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Christmas Countdown Day 5

December 5, 2012, 8:43 am
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 Christmas Countdown Day 5
My Miniature Christmas Cake



Hello Everyone, Today I thought I would show you the results of another experiment I tried. I wanted to create a Christmas cake for my pub project. I have seen plenty of miniature food items made from Fimo and Sculpy, and thought a cake would be fairly straight forward. 

I started out with a lump of brown Fimo, and shaped it into a round cake shape, then used some sand coloured Sculpy rolled out thinly to create a layer of marzipan, then smoothed this over the brown 'cake' base. 

After the marzipan layer I took some white Sculpy, and again rolled this out to create a layer of icing on the cake. I rolled out some sausage shapes in white Sculpy and stuck this to the base of the cake and another around the top of the cake and used needle pliers to crimp and texture this to look like it was piped icing. 

I then cut out a wedge to make a slice of cake and textured the exposed brown Fimo, to give it a more cake like texture. I also worked in a tiny amount of black Fimo onto the cake slice to give the appearance of currents and other dried fruit.

Looks good enough to eat!!!
Finally, I created a tiny snowman from tiny balls of Sculpy, added a tiddly little carrot nose and black hat. Then I baked the whole thing in the oven. It's not too bad for a first attempt, I am quite happy with it. It's a little larger than planned, as the marzipan and icing layers added to the overall finished cake, and I am still not sure how you can handle this stuff and not leave finger prints in it! Any ideas on that one?

BTW. the eyes on the snowman were put on later using a gel pen!


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Christmas Countdown Day 6

December 5, 2012, 11:22 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 6
Candy Canes


Another polymer food make today, this time it's candy canes. These are a fairly recent visitor to British shores from America, though we have similar peppermint sweets and sticks of rock, these candy canes are now becoming popular at Christmas. 

To make them is fairly easy, just take two thin sausage shapes of red and white Sculpy or Fimo, and lay them next to one another on a clean, smooth, flat surface. Slowly roll the two together and they will become one long stripy stick, which you can then cut to size. Curve one end over to look like a cane. Bake in the oven as instructed. Once cooled they can be used to decorate Christmas trees, or fill stockings!
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Christmas Countdown Day 7

December 7, 2012, 12:22 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 7
A Christmas Carol


One of my pre-Christmas treats is to read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I am sure that everyone reading this blog knows the story well, but just in case you don't, here is a brief summary;

Ebenezer Scrooge is a mean old gentleman who makes no bones about his hatred of Christmas. He begrudgingly gives his poor (literally and figuratively!) clerk Bob Cratchit a day off for Christmas, but that is about as good as he gets. Until...

An old business partner of Scrooge's pays him a visit on the night of Christmas Eve. Said business partner, Jacob Marley, has been dead for several years, so to say that Scrooge is a little upset by this is an understatement! Marley tells Scrooge of his terrible fate after death, and he may only redeem himself of his miserly ways by being haunted again by three other spirits that night. 



The Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present (my favourite spirit!) and Future (the scary one!) lead Scrooge on his life's journey. I won't spoil the ending, as most of you will know it quite well enough anyway!

But it does all end on a happy note!


Dickens first published A Christmas Carol in December 1843 (the same year as the first commercial Christmas card was published!) Many people credit Dickens with creating much of the tradition we associate with Christmas. In truth he captured the spirit of the age, many Victorians had more money to spend, more free time and a willingness to celebrate at Christmas. Dickens had already written about Christmas in The Pickwick Papers, published in 1837, and published further Christmas stories between 1844 and 1848, The Chimes, The Cricket in the Hearth, The Battle of Life, and The Haunted Man and the Ghosts Bargain. These books were not so well received by critics, and not such a great commercial success. The Chimes is a book set at New Year, another story of redemption, which I have read for the first time ever this year. 


Though Dickens was part of a general restoration of interest in the Christmas holiday, the popularity of many traditions we now include at Christmas may be attributed to his book A Christmas Carol; Turkeys for example, Scrooge chooses a turkey to give Bob Cratchit and his family not only because of its huge size, but also because of its luxury. Tradition had seen beef or goose eaten at Christmas, turkey was an unusual choice at the time, now we seem to eat almost nothing else! Charity, and a feeling for others less fortunate has strong associations at Christmas, and there was a marked increase in charitable donations in the years after the book was first published. The traditional ghost story at Christmas may also have something to do with the Spirits who visited Scrooge. Interest in Spiritualism was growing during the early Victorian era and Dickens tapped into this. 


