The Bakery's Bicycle

In the earlier planning phases of my bakery, I knew I wanted a bicycle outside the door with a wicker basket loaded with baked goods.  I've been searching for the perfect bicycle ever since, and to date have not found anything in the right size, look, and price point.  Recently I purchased this white metal bicycle that was the right size and price, but that was about it.  Now I had to turn it into the bicycle that I envisioned for the storefront.

Sorry I can't find the picture of the bicycle before I started to paint it, so I had to use the picture from the retailer's web site.  You can see it's just a basic piece of white metal miniatures.

I found this picture on the intranet and it was my inspiration for the bicycle I actually wanted for my bakery scene.

So I sprayed my entire bicycle with a metallic paint and then added in the green and black shades afterwards.  Then I added some antiquing and rust, and this was the end results.

Once I photographed it, I realized it still wasn't quite the look I was after, I wanted a wicker basket.  I had two choices, I could cut off the wire basket and weave a wicker basket, or I could use the metal basket already in place and weave waxed cord through the existing framework.  I went with the second choice, but I had to add a few more wires, because there were no wires in the corners of the existing basket.  At any rate, four hours later, and cramped fingers and elbows, this is the end result!

Now I have to load up the basket and the back shelf and the bicycle is ready to go.  I'm pleased with the end results.  Now it's back to flower making for the shed.

Thank you to the new followers for taking an interest, I am getting very close to 200 followers which is amazing since I was an absentee blogger for the past year.

It's back to work tomorrow, so hopefully I can continue more mini making and blogging in the evenings.

Until next time...

Wanda

Sorry to be away so much lately

I've been trying to catch up on my blog reading but I am still about 3 days behind.  I haven't had much time to work on my minis at all, hence no postings.  I've been doing all the last minute errands for my wedding, which is in 6 days!!

I thought I would share some pictures of another project I've been working on, my bakery.  I still don't have a name for the bakery.  All I have left to do is add signage, more "bake goods", add the front step, and trim the edge of the landscaping base.  I've been actively looking for a bike to go outside with a basket, but I haven't found exactly what I am looking for yet.  Hope you like it.

This will probably be the last posting for at least a week.  I'll be too busy in the coming week with the wedding, visiting family members and I still have to punch in three days of work, before I am off for a week!

Until the next time......

Wanda

In a blink of an eye

I've just returned from Las Vegas to see the overwhelming response I'd received on my give-a-way.  I now have 115 followers, and I am so thankful to each and everyone of you for taking the time to read my blog and to be interested in what I am doing here.

Unfortunately in the blink of an eye, life can change and it is so important to live your life to the best each and every day.  While in Las Vegas my fiance's uncle suddenly passed away.  He was deeply loved by everyone who has ever met him, and he was a wonderful man.  We meet so many people in our lives who are confused with our choice of hobbies, and then you meet those who are absolutely impressed and in awe of what we do. Jim was one of those people.  He was a retired engineer and completely understood the skill and talent required to do what it is we do with our miniatures.

Jim passed away in the place he absolutely loved, his cabin, doing what he asbolutely what he loved to do, fly fishing. It's a sad time for everyone, and tomorrow we leave to go to his hometown for the funeral. 

Unfortunately I will have to delay the draw for the give-a-way until I return on Sunday.  It will give others a few more days to enter if they choose to do so.  I apologize for the delay.  I also have to apologize to my fellow swappers because I had hoped to get the garden swaps mailed before I left for Vegas, but paint had still not dried on a couple of items and this task will also have to wait..  I am now back just long enough to unpack and repack to leave again.   I hope everything will be worth the wait once you receive them.

There are far too many new followers to list right now, but I promise to do that at a later date.  I have tried to keep up on my blog reading while in Las Vegas but the time difference for me (4.5 hours) made me extremely tired, so I am still three days behind on this as well.

I am leaving a picture of another project I am working on, my bakery, and a peep into the front door to see all the shelving on the back wall.  More to follow on this project in the future.

-Wanda

My First Post!

I've been reading a lot of blogs on miniatures in the past month and I have become so fascinated with them. I have gotten lots of miniature work completed because I've been so inspired by other people's miniature projects. I decided to start my own blog with the hope that it will give me the incentive to complete even more of my projects, to get feedback from others and hopefully to inspire others the way many of you have inspired me.

I am presently working on a 10 room dollhouse, a bakery and a garden shed. I also have stashed in my workroom a display curio that can house five room boxes, a store kit, still in the box, that I hope to use as a ladies shop, and so many other ideas for the future. So mini project, so mini ideas....but so little time.

I am attending Camp Mini Ha Ha in September and we are building a tudor castle room box. So I have one more project to add to my growing list.

One blog I read, can't remember which one now, recommended to write a list of all the miniature projects you would like to complete. It's a danting task for me, I am so scared how long it will be. So here goes....

-Wine cellar (already have all the accessories and the old wine crate to build it in)
-French Country Kitchen & Great Room.
-Rik Pierce house (Actually I would love to take several of his classes!! I'm a big fan of his work, especially his lighthouse and thatched roof cottage)
-A Whitledge-Burgess Roombox. I love their work as well.
-A Christmas tree scene. I have a gazebo style candle holder that would be great container for it.
-Kitchens through the centuries. I think it would be great theme for my 5 room curio cabinet.
-An artist scene (I have a clear "paint can" from Michael's that would be an ideal container).
-An interior designer's studio.
-A fabric/quilt shop
-A Perfume shop
-I am sure I will think of many more later!

The shop pictured at the top of the blog is my bakery that I built at last year's Camp Mini Ha Ha. It also is still a work in progess. I am working on the landscaping now, and I have all the breads and cakes made (and some purchased), but I still have to complete more cookies.

My most recent challenge has been my garden shed that I am building from plans shown in Miniature Collector June to August 2007. The only power tool I have is a Dremel, so I have had to adapt the pattern to accommodate my lack of power tools. But so far, I have the garden shed framed out, and now I am working on the wall panels.

I have struggled with setting up the blog. I still cannot get the background template I wanted loaded, and I would love to redesign the layout, but like my minis this also is a work in progress. I will learn as I go. Hope everyone can help me with this as well.

I am so excited about writing this blog.....now I just need followers!!