Dolls House and Miniature Scene - December 2016

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www.dollshouseandminiaturescene.co.uk
THE UKS FAVOURITE MINIATURE AND PROJECTS MAGAZINE
4.25 December 2016 Issue 271
A Sophisticated Christmas
Quick
Christmas
Illustrations
Christmas Deck
Crackers
the Halls!
9 770967 491135
12
>
Elegant and Traditional Miniatures

by Aurea Segura
Also in this issue we look at: Christmas Room Boxes, Shabby Chic, Jewellery, Crochet, Christmas Shopping and 1/48th Scale.
p01 Dec v2.indd 1
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2/11/16
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p02_dhms_dec16.indd 1
07/11/2016 11:49:59
Editor
Carl Golder
Tel: 01778 391146
carl.golder@warnersgroup.co.uk
Managing Editor
Sally Jarvis
Tel: 01778 392433
sally.jarvis@warnersgroup.co.uk
Advertising Sales
Hayley Comey
Tel: 01778 392445
hayleyc@warnersgroup.co.uk
Production Secretary
Sue Woodgates
Tel: 01778 392062
production@warnersgroup.co.uk
Marketing Manager
Aeveen Oke
Tel: 01778 392459
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Design
Jacqueline South
Publisher
Lucie Dawson
Tel: 01778 392061
lucie.dawson@warnersgroup.co.uk
ISSN: 0967 4918
Warners Group Publications Plc,
The Maltings, West Street,
Bourne, Lincolnshire, PE10 9PH.
Printing
This magazine is printed
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Subscriptions, reader offers
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Tel: 01778 392007
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Turn to p31 for the latest offers
Dolls House and Miniature Scene is

published 12 times a year on the fourth
Thursday of each month. The views
expressed by contributors are not necessarily
those of the editor or publisher. Every care is
taken to ensure that the content of the magazine
is accurate; however the editor nor publisher
assumes no responsibility for omissions or errors.
The editor reserves the right to edit copy.
All the material published remains the copyright
of the publisher. No part of this magazine may
be published, reproduced, copied or stored in
a retrieval system without the prior permission
in writing of the publisher. No commercial
exploitation is permitted. Tutorials and projects
are for the readers use only.
While reasonable care is taken when accepting
advertisements, the publisher cannot accept
responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory
transactions. No warranty is implied in respect of
any product mentioned herewith. The Advertising
Standards Authority exists to regulate the
content of advertisements. Tel: 020 7429 2222.
Prizes, gifts or give aways offered in competitions
might be substituted with ones of similar value.
Unless otherwise stated, all competitions, free
samplings, discounts and offers are only available
to readers in the United Kingdom.
Warners Group Publications PLC 2016
Welcome
to the December issue
Its Christmas! Well almost Christmas and

were counting down to the big day by flooding
you with ideas, inspiration, festive houses,
room boxes and projects! Inspiration begins
with a look at Jo Bevilacquas amazing
1/12th scale Christmas trees and decorations,
theyre so glitzy and glamourous youll definitely
be in the mood to deck your own (miniature)
halls with boughs of holly.
For those of you looking to be productive and
craving Christmas miniatures, look no further as
there are 8 projects for you to tackle including
a pair of elves on page 7, a selection of Arthur
Rackham illustrations on page 20 and a Nutcracker
soldier on page 42.
Thats about it from me for this month.

I shall return next month with another amazing
selection of miniatures including projects,
features, reviews and a brand new series of
articles entitled The Time Capsule. Whichever
miniature era fascinates you theres something in
this series for you as Sadie Brown cracks open
the time capsule to find out more about the
periods we obsess with in small scale, beginning
with the medieval era. In the meantime, I would
like to take this opportunity to thank all of the
contributors who have submitted over the past
year and to wish you and your families a very
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Enjoy the issue.

Copy deadline for your news and views, new products and
press releases for the February issue 273 is 21st December 2016.
Carl Golder
Editor
Dont miss...
Eds Pick
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adore the detail
on Aureas
handcrafted and
handpainted
wardrobe.
Turn to
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miniaturewe look forward
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your last chance to get your free and
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A sophisticated Christmas
Turn to page 26 to read more.
carl.golder@warnersgroup.co.uk
DHMS Magazine Warners Group Publications PLC.
The Maltings, West Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire PE10 9PH
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Thanks to our contributors: Moi Ali, Rachel Austin, Jo Bevilacqua, Mette Breminer,
Bea Broadwood, Sadie Brown, Natalie Clegg, Marianne Cook, Karon Cunningham, Ruth Flewelling-Lesbirel,
Stephanie Guy, Kati Kainulainen, Maria Malmstrom, Amy Marshall, Sandra Morris, Sofia Nogues, Frances Powell,
Ann Sutcliffe and Deb Weissler.
p03_dhmsdec16.indd 3
December 2016
10/11/2016 13:31
December Contents
Regulars
The Miniature Scene

06 All
of the latest information in the small world.
My Blog
48 This
month we look at Maria Malmstroms Blog.
Projects
64 Reader
Share your creations with the readers of DHMS.
Favourite Make
67 My
Carol Kubrican discloses to Moi Ali about her
Subscribe
For UK subscribers,
31 claim
your FREE
AND EXCLUSIVE
gift from
Petite Properties.
Find out how
to get yours
whilst stocks
last on page 31.
favourite creation.
Collectable Cut Outs
69 DHMS
This month weve selected a variety of Christmas
wrapping papers, a free gift from us to you.
08
47 IftheyouUK,livesaveoutside
with
a digital subscription!
Our best deal can
be found on page 47.
66
Treat your friend

to a subscription
this Christmas
Its the perfect gift!
40
36
4 December 2016
4-5 Contents Dec.indd 4
10/11/2016 15:02
Collections, Features and Reviews
Projects
Deck the Halls with Jo Bevilacqua of Spencers Nook

Katis House
08 One
07 These
look at Jo Bevilacquas brilliant Christmas trees and
1/12th scale elves have been really busy in
decorations and youll be in the mood to deck your own
halls with holly!
16
Life in a (Christmas) Box

Sadie Brown opens the door to a selection of Christmas
themed room boxes.
COV
ER
f
eature
Sophisticated Christmas
26 Aurea
Segura aims to bring the innocence of childhood
back to her Christmas collection with a stunning
selection of elegant and traditional miniatures.
Meet the Guild
32 How
much do you really know about the IGMA?
Turn to page 32 to nd out more.
The Quartermaster
40 Moi
Ali chats to Terri Maxwell from Clarksburg, a small
city in West Virginia, about her vast collection of quarter

scale projects.
44
At Home with the Broadwoods

This month Bea Broadwood writes about hot topics and
Christmas thoughts!
50
Christmas Shopping
The festive season is upon us and were shopping
in shops created by talented Milan based artisan,
Mariangela Gagliardi.
54
Artisan Prole Rachel Austin

We speak to Rachel Austin, creator of nifty needle
felt animals.
Workshop Review
62 CMW
Yes, you can teach an old dog new tricks! Carl Golder
packs up his tools and experiences miniature life.
with Mette Breminer
63 Clubbing
The ctional account of a super keen miniaturist.
Santas workshop.
12
Christmas Cupcakes
Fresh from the oven in miniature form are Sadie Browns
sugary treats.
Artists Series:
20 Great
Arthur Rackham, A Night Before Christmas
Professional artist Stephanie Guy shows us how to
reproduce famous paintings in miniature.
Christmas Jewellery
36 Its
the party season and Sadie Brown shows you how to
make 1/12th scale bling for your miniature jewellery box.
The Christmas Nutcracker
42 Natalie
Clegg shows you how to make a tiny working
Nutcracker in 1/12th scale!
1/12th Scale Christmas Crackers!
46 Need
a last minute gift for a fellow miniaturist?
How about a half dozen cheery crackers?
Scale Narcissus Plant
52 1/12th
Dont you love to have owering bulbs in the house at
Christmas time? They remind us that the winters
darkness and cold will not last forever.
Scale Crocheted Christmas Bells Decoration
58 1/12th
A traditional style Christmas wall or door decoration,
inspired by stiffened crochet ornaments.
And dont forget ...
61 Dates for Your Diary

68 Whats in the January Issue?
32
54
VISIT WWW.DOLLSHOUSEANDMINIATURESCENE.CO.UK FOR MORE GREAT FEATURES AND PROJECTS

4-5 Contents Dec.indd 5
December 2016
10/11/2016 11:42
NEWS
The Miniature
Scene
Club & Society News
Miniature news on the go...

www.facebook.com/dollshouseandminiaturescene
www.twitter.com/dhmsmagazine
Reader request
Norfolk Dolls House and Miniatures Club

14 members started the Dresser in a
Book project at a workshop day in July
2016. Both the dresser and the book
were cut from a sheet of mount board
using a pattern designed by club member
Sue Read. By all accounts it was one of
their more quieter meetings due to the
high concentration levels (well it was
quiet until coffee and lunch breaks).
It was interesting to see the variety of colour choices as we progressed.
Fabrics or papers were used to cover the books and the dressers were painted
with craft acrylics. Each monthly meeting after the workshop we went on to
make up items to display on the dressers, such as Fimo Christmas cakes and
chocolate yule logs, paper crafted Christmas crackers, gift packages and cards.
Table arrangements and swags were made using dried moss and foliage,
beads, sequins and ribbons.
To complete
the dressers items
previously made at
meetings or purchased
were used to give
individual looks.
There has been talk of
more themed books
in the future so as the
saying goes, watch this
space! Sue Read.
Grace Musgrave from Orpington, Kent, recently contacted the magazine

asking for assistance in identifying the pictured house. The house is 1/24th
scale and was made in either 1953 or 1955 from kit form and purchased from
a shop in Essex. The front opens to two rooms on the left and the stairs to
the right back opens to two rooms on the left and landing on the right.
Did you own this house? Or did you own one similar?
If you can help Grace in identifying this house please drop her an email:
mmusgrave1@btinternet.com
Thame Dollshouse & Miniatures Fair

Put Saturday 18th February 2017 into your miniatures
diary as once again it is The Thame Dollshouse &
Miniatures Fair. This is a fair that brings together
some of the best artisans in the miniature scene to
sell and display their work. As usual there will also be
a huge charity focus on Breast Cancer Now, with money being raised through
the charity sales table, a raffle with items donated by the stand holders and
a tombola stand of handmade miniatures. Last year the event raised over
3000 for the charity. There will also be a display of work by MTM (Market
Town Miniaturists) of Thame.
For a more information visit:
www.thamedollshousefair.co.uk
www.facebook.com/thamedollshousefair
Last Minute Christmas Gifts
The Norfolk Dolls House and Miniatures Club are a small

friendly groupand are happy to welcome new members. If youre interested in
attending contact: Sue Read:
sueread620@hotmail.co.uk
Tell us what youre doing!

Is your club doing anything exciting, got a new project on the go,
raising money for charity or tackling a project from Dolls House
and Miniature Scene?
Let us know your news by emailing Carl.golder@warnersgroup.co.uk
Send a letter (and photos) to Carl Golder, Dolls House and Miniature
Scene, Warners Group Publications, West Street, Bourne, Lincs, PE10 9PH
Keep in touch through our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/
dollshouseandminiaturescene
News copy deadline for the February issue 273 is 21st December 2016.
6 December 2016
p06 Miniature scene dec.indd 6
Christmas villages have

undoubtedly been around for
a very long time and nativity
scenes could be considered
to be early Christmas
villages. It is likely they
would have been expanded
upon to include more
than the
traditional
barn and figures and church
buildings were probably
among the first of the new
additions. These churches
would probably have been
constructed from wood
and even illuminated by
candlelight. If youre looking
to make a last minute addition to your collection, pay a visit to
www.Christmasvillages.co.uk
Stockists of Lilliput Lane, Lemax and Luville theyve got Christmas all wrapped up.
10/11/2016 11:54
WEEKEND PROJECT
1/12th Scale
Christmas
Elves
You will need:

Materials required
Thin red felt
Wool
Red pipe cleaners
White wooden bead (diameter 0.8mm-1cm)
Glue
Felt-tip pen
Tools required
Scissors
These cheeky little chaps have just put in a 12 hour shift at Santas workshop!
By Kati Kainulainen.
1 Cut a triangle from red felt measuring

1.5cm high x 2cm wide (or trace around the
template below).
2 Fold the pipe cleaner leg and the body
pieces in half. Place the folded lines together
and rotate the body piece around itself
upwards. While rotating, attach the hands
2
in place. Leave the end of the pipe cleaner

from the body to form a neck. The height of a
finished body is approximately 2cm.
Glue the wooden bead head into the neck.
4 Glue the red felt triangle onto the head,

forming a Christmas hat. Use wool to form the
beards and then glue one on each chin.
5 Finally, draw small eyes
with a blue or brown
felt-tip pen.
Hat
Template
Katis Top Tip...

Use a red felt tip pen to draw on
felt slippers and mittens for the elves.
p7_dhmsdec16.indd 7
December 2016
10/11/2016 12:13
F E AT U R E
Deck the
Halls with
Jo Bevilacqua
of Spencers
Nook
One look at Jo Bevilacquas brilliant
Christmas trees and decorations and
youll be in the mood to deck the
halls with holly, put up the tree,
hang the tinsel, light the yule log,
and fill the stockings!
By Deb Weissler.
Photos by Jo Bevilacqua.
A royal blue peacock tree topper crowns a tree lit with dozens of lights.
8 December 2016
8-11 nook.indd 8
10/11/2016 12:10
F E AT U R E
Cheers!
I was never one to rush the Christmas season.
Despite the retail industrys holiday creep
that pushes the season ever forward, in my
mind the season does not begin until after
the annual Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade in
NYC. But this year is different. I need a little
Christmas. After perusing Jos fab collection of
holiday trees and decorations, Im humming
carols in October whilst visions of sugar plums
dance in my head. Most customers begin
early in the year planning what Christmas items
they will want in their mini spaces, Jo explains.
I get orders months in advance, usually a
year, due to the time it takes to construct the
trees, gather the right colours and decorations,
and make the matching tree skirts.
Using lycopodium over a bottle brush tree,
Jo installs the dried clubmoss branch by branch
until the tree fairly groans under the weight of
all that greenery. Lycopodium is also strung on
lengths of wire to create garlands, wreaths,
and swags. Its a time-consuming process that
takes weeks to complete.
So long in fact that Jo is unable to teach tree
trimming in a week-long workshop.
and sweets. Poet Samuel Coleridge was

enchanted by the great yew branches he
encountered during a visit to MecklenburgStrelitz in 1798.
Prince Albert, Queen Victorias consort,
has been credited with introducing the Christmas
tree to England in 1840. However historians say
the honour really belongs to Queen Charlotte,
the German wife of George III, who set up the
first tree at Queens Lodge, Windsor in 1800.
Regardless which historical version you embrace,
the Christmas tree and all its trimmings is
ubiquitous throughout the British Isles during the
holiday season.
A peacock-theme wreath in silver, pale blue,
and white.
Greenery with predominantly red ornaments grace

a wall urn.
Having so many layers and steps in the

process would require a month-long class,
Jo laughs. Theres no quick or easy method;
its as hard today as it was twelve years ago
when I created my first Christmas tree.
Decorating our dolls houses and room boxes
for the holidays has always been near the top
of our fun lists when it comes to miniatures.
To transform our love for decorations into
miniature versions, to recreate the holidays as
they were celebrated centuries ago, to have
mini friends toast one another with flutes of
champagne, and surround a tree with gifts
wrapped in glittery paper and bows breathes
life and excitement into our hobby.
Shades of candy cane on a pear-shaped wreath.
Glitz and sparkle

