Here's my fab hats! Made by Kat but in my collection.

Here's some fab little hats for a witch which are part of my own collection. My favourite is the black one at the back . Here's the link to Kats blog and once there you can find an ebay link to buy more of these wonderful creations. She does make other superb little hats too apart from witch and wizards!

A test and thank you Debbie!

Tiny Treasures (Debbie) has just helped me out with my question below. Thanks for the help Debbie.
Why don't you nip over and have a look at Debbies fantastic blog with so much to see and read about.

Pics of new work!

Here's some pictures of recent work. My photography skills are not great but hope you enjoy looking at them. My favourite is the shelf.

MY Friend Kat the Hats HATS!

My friend Kat the Hat now has her blog fully up and running and has some lovely new hats showing. Some are for witches and some are like ascot hats, but she does do just about everything.
So, if your mad about hats pop over and have a look. You will find kat in my followers list.
Heres some pictures of kats beautiful work.



HELP! DOES ANYBODY WANT TO LET ME KNOW HOW I PUT LINKS FOR EACH BLOGGER I AM WRITING ABOUT SUCH AS KAT ABOVE IN THIS TEXT SO YOU CAN JUST CLICK.
Everyone seems to be doing it apart from me. Please remember i'm entirely rubbish at anything techno so teach me the easy way.

Don't forget to have a look at my other blog, just click on my profile to find it and have a nose!

How do i get those colours!

Quite often i'm asked where i get the material used on my potion jars.
Well, what i do is buy plain cream muslin and dye it with acrylic paints. It's ever such a messy job and you have to ignore the facts that acrylic paint is not great for your plumbing below the sink (just use lots of hot water to rinse it all away) and ignore your husbands comments!
First i cut the material to size and i normally cut out 6 bits and make 6 colours. Then wet all of these and squezze out the water leaving the material damp. Then using something like a tray your tomatoes come in mix acrylic paints together until you get the colour you want. Then slowly add water so its like a thick runny cream (maybe a little thicker). For a bit of material about 70cm x 70cm you only need around a table spoon altogether of acrylic paint.
Now dip one of the bits of your material into this mix and push it around the tray soaking up all the paint mix. using your hands rub the material together like your are scrubbing clothes and make sure you dont have patches of colour. Try to make it all nice and even, then squeeze out any excess paint and rub the material together again like scrubbing so its not patchy.
Straighten out the material and hang on your line with a peg on one corner. If like me it won't dry outside at the moment i put kitchen towel over my radiator before the material.
Then carry on until all your material is coloured.
I find it difficult to cut the material around jars with every other materail i've tried. The muslin is nice and thin and so sits perfectly on every jar.
Because i like the colours to be deep i tend use raw umber (brown) in every colour.
The photos show muslin that i have dyed today. Beacause i use paint it means i can have any colour i choose plus makes cutting easier.
Sharp scissors are a must, but if you're anything like me they tend to be used for everything. I even cut wood with mine!
Hint and tip: Always keep your material scissors far away from your work bench so you're not tempted to cut wood with them. Don't be tempted to chop anything but material with them and don't let your children know where you have hidden them. Children ruin scissors!
Top picture shows a jar of pumpkin soup using muslin that i have dyed with acrylics.
Bottom picture shows the material i dyed today.

Glass Balls!

These galls balls/spheres i shall turn into a wizards crystal ball/looking glass and stand each on a stone type pillar. The smallest measures 3cm and shall turn them into something like the witch uses on the Wizard of Oz. They are not small like what you see on most 1:12th tables, yet are perfect for what i have in my mind. If any one else wnats to also make the same, check out my ebay feedback and then you can find the seller.
Wondering if i fitted a into the pillar and below the ball i can get it to shine through the ball. Does anyone know the answer?

Kissed by a Prince Award!

Here is this fabulous award presented to me by Silke. Silke's blog is called The Art Of Silke Janas Schloesser and i would suggest everyone has a nose at the wonderful creations and attention to detail covering so many wonderful creations.
I fell in love with all the little people and if your a lover of legends, witches, fairies, trolls, and everything magical then this blog should be your first port of call today.
Thank you Silke and quite proud of this award. Just love it so much!

Sewing baskets complete and a gift for Debbie.

