Hello everyone!! I hope this finds you well!!!
I have been making some real progress (despite it being school holidays, miracle!!) and took a few photos while the light was good this afternoon. I have been working on the kitchen mostly. Such a small space but kitchens are so full to brimming with goodies and a wonderful way of including so much colour and interest. Years ago I tackled making my own mini food. I got one of Angie Scarrs books and dived right on in. I went nuts and made a lot of things, bread and veg mostly. I do love making bread..... but anyways over the years my stash had dwindled somewhat. All my peaches were gone. I have no memory of ever giving them away but alas they are no longer here. So I found all my fimo and the weird things I had used as tools and thought for sure they would be yick by now but no!!! After four years they were all still good and my hands were strong enough from making 10,000+ plates that I didn't need the pasta machine to soften it. BONUS!! Which is so really good as I have no idea where the thing is now. Gah don't you hate that about moving!! I don't know where my sewing machine is either. ??? So peaches adorn my cheap shop divided box once again. Along with a mountain of spuds, eggs, carrots, zucchini, apples, pears, parsnips and of course a loaf of bread. Love making bread. I also now had some Scenic Water to make jams and preserves. Love Scenic Water, so very easy to use and not messy. So now there are jars full of things suspended in liquid. I resisted the urge to put a teeny eyeball in with the pickled onions. I did say it was school holidays and my boys are starting to affect me. Kitchen is looking better already. There are some brilliant tuts on YouTube so I also had a go at some puddings and pies. Bikkies and muffins and things shall be tackled on the weekend!! Every Aussie house needs lamo (lamingtons) and some Iced Vovos! But anyhoos here are some photos I took this arvo between watering the yard and getting dinner sorted. Dinner never sorts itself out despite me having waited years for it to do so. Lazy dinner.
My mate Sue from MiniCrochetMad made me the teeny crocheted pot holder hanging of the stove knob. Her work always amazes me. I have a lovely tea cosy she made as well that I was going to photograph but thought better of it. Red and black colouring, chalk dust mess, teeny delicate pretty thing...chances of them touching remote but possible. So it has stayed in it's little container till I clean it all up.
BREAD! I know, it a thing. It there on the butchers block. I had to make a strange tall loaf as there isn't much bench space and there must be bread!
The vase of sunny flowers I bought from Minicler on Etsy. I think they are just perfect for this room
Tis all for now. Real life kitchen now needs to be cleaned up. That doesn't happen on it's own either and I have given it as much time as dinner sorting.
Hoo roo!!
Carriexx
Hello Carrie,
ReplyDeleteOnce again, the minute the first picture pops up I am enchanted by your work. The room is so warm and welcoming. You have such a talent for creating realistic, beautiful, warm rooms. I love every single square inch! Bravo!
Big hug,
Giac
Thank you Giac. Such feedback means a lot from you as your own work is beautiful. I am honored thank you. I am somewhat of a pack rat/bower bird. I love to hoard and have things around but in my life size home the clutter becomes quite claustrophobic! So mini houses have become the answer for me. Call it therapy. A big hug back and be well!! Carriexx
DeleteAt the risk of repeating every word that Giac already said, Brava!!! I take my hat off to you Carrie! This cottage is one of the Friendliest and most Delicious that I have ever seen. You have made every color, line, shape, texture, and aroma of it, go the distance. There is harmony and activity and such a feeling of
ReplyDelete"Welcome, come sit your bottom down whilst I pour you a cuppa and cut you a slice of my homemade bread with some peach preserves on the side" kind of atmosphere. :))
I love these kind of projects where you can actually feel the movement and hear the quiet conversations taking place at the table and over the stove. The little settee snuggled into the window bay, is so cosy and the table just before it keeps the cook company while she is busy getting the goodies on the table.
I too, love to make mini Breads, and I am now very interested in mini canning and the Scenic Water sounds
as if it might be doable for even me! :D
The Old Laurels is such a magical space and one that I have thoroughly enjoyed visiting. And might I add that Susan's mini crocheted pot-holder is the PERFECT finishing touch for your wonderful little cooker that adds to the overall charm.
Utterly Adorable every inch! :D
elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth!!! Thank you so much! I'm humbled. I certainly try to make my little homes feel comfy and lived in. Well lived in. I like to make it as if the owner had just popped out in the middle of doing something. How I would have it if I was able to have a little cottage in the Cotswolds. Scenic water is really user friendly. I haven't had any issues with it. It's a lot of fun and I felt a canning urge as well but I ran out of jars!!! Be well! Carriexx
DeleteIt's just gorgeous, packed good with goodies to savour. I laughed at your tall bread but it reminded me of a childhood memory (back in the day when bread didn't come sliced!), one of my mother's friends used to slice bread by standing it on it's end and cutting it towards her body from the top (or is it the end??) of the loaf.
