Cynthia's Cottage Design

~ Baking in the Cottage Kitchen ~

2012-01-25T11:35:00.030-05:00

Hello friends! First I'd like to thank you so much for all your kind and sweet words on my last post, It's so nice to have such wonderful gals who are so supportive and encouraging , always! So thank you! Now it's on to a little bit of what I've been baking up in the cottage kitchen lately....The miniature one that is :) As most of you know, Cottage Style is what I love most, it's in my real kitchen and it's evident in all my miniature creations too. To me, "Cottage" is that eclectic mix of: Vintage, classic country , bits of shabby chic and farmhouse style all mixed together in a pretty cream-wear bowl :) And I couldn't love any style more than I love cottage! Especially in a kitchen, the heart of every home...

I'll let the pictures of the new miniatures speak for themselves and then I'll let you in on a little secret too because I need your feedback! :) So relax, grab some tea , coffee, a fancy glass of wine or whatever you love and imagine you're in my kitchen helping me bake today!

Blueberry cobbler is such a pretty dessert {no matter how messy or crumbly it gets}, it just says "warm , cozy , delicious and fresh" no matter what shape it's in! Don't you think?

Fresh whites, hints of color and vintage accessories are always a part of cottage style!

In between baking, I've found time to keep up with my miniature collecting too, and I adore these dish towels from France, aren't they just so vintagey beautiful ?

I love the attention to details, it's so important when it comes to minis, they've got to be spot on and then it creates such a feeling of coming to life....I adore the monogram, isn't it precious!?

Here are some more items I baked over the last couple of weeks in my cottage kitchen :)

I think cupcakes are definitely a favorite of mine to make...

I love creating shabby chic pieces to use for my baked goods too!

A little tea party anyone? With pale pink shabby distressed chairs , of course :)

And last but not least, a mini cherry pie for you! I've made a lot of these this month, so I can share this one with you! :) Thank you for coming on a little tour of my cottage kitchen style and baking this week! You are welcome any time!!

Before I go, yes , I have a little secret :) Long story short: First, miniature baking and creating items for my shop {and collecting}is always going to be my favorite thing to do as far as my love of miniatures goes. I'm always thinking of new creations for my collectors and love that process so much and feel so blessed to be able to do that! So that will always be my first priority! With that said, I've been asked to create a line of items for a manufacturer with the "Cottage Style" in mind. It would include items and accessories for the miniature kitchen. { Ps: My baked goods, kitchen islands and creations will still be in my favorite place: Etsy!} But with this new venture, I have lots of ideas for mixers, bowls, tea sets, dish sets, bake-ware etc. Soooooo, if you have any ideas of what you think is "missing" in the miniature world, I would love to hear what you would want to see available! I for one , am wishing there was a miniature 1:12 scale pyrex collection, in the vintage style and the glass line too! I'm not sure that will be as easy as I imagine to develop, but that's one I'm adding to my wish list! As a side note: I've been hunting down a miniature 1:12 scale Pyrex looking glass baking dish {like the 13 x 9's we use for real baking} for a while now and cannot find one, if you know of any, please let me know! :) So I will keep you updated on this process for sure! It's very exciting to me and even though I know it will take a long time, I am thrilled with the opportunity to be involved in this! It's possible the collection will be named "The Summer Rose Collection" , after my own little mini cottage, but we'll see! I'm hoping for that! :)

Well, it's off to go finish baking for my Etsy shop, and run a few errands today too. I hope you all have a lovely day and thanks for being such sweet friends always!!

Hugs and love!

Cynthia xo

~ Romantic Homes Magazine ~

2012-01-10T13:19:00.020-05:00

Hi Friends! Well its been a heck of a week here for me, I honestly don't know what words to use except O M G! First {as I wrote in my last post} I found out my blog and miniatures were in Spring issue of Romantic Country magazine. Then at about the same time, I found out my kitchen was featured in the Ta-Da section of Romantic Homes February issue too! I think somebody should come and peel me off the kitchen floor! Or actually more like it lol, take me off cloud nine :) Thank you so much Romantic Homes! I never would have dreamt when I was a young homemaker reading and day dreaming over my favorite publications, that someday I would be in them!!

It is such an honor and I feel very blessed!

{Forgive my picture quality of the picture below}

I love the entire issue! Valentines Day, Love , and decorating in the romantic style is something I love and the issue is packed with it! Congratulations to Elyse from Tinkered Treasures too, her articles are fabulous and she's always such a sweetie and a wonderful friend and is featured in the issue as well! Here's a little peek of my kitchen in the Ta-Da section...

This was such a thrill!!

I will stop gushing and blushing now :)

Back to reality.... which I love too :)

I also found plenty of time this week to create some new miniatures. After all, that's what I love most!!

This cottage styled kitchen set was designed and made by me. I had been searching for a cottage/shabby chic butcher block island for some time and never found one that quite fit the casual cottage look I was going for. Sooooo, I decided to get out the tools and find the perfect wood for the top and ta-da, just like in my Romantic Homes article about creating a look, I did it again, in mini this time :) My kitchen island in the magazine article was designed and built by me because I also couldn't "find the perfect one"...So it's true: Necessity is the mother of invention :)

I love how it turned out and I'm making a couple of them in other colors coming up!
Sometimes a shabby chic island needs a shabby chic shelf too :) So.... after a little soft romantic white paint and distressing , this french cottage shelf was ready to become part of the set! {This is available in my Etsy shop as of this typing}.

I hope you love it as much as I do! I have added one to the "must make" list for myself and Summer Rose.

I also made a pink shabby chic kitchen cupboard this week. I adore pink :) and this was a perfect little cabinet for a sweet cottage kitchen. It was a smaller version in style of my larger miniature pantry I made a couple of last summer. I even added the little spoon for a handle and knob on the door. Something I still want to make for my real cottage!

Well I hope you enjoyed my new miniature pieces and thank you so much for your kind and sweet words on my last post too! Your friendship and support means soooo much to me!

I'll leave you with a little peek at the Romantic Country Spring issue that featured my blog. I don't know which I was excited about more? 1. Seeing my blog there, or 2. The fact that miniatures and a blog about them were being chosen! I've always wanted to see articles on the wonderful and beautiful hobby I love, in every magazine! I hope everyone falls in love with them , like I did :)

Have a happy and blessed week friends!

Love you all!

Hugs, Cynthia

~ Romantic Country ~

2012-01-04T11:35:00.021-05:00

Hello sweet friends! I hope everyone is enjoying a wonderful 2012 so far! I'm so excited to share that my little blog was featured in the Spring 2012 edition of Romantic Country magazine! To have a blog about miniatures and design featured in a such a large publication is such an honor to me!! Thank you Romantic Country for making my year start off with a huge smile and a blush!! I actually haven't seen it yet , lol, but I hear it looks great :) I'm anxiously awaiting the shipment to Barnes and Noble to see it for myself! I guess my B&N gets them later than you all! Boo-hoo, hurry up! :)

In between calling B&N 24 - 7 lol , I have enjoyed getting back to work after the busy holidays, and for me that's always about creating new miniatures. So in honor of the Romantic Country style, I put together a table setting of fresh baked delicious little miniatures to celebrate bringing in the new year....ever so sweetly .... I hope you enjoy a dollop of eye candy , literally :)

Some of these miniatures are featured in smaller groupings and are available in my Etsy shop (as of this typing ).

I made my first batch of cinnamon rolls this week, and I'm hoping that with 15 degrees approaching on our outdoor thermometer, these will give me that cozy feeling enough and keep away from making them for "real". :)

A romantic country dining room...

A little sunshine on your sweets is a pretty thing :)

I hope you have a delicious and sunny week ahead! Thank you for popping in for a visit, your friendship and comments mean so much to me and I wish you all a fabulous and blessed week! And Thank you to Romantic Country! Now I'm off to go do a little visiting myself, I've been so busy and I love seeing what you all are up to also! Btw, if you are new here, please see the link at the top of the page on the right if you have a Facebook, I'd love for you to join me there too!

Hugs and love,

Cynthia xo

~ Happy Sweets ~

2011-12-29T12:59:00.008-05:00

I've been a busy Baker...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and Holiday! I sure did! Now I'm enjoying the peace and quiet of it all being behind me too :) I took a week off from miniature making and made wonderful memories with the kids , and to me that's what Christmas time is all about! I came back to the creative table with fresh ideas and I'm excited for 2012! I wanted to stop in before the new year and show you what I've been baking.....and give you something sweet to start your New Year with too! Perfect for the diet :) Zero Cals!

A little set called "Miniature Market Day"...

Sweetheart cupcakes...

Cupcakes with frosty fluffy marshmallowy icing, just like the Sugar Sweet Cupcakery has!...

And more little sweetheart cupcakes... but this time in rich red velvet , my favorite :)

Happy sweet New Year!!

Btw, if you have a few seconds , I'd LOVE to know what your favorite cupcake is! I'm looking forward to making lots of new miniatures this year and I'm always inspired by your ideas too! I just had my first pistachio cupcake the other day and I LOVED it! I've only made mini cakes with that look, but this week I've been making the cupcakes too and it's such fun having a new challenge!

Well it's back to baking for me ... I hope you all have a FABULOUS and Happy New Year!!

Hugs and love,

Cynthia xo

~ Merry Christmas!! ~

2011-12-23T10:22:00.003-05:00

I'm stopping in for a quick hello but a very big wish! :)

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all!

I am so blessed to have such beautiful and wonderful friends in blogland and I wish you many blessings for the New Year and a magical Christmas Holiday! Thank you for always being so supportive and so kind, I love you all!

Cynthia xo

~ Buttercream and Roses ~

2011-12-14T10:26:00.013-05:00

It's me again :) I rarely do 2 posts within a few days of each other, but I'm heading out for a mini vacation so I wanted to leave you with a little more sweetness before I go! I'm staying at a friends house for 4 days and while I will still be working on miniatures , I'll be doing it without interruptions and normal life chores getting in the way :) Kinda like a writer who goes off to create in peace... I also consider these 4 days similar to the movie "The Holiday" , but my girlfriend isn't staying at my home lol, she's off to the mountains for a bit. It's similar for me to the movie because it's such a sweet little Cottage! I light a fire each morning at 7am to accompany fresh biscuits and jam, and then in the evening it gets lit again for ambiance ,wine and friends. I'm looking forward to it! I'm bringing my Ipad with me, but I haven't figured out how to use it to blog , yet :)

So onto some sweetness...This little bakery table is in my Etsy shop {as of writing this} and it was such a joy to make. I did the quilted top with cottage patterns and decoupaged it to give it a wonderful "quilt" look. I use quilts on my real life tables all the time, it's my favorite choice for a tablecloth {!!} , so I wanted to do one in mini..... I titled this table "Buttercream and Roses" and it's signed and titled on the back.

It's filled with sweets of all kinds and cottage accents that speak to the cottage sweet style I so love!

I'm leaving you with a darling little cupcake to enjoy....You have a choice of chocolate or vanilla with delicious buttercream frosting! :)

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead and a fabulously sweet weekend too! I'm off to pretend I'm Cameron Diaz :)

Hugs!

Cynthia xo

~ Sweet Cherry Pie ~

2011-12-11T12:53:00.015-05:00

Hello sweet friends! I've been very busy baking as usual , in both my mini world and the real world too, I have to make my real world just as sweet as my mini world :) ...Last week I baked a lot of cherry pies, so I thought I'd share some with you. I also made the pie plates they all went in, they are a copy of a set I have at home. These are actually "mini" pies , smaller than the regular mini pies I normally make. The "pie bowls" have little ridges on the sides just like mine have at home, I adore them! I played with a few back drops from the latest issue of Romantic Country, I love that magazine and the style fit perfectly with my miniatures...

So here's to a little sweetness for the season....

And a little cake too :)

Cupcakes go with Cherry Pie too.... :)

Well I hope you enjoyed a sweet little break with me. I'm off to bake more :)

Wishing you all love, good health and joy!

Hugs,

Cynthia xo

~ Winter Magic ~

2011-12-04T13:48:00.051-05:00

Lets take a stroll together through Summer Rose as the winter finds her.... and I've also finished some Christmas decorating at my real cottage too.... I cannot wait for snow, it's such a magical time of year!
Summer Rose was always imagined by me as a year round New England cottage, close to the water, but also privileged to become that shabby chic Chalet getaway for skiing, ice skating and enjoying all the wonders of winter too. The main element I longed to give her was a cozy , relaxing, vintage style. In the winter, it becomes the perfect place for all that winter desires of us....

As you walk up, you can smell the fireplace burning and you can casually leave the days activities on the porch...
Then grab a cup of hot cocoa and sit out to watch the beautiful wild life walk before you..

Then you can come in and be warmed and welcomed by the delicious scents of homemade stews sauteing, warm bread and cookies baking all at once...

Have a little seat by the window and watch the snow fall outside while enjoying a fresh baked chocolate sugar cookie in your cozy kitchen...

Fresh greenery and fruit act as the perfect decoration to make this cottage ready for the Holidays!

I think someone left the kitchen door open to go get more :)

The perfect place for cookie baking after a long day of winter activities...

The dining room is always casual and with a pretty Christmas tree and a big bay window over looking the hill, it is the favorite place to be and entertain...

Simple, vintage and country styled decorating are always a part of Summer Rose, even during the holidays. The tree this year is strung with white lights, simple red balls and crystal garland.

The view outside is so pretty! But it's nice to know we're warm and cozy inside too :)

Pretty little Christmas tree china from A Lavender Dilly is the perfect addition to the table..

