March

June

I'm sharing an small update. My sister has been visiting from Argentina after 6 years without seeing each other, but here it is a little bit of progress.

September

I just started the Carl and Ellie's house kit. I'm glad that I joined this challenge because I may have never started the kit otherwise. It is a house I love and I feel intimidated by it.

Final Update

Although I was unable to complete my 3 projects, I'm glad that I was able to start working in miniatures again. I really enjoyed having miniatures around me year round. Even thought I did not finish my projects, I think that being part of this year's challenge was a total success. It was a great experience.

March

I have painted the walls and furnished the office. I still need to add a roof, replace the door and add in the decor.

June

I have worked on the exterior of the office. I have painted the walls and trim. I have added the foundation. I think it’s coming along nicely. Still lots to do. 

September

I have finished the door and entrance. Completed decorating the inside. The only thing left to do is some type of roof. I’m not sure what I will do for that as of today but I will come so with something. 

Final Update

I have completed my year long project of turning the dollhouse into an Optometry Office. My daughter will be displaying in her office. I enjoyed working on this project and making sure I stayed on track by meeting the quarterly deadlines. 😀

March

June

September

Final Update

DONE!!!!

March

Oops! I'm falling behind again. I got 2 1/2 months done. These little rooms are really time-consuming but I love learning new things so well worth it.

June

Another 3 boxes are done in my calendar of twelve drawers: a secret space behind shelves of books, a two-sided room, and memoirs hidden behind clothes. Six more to go…

September

I’m keeping on track. I finished 2 rooms and the drawers a month ahead of time. Yay. These 2 rooms are so cute!!!

Final

I finished!! It was a super fun project which gave me lots of ideas for future projects.

March

I have worked on painting some of the walls! I made the perfect purple F.R.I.E.N.D.S. color and got that on the walls for Monica’s apartment. I have the wall painted for Central Perk! It’s not a whole lot done but it’s a start! 

June

 have not put much work into the Renovation of the actual dollhouse this quarter BUT I did buy the perfect “Chicken and Duck” for my FRIENDS theme house for Joey & Chandler’s apartment!!! 

Final Update

I’M DONE!!! 

I used the 30th Anniversary of the premier of the show FRIENDS (Sunday September 22nd) as a deadline to get the house done. The left side of the house is Central Perk. The other side is Monica & Rachel’s apartment on the bottom and the Chandler & Joey’s apartment on the top. I am very happy with it.

March

This was not a productive quarter. I did manage to open the April secret space kit and read the instructions. I popped out the first items and am ready to start painting.

June

I have completed the April and May room kits and papered the outside of June. These last 2 were challenging. I hope the next are a couple of easy ones!

(Who am I kidding? They all have challenges!)

September

I have finished the June, July and almost finished the August room. June was a lot of work but I’m very pleased with it. July was a nice break in 1/12 scale and August has been easy ... a good thing because September has 2 rooms!! 

Final Update

I just finished the last kit in the Secret Spaces. I was determined to finish and I don’t think the glue is dry on this last one! I feel very satisfied with my project and I do love these Robin Betterley kits.

March

The cupola and garden areas of the Charleston House are mostly finished. My goal for June is to put the finishing touches on the garden area and to complete decorating the next floor down.

June

The front of the Charleston House is finished, both landscaping and porches, and appears ready for company. The occupants are hosting a party in the top garden which now has accessories, including a delicious croquembouche and a stocked bar. Three floors to go before December 31!

September

I have completed another floor in my Charleston house. Only two floors to go before the final December update!

Final Update

I have completed my 2024 CYLC by decorating the Charleston house that I built in 2023! To see the completed exterior, please see the June update.

March

Final

New Paragraph

Sara Cook

This is Overboard, a 1/2-scale kit-bashed boutique for mermaids. It is covered in rhinestones and pearls and disco mirrors, and sells things that have fallen off boats. I can answer any questions, except "why are you making that?" because I have no idea. 

Photos are from a recent test fitting. I want to complete the main building assembly and wiring (arduino microcontroller) this quarter, and finish the interior furnishings by the end of the year. If I can have it ready in time for the Good Sam show in San Jose in October, all the better!

March

Here are some items I made for the fashion part of the mermaid shop (1/2” scale). The counter is kit bashed. The electronic/lighting portion of the project is having a time out for not behaving well. I may be giving up on the neon sign feature. The building itself is at a tedious state where I’m adding trim to the edges and filling gaps. Onward!