ReplyDeleteMy Grancy used to do that!!! I would watch in awe as she would get each slice perfect. I tried and it was an inch thick one side and barely a cm on the other. We gave that one to my Grandad!! ha!!! Take care, Carriexx
DeleteCrikey mate, you have been busy! Love your little stove! The touch of colour from it really pops. All the goodies on/around it have my fingers itching to bake lamo's, anzacs and honey jumbles! Question re scenic water - does it melt in hot weather? I haven't been game to use it as I'd heard our hot aussie summers melt it and you can find yourself with a mess from tipped over jars leaking goop on dollhouse surfaces.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy the holiday with the two young fellas! Cheers mate!
Hi Sue. Apologies for taking so long in getting back. I did get busy didn't I. I need to do it more often!! We have had some really hot days up here already. 35'C here at my PC. Eek. I checked out my items with the scenic water and all was well. The jar of honey, which is open at the top, was a bit tacky but certainly not running. I put some of the scenic water into a glass bowl and put it out in the sun on my back landing and sure it went runny. So I would suggest keeping anything with it out of the sun but we do that with our dollhouses any way. I have left the honey jar on its side now for over a week and all is well with it. I have a collection of goodies here that the Olds didn't get to take. I will get it into the mail, before Xmas one hopes!!! Take care, xxx
DeleteHi Carrie, So nice to see your progress. Enjoyed the text of your post too as you sound so enthusiastic and full of the "joy of mini"!!
ReplyDeleteI think I will make lamingtons for Elizabeth (StudioE) and Fatima (Beauxminis) when we meet on October 7.
I am sure they do not have a clue what you mean when you said "every Aussie house needs lamos".
For those non Australian or Kiwis:
Lamingtons are sponge squares that have been allowed
to dry out for a day or so, then dipped in chocolate icing and rolled in coconut. The chocolate icing seems to keep the sponge moist and they can be found at most coffee shops, school bake sales, bakeries - everywhere.
Now for iced vo-vos I will let Carrie explain.
regards Janine
Hello!! Thank you!! Oh Iced Vovos, yummo. I resisted the urge to go and buy a packet when making these. Biscuit base, jam in the centre and sweet pink icing on each side and then coconut all over. Icy tall glass of milk or a cuppa and all is right with the world. Thanks again and be well!! Carriexxx
DeleteOh My.... now I am hungry! LOL! Just hearing the description of all the things you are making.... but your pictures Really do me in!!! I really want to go sit in that kitchen by that little blue stove.... smelling the bread cooking... and the jellies and jams..... takes me back to my Farm-girl days!!! I really need to get some of that scenic water... and a book about mini food making.... You might not have noticed... but most of my Doll houses have no food!!! LOL! I can relate to the urge to put eyeballs into the onion jar.... my two boys would have loved that idea too! Keep up the Great work.... and I sure hope you find your sewing machine!
ReplyDeleteHello! Thank you so much!! I can recommend Angie Scarrs books. I just bought one and I got a lot out of it. They are great for getting started. Especially on mixing the colours. I haven't found my sewing machine yet. Isn't that terrible. There is a pile of boxes in the back corner under the house and I suspect it is lurking in amongst them. Probably hiding. We don't get along well the machine and I. Thank you and be well!! Carriexx
DeleteSo much detail in this room too - all the hustle and bustle of a hospitable kitchen can be felt just looking at the photos. I'd love to know how you make the lamingtons? I love Susan's little potholder and the utensils hanging by the side of the stove - and oh! I'd love to just sit on that couch and talk to the cook while she cuts that lovely fresh bread .....Very welcoming and full of interest as always.
ReplyDeleteHello!! Thank you so much!!! For lamingtons I just used straight dark brown fimo. Make them into little squares. Coat them in liquid fimo and then roll them again into model fake snow. It's perfect for coconut. For the lammos cut open I made a cane. Bread coloured fimo with a very thing layer of the same dark brown wrapped around it.Cut of little sections, square it out and pinch close up one end. I used a toothpick to cover the dark brown in liquid fimo and then the snow again. Then take to the cut side with a needle to texturise it. I hope that makes sense? Yes Sue's potholder is wonderful, her work is wonderful!!!! I am very lucky to have them. Thank you and be well!! Carriexx
ReplyDeleteLovely and realistic kitchen. Love the atmosphere created.
ReplyDelete