Time a peek at the fling?

So, would you believe I am far enough along that this is all I can show you?!?! Everything else would give away major WOW details for the outside or accessories on the inside that would give away exactly what I am doing.

Here is a door that is stained Miniwax Bombay Mahogany and a door knob that I scuffed up and painted silver. I really despise that garish brass they come in. Blech.

Trying something new

There had been a lot of talk about people making spiral staircases on the Greenleaf Forum and I thought, why not? I gave it a shot, and this is what I came up with. I will probably use it on one of the many many kits I have lying about. :) Or in the fling. Not sure.

Here it is: Houseworks ballasters, a dowel with straw spacers, basswood steps, fun beads for decor and tiny silver chain. It was a lot of fun and next time, it could use a little bit of tweaking...

Remember to tell me what you think!

Minis from Roma!!

I recently participated in a swap over at Dale's Dreams and I got my package from Sonya not long after Mother's Day. You can check her stuff out here at her blog. Too cute!

I was happy to get such a well packaged gift. I always worry about mini's traveling, but these made it quite safely. Sonya sent me a cute little blue and yellow basket with goodies in it that I totally love! The bottles are so cute and shabby, but totally realistic. I love it and I can't wait to eventually set them up in the Highland. ♥

She also sent me a Rome souveniour kit, that from what I gather, is based off of stuff from a movie? Correct me if I am wrong Sonya. :)

It includes a table poster, a box, a bunch of teeny postcards, a book and... a tiny VESPA!!! I love it! What fabulous little minis. Thank you so much Sonya!

Now check out this fabulously tiny postcard! I think they will all have to be pasted around a mirror along with other Italian memories. ;)

I used directions from Ann over at Amazing Miniatures to make a photobox to take pictures of these. Go over there to check out this awesome, totally helpful post about making your own box at home to take fabulous pictures. :)

Mini's mini's everywhere!

Since I can't share what I have been working on for the Spring Fling (Top Secret!) I thought I would share our littlest mini members of the family and the swap I did with Dale of Dale's Dreams. :) Don't want to leave you guys hanging forever!!

Please meet Thing 2 and That One. They are Cayce and Charlie's turtles- yellow bellied sliders, to be exact. They are teeny and great! We wanted to get them pets, but nothing that was really high maintenance or that involved a crochety nocturnal animal. We settled on these and figured we would work up to a dog later down the road. Cayce picked their names. On this particular day, we took them outside so they could stretch their legs and bask in the sunlight a bit. They are really quick for such tiny little dudes! As hatchlings, they are only 2.5" inches from nose to tail. Too cute!

As for the swap, I was to trade with Cecilia Colo. This was my second time sending something out of the country (she is in Mexico) and what a pain! The postal service here is quite redundant! I had to fill out a customs form with her name, address and declaration of contents which they then stick to the package. THEN I had to write it AGAIN on the package itself, even though they just stuck the sticker with it on there on the package. *Rawrg* It was quite aggravating. (Only because, I feel, foreign addresses are a bazillion miles long!)

So there was a rant.... unintentional, but there... I ended up sending her three things, two of which were mini and one thing that was life size, but still small by normal standards.

I sent her a 6x6 painting that I did and a mini replica of it, along with a pink and purple quilt that I made. I forgot to get pictures of that though. :/ Oops. For now, here are the paintings!