Here is 5 of the sewing baskets now complete. Quite happy with the results.

One of these is for Debbie and is the smaller one on the left at the front. This is a return thank you gift for those wonderful cabbages. Will post out tuesday/wednesday.

Hope you all like these and will think about perhaps making a sewing scene with draped materials for the bits and bobs left over.

Hint and tip for this type of item: Never, never, never try and make knitting needles!

Here's some little sewing baskets i'm making at the moment. I need to still make some knitting needles and going to make them look like bones, which will be just perfect for a witch.
The buttons need to be added to the button card and i've put some little needles on the needle card already. Somehow need to think up a way to make a little tub of pins so any suggestions are welcome.
Any other suggestion for what i could put in are also welcome because i'm running out of ideas.
It all needs to look suitable for a witch though.
Well off to make those boring beds. Had loads of energy today and i've even cleaned the garage.
Got my husband doing the ironing now but only shirts and t-shirts. Dare not give him trousers. Mind you i won't give him any of my clothes and just his and the boys are ok. He's extra happy because his new sky controller arrived after somebody hiding or chucking out the old one. He just can't be without it and has driven me mad for two weeks searching everywhere.
Well that was dull wasn't it... lol

Blog award from Eva.

Yes, i know i'm rather late saying a proper thank you to Eva for this lovely blog award but i have been so busy not getting much done... lol, no matter how hard i try. Its so appreciated and always good to know people are interested in what i'm doing, saying and making, especially that not much has been made for the last week or two.
Thank you Eva and will forward this award on to as many people as i can.
Nikki x

Look what arrived for me in the post!

Today i waited and waited and eventually the post lady arrived. All the other letters were thrown aside in search of Debbies parcel.
Here is a close up of one of the cabbages Debbie has made especially for me as a gift. She has sent 6 altogether but wanted you to see a detailed close up of all the lovely colours and textures.
I couldn't be happier and more delighted with these and think Debbie is ever so kind to have thought of me.
Debbie also sent a lovely fruit cocktail glass dish, plus some allsorts which will look fab in my witches shop (when i finally start to fill the interior).
Thank you once again Debbie and will now go and store them safely until i can position them in my garden.
Nikki x

AT THIS LATE HOUR!!!

A selection of my work

Yes i know it's late and perhaps should be sleeping yet wanted to go and have a play around again at photobucket. So i did, and this is what i created. I reckon i'm getting better and quite happy with the results.
If you are like me and can never do things such as this to your pictures go and have a go. It really is quite simple once you get the hang of it, plus i learn something new each time.
Anyway, thought i would show you all a selection of my past and sold work.
My favourite is the Skel-Grow potion board on real slate with tiny little bones, eyes, dragon heart strings, forget the name of the little insect spikes (well it is late), and of course tags, labels and a run of the mill cauldron that i sanded, painted again and aged slightly alongside the new rusty handle.
Also loved the knife rack but luckily it went to a good home. It's quite missed!
Off to bed. I must be mad!

Welocme to my new followers!

Welcome to:
Eva Who makes various mini's and has a wonderful fairy garden.
The Whimsical Goblin - check out her Orphans and Creatures of Millwood - perfection!
Patrizia Cozzo - Makes beautiful fairies.
Desperate blogger. Blogs about various crafts, sculpture, dolls people, family and One Heart.
Erika - Blogs about the adventures of her doll in her dolls house. Nice idea.
Misty Oakley - check out this ladies fantastic dragon sculpture.
Phillane E'lee - This lady has 2 blogs and works with fabric and paint. Love this ladies work.

Hope you all enjoy following my blog and will try my hardest to keep it interesting.

Blog Award! For best alternative miniatures.

Now. as you all are aware i love witches and wizards alongside spooky, halloween, haunted, gothic, fairy and a never ending list of alternative miniatures And so i decided to create my own award today and present to my favourite blogs. This award is for imagintaion and for those showing skill with their work that we can only stand back and admire. When given this award you can pass this on to any other blogger when you see such work and you dont have to send a specific number. You can send hundreds or one once a week. Its up to you! Keep sending it for as long as you run your blog.
There are wonderful miniature artists out there and they need to be appreciated for the long hours they put in. Often up all night with unbrushed hair, and still wearing their pyjamas from the day before because they didnt have time to wash and change. Now i know that applies to me and i must be congratulated for the lack of vanity i now have. No longer do i yearn to look good, but instead want my miniatures to look be the best i can achieve.
So if you get this award then also give to people you think are doing their best creating miniatures such as above and putting in 100% effort.


