linsminiartform

Almost there with the seafood!

2012-01-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

I'm actually getting to the end of the seafood commission...it seemed to take such a long time to get all those suckers on the octopii!
Thank goodness my lovely customer is patient...it seems to have been very hard to get back "into the swing" of creating after Christmas & New Year...I was beginning to feel that I was "burnt out".....don't suppose the cold from hell helped too much.....

Here they are...a basket of squid on ice .......

& a basket of octopus on ice........

I hope they fit in the fishy scene just fine!

Can you take more seafood......

2012-01-14T12:16:00.000-08:00

Not too unusual this time....Just a bucket of fresh King scallops. Still part of the ongoing seafood order, but I'm beginning to feel as though I'm making an impression on it!

There may be more to come...can you take more seafood!?

Starfish this time!

2012-01-10T09:53:00.000-08:00

Ok...still in the unusual seafood mode, I was making starfish in a crate (actually a handwoven square basket!) as part of the ongoing seafood commission & as I had a sea urchin left over, I ended up making more & more starfish!

The original commissioned piece

They were actually quite addictive to make!
So, obviously I then had to make another basket/crate to accommodate the overflow & thus the starfish & sea urchin crate was born!
Does anyone actually eat starfish.......

And the excess starfish!

Seafood delights!

2012-01-07T03:45:00.000-08:00

I'm working on a seafood commission at the moment & needed a bit of light relief from adding thousands of spikes, 1 x 1, to the sea urchins! Crazy or what?
So I thought I'd procrastinate a little & show you the finished piece before I get back to work...I swear that I'm seeing purple/black spikes everywhere I look!

Happy New Year to everyone too!

A time for weddings!

2011-12-21T02:31:00.000-08:00

I'm not at all sure just why people decide to get married at the busiest time of the year...but would you believe that 2 family members ( the hubby's side...not mine!) decided to get married - one on the 17th Dec & the next on New Year's Eve! Wonderful....one the week before Christmas Day & one the week after.....&, on top of that, they are in opposite ends of the country!
The one in London is over & as a Christmas present for the newest member of the Cummings clan, I have just finished making a miniature replica of the brides wedding cake.....thank goodness it was a simple, classic design! Hopefully she'll like it!

oops...wishing my life away!

2011-12-14T11:58:00.000-08:00

Oh dear....I know I can't wait for Christmas to be over for another year but even I was surprised to see that when watermarking my latest auction...a lemonade & cookie display (see I'm already thinking of summer!) I actually put 2012 instead of 2011 & just didn't notice!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110794666993?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649#ht_2432wt_1392

Here is the offending photo & for some reason I can't get my photo editing programme to change it so...here's to 2012!

Have a wonderful Christmas everybody & here's raising a glass of lemonade :-)) to a healthy & happy 2012!

A touch of nostalgia & a talented friend's blog!

2011-12-12T13:01:00.000-08:00

I told you that I was finished for Christmas this year...wouldn't it be better if we could only celebrate it once every , say, 5 years!!
Before everybody shouts "Bah Humbug" & "Scrooge" (yes, I'm the original scrooge lol) at me, I thought I'd share 2 things with you poor, long suffering blog readers....
First...a touch of nostalgia...does anyone remember those sugary sweet pink & white mice from their childhood.....

& here's the "real" thing...yes, you can still buy the "real" thing!.... with tiny clay ones marching up its back!

Now I'd love you to take a look at my friend Aleah Klay's blog...she makes the most gorgeous teeny, tiny, cute animals...I know, I'm lucky enough to have a couple!

http://aleahklay.blogspot.com/

I've had enough of Christmas......

2011-12-08T11:38:00.001-08:00

It hasn't even got here yet & I'm fed up with Christmas already! I've had enough of making Christmas cakes & cookies & gingerbread men etc etc etc....so.....I remembered those little rose cupcakes I made a while ago & yay..I had enough left to put together this little sugar crystal filled vase!

It was so good to meet some of my internet friends at Kensington on Saturday....hello Rosanna! Now I've got tp try & make a start on the "real" preparations for Christmas.......

A week to go..panic is setting in!

2011-11-25T09:36:00.001-08:00

Oh Oh...only a week to go..this time next week, I'll be down "in the smoke" unloading the car ready for an early start on Sat morning.......panic.....perhaps I'll be ready...perhaps I won't!

This is one piece, made with real love, that will be coming with me...you'd be amazed at the many, many hours that have gone into every tiny individual piece on this rack. If I ever needed evidence that I'm totally mad, this must be it! Anyway here it is....my overfilled baker's rack of goodies!

Confused & a load of washing up to get done!

2011-11-19T11:38:00.001-08:00

OK....maybe I'm too old for all this social networking lark, but why all of a sudden do all the postings that I put up either on my blog or on facebook or twitter appear over & over again on facebook?...I'm beginning to feel as though I'm spamming......

Maybe that's made me feel so disinclined to tackle the pile of washing up after a spag bol & salad...all volunteers welcome! -)

Meat, meat & at last a finished lobster pot!

2011-11-16T05:58:00.001-08:00

Kensington is looming so quickly now that I'm feverishly trying to get enough stock made to fill my table....
Over the last few days I've been concentrating on the "meaty" pieces & I must admit I've enjoyed the change from the usual sweet things!

I also actually got round to putting some European lobsters into the fabulous lobster pot (I've only had it on my workbench since May!) that I got at Kensington from the immensely talented Lidi Stroud http://intominis.com/service1.html & it is an exact replica of the one I used to have myself in my days in Cornwall.....How I miss those fabulous freshly caught lobsters, there's nothing to touch them!

A Christmas Cake That's Just A Little different!

2011-11-12T09:43:00.001-08:00

After the sheer concentration that went on creating the special wedding cake tea tray, I decided I'd better get back to Christmas as Kensington show is 3 weeks today...HELP...how did that creep up so quickly on me! I just don't know how anybody can make enough stock to do more than 1 show a year...even enough for one 3 day show would be impossible for me...there just aren't enough hours in the day. If anyone has any spare that they can send me I'd be really, really grateful! :-)
BUT...as usual, I got so sick of making the ordinary Christmas cakes that I went off on a tangent (which is not unusual for me!) & this little "snowball" Christmas cake was suddenly born!....I guess I'll have to get back to making the more classical kind now though!

How's this for a wedding cake?

2011-11-07T16:02:00.000-08:00

Some time ago I was asked to recreate a wedding cake in miniature & of course said "yes"....a dangerous word for me...before I'd really taken a good look at the photo I had been given....oh oh! This was some intricate cake...although I'm not at all sure how the wedding guests got to eat it as it's an ornate teapot & 4 cups filled with tea coloured roses & a sugar bowl full of coloured "sugar" cubes all sitting on a tray!