The sun is setting on a long day..

And the moonlight and candle light will replace all the sun that drenched her rooms before..
I hope you loved walking around and coming in for a visit , you are welcome anytime friends...

I am always baking up some delicious "warm your heart , melt in your mouth" meal or dessert, so I'm always ready for company!
Thank you so much and please come again :)

*****

Now it's off to see my "Real" Cottage, I'm not completely finished yet, but as soon as I get back from the farm stands with fresh fruit tomorrow and give the Evergreen out back another hair cut , I will be... :)

The ornaments are always a mix of ones my children have made, ones that I have collected, and some that were gifts.
I have a fairly large Santa collection ,but my Skiing Santa is my favorite. He has bits of cashmere with spun wool for a coat and gorgeous wool boots, I love the vintage skis too!

I have collected ornaments for so many years, but it's the ones from the 1930 and 40's that my Mother has given me that I treasure the most..

A sneak peek at my kitchen too ...

Shabby little country birdhouses sit on the floor , which I just added some fresh greenery to.

Then with handfuls of arborvitae, fresh berries and scissors still in hand, {and a cold nose from being outside lol} I went around stuffing the shelves and hutches with more freshness...

It was simple and easy and I love the smell and look of real greenery in the kitchen..

So I'm finished for today :)

It's time for some hot cocoa! I had helping hands today so I made Melanie and I a cup of well deserved sweetness...

I hope you all enjoy a lot of sweetness for yourself this Christmas/ Holiday season!

Lucy and I thank you for coming on the little tour with us, we can't wait to see your winter magic too! Btw, Lucy is the vintage plastic reindeer below , she is a gift from my Mom and she's my Fav :)

Health and love this season to you all!

Hugs, Cynthia

~ Baking Love ~

2011-11-30T11:08:00.031-05:00

It's the wonder and beauty of the season that inspires me. Blogging is like peering into little windows of creativity and life all around us. It's so incredible to me still after all these years of blogging , that when time permits I can sit down and enter into so many worlds and through pictures and words be transported right there. The picture above is something I found and it just relaxes me and takes me worlds away , it begins those thoughts of dreaming ....feeling the wonder like a child does... my inner child... and it'll be my inspiration for my own Christmas decorating this season. With this season also comes baking of the real kind and of course the miniatures continue always...I wanted to share some "baking love" with you today. You can just imagine inside that photo there's someone baking a wonderful cake or pie of some kind. I was inspired by the bakeries that I love to put together some photos that might bring you inspiration too...

I adore Magnolia Bakery in NYC, and this photo is why I love it. It brings me back to a simpler time, and when you can get in there without a crowd you feel as if you stopped into your grandmothers shop around the corner. Sweet lace adorns the windows and the cupcakes are as sweet as pure sugar... The scent of baking fills the air.... I wish computers gave off scents, you'd be in heaven. You just have to step in to get overwhelmed with the warmth of it all...

When I'm creating and baking my miniatures I bring myself into these places in my mind where I can pull up all the memories and feelings that made me happy and hopefully that comes through to you too...

I've just ordered cards that say: "Baked with Love by Cynthia's Cottage"... and to me, that says exactly how I feel each and every day when I'm creating..

{a miniature vintage styled bakery table I made}

Back in the Day Bakery is another favorite of mine, it's located in Savannah Ga. It has all the elements of an old fashioned bakery and the heart and soul of it comes from the owners caring about every detail and making you as deliciously happy and surrounded by charming sights as possible.
I do believe cupcakes really can make you happy....

And that Bakeries are places that we can visit and walk away with little slices of things that make us smile...

Isn't Back in the Day Bakery so sweet in every way!? The images alone create inspiration of a huge magnitude if you're a lover of vintage style like me!

I took some of that inspiration a few weeks back and created a vintage styled pastel shabby chic bakery table in miniature....

Just a little bit of a "window" into my baking world...which comes from the real world of bakeries and places I love...

Pictures and places that have a vintage , charming , and nostalgic feel to them is what makes me smile the most...
Living in NY gives me wonderful access to incredible and nostalgic bakeries, but they are everywhere and some are right around your corner. Visit them this season and have a cup of coffee , sit and relax and breathe in the scents and sounds of the holidays...watch the bustling shoppers pass by as you sit in a little cafe table by the window, all the while indulging in a little sweetness too...

Sweet Melissa's Bakery and Patisserie holds a very special place in my heart. It's located in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn and walking in for a sweet and a coffee before a long day ahead makes you feel like "Charm" should have been the name, but "sweet" is just as becoming for this favorite place of mine...

Well I hope I've given you a little bit of "baking love" to think about and enjoy! It was calorie free :) Sorry if I made you want to run out to your nearest and dearest bakery, BUT I think after you come back, you'll be happy and thank me :) If not, here are some virtual vintage inspired cupcakes for you to enjoy....

May the season ahead bless you with an abundance of love! and .....sweetness , of course :)

Next post: Christmas decorating in my home and in my miniature Summer Rose too!

Hugs and love,

Cynthia xo

Photo source for Christmas window: Dickensian Christmas shop window in Grassington from: http://www.hello-yorkshire.co.uk/blog/tag/christmas-fair
Bakery photos via: Pinterest
Photos of miniatures by me :)

~ Cottage Christmas Collection ~

2011-11-12T18:47:00.031-05:00

Since I'm told I can't decorate the house before Thanksgiving, all I can say is: Thank goodness for minis :) Not that I always do what I'm told lol, but I suppose "they" are right, where would my extended Thanksgiving table for 20 fit if I brought out the Christmas decor now? Ahhhh, the peril's of living in a small cottage..... :)
{ok, I mean split level suburban home "decorated" like a cottage}. " If I build it , it will come".... right?

Well , since I was beginning to feel all those wonderful holiday pangs and started playing Christmas music last week, {just instrumental for motivation} I thought even though it's a tad early, I wanted so much to get creative with my favorite holiday! So here is the result:

My appropriately titled "Cottage Christmas" miniature collection:

I have to say, these items took so many hours to make but each one was a labor of love. I tried with this Cottage Christmas bakery/kitchen island table to make it versatile so that if you took each piece {besides the obvious Christmas items} and put it in a kitchen or bakery another season, it would still work and look beautiful. So each item is made to fit all seasons and has a sweet cottage look and feel to it.

I incorporated all my favorite cottage touches: Tartan plaid , vintage styled pottery, red and white gingham, traditional damask, white eyelet cotton, delicious freshly baked sweets, elegant cake stands, Susan Branch cookbooks, raspberry jam, and all the details I could think of to create that feeling of falling snow outside while staying cozy inside....

And of course Christmas Red Velvet cupcakes are a must :) With candy cane shavings on top :)

Note: This collectors piece is currently in my Etsy shop as are the other items in the Cottage Christmas collection {as of drafting this post } and more will be coming in the smaller variety , but this table is the only one of the collection so another table won't be made again.

Here are some other Cottage Christmas sweeties that kept me happy and busy over the last couple of weeks...

I hope you liked my little tour of some of the new miniatures I've been busy with....It's back to the drawing board to come up with some more little Cottage Christmas treasures.

I love this time of year so much! To be able to bring my passion and love to the items I make feels like such a blessing and I am so thankful!

I'll leave you with a few pictures of "special order" items I've made over the last few weeks that made me smile and feel grateful too!

Now it's time to light the candles and relax a bit over the weekend....there's more busy work ahead in the next couple of weeks, but I couldn't ask for anything more .....With the quiet of the night and the colder air approaching, I know November has many more smiles and treasures just around the corner. I think because of it's anticipation November is the finest month of them all that way :)

November:

"How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow."
- Elsie N. Brady, Leaves

Wishing you all a beautiful rest of the weekend and week ahead!

Hugs and Love,

Cynthia

~ A visit to cozy Summer Rose ~

2011-10-30T13:53:00.033-04:00

Hello sweet friends! Well it's the day before Halloween and we had our first tiny snow storm last night, I believe that's surely a record for NY! Upstate and a little north of me I hear they actually got almost a foot of snow! I thought we would loose our electric last night with the hollowing winds, but fortunately we were one of few that didn't. So..... I thought it appropriate to give you a tour of Summer Rose, my tiny miniature Cottage... she's acquired a few new pieces and additions so it was time I thought for a new photo tour. Remember, in her little world, it's always cozy inside no matter what the weather is outside :) I was intending to get the cottage all ready for the holidays but I didn't want to rush to Christmas too soon, although I'm feeling the itch to get there :) So here she is , getting all ready for a cozy afternoon tea with friends...

Lets pretend a little ...

It begins in the early morning hours, just as the sun is coming up...

Warm cherry muffins, fresh from the oven is the perfect way to get start the day...

Sitting there with a muffin and coffee in hand, I look around and love to watch the play of light on the sweetness of the kitchen items that have that feel of being handed down for generations. The soft green bowls catch the early sun and make me smile. Years of mixing in them and cooking and loving the domesticity of it all makes me happy...

A loaf of bread from the much anticipated Country Fair yesterday still carry's all the aromas it did when I picked it up at the market stand...and it fills the kitchen...

There's a few dishes to wash , but the morning chores won't be rushed...after all, it's too cold to go out today and friends are coming here where the fires ready , and the tea and sweets are perfect :)...

I'll place a few special dishes out and keep things casual and simple in the dining room, right next to the fireplace....

Then it's back into the kitchen to set out the tea and sweets for after lunch...

It's when I'm in my little Cottage setting up for friends that I'm happiest....I always take time to look around and take in the all the pretty accessories , colors, foods, and warmth to make sure I've created a cozy home for others to enjoy and love with me...

The oven is on and the pastries and sweet scents meld together in the air to wrap my guests in a blanket of deliciousness...

Summer Rose is a haven for all things "Cottage".... with it's collected bowls, vintage plates, simple whites, soft pastels, well worn woods, dreamy sweets, candlelight, quilts, and all the little luxuries that make you relax and feel cozy, she is a home...

And today, she is all ready for friends to visit...

The sweets took a few days to prepare , but they are ready to be savored... I made a few extra if you'd like to join us :)

Well it's time to go, I hear a knock at the door, but I will leave room for you at the table of friendship...

The next time we meet for a tour of the Cottage she'll be dressed for Christmas, how lovely! :)

Speaking of friends ...I want to thank my dear friend Cheryl for the beautiful miniature items she sent me for my birthday. Thank you so much Cheryl. They will always hold a special place in the cottage , and also with me! What started out as a hunt for the perfect Christmas Tree for Summer Rose ( which was a gift from her and you'll see soon) ended with these beautiful gifts and an exchange of miniatures which was so much fun for me! {Yours are on the way Cheryl!}

An adorable picnic basket she made and of all things it has a rooster too, how did you know I love them? :)

And beautiful handmade hydrangeas for the porch....so pretty!

My camera battery didn't cooperate {it was over used today lol} for the beautiful cake she gave me too, but I'll show pics soon! Thank you again Cheryl!

I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead and I hope you enjoyed my little tour of the updates in Summer Rose too! Stay warm and cozy!

Hugs and appreciation!

Love,

Cynthia xo

Note: The Beautiful plates featured in some of the scenes were created by the talented Carrie at A Lavender Dilly at Etsy! Here's the link if you'd like to see her beautiful collections: A Lavender Dilly

~ Please come join me ~

2011-10-22T16:58:00.004-04:00

Hello sweet friends!

I'm popping in for a quick little note... I've created a facebook page for my miniatures and musings. I'd LOVE for you to join me! I'm still working on it, so bare with me, but if you have a facebook page and would like to be updated about little projects , new creations and my daily ramblings , please come "like" me :) There's a link to the right here on my blog or you can click the picture above too! I hope to see you there!

I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Fall weekend too!

Thanks and love,

Cynthia

~ Miniature Dreams ~

2011-10-19T09:35:00.027-04:00

If anyone would have told me this time last year that I'd be sitting on my sofa wrapped in an throw, drinking my morning tea , and reading a magazine that had me featured on the cover and 2 articles inside I'd have told them their own tea was spiked :)

I finally received my copy of the November issue of American Miniaturist , and I'm still over the moon happy! It's such an honor to me, and as I said last week I could NOT be more thrilled. My first Miniature Dream came true :) I have lots more to dream about and fulfill still , but this was like that feeling you get coming down the steps at Christmas to see that Santa really did remember you ....

With that said, I could go on and on about how much my friends and blogger friends , family, and facebook community have always given me so much support and kind words when I started this "little" journey last year , because I literally could! You have all been so wonderful and if it wasn't for the encouragement and feedback, I would probably be standing at a construction site today in the pouring rain carrying 20 fabric books and slipping in the wet pavement with my heels stuck in mud. :) Not to say I didn't love the job of being an Interior Designer, because I did. But working in miniature 1:12 scale is so much calmer , and I get all the creative freedom I could ask for because I work alone :)

If you've read my blog or know me, I've been known to talk forever and I'm not sure I know the "art" of when to stop :) ... But, I just wanted to say thank you again!!

Now I'll try and let the picture do the talking. I hope they show my joy and happiness to you {even though it's hard to show gratitude in a photo} I'm hoping that all the love and time I put into my miniatures means I want you to know how much I want you to have something pretty to collect or look at. Something you can treasure as much as I do making them.

Here's a sneak peak of the inside of the November issue...and a few pictures that didn't make the cut for the article too....

Tuscan kitchen love...

