A Piskie Give Away...

My dear friend Debie, over on Piskies and Poppets, is having a give away on her blog to celebrate 200 Followers. So if you'd like to take part, please pop over to her blog, and leave a comment.
Yes, I know, I also promised a give away here as well. But I'm waiting for Debie, to help me sort out the prize, while her and her lovely family are staying with us next week. They should be with us, sometime on Saturday.
Mind you can you imagine two Debbie's in the same house, I'm sure its going to cause much hilarity. Just imagine us both, sitting at the table and someone saying Debbie can you pass the salt!. LOL
I was hoping that another little Poppet was going to join us, but unfortunately she can't make it.
I'm sure we will have lots of photographs to share and hopefully some mini making as well. Plus Debie has promised me a Sculpting lesson..
I'm so excited, I could crush a Grape...

Mini Links Page.. Help Please...

Just wanted to let everyone know that I've updated the Tiny Treasures Mini Links page layout and added a few more links.
I was also wondering, how many of you actually use it? I would be really interesting to know.
I've tried to add every mini related blog over there, if I've missed you out and you'd like to be added, would you please leave a comment with the link and I'll add it. Or if there is a blog that you visit and I've missed it, please let me know.
That also goes for Miniature Artisan's web site links, Etsy and Ebay links, if there are any that you'd like to add, again leave a comment and what category it should go under.
I know some people, don't have a blog or web site, but do have Flickr, Photobucket, and webshot albums. If you'd like to share your miniatures with us, again please leave a comment and the link and I'll add it.
Also is there a category I've missed?.
I'd really like to know what you all think, so could you let me know... Thanks xxxx

Welcome..

Some more followers have joined the throng, a big Welcome to you all..
They are:-
Looking Glass Miniatures who has four blogs, Looking Glass Miniature, Miniature Apothecary, Style In Scale and Hobbit Dollhouse. All of which are filled with wonderful miniatures.
Zsuzsanna Paláné Horváth who has two blogs, Dreams In Miniature and Alomvilag miniaturben, which is the same blog but written in Hungarian.
Silvia who's blog is called Il Piccolo Mondo Di Silvia. Silvia has made the cutest little Elf in a dinky little lantern setting. She's also made some other lovely minis.
Catherine who's blog is called Kilmouski & Me, I've been following this blog from the beginning. Catherine makes the most incredible miniatures, if you haven't seen her work, then make sure you go over for a look.
Janny who's blog is called the Art Of Mini, its a beautiful blog filled with fabulous photographs of her Miniatures. She also has a web site also called Art Of Mini.
And last but not least is Kerry Alexander who's blog is called Cherry Berry Miniatures. Kerry makes lovely miniature food and real life sized Wedding Cake Toppers.
As always please pop over and say Hello....

There Be Dragons....

For those of you that don't know, my eldest Son Ben likes Dragons.
So much so, that when we moved here, he asked me to paint a Dragon on his bedroom wall. I agreed on the understanding that it was subtle. Well Ben looked through loads of Dragon pictures, and came up with a design for Chinese Dragon, that was originally a design for a Tattoo. I then drew it on his wall and painted it in, free hand.
We happened to be looking at some Dragon pictures on the Internet, a few weeks ago and I found a drawing of a Dragon's Eye, which Ben really liked.
Now Ben is going off to University, in September and I wanted to make something, that he could take with him.
Now my hands are quite swollen at the moment, so its nigh on impossible, for me to make any miniatures. But I thought I'd have a go at making a plaque, to go on the front of a journal, so that Ben can take it with him. So yesterday afternoon, I sorted out some clay, which I got Mick to mix for me.
I rolled out a sheet of clay by hand and then pulled it out of shape, as I didn't want sharp corners. I then embossed the Clay to give it a Dragon Like skin. Then I made the eye, popped it in the Oven and Hey Presto, my interpretation of the Dragon Picture. As I had some left over clay I started playing about with it last night, while I was watching the TV and ended up making a little Eye as well. I've used the Fimo Powders on this to give it a shimmer, on the larger piece I used an arcrylic antiquing medium.
For the first time doing anything along these lines, I'm really pleased with the results. I just need to find a really strong Glue to affix to the journal with now. Any ideas?

