Mr. and mrs. Santa

In het najaar van 2020 toen Jolinda en ik nog samen met Connie en Monique knutselden, begonnen we met het maken van een kerstman. Ik maakte hem ook af voor de kerst dat jaar, helemaal op de mantel na. Vorige maand ben ik daar tijdens de knutselmiddag aan begonnen, dus ik ben heel blij en opgelucht dat ik dat projectje eindelijk van mijn lijstje kan strepen ;)

In the autumn of 2020, when Jolinda and I were still crafting with Connie and Monique, we started making a Santa Claus. I even finished it for Christmas that year, except for the mantle. Last month I started working on this during the craft afternoon, so I am very happy and relieved that I can finally cross that project off my list ;)

Het jaar erna begon ik aan de kerstvrouw maar daarna moest ze ongeduldig op de rest van haar blouse en haar haren wachten. 

The following year I started working on Mrs Claus but then she had to wait impatiently for the rest of her blouse and her hair.

Afgelopen maandag toen Jolinda kwam, had ik al besloten dat ik aan de pruik van mevrouw de Kerstman zou werken. 

Ik had er niet echt veel vertrouwen in, vooral niet toen ik besefte dat ik eerst iets aan haar gezicht moest veranderen; ze zag er veel te jong uit voor een oude dame. Ik heb ervoor gekozen om de wangen, kin en voorhoofd aan te passen met kleine stukjes of fimo en dan alles te verven. Wat niet makkelijk was omdat ik de fimo niet kon bakken natuurlijk.

Uiteindelijk heb ik die dag zelfs de pruik gemaakt en ben best tevreden met het resultaat.

Last Monday I had already decided that I would work on Mrs. Santa's wig when Jolinda came. 

I didn't really have much confidence, especially when I realized I had to change something about her face first; she looked way too young for an old lady. I chose to adjust the cheeks, chin and forehead with small pieces of fimo and then paint everything. Which wasn't easy because I couldn't bake the fimo of course.

In the end I even made the wig that day and I'm quite happy with the result.

Crafting together (November) and birthday swaps

Deze week zijn Jolinda en ik weer aan het miniaturen geweest. Ook konden we verjaardagscadeautjes uitwisselen. Met een verjaardag in september en de andere in oktober vinden we het leuk om ze op dezelfde knutselmiddag uit te wisselen.
Ik was dit jaar voor Jolinda voor een herfst thema gegaan en heb een vogelverschrikker en een herfstkrans gemaakt.
Als basis gebruikte ik de gedroogde wortels van een aardbeienplant, die erg breekbaar bleken te zijn. Een geduldwerkje dus :')

This week Jolinda and I have been working on miniatures again. We were also able to exchange birthday presents. With one having a birthday in September and the other in October, we like to exchange them on the same day.

This year I went for an autumn theme for Jolinda and made a scarecrow and an autumn wreath.

As a base I used the dried roots of a strawberry plant, which turned out to be very fragile. So it took a lot of patience :')

Inspiratie voor de vogelverschrikker kwam van Joann Swanson's blog. Ik vond het eindresultaat zo leuk dat ik er volgend jaar misschien wel een voor mezelf ga maken :)

Inspiration for the scarecrow came from Joann Swanson's blog. I liked the end result so much that I might make one for myself next autumn :)

Ook Jolinda had gekozen voor een herfst/natuur thema. Ze had twee miniaturen gemaakt die vast heel mooi in de cottage zullen staan. 

De wandversiering heeft onder andere hele kleine echte besjes, heel mooi. De hangende (advents)krans is ook prachtig, heel fragiel <3

Jolinda had also chosen an autumn and/or nature theme. She had made two miniatures that will look great in the cottage. 

The wall decoration includes very tiny real berries, very beautiful. The hanging (Advent) wreath is gorgeous and very fragile <3

Ik was vooraf in m'n doos met kerstminiaturen gedoken om te kijken waarmee ik die middag aan de slag kon gaan en kwam de onafgemaakte mantel van de kerstman tegen. Daar ben ik dus mee verder gegaan. Hopelijk is hij nog voor de kerst af en kan ik hem in de volgende blog laten zien ;)

I had delved into my box of Christmas miniatures beforehand to see what I could work on that afternoon and came across Santa's unfinished cloak. So I continued with that. Hopefully it will be finished before Christmas and I can show it in the next blog ;)

Advent calendar 2020 - day 22. 23 & 24 of Santa's workroom

The last blog before Christmas Day, and the last one of the Advent calendar, and probably the last one of the year ;)
Like I'd said, I haven't done more of the tutorials (it's all too tiny and straining for me atm) but I put in  some final decorations in the workroom and the tree.
So this is it for this year. I had a great time with this project and I'm still amazed at what I've done in less than a month. I guess that's not something I can do again, but I hope I can continue working on this project and maybe add a toy shop next winter :)

The parcels in the lest corner are made by Kim
(Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo)

Also, I finally finished my Santa. He almost would have been a nearly-hairless Santa tomorrow ^^
I used the curly wool type hair Kim had sent me and it worked so much better than the straight viscose fibres I used for Bill! That needed a much more steady and experienced hand than mine ;)

With our crafting club we started making a Santa back in September and I didn't expect him to be finished on time when I started a second project in December.
Jolinda has finished her Scottish Santa as well, and you can see him here: click

Now it's time to put all matererials away and enjoy the holidays. My son arrived today, hadn't seen him in six month, and tomorrow we'll have diner at my parents, what more could I wish for in this very difficult year.

