Tuesday 19 December 2017

Ladies Emporium ....etc.

After a very, very long absence Elizabeth and Janine have helped me do a post again. This time from Canada.

Here is my beautiful English-style tea set which is hall-marked sterling silver made by Dmitri Shevchenko from Saint Petersburg, Russia. Dmitri can be found on Facebook.

This was a special gift from my daughter for a very "special" birthday. No, I won't mention which decade!

It is absolutely exquisite. The hot water pot is chained to the frame which also supports a removable burner. Each piece is very finely made and will be a family heirloom.

The following are photos of my (supposedly) completed - are they ever finished, Ladies Emporium.

The hat on the left was made by Fatima, the tray by StudioE. Elizabeth also found the mannequin on the left and the one on the right was a Thrift store find. Norma of MakeMineMini made the cushion.
The pink ensemble was purchased at the Sydney Miniature Show a couple of years ago.


The red bench in the centre was made from a sectioned round plastic pill box from the dollar store and the hat supports are stems of plastic flowers.  The shoes are by Judith Blondell purchased in Toronto.



The Chanel suit was made from fabric given to me by Elizabeth of StudioE  from a REAL Chanel jacket. Yes, she actually cut it up for minis!




Another beautiful vanity tray by Studio E displayed on a wood pillar given to me by Fatima of Beauxminis. The tray even has butterflies on it to reflect the name of the shop Papillion.




This is a 56 hpi cushion from a kit by Nicola Mascall. On this chair I removed the needlework canvas on the backrest and replaced with caning using linen thread - a bit difficult to do as the back is curved not rectangular.



I love doing petit point so I designed some cushion patterns, others are a combination of patterns from pinterest and books. It takes me approximately two days to stitch the design. It's like eating peanuts - once you start it is hard to stop.



Petit point 50 hpi slippers made for the Miniteers.  Christmas for Fatima - Vitoria, centre slippers for Villa Leone and bee slippers for Minworks French House.

Hopefully I will get back on my blog soon. Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Happy mini-ing!
Linda

16 comments:

  1. You have some Enchanting treasures in this shop, made even more wonderful by the gifts from family and friends! The silver tea set is amazing!! The Chanel jacket is awesome... and only Elizabeth would Dare to cut one up!!! I Love all your petit-point cushions... you have made some beautiful designs! It is always a pleasure to see more of your work, so I hope your visit with the Miniteers will encourage you to show us more!!! Have a wonderful Holiday!

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    1. Hi Betsy
      thank you so much for your kind comments. I am indeed very lucky to have such wonderful family and friends. I hope that Janine's excellent tutelage will now see me blogging some more.
      Happy Holidays, Linda

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  2. Dear Linda, It was so much fun to have you with us today. So sorry Fatima could not be with us but hopefully there will be a next time before you fly south again.
    Your petit point cushions are wonderful and I will post a pic soon of the new items you have made for me. Thank you.
    Janine

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    1. Janine, I can't thank you enough for EVERYTHING! Your Swedish house is going to be amazing. I love that Bruce is getting as much enjoyment from it as you are - maybe more so at this stage.
      Good luck with getting the dining room back and have a wonderful Christmas. Have an even more enjoyable one on the 30th.
      Hugs, Linda

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  3. Firstly, lovely to see you back on your blog.
    I ADORE your silver, I too have a few items from this amazing artist......but your set is stunning, most certainly an heirloom.
    Lastly, your cushions are a delight.....you may not have been blogging, but it looks as though you have been very busy.
    Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years!!!!
    Linda xxx

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    1. Hi Linda
      Yes, the silver is absolutely perfect. I was a bit wary after I ordered it, but when Norma brought it back to Sydney for me, I was thrilled to bits. I do hope to get blogging again but will have to wait until I return home in January. Right now it is a delightfully hectic time with 5 grandchildren, 3 Canadian and 2 Australian, excited to be with each other and Christmas around the corner.
      Have a Happy Christmas - hope it is not too hot!
      Cheers, Linda

