Here it is, as promised, one of the little projects we started last summer.
I must admit, this all came about rather impulsively as I perused the HBS miniatures website and noticed they were hosting a contest featuring a simple Gazebo. All that was required in terms of crafting and decor, was that their Gazebo be used. I thought it might be fun and the construction was simple, so for $19.99 I bought one, glued it together, and then spent several months staring at it. There really wasn't a lot of extra time to devote to it, but one thing I knew for sure though, was that it had to have a little cake somewhere on the premises! And Grace fashioned a beautiful one as you can see.
The idea for a "garden party wedding reception" came to me, oddly enough, after I found a string of silver bead garland at a thrift shop for 25c. After I cut and hot-glued it in sections to the rafters, creating the illusion of lights, the rest just sort of fell into place. A silk curtain made a soft backdrop, and I just filled in around those two main elements.
Grace meticulously made the climbing roses with tissue paper and wire. The "white-work" tablecloth was fashioned from an antique hankie. Oh how I hated to cut it up, but as you can see it is very effective--but then after I made it, I wished I'd made it floor-length. But, oh well. The topiaries are Styrofoam balls rolled in crushed oregano and stuck together with toothpicks and glued into pre-fab flower pots. Sarah did most of the foundational painting and helped wrap tiny presents.
The dishes, candlestick, cake server, and other accessories were purchased from HBS. All in all, a fun mini group project. However, we were completely out of our league as you can see by the contest winners and the honorable mentions. I am just really so amazed with the level of crafting that went on there. Click on each of the images to see all the fabulous little details. The new contest has already begun and features a sweet country cottage. Find out more about it here, if you dare. I must say, I'm mighty tempted!
Oh my goodness!!!!This is incredibly adorable! You two are soooo talented. The more I look around on the Web, the more I truly realize just how much amazing talent and creativity is out in the world! It is awesome!!! Thanks for sharing this. So cute!
Posted by: Barb | February 10, 2010 at 12:04 PM
Adorable and lovely! Talent galore! I love miniatures--anything tiny just does something to me--I squeal inside with delight and usually am overtaken by the excessive "darlingness" of it all. The contest winners will have to be looked at slowly--I just can't take too much in one sitting! LOL!
Your entry is just SO CUTE!!! :)
Posted by: Sharon M. | February 10, 2010 at 12:32 PM
Holy smokes. I looked at the winners...some people really get into their miniatures, huh? Loved yours.
Posted by: Abbey Rice | February 10, 2010 at 12:51 PM
It looks fabulous!
Posted by: Tracy | February 10, 2010 at 01:08 PM
That looks like a really fun project! I think you did great work. I would have never guessed the topiaries were made with oregano. :)
Posted by: Shannon | February 10, 2010 at 03:32 PM
gosh it is so cute!! well done vicki!
Posted by: Christy | February 10, 2010 at 07:15 PM
Excellent work! I haven't ever entered the contest but I look every year and think about it. :)
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 11, 2010 at 06:03 AM
What a lovely wedding cake! The thing that I find so appealing about miniatures is the thought of being able to create almost any scene that you can imagine, right down to the tiniest detail. I love antiques, folk art and all those lovely old things that are difficult to find or afford in my real life, but I often think that I could have those things in miniature.
You guys...you have so much fun at your house!
Posted by: Lena | February 11, 2010 at 10:46 AM
It's so cute.
I must say you & your girls are mini Queens. You create some of most adorable tiny creations I've seen. Congrats..on the package you received, can't wait to see what come from it. I'm sure it will just beautiful.
Posted by: Gina | February 11, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Ahh...I would love to have a tea party there:-)
Posted by: Suzanne | February 13, 2010 at 06:31 AM
I love this little gazebo and its contents for a wedding reception. You are so very very clever, and your girls, too. The details are all so very edible. Magic.
Posted by: Deb | February 14, 2010 at 05:45 AM
Hello. I just wanted to thank you for the great links to our site! I found your site after noticing in Google Analytics that we had 214 visitors from here last week. After seeing your gazebo, I remembered your entry. Great work! Can't wait to see what you and your girls do with Lisa's Country Cottage. Have fun!
Posted by: Courtney | February 15, 2010 at 10:50 AM
Very good looking things here keep it up......
Posted by: Jay howeller | February 17, 2010 at 11:50 AM