We have our German neighbours to thank
for decorated Christmas trees when they
made their appearance in homes in Southern
Germany in the early 17th century. Fir trees
and yew branches were set up in parlours and
decorated with paper roses, apples, biscuits,
Large wreath with

red poinsettias and glittery ornaments.
8-11 nook.indd 9
A huge fan of glitz and sparkle, many of

Jos one-off trees are theme trees inspired by
those she has seen in real holiday decorating
magazines. A tree swathed entirely in pink;
cavorting peacocks in royal blue and white;
icicles, and peppermints galore are just some
examples. One customer wanted a fiery
dragon tree for her 14th century French castle.
And what holiday home would be complete
without Jos garlands, swags, topiaries,
centerpieces, stockings, and wreaths? To date
she has created hundreds!
I love Christmas decorations and I always
wanted an elaborate miniature tree but couldnt
find one that met my expectations. I wanted
my tree to be graceful, elegant, and frilly.
In short I wanted a Jo tree, like the one in
my own home. Her solution was to make one.
Once her tree form has been constructed
and dozens of lights strung, the decorating
begins in earnest. Jo selects glass beads for
her ornaments, embellishing them with paint
December 2016 9
10/11/2016 12:10
F E AT U R E
Fireplace mantel swag.
Victorian-style tree decorated with cones and roses.
and glitter, and hung from their own wire loops

just like a real ornament. Swarovski crystals
add sparkle and fire, especially once the lights
are lit. Hand-threaded, beaded garlands and
ringlets of spiral ribbons add elegance and a bit
of frill. Knowing what works as a 1/12th scale
ornament takes a practiced eye.
I have gone into bead stores that sold
thousands of beads and have come out with
perhaps just a dozen that will work properly in
miniature, Jo explains.
Popular sellers
Not surprisingly, its the tree lights that give
her the biggest headache. Remembering
Christmases past when my own family
struggled with tangled strings and burnt out
bulbs that rendered an entire string useless,
miniature lights suffer the same fate, plus a
few new ones.
Spacing and bulb size is the issue,
Jo bemoans. In recent years manufacturers
began spacing their bulbs two inches apart.
When you are wrapping them around a tree,
you eventually wind up with more wire than
Shabby Chic pink topiaries.
10 December 2016
8-11 nook.indd 10
10/11/2016 12:10
F E AT U R E
Staircase greenery.
Pink Passion in luscious

shades of pastel pink.
bulbs. Now they have changed to larger bulbs,

which affect the entire tree building process.
Even though the bulbs are larger, they still emit
the same amount of light but take up more
space. Over the years, Jo has had to cut back
from 120 lights to 72 lights for an eight inch
tree and 96 lights for her presidential line that
run ten to thirteen inches tall, and has still
managed to cleverly disguise the wiring.
Despite the challenges, Jos completed
trees certainly make a home fashion statement,
alone or placed in a miniature vignette. Since her
custom designs sell for $760 to $900 each,
she has no fear of copy cats. Despite the price
tag, her trees remain popular sellers. For those
who cant afford one fully decked out, Jo will
instruct customers and readers by email how to
make their own.
So if you need a little Christmas, right this
very minute, why not put on some holiday music
and take a look at Jos Christmas offerings?
DH
Happy Christmas and mini happy returns! MS
Information
Spencers Nook attend at a number of
selected miniature fairs throughout the USA
but will also ship select items overseas.
www.spencersnook.com
jo@spencersnook.com
8-11 nook.indd 11
December 2016 11
10/11/2016 12:10
WEEKEND PROJECT
Christmas
Cupcakes...
Sadie Brown
creates some
sugary treats fresh
from the oven
in the miniature
Christmas kitchen!
You will need:
Polymer clay: white, sunflower yellow, red,

apple green, black, brown, blue, Bordeaux
and pink
Pastels: white, golden ochre, dark orange
cadmium, brown, lemon yellow and green
Sculpey Bake & Bond
Silicone cupcake base mould
Map pin
Small toothbrush
Small brushes
Burnt umber acrylic paint
Gloss and matte varnish
1/12th scale ceramic plate
Tiny pieces of bamboo
(from an old 1/12th scale basket)
Super Glue
Begin by creating the paper cases for

the cupcakes. Take a 5mm ball of red (or white
for the cranberry cakes) polymer clay for
each cupcake youre going to make. In this
instance Im using the smallest two moulds.
Place them into the base mould and press to
fit. Use the ball end of a map pin to create a
slight depression for the sponge to fit naturally
into so it doesnt look simply placed on top and
bake the bases.
Mix grated golden ochre, dark orange

cadmium and brown pastel and brush over
the sponge.
2 Mix white clay with a small amount of

sunflower yellow, making cream and roll 5mm
balls of the mixture, shaping them into the
shape of the risen sponge for the top of the
cupcakes.
6 To make the snowman cupcake,

use untextured white clay instead of the
sponge top and use a pin to add two holes
where the twig arms will go. Return all the
bases to the oven to bake the tops.
4 Use a small toothbrush to add texture

to the top of the sponge.
5 Put a little Sculpey Bake & Bond
underneath the sponge tops and add to
the bases.
12 December 2016
12-14 Sadie brown.indd 12
10/11/2016 12:08
WEEKEND PROJECT
...The
toppings!
Christmas tree cupcake
Using the same clay mixture as for the leaf in the
cranberry cupcakes, mix with Bake & Bond, again
making a thick, pliable paste. Take a cupcake base
with no sponge and pile the paste on top, using a
pin to swirl it into the shape of a Christmas tree!
Add tiny little balls of clay in different colours, a yellow
one on top, before baking and coating with matte varnish to
complete the look.
Cranberry cupcakes
Create a thick paste for the icing by mixing
Bake & Bond with cream clay and spread it liberally
over the top of the cupcakes. Sprinkle 1mm balls
of clay in four colours across the top. The colours
are Bordeaux, red, red/Bordeaux and Bordeaux/
black. The tiny leaf is made from a mix of apple
green and sunflower yellow clay with a touch of
brown. Take a tiny piece of the mixture, roll into
a carrot shape, flatten with a fingernail and brush
with mixed lemon yellow/green/brown pastel
before scoring the leaf markings with a pin.
Return to the oven for a final time to bake the
topping. Coat the cranberries with gloss varnish
and the rest with matte, grating some white
pastel over the top straight away before it
dries so it can act as an adhesive.
Snowmen cupcakes
Use a 3mm ball of white clay for the head and stick to
the base with Bake & Bond. Flatten a 2mm ball of black
clay with a fingernail to make the base for his top hat.
Use a similarly sized piece of black clay to create the rest
of the hat. Roll into a small, thick tube and flatten the top and
bottom with a fingernail and stick to the base. The carrot nose
is made from a piece of orange clay and the eyes and mouth
from tiny pieces of black clay. After baking, coat two pieces of
bamboo cut to size, measuring about 4mm in length with
super glue to give them extra strength before painting them
with watered down burnt umber acrylic paint. Once dry coat
with matte varnish and glue into each of the holes on top of
the cupcake. Finally, coat the rest of the cupcake with matte
varnish to finish.
December 2016 13
10/11/2016 12:07
WEEKEND PROJECT
Santa hat cupcakes

The white icing is made by mixing grated white pastel
and clay with Bake & Bond to create a thick paste.
Spread liberally over the top of the cupcake. Roll a
3mm ball of red clay into the shape of Santas hat and
cut away a piece at the bottom to create a flat base.
Place into the white icing and add tiny balls of white
clay all the way around the base of the hat, alongside a
small dot of the white paste on the top! After baking,
coat with matte varnish.
Candy cane cupcake
Start by adding a liberal helping of the white

icing used for the Santa hat cupcake.
Next, take some of the same green mixture
used for the leaves on the cranberry
cupcakes, adding a tiny amount of black
clay to deepen the colour and use
a map pin to score and cut out two
very tiny holly leaves from the mixture.
They should measure roughly 3mm in
length and 1/12mm wide. Add these to
the top of the icing along with two or
three tiny balls of red clay for the holly
berries. To make the candy cane, roll out
a tube of white clay to about 1mm in
thickness and some red to slightly less.
Twist together and roll it until you have
smooth tube just under 1mm thick with an
even pattern. Cut a tiny length and curl it over
a pin to make the candy cane shape. Add to the
cupcake beside the holly and bake. Once cooled,
coat with matte varnish.
COMPETITION
Sadie Brown is giving away
her Christmas Cupcakes to
one lucky reader!
To be in with a chance of winning visit:
Alternatively, send your name and
address to the address on page three.
One random winner will be chosen
by our independent adjudicator on
29th December.
The closing date for all entries is
28th December.
Finally, fix the cupcakes to

your chosen serving plate
with glue!
Information
www.homewardflight.scot
www.etsy.com/shop/homewardflight
enquiries@homewardflight.scot
14 December 2016
10/11/2016 12:07
STAFFORD
Sunday January 15th 2017
Members Pavilion, County Showground,

Weston Road, Stafford ST18 0BD
(A518 - Stafford - Uttoxeter Road)
10.30 4.00
All Adults 3.50 Children 5-16 50p

Quality exhibitors Free Prize Draws
Refreshments
Signposted Ample free parking
Doreen Jeffries, Tel 01274 616539

www.doreenjeffriesdollshousefairs.co.uk
07/11/2016 11:52:14
F E AT U R E
Life in a (Christmas) Box
This wonderful Glhwein Stall created by Bettina Kienitz captures the essence of the season.
Continuing our look at smaller projects away from the dolls house, Sadie Brown opens the
door to a selection of Christmas room boxes and scenes created by some of our most talented
artisans which can bring the magic of the season in miniature to everyone!
Christmas heirlooms
This time of year is an exciting and special
one for many miniaturists. Its that time when
those ideas youve been holding on to all year
come tumbling out onto the worktable in a
haze of red and green glitter and the cold,
darker nights are simply an excuse to spend
16 December 2016
16-19 Life in box Dec.indd 16
more time creating! Whether its making a

simple miniature Christmas cake, decorating an
existing room box or creating an entire scene or
vignette, purpose built for the occasion, the fun
to be had at this time of year is almost endless!
Theres something about Christmas in miniature
that encapsulates the childhood excitement
of Christmas past whether youre a long time
miniaturist and collector or a miniaturist in

the making! Smaller projects such as a room
or a shadow box lend themselves perfectly
to becoming timeless Christmas heirlooms
brought out year after year, generations into
the future and can be an incredibly special
handmade gift for someone whos never
owned anything small scale before!
10/11/2016 15:40
F E AT U R E
For a lot of us, the run up to Christmas

involves a visit to the German Christmas Market
to experience those very first delicious tastes,
sounds and smells of the season. This amazing,
illuminated Glhwein Stall, one of several
Christmas themed stalls designed and created
by Bettina Kienitz of Dinky World, evokes those
first feelings of Christmas perfectly, bringing to
life the joy she clearly felt creating it! With a
snow covered roof, she uses a rich palette of
festive colours for all her German market stalls,
tempting the eye towards the many details she
has included. Bettina even incorporates tiny
chocolate Santas and gingerbread cookies into
the Glhwein Stall, ensuring that even the most
peckish of 1/12th scale visitors doesnt feel
left out! The Glhwein pot and mugs, all made
from porcelain, make a fantastic centrepiece
to the scene. The door on the left hand side of
the stall opens and closes so can be left open
to allow an exciting peek into the scene from
a different angle. The vintage Father Christmas
sitting on the counter adds to that feeling of
days gone by and you can almost hear the
Christmas carols playing in the background!
The skillfully made hand cart was created by

Tina Crosbie of Shadow Mini Boxes. Built from
pine, Tina was testing out her new lathe when
she turned the wheels for the cart and the
results are amazing, you can almost pick up the
scent of the freshly worked wood! Complete
with Christmas tree, presents, coal, logs and a
sledge, not to mention a few snowballs lying
around, the cart holds all the essentials for a chilly
Christmas Night by the fireside. Theres even a
spade to ensure that no snowdrift is going to
hold up the arrival of these gifts!
The Santas workshop was a much larger
challenge, Tina says, My main reason behind
it was to try and make as many old fashioned
wooden toys as possible. I used a miniature
lathe to turn the soldier, yoyo, drum and diablo.
Some of the other wooden items were made
from scraps of bass wood, lolly stick and
cocktail sticks.
The busy interior of Tina Crosbies Santas Workshop.
Twas the night before Christmas and all through the

workshop there was a hive of activity!
Not a gadget in sight

Raising a glass to Christmas!
the scene! There is, of course, even a dolls

house, which one of the elves has just begun
painting a bright yellow! Oh, and not forgetting
the pair of skis hanging on the door to ensure
that, any time the reindeer are having a day off,
theres always transport available to go and
post those replies to the carefully addressed
letters to Santa sitting in a bag at the other
side of the workshop! Its a fantastic creation,
crammed full of traditional, much loved toys
and not a gadget in sight!
Tinas devotion to the project is visible in

the thoughtful way she has kitted out the
workshop. The calendar with December the
24th carefully circled in red and the string of
lights illuminating the way outside completes
The one night of the year when you wont

find Santa in his workshop though, theres one
very important job to do, and thats hang up
those stockings! Somewhat smaller than the
huge 7,669.69 square foot Christmas stocking
which was unveiled in Fayetteville, North Carolina
in December 2015, entering the Guinness World
Records as the largest knit/crochet stocking in
the world, these two 1/12th scale, vibrant red
stockings were handmade by Sally Watson from
SallyCat Miniatures, who featured in the first part
of this series and who is behind this absolutely
delightful festive living room.
Evocative of a cold winters day, Tina Crosbies

miniature hand cart holds the warmth of
Christmas within.
Sally Watsons 1/12th scale Christmas stockings are

definitely not in the running for the worlds largest!
With the embers dying in the grate and the

lantern outside lighting Santas way it cant be
long until he arrives to add to the already large
quantity of presents waiting to be opened on
Christmas morning. The wonderful garlands
which hang all the way around the walls of
the room box are an inventive and clever use
of gold and silver quilling paper strips and the
snowy trees and hills outside the window helps
to root this tiny world Sally has created firmly in
the most magical night of the year!
December 2016 17
04/11/2016 18:00
F E AT U R E
Vivienne Garforths festive room box sees us at the very heart of a traditional family Christmas.
white and silver tree! Always happy to take

commissions, Janet can help to re-create those
memories of Christmases past and present,
hopefully making some for the future too!
The Night Before Christmas theme continues

as we leaving the sitting room behind and head
into the dining room just in time for Santas
arrival! Part of a collection created by Vivienne
Garforth, the tree is decorated with a selection
of beautiful baubles and you just really want to
rip the wrapping paper off the blue and white
spotty present to see whats inside! As Vivienne
tells me about the box the enjoyment she finds
Home for Christmas! The presents are beneath the

tree and snow is lying on the ground outside the
window in Sally Watsons gorgeous room box.
Janet Goodrick Miniatures

