Ch-ch-ch-Changes....!

Logging onto my Etsy shop today I realised there are yet more changes to the site again and I have had that David Bowie song 'Changes' in my head ever since. ;)

So, not long ago Etsy allowed sellers the chance to create an 'About' page for their shops so that they could tell their shop's story and talk about how they make their products and so forth. I love this new tool and created an About Page for Hummingbird Miniatures which you may have seen here, (or see preview below).

Today I see that they have changed their 'Feedback' section and now instead of three grades of feedback (positive, neutral, negative) they have a 5 star rating. Okay, well I am not sure this change is a benefit, but I will wait and see if I get anything less than 5 stars (and be totally distressed if I do!) See how the Five Star Review section looks (image left).










Below is how my shop looks on Etsy today.

Whilst we're talking about Etsy, some of you may have noticed I have added very little to my shop since Independence Day... but I will have a small Limited Edition Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas range this year, so look out for that! I wont be making 10 of every item and usual - maybe just 1 or 2 of each as I have so little time these days.

Stay tuned... :)

Mountains of Bread and Cheese, please!

Do you remember when I posted about my new bread range (back here)? Well I have been soooo busy that I still haven't had time to photograph each new kind of bread and make them available at my online Hummingbird Miniatures Etsy Shop. But, I will do soon... honestly! So check back here or Facebook every so often.

Anyway, part of why I have been so busy? I had an order for 500 pieces of bread from a lady in Paris, and almost as many cheeses. It was a fun and all-consuming commission so I thought I'd share photos of it in progress on my blog for you all to see.

Keep checking back at this blog and the Facebook page if you want updates on the new Christmas 2013 range which will be coming soon....! Don't forget to click to 'follow' and 'like' so that you don't miss coupons and competitions which are available for blog followers and Facebook fans. :)

Photographing Miniatures

If you're not only a fan of miniatures, but also a fan of miniature photography and miniature filmmaking (who doesn't love Wallace & Gromit?!), then you might enjoy my personal blog which is all about the life of a miniaturist living in LA!

Being a huge fan of miniature filmmaking (such as 'Wallace & Gromit - The Wrong Trousers' (1993), 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' (1993), 'The Wind in the Willows' (1983), and so many UK television shows such as 'Noddy' (1990s), I knew I had to work in this world. I created a small business making miniatures for private collectors - as you all know - selling miniature food under the brand name 'Hummingbird Miniatures' and also fantasy miniatures under the brand name 'Pixie Dust Miniatures'. and I am delving into making my own films with my LA based company - 'Tall Tales Productions'. Take a look at the website, Facebook Page, and blog.

So on my personal blog I recently wrote a post about the 'behind the scenes' world in photographing miniatures. If you're interested in more like this then please visit the blog post here and visit the Facebook Page for Tall Tales here!

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New Address this Easter!

Hi everyone!

Well it's been a while since I've posted any new ranges or posted much of anything at all because of my big workshop / office move! Never fear, I am back and busy and looking forward to sharing lots of new ranges with you just as soon as they're completed. 

Click over to my online Hummingbird Miniatures store for the Easter items I have in stock (unique fluffy Easter chicks, fluffy Easter bunnies, handpainted Easter egg ornaments, chocolate treats, cakes and more...) 

Competition Alert! Don’t miss out on a chance to win one of my handmade Easter chicks by signing up to the free Dolls House and Miniature Scene email newsletters as well - click here

If you're interested in reading about my move then you can check out my company blog here and if you want to stay in touch with our mini filmmaking news then become a fan on Facebook here.

Scroll past the Easter photos to see snaps of my move to my new Hollywood workshop. That's right - 6 suitcases - mostly filled with minis and craft supplies!

The Hummingbird has Landed

Hello everyone,
Yes I know... it's been absolutely ages since you heard from me and my online Hummingbird Miniatures shop remains closed at this time... sorry!

As you probably know, I had to close this shop (and other shop) for a few weeks whilst I had the messy move from NZ to UK to US with plenty of Embassy meetings, packing, flying and landing going on around this time. Well... the Hummingbird has landed! 

So, please note that Hummingbird Miniatures is back in Los Angeles, California and will be re-opening in just a few more days (keep your eye on this blog, or the shop or on the Facebook page so you know when) and I'll be launching some fun new miniature food ranges, furniture, a free-to-enter competition and a new coupon to apologize for my absence!

