Accessorizing for Miss Leah's Boutique

Hello dear friends,

It has been a few days and I hope you have enjoyed your weekend. I can't believe how time flies one day it is Halloween and the next day you're thinking of Christmas. I have been very busy with my everyday life, kids, work and didn't have much time for my miniature world. I don't like it when it happens but sometimes certain things come first. The weather here hasn't been very good. We actually had some rain, thunder and we have been hit by a cyclone. Not bad!

Any way, As I said before not much has been done but I have focused very much on the boutique. There is so much to do that you don't know from where to start and as I am doing most of the miniatures well you all know it; It takes quite some time.

I have been making accessories for the shop and see what fits in nicely for the shop.  Firstly I wanted to share with you two original Encaustic Art in Wax paintings which where made by my dear talented friend Hazel Rayfield. She has painted them especially for the boutique. Miss Leah loved them and they will eventually be framed and will be put in the boutique. You can see more of Hazel's work on her site and blog Art in Wax.

Art in Wax Paintings by Hazel Rayfield

Miss Leah is so proud of her new paintings

I have also noted that most of the items that I will be having in the boutique will be actually made by me. I highly doubt that there will be anything that I won't be making myself unless the obvious stuff. I have been also printing quite some printouts for the boutique to make boxes, posters and labels for the shop. They do take quite some time to do but at the end they are worth it.

I have been making perfume bottles from beads and also added labels to them to make them look real. The small table that I had in the dressing room I decided to decorated a little and make a perfume display instead of just keeping a mantel clock. It definitely looks much better like this.  

The hall table with the perfume display

Perfume bottles made out of beads. 

I have also managed to make some perfume displays for the boutique. They look quite good as well. Unfortunately the perfume boxes of the ivory set had a little accident. While making the display. I had the 2 year old Miss Leah trying to open the boxes. You might see some dents in them as her tiny fingers tried to open them. I wouldn't change them for the world. They where touched by the real Miss Leah and so I will keep them as a memento of her.

Can you see the little finger's work on the perfume boxes?

The Ivory perfume display

The purple perfume display

Finally I have made four sets of accessories for the boutique. The first one I made was the Ivory set. It was the first bonnet I ever made and to match I have made gloves, a bag and the parasol. I am really happy how this set turned out. 

The Ivory set accessories

After that I have tried to make a blue one. Like the other set I made the hat, bag, gloves and parasol. I even hand painted the shoes. Also the boxes where printed and made by me. 

Blue accessories

After the blue set I tried to make a pink one. The hat is very similar to a lady's top hat which also has a matching bag and gloves. The lovely bow ties shoes where hand painted by my father.

Pink Set accessories

And the last set that I made was the light green set. I have also made the hat, gloves, parasol and bag. I think all the colors can be mix and match. 

Light Green accessory set

I am really happy how they turned out and I am really enjoying it. I have also tried my hand in making miniature lady's hand fans. In the Victorian era they where quite in fashion so I did give them a try. I am really happy how they turned out. With a little practice they will get better.

Miniature lady's hand fans. 

And here are some pictures of the how the displays will look in the boutique. I still have to finish 2 more but here are the first three. I have tried to make a combined color scheme for each section. 

Ivory

Blue

Pink

So this is how it all looks. And finally here is Miss Leah's Diary Entry.

20th October 1879

Dear Diary,

The last time I wrote was on Quelina's birthday and believe it or not today is Matty's birthday. The two of them celebrate their birthdays in October. We didn't plan anything festive for his day. He doesn't like them very much and to prove it he isn't even in the city to celebrate it. I think he knew that we would end up doing something for him behind his back. He is a good lad and a fine gentleman. No wonder that the young ladies are swooned by him. 

I have been very busy in the boutique and have been really working hard to start filling up the shop. I have managed to make some fine hats and matching accessories with the fabric that Matty has gotten me from Madrid. Some shoes have arrived yesterday from the shoe maker. I gave him some designs of how I want them and he did a brilliant job. I also received the latest perfume orders from Paris which are being displayed both in the shop and in the dressing room. The fragrances are amazing and there are so many choices to choose from. Quelina is having a ball with them. She enjoyed fixing up the table I had in the dressing room and they look quite nice.

