My Easter Dress

Happy Easter!
This is my Easter Dress. I wish I could really wear it but it's too small at only 7" high. I thought you might like seeing one of my altered dresses as I don't usually have them with me at miniature shows. They are larger than 1" scale, but smaller than 1/6" scale.
Here's another...This is a close up of some detail on a dress called 'Ocean'.

How did we do with the Spring Tree and birdhouses? I have one more idea for you if you need or want more birdhouses for your tree.
Use one of the birdhouse designs from previous entries and cut it out of scrapbook papers in your choice of colors. These are lots of fun to make. You can color in or glue a black punched dot on the area for the bird hole. Proceed as with the others to finish.
A little wire coiled into a circle or a jewelry eye pin work great to insert in the roof center as a point for hanging.
I hope you enjoyed making the little bird houses. I'll have to think of another fun project for later.
Right now we're burning the midnight oil getting ready for the Small Scales Show in Rochester NY. Only a couple of weeks to go...

Here's a sneak peak at one of our brand new projects.Let me introduce you to 'Bunny Tails', one of our new Secret Book Kits. They're called Secret Books because when the drawer is closed they look like a little book with graphics on the spine drawer, on the front and on the back.
Papa Rabbit has taken the children on a walk so that Mama Rabbit can clean up the table which has been used for coloring eggs. The childrens' bedroom on the top floor is so cute with the matching carrot post beds and pretty pastel dresser.

We have a whole new series of Secret Book Kits - 13 to be exact, all under 2 1/2" high! And, we have furnishings for each of them. They are tiny. Some of the interior kits are 1/144" , one of the kits holds a 1/4" piece and some books contain room settings smaller than 1/144". Twelve books fit into a special bookcase with a stand to showcase the 13th. You can rotate your books for holidays and everyday.
We will have an email newsletter going out next week with ordering information. If you would like to sign up to receive our Constant Contact newsletter, please click on my website button in the side bar. The button will take you to my website, click on contact us and you can fill in your information.

Wishing everyone a very Happy Easter.
Robin

Just a Quick Note

Hi again to everyone.
I just want to say thanks to you all for the lovely comments. I really am just finding my way with blogging and discovered the main comments section. I know, what you're saying...What?
I've seen a few comments, but I just discovered, buried it seemed, a whole other section!
I just spent the last few minutes reading them all. Some of them go back to our trek across country a few years ago. I'll get better at this as we go along, I promise.
Shame on me, but many thanks to you all for the kind words.
Robin

Finally - The Spring Tree!

Yea! It's finally been nice outside and I could go out and clip some branches to make the spring tree. I also was able to start some garden clean up. (But only in some areas as I still have 4 feet of snow on some of my gardens on the north side) I'm getting ready to start shoveling it in to the warm areas so it will melt. Or maybe not. Maybe I should let Mother Nature do what she does and I'll use my time more wisely like showing you how I made a little spring tree to use as a display for my birdhouse designs.

#1 - Find a container that you'd like to use. I had a terra cotta pot in just the right size, about 4" diameter at the top. Because it had a hole in the bottom for drainage, I lined it in a double layer of plastic wrap. I don't want water seeping out.
#2 - Cut a piece of floral foam, the kind that you soak in water, to fit into your plastic lined pot. Tuck the edges of the plastic in.
#3 - Cut your branches so that the height is where you want it to be. I gather my branches so that the tops look good and hold mine together in a bunch and just cut off the bottom with my pruners. The branches that I clipped are curly willow, but you can use almost anything.
#4 - Start sticking the clipped branches into the floral foam, pushing them down all the way into the pot. Cluster them in the center of the foam rather than around the pot. That gives you a place to arrange some moss to look like grass. I grew this variety, but if you don't have any moss growing in your yard you could buy some sheet moss at a florist or at the craft store. Just tuck it right in and around your branches. What a mess I'm making!!!

#5 -Trim the spring tree with tiny tied ribbons. Use lots of pretty pastel colors.
That's it for today. Keep your pot watered and with any kind of luck you might see some leaves breaking out. The next post will show the tree trimmed with the birdhouses. And there are a couple more birdhouses coming.
Enjoy!
Robin

Pretty in Pink

Another house for you to work on...
As usual, refer to past entries for full instructions. I would do this one with a blue/turquoise base. Don't forget to add the tabs to the sides and put a hole in the center of the roof for hanging.
Enjoy!
Robin

April Fools (those of us who live in Maine and expect to see some grass come April).

