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! 

A Few of My Favourite Things..........Part 3, Jacqueline Dunn

I have been collecting pieces by Scottish miniaturist Jacqueline Dunn for a long while now. I usually try and include at least one of her pieces in each of my projects.

The tiny bunny teapot was the first of her pieces I managed to win and it sits on the counter in my florist and gift shop. 

 I have a few witchy pieces including this tiny tuxedo cat pumpkin container. The lid is removable and so tiny. It sits in the fireplace of my witch house.

 On the mantlepiece is this wonderful Halloween cake tea pot. All Jacqueline's pieces are all hand made from clay and are so beautifully detailed.

 I couldn't resist this wonderful witch in the box. It is going with my Hogwart's girlie along with all her other goodies and will be displayed in the bedroom of The Leaky Cauldron

I have only ever seen her pieces on Ebay and they are extremely popular. Each piece comes with its own  hand painted box.

Jacqueline's work is extremely popular and some of her pieces reach very high prices. I have had to learn to be very patient in building up my collection.

 This box contained.......

 ......the tiniest little raven perched on his own teeny pumpkin.

 An Easter box........

 .......for the prettiest white bunny teapot.

 The pansy box was home to.....

 ......an English cottage teapot,

 complete with its own shingled roof.

 A tuxedo cat....

 .......peeks from within a beautiful rosy teapot.

 A rather darker box....

 .......for a wizard's pitcher. A piece destined for the Leaky Cauldron of course.

 A cute house.....

.......and a delightful toadstool cottage teapot.

My long term intention is to collect enough pieces for a shadow box display as well as including some favourite pieces within my projects.

I now set myself a price I am prepared to pay for each piece and leave the auction to run its course. Then it is always a nice surprise when I get lucky and I never worry about the hundreds that go above my budget.

See I am learning to be patient.

Pop over to have a look at her work. My photos do not do them justice at all. It is amazing that each piece averages at about 5/8ths of an inch!

Nice to be back posting again. Dad out of hospital and recovering well following a slightly worrying time that end up with him being transferred to a coronary ward. Puppy did not react well to my many absences and it feels like we have taken quite a few steps backwards, so time for a deep breath and start again! The cat will have his six very dashing stitches taken out on Monday so that should be the end of that saga. My son has had his first A2 exam, so that's one down two to go!!

Who knows I might even get time to make something next week!!!

Hope the rain doesn't ruin your Sunday wherever you are.

Lunch is Served at The Leaky Cauldron.....

 I have come a long way in this marvellous hobby but I decided very soon, after many disastrous attempts at bread making, that making mini food was definitely not for me.

Just as well then that there are so many talented people selling wonderful pieces like this one from one of my absolute favourite artisans - After Dark Miniatures

When I saw it I knew it was just what I wanted for The Leaky Cauldron. I think it has all the earthy, rustic quality of a wizard's lunch and I just loved all the autumnal colours. 

The quality is simply fabulous right down to the tiny walnuts. 

After Dark's pieces are little works of art and I feel so privileged when I look at them, which is one of the many joys of collecting.

Update on the LED's.....they did NOT fall off the ceiling over night, another point in their favour as far as I am concerned, yes I know, I'm in love!