Miniature crafting challenge 7: ABC

Dear Readers,

This challenge was all about letters and text.

The first thing that came to my mind when I read the new theme was books.

Foxwood Tales by  Cynthia and Brian Paterson

Reading is one of my hobbies and bookshops and libraries some of my favourite places to visit.

I wonder if this picture is a stock  photo or if it belongs to a collector so if you are the owner of this cute picture please let me know

When I read the new theme for this latest challenge I had just put my children to bed.
This coincidence inspired me to make something related to it.

My three year old son and my four year old daughter can´t go to sleep without me reading a bedtime story to them.
My eldest daughter, who is 8, can read perfectly but from time to time she still asks me to sit down on her bed and she reads to me. There´s something special about this nightly ritual of bedtime stories.

Bedtime book by Mary Engelbreit

Illustration by Racey Helps

I have lots of picture books. I used to buy them even before having children.Some of them have enchanting illustrations,so detailed and precious that I enjoy finding some new details in the drawings every time I look.

I´m afraid I wrote a  very long introduction  , so if you have read it from the beginning you have probably guessed what I made for this challenge.
Yes! I made miniature books, some of my childrens´favourites.

They are not proper mini books since I just printed the covers and recycled a small leaflet to make the pages.A quick way to make a book or a notebook

but for some of them I also printed some pages from the original books to make them look more realistic.

My favourite is this miniature book of the Tale of Peter Rabbit. This one is proper miniature book!

The size is perfect for Sylvanians and the pages have text and illustrations just as the original one.Isn´t it cute?

My daughter read this book to me (I also have it in Spanish) a few days ago after we went to see the "Peter Rabbit" film.(It was good fun:)


I was delighted when I found a printable and a tutorial to make this miniature book.(You have to click on the arrows to see the steps for the tutorial) 

I also made this garland

and a bookcase out of balsa wood and popsicle sticks to keep books tidy.

I like these kinds of bookcases for young children. They can choose books easily as they can identify them by their covers at a glance.

It´s bedtime for Henry Periwinkle but he won´t go to  sleep unless his mum reads a story to him.

"Once upon a time there were three little bunnies..."

"I love you right up to the moon , mum!"

"I love you right up to the moon and back, sweetheart"

"Night-night my little bunnie. Sweet dreams"

All her children are already in bed so now it´s time for Kate to relax.

Illustration by Susan Wheeler

What about curling up with a cup of tea and a good book under the duvet?

Illustration by Susan Wheeler

I don´t have any of her books but I adore Susan Wheeler illustrations. Her watercolours of tiny cottages and moss covered tree houses inhabited by woodland creatures remind me of Sylvanians.I find all her illustrations adorable. 

I really enjoyed this miniature challenge.
While I was making the mini book of "The Tale of Peter Rabbit" my daughter made this drawing. I think it looks really cute.
Who knows, maybe she can become a children´s book illustrator when she grows up.

Hope you liked today´s post.

A big hug to all my readers

Illustration by Susan Wheeler

Welcome April

Dear Readers,

April is here and this is the SF calendar picture for this month.
What a lovely setting for the nursery and what a cute bunch of babies!
They look adorable in their nursery smocks.

I think  my next SF addition will be the Poddle baby. I love his chubby face!

Have you got a favourite sylvanian baby?

Hope you have a wonderful month of April.

A big hug!

Miniature crafting challenge 6 : Feeling pretty . STORY: Spring has arrived at the dress shop.

Dear Readers:

"Feeling pretty" was the theme for the latest forum crafting challenge. Delicate lace, soft florals, pastel colours, lovely dresses or anything that feels pretty would fit into this challenge.

Inspired by these suggestions and the arrival of spring ,I decided to make some dresses for Salome´s dress shop.
Discover the new Spring collection in this story:

Spring has arrived at the dress shop.

The new Spring collection has just arrived at Salome´s dress shop. Cecil Maces is taking some pictures for a Sylvanian´s ladies´ magazine.

The poster on the window shop grabbed Jane Seadog´s attention and she dragged her husband Horatio to the shop.

Jane didn´t take long to making up her mind about which dress she wanted.
Salome suggested her to wear a hat and a satin and lace bag to complement her look.

"How do I look?" Jane asked.
"You look beautiful, my lady".

The dress shop poster also caught Olivia Butler´s and her daughter Angeles´ attention.
"Let´s go in. It´s time to get rid of this boring uniform once and for all".

Last time Olivia visited Salome´s shop she couldn´t find the right dress for her.
She just hoped not all the new spring dresses were as revealing at the top as the one on the mannequin.She was looking for something much more discreet but still femenine.

Angeles saw a pink floral dress that would match her mother´s requirements.
"Why don´t you try this dress on, mum? It will look lovely on you".
"I agree.Come on, try it on!" Salome encouraged Olivia who seemed to be a bit undecided.
"I also have a bag and a hat that match this dress". Salome added.

