Happy New Year..!

Hello everyone!

Well it is finally upon us, the final hours of the year are here… 2012 is waiting quietly, yet keenly, in the wings whilst Mr Bea and I reflect on all that the past year has blessed us with. 

For us 2011 was a truly wonderful year, one which was filled with many special memories and events; from romantic lazy days in Dorset, to sharing ’happy tears’ as our eldest daughter walked down the aisle at her summer wedding.

Professionally, this past year has also been a very busy one for Mr Bea and I, during which our business ‘Petite Properties Ltd’ seemed to be hell bent on taking over our lives!  If that was not enough our (often hectic) show schedule and fast pace of product development left us both in dire need of  some time off at the end of the year.  But now, with a restorative ‘family Christmas’ under our (slightly bulging) belts, we are refreshed, energy levels have been rejuvenated and quite simply we are both raring to go!!

However before the pace of work life picks up again and before the calendar finally flips over to a reveal a sparkly new year, Mr Bea and I both hope that you all have a very magical evening tonight and that 2012 brings you all; health, happiness and a year filled to the brim with laughter and love…

Happy New Year!! *clink*

Bea & Mr Bea Broadwood

Limbo Days & New Year Resolutions...

First of all I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas...?

Mr Bea and I had a house full over Christmas and we are only just about coming back down to earth again after the festivities.  However, (old fashioned or not) I always like to use these quiet 'limbo days' between Santa's bountiful flying visit and the chimes of Big Ben, to start work on my New Years Resolution list for the coming year...

Ever since I was little I have always loved the last days of December and their impending sense of a sparkling new year approaching, bringing with it the revitalising smell of a new book, a clean page... a fresh start…

However, if truth be told over the last decade I have run out of things to give up, eat less of, resist, or cut out of my life...

So instead this year I am approaching my new years resolution list from an altogether different perspective and I am giving serious thought to what I would like to add to my life, rather than what I should take away.... and it is proving to be quite an exciting and enlightening change of perspective!

So are any of you out there thinking about NYRs too? - if so do share as I would love to know what you have come up with for 2012...

In the meantime, enjoy these final 'limbo days' of December, before 2012 makes its grand and revitalising midnight entrance!

Bea Broadwood

AIM's Online Advent Calendar 2011

Hello everyone!

Well it’s that time of year again and as editor and founder of the AIM imag I am delighted to announce that once again AIM members have come together to bring you yet another fabulous online advent calendar!!

Each day a new door will open to reveal a miniature project, written by  members of AIM (Artisans In Miniature Association)! 

So what are you waiting for, why not find out just what’s hiding behind ‘Door One’??

Enjoy!

www.artisansinminiature.com

Bea (Fiona) Broadwood

Editor Of The AIM Magazine

Petite Properties 'in print' !

Mr Bea and I are both delighted to finally get to see the latest November edition of the ‘Dolls House Nederlands’ magazine, which features a wonderful three page article all about Petite Properties! 

We are very honoured and excited to be included in such a hugely popular publication and the odd little bits of the article which we have so far managed to translate have made us both smile, as it seems some details have been a little ‘lost in translation!’ (Mr Bea certainly does not like ‘well cooked steak’, he enjoys a steak which has been ‘well cooked’ so that it is not over done!)

However, we are of course delighted with the article and if any one out there in blog land or beyond can help us to translate it, that would be very much appreciated!!

=0)

Bea Broadwood

Arnhem Doll House Show - 2011

Last Wednesday evening I (sadly) waved Mr Bea off, as he drove away into the sunset to catch his overnight ferry bound for the Netherlands. 

Despite 'Arnhem' being our first international show, I was unable to accompany him and so Mr Bea will be flying solo on the PP stand at this weekend’s Arnhem show.

However, Mr Bea will have with him a full complement of all of our smaller scale kits alongside an exclusive selection of ready built 1:24th scale dolls houses - sold on a first come first serve basis!

Since Mr Bea left I have heard from him and I am happy to report that he has not only arrived safely, but he is also all set up and ready for the show.

The only problem he has so far encountered has been ordering food because he has struggled to understand the menu… his Dutch is sadly non existent!!

So if you are planning to visit the Arnhem Show this coming weekend, do stop by the Petite Properties’ stand and say hello to a ‘lonely’ Mr Bea and if he looks a little hungry; you know why!

Bea Broadwood

Alexandra Palace 2011

Last Sunday Mr Bea and I were delighted to once again exhibit at the Alexandra Palace Dolls House Show in North London.  We have always been fans of this venue and it was great to be able to return for a second year, since Wendy’s World re launched this 'retired' show in 2010. 

The palace itself makes for an impressive back drop for the event and I must confess that Mr Bea and I did manage to sneak out before the show opened  in order to take in the stunning views across London, which can be enjoyed from the elevated terraces at the front of the venue.  However, we did laugh when we saw that ‘someone’ had planted a new tree directly in front of one of the viewing telescopes! I kid you not..! (sadly I did not have my camera with me at the time - but it did make us giggle!)