June

I spent most of the past few months working on landscaping, which in this case means a coral reef made from air-dry clays, beads, and sequins. The base of the scene is an 8x12 wooden paint surface, with 1.5" sides. I have covered the sides with coral and will landscape the top after I assemble everything. I have had some success with the lights, and I hope my next update will have a video of everything working at the same time!

I made more clothes and accessories for the shop upstairs, including a wedding dress on a form for the balcony. The wedding dress is crepe paper and tiny rhinestones. The moto jacket is digitally printed on fabric and assembled with glue. 

March

I have finished two of the six projects I picked out for the year! The NAME Day Tiki hut and the first Camp Makamini cabin! Now it’s on to more Camp M. projects and the Charleston Single. Maybe I can slip a few other UFOs in too!

June

I’ve been busy making kits for my Charleston Single by Debbie Young. Lots and lots of kits. And there are more to come (on their way from Canada) but this house is almost looking lived-in!

September

I have gotten some things finished, but not what I set out to do in December. Can I use those things instead? It’s the Camp Make-A-Mini studio.

Final Update

Well, I didn't finish everything. But I did finish my Charleston Single by Debbie Young. I'm quite happy with the way the Charleston Single came out. Some ghosts came to live among the dusty attic in the attic, and one of Ruth Stewart's pirate kitties caused some typical cat trouble in the kitchen. I went through my stash and found lots of accessories, but that made me realize I really should organize it. Maybe that'll be what I do next year.

JoAnne Cutting

Despite having failed to complete the 2023 Challenge I set for myself, I am determined to complete the project that I was calling the Frozen Donation Dollhouse. I've renamed it the SnowFlake House because most of the wallpaper I ended up using has snowflakes on it. The goal for 2024 is finish all the interior trim (ideally by June) and complete the outdoor landscaping by September. I have so many great plans and visions for it. Hopefully, real life will calm down enough this year to allow me time to carry them out. At least I have this challenge to keep me motivated. So thank you for repeating this challenge this year.

March

It doesn't look like much progress on the Snowflake Chateau but I've lost count of the hours spent on the front door and in completely rebuilding the front windows from scratch. I'm also trying a different method on the trim stonework, which will need more paint and weathering. At least I have established workshop space on the back porch. Now if I can find all the supplies and tools I moved from the front porch last fall, I'll be back in business!

June

Snowflake Dollhouse progress report: measure twice, cut once is a great maxim. For me, though, it's more like measure three or four times, cut once, measure again, trim, try to fit, sand, try again, sand, fit, glue, putty gap that wasn't there before, sand, sigh, paint and hope the paint covers the repairs. Repeat for next piece. Then I have a Really Good Idea about what to do in the staircase and spend another chunk of time trying to figure out how and what I need to do it, before I realize that I don't have One Important Part and go back to the original task. No wonder progress is so slow!

March

Woo hoo! Got my Joie de Vivre building finished! Now I'm going to be ambitious and finish all the furnishings. 

June

I have my Joie de Vivre building about 85% finished. I still have to make a few pieces of furniture, plants, and some accessories.

Final July Update

Finished Joie de Vivre tonight. Totally, completely done. 

Barbara Engel

This is a quarter scale Michelle Miniatures kit I have had for awhile. It probably will not take long to finish putting together the roombox but it will take me forever to make all of the tiny little hats and accessories I want to put in it.

March

The little hat shop has been renamed and repainted. It is now titled Glitz and Giggles Boutique. I have also made some matching furniture for the shop. It doesn't look like much progress but the next challenge is making more hats. And since it is a boutique I can put other items in like perfumes and jewelry.

Final Update

This small project was started by a friend. I have completed it and it will be donated to the NAME Raffle at our Retreat Into Miniatures in October.

March

I now have finished the large Cabinet that will contain the remaining kits for the year. So I have finished 3 kits so far, I guess I am right on track. These are so much fun to do and the Betterleys have such good instructions. Love Them. Finished Kitchen, Bedroom Alcove, and Cabinet.

June

I am moving right along and have half of the kits completed and we are halfway through the year. I hope I can keep up the pace. This is where I am so far and it has been fun. I would never have gotten this far without the challenge.

September

It has a busy summer with Camp Make-A-Mini and being a NAME Day cutter, I have been up to my ears and only been able to finish one more room in my "Secret Spaces". This is a winter scene for cozy hot chocolate and resting after a long day in the snow. I have started a small room furnishings behind the glass door and hope to finish the remaining 4 rooms by year end. We will see if I make it!

