Seasons Greetings

Once again, time has flown by much too quickly and now Christmas is soon here. Amid all the hustle and bustle, it's the perfect time to wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season! 

Thanksgiving Dinner Prep Underway

Even with lush red, gold and orange leaves drifting down on my head, it took a while for me to transition from summer to fall. But now that the air has turned crisp and I'm wearing thick coats instead of tank tops, it's time to let go of the beach ball and gear up for Thanksgiving. And since preparing a big dinner is always a work in progress, there's no time like the present to start whipping up a tasty menu of holiday favorites. So far, this is what's cookin' in the CuteInMiniature country kitchen...

Thanksgiving food with spice cake and pumpkin pie

Cornbread stuffing, baby carrots, pumpkin pie, rolls and candied sweet potatoes

 

Cranberry sauce and gravy

Sweet As Sugar

It hardly seems possible to have such good fortune, but today I received another wonderful surprise with an acknowlegement on Etsy. It is from lovely and talented artisan Catherine Parsons, who makes adorable needle-felted mice. Each pretty little mouse is featured with her own special treat and takes hours to perfect as Catherine uses lots of bead and thread detail to make sure each one turns out just right. She also has a great knack for colors with her mice and really cute displays. So when Catherine decided her latest Sweet Petite mouse, "Sugar", needed an ice cream cone, she asked whether I could make a set for her. I was more than happy to oblige as Catherine is one of the sweetest people you'll ever meet. And she's always full of positive, radiant energy that just warms your heart every time you chat with her. Like Catherine, her adorably cute creations are guaranteed to make you smile. Please take a look at Sweet Petite Shoppe.

I also want to take a moment to thank Eliana, whom you may already know as she is there to guide and encourage artisans whether new to the miniature community or experienced veterans. She is so generous with her support and cheerful words that it's no wonder she receives lots of gifts from other miniaturists. Everyone loves and adores Eliana. And those of you who've already visited her lovely blog know that she has a real talent for rustic design and makes you want to hire her to decorate your kitchen!

Thank you Catherine, Eliana and to my other very special friends--in both the real and mini world--who continue to inspire me with your kindness. I really appreciate each and every one of you!

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Strawberry Friends Forever

What a heartwarming surprise it was to discover that one of my creations is featured in an adorable scene by the sweet and wonderfully talented Vicky Lovejoy!  She purchased a set of strawberry shortcake cake squares from my Etsy shop and now they will be part of a delightful Strawberry Party that will soon begin. At the moment, the host, Twinkle, is busily preparing other treats for her guests and Vicky has done a great job of putting together a really cute and happy scene that will bring many, many smiles and lots of joy, which is what Vicky does to all who have the pleasure of meeting her. And those lucky enough to be counted among her friends, know that she is loving, supportive and full of light. If you haven't already seen her cheerful creations, please stop by Lovejoy Bears and take a peek.

I also want to thank Flora for the generous pleasure of being featured on her gorgeous blog La Casa Delle Bambole Di Flora. That, too, is an honor and like Vicky, Flora is a very lovely, supportive and talented artist whose beautiful shabby chic creations are widely admired and sold in her popular Etsy shop. Everyone adores her work and when you see the fabulous items she creates, it's easy to understand why she's in high demand. So it is again an honor to be recognized by both of these wonderful ladies!

Minis straight off the Grill

To celebrate the 4th of July, I decided to kick off the holiday with a miniature backyard feast. You're all invited to join in the festivities as long as you like your barbecue chicken slathered with lots of sauce:) Unfortunately, my deviled eggs appear to be wilting under our blistering temps, but there are lots of other summer favorites to choose from, including buttermilk fried chicken, red potato salad and those old backyard standbys, hamburgers and hotdogs.  All the miniature food here is handmade by me from polymer clay!

Enjoy and Happy Fourth!

Making Whoopie

After polishing off a half dozen homemade chocolate chip cookies, I decided to whip up these mini whoopie pies. The thing about whoopie pies--aside from the cute name--is that they're nostalgic and always seem to bring a smile to everyone who eats them.

 

Spring temps and Cheesecake

With the hopeful promise of warmer Spring weather,  it will soon be the perfect time to savor light desserts like cheesecake. Although cream cheese is the traditional ingredient, these cakes are also made with chilled whipped cream or ricotta cheese. Some people also top their cheesecakes with a layer of sour cream for added flavor, but I usually just go with vanilla extract and a bit of lemon. I also like to mix a lot of butter in my graham cracker crumbs to form the crust—which is waaaaaaaaay easier to make than an apple pie crust. As many of you probably know, making the perfect apple pie crust requires a skill almost as great as crafting miniatures!