If youve always coveted that massive Norway
spruce but the space (or ceiling height!) has
never allowed, now is the time to make those
aspirations a miniature reality with a 1/12th
scale version and the best bit is, therell be
no needles to clear up come Twelfth Night!
The wonderful Christmas trees from Janet
Goodrick would look just as at home sitting
on a desk, helping to make those dreary
December office hours pass by just that
little bit quicker, as it would in the corner
of an opulently decorated room in the dolls
house! With 35 years experience in creating
miniatures, Janet founded Janet Goodrick
Miniatures in 1981 and her trees vary from the
traditional such as this 6 high version which
sits in a barrel, decorated with a selection
of brightly coloured baubles and poinsettias
to the more contemporary and everything
in-between such as this stunning sparkling
18 December 2016
Deck the halls! Janet Goodrick Miniatures trees are full of such realistic detail!
04/11/2016 18:00
F E AT U R E
in the piece is evident, I had a wonderful time

decorating that in preparation for Christmas
2013. she says, The tree is strung with
sparkling flashing lights which are battery
operated, the battery is hidden behind the tree.
The table is set for a sumptuous Christmas
dinner, cards line the mantelpiece and Santa
has just finished spreading presents in front of
the fireplace. Rather than the chaos of a family
enjoying Christmas it is more the anticipation
before the event.
Vivienne has a wonderfully ingenious way
of displaying her collection of room boxes,
a bookcase with glass doors which looks like it
was made specifically for the job! The Christmas
room sits near the top on the left and each room
box contained within was lovingly hand made
by Viviennes late husband, Eddie. He cut the
timber pieces for the walls and floors which
Vivienne then painted, wallpapered and carpeted
before he put them together into the finished
box ready for furnishing!
One of the most important rooms in the house
at this time of year and the focus of attention
once the all the wrapping paper has been cast
asunder and discarded in a heap is, of course,
the kitchen! This detailed Georgian Christmas
kitchen created by Anglia Dolls Houses Tim and
Angela Hartnall who featured in the October
issue, sees the festivities of the era in full flow.
Traditionally decorated with fruit, holly and
candles, a Kissing Bough hangs from the ceiling
by the window, inviting a seasonal embrace or
two, along with tiny sprigs of holly decorating
the window and a magnificent selection of food
ready for the table! Running until the 31st of
December, Fairfax House in York, the real life
Georgian house behind the inspiration for this
Box clever! Vivienne Garforths ingenious room box display.
room box, is currently holding its annual The

Keeping of Christmas event, celebrating the
traditions and wonder of a Georgian Christmas
where you can immerse yourself in the life size

reality behind the miniature idea!
Whichever tiny doors you open and wherever
your miniature Christmas leads you this
year, this selection of special and, above all,
imaginative projects prove that even though its
small scale, always think big and you wont go
far wrong!
DH
Merry Christmas! MS
Information
Dinky World:
www.dinkyworld.etsy.com
Shadow Mini Boxes:
www.shadowminiboxes.co.uk
Janet Goodrick Miniatures:
www.janetgoodrickminiatures.co.uk
SallyCat Miniatures:
www.sallycatminiatures.com
Anlaby Dolls House Minis:
www.anlabydollhouseminis.blogspot.
com.au
Georgian splendor abounds during the festive season with this stunning room from Tim & Angela Hartnall of
Anglia Dolls Houses.
Anglia Dolls Houses:

www.angliadollshouses.co.uk
December 2016 19
04/11/2016 18:00
SKILLED PROJECT
Great Artists Series:

Arthur Rackham, A Night Before Christmas
Selected Illustrations
In this series, professional

artist Stephanie Guy
shows us how to
reproduce famous
paintings in miniature.
This month: Selected
illustrations by Arthur
Rackham from A Night
Before Christmas.
20 December 2016
20-24 Artist.indd 20
10/11/2016 12:47
SKILLED PROJECT
You will need:
Dimensions for this painting
Bleed proof cartridge paper

Sharp craft knife, cutting mat and
steel ruler
Sharp pencil (0.05mm point or smaller)
and an eraser
Fine point dip pen with a maximum
0.05mm point
Non clogging pigmented waterproof
black ink
Kitchen towel
Magnifying glass
Ive been unable to ascertain how big the original illustrations are for this book.
Rackham did not have a standard size for working, however in general his illustrations
tended to be around 10 x 7, or 254mm x 190.5mm, so this is what Im working to here.
To find how big our miniature versions need to be we simply divide these measurements by
the scale were working in.
On a 1/12th scale, dividing by 12 will give us 21mm x 16mm; for 1/16th we need to divide by
16 to get 16mm x 12mm.
For 1/24th divide by 24 giving 12mm x 8mm. Im working at a 1/12th scale, which is smaller
than a British postage stamp.
Elf
1 Draw a rectangle of the size required
for your scale and then divide this into 4 x 4
equally spaced sections (you will need your
ruler for this bit). They will not be squares since
your canvas is rectangular, but I will call them
squares for simplicitys sake. Please draw your
grid lines very faintly so that you can erase
them later on.
Starting in one of the corners, copy the black
lines into your chosen square. Methodically
moving from one square to its adjoining
square, continue to copy the drawing until
yours is complete. Try not to be tempted to
jump around the grid, it is all too easy to make
a mistake when counting squares and very
frustrating to find that the drawing doesnt
meet in the middle!
2a Load your pen with two drops of ink using

the pipette or a small brush. Loading ink in
this way will save you a lot of heart ache by
preventing excess ink from blobbing onto your
drawing. Alternatively you can dip the pen into
the ink and then remove the excess ink from
the nib top, sides and the reservoir using the
edge of a piece of kitchen towel.
2b Practice drawing both straight and squiggly
lines of different widths by applying different
amounts of pressure to the nib. Note that you
can get a very fine line as the ink is running out.
Try turning the nib upside down and very gently
drawing with it to see if this will give you an
even finer line. Wipe the nib clean every time
you refill the nib to prevent a build up of ink.
Replace the cap on the ink then clean and dry
your nib whenever you leave your work for more
than a minute or two as dried waterproof ink can
be very difficult to clean off the nib.
3 When youre happy with your lines you
can begin to ink your drawing, starting with the
hat and a fine line.
4
Move on to the face and hand, again with

a fine line. Try the pen on a scrap of paper each
time you refill the nib and blot off some of the
ink from the reservoir if the line is too thick.
Continue with the same fine lines to

complete the arms, ruff, and the hand on
the right.
6 Practice drawing a thicker line and draw

over the horizontal wavy lines of the elfs skirt,
the tips of both shoes and the tip of the hat.
7
Return to the thick lines and complete the

skirt, legs and shoes including the ruffs on the feet.
December 2016 21
10/11/2016 12:47
SKILLED PROJECT
About Arthur Rackham

Arthur Rackham was born in Lewisham, Kent, on the 19th of September 1867. Drawing was a passion from
an early age but he was not from a wealthy family so in order to support himself through the Lambeth
School of Art, he worked full time in an insurance office and studied in the evenings. He did not become
a full time artist until 1892 when he joined a London newspaper as an artist, and then began to take on
other newspaper, magazine and book illustration commissions. Development of photo-mechanical printing
techniques in the early twentieth century enabled Rackham to illustrate books without needing an engraver
to translate his work for the printing press, and this allowed Rackhams tremendous gift for line drawings to
be accurately reproduced. By 1896 he found that he was successful enough to leave the newspaper job to
concentrate on book illustrations.
Rackham competently illustrated over 20 books during the 1890s before achieving significant success
with his illustrations of The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm, 1900. In 1905 he received huge acclaim for his
illustrations for Rip Van Winkle, followed quickly by Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens in 1906, and thus he
was established as one of the top illustrators of the early 20th century.
In 1931 a book featuring Rackhams illustrations for The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore was published and it is a series of
these line drawings that we are going to reproduce here.
Rackham died of cancer on the 6th September 1936 at home.
2a
2b
22 December 2016
10/11/2016 12:47
SKILLED PROJECT
Four silhouettes
1
Following the grid method draw stick

versions of the silhouetted figures in pencil.
Carefully build up the first figure,

watching the curve of the back and the angles
of the legs and arms. Use dots for the tiny
features such as the heels of the shoes and
the nose and chin.
Moon
1
Moving on to the smiling moon, use the grid method to draw the outlines in pencil.
2 All the lines in this piece are the same thickness, so practice creating a thin line and then
ink the moon face.
3
Complete the inking in the same way, noting that there are two lines of smoke coming
out of the left hand chimney.
Moving on to the second figure, begin by

going over your stick figure then build up the
bottom, legs and tail. Add in the head gradually
building up the shape sideways.
The third figure is wearing a cap and

is looking to the left. To achieve the slightly
disjointed dancing arms and legs, lift your
pen off the paper at the elbow and the knee.
Use dots for the hands.
Build up the fourth figure, the dancing

rabbit, in the same way. Leave tiny white
spaces for the eyes.
December 2016 23
10/11/2016 12:48
SKILLED PROJECT
Ballet and circus dancers

1
Use the grid method to draw the dancers

in pencil
Starting with the ballet dancer, ink in the

skirt followed by the legs and feet. The tips of
the feet are filled in with ink. Move on to the
body. When you get to the head start with the
two or three circles to represent the flowers in
Flying reindeer
1
Draw out another grid and copy the

reindeer flying over the buildings. Draw the
reindeer themselves as stick figures, dont worry
about detail shapes as we will build those up
with ink.
Take your time inking in the outlines.

You might find it easier to rotate the paper
when you are faced with long straight lines to
help steady your hand. Left-handed people tend
to find drawing from right to left is easier than
left to right, and vice-versa.
her hair, then ink in the solid hair and finally add
a face. On this scale there is no room to add
her facial features so just leave the face blank.
3 Ink the skipping circus dancer starting

under the arm on the left hand side as you look
at the paper and use one sweeping line right
down to the bottom of the foot on the opposite
When you get to the church in the

background, use dots to represent the gothic
spire. Note the direction of the bricks on the
chimney on the left and dont try to get them
all in as they wont fit in the available space.
Just an approximation is all we need here.
4 Next, carefully block in the buildings in the

background using gentle strokes of the pen.
Build up the bodies of the reindeer one stroke
at a time. Do not rush this step!
side. Ink in the rest of that leg and then do the

same for the other leg, with one sweeping
pen line from the bottom of the foot to the
opposite arm pit, only lifting the pen when you
meet the first leg. Continue to ink the rest of
the dancer, leaving two tiny white spaces in
the mask for eyes.
Finishing
Leave your drawings to dry for at least two
days before gently rubbing out the pencil
lines with a soft eraser. Then, using your
steel rule and craft knife, cut out the cartridge
paper to the correct size. If you are going to
mount and frame your drawings leave a 5mm
edge around the outside. I have mounted
mine by cutting apertures into 300gsm card
and made a frame out of wooden beading
which I have then painted white so as not to
DH
detract from the simplicity of the drawings. MS
Information
If you have a go at any of my painting
tutorials Id love to see your artwork,
you can share it on my Facebook page
or email it to me.
My contact details are:
www.StephanieGuy.co.uk
StephanieGuyFineArt@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/
StephanieGuyFineArt
@stephanieguyart
You can see Rackhams illustrations in
Clement Clarke Moores book The Night
Before Christmas in good bookshops or
you can view a copy online at of Michigan
Digital Library Production Service here:
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/moa/
AEK2825.0001.001/1?rgn=full+text;
view=image
24 December 2016
10/11/2016 12:48
COLLECTION
A Sophisticated Christmas
urea Segura aims to bring the innocence of childhood back to her Christmas collection
with a stunning selection of elegant and traditional miniatures. By Sofa Nogus.
Bunnies, bows and baubles
26 December 2016
26-30 sofia.indd 26
10/11/2016 11:37
COLLECTION
December, a month of
hopes and dreams
Christmas is a season of joy and happiness
where families come together. The crisp
winter air outside brings warmth and cosiness
to each household as everyone gathers
around the chimney to warm up and enjoy a
mug of something hot and children rejoice
in the hopes that Santa Claus will bring their
long wished presents. The days are covered
in white and people sing to a Carols tune,
bringing joy to the ice-cold streets, with smiles
all along and bells singing.
urea Segura is the artist behind Aurearte.com,
and the new Christmas collection aims
to bring back the innocence of childhood during
this time of the year to every household.
urea combines the lively red and green colours
with the characteristic elegance of her pieces of
furniture and upholstery. Choosing the highest
quality fabrics and silks, she creates unique and
sophisticated pieces. She adores the festive
Hand painted drawer with mirror.
Waking up to the Christmas tree.
26-30 sofia.indd 27
December 2016 27
10/11/2016 11:37
COLLECTION
Santa Claus travelling around the world.
season and has very special memories around

this time of year. In her own words, Its a time
of joy and for family to reunite. With her sister
and nephews living in California and her two
daughters in Dublin and London, Christmas is the
perfect time of year to everyone to get together
and celebrate.
Come December, the streets of Barcelona
start seeing Christmas decorations. The sun

goes down sooner and the lights start to shine,
bringing back memories of the festivities.
urea enjoys the crisp air of the first days of
December, strolling through the city, I always
make the point of visiting my favourite caf with
my daughters, its the place where we used to
go when they were kids to have hot chocolate
and churros, a Catalan tradition.

Having lived in San Francisco for many
years, urea quickly picked up on the
extravagance of the Christmas season,
she would see the streets light up shortly
after Halloween, the shop windows decorated
with snowflakes and gifts for everyone and
salesmen dressed up as Santa Claus!
The perfect Christmas living room with a detailed hand painted Santa Claus chimney.
28 December 2016
26-30 sofia.indd 28
10/11/2016 11:38
COLLECTION
Christmas themed cushion featuring a Shi Tzu.
The fascination of the nativity

When urea returned to her home in Barcelona
for Christmas, she would always go to El
Mercat de Santa Llucia (Saint Lucias Market),
where craftsmen and women from all over
Catalonia sell figurines for the nativity scenes,
known as pesebre. In this famous Christmas
market which is set up in front of the citys
cathedral, she would also find mistletoe,
poinsettias and other hand made decorations.
urea was always fascinated by the tradition
in Spain of setting up a small scale nativity and
enjoyed seeing those unique pieces produced
by talented craftsmen and women. This inspired
her and she always thought about doing
something similar herself.
As a result, urea started in the world of
Miniatures a little over a year ago and now
enjoys working in her new shop in Mercantic,
a market near Barcelona which brings together
artists and craftsmen and women from all over
Catalonia. Here, anyone who comes in can
see her working on the smallest details of her
scenes, creating unique pieces of furniture.
Mercantic is truly inspiring for her as its a place
where creativity comes together.
As ever, her dog Goldy keeps her company and
every now and then she stars in some of the
scenes in Aurearte Miniatures.
With a longstanding career in art which
started when she was only 14 years old
(when she painted her first oil painting) urea has an incredible technique. She studied
26-30 sofia.indd 29
December 2016 29
10/11/2016 11:38
COLLECTION
Christmas dinner set in a unique living room.
art and restoration techniques in Rome,

where she learned how to paint on fresco
and developed her skills in marble restoration,
specialising in these two techniques.
This opened up a new door to her career:
furniture restoration. She started doing this as
a hobby and now she acquires old pieces of
furniture and gives them a second life.
These practices were rapidly translated
into her miniature work. Not only does urea

upholster and hand paint every piece of
miniature Furniture, she also replicates marble
surfaces, creating sophisticated pieces which
will fit the finest doll houses.
The new Christmas collection captures these
techniques in every single detail. The colours
chosen for the furniture highlight the scenes of
winter and every aspect on each decorated tree
and garland is carefully thought about,

ensuring that memories are aroused.
Although she works at such a small
scale, which requires great care for detail,
Aureartes pieces showcase the precision
and meticulous technique of the artist.
One can appreciate the lights on the Christmas
tree painted in a wardrobes door or clearly
identify with the leaves of the wreaths on
the side tables. Her new collection captures
the essence and the magic of the Christmas
season while being elegant and sophisticated.
The image of an authentic Santa Claus with
bags of presents walking through a forest
covered in snow tops the chimney,
with illustrations of Christmas wreath framing
the scene. The bed combines with the side
tables, presenting festive decorations and the
linen in burgundy and green reminds us of the
colors of Christmas.
urea spent many months on the run up to
Christmas looking for the right paint colours,
creating different shades herself, searching for
specific fabrics and silks to upholster each piece
of furniture and to create matching linen that
was festive and yet sophisticated and elegant.
As a result, Aureartes Christmas collection is an
inspiration born out of a lifelong dream and is the
DH
perfect gift for this holiday season. MS
Information
For more information visit:
www.aurearte.com
www.facebook.com/Aurearte-Miniatures
30 December 2016
26-30 sofia.indd 30
10/11/2016 11:38
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DHMS FP SUBS DEC16_DPS.indd 36
10/11/2016 15:31
F E AT U R E
Meet the Guild
How much do you know about the I.G.M.A? Let Amy Marshall explain in more detail.
Hello from the Guild

