tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12802007153739955932012-01-08T02:45:53.147-05:00Making these tiny temptations has taken over my life. They're almost<br>better than chocolate. <i>Almost</i>. And speaking of chocolate...Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.comBlogger951100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-68507279633164154502011-03-27T13:09:00.000-04:002011-03-27T13:09:20.198-04:00

My dear friend Marie, of My Miniature Menagerie, was in the mood for spring so we spruced up her blog. Check it out! Careful, though, it will make you want to run out and plant something! :)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-1530424881734775672011-03-04T22:05:00.000-05:002011-03-04T22:05:20.295-05:00

I was recently asked if I could/would make a life-size copy of a miniature wall hanging I had in my Etsy store. The piece featured an original poem of mine called "A Three-Fold Kitchen Blessing." Well, a request to combine three of my all-time favorite things -- my miniatures, my writing and my art -- was a request I couldn't turn down! *grin* Here's the original miniature piece: And here's the

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-33095489739366075772010-12-07T20:01:00.002-05:002010-12-07T20:05:40.873-05:00

Not had a lot of time lately, but wanted to share with you what I've been working on. A while ago I made a couple of wishing wells and enjoyed them so much I wanted to make a few more...but with a twist. Behold, "Witching Wells", the latest fad in magical communities. :) Large or small, these Witching Wells are potent, as they magically magnify the power of the witch or wizard who casts the spell

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-15892861764377047922010-11-22T13:34:00.000-05:002010-11-22T13:34:13.577-05:00

I usually post these Cat Interludes on my other blog, Angels, Art and Attitude, however this one contains Thanksgiving wishes for my online friends, so I'm publishing it here, as well. Max is one of our rescued cats. He's, um, well...he's Max! :)   Max: So, what's this turkey thing I keep hearing about?  Me: Do you mean Thanksgiving? It's a day we set aside to give thanks for our many blessings

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-9090884721494909142010-11-17T22:41:00.000-05:002010-11-17T22:41:45.247-05:00

Here's a picture of the miniature tree setting I did for our local miniature store here in Greensburg, PA, Just Miniature Scale. Every year the store holds a Parade of Trees to raise money for Operation Santa Claus, a charity that gives food, clothes and toys to needy children during the holidays. People can visit the display through December 17th to leave monetary donations to "vote" for their

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-68947776443118058922010-11-11T12:14:00.000-05:002010-11-11T12:14:01.597-05:00

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-88761386357279168072010-11-01T13:12:00.000-04:002010-11-01T13:12:02.871-04:00

My thanks to all of you who entered the giveaway. I put all of the eligible names in a hat and my husband drew the winners. They are: 1st Place: winner of the earrings from Merriann Grant/Zippity DooDads, the wool flower pin from Nan Loncharich/Fancy Wool Flowers, and the Halloween candles and miniature Christmas cards from me: Glenda 2nd Place: winner of the

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-16243551790399473862010-10-29T23:43:00.002-04:002010-10-29T23:50:23.135-04:00

The drawing will be held November 1st, so you only have a couple more days to enter. All you have to do is leave a comment on the giveaway post here and you'll be entered. And, just to make it even more fun, I've added another prize to the festivities: an assortment of Halloween/witchy/haunted house candles (and a couple of Halloween greeting cards), as pictured below: That's in addition to

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-23437288104823361352010-10-29T23:12:00.001-04:002010-10-29T23:44:54.142-04:00

Welcome to all the ghouls and ghosts who are stopping by as part of Kat's Halloween Party! We are honored to have you. As you can see, we've decorated the blog just for you *and* we've summoned up some of our best friends to welcome you: Also, here's an original Halloween poem you can share with any little ones you may have who are enjoying this frightfully delicious holiday: Halloween Bandits*

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-32887321394546157542010-10-23T22:21:00.000-04:002010-10-23T22:21:25.878-04:00

Ah, the fun and excitement of receiving miniatures from an artist you admire! A week or so ago I won a drawing at Vickie N's blog, Dark Squirrel's Miniature Asylum. As most of you know, Vickie is bottle maker-extraordinaire, especially when it comes to dark fantasy and witch/wizard themes. (You can check out her wares at her Etsy shop here.) My prize was a set of six potion bottles, custom-made

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-51821583796602666512010-10-20T11:04:00.004-04:002010-10-29T23:50:55.392-04:00

