Having a kid around really cuts into creative time. Well, at least an infant does. For de-stressing time I've been staying up late working on more miniatures. In the past I've completed a front facing room, a dual sided room, a scene under a dome, a more intricate room, and now the smallest I've ever done - scenes in a mints tin.

I like that these are portable and light up.

I won't work mostly in tweezers with miniatures EVER again.

Without further ado, here is the series I just completed over the last month or so!

Here's the construction process:

Here's this one's construction process: 

And the last one going together: ( I had streamlined the process a bit by here.)

The three together look pretty cute, and I plan on displaying them somewhere other than my basement, lol. Of course I'm working on another miniature, but I also have summer plans for pirate outfits, a specialized plushie, and yet another baby renaissance outfit. ;)

My obsession with miniatures is no secret. After completing a large dollhouse that won grand champion at the county fair and is now on permanent display at my library, I discovered Japanese kits for room arrangements. These kits are usually around 1/24th scale and everything is glued down as you go. Still, it does scratch the creative itch and a manageable price and scope of project.

I try to document each one as I create it. Problem is, one slipped through the cracks, so to speak. Amazon had shown me a lightning deal on a wishlist dollhouse item and I didn't take advantage of the sale. :( That got me thinking: what kits did I have waiting for me?

When I checked my storage closet I found a kit that I remember really wanting, but I don't remember purchasing. Even worse: it was already assembled. Sigh. I must have been doing some stress crafting. The kit was purchased nearly two years ago, and probably assembled shortly after. It would have been at a time BC (Before Child) and when Ryan was gone most of the summer on trips for work.

Without further ado, here is the kit all assembled:

And here are a few more detail views for the curious. The outside corners aren't decorated, so I'm not uploading pictures of blank craft wood.

Time for another miniature project. When one has the itch, one must scratch! This was a special double sided miniature scene. 

Is this Mary's Sweet Baking House? Scene? Shop? One may never know... And judging by the instructions all in Japanese maybe it's not really meant to make sense as a label to us English speakers. I was a little intimidated to take on a project with instructions by picture only, but I think I did alright!

The kit had a music box to attach underneath, which was wound up behind the tea table, and the music gearbox itself hidden behind a china cupboard. Sadly I forgot to take pictures of the end product, especially because Dad gave me a little lazy susan turntable base to put underneath. Oh well - when I get around to unearthing it from my crafts cupboard I'll update the blog. It looks pretty much like the picture on the box, though it does light up.

**EDIT**
I took more pictures, some with the lights on. Enjoy!