This month, we begin a monthly column on the
I.G.M.A - The International Guild of Miniature Artisans.
Wed like you to get to know us, our programs,
our educational opportunities and, most importantly,
our mission: to promote fine miniatures as an art
form. Were trying to increase the appreciation of
high-quality workmanship and, through our programs,
to advance the perception of fine miniatures as art
in their own right, as the next level of dolls house
furniture and decor. Dolls house miniatures are a
wonderful craft, but we encourage our artisans to go
a step further, into the realm of fine art, suitable for
The old mill.
inclusion in the most prestigious museums.
The Guild is run almost exclusively by volunteers, who lend their time and talents to furthering
this mission. We have three types of membership; the first, and largest, is General, which includes
collectors, connoisseurs and students of miniatures in their many forms.
The next category is Artisan, those members who master their
class of miniatures. Categories include furniture construction,
fine art painting and sculpture, embroidery and other
needlework, structures, the making of flowers and
plants, food, metalwork, ceramics, figures and just
about any medium one can think of. More information
about becoming an Artisan in the Guild can be found
at http://igma.org/members/artisan.html. The last,
and most distinguished category is that of Fellow,
for those Artisans whose work has become the
epitome of excellence.
In this issue of Dolls House and Miniature Scene,
well be looking at several Guild Artisans and Fellows
in different categories, and showing some of their
The English garden.
Christmas offerings, after all, it is December!
The gingerbread kitchen.
32 December 2016
32-35 guild.indd 32
10/11/2016 13:37
F E AT U R E
eresa tells us that Pat and Noel Thomas, two very talented American
miniaturists who specialise in realistic constructions, structures and
building facades, were her first inspiration. She remembers seeing one of
their Victorian houses, an 1890s brick building, aged,
with weathered advertising posters on the brick, clearly meant to represent
a building set in a downtown area. It was the first time she had seen that
miniatures neednt be pretty, clean and dainty.
Her next influence was the wonderfully creative Rik Pierce, of Frogmorton
Studios, whose work she first saw at a Guild Show. She later took a class
with Rik at Philadelphia Miniaturia, building a Hobbit House and learning
many valuable skills, including the use of Creative Paperclay, creating leaded
windows, a flickering fireplace, a wooden floor and landscaping among others.
Meanwhile, Teresa had been pursuing her first passion, needlework.
In 2005, she shared a table at a show with a friend, and began to sell
her miniature hooked rug kits, made with French knots.
She has since become renowned for her French knot work,
and continues to sell her rug kits on her website and at shows.
In 2014, she earned her Fellow status,
the Guilds highest honour, with her
masterpiece, Elysium.
Another of Teresas loves was making
gingerbread houses, both full-sized and in
miniature. She realised that these would be
great subjects for holiday postage stamps,
since theyre Christmassy and everyone
loves gingerbread houses. She asked her
local Post Master if he knew how designs
for stamps were selected. He went through
a long-winded explanation which, she says,
Elysium.
The gingerbread kitchen, exterior.
was quite discouraging. Then he added,

The woman who photographs things for stamps lives
right down the road from you, Ill give you her phone
number. Unable to believe her luck, she screwed up
her courage and called the photographer, who was very
interested in Teresas little gingerbread houses. Amazingly, the woman
had been looking for someone to build gingerbread houses, and a team
was born! After several tries, some too busy, some too dark, the two
came up with a set of four gingerbread houses which, according to
Teresa, made the Citizens Advisory Committee say, Ooh! Aah! and four
years later, the stamps were released.
Teresa has also created many structures, including
1 scale gingerbread houses. One represents the
house where the elves who make gingerbread houses
live. As you can see, its charming both inside and out.
Teresas motto is, Necessary Wonderfulness,
and she works on putting beautiful things into the
world which werent there before.
In future issues,
well be bringing
you more of
Teresas work.
Teresa and
Post master Donoghue.
Elf Judy
The Elves dormitory.
32-35 guild.indd 33
Elf Karen
December 2016 33
10/11/2016 16:39
F E AT U R E
arbara tells us that she was born with a gene that loves little things. She became
interested in dolls houses when, as a young mum, she was given a book on dolls houses
for Christmas. Barbara has always been a D.I.Y.er, doing such things as wallpapering her
kitchen, building a bedroom closet and doing other intricate projects which she used to fill the
evenings when her husband was travelling for work. After looking at the available dolls house
kits, (this was in the 70s, when house kits were few and far between) and finding none she
liked, she decided to build her own, and allowed two weeks while her husband was on a
business trip for its construction--with all the furniture. Two years later, she finally completed
the house, which was a copy of her own, first house. She also made replicas of all the
furniture. She didnt have a local miniature store, nor any friends who made miniatures,
so shes entirely self-taught, down to the wiring of the house.
Eventually she did find a miniature store;
the owner was so impressed with her
work that Barbara was asked if she would
make pieces for the store to sell! Given her
situation at home (four kids under eight years
old, and no craft room except the kitchen
table), she declined. She joined a miniature
club and never looked back.
Barbara was a member of N.A.M.E.
(National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts)
for 40 years, and recently qualified for two
I.G.M.A artisanships, in Toys and in Lost Wax
Sculpture. The Lost Wax came about because
shed had a High School teacher who taught
all kinds of jewellery making; she took the
course every year for four years, then studied
with the same teacher, who gave his own
classes. She learned all kinds of jewellery making techniques, such as faceting gems,
working with a jewellers saw, silver soldering,
all skills which she has used in our world
of miniatures.
When her eldest daughter was expecting
her first child, Barbara built a tiny replica of the
nursery-to-be. Housed in a 4 pocket watch case, it contains exact replicas of the crib and the
dresser, which she measured and photographed in the store where theyd been purchased;
she scanned the fabric, again from the store it came from, that her daughter had ordered for
the curtains and the crib linens,
and reduced the fabric to the
correct scale. The result is quite
astonishing, and all in 1/4 scale.
Given her love of the small
things in life, its no surprise
that toys would be a category
in which she excels. All of the
toys shown are automata,
they actually move in all different
ways. The bear, which is a
copy of an antique Russian bear,
plays the drum and the cymbals
when you swing the weight.
Pinocchio is a marionette. On the
play table/theatre, a child, from
underneath, can maneuver the
ducks from walking to swimming,
and the squirrels get nuts from
the bucket and hide them in the
tree roots.
34 December 2016
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10/11/2016 16:39
F E AT U R E
Feather tree
atricia is a Fellow in Needlework, but this year she has widened her scope, creating a
marvellous replica of a Victorian feather Christmas Tree. She says this tree is taken from
history, as are all of her miniatures. She tells us that, in the 1800s, when Christmas trees
first became widely popular, starting in Germany, so many trees were cut down that there
was a real danger of deforestation. Thats when goose feather Christmas trees came about.
The feathers later became tissue paper, and thats what Patricias Feather Christmas tree
is all about. This miniature example is 6 tall, with 12 to 13 branches. Patricia will teach her
pupils to create this tree at the Guild School in Castine, Maine, for the first time in June, 2017,
complete with decorations, faux candles, and a gold metallic star as a topper.
Patricia exhibits at two or three shows a year, just enough
to provide her, she says, with shopping money. She also
spends time as co-chair, with Peter Kendall (more about him
in a later column), of the Guilds Study Programs, or GSPs.
The GSPs are conducted at leading museums. Recent venues
have included the Brooklyn Museum and the Chicago
Institute of Art. This years GSP takes place, as it does every
year in January, at Colonial Williamsburg, a restoration village
and museum in Virginia. Guild instructors, Artisans and
Fellows, working with the museums staff, select objects
from the museums collection for students to replicate in
miniature, be they historic pieces of furniture, paintings,
Hinged spice
box, one of
household objects or architectural detail, such as a corner of a room, a fireplace or a paneled
the classes
wall. First, the students are given a tour of the museum and are able to see their chosen
offered at the
classs prototype. Then, they take the class in an 18-hour period, over four days. There is a
Guild Study
Programme
welcome dinner and a graduation lunch. The Colonial Williamsburg GSP, the only GSP that is
in Colonial
held in the same place every year,
Williamsburg in
is known for the camaraderie that
January 2017.
exists between first-timers and
experienced students. One chooses
between four projects. This year,
the classes offered are a New
England Childs Chair; Metalwork:
Iron for the Colonial Hearth;
a Candlewick Embroidery Coverlet;
and a Spice Box, with hinged front
and 15 drawers. In 2017, the GSP
will be held January 13 through the
16th--That the Future May Learn
from the Past.
Information
The Guild would like to wish all our friends
across the pond a very Merry Christmas!
You may want to consider giving a membership
to IGMA, or a place in the Colonial
Williamsburg GSP, or even a trip to Castine,
Maine in June, as a Christmas gift!
To learn more about this GSP, or any other
Guild program, and to enjoy great photos
and videos of Guild programs and the Guild
School visit:
www.igma.org
Teresa Layman:
www.teresalayman.weebly.com
Barbara Kalty:
bkalty@gmail.com
Patricia Richards:
www.prminiatures.com
32-35 guild.indd 35
December 2016 35
10/11/2016 16:39
SKILLED PROJECT
Christmas Jewellery
You will need:
Polymer clay: mother of pearl, white, red,

green, apple green, blue, brown and black
Star shape plunger cutters
Map pins
1mm flat backed rhinestones in assorted
colours (with plenty of red and green!)
Small brush
Craft knife
Acrylic paints: metallic silver, metallic gold,
white and red
Matte and gloss varnish
Selection of thin gauge floristry wire
Jewellery wire cutters
Jewellery pliers
Small scissors
Old chain with small links
Thick silver thread for knotting
Super Glue
Festive cheer!
36 December 2016
36-39 bracelets.indd 36
Its the party season and even if its a while since you left
a mince pie by the tree for Santa, the festive season is
still about magic and glitter! Sadie Brown shows us how
to make sure our miniature jewellery box is filled with
Christmas sparkle!
Rhinestone necklaces
Christmas usually means lots of colour
and a simple but incredibly effective look
is a 4cm length of floristry wire covered
in rhinestones, simply glued in place.
Again, have fun creating the look you
want but here Ive made a gorgeous
multi coloured necklace and another in
red and green which Mrs. Claus would
surely love to find under the tree on
Christmas Morning!
10/11/2016 12:44
SKILLED PROJECT
Christmas star pendants
Roll out some mother of pearl or white

polymer clay to a thickness of about 1mm and
use the smallest star shape plunger cutter in
your set to cut out lots of stars!
Bake the stars and, after cooling, paint with

acrylic silver metallic paint.
Coat the painted stars with matte varnish.

While the varnish is still wet you can use it as
an adhesive to stick on a selection of 1mm flat
backed rhinestones. You can create a multitude
of different colour combinations and designs,
the poinsettia style design with the green
rhinestone surrounded by the red is particularly
festive but have fun creating!
Use a small length of very thin, flexible

silver wire, measuring about 6mm to create a
bail. Use Super Glue to attach it to the pendant.
Cut a 4cm length of thin gauge silver tone

floristry wire for each pendant youre making.
Use a pair of jewellery pliers to shape

the wire into a modern wire necklace and just
simply slide the pendant onto it through the bail

in just the same way you would the real thing!
Create a fashionable statement necklace

by using super glue to stick three of the stars
with rhinestones attached but without the bails,
to a length of floristry wire.
8 There are a number of different ways to

create a fastening effect for the back of the
necklace/pendant. For the light green pendant
Ive just used super glue to fix a rhinestone to
one side of the wire, leaving the gap open so
the necklace could be used on a doll.
9
For the red pendant Ive taken a 1mm ball

of red polymer clay and made a hole through
10 For the deep green pendant Ive used

two 1mm balls of mother of pearl polymer
clay with a small hole made in one side of
each. Once baked, theyre glossed with
varnish and one bead glued to each end of
the wire, again leaving it open.
11
Finally, for the triple star necklace,

Ive used a small knotted piece of silver
coloured thread. Again, simply glued into
position at either side of the opening.
10
the middle before baking. After cooling I

coated it with matte varnish and rolled it in
glitter before gluing the wire into each of
the holes.
11
December 2016 37
10/11/2016 12:45
SKILLED PROJECT
Christmas charm bracelets
1 Cut two lengths of thin gauge floristry wire,

both just under 2cm in length. Here Ive used
one which is just plain wire and another which
is used for making miniature flowers which has
a Christmassy green paper coating on it.
2
For the beads mix some green clay

with a touch of black to make a rich festive
green. Aside from that, the other colours,
red, white and apple green, are all used straight
from the packet. Take 2mm balls of clay and
push a map pin or needle all the way through
them to make a hole in each one. You should
need a total of about 19 or 20 beads but its
always a good idea to make a few spare!
3 After baking and cooling, dip the tip of

map pin or needle into acrylic metallic silver
paint and make tiny little dots on the deep
green coloured beads. Use white acrylic paint
to create a polka dot effect on the red beads.
Put the beads on another pin to make them
easy to hold while you do this!
4 Dip a needle into red acrylic paint and draw
lines all the way around the white and apple green
beads, again threading the beads onto a pin for
ease. Metallic gold paint also looks good on these.
5 Keep one white bead back and paint it with
silver paint. This is for the fastening on the
green coated bracelet.
6
Gloss all the beads with varnish.
7 To make the tiny stocking charm, take a