Hopefully, by now, you've read about my giveaway. Well, I've just added another prize to make it even more fun. I've gotten such lovely response to my mini books that I decided I should add one to the mix. This one is an old, well-worn, well-loved copy of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. (Must have been stashed away in a mini attic for years! *grin*) The cover features art from the original

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-84794197676341697072010-10-16T13:12:00.000-04:002010-10-16T13:12:18.246-04:00

Ha, you thought I forgot, didn't you? I promised a giveaway when I reached 100 followers, and that number has come and gone. We're now up to 140. Between the show I did at the end of September, taking care of Dad, and a couple of other things which I won't bore you with, I got behind. Majorly.But, I'm here to make it up to you! And a couple of my dear, talented friends are helping me: Merriann

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-87618108674669615732010-10-14T16:18:00.001-04:002010-10-14T16:19:09.237-04:00

We have a few new additions to the Witch's Library, plus a Three-Fold Blessing (written by me) in the form of a wall hanging. All are available in my Etsy shop. Thanks for looking!

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-41485760088892910042010-10-13T15:49:00.001-04:002010-10-13T16:22:51.168-04:00

Hey, guys, my favorite mini retailer (who also happens to be my local retailer *and*  she has an online shop, as well) is having a great giveaway this month and she said I could invite all of you! Judy Mizikar of Just Miniature Scale here in Greensburg, PA is giving away a $50 gift certificate that is redeemable in her brick and mortar shop OR in her online shop! All you have to do is "Like" her

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-65402127742603984432010-10-09T23:28:00.000-04:002010-10-09T23:28:22.841-04:00

Thank you to those who have kindly inquired how our show went on September 25th. I thought you might be interested in these pics from the show. We had a great day! An Artful Affair 2010

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-40357150578837334432010-10-07T15:56:00.000-04:002010-10-07T15:56:06.343-04:00

One of my favorite mini places on the web is the All Things Mini Forum, owned and operated by the lovely and talented Marie of My Miniature Menagerie. We do regular swaps there among the members, and semi-regular MAKEs. And, in fact, we just finished a MAKE with theme of "Little Shop of ____________." Here's what I was most fortunate to receive from Marie for this MAKE. To say I'm overwhelmed

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-46944450165984411182010-10-04T20:34:00.001-04:002010-10-04T20:44:28.670-04:00

After recuperating from the show I did last month, and from a messed up neck that kept me mostly bed-bound for three days, I went back into the workshop with renewed energy and ideas. As a writer, and a lover of books, I've always been fascinated by miniature books and have tried a few times to produce some. These are my latest attempt, and the best so far, I think. These are sewn and glued, as

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-13565549106147275062010-09-20T21:52:00.000-04:002010-09-20T21:52:46.263-04:00

I'm now working on finishing up some paper arts projects, but I wanted to show you one last special mini item I made for the show on Saturday. Actually, I made two of these. They are 1:24 scale.  I think, out of everything I've made for this event, this is my favorite. (I wanted to shingle the roof, but ran out of time. :(  But I'll be making more, I'm sure!)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-2893550865984738682010-09-18T21:24:00.000-04:002010-09-18T21:24:51.665-04:00

Thought you might like to see some of the things I've been working for the Artful Affair show at the end of the month (and why I haven't been as blogging as often as I usually do). This is just a sampling of some of the miniatures I've made this summer while getting ready for the show: These coffins, which started as the bare wooden ones from Michael's, were dressed up for the occasion. I wanted

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-76359297753622768852010-09-12T12:32:00.000-04:002010-09-12T12:32:37.305-04:00

The front of the Fairy House looked a little bare, so I added the scalloped edging. But I'll stop now. Really I will. :)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-25210963688935802982010-09-11T23:57:00.000-04:002010-09-11T23:57:02.042-04:00

For all intents and purposes, the Fairy House is done. I can't seem to stop tweaking it, though. :) Does everybody do that?