Today I had quite a surprise. Madam De France came to visit me. She was impressed how the shop is turning out. She helped me with some designs and gave me some useful tips for hat making. She sketched some under garments which I still need to work on. They are not my forte but they are definitely wanted. I really hope that she will visit me again. We had tea and cakes at The Coffee Corner. Madam De France really enjoyed it.  Manuel has such a way with his clients. During my way back home a came across two beautiful paintings which I couldn't resist. They where just perfect for the boutique and they where at a very good price. Hazel the artist was really happy to give them to me. 

I am still hunting for an apartment and I am losing hope now of finding one. It is getting very difficult. I am sure I will eventually find what I am looking for. Until then I am happy staying with my sister. The place is getting smaller as I got more of my stuff from the Manor house. Most of it I am keeping it in the boutique. 

So this is all for today my dear friend. Hopefully I will be opening the shop very soon. I am hoping that it will be done before Christmas. I am really excited about the festive season. 

Time for some shut eye.

Nighty night.

Leah xxx

So that is all for today my dear friends. Keep tuned for more updates on Miss Leah's Boutique and her adventures. 

Take care and see you soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

Setting up the Boutique and Dressing Room

Hello my dear friends,

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I can't believe that October is at an end and Halloween is round the corner. Which brings us to our free give away. I wanted to thank everyone for your messages and for joining in. As I have already posted on Facebook the give away was won by Ocalvo. I was contacted and it is on it's way. For those who participated don't lose heart as we will be having another give away for Christmas and I am very sure that you will like it.

I also wanted to welcome a new follower to my blog. Welcome Francesca! I wanted to thank everyone for your support and feedback. I really appreciate it and it means a lot to me.

Coming back to my project I am really enjoying it as there is so much to do and so much to add. I keep on making more miniatures and it seems that they are just not enough.  So today I will be sharing with you what I was up to with the Boutique and Dressing Room. I am very pleased how they are turning out. Both rooms still need loads of work on them.

The dressing room looks very chic and classy. So the first thing that I wanted to add was a corner furniture just behind the sofa. I couldn't find what I wanted but luckily enough I found one of these dolls house magazine's which come with plywood furniture kits. I have built it, painted it and decorated it to match the room. The open cabinet will be holding some of the finest jewelry that the boutique offers. It isn't meant for the normal customers but for the elite so it was perfect to put it in the dressing room area. I have added the jewelry that I have made and it suited it well.

The painted and built corner cabinet kit

Adding the jewelry that I made

I have also added some accessories to the room and to the small changing cubical that I made. I purchased some bare wood furniture for this room which I painted and also decorated. I still need to add more accessories but this is how it is at the moment. Here are some photos with a descriptive caption of the new additions to the Dressing Room.

The little cubical has a new mirror and garment hooks.

New mirror and Painted hall table. 
I have also marbled it's surface.

Another mirror on the other side and a 
different style painted hall table .

The corner cabinet behind the sofa and painted coffee table.

Added a lovely carpet in the middle of the room and 
painted and decorated the stool.

Some shots of the Dressing Room

After adding the basics to this dressing room I moved on to the boutique. The room is too small for all the ideas that I had for it. Some how the rooms are never big enough, but I am quite happy with it. So I have purchased some bare wood shop shelves and counter which I have painted in a cream color and decorated the trimmings with gold and dark brown. To the wall shelves I have added a lovely Victorian border to go with it. I have added a marble surface to the shop counter. I have also got some bare wood hat stands which I painted in brown and dry brushed them in gold.

The Shop shelves

The Victorian Border on the shelves

The Shop Counter with the marbled surface

 I never really seen how a Victorian Boutique would look like and I really wished I knew. I can imagine them selling lovely parasols. So I made a couple of them myself which turned out very nicely.

My hand made parasols that I made.

After I made the parasols I wondered how they would have sold them or how they where displayed. So I googled Victorian umbrella stands and there where quite a few to choose from.

I went for a wooden kind and I scratched built one for the boutique.

A real Victorian Umbrella Stand

My miniature umbrella that I scratched built

My Umbrella stand with the hand made parasols

 To the room I also added a round carpet for the middle of the room and on it I set a round 2 tire serving table. I liked the idea of this table for the boutique. I also added the chair that I renovated and a mannequin in the arch.

The new accessories

And here is how the boutique looks like at the moment.

Miss Leah's Boutique ready to start stocking her shop

 Our dear Leah is really pleased how her boutique is turning out. Here is Leah's Diary Entry for this post.

