Merry Christmas

Hi everyone.
Sorry I know I haven't posted anything in a while. I was looking around my house and thought I would share with you photos of the Christmas decorations I have made. Over the years, I now realise there are quite a few!

This was one of the first. The reindeer all had antlers made of twigs which over the years have all snapped off! - I really need to replace them.

This was a weekend project - pre kids. I made this with a group of ladies, we even created the face and hands from fimo. Just a simple calico bag for the body, filled with kitty litter! Everyone made different coloured Santa's. Mum made a blue one. They all looked fantastic.

These were so easy to make. I purchased the material off Trade Me. Attached it to canvas, then added puffy paint for the snow, and glitter for some sparkle, as well as some Christmas themed buttons.

I think I may have blogged about this project. A 1/4 scale Christmas shop with house above. The inside slides out of the exterior to be viewed. Made with Linda from Enchanted Gardens in Christchurch.

I think my favourite part is the little rocking horse. This was a metal charm which I painted. 

Below "normal" sized knitting! Pattern by Jean Greenhowe. The kids love them. (I quite like them too!)

Another project made with help from Linda. I have a blog post about this one as well. I still can't believe we made the piano!

Below: filled miniature bottles. My "Merry Christmice" feature in a previous blog.

The gingerbread house was a quick workshop I took with some ladies at our Christmas Miniaturists meeting last year.

And of course, Santa's workshop room box... (I keep adding to this, and sneaking some toys out during the year to be used in other projects. Shhh... don't tell Santa, I still want him to visit me this year!)

This is a scrapbook beyond the page item I made around 2010. Each "page" has a photo of each of my children on their first Christmas day.

This little item (yes it is the size of a normal matchbox) was made from a kit by the very talented Jewel Lewis.

Needle felted snowman. His knitted scarf has red sparkles in the wool.

Advent Calendar. Each day you pull out one ornament from the box and arrange it on the inside to create a nativity scene.

Jewellery Christmas Tree. This is another item I have blogged about. Made using broken jewellery, etc. - anything sparkly. The photo really doesn't do it justice.

Putz Houses- this item was a Mini Club workshop this year (2016) taught by Jackie. It sits inside a frame and can be hung on the wall, or sits on a shelf. 

This is my latest project, which I made this week. So much fun, I had the kids making them on the first day of their school holidays, but then just had to have a go myself. So easy, you can find templates on line - use colouring pages, embroidery templates, any kind of picture that takes your fancy really. Trace the item onto card, then fill it in with sequins and/or glitter. Pop it in a frame and you have some great looking artwork for the wall.

NB: You don't have to limit yourself to Christmas themed items.

Happy Holidays everyone, and stay safe.

New Regent Street Shops

The lovely Linda Laurenson from The Enchanted Garden in Christchurch created these gorgeous shop kits. I purchased mine earlier this year, and have (very) slowly been making progress. There are three shops to make, and I thought I would share with you one I have just about finished.

As these are half scale (1:24th) I am finding it rather difficult to find any premade items to purchase, so I have made just about everything. (I think Linda decided to do this on purpose, just to ensure we get a bit more creative!)

I have created a bead shop in my blue one. I made everything except for the table and two chairs upstairs, I spray painted these white with enamel paint, as they were a dark brown colour which didn't really fit in with the rest of the furniture.

 

The front part of the shop just lifts off the base, enabling you to view inside.

Close up views:
Top Floor: This is where the workshops and parties are held! The table at the back has presents and birthday food on it, including a big chocolate cake (made from buttons and modelling paste - quicker than fimo and real cake, as you don't have to bake it!) I think I will add some more to this floor, as it looks a bit bare at the moment.

Bottom Floor:

Here's a photo of some of the New Regent Street shops in "real life":

 

I had to visit, to get ideas, such a lovely area of Christchurch, New Zealand. Linda matched the paint colours exactly. Now, on to the next one...

 

Hand Made Christmas

Here we are in July already, with Christmas just around the corner!  I thought I would share with you what my family did for Christmas last year (2014).