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-31284383748699602702010-09-09T22:56:00.002-04:002010-09-09T23:00:12.404-04:00

I'm very honored to be participating this month in a special art show with two women whose work I admire very much: Merriann Grant is a jewelry designer and Nan Loncharich makes fabric flower pins and other accessories. Both create gorgeous work. As members of the Greater Westmoreland Creative Collective, we are having our first annual show on September 25th. Very exciting! If you have a moment

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-2138825765023692612010-09-04T13:00:00.000-04:002010-09-04T13:00:35.629-04:00

Well, progress is slow on the Fairy House, but I'm determined to finish it in time for the September 25th mega-trunk show. What slowed me done considerably was the stone work that I wanted to put around some of  the windows and doors. Took me a while to figure out how to do it, then to get up the nerve to try, lol. Here's the outcome of my latest efforts on the house:

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-47825482361599168402010-08-16T21:23:00.000-04:002010-08-16T21:23:27.636-04:00

You know how you say "yes" to taking on projects when it seems like you'll have all the time in the world to complete them, only to have the Universe decide that it's the perfect time to spit on...I mean...dish out a few hundred extra things for you to worry about? Welcome to my world. *grin*One of the things I'm preparing for is a brand new annual event taking place here in Greensburg, PA, in

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-62693500305207896952010-08-04T20:58:00.001-04:002010-08-06T01:22:01.865-04:00

Must have this:Martha Stewart Glow in the Dark Glitter

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-64715059454369021672010-08-02T11:36:00.001-04:002010-08-02T11:37:40.755-04:00

This is my cousin, a hell of a fighter and an inspiration to us all. Little River woman celebrates fight with cancer - WMBFNews.com

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-50854895840533772232010-07-26T22:50:00.000-04:002010-07-26T22:50:25.774-04:00

This little Ghosty is all set to haunt you should you inadvertently open the trunk and let him out. Be careful! :) He's perfect for a haunted house or Halloween scene. Ghosty is available in my Etsy shop, along with 2 large sets of old world maps and scrolls, and one small set. Finally got them posted. :)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-1020628062181173942010-07-22T16:15:00.001-04:002010-07-22T16:16:25.324-04:00

I kept thinking that the cottage didn't look quite "finished" so I did a little embellishing. I added some flowers and a star at the window, and some small blue polka dots on the gingerbread trim. (Don't know if you'll be able to see those in the pics very well.) I'm tempted to do a little more, but that's a bad habit of mine. I don't know when to stop sometimes. *grin* So what do you guys think.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-65788439289437455582010-07-19T21:31:00.000-04:002010-07-19T21:31:35.169-04:00

...it's time for a new Cat Interlude. :) Click the link to read. Mad Max Strikes Again!

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-71374372588646475972010-07-17T00:18:00.000-04:002010-07-17T00:18:37.981-04:00

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-5816553396477365272010-07-16T02:30:00.000-04:002010-07-16T02:30:56.402-04:00

I'm finally back on track to finish this dollhouse. I finished the lighting and installed the upper floor today, so the interior is now officially done. I only need to finish the shingling and put the rest of the trim on the exterior.  I'm excited that it's almost done!

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-42796838995450972010-07-07T01:55:00.000-04:002010-07-07T01:55:51.595-04:00

I'm not an expert sculptor by any means, but I do enjoy my misguided attempts anyway. :)  I was recently possessed of an urge to do the caterpillar from Alice in Wonderland. Well, *my* version of the caterpillar. He turned out to be a lot harder than I thought he would be! Here he is, warts and all. Be kind, lol. (Although I do think the hooka turned out pretty decent, don't you?)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-10667566118474202372010-06-28T23:10:00.000-04:002010-06-28T23:10:21.908-04:00

Those with wanderlust are always dreaming of new and exciting places to visit. These old world maps, which  have been stained-distressed, and treated to feel a bit like leather, are perfect for dollhouse characters who share that passion for adventure. Be it a wandering wizard or a pirate about to set sail, characters will find these maps perfect accessories for their travels. I'm making a

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-38795539681080407342010-06-22T13:17:00.000-04:002010-06-22T13:17:03.626-04:00

Yesterday, besides being the first day of Summer, the Summer Solstice, the hottest, stickiest, muggiest...um, forget that last part. Anyway, besides being special for seasonal reasons, yesterday was special in another, quite grand, way: this blog, *and* the Briarwood Facebook page, both reached 100 followers/friends! This is amazing to me, as I only started them in January, and I am both honored

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-69899300926393367082010-06-21T19:21:00.001-04:002010-06-21T19:45:09.546-04:00

Here 'tis. All done. From (obviously) the home of a very well-dressed witch. *wink* Edited to add: this vignette is now for sale in my Etsy shop: Witchy Vignette

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-89471088034963899312010-06-21T19:15:00.001-04:002010-06-21T19:15:57.847-04:00

