Marianne's hat .

This mini hat is a copy of a straw hat I have in full size.

To get the effect of the very fine straw that was used for the real hat , I had to use very thin thread and a fine crochet hook

The pattern of the hat is pretty simple it is the shaping which  really makes this hat into the  cloche hat I wanted to create.

What you will need to create Marianne's cloche hat.

*DMC tatting thread no 80 ( fil dentelles) in a straw color

*Crochet hook 0,60 mm 

*Fine needle to weave in lose ends

*Scissors

*Fabric Stiffener. You can use ready made Stiffy, a mix of 2 parts water and 1 part white glue or even Fray check. 

* A former. I used the top of my nail polish bottle 

*cling film to wrap round the hat former

Optional trimmings:

Ribbon , DMC tatting thread for your flower, no hole pearls.

                                                                                                                        

Stitches uses 

sc = single crochet

dc= double crochet

st= stitch

sl st= slip stitch

hdc= half  double crochet.

To start : Chain3, work 14 dc in the first chain and close into a circle.

Round 1 : Chain3, 2 dc in every st using only the back loop ( the one farthest away from you of the two loops on top of every stitch) and close round with a slip st.

Round 2: Mark beginning of round with a different colored thread. Do not close rounds from now on but work in spirals. * 1sc in next back loop, 2 sc in next back loop* , repeat from * to*

Round 3: 1 sc in every back loop

Round 4 -8 : repeat row 3.

Row 9: *  1 sc in 10 back loops, crochet  next 2 sc together.* Repeat from * to *

Round 10 : 1 sc in every back loop

Round 11: 1 sc in every back loop.

Round 12: * 1 sc in 12 back loops, 2 sc in next back loop* repeat from * to *

Round 13 -14 : 1 sc in every back loop.

Round 15 : Work 1 sc in every back loop and try to work them a bit loose. This will give a little stretch to the  rim of the brim of the hat. 

Weave in all lose ends. Dampen your hat with water and pull over the former, making sure the crown of the hat is rounded and the brim hangs slightly downwards. This is called a cloche shape.

Leave to dry overnight and when dry paint with your choice of fabric stiffener, making sure  you keep the hat in shape . Leave to dry again on the former.

Trimming the hat. 
My full scale hat has a large paper ribbon flower  that I love so I tried to imitate it in crochet. 


Round1: Chain 2, work 6 sc into the first chain, join with a sl. stitch in front loop only.. Work in rounds.

Round 2: Use only the front loops ( the ones closest to you on top of your crochet. * chain 4, sc in 2nd chain from hook, 1 hdc in next chain, 1sc in the next chain, sl. st. in next front loop * repeat from * to *.

Row 3:  Work in the 6 back loops you did not use in the last round. In each back loop work : chain 6, 1 sc in second chain from hook, 3  hdc in each of the next 3 chains, 1 sc into the next chain, sl st. in the next back loop. Join round with a slip stitch and finish off.


Stiffen the flower into a nice shape using fabric stiffener making sure you leave a center to fill with pearls later.  Wrap the ribbon around the hat and create two loops to the right hand side at the front. First a small loop and then top it with a big one pointing slightly upwards.  Attach to hat using glue.

Glue the flower on top of the ribbon loops and fill the center with no hole pearls. Also add some pearls to the ribbon loops.

All done Marianne's hat is finished.

Make over for baby .

This poor nekkid baby had been laying in a box for a very long time.  I did not know how to dress him because on of his arms is one part with his body.

I read an article about swaddling babies becoming popular again. That inspired me to swaddle that poor baby up.

Step 1 : Find a plastic or fabric leaf that is big enough to wrap the baby in. Mine is plastic.

Wrap the leave around the baby till you are happy with the look. Glue in place with a suitable glue.

Wrap a few rubber bands around the leaf and leave to dry.

Remove the rubber bands and replace with some thin wire for a more decorative way to keep it all in place.

I used dried lichen ( dried it in the oven to get rid of any critters etc) for hair and some moss and and dried flowers for decoration.

I just happened to have a chestnut in its shell on my table. I felt it made a really nice bed for my little baby.


Since I made this, the chestnut  has totally dried and the bed  looks different but still lovely I think. And anway who would harm a baby in a bed like this ?




