Back to Work Tomorrow!

My Christmas break is over. A lot of it has gone towards attending to family matters but I did do a little bit of playing with minis.

 

The most exciting mini-related thing though is receiving two wonderful Christmas swaps from fellow miniaturists. I participated in Fabiola's 2014 Christmas Chain Swap and my swap partners were Fabiola and Drora.

 

Unfortunately I was late sending my gifts to my swap partners due to unexpected family matters and I thank them for their understanding. I cannot post photos of what I sent them yet until I know they have arrived safely.

 

From Fabiola I received the most delightful kitchen set in a blue checked fabric - apron with spoon (with 'S' embroidered on the pocket), bread bag, pot holder and cloth. Also enclosed was a delightful 'Home Sweet Home' picture.

 

 

From Drora I received a lovely little toy shelf, rubber doll (which I will create a garden ornament with), a cute little water dispenser which has a light in it, some beautiful flowers and a dainty little shell trinket box.

 

 

I just adore the tiny shell trinket box. Inspired I even went to the beach the other day hoping to find some small shells to make a shell mirror frame but unfortunately I couldn't find many small shells at our beach, only lots of broken bits of larger shells. The trinket box is currently sitting on a vintage Japanese dresser in my vintage house The Laurels.

 

 

The lovely flowers from Drora have found their way into a vintage vase in The Laurels.

 

 

I was away with my sisters last weekend and when I got home my husband and daughter had moved my craftroom to the biggest brightest room in the house so I can have most of my houses and miniature related items in one place and a good space to do my miniatures in - a lovely surprise. My daughter has voluntarily moved into the smallest bedroom in the house. They are both keen that I spend more time doing my hobby. It also means my daughter Jamie has space in the craft room to do things if she wants to join me.

 

Before I went away I reviewed some of the houses in my collection. The Victorian kitchen in the Del Prado house has been moved into my vintage house, The Laurels. What I had made for the Del Prado has been mixed with my vintage kitchen miniatures. I still need to get some flooring and paper for the room.

The cook is making use of the lovely swap gifts from Fabiola.

 

My Del Prado house will now become a more modern house and will house the furniture my Dad made. I am thinking that rather than adding the room on the top left of the house I will instead create a roof-top garden/entertaining area. It will be a basic house with a kitchen, living room, parent's room, girl's room and boy's room. That way I can use a mix of girls and boys toys in the house.

Now for my attempts at polymer clay.

 

Most of my first attempts at making items from polymer clay went in the bin, but eventually I started having a little success.

 

First I made these two plates from a mould I made using 'Mold Maker'. The flower pattern is from an old button.

 

 Then I made some strawberry roll cakes loosely based on a tutorial on You Tube by Sugar Charm Shop. I cannot take credit for the lovely strawberries and kiwifruit. These were cut from canes I won via a giveaway from Lisa at Mini Addictions which included some polymer clay and related items. I don't think I am quite ready for canes yet but I am definitely going to give them a try.

 

Today I made the little plates the cakes are on and the candle holders and candles. The plates were my own design.The candle holders were based loosely on a tutorial in the book Making Dolls House Miniatures with Polymer Clay by Sue Heaser.

 

I have a long way to go with polymer clay but I am determined to persevere as the possibilities are endless.

 

Well back to work tomorrow but I am going to try to get in my craft room some evenings from now on so my hobby isn't just contained within one or two hours each weekend. Hopefully I have something else to show you very soon.