The Shop is Open for Christmas!

Hello Putterers! If you are an early bird Facebooker, you already know the shop is open now :). I'm so excited to be back! I have a lot more goodies in process, but I was able to get a few things listed for today.

Like this delectable playscale Christmas bundt cake.

And some Gingerbread Spice Cupcakes.

I've also been watching a lot of The Great British Baking Show, which is very inspiring! I saw Mary Berry's cherry cake [on season 5] and just had to re-create it in miniature.

And, of course, some Christmas cookies!

These are now all available in the shop. Get 'em while they're hot! :)

With Joy,
Heather of Puttering

Puttering is Re-Opening December 1st!

Hello!

Oh my goodness, you have no idea how excited I am to be back in my studio! The shop is still in vacation mode, but I am in a flurry of creating new things in order to re-open in just a couple days. I am aiming to open on December 1st with just a few new creations, but I'll be adding more as the month goes on.

For those of you who have waited around, thank you so much for being patient and still being here!

It's been a long road. If you didn't know, I was struggling with horrible chronic pain, and actually lost almost use of my hands and arms for several months. I had to close my shop, as well as my photography business, for over a year. I went to several doctors, and had numerous blood tests and x-rays. As it turns out, I have fibromyalgia, as well as some osteo-arthritis and some auto-immune/thyroid issues. Amidst all that, I was training in weight-lifting, and remodeling my bathroom, and working, and... you get the idea. I was doing too much! My body finally gave out completely. It was extremely difficult to stay positive when I lost the ability to do everything I love!

I finally found a great doctor. She diagnosed me, and I have been doing SO much better under her care. Gradually over the past few months, I've developed a regimen of self-care that keeps me happy, mobile, and low on the pain scale! So I am back to making things, and smiling big about it.

In order to stay happy and healthy, I am changing a few things about how I run my shop, and I hope you'll understand! I have really enjoyed making custom orders in the past, but I will no longer be offering that service. Items I post will be one of a kind, and in limited quantities. When they're gone, they're gone so snatch them up quick!

Making miniatures brings me so much joy, and I love sharing that. I want this to be sustainable for me. I am only 32, and I'd like to keep making things until I'm very old :). I strive for delicious realism, and each piece takes me days to create. I will need to change my pricing accordingly, but I will do my very best to keep things manageable for you, my lovely customers! I am also going to be switching to FREE shipping in the US.

I'll see you in the shop on December 1st!

Miniature Chocolate Peppermint Christmas Cupcakes

Well, I made two little trios of cupcakes this week!  They have both sold in the shop already, but I thought I'd show you some pictures anyway.  These are the very first cupcakes I've sold in the shop!  Not because I haven't made lots of them, but because I very picky and wanted to get my technique just right.  I have spent a long time experimenting with different methods, and I have finally landed on something I really like.  I hope you like them, too!

With Joy,
Heather of Puttering

A Thanksgiving Feast!

This is the big custom order I have been working on that's going off to Japan shortly.  It was so much fun!  I had not made a roast turkey before.  I spent a lot of time looking at pictures of different ones to make sure I got the shape and coloring right.  I think I shall have to try my hand at making some ham next...

I also made some little dinner rolls, a bowl of cranberries, and orange pumpkin, a white pumpkin and a green gourd.  The rolls make me hungry for bread and butter, but in my giant world of course I can't have gluten.  Or dairy. 

In the background you'll see a glimpse of some pieces I just recently finished making over.  I shall post on that soon!  You'll also notice the wee little fall leaves on the table there.  Yes, they are real!  I will post on that soon too.

In the mean time, happy imagining to you.  I'll be back later!
With Joy,
Heather of Puttering

Happy October!

Hello and happy October everyone!
I apologize for being a bit quiet on the blog of late.  It's because I've been so busy working away!  It's been a fun month, with some new purchases and many new skills learned.  We have officially entered the fall/winter season, when I am done photographing weddings and have lots more time to devote to my little shop. 

To those of you who have been requesting pumpkins, they are available in the shop right now!  Hurry and place your order now, and I can get them to you in time for Halloween! 

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!  I am curled up, drinking cider and making minis.

Much more coming soon...
With Joy,
Heather of Puttering

Fall is in the air...

My goodness!  September is so busy!  There are so many things I want to be making for the shop.  As you probably already know, I am also a wedding photographer.  I have two more beautiful weddings to photograph this month, and then I will be back to my regular puttering.  I hope to have the shop full of fall items in time for the Halloween and Thanksgiving season.

I did get quite a few heirloom tomatoes made before my rush of weddings though!  They are available in the shop.  I hope you like them!

With that, I am off to take photographs.  I will be back very soon with more wee goodies for you all.
With Joy,
Heather of Puttering

Whisks and Lunches and Carrots, oh my!

Happy Thursday everyone!

I have some new goodies in the shop this week. . .

First up, a brown bag lunch!  I got it into my head a couple weeks ago that I wanted to make miniature paper bags.  Then that got me thinking how fun it would be to make little brown bag lunches.  I worked non-stop for a couple of days to create everything for them.  A little organic apple, a Peanut Butter and Jam sandwich, and baby carrots. 

Recently, it has been very hot here.  We don't have air conditioning in the Orange Door Cottage, and, being in Oregon, it's usually not a problem.  We just set up little fans and it works just fine.  It's been too hot to turn on the oven for baking clay though!  On a particularly roasty-toasty day, I decided to instead make some miniature wire whisks.  No baking required!

And just look at these beautiful bowls!  They are real, handmade pottery bowls by Anita.  I am so pleased with them, and will definitely go back for more.  I highly recommend her!

Also in the shop now are the miniature carrots.  If you follow me on Instagram [@heatherespana], you may have seen the sneak peek of these little guys.

Thank you so much to everyone who reads this little blog!  I love seeing your comments, and if you ever have any questions, or suggestions for blog posts or things you'd like to see me try to make, I'd love to hear them!  You can email me directly at heatherputtering@gmail.com.