Notice I didn't say...April Fool's Day. We are just April Fools. Somewhere down south, I know you have flowers. Maybe daffodils or even tulips but in Maine we have a foot of snow and more coming down as I write. This will not last long on the ground, but come on...I need to see green stuff growing and get my hands dirty!
OK, enough wailing for today and Happy April Fool's Day to you all! Here are another couple of birdhouses. These were created in 1996. (Oh my gosh, when did it get to be 2011? I feel like I just painted these!) You might have to trim a bit to get a good roof fit, because I'm sending you files from early original work. The pink house is just the blue house, shortened and colorchanged.
We need to get moving if we're going to make all the houses and get our Spring Tree done for Easter. What Spring Tree, you might ask? If you go back a few entries, I did talk about a tree on which to display the cutie little birdhouses you're making. The tree isn't ready to show yet, but keep working on the birdhouses in the meantime. I promise you'll have it in time for your Easter or Spring table centerpiece.
When you're making these, don't forget to add tabs on the sides so you'll have something to glue the edges to. The roof just folds in the center and is glued to the top. You could poke a little hole in the top of the roof to aid in hanging. Also, maybe add a couple of perches as well as a card stock base. If you're just seeing this project for the first time, go back a few entries for the full instructions.As in the other birdhouse projects, you'll need to click on the art, it will take you to a site called Scribed. You'll need to be a member of Scribed, or Facebook or have a Google account before you can download and print. Feel free to make, share or sell finished versions of these birdhouse designs. As in other angel projects, also share the name of the artist. Thanks for that, in advance.
Enjoy!
Robin

The Tall Birdhouse

Hi Folks,
The snow is almost gone! I can't wait to get into the garden, but for now, here's another birdhouse to add to the group. (The instructions for the Spring Tree are coming soon.)

Use the same basic directions from last week and the previous week. In addition you might like to add a little post under each of the holes.

Enjoy!
Robin

Another Birdhouse

Here's a little history about these birdhouse creations. The art that was created to apply to these birdhouses was done in 2002. Prior to that time, we made hundreds of these little houses all individually hand painted to look just like the ones we are using in these projects.

OK! let's get on with the projects! There will be a new design every weekend until we complete the entire Little Spring Houses Project.


Here is the next birdhouse for you to build. This one is called 'The Old Birdhouse' because it's kind of weathered and old. It's a more intricate build than the bug houses because there is the main building and then there are two side annexes. Here are the instructions...

If you click on the design it will take you to a pdf file which you will be able to download and print. The design, as is, will be in 1" scale. You can make it bigger or smaller, depending on the use for which you have in mind. I have in mind a Spring Tree with lots of small bug and bird houses hanging like ornaments. If you want to make the Spring Tree, print out the houses in a larger size. (more on the tree later)

You must be on Facebook to download this as a high resolution drawing.

So, to get started this is what you need to do...
(1) Print out the artwork on card stock or paper that you'll glue to card stock.
(2) Draw an extra little gluing tab on one end of the main house. It won't show as it will be glued under the opposite side of the house.
(3) Cut out the house as carefully as you can, don't forget and cut off the tab you just drew.
(4) Lightly score and then fold all of the walls (including the drawn tab) to create the house box.
(5) Glue (whatever glue you like to use for paper) the tab to the inside of the opposite end creating an even house shape. Let dry.
(6) Cut out the 2 side annexes. You'll notice that they are 3 sided. Score and fold as in the main house. Glue each annex on opposite sides of the main house so that there is equal distance from front to back. Let it dry.
(7) Cut out a piece of card stock for a base. It should be large enough to show just a bit from each side. Paint it green.
(7) Add the house to the base and allow to dry.
(8) Cut out the roof pieces, score on the center line of the main house roof, fold and glue to the roof line of the main house. You may wish to paint the underside of the roof first with a coordinating color. You might also wish to poke a little hole in the center of the roof if you want to hang your house. (I forgot about telling you to do this on the previous bug houses, but it's not too late, just open up a little hole with a sharp x-acto knife point) Cut out, paint and add each of the two side annex roof pieces. They are like a shed roof with no fold.

Enjoy!

Watch for the next FREE house project.
If you become a follower, you'll know when it gets posted.
I urge you to make as many of the little houses as you wish. If you want to sell them, I don't mind, especially if you give credit to the artist...me.

Hop on over to my daughter's blog to check out her Monday give away.
So, here's how her give away works...
1. On MONDAY 3/21 - tune into The White Farmhouse for the giveaway blog post & pics
2. Leave a comment anytime between Monday 3/21- Friday 3/25 on her blog
3. A winner will be picked at random & announced on Monday 3/28 on The White Farmhouse blog
Good Luck everyone!

Little Spring House Project

Let's have a little fun with some paper projects!