The very image of a Victorian or Dickensian Christmas, with crinolined ladies in muffs and snow covered bow windows owes more to illustrators and movie makers than Dickens himself, but it's still all part of the Christmas tradition set up around A Christmas Carol. Perhaps the best attribute of the book was its gift to the English language; A Scrooge, a miserly old sinner, and of course Bah! Humbug! on the lips of all Scrooges the world over!


One other treat I always allow myself (there are so many I know!) is to watch A Muppets Christmas Carol I challenge anyone to watch this without having the odd tear in their eye at some point in the film!! ;o)

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Christmas Countdown Day 8

December 8, 2012, 1:24 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 8
Scrooge in Miniature

Whilst searching for some suitable images for my previous post about A Christmas Carol, I came across these delightful little miniature scenes by Anne Thomas, from Cumbria, which are currently being displayed at the Dolls' House Emporium's shop at Houghton Hall Garden Centre in Carlisle. I wish I was closer so I could see them close up, but will have to make do with the pictures! 

The scenes show various events within the book, the picture above is when Marley's ghost, complete with chains and safe boxes, appears before Scrooge to warn him of his fate!



This scene shows the Ghost of Christmas Past, the first of the three spirits to visit Scrooge, notice the light on the spirit's head, a nice little detail from the story.


And this scene is, of course, the spooky Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, showing Scrooge his lonely tombstone. 

If you are lucky enough to live near Carlisle, do drop in and see this exhibition at Houghton Hall!
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Christmas Countdown Day 9

December 10, 2012, 2:28 am
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Christmas Countdown Day 9
Miniature Wrapping

Oh Dear! Another post a day late, I am sorry, but I was so busy with RL preparations for Christmas that I simply forgot about my blog until late last night when I was just too tired to continue.

Anyway, here is my post for day nine. A miniature Christmas scene may well need some miniature Christmas presents, I know mine does, and so I have been wrapping up tiny little gifts for the Swan Inn.



The 'presents' themselves are various suitably sized oddments, small scraps of wood, a rubber, some bits of foam board, anything clean and square seems to work best. The wrapping paper comes from various sources too. The purple one is tissue paper, the holly came from a magazine and the blue and white paper is actually the inside on an envelope! I've stuck it all down with tiny pieces of tape, but they could have been glued too. A length of thin ribbon tied around some of the parcels adds a finishing touch.

I have done more than three presents of course, but I don't want to show off too much of what's inside The Swan Inn just yet!! ;o)
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Christmas Countdown Day 10

December 10, 2012, 11:12 am
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Christmas Countdown Day 10
Wassail

Love and joy come to you
And to you your Wassail too,
And God bless you and send you
A happy New Year
And God send you a happy New Year.

OK, there are several Wassail songs about, and they are often heard at this festive time of year, but  what is a wassail, and how would you go wassailing?


There seem to be two main types of wassailing, one has evolved into a festival to bless the cider apple orchards in southern England, the other has developed into what we would now call carol singing.

The term wassail derives from the old Saxon words waes hael which translates roughly as, be healthy.
So it is a toast to good health. 


In the cider producing counties of southern England, wassail refers to a mulled cider, a hot, spiced, sweetened cider which has pieces of toast floating on top. The wassail cider is carried from orchard to orchard, often by a wassail king and queen, and is used to bless the apple trees in the hope of a good harvest. The toast from the wassail cup is placed into the boughs of the apple trees, sometimes by teh wassail queen, sometimes by a small boy. The customs vary from region to region. These blessings are often carried out between New Year and Twelfth Night (and are often extended to 16-17 January, the old Twelfth Night on the Julian calendar).

Twelfth Night was traditionally the time for parties and celebrations, with Christmas Day reserved for religious observation. Everything has become mixed up and condensed these days, so much of what was celebrated at Twelfth Night is now part of Christmas. In the Royal Court, plays and masques were often performed on Twelfth Night, and that's the time of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night was first performed for Queen Elizabeth I. 


The other type of wassail, which is the origin of carol singing door to door, evolved from the custom of peasants visiting the home of the Lord of the Manor, singing songs and asking (not begging) for food and drink. Think of We Wish You a Merry Christmas, which dates back to the 16th century, where the singers bring glad tidings and call for 'figgy pudding'.


