  On the bottom cabinet besides the jars I have tried to make one of those fancy bottles (with a crooked neck), but wasn't so successful.  You may have seen the originals. Oh boy, what a watered down version this one is!  A lot happier was I with the mortar and pestle (a downright copy of the one in my own 1:1 kitchen and I am really happy with this one) and a delightful little blue-and-white bowl.  The latter I was given by a 12 year old girl who really was a miniaturist in the bud.  She made if of a gumnut and I have always treasured it.  It deserves a place in Eucalypta's cottage.  Behind the doors are a few attempts that don't need to go on show!

This is a close-up selection of the containers I made:  I like the ones with the funny faces.  And like the bottles, these I saw on your blogs as well and they inspired me greatly.  I loved them, and I loved making them too. 

This is the little cauldron for inside the cottage that I made of a large bead some time ago.  It was waiting to be filled with some mushroom and herbs soup (including Eucalypta's other secret ingredients), but I had to wait till I could find liquid polymer clay.  Which I did last week, hence the final picture.

And in preparation of the soup Eucalypta has a board on the floor near the fire with a few of her herbs and mushrooms, which are partially sliced.

Of course, she grows and picks her own mushrooms, although these are different from the ones she's put in her soup.  They grow elswhere, a place deep in the forest, only known to Eucalypta.....  The basket I haven't made myself, the bowl I did.

That's it for now.  More photo's to come when everything is in place.

In the meantime I have gathered a few more followers.  That's great.  Just as well I had something new to show, because that's what you're here for after all......  At least, that's my guess. ;-)

So, a warm welcome to Clara again, but now I have discovered that you do have a blog after all: La vida en miniatura (Life in miniature) and the following people who all have blogs worthwhile visiting:

Tabitha at Tabitha Corsica (something for Alice in Wonderland fans).
Lainie Ball at Lainie's Little Things,
Casey at Casey's Minis,
Janny Warnaar from The Netherlands at Art of Mini,
Kim Saulter at It's a miniature life,
Marit at Black Cat Cottage,
and Jan Squires at The Giddy Kipper (I like the name of your blog!)

I hope you all will enjoy visiting my blog as I do yours.  You're all very inspiring.

Till next time
Marion