I wish everyone a merry Christmas and hope 2021 will be a good/better year
and most of all a healthy one.

Take care 💗

Advent calendar 2020 - day 4 of Santa's workroom

Today I've made the sweater and the hat. The hands were cut from some previous made arms and glued to the little helper's arms ;)
Now he only needs a face paint, hair and beard. Just like Santa, which I've been putting off, so hopefully I can do them both this weekend :')

The sweater is actually a more
greenish teal which looks nice
with the burgundy hat (a)

Obviously Santa won't sit like
this in his workroom but I wanted
to show the difference in size ^^

Crafting together (November) - Santa project

Since crafting together in October I have done quite a bit by myself and the same goes for Jolinda. Again it was just the two of us last week so we started showing what we'd done so far :)

I had ordered some fabric for the waistcoat at Minidoor, as well as viscose hair fiber for Santa's wig and chenille to add fur trim to his clothes.

I went with the red fabric since everything
else would be red and/or white too.

The 'onesie' was the most difficult pattern to redesign :') 
The stockings however were easier then I thought.

He won't be wearing his coat, trousers and hat,
they will just be hanging on the back of the chair.

While Jolinda was here we both worked on the coat for our 

own Santa. And later that afternoon I made the hat.

I got some white velour to use as 

faux fur trim and finished the hat :)

So, Santa is progressing nicely. He obviously needs a new chair and some 

other props, but I don't have to worry about not finishing him in time for 

Christmas ;) That's probably why it didn't take Jolinda long to make me 

eager about joining Thea's Advents Calendar this year (a) It has been awhile, 

and having another project to focus on in December seems like a good thing 

during this semi lockdown :') I've already dusted off this roombox I'd bought 

a few years ago in Rijswijk, so I'm ready to go! :)

Crafting together (October) - Santa project

Seems like the only time I'm working on miniatures is when the crafting group comes together like yesterday.
And unfortunately that's true :')
Due to corona and other issues it was only Jolinda and I, though Monique dropped by to give the birthday swap she made me.
She had made a gorgeous painting, a trunk and some pumpkins, and Jolinda had made a pretty candle stand table with four candles and two kinds of Harry Potter candy ;)

 

Very happy with all of the gifts and they will certainly be placed in the cottage or in some other scene!

With just the two of us there was still enough chatting going on, but we still felt like we had been  productive after three hours. Jolinda worked on the robe for her Scottish Santa, outer fabric and lining both Tartan. 
I had worked on better patterns in the previous weeks and had done some padding after I'd given the doll feet instead of boots (for his stockings) and hands that would work better for the half undressed, sitting Santa ^^

I started working on the trousers and finished them later that evening :)

They only need a faux fur trim and then they're done. Santa won't wear them, just has them laying in his lap after he came in after a long night and was too tired to go upstairs right away ;)

Crafting together - September (birthday swap and Santa)

I keep lagging behind in writing these updates, so I'll keep this short and simple ;)
In September it was Jolinda's turn to get birthday swaps. I knew she had been working on a cheese farm so I made her a cheese grater and some blocks of cheese :)

I also made this kind of ancient Greek/Roman flower pot, hoping it would fit in her Greek project or in either one of her houses :) It was fun to do and I was really happy with the result. Liked making the Caledium plant as well.

And here are all Jolinda's presents. A Christmas tree and some wrapped presents from Connie, and Monique made a  plant and flower pot as well and a pretty storage box.

Links to the tutorials I used:

• 4 Simple Types of Cheese by SugarCharmShop 
• Cheese Grater and other kitchen utensils by SugarCharmShop
• Flower pot by Casa Andalusa tutorials
• Printable leaves for Caledium plant

The previous crafting afternoon we'd talked about doing a little project together. Last year we did an autum scene, so we were thinking about something for Christmas this time.
Monique suggested we could dress up a Santa. We all liked that idea and Monique offered to make the dolls.

Meanwhile Jolinda looked through her stack of dolls house magazines and found patterns for six different Santa's. You can also find them online.

Jolinda had done the first one (in white) in the past and chose the Scottisch this time. Monique went for the Russian version and Connie chose the classic one (second one in the top row).

I decided to go for this nice seated Santa (DHN annual number 62 from 2010);

So, Monique had made the dolls. The hands and boots not yet glued, which is a good thing since my Santa has stockinged feet ;) 

Other than clothes he'll need some padding, a face paint, and a wig. (I've only given his face a thin layer of Gesso so far).

The four of us had an enjoyable afternoon working on our Santa's. I started on the ... uh, well 'onesie', I guess? Can't find a (good) translation for 'hansop' ^^

Unfortunately the pattern didn't match my Santa's size so I've been making new patterns these last couple of weeks. 

I'll show you after our next crafting afternoon though :)