Miss Leah's Preparation's for the Grand Opening of the Boutique.

Hello my dear friends, 

So here we are once again preparing for Christmas time. Time flies and waits for no one. This year I have be planning something completely different for you. As you have seen on the right hand side of the screen there is a Christmas Advent Calendar 2014 which I have made. Everyday behind each door there will be a miniature project or tutorial for you. Most of them are not my makings but I have used them and they are just great. So I decided to share them with you. So please do share it with your friends and I really hope that you will enjoy it. 

Miss Leah has been very busy preparing for the grand opening of her boutique. I have been making so many miniatures that I have completely lost count if everything will fit in. I am sure that everything will find it's place eventually. I have finished some more accessory sets that match my hated busts. I think they will be my last for the boutique. 

The dark pink set

The Lilac Set

For the lovely counter I decided to make some boxed corsets which will be displayed opened. I have made and printed out some boxes that I made myself. For the top shelf I have made very tiny boxes where they hold tiny spectacles and hair combs. 

The boxed corsets

Inside the displayed counter

The Counter from behind.

On top of the counter I have made and printed an old Victorian style catalog. At that times in boutiques they used to have like a folder with lose pages to see the designs of what the boutique had to offer. One of my center of attraction pieces is the cash register which my father built and painted from a kit. I made the cash and have added the tag display for the register to make it look more realistic. The tags are actually closed  in a plastic casing built around them.

The Cash Register

I have also made some hat pins in a little vase. It is unbelievable how much you learn when you make research on certain items to add more detail. I have looked up for these hat pins which where very fashionable in the Victorian Era as they wore hats constantly. They where made from all types of metal. They came in various sizes even up to 18 cm. Some times they where even used as weapons and sometimes terrible accident happened while trying to pin a hat. 

So I have made a couple of hat pins in various sizes. I have used jewelry wiring and tiny beads in different shades and sizes.  

Hat pins in Vase

I have made some boxed stockings for the shop and also a couple of pairs that will be displayed in the dressing room. They came out very nicely.

Ladies Stockings

Boxed Stockings for the shop display

After all that I had the pleasure to continue decorating the boutique and I just love how it turned out to be. I still can't believe that most of all the miniatures where done by me. It give me such a satisfaction. It does take longer but than again it is all worth it at the end.  So here it is.

Miss Leah''s Boutique

The Center piece

One side of the shelving

The other side of the shop

The Counter

The Proud Miss Leah in the boutique

I still need to add more miniatures and accessories but now it is definitely filling up beautifully. 

And here is Miss Leah's Entry on her diary. 

14th November 1879

Dear Diary,

It has been a long, long time and I have missed you so much. You always help me to clear up my head and I was desperate to write to you. I have been working without stop. I have managed to sleep a couple of nights in the boutique. It is not easy. Most of the accessories and clothing I have been doing them myself. I just hope that it will be worth it all. Sometimes I just lose heart but I have done so much now that there is no turning back.

I have been boxing and shelving the shop and now it is looking great. Quelina thinks that we should start preparing for the grand opening of the boutique. Father wants it to be a big due. For me, I can just wake up in the morning and open the doors and that will be it. Neither the elite nor my family will be thrilled about it. So father wants us to send invitations to the refined folk. I will be inviting my old friends from back home and some new friends that I have made in these couple of months. I will be also inviting some shop owners from Regent Street. Quelina thinks that we should try to open the shop before Christmas time as it gets busy at that time. So now she is driving me all over the city preparing for the grand opening. She is really excited but she has been already through it years ago when Matty and her opened  Matquel's.  At least I am keeping her occupied and she feels useful. Besides I can never complain about her. She has been a darling and I just can't imagine myself with her and her support.

Being so busy now with the final touches Quelina and I haven't been doing any house hunting. Most probably that will happen after the New Year. We have decided to spend Christmas week at the Manor house with father like we always do. Hopefully Matty will be here too for the grand opening and will spend some quality time with us. 

So that is all for tonight. Time to retire. Tomorrow is another long day.

Nighty, night dear,

Hugs Leah xxx

I also wanted to let you know that my 14th downloadable book is available just in time for Christmas. It is called the Christmas Carols which is actually a Christmas song book with notes and the classic Christmas Songs. It does fit nicely to decorated a Christmas Scene in your dolls house. Here is the link to the Christmas Carol Song Book.

So that is all for today my dear friends. Keep tuned for more of my progress on Miss Leah's boutique. We will soon be having the grand opening. Let's hope that it is before Christmas. 

Take Care and see you soon.

Hugs

Rebecca xxx