In with the new, out with the old :) For me, that means giving up (or putting aside for now) the idea of creating and designing miniature kitchen accessories for a manufacturer. Long story short, it was very creative and fun to design pieces that I wanted to be available , but after sending them off to be re-made in production I could never seem to be happy with the result. There were always compromises which I couldn't make or didn't want to see happen. As an example: I made a kitchen strainer with the cottage vintage feel I love and it would come back too plastic looking. I wanted it in enamel :) The ones I make from composites looked far better then their plastic too! I sent so many things out (kitchen mixers, bowls, utensils etc) and again, it would be something every time, not the right color I chose etc. And on and on, you get the idea :) It wasn't as I had pictured it would be. So I've decided to keep making accessories when I can for my miniature collectors and just continue to focus on my miniature making. It's what I love best anyway!
OK, with that said, there IS something new though and very exciting for me!!! Can you guess by the picture above? :)
I am going to write a BOOK , yep, I can't believe I just typed those words! Now just to make it clear, there's no publishing deal in the works {yet lol }. I was inspired by a book I had ordered a little over a year ago by Niki Fretwell of Nostalgia at the Stone House blog. I loved her book from cover to cover and vowed one day to create one. And now it seems like I'm ready and it would be a perfect time to do it! I don't have to wait for a publishing deal either , I'm using the wonderful Blurb book service to self publish and I'm so excited about it! If you're not familar with their beautiful quality or service, they are incredible! I love all the creative control of doing my own book cover to cover! It will be available in a hard cover and also a digital version! I've finished half of my rough draft and this is the cover above, all complete :) what do you think?
I've added some of my new miniatures that I've collected or made this week here to the post too...I cannot wait to play and photograph all new scenes and minis for the book, I am really loving the photography aspect of miniatures and trying every day to get better at it.
The book will have many aspects to it, without giving too much away already, it will be a photo based book with lots of photos but I also plan on giving a few "secret" recipes out and doing some tutorials in it too. Of course I want it to be very special. A keepsake with dreamy photos and filled with inspiration and ideas too! Here's a little sneak preview of what I've thought of so far and drafted in chapters, not in specific order :
1. The Corner Bakery: photos of bakery scenes, baked goods etc. , recipes for some mini baked goods, my recipe for real cupcakes, selected quotes, etc.
2. The Ice Cream shop: photos of course, both real and mini, the mini recipe for strawberry ice cream, ice cream parlor antidotes, etc.
3. The Vintage Kitchen: Photos of mini kitchen scenes, photos of kitchen items, baking and cooking in the mini kitchen, some "real" kitchen inspirations, recipes for mini and real foods, ideas for using what you might have around the house and making it into a mini, showing how to make a miniature kitchen shelf, or pantry etc.
4. Housekeeping in the Cottage: Photos of mini housekeeping, both "real" tips and mini housekeeping tips, recipes, how to's , etc.
So that's a little hint so far :) again, I'd love your feedback! After all, I'm writing this for me but also for YOU!
Well that's my news for the week. Now I have to go get busy making minis, finishing custom orders and getting to work on this new project :)
Thank you so much for always being such great and supportive friends! Receiving such wonderful compliments and encouragement from all of you has allowed me to be brave about this and go for it! Doing so also allows me to have one place to hopefully answer some of your questions you send to me too, that's why I've decided to do the recipe aspect and have fun sharing tips etc...
So let me know what you think or if you have any questions you'd like to see in the book answered or you want to learn something, if I know the answer, I'd love to include it.
Till next time... Love and blessings to all of you and Happy Spring!!
Hugs, Cynthia xo
