Scene: Ballet shop

This had been some time almost finished but a couple of days ago it finally was.  Since yesterday we were so busy with the Alien screen, I did not have time to take pictures.  But now is here!

A new scene that I absolutely love: the Ballet shop!

The logo is from an actual ballet shop in Murcia

I just love crafting these little shops!  A lovely scene so well contained, but with a lot of details and that I can actually hang in my wall, so it won't take up any shelf space.

The actual shop comes from Tienda de Casitas.  I find it so pretty, so affordable, and you can actually start decorating the same day you get it because, it just doesn't need anything else!  It opens on the back and it has a "glass" covering the window so nothing gets dusty.

Some things hidden behind the door

 

The tutu comes from Tienda de Casitas.  The hat boxes and the little pink boxes are from Zena Miniatures.

The ballet art posters on the wall come from Etsy.  The pointe shoes in the boxes and the ones in the dome are from Art of Mini.  In fact, they have a lovely section full of ballet items!  The converitble tights come also from Zena Miniatures.

The magazine holder I made myself, and you can find HERE the free printie to make ballet magazines.  The three nutcrackers are also from Art of Mini.  The mugs and the notepad I made myself.  Blue boxes from Zena Miniatures.

The nutcraker pillow came from La Belle Cuisine By Me; the rocking nutcraker was a gift from Nalladris; the suitcases are again from Art of Miniatures, available in the Ballet section; I made the DVDs myself with actual ballet DVD covers, as well as the ballet book (a gift from my husband); and you can get the ballet coloring books HERE.

I love how it came out!  

Absinthe makes a comeback

It was a loooong time since I dedicated a post to absinthe.  

Recently I started perusing the webs again for old absinthe friends, and found the Wormwood Society on Facebook, as well as a page for Absinthe Originals.  I lost no time in requesting membership, and it was graciously granted.

I shared this pic of a marvelous absinthe spoon made by the talented Nalladris:

It measures about 1 cm, and it is made of sterling silver.

I was happy to see that people was very accepting and engaging on Facebook posts, so in the last days I have made a re-connection to all things absinthe.  I started ordering a new absinthe bottle (Francois Guy), a spoon and a mini-spoon keyring from Absinthes.com; it followed an order from Absinthe Originals; this time, a Losanges 37 spoon:

Picture from the Absinthe Originals website

Then, the book Absinthe Antiques by Scott MacDonald - which is beautiful to look at.  And thanks to Facebook, I have found a vendor that had my much sought-after Cordon glass (on its way here).  And today I was very bad, and purchased a new book and two more antiques - more info on that when they arrive...

The thing is, I love absinthe spoons, but I barely use them anymore - I like my absinthe now without any sugar.  But they are so lovely that I wanted a way to display and enjoy them.  Up until this weekend, they were sitting inside an spoon holder (a pewter goblet I purchased in Virginia).  But I had an idea that would make a pretty and affordable display to showcase them.

I went to the equivalent of a dollar tree store, and bough a picture frame meant for photographs - you display them by hanging them in a cord with clothespins; well, I removed the cords, and covered the bottom of the frame with adhesive cork sheets:

And used brass tacks to hold the spoons in place.  I wanted to be able to remove them, for show or for using to drink a glass of absinthe - one never knows.

Trying out the brass tacks

It was easy and simple.  I just hammered them down a bit - since the spoons are not heavy at all, the tacks did not even pass the back part of the frame.  And lo and behold, I loved how it turned out!

You can see the new Losanges spoon at the bottom

I love the organic feeling of the cork.  Absinthe bottles are always closed with cork, so that is a bonus!

I am currently working on a hand-made journal for all things absinthe.  More on that very soon!

An Egyptian necklace

Today I found Kassandra very busy, getting ready what seemed to be a gift box.

"A late Solstice present?", I asked.

"Exactly that", she said.  "It has come all the way from Netherlands, and it got stuck in the Postal Service office.  I am getting it all prettied up to give to a very special woman.  She is Egyptian, so I am sure she is going to appreciate the design.  It is the Egyptian goddess Isis.  The artist that made it is extraordinarily talented".

