Gorgeous Miniature Quilt Giveaway

Heleni of Très Petit Blanc is having a giveaway to celebrate reaching 200 followers. The beautiful miniature quilt and cushions pictured here can be yours! Just leave a comment on this post on her blog, and put a link to it on your own blog. The drawing will be April 16th.

Swap with Tweety Petie!

I recently did a swap with Bridget of Tweety Petie Products. If you haven't visited her blog yet, you really should - Bridget is only 15 years old, but already an accomplished miniaturist. She works primarily in polymer clay and makes all sorts of scrumptious-looking food and other items.

For our swap Bridget made me a beautiful gingerbread house, decorated with icing and tiny candies. The detail on it is amazing! I love the candy sprinkles all over the roof and delicate icing icicles hanging over the edge.

She also made me an adorable little duck, based on a duck teapot she made previously. I thought it was just too cute, but rather than a teapot I wanted a little toy duck I could put in my toyshop. (I've named it "Ducky the Goose," in honor of a friend's goose; the real Ducky the Goose refused to have anything to do with the other geese on the farm and instead adopted herself into the duck flock, thus her name. It's pretty hilarious to see them all waddling around together with her towering over the others.)

You can see Bridget's post about our swap and the books I made for her, here: Swap with TreeFeathers

Thank you, Bridget, I love my new minis!

New Classic Children's Books for You!

New miniature books for your dollhouse! Two sets of classic children's books in adorable slipcases, perfect for any child's room.

First up is the popular "Little Bear" series by Else Holmelund Minarik, illustrated by Maurice Sendak. The 5-volume set comes in a charming slipcase covered with a forest scene and illustrations from the books.

The second set is an update to my "Little House on the Prairie" set by Laura Ingalls Wilder, with cover illustrations by Garth Williams. The eight books now come enclosed in a little cabin-shaped slipcase!

You can purchase the sets on my website (links above), and I'll be listing them on Etsy tomorrow. I hope you like them!

9 Etsy Treasuries You'll Love

It's been a busy month for treasuries on Etsy! In the past month(ish) my miniature books have been featured in nine treasuries! Pop on over and take a look, lots of great spring themes and inspirational collections.

Think Spring! by dalesdreams included my Curious George 5-volume set.

It's the Little Things by mbush1us featured my Agatha Christie "Miss Marple" set.

E=MC2 by emmett53 included my Jules Verne miniature books.

My miniature gardening book set was included in two treasuries:
Time to do a *Little* Gardening by antb
and
Breathing in the coming spring by cooljewelrydesign

Sings to my soul by JoMed featured Andrew Lang's Coloured Fairy Books.

FourviereHill included my Herman Melville 10-volume set in To Herman Melville.

Pretty In Pink by Bearcabinminiatures has my miniature Library Classics set.

There is no friend as loyal as a book by ThePeachTree includes my Hemingway 15-volume set.

Thanks to all of you! :)

Are You a 'Civilized' Person?

Would you have been suited to life in the Victorian period? Would you know what dress to wear to a fancy ball, how to greet acquaintances in the park, or what to do when you find a fly in your soup? To find out, check out this hilarious interactive game at the McCord Museum of Canadian History. Choose the role of a man or a woman and then visit five different places to test your social skills and graces.

Apparently I have good manners, but my fashion sense - then, as now - leaves something to be desired. At least in modern times I've never had a servant chase me out of the club and beat me with a rolling pin, been carried off by aliens, or had vampires chase me around the garden at a fancy dress ball (ok, I picked the wedding dress on purpose just to see what would happen)!

When you're done there try your skills in the Roaring Twenties or see how well you know 19th-century fashion with the museum's other games. You can also learn more about the history of Canada in the 19th and 20th centuries through the museum's virtual thematic tours.

Antique Miniature Book Auction

A treasure trove of antique miniature books from a family collection will be auctioned next week by Bamfords Auctioneers of Derbyshire, UK. The 16 beautiful little books are expected to bring over £2000.

The smallest of the books is also the oldest: Bijou Picture of London, measuring just 1-1/8" tall (30mm), was published in 1810 and features 31 engravings of London landmarks. It is valued at £150-200, as is the similarly-sized Bijou Picture of Paris published in 1812. The Holy Bible pictured at left, published in Glasgow in 1896, is a mere 1.5" tall (40mm). It has 376 pages and features engraved plates, gilt-stamped morocco leather binding, and a magnifying glass in a rear pocket. It is expected to bring £200-300.

The Three-Day Antiques and Fine Art Sale will be held March 16-18. Oh, I wish I could be there! Read more about it and see more pictures here.

The Tudors in Miniature: March AIM Magazine

The March edition of the free AIM magazine is now online! This month's theme is 'The Tudors.' You'll be blown away by the amazing character dolls on display in "Genealogy in Miniature" and "King Henry VII & His Wives." Jean Day gives us a tour of fabulous Tudor real estate (miniature, of course). Many other aspects of Tudor times are brought to life, including falconry and birds of prey, pomanders, pewter and its uses, a history of blackwork embroidery, and food of the times.

Free projects this month: Petit point cushions, Tudor Pottage (in any scale), brick making, a knitted Monmouth cap, and Tudor printables by Jean Day. CJ Cormier also presents part one of a three-part Tudor thatched roof project.

The AIM magazine is a FREE monthly dollhouse & miniatures magazine brought to you by the members of Artisans in Miniature. Packed with articles, galleries, tutorials, and miniature news! Regular features include show reports, member profiles, featured blogs, artist interviews, and smaller scales. Read it online or download it at http://www.artisansinminiature.com.