I really didn't think that I'd actually manage to replicate such an ornate piece in miniature but after working on it exclusively for 3 days & nights I finally finished it tonight & guess what...I LOVE it & am actually quite sad to see it go to the lady who commissioned it...I would love to keep it in my collection :-(

I'm not too sure that I'd want something like this for my wedding cake though!

Christmas is coming after all!

2011-11-03T13:26:00.000-07:00

OK so I give in...Christmas is on the way...still too quickly for me.
It hasn't been a good week for me this week, my much loved black labrador died on Monday morning & I miss him terribly...he used to go everywhere with me..even to the loo! The house is just not the same :-(

I thought perhaps the idea of all this chocolate ( except it would need to be real!) might cheer me up a little!

Forget Christmas!

2011-10-29T03:48:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to forget that Christmas is rushing towards me now....each year it becomes more & more of a nightmare knowing what to get for kids that have everything, so I try to bury my head in the sand & pretend that I won't have to actually take the plunge & buy something...anything. Once again, I'll be panicking at the last minute

To take my mind off the Christmas nightmare I've been making some shellfish instead of the Christmas puds, cakes, mince pies etc etc...... & here is the finished product!

Some filled jars for a friend!

2011-10-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

Half term has sort of got in the way of mini creation since I came home from holiday...the kids & I have been visiting quite a few of the North East's attractions..if you ever find yourself in Durham try Beamish Museum..it's a "living" museum & a wonderful insight into the life of miners & farmers & their families in the 1800's.
I have managed to finish some jars for a good friend & I hope she likes them!

It's SO cold here!

2011-10-20T12:36:00.000-07:00

Oh dear...I've come back to earth with a pretty big bump over the last couple of days! I left lovely blue skies & sun with temperatures in the high 30's C to find myself with a maximum of 12 degrees C...brr..I had to buy a quilted jacket to keep me warm & find my fur lined boots to replace my flip flops.....not pleasant!
Not a lot of mini making went on over in the desert, but I did manage to weave 10 baskets while waiting for my lazy daughters to get out of their beds each morning! Here's one of them filled with some shopping.....cheese, baguettes, a squash & fruit!

Last blog before the heat of the desert!

2011-10-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

OK...before I head off for 2 weeks of lovely sun, sea, lots of sand & mojitos in the desert I'll show you one of the very few pieces I've managed to create this past week...we've been having some glorious weather, temps up in the high 70F...so much better than our supposed summer...& there was NO way I could be inside when it's been so nice...consequently my long list of work to do hasn't got much less this week

So, here to celebrate the fantastic year it's been for growing fruit & veg is a little Harvest Cornucopia! Hope you like it!

It'll be making an appearance on eBay around 10th October....while I'll still be soaking up those rays(not to mention the alcohol!!)

Cupcake Overload!

2011-09-26T03:53:00.000-07:00

I think I got a little carried away making these little rose cupcake bouquets! 2 days & 2 nights later, I think I've had more than enough of them now!
They were inspired by the most gorgeous gift rose cupcake bouquets from Mulberry Teacup based in St John's Wood, London & if you should fancy treating yourself or someone special to the "real" & edible kind, check out their site!
http://www.mulberryteacup.com/mulberryteacup/Home.html

I'm off in a few days to have some sun, sea & sand...lots of it.....out in the UAE. Can't wait!

What happened to Autumn?

2011-09-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

I have no idea what has happened to Autumn here in the NE of England...not only did we not have much of a summer....again...but Autumn seems to have skipped straight into winter! It's freezing outside today, a gale is blowing & I swear that's not rain but hailstones battering the windows!
It's so miserable & cold that I've been making winter comfort foods for the last few days...there's nothing nicer than a hearty stew or a rich beef pie so, of course I had to work on the mini version too & here it is! If you get a magnifier you can actually follow the recipe if you want! :-))

Hubble Bubble Toil & Trouble!

2011-09-18T12:22:00.000-07:00

This was great fun, if a challenge to make! A witches cauldron with an octopus type creature being boiled with bones, fingers & eyeballs! The challenging bit came in getting the ladle to "float" above the cauldron whilst pouring out some of the green gunk to be found in the cauldron!

Do you think a witch might actually want a cauldron like this? :-))

More Hallowe'en Goodies!

2011-09-14T04:20:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I'm making Hallowe'en pieces already...it's only September, but as I'm heading off to the desert to see my youngest very soon, I thought I'd better get on with it! That & the fact that I've been asked for Hallowe'en pieces has meant that I've had to....talk about wishing your life away!

I always seem to make life difficult for myself too & instead of putting these little tarts on the usual cakestand, I had to make one myself as I had this picture of a cakestand featuring a witch. Not an easy task for me, trying to make sure that the "plate" was level on the stand was a nightmare...but I won in the end! Now I really fancy a kiln to make my own plates (instead of using clay) & a lathe for wood turning........but I need to win the lottery first!

Mad Hatter's hat cake!

2011-09-07T04:40:00.000-07:00

More fun in the workshop! I was asked some time ago to come up with a Mad Hatter's hat cake that was a little different to the normal....I dragged my feet on this one as I have never been, & don't think ever will be, a fan of Alice in Wonderland .....shock horror! Other than Jefferson Airplane's great classic track, "White Rabbit", there was never an appeal in the books to me either as a child or an adult!
All that aside, once I actually forced myself to get going, I quite enjoyed making this...although it's a little larger than my normal work at just under 2" to the top of the teapot (which incidentally is pouring out hot chocolate & not tea!)...it needed to be this size so that I could incorporate the porcelain teapot without it looking totally out of scale & silly!
Anyway....here it is, I hope you like it! (thank goodness my customer loves it....phew!)

Hallowe'en is coming!

2011-09-02T04:02:00.000-07:00

Hallowe'en is on its way & although I'm not a fan of "themed" work as I have enough trouble kitting out my dolls house as it is & could never imagine changing the pieces displayed inside to fit a particular time of year! One year I did actually decorate one of them for Christmas, but that was the first & last time!

This little piece I had great fun with though & already have ideas for other floating pieces...just not too much time to make them reality....once I've finished feathering cock pheasants though, look out for "floaters" of all kinds!

Choux pastry overload!

2011-08-29T03:51:00.000-07:00

One of many (& varied!) problems I have is that I always, without fail, end up making too much of a particular clay mix & find myself having to make bazillions of one thing! At the minute it's choux pastry! Profiteroles, gateaux St Honore, religieuse, eclairs......anyone got a favourite to make out of choux pastry...I'm running out of ideas!
I did come up with this little concoction of eclairs, choux buns & a profiterole to alleviate the boredom & then decided I'd make an orange gateau St Honore......I have absolutely NO idea whether it's ever been made in an orange flavour, but now there's a mini version with sugared citrus rind as a decoration! I think I'd rather have the chocolate version myself!

