"Southern Lights" - Lexington Exhibit

The Lexington Horse Park "Southern Lights" holiday event begins this weekend and I had the opportunity to help the members of the Bluegrass Miniature Society set up their exhibit. The one 1:12 inch miniature which I found fascinating was this beautiful Chocolate Fantasy Table. I am going to find out more about this project as is amazing.
The event includes over 150 light displays - a driving tour thru this beautiful park. Once one finishes driving- the main museums are open to visitors may view the " toy trains"- I have never seen such a large toy train exhibit-the dollhouse/miniature exhibit, visit with Santa, a petting zoo, food, gift shoppe and much more.
I am still busy completing the last of the Santas for my upcoming Virginia events and it is time to get prepared for our holiday visitors.

Night Before Christmas Book Box

I tried to keep it simple as this "Book Box" is going to a show in Virginia in a few weeks.

Rain and more rain- but it has been so needed here in this part of Kentucky..
I attended my Bluegrass Miniature Society meeting Sunday and we are getting ready to set up an exhibit of miniatures at the Southern Lights event to be held over the holiday season at the famous Kentucky Horse Park.
Recently, I attended the steering committee for the national convention to be held next year ( NAME) in Indianapolis. I just found out that one of the ladies I met- her grandfather was the founder of the "Cracker Jacks" company, can you imagine owning every cracker jack prize ( especially when they were really toys), no wonder she is a miniaturist!

Santas galore... yesterday, I was in WalMart and they were playing Christmas music! I just could not believe it.. 2 months away.. I understand the power of suggestion but hey I am just now getting excited about Thanksgiving!
So my Christmas is just limited to my studio, deliveries to stores begin in 2 weeks and I am off to Virginia for a show or maybe two...

Noah tomorrow

This is the last Santa for a few days as I want to begin on my "Noah". I finished up a series of St. Nicholas pins to add to the line for the Virginia show.
One of my santas on Etsy is a featured item in the "Nick of Time" series.

Another view of Santa 1:12 scale

Miniature Santa..

This is the first 1:12 Santa I have ever created from the beginning to the end. Sculpting- armature -to creating the pattern for his suit- and lots of tiny stitches as I like hand sewing! I have yet to get his toy bag made and fill it with goodies..
I am sending my Santas to a show in Woodbridge, Virginia - Dec. 6th. So I have about 20 of my regular Santas to start on- and 2 miniature clowns to begin for my next project.

I found this old pick up truck at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago,
I am posting it so another miniaturist can see it as she wants to recreate times when an old pick up truck was filled with pumpkins, vegetables. Hey, I still see that here in my new home in Kentucky. In fact, at the corner of the road today is a man selling pumpkins from his old pickup truck.
I have not decided what my truck will be hauling- I was thinking about christmas trees for the holidays but I love the idea of farm baskets filled with vegetables going to the local Farmer's Market.

The 1:12 scale

It is time to get a miniature Santa made for the holidays but I decided the faces would make cute pins? The face of Santa is slightly smaller than a quarter.
Again not a great photo but... guess that goes on my christmas list - a camera for closeups!

I need a circus ring master for a miniature exhibit I am making. I remembered I had this photo from a visit last summer to the Chicago Science and Industry museum.
Now, can I recreate him as a miniature? He is this week's mission.

Traveling..

I have traveled to my sister's home where today the Santas are on for sale at a fall/holiday
show. My sister paints on glass-really, she paints on anything . My niece, who dreams of opening her own florist shoppe and presently works for a florist, did lots of floral work in some of the items my sister painted.
So this is day, which should be fun!

Santas on Parade

Ho Ho Ho

Santa is just about finished- a few more mini snowballs to be added . This piece is about 12 inches high. I think Mrs. Claus and an Elf are on the schedule for tomorrow's sculpting.

Another Santa

Today a Mrs. Claus is being created, I just wish I had a better camera for details of face

Pumpkins,vines and bumps in the night

Just amazing isn't she.. she is a sculpture from the collection of NIADA dolls....she was made by Jodi Creager of Creager Studios!

and will I ever get to that point where I can be so precise and to that scale?

Junk drawers..

My Dream Studio

Over the past 28 years I have moved 15 times ! Every time you move somewhere you have a junk drawer or box. My last move forever happened in June and I am here to stay in my perfect home.
Today has been designated "Junk Drawer Day" - I have already tackled 2 boxes and a plastic bin
and have found more nails/screws/batteries/rolls of tape/tiny screwdrivers.. well, you can imagine what is found in a junk drawer.
I happen to have an art studio and we also have a wonderful huge "shop" located on our property- it is big enough that it could be converted into a small home, finally those many,many boxes marked "Junk Drawer" can maybe converted into 1 junk drawer..
yes, I am laughing out loud - LOL

Today's Santa

After much fine tuning, I have finished this Santa and his bag of toys. The entire piece is hand stitched and sculptured ( No sewing machine!).The dolly in the hand made bag is another one of my mini toys. This Santa is about 10 inches high and I am sure will soon have a new home for the holiday season.

The lady of wickedness..

Isn't she magnificent.. created by artist Sheila Bentley.

I have one more huge spider to create and the season of pumpkins, vines, and scary things of the night can begin to be created at my home.

I am sculpting a larger scale Santa today. He will be surrounded by the candies and cookies of the holiday season. I have decide to work on more facial detailing . A few just Santa heads to create and then to begin armature construction for Santas which are full bodies. A Mrs. Claus is needed and one or two elves .

I wish my camera did the Santas justice- they are wonderful in real life. Meaning- guess I buy a better camera for closeup shots.
This is the next Santa.. still working with a bit of a primitive look and I am trying to decide do I switch to the really smooth sculpture look. I am pulling vintage fabrics from my collection and will be working on another size of Santa head tomorrow.
I have 600 plus winter scarves to crochet, 600 miniature Dorito bags, 600 Nacho bags and 600 cracker jack boxes to begin on too for my National Convention tote bag favors.
I am also working on 10 mini crochet winter scarves with a bit of a "Mary Englebreit" flair.
more photos..

Santa

I am continuing to work on Santa in a smaller version