The Winner Is Katie!

Oops... sorry i took my time but the camera went flat and had to quickly give it a little charge.

The answer was Slele-Grow.

I didn't peep, kept my eyes shut tight and out popped Katie from http://katiesclaycorner.blogspot.com/
Hope to hear from you Katie and hope you are having fun this Halloween.
You can get my email from my facebook badge on my sidebar and i will pack your prize up and send Monday/Tuesday recorded delivery.

I will post pictures on Sunday or Monday of the finished prize. Just needs a few finishing touches.

Nikki

And The Winner is.......

Ok, ok so its not exactly a hat but a jug will do!

Off to do the draw and will back in a few mins.

Pictures of pumpkins before 10.

I've had a really busy day shopping for food and sorting Pats and Niall out to go Halloweening. They are out now. Patrick is with his friends and Niall and his friend Alfie have my husband trailing behind them. He doesn't want him there because he thinks he is old enough to walk the streets at night but he had no choice.
I'm off to next doors party for a few hours soon, but will come back at 10 for the draw.

Had loads of kids knock already and now totally out of sweets, so they are getting skeletons instead. And its only 7pm already. Wish i had bought more now.
I also made lots of printouts for the little ones to make halloween decorations when they get home. I made them look like scrolls. I've heard loads of them say to their mum i've given them treasure maps and they have been all excited with them, lol.
Oh to be little!

Here's some pics of the pumpkins i carved with Patrick. Had a little bit of a fire happen too with one of the candle jars and when i moved it the whole jar exploded.
So i put it out with water and the kids going by loved all the smoke which looked like a cauldron.
Heres some pics.

Nikki xxx

Name Game Competition

Please note: i have ammended this post. I made a mistake earlier and said it was a ten letter word. Oops... i counted the hyphen as one of them.
All ammened as below with a nine letter word and a hyphen somewhere in the middle



I've wanted to have a competition for some time and decided there is no better time than Halloween.
All you have to do is leave a comment with what you think this potion table will be based around.
It's based around a harry potter potion which includes, bones, eyes, stingers, dragon heart strings and spring water. Plus something extra that can only be added at the end.
Its also 9 letters long with a hyphon/dash somewhere in the middle.

I'm showing the table at this stage because the colour of the liquid for the cauldron may give the game away.

All correct entries will be put in a hat and the draw will take place on 31st October at 10pm. I can't do it earlier because the children are off halloweening and will spend the entire evening answering the door to far too many kids.

The competition is open to everyone that follows my blog and everyone that leaves comments.

Your prize will be the small slate potion board you can see infront of the table and i will make it up to be similar to the table. It will contain a glass jar, a cauldron and all the magic ingredients.

If you are really stuck there are plenty of harry potter sites that list all the potions and their ingredients.

HAVE FUN!!!

Nikki xxx

When i'm not looking!

This evening i have been packing parcels ready to send tomorrow.
While doing this i let Patrick carve one of the pumpkins and then he decided to take some photos.
Then he asked if he could borrow some mini ones to sit next to the large one.
So i let him, but insisited he looked after them and didn't get them dirty.
I carried on packing and he snapped away.

So i decided to have a look at his pics and this is what i found... lol.



Poor little pumpkins being gobbled up by the giant one!

I promise Kate and John they have not been harmed and will arrive in perfect condition.

I love pumpkins, the warm glowing colours make the house feel cosy and warm.

Here's some more pics of his carvings.

Nikki xxx

Pictures of Laduree - Harrods.

I totally forgot about these photos from the summer taken outside Laduree at Harrods.
They may be useful for all you lovers of macaroons.


Took me ages to take this picture. An arab man thought it was hilarious to keep jumping infront of the camera. I think he had more money and gold on him than sense.


The building above Laduree. For the life of me i couldn't work out if this was the front, side or back of the building... lol.


Yum, Yum!


Delicious!



In Harrods i wasn't one bit interested in what they were selling (only had a few pounds in my purse), but the ceiling and walls were beautiful. I didn't take any other pictures of the interior because there were too many security guards around and i didn't feel comfortable doing so.
The ceiling in the food court was my favourite and the stained glass. I wish i could have taken more photos.


Patrick, Niall and my two neices Holly and Grace on the way home.


Yummy Muffin shop in Covent Garden. I think painted windwos like this for minis sweet shops would look great.


Patrick and Niall in Trafalgar square.






I really should have made an effort to take a photo from the front, lol. Sorry its the back. I really do think they built it the wrong way round!

Pumpkins and sale on etsy

After a week of grey skies, constant rain and bitter cold the sun decided to come out today. Hurray... photos can be taken on these days!
So i have a few bits and bobs going on etsy this evening around 9pm UK time.
Heres a link to my etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7011707

Later today i will try and put photos on my gallery blog of what will be available. The kids are home soon and hope i have enough time to sort them. Fingers crossed!
Here's a link: http://nikkinikkinikki72photogallery.blogspot.com/

While the suns out off to take more pics!