The first FREE design is for a Bee Cottage and a Lady Bug Cottage. There will be a new design every weekend until we complete the entire Little Spring Houses Project.
If you click on the design it will take you to a pdf file which you will be able to download and print. The design, as is, will be in 1" scale. You can make it bigger or smaller, depending on the use for which you have in mind. I have in mind a Spring Tree with lots of small bug and bird houses hanging like ornaments. If you want to make the Spring Tree, print out the houses in a larger size. (more on the tree later)

You must be on Facebook to download this as a high resolution drawing.

So, to get started this is what you need to do...
(1) Print out the artwork on card stock or paper that you'll glue to card stock.
(2) Draw an extra little gluing tab on one end of the house. It won't show as it will be glued under the opposite side of the house.
*On the Bee Cottage you can use a pointed object-compass point, large needle, awl-to poke holes in the bee openings.
(3) Cut out the house as carefully as you can, don't forget and cut off the tab you just drew.
(4) Lightly score and then fold all of the walls (including the drawn tab) to create the house box.
(5) Glue (whatever glue you like to use for paper) the tab to the inside of the opposite end creating an even house shape. Let dry.
(6) Cut out a piece of card stock for a base. It should be large enough to show just a bit from each side. Paint it green.
(7) Add the house to the base and allow to dry.
(8) Cut out the roof, score on the center line, fold and glue to the roof line of the house. You may wish to paint the underside of the roof first with a coordinating color.

Enjoy!

Watch for the next FREE house project.
If you become a follower, you'll know when it gets posted.
I urge you to make as many of the little houses as you wish. If you want to sell them, I don't mind, especially if you give credit to the artist...me.

Sunny Sunflowers

Another blast from the past...
Do you all remember when everything was sunflowers? They are still so much fun, but we don't see them on absolutely EVERYTHING anymore. There has been a little break from the sunflowering, and that lets me look at sunflowers with fresh eyes again.
A friend sent me these photos. She had found these pieces somewhat recently and wondered if they were mine. Oh, my goodness, yes they are!
I think I was doing the sunflower kick in the early 90's. I had designed a sunflower quilt kit and then decided that I needed a sunflower table, birdhouse, a dress and chair to go with the quilt. I remember that we made them in three scales but the 1/4" scale didn't sell very well. If only I had kept my stock of that teeny scale because they sure would be popular now! Who knew 1/4" scale would become so popular?
Here are the photos of the quilt kit, a sunflower dress and a sunflower table - in 1" scale.

When I really started to think about it I realized I hadn't really forgotten about sunny sunflowers after all. Two years ago we offered a little 1/4" scale kit in an Altoid type tin called "Sunbathing" which - if you can imagine - featured sunflowers.
Last year I designed a fabric collection for Wilmington Prints called Harvest Home which featured warm orangey sunflowers. This is one of the prints.I guess I do love sunflowers...
Robin

As Soon as the Snow is Gone!

This is a really fun project to make! I did this several years ago with my grandson and we both enjoyed it. This is what you do...
When the snow is gone and the ground is no longer frozen, pick up a few handfuls of small rocks.
Put the little rocks in a colander and wash them. Tip them out onto a towel to dry and begin to sort them and pick out your favorites. Transfer the dry stones to a flat box where you can easily see them.
The fun part (especially if you're doing this project with a child) is giving them names! Our choices for names were things like "Holes", "Beauty" and "Strange". Children think of the best ones!
Print by hand or use the computer and a printer, the entire set of names with space in between each of them for cutting.
Find a cute little frame that will house all of the little rocks. Cover a piece of foamcore or card board with white paper to match the paper on which you wrote or printed the names.
Glue on the stones as evenly as possible. I used Tacky and it worked just fine, but if your rocks are heavy you might want to use something like E-6000. Add the names under each rock as though you are creating an actual rock specimen. It's the most fun when the names get mixed up and you rename!

A Blast from the Past

This is going to be a new feature on my blog. I'm photographing some of my older miniature pieces and am trying to date them as well. I hope it will be amusing. Some of you might own some of these early pieces and could shed some light on my fading memory. This memory thing is why it's so important to sign and date your work!

Easter Dress Shelf

This is one mini that I can date. I started making miniature dresses and dress shelves in the very early 80's. This is part of a holiday line that continued through 1994. This photo shows the 1" scale Easter dress shelf, but I also made some of these in 1/4". In fact, Emma's Dress Shelf from the Lydia Pickett Cottage Collection was inspired from this earlier piece.
Some of you may remember the NAME convention in Orlando, Florida in the 80's, I can't come up with the year. (A friend just emailed me that the date was 1993, YEA!) The theme was something about a closet and I was one of the souvenir artists. I made 1,200 of this style dress in three different fabrics.

I have a little shelf where I gather my little goodies. Some of the things pictured here are from other miniature artisans like Mustard Seed and some things are just the junk I like to collect. I know the push pins are tacky, but they do help illustrate the size of the dress.

That's it this time for "The Blast from the Past".