What do you think - 1:12 or 1:1?

How often have you looked at the work of a talented miniaturist and said to yourself "there's no way that's mini" - well here's one to contemplate...


Very clever photographing it in the woods, don't you think?

Look at this pretty interior, wouldn't you just love to shrink yourself and curl up in there with a good book? And how lovely in the 'evening light'...







In fact no shrinking would be required to enjoy this amazing creation - it's the 1:1 studio cottage of Sandy Foster whose fabulous blog is at http://myshabbystreamsidestudio.blogspot.com

Just for once instead of wanting to exclaim "It's so gorgeous I can't believe it's not real!" I think I'm not the only one saying "It's so gorgeous I can't believe it's not mini!"

I wonder who will be the first to miniaturise it??? Now there's a challenge...

(Photos copied and posted with Sandy's permission)

Is it only an old ladder or much much more???

I bought this vintage wooden ladder for NZ$40 a few days before I came back to Sydney. It's an acquisition I'm very pleased with. However there are 'nay sayers' who can see only $40 worth of firewood!!

In defence of my ladder I would like to say:

(1) within 10 mins of buying it I saw two similar ladders, cleaned and dark stained, being used as display props in antique store windows
(2) a charming home accessories and gift shop presently has a similar vintage ladder, a little bigger, and also dark stained, in the window with a price tag of NZ$245! (=US$171)
(3) ladders as display units are so HOT right now - presenting exhibit no 1 (source "NZ Home and Garden" magazine)



So what do you think???

Should I-

(a) paint it white
(b) dark stain it
(c) chop it up for firewood?

VOTE NOW - leave a comment - make your opinion count!

By the way - No pressure but I'm counting on your 'positive support' in order that the ladder may continue to have a long and fruitful life! ;)

More on the New Zealand cottage...

Our cottage is located in this little village 30 minutes drive from the city of Dunedin in the south of New Zealand. It has a northerly aspect over the inlet you see here to the Pacific Ocean. We've owned it for about 30 years, we lived in it full time for 4 but otherwise it was a weekend and holiday retreat. Since we've been living in Australia it's mostly been unocupied and that combined with the fact that the 'old girl' is getting on a bit has meant that recently we've had to turn our attention to some serious repair/renovation work.

Don't forget to 'poke' the photos for a better look :)

If you drive past this is all you will see as it sits down below the road line.


However, if you stop and stand at the top of the steps you will see the door so come on down and take a look around - take care though because the steps are made from old railway line sleepers and they can get a bit slippery...


Walk on by past the door, around to the front of the house...


From here you can enjoy the bush and coastal view for a moment, unfortunately it's a bit hazy today so you can't see the ocean as well as usual - and I must ask the neighbours to take the top off that pesky tree!...


Let's go down to the bottom of the yard, where the trees are, so that we can look back and see the front of the house properly...


Now if we turn around, there she is...


The poor old shed on the right has seen better days and is overdue for a coat of paint, maybe next summer.

It's a pity that the beautiful window in the upstairs bedroom has broken in the bottom left corner. Just what happened is a mystery but our neighbours noticed the lead and the glass had collapsed in the corner after a period of very strong wind. We've had to cover the broken area with a piece of board to prevent further damage. The lead has started to collapse a little in the middle at the top also so the window has to be removed. It will be replaced by a plain window, not as pretty perhaps but at least we'll be able to see the view from up there then! At the moment three little diamond shapes of plain glass are about all you can see through.


We are hopeful that this window can be restored and located elsewhere in the house.

Before we go up to the house for a look around inside I want to show you something hidden among the trees down here...


... a derelict chicken house! Isn't it cool?? Every yard should have one!

Oh dear, sorry about that...

I missed a few of you in my WELCOME message! :( I'm so sorry, I forgot to check the 'beginning' of my followers list where all those with 'blank' profile photos are automatically placed by the 'computer brain' that controls such things. I suddenly had one of those 'lightbulb' moments about it in the middle of the night.

So to Carolyn (@ fabshabbyroses.blogspot.com), Jonna (@ rudoo-buggaboos.blogspot.com, Vane, tinystuffs and Marika "thanks for stopping by my blog" and please forgive my bad manners!

I should also add that there is no blog info showing on your profiles (I'm familiar with Carolyn and Jonna's blogs so knew where to find them) but you might want to check that out. Vane, tinystuffs and Marika if you have blogs please leave a comment here so that we can find you!

I hope I haven't left out anyone else!

A rather overdue WELCOME!

I feel a bit like the Old Woman Who Lived In a Shoe in the nursery rhyme who had so many children she didn't know what to do. So many of you have taken me by surprise 'following' my blog while I've been largely away from the internet for the past few weeks that I have a similar dilemma. I really appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to stop by my blog and so I want to mention you all by name by way of a 'personal welcome' (where your blogs/websites are showing on your profiles I won't mention them here).