So there you have it! Wassail is a toast to good health and a spiced hot cider; wassailing is a blessing to apple trees and an early form of carol singing. 



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Christmas Countdown Day 11

December 11, 2012, 2:06 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 11
Christmas Crackers

Regular readers may remember that I posted about Christmas crackers last year, but I thought there was no harm in posting about them again as they are a big part of the traditional British Christmas dinner!


Christmas crackers are another Victorian innovation which became a part of our seasonal celebrations. A gentleman called Tom Smith was in Paris and noted how some shops were selling sweets (bon bons) in small twists of paper. This was something of a novelty as sweets were usually served loose from jars back in England. He bought the idea back to the UK and sold his first Bon Bons in 1847. 


Over time other trifles and novelties were added, such as small gifts or trinkets, paper hats, motos the all important snap. Some say that Tom Smith  was inspired to add a snap when he heard a back from the log on his fire. The snap is similar to that use in pop guns, and is released (or not as is sometimes the case) when the cracker is pulled in half. 


The moto developed into the jokes we know and groan over today. Where do they get these jokes from? I once read that some are sent in from the general public, but many are thought up at the factory, what a job! One thing seems certain, the lamer the joke, the more likely it will be used!

Tom Smith's company still makes millions of christmas crackers each year, and they provide the crackers that grace the table of the Royal Household at Christmas.

And here's a little Christmas cracker for you all, The Good Life Christmas Special from 1977, which has some Christmas crackers in it (all be it homemade ones!) - Enjoy!! ;o)




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Christmas Countdown Day 12

December 12, 2012, 1:18 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 12
Miniature Display of Cards

Today's post will be quite brief, as I have had a few technical problems this evening, and have only just got back online fully!

I wanted to display a few of my miniature cards in an interesting way, and remember how my mum always used to pin her Christmas cards to lengths of red ribbon. and hang them on the wall.

I've created a miniature version of this, complete with the little red bow. The cards were free cut outs from a miniatures magazine (last year's Christmas number!). I realised that the inside of the cards was visible, so I thought I would try writing in them.


You can see the result above. The pen was really too big, but at least the Merry Christmas is almost readable!

This little display is now safely pinned up in The Swan, and I promise that you will all be seeing it, and everything else very soon!
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Christmas Countdown Day 13

December 13, 2012, 1:32 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 13
Santa Baby: My Ultimate Miniature Christmas List!

Hello everyone, today I thought I would let any budding Santa's out there my ultimate Christmas wish list for miniatures. Actually the list is endless, but I picked a few ultimate gifts I have had my eye on all year, and as I have been AWFULLY GOOD this year, maybe Santa will slip some under the tree for me?!!


First on the list is a Mulvany and Rogers dolls house, naturally! This little gothick vicarage costs about £16,000. see www.mulvanyandrogers.com for more details.

I spotted these little gems whilst browsing online. A collection of blue and white dolls' house vases from Kang Xi Dynasty (1662-1722). They were valued at  between €1500- €2000 at an auction in Amsterdam last April, they were eventually sold for €4000!! Just one would be nice!! ;o)






I have been an admirer of the work of Jean-Claude Martin for several years. The Chandelier cones silvered or gilded prices start at €950.00 and go up to €1200.00. The clocks above are also beautiful and both priced at €650.00. See www.oncedart.com for more details





Tarbena Miniatures make exquisite furniture for the dolls' house. I would love to own some of their pieces, and if I saved very hard I might eventually get one, but for now they are on my wish list!
The chest of drawers costs £295.00; the linen press costs £495.00 and the corner washstand is £190.00. See www.tarbenaminiatures.co.uk for further details.



I'd love a pair of globes in my library, and would go wild if I found this lovely little pair from Small-Time in my Christmas stocking! The are £365.00 for the pair, but you can buy just one too. for further details see www.small-time.com






Mike Sparrow makes the most amazing pieces of silverware for the dolls' house. You can buy anything from a fountain pen with removable lid and tiny nib, to a knife and fork, to the Queen Anne  Sterling Silver tea kettle with spirit stove and tripod stand for £720.00. The little mustard pot with hinged opening lid and tiny spoon is also delightful and costs £82.00 See www.mikesparrowsilver.co.uk for more of his exquisite work!