As usual, feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Warmest wishes, Caroline

Above hummingbird photograph courtesy of Deep Green Photography. Visit the site here. dollhouse food, dolls house food, miniature food for dollhouses, dollhouse miniature food, faux food, polymer clay miniature food, dolls house miniature food

Miniature birthdays for 2013!

Wondering what's in store for Hummingbird Miniatures in 2013....?! I'll tell you. :)

First of all, I must apologise for my absence for a few weeks of this year thus far. I've been busily preparing for my move back to the US and also had some exciting work in miniatures at a film company... for an insight into my miniature work outside of Hummingbird Miniatures see my professional blog here.

Now, as for 2013 - I'll be moving back to Los Angeles in about 10 days time (during which I am afraid my online Hummingbird Miniatures shop will remain closed)... then I will re-open, all miniatures will ship from LA and I will soon introduce my new ranges. Yay!

Expect to see a much anticipated new Birthday Cake range (which I started working on back in summer 2012 and blogged about here)... there will be very detailed and tiny birthday cake prep boards, birthday cake tables, birthday party gift sets and birthday cake mini food jewelry.

There will not be a Valentines range this year (but there will be on my other blog) however, there will be Mexican food, summery foods, Independence Day foods, a Hummingbird Miniatures FURNITURE RANGE and a whole lot more in store which I'll be a bit secretive about for now! Follow this blog here and / or become a fan on Facebook here and you'll be able to stay ahead of these new ranges, new coupon codes and a brand new competition coming soon....

Here's a glimpse at the new birthday range in the making... including tiny hand-blown glass jars of birthday candles for prep boards and prep tables, birthday cake cookbooks... and more...

~ Caroline x

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Happy 2013 and Shop Announcement!

Hello everyone!
Happy New Year......! Yes I know, it's already 11th January 2013 and have only just found the time to wish you all a Happy New Year but I've been a busy bumble bee as of late! Hope you all enjoyed the countdown and have set off on the right foot.

Thank you to everyone who jumped on my big post-Christmas sale. All orders were shipped out promptly via First Class Delivery of course, and everything wrapped ready for gift giving as usual. :)

SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT
I am off to Manchester, England to work on some miniature sets for a film company, so I have set my shops to 'vacation mode' for a bit (hopefully not much more than a week or two). So please note that as of today my online Hummingbird Miniatures shop will be on vacation, but you will be able to buy again soon. Feel free to email me if you have any queries.

Until then - have you seen the latest YouTube video? It's show-casing products from last year and I finally uploaded it yesterday!
Click here to be taken to the YouTube channel and don't forget to subscribe. More videos and tutorials to come... ;).

My Workspace... Chocolate Cake Preps

Haven't heard from me in a while?! I've been quite busy since Halloween getting all ready for Christmas. I hope you caught my recent post about my roast goose (here) which is actually being listed on Etsy tomorrow afternoon PST.

Before I get too Christmassy I thought I'd share some non-holiday miniatures. Over the past couple of days I have been making chocolate cakes decorated with cherries on rustic waxed prep boards. Here's a glimpse at them in the making. These are mostly as 'thank yous' to editors and such (I've been featured in magazines a few times lately). I made 6 so will offer one or two for sale as well. The design won't be repeated, so as usual, feel free to email me directly to request that I put one aside for you if you like. :)

Only 2 more weeks in New Zealand and then I fly off to the UK for a few weeks, and then back to the US in early Dec.... so start to make a mental note now - my online Hummingbird Miniatures shop will be closed for a bit whilst I am traveling and you may like to purchase things sooner than later if you're keen to have something in time for Christmas.

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My Workspace - Birthday Prep Boards

I've been so mad busy making these new designs that I am reallllllllly behind in photographing them. So I thought I'd at least share some works-in-progress so you'll know what to expect in store in the coming weeks.

Hummingbird Miniatures is gearing towards prep boards quite a bit lately - I've been making jam prep boards, cake prep boards, birthday prep boards, pie prep boards.... all sorts! I've also been making ever so many new design prep boards over at Pixie - take a look here.
Hope you like the new designs. Stay tuned for more designs and for better photos. :) They'll be available at my online store soon.

And look what else I have to share.... (last picture!) I went to my local art store for more wood today (I hand-make all my own wooden prep board bases) and got a tad lost down some street I didn't know here in Wellington, New Zealand. Well I found this tiny brilliant fabric shop with so many patterns perfect for miniatures. It's great because it's just what I've been needing so I can finally finish off some of my NEW Furniture Range which will be available at both stores. I've been focusing on furniture for months - all my designs, no pre-bought furniture bases... coming soon!