Final Update

This was a great experience and if life hadn't gotten in the way I would have actually finished. I came close. Having a kitchen remodel and being a NAME Day cutter kind of got in the way. So all I can say is I did my best and I definitely will have it finished very soon! Thank You for this opportunity to participate and challenge myself.

Diane Fisher

I loved doing last year’s challenge. This year, I plan to do the Stewart’s kit, Birdhouse Bluff, (with furnishings kits by the Betterleys). I am enclosing the kits received already. The house kit and more furnishings will arrive by February.

March

I am working on Birdhouse Bluff by the Stewarts. I am loving it. I have completed the interior and much of the base. Next, I will accessorize the base, then work on furnishings and hooking up wiring. Ruth has done a fabulous job on instructions and Zooms. Don has outdone himself, along with Ruth, on design.

Final Update

It’s finished. It was designed by Ruth and Dan Stewart. It was a wonderful and hypnotic project. And it’s finished!!! The fisherman and the birdwatcher lady are from Sally Manwell, the little girl is from Julie Stevens, and the dog is from Barb Meyers.

March

I have completed the basic shell, given it a coat of paint, and have shingled the house. Lots of work still needed on the exterior, both in construction and detailed finishes. I regularly update a detailed TO DO list and the exterior will keep me busy for quite some time. I have wired the house and purchased most fixtures, but that is all that has been accomplished in the interior. Although not difficult, I forgot how tedious and fiddly brads could be.

Work outside this photo includes making gallery photos, most from King movies and collecting items for the house itself. The clear shoeboxes in the background contain items intended for specific rooms. Mistakes were made along the way, but have managed to correct or find other solutions for all of them. I’m finding that modifying the kit has consequences as each part is made a specific fit. Overall, I’m pleased with my progress and it is starting to look like my inspiration photos.

June

I finished the exterior, aged the house with a water-downed paint wash. It will need a bit more, but that will come at the end. I have wired the house and have installed lights on the top floors. I finished the roof top and have started to make floors. So much work is being done outside of the house at the moment. I continue to keep a running list of to do items. One big setback of shorted electric caused me to rip out the finish in the tower room. I hope to pick up in the upcoming months.

September

It’s starting to come together. Electric is done. I changed quite a bit and eliminated some lights that were just too fiddly to get in. Still 24 bulbs throughout so plenty of light. Floors and walls are complete. Now onto doors and trim. Staining, varnish and install should keep me busy for some time. I’m confident that the structure will be finished by year end.

Final Update

My Stephen King house is assembled. Everything in the kit is assembled with the exception of the stairs. Those will go in later as much to do in the interior and the stairs will get in the way. Still lots to do. It needs a lot of aging in the structure. Windows and raw edges need trim (not included in kit). I have an idea/to do list that will keep me working on this house for months, not to mention boxes of items for the interior.

I accomplished what I set out to do this year. 

Bev Fleming

I'm hoping to finish the traveling village in 2024.

March

Here's #8 of Traveling Village, inside accessories almost finished.

June

#8 almost done

March

This quarter I worked on four kits: Kitchen, Bed, Night tables, and "Under the Stairs" which is a reading nook. My current strategy is to complete the furniture then I'll work on the itty bitty accessories.

June

Woohoo! I completed all the furniture and itty bitty accessories for the inside of my Pickett Pond! The rest of the challenge year I'll work on the landscaping and a couple of kits that go on the outside ie boats, signs, chairs.

September

I was able to complete many of the furniture kits during the second quarter. This quarter I was "distracted" by the Camp Make-A-Mini project and family summer events. Sooooo ... this picture is of the Camp Make-A-Mini furniture that I could, possibly, also use in my Pickett Pond scene :)

Final Update

Sooo close!!! Last night I realized I couldn't finish by tomorrow night. The paperclay for the rock wall needs 24 hours to dry AND then the water medium needs 24 hours to cure AND then I need to place the plants and trees. I'm submitting these final photos and just know that the "missing pieces" will be in place soon. I've really enjoyed this challenge. Congrats to all who completed ... or made progress on ... their projects! 

Jean Gibson

Here is the most uninteresting picture of all, but it is something I intend to accomplish. My challenge is to assemble and paint these 30 different little houses in 144th, 288, 450, 1000, 2000, and 4000 scales. There are a lot of new designs along with some older ones plus a Christmas Flyer.