Now, I can't be greedy and ask for too much can I!? ;o) The list doesn't end there, but I would love to know what miniatures you all would dearly like to find under the tree on Christmas Day?


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Christmas Countdown Day 14

December 13, 2012, 11:21 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 14
Trimming the Christmas Tree


Just a very quick post today, as I am working until late today. I have been searching for some traditional decorations for a miniature Christmas tree (can't think why!! ;oD). I had intended to make some baubles from shiny coloured beads, but my search for anything suitable proved fruitless. In desperation I went to my nearest dolls house shop, a two hour round trip if the traffic is good! I looked at the cabinet they had filled with little Christmas miniatures, but there weren't any decorations (I did buy a few other little bits for the pub which will be revealed soon!). 

I was about to leave, when I remembered I wanted to look at a miniature light fitting, I went to the light display and there, tucked away were some little packs of real glass baubles! Perfect for the dolls' house, all shiny and colourful, they even had the little 'crowns' on the top to hang the baubles on the tree with.  absolutely love them and bought three packs!!

Now, I am a bit of a snob when it comes to tinsel. I just don't really like it. I remember when we were children we had the same decorations on our little 4 foot tree every year, including the tinsel, which grew more and more threadbare with each passing year!  I have to be honest, I think it looks a bit of a mess on a christmas tree, but that is my own personal aesthetic and realise it can look great on some peoples' trees! I did want some for the Swan, and found some glittery pipe cleaners on sale at John Lewis which were just right! They came in packets of assorted colours too, so you might find my miniature trees very gaudy when you see them!

Not long to go now!!!

xxx

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Christmas Countdown Day 15

December 15, 2012, 1:14 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 15
Mince Pies

Mince Pies are a great part of British Christmas fare. We eat millions of these sweet, tiny pies every year! The pies contain mincemeat. The name is slightly misleading; there isn't any meat in the pies these days, though originally they did contain some minced meat, and were often called Christmas pies or minced pies. These days the only trace of meat in the pies is the suet, which is actually usually of vegetable rather than bovine origin, but some mincemeats still contain the traditional beef suet. The other ingredients in mincemeat include, apples, dried fruits, sugar and spices, they may have some booze in them, brandy being traditional, but anything would probably work!

It seems likely that the original pies strange mix of meat, spices, sugar and fruit comes form Tudor England, where savoury food was often mixed with sugar and spices in wealthy households, these were expensive luxuries, and a sweet spicy pie was an excellent way of showing off to your guests how rich you were! I can imagine Elizabeth I tucking into a Christmas Minced Pie!


The Victorians (yes, them again!) were the ones who reduced the meat content and increased the sugar and fruit content to evolve into the mince pies we munch over the festive period today.

People used to say that eating one mince pie on each day from Christmas to Twelth Night would bring good luck for the following year, but not if you intend to go on a diet for your New Year's Resolution!! ;o)



The supermarkets in the UK are filled with mincemeat at Christmas, I am not sure if it sells well abroad. The quality and sweetness vary, but even a basic mince meat can be enlivened with some sharp apples, lemon and orange zest and a drop of your favourite tipple!

Here is a recipe I copied from BBC Good Food online for mince pies.

Ingredients

Preparation method

  1. Lightly butter a 12-hole pie or patty tin. Tip the mincemeat into a bowl and stir so that the liquid is evenly distributed.
  2. Place the flour, sugar, almonds and butter in a food processor and process briefly until resembling breadcrumbs, then slowly add the egg through the feeder tube. (Or rub the butter into the dry ingredients by hand and stir in the egg.)
  3. Bring the mixture together with your hands, wrap in clingfilm and chill for an hour or so. Thinly roll out the pastry on a floured surface. Cut out 12 circles with a fluted pastry cutter, large enough to fill the base of the prepared tin. Press gently into each hole, then fill with the mincemeat.
  4. Cut out another 12 slightly smaller discs and use to cover the mincemeat. Press the edges together to seal. Make a small slit in the top of each, then brush lightly with milk. Chill for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
  5. Bake the pies for 20 minutes until golden brown. Remove to a wire rack and serve warm.