Withdrawal setting in!

2011-08-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

Not only am I just about on my knees after having family here for a few weeks...all that cooking & playing with the grandchildren has really taken its toll :-))......but the severe shortage of mini making time is leading to real withdrawal symptoms...I've had to turn to the wine to keep them at bay LOL.
They leave tomorrow & I just know I'm going to miss them all terribly, the place will be soooo quiet...not to mention tidy....all I will be left with is the good old hubby, the dog & the hens & even the dog is too old to play now! BUT, once the bed linens are changed & washed & the house mucked out I should be able to get back into the workshop & catch up a little with the very long list of work I need to get done. Every cloud has a silver lining!
Amazingly, I have managed to make a few pieces in between food shopping, cooking, washing, ironing & vacuuming, not to mention reading ever longer bedtime stories until I need matchsticks to keep my eyes open every night...I think I might sleep for a full day before I get back to "work"!
So here you go 2 of the very few pieces I've actually made in 3 whole weeks......not an impressive work rate!

My version of the classic French dessert Gateau St Honore....chocolate, of course!

& a strawberry torte gateau!

Maybe summer will come back........

2011-08-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

Even though summer seems to have deserted the good old cold & dreary NE of England...beautiful the Cathedral & castle in Durham might be but the weather never is......I couldn't resist putting together my dream al fresco eating food...a jug of red wine, some coarse pate, olives, tomatoes& bread...now all I need is some SUN......please!

Blueberry jam set & a broken jar!

2011-08-13T04:19:00.000-07:00

I've been seeing tiny blueberries in my sleep recently! A jam prep board, 5 filled jars & a broken jar of Heidelbeermarmelade for a friend! I hope you like it! :-))

As I'm totally hopeless at judging the amount of resin I need, I had enough left over to make this broken jar too....this is the English version....blueberry jam & not Heidelbeermarmelade!

Tiramisu!

2011-08-10T08:48:00.000-07:00

I just know I'm going to be frustrated.....the arrival of my grandkids for a few weeks means not too much time in between the washing, ironing, cooking & tidying up....not to mention playing with them :-)).... for making minis! One of their favourite desserts is the scrummy Italian Tiramisu & having made one for their arrival, I just had to make a mini version too!

Workspace chaos!

2011-08-05T10:19:00.000-07:00

Oh dear...why do I seem to be incapable of finishing one thing before starting another? Is it only me or is anybody else afflicted with this problem? In my defence, whenever I'm working on one particular thing, there is always a "waiting time"..either glue, resin or icing needs to set...& in that time, rather than waste it, I start on something else! THAT's why my workspace always seems to be in a chaotic state!

In this photo how many UFO's can you see?....In my defence...again (methinks the lady doth protest too much!"...Macbeth for the uninitiated!) part of this photo is a large commission order & the beginnings of another! As the sun was shining here today & I didn't want to waste it entirely, as the forecast is for heavy rain all weekend, I decided to start on basket weaving 'cos I don't need my magnifier for that & could enjoy the sun whilst doing it..but, guess what...yep....before I've finished one, I try experimenting on another! There's no hope for me really!

The end of strawberry season.....that means jam!

2011-07-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

Sadly, I have picked the last of my strawberries for this year & guess what....I was inspired to put together a little strawberry jam prep board! Yet again, half way through making it, I began to question my sanity when I was making the tiny hulls to put on the chopping board! I persevered though, & here it is!

Then, as I had some resin left over, I remembered the fun I'd had making a broken marmalade jar for the lovely Jeannette http://gardenofminiatures.blogspot.com/ who makes the most stunning flowers & garden scenes, so I made a broken jar of the strawberry jam too!

Oysters, razor clams,scallops, mussels, squid & sea urchin!

2011-07-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

OK...so I'm still in a shellfishy mood at the minute...this little board displays my favourite shellfish...I adore razor clams.... & the wonderful squid....it also has a sea urchin. Now I've never tried it, but I have it on good authority that sea urchin is delicious...is that right & should I move heaven & earth to try & get hold of one to try? :-)

Croissants & marmalade...or chocolate?

2011-07-16T04:59:00.000-07:00

I've been making hundreds of croissants & as a bit of light relief last night, I put this little tray together.
Now which would be better in real life....a warm chocolate croissant with the gorgeous stuff oozing out of it or a warm, buttery plain croissant smothered in homemade marmalade......I think I'd just have to have both!
Apologies to the French for the corruption of the croissant....but I'd rather have them smothered in something sweet like marmalade or syrup than dipped in hot chocolate! :-))

Cherries & pies!

2011-07-11T03:22:00.000-07:00

I've been picking the cherries from my tree before the blackbirds steal them all...it looks like a big Xmas tree at the minute with old CDs hanging from the branches reflecting flashes of light into the house! It has been a great year for the cherries this year & I have so many that I'm struggling to find things to do with them......

Paella!

2011-07-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

I'm really enjoying this "savoury" phase...what a nice change from the sickly sweet, pretty things! I happened to come across these little dishes in my "stash" drawer & even though they are meant to be Chinese woks, I removed the base & decided that they just had to be filled with Paella! I had 2 of them & thank goodness that was all......because rolling those tiny grains of rice nearly drove me mad!
Now I want a visit to Spain just for some REAL Paella!

Squid & Garlic!

2011-07-02T08:28:00.000-07:00

Do you know...it's been so long since I made something savoury & it was really, really good to do something different for a change! Now I've got a real craving for some fresh squid...but sadly, where I am in the North East of England is not a good place to find any :-(.......I'll have to look at the miniature & pretend.......

Summer...at last!

2011-06-27T02:42:00.000-07:00

Yes....finally summer has arrived but it seems that it's only going to last a few days! Wimbledon is in its second week, strawberries are everywhere....so while picking some of my ripening strawberries a couple of days ago the inspiration to create a mini version of the French dessert Le Fraisier was born & here it is! Somehow I don't think I'll be bothering making the real thing......I prefer my strawberries in the simple, good old fashioned English way......with LOADS of fresh English cream!

Broken Jars & Stilton!

2011-06-23T07:18:00.000-07:00

What a contrast! A really lovely "mini" friend asked me to make her a broken jar of marmalade...so here it is! Thank you Jeannette..I really enjoyed doing this one! Then in my usual fashion, I decided that I just had to make a mini Stilton....the cheese I love best in the world, but sadly, can't eat anymore as I've developed a severe allergic reaction to any kind of blue cheese......I still crave it though & making a mini version at least makes me feel as though I've been eating some!