March

June

Here are 11 new houses designed by Volker Arnold that I finished for the challenge. The tallest one measures 1 3/4 inch. The smallest one is 1/4 inch tall. The first one is called a crooked house and the one with the red roof is a little wonky, too. There are so many little houses that are fun and challenging. 

March

June

It is difficult to place items in these small rooms after they have been built!

Final Update

Finished project. English cottage.

Catherine Hawkins

My project is a two-wall interpretation in 1/12th scale of a photograph taken by a friend of a cabin at the Jarrell Plantation in Middle Georgia. This is the walls in progress.

March

Jarrell Shed (based on a photo of the interior of a structure at the Jarrell Plantation in Middle Georgia). The picture shows the walls under construction, the two windows, a table (2 pictures), a ladderback chair, and a barrel. I made a collage since the rules said send one photo.

The wood used is 1/16th inch plywood for the backing of the walls, maple and cherry strips (scrap from a woodworker friend) for the planks that go on the walls, and basswood for everything else except the barrel, which is cardboard and paper.

June

Jarrell Shed walls, table with some of the things that will be on the shelves.

March

This is turning out to be a bit more of a challenge than expected as I’m missing pieces ... Not a lot of progress yet, but it was a hectic quarter with too many demands on my time. Looking forward to the summer when I should have more time (I hope!) 

June

I knew I had the pieces to a lighthouse in a closet and pulled enough out to enter into the challenge. I realized once I had it out that what I thought was RGT was Greenleaf that apparently had been stored in my garage at one point. Not only am I missing a bunch of pieces, but the wood is so dried out that it won't even glue properly ... I've tried to work with it but it's simply not fun and I'm tired of beating myself up trying to make it work. I quit.

Editor note: We are accepting a midyear change. Sometimes circumstances are beyond our control!

I believe this is the Fairfield -- it’s a half scale house I began and set aside. I had hoped to do a building I’ve been wanting to copy for literally decades but of course now that there is an opportunity I can’t find the papers. So perhaps it is meant to be that I finish this instead.

September

Final Update

I've found that locating things for half scale is a lot trickier than I suspected. I think I'll enjoy adding things over time -- it's mostly accessories; pictures and rugs that are needed now ... it will be easier to decide what is needed now that house is furnished. I made all of the furniture (other than the bathroom) and the kitchen cabinets were made by hand. Made the many many books and the flowers were from kits by SDK. I enjoyed this project and will have fun adding to it but this will probably conclude my half scale collection -- just too difficult to access stuff for it. I'm in awe of those who only work in this scale!

Eileen Herrstrom

After losing my big dollhouse in a fire, I thought about buying another kit. Lo and behold, a friend has an old dollhouse looking for a new home. My project for the 2024 CYLC will be to clean and renovate this house. I’d like to wire it, but we’ll see.

March

I started my dollhouse renovation with a thorough washing and began removing damaged wallpaper. Top: original state of front porch and its appearance after cleaning. Bottom: peeling wallpaper in living room and mid-removal in bedroom. I’ve decided to refer to this as the Hug House; Hug is the surname of the friend who gave me this house and conveys the coziness I intend for it to show someday.

June

I have completely repainted the exterior of my dollhouse, as shown by the before and after pictures. The damaged wallpaper has been stripped from two rooms and replaced with new. Finally and most excitingly, this house is now wired for electricity; it’s my first time using round wire instead of tapewire because the wallpaper was already in place. I still have to hide the wires.

March

My Create Year Long Challenge the Carpathian Cottage is almost complete. I have the shingling and landscaping to finish on it. The interior accessories are finished. This is the first time I have ever done lighting in a 1:48 house – it was fun!

June

 I still have the base and the landscaping to complete on my Carpathian Cottage. 😊

September

 I still have the base and the landscaping to complete on my Carpathian Cottage. 😊

Final Update

I did not totally complete my 2024 Year Long Challenge. The Carpathian Cottage just needs the landscaping to be completed. That is my goal for 2025!

Julie Johnson

I will be working on the outside. Big plans!

March

I’ve been working on the front porch.

June

My entry has moved back where it came from. Not much completed with the move involved. But here is my update since I doubt there will be any progress for awhile. lol

March

I’m still not finished, a long way from it, haha. It’s taking years but I am enjoying the process.