Here's the hutch all filled in. Notice the little details (which really are the most fun to make!): the books on the bottom shelf are entitled Magical Mayhem, The Wizard's Guide to Dating, and The Tao of Frog. The open scroll is readable and is signed by "Wizard Crankmaster of the Society of the Fraternal Order of Old and Grouchy Wizards." (Hey, I'm a writer. I get carried away, lol.)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-84776187994197942772010-06-21T19:03:00.000-04:002010-06-21T19:03:29.618-04:00

My hat's off (pun intended!) to those of you who make miniature witches' hats all the time. (Like Kat, the Hat Lady, one of my favorites.) These little things are hard to do! (If you want them to look good, I mean. I can make lots of them that look pretty terrible, lol.) Anyway, I only needed two and these are what I ended up with. I've also included a pic of the trunk, seen in the earlier

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-1372493598655276072010-06-19T14:49:00.002-04:002010-06-19T14:50:18.376-04:00

I don't have a "before" picture for the hutch (yeah, I forgot to take one), but it was as bare as the trunk in the previous post. I really like how this turned out and the black paint is proving to be a nice backdrop for all of the "things" I'm putting on the shelves. I'll post a pic when it's all done so you can see how it turns out.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-87211310093588795532010-06-19T14:41:00.000-04:002010-06-19T14:41:59.920-04:00

It's amazing what a little paint and distressing can do for a piece of furniture. :) The photo on the right shows, obviously, what the trunk looked like before I attacked it. The trunk will be part of a set that I'm making that includes a hutch and some witches' hats. Can't wait to show you the whole set together, once I've "stocked" the shelves. Been busy getting ready for a small craft fair on

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-5372670231758167582010-05-28T20:41:00.003-04:002010-05-29T15:09:57.969-04:00

If anyone out there gets the magazine, Hopscotch for Girls, for their daughters or granddaughters, the June/July 2010 issue has one of my children's poems in it. It's called Moo Manners page 17. :)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-65229804850239452002010-05-10T03:12:00.001-04:002010-05-28T20:42:25.483-04:00

I've started a series of ACEOs based on titles or snippets of music from the Baby Boomer's formative years. I'd love for you to stop by and take a look: Angels, Art, and Attitude

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-26517061502451495262010-05-06T18:58:00.000-04:002010-05-06T18:58:21.234-04:00

My art blog is called Angels, Art, and Attitude. Wondering where the attitude part comes in? Take a look: Mad Max Cat Interlude #1

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-84909861416488978112010-05-05T23:09:00.000-04:002010-05-05T23:09:57.514-04:00

Please take a moment to check out "An Important Giveaway" in my sidebar on the right.  ---> Tallulah-Belle Originals is having a giveaway campaign to raise funds to help children around the world to have access to clean drinking water. It's an important issue. Follow the links in the sidebar to learn more and donate, if you're able. Thanks!

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-86453047932377590542010-05-04T23:08:00.000-04:002010-05-04T23:08:47.027-04:00

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-90499797500287065952010-05-02T22:53:00.001-04:002010-05-02T22:53:28.347-04:00

I just posted about my altered art collages over on Art, Angels, and Attitude. (Ack, alliteration! It's everywhere!)Stop by if you have a chance. :)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-14367308264872550352010-04-27T01:59:00.000-04:002010-04-27T01:59:34.566-04:00

I've just listed a few sale items in my Etsy store, including this miniature settle bench. Click on the "Sale Items" section on the right.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-39871761031459894512010-04-26T15:31:00.002-04:002010-04-26T15:57:32.857-04:00

Yes, folks, she's done it again. She's created another blog! But...but...I had to. Really! This one was getting all cluttered up with my art cards. Surely you noticed? And the art cards didn't really fit on my "feel good" blog, so...what was I to do?! Is there a 12-step program for people who can't stop creating blogs? :P (Give me back my keyboard and nobody gets hurt!) And now that I've got

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-47884697139932636702010-04-25T13:32:00.003-04:002010-04-25T13:36:16.824-04:00

I recently did a new blog design for a lovely lady, Nan Loncharich, who makes beautiful wool flowers to adorn hats, coats, purses, whatever strikes your fancy. Nan has an article on hat bands coming out in Rug Hooking Magazine in July-August 2010, and a book coming out in Fall 2010. Busy lady! Nan is  fairly new to blogging so please stop by to say hello and view her new web home: Nan's Fancy