Don't forget.... there's a competition running over on my other blog. Take 2 minutes to enter for your chance to win a free miniature. It closes in less than a week.

Summery COUPON Code :)

Just because it's such a beautiful day today!
As you know, I'm currently in New Zealand (and will be until late November of this year) and it's winter here whilst it's summer in the US and Europe. We've had some rain and we've had winds that definitely steal the 'Windy City' title from Chicago, but today and yesterday have been beautifully sunny and dry. I even took tea on the balcony. Below is a photo of my view taken from my balcony this morning.

So.... to celebrate sunshine in your world and mine, here's a coupon code which allows you to have 25% off anything (even sale items) in store. It is valid until this Saturday 1st September at midnight PST.

How. To. Use.
Just click to buy whatever you like, and then before you pay you just need to enter the coupon code: SUNNY30 at the checkout. 25% will be deducted from your entire order but not from postage.

Where. To. Use.
This coupon is valid at my online Hummingbird Miniatures store only.

When. To. Use.
It's available right away and expires on Saturday night!

Email me if you have any problems or queries. :) C xXx

Important news.... there's a competition running over on my other blog. Take 2 minutes to enter for your chance to win a free miniature.

What's the Buzz at Hummingbird?

Gosh it's been a while! Apologies for my absence. Explanations coming...!

Where've I been?

1 - I'm still enjoying New Zealand life, and guess what? - I found a fab restaurant here which was undoubtedly started by a Kiwi fan of my company. ;) Take a look at the photo above. I've already eaten there a few times, but been cooking NZ lamb at home a lot.... mmmm.

2 - I have been busily working on some magazine articles and commissions (oh, and I just got the front cover of Dollhouse Miniatures magazine), but more on that in a few days when I get my copy in the mail!

3 - Been playing with another camera and new lighting equipment.... some pictures below were taken in my apartment using it.


What's coming up?

1 - I'll be making an appearance with a stall at a local NZ Craft Fair soon, so come and say hi if you're in Wellington! 

2 - My online shop will re-open tomorrow at around 4 pm PST.

3 - A coupon code will be made available tomorrow with the re-opening of my shop for a whopping 40% off - watch out though - it only lasts 24 hours!

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Tuned into Hummingbird's Channel yet?

No, I haven't disappeared! I've just been adjusting to my move to New Zealand these past 3 weeks. As many of you know, I will be here in NZ for the next 4.5 months (until Nov 2012), so all orders will be dispatched from the capitol city of New Zealand. ;) I am unsure how long it will take for my packages to reach Europe, the US and Canada... so to give people an added incentive to continue shopping with me I'll be lowering many of my prices across my shop. (Note - my shop WILL be re-opening verrrrrry soon!).

In the meantime, why not tune into my YouTube channel here, and catch up on any of the videos you may have missed?! I just got around to adding my Easter 2012 video today. You'll need sound for this one. :)







At my YouTube channel you'll find videos showing my miniature work and also tutorials where you can learn to make miniatures for yourself. More tutorials to come - I promise!


More videos.... find them at the YouTube channel...

And a tutorial to be found on my channel also...

Moving house... BLOW OUT SALE!!!

It's confirmed... my fiancee just got a job at WETA in New Zealand and I'm moving over there to be with him for 5 months whilst I await my fiancee visa which will finally allow me back into the States.

Now I hate packing as much as the next person, and I especially hate packing up miniatures as each one has to be packed so carefully, it takes ages, and I always have to have them on my lap on the plane as carry-on. Not looking forward to a massive fragile carry-on bag on my lap for my 28 hour flight with 2 stop overs.... no way.

So... what does this all mean? It means I am trying to clear my stock so I have less to carry! I have lowered prices massively on lots of items (find greatest reductions in my 'Sale Section' of my online shop).

Not only that - the first 5 PEOPLE to purchase something from my sale section get a further 20% off.
Just enter the coupon code 'BLOWOUT' after you click to buy but before you pay. A further whopping 20%  will be deducted from your final bill, but not from shipping fees.
Please note that the coupon code is ONLY for the first 5 people to buy from my sale section and then I will end the coupon code. It is also ONLY available for items in the sale section (here) and not on any other items in store.

Coupon code has been activated now... Ready.... Steady.... GO!

C xxx