It's been a while...

It's been almost a month to be precise, and I have been busy.  Well, busy holidaying, busy whale watching..... :-)  However, I have worked hard as well, because after we arrived back home from our holiday I had to get my witch's cottage ready for display.  Our club had Open Day on the 19th, and I had decided to finally show off with a few items.  Just before I left on holiday I had poured the resin for the water outside the cottage so it would have time to set while we were away and there wouldn't be a chance of me putting fingerprints all over the 'water' while waiting impatiently for it to dry....  I have been in a hurry while taking pictures so I apologise for the quality:

After that something funny happened.  We were preparing to get the cottage on a kind of turn-table, you know, a 'lazy-susan' and needed to fit a battery pack underneath, so I was going to lift it up from its crate on which it stood while I was working on it.  I lifted it.  Well, I tried!  I couldn't remember it being so heavy!  Tried again.  It wouldn't budge.  Know what happened???  The resin had seeped between the base and its frame and had set on top of the crate, so in effect it had glued the whole frame to the crate.  Luckily we could prise it loose without too much damage...

While I was at it I have taken a few more piccies of the inside:

This was just enough for the display, although I am still working on a few bits and pieces.  When I have finished downstairs there's still upstairs to do as well.  It's probably going to be Eucalypta's bedroom, but to be honest, I am getting a bit weary of working on this project.  I'd rather do something else for a while, so when downstairs is finished I'll move on to something else for a while.  In the meantime, this is what I have done today.  It's a chest filled with odds and ends.  My mind wanders off now and then and I was thinking about the locks and keys that I had bought the other day.  Suddenly I needed a chest which could be locked and here it is:

In front is a little rug, printed on paper and I liked what I saw, so it's going to be printed on fabric and will go into the cottage as well.  Next is the little wall table in the corner that needs to be finished and my scariest plan is to work on the owl.  I have bought beautiful feathers and I would like to try and make it into a real owl, but I'm scared that I can't pull it off.  Well, there's only one way to find out.  Do it!!!  I'll let you know the outcome....

And then over to all my new followers that I have neglected for so long.  So first a warm welcome to a few new friends and not so new friends, because there are a number of people that are also following my other blogs.  In that case, welcome again.  And who are they?  I am going to say hello to:

Bastrota from Germany at Bastrotas Blog,
Tori, my daughter-in-law to whom I also have said hello on my other blog.  She doesn't have a blog, but is an excellent scrapper when she's got the time between family, work and study!
Ana at Mi mundo en rosa,
Otterine at Otterine.com blog,
Susy at Susy cottage,
Jaime Folk at A Little roomer by Jaime,
M Carmen Casanova at Mini shabby,
Beatrice at Les miniatures de Béatrice.

Be sure to visit the blogs.  There's so much interesting stuff.

Furthermore I noticed a few people for whom I couldn't find a blog or website.  I would love to show them, so if you do have one, please let me know and I add them to the list.  A warm welcome also to you: Yayin, Catherine and aproshkina.

And of course I am happy to see so many followers.  I know we've passed the 100 already, and even before my other blog got that far, but I find it very difficult to think of a giveaway for this blog, staying in the theme of witches.  So please bear with me, when I have finalised the draw for my other blog I will try and come up with something for this one to thank you all for showing so much interest.

That's all for now, I'm off to bed...

Marion

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

A new corner cabinet

Slowly inspiration is coming to me, but every so slowly.......  Eucalypta needed a cabinet for storage, but I couldn't make up my mind.  Finally I settled for a corner cabinet.  Not too big, because it's only a small cottage and big funiture doesn't look good. I didn't feel like working with wood, so I dug out some cardboard from a box under the bench and set to work.  Here is the result:

I didn't really want some old looking cabinet.  Eucalypta is entitled to some good stuff too, don't you think?  It's amazing what you can do with card and a few embellishments.  I painted it a very dark red, because I don't like too many different colours in any particular setting.  I think it's more pleasing for the eye this way.

Now I need to fill this cabinet.  I wish I had some glass bottles that I could fill.  I'll have a good look and in the meantime will try and think of a few other things.  I'll show you when I've got something to fill this and who knows, I might also get inspiration to make some more furniture.

I might as well welcome two more followers: Francesca (Chipironini) at Petitissim who makes beautiful baby dolls and Clara who doesn't seem to have a blog.  Welcome to both of you and I hope you'll enjoy following my blog.

See ya,
Marion

New shoes

What's a witch without shoes?  That's what a good friend of mine thought! Nadia came to my workshop at the weekend and had a present for me.  Uhhhh, no, not for me.  OMG I nearly stept on Eucalypta's toes....... (pardon the pun).  A present for Eucalypta.  How she knew her size, I don't know, because Eucalypta is currently packed away, or shall I say: "Not At Home"......  So, therefore I have put her new shoes under the chair near the fire.  When she comes home she'll enjoy nice warm shoes:

They look so lovely.  I am thrilled.  I should be working on the cottage a bit more.  Will do my best!

In the meantime I discovered that in our absence we have gained a few more followers.  I really need to start thinking about a giveway for when I reach 100!!!!

But first things first.  A warm welcome to:

Kriana at Miniaturas Kriana
I think a group of miniaturists (?) at Casitamini (I don't understand Spanish that well ;-))
Karen Casper from near Cologne, Germany at KC Design
Tebbina from Germany (?) at Tebbinas Traum
Lorraine at DflyCreations
Jonna "Rudoo" at Buggaboos
Allyson at Free Spirit Farm
Linda at Linda's Minis

And then there are also Ria van Woggelum who I know, but Ria, I can't remember if you have a website or not.  Please let me know, and there's also Miniaturemaid for whom I couldn't detect a link.  Anyway, welcome to both of you as well.

And this is really it for now.  It's nearly dinner time and I am famished.  See you later.....

Marion