The pantry's I made a few months back are still some of my favorite creations... I've wanted one in my big girl home forever, hopefully soon!

I was so excited to do the pictures and article with American Miniaturist , they were wonderful to work with! I'm looking forward to doing more.

I hope Santa brings me the camera of my dreams for Christmas this year too! :) It's on my to-do list to get this photography aspect as best as I can. It's always fun photographing the miniatures, the angles help us all feel as if we're right in the room. I'm a novice with this for sure! But I'm working on it :)

We'll I hope you enjoyed that tiny tour of a few pics that didn't make it. I also hope you get your copy soon too , if you have , let me know what you thought of it!

Now on to a few mini's I made during the last few weeks. I am sure I'm obsessed :) I cannot stop making them , and my ideas still keep me up at night sometimes too, but I've honestly never found a hobby/career I've enjoyed and loved more!

These below were in my Etsy shop but are already sold, but they each brought me so much joy to make!

** Special note to collectors and buyers:

I try and make things weekly to add to the shop and I'm working at it full time, but I want each piece to be so special and the miniatures are not things I want to "rush" at. So I apologize in advance if the shop is bare sometimes. I wanted to say this because last week I got an email saying: " Each of your items listed in Etsy has a saying at the end of your description saying: "Thank you so much for stopping in my shop, I hope you find something you love" , but there's nothing else for sale except one item on hold lol! We both got a giggle out of that and I'm actually making her a custom order right now, but I felt the need to let others know I'm always working on miniatures, but I don't want to speed it up for the sake of having a full store, I want each person to have something very special.

Ok that's said :)

On to more miniature love....(without me talking lol )

Cupcakes are such a favorite of mine to make!{opps sorry , I talked lol } Each one takes a long time but I tune the world out , forget the news, listen to some Italian opera { yes totally true } and focus on CUPCAKES and creating, that is such a good feeling to me! Anyone who explores their creative side (no matter what the hobby or craft) knows this feeling. It's like a "Zen"....you're busy cutting, pasting, knitting, sewing, painting, or doing whatever you love and good feelings come from that! Everyone I know who does that puts so much love into what they do, and to be a part of that feeling this year has been such a blessing! I always felt good being a Designer, but the "being away from home" or being hit with major deadlines and the hard parts were taking it's toll. So I day-dreamed about something else and it happened. How cool is that? If you haven't found your creative side, keep looking and trying, I really believe everyone has one and even if it takes a long time, you will be so happy when you've found it!

Ok Now I'll be quiet for sure :) I've got work to do! Thank you so much as always for being so wonderful!

Have a beautiful, magical, and fabulous week ahead!

Hugs and love,

Cynthia xo

Thank you and we have a WINNER!

2011-10-15T11:59:00.004-04:00

Thank you Thank you Thank you! You all were so sweet and your kind words warmed my heart!

I used the random generator to pick the winner and the winner is:

Kathleen Reynolds!!

Congratulations Kathleen!!

{Please send me an email with your address so I can get your Shabby Chic Bakery rack out to you}
I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend! I wish I could have given everyone a gift!, you were all so kind with your words of encouragement and sweetness!

I'm still waiting for my copy of American Miniaturist to see the inside, but hopefully soon! :) In the meantime I'm busy mini making and loving the fall weather so much! I made the table above this week and hope you love it too!

Hugs and Thank you again , so much!

Cynthia xo

~ GIVE-AWAY and CELEBRATION ~

2011-10-05T14:15:00.017-04:00

Hello sweet friends! I have a reason to CELEBRATE and I couldn't think of a better way than to have a give-away! I just found out my miniatures made the cover of the November issue of American Miniaturist. To say I'm thrilled, blushing, and ecstatically happy is probably an understatement. I am over the moon! :) Somebody pinch me! { I asked my daughter to and she actually did, lol, and hard, ouch!}. I haven't seen the inside of the issue yet but they did an article on me and my miniatures and I also did a tutorial for them on deep dish apple pie. I am beyond thrilled and so honored too!

Soooo, I wanted to create a very special miniature for you as my give-away. It's the bakers rack above and everything on it comes with it too! I've been working on it all week. It's my way of saying Thank You! Thank you for all your support and encouragement and friendship, always!

Here's a preview of the cover :)

If you'd like to order a copy , here is the link to this issue {It comes out in about 2 weeks} American Miniaturist , November 2011

I got off cloud nine long enough today to do the finishing touches of the Baker's Rack, I hope you love it as much as I did making it! And as the picture below shows, you don't have to have a dollhouse to collect or love miniatures, they make great conversation pieces and are so much fun to have around.

I add a piece now and then to my kitchen shelves. I like nostalgia in my home scattered about and sometimes a miniature that I've created brings me back to a feeling I loved. Like grandmothers hutch, or a mini table-setting of a big celebration I want to remember, or a little remembrance of a birthday party etc! Or, sometimes I just want a simple mini apple pie resting on a shelf next to a cookbook. :)

With that said, you don't have to have a dollhouse to love them and you don't have to have one to enter the give-away either!

Here are the rules: {simple and sweet} Just leave a comment on this post and you are entered. If you want 2 chances to win, post about this give-away on your blog or facebook (linking to this post) and make sure to come back and leave another comment so you have 2 chances. That's it :) You can use any of my pictures you'd like when blogging about it.

Here's the miniature Baker's Rack:

It's filled with sweet delectables! A yummy deep dish apple pie under a glass cake stand, sugar cookies, cupcakes galore, a slice of cake, 2 glass jars filled with decorating sugars, copper hanging pots, a bakery sign edged in pink gingham, and so many little sweet details! The Bakers Rack is painted a soft pale pink and distressed back to show a hint of it's black original color, and it's back is closed off with a beautiful bounty of pink and red roses....

I put a lot of love and care into my miniatures and I hope it shows! I wish you ALL could win because you've all been so wonderful to me. I'm coming up on my one year anniversary into the miniature world {from Interior Design} and I could not be any happier with the transition and change of careers! That old saying is so true, " If you dream it , you can find a way to live it"....

Thank you to my followers, friends, and family too, for sticking with me and for always encouraging me to "Go for it". And thank you to American Miniaturist and Traci for making my little dream come true with your November issue! Big Hugs!

I left you all some Country Fair Cupcakes :)

Ohhhh Darn lol, I forgot!! The Winner for the give-away will be announced on October 15th! That's a couple of weeks before my 50th Birthday, how the heck did that happen? Meaning, turning 50? I think Miniatures make me feel even younger, so that's why I do them :)

With hugs and appreciation!

Cynthia xo

Ps: Here's the other link to American Miniaturist if you would like to subscribe, it's a great little magazine and they do a beautiful job putting it together!

~ Artisan Cupcakes ~

2011-09-24T10:15:00.021-04:00

Hello everyone! Happy 2nd day of fall! I did lots of baking this week and fall is such a wonderful season for cooking and baking of both kinds, mini and real :) Here is a collection I made this week of miniature Artisan cupcakes. Each one is unique and made with loving care and sweet as sugar details :) I hope you enjoy!

Here's the first of the boutique collection: a freshly baked pink butter cream with milk chocolate shavings...

A swirl frosted one in creamy pale green , infused with crystal sugars and topped with pink iridescent crystals...

This one is titled "Fairy dust marshmallow" and has marshmallow frosting, pink spun sugars, a pretty rose and scattered pink sugar sprinkles...

A butter yellow dreamy one with silver dragees and a pale blue petal flower...

A simple pink rose on top of a white frosting with beautiful tiny pink spun sugars gracing the top...

A pale blue one with a white chocolate shaved top icing makes this one so pretty and yummy...and a dusting of fuschia sprinkles too :)

Pistachio cream...topped with a cherry, milk chocolate , sugar leaves, and melted powered sugar...

Thank you for touring my new little bakery boutique collection! I left you a cupcake , so grab some tea and enjoy :)

All and more of the Artisan collection are in my Etsy Shop right now , this was another labor of love for me and I hope you love it too! Here's a little peek at how they were all put together to create a one of kind piece...

I hope you're having a wonderful first few days of Fall! It's rainy here today but I'm awaiting the fall leaves and clear cool evenings and cozy homemaking to come!

With hugs and love,

Cynthia xo

~ Sweet September ~

2011-09-13T10:46:00.028-04:00

Happy sweet September! And nope, the above picture from Food Babbles is not a mini of mine... YET :) I love their website and go to it often to create my miniatures, its perfect for cooking enthusiasts too! I'm all obsessed lately with mason jar cakes and sweets! They are even showing meals in mason jars too! Just pop one open and eat. Or open one, pour, and heat up on the stove. Plus they look so sweet in the fridge :) I'm getting a new refrigerator this week and a new oven, so I'm adding "organization" to the list for sure and storing food in mason jars will be just what I'm after. I won't go crazy, lol, but just a half dozen always filled with something will make me happy :) Look at all these sweet ideas below {pinterest}. Just Google "mason jar cooking" or "mason jar cakes" and you'll be off and obsessed like me :) If anyone has done this already, I'd love to hear pros and cons or just your thoughts! This is one of the things I'm all "sweet" over this September...

I'm thinking these will be adorable in Miniature too, so I'm excited to get started on one with this theme!

Here are a few little "sweets" for September that I lovingly made for my etsy shop too ...

French cherry pastry tarts...

Do you remember moon-pies? Vanilla were my favorite, over the top sweet! :)

Pink and Pound Cake....sweet

Here's a large bakery display of "sweets" ..... I named this one "Boutique Bakery" ....

My last "sweet" for this post is this Kitchen....

Be forewarned though, I *GASPED* when I saw this and almost feel over lol.....It's Kristie Alley's Kitchen from her home in Maine that's currently for sale. Here's the link: Kristie's Cottage Home.

I'm on my way , just keep the wine chilled Kristie!

Well I hope you had enough sweetness to get you through the week :) Back to my miniatures and time to clean the kitchen to get ready for the remodel, I hope she doesn't mind I'm going with more pink, butter yellow, pale blue and sage green :)

Have a wonderful week ahead everyone!

Hugs, Cynthia

~ Labors of Love ~

2011-09-06T13:15:00.015-04:00

HI Everyone! Today is what I always call my first day of Fall, I know it's not official, but my youngest is off to 11th grade today... my sweet Melanie... and the first day of school is always my season marker :) So of course I'm going to share Fall inspired miniatures with you. It's a favorite time of year for so many and myself included! I love cozy days just like today... the cooler air, the delicious home baked scents, the warm colors and crispy evenings! It's just fabulous :) I'm a day late for a Labor Day post , but these were my labors of love last week .... I hope you are all having a wonderful day and taking time to light a little candle, have some tea, and pamper yourself with the goodness of home and cozy inspiration!

My new Butter Cream yellow Baking Hutch...

Filled with fresh baked golden brown sweetness and cherries...

{ I love the butter yellow with tiny red cherries} and an apple tart too :)

There's even a little bowl of bread dough rising in the cupboard...Just like mine :)

I also put together another cozy cottage piece last week... A baker's rack... filled with kitchen comfort foods and pretty accents...

And what Fall day would be complete without Deep Dish Apple Pie? ;)

Or cherry turnovers?

I found this sweet market basket at my local dollhouse shop, but I know I'll be making these myself in every color , they look super easy, so that's on to-do list :) I love this photo below and it gives me a good idea for my next girls night, luncheon or casual dinner party. Pretty pastries in a market basket, how cute?!

Thank you for stopping in and joining me for a few moments :) I am so appreciative of all your visits and friendship, they really mean the world to me!

I'm excited for the few more "free" hours I'll be gaining now that we adhere to some sort of schedule and the kids are back in school.... so my first objective is to get back to commenting and visiting you all, along with more mini making and getting my own home all ready for the change of seasons! I also have a little surprise coming up soon I cannot wait to tell you about, but for now , I have to keep hush. I know, I'm a tease, sorry :) But SOON!

Have a great week friends!

Hugs, Cynthia xo

~ Getting Cozy ~

2011-08-30T09:09:00.013-04:00

Hello sweet friends! If I did a little essay on how I spent "my summer vacation" it would certainly be the opposite of dull. First we had an earthquake, then a terrible hurricane. I'm sure you easterners know exactly what I mean. But I feel very lucky to be ok and have my electricity back too. My thoughts and prayers are with those still struggling to get out of this.

All the upheaval has me longing for a cozy change of seasons. The weather this week after hurricane Irene is just perfect, the cool mornings and sun warming us into the low 80's during the day is certainly welcome! I went back to working on minis as soon as I knew the lights would stay on, and that longing for comfort food and cozy feelings is probably evident in this weeks creations, I hope :) The bakery table above was inspired by the feelings and colors of the french bakery picture below.... French blues, warm tones, colorful linens, vintage styled accessories and of course fresh baked comfort food :)

I'd be happy going to this little bakery for coffee every morning ....

I put a tiny twist on the french country theme and added an Italian kitchen wall plaque. I have this in my home and just love it, so I thought it would be perfect for the mini table too..

I love blending different blues to come up with the soft french blue this table has, and I was so happy to again use my grandmothers handmade lace linens to add that vintage touch...

Playing with backdrops is always fun for me! I think that's the designer in me trying to see the items in a home setting :) I loved doing this table because one of my favorite things to do is bake bread and have loaves all around the kitchen , fresh butter and of course Apple pie. What could be cozier? ;)

I also worked on a tiny Shabby Chic wall shelf.... It was fun creating a shelf that I could include screening in, to me a screened door or screened cabinet just oozes charm. Plus an Aga stove?? Now that in big girl version would make me the happiest cook ever ;)

I'll leave you with a tiny pink cupcake and a fresh baked roll :) I have a busy week ahead re-stocking my Etsy shop and mini baking. And I'm soooooo looking forward to it!! I'm welcoming the calm and cozy back with open and grateful arms!