June

Here is a picture of shelves on one side of my jewelry shop. I have been busy making jewelry.

September

Jewelry on the shelves. Chair cushions covered. Chest ready to marbleize the top.

Final Update

I finished! Happy New Year!

Tina Kase

By the end of 2024: 1. Complete the whole of this tree structure, including: (1a) making spaces for future room boxes and secret dioramas. (1b) attach removable (some with child proof locks) or hinged panels to 5 dollhouses and all secret diorama and future roombox spaces. (1c) add tree bark texture and paint. 2. Decorate and furnish the 5 dollhouses with scratch built or modified store bought playable furniture. 3. Complete 4-5 of the other spaces. 4. Add lights in 1 dollhouse.

March

Very happy with progress this first update. Tree structure is complete. Some bits even have bark! Made all the spaces for the future mini rooms with hinged doors. I only made one miniature which was a wizard shop kit. I also made the walls through which the shop will be seen, after its put inside the tree. The "secret" plug that needs to be removed in order to view the hp diorama is also made, but not visible in photo. It's really getting exciting now. 

June

I've been very busy and made a lot, however the only complete thing is the rabbits house. (photo) Really enjoyed furnishing this. (Though the kitchen furniture is purchased, and the bathroom furniture is remodeled dollar store furniture.) Love the "finished" feeling! They also have lights and so does the full size playhouse. The lights appear bluer in the photo than they actually are. A lot of remodeling on the left side of the tree, including all the "bark" texture and 2x dollhouse fronts and 2x secret spaces fronts precise fitting. 

March

A thousand distractions, two room boxes, and facilitating three workshops put the dollhouse on the back burner a bit. Happy to report the structure is standing, wallpaper is up and color palette is decided. Deciding on wallpaper and palette was the biggest challenge so far as I have only done single room boxes prior to this build. I created a little under the stairs cabinet using my Cricut to cut it out from heavy chipboard. Currently working on light fixtures and the windows and doors as next steps. I am choosing to build the vast majority of the items inside the dollhouse so some of those are also currently in process. Yay for spring and progress!

June

Various other projects have made this farmhouse dollhouse project a back burner project for this most recent update. I did manage to get the windows and shutters and front door painted and put on the house. Started work on the faux metal roof by adding thin wood strips. Did not make any further progress on interior. After the convention, I should have much more time to get this project buttoned up and planning on doing all the decorating in the fourth quarter. 

September

Finally got back to the dollhouse after a bit on the back burner thanks to wonderful projects for and from Convention. I used iron-on birch wood veneer strips for the porch and decided to leave off the railing as I thought it updated the look. The main 2 floors are fully floored and wallpapered. The attic is an undecided just yet. I am happy with how the roof turned out. I am awaiting “tile” and kitchen cabinets from an online order to complete the shower in the bathroom and get a start on the kitchen. I plan on finishing strong with furnishings and accessories just in time to welcome guests for the holidays! 

Final Update

The dollhouse did not get as done as I would have hoped thanks to a rough couple of months in the health department combined with a 2 month home renovation project. I will happily still keep working on the interior details in the coming year. I have some random furniture as place holders as I create bespoke pieces for the house. At least it’s built and the rest is the fun stuff! 

Kathy Koons

My CYLC for this year will be to complete Robin Betterley's 2023 calendar club, Secret Spaces. December's kit has not yet arrived, but, as you can see, none of the others have even been started! This has got to be easier for me than the goal I'd set for 2023!

March

I was going to wait until Sunday and see if I could get the April kit from Robin Betterley's Secret Spaces finished, but whom am I kidding? I'm just happy to have the first 3 months of the 12 finished!

June

I am on track! I completed the April, May, and June kits from Robin Betterley's 2023 Secret Spaces. You can also see the year-to-date progress in the picture of the outside of the whole project.

March

My first set of monthly domes, just in time for Easter! #1: Dying Easter eggs; #2: Making Easter baskets; #3: Easter egg hunt in the morning

June

Ugh, I’m so bummed that life didn’t allow for crafting this past quarter. I’m very hopeful that next quarter will be a different story!

September

APRIL SHOWERS BRING MAY FLOWERS. I did petitpoint the pillow on 40 count silk gauze. And the tray and book in the first dome, plus all the pieces in the last dome, were made in our “All Things Lavender” Create class in June.