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-15626310179940996062010-04-22T00:01:00.003-04:002010-04-22T00:36:17.213-04:00

There is hope if people will begin to awaken  that spiritual part of themselves,that heartfelt knowledge that we are  caretakers of this planet.  ~Brooke Medicine Eagle

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-74995757443643753192010-04-20T23:29:00.001-04:002010-04-20T23:30:20.024-04:00

Got back yesterday from a 4-day weekend spent with my sister in eastern Pennsylvania. We are attempting to clean out our Dad's home so it can be put on the market. (Dad has Alzheimer's and isn't able to live on his own any more. We've had him in an assisted living facility that's only ten minutes away from both of us for the past year.) Dad was what you might call a "bit of a hoarder." Whether

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-87470642907750477142010-04-14T23:58:00.000-04:002010-04-15T00:14:10.993-04:00

Trees are a passion of mine. I love to look at them, their shapes, their colors. To me they are symbols of patience and  fortitude; tangible reminders that sometimes all we need to do is live in the moment...because the rest will take care of itself. Every tree has a distinct personality, did you know that? If you're patient, they will reveal themselves to you. This is one of my favorite trees,

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-91455711950319891772010-04-11T20:44:00.001-04:002010-04-12T00:02:50.518-04:00

Sometimes you just have to go where the muse is leading. And these past few days she's been leading me to make art cards, not my usual thing. But there's something about that small canvas (ACEOs are traditionally the size of a playing or trading card, 2.5 x 3.5 inches) that seems to free up my inner critic ("well, what the heck, it's not like we have to fill up a *whole* canvas!"). Or maybe it's

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-86018329721130458152010-04-06T01:37:00.000-04:002010-04-06T01:37:54.550-04:00

I'm sure many of you already know about The Graphics Fairy, but for those of you who don't, I wanted to share this great site. It's a blog that features over 1000 free clipart images and we're not talking simple vector graphics either. Karen spends a great deal of time hunting for vintage images (old postcards, advertisements, etc.), cleans them up, and then makes them available for use. There's

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-16907705157897054412010-04-03T21:58:00.000-04:002010-04-03T21:58:49.969-04:00

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-51995726258304088792010-04-03T14:00:00.001-04:002010-04-03T14:01:38.131-04:00

I just put up a new page here that showcases my blog designs, in case any of you are thinking about re-doing your blogs and need some assistance. There are nine sample designs to look at, from elegant to witchy! I'd love to know what you think! Thanks!

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-10071934830819889732010-04-02T15:52:00.001-04:002010-04-02T15:52:44.588-04:00

Today, April 2, 2010 is the 205th birthday of Hans Christian Andersen. Here are just a few of the many stories he gave to us: The Little Mermaid The Princess and the Pea Thumbelina The Ugly Duckling The Snow Queen What a great imagination he had!!

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-51279083846185507452010-03-28T23:08:00.002-04:002010-03-28T23:10:54.959-04:00

I spent the last few days working with Marie from My Miniature Menagerie on her new blog design. We're both very proud of it. Please drop by and let Marie know what you think. (Gotta love that kitty!)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-74211908475107288592010-03-26T00:58:00.001-04:002010-03-26T00:58:58.162-04:00

I was playing around in the workshop (the operative word here being "play") and attempted my first ever paper flower. I think it turned out pretty good, all things considered. And I think it actually looks more like it's made out of fabric than paper, don't you think? Very cool. Anyway, then I took a picture of it and played some more...this time in Paint Shop Pro. (Some people like to call this

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-84041581714196093352010-03-21T20:17:00.000-04:002010-03-21T20:17:17.475-04:00

Not too long ago I showed you a pic of the bee skeps I make. Well, it seems some teeny tiny bees have decided to take up residence in them. How cute is that? :) Also, I've been busy in the workshop making garden signs. The bee one (obviously) was inspired by the skeps, and the other one just because tulips are very Spring-y. These will all go in the shops sometime this week. And I'll be making

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-63856964519166387322010-03-18T15:46:00.000-04:002010-03-18T15:46:06.164-04:00

Amidst the mess that is my workshop are the beautiful daffodils my sister gave me for Spring. Aren't they gorgeous? And, on another bright note, I finally finished the six pieces I've been working on for the Beatrix Potter swap I'm doing with other members of the ATM forum. So much fun! They'll go in the mail tomorrow. (Can't show you yet, but soon!)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-49566239467785993892010-03-17T01:07:00.001-04:002010-03-17T01:08:55.050-04:00

