The Cottage Loaf Bakery

The Cottage Loaf Bakery

Showing the pictures now, I will add information later. Thursday afternoons I child mind two of my grandchildren, who presently are exploring little boxes of delights, with a barrage of questions. What is this? What is this for? Where are you going to put this? Concentration is now going back to the little darlings. Phew! they are on their way home. Isn't it wonderful? As a grandparent being able to spend precious time with the little ones but before the day has ended, well fed and nutured they are packed off back to their parents, and peace descends once more to my abode. Back to the bakery. This model was made using salt dough, a cup of salt a cup of flour, however in this case there was more than a cup of each involved. I bought 3 rolls aof aluminum foil to form a huge ball, the salt dough was made, rolled and laid over the huge ball, to form the shape. The dome on top is one almost one roll of foil whith the pastry wrapped around it, I added a collar to secure it to the roof of the main dome. Added a chimney. Off into the oven. I had no idea how long it would take, it took hours and hours. When removing the foil from the main dome, I didn't think about it getting hotter and hotter the deeper into the centre I went. I quickly found out. Ouch!! In my haste I pushed my thumb through the back, which prooves there is such a thing as a 'happy acident', if you look you will see I decorated a window, which was never in my plan, it was to cover the happy accident. It took nearly as long to find a round bread board as it had done to make the thing, but perserverance pays it's rewards. The inside of the model is not my usual 1/12th scale, this is more probably 1/24th. I do hpe you have enjoyed the visit to the Cottage Loaf bakery today. I wonder what I will add tomorrow? Many thanks for visitin, if you can, meaning if your a blogger, please think of leaving either a message,a comment or even a question. I know your visiting, would leave to hear from you.

A Book by Tolstoy

Not sure what the real purpose of this book ever was, maybe for folk with 'loads of money' to hide some away on a bookshelf. For me, being a miniaturist, there was only one thing this book was itended for - to make the inside of Tolstoy's small apartment, whilst home on leave from his last Russian army campaign. Taking pen to paper the saga begins here.............................

On the door the items which are handcrafted are the plates and the small faux books and bookcase. The painting is an actual painting from a swap of may years ago, I do apologise for I didn't record who sent me it, she is beautiful, isn't she? Inside the room, I made, the bookshelf, table, chair, waste basket . The family portraits are stuck in buttons. The ink well on the table was once two necklace beads. The lower section below the dado rail is the original box, the wall paper, above, is of the William Norris period.

Downtown Lodge

Through the night, another 3 hours only, of sleep. I added a number of pages to my blog. Downtown Lodge, Kitchen, Lounge, Dining Room, Study/Library, Hall, Bathroom and Attic bedrooms. I will be recording the events of the decorating and development from the shell it is now to hopefully, a beautiful house full of accessories and characters. Your unable to leave comments on the additional pages but I will add a little reminder, on this main page, for you to pop over whenever I add any developements. Wednesday 30/03- Work has started in the kitchen, click on the bar above to see what has been going on. 31/03 - I've sorted out how to make the Welsh slate floor tiles I want for the kitchen. One of those Eureka! moments. A teaser pic tonight, tomorrow I promise more details and a pic.

Good morning and..........

To my recent followers, I am so thrilled you have become a follower, whenever you need a few minutes to relax, just grab a cuppa or a glass, whatever takes your fancy, pull up a chair and click your way through my properties. A warm welcome today to Joyce at Stockton, Patsy in Doncaster, Kim R and Michelle in Skipton. I will be popping back to post today's winner for the blog. Happy reading and relaxing.

The Country Kitchen

The Country Kitchen was chosen to be displayed today. In real life it's already starting to look bare, the lady is now on e-bay, with some Washing Day accessories. Some feelings of sadness, now they are starting to depart. I posted off 3 little sets yesterday, however, that's what it's all about. Hopefully someone else can have as many years of pleasure as I have. What can I tell you of the kitchen? The bought items are interesting, but for me the handmade ones always have special memories. On this setting, I made the chair the lady is sitting on, the wooden stool with the woven seat, it took forever! The joint of meat from salt dough. the pastry on the table and the cherry pie in the making. The kitchen floor tiles, were made from painting onto old greetings cards with matt emulsion teracotta match pots. thanks for looking, and for your comments and yes, any questions just fire away.

Teaser Time...............

Still to come ................................... Lady of the Night having a rest. ***Rosy Lee Gypsy Tells All ***Victorian Doctor's Surgery ***Lady Chatterly meets Mellors ***Dolly Mixtures - Confectioner's ***Tolstoy -War and Peace - Begins Here ***The Cottage Loaf Bakery ***Miss Tique Market Stall ***Russell Prouts Market Stall ***The Witch's Kitchen ***The Toy Shop ***Tudor Times **The Chapel **Flora's Flowers and there's more........... Are you beginning to understand my problem about space and how I have just got to downsize?

Hello and ........................

To my newest blog followers and regular followers. A special hello and welcome to Sonja, Niketa, Ange Lee and Lizzybobs. Sending a warmest welcome to those who aren't bloggers but who I know are popping in to have a look. Pull up a chair, grab a cream cake from yesterday and enjoy your visit. I'll be back later. I left a poll on Do Crafts ATC forum yesterday, for them to choose which I will display today, so later today I will be displaying either a Country Kitchen, Pepe Le Pew Perfumery or a Teacher's Locker. If your around and want to join in the poll, add in the comments which you'd like me to display today.

Sweet Treat?

The bakery counter

Shortbread & Chocolate Chip Buns Spot the Hot Cross Buns.