The interior of the Victorian ‘Great Hall’ of Alexandra Palace is truly vast, although sadly it is also a little shabby these days too.  However the palace as a whole is under going a rolling programme of restoration which is great news for this iconic London landmark.  The south east end of the Great Hall features the famous ’Rose Window’ and last Sunday, with the sun streaming though it for most of the day, it was an ethereal sight looming over us all! 

At the opposite end of the Great Hall (where the dolls house show was held) is the large and very dominant ’Willis Organ’, which given its size, must be incredibly impressive to hear when it is played at the regular recitals which are held at the palace.

The dolls house show itself certainly did not disappoint and with so many visitors flooding through the Great Hall’s doors Mr Bea and I were kept on our collective toes from the beginning  of the day to the very end!    The customers I spoke to said that they loved the venue and many had travelled from Europe especially to attend.  Sadly I did not get a chance to walk round the show myself, but at least I did get the chance to quietly enjoy that romantic early morning view across London with Mr Bea, albeit with a small sapling in our way! 

Bea Broadwood

Alexandra Palace 2011 - Preview...

Good evening everyone!

After a veritable drought (in the blog post department) here is my second post of the day (nobody faint!).

Before any big show, our little cottage is traditionally transformed into an indoor model village and tonight, (literally as I type) a small hamlet of half scale houses has sprung up in front of the Aga and the kitchen table is filled with what can most accurately be described as a quarter scale market town!  

So... if you are planning to visit the Alexandra Palace Show this coming Sunday (and we hope you are) - do stop by stand 114/115 (right by the entrance) and say hello to Mr Bea and I and in the meantime, I thought you might enjoy a little sneaky preview of just some of the new 1:24th houses which we will have with us on the PP stand!

Safe travelling!

Bea (Fiona) Broadwood

A Surprise In The Post...

Good evening everyone!

At last I have finally found a window of opportunity to tether myself to the office chair and take time out to post here on the PP blog!...

Although Autumn Miniatura is now a dim and distant memory, its impact has been keenly felt in PP HQ over the last few weeks as Mr Bea and I have been hard pressed to replenish our stock levels in time for our next round of shows. 

To complicate matters I have not been too perky of late and it has been a hard slog to keep myself locked away in the workshop, on task; building new half scale houses. 

 However, today my big sister Sarah made me smile with a very special personalised gift, which she had sent to me in the post… 

I love it!

Although I don’t think I will be able to bring myself to open it—thank you Sarah xx

But for now, I had best get back to the final preparations for the Alexandra Palace show this coming Sunday, which Mr Bea and I are really looking forward to… and we hope many of you are too!!!

Bea (Fiona) Broadwood

FREE AIM Online Magazine - October Issue OUT NOW!

It is once again my privilege to welcome you to the October edition of the ground breaking AIM Magazine.  This month AIM members have chosen to celebrate a very special lady in our lives; Granny!

For me the rhythmical ticking of a cuckoo clock, ‘gold top’ milk, sherbet lemon sweets and the comforting smell of dinner roasting in the oven all bring back an ocean of wonderful memories of my much loved Nanna…

In the miniature world our shared nostalgia for past times and our treasured recollections of days gone by often in turn become our silent muse, inspiring the miniatures which we love to collect or make.

In the modern miniature world, scenes, settings and locations from our past are fast becoming a popular starting point for our new miniature projects.  Indeed it seems that for many, submersing ourselves in the miniature world allows us to create tangible recreations of our own personal memories.

Since the birth of the internet there has been an ever increasing interest in genealogy and researching our personal family tree is now common place.  For those of us in the miniature world there is also an obvious cross over between our nostalgic memories and discoveries of our own personal past and our (enviable) ability to recreate them in three dimensional form in the present.

I personally am no exception to this kind of inspiration as I have recently been working on small scale kits which reflect furniture or homes which were present in my own personal childhood. So if you are considering recreating ‘Granny’s house’ you need look no further!!  AIM members have filled the pages of this issue with myriad ideas, inspiration and countless projects that just might help you bring your own memories back to life!

So if you will now excuse me I am going to settle back, suck on a slightly fluffy boiled sweet and get lost in the soothing memory of a room full of gently ticking clocks…

www.artisansinminiature.com

Bea (Fiona) Broadwood

Editor Of The AIM Magazine

Petite Properties' Online Shop - UPDATED!!

Hello everyone!!!

This is just a super quick post to let you all know that the Petite Properties' online shop has now been UPDATED and freshly stocked up with all the NEW KITS which were released at the Autumn Miniatura last weekend… Enjoy!

1:48th Basic House Kits...