Nikki xxx

Gifts and Halloween Treats From Kate

Kate and John from http://whittakersminis.blogspot.com/ sent me a suprise gift which arrived today.
I was thrilled to bits and love everything.
The mushroom and wizardology books are fantastic and will go in my witches potion room (when the house is finished).
I struggle to make open books and Kate has done a fantastic job.
I've also been good and not eaten any of the chocolate yet (maybe later).
The bouquet of flowers is beautiful and will use as an ornament. I dont own any pretty minis so perhaps i need to make a pretty girly scene.
Thank you ever so much Kate and John. I'm also happy it has arrived because i know you sent it about a week ago and will stop you both worrying.

Parcels seem to be taking forever to arrive at the moment and hoping there have been no problems with those i sent to customers last week.
I sent a parcel to Rosanna almost two weeks ago which arrived with her, but sadly Rosannas surprise gift to me has still not arrived. I'm still hopeful it will because all of them from the UK have been very slow, so it must be even slower from Italy.

Comments

I am still unable to leave comments on my own blog and others. Is anyone else having this problem?

Telescope Trials.

Not sure if it is blogspot or my computer but i am still unable to leave comments.
Thank you for all your lovely comments in the previous post. I always feel like such a snail with making minis, i never get anywhere fast and your lovely comments always encourage me to keep going.

Today i have been trying to make telescopes. So far so good!
I need to refine them more and then start thinking about how the bases are made.
My neighbour is bringing home some much needed construction essentials from work tomorrow, and it's bugging me not being able to get on with them.
I already have all the little bits needed like cogs and fancy copper, and can't wait until tomorrow when i can see what they are like or what disaster i may end up with.
I've been sitting playing with all the bits trying to work out the best way to make the tripod bases or something that makes them look appropriate for a wizard.

These first few trials will be added to the trunks from a previous blog post and on some planned tables. When i am happy with the results i will make more for sale on their own.

Off to play with them a bit more!

Nikki xxx

Pumpkins and work in progress!

Before i waffle on just wanted to let you all know something is happening here in blogland and once again i can't leave comments on all your blogs.
Once i am able to i will make sure i do.



Here's some pumpkin stacks i made a few days ago. Not a brilliant photo because the lighting is bad today. I was going to make them have evil faces but decided happy suited them more, lol!


And here are a few minis in progress.

The dragon crates need claws, teeth and 1 blood bottle added.
The dragon eggs still need straw.
The half barrel will be filled with mini pumkins and their leaves trailing over the edges.

But the witch/wizard trunk is proving hard to fill. I shall make some more potion jars and maybe a telescope. Plus i need to add the bones, unicorn horns and similar little bits.
If anyone has any suggestions for items to go in both trunks it would be fantastic.

Blog Awards!

Andrea from http://dreamkeeperfae.blogspot.com/ presented the Creative Blog Award to me a few days ago. Make sure you check out her blog because there are wonderful things happening there.


Here are the rules of the award.

Here are the award rules:
1. Thank the person who gave this to you.
2. Copy the logo and place it in your blog.
3. Link the person who nominated you.
4. Name 7 things about yourself that no one would really know.
5. Nominate seven 'Kreativ Bloggers'
6. Post links to the seven blogs you nominate
7. Leave a comment on each of the blogs letting them know you nominated them.

I have to now say seven things nobody knows about me.

1 - I have the worst memory, i forget names, faces, times and appointments etc. I write all of these down on to do lists and then forget to look at the list.

2 - I have dyscalculia - Only picked up on my college entrance exam. I spent my entire time in senior school copying and cheated in my maths exam.
This is what it means.
'A condition that affects the ability to acquire mathematical skills. Dyscalculic learners may have difficulty understanding simple number concepts, lack an intuitive grasp of numbers and have problems learning number facts and procedures. Even if they produce a correct answer or use a correct method, they may do so mechanically and without confidence'
Its ever so frustrating but i get by. I find a way round this and in my head imagine numbers as objects, i use markers and anything to hand to find the answer. I always get the answer in the end but sometimes through tears of frustration.

3 - I love folk music, in all its forms. I love loud music to the point the house shakes, but only when the neighbours are out, lol. Check out my music on the sidebar. My fave is kate rusby, much mocked by my family but shes sings like an angel and is often playing as i make my witchy minis.

4 - I'm a neat freak. I can't work on my minis until the house is tidy with everything in its place.

5 - I hate cooking but love and adore good food.

6 - My favourite colour is purple and deep reds, along with autumns colours.

7 - I hate summer to the point i spend the whole of the season complaining. Cold, chilly and frosty days are my favourite.

I now have to pass this onto 7 other bloggers.




I also received this award from Paloma at
http//untallerdeminiaturas.blogspot.com/
Make sure you check out this beautiful blog and all the fantastic minis'


Here are the rules.

1) Display the image of the prize and publish the rules.
2) Post the link of who won the prize.
3) Give 10 blogs dream to which award the prize.
4) Notice blogs listed.

I think this award means 10 dream blogs, like those you can only dream of and admire.


So because i have two awards and they are quite similar i will present both awards to these blogs.