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-53161615862175305432010-03-12T21:15:00.000-05:002010-03-12T21:15:53.178-05:00

Mini friend and ATM buddy, Karin F., recently sent me the cutest cheeseboards. (We swapped items that we each make. I sent her a plate cupboard for the roombox kitchen she's making, and a couple of other things.) I can't get over how realistic these cheese trays look.  Karin also made the cute chocolate bunny pop which will make a great Easter decoration. Karin has a couple of blogs you should

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-90870005617039378152010-03-10T00:26:00.001-05:002010-03-10T00:28:39.448-05:00

An online friend of mine from the ATM forum, Christina Pardy (of Dragonscale Miniatures), makes the most incredible room boxes, many with two stories. She's currently selling a Tuscan Villa in her ebay store that is incredibly detailed and quite lovely. Imagine the possibilities! Check out her site for more of her wonderful creations.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-27024428830843622312010-03-09T01:02:00.000-05:002010-03-09T01:02:59.512-05:00

If you like "feel good" blogs (and who can't use more of that these days), please take a moment to visit my new blog, Revisiting the Pollyanna Philosophy. And if you have any favorite quotes, please send them along and I'll try to use them sometime.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-43949008323926201162010-03-05T00:48:00.002-05:002010-03-05T00:54:35.769-05:00

Those who know me personally know that I am very, very bad at directions. I can get lost driving in my own neighborhood. My husband calls me "directionally challenged." My sister just shakes her head. It's pretty pathetic. :) Monday, I had a package that had to be sent off to Canada. For some reason, I decided to drive to a different post office than the one I usually use. Perhaps I thought

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-60878264778149665232010-03-02T23:51:00.001-05:002010-03-03T01:01:17.993-05:00

See, the white-ish ooze really did dry to a translucent gold to look like honey! These bee skeps and a few of the wooden birdhouses shown in a previous posting are now available in my Etsy shop.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-31382518063540799852010-02-28T21:53:00.000-05:002010-02-28T21:55:16.058-05:00

Let me take just a moment to thank everyone who commented on my last post about the loss of one of my fur babies. I really appreciate the kind thoughts and prayers that you extended. I've been trying to get back in the swing of things. Spent a lot of time in the workshop the last couple of days trying to keep my brain occupied. One of the results of my time in the shop was these bee skeps,

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-54787332355711512262010-02-26T19:19:00.000-05:002010-02-26T19:19:49.826-05:00

This is not meant to be a sad posting, but rather one of celebration. Today, we had to put down our little baby kitten, Lucky. He began having seizures about a week ago that led to irreparable brain damage. And while putting him down was one of the saddest and hardest things I've ever had to do, I can still find it in me to smile whenever I think of him this evening. Because Lucky was one of the

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-34981850082183795262010-02-24T22:54:00.000-05:002010-02-26T21:25:40.620-05:00

Two lovely ladies, Karin from Mini Ramblings and Musings and Kim from Flowers and Art, have sent me the Sunshine Award. Thank you, ladies. You know how much I need the sunshine right now, with my little sick kitty. Your thoughtful gesture made me smile today. I'm so glad to call you 'cyber' friends! When you have a moment, please visit their blogs. Karin writes on a number of subjects, but it's

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-66821289698398858912010-02-22T22:18:00.000-05:002010-02-26T21:28:06.528-05:00

One of the things I love most about miniatures is that I can lose myself in making them. While I'm working, all the stress and worries melt away and for a couple of hours, at least, my world is calm and serene. (And when your world includes an elderly parent with Alzheimer's, that's a gift that is pure gold.) Today, however, brought worries of a different kind. We found out that our youngest

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-14444896582050536512010-02-22T00:55:00.000-05:002010-02-26T21:26:33.089-05:00

Our bitty kitty, Lucky, is not doing well. He goes to the vet in the morning to see if we can find out what's going on. Lucky was an infant abandoned on the roadside near my sister's farm. He and his brother, whom we also adopted, were the only two who survived from the entire litter, and Lucky was the runt. He's only been with us a few months, but he has wrapped himself completely around my

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-86513799335620138622010-02-18T22:43:00.001-05:002010-02-18T22:50:07.510-05:00

It feels as though it has been snowing steadily for months here in Southwestern PA. And that's probably not far off the mark! Everyone is going crazy with cabin fever, and if I don't see some sunshine soon I may have to just shoot myself. (Kidding, kidding.) (I think.) Anyway, to help fight the winter blahs I've been playing around in the ol' What Now Workshop (as I affectionately call it).

