Saturday, November 12, 2011

~ Cottage Christmas Collection ~

Since I'm told I can't decorate the house before Thanksgiving, all I can say is: Thank goodness for minis :) Not that I always do what I'm told lol, but I suppose "they" are right, where would my extended Thanksgiving table for 20 fit if I brought out the Christmas decor now? Ahhhh, the peril's of living in a small cottage..... :)
{ok, I mean split level suburban home "decorated" like a cottage}. " If I build it , it will come".... right?

Well , since I was beginning to feel all those wonderful holiday pangs and started playing Christmas music last week, {just instrumental for motivation} I thought even though it's a tad early, I wanted so much to get creative with my favorite holiday! So here is the result:

My appropriately titled "Cottage Christmas" miniature collection:


I have to say, these items took so many hours to make but each one was a labor of love. I tried with this Cottage Christmas bakery/kitchen island table to make it versatile so that if you took each piece {besides the obvious Christmas items} and put it in a kitchen or bakery another season, it would still work and look beautiful. So each item is made to fit all seasons and has a sweet cottage look and feel to it.



I incorporated all my favorite cottage touches: Tartan plaid , vintage styled pottery, red and white gingham, traditional damask, white eyelet cotton, delicious freshly baked sweets, elegant cake stands, Susan Branch cookbooks, raspberry jam, and all the details I could think of to create that feeling of falling snow outside while staying cozy inside....




And of course Christmas Red Velvet cupcakes are a must :) With candy cane shavings on top :)




Note: This collectors piece is currently in my Etsy shop as are the other items in the Cottage Christmas collection {as of drafting this post } and more will be coming in the smaller variety , but this table is the only one of the collection so another table won't be made again.



Here are some other Cottage Christmas sweeties that kept me happy and busy over the last couple of weeks...





I hope you liked my little tour of some of the new miniatures I've been busy with....It's back to the drawing board to come up with some more little Cottage Christmas treasures.

I love this time of year so much!
To be able to bring my passion and love to the items I make feels like such a blessing and I am so thankful!


I'll leave you with a few pictures of "special order" items I've made over the last few weeks that made me smile and feel grateful too!









Now it's time to light the candles and relax a bit over the weekend....there's more busy work ahead in the next couple of weeks, but I couldn't ask for anything more .....With the quiet of the night and the colder air approaching, I know November has many more smiles and treasures just around the corner. I think because of it's anticipation November is the finest month of them all that way :)

November:

"How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.
At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow."
- Elsie N. Brady, Leaves


Wishing you all a beautiful rest of the weekend and week ahead!

Hugs and Love,

Cynthia

30 comments:

NanaDiana said...

Cynthia- You do miniatures like NOBODY does them. I can't believe how talented you are and how beautiful you make everything. I just retired and I hope to restore the house that my brother-in-law built for my kids when they were young. It is 1" to 1' and an exact replica of his own grandmother's house. You are SOOO inspiring to me! xo Diana

Plushpussycat said...

Everything is just gorgeous, Cynthia! I could gobble up all of those cupcakes right now! Enjoy the rest of your weekend! :-)

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

HI Cynthia, love love love your minis in this post. Love how you put little books in the drawers, and the cupcakes are adorable! I agree with your other poster, you do miniatures like no one else does and it is lovelier than any other minis I've ever seen!
yay!
Blessings,
Debbie

Jenniffer said...

My husband and I are amazed at your work- so beautiful and well crafted!
Love the poem you shared as well. Thank you!

Blessings from Cindy said...

Thank you so much for sharing some Christmas decorating mini style & your sweet poem. Just magnificent!
Blessings,
Cindy

MelyGiunta said...

Che meraviglia...riesco a sentire tutta la magia del Natale,che nonostante la mia tristezza (ho perso da poco il mio cagnolino) riesce a darmi un attimo di serenità.
Un bacio
Mely

Eva said...

As always in your work a sondear fuel dream ;)

Eva said...

Sorry, my iPad has decided to change some words while I was writing my message. I mean: as always in your work a wonderful dream!

miniacollection said...

I enjoyed so much seeing your Christmas decorations. You were so right to start Christmas decorations in minis. Your style is wonderful.
Geneviève

vivian said...

Just amazing... every teeny tiny little detail... realllly amazing! you are so very very talented!
I love visiting here.
have a great day
xo
vivian

Eliana said...

The Christmas collection is beautiful! I loved every bit. ;)

Silvia said...

Me encanta, todo es maravilloso, dulce y navideño.
Gracias por enseñarlo

Fabiola said...

I like this time of year. Your Christmans collection is fantastic and sweet.
Bye Faby

Piikko said...

Cynthia, what a adorable x-mas tables! I love every piece.♥

Heather said...

Getting me into the spirit! So yummy and lovely. And gone in a flash on your esty site!

Kai said...

I can be sooooo stressed or tired, yet when I visit your blog, all the stress immediately leaves me. There's something so calming about your beautiful, happy miniature world & I love it so much! Being a Christmas FANATIC, I especially love seeing my favorite holiday captured in tiny perfect detail! Though I've never met you, Cynthia, I am extremely grateful for your presence in this world! Truly!

Maria Ireland said...

Wow they are fantastic. Your minis are truly amazing. I love all your work. Wonderful talent.
Hugs Maria

Unknown said...

Wow! I wish I could just step right in and sit down. :)

~Liz

Lisa said...

Adorable as always!

French Charmed ~ Chelle said...

Bonjour! How deliciously delightful all of this is. Tres Magnifique! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your 20! Au Revoir ~ Chelle

Fátima said...

¡¡Congratulations!!! Your blog is very beautifull.
Best regards.

Carrie Lavender said...

It all looks so so good Cynthia. I love perusing through your blog. I come away feeling warm and cosy. Oddly enough also like I'm stuffed full!!! It's all wonderful. A big big thank you as well.
Warmest wishes.

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Hi Cynthia,
Every time I look at your miniatures they just amaze me! You must have the patience of Job to do such marvelous detail. I decorate my living room in a candy and gingerbread theme for Christmas. It doesn't hold a candle to yours.

Amy said...

Cynthia, I appreciate your work so much. There is such exquisite detail in everything you do. It is truly amazing how you create such detail in miniature. Amy

www.mystylishnest.com

Bobby said...

Oh...my..word.... I'm drooling

Amy Fletcher said...

Hi Cynthia, your creations are truly stunning. Everything looks so realistic. You create little bubbles of perfection every time you make a mini I think. Amy.

Maryjane-The Beehive Cottage said...

Cynthia, your work is amazing and I don't know how you do it! EVERYthing looks real and adorable! So proud of you sweetie!

Hugs,
Maryjane

ISABELLE said...

Mes yeux ne sont pas assez grands ! C'est époustouflant! quel travail remarquable.On est vraiment dans la magie de NoËl!!
Isabelle

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I could just sit here for hours looking at each little mini that you've made! I love the red and white...it's delightful! ♥

Lady Linda said...

WOW....I just decorated my doll's home for Christmas. She would think she was in heaven if she saw all your minis! How charming and I can't believe what you can create!
Linda