1. Marsha at http://sassyminidolls.blogspot.com/ - she loves pink and her blog is always informative and ever so friendly. Marshas minis are perfection.
2. Mercedes at http://libertybiberty.blogspot.com/ - Mercedes has a beautiful blog and everything she makes is fabulous. Its also a realy friendly blog.
3. Rosanna at http://lastanzadigiuggiola.blogspot.com/ - I love to visit Rosanna and she makes beautiful minis. Hersewing is fantastic - Its also a warm and friendly happy to come back to place.
4 This is a lovely blog with fantastic work going on - http://treewingsstudio.blogspot.com/
5. Julia and Hywell at http://bearcabinminiatures.blogspot.com/- An amazing couple with busy lives but still find the time for minis. They have a vert wecoming blog too!
6. My very good friend Debie at http://piskies-and-poppets.blogspot.com/. Debie is amazing with all she makes, and although as ever i'm slow to leave a comment on her blog i truelly love her work.
7. Katie at http://katiesclaycorner.blogspot.com/ Katie is really into making candles at the moment and her enthusiasm is wonderful to read. She is also amazing because she suffers with her health and through all of it is ever so positive. Check out both of Katies blogs. You can always sense when somebody is lovely and katies blog is ever so welcoming.



Back in a min with the awards.

Miniatura Goodies

Can you believe lazy old me that can never get out of bed got up at 4 am on Saturday morning. Which is even more unbelievable because i didn't go to sleep until 1am.
The journey to miniatura took me three and a half hours, yet i was there in what seemed like a flash. Debie from Piskies and Poppets met me off the train.
She was ever so brave to give me a big hug because all i did the whole of Saturday was sneeze and cough with a cold (seemed more like flue to me).
It was really lovely to meet up with Debie and spend the day with such a lovely kind, generous and ever so thoughtful person.
Anyway, i pottered about scaring everyone to death with my sneezing and not many would go within 2 ft of me, lol.
This is what i bought:

Quite a mix of various minis for using in my work. I don't buy in bulk and so fairs are great for my work.


Cute little birds and hinges and handles etc.

Kate and John from http://whittakersminis.blogspot.com/ asked me to pick up this beautiful bookstand from Karin at http://kc-design-kc.blogspot.com/. I need to post this to you in the morning Kate. Sorry i'm a little late doing so.

Karin could not attend the show herself because she is not well at the moment. I was really looking forward to meeting her too because i adore everything she makes.

After the show i went to Debies to meet her family and have tea. I didn't want to come home because i was having such a nice time. Debies children are fab, her husband is lovely, but i really adored little Kieran that doesn't stop chatting away.
His chatting is endless but he's so cute and such a lovely little boy. I could have taken him home! They all made me very welcome and tea was lovely even though i couldnt taste a thing with my cold. Debbie asked me if it was nice, lol, but i didnt have a clue because my taste buds were totally not there!
Thank you Debie for a lovely time!

I came home quite late and my husband met me off the train just over half way. He then got lost and what should have been an hours journey took two. He always gets lost and has no sense of direction even though the M25 sign posts were clearly there. Hit my pillow once home and didn't wake up until 12 hours later.

On Sunday my husband and Patrick went to a game show and bought me a tripod for my camera and some fudge. As if i am not fat enough!
I just need to get a clicker now (not sure of the technical name) and will hopefully be able to take better pictures.


This morning i had a wonderful surprise. My friends Bob and Doreen sent me a fab parcel of watering cans and flower pots for my mandrake scenes.
I knew they were sending me some but not this many. I love all of them and chuffed to bits i can make what i want now.
They also sent loads of terracotta plant pots which i'm ever so happy about because they were the size i was after. Thank you Bob and Doreen.

Here is a link to Bobs website. My fave there is his enamelware.
http://www.countrycontrast.co.uk/store/


And here is a link to Doreen website. Doreen stock a wide variety of minis.
http://www.smallwondersminiatures.co.uk/store/




And Finally, lol, check out this fab sculpture. It's fab isn't it?
Very touchy feely too!

Ephemera and vintage images - Off to Miniatura

I'm off to Miniatura in the morning and meeting up with Debie from Piskies and Poppets
Its going to be a really early start but even so i am looking forward to it loads.
I'm even going to Debies for tea. Hope she can cook, lol!
















Quite a few people have asked where i got the little letters, envelopes and postacards from that i put in the witchy cupboard.

Quite a lot of images are available if you search using google images. You need to look under vintage letters, vintage envelopes and postcards, vintage labels etc.
You can also type in as above with ephemera inplace of vintage.
You can even narrow your search to specifics such as halloween, thanks giving and christmas etc.

Here is a sample of a few i found ever so quick to show you what is available. Not all of the images can be copied but some are free to use as you wish.
Some of the images are from digital stock and are sold as digital images.


For the images that are free to copy just paste them into word or a picture editing programme and resize.

You can also stain your paper with tea and coffee before printing. The possibilities are endless and in no time cupboards and drawers can be filled with lots of interesting little finds.

I love the sewing one! The little child one with the clothes to dress a doll is beautiful too!