Come on in and grab a cup of tea or coffee, welcome, to honour my new visitors, we have a professional cook and I guess ladies who can't resist a nice piece of cake. Plenty here to tempt you. It's maybe easier for me to say I didn't make the pink cake with roses, the apple pie, or 3 fancies in the centre of the top row. The remainder have been made with mostly Sculpey which is a polymer clay, which comes in hundreds of colours, is shaped and baked. Not an ounce of sugar was included in the making , nor may I add are there any calories in any of my food. Enjoy, to name a few there are carrot cake, gingerbread men, cherry slices, custard slices, coffee kisses, cream buns and cream horns. Any questions just pop them in the comments and I'll get in touch.

Welcome to new followers

Many thanks to my new followers from the past few days, I am so pleased to say Hi to

Carol V, Alison, and Kathleen from Scotland, Janet C. - Yorkshire, Sandra from Australia and to Cherrywood Miniatures. I would also like to say Hi to those who don't have blogs but are still popping in for a visit. I may not know you all, so if I don't give you a mention then send me an e mail and let me know. so, hi to Sheila C, Denmo and Pat. Now what little treasure can I show today to honour my new visitors?

Miranda the Mermaid

The sea bed is a piece of miniature carpet which was painted and sawdust scattered onto glue to give it texture, then again spray painted. The walls were made by splodge painting with various colours a number of the plain side of old greetings cards, then cut into squares with the corners rounded off, I stuck small sea shells randomly over the walls. There is a green net slung over the top which has a dolphin (pre a key-ring) and a pair of gold coloured fish (pre-ear rings) hanging in the net. The treasure chest was made with card and lollipop sticks, filled with pieces of old broken jewellry. The sea bed is adorned with pieces of wood, old broken jewellry, pot pourri from friends, shells of various sizes, many from charity shops. miranda is a Katy Sue doll, I made her wig. The legs have been placed in another setting, she didn't need them, for I made her an irredescent fish tail which suits her rather well. Thanks for looking, I welcome any comments.

Scottish Baronial Hall.

To honour three of my followers who live in Scotland, I am sharing with you my Scottish Baronial Hall. I made this shortly after a visit to Blair Athol castle near Pitlochry. It is housed in a room box. If there is anything you wish to know please leave in comments.

The tartan carpet took a while to find, it was a pinafore dress in a charity shop, cut to size and the perfect thickness for carpet. The painted display swords were originally 70's style cocktail sticks. I made the golf bag with a piece of lovely soft leather. The bagpipes were not an easy project but I was delighted with the final result. The canon, left of the fire and the suit of armour to the right of the fire are both pencil sharpeners. The breast plate was once a take away container.

Welcome to my followers

Wow! I'm thrilled, only a few days, a few items and I have 5 lovely followers. Thanks to you all.
Hello to Irene in Edinburgh, Lyndi, in Ayrshire, what a shock eh? How did we never mention our other passion in life? Sylvia in Netherlands, Jackie in Edinburgh and Debbie in Wales.
I am hoping not to disappoint the experienced and obvious very talented ladies.
Lyndi I need to know what WIP is it? Please send me a pic or two, maybe as an attachment, I'll add my e mail on this blog. Once again welcome and thanks ladies.

A Wine Box?

I bought this cheap wine box from Yorkshire Trading, as soon as I saw it, I could imagine the inside being a part of a vineyard cellar. I decorated the walls with torn paper mache egg cartons, painted them, I tried to dirty them but that didn't work too well. Made and added some balsa shelves. The contents were all bought over a period of maybe, two years at 4 trade events, adding pieces to add to the project. Unusually for me, there are no hand crafted items. I welcome any comments or questions.

The Gentleman's Library

For no reason let me start with one of my earlier and certainly a dear old favourite of mine, the Gentleman's Library. I bought the frame for only a few pounds it is fitted to an MDF box, which is 4" deep x 12" wide. I made 135 books by cutting pieces of wood, painting the edges, then covering them in either card, paper or leather. There is a butterfly case on the right side wall, with paper butterflies. A world map on the left side of the wall. I also made the chair, footstool, green pouffe and flower arrangements. The gentleman was bought dressed, I never did master making the men's trouser's fit correctly. I purchased the dog and painted him, he is cast metal.
I made the plant stand with two buttons and 3 painted cocktail sticks. i do hope you like my first item on my new blog. I would greatly appreciate any comments or questions. For I also would love to be able to pass on any hints, tips or information to anyone who maybe is just starting .

Hello - Welcome to my blog

Why am I opening this blog? The reason may seem sad but I don't feel sad about it. Being a dolls house collector and mini maker for over 15 years, due to a sudden illness, my obsession with my mini property came to an abrupt end. My husband and I have since downsized to a smaller home. I have now fully recovered but during my recuperation became obsessed with paper crafts which still takes up a lot of my time. My blogs will be in the side bar soon. Much of my knowledge and skills I gathered in the miniature world have been transferred to paper crafts. Now I am in a situation where our smaller house has two bedrooms stuffed to the rafters with dolls houses, dolls shops, room boxes along with my paper craft materials. My house has become difficult to move in. So, I have come to a HUGE decision. I am going to make every effort to downsize on my mini properties. No, don't worry this is not going to be a for sale blog. This is going to be my record for prosperity of my property before it either goes on E-bay, or is donated to a charity shop, or given to any group who are interested. I have looked at some of the dolls hosue blogs and am so thrilled to see it is still a popular hobby, there was such a thriving community when I was involved. For many years I was invited to speak at ladies meetings, which I have only recently stopped doing. I plan on sharing my properties with as many bloggers out there in the dolls house land I can find, so my little treasures will not be forgotten. The day will come, hopefully not for at least 20 or so years, when I know, for whether a joke or not, my sons will probably either sell it on E bay or put it in a skip. I have the next ensuing years to see they are at least somewehre in blogland. Thanks for reading this far.............if you did! LOL