1.5mm ball of red clay and make a stocking
shape which should measure roughly about
2mm in length and 1.5mm wide.
8 Flatten a small piece of white clay into a
basic shape for the fluffy top of the stocking
and use a map pin to score lines all the way
along. Use Bake & Bond to attach the top to

the stocking.
9 The base for the Christmas pudding charm

is a 1mm ball of brown clay, flattened with a
fingernail and an even tinier ball of white clay,
flattened so its very thin and then cut in half,
one piece creating the sauce on the pudding.
10 Add two tiny pieces of green clay for the
holly leaves alongside a few very, very tiny red
beads of red clay for the berries.
11 Bake both charms, allow to cool and
coat with gloss varnish. Cut two pieces of
thin floristry wire and shape into bails for
both charms, sticking them to the back of the
charms with Super Glue. Thread the charms
onto the bracelets, one onto each.
12 Add beads to either side of the charm on
the green coated bracelet and fill the wire on
the other bracelet all the way to the two ends.
Use a tiny dab of Super Glue to stick the silver
bead into position, slotting one end into each
side, employing the same method with the final
bead on the other bracelet to seal in place.
10
11
12
38 December 2016
10/11/2016 12:45
SKILLED PROJECT
Time for presents!
1 You can, of course, use any colour of clay

you want for the watch straps but here Im
using a pale blue, made by mixing white with a
very small amount of a bright blue. Roll the clay
out to a thickness of roughly about 1mm and
cut two pieces, one measuring 1cm in length
and the other 8mm in length. They should both
be 2mm in width.
2
Cut a small piece from either side of

one end of the longest watch strap, creating a
soft point.
3 Use a map pin to make a number of holes

in the longest strap.
4
Cut two thin strips of the light blue clay and

place them across one end of the shortest strap.
Take a 3mm ball of white clay and flatten

to a thickness of about 1mm with the back of a
fingernail to make base for the watch face.
a small, straight piece from another link and

glued that across the other one to give the
impression of a realistic buckle.
6 Again using a fingernail, flatten a tiny ball of

white clay, less than 1mm in diameter, to make
the winder for the watch and attach to the side
of the base. After baking the straps and the
base, allow to cool before painting the base
with silver paint.
9 I designed the watch face itself on the

computer using publishing software. I reduced
the finished design in size to 4mm in diameter,
printed it on high gloss photo paper and carefully
cut it out. However, if preferred, you can also just
as easily draw a tiny watch face and cut it out.
7 Coat the watch base and the two straps

with matte varnish.
10 Use a tiny dab of glue to stick the watch

face to the centre of the base, ensuring that
3 oclock is on the right hand side where the
winder is. You could also use something less
permanent such as tacky wax if you wanted to
be able to change the clock face for one with
a different time. This one is set to just before
midnight on Hogmanay!
8 To create the buckle for the watch strap,

use a single link from an old, unused chain,
which I flattened with a heavy object and glued
to one end of the shortest strap. I then cut
11 Finally, fix the straps into position, the

shorter one with the buckle at 12 oclock and
the larger at 6 oclock, with a small amount of
Super Glue.
10
11
Stocking fillers!
This is something that can very easily be adapted to create the most amazing star for the top of
the Christmas tree! Simply use a larger shape cutter, this one measures 1.2cm from point to point,
to cut out a 2mm thick star from mother of pearl polymer clay. Paint silver, coat with matte varnish
and add clear rhinestones to both sides. Use super glue to attach a spring coil, such as this one
taken from an old push shape cutter, to the star to create a miniature festive heirloom to bring out
year after year!
Next issue
We kick off 2017 in
style by travelling
back in time
to unearth a
Bronze Age
hoard!
Information
www.homewardflight.scot
www.etsy.com/shop/homewardflight
enquiries@homewardflight.scot
December 2016 39
10/11/2016 12:45
F E AT U R E
The
Quartermaster
Moi Ali chats to Terri Maxwell from Clarksburg, a small city in
West Virginia, about her vast collection of quarter scale projects.
The disciplined miniaturist

Little did Terri Maxwell know that a chance
conversation in the summer of 1989 would lead
to a miniature obsession that would completely
fill an 18-foot by 32-foot room with finished
projects in 1/12th, 1/24th and 1/48th scale. In
this Quartermaster feature, well limit ourselves
to Terris 1/48th scale models, but Id certainly
like to pay Terri a visit on another occasion to
look at some of her other scale miniatures.
Terri told me her story from the beginning:
On a shopping trip with a friend, the discussion
turned to doll houses. We both said wed always
wanted one, and by the end of that year, we both
had inch scale dollhouse kits. We knew nothing
about miniatures, but soon discovered shops,
shows and NAME the National Association of
Miniature Enthusiasts in the United States.
Terri lives two hours from Pittsburgh, and as
this was in the days before internet shops,
there was no easy access to miniatures.
Undaunted, Terri and her friend co-founded
a local miniatures club and joined NAME.
Since then, Terri has pursued her hobby with a
passion and a discipline that is quite phenomenal.
She told me: I made my first quarter scale
house at a NAME workshop taught by Suzanne
40 December 2016
40-41 Quartermaster Dec.indd 40
Larson-Tamburo. I finished it at
home and decided that I really
could do this small scale. I then
did a workshop with Sue Herber
at the next convention. By this
time I was completely hooked
on quarter scale and didnt want to work in any
other scale. I had been getting a bit bored with
the larger scales and my room was almost full.
I needed some new challenges and smaller
projects. I think that these may be two of the
biggest reasons for the growth of quarter scale.
There are also a lot of different architectural
choices in quarter scale. Besides, they are just
so darned cute!
Terri continued: When I started building in

quarter scale, I was a couple of years away
from retirement. I started collecting kits for
projects to do after I left my job as a high
school Home Economics teacher. I chose kits
by Suzanne Larson-Tamburo, Karen Benson,
Karen Cary, Bruce Steinke, Gayle Balliargeon,
Robin Betterly, Michelle Faleshock, Debbie
Young and Petite Properties. Each structure kit
went into a plastic bin with the furniture kits,
flooring, wallpaper and fabrics that would be
used to furnish it.
Busy, busy, busy

Miniaturists will understand Terris confession:
I didnt intend to get so carried away, but the
ideas just kept popping into my head. By the
time I retired, I had about 40 projects planned.
In the last three years I have completed 28
quarterscale structures. Even though I finish
a lot of projects each year, I keep seeing new
things that I like, and the stack of bins is not
getting much smaller!
Terri completes 8-10 quarter scale projects a
year, depending on size and difficulty. My first
few projects were unlit, but since learning about
LEDs, I now light my projects, she told me.
Initially Terri planned to build projects in
the order in which they were purchased
until a friend persuaded her to build one out
of sequence: Since then, I have started
grouping projects by theme. Its easier to do
similar projects while I had everything out.
I did Halloween, then I eight eating and
drinking establishments, and now Im
10/11/2016 11:28
F E AT U R E
completing the last of the Italian, French and

Spanish houses. Next will be two Christmas
projects, and the some shops. I bought the
entire row of Petite Properties Memory Lane.
Problems resolved
china. I am slowly discovering some pottery

and silver. I guess I will just have to get used to
paper plates and plastic crystal!
I just had to ask Terri if she was yet on top
of all of those projects she had stockpiled for
retirement: No! Sometimes I wish that the

visions of miniature interiors would slow down
a bit so I could get caught up. I will be 70
soon, and I need to whittle down that pile of
plastic bins!
December 2016 41
The most complicated project so far was

the French Chateau by Suzanne and Andrews.
It was centre opening and I added a basement
under the house. It was also challenging to work
out the wiring. This house also has my favourite
interior along with my favourite kitchen.
Terri told me: When I first started
quarter scale, I was frustrated by the lack
of accessories. I am very detail oriented.
Everything had to be made from paper,
wood and beads! I tried to make them look
like they werent made out of these materials,
as they need to look real. I also missed the
fabulous artisan pieces that I was used to in
the larger scale. I especially loved crystal,
pottery, silver, needlework, and hand-painted
40-41 Quartermaster Dec.indd 41
10/11/2016 11:28
WEEKEND PROJECT
The
Christmas
Nutcracker
Natalie Clegg shows you how to make a
tiny working Nutcracker in 1/12th scale.
The history of the nutcracker
You will need:
Jelutong pieces in various sizes

Toothpicks
Artists acrylics various
28 gauge Florists wire
Humbrol Acrylic clear satin
Liberon Gilt Varnish Compiegne
Small amount of white fake fur
42 December 2016
p42-43_dhmsdec16.indd 42
Carved wooden nutcrackers in the highly

decorated form of carved and painted wooden
nutcrackers were initially made for aristocratic
dinner tables to crack the nuts that were provided
after the main meal. They had a functional use
as well as their very ornate decorative style
of soldiers, knights and kings. They were not
associated with Christmas until the ballet
The Nutcracker became so popular, which tells
the story of a nutcracker coming to life and set
to music composed by Tchaikovsky. Today many
forms, and designs are found and although their
mouths may work, they have becoming mainly a
Christmas decoration.
10/11/2016 11:25
WEEKEND PROJECT
1 Select smooth toothpicks and cut two legs

(14mm long); two arms (12mm long) and two feet
(2.5mm long). From 1.5mm thick jelutong cut a
base 8mm x 8mm. From 6mm jelutong dowel cut
one head 11mm long and one body 9mm long.
4 File a slot into the top of the body - 4mm

deep. File a thin slot down the back of the
body. Cut a handle from jelutong and glue at
the angle as shown. It is best to make the
handle pieces too long and trim them later.
This joint is quite weak, so pin the joint with
28 gauge florists wire.
11mm Head
Slot
Mouth
9mm Body
Handle
12mm Legs
Shape the pieces as follows with rasps

and fine sandpaper: Head: Angle the top
of the helmet from front to back by 1mm.
Narrow in the head top and bottom.
Body: Shape the waist with a gentle curve.
Keep the top and bottom parts crisp.
Arms: Round the shoulders and make hands
by rounding the base and filing a wrist.
5 Set the handle in place so that the mouth

section comes up to the top of the slot.
Hold this in place with tape and then drill a
hole through from one side to the other.
(Use a 0.4mm drill bit.) Test fit a piece of 28
gauge florists wire through.
3 Cut a slot in the base of the body. Glue

the legs together and file a flat side on the
outer top edge of the leg. Test fit into the slot.
The legs can be trimmed so that they measure
12mm in length from the base of the body.
Natalies Top Tip...

I used fake fur cut from one of those inexpensive
Christmas hats sold at markets. I cut the fur from
the inside of the hat and then glued it in layers to
build up enough thickness. Once the glue had
dried, I trimmed it neatly and then added it to
the nutcracker.
6 Stain the face and hands. Paint the

helmet black. Paint the body and arms red.
Paint the legs from the thigh to the knee in
blue and the
boots black.
Sand lightly
between coats
to get good
coverage.
Paint the face
with eyebrows,
eyes, and
moustache.
Paint the
mouth red
to match
the handle.
7 Glue the
wire holding the
handle in place
and trim excess.
Glue the head
to the body,
and then the
legs inside
the slot.
Glue each
of the arms.
Glue the
nutcracker
to the base
allowing room
for the feet, which need to be rounded off at the
front and trimmed to fit the base. Touch up the
paint all over. Paint four tiny teeth to the top and
bottom of the mouth in white.
8 Decorate
the helmet
and waist with
gold paint to
imitate braids
and buttons.
Varnish the
entire piece
with two
coats of
Humbrol Acrylic
Clear Satin,
taking care not
to glue the
handle with the varnish. Cut small amounts of
fake fur and glue around the head under the
helmet, and also to the base of mouth to cover
the slot.
Information
To see more of Natalies work visit:
www.natalieclegg.co.uk and
www.scarlettfrog.com
December 2016 43
10/11/2016 11:25
F E AT U R E
At Home with
the Broadwoods
December may be cold, but Bea Broadwood lifts the lid and exposes
two hot areas in the world of miniatures...fantasy verses shabby chic,
which is your favourite?
Are you drawn to mystical miniatures or do you crave deliciously aged
Parisian elegance? Well, whichever one you love, youre most certainly
not alone!
Hot topics
Here in PP HQ, I like to keep my finger firmly
on the pulse of new trends and over the years
I have noticed the rise and fall of an array
of various styles and genres of miniatures.
However, right now it is hard not to notice that
fantasy and shabby chic are both hot topics
and they have grown to become a big part of
our miniature world. Although, very different
to one another, these two fascinating styles
of modelling seem to have really captured
miniaturists imagination and attention.
44 December 2016
44-45 At Home with the Broadwooods.indd 44
So to celebrate these incredibly popular

trends, here at Petite Properties we were
super excited to launch both our (1/48th)
La Maison De Ville and The Watch Tower
kits at the busy and hugely popular autumn
Miniatura show.
La Maison De Ville
La Maison De Ville is a stunning four storey
town house and the second addition to
our quarter scale Dolls House Collection.
Despite having a French name, this stylish
dolls house
actually has its
roots planted firmly
in Spanish soil.
Back in April,
Tony and I were
lucky enough to visit
the beautiful city of
Barcelona and
putting our lazy
(tapas filled)
afternoons to
one side, it was
the curvaceous
architecture of
this beautiful citys
townhouses and
apartment blocks
that really caught my
eye! As a result, poor
Tony had to endure
me taking endless
photographs of
buildings, doors
and windows,
many which included
him in them for
scaling purposes.
(Luckily, he has the
patience of a saint
and is very used
to being used as a
human ruler in my
photographs; although he
sometimes does forget to
smile!) When we returned to the
PP studio, I knew it would not be long before
a design emerged, which was inspired by our
city break and sure enough after having a little
Parisian styling blended in for good measure;
La Maison De Ville was born.
10/11/2016 12:54
F E AT U R E
The Watch Tower

I love designing and modelling authentic
architecture, but sometimes its also fun
to tear up the rule book and just let my
imagination flow! As a huge Tolkien fan I have
always been fascinated by mystical towers and
(the often medieval stylised) architecture of his
fantasy world. Seeing Esgaroth brought to life
on the big screen was incredibly inspiring and
for quite a long time now I had been itching to
work on a fantasy tower of my own.
The Watch Tower is my personal blend of
both real and imaginary architecture; with
Stokesay Castle and Middle Earth playing
influential, key parts in the design. The Watch
Tower is the sixth 1/48th kit that we have
added to our Enchanted Cottage Collection
and it features an open back with four internal
rooms, spread over four floors... plus a turret
room too!
So why not banish the cold of December and
immerse yourself in one of the hot
areas of our wonderful hobby,
by diving into the miniature
fantasy world or take the
Subscr
plunge and have a go at some
and re ibe today
shabby chic elegance?
Woodc ceive the
utters
But, whichever style you
Cottag
(RRP
e
2
2
.9
9
choose; stay warm, have fun
).
Tur
Last C
hance!
and happy mini-ing!
n to pa
for mo ge 31
inform re
ation.
And finally...
As Christmas speedily approaches on the horizon, here in PP HQ we find ourselves in a reflective mood. Looking back, 2016 has been an eventful year
for us, one which has seen both the demolition of my old, much loved workshop and our collective big move to our brand new PP studio.
Despite our often chaotic work conditions, over the last twelve months we have not only branched out further into railway modelling, but weve also
collectively launched well over 100 brand new kits in a variety of scales.
2016 has certainly been a wonderful, fast and (at times) bumpy journey and Tony,
Mo and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their
continued support and unwavering enthusiasm for the kits we create. We are
always humbled by the overwhelming response our work receives and above all
we hope that our kits bring enjoyment to miniaturists all over the world.
As a team, but more importantly as a family, we very much look forward to
celebrating Christmas and the respite that this very special time of year brings
with it. As a family, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very
merry Christmas and may 2017
bring you not only health and
Information
happiness, but also plenty of
La Maison De Ville: 1:48th kit 36.99
time to enjoy the magical world
(Display base is available separately)
of miniatures too!
The Watch Tower: 1:48th kit 32.99
(Base is available separately)
Merry Christmas
from Tony, Bea & Mo
The PP Tea m
44-45 At Home with the Broadwooods.indd 45
www.petite-properties.com & online shop:

www.petitepropertiesltd.com
office@petite-properties.com
01526 328 738
December 2016 45
10/11/2016 13:42
WEEKEND PROJECT
1/12th Scale
Christmas Crackers
For many of us, Christmas
dinner wouldnt be complete
without the traditional
Christmas crackers.
Crackers make a simple but
very effective addition to the
festive miniature table too
and these can be whipped
up in no time from leftover
scraps of gift wrapping
supplies. Harriet and Chester
are the models!
By Ruth Flewelling Lesbirel.
Photos by Stephen Lesbirel.
You will need:
Materials required
3/16 (5mm)-diameter drinking straw
Tissue paper white and your choice of
crown colour(s)
Thin foil wrap or origami foil
your choice of colour(s)
Sewing thread
Tools required
Scissors
Pinking or fancy-edged scissors
Nail file
Small paper punch(es)
White glue
Note: These instructions make six crackers.
1 Cut the straw and papers

Cut six 1/2 (13mm) lengths of straw. Cut six
1 (25mm) squares of white tissue paper and
six same-size pieces of foil
paper with regular scissors.
Trim the foil on two
opposite edges with
fancy-edged scissors.
2 Form the cracker shape