    If you want to make your own mincemeat, see this link for a great recipe!

    http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1157/boozy-mincemeat





Of course, The Swan Inn has to have some mince pies for Christmas! I bought this pretty little plateful made by Delph Miniatures. (delphminiatures.co.uk)


Perhaps your dolls' house residents would prefer to make their own? This miniature mince pie prep board is available from littlehouseatthepriory.co.uk
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Christmas Countdown Day 16

December 17, 2012, 10:36 am
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A Christmas pudding from Mrs Beeton
Christmas Countdown Day 16
Christmas Pudding

Christmas pudding has been part of British Christmas tradition for centuries. It contains dried fruits, nuts and spices along with suet and brandy of other liqueurs. The Christmas pudding is sometimes called a plum pudding or plum duff and it's probably what the 'Figgy Pudding' was in the well known carol We Wish You a Merry Christmas. The puddings dark colour is largely thanks to the black treacle and dark brown sugars used to make it.


The puddings were traditionally made at home and boiled for hours. In the past the pudding would be cooked in the copper, a large copper drum set into a brick structure with a fire box below, usually used for doing the laundry. The shape of the pudding was determined by the way it was cooked. If boiled in a pudding cloth, it would be quite rounded, like a cannon ball; if boiled in a pudding basin, it would be dome shaped. 

A dolls' house Christmas pudding by Delph Miniatures!
It was also traditional to include some small charms, or a silver sixpence into the mixture. this was sometimes referred to as The Year's Luck, and whoever got the charms or sixpence was in for wealth and happiness in the coming year. These days, most people buy a ready-made pudding, and health and safety rules won't allow such small tokens to be included in the mixture!


Another tradition is to have the pudding set alight, which is really the brandy ignited, which gives a lovely blue flame, and of course a little sprig of holly for Christmas!

Charles Dickens talks of Christmas puddings in A Christmas Carol in a scene where the Ghost of Christmas Present takes Scrooge to see Christmas at the Cratchit's house...

...Mrs Cratchit left the room alone - too nervous to bear witnesses - to take the pudding up and bring it in. Suppose it should not be done enough! Suppose it should break in turning out!... All sorts of horrors were supposed.

Hallo! A great deal of steam! The pudding was out of the copper. A smell like a washing-day! That was the cloth. A smell like an eating-house and a pastrycook's next door to each other, with a laundress's next door to that! That was the pudding! In half a minute Mrs Cratchit entered - flushed, but smiling proudly - with the pudding, like a speckled cannon ball, so hard and firm, blazing in hlaf of half a quartern of ignited brandy, and bedight with Christmas holly stuck into the top.

Oh, a wonderful pudding!...


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Christmas Countdown Day 17

December 17, 2012, 10:47 am
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Christmas Countdown Day 17
Festive Music!!

Hello everyone, I am late yet again in doing my Christmas posts! Sorry, real life has been quite hectic, I hope you enjoy the Christmas Pudding post below which should have been posted yesterday! I will try and resume normal service tomorrow, and thank you for your patience! 

Thanks also for all your lovely comments, I have read all of them, sorry not to have replied, but there just doesn't seem to be time to get things done! I will also need to spend a day soon looking at all your latest posts! 

In the mean time, I thought I would post some festive music to get you all into the Christmas groove!! ;o)





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Christmas Countdown Day 18

December 18, 2012, 12:50 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 18
Oh, Christmas tree!

One thing that Charles Dickens does not mention at all in his book A Christmas Carol, but is now a big part of our Christmas celebration, is the Christmas tree. At no point throughout Scrooge's journey with the Spirits is there even a trace of a tree. You may remember that A Christmas Carol was first published in 1843, the same year that the first commercial Christmas card was produced (also free of Christmas trees!). In 1850 Dickens published a short Christmas story called A Christmas Tree. Had something happened with in the space of these two stories that had brought the Christmas tree well into the public imagination? Actually, the answer is yes!

Christmas trees were not part of the British Christmas tradition until the mid nineteenth century. That isn't to say that no household in Britain ever had a Christmas tree in the house before the 1840's, perhaps immigrants from northern Europe brought the custom with them when they settled here, but certainly, the custom was not common, and Christmas trees almost completely unheard of in this country.


In 1848 a picture was published in The Illustrated London News of a family gathered around a fir tree, set upon a table. The tree was decorated with small trinkets and lighted by candles. The family celebrating around the tree was no ordinary family; it was Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, with their children. 

Prince Albert had grown up in Germany, where the Christmas tree had been part of his childhood. It seems almost natural that he would bring the custom with him and pass it to his own young family. The Royal Family were greatly admired in Britain, and what was fashionable to the Queen and the Royal Household, soon became the fashion of the nation.