"I am sure your friend will love it. "

Tom Bishop Show!

My mom and I went to Tom Bishop Show last Saturday morning.  And it was awesome, as always. 

We met a lovely woman and her son.  She told us that she had to be on sick leave this year, and that that made it the perfect moment to start her dream of having a dollhouse.  Of course, she was ecstatic when she saw all the beautiful things the show had to offer her.  We hope we can met them again next year.

Here are the treasures I brought home.  These are a pair of DIY kits from Nalladris:

An enchanting greenhouse from Minis By Angie:

It even opens!

 A pitcher and a pillow from Pilar Alén Miniaturas:

A lot of bowls and glass bottles (for the soap shop), and planters (to make plants for the greenhouse) from Chic Dollhouse:

A couple of jars for the soap shop from Viliaminiature:

A lovely pair of domes from 64tnt Miniaturas:

I am still unsure about what to do with the empty one

And I could not let the show pass without visiting Beatricce Miniaturas.  My mom gifted me the caramel-colored jar:

Some of them are already in their final place.  Others, I am still thinking about.  Have you been to any shows lately?

A gift for Kassandra

A couple of days ago Kassandra got a parcel in the mail:

I was with her when it arrived and I asked if I was allowed to stay while she opened it.  She said of course, and proceed to cut off the packaging tape.  She was very pleased when she saw it was a gift box:

"Undoubtedly, a gift from my husband", she said.  "How do you know?", I asked.  "The packaging is too gothic-looking to be from anyone else.  He knows I appreciate how gifts were wrapped in the past.  And there is no note, which is very like him.  But of course, I can be mistaken."

And then she proceeded to open the box:

"Oh, is not it delightful?", she exclaimed.  "It is beautiful", I said.  "And it suits you very well.  Your husband has very good taste."

She tried it on, and she looked like royalty.  I left her very happy:

I found out that the necklace comes from Nalladris, and the talented Sun is the maker.  I am sure Kassandra will be getting more pieces from there very soon.

Also, Sun will be coming to Madrid in the upcoming Tom Bishop Show in November.  I will be happy to chat with her again!

Tom Bishop's Show - a lot later than it should have been

It has been a very busy December.  Happy New Year everyone!!

With the moving, the setting up the new home, IKEA purchases and family gatherings, I have not had a moment of rest.  I was so very eager to share what I got at Tom Bishop's show, and I have not had the time until now.  But finally! Here are all the goodies:

A lot of stuff from Sophia Miniatures.  You can find all the things in the picture in her shop.  The flower candles are real wax with a wick!

A wonderful medieval candelabra from the talented Nalladris.  I had the chance to chat with her for some minutes, and she is so delightful and kind.  It was truly a pleasure to meet her.

A sack of spices from Gemma Such.  I own several pieces from this artist, she is so talented for  country-style stuff!

A pot of mushrooms from 64tnt Miniatures.

Another open book, and a fish fossil and precious stone.  I cannot find the cards from these artists, so if this is your work, please contact me and I'll be happy to credit you and link to your shop.

And finally, more glass laboratory goodies: glass containers, a jar with pipettes, and a test tube rack from Beatricce Miniaturas.  I am running out of room to put them, but I just love them so much, they are incredibly realistic!  The little glass bottle with the cork will go to a very special project I am working on.

I also got a black LED chandelier, to replace one that I had and stopped working.  This one was an unexpected purchase that my budget was not ready for, because I expected to buy one online later on, but I got a very good price and, naturally, no shipping charges.

I also bought some supplies to make parchment documents and books, and miniature glass bottles for future apothecary cabinets.  And of course, it was a pleasure to talk with María José and Mónica from LugArtpetit (the makers of my bonsais).

I just learned that there is another miniature show in Madrid in February, so I hope I can attend that one as well.

In the following days I hope I can post pictures of my life-size house.  I am very happy how everything turned out now that we have finally finished.