4th October  1879

Dear Diary,

Yesterday I came back from Madrid and it was a lovely trip. Matty introduced me to some merchants that I will be getting certain good and fabrics from. I had never been to Spain before and I am so in love with it. The ladies gowns are so sophisticated and elegant. I managed to bring some accessories for the shop and I am so excited. I will be travelling again in a few weeks. Today we celebrated Quelina's birthday. I prepared a small party for her. Matty and Papa joined us for the day. Quelina cooked a lovely dinner for us and I helped by making the desert pudding.

The boutique is turning into such a lovely shop. Matty purchased some lovely antiques to put in the dressing room. He got them from an old friend of his for a very good price. We have set it up and it is just right. Harry the carpenter has made the shop shelves and counter. Papa took care of it all. When I entered the shop I couldn't believe that eventually it will be opened by me.  There is still so much that I have to do and add. Quelina has been so dear to me. We have been helping each other out both in the shops and in our living space. We have grown so close once again just like we where when we where kids. We have visited some small accommodation for me but Quelina is not happy with what she has seen. I wonder if she'll ever be. She is still hoping to find a place which is close to her and to our shops. I wouldn't mind it for the world but in the mean time Lulu and I are living with her. So that is all for today my dear companion. I will be visiting you very soon with all the news. Have to leave you now, tomorrow is a very big day. 

Nighty, night.

Leah x

So that is all for today. I also wanted to let you know that I have added some new miniatures in my Etsy shop. Please visit it My Miniature World Shop.

Stay tuned for the new updates on Miss Leah's Boutique and her adventures.

Take Care and see you soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

Miss Leah's Sewing Room

Hello my dear friends, 

So how was your weekend? On the whole I can say it was kind of fun. Enjoyed it with the kids and so far it was quite warm and sunny. I also had time for my miniatures and project which is a bonus. I also wanted to welcome 3 new followers of my blog: BJ, Maritia Berry and Ocalvo. A big welcome.

I also wanted to remind you of the Halloween Give away. We had a good response. Now we have reached 113 followers and 228 likes on face book. I wanted to thank you all for your comments and for the private messages. The little give away is opened for both who follow my blog and/or face book as a few of you don't have face book or vice-versa. It is very encouraging. 

Today I will be sharing with you Miss Leah's sewing room which is on the top floor. Some how it is my favorite room so far.

So finally I got to add my lovely pieces of furniture and accessories. It took me a couple of hours and I also managed to add some accessories that arrived right on time.

Miss Leah's Sewing Room

There was so much to add and so much to do. It is not ready but it is definitely a start. I enjoyed decorating the sewing table with patters and pieces of fabric that I made,

The sewing table

 I have also made some patterns which now are hanging from a cloth hanger

To add more to this room. I have managed to fit it a corner fire place for the cold day. My father hand painted both the fire place which eventually will light up and I have built the corner fire surround from scratch. My father has also painted the lovely clock and matching candle sticks.

Fire place

Clock and candle stick

Miss Leah seems to be content with her busy room. But I still have to add more

Miss Leah

Also a little addition to the room was a little dog which I called Lulu. I had gotten the dog from DHE but I never really liked it as it doesn't look that real. I decided to cover it up with velvet powder and I am happy how it looks now,

Before

After

There is still so much that I need to add but here are some shots .

And here is the entry to Leah's Diary

10th September 1879

Dear Diary,

It has been a few day and I am feeling very exhausted. There is so much to do in the shop. Unfortunately I am not working as fast as I wish. I have set up my sewing room and it is just looking great. Have been making some gown but nothing elaborate.  Matty has set me up quite nicely and I am so pleased with the furniture. I also have a new fire place. I guess everything will come in handy. I have been scathing some designs but I am concentrating on the opening 

I have been to the Manor House to see papa. He seems quite lonely but has been travelling lately on business and I am sure that I am involved. On my arrival he got me a new gift. Not something that I expected. He got me a sweet little puppy which I called  Lulu. 

Lulu has been quite a lady and hasn't been a nonsense.  Quelina at first wasn't thrilled to have her in the apartment as she is more of a cat lover so Lulu will be spending most of her time with me in the boutique until find my own apartment and that is if. Looking for a descent apartment around here is so difficult. I don't want anything fancy a two room house will be just perfect. Quelina doesn't want me to leave but I think she misses being alone and I can fully understand.

So I guess this is all for today. Oh by the way and here is a pic of me and Lulu. She is such a cutie.

Miss Leah and Lulu

Off to bed now. Good night,

Hugs,

Leah

So that is all folks for today. Hope you liked what I have done so. Keep tuned for more updates on Miss Leah's boutique.

Regards

Rebecca xxxx