The custom was quickly adopted and soon household across the country were decoration fir trees in their homes.


The Royal Christmas trees were set on tables with fine gifts underneath and around the tree. It has also been recorded that at Windsor Castle Christmas trees, lighted with candles, were hung from the ceiling, in place of chandeliers! Queen Victoria recorded in her diary of 1850 The children were taken to their tree, jumping and shouting with joy over their toys and other presents; the boys could think of nothing but the sword we had given them and Bertie some of the armour...'.


Along with candles, Victorian trees would also be decorated with small baskets and trays of sweets, fruits, fancy cakes and biscuits, small toys and coloured ribbons. As the popularity of the Christmas tree spread, more and more commercial decorations were produced. The presents also got larger, and were soon being set around or under the tree. 

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Christmas Countdown Day 19

December 19, 2012, 2:09 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 19
Lighting Up the Christmas Tree

Christmas trees were originally lit by small candles or tapers fastened to the tree. Because of the obvious fire risk, these candles would only be lit for a short time. However, there were many house fires caused by Christmas candles.

The incandescent electric light bulb was invented by Sir Joseph Swan in 1878, and patented in 1880. He used his bulbs to light the Savoy Theatre in London in 1881, which was the first building in the world to be entirely lit by electric light. 

Behold! The first ever electrically lit Christmas tree!  



The first known electrically lit Christmas tree was the creation of Edward H Johnson, vice-president of Edison's Electric Light Company. Edison was keen on publicity stunts and so in 1882 Johnson had some small electric lights produced. There were 80 lights in all, coloured red, white and blue, and h hung them on the tree at his home in New York City. The press seems to have largely ignored this stunt, except for a paper in Detroit, which did publish the story. I've read that the New York Times did eventually publish the story in 1884!!

Early Edison Christmas tree lights. Don't they look nice and safe!!!!
Subtle advertising for the benefits os electric lights!

Another early set of Christmas lights Circa 1903
Edison's company began producing Christmas lights commercially in the 1890's, though they were rather complicated as they each had to be hand-wired by a qualified electrician and proved rather an expensive novelty. However, in 1895 the first electrically lit Christmas tree appeared at the White House in Washington DC. 

In the early 20th century department stores in the USA began to use electric lights in their displays to attract customers to their stores. As Christmas tree lights became less expensive (and SAFER!) over time, their popularity grew.

Various sets of lights from the mid 20th century
In 1917 a 15 year old boy was so moved by a tragic fire caused by Christmas tree candles at a house in New York, that he encouraged his parents, owners of a business that produced illuminated novelties, to make some electric lights to hang on the tree to replace the candles. His parents liked the idea and some strings of lights were produced, with clear lamps. They didn't sell particularly well, but Albert Sadacca, the teenager in question, wasn't deterred, the following year he sold the lights again, but with coloured bulbs, and that was the beginnings of the NOMA Electric Company, which by the mid 20th century was the largest producer of Christmas tree lights in the world.



I remember well the string of coloured Pifco fairy lights (not the same as the ones above, ours were like coloured crystal stars) that we used to unpack every year as children for our own little Christmas tree, they lasted for years, though needed new bulbs over time. My mother probably still has them tucked away in her loft somewhere!

This is a cover from the same magazine as the one at the top of this post, but from 1949, notice anything different on the tree!!?


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Christmas Countdown Day 20

December 20, 2012, 1:56 pm
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6" Christmas Tree from amazon.co.uk

 Christmas Countdown Day 20
Decorating a Dolls' House Christmas Tree

Decorating a Christmas tree for you doll's house is a fun little project. Almost anything can be used to decorate it; sequins, beads, jewellery findings, tiny model toys, and ribbons to mention a few. 

Finding a suitable tree might be tricky, the one above from Amazon looks OK, but some people like thinner branches, and something more realistic. There are also miniature trees from model railways or cake decorations, whatever you feel appropriate and can get easily! (after all, there aren't many days left now!)

Pack 12 glass baubles £2.99 Maple Street
I've shown you these beautiful miniature baubles before, which look just like the real thing. Several companies are selling these online, I bought mine for £2.99 a pack at maplestreet.co.uk.
Coloured beads, small crystal beads and jewellery findings would work well as baubles too.