I hope this week ahead finds my East Coast friends back with power on, and safe! And for everyone else I wish you blessings, health , and happy smiles :)

Love,

Cynthia

{photo backdrops from the magazine Summer Cottage 2011, and pinterest}

~ Bed & Breakfast Kitchen Hutch ~

2011-08-13T14:44:00.015-04:00

No, I'm not away at some Bed & Breakfast, I'm just pretending I am : ) And as a Miniaturist , I do that a lot :) This is a charming little kitchen hutch I just finished this weekend. We've had the most beautiful weather here this week , ranging from the mid 70's to the low 80's and it's almost like a warm fall day every day. So I'm feeling cozy and cottagey these days :) I've loved every part of making this sweet hutch so I wanted to share....

It started plain white and wound up after carefully layered paints as a pale french blue with antique gold accents and a few layers of wax for that perfect patina. I pretended the entire time I was making one in large size to fit into a Bed and Breakfast kitchen or dining room. Then I baked morning pastries, pancakes with blueberry's, and a few other delicious tasting treats to give it that lived in look. The shelves are lined with cottage prints and the drawers and cabinets are filled with vintage cottage styled kitchenware. Oh what fun! :)

I couldn't resist making a dish towel rack out of a vintage miniature shutter either :) {below left of the hutch}

Then I played with different backdrops (from the beautiful magazine "Summer Cottage--Style with Fresh Charm") and had even more fun :) It seemed to fit in well with any setting..... I love that :)

From cottage french, to shabby chic, and traditional too...I adored this one above and below, what a sweet little vintage tablecloth and what a fabulously warm and homey kitchen setting!

Little pastries for your morning sweet tooth :)

Warm biscuits fresh from the oven, cherry muffins and breakfast crackers, a great way to start the day :)

Sitting at a kitchen table with the sun streaming in and the aroma's of a beautiful day and sweets? I'm in heaven :)

A nice little spot for tea too :)

I just adored making this and now it's back to the drawing board and my "list" for the week. I hope you all enjoyed my tiny tour of the "Bed and Breakfast Cottage" hutch!

I'll leave you with some tasty pancakes and blueberries, and of course the syrup is warm and right from the maple tree out back :)

Don't-cha just love pretending?! :)

Wishing you all a gorgeous and blessed week ahead!

Ps: I've been so busy this summer but I'm looking forward to visiting you all this week and stopping in for some pretend coffee too! :) Thank you for always stopping by and leaving such sweet comments, they mean the world to me and so do YOU!

Hugs and love,

Cynthia xo

~ Coloring Minis ~

2011-08-05T10:51:00.022-04:00

Happy August everyone! It's been such a busy summer, every time I feel caught up, there's a new list beginning, but I probably wouldn't have it any other way. It's a "good" kind of busy :) I wanted to share some new minis and a nice little bunch of pictures I used for inspiration. "Coloring" minis are right up there with making my own frosting's and textures as my favorite part of mini making. I spend hours flipping through pictures until something hits me and I say: "Yes, I love that color palette"... and then away I go, to the drawing board as they say :) So here are a few of my favorites this month.... Greengate for sure is a favorite of mine! {above} And the use of color with white as a background and clean lines, with a vintage feel, is another favorite {below}.

This mini tray below was inspired by the colors in the pictures above....pops of blue, red, yellow, and pastels mixed in. That's always been a favorite color combination for me.

I also like to use the sweet soft colors of roses... in pinks, fuchsia's and sage toned greenery. So this picture below spun off a couple different looks....

After seeing this color combination above, Pretty pinks and roses went right into this little creation below and the next one too...

Then another favorite color palette of mine (from the opposite spectrum) is inspired by the colors of Tuscany , using the deep warm colors of Country....

Golds, yellows, pale french blues, deep blues and reds...combined with old world patinas and rich wood tones...

And that sparked my desire to use them in the next miniature here...

Using color is so important to me, it was the biggest passion of mine to transform a room when I worked as a Designer. And now, it's just as important to me in my miniatures. I suppose it's like being a little girl and sitting for hours coloring :) I play with fabrics, papers, and textures to get that "just right" feeling and I hope that it shows in my minis!

In the last couple of weeks I've been filling custom orders, making new minis, spending time swimming with the kids, visiting friends, and just enjoying the summer for the most part. But I've also squeezed in some time to re-make a few of my miniatures for my own dollhouse Summer Rose. I made this table below and right after it sold in my Etsy shop , I started another, for me :) I finally crossed 2 things off my list of re-makes.

This one....

and the shabby chic vintage linen rack {below}. So now I feel a bit more caught up :)

I want one for my big girl house too :)

I hope you enjoyed my little tour of things that colored my world this week :)

I'll leave you with a peek of an inspiring picture that I'm using for a new mini coming up ... found at the adorable blog ..."Cozy Home Chronicles".

And this picture below is another favorite blog of mine for inspiration! I'm sure you all know it, but if not, it's a fabulous little gem!

{style me pretty}

Of course I love love love the little tag too :) "Fresh baked with Love" how perfect :)

Have a wonderful weekend everyone and I hope you're enjoying the summer season with gusto!

Hugs!!,

Cynthia xo

~ Bella Ispirazione ~

2011-07-23T16:48:00.024-04:00

The title post is in Italian, and means "Beautiful Inspiration".... And being that the weather here is 110 with the heat index this week, and my summer reads have included the books by Frances Mayes following Under the Tuscan Sun, I thought it only fitting :) I've actually been keeping out of the sun and mini making a lot. Which suits me just fine.... It's hotter than hot! But I have to say, I wish I was in Tuscany right now, it's 80 degrees there and I'm sure every flower is in bloom and the grass and fields are probably a lot greener than my burnt looking backyard grass..... I'd be crafting my miniatures sitting at a table under a beautiful tree. Sipping chardonnay at 4pm , of course not too much lol, eating small tidbits of fabulous cheeses and dreaming up each detail, with a slight breeze :) But that's ok, I have hope that I can get back out to my own garden soon, at least for more than the 10 minutes I've been out watering it on and off and running back inside to breathe ...So in the meantime, I'm using my Inspiration from Tuscany to do some new miniatures. The above collage was a color inspiration for the miniature below. Pink and Red, 2 of my favorite colors...one is vibrant and one is soft, I love using that combination in everything I dream up....

I've also used my love of Tuscany and my Italian heritage to bake a few miniatures that I've made many times for friends and family in real scale. I just love Pastizzi's and here they are below, in mini but just as yummy :)

I'm sure you all know and probably love Under the Tuscan sun... It's probably my favorite movie of all time. I watch that movie from top to bottom and visually I feel as if I'm taking in every tiny detail each time I watch it. I try and take that same feeling , amongst all else that happens to inspires me , and transfer it to my decorating and designing and into my miniatures. I think that's why I make a lot of farmhouse style shabby tables filled with food and bakery items :)

I love to bake and cook for friends, so to be able to do it in miniature is just another extension of who I am...

Like most things, depending on what you're feeling at a certain time in your life, or a day, a new inspiration can come at you and it seems as if it falls right into your lap. My summer books have me so excited to create a few new items with the Tuscan feel. The bright florals mixed with soft pastels and the deep rich colors of certain woods mixed with creams and whites... relaxed, casual, but also elegant....This Tuscan inspired table below is a beauty to me!

I've started certain parts of the one I'm making in mini and I cannot wait to share it... But for now these pics are just pretty eye candy to share with you....

I love all the glass.... and of course the Italian chocolate chip cookies :)

My kitchen in Summer Rose can use a table like this too, I took a photo of this one below before I listed it on Etsy , so as soon as I'm finished with the Tuscan styled one like above, I'll have to make another creamy version for here...after I catch up a bit :)

And speaking of inspiration.... This cake below is on my list too. I've made some similar ones like it before, but I love the little sign :)
And last but not least, I am inspired by my own cookbooks. This one is a great baking book! It's got lots of delicious ideas and fabulous recipes. I used it to bake my real cakes and also to come up with new cake ideas in mini :)
Well, as I'm finishing this post , it's still 100+ degrees outside.... but I hope I gave you a bit of sweetness to see and daydream about too! I certainly hope where ever you are, you are cooler and enjoying a beautiful weekend!! And btw, to my friends in Italy: Get the guest room ready!!!!!!! I'll cook for you for free :)

Love you all!

Hugs, Cynthia

{photo credits: The wedding decorator, sweet and saucy, everyday occasions by Jenny}

~ Summer Lovin ~

2011-06-26T18:19:00.020-04:00

HI sweet friends! I hope you've all been enjoying the first week of Summer! I've been catching some beautiful sun rays in between baking and creating minis, relishing the longer days , and catching fireflies at dusk :) I just love ...love... love... Summer! Just as much as I love Minis :) The house is already for summer, the vegetable garden is looking good, and there's always fresh flowers for a dinner centerpiece dining alfresco. I couldn't ask for anything more....well I could, lol, but I won't :) I've been pretty busy with all of the above, oh yeah and 3 big kids, lol, so to get back out and enjoy the weather tonight I'll let the pictures do most of the talking....

I seem to be very addicted to "summer style" Miniatures lately and creating them is such a joy! So here's a tiny tour of my new summer style sweets...I hope you enjoy them just as much as I did making them!

I made this Shabby Chic bakery counter and then filled it with pretty pink and pastel sweets....Now I have to make myself one for Summer Rose :)

I love pink cake , frosting and roses ....do you?

Sweets and ..... more sweets :)

My daughter Melanie calls these { below } Cherry "Muffy's" and honestly , I like that better than muffins, so here's some Cherry Muffys :) Spread a little butter or honey and you have a delicious breakfast :)

Or....... You could have chocolate chips instead , hee hee he :)

And yep, just as the sign says..... Cupcakes ARE the sweet life....

I think I went a little muffy crazy this Summer, but I received some emails asking for more for my etsy shop, so I made a LOT :)

These below were part of a setting in an old style Soda Pop box, and adding the other goodies gave it that perfect little look for a Summer table outside.

I love fresh Linens hanging to dry in the summer sun, they always look so pretty and vintage sweet! Not to mention the delicious scent the summer air gives them too! And like most things these days , whatever I love in my big girl life, I try in Mini..... so I created a shabby chic linen rack styled like a vintage ladder and draped all my vintage fabrics over them to get the same look in "small" :)

Then I baked 2 crumb pies and let them sit pretty on an antique window-shutter tray which I made to coordinate with it all. I bet this idea could be in used in my real kitchen too, hmmm, the creative wheels are turning lol...

Whew!! I've had a busy couple of weeks, and much more on my "to-do" list, but I won't forget to smell the flowers and do lots of summer lovin too! I hope you all do the same!

Now it's time to relax and have some tea and cake outside.... I wish you all could come!!

Happy Summer everyone!!..... I wish you good health and a blessed week!

Love ,

Cynthia xo

~ Summer decorating - Mini style ~

2011-06-10T09:18:00.026-04:00

Happy Summer friends! (well it's almost official ) Here in my house Summer begins when the kids are done with school and the temperatures get scorching, and when all the sights and scents of it all surround me... I've taken that love of Summer and poured it into a new Miniature I completed this week. I'll take you on a little photo tour of it through different back drops taken from Victoria magazine and Romantic Homes. Hopefully you'll get some decorating ideas for your big girl home too :) or get inspired with a table-scape or setting your own Summer scene somewhere. After years of styling and designing homes , I'm always so happy to bring that experience to my Miniatures and as you probably already know , I even love doing it more in "small" :)

This table is titled "Summer Daydreams"..... so lets pretend a little....

Here's the table all set up on our cottage porch :) {backdrops from Victoria and Romantic Homes}

Set in a sweet little living room, all ready for company.....Come on in and relax and have a dessert and a cool drink.... :) There's fruit infused sparkling water, pink lemonade, peach sugar pie bake, cherry muffins, carrot cupcakes with cream cheese frosting , strawberry vanilla cake, and lots of other little goodies waiting :)

Or I can set it all up outside and we can relax and have a beautiful lunch in the summer fields :) Picnic style...

Or maybe by the lake?

Or .... On the deck :) whichever your fancy, I'll have your sweets and yummys waiting.... :)

I love using small flags , country cottage accents, and chippy vintage accessories to decorate , they just add such an inviting and welcoming feel!

I'd love to have a porch with white clapboard siding too...my favorite for sure!

I'd love to have each and every one of you over for a bloggerette luncheon!!....but for now, it's a virtual one ..... and I hope you enjoyed your stay :)

Come by anytime! :)

Happy Summer everyone!!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend ahead and are enjoying all the sweets and delights of Summer!

Much love and thanks!

Cynthia xo

~ Miniature and big girl Pantry love ~

2011-06-03T18:17:00.024-04:00

HI friends! I usually let a week or so go by before I post again, but I finished a project today and just had to share :) I'm one of those people that wake up at 3am with a creative idea and have to write it down right away. Then I can peacefully go back to rest. This ones been in my head and notes for awhile but I've had custom orders to tend to, so this week I squeezed in some time to finish my Miniature dream Pantry.... It's already been sold and getting ready to be shipped off to it's new home, but it's a favorite of mine. I adore Pantry's with screen doors and I've had a picture of one on my side bar for years, fully intending to fit one into my own "real" kitchen, but it looks like I got to the Mini first :) I hope you enjoy!