Ok here is my list so far:

Kat the Hat - for her beautiful creative hats which are mostly OOAK and just treasures to own.
Debbie of Tinytreasures for everything she does that involves her harry potter shops - Brilliant!
Gail Lackey Ghosties, Fiaries and other magical things - just genius!
Enchanted Productions by Joyce Stahl - simply to die for!
Eva - for her wonderful fairy garden and attention to detail - love the picnic scene!
Misty's Creations for her out of this world dragon sculpture - wish i could do that!

All of these wonderful artists can be found either as my followers or in the blogs that i follow.
Will go and email each and every one of you.

Hope you like your awards! More awards soon!


Say HELLO to Kat the Hat that follows this blog when you have time. I also follow her blog and she makes wonderful creative hats for witches, wizards and regualar dolls.
She is still learning (much like me) how to get everything sorted with blogging and much like me may need help from time to time. I know she is trying to work out how to make the page have nice edges like mine and because i have forgotten what i did then would be great if anyone can offer advice.

Help needed: If anyone out there can create a better picture for me rather than the one i have made then please do so. If you are kind enough to do so we can delete this one and add a better version. It justs needs to be something like above but has to be dirty looking, rustic, worn etc and that type of thing. Much appreciated if you can help

Fireplace Update.

Here is the fireplaces so far. Note one of them is now missing from the picture. I've decided i'm going to make a diorama with this one and will post pictures of it once complete. Plus note from the previous fireplace blog i have now changed the colour scheme and had a swap around with mantles.
All of the fireplaces have been covered with paper clay, the backs have been added and the bricks on the inside of one. The one without the brick will be one sheet of stone. Also i grouted inbetween the bricks and just used pv mixed with grey and brown acrylic paint and polyfilla.
After covering each part of the fireplace with paper clay i waited for them to dry and gave a little sand here and there where needed. Also at this stage i checked all the cracks were nice and deep in preparation for the final stage. Some of the cracks i had to scrape out a little further with a pointed tool.
Once everything was looking good i glued all the bits together, but prior to this i made a hole on the back of each chimney breast just above the mantle at the back so i can add a chain in the final stages. This will be so i can hang a cauldron above hot coals.
NOTE: I'VE DISCOVERED IF YOU USE BALSA WOOD AND COVER WITH PAPER CLAY YOUR MINIATURE WILL WARP. I SUGGEST YOU USE STRONGER WOOD OR MDF.
Because i want each firplace to sit nice and staright againts a wall i left each to dry flat on a level surface.
Once dry i checked everything was nice and flat, filled any little gaps where each part joins and then sanded these bits once dry. plus making sure all the cracks are still nice and deep.
If you want to light up a fireplace then i suggest before you do all the above make a little hole in the back just behind where you logs/coals would fit and cut out groves where your wires will need to be fitted on the back. amke sure you dont cover these.
Both fireplace then had a watered down mix of pva glue with black, brown and white acrylic paint (to make a suitable grey). I mixed this into polyfilla and gave a light coat over all the stone surfaces. Again make sure all the cracks are nice and deep and dont fill them too much.
I'm now onto painting these with the final coat of paint which is the same grey as showing here. Its a watered down mix just like above and i've found that polyfilla doesn't crack as long as you make sure you use an equal amount of pva. I'm also going to make the insides look nice and dirty today with soot and grime and then add the chains from the back. Will also be making the stones look real and filling all the cracks so they look dirty and worn.
The wooden mantle i'm leaving until last so i can clean it up, sand where needed and then make look like dark wood. You can use wood stains for this or an antique varnish but i prefer using acrylics and giving it two coats before a light sand and then rubbing here and there so it looks worn.
Looks like tis taking quite a lot of time but in reality its quite quick. What does take the time is waiting for everything to dry so you can move onto the next stage.
Hope you are enjoying this so far and will have this finished in the next few days. Then we can moce onto the coals and setting up a base for your light fitting to sit under the coals. Going to use liquid fimo for this because it will dry semi clear allowing the light to shine through. This wont be seen because the coals or logs will cover it.
Off now to have a bath and finally brush my hair. Too scared to hoover because have so many parcels that should arrive today and don't want to miss the postman. I bet she/he come while i'm in the bath. Typical!

