Halloween

Midnight at the Mausoleum

It was a dark and stormy night… Well, actually, it was a day in late September, and one of the most dangerous storms in recent history was headed our way. In an effort to keep myself busy and somewhat distracted from Hurricane Ian barreling towards us, I decided that my ghost girl (purchased earlier this year from artist, author and musician Slade Templeton) needed a place to haunt. I had purchased the metal cemetery tray from Michaels when their Halloween merch first arrived in hopes of eventually making a graveyard scene. It seemed my ghost girl was destined to haunt a graveyard, and so Midnight at the Mausoleum was born. In a haze of hurricane-induced anxiety (we were beyond fortunate to avoid damage, just lots of rain and wind), I scratch built the entire mausoleum in a day and a half and then proceeded to create the rest of the scene around it.

Miniature graveyard diorama by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.

I created everything, with the exception of the shovel, the tray itself, and the ghost, from scratch. For the stained glass windows, I used Gallery Glass paint on acetate. Flickering lights inside the mausoleum added a lot to the overall ambiance and highlighted the dirty, dusty windows in a creepy way.

The tree is a wire armature covered with paper clay. The ravens are sculpted from polymer clay, then flocked and feathered. The mausoleum and headstones are all made from foamcore. I used an assortment of products from Woodland Scenics and AK Interactive for the terrain and weathering effects, respectively.

I really hope you enjoy my spooky little scene! Don’t miss the video below – and be sure to turn the volume up, because the sound effects and music are half the fun!

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay
3D printed glowing ghost in miniature cemetery scene by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
Stained glass windows in miniature mausoleum model by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
Hand sculpted one inch scale raven in a tree by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
Scratch built miniature mausoleum by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
1:12 scale graveyard with freshly dug grave and mausoleum by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
A tiny stained glass window in a mausoleum model diorama by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
A spooky ghost and headstones in a graveyard diorama by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
A dollhouse miniature raven perched atop a gravestone by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
An aged old door on a miniature mausoleum by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
Weathered old gravestones made from foamcore by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.
Dust and dirt obscure a stained glass window in this 1:12 scale graveyard scene by Erika Pitera, The Petite Provisions Co.

A million thanks to my wonderful and talented husband, Tom, for helping me bring this scene to life on video!

Resources

Happy Halloween!

Featured in October 2021 Issue of DollsHouse & Miniature Scene

Don’t miss the latest, spook-tacular issue of DollsHouse & Miniature Scene!

I’m so excited to share that I’ve had the pleasure of being featured in the latest issue of DollsHouse & Miniature Scene! My Halloween roombox from last year, the Hag’s Hearth, was beautifully profiled by Sadie Brown, along with some other fa-boo-lous Halloween miniatures.

This project in particular was a true labor of love, and I’m beyond honored to know that it’s being shared with other miniature lovers. Once again, I’d like to thank Sadie for the amazing feature, and if you’re not yet subscribed to DHMS, what are you waiting for?!

Halloween at the Hag’s Hearth – HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

Happy-almost-Halloween, friends! This year, I decided to enter Hobby Builders Supply & Miniatures.com’s 5th Annual Halloween Challenge for the first time ever with a witch’s kitchen-themed roombox I’ve created. It was truly a magnificent experience working on it, and I feel like I’ve learned so much! Voting is open from 10/26/20 through 10/30/20, and you can only cast your vote once, so if you’d like to choose my entry as your favorite, please do so at this link. And now, without further ado, I present to you…

Halloween at the Hag’s Hearth

Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

Tucked away in a dark, lonely wood, this crone’s kitchen is the envy of every Elphaba in town. At first glance, the hag’s hearth may look like a warm and welcoming country cottage, but peer a little closer, and you might find it’s not quite as innocently inviting as you once thought. 

Poison Mushrooms, Herbs and a Pumpkin in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

The hag pores over her Cauldron Cuisine cookbook by candlelight, carefully selecting the most harmful herbs, nasty nuts, fatal fungi and savage squash for her elixirs and enchantments.

Green Bubbling Cauldron in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

Her trusty iron cauldron bubbles and boils with a perilous potion over the roaring fire in the hearth.

Handmade Miniature Barn Owl in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

A witch is nothing without her trusty familiars. Her barn owl and black kitten are her constant companions whilst she toils away at the witching hour.

Magical Mop and Black Cat in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

With a mere wave of her hand, the mop jumps to life, sudsing away any spills by the fireplace. Meanwhile, her black kitten observes from her cozy spot in the basket under the table.

Handmade Miniature Frog in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

The toad snatches a pesky fly from the air… the dragonfly and spider better beware.

Fireplace Mantle in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

The shelves are well-stocked with Crone’s Brand canned goods and copper cookware, but the remains of the hag’s last visitor serve as a warning to anyone who might stay for a bite.

Broom, Autumn Leaves and Acorns in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

A harsh wind blew acorns and autumn leaves in through the door, but the crone’s woodpile is stacked high to keep her warm on these cold October nights.

Spiderweb in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

A spider weaves its web on high in the wooden beams, almost overtaking the abandoned bird’s nest that rests there.

Rat and Rat Poison in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

The witch’s familiars, whilst loyal and true, are not up to the task of keeping the vermin problem under control. Alas, the rats scurry about, helping themselves to tasty morsels.

Flying Bat in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

This creature of the night hovers near the ceiling, deciding whether to stay for the night in the warmth of the kitchen and risk becoming an ingredient in the witch’s next concoction, or to fly on to safer sleeping quarters.

Purple Bubbling Cauldron over Roaring Fire in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

As the brew continues to bubble, it changes hues… Perhaps it’s just about done.

Black Cat and Grimoire in Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

The kitten curiously eyes the weathered and worn Grimoire, wondering what kind of mischief she can get up to when the hag isn’t looking.

Witch's Kitchen Themed Roombox - Halloween at the Hag's Hearth - HBSMiniatures Halloween Challenge 2020

Indeed, this witch’s kitchen is wickedly delicious, and I hope you think so, too!

Music: Skeleton Dance by Nicolas Gasparini (Myuu)

I’d like to give a special thanks to the following artisans and suppliers for the fabulous items that helped me complete my vision:

  • TinyNaturals: the perfect herb bundles and dried flowers
  • Bridget McCarty: the adorable black kitten
  • Evan Designs: the LED lights used in the fireplace, cauldron, jack-o’-lantern and lamp
  • And of course Miniatures.com for hosting the challenge and inspiring me to push myself to create this piece!

I’d also like to thank my husband, Tom, for assisting me with the photos and video for this. Normally, I take all my own photos, but the lighting in this piece presented some unique challenges, so I’m very lucky to have a professional photographer in the house!

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