Card making kit £18.00 johnlewis.com
Special craft shops are very useful for miniaturists, sets like the one above contain many useful bits and pieces that could be used for miniature decorations.


Pack 30 pipe cleaners £2.00 John Lewis
Glittery pipe cleaners make perfect miniature tinsel, but you could also use thin coloured ribbons, or even make tiny paper-chains to decorate the tree.

Working fairy lights £4.95 dollshouseparade.net
Fairy lights on the tree will add to the realism. There are several companies selling miniature strings of lights, with colourful or white bulbs. Trouble is, you'll need to plug them into an existing lighting system in your dolls' house. You could use a small battery operated set of LED lights instead.

I'd love to see some of your miniature Christmas trees!

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Christmas Countdown Day 21

December 21, 2012, 4:59 pm
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Harrods

Christmas Countdown Day 21
Christmas Windows

Before they disappear forever, I wanted to show you all some examples of the lovely shop windows displayed in the larger London department stores. I must admit, I haven't taken the photos for any of these, I found them all on the net. it's a shame that they will all be gone in just a few days from now!

I'll let the pictures do most of the talking!!


Harrods have some of the best windows this year. Inspired, if you can believe this, by Disney princesses!




Liberty continue to have unusual Christmas windows, This one is rather nice with its rich gold colours, and I love that stack of hair!!


Sefridges, have some rather traditional Christmas themes this year




I thought Fortnum and Mason's Christmas windows were a bit dull this year, after the spectacular displays of the past few years! This year's theme was Dick Whittington, a celebration of London no doubt, but not very exciting! The best thing was the stage coach below.


Harvey Nichols have some very exciting window displays this year, full of colour and energy! Inspired by the Orient.




Tiffany's, sweet! Almost like a dolls' house!!


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Christmas Countdown Day 22

December 22, 2012, 12:46 pm
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Christmas Countdown Day 22
The Nutcracker

Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker is something I like to listen to over Christmas. I love the music, and would love to see the ballet performed live on stage. Sadly, tickets are very expensive for the London productions at Christmas time, so I have had to watch recordings on TV instead! 

Some of the original cast of the ballet
The ballet is set on Christmas Eve, and contains a Christmas tree, which expands, a magician, an enchanted nutcracker, a battle between gingerbread men and mice, dancing sugar plums and snowflakes and a land of sweets; what could be more fun at Christmas?!

An original stage set design for The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is based on a story by ETA Hoffmann The Nutcracker and the Mouse King. The ballet premiered in St Petersburg in December 1892. It wasn't originally a hit with critics, who found the ballet itself insipid, but many were full of praise for Tchaikovsky's music. The first full production outside of Russia wasn't until 1934, in the UK, and it wasn't shown fully in the USA until 1944. Since then it has become THE ballet for Christmas!

Forgive me, but I have copied a synopsis of the ballet's story from Wikipedia, as it is quite long, and I couldn't have explained it any better myself!