Centre one piece of straw on a glue
dot at the edge of a tissue paper
square, wrap the paper around the
straw, and glue the overlap shut.
Wrap and glue a foil piece centered
on this tube. Hold the tube in both
hands and indent the paper at the
edge of the straw with your thumb
and forefinger nails. Tie a 3 (76mm)
thread length at the indentations on
each side. Clip the threads and fluff
out the ends by rotating the file inside
each. Repeat for five more crackers.
4 Paper crowns
Cut a 2-5/8 (27mm) by 3/8 (10mm) piece of
tissue paper or foil. Cut Vs along one edge with
pinking shears. Lap and glue the crown shut.
Repeat for as many crowns as you like.
3
Decorate the crackers
Now the fun part! Add tiny stars, holly and/or
ivy leaves, or other seasonal stickers, or punch
a tree, bell, angel or star. Use the punched shape
or cut a 5/16 (8mm) foil strip around it and glue it around the middle of the cracker,
letting the foil beneath show through. Embellish with flat-backed jewel or pearl stickers.
46 December 2016
46 12th scale crackers.indd 46
10/11/2016 11:25
If you live outside

of the UK, a digital
subscription to
Dolls House and
Miniature Scene
offers great benefits
and is the perfect
way to ensure you never miss
an issue of the UKs favourite
miniatures magazine.
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10/11/2016 15:34
My Blog
F E AT U R E
teresting way of
A blog is a modern and in build project,
ur
sharing and discussing yo a watching
ith
collection or exhibition w ing of shor t
i
worldwide audience. Cons ing images
ny
diary entries and accompa those who
by
they can be commented on e we take a
ticl
choose to follow. In this ar like to read.
ht
look at some blogs you mig
Blog name: Nukkekoti Vinl (Dollshouse Vinl)

Author: Maria Malmstrm
Address: http://maria-malmstrom.blogspot.fi/
Let me tell you a little bit about myselfIve been

blogging about my miniatures for over ten years. I am a
carpenter by trade and I absolutely adore working with
and turning wood. The inventing is the fun part, but I
have to test everything that I make and thats where my
tutorials come in. Everything that I make, I write about
and with over 70 tutorials and a huge selection of free
printable pages, its a very busy blog!
There are 18 rooms in my dolls house, which to date
has taken me 10 years to complete. The majority of the
pieces in it I have made myself and they have been
blogged about and covered in my tutorials. Some of the
pieces in my collection I have inherited and they date
back to 1950-1965.
When you make something new, it is great to show it to your friends and
since blogging I have made so many friends around the world.
The reaction and feedback is instant and thats what I love
about blogging, you can share and pick up
ideas from fellow miniaturists in a matter
of minutes. Facebook and Instagram has
also changed the way in which I blog and
theyre both great for getting my stories
out in the world.
This all started out as a nice little
hobby and now I am a
full time miniaturist.
I teach dolls house
and miniature courses,
Ive had three dolls
house books published
and I am midway through
DH
writing my fourth! MS
If youre a dolls house blogger and wanting to share your success stories with the readers of Dolls House
and Miniature Scene, we want to hear from you. Send an email to carl.golder@warnersgroup.co.uk along
with a brief description of your blog.
48 December 2016
p48_dhmsdec16.indd 48
10/11/2016 11:27
DOLLYS DAYDREAMS EVENTS
SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER
Portsmouth Marriott, Southampton Road

PORTSMOUTH PO6 4SH (J12/M27)
2017
SUNDAY 8 JANUARY
MM FAIRS
www.dollshouse-fairs.co.uk Tel: 01332 660428

SUNDAY 4th DECEMBER 2016
The Town Hall, Upper Clifton Road SUTTON COLDFIELD,
West Midlands B73 6AB 11.00am - 3.00pm
SATURDAY 14th JANUARY 2017
The Benn Hall, Newbold Road, RUGBY, Warks CV21 2LN
10.30am - 3.00pm
Cameo Hotel, Old London Road, Copdock

NEAR IPSWICH IP8 3JD (off A12)
SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY
SATURDAY 6th FEBRUARY 2017

Southport Theatre and Convention Centre,
The Promenade, SOUTHPORT PR9 0DZ
10.30am - 3.00pm
The Rivenhall Hotel, Rivenhall End

WITHAM CM8 3HB (on A12)
SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY
The Pride of Lincoln, Runcorn Road

LINCOLN LN6 3QZ (on A46)
SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY
Holiday Inn Ashford-Central
ASHFORD TN24 8QQ (M20/J9)
All fairs open 10.30am to 4pm. Half price entry from 1pm.
Accompanied children under 16 FREE all day!
Dollys Daydreams
01945 870160/07860 517048
www.dollysdaydreams.com
Open 7 days a week 10am-4pm Telephone: 01945 582004

Also on site: The Craft Den, Tea rooms, Cliffords Heating, Spa centre
Miniatura
World Class Miniatures Show

Take a closer look at
the world of miniatures
25th & 26th

March 2017
MGM Fairs
MGM Fairs organise free demonstrations and the
mini-workshops at their Dollshouse and Miniature Fairs.
Saturday 10 December 2016 NEW FAIR
The Shoreham Centre, 2 Pond Street,
SHOREHAM-BY-SEA, West Sussex, BN43 5WU
Saturday 18 February 2017 New Venue
The Exe Restaurant, Petroc College, Bolham Road,
TIVERTON, Devon, EX16 6SH
Sunday 5 March 2017 NEW FAIR
The Grand Pavilion, The Esplanade,
PORTHCAWL, Wales CF36 3YW
Sunday 19 March 2017
The Memorial Hall, Station Road,
ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT, Wiltshire SN4 8EN
Sunday 9 April 2017
The Woodland Suite, the Petwood Hotel, Stixwould Road,
WOODHALL SPA, Lincs, LN10 6QG
National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham,
General enquiries - 0121 783 9922

Ticket Hotline - 0844 5811291
www.miniatura.co.uk
Greenhouse from Malcolms Miniatures
Saturday 22 April 2017

The Jubilee Hall, Congregational Church, Bowden Lane,
MARKET HARBOROUGH, Leics, LE16
MGM Fairs, Lyndhurst, Beckford Road, Bath, BA2 6NQ
enquiries@mgmfairs.co.uk
www.mgmfairs.co.uk
07/11/2016 14:34:31
F E AT U R E
Christmas
Shopping!
The festive season is upon us and
Sadie Brown takes us on a spot
of Christmas shopping around the
wonderful world of Christmas shops
created by talented Milan based
artisan, Mariangela Gagliardi.
Christmas every day

The mince pies seem to arrive in the shops
earlier and earlier as the years pass by.
Sometimes it seems so early that they should be
wearing a sun hat rather than a dusting of icing
sugar and a sprig of holly, but there are,
in fact, shops that make it their business to
ensure Christmas is ready and waiting for us
365 days of the year The Christmas Shop!
Not just pop up shops that appear in time for the
festivities and then disappear as quickly as they
arrived come December the 26th, but also those
high street wonderlands where Christmas comes
every day! As a child, the first visit of the season
to one such year round shop in York was an
Mariangela in CosediunaltroMondo, her shop in Milan.
important destination on the Christmas

map, one which marked the start of this
exciting time and has always stayed with
me. Whatever our age, a shop packed to the
rafters with shiny, sparkling decorations cannot
fail to be something very special, whether its
bringing back memories of Christmas past or
building excitement for Christmases present
and future!
As can be seen through her beautiful
photographs, all Mariangelas Christmas shops
recreate that spark of magic so characteristic of
this time of year. The simple elegance of
the Christmas colours set against the bright,
white alcove walls and the polished wooden
floor in the shop where Father Christmas stands

resplendent in his long hooded green cloak
is that wonderful place you could so easily
see yourself anticipating a trip to every festive
season to make that all important purchase,
searching for this years decadent decoration or
gift! The red, green and gold helium balloons
displayed in the window are an inspired addition
and you can find yourself looking at the scene
for quite a long time and still see an interesting
new detail which you hadnt noticed before.
The small puppet show sitting on the shelves
above a jack in a box, a gingerbread house
and a Christmas red teddy bear in the far right
alcove is just one of these! Theres also a range
Classical and colourful, this gleaming white interior creates the ideal background to show off the bright colours of the season.
50 December 2016
50-51 Dec DHMS.indd 50
07/11/2016 13:05
F E AT U R E
All the same theme, but Mariangela manages to give each of her Christmas shops a unique appearance.
of angels and Santas sitting on the shelves,
each one that bit different and giving the shop
that quality feel, as does the counter itself,
incorporating a glass display alongside the
beautifully detailed, painted floral decoration
Whats under the tree?

Another seasonal shop in Mariangelas collection
sees Santa, this time in a red suit, checking that
all important list as he stands by a Christmassy
rug amongst an array of boxes filled with
baubles, wrapping paper and presents in very
well stocked premises! The big question,
of course, is who will be finding the fabulous

giant teddy bears under their tree?! For me
though, one of the most fascinating aspects
of this particular shop is the beautifully made
greetings card stand full of Christmas cards,
something that you dont see all that often in
miniature and something that is an integral part
of many real shops in the run up to Christmas!
The tiny Christmas shop window of number 25
continues the well-stocked theme with so much
to see behind the glass, a considerable amount
of effort going into the display and getting the
look just right, care which also goes into

Mariangelas own real shop window in Milan.
The multitude of different aspects to the
scene draw your eye in, pulling you into the
heart of Christmas with a perfect balance of
decorations and gifts, including an item which
is so very reminiscent of those cardboard fold
out dolls houses!
Lighting her scenes is something that
Mariangela also brings a great deal of
imagination to, whether its the beautifully lit
Christmas trees, each one decorated to its
own individual style and theme, the advent
wreath sitting on a counter or the atmospheric
chandeliers hanging from the ceilings. She
brings us a realistic and glamourous seasonal
world, showing us the creative flair waiting to
be unleashed by the dedicated and passionate
miniaturist at this special time of year!
Happy Christmas & Happy Shopping!
Information
If youd like to see more of Mariangelas
work make sure you pick up the March issue
to read our interview with her!
Santa gets organised, ensuring everyones been nice this year!
50-51 Dec DHMS.indd 51
To find out more about Mariangelas work or

to contact her visit:
www.cosediunaltromondo.com
www.etsy.com/shop/cosediunaltromondo
casette@fastwebnet.it
December 2016 51
07/11/2016 13:06
WEEKEND PROJECT
1/12th Scale
Narcissus Plant
Dont you love to have flowering bulbs in the house at Christmas time?
They remind us that the winters darkness and cold will not last for ever.
Im especially fond of narcissus which dont just look beautiful, they smell
beautiful too. Im afraid we cant really reproduce the scent, but we can make
them in miniature to stand on the window sill. By Marianne Cook.
You will need:
Acid free tissue paper for flower petals

Lightweight computer paper or calligraphers
rice paper for centres and leaves
Paper covered green florist wire gauge
28 or 30
Light yellow sewing thread
6 petal daisy punch for shape about
9mm across
5mm circle punch
Artists acrylic paints (in tubes)
Paint brush
52 December 2016
A suitable indoor pot

Air drying clay
Modellers earth scatter (you could use
fine dried tea or coffee grounds)
High tack glue
Cocktail sticks or fine glue applicator
Fine tweezers
Darning needle
Eraser or flower shaping pad
Medium ball embossing tool
Small scissors
Paint a small piece of tissue paper on both

sides with yellow for the petals. Paint small
pieces of the heavier weight paper on both
sides with green for the leaves and orange for
the flower centres. Leave to dry completely.
Cut the wire into 38-42mm lengths for the

stems. Dip about 4mm of each piece into green
paint which matches the shade of the wire as
closely as possible to make one end slightly
bulbous. Allow to dry and harden.
Cut pieces of yellow cotton about 5mm long

for the stamens - youll need three per flower.
For each flower, pick up one length of

cotton with fine tweezers and dip an end into
glue. Fix this end to the thickened top of a
stem. Repeat with two more pieces of cotton
and leave to dry.
Punch the centres from orange paper.
6 Lay the orange circles on an eraser (or

flower shaping pad) and cup them using a
medium ball embossing tool. They need to be
deeply cupped and if you dampen the ball it
helps the paper to retain the shape. Make a
hole in the middle of each centre with a large
darning needle.
10/11/2016 11:23
WEEKEND PROJECT
7 Put a couple of tiny dots of glue at the top

of a stem at the base of the cotton stamens.
Slide a cup up the stem and gently ease it over
the thicker part at the top so it sits on the glue.
Allow to dry completely. Repeat for each flower.
Trim the stamens flush with the rim of the cups.
8
Punch the flower petal shapes from yellow

tissue paper. The punch I used was a border
punch (with slightly smaller daisy shapes than
the average mini punch) which I turned upside
down so as to punch just the one shape required.
9 Next shape the petals. To add naturalistic

movement to the flowers its a good idea to
curl the tips of some petals up and some
down. Make a holes in the flower heads as you
did in the centres.
5
10 For each flower, put two or three tiny dots

of glue under the orange cup and slide the
flower head up the stem till it sits against the
centre. Leave to dry.
11 Narcissus have a semi-transparent
brown membrane called a spathe attached to
the top of the stem below the bulbous part.
To simulate this, paint some tissue paper with
diluted brown watercolour or diluted cold black
tea. When dry, cut shapes like pointed arches
4-5mm tall (see image).
12 Put a dot of glue at the base of each
spathe and lay a flower on top positioning it
with the bulbous part lying against the spathe.
While the glue is still wet, wrap the sides of
the spathe around the stem. Lastly, with
fine tweezers, bend the flower heads over.
The spathe now stands at an angle to the stem.
15
10
11
12
16
13 To make the leaves, cut narrow sword

shapes 25-35mm long from the green paper.
Lay them on an eraser or flower shaping pad
and run a darning needle along each one to
form a central vein.
14 To fix the leaves, run some glue about
4mm at the base of a leaf and lay the flower
stem on top with 5mm protruding at the lower
end. This will be under the soil. Fold the leaf
around the stem and wipe away any excess
glue. Fix a second leaf around the first on about
half the stems.
Mariannes Top Tip...

Calligraphers rice paper (obtainable from art/craft
outlets) is very good for making miniature leaves.
It is slightly shiny on one side and matte on the
other, which mimics the front and reverse of many
types of leaf.
15 Shape a ball of air drying clay to fit your
container, then coat the lower half of the clay
with glue and press it into the pot. Smooth the
top. Brush a layer of glue over the clay (wiping
away any excess glue from the rim of the
pot), and cover with scatter for soil, tamping
it firmly. Proceed to step 12 before the clay
starts to harden.
16 Dip the lower end of each flower stem
in glue and, holding it close to the base with
tweezers, gently poke it through the soil
and into the clay. Arrange the stems evenly
starting from the centre. Leave for the glue
to dry.
13
14
Information
To see more of Mariannes work including
paintings and cards, visit:
www.mariannecook.com
For finished plants and flowers currently
on sale and Punch Bunch punches visit:
www.Marianne26.etsy.com
For social media updates visit:
www.facebook.com/MarianneMiniatures
December 2016 53
10/11/2016 11:24
ARTISAN PROFILE
Rachel Austin
Rachel Austin lives with her two beautiful daughters and partner in a magical part of the world called The Forest of
Dean. They are also parents to two cats and a very naughty terrier called Woofy.
Rachel works from home in a small shed at the end of her garden which she calls The Wishing Shed there and for
the past three years she has been creating and selling needle felt creations to customers around the world.
How did you get started in

needlefelt creations?
I have always loved drawing and painting.
Around three years ago I was selling some of
my artwork at a local craft fair when I met a
lady who was selling her wool spun rugs and
hand made woollen shawls. We got chatting
and she told me you that can sculpt 3D
objects with wool. Its called needle felting
she said. She gave me some raw wool to
take home and I was immediately fascinated
how with wool and special barbed needles
you could create sculptures. Her name is
Jenny and she is now a good friend of mine.
As there are no lessons on needle felting,
I had to watch a few tutorials on YouTube and
basically teach myself. I took to it straight
away and spent many hours sat in my little
shed at the end of my garden with bags of
raw wool fibers/fleece studying photos of
54 December 2016
p54-57 artisan Dec.indd 54
animals recreating them in miniature. I was

asked by friends and family to make replicas
of their pets and after posting pictures on
Facebook the response was incredible.
As I had more and more orders, I decided
my business needed a name. The Wishing
Shed just popped into my head, so I went
with that.
Is crafting something that

runs in your family oris it
just yourself?
My grandad was an artist and so perhaps I
get it from him? I was always encouraged
with art and to draw by my parents when I
was little.
10/11/2016 13:44
ARTISAN PROFILE
What scale do you work in?

