Welcome...

...again to a new friend on my followers list: Christine from Queensland.  Christine can be found at Hollyhock Cottage – a miniature home in the 1940s  and has even found the time to give her followers quite a write-up.  I can only do that if I keep on top, but mostly I lack the time.  (Been following too many blogs!!!)  Anyway, a warm welcome Christine and as you seem to live so close (where exactly?) we are bound to meet one day! :-)  I will be following you on your endeavours to build that beautiful cottage.

And now I am off to do some casting and I am also trying to throw a little cabinet together for my witch's house.  Inspiration is lacking, but if I persevere it might come back.

See ya and have a lovely day (or night, depending on where in the world you are)
Marion

Paperclay workshop

I've done it!  On Saturday and Sunday we've finally done the workshop that I have been preparing for for so long and I must say, it was worth every minute I spent on the preparations.  I was nervous and had butterflies in my stomach, but in the end it was a fulfilling experience.  As you can tell from my witch's house, I love working with paper clay and it felt great to share this love with other people who now know how to use it to its full potential.  My younger son also came along and took care of part of the workshop.  We needed a flickering light for the fire place and he, the electronics wizz he is, had put a kit together for people to solder the parts and make their own flickering light.  I don't have all the photo's yet of this very pleasant weekend, but will show you here the few I have:

Saturday morning. We're all ready to get stuck into it.

Demonstrating how to score the floor boards.

No, that glass of wine isn't mine. :-) Like Rik I demonstrate parts of the workshop at each person's table in turn.

Checking if everything lines up.

The soldering class. The tutor is behind the camera. ;-)

This clever lady knew that stonemasons leave their mark in their work.

A room with space to move. (slightly bigger than the others')

As you can see, this weekend also was our 'Christmas in July' celebration. Here in Australia it's always very hot at Christmas time and for years now people have been celebrating a watered down version in July. For us the coldest time of the year, although up here in Queensland you can't even call a winter cold. Anyway, a good reason to have a nice Christmas dinner and presents. It was good fun. We always have a 'Secret Santa' after dinner. We all bring and receive a small present.

And who do you think received this cute little cradle??? Yes, my 36y old bachelor son! LOL Fortunately I received a beautiful 'silver' bottle opener in the shape of a dolphin, so we quietly swapped and are both happy.

"Santa" was also happy for a while. He gave out the parcels and received a hug and a kiss from every woman. He wasn't so happy anymore when the men got up to receive their parcels and wanted to bestow the same kind gesture on him!!!! :-)

After that we worked till late in the evening and most got up early on Sunday morning, eager to finish their work. We hardly stopped for lunch and morning- and afternoon tea, which was a shame, because the food, prepared by our hostess, was delicious. And then, finally, it was time for a last picture and our farewell BBQ.

The group proudly showing off the results of their hard work.

My 'Scrooge' workshop, as I call it, because my setting is going to be the abode of Scrooge (Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol) had an unexpected spin-off.  Did I think all the hard work was done??? Not quite.  Everybody liked the door, window and shutters so much (they were the resin casts for which I had been making the moulds a while ago), that they wanted to order extra sets, so I have presently gone back to casting. And dear son is getting some extra flickering light kits done and is soldering a few as well, because not everyone wanted, or had the time, to do the soldering themselves.  Never a dull moment in this household.......... ;-)  Mmmmm, should I start thinking about an Etsy shop?  What do you think???

See ya
Marion

Back again

I would have liked to post a little bit more often, but what with the workshop preparations and travelling I didn't get much done.  However, with the workshop out of the way (yes, it was last weekend!) I may be able to get a bit more done.  We had a great weekend, but I haven't got any pictures yet, so I will leave the story about that till later.  In the meantime though, I have been able to finish something I have been working on and I want to show you.  It's a little pram, and with little I mean a 12th scale pram for a dollshouse doll. ;-)

I'd put it together a while back, but didn't have the tools to finish it.  Looks cute, doesn't it.  I like wicker work and hope to do a bit more in the future, but then, my list of what I'd like to do is getting rather long.....

This was a kit, put together by my friend Dorothée in New Zealand.  She's the one that also made the beautiful chair in my witches house that I have made unrecognisable, because when she gave it to me it was pristine and white. She didn't mind though. :-)

I also want to welcome quite a number of new followers/friends, because in my absence the list has grown remarkably long.  I still can't get over it that so many people visit my humble blogs.  I hope I really have to offer you something from time to time.  I have visited all your blogs, people, and so I have been able to add a few feeds to my list as well, because they are all worthwhile a visit.  I don't have the time to mention what every single blog is about.  You'll just have to go and have a look for yourself.........

So, welcome to:
Mirel Korhonen from Helsinki at Minimami
Marleen from The Netherlands at Marleen's Miniaturen
Karin Caspar from Germany at Karin Caspar Handgemachte Miniaturen in 1:12 und 1:144
Lorraine at DflyCreations
Caseymini at Casey's Minis
Jonna "Rudoo" at Buggaboos
Glenda Howell at Peppercorn Minis
Lisa Johnson-Richards at Miniature Doll Artist & Couturiere
Sylvia from The Netherlands at Lotjes Dollshouse
Lainie Ball at Lainie's Little Things
Debbie from Wales UK at Tiny Treasures
Linda at Linda's Minis
Janny Warnaar from The Netherlands at Art of Mini

Again a warm welcome to you all and I hope I can keep you interested.  I am not posting very often, but will do the best I can.  There are also a few people that don't appear to have a blog or a website.  Please let me know if you do have one and I'll link your sites: doc, Shelly and Sibiha.  Of course, welcome to you too.

That's all for today folks.  I am going to add something new to my witch's site as well.  So, please come along......

Bye for now

Marion

A blond moment.....

It must have been the very tiring weekend, because I just had very blond moment!  I've just removed my posting for today, because it wasn't until I published it that I remembered that I had been repeating myself. Bad memory? Me???

Well, I'm off to bed now.  I'm knackered.  No posting, no pictures, no nothing......... LOL

See you tomorrow

Marion

A short break from minis

You won't see me here for a week or so.  Frank and I needed a short break and have packed the campervan. I have taken some kits with me, but knowing myself, I don't do a lot when I am "on the road".  If you want to you can follow us on Young Pups rond Australia.  We have also taken our little cat.  Hope she likes the travelling as much as we do!  See you in a short while...