If you can't stand the heat...

                                                 .....get out of the kitchen!

Well that's just what I did today,  I am enjoying the summer (which has finally arrived) in the shade of  my garden.   I'm doing a little bit of work on the fireplace for the reception room of my second canal house.  I will show it to you when it is finished, it is almost done!

In the mean time I will show you what I have been working on the first half of this year:  a 17th century miniature kitchen.  For those of you who are thinking they are experiencing a déjà vu, you are right in thinking you have seen this before.  Well almost anyway.  This kitchen is based on the one I made two years ago, with just a few adjustments. 

 The beautiful tilt top table was made for me by Colin Bird.  I put in the accessories (silver by Jens Torp)  and the chairs (by John Hodgson) just for the photo. 

 The kitchen cabinet is different from the first kitchen I made.   This one is placed against the back wall allowing for a slightly better view of miniatures which will be put into the top part.  The door closes with a little latch on the inside, which is rather fun.  

 This kitchen is much higher than the first kitchen, so I had to make many, many, many more tiles....phew!  That was quite a big job.  But I love the way they look.  For the readers who have recently joined me, I make these tiles from paper to look like the 17th century Dutch tiles (which were very common in kitchens of that era) called 'witjes', which translates to little whites.  As you can see these tiles were not actually white at all but had hues of blue, pink, green, yellow...

 I painted a marble imitation on the counter top and floor.   Again, the accessories are just  there for the photo,  I don't think they had bottles of balsamic vinegar in the 17th century  ;-).  Silver is by Jens Torp and the cheese board was made by Hanna Lindroth ( Miniature Chef ) and won by me in her giveaway last year.

 The pump and sink.  Delft wall plate by Cocky Wildschut, silver basket by Jens Torp, glass cup and cover by Gerd Felka.  This kitchen has found a new owner, I now still have to make something similar for myself.  I need a little break from the tiles and sinks though, so maybe this winter...

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