SPRINGTIME IN PARIS. I made all the food in classes by Carl Bronsdon. The wine bottle is still full of real French wine, from a trip to France 40 years ago!

Final Update

I wish I had made more progress on my Year Long Challenge this year. I loved the plan, but life disagreed. 

If the great group at Create is willing to herd us all through this again in 2025, I’ll try to finish that challenge this time! 

In the meantime, just for the fun of including a photo instead of just some words, here’s one of the projects that derailed my plans. It was a nursery vignette for my niece’s baby shower.

Sherri Lackey

Pictured are the 4 kits I need to complete for my Wandlyn Way from Petworth Miniatures. I will complete 2 of these inside and out. You’ll need to wait until March to find out which 2 as I haven’t decided yet. The other 2 are bonus builds or maybe to be done in 2025! 😂😂😂

March

I decided to do the Crystal Cat and the Green Man (on the left) and the Warped Web (R). Coming along nicely!

June

Finished the outside of The Crystal Cat and The Green Man. Not much done on the Warped Web.

March

I've finished the March and September 2023 calendar elements and am in progress with January. I've also finished several of the furniture pieces for the back half of Nick's cottage. It's a great word, "finished!"

June

I'm moving right along with the calendar and am about ready to start Nick's cottage, back half, proper. All the furniture is now complete.

September

I finished one of my CYLC! I completed the entire #RBM 2023 calendar! I enjoyed making this project. Every room has its own featured technique. It's been creative and, when finished, just beautiful. A favorite part of this project is in the very last room, May's Refresh in the lower right-hand corner behind the window. My RL cat Saturn tries everything possible to obtain the snake plant in my house. I've added him to the scene -- about to jump onto the plant. 

I'll continue working on Nick's Cottage, back half, in the hope it'll be completed by Dec 31. All the furniture is completed. 

Final Update

I successfully finished the 2023 #RBM calendar, but not my second project. I'm making progress on Nick's Cottage, the back half. I've completed the first floor, prepped the landscaping, porch, chimneys, windows, and some of the upstairs wallpapering. I've also completed the first level exterior shingling/painting and the openings are cut for the downstairs lights. I don't know if I'll keep the carpets in it but they're in the right time frame if I do. 

Doreen Lindsay

I have decided to make Debbie Young’s Pink Lemonade house and 1/4” Bungalow Vignette for the 2024 Year Long Challenge.

March

A couple more things to add to the shelves, pillows and pets and the 1/4” Bungalow is done. Now working on Pink Lemonade.

June

I have finished my Pink Lemonade house completing my year long challenge. Now working on Visions of Sugarplums which is my third house this year.

March

Out of town again and another partial fall of sorts, I couldn't finish because it was so hard to get teacups. And they just arrived. I've been in therapy since Jan. Now another MRI, so I will mail you a picture of what I have started.

June

We are almost out of here for Denver for Gabi's Bat Mitzvah and she begged me to finish this for her in March, and I promised to bring it. This is a labor of love. The puzzle on the table spells out her name, the artwork on the wall on the left is hers from about 4-6 years old. There are treasures to love for sure, especially her love for Unicorns. I've made some kits and collected toys for some time. This was a gift from the convention in Louisville, I think. It has been repainted with many, many coats and would you believe I have the quarter scale one too!

September

I have been home for almost 8 weeks with this knee replacement. So I can't get out just yet and know I need a base for my House of Holidays. I had such fun decorating the trees and the shop is only 1.5 inches deep. The shelves are loaded. This is a donation to my club and our yearly Christmas Centerpiece.

The Candy Shop box was given to our club, oh what to do in a small space? The shelf unit just fit and a square frame fit on the outside. I filled most of the jars and made all of the candy bars. Tough working with photo paper. The doll is by Fern Vasi and dressed in a workshop by me. 

Final Update

I love Carl Brondson's shop so much. Mine houses a few of my many collected teapots and some lovely teacups. I still think it could use some green plants ... but we will see.

My House of Holidays is mounted and finished at last. This will be a centerpiece at our Christmas party and will be a raffle item at our show in March. I had such fun working on this and can now say I am finished. The narrow shop was designed by Desiree Hall and finished by me.

My holiday gift to a surprise winner is this lovely 8.5 inch tree, lit and the base is decorated with many tiny toys that I collected over the years. Many are wood. The tree has tiny bows, candy canes, tiny ornaments that I made, and jewelry pieces. Each time I looked, it needed more ... so I can say it is really loaded.