A bird and a mouse

Yesterday this gift came from Irmgard in Germany. I have been admiring her birds for a long time, and asked her, if I could buy one from her. She offered me a swap instead. Lucky me, it is fantastic work, it looks so real and the details are perfect. And look at that sweet little mouse, she sent me as an extra surprise!

Thank you so much, Imgard!
Take a look at Irmgards blog http://miniarche.blogspot.com/

Beautiful surprise

Yesterday I found a wonderful envelope in my mailbox, it was a christmas card and a small present from Monique.
She was a customer at Petit Brocante, I sent her a little extra gift, and she wanted to surprise me too. She really did. Look at this small poetry book with extra pictures to decorate the pages with, it reminds me of my childhood, when every girl had a poetry books, and friends, teachers and family were writing there greetings in it often followed by drawings and rhymes like:

Roses are red,
violets are blue,
strawberries´ sweet
and you are too.. (loosely translated from danish)

I still have my old book (Annie wrote in it too in the early 70ties  ;-)
Monique has a webpage, she has no blog yet, but look out, she will soon open one.

A wonderful day

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Annie. We went shopping materials for miniatures as well as some small accents for our large houses, and we had lunch in a nice quiet place, that calls itself a "gourmet café". I had moulles, the french way in an iron pot, yummy. Then we gave each other presents from the Annnie Box and the Susanne Box, just like we use to do. Look what I got from Annie, most of it is from her webshop Gypsy Boudoir. It is all SO nice, pictures don´t do justice. Thanks Annie for a lovely day!

First there were things to create a special christmas feeling...

Then I got beautiful items for a womans boudoir...

Tea with the gardener

Well, I decided to have tea with the gardener to night in the kitchen instead of the orangerie, so we could talk about getting som new (old) roses and redecorating the orangerie a little bit. I would like new tiles on the floor at the least. I knew he would percieve it as an extra burden of work, so I tried to make it all very nice and cosy for him. First I turned down the light, then I set the table with the beautiful china and tea cosy from Rosanna, and then again I added the delicous cupcakes, I once got as a gift from Christel. Of course I added a few books about roses, maybe I should have brought the one named "Orangerie dreams" too? Come to think of it, he is in fact a very sweet person, the gardener...
Click on the pictures to enlarge, please.

Gifts from Rosanna

I recieved a wonderful gift from Rosanna today. It was the one, I won in her giveaway. It really took my breath away. First a big treasure box filled with small packets, and then..look at it all. It´s fantastic! Now I am a proud owner of one of Rosannas beautiful tea cosys and even with my own initial embroyderied on it. And all this china!
I will find great places for it all, Rosanna, and thank you SO much, I am so happy!! I´ll get back to you one day too.
I think some of it may go into the Orangerie together with the books, I made yesterday. I think, I might post some updated pictures of the Orangerie in the days to come...
remember to click on the pictures to enlarge and see details...

A room with a view

I invited Caterina to go to Tuscany with my family. Here are some pictures from our journey, we had a wonderful time together. I sent her some books in advance about Tuscany, the food, the landscape, the architecture, living and history, so that she could make some preparations. Though she is italian, she told me that she had not been in Tuscany since her school days.


Our first stop were Pisa, where our plane landed. I bought a large sketchbook and some pencils for Caterina, so she could draw her inspiration for miniatures during our trip. I love doing that myself.


Of course we had to see the leaning tower. I don´t know where Caterina went when I took the pictures. My son and my husband are looking for her at the picture.


The sun was shining bright and it was about 35 degrees, so I realized, why all the people around us wore straw hats. I bought one for Caterina too along with a matching bag. She immideately put her golden shawl into the bag, no need for that on such a hot day.


Then we drove to Montecatini Terme in our rented car. Here is the hotel, that we stayed in. It´s very old and situated in a large park.


Catherina and I spent a lot of time studying the details wanting to do it all in miniature. We realized that it would take some time though.





We had lunch in Montecatini Alto in the mountains, its a very small town with a stunning wiew.



It was also here, I found my special present for her. I won´t tell you what it is, because she hasn´t recieved it yet, but I´m sure, she will let you know, when she comes back home...I sure hpe she likes it...well its something for her garden or courtyard. I´am glad she prefers miniatures, because we had to fly back with Ryanair...



Then we saw Firenze (Florence) with all its amazing statues and the Cathedral...


..but Caterina was hiding again..where did she go? Maybe she doesn´t like to have her photo taken?
Anyway, thanks for a wonderful trip, Caterina, and thanks for organizing this swap! You will recieve your miniatures in the mail very soon..

Holiday gifts from Spain

Today I recieved my holiday swap gift from Alicia in Spain. The beautiful gifts all have a beach or sea theme... Look at all the details in the little box. Books about fishes, letters, maps, and magazines about miniatures of course. I would pack the bag and go to the beach reading and dreaming. And home again I would look at the sea shells, put the largest one up to my ear and recall the sound of the sea. I really need to make a beach- or summer house some day...
The gifts were so neatly wrapped. "I hope we keep exchanging gifts in the future", Alicia wrote to me. We will, Alicia, and thank you so much for the beautiful miniatures!

Gifts from Lisette

Yesterday I recieved these wonderful gifts from Lisette. I had asked her how to make a terrazzo floor for the bathroom, and she kindly showed me her tutorial AND promised to send me some flakes to use for the floor. But Lisette also sent me more. Look at this beautiful little book, that Lisette made, its was sent in a little box with the sweetest fabric. I´ll use the book as a guestbook in the hall and make a feather pen for it. Thank you so much, Lisette, I am making plans for my gifts for you in return.