And welcome to Jenny too

Hi Jenny, welcome and thank you for becoming my newest follower on this blog.  I hope you had the time to have a bit of a look around and that you enjoyed what you saw.  Please do come again.  I found Jenny's blog (http://jennsminis.wordpress.com/category/half-inch-scale) when a friend, Esther, gave me the link, saying she had found another Fairfield link.  I loved what I saw so much that I had to go right back to the

beginning of the posts about Jenny's Fairfield and I read all the way through to the newest post.  Then I spent ages looking (and yes, I did leave comments) at posts about other projects.  

Jenny does lovely work and her finished projects are simply beautiful - she adds lots of accessories that really add realism to her rooms.  I must learn from the example of people who do this, to give my projects more charm.  So far I have often neglected this aspect because I have moved on to other projects.  And only going to a miniature show once a year (or once every few years lately), I am not being exposed to those little extras that you see at fairs and just know that they belong to a particular scene.  I hope I will get to next year's fair - the ferry from Tasmania arrives in Melbourne on 1st May (early in the morning) and it is around a 10 hour drive if you don't take a break, from Melbourne to Sydney.   It will take us two days, towing the caravan and taking brief breaks for lunch etc.  Peter and I will alternate driving, doing stretches of 2 hours each.  The Sydney fair is on 3rd & 4th May, with setup taking place on 2nd May if you are displaying.  Hmmmmm.

And welcome to some more new followers

Thank you Elizabeth, Diva and De for signing up as followers to this blog.  I recognize some of your names from my main blog and I'm delighted that you've joined here too.

Elizabeth's blog about her Arthur is a must-read (www.studioeminiatures.blogspot.com.au).  I am particularly fascinated because my poor Arthur which was nearly completed was trashed in storage and will need to be totally re-vamped when I am in my studio and have the room to do it.  It has turned out for the better though because it will be totally different from what it originally was and reading blogs like Elizabeth's gives me so much inspiration.  She has a talent for making the most wonderful authentic-looking items from bits of nothing

Quarter scale baby shelves 

De's latest post is a great interview with Dr Bindy (http://delightfulminis.blogspot.com.au) whose field of interest in miniatures overlaps ours.  He customizes GI Joe figures to make entirely new characters and is very skilled at doing so.  I smiled when I read that he put away his figures because they were taking up too much room, and started with smaller figures which now take up even more space - because I started on quarter scale houses because they wouldn't take up so much room and now I have so many that they take up more space than my 1/12th scale ones do lol!  I love the stonework on the shop that De is building.  She has achieved such subtle variations in the colours and made it look so natural.

Diva - you don't give a blog. Please let me know if you do have one, I'd love to return the favour and become a follower of yours too.

Once again I want to say how much I appreciate you all, my followers.  And your comments.  Without the interaction between you who are reading and myself, what is the point of posting at all?  And the feedback you give provides such a boost of energy and enthusiasm that it can't be measures.  So I thank you all!

So happy to see you here

1:48 Town Square - Dickens Toy Shop

I've been gone a while I know.  Once we returned from Grey Nomads camp we were back into trying to finish off my studio (do please have a look here ) and all efforts are going into that.  The Fairfield was put into its perspex case to keep it safe while we were away so it is hard to get to it now and I have packed up all my tools and equipment ready to move them into the studio.  You can imagine how impatient I am to get them out and start working on it again!  And yes, I am being very good and not going on with something else in the meantime which would be my usual strategy and why I have so many UFOs :-)

But having a look at the blog this morning I see that some new followers have joined - thank you so very much and welcome, welcome, welcome!
CrisColas - I enjoyed browsing your sales blogs but couldn't access your other blog since it is by invitation only.
'PontesPontes'- is an interesting name.  I put it into Google translate and it came out as Bridges, Bridges.  You don't list a blog - please let me know if you do have one.
Agnieszka - has a blog http://miniatureavenue.blogspot.com.au which showcases her marvellous figures.  Agnieszka has been features in the UK magazine Dollhouse and Miniature Scene and she certainly deserves the tribute to her skill as an artisan.  I started to read your blog Agnieszka and was so engrossed that I read right through to the beginning!  I am fascinated by your enchanting figures and just blown away by your talent.
Doortje - has a blog http://rdoortjesminis.blogspot.com.au and at the moment she is making beautiful items for her lavender shop.  Doortje your shop will be filled with gorgeous goodies.  I love lavender and in fact have just planted two of them outside my studio.  Entering a RL lavender shop is an experience I really enjoy  and the variety of goodies you can fill your shop with is almost endless.