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-34291426591135283662010-02-15T01:22:00.008-05:002010-02-15T01:38:25.167-05:00

Thanks to everyone who entered our Valentine's Day Giveaway. We had a total of 26 entrants (27 comments were posted, but one of them was mine, so it was removed and the comments were numbered accordingly). Using the random number generator at Random.org, the following winners were chosen: 1st place (winner of the settle with matching wall art): Lynn from Her Creative Spirit, Ontario, Canada

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-77284319196945789472010-02-14T12:01:00.000-05:002010-02-15T01:30:57.853-05:00

Happy  Valentine's Day to all our friends and followers. Hope it's a day full of love and sunshine for each of you!

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-83087749989652638222010-02-13T21:16:00.001-05:002010-02-14T22:45:15.970-05:00

Tomorrow (Sunday) is the last day to sign up for the Valentine Day's Giveaway of mini furniture and accessories. Winners will be announced on Monday. Don't miss out! Valentine's Day Giveaway - Don't miss your chance to join in!   

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-3022991884114422002010-02-11T00:00:00.001-05:002010-02-11T15:01:06.695-05:00

I've started gluing together the fairy house, so I've decided I better start numbering the posts about it for anyone who wants to follow along from start to finish. As I mentioned before, this is a bashed version of Real Good Toys' Mouse House, which, as designed, looks like this. My version has a few more windows (including a large picture window), a sleeping loft, and the addition of a covered

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-5943274554278530402010-02-09T13:22:00.001-05:002010-02-11T00:23:07.494-05:00

So, I'm making this fairy house, slowly but surely. This is a flower bed (no pun intended *grin*) I made for the house's occupant. It's made out of paper clay and the colors are much prettier in person. (It's a lousy day today for taking pics.) Problem is, I can't decide what to do with the center. A luxurious, elegant white pillow? A feathered nest? An approximation of the center of a real

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-24304165813978472892010-02-07T13:59:00.004-05:002010-02-11T15:02:29.286-05:00

Once upon a time, the deep woods of Briarwood Forest were home to a lively branch of the faery kingdom known as the Tickle Faeries. They were a fun loving group, always happy and usually laughing, and were responsible for keeping happiness alive in the human world. It was a huge responsibility, entrusted to them by the Faery Queen herself, and they were good at it. The Tickle Faeries were also

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-13956612639689815932010-02-07T12:08:00.000-05:002010-02-07T12:18:05.332-05:00

Every so often you run into an artist whose work speaks to you. I've found such an artist in miniaturist/sculptor Aleah Klay. Her work, especially her mini animals, is so enchanting, so adorable, that I want to own them all. *grin* Unfortunately, that's not possible, but I can say that I'm the proud owner of one of them, this little white owl. The owl is only 1" high and about 1/2" tall. (On his

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-42445039137695801012010-02-06T15:50:00.000-05:002010-02-07T12:17:46.499-05:00

Almost 2 feet of snow fell here in Southwestern PA between yesterday afternoon and about Noon today. Wow. It's gorgeous, but oh! so much snow to remove from the driveway!       Hope you're all safe and warm wherever you are.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-25774085764938055562010-02-04T10:56:00.003-05:002010-02-04T16:46:53.496-05:00

Valentine's Day is for celebrating love and one of the things I love is the miniature community. In honor of my fellow miniature lovers, I'm giving away two sets of prizes: The first is a country settle, painted in a deep green umber over a yellow ochre wash, then aged and distressed. It is in 1:12 scale. Along with the settle is a piece of wall art for your miniature home. A beautiful country

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-52567627991028073142010-02-04T00:32:00.000-05:002010-02-07T14:09:52.341-05:00

It seems there's been a rare sighting of a Plumed Tickleback, the legendary bird-fairy of Briarwood Forest, in recent days. This photo's blurry, but it definitely looks like one to me. Are the Plumed Tickleback's returning to Briarwood Forest? This would be welcome news, indeed. Watch this space for further developments.  

