Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Scenes to go



This is a DIY of a different sort – part instruction, and part tips on how to personalize your craft.

The miniature scene pictured is destined for presentation to Beth Groundwater who commissioned "an outdoor scene." This was a real challenge for a city girl like me – my idea of an outdoor vacation is walking the museum mile up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

All the more fun to put it together!

The miniature has a campfire made of real stones and real wooden twigs that were burned over my sink. I bought the sand in a crafts store and glued it to wooden base; the snow is crafts store glitter. The trees are made from pipe cleaners of two different shades of green. What makes them look better, I think, is that their leaves have been painted with several coats of different shades of green paint, then white paint, then glitter.

Still, there's nothing earthshaking here, unless you count the little critter peeking out from behind the large tree in the top photo.

You all know Beth, author of the wonderful series featuring Claire Hanover, the proprietor of a Colorado Springs gift basket business. Even though she asked for an outdoor venue, I knew I had to include a GIFT BASKET. I put together a small basket with a mini bottle of wine and 2 glasses, and – Beth writes mysteries, after all – a gun. You'll also see copies of Beth's books, A REAL BASKET CASE and TO HELL IN A HANDBASKET, and a few of her favorite authors. I can't wait to hand this over to Beth at Mayhem in the Midlands at the end of the week.

I love making scenes that are suited to a particular person, whether for a birthday gift or anniversary, or for a conference silent auction, where I add books by the authors who will be attending.

Over the years my friends and relatives (like it or not) have received scenes from me: everything from a stable for my equestrian stepdaughter, to a 19th century jail for Ann Parker (Silver Rush series), to a bar covered with books for Left Coast in Denver last year. Samples are at the Gallery at http://www.dollhousemysteries.com.

Like Claire Hanover's thoughtful, personalized gift baskets, the best crafts are the ones that can immediately leave my house as a present or a donation. The bonus for me is that I can then get started on new supplies and new ideas.

So, thanks Beth for your interest and your part in keeping my hobby going! See you and, hopefully, other Killerhobbies readers at Mayhem for the presentation!

13 comments:

MareF said...

You are amazing. That is a fantastic scene and perfect for Beth. I proudly flaunt the scene of yours that I have and so many people have been wowed by your attention to detail. You've done it again. Very nice job.

CA Verstraete said...

Now there's a gift basket! Love the gun sticking out. Cute scene, Camille.

Maryannwrites said...

Very nice scene. I have to admit I am new to this and really appreciate Beth sending me this way. I can see where it would be so neat to have a scene like this if I had a place to display it. :-)

Beth Groundwater said...

I love the photos, Camille, and I can't wait to see the real thing this weekend. Wow, you certainly put in a lot of work on the details--burning the twigs yourself, the multiple coats of paint, etc.! And the basket is the perfect touch. Thanks soooo much!
- Beth

Terri Thayer said...

This vignette is lovely, but it's the personal touches that you add, Camille that make it extra special. The gift basket complete with gun is a brilliant touch!

Len-GuitarLessons said...

quite a name for your blog

Harvee said...

I've always wondered what mystery writers did on the side:) Now I see! Very nice.

Betty Hechtman said...

I love your miniatures. Always a touch of humor and menace. The tiny sleeping bag is adorable.

misterreereeder said...

Incredible scene. You definitely have the knack to do nice things like this.

Camille Minichino said...

Thanks all.

As I've mentioned here before, I'm lucky to have a sometime partner in crafts, my talented niece -- she's more of a purist ("What? You want to use fake twigs when there are perfectly good real ones right outside??") and a great inspiration.

Ann Parker said...

Great scene! :-) The little details are exquisite. And I love the flannel sleeping bag, nice touch! Makes me cold to think of sleeping in such in a snowy environment, though. ;-)

-- ann (who spent summer camps shivering in just such a bag... full-scale, of course)

Anonymous said...

What a pleasure (and fun) to have personally observed this amazing scene evolving as the twigs were charring over the sink and the sleeping bag was correctly lined and sewed. C also stands for creativity, even though M for Mary gets accolades also. xoxoxox

Sheila Deeth said...

What a lovely scene! Lovely idea, and such neat details.