Thank you Eva for this award.

Thank you Eva for this blog award and your kind commenets about my miniatures. I will try and find 15 people to also award this to tomorrow. This is now my second award and quite plesed people are enjoying it so far, especially that i've only been blogging since New Year.
I do have lots of you in mind to also present this award to so watch this space!
Nikki

New Glass!

Here's some lovely new glass jars which arrived in the post yesterday. Not going to rush into filling them and shall have a good think about what contents to use. Have more than what is showing in the pictures but just wanted to show you one of each.

Debbie, the milk bottles i had made without the rim is in the bottom picture on the left. They are all straight but don't look so with my bad photography today.

Next Stage of Fireplace.

This is the next stage for one of the firplaces i showed yesterday. I've made a brick back for inside the fireplace. I've done this on card which will be glued in place but before it's glued i shall fill all the gaps and age with soot. The stone work will be texturised and painted grey before its aged slightly and again made dirty with soot on the inside. I covered all the areas showing as stone work with pearl paper clay. Before i used this i used pva to ensure it would stick well.
Note the lumpy bit at the top. This will be sanded down before i show you the next stage. I've had to make an easily sanded top from paper clay so that when it arrives with the buyer he can sand it perfectly to fit his room height and go right to the ceiling. Which is why at this stage it looks rather odd. Promise the lump will be gone with my next posting!
I've marked the areas between the stones with pen for you to see clearly what the stonework pattern will be like. This will all be covered later.
Have a look back in older posts and find the pentacle witches floor so you can have a basic idea what the stone work will look like. But the stonework for this will be lighter.
Bye for now... busy day with washing, cooking, kids and housework. May even brush my hair today... lol

hUmBLe BeGiNnInGs!

Here are the 3 firplaces i've built the bases for today. Two of which are already sold as commissions.
If you look at the bottom picture you can see my ever so rough painting just to get a picture of what they will look like. The perspective is making it look biggger than it should against the scaled background, but again it was just to see it in a sort of setting. Ignore the oversized image.
Sometimes when you're unsure what something will look like in your room a good idea is to draw your item in perspective and stick to your dolls house walls then stand back and have a good think if any alterations are needed.
Another good idea is to take a photo of your room and then print off onto A4 paper. Print off several and then sketch the images into your room
The first fireplace will be mostly stone and brick with a wooden mantle. Will be in creamy colours and slightly aged.
The second will be totally stone and will have fancy details added.
The third will be rustic and look like a rendered fireplace with a worn and battered wooden mantle. With this third one i shall add potion and other related with items.
Going to be using paper clay for this and have opted for pearl paperclay, which has proven to be the strongest paper clay around (in my opinion).
Hope you like the start and i should have some new photos by next week to show you the progress.

How kind and thank you Debbie!

How kind is Debbie to have made these wonderful Creepy Carnivorous Cabbages especially for me?
They are intended for my witches garden and now have inspired me to get on with building my spooky house. I will from now on promise to try and do some work every Tuesday alongside the mini's i sell.
Can't simply wait for them to arrive, and will take some photos where they will sit in my garden then post.
One will be kept especially for the kitchen table, and perhaps will have bitten my witches finger.
Thank you once again Debbie for your kindness and will keep you posted when they arrive.

Thank You!

At this late hour..

Thank you Debbie for your kind comments earlier. I'm now feeling much better after my long afternoon/evening snooze. Neck is a lot better with just the rest.
I went and had a nose at photobucket this evening and this is my first effort at scrapbooking with a computer. Quite pleased with the result, but for the life of me i'm useless at working out anything that involves a html code, url code and the like, so i've done my best with this image.
I'm always envious of people that have wonderful backgrounds with their ebay listings using images and text that all merge into one, and so hoping with lots of effort i can maybe start doing the same. Now, i'm wondering what would happen if i use this image on ebay so in the min off to do a test run.
Please if you are a computer know it all don't tell me too much about how all this is done. Will only confuse my already stressed head.
Welcome also to Joyce Stahl of Enchanted Productions who makes wonderful dolls using paper clay and material. I love the frog in one of her postings and in awe of her work. I'm sure you will agree everything she makes is outstanding.