I made this hutch/pantry completely from scratch and it was a bit of a challenge but super rewarding once I got to the decorating part. I like to photograph the Miniatures in natural light as it gives them a glow that the real house has and makes them very life like. As I type this on my lap top, {I'm on the deck} the sun is just starting to set and I can see this little Miniature on the shelf inside catching the last warm light and I'm thinking maybe it would be so pretty too, verses the morning light I took these with? But this glass of wine I have next to me refuses to let me go and get up and take new photos :) , so here goes....

I white washed a bit of real screening to add that shabby chic vintage touch....

The morning sun coming up and making it come to life...

A little spoon for a handle... Just like my big girl wish list Pantry had....

Room for freshly made Jams, canned vegetables....

Warm from the oven baked breads and muffins and cookies too :)

A tiny little corn muffin too...

And lots of other little sweets and pretties to bring her to life....

I added a little print to the back wall of the middle shelf, just like I'd want in a real one...

I hand-painted a Miniature Le Creuset dutch oven a pale shabby french blue and added other details to give it that vintage charm I have so come to love....and with a few other touches I was happy and yet sad when she was done. {Yes, I call all my Mini's "she", not sure why, but probably because before they leave my home they are like my little babies } and at the end of the day yesterday she was complete and ready for Etsy. I get attached to them and have a long list of ones to make again for myself, but I know they go to wonderful homes so I'm happy and feel very blessed to do this! I hope you enjoyed my little tour of my Miniature Pantry :)

Here are a few big girl Pantry's that I have on my list to design in Miniature and they are fabulous for big girl homes too :)

{bhg}

And the big girl Pantry of my dreams?? well of course :) Ruthann's from Sugar Pie farmhouse ! Yes Ruthie, I intended to try this one in Mini too :)

But before I do that, I have a pie safe to make in Mini for a customer and I love this pic below, so I immediately wrote down "add bows and ribbon to pies" on my list...so I can sleep and not get up at 3am as often as I do :)

{pinterest}

After the pie safe is complete, I'm so excited about my next Miniature.... Lets just say this picture below was my Inspiration and also a new favorite blog of mine too! If you don't already know the blog "Simply Me", head right over there, what a beautiful home and such gorgeous pages of inspiration too!

Well I'm off to finish my Friday night glass of wine and watch the sunset...all the kids are out and about and this is about as quiet as it gets for now, so I'm going to enjoy :)

With love and friendship,

Cynthia xo

~ Shabby Chic Sweets ~

2011-05-31T15:13:00.014-04:00

HI sweet friends! Whew, what a busy couple of weeks it's been. I had a lovely visit with my sister and her hubby for a week and now it's back to my routine , which I love too :) It's hotter than heck today, or at least in my little corner of the studio it is! Us north-easters were dying for Spring and I think it just went right into Summer, but that's ok, I'll live. Its better than the rain and cold :) I'm popping in for a quick hello and to share a few new minis I had been working on. They were inspired by the romantic shabby chic feel of my little cottage and my eternal desire to design things that I'd want designed for my big cottage too :) I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial day weekend!

This table was inspired by my look in Summer Rose, ( above and below ) but I also used the image in the print that comes with it to give me inspiration too....

During the week I worked on a tiny tray too, I adore this one because of it's soft pinks and sweet rose pattern . I also found a new varnish recipe that I love using on the wood , it gives the items a really pretty patina, it's hard to see in the pics, but it has a slight opaque look to it and yet a soft glow. I love experimenting in Miniature, I call myself a mad scientist when it comes to recipes lol, but that's half the fun when you get something just right :)

"Pretty in pink".... don't ya think? { me and corney = yep, guilty }

I had a few requests to make some more Summer Rose inspired trays like one I had made previously which had sold, so I did :) I liked the colors and items in this one below too... pale pink and pale blue, and sweets? My fav :)

Well that's it for today, I'm going back to the studio after this post and doing some more work on a few projects I've dreamed up , a little bit shabby and definitely romantic in style, I can't wait to show you! For now I'll leave you with a bit of sweet and savory...yummy butter horn pastries... calorie free :)

Have a wonderful day, I hope you're all enjoying summer breezes and pretty things!!

With friendship,

Cynthia xo

~ A breath of fresh air ~

2011-05-17T12:52:00.036-04:00

( photo courtesy of Boz and Deborah Jean, from Deborah Jeans Dandelion House )

Hello friends! Come on in for a little escape......

Its pouring here today and is supposed to pour all week long. So I figure there's no better time for a little Summer dreaming than now. I was looking through Google images today trying to hunt down a picture of beach roses that I remember seeing last summer on a walk down at our local beach, and unfortunately the ones my memories stored did not come with a picture. I should remember to bring a camera with me everywhere I go. But that being said, I am happy now I needed to search today. The search resulted in finding a new blog , and not just any blog, but a blog that caused the pairing of myself and a cup of coffee for longer than an hour. That's when you know you hit it big :) I love finding new blogs that make me excited to read older posts and go on a journey without leaving my warm corner of the world. Plus finding one that speaks to your very old soul is even better :)

When I designed my Miniature home Summer Rose, I was busy creating walls and rooms and trying to evoke feelings of a Summer place, a place away from it all. But I realize now it was coming from somewhere even deeper inside me. It was coming from memories of the summer homes we stayed in, the carefree summers of my childhood, and the joys that were felt from having a simple sweet place to relax in. ...And after seeing my Fathers Summer house pictures today in a box where my picture hunt took me first, I saw I had designed all the colors and feelings from that very picture. The one he'd drive us by every weekend of the summer on the way to beach , it's since sold :( but hopefully inhabited by someone who loves it as much as I would today. It was all white and had a sweet little porch, long rows of fresh vegetables on the side yard, and lots of grass before the street that led you to the beach....I'd give anything to take that drive with him again. Listen to his stories about his boyhood summer days. Have him cook us dinner down at the beach again. Have him teach me how to crack open and eat an entire lobster, again. But those are memories now, beautiful memories. But that cozy feeling and carefree summer feeling has an outlet always in my own life now, that was his gift. I try and live that a little each day. I use that feeling of Summer , sweetness, cozy cottage , and lots of love, in every creative thing I do and how I like to live. and Even though his ashes were spread last Summer at that very beach, he is with me forever.

Reading the new found blog reminded me so much of that place. The goodness and luckiness of living by small little towns that hug the waters edge. Deb , who is the author of Deborah Jeans Dandelion House, captures it all. So I wanted to share her blog and let you all grab a coffee when you can and sit and read if you don't already know her place. The photography is done by her husband Boz and he captures so much feeling into each and every photograph. That was my Fathers favorite hobby, so I've always appreciated art and photography so much. I adore this blog and hope you visit soon. That being said, I've done some Summer decorating at Summer Rose and hope you have hung in there through my long intro to see them :)

Lets go for a nice walk.....

Past all the pretty Summer homes...

Until we get to one very tiny little one :) .... Where we are busy getting everything ready for Summer...Both in my Mini home, and my real one too, but for now I'll stick to the Mini :)

A new bench for the porch.... and some home-made little pillows and cushions too :)

Care to join me for a cold coco-cola on the other side of the porch? :)

My little Summer Rose isn't the only tiny house around lol, look at this real life tiny house below. It's actually a library in South Chatham, Cape Cod ... how sweet is that?! I wanna go in a take out a book for my Summer read :)

Then bring the book back home and go back on the porch , Or , go lay on the bed in the attic size bedroom with the hum of the fan and sound of the waves hitting the shore from down the block...Both sound great about now!

There's a few more Summer updates to the Cottage , tiny , but precious.... Like these new little porcelain mugs, I fell in love with them at the Miniature store. And the asparagus Tea pot was precious too :)

A new kitchen stool :) Simple and pretty...

This is another picture from Deb's blog (below ) , but one I love. It's her post on a "Real Cottage kitchen" that really spoke to me. Keeping it simple. Functional. I think this is so vintage and inviting! And like I said before... It reminds me of Summer cottages, and Summer days that mean so much. When I bought the stool for my Mini home, I remembered sitting on one and chopping veggys for my Mom.... At the time, I probably just wanted to go out and play. But it was good for me , as she would say , to do a little work too :) Deb, your post was so perfect on your kitchen, I loved it!

I don't just love small kitchens and Mini homes, I also love small towns by the water. This photo below was also taken by Debora's husband , and it makes me long for the rain to stop and the Breath of Fresh air to come by I've been waiting for! Plus the Thursday nights my Mom and I go down to Northport Village to enjoy an ice cream cone and people watch by the water :) Debora's little town reminds me of that and after seeing it, I'm excited for the upcoming Summer.

Our small towns on the waters edge are many on the North-shore of Long Island, but Northport is probably my favorite. It's pretty much the same way as it was in 1940's and 50's. I get a lot of my Miniature ideas from that Ice Cream parlor look and bakery look from there too. I've done a few Miniatures this week that really speak to my longing for Summer, and my love of vintage bakeries and vintage anything :) here are a few....

Well I've officially swooned over Summer and a new blog, so now it's time to get back to work on more Minis and pray for Sun too. I hope this week is finding you healthy, happy and full of JOY! This is my Summer read below so I thought I'd share! If you've read it , let me know what happens lol, I'll probably bring it to the beach, but never be able to take my eyes off the water :)

( Other photo credits from the Cape Cod images are from Google searches and credit Micheal J. B. Kelly )

Lots of Summer lovin to you all! It might be a few weeks away, but it's in my heart always!

With friendship,

Cynthia

~ Mother's Day in Miniature ~

2011-05-05T13:27:00.017-04:00

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day!

Here's a little pictorial using my latest Miniatures to create my sweet Mother's Day...... a little breakfast in bed, a picnic, and of course some pretty sweets too!

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." :-) ~Tenneva Jordan

Pancakes and blueberries for breakfast in bed...

A picnic by the waters edge...

With pie, cheese, grapes, a cold drink, and sweet delicious fresh breads...and a good book and a place to relax :)

{ you can click on any picture to see the Miniatures up close }

Then a cherry topped Cupcake for dessert...

Or a Cherry Parfait? Maybe both :)

My wishes for you are.......That you make the day as Special as you!

Have a fun filled weekend with lots of love and blessings!

Happy Mothers Day!!

Hugs, Cynthia

~ Mini Makeovers ~

2011-04-30T09:44:00.021-04:00

Hello sweet friends! I hope this week is finding you healthy , safe and happy! I'm sharing a few little make-overs today ..... I love make-overs, it's always wonderful what a little paint can do :) The above picture is not a Mini, it's my kitchen table after I went a little wild with a paint brush last year. Ok not "wild" but a little more work than just painting it one color. I added a creamy white paint, some blue stripes, cherries to the chairs, and then some roses in each corner... I did a make-over this week to my Mini table in Summer Rose too.... fun fun :) Mini ones are a lot easier! My Mini table was inspired by my big girl table :)

This was my Kitchen table, an old farm table , but it was too dark for me...

This was the "after", below and also the first picture on this post is another "after"...

Now come on in to Summer Rose and see a few new things.... :)

This was my Bakery table/Kitchen island before (below) , I liked it a lot and wanted a simple look inside this Mini home, but I think it just needed a little more "Umf"...

{Before}

So here's a tad more "Umf"....still soft and simple, but just a little bit more color :)

{after}

What do you think?

I also made a little cutting board out of some Susan Branch images (below) and gave it about 5 coats of thick polyurethane , It looks cute on the table I think.... I'll probably work on some Mini cheese and grapes this week to make this a little more "lived on" looking, hmmmm, or maybe a big bowl of blueberries? :)

The kitchen nook in Summer Rose also has a new little Mini.......a pink toile pillow.... I just got this and love it! I have my seamstress from my Interior Design days making me a bunch of these and I can't wait to get them and use them in projects and also scatter more around the cottage :)

Well that's my little update to Summer Rose... I think it's subtle but I'm happy with it so far... I'm thinking of moving the bakery island out to the center and moving things around a little bit, not sure yet exactly how I want it.... but Fun fun :)

I spent the rest week filling custom orders and creating new projects too...{ In-between Spring chores, cleaning, running errands and getting the kids settled back into school after a long vacation} Whew! Glad the normalcy is back :)

Some teeny tiny strawberries and cupcakes for a Kitchen Hutch order.... I love strawberries :) AND Cupcakes :)

This is a copy of a Hutch I designed last month , and it's getting ready to go out to her new home this week...

This is another one I designed last week ( below ), and then made a 2nd one again this week for another customer.... this one has been added to my favorite list :)

I went PINK crazy and wanted it to be "very" Shabby Chic .... :) The sign is hanging from the bakery ceiling in the shot below, I loved making the sign too, I wanted it rustic to contrast with the sweetness and soft pinks and whites....

I hope you enjoyed my tiny make-overs and updates :) It's back to Mini making and Gardening outside this weekend!

My thoughts and prayers also go out to my friends and family in the South this week, what happened is so devastating and life changing for so many, I will continue along with every one else to lend my support and prayers to bring them back to some sense of peace and going forward again!

Much love and blessings!