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  4. Hello Linda,
    Happy belated birthday. I am a big admirer of his work and I think the tea set is a real masterpiece. Your emporium is breathtaking. Every detail is perfection and the garments and items on display are incredibly well done. You did a great job on the chair back and the cushions and slippers are heavenly. What a great post! I hope we will be hearing from you again soon. Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year!
    Big hug
    Giac

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    1. Hello Giac
      Thank you so much for your kind comment. I have to thank my Miniteer friends for SO many of the items in the Ladies' Emporium as well as their on-going encouragement. I'm looking forward to your next post, as I admire your work so much.
      Have a Merry Christmas - hope it is not too cold!

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  5. Hi Linda,
    What a wonderful birthday gift! your silver service is a real treasure and is just beautiful. 
    The ladies Emporium is truly magnificent. I love that amazing blue dress with the boa in the window.  I would really like to hear more about what it is made of and how you made it. please! ;-)
    Your petit point pillows are gorgeous. So many things to look at in the shop. I would dearly love to see it in person.
    I am so glad to see a new post from you. I hope you will not stay away for so long in the future. 
    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!!

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    1. Hi Catherine
      I have to tell you that the blue dress is a resin mannequin found at a thrift shop. I think it was on a stand of some sort, which I chopped off. The feather boa, was probably from Elizabeth, the most generous of miniaturists. I have a feeling it is a type of fancy knitting wool or type of trim.
      I do hope to get blogging again. I will be bursting with enthusiasm when I return home after spending time with the Miniteers.
      Have a wonderful Christmas.
      Cheers, Linda

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  6. Linda, the shop looks beautiful and is full of treasures from your dear friends, which makes it doubly lovely! Your cushions are AMAZING! I have a friend who is trying to stitch some Nicola Mascall kits like these and it is taking her a long time due to the very tiny stitchers, so it is impressive you do yours in two days! Wow! Have a lovely Christmas too.

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    1. Hi Shannon
      Thank you so much for your comments. I say I stitch the cushions in 2 days but that is a best case scenario. It depends how many hours at a time I can set aside in the day, if you know what I mean.
      I do hope you have a lovely Christmas too.
      Cheers, Linda

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  7. I continue to be AMAZED by your needlework and your Incredible generosity! When you said that it only took you 2 days to stitch a cushion I was utterly gob-smacked! You are sooooo talented and the caning that you have done for your chairs and the jewelry, flowers, clothes, slippers etc. all attest to it!
    I am hoping that your confidence will blogging will continue to expand and grow so that we can all enjoy your varied and considerable MULTI- MINI TALENTS- Bravo Linda! :D

    elizabeth
    p.s. I can hardly wait to see how you'll display your heirloom Silver Tea Service-True Love ♥

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    1. Hi again Elizabeth
      Fancy you talking about Multi-talented. You are the master! Without your gifts and the encouragement from you, Janine and Fatima, I would be floundering in the dark ( a mini dark). I enjoy our get togethers so much and realise how lucky I am to be able to do it. After the heaps of snow that fell yesterday, and our drive (possibly icy) to Whistler within the hour, I do hope I'll get down again and come to see Villa Leone. It will be very hectic in the next few days. The children are so excited to be together and Lewis was a sweety yesterday on his real 1st birthday.
      Have a wonderful, wonderful Christmas! Talk soon.
      Hugs, Linda

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  8. Such wonderful pieces! All the things I love: silver, fashion and embroidery. The silver is gorgeous, the real Chanel suit fantastic and the embroidered cushions and slippers so wonderful. The Ladies Emporium is a shopper's dream.

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    1. Thank you so much Josje, for your kind comments.I adore your work and can only aspire to a fraction of your genius.
      Best Wishes for a wonderful Christmas.
      Cheers, Linda

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