Miniature Patchwork Cushion

This morning I checked my email and discovered that, as I slept, my little miniature embroidered crazy silk cushion had sold to a buyer in the US.

This is a lovely little cushion, one of the first I stitched and I had mixed feelings as I placed it in the box to post to its new owner in USA. Most of my miniature pieces are put up for auction or sale as soon as they are finished, if I don't, I get a little attached as they begin to look more and more at home in my own collection.

However I make these miniatures with the view in mind that they will be part of, and belong in other collections. There is something very satisfying about that for me too.

The sale also reminded also that I had not yet blogged about my recent trip to Arbroath and the wonderful group of ladies who invited me to do a 'workshop with them on the 'Crazy Patchwork Cushion' on Sunday 11th May. 'The Angus Puffins' as they are collectively known, made me feel very welcome and we had a very busy day cutting our, piecing and stitching. I must say that only 3 of the ladies were accomplished needle workers the other ladies some had stitched before and some hadn't so on the whole it was a very tricky & in their own words 'challenging' workshop. I had not taught this particular workshop before and so it was a learning curve for me also. I think we all had a lovely day, the buffet lunch was delicious which was provided by all, consisted of two delicious home made quiche and a selection of mixed salads. Dessert was absolutely out of this word creamy raspberry cheesecake which was about 3 inches thick (probably added the same to my waistline) and a lovely bowl of fruit salad with lots of berries which gave it a lovely crimson colour and taste devine.I learned a lot from teaching the workshop I learned that not everything that I take for granted is easy for other people to do & that they might want to go about it in a different way. I also learned that it is better to buy packets of Bondaweb rather than 'off the roll' as it separates and causes all sort of problems. ...... if any of the ladies are reading this, I thought about the problem all the way home and I now know there is a better way to get around it and not loose tiny sections of almost invisible Bondaweb when the backing doesn't want to stay put! I also learned that there are so many different colour combinations possible with these little cushions, no two ladies had the same set of colours or indeed matched with the same threads and it was lovely to see the variation and how it can be used to design a cushion for any time period in the miniature world. Well done to ladies who had never sewn before I was very impressed with their results! Although none were completed by the time I left, the ladies have assured me that they will all complete their cushion projects and send me some pictures so I look forward to that.The other reason for this post is to say that after all the writing of the tutorial for the Dolls House & Miniature scene magazine (issue # 160 ~ still available on back issue) and doing the workshop I have been working on & hope to make this available as my 5th kit & 1st embroidery kit very soon.

Watch this space .........

Miniature Embroidery Project Featured

The current issue of Dolls House & Miniature Scene ( June issue #168) features my Silk Embroidered Handbag & Shoes Project. I'm delighted with the layout which features a pictorial step by step guide in which I take you through the making of these tiny 12Th scale pieces.

This is a great issue which features a 16 page supplement of embroidery projects. The new issue is due out on the shelves May 22nd so if you want to get a copy of this issue before it leaves the shelves you better be quick!

You can of course order back issues but they do sometimes sell out.....

I made Etsy Front Page!

I was totally delighted to find out that my little Hand Embroidered Iris Cushion made Etsy's Front Page yesterday and a very kind fellow Etsian
'Inediblejewelry' was kind enough to save and send me a screen shot thank you Jessica you made my day!

Click on the pic for a closer look......

Miniature Hand Embroidered Cushions

A selection of tiny hand embroidered cushions

I have just listed these on ebay > Boxoftrixminis

Ring of Roses ~ Yellow

Ring of Roses ~ Pink

Tudor Rose

.....and my favourite flower ~ Iris

Chocolate Box Kit in DHMS

I could not contain the big beamy smile that swept accross my face in the middle of WH. Smith's as I quickly found the page and started reading the review about my '12th Scale Miniature Chocolate Box Kit' written by Ann Sutcliffe in the current issue (#163 January) of Dolls House & Miniature Scene.

The Boxoftrix Chocolate box kit was my very first kit designed in 2004 & is still my best selling kit to date. I guess there are a lot of miniature chocolate lovers out there.... :o)

I'm still so very proud of this kit and since this is it's 3rd successful review. I think it deserves a mention and posting on my blog...... a little bit of blowing my own trumpet!