Tea Anyone?....

Yesterday, I had a surprise delivery from Rosanna. When I opened the Jiffy bag, look what I found inside. A beautifully wrapped little parcel. It's an ongoing joke, that I like very strong tea and I call it builders tea. Well Rosanna, had enclosed a tea bag with the parcel, and yes Rosanna, I still Love my builders tea.
I opened the tiny little Pink wrapped parcel, to find inside one of Rosanna's ,beautifully stitched Tea Cosy's, the back is a Red and White Gingham.
It is totally incredible, it amazes me how Rosanna, manages to stitch so tiny. She is most definitely the "Queen Of The Needle"..
Thank you so much Rosanna, you are a very Dear Friend and the Tea Cosy is beautiful....xxxx

Bread Pudding Recipe...

I've just emailed this recipe to one of my Mini Friends, Susan and I thought I'd share it with everyone, in case anyone else would like to make it.
If you do, please let me know how it turns out.
I double this recipe when I'm making it, otherwise I get moaned at cause there's never enough.

8oz or 225g Stale Bread
5oz or 110g Currants, Raisins or Sultanas. (You can use a mixture of all three or what ever you have in the cupboard).
2oz or 50g Brown Sugar
Half a Teaspoon of Mixed Spice
1 Egg
Milk.

Preheat your Oven to Gas Mark 3, 170c.
Tear Bread into small pieces and soak in Cold water for one hour.
Strain the bread and squeeze out as much as possible.
Place the bread into a bowl and mash with a fork. Add the fruit, Sugar and mixed spice, mix together well.
Add the egg and as much milk as necessary to make the mixture sticky but not too wet. It should drop easily from a spoon.
Pour the mixture into a well greased baking tray, spread out and sprinkle the Surface with more Brown sugar.
Bake in the Oven for 1 Hour.
Check after one hour that the pudding is cooked by pushing a knife into the middle. The knife should come out clean. If necessary cook for a further 15 minutes.
Once the pudding as cooled down, sprinkle with Granulated Sugar..

The pudding stores well wrapped in Foil. (not that it lasts very long in this house)...
Enjoy...

Welcome...

A very Big Welcome to some more followers, they are:-
Mandie Wojciechowski who I can't find any information for. Mandie if you have a blog please leave your link on the comments and I'll add it.
Youclan, who's blog is called Koteylin Journal, this blog is filled with beautiful needlework. (I think Minikat and Rosanna will enjoy this one.)
Alicja who's blog is called At The Attic. Who does the most beautiful little animals in Needle felt. I Love the little Mouse selling Pumpkins from his sled..
Melita who has two blogs one for her Card making and Scrapbooking called Life With Nana Meme and the other called Life,Love Laughter And Tears.
Lyn, who again I can't find any information for, so if you have a blog Lyn, please let me know, so that I can add your link.
Kyla who's blog is called Picking Up The Pieces.
Otterine who's blog is called Otterine.com blog. This one is filled with beautiful Miniatures and fabulous photography of Miniatures.
Barby Anderson who's blog is called Needle Felting/Needle Felted Creations by Barby Anderson. Barby makes the most beautiful little needle felted animals, which she sells on Ebay.
BiWuBar who's blog is called BiWuBaren On The Blog. This is a blog filled with Miniatures and Miniature Bears..
Small Thoughts 29 who has two blogs, Nina's Mini Creations and Small Thoughts.
And last but not least is Misty, who has three blogs, one for her Dragons, one for her Artwork and one for her Poetry. I Love Misty's Dragons, but I also have a soft spot for her Fantasy Art as well.
As always please go over and say Hi...