"I can´t hardly recognize myself" Olivia exclaimed when she saw her image in the mirror.

"You look so pretty,mum!"

 Olivia was very pleased with her new look and in a very good mood.
"Angeles, love, would you like to try on a dress? Olivia asked her daughter who had already set her eyes on the pink dress on the mannequin.

"Aww, you look adorable"! Salome and Olivia said at the same time.

Holly Golightly got all excited when she saw that the new spring collection was available.
She wanted to buy a new dress for the annual gathering of Sylvanian dance teachers.

Unlike Olivia, Holly fell in love straight away with the shape of the neckline and the frills and lace of the blue and white dress at the window shop.
"Salome, do you possibly have it in my size?" Holly asked as soon as she entered the shop.
"Look, mum! matching shoes and handbag too"

"I´m sure it will fit you perfectly. I´ll take it off the mannequin so that you can try it on. 

Both Salome and Tiffany complimented on Holly´s looks.

"I love it too!I was just wondering if you have a shawl in case it gets a bit chilly in the evening".

"I think that either this shawl or that blue cape will go well with this dress, Holly".

 "What do you think, Tiffany?"
"Mum, you always look great, no matter what you´re wearing!"

"Shall we go in and have a look , mum?" Rose asked Adrianne.
"Why not, let´s just pop in to say hello to Salome and have a quick look around the shop. Let´s go in, Rosa"

"Hi, Salome! We are just going to have a look at the new spring dresses, if you don´t mind". 
" Not at all! Feel free to try on whatever you like".

"Mum, look at this dress! Isn´t it lovely?"
"It is indeed!, Rosa". 

"Did you know this dress was designed by Stella Chocolate?" Salome pointed out.
"Really?" Adrianne and Rosa exclaimed in surprise.
"Then , Eleanor Bramble turned Stella´s design into this cute and stylish dress" Salome explained.  

While Rosa was trying on the dress in the dressing room, Adrianne was having a look at the new arrivals.
"You have brought lovely clothes and bags, Salome. I´m tempted to try on one of these outfits"

"Wow,Rosa! You look like a princess!" Adrianne said as she complimented  her daughter on her looks.

"Do you like this hair accessory ,Rosa?"

Now, it´s Adrianne´s turn to try on clothes. Meanwhile, Rosa is browsing a fashion magazine

and Salome is placing a mannequin with a new dress at the window shop

Adrianne tried on several dresses until she found the dress, the one she liked the most.
"Maroon is my favourite colour " She said.
"It really flatters you,Adrianne" Salome complimented.

"These bags complement your outfit Adrianne. Which one do you prefer? The bags are half  price when you buy a matching dress".

"I´d love to get a little bag, too. Would you mind showing me the one in that corner, Salome?" Rosa asked pointing at one of the bags on the shelf.

Great!.Good choice, Rosa. It suits the colours of your dress perfectly.

"Good afternoon, ladies!" Cecil greeted cheerfully. I was wondering if you wouldn´t mind posing for a short photo shoot.
The magazine Sylvanian ladies today wants to publish an article about dress shops in Sylvanian villages. The idea is to show that small shops have a personal touch, charm and 
stylish and quality outfits that are nothing to envy the ones one can find at department stores in  big towns.
I think Salome´s shop is a good example of all this.
I´ve already taken some pictures of dresses on their hangers this  morning and I hope you don´t mind my praise but they look much better on you, ladies".

"Thank you, Cecil.Compliments accepted.
I agree. We should support our small local businesses.I´ve been in Town several times and even though, I must admit, I love the Grand Department Store, I prefer shopping at Salome´s shop.Today, we just came in to have a quick look to the new collection and we ended up dressed up from top to bottom.

Let´s be models for a day! Go ahead Cecil, take a picture of us." Adrianne said.

"Smile!"

*******************************************************************************

Sewing is not my strengh but I´d like to thank you  Emily,who runs the blog Dandelion Creek for her Very simple dress tutorial.

For the first time ,I was able to make a proper dress (actually three dresses) following her steps. By proper dress I mean a dress made using needle and thread instead of glue.

My first attempt , some time ago, shortly after Emily posted her tutorial, was the red  dress on the mannequin but for this challenge I made Jane´s  dress and Olivia´s dress following the same tutorial.

For the rest of the outfits I just used pieces of lace and frills and double sided tape; no time for proper sewing if I wanted to have the story ready before the deadline.

I also made some bags.The idea of using these binder clips for making bags is not mine. I saw it long ago in Pinterest and I was looking forward to giving it a go.

Hope you enjoyed visiting Salome´s dress shop.

Thank you very much for reading and for your 

kind comments.

A big hug!