2 &4 Birchwood Avenue

The Cottage Stores

1:48th Furniture Kits…

Vintage Cooker - £1.50

Vintage Kitchen Cabinet - £1.50

Farmhouse Table - £1.50

Farmhouse Chair (Pair) - £1.50

Cottage Chair (Pair) - £1.50

Dining Table - £1.50

Dining Chair (Pair) - £1.50

Vintage Double Bed £2.00

Vintage Single Bed - £1.75

Cottage Double Bed £2.00

Cottage Single Bed - £1.75

Farmhouse Dresser - £2.00

Potting Bench - £1.50

1:24th Furniture Kits...

A Rocking Crib - £2.99

Shop Counter Display - £1.99

Glazed Shop Counter - £4.99

Open Dresser - £5.99

Short Bookcase - £3.49

Tall Bookcase - £3.99

Vintage Cooker - £4.99

Vintage Kitchen Cabinet - £4.99

Double Dresser - £4.99

1:24th Country Garden Kits...

Potting Bench - £4.99

‘Lean To’ Greenhouse - £13.99

Greenhouse - £14.99

http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/

Bea & Tony Broadwood

Miniatura Preview - 1:24th Dolls Houses

Good evening  everyone…

With Autumn Miniatura only a couple of days away, I am delighted to be able to bring you a sneak preview of just some of the  great value 1:24th dolls houses which will be available to purchase from the Petite Properties’ stand at the NEC show this coming weekend!

All of our unique, hand crafted 1:24th houses are sold pre constructed - with the house on the stand, being the one you take home! 

However, we only have one of each property and so they are sold on a ‘first come, first serve’ basis!

So why not visit us early to avoid disappointment!

Bea & Tony Broadwood

Post Office Cottage - £79.99

Hedgerow House - £99.99

No 1 Lime Tree Avenue

Blackberry Cottage - £99.99

Wren Cottage - £74.99

Dandelion Cottage - £99.99

No 3 Lime Tree Avenue - £99.99

Harvest House - £99.99

Miniatura Preview - Something a bit different!

Good evening  everyone… 

I am just looking in to give you yet another sneak preview of a new 1:48th 'Basic House Kit' which Mr Bea and I will be launching at Autumn Miniatura...

But first a warning… for those of you who are unfamiliar with everyday 20th century UK architecture this latest design might make you scratch your head, for those of you who know the UK and its traditional ’Suburbs’ well - it may simply make you smile...

2 & 4 Birchwood Avenue (pictured above) is a (very) typical 1940s - 1950s semi detached suburban style property which can be found all over the UK in the 'new estates' which sprung up everywhere during this time period - indeed although I now live in an old stone cottage, I myself was born in such a property and the new design draws strongly from the suburbs of Hertfordshire where I grew up in the 1970s and 1980s…

Now I know that this latest design won't be 'everyone's cup of tea' but for me (and many others) it holds so much nostalgia that I simply couldn't resist offering it as a highly unique quarter scale kit!!

2 & 4 Birchwood Avenue is our largest kit to date and has 10 rooms in total (4 in each house plus 2 attic rooms) and the kit will be priced at just £24.99!

Bea & Tony Broadwood

Miniatura Preview - The Cottage Stores...!

Good evening everyone…!

Tonight I am delighted to be able to finally preview a first look at our forthcoming ’The Cottage Stores’ quarter scale kit. 

The Cottage Stores will be the next new addition to our ’1:48th Basic House Kit’ range and as such it will be launched exclusively at Autumn Miniatura later this month!

Further details of this new kit  and all the  other new products which we will be launching at Miniatura will  be released here very soon!!

Bea Broadwood

Online Shop... Has been updated!!

 Good afternoon everyone!

Literally as I type our latest ‘News Announcement’ is being emailed out to all of our subscribers! 

This latest  ’mini newsletter’ brings with it a list of all the brand NEW 1:144th, 1:48th and 1:24th kits which have today been added to our online shop!

http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/

Bea & Mr Bea



FREE AIM Online Magazine - September's Issue - Out NOW!!

As a busy summer slips quietly into an exciting autumn, it is once again my pleasure to introduce this latest ‘food filled’ edition of the AIM magazine.

Over the summer I have personally enjoyed a very special family celebration, one which has reinforced to me that there is indeed no greater pleasure in life that to able to sit down and share a leisurely meal with family and good friends and it seems that the highly talented members of AIM agree!

This month AIM members have collectively chosen to focus on our theme:  ‘Come dine with us..!’ and together they have filled the pages of this very special September issue with a stunning celebration of entertaining ‘in miniature’.

The pages of this new issue are crammed full of inspiration and ideas for the international miniature diner!  So whether you are planning to create a realistic dining setting in your dolls house or you simply want to bring a kitchen scene to life with stunning, mouth watering food; look no further we have it all!

This new September edition of the ground breaking AIM magazine is also awash with many fabulous free projects for you to try your hand at, from printable plates (in three scales)on pages 16 and 47 to creating a stunningly realistic salad without the use of clay on page 52  In short there is something for every miniaturist to try!

So as you enjoy the last of the summer sunshine, why not put your feet up and come dine with us!

www.artisansinminiature.com

Bea (Fiona) Broadwood

Editor Of The AIM Magazine