Hidden treasures in my "stock" drawers!

2011-06-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I found this little gem hidden in my "stock" drawer! I made 3 of this last year....1 is in a private collection in the States, the other in my own collection & this poor thing was lurking, hidden, at the back of my drawer! I rather think eBay is calling its name....it'll be listed tonight, as I was so involved in making a replica of the chocolate digestive refrigerator cake that featured in Prince William's wedding that all other work has taken a back seat.....another way of saying that I have nothing newly created to offer for sale! :-))

I have to say that, as usual, the photo just doesn't do this little cake justice! It measures 45mm to the top of the highest spire & the dragon & poisonous mushroom base measures 30mm in diameter.........every little girl's dream birthday cake! LOL

The last of the oranges!

2011-06-11T10:19:00.001-07:00

Hopefully this is the end of the orange making frenzy!

The little basket shows that I wasn't completely on holiday out in the UAE......this is one of quite a few that I made after the serious sunbathing of the day ended & they were made while sipping strawberry daiquiris or mojitos or margaritas....after a while the baskets got better? & god only knows exactly what I was drinking! :-))

Making marmalade!

2011-06-09T06:18:00.000-07:00

I have no idea at all why I decided to put this little display together.......I just had to do it even though it meant that I had to get my resin out & usually I drag my feet about using that icky, sticky stuff...but hopefully I won't need to get it out again for a while!

I even made the tiny jam thermometer......now that was fun to do!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110699525541&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_3178wt_1135

something savoury for a change!

2011-06-04T04:38:00.000-07:00

With 3 grandchildren & their parents here for half term...I think the kids are less trouble than the adults...there has been very little time to get into my mini workshop & one of the few pieces to actually get out of there is this little egg, mixed pepper & olive salad.

I know when they leave for home next week things are going to be very quiet round here...but perhaps I might get some work done...if the sun doesn't shine of course........

The Miniature Way......June 2011!

2011-05-31T15:40:00.000-07:00

Check it out..it's a great read!
http://www.cdhm.org/imag/imag0611.php

Fruit Salad

2011-05-27T11:52:00.000-07:00

Despite an interestingly swollen & discoloured face, believe me, it's enough to frighten children! I've been working on this little fruit salad prep board..never again..it took hours & hours & hours.....& that was just to make each tiny component...putting it together took all night!

Sometimes I think I'm totally mad!

Back to reality with a bump!

2011-05-21T05:56:00.000-07:00

It seems so long since I've blogged & I really shouldn't be doing so now! I have soooo much to catch up on now that I'm back home.....mucking out after a man on his own for 3 weeks is not good news not to mention the backlog of minis that I'm supposed to be making a start on. I think I've got a bad case of post holiday /mini makers "block"...I just can't seem to get back into the swing of things!

It's been a real shock to leave temperatures of 49 degrees to arrive back to grey skies, gales & temperatures of 18 degrees at the most & absolutely no rain at all...the ground is so dry that I'm not sure that my garden is going to survive this year!

I've been busy incubating chicks to add to my hen flock as so many of them are heading the way of the foxes at the minute & having just hatched some cream legbar chicks, I can't wait until they start laying (weeks away yet!) as they lay eggs that vary from olive green to pale blue. So, I decided that if I can't have the "real" thing, the next best was to have them in miniature...hence the "eggy" pieces!

Sun, Desert Sand & Mojitos...here I come!

2011-04-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

The family have just left tonight & I have 2 days to get myself sorted out for a glorious 2 whole weeks (well...nearly 3!) of NO cooking, NO vacuuming..but alas, no mini making either...other than weaving the odd basket while I lounge in the sun in the UAE! Today has been a "killer"...thank goodness the sun was shining...I managed to wash, dry & iron the bedding from 5 beds & even remake them & the last batch of towels are drying now. I'm definitely ready for bed!
Before I disappear for a while I leave you with some sweet nibbles to have with your morning coffee or afternoon tea...just don't sue me if you break your teeth on them! :-))

You can see that I'm STILL undecided over black or white background

Butterfly Cakes...the original cupcake!

2011-04-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

I'm still in "sweet" mode at the minute & decided that it was time to replicate the original cupcake...good old British butterfly cakes. I have wonderful childhood memories of baking day in our house with the delicious smell of cakes baking in the Aga filling the kitchen....it was always a treat to help cut the wings to put on the top of the buttercream & jam filling & no self respecting children's party would be held without these little cakes.

So here we are.....a miniature touch of nostalgia!

A basket for chocolate lovers!

2011-04-11T09:46:00.000-07:00

I've been in a really "sweet" mood recently & am still up to my neck in half finished eclairs, religieuses, viennese fingers & enough icing to keep going for weeks...if not months! I think I'm nearing the end of this particular mood....but who knows!

Kippers anyone!

2011-04-03T10:01:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a commission & this is a "spin off" from it! I'm going to have to go & get myself some kippers now...working on this has made me crave some!

The Miniature Way.....April 2011

2011-03-31T09:53:00.000-07:00

No this isn't an April fool!...check it out...it gets better & better...& that's not just because my foodie article is in this issue......lol

http://www.cdhm.org/imag/0411-15/imag0411.php

Oh well...Spring didn't last long!

2011-03-29T10:04:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty quiet recently...the weather has been so nice (for a change) that I just had to be outside cutting grass & digging over the veggie garden...wish I hadn't done that...I think I used muscles I'd forgotten I had ....I ache absolutely everywhere!
After a day digging & cutting what could be better than a glass of wine & some cheese?.......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110667605634&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_2807wt_1135

Guess what...it's back to winter here...grey, damp & freezing! Good for my aching body though! LOL

Plum pie anyone?

2011-03-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

Little Jack Horner Sat In A Corner.......some little person here is making the pie ready for him to stick his thumb in!

Learn how to sculpt a hollow chocolate egg!

2011-03-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

If you fancy learning a few "inside" secrets on sculpting with polymer clay why not try my class on April 9th & I'll walk you through the steps to make this very tasty (& 0 calorie!) hollow chocolate egg filled with speckled candy eggs! There are still a few places left so why not come & sign up...you won't be disappointed...I promise!

Check the CDHM online only class here:- http://forums.cdhm.org/index.php/topic,11230.msg276148.html#new
As well as the live class with me, you get a comprehensive PDF so you can follow the steps again & again whenever you like! I'd love to see you there! :-))

OK..so I've gone Topiary Tree Mad!