Do you only work in this scale?
Do you require specialist tools

when working in miniature?
I work in any scale, but I prefer 1/12th scale

or there abouts.
With needle felting, felting needles are

essential! I use a variety of sizes from very
fine to a thick gauge. I also love my three

pronged needle, it speeds the process up a
lot. Also pliers and good wire cutters are a
must really.
December 2016 55
10/11/2016 10:59
ARTISAN PROFILE
Are there specific skills you

need that you wouldnt
necessarily require otherwise?
Are there any special or

unusual techniques used?
Through trial and error I have taught myself a
few things that definitely do make my pieces
very sturdy. I wouldnt say I have any unusual
techniques. I always make sure my armatures
are very strong as a well built frame,
foundation, makes all the difference.
I think with needle felting you just need a lot

of patience, it isnt a quick process.
Please tell use a bit more

about your shed.
My shed is my main work space. It isnt
always the tidiest especially when I am at
work...wool flies everywhere! But I work
best that way. Id say its an organized mess.
I love listening to the birds hoping on the roof
as I work.
What appeals to you most

about what you do?
I love the way that a finished needle felted
piece has so much character. I enjoy adding
the final detail and seeing what ever it is I am
making come to life. Its very rewarding when
customers are happy.
Who or what inspires you?

My surroundings and nature. Definitely nature.
Also mythical, fantasy creatures and stories.
On average how long can one

project take to make?
It all depends on the animal and scale.
A mouse for example, takes a couple of hours
and a life size hare could take a week.
Are any of your family

interested in miniatures?
When I was little my dad used to bring me
1/12th scale dinners home from Covent
Garden on his way back from work. I used
to go with him to vintage toy fairs etc. He is
the best and always supported me with my
career, as has my mum.
Do you have a favourite piece?

I do love making my little Wishing Shed
mice....they are so cheeky looking.
Do you take commissions?

Yes I do, but my books are full now for the
next five months.
Have you ever had any

miniature disasters? Were you
able to turn it around?
Yes I have had a fair few!...but the good thing
about working with wool is its very forgiving.
Unlike clay for example, you can always take
bits of felted wool off and fix them then re
attach and its good as new.
Whats your next stage in

miniature adventures?
I want to make lots more miniature fantasy
creatures. Perhaps even some little aliens!
That would be fun. I would also like to create
artwork for some little stories I have written
using needle felted pictures.
56 December 2016
10/11/2016 11:00
ARTISAN PROFILE
Is there a certain character or

scene that you would love to
create but havent managed
to do?
Not yet...Thankfully I have never had to
abandon a piece.
And when youre not busy

making miniatures, what other
activities do you enjoy?
I love walking, especially to clear my head.
I really like finding new places to walk. I also
love spending time with my two gorgeous
girls. I hate to admit it but I am a huge UFO
enthusiast and love astronomy and anything
to do with space... I havent seen a UFO
personally... not yet anyway!
Information
www.facebook.com/thewishingshed
Etsy/The Wishing Shed
The Wishing Shed
December 2016 57
10/11/2016 11:00
SKILLED PROJECT
1/12th Scale Crochet

Christmas Bells Decoration
A traditional style Christmas wall or door decoration, inspired by stiffened crochet ornaments,
which became popular in the Victorian era and underwent a resurgence in modern times.
You will need:
0.60mm Crochet hook

25-30 Metres size 80 crochet cotton
in white
25 Metres size 80 crochet cotton
in green
15 Metres size 80 crochet cotton in red
Needle
Tacky glue
Blu Tack
Pins
Small amount of cling film
Small piece of cardboard/polystyrene
3 or 4 Tiny red beads (optional)
For stiffening materials see below
Approximate finished sizes

of individual parts
Bell: 2cm/ across base.

2.5cm/1 tall (including hanging loop)
Bow: 1.25cm/ across. 2.5cm/1
long trailing ribbons.
Holly leaf: 0.75cm/ across.
Greenery: 2.5cm/1 long fronds.
Tension/gauge: This is not important for

this project, as the decoration can be
any size.
Abbreviations
UK Crochet terms are used throughout
the pattern
ch chain
dc double crochet
htr half treble
mtr treble
( ) and { } repeat instructions between
brackets as detailed in text
sl st slip stitch
V-st 1 tr, 1 ch, 1 tr all worked into
next stitch
ch-sp chain space or loop; yoh yarn
over hook
(US readers, when reading UK terms in
the pattern, please note: dc - US single
crochet, htr - US half double crochet, tr S double crochet, dtr - US triple crochet.
58 December 2016
58-60 knitted .indd 58
Bell (Make 2 alike)

Bell cup (Make 1 in white)
This is worked in rounds, joining at the end of
each round.
Round 1: 3 ch [1st tr], 11 tr into 3rd ch from
hook, join with a sl st to top of 1st tr. [12 tr]
Round 2: 3 ch [1st tr], ( 1 tr into next tr)
around. [12 tr]
Round 3: 4 ch [1st tr, 1 ch], (1 tr, 1 ch into
next tr) eleven times, join with a sl st to top of
1st tr. [12 tr]
Round 4: 4 ch [1st tr, 1 ch], 1 tr into same
place as join, 1 tr into next tr, (V-st into next tr,
1 tr into next tr) five times, join with a sl st to
top of 1st tr. [18 tr]
Round 5: 3 ch [1st tr], 1 tr into next ch sp,

(1 tr into next tr) twice, {1 tr into next tr, 1 tr
into next ch-sp, (1 tr into next tr) twice} five
times, join with a sl st to top of 1st tr. [24 tr]
Round 6: 3 ch [1st tr], (2 tr into next tr, 1 tr
into each of next three tr) five times, 2 tr into
next tr, 1 tr into each of next two tr, join with
a sl st to top of 1st tr. [30 tr]
Round 7: 3 ch [1st tr], (1 tr into next tr)
around, join with a sl st to top of 1st tr. [30 tr]
Round 8: 1 ch, 1 dc into same place as join,
(3 ch, miss next tr, 1 dc into next tr) fourteen
times, 3 ch, join with a sl st to top of 1st dc.
[15 chain loops]
Round 9: (1 dc, 1 htr, 1 tr, 1 htr, 1 dc all into
next ch-sp) fifteen times, join with a sl st to
10/11/2016 11:22
SKILLED PROJECT
top of 1st dc. [15 shells]
Fasten off and sew in all of the loose ends.
around the ribbon so the join is at the back.

Glue or sew knot in place.
Hanging loop (Make 1 in white)
The start of this is quite fiddly.

Round 1: 3 ch [last 2ch forms 1st htr], 5 htr
into 3rd ch from hook, join with a sl st to top
of 1st htr. [6 htr]
Note: This is meant to twist slightly and should

not lie flat.
*Row 1: 17 ch, do not make these too tight.
With right side of work facing, join thread

around any tr of round 1, 6 ch, miss 5 tr, 1 dc
around next tr, turn and work a row of dc to
cover chain loop, join with a sl st to starting
point. Fasten off and sew in all loose ends.
Clapper (Make 1 in white)
Greenery (Make 1 in green)
Row 2: 1 dc into second chain from hook

(4 ch, turn and work 1 dc into 2nd ch from
hook, [2 dc into next ch] twice, 1 dc into next
dc) sixteen times, **
If you wish to shape the ribbons as shown
below, wet the bows in water again and gently
tease and then pin into shape, the bows will
retain their shape once dry, without the need
for stiffening.
Repeat from * to ** twice more, there are now

three lengths of greenery attached at the top.
Round 2: 1 ch, (1 dc into next htr, miss next

htr) three times, join with a sl st to top of 1st
dc. [3 dc]
Round 3: (yoh, insert hook into next st, yoh,
draw yarn through one loop) three times,
yoh and draw yarn through all loops, pull up
tight. [1 ch remains]
Work 9 ch and fasten off, leaving a tail of at
least 10cm/4.
Sew in loose end from start, but leave the tail
of yarn attached. Set aside both parts of bell
for starching.
Bow
Tie (Make 1 in red)
Note this is worked in rows, turning at the end
of each row.
Row 1: 51 ch, turn
Row 2: 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, (1 dc into
next dc) to end. [50 dc]
Row 3: 1 ch [this may need to be slightly
elongated to reach 3rd dc], miss next 2 dc,
(1 dc into next dc) to last 2 dc, leave these 2
dc unworked. [46 dc]
Row 4: 3 ch, turn and work 1 dc into 2nd ch
from hook, 1 dc into next ch, (1 dc into next
dc) forty six times, 1 htr into base of last dc,
1 htr into base of last htr. [50 dc]
Holly leaves (Make 2 in green)

*4 ch, 1 dc, 1 htr, sl st all into 2nd ch from
hook, (sl st into next ch, 1 htr into same ch,
1 sl st into same ch) twice, turn and work
into base of ch sts,(sl st into next ch, 1 htr
into same ch, 1 sl st into same ch) twice**
[5 points]
Work from * to ** once, join with a sl st to
top of 1st dc.
Sew in all of the loose ends.
Fasten off and sew in loose ends. Wet the

crochet thoroughly in water, if required twist
slightly and pull into shape, arranging the
fronds and leaves so they lie naturally rather
than completely flat. This will give dimension
to the decoration.
Stiffening instructions for bell

A. Traditional sugar solution method
Make a solution using two teaspoons of
boiling water to one level teaspoon sugar.
Stir until sugar is dissolved.
Place bells and clappers (except for the tail of
the thread on the clapper) in the solution and
Fasten off and sew in all loose ends.

Knot (Make 1 in red)
Note this is worked in rows, turning at the end
of each row.
Row 1: 9 ch, turn.
Row 2: 1 dc into 2nd ch from hook, (1 dc inrto
next dc) to end. [8 dc]
Rows 3-4: 1 ch, (1 dc into next dc) to end. [8 dc].
Fasten off and sew in all loose ends.
To make up the bows
Wet crochet and pull into shape, pin out the
work so that the ends do not curl.
When the crochet is completely dry, fold the
ribbon as shown below and wrap the knot
Wet crochet in water and pull into shape folding

one leaf back over the other. Leave until
completely dry.
If you do not wish to use beads, small French
knots may be sewn onto the base of the holly
leaves using red thread once the holly leaves
are dry.
58-60 knitted .indd 59
December 2016 59
10/11/2016 11:23
SKILLED PROJECT
mix around until the crochet is completely
Finishing
wet through.
When the bells are completely

dry, remove the pins carefully
and ease off the moulds.
Squeeze out excess solution, or sugar crystals

will form on the finished work.
Cover a piece of corrugated cardboard or
polystyrene in cling film.
Make a bell shaped mould from plasticine or
Blu-Tack, cover this shape in cling film.
Place the wet crochet bell on the bell mould and
pull the crochet into shape as you work around.
Thread a needle with the tail at

the top of the clapper, take up
through the cup of the bell and
through the centre of round
1 on the bell. Take care not to
squash the bell as you hold it.
form the points. Note: if leaving the pins in
Tie or knot the clapper onto

the hanging loop of the bell,
ensuring the clapper does not
hang below the lip of the bell.
Fix in place with a dab of tacky glue and leave
to dry.
for more than 24 hours, use rustproof pins,
When completely dry trim off excess thread.
Place the crochet bell and mould, with loop

uppermost, onto the cardboard or polystyrene
prepared in step 5.
If required pin around the base of the bell to
as normal steel pins will rust and leave
Glue holly leaves (and red beads, if using) onto

the bells. Leave to dry thoroughly.
unsightly marks.
Leave to dry in a warm place for a minimum
Glue a bow to the top loop of each bell.
of 24 hours.
Thread a 30cm/12 length of green thread

through the needle.
B. The item can be starched with laundry

starch
Sew this thread securely to the top of the

greenery, where the three fronds join.
Work as above starting at 3.

C. PVA glue
Take the needle and thread through the top of

the hanging loop of the first bell and through
the greenery a couple of times to secure,
repeat with second bell.
A solution can be made from PVA glue and

water, this will dry clear and slightly shiny.
Proceed as from point 3 on sugar starching.
Secure thread to greenery and trim off excess.

Attach bell decoration to wall/door of dolls
house by either using tacky wax or draping
the greenery fronds over a small pin or door
knocker. If preferred a small hanging loop may
be sewn onto the back of the decoration near
DH
the top. MS
Information
www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk and
for instantly downloadable pdf patterns:
http://store.buttercupminiatures.co.uk/
newsblog/
enquiries@buttercupminiatures.co.uk
PMJ
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1 160
58-60 knitted .indd
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DETAILS
DECEMBER
14 January
12 February
3 December
Location: Rugby
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26 February
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December 2016
61
07/11/2016 14:53
WORKSHOP REVIEW
Theres a First Time for Everything!