A huge thank you to Ann Sutcliff and Dolls House Miniature Scene magazine :o)

The Chocolate Box kit which contains enough materials and full step by step instructions to make and fill 3 different shaped chocolate boxes.....including a tiny selection of miniature chocolates which are handmade by myself from polymer clay.

The kit is available to purchase in my ETSY shop, my CDHM Gallery & on EBAY

Have a lovely day all :o)

Embroidered Poppies & Stargazer Lillies

I was so delighted to hear that a little commission I worked on last month and posted around the same time as the postal strike has finally arrived safe and well at its destination in USA. So now I can show it here its called 'Californian Poppies'

I enjoyed stitching the Poppies onto the black background so much that I started another right away this time 'Stargazer Lillie's'

This one is for sale more details in my CDHM gallery.

Christmas Miniatures

In preparation for Christmas I have designed a new kit. It comes in a choice of 3 different colours, green, silver or white. With all the materials, instructions, including helpful pictures and template it shows how to make a lovely little Christmas tree for your dolls house or miniature scene. I have been looking forward to getting this little kit done and now its finally finished I'm delighted with it! See them for sale in my CDHM kits gallery

I'm also pleased to show off my new little embroidered hand embroidered

'Christmas Berries' cushion.

This tiny cushion measures on 1&1/2 inch square and has tiny silk handmade tassels.

I know its a little early for Christmas but some miniature minded people like to get there dollhouse's decorated in time for Christmas too!

You can see more of my tiny embroidered miniature items in my CDHM needlework Gallery

Miniature Embroidery ~ Calla Lily

I was delighted when Jayne, the winner of the hanging basket competition choose her subject for the hand embroidered miniature picture.......

A single Calla Lily hand embroidered onto a hand painted cotton background.

Miniature Hanging Basket Winners!

Here are the winners of the hanging basket competition.

It was so difficult to decide on the final winners from the entries received.

So much time and effort had clearly been put into these lovely little baskets & they were all wonderful.

1st Prize ~ Jayne Price

I think Jayne has made an excellent job of making up her Pyramid basket from the kit & she has filled it with a beautiful selection of eyecatching colourful blooms & well placed trailing plants.

Jayne says she had great fun with the kit which was very satisfying to make.

Congratulations & well done Jayne!

1st prize is a commissioned hand embroidered miniature picture.

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2nd Prize ~ Sharon Blackburn

Sharon handmade these beautiful fern leaves to fill her cone shaped basket.

I think it's full look is wonderful. Chosen for its different approach and originality I like the fullness of this foliage filled basket.

Sharon says 'I really enjoyed making the basket kit and I'm very pleased with the results'

Congratulations & well done Sharon!!

2nd Prize is £20 to spend on any Boxoftrix Miniature or Kits

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3rd Prize ~ Sue Wakefield

Although I had originally intended to have only 2 prizes, one for each of the basket shapes provided in the kit, I decided to award a 3rd prize for this lovely basket.

Sue says it took her enough time just to make the one basket which she filled with flowers made from kits it's the first time she has made anything really as she is quite new to it all!!

well I think its lovely & like her use of colourful flowers and trailers. Well done Sue!!

3rd Prize is £10 to spend on any Boxoftrix miniatures or Kits

Hanging Baskets

I'm running a competition with my 12Th scale Dolls house hanging basket kits at the moment. It's a great little kit to make up using the card templates, Jute and wire hangers which I personally make up for each kit. It has very clear step by step instructions & there is even a bag of soil to fill the baskets with for that realistic look. Each kit has two different shaped baskets.

Once you have made these little baskets up you will want to make more they are so much fun to do.

The best bit is filling the baskets with your chosen flowers & fauna. These can be your own from paper punch cut outs or tiny silk flowers or dried flowers. There are of course some lovely flower kits out there too! ...perhaps you might want to put something else in the basket....it up to you

To enter the competition you just make up the kit, fill and take pictures send me the pictures with the unique entry number supplied with each kit. I'm looking for nice pictures to promote the kit and they may be used on the kit pack. You have 2 basket & 2 chances to win !!

The prize ~ A hand embroidered commissioned miniature picture ~ winners choice!

Second prize is £20 voucher towards any Boxoftrix miniature purchase.

See the links at the side for where to buy the kit.

Pictures to be submitted by 31st August so theres still lots of time!

I hope you will join in the fun...........