~ Cynthia ~

~ Miniatures and a real Spring ~

2011-04-19T18:33:00.020-04:00

HI Friends! Well it's really looking a lot like Spring here in NY finally! The flowers are popping and the grass is getting greener by the day! It took long enough :) I made some Minis this week to celebrate the colors and feel of Spring. I also got out a lot and enjoyed some beautiful days looking at the all the wonder of the beginning of the season! My favorite things are smelling the earth come to life again, hearing a lawn mower and catching the fresh scent of newly cut grass and of course I cannot leave out the first scent of a BBQ, my own for that matter, pure sweet and tangy heaven :)

Its a time for new things and I love that. I took that feeling even to my blog here, a new header that was lighter and simpler was just what it needed. I change it kind of seasonally, cause it's fun :) Plus I even gave my Etsy Shop a little lift. All my photos will be shot next to a white shabby chic fence background to give it that Summer light feel. The pictures of the new minis are all shot by it, do you like it? So far I do :) It helps having mostly white vs. my pink and white stripes from before, I think it helps show the true colors of the Miniatures better. So here goes...

Some pink frosted vanilla cake and a sweet Tea set...

A yummy one layer cake, just like my Mom and I always made, they were simpler to make after school when I was little, you just frost and eat :) .. I love the pale aqua blue frosting :)

And of course a decadent fudge cake too... This one made me hungry making it lol!

Then just in time for a warm Spring day? Some lemonade and lemon cake , a favorite of mine :)

Lots of new Cupcakes and some Sugar Bread...

I just started making my own "Mini" Jams and Preserves, I've done the real thing every Spring and Summer for years, so I adored doing them in Mini .... No boiling any water and pouring hot wax , so it was pure pleasure :)

I so love making my Miniatures, I constantly get new ideas and love trying to perfect it all and learn new things along the way...Doing something creative is a wonderful way to spend a day!

It's also wonderful to walk around the yard and catch what's been growing too :) So here's a little "real" life of my back yard. The grass still has a way to go and so do the flowers, we have flowers planted for every part of the Spring , Summer and early Fall, and by June everything is just so beautiful outside! But there is something secretly special about seeing a bright daffodil or pure white pansy popping up by themselves. It's like they are the first flowers to say "Hello World"..... I love that sight :)

This is the little pansy I spend my morning coffee with on the back deck {that sounds funny typed out, not intentionally lol }... she watches me come awake every morning, I'm an early bird and like to watch the Sun rise on her petals....

And here are my sweet little Daffodils .... Freshly mulched this past weekend...

It was raining today so I didn't get every shot I wanted, but I adore my Mothers day tree, she is getting so big and needs to be trimmed every year , a LOT! She was super tiny this winter and just exploded within a few weeks! I believe it is a dwarf Cherry tree, The flowers don't last long but then she turns into all leaves and is just as beautiful! When it gets super full with green leaves , I call her "Cousin It" :) Remember Cousin IT? Omg, I'm showing my age :)

Well I hope you all have a wonderful Easter and Holiday time! I'm getting my Menu planned for Sunday and it looks like Honey Baked Ham, Asparagus, New potatoes and chive cream casserole, and a big salad :)

And of course Cake :) Not sure which kind yet, but I know one thing , It will be REAL! :)

Love to you all, and many blessings for the week!

~ Cynthia ~

~ Indulging in the small things ~

2011-04-10T10:59:00.039-04:00

HI friends! Before I give you a pictorial of "what's new" I want to say THANKS for all your comments on Summer Rose! That meant so much to me, it truly was and continues to be a labor of love. Designing the Miniature home and Miniatures for my Etsy shop has been so wonderful for me. It's such a transition from my work in the "real" world in Interior Design, but so similar too. Every aspect of my design experience has, after 20 years, come into play in designing Miniatures. During my Interior Design career I had many spin offs of work involving hand-painting furniture, designing custom details , designing fabrics and accessories , etc. And it still amazes me how much all that work has now transferred into the "small things" :) I started out doing the simplest Miniature accessories and then fell in love with making the baked items and miniature foods, and now it's brought all of those elements into designing pieces for collectors that involve it all. And like I've said, it is so much nicer to design a Shabby Chic/Cottage look into something 6" tall , than to find room in the studio to hand-paint , buy or have made every single accessory, and complete the details, stay in budget, consider a clients wishes , etc, into a 7 foot tall piece! Plus I was always at the mercy of 10 other people involved in that process too :) Now it's just me and the little things and my imagination and transferring my favorite looks and taste into something pretty :) A true blessing and passion for me! My wish is always that that passion shows in my work and makes someone happy too! Even if you don't collect Miniatures or love them, I hope the designs and things I make hopefully can give you ideas for your big girl home or get you inspired to try something new!

With that said, I'll move on to the less wordy version of the post , lol.... Pictures of new minis and maybe an idea or two for you :)

Here's my newest Cottage style Miniature , I named her "Bakery Beauty" :) This was a dark walnut color hutch and looked pretty drab, but with great lines to start ....then after some paint, pastel highlights, distressing and a waxed stain wash of antiquing, she was Shabby Chic indulged and ready for pretty and delicious items :)

Fabrics, decorative papers, and pretty little items made her shine and come to life...

As some of you know I have 2 kitchen hutches in my "real" kitchen that I adore, but I have yet to add some beautiful papered prints to the shelves. I really have to add that to my "Spring to-do" list! I probably said that last Spring too, lol, but after making this piece I REALLY want to get that done :)

Now this would be pure indulgence in design ( like below ) if I added paper or fabric lined drawers to my own hutches.......but, the only "lined" thing in my house is the linen closet. :) I've always wanted nice organized drawers and have them be all sweet and pretty :) But I'm sure I'll keep pushing that to the back of the list.... So I made them in Mini instead :)

I do however have folded table cloths and napkins in my real hutches, so of course "Bakery Beauty" should have them too :)

After spending some time on the hutch I also created other minis over the last 2 weeks, and since Strawberry Shortcake is a staple in my house I couldn't wait to try the Miniature version!

Butter Horns are present during every holiday here too, especially Easter, so I attempted them too and was so happy with how they turned out....

A little more up-close...

I created a few tables after I was finished putting together and decorating "Summer Rose" .... My head was very much still in that Cottage style , simple, cozy, vintage feel. So out of the response to a few emails asking for things designed like Summer Rose, I came up with these below...

This table design was started using the Dining room wallpaper from Summer Rose...It was the perfect back drop to bakery items, sweet accessories , and cottage details :)

I love vintage recipe cards, so they became a little surprise in the drawers....

Another table using the Bedroom wallpaper this time as the starting point...

This one below was a request from a customer for a more vintage feel... plus she wanted a sign to hang on her wall too, so I put it here just for the pic but I'm sure it looks cute at home in her mini cottage :)

I loved adding the canning items too, ( below ) so vintage sweet! A couple weeks ago I started making these myself, they add another aspect of Miniature making that I love. The wonderful thing about Miniatures is, everything you see in big girl homes and design, can be made little :) And I'm having such a fun time trying it all!!

I have a few icing recipes and cake recipes, but I tend to love butter-cream the best. The very frosty/sugary looking kind :) The sweeter the better!

Using pale pastel glitters for sugar dusting on my Miniatures is another favorite of mine, I love custom mixing my own colors out of pastels and sugar snow ( glitter ). I love this very pale blue below, it was exciting to see the mix come up just the way I wanted! It's the little things that make me happy :))

And the big final parts of a project make me happy too! Putting together the entire design is very rewarding, and exhilarating! (like below)...

Designing minis and making them also comes with some stresses only Miniaturists know , I'd love to do a "blopper" post one day... Like when your rolled up sleeves come down without you noticing and you accidentally brush past a tiny cookie, which in turn hits another and before you know it you have the domino effect of 20 minis falling out of their carefully chosen place! Not funny at the time :) But stuff happens :)

This one was such a joy to make.... I wanted a mix of pale blue, soft green , with hints of pink and wanted it filled with vanilla sweets and a hints of chocolate. So with the Shabby Chic colors, lots of hand-made items and a lot of patience, it was done :)

I try and add a new project to my list every few days and when I ran out of doily's for my cake stands I had to come up with something else and my Mother suggested that I do some punch work on bakery papers. I had forgotten all about it but she did a few lamps using this technique when I was a little girl, so I tried it here on my minis and loved it! It's kind of hard to see in this pic (top cake stand below) , but it's really so pretty in person. I'll be doing a lot of them because I love the look!

Well that's about it, it's been a busy 2 weeks and after this post I'm back to creating....

Oh yes, and back to all my regular Spring chores too :)

Our first Daffodil came up this week and I about fell over :) It's really here?? can it be ?? Spring is here......... So Happy Spring everyone!!

With appreciation and love,

Cynthia xo

Summer Rose ~ My Miniature Home

2011-03-28T12:58:00.055-04:00

Hello sweet friends! I've been busy as a bee .... 2 weeks ago I got a package in the mail and it was quite an undertaking! It's my 3rd and most favorite miniature house.... I named her "Summer Rose".... I designed and built it from a kit. The miniature house is called the Orchid by Greenleaf dollhouses. And I'd like to introduce you by giving you a tour of what the last 2 weeks have been and her almost finished look. I have to say, I normally use Real Good Toys dollhouses as they are very sturdy and easier to put together, but I loved the look of this one and was looking for a Shabby Chic feel, so all the pieces and trim work seemed to fit for the look I was going for, so I dove in...

Before I continue, I want to tell you a little bit about my inspiration for my little home away from home....

In my mind, this cottage is most likely sitting on a beautiful piece of property on the Island of Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard. She is a few miles walk to the beach, but yet not of a nautical style. Rather, a cozy, simple , shabby chic vintage look. She provides weekends away with best girlfriends and romantic vacations for me and my sweetheart :) She's tiny, but all our needs are met here. That's the simple version of what "Summer Rose" means to me. The name came to mind because Summer is my favorite season and Roses are my favorite flowers. Pretty simple :)

There are lots of pictures on this post , so the rest of the story of Summer Rose and what she means to me are scattered throughout the photos....

Welcome, come on in!

Of course we start in the Kitchen, always my favorite room of any house...This is what you see when you walk in the front door....

The kitchen is a mix of refurbished antiques and vintage pieces..... The sun streams through the windows all day long and the blends of creams, whites and soft pinks look feminine and romantic throughout the day. A seat by the window is the perfect place for morning tea.

Tiny details take this very simple cottage look to a pretty level.... And of course, Roses are abundant... even on picture frames :)

Vintage sinks have always been a favorite of mine and this one was a must for my Cottage...

Summer Rose is also a place where I can cook and bake up a storm, so sweets and yummys are always ready to be savored :)

I adore using colors of every kind , but mostly the colors of Spring and Summer make me the happiest... so anywhere I can add pops of color, I did :)

Vintage accessories and cleaning products from days gone by are simple and still effective for cleaning any cottage :) And I happen to love an oldfashioned label anyway :) For me, it gives a home a real sense of Charm...

This is the wall opposite the sink and hutch ...and where all the baking and cooking takes place :)

I lined the shelves of this wall shelf and the kitchen hutch with left over paper from the DR, it helps to bring in a bit of the roses here and also adds more charm to the kitchen too....

I hope you love this little kitchen as much as I did making it :)

Now lets go to the teeny tiny Dining room... It doesn't need to be large because we eat outside, a lot :) .... Clam Bakes, picnics, dining Al Fresco and all those beautiful summer evenings... But do come in, you never know, it might rain a night or two ....

For any of those unexpected cooler evenings, we have a fireplace.... it's so romantic and cozy to eat by a fire and perfect for those special dinners too!

Even a brunch is perfect here... the Dining room table is right by a big bay window that overlooks the garden filled with the seasons freshest produce and fruits...and the sun pours in through the lace curtains...

I still have a few pictures to hang in here, but I wanted to give you a peek...

I'm going to keep it all very simple though... I want the friends who visit to be the main attraction :) I hung one piece of art in the DR so far and it might just stay that way....I made this little wall plague for above the fireplace because I adore Susan Branch and her books are all throughout the Cottage :)

Now lets head up to the Bedroom and Bath.... This time the roses are in a pastel blue and give a soft backdrop for a relaxing retreat away from it all. I decided that since the house is tiny and the assumption is to entertain outside mostly , that the sitting room can be upstairs. A nice little spot to read in-front of the fire, or create a romantic back drop too :)

The bath is not all the way finished, but again here is a peek :) I have to make those wonderful handmade soaps and stock it full of girly necessities and pretties too :) With a bath that has such beautiful light pouring in, it needs to be "spa ready" :)

And of course, a bed by a window..... My favorite way to sleep....

White cotton sheets are folded and just in from the clothes line with that fresh beautiful scent ....

And that my friends, is about it :) Simple and Sweet , my 2 favorite words....

I still have work to do, but I'd stay here for a weekend without doing a thing except take a walk, garden, cook ,bake and entertain...and put my feet up on the porch without any worries about what those "still to do" things are :)

Here is photo of all the rooms as they are seen from the back of the house....

And if you walk along the outside of the house? You can peek through the window and say hi :) I'll greet you with a glass of iced tea or a glass of wine, depends on the time a day... but then again, it's vacation :)

Here are some photos of what "Summer Rose" looks like from the front ....She will be covered in roses after I buy the new trellis.... :)

Thank you so much for stopping in! Come by anytime!

I don't mean to douse you with a bit of reality, lol, but before I leave, I thought you might like to see where Summer Rose lives .... She might be little now , but if I dream big, she will come in real size too one day :)

Note: The front porch is not finished yet, but I've got some neat ideas floating around :)

Another dose of reality.... The miniature Cottage began as this .... well kind of.... it came in a flat 3" box and with a little stress lol, I put it together...

