Signing Off From Our 2014 Calendar Of Workshops & Looking Forward To Next Year's Workshop....Plus A Bit More Besides!

Although it's been a few weeks since our last workshop....much has been going on here behind the scenes. We hope those of you who embarked on the little herb gardens, have been having great fun completing the projects at home. We would love to see your finished projects! For those of you who tackled the 1/24th scale herbs in particular, how have you got on?

All is calm, everything is prepared. There is so much room and we can really spread out!

How about our super pink spotty tablecloths...

Just look at the concentration!!

We are delighted to announce that after raising a further £25.00 from our charity raffle at the last workshop, thanks to the generosity of everyone who attended the workshops during this year, we have raised a magnificent total of....

£91 
for 
Breast Cancer Campaign.

This is now being forwarded to the charity on everyone's behalf.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO DONATED TO OUR BREAST CANCER CAMPAIGN WORKSHOP RAFFLES THROUGHOUT THIS YEAR - IT HAS BEEN VERY MUCH APPRECIATED!




MORE FANTASTIC NEWS!

Also...we are absolutely delighted to announce that our WW1 Dugout, Trench & Poppy Field Scene has been sold for a magnificent £400! The family story behind the lady from Hertfordshire who purchased it, can be read on the main promotional page. It is truly amazing and quite poignant, and we are both thrilled that this will now be going on to a wonderful new home.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL STORY

The well travelled little WW1 Scene is making its final public appearance in the window of Thame Oxfam Book Shop for Armistice Day, and then it will embark on its journey to the new owner.  We shall both be very sad to see it go as we have become rather attached to it, but it is most definitely going to a good home.

This also meant that we were able to send a cheque for £200 to the Royal British Legion, as it was always our intention to donate 50% of all proceeds from this sale, to this charity.

Now Moving Forward To Next Year......

We have both been busy planning our next workshop, date to be arranged but we are hoping for a Saturday in June at the Bicester venue. Unfortunately it isn't possible to sort this out with the venue until January.

It will have a real wow factor....but more about that another day....so watch this space!
Celia & Robin

All Ready For Our Impending Workshop....Looking Forward To It!

Both the 1/12th scale and 1/24th scale little herb garden side by side.

All is now ready for our workshop at the end of next week...Saturday 27th September. If you have booked a place to come, please read below....

"Down The Little Old Herb Garden Path Workshop" 

is taking place on Saturday 27th September in the Conference Room within the Four Seasons Restaurant at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre.

The Bicester Avenue Home & Garden Centre Complex is situated off the M40 at Junction 9, and along the A41. If coming from the M40 direction, you will need to go down to the next roundabout and turn back on yourself as the complex will be on the other side of the A41 dual carriageway. There are at least three different car parks - all free. Lots of useful information can be found on:  www.bicesteravenue.info

To access the Conference Room, walk through the Four Seasons Restaurant - down through the long aisle of food and then once past the food till, turn left and you will see us through big glass windows. There is a much smaller tea/coffee area in the Garden Centre....so be careful not to confuse that with the much bigger Four Seasons Restaurant. 

ABOUT THE DAY...

The workshop will begin at 10.30am and end at 4.30pm. We shall take an hour's break at lunchtime and it is entirely up to you whether you bring your own sandwiches or have a bite to eat in the restaurant. The restaurant serves hot and cold food.  If you arrive early (the Garden Centre opens at 9.00am), you are welcome to pop in and leave your coat, workshop equipment etc. in the Conference Room with us, then go have a coffee or look around the complex. We shall be busy setting up and will be starting promptly at 10.30am as there is a lot to get through!  

There is ample free parking and lots of shopping opportunities within the complex with  stores such as Hobbycraft, Lakeland, Laura Ashley, Bon Marche, etc. Then of course, there is the garden centre itself which sells a lot more than just plants!

As always, we shall be holding a raffle in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign...with some rather lovely prizes purchased from this workshop venue. Later in the day, as always, there will be a Sales Table with a small selection of our own handmade and vintage miniature items that directly relate to the project which you may find useful.    

If you need to contact us on the day of the workshop for whatever reason, please ring either
Robin on her mobile: 07742116187
or
Celia on: 07711500345 

ITEMS YOU NEED TO BRING WITH YOU... 

The list of items that you need to bring with you on the day can be seen on the website: http://www.miniatureworkshops.com/You_Need_To_Bring.htm 

It is not imperative that you bring it all, as we will have some spares....so don't panic if you don't have everything on the list- but it would be helpful to bring what you can!

LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

Celia & Robin

Did You Know Where We Got Inspiration For Our Next Workshop From?

DOWN THE LITTLE OLD HERB GARDEN PATH WORKSHOP

Why not come and join us in some creative fun at the wonderful setting of Bicester Avenue Garden Centre on Saturday 27th September 2014, from 10.30am to 4.30pm. This is just off Junction 9 of the M40, ample free all day parking and lovely large, light and airy room.  Our workshops are relaxed, informal, fun and friendly, you simply work at your own pace with our guidance.

We only have a limited number of spaces left for our September workshop and booking will soon be closing, so if you would like to come - please don't delay in getting in touch with either of us! Full details can be found on the main promotional page, including a downloadable booking form. 

CLICK HERE

Ever wondered where we get inspiration for some of our workshop projects? Well actually, often it may simply be an illustration in an old woodworker's book, an object in real life or even a place that kick's off our creative ideas. For this particular project, we looked no further than our own back gardens!

 

This path of old pavers and quarry tiles, along with just two black/grey Victorian edgers,  was created in real life by Celia in her own back garden, which in turn gave us the inspiration for this....

 Slabs intermingled with old quarry tiles, edged in Victorian style rope edging!

 

In Celia's garden, she has an area with old rescued bricks which were then randomly laid, along with a raised herb bed that is bordered with wooden planking. The whole area is planted up with various alpines, herbs and even lungwort which then gave us the inspiration further for this.....

A miniature raised herb bed bordered with random old mossy covered bricks and quarry tiles, planted up with all kinds of herbs plus yes you've guessed it.....some lungwort! Robin's garden is also filled to the brim with old cottage plants and various herbs....which gave us further inspiration and examples on which to base our project.

So folks....with this project, we shall be making a unique nostalgic herb garden, complete with old pavers, Victorian style rope edging, quarry tiles, old bricks and umpteen variations of our own cottage garden herbs made from a variety of materials....some which may surprise you! 

Amongst some of the many herbs included are comfrey, lungwort, different thymes, chives, parsley, lavender and even a bay tree in a wonderful decorative planter! We have included other plants too such as a climbing rose on a rustic tripod  and even some chard...and each attendee will be given a hand blown glass cloche made especially for us by UK artisan - Ray Storey.

 This particular project is unique and potentially very versatile, so you will be able to adapt the layout and planting to suit your own needs. We will give you more than enough materials in your kit for you to experiment, plus the know how and further ideas to inspire you to push your creative talents as far as you want.  Even if you have been to our workshops before, we will be using some very different techniques and innovative ideas to inspire as always. 

For this particular project, we would recommend the 1/12th scale as the  herb leaves really are weeny and fiddly but if you are experienced and up for a challenge then you may like to have a go with the 1/24th scale. Those of you who came to the Spring Workshop, will recognise the stone wall....but don't worry, this is much smaller and far less time consuming to make compared to that one...in fact, if you really wanted, you could make the little wall at home,  leaving you to concentrate on the planting and landscaping at the actual workshop instead.

Are you tempted.....if so, then do please get in touch with either of us to reserve a place.....we would love to hear from you!

Next Workshop - Book Now - Limited Spaces Available

Our WW1 Project - Response Has Been Wonderful!

 As you will probably have seen by now,  Part One of our  joint WW1 project can currently be seen in the August issue of Dolls House & Miniature Scene Magazine (came out in the shops late June 2014). Part Two will very shortly be appearing in the September issue (out in the shops late July)....which we are looking forward to.

The completed WW1 scene is currently on display at Thame Museum and we have been delighted with the lovely response we have both received locally and nationally!! Just last Friday, the above piece appeared in the local paper....... Robin, has even been tapped on the shoulder as she walked down Thame High Street by a very distant acquaintance, who just wanted to say that she found our wonderful scene in the museum completely enchanting and felt it had made the WW1 Centenery Exhibition even more special!

Below are some different images of the project that are not part of the official photographs....

To find out more about this project, please click on the following link: 

www.miniatureworkshops.com/WW1_Project.html

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE ARE HAPPY TO RECEIVE ENQUIRIES  FROM ANY ORGANISATION OR INDIVIDUAL WHO WOULD LIKE TO MAKE AN OFFER TO PURCHASE THIS PROJECT.  WE WILL BE DONATING 50% OF PROCEEDS TO THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION. OUR CONTACT DETAILS CAN BE FOUND ON THE WEBSITE.

Spring Workshop Now Complete.....Already Preparing For Autumn Workshop!