2011-03-12T11:59:00.000-08:00

After actually finishing that poor neglected pink UFO the other day, I've gone absolutely topiary tree mad...just send the men with the straight-jackets round now!

Here's a licorice allsorts tree!

& I thought making all those marshmallows was a pain......try almost 2 days of making licorice allsorts! Totally NUTS!

Now on eBay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110665591976&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_2627wt_1135

Oh so prettily pink marshmallow topiary tree!

2011-03-10T14:58:00.000-08:00

Hooray a long overdue UFO at last finished.....after making all those marshmallows, I got so fed up that the topiary was banished to my "pending".....in other words half finished...pile! Recently though a good friend of mine happened to remind me of how she loves pink...& that was all I needed to finally finish the poor thing!

New on-line class!

2011-03-08T12:22:00.000-08:00

Whether you celebrate Easter or not..let's face it...it's a wonderful excuse to eat chocolate! If you fancy trying your hand at making your own zero calorie 12th scale hollow, cracked chocolate egg filled with tiny speckled candy eggs check this out!

http://www.cdhm.org/tutorials/tuts-pd/classes-0411.php

Strawberries.....roll on Summer!

2011-03-05T11:23:00.000-08:00

I've been busy working through my "stash" of accessories & came across this little double pedestal...think it's only been in my "stash" drawer for a couple of years....somehow it was just calling out to be filled with strawberries for that stylish mini buffet or table centre! It's going on eBay tonight!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110657661595&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_2987wt_1135

French onion soup!

2011-03-02T03:46:00.000-08:00

So much for Spring & the beginning of March...we are back to freezing night-time temperatures & although the days have been beautiful it's so cold out of the sun that I have been making myself one of my favourite, warming comfort foods.....French onion soup.......both 1:1 & 12th!

That little cheese grater made by Carol Lester actually works too! I'm still trying to make up my mind about which is best....a black background or a white one?

Easter....but I'm working on Halloween & Christmas..aarrgghh!

2011-02-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Easter will soon be here but it seems so long ago now that I made my Easter pieces ( I'm sure there'll be more before Easter!) & would you believe that I've been asked to make pieces for Hallowe'en & Christmas.....have I been asleep for months? I'm sure it's only February....isn't it?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110651348075&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT#ht_2659wt_1135

Where is Spring?

2011-02-18T07:56:00.000-08:00

It's grey, cold & miserable outside so I've been trying to bring some sun into my little workshop by making some "sunny" Easter pieces!
They cheered me up for a while..........until I had to venture outside to feed & clean out the chooks......YUK, YUK, YUK describes the weather perfectly.
I hope my little sunny offerings brighten up your day a little!

A new use for rhubarb!

2011-02-13T05:53:00.000-08:00

I can't wait for the first rhubarb shoots to appear in my garden...when they do, I'll know that spring is really here & that summer won't be too far away! It seems to have been a very long winter & here in the North East of England we are back to the grey, miserable days where it just never seems to get light! I'd much rather have those freezing cold, sunny days with the snow on the ground than these never ending grey.....apart from anything else, the snow covers up all the jobs that are crying out to be done in the garden! :-))

Having made the miniature rhubarb, I had a real urge to have some of the real thing & decided to try something just a little different with the last of my frozen rhubarb from last year....instead of a traditional pie with custard, as wonderful as it is, I made a rhubarb meringue pie!...I can recommend it....the tartness of the rhubarb with the sweetness of the meringue...mmmm. Then, guess what, yep, I had to make a mini version! Sadly I couldn't photograph the two together as there wasn't a crumb left from the real thing!

NO phone line = NO internet!

2011-02-05T10:11:00.000-08:00

I'm really struggling right now...the gales have taken out my phone line...so I have NO internet! Went out & bought a Mi-Fi...it's good but the connexion can be a little erratic!So while I'm still connected here's a spin off from a very long overdue bit of commission work... "A Bunch, A Bundle & Loose Rhubarb"!
I'm looking forward to spring & being able to pick some lovely fresh rhubarb!

Some REAL food for a change!

2011-02-01T09:40:00.000-08:00

Just to make a change I've been making REAL foood today! Here's some homemade humous & Baba Ganouj.........I must be missing the UAE a bit today....I just had a real craving for some......even made the pittas to go with them! Just call me "Domestic Goddess" LOL

Is Easter on the way?

2011-01-26T09:45:00.000-08:00

I really think that I'm wishing my life away! Here we are not even through January & I've been working on an Easter table for a customer.....I got a little carried away with the choccie Easter bunnies & eggs!

But then......you can never have enough chocolate......can you?.....

I'm done with Valentines day now!

2011-01-22T08:19:00.000-08:00

This is definitely the very LAST Valentine piece I'm doing this year....thank goodness it's a whole 12 months until the next one! :-))...Champagne, chocolate cake, luxury chocolates & a couple of long stemmed red roses.......so very romantic!

Now it's time to celebrate Burn's Night....25th Jan is nearly here, so here's a Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, with the traditional Dirk to open the haggis with, for all you Scots out there! Have a great celebration!

More mini "love in the air"!

2011-01-13T09:56:00.000-08:00

OK...so where are all these people with romantic "better halves"? If you won't be getting woken up with a romantic (& alcoholic) tray on 14th Feb will you be treated to a decadent basket like this?....I don't need a fortune teller to give ME the answer! LOL

Romance & "all that"!

2011-01-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

Romance is in the air early in my house....I might add not on the hubby's side...I think I'm married to the most unromantic man on the planet! Does anyone get treated to this sort of thing on Valentine's Day....if so, I'd like to hear about it because I just don't believe it happens outside of novels & the cinema!

Back to work & it isn't easy!

2011-01-05T05:53:00.000-08:00

I'm really not a good blogger am I ......over a month since I managed to post...in my defence though, it has been a very hectic month...there was that thing called Christmas in between. My house swells from the relative sanity of the two of us to 12 for the holiday period & the whole time goes by in a bit of a blur for me! Once they all go it takes me so long to get used to the quiet, empty wash basket & not having to run a 24hr restaurant!
Whether it's because of the lack of noise & bustle around me or just the grey miserable January weather, I am finding it really difficult to get back into the creating mood.....definitely a case of "mini-maker's block"!!
I forced myself back into the workshop yesterday & did manage to make these little pieces...as you can see my mind is still firmly attached to alcohol!

