Mini Macaron Boxes

Mini macaron boxes. So I've tryed to figure out how I could make some miniature boxes from the mini Pierre Herme Collection.It's causing me MAXI-headaches! I can't really use the backside of the PH boxes. Hmmm Should I use out-sourcing in India and China to get what I want?Plus another mini-headache. I Crazy-glued shut the box of Pierre Herme macarons so I have no loose macs for still life setups. To the RESCUE -Priscilla of NRFBQueen will sell me the one box I need out of the set of 8. I've been torturing myself - Do I order another complete set from Hong Kong? Would Lauren of Maitress, who's currently in Tokyo, to go mini-shopping for me. Do I go back on ebay? Then thanks to Google I found Priscilla.
You too can get the pastries of your dreams. Someone asked me if I knew where in New York they could find something like Pierre Herme pastries? N'existe pas.
Since I'm on a silver painting kick, I'm getting just the silver tea set circled here. And a few other essentials like ice cream cones
Priscilla was telling me that there were so many miniature toys for boys in Japan, that Re-ment and MegaHouse decided to come up with sets especially for girls. In fact adult women have turned out to be their biggest customers. Here's what Re-ment has to say about their products:
Lovely and cute!
Intriguing fun concepts!
Nostalgic! Nostalgic! Nostalgic!
One heartwarming piece after another!

Are you into gardening?

Are you a working girl?
This is the after-hours part of the set. About.com Lesley Shepherd not only explains all the ins and outs of collecting miniatures, she has How-to make your own, like these adorable mini vallentines boxes
To-die-for non?

Photo ©2008 Lesley Shepherd, Licensed to About.com Inc.

Silver Tray Period

Every artist has their obsessions.

Picasso's “Blue Period” spanned the years of 1901–1904, and was followed by his “Rose Period”. That lasted from 1904 to 1906. Things have speeded up a bit with the internet etc.

Would it be presumptuous to say I think I'm going through my "Silver Tray period"? So far it's lasted a week. Keep your fingers crossed 🤞

The "Tray period" is coinciding with the "Cupcake period" (1 week).

This is just to show you how mini the cupcakes are - about the same size as a piece of sushi and maybe even healthier if you listened to the news last night.

And here is the scale of the tray - 5 1/2" x 3"
The mini period" has lasted more than 3 weeks! I lay full blame for the mini obsession on the little Eiffel Towers I bought near the Paris Opera.

Both the "Pierre Herme period" and the "macaron period " are ongoing. Don't worry.

As is the "Angelina period" once I can get a seat by the window with some good light!

Yesterday Cris in Oregon said...I am totally confused at what is real & what is mini here. But I do know your paintings are taking on a really charming look with all this mini 'clever' madness. I can't wait to see the mini silverware and candlelabra in a painting.
So the mini silverware and candlelabra are for you CRIS!I'm hoping eventually to get back to some adult-sized objects. Just don't hold your breath for the time being.

Mille-feuille

Some of you are concerned that I will soon be focusing on mini puppy dogs and kittens as my subject matter.
Not to suggest that the French are not fond of small animals or that there's anything wrong with "cute".
But with the PIERRE HERME MINI-COLLECTION I've got plenty to keep me busy for eons to come.And not to suggest there is anything wrong with the REAL thing! Always go with the real Pierre Herme Millefeuille a la Vanille if you can!
Pate feuilletee caramelisee, creme de mascarpone a la vanille de Madagascar sounds pretty yummy to me. But when it comes to painting still lifes it's a heck of a lot easier and a lot less calories to work from a mini model than a petit four with a sell-by date. Plus your refirgerator is not a pandora's box of temptation when you go prowling at the odd hour.. Cost is a factor too along with unavailability in New York...The "complete" PH collection for all of $27!
And I've only put a toe in the water on this set.
Now how to convince Gerard Mulot and Angelina and Mariage Frere that they need "mini-collections" too? That's the question I'm working on. Meantime my new candlelabra and forks and spoons just arrived from Amazon!
Merci Amazon :)

Rement Bakery

 Now what is she up to you must be wondering...Hmmm

New wonderful stuff! New minis. This is the Bakery set from Rement in Japan. A ParisBreakfast still-life painter's dream in fact. Yellow Bird gets into the act and has a proper sized petit dejeuner sitting on a red-checked tray.

Et voila!These cuties are larger than yesterday's dollhouse treats.
1 : 6 is the ratio.

The box comes with an assortment of 10 boxes inside, each holding themed goodies. Organic bread! Weeee

I'm now the proud owner of 2 French style Vichy red-check trays. I could open my own cafe in just a few days.

A sample still life setup with honey in this case. Perfection non? I found this treasure box in a Japanese store on 2nd ave. More about that tomorrow.

Meanwhile I'm flirting with more stuff. Don't I need a proper fridge to put the desserts in?

 The tea sets could sit here when not being used. I think I've joined the mad addicted adult collectors of Japanese minis.Mega house and Rement are the two top mini makers I've discovered so far.

Oh! must not forget a proper tea table for Yellow bird.

And these ice cream minis have me melting.

Tiny Doll House

In the name of research I went hunting for forks and spoons to go with my tea sets.Tiny Doll House was sold out but I found them on Amazon. Still I thought, I must see what they are up to. Tucked away on 314 East 78th street on the upper East side, this is a haven for dollhouse lovers.Here is the elaborate gabled affair you can see through the front door...Both walls are lined with room tableaux with highly detailed furnishings. If Chippendale is your fancy you've come to the right place. Tiny Doll House will build your dream house with no detail neglected.An example of their attention to detail... A cat's tea party...
Everything is on a ratio of 1" to 12" = VERY TINY!

Look at all their china sets!

And this is just a tiny sampling.

Here is the VERY TINY tea set I bought at Tiny Doll House for $13. The Pierre Herme gateaux were not included. And here is a comparative analysis of all my tea sets size-wise. Including what now looks gigantic, the doll tea set from the Provence flea on the left...AhemI went back to the 99cent store and replenished my tea set supply.

A girl never knows when extra company is coming.
I wish I knew how to get rid of those dreaded decals...
On the back you are kindly reminded:
We reccommend that you wash this tea set thoroughly before use and after use.
Of course! Who needs a reminder?