A recent production 
Act I
Scene 1: The Silberhaus Home
It is Christmas Eve. Family and friends have gathered in the parlor to decorate the beautiful Christmas tree in preparation for the night's festivities. Once the tree is finished, the younger children are sent for. The children stand in awe of the tree sparkling with candles and decorations.
The festivities begin. A march is played. Presents are given out to the children. Suddenly, as the owl-topped clock strikes eight, a mysterious figure enters the room. It is Herr Drosselmeyer, a local councilman, magician, and Clara and Fritz's godfather. He is also a talented toymaker who has brought with him gifts for the children, including four lifelike dolls who dance to the delight of all. Drosselmeyer then has the precious dolls put away for safekeeping.
Clara and Fritz are sad to see the dolls taken away, but Drosselmeyer has yet another toy for them: a wooden nutcracker carved in the shape of a little man, used for cracking hazelnuts. The other children ignore it, but Clara immediately takes a liking to it. Fritz, however, purposely breaks the toy. Clara is heartbroken.
During the night, after everyone else has gone to bed, Clara returns to the parlor to check on her beloved nutcracker. As she reaches the little bed, the clock strikes midnight and she looks up to see Drosselmeyer perched atop the clock in place of the owl. Suddenly, mice begin to fill the room and the Christmas tree begins to grow to dizzying heights. The Nutcracker also grows to life-size. Clara finds herself in the midst of a battle between an army of Gingerbread man soldiers and the mice, led by the Mouse King. The mice begin to eat the gingerbread soldiers.
The Nutcracker appears to lead the gingerbread soldiers, who are joined by tin soldiers and dolls who serve as doctors to carry away the wounded. As the Mouse King advances on the still-wounded Nutcracker, Clara throws her slipper at him, distracting him long enough for the Nutcracker to stab him.
Dancing snowflakes!
Scene 2: A Pine Forest
The mice retreat and the Nutcracker is transformed into a handsome Prince. He leads Clara through the moonlit night to a pine forest in which the snowflakes dance around them.
An original costume design for The Nutcracker
Act II
Scene 1: The Land of Sweets
Clara and the Prince travel in a nutshell boat pulled by dolphins to the beautiful Land of Sweets, ruled by the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Prince's place until his return. The Prince recounts for the Sugar Plum Fairy how he had been saved by Clara from the Mouse King and had been transformed back into a Prince.
In honor of the young heroine, a celebration of sweets from around the world is produced: chocolate from Spain, coffee from Arabia, and tea from China all dance for their amusement; candy canes from Russia; Danish shepherdesses perform on their flutes; Mother Gigogne has her children emerge from under her enormous skirt to dance; a string of beautiful flowers perform a waltz. To conclude the night, the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier perform a dance.
A final waltz is performed by all the sweets, after which Clara and the Prince are crowned rulers of The Land of Sweets. Soon, however, the people of the land of the sweets begin to disappear one by one, until the Nutcracker Prince himself disappears, and Clara is found sleeping in the parlor. The Nutcracker Doll is under the Christmas tree. Clara awakes, thinking it was all a dream, but then finds her crown sitting beside her, leading to question, was it a dream? She walks to the Christmas tree and takes her Nutcracker, going back to sleep, the implication being that if it was all a dream, that she would want to keep dreaming.

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Christmas Countdown Day 23

December 23, 2012, 11:54 am
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The Three Wise Bears came bearing gifts!!
Christmas Countdown Day 23
Only Two More Sleeps 'til Christmas!

Well, it's nearly the 25th, and so time is pressing to get everything ready! I have spent the last two days in a busy blur of shopping, cooking, wrapping the last of the presents and general finishing touches. I must confess that I have run out of ideas for today's Countdown post, so thought it was a good time to say thank you to all my friends and loyal followers! I have appreciated all your kind words, advice and support over the past year, and I have enjoyed looking at all your projects too. I think miniatures are such a great little hobby, I am pleased to see so many others with similar interests across the world!

The Christmas Countdown has been fun, and I hope you have all enjoyed it. I have read all of your lovely comments, and have been keeping an eye on all your new posts too. I hope to have more time in the New Year to sit down and read them all properly and enjoy all your new photos. 

Of course, the Christmas Countdown isn't quite over, there is a big reveal tomorrow! Christmas at The Swan Inn.

Whatever you are doing over the Christmas holidays, I hope you all have a wonderful time, relax and enjoy it, may it be full of peace and harmony!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
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Christmas Countdown Day 24!!! Christmas at The Swan

December 24, 2012, 1:47 am
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 Christmas Countdown Day 24
Christmas Day at The Swan Inn!!!

Well, I hope I haven't got your expectations so high that these pictures come as a disappointment to you all! Here at last is the Christmas project I have been working on for weeks! The Swan Inn is all set for a very festive and merry Christmas, The bar has been festooned with garlands and red ribbons, sprigs of holly are tucked here and there. A huge Christmas tree stands at one end of the pub, by a cosy fire.

In the kitchen a feast has been prepared, with a turkey and all the trimmings, a Christmas pudding sits on the dresser waiting to be soaked in brandy and ignited! The table has been laid for the landlord and his family.

Upstairs, in the bedroom, a stocking hands at the foot of the bed, there are more presents to be opened below it too!

The living room stands ready to receive all the guests for an evening of festive food and entertainment. Chocolates, dates, Christmas cake, mince pies and drinks. There are crackers to be pulled too. Another Christmas tree has been placed in one corner and the room is fully dressed for Christmas.

I've posted the pictures (25 in all!!) in no particular order, but they show all the rooms listed above.

I hope you enjoy all the pics, I have enjoyed making up all these little scenes! Merry Christmas to you all, and very best wishes for 2013!!

Andy xxxxx































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