Game Season

2010-12-01T06:50:00.000-08:00

It's the season for game & I am getting just a little sick of pheasant, partridge & duck I decided that it was the time to make a version of game that I actually enjoy.....a MINI version! So here's a little game pie prep table featuring authentically feathered mallard drake & cock pheasant....whenever I get the urge to make these feathered game birds, I really question my sanity...every one of those real game bird feathers is scaled down & applied one x one!
I haven't decided yet whether to keep this for myself or take it with me to Kensington this weekend....assuming the weather here doesn't bring the whole country to a complete stop, if it does then I'm definitely keeping it for myself :-))

Sweet Collection

2010-11-08T07:07:00.000-08:00

I have been working night & day to try & make stock for Kensington on the 4th December. You might think that I've got loads of time but I head out to UAE on Thursday this week & have just short of a week when I get back to be ready for the show.....HELP!!

The last few days & nights I've been driving myself totally mad by making thousands of tiny luxury chocolates, the odd mince pie & marzipan Christmas pud cakes.....with a big sigh at 1.45am this morning I fixed the very last chocolate in place....THANK GOODNESS! At the minute I never want to see another miniature chocolate again! Here's a small selection of what has kept me busy for what seems like a lifetime!

The Miniature Way.....November 2010

2010-10-31T17:34:00.000-07:00

http://www.cdhm.org/imag/imag1110.php

Christmas is coming...too quickly for my liking!

2010-10-24T08:21:00.000-07:00

Oh dear...Christmas is looming & more importantly Kensington on 4th Dec! Between now & then, I have the grandchildren for half term & then a 2 week holiday with my youngest out in the UAE....soooo..I'm beginning to panic...stock doesn't make itself & it takes me most of a day & night to make one piece...I think I maybe put too much detail in there! Where are those elves that finish your work overnight when you need them? How wonderful it would be to come down to a workbench, that when you left it was full of UFOs, to find it full of completed work! If anyone has any spare elves please send them my way!

Cornucopia...A Horn Of Plenty!

2010-10-11T03:38:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when Harvest Festival is celebrated & this is my "little" homage to it. I remember as a kid, having to take fruit or vegetables into school for Harvest festival...I wonder do schools still celebrate it in this way?
This was a challenge to myself in a way! It combines both my addictions....basket weaving & sculpting foods..& I was not going to make a cornucopia unless I could manage to weave it instead of sculpting it. I will not be beaten! :-))

Funky, fantasy fungi!!

2010-10-06T09:09:00.000-07:00

No self respecting witch should be without this little pot of fungus growing on their windowsill...after all, you never know when one might be needed for a spell............... :-))

Gingerbread Carousel

2010-10-02T04:57:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure what inspired me to make this little confection but once I'd started I just couldn't put it down until I'd finished it! Would you believe that it took the best part of 3 nights in my sweatshop to create it...but it was worth it...or, at least I think it was!! :-))

3 gaily painted gingerbread horses, on candy poles, circle a cream & fondant iced centre & the top layer of gingerbread is topped with fondant iced gingerbread stars, cream & jelly beans. More jelly beans & cream decorate the edges of the bottom gingerbread base & it measures 38mm to the top star.

It would make a welcome change from the more traditional gingerbread house at Christmas wouldn't it! To make the "real thing" would probably be a whole lot easier too:-))

Colourful Autumn Squashes...."To Autumn"

2010-09-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

I've been busily weaving more baskets whenever I get the chance & as it's definitely Autumn here now, with those lovely misty mornings that turn into hazily sunny days with the leaves starting to fall, my inspiration has turned to the wonderful shapes & colours of the Autumn squashes that abound at this time of year. As Keats famously wrote it is the ..."SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness"........"To swell the gourd"...& my gourds in the veggie patch have definitely excelled themselves this year. They have now been turned into jars of chutney that will last me at least until next Autumn!

This little basket contains Turks Turban squashes, Sweet Dumplings & a Butternut Squash, all nestling in straw.....one Turks Turban couldn't fit into the basket!

basket weaving addiction!

2010-09-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

It's back...I'm still trying to kick this basket weaving addiction & failing miserably! Here's the latest addition to my growing collection of filled baskets...breads, buns & croissants this time.
I've been making so many croissants & I always like to have the "real" thing in front of me when I'm making something, so guess who has been eating far too many warm buttery croissants! I make it even worse because not only do I like them warm & spread with loads of butter, I then go & add loads of golden syrup too...not good for the waistline. I'd better stop making the miniature croissants otherwise there'll be absolutely nothing miniature about me! :-))

Hallowe'en is coming early!

2010-09-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not a huge fan of "themed" miniatures but I have been working on a Hallowe'en order for a while now...Real Life sort of got in the way a little, not to mention the lovely weather we've been having....but at last, I'm slowly making a bit of headway & this little carving Jack o' Lantern board is one of them! It seems that I've been making these boards for so long now that each year it gets more & more difficult to make them different from the year before...I guess the next step for 2011 will be "light up" lanterns! :-)).
It's been so difficult to find the time I need to get into the mini sweatshop recently that I actually made two & I'm having to list this on eBay tonight as I have nothing else! Please make the weather change here!!

This, for me, is quite impressive...2 blog posts in less than a week!! :-))

Slowly getting back!

2010-09-04T08:10:00.000-07:00

I'm slowly,oh so slowly getting back into the mini sweatshop after the wedding & all the houseguests...it hasn't been helped by the fact that we've had a glorious week here (very unusual for Durham!!) & I just can't bear to be inside while the sun is shining...I need it to change, quickly!!
Remember that I said that I was addicted to basket weaving...well, throughout the chaos of the last month or so, I've surprised myself by having actually managed to make one or two basket pieces & today (as the sun went behind the clouds, thank goodness!) I eventually got one of them filled!

I'm getting quite fast at the weaving now but I need to work out how to make square shapes...I'm getting a bit fed up of always making round or oval baskets..any suggestions are more than welcome!

This tray with a domed lid was just crying out to become a sophisticated ploughman's....no chunk of Cheddar here but some Stilton, Brie & a tiny bit of Cheddar with some rustic breads & tomatoes....instead of the pint of beer more normally associated with a ploughman's..this one has a glass of red wine (although it would always be white for me, as red gives me a migraine!)

I do hope that no-one wants to "gladly crush it"..........

Phew!

2010-08-27T11:59:00.000-07:00

Well it's all over now....all that remains is to get the house back to some sort of normal state! The final family members left at lunchtime today, all the sheets have been washed, ironed & beds remade......with a bit of luck I'll be able to make a start on the huge backlog of commission work tomorrow. I can't see me getting out of my mini sweatshop for a full week!
It was a great day, despite having been the victims of a seriously convincing con woman who purported to be a caterer...even down to employing a Masterchef finalist as her "chef".....any English people reading this who happen to live in the North East of England...if you ever need caterers for goodness sake DO NOT even glance the way of Northumbrian Caterers...they'd be lucky to manage to cater for a soup kitchen!
The alcohol flowed freely though & the party didn't wind up until 6.35am when the DJ finally packed his gear & left......A great party!
This is a photo taken of my beautiful daughter Kim, by my nephew James in one of our fields......not many brides would muck about in a field of thistles on their wedding day! www.jamescummingsphotography.com

Probably the last post before "The Wedding"!!!

