A HAPPY NEW YEAR........

to all those who visit here!

I hope you have all had a happy holiday season and that 2014 will be a wonderful year for everyone!

Two shopping baskets.....

........which I finally finished last night.

The two shoppers look about the same size in this picture - but they aren't!!

The small one measures 33mm long

The large one measures 37mm long

Some new stuff from me....

.....after a somewhat long silence.  I've been having fun working on some new items - mostly from items I've either seen in the flesh or seen photos of.

First up is the bird feeder.  I came across this little beauty when I visited our local nursery.  I thought it was so eye catching that I actually bought one - and then thought "I need this done in miniature" as you do!!!!

I'm sorry - I just couldn't help myself!  It almost warrants a prize if you can pick the mini here!!

My first attempt at the mini!   A few changes to be made but not too bad over-all!!

A dear friend of mine came over with a picture and said this would be quick and easy to make!!!

Erm - not really - but I'm happy with the result.

I found this little cradle in a book I recently acquired.  It was originally published in 1910 and the caption on the photo of the basket reads -

"This willow cradle is a Government basket and may only be reproduced by permission of the Controller, HM Stationery Office, Crown copyright reserved.  It is made to specification for the use of Service personnel."

I'm hoping they don't mind me making one in miniature.

I'm really happy with the way this little mini turned out - it would have to be my favourite out of this batch of baskets.

Back into the baskets...........

.........this past couple of weeks!  I seem to lurch from making baskets to playing with clay - and invariably the baskets keep winning the fight for my time!!

I even remembered the match stick this time!  Just to give a sense of perspective!

The cat is by Annie Willis of Fine Design.  I made the basket just for this cat!

Definitely for the birds!

Some shopping?

Another perspective

Here we are, mid week already!  Peter has gone off to Iraq for a few weeks so I shall definitely be immersing myself in some basket work.  Have to research some new stuff and that is always time consuming!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE!

Some weaving work to show.........

.........that I've not forgotten about the baskets altogether!!

A couple of aged lobster pots!

A gathering basket

A flower basket

 A basket!!

A basket....

....and another basket!

And that's it!!  I could bore you all for hours - but I do have a heart!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.  Here in Oz, we're all wishing/hoping for some rain.....it is sooo very dry.  Maybe soon!!

Another Step Forward...............

............in the kitchen of Indy's house.  I have completed the chimney at last and now all I have to do is lay the quarry tiles!!  It's ok if you say it quickly.....I think I'm going to be on that job for quite a while but it will be great when finished.   The tiles (from Richard Stacey) will cover both the kitchen and scullery area.

And now totally off topic - I have to show the giant and the squirt!  I can't believe I managed to get the poodle to be still long enough to take the picture!  Score!!

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

Monday, Monday - So Good to Me!!!

.......Anyone out there still remember the lyrics!  Well, at least the first verse is true!!

My Monday started out with a phone call from Susan (Minicrochetmad) to say she was going to call around for a cuppa!!  That's a great start to anyone's day, because look what I got!!!

I don't know how you do it Sus - but do it you do!!!!

Oh God, I think I need coffee - but I don't drink coffee!

Thank you so much dear friend - this beautiful tea cosy will sit very prettily in the housekeeper's quarters in Indy's House!   Goes with all the colours too!!  How did you know?

Then later on in the day, Jess and I hopped into the car and drove to Coffs airport, where we took delivery of a very precious bundle.  A chocolate standard poodle puppy - 8 weeks old and just gorgeous.

Not too sure what that camera is doing!!

 And finally - I have returned to working on the Indy House!  It's been a long absence, but I'm on a roll once more.  I have ordered some quarry tiles from Richard Stacey for the kitchen/scullery area and in the meantime have started work on the stove surround/chimney breast.

A lot more claying and painting to do - but I'm so glad to be moving on this once again (thank you for the come-on Catherine!!)

And that's it from me for now!  I hope everyone has a great week.  Talk soon!

More on Willunga........

I finally got the picket fence together, painted and installed - and Peter hinged the little gate for me! Also started on the landscaping - so I'm including a couple of show and tell pics!!