Spooky Time Newspaper!

Here's a newspaper front for you to print and add to your witch, wizard and haunted scenes.
I made it in paint so you can only read the top title, but it still looks effective when printed on tea stained paper prior to printing. Once printed i fold along the left side (then i have a back page too) before cutting out.
Now i'm terrible with computers and if you are just as bad as me, then right click your mouse over the image and click save as, then save into your pictures. You can then keep it in your picture files and when needed copy and paste into word for printing off lots on one page.
You can make a nice stack of papers tied with string for a shop, folded papers for under arms and in shopping baskets, or just use the front cover crumpled up as use for displaying botanical items like mandrake and soil for a witches potting shed/table.
Have fun! For personal use only and not for resale.

Great Wizard labels.

Buuterbeer.

Heres the butterbeer label as promised. Tried to send it to Debbie via email but having problems with comp so it wouldn't send. I've scaled this down myself for tiny little bottles and they look brillaint for any witch or wizard scene.

Floor for a wtch.

Here's my fake stone floor for a witches room. It's made with paperclay, polyfila and acrylic paints. It's my first proper attempt at stone effects and quite pleased with the result.
Will be making some tables like this with stools when my much awaited clay arrives.
Going to list this one on ebay this evening alongside another thats just a little bit smaller.
When i make the next floor i'll take pictures of all the steps with instructions to follow.

Thank you to Debbie

Thank you Debbie for this award. I don't have 15 people to send to as yet so i've decided if you follow this blog you can also have the award. Mind you i think all the people that follow my blog may also have this award already. If you dont already please present yourself with it.
Best wishes... Nikki

Oops to my last blog!

Oops to my last blog! I hit the wrong keys and posted without any content.
I was meant to say Hi to Justice for joining my blog today. I was looking at your profile and noticed one of you favourite books is The Little Prince. Oh how i love this book and must have read it 50 plus times. I know it's meant to be a child's classic, yet i urge every adult to read it too!
Being as mad as i am i never read it in my head but speak out loud with every page. Drives my husband mad especially if he is trying to sleep... lol.
I watched a tv productuion for this book and i knew all the words, but my favourite is when the little prince meets the fox and harps on and on about his rose alone on his planet. How i cry at the end of this book you would laugh at.
Loved you blog and will now go an add it to my followed list.
Hi to all my other new followers and love all your blogs! Got to stop reading them because i'm getting nothing done.
Nikki x

My Witch and Wizard Shop - Half done as usual!

Many of the people that buy my miniatures ask if i have my own house. Well, this is my first ever house that i started building a year ago. It's going to be a country style shop for witch's, wizards and magical people. It's plain and simple at the moment and lacking in colour, but once i age the building more and add creeping plants and moss, alongside all the contents i'm sure it will be a vibrant little shop. The main structure was built using scrap wood and other materials.
The wooden floor boards were made from thin strips of balsa wood, but before i laid these i cut to shape and rounded of the edges to give a worn look. The walls are quite dirty and stained (sadly not showing in photo) and then i have added moss all around the building so it looks damp and mouldy. The paving on the outside will be aged further with little bits of weeds growing here and there, plus will also use moss in the cracks and crevices. So quite a lot of character still needs to be added. Once complete i'll add some nice wood around the edge.
The inside of the shop will sell potions, food and sweets alongside newspapers, wands, hats and anything magical. On the outside under the roof to the right will be hanging animals gutted and prepared, not forgetting to add starnge hanging items such as gutted rats, crocodile legs and the like. Under the hanging creatures wil be weird and wonderful fruit and veg just perfect for the needs of a witch/wizard. On the left under the roof i'm thinking of having lots of dried hanging herbs, cauldrons of various shapes and sizes, brooms, wood for fires (coal too) and anything else i think of. Here and there scattered all around will be lots of potted plants perfect for potions or growing your own at home. Also need to make a shop sign. Not sure yet but i may make a false front with a window and door that can be removed for displaying the contents.
Mind you, i've now started my witches house, and because i also make miniatures for sale i think my progress will be slow. Talking of work, best go and do some!