The last photo {below} was taken at night.... and of course, it was the perfect summer evening.....

mostly because she was finished..... :)

Thank you so much for coming along for my "little" tour!

For updates on Summer Rose and little changes here and there and new decorating details etc, I will always link up the new posts about the miniature cottage here: Newer posts on Summer Rose

It's back to mini making for me and I'm so looking forward to it! I hope you all have a wonderful week ahead and are blessed abundantly!

Love, Cynthia xo

~ The Pretend Perfect Day - conclusion ~

2011-03-12T06:52:00.030-05:00

Hello sweet friends! Grab a cup of tea or whatever you fancy and come with me on a little photo tour of the rest of the Pretend Perfect Day :)

Well after much preparation , cooking and baking, the table is all set for company...I'd love for you to join me!

The table didn't just magically get to this point, there was lots of hard work and a lot of heart and soul that went into getting ready...

First I donned an apron over my favorite floral summer dress and got busy making the main dish. A delicious creamy Alfredo noodle casserole, with just a hint of spice :)

Then it was time to make some sweet summer sandwiches and cover them in wax paper and seal them with pretty rose stickers to keep them fresh :)

I hope you love them as much as I did making them!

A sweet and tangy , chopped and dried plum tomato salad with cheese was the next dish to tackle...

And of course a delicious pitcher of iced cold lemon tea to wash it all down ...

After the main meal was prepared and cooked, it was time for the desserts :) The first was a favorite of mine, a yummy vanilla custard tart. This was a challenge, but what would a summer dinner party be without it?

And the perfect compliment was a selection of sweet and fruity extras... a peach pie tart, chocolate chip cookies, a few chocolate ones , and of course ... cupcakes :)

Then I brought out some summer blankets, a hot thermos of coffee, and a good book to talk about...

Oh yes, and also we had to have candles ready for when the sun goes down and we want to stay outside and enjoy the firefly's and stars!

Now everything was ready and waiting for company..... I'd love for you to come too!

It was the perfect evening....The sun stayed up late and the weather was divine....and as dusk came ....

I pulled out the blankets and we all dreamed about what to do with the rest of our Summer days... with a little help from our friend Susan Branch :)

And last but not least, there was a perfect time to eat dessert....In pretty pink Shabby chairs.... of course :)

If you couldn't make it, we missed you! and as always, I saved you a piece of cake :)

The End......

Well not really, lol, but you know what I mean :) It continues... every day, and like I said last week, Play as much as you can. Pretending is good for the soul!
I want to take this time and place to thank you all for being such incredible friends, followers , and customers too! I feel so blessed to be able to do this and love what I do every day. Believe in your dreams! It might have taken me 40 plus (!!) years to get here, but it was well worth the journey and sharing a little bit of me here every week is a blessing! So Thank you!!
Now it's time to go create more minis , get the "real" house ready for Spring and enjoy the seasons coming ahead with friends and family! and one more added to that list....Paint and shingle my home....

No lol, not the real one...... the new mini one!
Below is a picture of what it will look like completed... Thanks to the inspiring work of Ann from The Magical Dollhouse, a wonderful site for charity!

I hope you have a great week ahead!

Ps: don't forget to set your clocks ahead and enjoy the longer days! :)

Much love,

Cynthia

~ A Pretend Perfect Day ~

2011-03-07T13:14:00.024-05:00

I think my love of miniatures didn't just come from my childhood with dollhouses, but from a love of "pretending" as my Mother would call it. Pretending is the best part of miniatures for me. It's such a perfect world when we can put it all together, look at it, and move it around how we like. Pretending and playing is magical and blissful. It's good for the soul. When I was young I used to pretend I was the Lonely Doll (above) do you remember or know the books? To have all my friends be teddy bears I could go for walks with and play with? That was a heavenly idea to me. Miniatures are only one way to pretend, I think when I moved around furniture in the living room as an adult I was pretending. Pretending to sit there, how does that feel? Pretending to serve appetizers, would that be a good look? I think we pretend when we craft, or when we dance, or when we play with our children. Actually, I think we pretend a lot and I happen to think that's a beautiful thing...Sometimes we are pretending when we smile. Hmmm, I can't say I ever pretended to cry :) But maybe my Mother would have a different view of that :)

Well this morning I took some time to pretend. With my Miniature's in images and a few others, I'm pretending it's a perfect quiet day in my little cottage. It was fun. It was a little break for a bit and gets my creativity going. I thought you might like to come with me :)

My pretend day started with washing the china so that when company comes later on, everything glows...

Dusting the Mantel and putting out fresh flowers...

Looks simple and sweet and clean now....

Then it was time to clean out the cupboards and straighten up...

A little break to walk into town...be right back sweet cottage...

The town has the prettiest bakery and markets with beautiful cobblestone streets and friendly people...It's Sunny and warm out , of course...

The Bakery is lined with sweet treasures of all kinds...You can peek through the glass at the cupcakes and decide how many you need...

Maybe just one? No maybe two :) ....... it's a long walk home...

After a nice walk back, it was time to put away everything from the market....

Take the decorative eggs I found and place them under the kitchen island, after all, Easter is almost here...

Now it was time to bake for company....with fresh flour and delicious ingredients....

and of course there is a time to test my baking ....

My baking was perfect ....because don't forget, it's a prefect world :)

Now it's time to get the table set, cook dinner and get ready for company .....

To be continued ....

I hope you enjoy your own pretend day soon, it's magical no matter what you pretend...

In the meantime, I always like to leave you with a bit of cake :)

I hope your real world is just as Sunny this week!!

Many Hugs,

~ Cynthia ~

All images in this post are by me and using my miniatures, the garden doorway and the first bakery window are unknown. The lonely doll is from a my childhood book and from the lonely doll series.

~ Sharing and more about me ~

2011-03-01T15:11:00.028-05:00

I received an email last week that I'm going to address in a bit, but first I want to share :) Don't you just love Etsy? I know I do! I love having my little shop there and when I'm not working on my creations, I'm surfing the site for beautiful items and inspirations. That's how I came upon this photographer and her work. Surfing is so much fun and you know how you type in something and end up somewhere you've never been and get that "Oh how gorgeous that is" moment? Well, if I'm blown away by something, I always want to tell you about it! Sharing is fun! I started out looking for inspiration under Google for a new project/Bakery table I'm working on. To be more specific, I was looking for a miniature picnic basket. Then when I couldn't find one in the style I needed , I decided I'd make my own. One thing led to another and I purchased this print above and got side tracked for a few hours. Now normally I don't "have" a few extra hours, but after days of making tiny things , I thought I should treat myself to just that and I ended up with this beautiful print above. That was my reward :)

These 3 photographs are from Sarah's A Very Story... Etsy shop and I sure wish she lived closer so she could photograph my children! Her work is amazingly beautiful and soft ... the photo's bring me back to what feels like a simpler time. They seem to capture images the way I look at every day things, they make me happy , and they make me feel something...If I was a photographer, I'd want to take pictures of very similar things...Which, btw, I am so not. (which I'll address in a bit ).

Aren't they just so pretty? You know how I use the terms "simple and sweet" a lot? well yep, these photos are another simple and sweet added to my list :) I can't wait to get my new photo in the mail, I know just where she's going to go :) Thank you Sarah for letting me share your beautiful work!

Now onto the "more about me" part of my post. { lol, that's a weird sentence to type , but you'll read why}...

I received a very lovely email last week, but it had a tiny twist at the end. A little twist that I wanted to address here. It was still put very nicely, but I want to clear something up. The email basically said she loved my miniatures and blog {very happy to hear!} and then she asked me why I don't share more about "myself" and more about my "photography" either. I sent her back a sweet and thankful response but then I wondered and hoped I hadn't ever given the impression that I "knew" anything about "how to take a picture" in the technical sense. I didn't read my manual when I bought my camera and I don't understand one thing about "shutter speed" or "aperture", heck I don't even know what they mean... I only have my "eye" and that's it. I probably wouldn't even have brought this up had it not been the second email assuming I know something about photography {other than knowing what I love to see }, while I was flattered, I know that a "real" photographer could spot my troubles in a nano-second! lol. All I can say is , blogging makes me wish I was better at it and I've only learned some tips about natural light from reading blogs that use it and seeing all the photographs etc. Do I love and appreciate the masters at it? Oh yes! I hope I've never come off as a " I know what I'm doing", cause the only thing I can say is: Thank goodness for good cameras and auto-focus! I have a long way to go to getting better at it, but I'm ok with that...

And so are my minis :)

* Warning.... a bit wordy coming up ....

As for more about me? Hmmm, I know that my side bar profile doesn't say much, but I think what I blog about every week says a lot about me. Yes, it's mostly my "happy place" , but I've pretty much covered how life is going during those posts too. During the weeks after my Fathers passing, my blogging friends and friends I see every week are what got me through that tough time. But for the most part, I am what I blog. Happy. ;) I also updated my link to the post "about me" this week, { at the top of the page } not to just address her email, but because I hadn't done it in a while and life has changed a bit :) I understand the curiosity, because I feel it too. I have blogs that I visit every week {and hope to have time to comment more} and after visiting for years, I'd still like to know more. We are all connected in so many ways and so alike in many ways too. Or at least from the blogs I read I see this. And that's the fun part. It's like a sisterhood. I love that. But it would be super neat to have a blogging Friends party and we'd all sit around and have coffee across the table from one another. When I read that people meet up at the events , I think that's really neat. And I bet we'd find out we already knew a lot about each other from what we read.

So that's kinda my point, I am pretty much exactly what I blog about. Some blogs are all about being a Mom, and some are about fashion, etc. Of course I'm a mom and I love fashion, Romance, boating, going out for girls night, and so much more, but my little blog can only hold so much :) I share a bit of what I do every day and share a fabulous link now and then , post about my Miniatures, post about cooking, crafts and design, That's me :) This "wanting" to know and understand made me think I should have a Blog party and use Mr. Linky , and we all could tell a " day in the life" tale for an ordinary day... BUT, guess what? I don't have a clue how to do Mr. Linky lol, I looked it up one day and got lost in the directions. Ok that says a bit about me too :)

I'll stick to my 9-5 job of making miniatures {sometimes that is 5am-7pm} , it depends on how the creativity flows and if I have to cook that night :) But if anyone knows how to use Mr. Linky and you like the idea, I'll do it if you can explain how I set it up! :) Or you all could just make your next post a "More about me" {you} and we'll keep it simple :) But just to answer what my life is like {right now} I'll do it here...In a day/time version...

For those of you that know me and follow me, it's about what's in the above picture and will be for a long long time, because it's what I love doing. But here is my day , broken down to short words as to not bore you :) These are weekdays btw....weekends are for freedom....lol, orrrrrr NOT, like maybe running around doing all I put off all week :)

5am: Iphone goes off to tell me to get my daughter up { love my iphone } for school. {the boys take care of themselves , or they better, they are adults on their way out of the nest! :)

5:30 Make Melanie tea or coffee and keep reminding her how much time till the bus comes, while downing my first cup of coffee and turning on the morning news. Look over my "list" for the day and keep hoping the coffee will work :)

6:45 Melanie is gone with a kiss and hug and "have a fun day" sweetie moment! {Me? I'm thankful not to have to go to school, and the coffee's working! }

7am-3pm: Calling Mom to say Good Morning , Miniature making, feeling very Zen and creative, phone interruptions, {but not the one from Mom lol} Going on facebook to say hello to friends and see what's new, More miniature making , quick lunch at 1, maybe a few errands , and then back for more creating. { This is basically 3-4 days a week, but with my Mom living close now, we go out to lunch, shopping, or to Micheal's or the miniature supply store together too}

3pm- 5:30: Time to think of what to cook, but it usually doesn't get cooked till 5. With older boys, they are usually in and out all day , at college classes or working, so it's mostly just Melanie and I until my middle son Kyle is back home to be my night-time TV buddy :) Eat dinner, wind down, or......wind up and call my BFF to go get a glass of wine {around once a week-wish for more lol} and then 7-8pm, I'm done. I love watching TV about this time and just sit with the kids and hang out relaxing. I interupt this with a bit of "Melanie, how's your homework coming along?" :)

9pm: I'm usually in bed, I love getting up early, it's my favorite time of the day.

Weekends? Dinner party's , going out with the kids, running errands, cooking big Sunday dinners, making Sauce {I'm Italian and French lol} watch movies, friends and family time. Although, lately, truth be told, I sneak in some miniature making time too :)

Little tidbits: I'm afraid of flying, I love spell check and need it, I hate spiders, I love horses, I'm a romantic and believe in always seeing the positive spin on things, I've been told by everyone close to me that I wear rosey colored glasses very often :) I went to college to be a Journalist { but I wasn't very good at that} so I took to Design instead, I don't think I could have a "Boss" I'd go stir crazy if I did, I love having girls night on my patio with little white lights and candles and good wine, my mother would tell you I procrastinate, I'll tell you it's probably true, I'm a day dreamer, I don't like too much sleep it only makes me more tired lol, I love good cheeses, I wish I lived in Italy, I love a beach picnic , I should work out more, I miss my Father, I adore my Mother, and I wish my sister lived closer. That about sums it up, well not really, but it's a bit more than maybe you knew :)

And that ... is it.... I am happy with that, it's actually what I've always wanted :) Of course I don't need to say that those days can get thrown to the wolves sometimes, as _ _ _ _ happens , to every one :) But that's basically all about ME, what about YOU?? I'd love to hear!!

