A Girl Needs Candles........

Planning any themed project over a number of years means lots of duplicate items. My wizarding Diagon Alley will obviously require many candles. In fact any spooky inspired project needs lots of candles.

So I was really excited when one of my favourite artisans began selling her own range of miniature candles. Of course I could not simply order the candles I had to buy a couple of Victoria's wonderful potion bottles.

 I then asked Victoria if she would make me a selection of wax candles ready to use anywhere in the Alley. As ever helpful and obliging Victoria agreed and I received this lovely parcel of goodies.

 Beautifully wrapped.....

 ......and the perfect mix of sizes and widths.

 And Victoria, ever kind also popped in a few extras from her varied range of colours and types.

Do visit Victoria's blog and definitely have a browse in her wonderful Dark Squirrel's Etsy shop full of a whole variety of fabulous items not just for us spooky collectors.

The on an Etsy browse I found these cute miniature 'chocolate' candles that I thought could also find a home in the Alley. They are from Betty's Minis and she makes the most gorgeous cakes and sweeties.

In the middle of Julie's fabulous owls is a gorgeous Halloween centre piece with delicately tapered witchy black candles by Lory.

I have been working hard on both shops today but the light was too dingy by the time I had finished today but a little bit of sunshine is expected tomorrow. Lots of flooring done and gaps galore in my PaperClay roof but the randomly placed additional tiles have worked a treat, thank goodness!

A Few of My Favourite Things..........Part 4, Lory Tonetti

In my real grown up life I have always collected china pieces of all types which usually sit in the cupboard and come out as and when my colour schemes change. This liking has become part of my miniature world too as you could tell from my collection of Jacqueline Dunn pieces.

Lory Tonetti is also one of my absolute favourite artisans and although the first piece I ever bought was a basket made from a super large acorn cap.. 

 ......her work had the feel of the type I was used to collecting in my real world.

So this piece was the start of this little collection of Lory's wonderful work. 

 More teapots, although strangely I would never buy a collectible teapot for my real home!

 The delicate detail of her work is truly wonderful. Each teapot is about the size of my thumbnail.

 A small selection of her toadstools....

 .......in tiny little acorn caps.....

.......and of course some mushrooms. I also have some loose toadstools for baskets complete with dirt from the wood.

Tea for one? How gorgeous is this?! I think I will put this in The Cauldron Shop as a treat for my hard working witch who has to haul around all those Hogwarts starter cauldrons. 

 The cookie jar should also be at hand to settle the nerves of any anxious parent.

 The perfect place for pumpkin biscuits.

 This beautiful shelf is from the kitchen of my witch house (still to be named....)

 This witch likes a brew or two, or even three.....

 Every detail is simple but perfect.

A scrumptious tray of woodland cupcakes destined for the shopping baskets of Diagon's witches and wizards.

 Lastly, this yummy selection of Halloween cupcakes for my Hogwarts girlie still to be found napping in her Leaky Cauldron bedroom.

Hope you have enjoyed looking at my collection, Lory's work can be seen in her Etsy Shop or on the CDHM site.

An update too on how my most time consuming mini project is getting on...

....yep, we really should have called her Gizmo!