I am so happy that you have all chosen to follow this blog and I hope you will visit often and leave comments with suggestions, constructive criticism or encouragement as I continue my halfscale journey with the Fairfield and other halfscale projects.  I really appreciate and value comments of all kinds.

Welcome Hannah and Sandi

... to the halfscale Fairfield blog!  I am so happy that you decided to join us here.  I hope you'll visit often and leave lots of comments to encourage me along the way.  I depend on my online friends for feedback because    apart from my son, none of my family are in the least bit interested and with Nathan it is more a matter of helping by doing 90% rather than working alongside him.

Hannah, you don't list a blog.  Do you have one?  If so, please let me know.

Sandie has a blog called whimsycottageminis.blogspot.com.au and sells some great miniature fabric of her own design.  I have bought some on Etsy from her, to use in the Fairfield and in other mini projects.  Her designs were in 1:12th scale but she reduced some of them to 1:24th scale for me and has added these to her range.  This is the halfscale version of the ladybug quilt set for the girl's room.

I have a selection of the 'Trucks' fabrics for a boy's room, for covers and cushions.

And this gorgeous blue fabric with a white lattice pattern is actually the 1:12th scale version but it is small enough to use in half scale and probably even in quarter scale projects.  I will be using this fabric to upholster a lounge suite and make curtains.

I am really sorry that the lovely blue of this fabric doesn't show to its best effect in this photo - it is such a pretty colour.

Do visit WhimsyCottageMinis on Etsy and see what Sandi has for sale, and also visit her blog - she is a talented miniaturist as well.

Welcome Audra, Isobel & Hannah

Honeysuckle Cottage.  Kit from Sue Heber

Thank you all for joining as Followers of the blog.  It is very encouraging and I am grateful to all of you who become followers, read the blog and offer encouragement by leaving comments.  You all mean a lot to me - very much indeed.

Audra and Hannah, you don't list a blog - please let me know if you do have one.  Isobel has posted about welding on her blog her blog- I am envious of her creativity!  The beauty of miniatures as a hobby is that there is scope for every other sphere of artistic expression you can think of, done in miniature.

So our numbers are slowly increasing, not nearly as many as my main blog but increasing nevertheless.  And I do appreciate that you have made the effort to join.

Welcome to five more friends

It is a real pleasure to welcome Alisa, Christine, Shelby-Fay, Kundry's Miniworld and Natalia who have really made my week by joining this blog.

Alisa doesn't have a blog, Shelby-Fay and Kundry's Miniworld don't list one.  If you do have one please let me know.

Natalia  has several blogs, including one on which she shows her clever work with a scrollsaw  http://memyselfandscrollsaw.blogspot.com.au   I do admire you people who can create lovely things using those tricky machines!

Christine claims she has the slowest dollhouse build in blogland but I'm sure that's not true.  Her delightful blog is about Hollyhock Cottage, set in the 1940's  http://postwarthatchedcottage.blogspot.com.au   You squeezed in a March post Christine - nearly time for an April post :)!

I have been trying to get a good amount on the Fairfield finished to show you all but came up against some  unexpected problems.  However I hope to have them fixed by tomorrow so I can update you soon.
Until then

Welcome Sharon, Conny and Adriana

'Village Toys' - Town Square series

It's great to see the number of followers growing even if it is slowly.  Thank you to Sharon, Conny and Adriana for joining us here.

Sharon does the most wonderful work in the area of blog design (www.plumroselane.com).  I use her backgrounds for most if not all of my blogs, and as you might notice I have just purchased the personalized banner and signature for this blog too.  She is wonderful to do business with, so helpful and patient.  I love her backgrounds and am tempted to open more blogs just to use them lol!  Or maybe keep changing the backgrounds on the existing blogs would be more realistic.  So be warned Sharon, I'll be back for some banners and signatures to match some of your 'just backgrounds' lol!  Not only that but Sharon understands our passion and fascination for miniatures so that makes her pretty special as well.