Oh yes, and one last disclosure , this is my life now that my kids are basically grown :) I'd have to create an entire blog about raising children for everything that happened over 25 years before this , but I have a feeling you know how that goes :)

I love miniature cakes too ;)

OK now that I've got that behind me, I have to go cook dinner and make my Spring Cleaning list! Which is a lot of fun once it's done, and "in-thought" too, I don't know about the actions of doing it this week, this post wore me out lol! Thanks for listening and I hope now you know a little more about me :)

Love you all!

Hugs, Cynthia xo

~ Spring Fever ~

2011-02-20T13:19:00.022-05:00

It's a bit of Spring fever and mini fever too :) The other day we actually hit 65 degrees! It felt like 80 to me and the air was just so sweet and earthy scented, what a treat! It was a busy week in my Mini-Studio and to have the windows open and the breeze coming through was probably the best seasonal feeling I've felt in a long time! I hope you all had a taste of it where you live too! It kept me motivated to create with that feeling in mind...and the pictures below of my new miniatures hopefully captured that. They are all sold already, but Spring and Summery colors have always been the colors I decorate my Home with and my "tiny" things with too, so creating these gave me a sense of real happiness this week!

I like to "name" and "title" my Bakery tables and Kitchen islands. They all hold a special place in my heart and when they go to such wonderful new homes it's my way of sending them off with something permanent from me :) Below and above the tables are named: Summer Breeze, Bakers Garden, and Simply Divine.... They are being shipped out this week to where I know they will be loved as much as I loved making them...

Each time I create something , I first have to be inspired ... as anyone does who designs their own items...and blogland is certainly full of inspiring, incredible people and talent!

Color is huge for me, and my own Home has to be flooded with flowers and pastels and hints of strong popping pretties, all rolled into one room. It's the same with my miniatures. The Spring issue of Flea Market style sure did it for me this week, I saw the cover and then used what I love, remembered the feelings and emotions of Spring and out came new inspiration! It'll cause a stir in my big girl home too, because many of the things I create, I want to see every day in my home accents and designs. So once the Spring is settled here and the windows can stay open? I intend to create new feelings with fresh pops of color and design and do that Spring cleaning that I'm actually looking forward too! ( That's proof of such a bad long winter lol )

So here's a little bit of what I was up to this week..... Mini Fever style :)

I took my first attempt at lemons in miniature and was pleasantly surprised with the results..

I've used lemons in my home as a way to bring that pop of natural yellow on my own kitchen island, so I was determined to see in miniature. It's funny because it was years ago that I was watching Oprah and they showed her home filled with different ways she used natural fruit as decoration.... but with 3 grown-up kids, that never lasts long here :) but I loved how she had them placed in vases that were filled with water and THEN added the flowers. I love that :) Or had them filling up bowls in the living room etc. So fresh and colorful looking! So I needed some on my mini islands too...and my kids can't eat them and make them disappear here :)

I'm still filled with so much inspiration and mini making ideas, and with the hope of Spring "staying"? I think I will be very happy doing it all day long :)

I hope you find inspiring ideas everywhere......outside, inside, in a book, in a blog, in a smile, in a friend, to find a little bit of bliss in your day too!

Happy ALMOST Spring!!! :)

Love,

Cynthia xo

~ I Heart ~

2011-02-10T09:16:00.029-05:00

Hello Friends! With Valentines Day right around the corner, I thought I'd share some things I love :) First off, I love that we haven't had any snow storms this week! That's wonderful to me :) I was able to do a little shopping for myself, another wonderful thing I love. I am feeling Spring around the corner too and even though we still have snow on the ground, if I can't have Spring "outside" yet, I can certainly have it "inside". I found this pretty dishtowel at Tattered Goods, what pretty things she has! Plus there's something about crisp white that I love and if there's roses on something and a little blue, all the better!

I think she fits nicely on my island, don't you? It was meant to be :)

I also "Heart" me some Home Goods... The tray below was a recent find and again, pink roses always find their way into my shopping cart :)

And of course, I totally "Heart" Lidy's French Garden House, the pink mercury glass votive and soft burlap cotton pillow with sweet ruffles on my sofa are from her gorgeous shop!

I Heart white Swiss Dot curtains too, but I haven't purchased them yet, I'm thinking of changing out the ones in my Living Room to these from Country Curtains, they speak Spring and Summer to me for sure! Plus they are so easy to wash .... Hmmmm? I think I'm convincing myself they are a must :)

Anytime I'm longing for Spring, I grab a few quiet moments and a cup of tea or a glass of wine ( depending on the time of day lol ) and open up one of my Susan Branch books. I know I talk a lot about her, but if anyone has been an influence on me over the years as a Designer and Homemaker, it's her. She's also been a source of inspiration for my Miniatures too. I "Heart" picnics and beautiful weather, and her books bring me there when it's still cold out and give me hope :)

I also Heart Janet Hill.... I purchased some art from her a couple of years ago, and it hangs in my Kitchen and just touches my heart. Her oil paintings have a way of speaking to my very soul. My domestic/ cake loving/kitchen/bakery loving soul :) I had the honor of Designing a Bakery a few years back and it was one of my favorite Design Consults. The scents, the warmth , and the sweet side of that place still makes my mouth water up with sweetness! This painting that Janet did, reminds me of that very place :) It's on my "wish" list now :)

I "Heart" my new Miniature Bakery labels too :) Gotta love Photo-shop! Now I can send out Thank you notes with a touch of my own style.. Do you like them?

And last but NOT least, I completely "Heart" making Miniatures. But I think you know that already :)

I feel so blessed to be able to do something I love so much. Each customer has been so wonderful to work with and design for! After 20 years in the Design field, this has been a real pleasure and I look forward to each day that involves designing small things now instead of large :) These items below are sold already but it's what's been keeping my fingers very busy and happy lately!

I so heart the little towels below, designing in 1:12 scale is so wonderfully stress free, it's "Zen" to me....ok opps, not 100%. Truth be told, by hands could be 1" scale and that would certainly help a lot :) Then it would be a "perfect" job, but nothings perfect, so I'll take my hands as they are and keep doing what I love any day!

I really love filling my Etsy shop and creating for it , and I also love getting custom orders and this one below was such a pleasure to do. I normally paint everything I make , I am pastel crazy for sure, but this was a special request to make a vintage Flour Hutch for a customer and she wanted it to replicate her Grandmothers Hutch. So I left it in the wood tone she remembered. After I received her requests, I tried to imagine it all together and the days she spent there and what she did and saw and felt. After I made it and she bought it, I received such a beautiful note of Thanks that we both got emotional over it. Now, that is why I'm so passionate about what I do. I hope she enjoys it for years to come. It was an honor to make a customer that happy!

I've so enjoyed sharing what I love , so Thank you to you all for being there and listening and stopping in!

I completely HEART all of you!!

I hope you have a wonderful and beautiful and loving Valentines Day!

Much love and appreciation,

Cynthia xo

~ A new look, a new mini and a Winner! ~

2011-01-29T14:58:00.011-05:00

Hello everyone! First I'd like to thank you all for your sweet comments and for entering my Mini Give-away! Your comments about my miniatures warmed my heart for sure! I've been working on some custom orders all week and thought I'd share a favorite of mine. This shabby pale blue hutch has been sent out already but I adored making it, as I do with all the miniatures I make. When I design them, I often wish I could re-do all the life size ones this way also :). Maybe I'll repaint and design my own hutches when the snow thaws and the weather gets me motivated :)

For now, I'll stick with baking miniatures , creating designs, and because we were snowed in most of the week, I even found a bit of time for a blog re-new. I needed something a little lighter and brighter for spring and a bit of my pale blue back too! Thank you to Susan Branch for allowing me to use a pattern she painted in one of her books as my new background, I love it Susan! You're the sweetest and the bestest :)!! I added a new blog button on my side bar , so for those of you that would like to change out my old one or add this one, feel free to use it!

And now it's time to announce the Winner for my give-away: ( I used the Random Generator) and the number that came up was 10....

So .....Congratulations goes out to: Janet at Cottage Blessings ..... You are the winner! Please send me your address via email so I can get your goodies out to you!

Thank you so much everyone for participating! I honestly wish you all could have won, because each of you is a gift every day from blogland!

I hope you are all enjoying a better winter than we are :) We've had record snow this month in January and the mounds of snow exceed my height many times over, which makes seeing a Spring flower pretty far off from here. But I have hope.... and I'm hanging in there... waiting and waiting... making my miniatures, cleaning out rooms, trying to navigate the roads, chopping ice off the deck, eating a little too much, baking a little too much lol and just generally WAITING for that Spring air to make it's way here........ one day :)

Have a lovely weekend friends!

Hugs,

Cynthia xo

~ My first miniature give-away ~

2011-01-20T22:41:00.019-05:00

This is my first "Miniature" give-away!

I've done many big -girl give-away's and figured it's a perfect time to do a mini one now! As always , it's my way to Thank all of you for being such wonderful friends and followers!

Even though it seems miniatures have taken over my blog somewhat, I'm still itching to do many posts on my usual design inspirations and before and afters and posts on my Cottage home life too. But yes, miniatures are for now , the nicest way to get through the winter here in snowy NY. The fun thing about doing them is, I can use such pretty spring colors and live vicariously through the scene's I create. So I've decided to create a little vignette and give it away as "hope for spring" package :)

My Miniature give-away includes the miniatures above.... A beautiful granny apple green mini Le Creuset dutch oven {which doesn't open, sorry, I wish it did too :), it's actually a refrigerator magnet} , A pink depression glass mini plate with pretty lace edging, a Jadeite copy candlestick, A small bakery island hand-painted with pink roses and vines ( a little smaller than 1" scale because I believe this is meant to be a "kneading table" and lower in height ) A beautiful pink and white pottery bowl, ( just like a Pyrex ), a pretty pink striped napkin, a spring green polka dot plate topped with a vanilla cupcake and rose, a sweet little sugar bowl with cherries, and last but not least , a cupcake blackboard sign :)

Btw, you don't have to have a dollhouse or room box to enjoy Miniatures! I think they make wonderful little pieces of art and a great conversation pieces anywhere in your home. I took this picture below to show you how I sometimes display my own miniatures.....

Here are some up-close photos of the table and items...

A yummy vanilla butter-cream cupcake, just for you :)

And this is an up-close shot of the pretty detail in this miniature Le Creuset...so cute , huh?!

And now ,on to the easy rules...Just leave me a comment and you're entered. I'm going for the simple one this time, no fuss, no work :)

I'll draw a name on January 29th and close out the give-away at 9am ( Eastern time ) on that day...

That's it, simple and sweet :)

I hope you are all having a wonderful week! It's another snow day here today and really pretty and sunny too... the snow is sparkling :) If we "have" to have so much snow, lol, then it might as well sparkle!!

Here's a bit of cake to leave you with , perfect for the hips :)

Have a great weekend everyone and thank you for being such sweet friends!!

Love,

Cynthia xo

~ Some sweetness for January ~

2011-01-07T10:21:00.026-05:00

Hi sweet friends! Happy 2011 to all of you and blessings for a great New year ahead!

It's snowing here again in NY today and we're heading into that January and February without the holidays to look forward to, so for me, that means a long 2 months :) I start longing for Spring about the day after Christmas. So I've hunkered myself down and decided to make Miniatures for the duration of time between now and when I can smell the first hints of Spring. That's a lot of Mini making :) In-between I have a few goals: Re-do the boys bedroom, clean out closets and misc. drawers filled with old paperwork and broken pens. Get in tip top shape , and stick to miniature sweets instead of the real ones :) If I do all this by the end of February, I'll be very happy :) Here's a little picture tour of what I've been up to. I've re-stocked my Etsy store.... found some fabulous new ( to me ) blogs for inspiration, and a few other goodies I'd love to share. Hope you enjoy.....

A sweet little Bakers table that is already sold, but I had so much fun making it...I named her "Homemakers Heaven" :)

Some very tiny cookies....

An assortment of sweets that keep my tiny fingers very busy ...

A pink frosted yellow cake with zero calories...

And a girls gotta have some chocolate too :)

Is that enough sweetness for ya? :) There's more in my shop and hopefully much more to come in January!

Now on to more sweets...... Just when I think I have seen every decorating blog out there, I find another and this SWEETNESS I just had to share.......It's called The Yvestown Blog and she is such a talented photographer, decorator and has so much eye candy it was hard to chose what to highlight! The next few pictures are just a sampling of her work and journey. Click on her link and you can see for yourself what talent she possesses... It's all soooooooo sweet! She makes me want to re-organize my whole house :)

I'm loving the clean, yet cozy, sweet of white and accessories popping with pastels...

Can I fall in love with a plastic basket? Omg, yes.....

Isn't it all so lovely?!

Now this makes me long for Spring.....

Her blog is a must read for inspiration and do- it- yourself beauty! I hope you enjoyed just a taste and visit her for more....

Now on to my last "sweetness" find for the week.... I was searching for some inspiration to make Miniature cake stands and came upon these below. I will certainly have a challenge trying to make handmade cake stands ahead, but I'm meeting it with enthusiasm after seeing these! Not to mention the fact that I wish I had her entire collection on my "big girl" hutch shelves :)

I love the color of this one....

and these ...

and how sweet is this!?.....

To see the rest of her pretties, here's the link to her Etsy store: Vesselsandwares

Well it's off to go start some more Minis, I hope you have a wonderful week and that 2011 is already treating you great!

Thank you so much for all your comments and friendship in 2010! I look forward to 2011 with all of you!

Hugs and love,

Cynthia