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-54460570889015946592010-02-01T23:00:00.002-05:002010-02-04T11:27:17.537-05:00

So, here's the final version of the "Hunny" Tree I made for my big sis for a Winnie-the-Pooh project she's doing. I decided the earlier ones were too small and not quite "friendly" enough. This one has *cute* written all over it, don't ya think? :)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-88314474974088228682010-01-30T16:02:00.002-05:002010-01-30T16:05:37.138-05:00

There's just something about a cold, blustery winter day that makes me want to crawl right back into bed and stay there. Seems I'm not the only one in the family who feels that way...   

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-44577161069248012872010-01-27T21:51:00.002-05:002010-01-30T16:06:46.952-05:00

This post isn't about miniatures, it's about food. And if you're going to hang around with me for any length of time, you gotta know that we'll be talking about food now and then. It's a requirement. A *major* requirement. :) Anyway, my niece made this recipe and brought it to our family Christmas Eve get-together at my house. Then, I recently made them for my once-a-month girls' Game Night.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-79218260137098394082010-01-26T15:03:00.001-05:002010-01-30T16:08:23.403-05:00

So, upon seeing the tree stump I did a few days ago, my big sis asked if I could do one with a hole in it for a bee hive (can you guess who she might be doing a miniature house for? *grin*).  Here's what I've come up with. I'm liking them so far. We'll see how they look once they've been painted and texturized. Also, I've been playing around with a "pre" build on the fairy house I'm starting.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-51041254605283521382010-01-24T01:50:00.003-05:002010-01-27T22:42:56.393-05:00

Finished the rocking cradles. I think they're very sweet. :) They're both available through the Etsy store.    

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-87538998331062666762010-01-23T17:03:00.002-05:002010-01-30T16:07:20.474-05:00

I'm slowly learning the idiosyncrasies of working with paper clay. It's a bit temperamental (likes to crack a *lot*), but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty fun to work with. One of the projects I'm working on is a fairy house, and I decided that my fairy should have a hollow tree stump as her sink (for washing up after a meal, etc.) Here's a bit of the progress of the tree stump. I think

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-46421304973811196482010-01-21T15:03:00.004-05:002010-01-27T22:43:44.560-05:00

Why is it the smaller something is, the higher its cuteness factor? And the messier my work area is? :)

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-17055283142833205692010-01-19T16:21:00.002-05:002010-01-27T22:49:23.953-05:00

Here's a couple of the things I've been working on the last few days: two mini rocking cradles and one micro-mini toy wagon. 'Course, they still need to be painted (and the wheels on the wagon have to be sanded and attached, and the excess dowel cut off), but all in all I'm pleased with how they turned out. The cradles will end up in the ArtFire shop eventually. Not sure about the wagon. I'll

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-77750067175690391472010-01-18T13:50:00.002-05:002010-01-27T22:49:42.472-05:00

Lately, waiting for a sunny day so I can take good product photos is like waiting for Severus Snape to smile. Or Edward Cullen to stop feeling tortured. Won't happen any time soon. :(

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-37974885197208750082010-01-17T16:52:00.004-05:002010-01-27T22:50:03.094-05:00

All the items in the accompanying photo have something in common. Hmmm, I wonder what it is. :) Keep an eye out for an announcement about the upcoming Briarwood Miniature's Great Valentine Day Giveaway! Details soon!

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-72179721990052007262010-01-17T16:15:00.004-05:002010-01-27T22:50:20.590-05:00

Yes, I make miniature furniture, but I also design and build web sites and make web graphics (I also write for children, but that's another story for another time). I haven't seen a lot of graphics available on the web for miniaturists, so I thought I'd help correct that problem. I've just uploaded seven versions of this design to my ArtFire store. You can also see another one on the right side

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-19135075212567724802010-01-16T13:56:00.001-05:002010-01-27T22:52:11.274-05:00

I love making country settles (or benches) and this one is one of my favorites so far. It's decorated with a beautiful primitive-style farm scene. The green is prettier in person, with a hint of yellow ochre beneath it. The bench will be up in the ArtFire shop later tonight.

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1280200715373995593.post-24609047567659581562010-01-16T13:15:00.002-05:002010-01-27T22:50:53.344-05:00

I was recently challenged to make a baby cradle. And not just a miniature baby cradle, but a miniature baby cradle for a miniature doll's doll.  (Still with me?) In other words, a miniature toy cradle. We're talking small here, folks. I once made a drawing of a cradle that I thought would be fun to build sometime, so I started there. 'Course, I had to scale everything down even further. And,

Cia of Briarwood Studionoreply@blogger.com0