Wild West Cigar Town

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I open this post with a confession. Sort of an embarrassing one. Corinne and I came up with this project for a contest we were competing in. Crafters compete against other crafters on a weekly project and people vote. This was our audition piece. It came in LAST. Like, 12th place out of of 12 submissions! We knew we were probably not going to be in first place but we are a little humbled by our quick ouster.  So we would like to give our little town a second chance and try posting it here to see if anyone out there likes it more than the "So You Think You're Crafty" voters, who clearly were underwhelmed. 
We love reusing materials and turning them into something new and special. This old

cigar box was just begging to be reused in a vintage western scene. We were thinking it's nearly summer and people will be looking for festive table decor. This is an interactive centerpiece for a burger or chili party or to put at the drinks table or use it to keep the kid's table entertained.

Monet's Miniature Magnetic Giverny Garden

Shrinky Dink Barrettes

My daughter has a crazy head of thick curls, that is in constant need of some kind of hairband, barrette or something or other to tame it. We have an endless supply here, and she is pretty bored with them all, so I 

decided to personalize some for her.

Loch Ness Nonster in a Planter ... Part I

My son really loves the Loch Ness Monster. While trolling the internet for images of his favorite magical creature we came upon this British topiary frame. It is a huge Nessie that would fit well on a  large field or perhaps a palace lawn. Also it costs around $500. I have a small and shady Chicago yard and limited money to spend on my son's Nessie hobby so we came up with a much smaller and cheaper adaptation. I call this "part 1" because I am not really sure what to do with the thing now that it is ready. Hopefully in a month or so I will be able to add some photos of a verdant and mossy monster. For now I will provide directions on how to get started so you can make your topiary and get it planted up before summer.

Gigantic English TopiaryI found for sale.-

The Parlor from Longbourn house

We are huge Pride and Prejudice fans. We are very excited to be included in the June issue of British Dolls House and Miniature Scene magazine as they celebrate the 200th anniversary of this beloved book. We made a tiny parlor, trying to include all the details that a reader would appreciate, down to book titles and accessories. Here are some photos from the room but there are many more, plus an article providing all the details, in the magazine. You can put it on your Kindle or Ipad!

Fairy Tale Peg Pendants

I have had a love for fairy-tales for as long as I can remember. They still influence

my art, and I am always pushing them on my children! (they went as Little Red Riding hood and the Big bad

wolf for Halloween a few years ago.)

So after seeing the adorable peg ninjas  Sarah made last week, and this cute link  she shared with me, 

it was quite natural that I would make these;

Little Red Riding Hood and The Big Bad Wolf pendants for my kids.