CMW Workshop: 14th - 16th October 2016
I said yes
When asked by Sue Simpson if I would
like to attend a miniatures workshop I
immediately jumped at the chance. The CMW
Miniatures Workshops were relocating
from Gloucestershire to my doorstep in the
cathedral city of Peterborough, so it was a
total no-brainer. But, once Id accepted the
invitation, the realisation set in, and after
reading Mettes encounters (see opposite),
I was more than a bit nervous about what Id
signed up to! I. Have. Never. Ever. Attended.
A. Miniatures. Workshop. Inside I was shrieking
and questioning why. Oh why did I say yes?
With less than a week to go I received
an email from Sandra Morris reminding me
that I had signed up to join her Everything
Alice! Class (How could I forget). I was asked
to bring along a cutting mat, scalpel, steel
rule, tweezers, scissors and glue. With the
workshop taking place on the Friday night,
I foraged around various departments in my
office looking for the necessary tools.
I gingerly walked through the doors and into
the corridor at the Community Centre in Eye,
Peterborough just after 6.30pm and on arrival
was greeted by Sue. She was midway through
a conversation with Jamie Carrington, but as
soon as she saw me and my oversized carrier
bag she knew straight away that I wasnt one
of the regulars, one of the more familiar faces,
but the chap from the magazine whos come
to take part in a workshop. We exchanged
pleasantries and I was handed a goodie bag.
Nobody said thered be a goodie bag, I love
a goodie bag! I walked into the hall, half
expecting a gazillion eyes to follow my every
move, but it was the complete opposite as
everybody was too engrossed setting up their
workstations and itching to get started with
what they were about to be taught.
Also in the hall was, Dana Burton of
MiniatureArt.com. who was teaching
a wigging workshop. Annette Shaw of
Littlehatter.co.uk was showing how to create a
pair shoes, a parasol and a hat box and Jamie
Carrington who was instructing a millinery
workshop. And that was just the Friday night
session! Those attending workshops on the
Saturday or Sunday could work with Penny
Thompson, Sue Simpson and Treacle Lane.
62 December 2016
62-63 CMW/clubbing RESTORED.indd 62
I digressI introduced myself to Sandra

and the five ladies who I would be spending
the next two and a half hours with. Sandra
handed me a clear plastic bag, inside were
the components of the three kits that we
would be creating; An Alice in Wonderland
themed play set, a set of six wooden nursery
blocks and a box of paper dolls. I plonked
myself down at my workstation, said hello
again, unpacked my bag, arranged my tools,
re-arranged my tools, twiddled my thumbs
and re-arranged my tools. The nervousness
had gone and I was definitely ready to start!
The goodie bag, I completely forget about
the goodie bag. I opened it up and inside
was a CMW mug. Sue had said on arrival
that there were kitchen facilities, so with ten
minutes to go before we were allowed to
start I went and made myself a brew.
I returned to my workstation and as a

group we were briefed by Sandra. Our first
instruction was to open the clear bag, take out
the Wonderland themed play set and take
out the match box. Talk about schoolboy error,
I opened the match box and then suddenly
the hall seemed to pause as 20 miniscule
characters made a bid for freedom across the
table and down onto floor. Not the best start.
Sticky situations
We were each given a magnetic jig which
we secured to our cutting mats. With 20
characters to finish off (all of the pieces were
already laser cut to perfection) we were
advised to create five at a time by placing a
teeny magnet on to a larger magnet and
using tweezers to pick up the character,
dab in a pool of glue and then attach to the
teeny magnet. It all seemed straightforward
enough but after five minutes I regretted that I
hadnt paid more attention to my eyebrows as
my tweezer skills were lacking, I may as well
have been wearing boxing gloves! In the end
I found it easier to pick up the pieces using
my fingers. Patricia and Lesley who were sat
opposite took to the whole task like ducks to
water, but by their own admission they were
seasoned miniaturists. And thats when things
started to get sticky! Glue, its fabulous when
you get the right amount in the right place but
mine just didnt want to play ball. I was getting
it everywhere, the room was getting warm and
the glue was starting to set before I could dab
the character. What a mess I was getting into
but we all had a laugh and we were having fun.
After an hour or so, Id finished about 15

characters and my production line had to
come to a halt so whilst waiting for bits to dry
I attempted the board. This was slightly easier
as all I had to do was cut out the chessboard
top and wrap and glue to the base.
10/11/2016 14:33
The fictional account of what happened when

Mette Breminer decided to go
It seems you can teach
an old dog new tricks as
Carl Golder attends his first
ever miniatures workshop.
The faster workers in my group had now moved on to the nursery
blocks kit. Six wooden blocks, requiring 36 teeny illustrations to be cut
and glued and assembled in their very own display box. I was looking
around and seeing four, five blocks completed, I was still cutting out
the drawings! Those little characters had definitely slowed me down!
Time was now ticking and I was conscious that I wasnt going
to get everything finished in our allotted time, so I concentrated on
finishing the blocks and decided to finish the paper dolls at home.
Those two and a half hours flew by and given the opportunity to
experience something similar, Id jump at the chance. Ill admit that I
was more than nervous when I walked in but walking out I held my
head high and could say that I was a miniaturist (albeit a very slow
one!). Id like to thank Sue and all of her team for making me feel
welcome and to Sandra for keeping me topped up with glue.
Information
www.cmwminiaturesworkshops.co.uk
Alice in Wonderland Kits available from:
www.towerhousedolls.co.uk
It was dark, it was wet, it was cold but luckily no frost on the roads.
I parked my car in my spot and hurried inside. The hall was pleasantly
warm and cheerful. It was bedecked with festive Christmas decorations
which had obviously been made by small children - either that or some
very inept adults!
We gathered round the tables as usual but didnt sit down,
because we were going to have a little exhibition to show off some
items from our collections. I was looking forward to it. Not just to show
off my own, but to get a better idea of what my miniaturist friends were
capable of. I was surprised to see a man there. We had up till now
been women only.
Chris saw my confusion, I think, because
she introduced him:This is Pat, our only
man. Polite greeting took place.
I had brought along a chair I had
embroidered a cover for and some
cushions, also embroidered.
Embroidery is what I like best.
We had also been asked to
bring food, so the table started to
fill up with plates of shop-bought
canaps from M&S and Iceland.
Pat had brought six bottles of white
wine. I dont do food he said, looking
hungrily at the plates cooking is womens work.
Oh dear, I was going to find it difficult to like him, I could feel it in my
waters or rather in my teeth! I felt my jaw clenching.
Shouty Sam was busy bossing everybody around, telling us all where
to put our work, re-arranging the plates with food, then putting them back
where they were to start with. You know, the sort of stuff bossy people
tend to do to show that they are in charge.
My own things were, obviously, the best in my humble and
unbiased opinion. There was Freddies dozens of yummy-looking Fimo
cakes, Tonis various bits of nice furniture, Ashleys pretty little china pots
and a lovely doll made by Chris. Then there was Dannis weird shiny
glue-incrusted whatever, Jos unusual wonky whatnots and Robyns
curious misshapen thingomies.
We all oo-ed and aa-ed at what we saw, then settled down with our bits
of work brought along from home.
When it said PhD and UFO on the programme, I didnt know what it
meant. I had therefore not brought any work to do. It means Projects half
Done and Un-Finished Objects. Ill know for next year.
We had a pleasant evening eating, chatting and crafting. Pat liberally
scoffed canaps and washed them down with a whole bottle of
wine. The rest of us had to drive home so the other five bottles
remained unopened.
We had all brought a gift-wrapped Christmas present. Mine was
a lovely little pot with flowers. We drew them like a lottery and my
present was a box of very strong-smelling lavender bath salts which I
cant use because I only ever take showers. Sam got my flower pot,
but I dont think she appreciated it, because she crammed it carelessly
into her tool box when we were packing up. Oh well, next year Ill get
something less delicate.
Have a lovely Christmas everyone.
62-63 CMW/clubbing RESTORED.indd 63
Number 5
g!
A MINI SOAP OPERA
December 2016 63
10/11/2016 14:33
Reader Projects
We know how much hard work and dedication goes into dressing a doll, creating a room box or constructing a house,
whether it be producing it from scratch or following instructions in a kit form, and we want you to share your finished
project with the readers of Dolls House and Miniature Scene.
For more information on how to share your project, please email Carl.golder@warnersgroup.co.uk
Two-Storey
Addition
It is my pleasure to bring you the third and
final instalment of my 10 room farmhouse;
parts one and two were featured in July 2015
(conservatory) and March 2016 (main house)!
Once the main house had been completed
and I had decided to expand it I had to choose
which rooms I wanted to feature.I wanted
them to be rooms I had never done before so
I chose a music room for the main floor and a
master bedroom for the second floor.
The grand piano is the centerpiece of the
music room complete with a vase of white
flowers and an inquisitive kitty sitting on the
piano stool.The inspiration for this room
actually began with my most prized and
precious musical instrument, the violin,
which sits upright against the corner table at
the back of the room.To complete the room,
a variety of musical instruments take up the
rest of the space: oboe, white childs piano,
flute, cello, saxophone and trumpet.The electric
guitar is a nod to my fiance who has been
taking guitar lessons the last few years.
The master bedroom has a distinctly country

feel to it with the furniture and an assortment
of Reutter miniatures adorns the room.I left
the bed undressed as I thought it looked better
that way but placed a folded quilt at the foot of
the bed.I made the horse pillow, which is likely
my last petit point project as the stitched are
incredibly tiny!The family Scottie stands guard
in the room and a custom made pot sits on top
of the High Boy (my Aunt found a seller who
makes wonderful miniatures out of wood) and
a battery operated lamp sits on the night table.
64 December 2016
p64-65 Reader Dec.indd 64
07/11/2016 14:40
Ready for Christmas

Over the last three years I have made and accumulated
Christmas miniatures for the Farmhouse.At Carls invitation
I am pleased to share with you what the Farmhouse at
Christmas will look like this year.
The Farmhouse in its entirety all decked out for Christmas.

A tiny tree
decorated in
pink sits on the
floor along with
a couple of gifts
including a set
of paper dolls.
The first Christmas tree I ever made!Note the sheet music

on the music stand and the Carol book on the piano.
The Nursery
with its Joy
Joy Joy banner
and miniatures
stockings boasts
a Christmas
rocking horse
and a host of
Christmas toys
and figures.
The guest room is ready for Santa (note the cookies on the chest).
I made the snowman pillow and decorated the tree in
corresponding colours.
The garland fireplace, made exclusively by me for this issue of

DHMS, is my pride and joy in this room.Two wooden snowmen
sit on the mantle along with a matching candle centrepiece.
Santa has arrived with his sleigh full of gifts.I made the 1 high
Christmas tree for this feature.The tree has 25 working lights, countless
gold wire ribbon curls, three dozen gold ornaments, ninety snowballs,
five gold rocking horses and five angels.A huge star adorns the top!
p64-65 Reader Dec.indd 65
December 2016 65
07/11/2016 14:40
FIVE MINUTES WITH
My Favourite
Make
Carol and Tomas Kubrican run True2Scale, a successful miniatures business based in Northern California.
Although American, they do exhibit in the UK, including at the popular Kensington event.
Moi Ali asked American miniaturist Carol Kubrican about her favourite creation so far
What is your favourite

miniature so far?
What else have you been

working on?
My favourite project is always the next thing on

my drawing board! Even while Im engrossed
in a project, Im thinking about future scenes
and planning out the details. So it makes sense
that a continuous project would be my favourite
miniature thing, such as the 1/48th and 1/144th
scale Gingerbread Village kits. Each year brings
the opportunity to create a unique kit in the
series. Last year, while I was in the throes of
working on the Gingerbread Post Office, I was
planning out the Gingerbread Toy Shop (available
this autumn).
Our latest collaboration with Suzanne &

Andrews Miniatures is the final piece of
Cest La Vie, called The Penthouse at Cest
La Vie. Currently on my work table is Oui Wee
Lingerie, a sequel to Cest La Vie. The quarter
scale shop will be offered as a workshop and
available for purchase during and after the
Chicago International Show. Were working
on a second issue of A Teeny Bit magazine,
which will be available this autumn. Last year,
we had so much fun collaborating with Robin
Betterleys Miniatures that we decided to make
the magazine bigger and better.
In addition to publishing and creating new
kits, workshops and shows are keeping us busy.
We are planning to return to the Kensington
Dollshouse Festival in May. And after that...
there will be another favourite project on the
DH
drawing board to look forward to! MS
Why are the Gingerbread

Village kits your favourite?
They give me the opportunity to be whimsical.
For example, some of the furniture and
accessories are designed to look like they are
made from gingerbread and the mail cubbies
in the Gingerbread Post Office are labelled,
nice, naughty, and TBD. I see every new
kit as the opportunity to bring fresh ideas and
experiences to the collection. This years kit will
include some 3D printed items.
What inspired you to make

Village kits?
My first trips to Europe were to visit my
then boyfriend, Tomas (now my husband).
Even though I didnt create miniatures at that
time, I wanted to capture the magical feeling

of visiting a Christmas market. From those
trips, I recalled seeing intricate, lacy designs
in gingerbread icing; different than the typical
gingerbread found in America. Fast forward a
decade-or-so, we had the opportunity to offer
a workshop onboard a Danube River cruise.
I felt that it was the perfect chance to
introduce a gingerbread house project that
would look similar to the European
gingerbread designs that I had remembered.
Thus, the Gingerbread Cafe was born. That was
followed by the Ornament Shop (2014) and the
Post Office (2015).
What dream miniature would

you really like to make
assuming that money, time and
skill are not a barrier?
Were inspired by our travels. So ideally,
we would be travelling more often - lol!
Creating village scenes based on our travels
allows me to explore more of the architecture
and details that interest me.
67 my favourite Dec.indd 67
Information
To find out more about True2Scale visit:
www.true2scale.com
December 2016 67
07/11/2016 14:45
In your
next
edition of
NEW SERIES!
DollsHouse
JANUARY 2017 ISSUE
ON SALE 22 DECEMBER 2016
Are you the
owner of
a UFO
(Un-Finished
Object)?
Do you have
a dolls house
sitting in your
spare room
waiting to
be finished?
If the
answers yes,
youre not
alone.
NEW SERIES!
We crack open the time capsule to find out more about

historical periods, beginning with the medieval era and
the work of artisan, Ann High.
Top Interviews
Just as 19th century photographer Edward Curtis

changed the way a nation would view its Native Americans,
room box artist Robert Off has contributed to the way we
should create and view miniature vignettes.
WE SHOW YOU!
Julie Warren shows you how to create

a 1/12th scale inspired Anglo-Saxon
style table.
FANTASTIC PROJECTS
Continuing our horticultural adventure through the

seasons of a 1/12th scale miniature garden, Sadie Brown
takes us on a journey through the winter months!
Buy your copy online at
at your local newsagents or
p68 Next month Dec.indd 68
07/11/2016 15:47
DollsHouse
FREE Collectable Cut Outs
Shabby Chic and Retro Christmas Wrapping Papers
p69 Cut outs dec.indd 69
December 2016 69
07/11/2016 14:47
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p69 Cut outs dec.indd 70
07/11/2016 14:47
07/11/2016 12:15:55
Large selection of dolls houses

PLUS a huge choice of 1:12 scale miniatures
Dolly
Daydreams
T: 01256 889111
www.dollydaydreams.net
Elm Park Garden Centre, Aldermaston Rd,
Pamber End, Hampshire RG26 5QW
Winter dollhouse 2 ad.indd
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27/12/201512:17:34
3:23 pm
07/11/2016

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EXCLUSIVE COLLECTABLE CHRISTMAS WRAPPING PAPERS

THE UKS FAVOURITE MINIATURE AND PROJECTS MAGAZINE

4.25 December 2016 Issue 271

Elegant and Traditional Miniatures

STOP PRESS; WE ARE MOVING!

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TO REDUCE STOCK WE ARE OFFERING THOUSANDS OF ITEMS IN OUR

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Dolls House and Miniature Scene is

Its Christmas! Well almost Christmas and

Thats about it from me for this month.

Enjoy the issue.

Come and join the

For those who live in the UK this is

The Miniature Scene

Treat your friend

4-5 Contents Dec.indd 4

Collections, Features and Reviews

Deck the Halls with Jo Bevilacqua of Spencers Nook

Life in a (Christmas) Box

city in West Virginia, about her vast collection of quarter

At Home with the Broadwoods

Artisan Prole Rachel Austin

And dont forget ...

61 Dates for Your Diary

VISIT WWW.DOLLSHOUSEANDMINIATURESCENE.CO.UK FOR MORE GREAT FEATURES AND PROJECTS

4-5 Contents Dec.indd 5

Miniature news on the go...

Norfolk Dolls House and Miniatures Club

Grace Musgrave from Orpington, Kent, recently contacted the magazine

Thame Dollshouse & Miniatures Fair

Last Minute Christmas Gifts

The Norfolk Dolls House and Miniatures Club are a small

Tell us what youre doing!

p06 Miniature scene dec.indd 6

Christmas villages have

You will need:

1 Cut a triangle from red felt measuring

in place. Leave the end of the pipe cleaner

Glue the wooden bead head into the neck.

4 Glue the red felt triangle onto the head,

Katis Top Tip...

and sweets. Poet Samuel Coleridge was

Greenery with predominantly red ornaments grace

Having so many layers and steps in the

Shades of candy cane on a pear-shaped wreath.

Glitz and sparkle

Large wreath with

A huge fan of glitz and sparkle, many of

Fireplace mantel swag.

Victorian-style tree decorated with cones and roses.

and glitter, and hung from their own wire loops

Shabby Chic pink topiaries.

Pink Passion in luscious

bulbs. Now they have changed to larger bulbs,

You will need: