The Fabulous Farmhouse

Weekend Winners!

 
 The winner of last weeks $10.00 gift certificate is Barbara A. in Florida. Thanks to all of you that participated in the fun, I look forward to creating and filling the store even more as the weather cools and time allows. It's been great getting my hands on the miniatures moreso lately. Summers pretty much done, and that means....

 Football? Last weekend kicked it off with more winners! My sweetheart and I had so much fun, I even learned a little bit. Cros-Lex World Champion Little League Softball were honored at halftime of the Varsity game and I completely forgot to pull my camera out for this. Was a bit pre occupied apparently. So much excitement!

 

 I wrapped my weekend up with a visit to my daughter's family up in Northern Michigan and posed with one of her roosters. She's so awesome. Ok, I'll be back to post more when I can. Thanks so much!

xoxo Cathy

A Mini Bakery

I was fortunate enough to have Marva Young, a fabulous customer send me these photos of a roombox bakery she did for her mom. “The Sweets by Sheila Bakery”

 

 Not only did she send photos but she was thoughtful enough to thank everybody that she'd purchased or recieved help from in creating this piece. I was lucky to be one of them. Sheila, Marva's mom, runs her own baking business out of her home and this mini bakery is a not only a way to say I love you and love what you do, it's also a beautiful little inspirational piece with big sentiment (and lower electrical bill). I love the creme yellow walls with the black and white checkered floor, love the phone on the wall, and of course all of the sweets!

Thanks again for sharing this!

Have a great weekend! Love, Cathy

 

 

 

Miniature Wedding Display

Pat Hausman sent me this photo of a display she made in miniature for her daughter's wedding. Isn't this great? It seems miniatures are becoming more and more popular in many venues. I love when friends and customers share their creative efforts with me so I can show them to you too! Pat sent this photo some time back, and I've been remiss in posting anything. I'm sorry Pat, but I am grateful she shared this as I am afraid I haven't anything new of my own to share with anyone, in miniature that is.

My daughter is getting married this coming Saturday June 12th, I wish I'd made one of these awesome displays like Pat did for her daughter, just beautiful!

As for me, I find myself single again, hence the very long gap in posting anything here. Lots of healing time needed. I am working outside of the home, as well as maintaining my business at The Fabulous Farmhouse. There has been a new posting on the front page regarding ordering out of stock, 7-10 days to shipping. The out of stock has been turned off briefly as it's just easier for folks to order what it is they need, but as always you can send me an email and I will add it to the list of items wanted.

My brain just recently started considering making anything new, so I do hope to get my hands on some fun new things soon. On Wednesday June 9, I will have my hands on my Grand baby Naomi whom I haven't met yet, she's a mini so she will be a better than ever substitute for cupcakes or chocolates, they will come though, and I will be thrilled to let you know when.  I must say, I love my friends and family for loving and supporting me through this very difficult time in my life. I am eternally grateful, God Bless you all. Finally, a post from me! Love, Cathy

First Time Creating With Cake Fondant

Taste Tester.......

My daughter Megan is getting married in June, and with keeping to the budget, a fondant test was in order to see if this is a doable with making the cake ourselves.

The mess.

I've made lots of cakes, but never with fondant. Megan hadn't tried fondant either, so I threw a few recipe links at her and she picked this one.

I was really surprised to see this when she called me into the kitchen. Look! It's a cake wrapped in fondant!

Then she began practicing cutting shapes of fondant and coloring with the Wilton cake colors.

Before I knew it she'd created a piece of art with fondant!

There wasn't a design in mind for the practice cake, this is a collection of playing and learning what is possible with shapes and colors and frosting. Seeing how it works, how things stick together. The pink frosting was leftover from a cake she made a few days ago for her Fiance. She used it underneath the fondant as the recommended adherent.

I think the fondant looks surprisingly smooth. It's rolled to a 1/4" thickness, and is very easy to work with. Much more so than I thought it would be. Who could have known how easy it would be? Mind you she made it, not me:)

Lastly, the least fun part is the cleanup. My girl is goofy, and I am sure Mozi thought so too. He didn't really clean up, but it was good for a laugh:)

Good Job Megan, looks great! It tasted pretty good too. If you have fondant tips or great recipes we'd love to hear from you while we have time to practice.

 

I have been baking this week too, on a much smaller scale. Miniature cupcakes, cake, lollipops, candy filled gift bags, and restocking Easter miniatures in the store.

I'm headed to the coffee pot now, thanks for stopping by.

Have a blessed day, Cathy 

Miniature Cupcakery Bakery

CupCakery Bakery

Great photos of customer and friend AnnMarie, and her daughter Sara's  miniature Cupcakery Bakery. I fall in love with miniatures all over again when I see these labors of love and fun. How exciting to peer into a miniature scene and imagine sounds and smells while the party preparations are taking place and the gifts to be soon opened.  Inside the little sweet shop, cupcakes and cookies line the shelves located near a table prepared for a celebration. This looks like a perfect memory to me.

The miniature displays and sweets are selected from The Fabulous Farmhouse as well as Pei Li's Dollhouse Miniatures.

A big Thank You To AnnMarie and Sara for sharing this photo with us. Since I moved my workshop the beginning of this month I once again downsized. One casualty was my current cupboard project, which makes seeing other folks labor's of love projects even more special to me. Thank You! Believe me when I say, I'm not giving up on my own project and I'll begin it when the time is right:) Meanwhile, thanks for stopping by and reading, I've been working on backorders/special requests so if you see something out of stock you would like to purchase please send me an email 

Thank You! Cathy

Some Great Miniature Sites!

I have to say how much I'm enjoying Networked Blogs  The reason I say this is because I find it so easy to keep track of the latest blog entries from the blogs I follow. If you've added me as a Facebook Friend you can see on my profile all of the wonderful blogs I'm following. I am amazed at the talented artists that work in miniature! Amazing things. I more often than not find myself on a blog that has a catchy picture of another blog or link that I click on that leads to another blog that has a catchy picture or link and on and on. You too? I don't think I'm alone in that either lol, I know you blog surfers are out there clicking! The networked blogs is great to make sure I don't miss anything:) Here is just a sample of the wonderful miniature blogs I follow.

My Small Obsession Miniatures

Paris Miniatures 

Katie's Clay Corner

Flowers & Art

The Mini Food Blog

It's A Miniature Life

La Cassa Rosa

lotjesdollshouse

So, that is 8 listings. I have uhm, over 40? Or is it 50. I don't know, don't worry, I'll add more:) Lol! What can I say, they're great, and you must check them out. Some of these folks sell miniatures, some do not, but no matter what you're looking for you are bound to see it in miniature. Don't forget, add me and take a peek at my networked blogs.

When I tear myself away from these incredibly awesome blogs I am making valentine cupcakes, updating category photos in the store, and getting a miniature giveaway together to list soon. Valentines is just around the corner and I'm hoping to make it extra sweet! Below is a new category photo I added yesterday. Clicking on the photo will take you to the Mardi Gras section in our store. Another recent change to the store was switching the featured items slides with the new items. I thought it more interesting to look at since every time you switch a page a new within the past 30 days will appear now. I also added a tell a friend button in the store next to all of the items listed. You'll see next time you're there:) Thanks for stopping by, and thank you for following too! Warmly, Cathy McGhee

Snowmen, Angels, and Santa Clauses

Snowmen

I made a snowman cupcake today so I feel like I accomplished something because it's new:) I love making new things and this one is especially fun to me because it is my first cupcake in a foil wrapper. The way this photo was taken you can't see it but you can in the next.

See the foil peeking out? Any more sideways and my gingerbread would look like a brick so that's as low as we get! I just absolutely love Christmas sweets! I do plan on continuing adding to the new Christmas items all year round as I hadn't anticipated how busy I'd be this year. This little mini tree is sitting in a pink striped tray I sell in the store. The reason I wanted to share this with you is because though I haven't changed all of the photos, all of the trays and displays with a hole to hold items like lollipops and cookies on a stick have been expanded by about 1/16 of an inch. That measurement isn't much but I also recently changed sticks I place my candy on and the new one's were too crowded to be happy. Their very comfy now. If you've purchased these from me in the past year and would like the size increased on yours please email me so I can keep record. Let's see Angels now.

Angels

 

The one wrapped up on the left is the angel, not the one on the right (wink wink) The one on the right is my son Brent, the proud daddy and US Marine (I'm so proud of him and grateful he's serving our country have to throw that in there when I can)

This angels name is Naomi Kay Madere and she was born 12/3 at 11:39am. Naomi weighed 9lbs & .28 oz, she's 22 inches long and healthy and happy. Look at her cheeks! Little sweetie muffin. I always name kidlets nicknames and I'll pick one for her when I know it:) Her daddy loves his first baby girl, and I love my first grand baby. We are going to spoil her!!! I've not seen her yet, they're in North Carolina and I hope to get there as soon as I can. Family issues here prevent me from going too far from home at this time, but I'll sneak away as soon as I possibly can and hold this girl:) Looking at this angel makes me want to collect babies like Angelina Jolie. How could you not? So sweet! Ok Santa Claus time...

Santa Clauses

We so hit the thrift store today! I loved everything I bought while browsing and discussing that show about hoarders. What? Most of it is LITTLE, and CHRISTMAS! And 25cents each! I love Christmas:) I found a mini dollhouse, and some funky retro santas and some old Hallmark ornaments oh and a Rudolph (but someone nabbed his nose so I'll have to fix that...) You know, just stuff... I think if you read this far I will just go ahead and add one more photo of the first snow we had this year oh and it sure would be nice if it were the last:)

The Fairy house out on the farm

Remember when I posted this last Spring? Nice and warm and sunny and beautiful? Now I think our fairy is on vacation in Florida because her front yard is a wreck and I didn't see any glitter anywhere. So I'm guessing I'm not the only one who doesn't care for snow. I've said enough I think, so thank you for following my blog, thank you for reading, and I do hope I see you again, and you'll stop and post a hello!

Thanks! Cathy McGhee

This Sweet Little Girl

Is my grand daughter Naomi and she is due to arrive in the beginning of December. Is this the sweetest little girl? I think she might be spoiled, yes of course. Her mom says she's a little roughie with all her poking and kicking mom. I was happy to remind my son that he will be paid back by his children for the misbehaving and grief he gave his parents. God bless it:)  Awww she is so sweet!Look at those little lips! Isn't modern technology amazing? Little sweetie sugar head:)

Mayville & The Sound Of Music

I was telling Lisa, a fellow Mayville resident and friend about this great YouTube video NBC shot at 'The Broken Teapot' and she informed me of another video I apparently missed out on! Taken the same day here in town, is Lisa herself chatting with our news guy Bryan Hughes aka Travel Mid Michigan/Meteoroligist. I told her I'd be posting that video on the blog, and finally here it is.... Mayville Sunflower Festival 2009  and since it isn't on YouTube yet I can't embed it, that stinks. However, it is set to Kenny Chesney music, and more Mayville Michigan fun from last year's Sunflower Festival. It's fun:)  While I'm at it I will also share another video Lisa sent me this morning. Below is a promotional stunt done in Antwerp Belgium, from one of my all time favorite movies, 'The Sound Of Music'. Definitely worth watching if only to see the people's reaction to something so surprisingly fantastic.

Lastly, as much as I procrastinate, Jen over there at her blog Jemjoop has been so kind to include me in her challenge so ok Miss Jen here is the 4th photo. As much as I hate to do this, unfortunately I have run out of time to list 4 more folks to challenge, darnit! Feel free to volunteer though. You can even volunteer twice!

 I saw the fireworks at the Festival and once again they delivered! For this small town, those fireworks rocked! If you'd seen them I'd bet you'd agree they surpass any festival fireworks around! Now I'm headed back to get those Halloween cookies finished.

Enjoy your day! Cathy

It's The Details In The Miniature Life

An inside view of Powell's Miniature Candy Sweet Shoppe

I wanted to say a few words about Kim Saulter's miniatures today. I've known Kim for many years, met her from eBay, back in the day. She's been into creating and buying miniatures for years, many more than myself.  Kim was also my very first customer at The Fabulous Farmhouse. I know I've mentioned before that I owe Kim much gratitude for urging me to continue my passion when times were rough for me, but what I haven't mentioned is how incredibly talented she is. A few years back,  I met up with Kim and her husband Joe at a miniatures show in San Jose, California. Let me tell you I had the funnest time walking around and talking about all of the miniatures there! So many talented artisans at that Good Sam Show. Kim's husband mentioned at some point in the day how Kim needs to get her own clay oven going someday...You know, the never before used item that is sitting there doing nothing?  I can't remember exactly how he said it, but I'll get to the point. Looking at Kim's photos and the beautiful miniatures she's created, it's obvious this woman is quite talented and not everyone can do what she does, especially in the short time she's done it, that's for sure. You would think she's been creating these confections for years! What Kim has always been known for is her shabby chic look. Her flair for design is incredible, and it's yet another talent not everyone has! The way she puts things together so effortlessly, resulting in a very realistic look that makes it difficult to notice it isn't life size, it's miniature. Kim's definitely got her niche in the miniatures world and you can spot her work just about anywhere, simple, soft, and sweet:) Fabric pretties in stripes and florals combined with white-washed furnitures, add some yummy cupcakes or chocolates and you're ready to go. Sounds easy right? It isn't, and that's why I'm so impressed with Kim's talent for putting it all together. I'm the first signed up when Kim gives lessons! I look forward to seeing more of her miniature groupings and sweets, if you haven't yet you're missing out!

Mini Hugs to Kim, Cathy

For more minis by Kim Saulter, visit:
Blog: http://kimsminiatures.blogspot.com
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kimsdollhouses
eBay: http://myworld.ebay.com/kim8168

 

PS: She bakes real food too! Oh my gosh:)