Hello, anyone there

 Will you forgive me I have been away for so long, losing my mojo, work and life have kept me away, yesterday I sorted my office and moved my toy shop and kitchen, I have placed the kitchen above the toy shop, they were never made to be a pair.

Looking through my shop window an the near perfect little toys, 

a window for boys,

 another for girls, such wonderful little world, 

waiting for the children to visit and take them home. 

So much has happened since I last blogged, I came to realise, if I were to finish Somerset House it would be to complete the task rather than for love, creating the main body of the house was my passion, and I had done that to a level I was so very proud of. Plus the task had been going for almost 8 years, so I made the decision to dismantle it. I have packed all the tiny accessories away, they will come out again, I have saved the special bits of furniture I so love. I will have an e-bay moment to sell on loads and probably a give away on here, but the house is gone.

Fliss has a two story small house I can have if I wish, and I have enough walls, windows and doors to make at least 3 room boxes. I have ideas, a library, a modern apartment, a church. I want to make as much as I can and use some of the stunning items I have, I will put loads on a section frame, behind glass.

I have been working on a book, it's only for me, I have taken pictures from my blog and put them into a book, a record of my achievement, I hope to have it printed soon.

Railings

 The railing were alot easier to put together than I first thought, I decided to drill them into the pavement rather than have them on a ridge, I was unable to find anything which looked right as the ridge. Because I have gone away from the kit, I am doing this as I go along, finding solutions and hopefully not many problems.

 The first thing I did was to stop the steps to the house moving, I drilled through the bottom step and the pavement, using a post with a longer bottom, to hold it all together, so simple and so effective. I used a ink pad to mark where to drill holes.

 The holes are not to near the back of the pavement so every thing is safe, I cut down the post for the house steps, so every thing would match.

 I still have loads to do, I have to sort the post for the other side of the house steps, once I have sorted them I shall glue all the post in place, I did think I would use a chain to link each post from step to step, but it's not needed. The railings do look good, they will hold them selves up, without having to add anything. I will have some over, but I have no plans for using them.

I now have to decide if I want to paint the rails around the terrace garden, white or shiny black, I will have to think about it.

I will try and make time for my house, I have enjoyed this afternoon, I promise not to make you wait so long for my next post.

A show

 We had a local show today, there were about 20 stalls, lose 2 selling just houses and a few more for furniture, we had a dozen to look at. I do love this basket, such summery colours.

 I knew where it was going, matches the deck chair in the front of the beach hut.

 I replaced the silver, 

this set is the correct period and looks nicer than I had before, 

the old set can go in the back of the butlers room. 

 More cakes, I love to move them around and see different things, 

I also want to make a picnic for the beach hut so I can swap and change.

I loved this trug, and added the roses

  I also got games from Sheppard Miniatures, but they are already in the toy shop.

 Looking through the toy shop window, above for boys and below for girls.

 A new project

 At Christmas, we enjoyed two wonderful bottles of wine, and I have kept this box, not sure what to make, well here goes, I want to cut a hole in the back, big enough for mice. and much like the borrowers, I want a couple of mice living inside, and every thing made from things stolen from our house, so not 12 scale,

Very different for me, fun, allowing me to play, I have cotton reels, boxes, bits of material, I want them to be comfortable, I also need to scan the net for the mice, a bit like Narnia, talking mice wearing clothes, all very fantasy.

Made in the USA

 The post man delivered me a parcel yesterday and here are the contents,

These clothes were hand made by Connie from It's a Mini Life, 

she shows on her blog how she makes these items, and is very clever.

 The bedding below is great, I do not have enough bedding on my beds, I love both the fabric patterns.

 Some wallpaper, 

Connie has looked at the era of my house 1820's and matched this paper to the correct era, 

I have a couple of places I can use this.

 A challenge, I love the pink linen, not a colour I would purchase, but I will use it.

 Beautiful hankies, I love using hankies in my house, they are a great size and texture.

 This magazine is from last October.

 But inside is 5 pages showing Connie's apartment block with good photos, by having 5 different flats, she has a mixture of styles and it's very colourful.

I have not done much more to my house, but with a 4 day weekend starting on Friday, I hope to be able to do things, my husband has promised to help with the roof area, I need to cut holes for dorma windows, and a large window for access to the roof top. Once I have sorted this I can complete the attic rooms.

But I will placing all my lovely items in their new home. Thanks Connie, hope you like my parcel.

And the winner is

Better late than never, sorry for the delay......

trying to make this exciting.......

Thanks to hubby for doing the draw..................

The winner is.........

Toni, from Maravillosas Minis, 

so the Laburnum Kit is on it's way to Spain, I can't wait to see it made, and of course I will add a few extra's. Toni, please send me your address and I can pop this into the post for you.

I'm late.............

This is my kit, I am sending out, I will pull a name from the hat on Saturday, please watch this space...........

it will be worth it.

Vote for Otterine

Last July I posted about a site I thought truly great, Brae is a perfectest, her work stunning you can see from her blog here she keeps her blog just for her miniature work, and explains in simple terms with loads of photo's.
The awards are running again for the best miniature blog and you can cast your vote here, please visit and cast your vote and I will keep my fingers crossed for Brae

This is my 100 post, I do not post as much about my miniatures as I do about my stitching but I have a love for both.

I am for my 100 post having a giveaway with a difference, this is to thank my 217 followers for their loyal support,comments and help over the 3 years I have been here so please do not tell anyone on your blog, I'm not after more followers who want to win something , just leave a comment here, if you would like a kit, you have to make it your self, it's for the garden or the street outside your house, it's a small tree kit, I will leave this until 1st March, when I will select the winner and show you what you have won, I am happy to post anywhere in the world.

PS Christine who won the rug I made in August it's still here waiting for you, my e-mail is on my profile page, I need your address.

Good luck.