A huge thank you to everyone who came to last Saturday's Spring Workshop where we tackled....

 Round The Back Of The Old Gardener's Cottage

 

It was a lovely day....the brand new venue at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre was a great success and all the staff there were so helpful and friendly. The room is so bright, airy and spacious....and so close to Junction 9 of the M40.....apparently our creativity that could be viewed through the glass wall and door caused quite a stir amongst users of the restaurant...we were told!!!

A few photos of the completed project is now available in a special gallery on the website on the following link:

http://www.miniatureworkshops.com/Round_The_Back_Gallery.html

The project was quite ambitious and everyone still had plenty of creativity to continue with once they got home. All attendees were armed with a booklet of instructions and numerous bits and bobs as part of their kits. 

 

Lucie Roper, editor of Dolls House & Miniature Scene Magazine, joined us for the day and got stuck into the creative fun....we were very impressed! She said she actually enjoyed it too....hahaha!

It was Robin's birthday too last Saturday, so sweeties and choccies were sneaked in unbeknown to Robin for everyone to share,  courtesy of Celia. Robin looked suitably embarrassed when a round of "Happy Birthday" was sung to her.....(hey...didn't we all sing beautifully by the way)!!!

Our raffle in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign raised a magnificent £41.00 on the day, with prizes purchased from the garden centre. 

THANK YOU LADIES FOR YOUR HUGE GENEROSITY!!

Well, we hope you all enjoyed the day as much as we did. 

AND NOW....

LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR AUTUMN WORKSHOP....

BOOKING IS OPEN!
  Down The Little Old Herb Garden Path Workshop

 The Bicester venue and prices are exactly the same as the Spring Workshop. To view full details plus a downloadable booking form, please 
CLICK HERE

And finally....

Visitors to the workshop on Saturday were privy to the grand unveiling of a project that we had both jointly been working on over several weeks for the Dolls House & Miniatures Scene magazine, as a "how to make" project that will appear in the August 2014 issue (comes out June 26th). It will also be exhibited at Thame Museum as part of their WW1 Centenary Exhibition that runs from beginning of May to August.

But more about that another day....meanwhile, you can view a video of the completed scene.

We recommend you put your speakers on and view it full screen...hope you like it!

Celia & Robin

April Workshop Preparations Now In Full Swing!

April is approaching fast now so it won't be long before our next workshop! You will probably already have seen that booking closed earlier than expected - this was simply due to the fact that all spaces were filled...."Round The Back Of The Old Gardener's Cottage" has proved a popular project!

Preparations are now well ahead and kits are already being prepared. Robin has been busy emailing out invoices to everyone who has booked as the remaining balance is now due. If you are booked to come in April and have still not received your emailed invoice could you please get in touch with either of us asap?
 

It was great to see so many of you at Thame Fair last month....hope you enjoyed the day. Not only was the prototype for April's workshop on display but so too our Seaside Scene, which was actually up for sale on the day (created for Dolls House & Miniature Scene magazine last summer). We are delighted to announce that Mrs G. Stevenson (pictured here)  from Hertfordshire was the lovely lady who purchased it and she's looking forward to creating her own scene with it - 50% of the proceeds have been donated to Breast Cancer Campaign.
Meanwhile, we've both been up to our eyes in frantic creativity for another huge magazine project....probably the most ambitious we've ever undertaken to date, and at last it is complete. Unfortunately we are not able to show you any pics just yet, it all has to stay under wraps for now but shortly it will be on display at Thame Museum as part of a special exhibition!

Information For All Those Booked To Come To "Round The Back Of The Old Gardener's Cottage" Workshop

At last we have added additional items to the "List Of Items To Bring"  page on the website, which are relevant to this particular workshop. We must re-iterate however.... PLEASE DO NOT WORRY if you do not have some of the items on the list, we will have a few spares of most items. However, if you are having to share equipment you may have to wait a while as it is being passed around so the more items you are able to bring, the better.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW ITEMS TO BRING

About The Day...
The workshop will begin at 10.30am and end at 4.30pm, and is taking place in the Conference Room situated within the restaurant area of Bicester Avenue Garden Centre.  We shall take an hour's break at lunchtime and it is entirely up to you whether you bring your own sandwiches or have a bite to eat in the restaurant. The restaurant serves hot and cold food. 

There is ample free parking and lots of shopping opportunities within the complex as you will find stores such as Hobbycraft, Lakeland, Laura Ashley, etc. Then of course, there is the garden centre itself which sells a lot more than just plants!

It should be a brilliant day.