More progress reports soon!

And the winner is...................

I had absolutely nothing to do with the picking of the winners here.  I asked my daughter to organise the whole thing and this was the result.

First name chosen  - on the left -  LUDMILA

Second name chosen - on the right - CATHERINE

CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH OF YOU!

Now I need some information from you both.

Ludmila - (what an omen - my namesake!!) you need to choose whichever basket you would like and let me know (basketcaseminis@yahoo.com.au).  If you should pick the basket with the ribbon, you can select a colour of your choice (pale pink, pistachio as shown on the giveaway picture, blue, ivory) and provide a postal address,

Catherine - I need your address too!

Thanks to all who participated in the giveaway and for all your encouraging comments!!  We'll do this again soon!

Now it's back to work for me!!

Another Update.........

....and I might even get the name spelt correctly this time!!   Willunga is now ready to be put on the base and I can start putting up the little picket fence across the front verandah.    Then it will be on with the landscaping.  I plan to install a well in the back yard part and who knows what else!!

Internal view

Verandah attached

Other Chimney

I feel I'm finally getting somewhere with this project - not much to do now - especially if you say it quickly!!

We should have Willunga firmly attached to the base by this evening and then I can have fun with the landscaping.  Peter has installed his wonderful flickering fires - one in the kitchen and the other in the living area and he is making the internal lights for me!  Will show and tell when they are finished!

A little progress made on Wilunga............

......in between making some baskets and just life in general!!!

Today I concentrated my efforts on the cottage.  I finished claying the roof - a bit of a tedious job but well worth the effort.  Tomorrow I can hit it with some paint.

The windows - front and side - are in!

Lean-to roof is finished and painted - not attached!

Corrugated iron roof painted but not yet attached.

So that's my news on the miniatures front.  But I also have other exciting stuff happening.  A veterinarian nurse friend of mine breeds the most beautiful Tibetan Mastiffs and she has a female who is obviously not into motherhood.  Had a litter of pups - had a lot of hormonal issues and was totally disinterested in her beautiful pups, although she did eventually manage to wean them!  The short story is that Nuba (the mastiff) has been offered to me - like a rescue dog really!!  And so she will be joining us on Friday.  Jessica and I are both very excited and hope that she will settle in well here.

Nuba is the smallest of the mastiffs!  She only weighs in at 40 something kilos, as opposed to all the others that weigh in at 80 plus!  She is an absolute sweetie.

Some play time for me........

Some furniture made so long ago and left unfinished has been picked up and painted.  I just felt like doing something different - haha!  It's still paint - what am I talking about!

Never mind, it's as finished as it ever will be!  Here are the results...of course, sporting a couple of baskets I whipped up for the occasion.

A corner cupboard - yet to be filled

A work table

A door-less sideboard

Cane basket with twisted handle

And that's me done for another day!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend - I know I will!!!

(nothing like thinking positive)

It's Giveaway Time.......

At last I have completed the two baskets I would like to give away as a thank you to all those following my blog!

I decided on having two baskets because - well, I would dearly love to give you all one, but I think that would be a pretty impossible task!!  I am going to let the computer do a random selection and the first two names out of the box (so to speak) will be the recipients.   First out of the box will have first pick!

Rules of the giveaway are pretty simple:

1.     Only current followers of my blog will be eligible for the give-away.

2.     Leave a comment on this post to have your name on the list.

3.     The give-away closes at midnight on Wednesday 28 August      (Australian time!!)

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!!

Some baskets.......

........just don't want to "be"!!  I started this basket 3 weeks ago, have re-started it 3 times, and unpicked it twice.   It really drove me crazy and I am really of the opinion that some items just don't want to "be" no matter what!!!   but I WON!  I finally got it finished and hopefully will be loved by someone!

It is larger than my usual baskets (on request) - made to fit a baby 55mm long.  Normally I make these for the Belly Button Babies which are somewhat smaller!

Not long now - I have one more basket to finish and then I will concentrate on my planned give away! I'm actually looking forward to it.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend - and take care.  Talk again soon!