 

Usually with my side of the family we buy presents for the children; and each adult buys a $10 present which works kind of like a lucky dip - with  exchanging options. Most of us are great bargain shoppers. It's amazing what you can buy on special for $10.

 

However during Christmas 2013 (probably inspired by Kirstie & Phil's Christmas series!) I suggested that we make something for the following year. Names in a hat, make something (spending up to $20 on materials etc) for the person you get.

 

I was to make something for my brother - a keen hunter. This is the painting I made for him. On each side I put photos from his hunting trips (secretly sent to me from mum and dad).

 

 

The week before Christmas,  my husband declared there was no way he was making anything, he'd buy it! "Oh no you don't!" - was my response.  He did make the present himself (albeit with some direction). A lovely necklace and bracelet for my sister-in-law. (Sorry - I only took photos of the bracelet.)

 

My sister created this amazing coffee table for Mum. She recycled some wood out of her hot water cylinder cupboard.

 

Mum made these gorgeous ladies with Powertex for me. They look great against the light coloured brick of my house. (Even better when the sun is on them!)

 

Dad crafted these wooden kitchen utensils and chopping board for my sister.

 

My sister-in-law made these yummy chocolate mud cakes for my husband - which he kindly shared with everyone.

 

My brother (a registered master joiner) gave a voucher to our Dad promising to make him some cupboards to his design. I will have to see if this had been completed!

I hope this inspires you to make something for your family and/or loved ones. Whilst it takes a bit more thought and time, it really is wonderful what you can do if you put your mind to it.

Art Deco Miniature Screen Scene

Most of the members of Garden City Miniatures have been working on this little project since the start of the year. We finished the last workshop yesterday.

We meet on the third Saturday of the month at St Marks Church in Opawa, Christchurch. This was an ongoing project, Judy Straw was the main tutor, with other members of our club tutoring different workshops. We could choose which ones we wished to partake in.

The photos in this report are all of my own creation - mistakes/alterations/amendments/deletions/additions included!

The first workshop, was to decorate the base and screen, and put it all together along with the black shelves. (Sorry I don't have any photos of this.)

This is the front view of the finished product:

And with a NZ $2 coin for size comparison:

And the back view:

Close up view of the jewellery and precious bottles:

When we made the clock, candle stick & snuffer - I decided to add my little doll dressed in lacy black (a purchase from Convention last October).

I added a crystal bottle (piece of broken jewellery to the middle back of the display. (Hard to photograph - but it is there!).

Next to the hand holding the necklace, I added two handbags (actually buttons), and the small change purse (which is a bracelet charm with the jump ring snipped off!)

I was away from Club on the month the hats where made, so I made this pink little number at home - trying to recall the method from a workshop I attended around 5 years ago! My 8 year old son informed me I needed to include a mirror - so this is a little hand mirror charm I had, painted silver with the addition of a small piece of miniature mirror (easily cut with scissors) attached.

This shelf is different to everyone else's. I think the original sample had the shoes (from the box underneath) displayed on this shelf. I kept the shoes in the box, and tucked the shoe horn in beside them. The vase on the right is a bead from the Oamaru Bead Shop, with feathers; the middle "glass vase" another bead I purchased at our Club Garage Sale in May.
I made the tissue box out of square dowel, wrapping paper and 1 ply of  real tissue paper. The handbag in front is another "clip" handbag. (On the original sample this handbag is displayed beside the hand.)

 

 

I love this little bag we made, it even has four little silver pins underneath making it look very realistic.

The last workshop day, we could choose to make a silver drape (to go over the chair); an Art Deco wooden chair and a fox fur. I didn't make the drape, but I did make the chair and the very gorgeous fox fur. (Very un-p.c. these days, I know, but all the rage in the 1920's!) And don't despair,only acrylic (I think!) fur and fimo was made to create him.

I really enjoyed making this project, and I think it will look quite nice in my bedroom. Thank you for taking the time to have a look.