Interior of 'Village Toys'

Conny is renovating a large Van Buren dollhouse and doing a very thorough job of it too.  She found it neglected and needing a home and has made many improvements to it.  She is also the author of a children's book 'One Eyed Jack', about a fish who is a modern day Sherlock Holmes.  If you visit her blog http://www.itsaminilife.blogspot.com.au you will see some great ideas for getting light into a dollshouse. You'll also find the link for buying her book if you look under the label 'My Books'.

Adriana (http://wwwminisdadrica.blogspot.br) builds the most gorgeous furniture in halfscale.  She doesn't put much text on her blog, which is a pity, but the pictures tell the story.  And there is a video showing her carving a cabriole leg from scratch in just 3 minutes or so.  Adriana is a very talented lady indeed!  Her furniture is of an excellent standard, beautifully finished.  I particularly love the chair in the latest post - it is so delicate and well balanced.  So often half scale furniture can look 'clumpy' but all of Adriana's furniture is perfectly proportioned.  


I do hope you all take time to have a look through some of this blog and that you enjoy visiting here as much as I enjoy visiting your blogs!  Please do come again and share my journey with this Fairfield.  And encourage me as I endeavour to finish it before the May fair here in Sydney.  In fact I want to finish it before Easter!  So that's even more of a challenge, isn't it?  And at the moment I'm fuzzling around not getting anywhere, so I'd appreciate a good kick or some encouragement - whichever :)

More friends have joined - welcome

A huge welcome to Norma, Contrastes-Rosa, Gleise and Alice.  It is wonderful to have the support of friends here on this new blog, and to have your encouragement as I try to complete the Fairfield right to the finish by the Sydney fair at the beginning of May.

My quarter scale Cottage Stores

My friend Norma has a great blog called  makeminemini  and I am hoping to see her French project at the fair as well - there we are Norma, a bit of a challenge.  Let me know whether you'd like to share a table with me.

Rosa Maria also has a beautiful blog contrastes-rosamaria full of lovely things.  She is makes beautiful things.

Gleise, you don't show a blog - if you have one could you please let me know?  Alice just started her blog Wisteria Lodge - An Edwardian restoration last year but she is making great progress on her Edwardian house and is obviously a very artistic person.

So thank you all for joining here, and I hope you will enjoy reading about my progress with the Fairfield and offer lots of suggestions - I'm not just saying that, I do appreciate suggestions!  And as you know I love receiving comments too because it is so encouraging to have feedback.

More friends have joined - thank you!

So lovely to see that more people are finding this new blog!  Welcome Vicki, Susan (http://minicrochetmad.blogspot.au); Otterine (http://www.otterine.com); Lisa Marie (no blog listed - please let me know if you have one!); Jennifer (www.lookingglassminiatures.com).  Vicki is a great friend from 'Snippets from my Studio' - we have so much in common in so many areas that I feel we could be twins in some ways.  The blogs are all amazing and I am ashamed that I am so behind in catching up on everyone's latest doings.  Susan does incredible crochet work, and I am the proud owner of some of her work.  Otterine builds the most amazing houses, with detail that has to be seen to be believed.  Jennifer does displays that are so intricate that every time you look at them you spend ages just looking and looking.  They are so authentic that it is impossible to believe that they are miniature and they are a 'must see' for any Harry Potter fan!  She also has a page listing half scale websites that is really helpful.

Quarter Scale Greenhouse from Petite Properties

Welcome, each of you!  Thank you so much for visiting and signing on as Followers.  I do hope that you enjoy what you see when you come and have a look.  It is soon going to get more interesting as the prep work is completed and actual construction begins.  Please feel free to leave lots of comments: feedback and constructive criticism are welcome!  It's great to know how you feel about what is happening or how you think things could be improved.

So pull up a chair, grab a cup of something tasty and enjoy.

Welcome Jan and Val!

1-12th Scale stitcher's retreat roombox

The first followers of my new blog - and dear friends!  I haven't publicized the blog yet apart from letting you both know, and faithful friends that you are, you both signed up immediately.  Thank you!  The encouragement and support I receive from you means a lot to me and I value your feedback as well.  Jan, when we work together it is such fun!  And when you come to Sydney this year Val, I know we will have great fun too.  Minis shared are very special and none of us are able to share with others much in RL at this stage.  Well, at least you have Ian, Val, so you are fortunate.  I hope you enjoy our journey together as the Fairfield is constructed.   There's a bit of the mundane preparation still to go, but it will be exciting to turn these bits of splintery wood into the lovely home that it can be.