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Saturday, November 6, 2010

Phoenix kits, boy's toys and a giveaway

After all last month's work came playtime, both in the dollshouse and in real life. With the exchange rate so good for Australia at the moment, the time was right for some internet shopping...

So off to Phoenix model developments  which I had been introduced to early in my mini journey by an online friend. I love the detail in their kits and being made of metal, they have a solid charm reminiscent of vintage toys . My first Phoenix kits were easy kitchen pieces bought from this Australian seller, Eastwick Dollhouse,  (have a look at her crochet patterns and doileys as well) and I progressed to the gramophone which sat for months half painted after the cat decided it would be a nice thing to bat around while the paint was still wet. The records were a gift from my Phoenix loving friend who knew I had bought the gramophone. 

The farm came next. It is one of the things which has thrilled me most. I loved my plastic farm animals as a child and was besotted with another friend's vintage Britain's farm set as an adult. This set fills the longing at half the cost of one Britains animal. 

In Enid Blyton stories, trains are an essential for boys, preferably a big set that can spread through the house...which means extra pieces such as a station and points ... and maybe one day more track...  Meanwhile I have been happily making boxes for the sets which are becoming authentically scuffed as I get them out to play trains.


With the paintbrush still soaking I turned to the Monopoly set and the racecar caught a coat of paint in gay yellow and green, along with some charms, phoenix opera glasses, golf clubs and ball and a gorgeous little London bus. The battleship was waiting in turn until I saw a lead toy battleship from this era on ebay. Maybe it will stay metal.

Cricket is quintessentially post war English, so a cricket bat and ball was a must along with paper boats and planes. I considered a slingshot, but decided the nicer characters in Enid Blyton books wouldn't have one. 

Most necessary of all were marbles and the indescribably gorgeous glass ones from marble monkey were perfect. 

Finishing this collection was the tadpole jar from this online tutorial, miniatureprojects tadpole jar now with authentically rusty wire handle from my wetting and a billycart also authentically aged and battered. 

Hello to my new followers! It is lovely to see new faces and visit your blogs.

Kim at  my fairytale cottage is a painter and creator and refurbisher. She does it all and with lovely results. She likes antiques and thrift stores too. Don't you sometimes wish we could all get together in real life and chat and share and chat some more! 

 Irene popped over from the DHE. I have been following her 3  properties for a while now over there and can say they are truly inspirational, a point Miniaturias must have agreed with when they featured her Hambleton Hall recently.

Carolienbooms, Mandy and Annie aren't showing up with blogs, so please leave a comment so I can find you.

Gillian I discovered today while 'blog surfing. Oh my goodness, I was speechless when I saw her tiny patchwork with real patchwork fabric rather than hankies. I can't imagine how she does it and the other miniature bits she makes. Inspirational and cheerful if you can have such a mix.

My newest follower is another double blogger, cambiosentuvida to make you think and miniaturista-minis for frivolous dolls housing, except  that there is nothing frivolous about this dolls houser's minis. They are exquisitely made and perfectly scaled. 

Now for the giveaway! I had intended to have a giveaway at 100 followers, but that magic number slipped by, then 120 but oops again, so I will celebrate my 21st post and my coming of blogging age! Thank you to all those who have been following and encouraging me and if you would like to be included in the draw and are among the first 125 followers, please leave a comment on this post and I will draw a name on the 16th November.


The gift is a Phoenix farm set painted and boxed by myself, with enjoyment and enthusiasm, which will fit nicely into any nursery setting. 

 Thank you for making it to the bottom of the page!


21 comments:

  1. oh my this sounds like mini paradise with the farms, toys etc I always love your posts as i was a great fan of Enid Blyton books my favourites where the Famous Five and i was lucky enough to be in Burley New Forest UK when they did filming there for the children TV series

    hugs
    Gail

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  2. What a lovely giveaway, please count me in! The box is so sweet..
    Love, Susanne

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  3. A wonderful giveaway! Please count me in. I know the name enid blyton but I don't think I've read any of her books. They sound right up my alley. I love all the little treasures you've painted. Hmmm maybe I need to raid the monopoly box!

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  4. I love reading your blog. Please count me in for the wonderful giveaway!

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  5. Wonderful giveaway. That train set would look wonderful in my 1940's farmhouse. I love all the new items you bought.

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  6. Thank you Gail, Susanne and Julie. :~)

    Enid Blyton was a prolific children's author from the 30s to the 60s, Heather, and if you are still using your Monopoly you can find lots of sellers with odd pieces on ebay - Cluedo pieces too which look useful as well :~D

    Thmini2, the giveaway is for the farm set, rather than train, but I think the train set is available painted from miniature sellers as well as unpainted from Phoenix. The last pics, which probably confused you, are for anyone wanting to make their own boxes to use. :~)

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  7. Hello Christine and thanks for the lovely welcome. You've made a great job of all these little items. They're all equally as good as each other.

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  8. How Gorgeous! I love the train set - the colours are great with that green engine. Just like the Hornby set my Dad had!!! Now you need some Meccano!!! It all looks great and as a fellow BIG TIME Famous Five fan, I think it all looks wonderful. I haven't had time to make the Biggles books yet, but thank you so much Christine for taking the trouble to send them over....it was so kind of you and I really appreciate it!

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  9. Thank you Irene and Carolyn. :~)

    How odd you should suggest Meccano (great minds think alike!) I was fiddling around with some bits and pieces seeing what I could do in that line during my days off. Maybe when I return home from the salt mines I will have some success. (fingers crossed)

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  10. Plesse include me in your drawing, I love the little farm set, so cute! I'm having a giveaway, also. C'mon over and join in the fun!

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  11. Hi Christine, congratulations on your 21st post and your 123 followers!
    I would like to join your giveaway, so would you please count me in?
    I love your phoenix kits and the scenes you make :-)

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  12. Congratulations on your 124 Followers Christine. I'd love to be entered in your give away..x

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  13. I would love to be included. I have a toy shop crying out for a train set!
    Your attention to detail for your project is marvellous. I am relatively new to both miniatures and blogging and I love living in this unreal world and meeting such lovely and creative people.

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  14. hi christine, please enter me in your draw!!! love these.. and i definitely need to furnish a boys room. how good would this look!!
    christine xxx

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  15. Certainly you can all be included but I think I may have made a mess of my first giveaway by posting about other things as well! (I'm still new at all this)

    The giveaway is actually only the Farm set!
    I hope that isn't a disappointment to anyone who may have thought otherwise.

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  16. Lovely blog and give away¡¡¡ Please count me in-
    You can visit my blog and enter in my own give away, a trellis with clematis montana. Mini hugs
    cristina

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  17. What a lovely give away, please count me in on that

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  18. I missed the giveaway post. As I was reading the Meccano post, I saw it. I would love to join in. BTW, I have my dad's Meccano set. It is probably one of the earliest ones, from the look of the box. No drawers. Just dividers in the box and the pieces are all plain metal. No color.

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  19. Enhorabuena Gail, por tus seguidores.
    Me encantaria participar en tu sorteo, casi me lo pierdo jejeje
    Me encantan tus trabajos.
    besitos ascension

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  20. Hi Klara, Casey and Ascension. Thank you for visiting.
    Casey, you might be interested in this link. http://www.nzmeccano.com/Outfits.php#nickel.

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  21. Hi Christine,
    What a wonderful collection of toys. I too have a meccanoset, since I am collecting (and making) toys for my future special dollshouse. Congratulations also on your 21st posting and all your followers. Please count me in your giveaway. I love toys, so this farmset would be something special for me.
    Regards, Marion

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