An article about this project with more details was published in American Miniaturist Magazine.

A visit to my Brocante shop ( part 2)

Let 's have a look at the inside of the Brocante .

The inside is actually just a few centimeters deep. Creating the illusion that there are things inside the shop was a lot of fun.

To the back wall of the shop I decoupaged pictures of painting and and pieces of furniture. Some pictures were used twice with double sided sticky foam between them to get a 3 D effect.

To make things a bit more realistic I added two bits  of real furniture : a small table and a chair. I made sure that the items on the table could be seen from the outside as well.

On the chair are some mini hats.  

But the best items are the big frame standing behind the chair and the cat for they add depth. 

In the big frame is a piece of mini embroidery. I started on a whole painting and when I was about half done I spilled coffee allover it. The stains could not be removed  and I put it away in a box. But with the stains I think is the perfect brocante item and I am really glad it has a good home now.

I love having cats in my  dollhouses 

My first try making a geranium  ...........needs a bit more sunshine I think.

A visit to my Brocante shop. ( part 1)

In France they have a kind of shop that I totally love :

The brocante .

A brocante sells vintage and sometimes even antique items that are not perfect enough for a real antique store.

Sometimes they  are real treasure troves  but the next one you visit can be just a pile of junk. It is always a surprise.

Not having room for a real shop I decided I would use a box frame to create a shallow shop with a nice French courtyard in front.

The idea was to leave the door open so there would be a view of the inside of the shop .

I 

I added a division wall with a door and a window first. I had the door but I had to make the window frame myself. Used myca for the glass. 

Of course my best friend was ready to help and  check  if it all was sturdy enough.

The furniture for the outside got the seal of approval too.

He loved opening and closing the door.  He is on the side that will become the inside of the shop while I am working on the outside.

I did do the walls with a sponge and different colors of paint. The sign I found on the net and I just printed it and decoupaged it to the wall.
For the pavement I used wallpaper samples and acrylic paints.

I wanted the outside to look old and a bit shabby and also like it was a painting rather than a mini scene.  I like the result but I will need to add some more brocante  to sell  I think.

I found it pretty hard to take a photo without me showing in the window. Yes the pink thing is me. I tried hard to stay out of the photo , really.

Next time we will take a look inside. 

Happy Easter

Just wishing everyone a Happy Easter ! 

Towel cakes , so much fun to make.

I like towel cakes in full scale for they make lovely gifts. I also tried to make some mini ones just for fun.

They are basically done in the same way as the full sized ones. But you need to pick fabrics that look like towels but are suitable for minis.

The bunny on the blue cake is also made out of a towel. Some of you may recognise the Peter Rabbit items. I am glad I finally found the right spot for the mini rubber ducky. He had been sitting around in a box way too long.

The next issue of Dollhouse Miniatures will have my article on how to make these cakes.

Mini gift for a new baby

 I love making mini gifts for new babies. After all a baby is a sort of mini human so a mini gift is the right size. Plus  I like to think that it is fun to give something that the parents can keep as a memory for when the baby is no longer a mini.

Here is a simple idea to inspire you. It does not have to be expensive or complex  at all and you can personalise this by using different colors, name of the baby and whatever you like.

What you will need is a dollar shop frame . I was lucky mine came with the  decorative backing with the heart  cut out. But of course you can do that yourself and use some thick card. 

I  used a rubber baby but you can use any baby doll you happen have . Clothes are also optional. A little nappy is very easy : just fold a piece of no fray fabric round the baby. 

My blanket is knitted but you can use a piece of fabric or lace or knit or crochet a simple blanket. Fabric stiffener is used to prepare the blanket. 

Lace or braid is nice to put around the cut out shape but is optional.

Dip your blanket in fabric stiffener. And squeeze out excess.

Wrap your  the board with the heart shape in plastic and  place the blanket on top of the plastic and shape it. Leave to dry.

Remove plastic and glue blanket where you want it to go inside the heart shape. Glue baby and decorations in place. Add the lace bow.

American Miniaturist will publish an article about this project as well. In the article there will be more details about this project, patterns for the hat , blanket and tiny bunnie . So look out for the article as well. Not sure which issue it will be in yet.