I used to be a pipe cleaner

A pipe cleaner is a type of brush originally intended for removing moisture and residue from smoking pipes. 

But what if you don't smoke a pipe?
But do have a lot of pipe cleaners?
Crafters have the perfect solution:
By twisting and shaping these chenille stems it's possible to make the most wonderful things giving the pipe cleaner a total new function! 
Browsing the internet I came across the most beautiful creations ever.

I decided to have a go at it and after trying, plying and molding the first doggies came to life.
Here are a few of the creations I made.  No doubt more will follow. It's so much fun!

While I was taking pictures I could have sworn I heard them say:

 'Take all the pictures you want, but whatever you do, please keep us away from a pipe!" 

They are such softies!

Stocking up!

I was able to finish the miniature flowers I mentioned in my previous post AND some other 'springy' miniatures that were on my to-do-list. 

As I'm writing this I'm taking pictures so I can list them in my Etsy shop (hopefully) today. Gosh...I do sound busy, don't I?? 

Here's a little sneak preview of the new stuff being delivered to the shop.

As you can see the sun is really shining, how I love spring!

Real versus Miniature

How to cultivate irisses in pots in the real world?

What you need is:

bulbs

pots

soil

garden tools

water and sunlight

patience and determination

How to cultivate irisses in the miniature world?

What you need is:

paper

pots

glue

coffee grounds

scissors and punches

patience and determination

I'll let you in on a little secret: I'm a total failure as a gardener in real life that's why I try my luck in the miniature world!

It's Spring and I'm back....

Wow, I've been neglecting my blogging for way to long! It's not that I've been gone, I've been busy. I know...it's not much of an excuse but it's the truth. 

The Etsy shop took much of my time and to be honest I absolutely LOVE it!

I love searching for new ideas...

I love experimenting with new skills...

I love being secretly proud of my creations...

I love the positive feedback I'm getting....

So...as you can see life is great for me, I'm into a spring mood. Happy and cheery!

Been making loads of flowers and plants, ofcourse in miniature size. Funny how once you get started you can't seem to stop making them. To bad they don't have scent, it would bring spring right to my worktop.

I still have some new flowers I want to try out, list them in my shop and see how others like them. I can't wait!

My Etsy Shop...LOL

I'm dreaming of a pink Christmas

I definitively have something wrong with my sense of time. It's kinda...ehm...mixed up. I make spring decoration items in the fall and now I'm already busy with Christmas!

 

And I'm back to shabby chic again which means bows, whites, pinks, blues, flowers and lace are scattered all over my worktop.

Here's a little sneak peek of what I'm making...a pink forest!

 

Oh...by the way, I'm humming 'Let it Glow, Let it Glow, Let it Glow' nowadays. LOL

Heeeeeeey...it's Peter Rabbit!

In between making miniatures to stock up my Etsy shop I found some time to do something with the bit and pieces of felt I had laying around.

Yep...sometimes I have so much energy I just can't stop myself. You propably know the feeling:  I find myself working on a miniature and I lose all track of time, I look up and get a shock when I notice how late it is. 

 

Yesterday I was trying out making miniatures with felt and I was playing around with patterns and ideas. Real late (or real early this morning) little Peter Rabbit appeared from my hands. It's funny how I really don't know what something will become when I start crafing. I do have a vague idea but never know what the result will be.

Ehm...I kinda like this mini bunny. I just HAVE to find some pictures on internet to see what all the friends of Peter Rabbit look like. I'd love to make all those wonderful characters from the books by Beatrix Potter.

Oh dear, something tells me I won't have much sleep the coming days :o)

Spring in autumn

The seasons are changing and I can feel the autumn in the air. On a cold and rainy day I was browsing on the internet when my eye caught some adorable felt kits which I just couldn't resist. They are very 'springy' and sooooo shabby chic.

As soon as the kits arrived I started working on them and since they came with all the materials included, an easy to do pattern and clear explanation I was finished in no time.

 

Today the weather cleared up so I rushed into the garden to take some pictures.

The kits are Jit Design www.jitdesign.nl/ and I've seen loads of kits I can't wait to make.  I can picture it now...felting through the autumn and winter. What a great idea!

It was great!

Everything was perfect on vacation...beautiful weather, amazing scenery, great nature, wonderful food and wine...

After only one day of leasuring around to rest after the long drive in the car, it was time to go sightseeing and fully play the role as tourist.

In our holiday home we found a bunch of leaflets with things you could do and see in the area so we daily we picked one out randomly and were on our way. Every day was a surprise where we would end up and it was quite adventurous. We visited a waterfall, hiked  a trail through the mountains, visited a local brewery (I really don't like beer at all), attended a local party the firebrigade organized, followed a trail barefoot through the woods (so much fun!), ate a few times at the pub where all the locals went to dinner, saw great craftmanship like someone blowing glass and cutting wood...

 

It was funny how holiday activity brings so much rest and peace. I felt totally distressed and full of energy the whole two weeks.

In the evenings we enjoyed the view onto the moutains and see the sun go down. No television, hardly any phonecalls (except to check if everything and everybody was doing well back home), no work, no stress...it was PERFECT!

 

Ofcourse I couldn't help myself from making some miniatures, I brought along my needle felting stuff and having all the time in the world I was able to make a few little animals.

 

 

One day I made a mouse and was so echanted by it I sort of couldn't stop making those until I had a whole family. I gave a few away and it's a funny thought: we're back at home but  some of the mice stayed behind. I hope they have the same great time we had!

Sleepy mice snuggled up in a pod...

Not only mice appeared from my needle! They were soon joined by bears, cats and a dog!

 

 

 

It was a great vacation but it's always nice to be back. There's no place like home!

I'm off to catch up reading your blogs and see what you've been up to, talk to you soon.

 

New stuff!

A new year, new ideas, new inspiration and new listings! This weekend I'll be listing loads of new miniatures in my webshop (  http://www.anothercosyshop.nl  ) and here's a picture to give you an impression.

And I'll let you in on a little secret...I'm trying to get a shop started on Etsy! Yes..a new shop! I'm so excited about it.  I'll keep you posted on my progress on that. Does anyone have an idea for a 'grand opening'?

The last project of 2012

 

It's the  last day of 2012 and I've just finished my last project of this year. I just made it in time and I just had to show you some pictures of it. It's Noah's ark and it has about a hunderd tiny animals on it, grouped in pairs...there are elephants, horses, birds, camels, lions, apes, cows, to many to mention.

 

 

The whole ark measures about 2,5 inch in length and 1 inch in height.

 

It took some time, cutting, coloring, pasting and it was loads of fun to do. I'm rather pleased with the result.

 

And now I'm off to have a typical Dutch newyear's delicacy the 'oliebol' but not before wishing you all the best for 2013! Let's make it the best year ever!