Slacking Off

It has been a few days since I have made my miniatures. I've been quite the slacker!

However, I finally made my own charlotte cake (pictured to the right). Rich chocolate sauce and chocolate shreds are surrounded by six juicy, vibrant strawberries. I LOVE chocolate and strawberries, together or by themselves.

This past weekend, my mom and I went to a Renaissance festival. I have always wanted to go. It was loads of fun! Keep me away from all the jewelry-- it is so, so tempting! One of my favorite parts was the jousting tournament. Even though it was a very chilly weekend, it was great!

Our swimming pool closed for the year on Monday. This marks the official end of my summer. But since I will not be swimming again until summer 2011, I have more time to dedicate to my crafts.

Life stays busy!

Candy corn earrings and necklace in anticipation of Halloween.

As summer unwinds...

It's time to enjoy some mint chocolate chip ice cream as summer rapidly unwinds. For a little while, it seemed like everything I made revolved around an ice cream theme. I will not be making enormous amounts of ice cream during the fall and winter months because it is sometimes considered "out of season". For me, ice cream is never out of season!


This is a homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream prep board. So instead of this ice cream being made in a factory, it's just being made from scratch at home. I guess it's an original idea for a prep board!


Note the little puddles of melted ice cream splattered across the board. Normally, I would do anything to avoid such a slurpy mess, but in this case I intentionally created the mess! Everything is handmade as usual.


Although this is an extremely basic prep board, it is a fun, cheerful little piece fit for anyone!

A closer look. Note the two full, hardened ice cream scoops.

Bowl of the ice cream ingredients fully mixed.

Tea, Anyone?

I have officially decided that no dollhouse is complete without at least one teapot. They add that perfect, finishing touch of beauty. Each delicate teapot is shiny or worn, fancy or simple.

Here are a few tiny teapots that I have made. As usual, these pieces are all handcrafted in 1/12 scale. Most of the color and design was applied by hand using acrylic paints.

I warn you, this is only the beginning of my fascination with miniature teapots!

One of my favorites. The flower design, just like all the rest, is hand painted.

The standard copper and aluminum teapots. The handle of the copper pot actually moves up and down, just like the real thing! How fun is that?

A closer look at my first copper teapot.

A Taste of a Summer Evening

It's a lovely summer night and a group of people are sitting around a camp fire. Everyone is happily savoring the delicious combination of flavors that a simple s'more has to offer.

What better way to capture this moment than with a miniature? This s'more board highlights the tastiness of that crisp, toasty s'more. On a simple paper doily are four fully prepared s'mores simply begging to be eaten. Several jumbo size marshmallows remain motionless in their place, ready to be stabbed ruthlessly by a stick and then heated over the fire. Many honey graham crackers are scattered here and there. It's time to eat some s'mores!

Please note: I played with my little pieces on a miniature table before gluing them to their board. The final product is to the above and to the right.

Here are the pieces on the table.

Close up of the twigs on the table.

Holding two on the marshmallows on the sticks.

Just look at those graham crackers. Yum!

New Apron

My cousin and my aunt recently made me my very own Tweety Petie Products apron with their embroidery machine! My name is written above the lovely little cockatoo, and below it reads "Tweety Petie Products." I was given the choice of what color I wanted my name to be written in. Of course, I chose my all time favorite-- purple.

Now I can wear this while I work and at craft shows! I am so excited. Many times I have seen other crafters wear aprons at shows, so it is really exciting to have one of my own now.

Enjoy some of the apron pictures!

A close-up of the cockatoo and lettering. Love it!

My little cockatoo.

Alice in the Wonderland

I just can't escape making cakes! So it's about time I share a very original piece-- an Alice in the Wonderland wedding cake. This piece wasn't actually my idea. I found a picture online of a real wedding cake like this! Click here for the picture of the actual cake (all credit to bride.ca).

This particular cake took me hours to complete! I did not know the dimensions of the actual cake, so I had to estimate and reduce it to 1/12 scale. Then I had to start making the layers and adding details as I went along. The macaroons along the bottom layer and on the the middle layers took ages! I have never ever been so happy to complete something. After baking it, I had to add the final touches (that was my favorite part and the easiest too).

I am not huge on the color pink, but I do have my "moments." One of those moments is right now. I really do like the pink theme of this cake! But I wouldn't care for it as my own wedding cake.

Today was my first day of school. Over the summer, I have forgotten what it's like! It is refreshing to have a break and start all over again though. What I dislike the most is that it has really cut into my mini-making time and will continue to do so even more as the year goes on. But it is not stopping me from crafting-- no way! My time is just more limited now. The weekend is going to be my best friend again!

Enjoy the very unique cake!

The picture on the front of the miniature cake is the very same as on the real cake.

Crispy Cones

I very much prefer making my ice cream cones in bulk. Once I really get into it, it can be hard to stop me... that is until my fingers start feeling numb from creating that rigid texture that ice cream has. It is, as usual, a long and tedious process to make this particular little miniature.

Another ice cream surprise is in the making, but there are no photos of it yet! I still have to get around to baking it and adding final touches.

Making the cones.

Ahhh-- the finished product!! The ice cream cones displayed above were converted into dangly earrings. Mmm! Vanilla bean ice cream, rich chocolate syrup, and rainbow colored sprinkles-- all served in one crispy, crunchy cone!