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 - August (birthday swap)

Last week Jolinda and Monique came over for another afternoon of mini crafting :) And our group has now four members because Connie has decided to join us. It's also the month of Monique's birthday so Jolinda and I had made her something.
So before we started crafting, we exchanged gifts, enjoyed the cherry pie Monique had brought and chatted a bit to get to know Connie and visa versa.

For the birthday swap I've been inspired by the little painting we've made in June. I know Monique has made lots more so some art supplies and artists' materials would be a nice addition and fun to make.

With the finished painting I've made in June.

Jolinda has made two vases with beautiful flowers for Monique;

Monique's photo

Some links to the tutorials I used:

• Diy miniature paint brushes
• Diy miniature paint tubes
• Printable labels for the paint tubes

Crafting together - June & July

In June Jolinda, Monique and I finally met again, for the first time since the Corona crisis started.
It was a bit weird, but we kept the 1,5 mt distance rule as much as possible, and it was great seeing each other again.

Monique has been into something new; paint pouring. She's done some 1:1 paintings, vases and lampshades. And was willing to learn us to make a 1:12 painting using that technique.
I choose some blue and orange colours, hoping it would make a match with the colours for the cottage bedroom.

 

I like how mine turned out :)

Monique made two different sizes.

Jolinda kept it neutral with black, white and gold.

When the painting were finished we still had time for something else. Jolinda had brought 3 kits for cold porcelain plants. It was the first time I worked with cold porcelain and I struggled quiet a bit :')

By the time Jolinda and Monique left I still hadn't managed to make a succulent. So I decided to use the clay clutter with Fimo clay instead and ended with some semi decent succulents :)

The DHN magazine that month showed some of the workshop that were made during the summer.

I was proud to see two of mine in it ;)

The next time we met, I wasn't nearly as productive for some reason. I added (very few) leaves to the olive tree (for the Italian project) and painted the side table I made years ago, and always ended up in pictures ^^ Maybe I'll put it in the cottage bathroom, maybe not, so for now it's just a little scene with other purple and lila things.

Craft of the Month - September

After a long summer break there was a new monthly challenge at (Dutch) FB group Actieve Poppenhuisforum. 

For this month's challenge you had to make something with at least 3 of the following materials:
1. paper
2. some waste material (like a cardboard box or packing material)
3. thread
4. metal push pin

One was optional or could be changed in something else. Paint and glue was free to use.

Since there were four instead of five materials, I wanted to challenge myself and use them all, but the pin gave me a really hard time :)
I also wanted to make something for the cottage instead of just making something that would end up in a corner of my cupboard. After a lot of hard thinking I got the idea to make a miniature painting (my first one ^^). 
Paper for the painting itself, a frame from a pizza box, decorated with embroidery thread and I wanted to cut and bent the top of the pins so they could cover the four corners, but in the end that didn't work as I couldn't cut them :') But first the painting!

I decided on a painting of Hogsmeade
for my Hogsmeade cottage :)

First step

I was a bit unsure about the bright yellow.

After adding the finishing touches.

The frame was made from a pizza box ^^ First layer was a brown oil paint, then after sanding a blue with black watered down acrylic and then I drybrushed with the creme chalk paint I've used for the fire place previously (need to buy more of that!). Because cutting the pins didn't work, I thought I could decorate the frame with it, but it didn't feel right.

I ended up using them on the back to attach a thread (a)

Not sure where the painting will be installed by Bianca and Penny but I'm sure it will look nice in whatever room they choose.