So here goes! - *deep breath* - A big welcome to Moni, Hanna and Leijona, Maria, Jamie, Anneke, Claudia, Karin, Mincka, Marlies, Doreen, Minikat, Ana, Lori, Christine H, Carey, Jose, Monika, Asuka, Eva, Christel, Daisy, CM @ My Realitty, Jody, Teresa, Anna and Hannah. Also to Sabiha (@ sabsminiinteriors.blogspot.com) and Melissa (@ missemouse.blogspot.com) whose blogs I know and love but are not showing on their proflies here.

Welcome also to genevieve, lutjeboudel, miniaturemaid, and christine - there are no blogs showing on your profiles - if you do have blogs please leave a comment here because I'd like to come visit :)

Family history meets minis

One of my hobbies is family history. This 1:12 scale project was made about four years ago in celebration of the journey of my great grandparents from England to New Zealand in 1922, and gifted to my cousin Dorothy in recognition of the generous spirit in which she shares her family history research. I spent a nice couple of days with Dorothy on my recent visit and 'borrowed' the trunk so that I could photograph it. The luggage label on the outside records the details of the voyage.

The inside represents a small room in my grandparents' house which has become the place where things are gathered together in preparation for the voyage. When I was working on it I'd often wake thinking of my great grandmother Elizabeth and imagine her laying in bed planning what they should pack to take to this 'new' country on the other side of the world. Seven children, the youngest just 6, travelled with their parents but my grandmother Alice, who was married with children of her own by 1922, stayed behind. (She and her family followed a few years later). Perhaps the family would have included a portrait of her in their luggage, I like to think so hence the photograph in the gold frame.





The sharp eyed among you will have noticed already that there are a couple of knobs missing from the trunk drawers, as well as the top of the "cosmetic bottle". I knocked the 'missing' drawer knobs of myself but forgot to put them on before the photo - I'll never get a job as a photo stylist that's for sure! After taking the photo I found the pearl top of the "cosmetic bottle" rolling around in the back corner - all have now been restored to their proper places, and the trunk returned to Dorothy. She keeps it on the bookcase in her home office where many pages of genealogy data, family stories and photos are stored, a perfect location for it :) Everything in the trunk was made by me except the little teddy, the sewing machine, the black handbag on top of the travel trunk, the photo frame and the 'high heeled' shoes under the bench (the other shoes are made from air drying clay as are the brown handbag containing voyage tickets, etc, the hairbrush, comb and mirror set, and the shaving mug which is difficult to see but is in the open trunk drawer). The photograph on the righthand page in the album on the bench is of the family - it was taken in England just before the voyage. (My grandmother - my father's mother - is at the back on the right).

My friend Melissa's exquisite work...

I've just found out that while I've been on holiday my friend Melissa Hoover (porcelain doll artist, doll luggage maker, miniature artist, etc) has recently set up a website and blog, her work is exquisite and she deserves lots of visitors to check out both! Please take a look...

www.zhibit.org/houseofmissymouse
www.missemouse.blogspot.com

(I tried to make these URL's 'hot links' but it didn't work so I guess you'll have to cut and paste to your browser - but it's worth the trouble, believe me!)

I'm back home!

I arrived back in Sydney a few hours ago, it's so humid I think I might die!!

First stop was to visit our gorgeous little grandson who has just started taking steps, now I need a few days to chill out and acclimatise to the humidity, then I'll get back to 'inhabiting' the blog world properly and get some new photos up :)

(This photo was taken by me from our apartment.)

I'm 'gone' but you are not forgotten!

The south of the southern island of New Zealand is my current location. I'm still working hard on renovation projects at our little cottage in the countryside, enjoying the break from the big city, surrounded by trees and happy birds, but not much relaxing going on! Because we don't have internet access there I'm feeling quite 'disconnected' from the blogsphere and what you are all up to. I'm here for another couple of weeks and then back to Sydney, leaving the cottage in the 'tender care' of several tradespeople, when we return we should have fabulous new bathroom facilities. No pictures of the renovations to post yet, still at the 'ugly' stage, but they are coming - eventually!

I must also say a big informal welcome to a number of you who have joined my blog in the last few weeks. I'll catch up with you all properly when I get back to Australia :)

Wishing each and everyone of you, and your near and dear, a Merry Christmas.

I thought this picture particularly appropriate since all but one of you (Susan of minicrochetmad) live across the sea from me (even Linda at Une Petite Folie who although also in Australia is on the other side of Bass Strait) so Santa and I are sending this little boat sailing across the waters carrying my wish for a wonderful Christmas for you all.