2010-08-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Very quickly, as I have my oldest daughter & her family here & it's bath & storytime now, here is the most beautiful, red oak, handturned, fruit ring filled with a selection of my handmade fruits! The ring was turned by Bertie Pittman (you can find his fab turnings in his Etsy store - BertiesMiniatures) & measures 25mm in diameter & I filled it with raspberries, pears, peaches, cherries & apples. Only a week to go now & hopefully the weather here will improve for the wedding right now it feels like winter, is p*****g down & blowing a gale...lovely!

Something sweet!

2010-08-09T10:33:00.000-07:00

Less than 2 weeks to go before the wedding is all over.......maybe it was to console myself that I decided to make this sweet little confection! I wish I had someone who could make the real thing for me to eat with my coffee ( & that's all day long!!), although it would probably be so very much quicker to make the real thing than it is to make the miniature...this took me 3 nights to make!! Close your eyes & pretend they are real!!
These macarons are not the ones that almost everybody raves about, the Laduree variety...as far as I'm concerned these are 100% better than those & they come from La Maison Du Chocolat...as the name suggests the filling is a dream of a chocolate ganache......eat your heart out Laduree!!! .....Before there are any complaints...I'm sorry about the lack of accents...I DO know they should be there but just don't have the time to write this in word & copy & paste!!!! Sorry!

Fruit filled baskets!

2010-08-07T08:45:00.000-07:00

I still haven't recovered from the basket making addiction...whenever I have a spare minute, which isn't often now as 2 weeks today & "the wedding" will be in full swing, there I am picking up my wires & threads & weaving away! Seriously addictive!!
These two I've actually managed to find the time to fill & there are another 3 waiting patiently on my workbench for me to get around to filling them!

Freshly picked rhubarb...I still have loads of it in my garden & there's nothing quite like eating a fresh stalk dipped in sugar...I'm still a kid at heart!!

The pears weighing down my pear tree inspired the filling for this basket. I have no idea what variety they are, but I do know that they are delicious eaten straight off the tree!

Farmfresh Eggs!

2010-07-31T05:12:00.000-07:00

I didn't think that I'd ever find anything quite as addictive as making polymer clay miniatures...I was wrong! I seem to have developed an addiction to weaving mini baskets as well & am enjoying myself filling them with my mini foods...

I just hope that I don't become addicted to anything worse than playing with clay .....too late for alcohol, I'm already addicted to that, not to mention the cigarettes!!

An overload of peaches!

2010-07-25T04:05:00.000-07:00

I've been making peaches......by the hundreds, or so it seems! I seem to have peaches in every nook & cranny of my workbench! Here are a couple of the pieces that I have made using just a few of them!

I was inspired to make the "ring" of peaches in the little basket by Bertie of BertiesMiniatures...he turns the most gorgeous pieces & an unusual wooden fruit ring is one of them & can be found on Etsy. The jar of jam lifts out of the basket, leaving a "ring" of peaches!

Still having several (hundred!) peaches left, I used a few of them to make this peach flan on a cooling rack....sadly though this only used up 1 & a half of my peach stash! I suppose I'll be making more peachy things very soon! :-))

John Dory...fish, just to make a refreshing change!

2010-07-23T04:46:00.000-07:00

I was asked some time ago now (too embarrassing to admit to just how long ago it was!!) to make some John Dory for a customer who had seen my Artisan submission all those years ago & fallen in love with the John Dory on my fresh wet fish table! As it has been pretty miserable, wet & cold here the last couple of days I had no excuse but to actually get on with the fish.......It made such a lovely change to get away from making all those sweet things & it seems that my customer is thrilled with her fish!

Having really got into "the swing" of making the fish, I had a little basket lying on my workbench & I decided to fill it with 3 more John Dory & ice..................

Did you know that the distinguishing feature of the black spot on their back is said to be a result of St Peter picking one up in the Sea of Galilee & leaving his thumbprint there! As the Sea of Galilee is a freshwater lake & John Dory are a salt water fish this is highly unlikely!! Nice idea though!

Back To Work!

2010-07-18T06:11:00.000-07:00

The Bride-to-Be is safely on a plane back to the UAE this afternoon so perhaps I might get back to work & manage to actually get something created! I did manage to make this little basket this week, so I suppose I can tell myself that I have managed to do something :-)).........there's still that oh so long list of commission work to wade my way through though & with only 5 weeks until the wedding is over I think my poor customers will be waiting a while longer yet!

The little jars have blackberry jelly & sliced mangoes in syrup in them & are loose in the basket.

Nursery Rhyme Cakes

2010-07-11T09:53:00.000-07:00

I've been slowly, oh so very slowly, working on a commission for nursery rhyme cakes......I'm almost embarrassed to say that I was asked for these over 4 months ago...OH DEAR! So far I've managed to finish these 3 & there are several more still in the UFO pile on my workbench...I blame my youngest & the fact that I have her wedding to organise for the 21st August.....not long now...HELP!!

Humpty Dumpty Sat On A Wall

Teddy Bear's Picnic

An Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe

I'm truly amazed that I've managed 2 posts in as many days!!

Making some tarts...

2010-07-10T03:47:00.000-07:00

I've been making a little prep board of raspberry & blueberry custard tarts....just waiting to be popped into the oven.............

& then here they are fresh out of the oven!

A Tropical Fruit Basket

2010-07-05T09:13:00.000-07:00

Just a quickie this time as I'm desperately trying to "catch up" on my mini making now that the weather has changed for the worse...who knows when the sun will be back to stop me!
I've impressed myself by actually managing to make this little tropical fruit basket with cherimoya, dragon fruit, persimmons, bananas, oranges, coconuts & pineapple today. Granted I had already made the basket while I was out in Al Ain in March & there it has been sitting on my workbench ever since just waiting to be filled with something........

I just couldn't resist taking the photo of it with one of the "real" fruits in the little basket!

summer has been here!

2010-07-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

For the last week or so we have actually had summer here so there was NO way I could be in my mini sweatshop while the sun was shining....it doesn't do that too often here LOL...so I had to make the most of it.

I have been power hosing for England, pruning dead wood out of roses, cutting grass....you name it, I've been doing it....for the more squeamish amongst you STOP reading now! I even managed to shoot one of the damned foxes that have been decimating my chooks........before anyone gets upset, you have to see what a fox does with hens before you condemn......they kill for the fun of it & leave headless corpses lying around...they ARE NOT nice cuddly animals..they are disease ridden vermin who are natural killers & the sooner we can be rid of them the better as far as I am concerned!

Minis emerging from my sweatshop have been very thin on the ground recently but I have actually managed to make this little tidbit tray in which I've mixed sweet & savoury...I do get so very sick of always making sweet things...but it seems that they are what people want!

Lobster Ravioli

2010-06-24T09:39:00.000-07:00

In this lovely weather we've been having...even in the North East of England for a change!.....I've been wishing that I was back in Cornwall, bobbing about in my boat, aimlessly hand-line fishing for mackerel...& being able to enjoy some of the freshest, most delicious seafood in Britain but,sadly, I'm not...that's just wishful thinking on my behalf :-((
Instead I imagined that I was cleaning a real lobster, just taken from the lobster pot & making it into a delicately rich lobster ravioli, drenched in a creamy lobster sauce...oh dear now I'm drooling over my keyboard LOL

The lettuce & tomato are the obligatory "healthy" touch...... :-))

There's a rumour Summer might come tomorrow!

2010-06-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

The rain has stopped...for now....& the forecasters say that summer might come over the next few days...I don't really believe them though! We were promised a "BBQ Summer" again this year & I'm sure if I was to BBQ under an umbrella with thermal underwear on, they might have been right! LOL
I've been working on a lemon meringue pie set over the last couple of days...crazy really, it takes soooooo much longer to make the mini version than it does the "real" version... that was made & eaten 2 days ago & this was just finished this afternoon!
Typically Auctiva's site is down for update, just when I wanted to write the listing to go onto eBay tonight...so I thought I'd make this post while I was waiting!

This season's 1st peas!!

2010-06-12T10:56:00.000-07:00

I was working in my veggie garden the other day...making the most of a dry day for a change & I just couldn't resist eating the 1st couple of pea pods ...they could probably have done with a day or two more to "fatten up"...but they were gorgeous! That lead me to thinking how sad it was that the English asparagus season is all but over now...so, off I went into my workshop & for the rest of the day (& night!!), worked on a little English pea & asparagus basket & here it is!

3 Tiers of Chocolate Flake Extravagance!

2010-06-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

Guess what...it's still raining here!
Not only is it raining but I swear it's reverted to winter....15degrees, windy, grey & wet....but at least I'm not feeling guilty for working on the backlog of mini work!
Trouble is that, as I "work" at home, people see absolutely nothing wrong in dropping in for coffee & after the 6th person to call for coffee today, I was nearly at screaming pitch! The only answer is a mobile home in one of the fields...Debbie, I'm so jealous of yours!! LOL
By the skin of my teeth, between making coffees & endlessly listening to chatter, feeding & cleaning out hens, washing, ironing, hoovering & of course waiting on the crippled husband (this is becoming SUCH a PIA.....NO I'm not a good nurse...not anymore!)...I actually managed to finish this & get it listed to eBay tonight....phew!
It's only been sitting on my workbench since I made the original with summer fruits cascading down it!

It's raining today!

2010-06-06T07:53:00.000-07:00

I'm usually heard to moan & groan at length when the weather reverts to the normal grey, miserable & wet that we get so much of here in the North East of England, but today I'm so pleased to see the grey skies & rain again! I've got an excuse not to be working in the garden hedge cutting, grass cutting & generally wearing myself into the ground!
It means that at last I can actually get into my workshop & try to catch up on the backlog of work that seems to have grown into a huge mountain over the last week or two! Not to mention that I don't have to spend an hour watering the hundreds of plants that I've put in over the last couple of weeks....they'd better be in full bloom on 21st August for the wedding!
The grandchildren have gone home & all the bed linens have been washed, ironed & put back on for the next visit.....things are awfully quiet round here now so you'd think I'd have managed to get such a lot of work done....no such luck...emails needing replies seemed endless, the house was in desperate need of a clean, people kept "popping in" for coffee but finally, I actually managed to make this little cheese display. I should of course, have been working on the commission backlog, but, hey...tomorrow's another day, surely I'll get it done then?

A very quick post!

2010-06-02T10:32:00.000-07:00

When I explain that I have my 3 Grandchildren....all under 8 & their mother & father here for the half term week you might understand why this is a VERY quick post!! LOL
I truly amazed myself by actually managing to make this little basket full of pomegranates, with one halved..but then, that was only half the story! I then had to fit in taking the photos, uploading them & then writing the listing so that I could get it onto eBay tonight....all this in the middle of making spaghetti bolognese for dinner......HELP!!
PS..if there are any mistakes in the listing or this post ........you'll understand just why!!!

The Miniature Way.....June 2010...Issue 6

2010-05-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

http://www.cdhm.org/imag/1006/mag-index0610.php

My Youngest's Poison..Strawberry Daiquiri for Kim!

2010-05-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

Not that my good old hubby has driven me to drink or anything...........
I would love to be sitting in the luxury of an Abu Dhabi hotel right now drinking a REAL size jug of raspberry mojito or a delicious margarita while watching my youngest, Kim (& probably her sister, Brie), demolishing this & a few more jugs the same.
This is for Kim.......a miniature strawberry daiquiri......I know she'd just want to try & drink it though!

Cupcakes that have kept me relatively sane!

2010-05-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

If you are regular follower of my blog & for that, I thank you...although I'm not altogether sure I understand just why you'd want to read my ramblings...but that's a different story :-))....you'll know that my good old hubby ruptured his achilles tendon for the 1st time 11 weeks ago & then, being the "special" person that he is, ruptured it again...in 2 places this time..2 weeks ago & was put back in a full leg cast.... meaning, of course that he is even more useless than normal!! I've just picked him up from the local hospital where he was hoping to be put into a pneumatic shoe & hence no longer needing crutches (or a full time waitress!! :-)) )...guess what...yep, they wouldn't do that, probably too expensive for the NHS despite having paid into it for years & years & years...so he's now in a half cast for another 3 weeks........another 3 weeks of waitressing practice...I'll be able to get a job in my local Pizza Express at this rate LOL. How I wish he was David Beckham, who ruptured his achilles after my hubby did it, but seems to have received "slightly" better treatment...now I wonder why that might be????? Oh to be an overpaid footballer or his wife LOL
Anyway to try & keep myself relatively sane, whenever I could, between catering to the cripple's needs & working on the "wedding garden", I put together this little 4 tiered very modern wedding cake made up of loads of cupcakes & in the colours of the delphinium...one of my favourite flowers!

Not that I'd fancy this sort of wedding cake...I'm far too much of a traditionalist for this!