Wisteria

I have been working on this Wisteria plant for the last few days. I can re-arrange the branches when I decide where it finally be placed.

Roast Turkey Platter

This roast turkey platter is now for sale.

Christmas Dinner (Main Course)

I have now made the main dishes for the Christmas Dinner. For more details, look at the 'Miniatures' page

Christmas Dinner

I have been making a turkey with stuffing. I also made some bacon rashers and wrapped some sausages. I have also made the box and crackers which were very fiddley.

I have added two photos with different ligth settings.

Gingerbread men - and women

Gingerbread Men and Women.

Mince Pie day

Mince pie anyone?

More Christmas Morsels

I am still making Christmas food items. I have just made some Panatone.

Dolls House Fair

This weekend, I visited York Dolls House Fair. Of course I had a list of 'needs'. There were a couple of retailers who were absent so I didn't get things I was after. I did manage to purchase other things I needed to work on my dolls house shop as well as items for making some Christmas food.

I'll be busy for a few days/weeks!

Busy, busy, busy

I have been doing several things at once and getting nowhere fast.

I am hoping to have some Christmas food items for sale in my Etsy shop. I have one already, use miniatures tab.

New Build

I have put together the basic carcass of 'the shop'.

I don't plan on finishing it any time soon since I want to plane every detail. Of course there will always be something I wish I'd changed.

I will add a separate page for this.

Courtyard

Model Courtyard made at the CMW

Wire Tree

The thicker one was my first trial run. The branches can be bent gently in different directions to suit the type of tree.

I added a few bits of clay for smaller 'fixed' branches on the second one.

The 'roots' have not been covered since they wont be seen in the end product. It will be a while before I get these finished.

Wire Trial

So what do you think this might be used for? I was on a scavenge, for this stuff, for ages and was thrilled to find about 2 metres. It's wire 'rope'.

Burke & Hare

The Burke and Hare and Dr Grindlay scene is now finished. Thank goodness. I can now get on with other things.

I haven't taken a good daylight pic just yet but I like how the night scene ones look really sinister.

Final Character

I have now finished the last character for the Burke & Hare Scene.

Click on the 'tutorial' tab and then the Burke & Hare title. You will have to scroll to the bottom of the page to see him.

I am almost finished with the actual scene and the characters will be added to it soon.

Update on charachters

I have been busy trying to finish the 3 characters for the B&H scene.

Boots

I made myself laugh with the boots so I thought I'd share.

This is why a set of feet had toes.

A Spare Pair of Hands

Just what I need, some spare hands. These are for 'Burke & Hare'. I found it difficult to get them 'rough & ready'. Began as something from Wallace & Gromit then far to long and elegant. I think I might have got there. They will, of course, be 'dirtied' up a bit.

Next will be feet but they will be very simple since they will be in boots of some sort. I am leaving the faces to last. Trying to avoid the inevitable. Fortunately they really don't have to be beauties!

The jury is out...

Light paint

Darker Paint

I am undecided between the railings and the fence. The fence was originally painted a light colour but everyone said they preferred the railings. I had to admit that I did too. I wondered if it might have been the colour, so I have re-painted the fence the darker colour used for the railings. I do think it is better but I'm still not sure.

Another idea

I had the idea of creating a lemon tree in a large plant pot.This came about as I was throwing an empty deoderant away. The top was perfect for a large planter. I have seen some huge ones, at garden centres, with trees in them. 

You will need to weight the top and, of course, aint it. Be careful of usinig Humbrol if it has to come into contact with polymer clay - the paint will always remain sticky. I tried this about 20 years ago and it has never cured.

Garden Update

I have, more or less, completed the Garden. I just have to make all the plants and flowers. I am making an alterntive fence, instead of the railings. I spotted some old railings and a matching gate, whilst out and about. I took a couple of photos and have a plan for making something similar.

Garden is growing

I have now completed the basic garden. If you go to 'Tutorials' and click on Gardens, you will see my updates.

I still have a way to go. I have been working on other things not miniature related.

Curtains

These are available in my Etsy store

Just a thought...

I realise that most people would never want to make the things I have, but I think I should point out that I have some hints and tips within the tutorials. These arise as I need to work something out.
You never know what you might find out by just having a read through.

The Soil and Grass section in the Burke and Hare tutorial is a good example of how these things transpire.

Updates

I have added the next stage to the Burke & Hare scene. Go to 'tutorials' and 'Burke & Hare' to follow the progress.

and so it begins.....

Next project has begun.

This is a walled garden.

I still have work to do on the 'Burke and Hare' scene but I am trying to buy some supplies for it.

Holidays

I haven't posted for a while since, amongst other things, I was on holiday.

I have some new projects as well as some to complete. So some new pics will be added as I go.

New scene

I am now working on a new scene which mixes family history with model making.

This one is Burke & Hare & Dr Grindlay. If you click on the 'Tutorials' tab then the link to the page, you will see the progress.

Updates for Project #3

I am adding the photos of the dolls house repair/rebuild. If you click on the 'houses' tab and then Project #3 you will find the progress.

Garden Arch

I have now added an arch to my Etsy Shop.

Garden Arch

About 18 years ago, I made the large garden arch. I saw one in a garden centre and thought it would look nice in a particular part of our graden. However the price was £350 back then! I asked if I could measure it to see if it would fit and I was permitted to do so. I then sat in the car and drew it. I made it and it cost me £75.

Never would I have thought that I'd make a 1/12th scale miniature version! 

Unfortunately I couldn't get the photo I wanted since the 'whirlygig' for the washing gets in the way. I did want it to be removable but the idiot workmen cemented it in.

I made this inbetween 'fixing-up' a dolls house, whilst waiting for paint, glue etc drying. It's almost finished.

Busy Building

I have been very busy re-building a wreck of a dolls house. I have added a page in nav bar for 'houses'. I will add the pictures of the various ones I have worked on. Project #3 will be the first since this is the one I am working on at the moment.

Projects. projects, projects......

I am working on a few different projects at the moment. Some are miniature food related.
I am trying to get my egg box perfect - I'm never happy.
Trying to perfect metal working parts for a new crate and trying to get the 'Perfect Catch' logo 'perfect'.
Oysters should be available soon.
There is also a dilapidated dolls house I am trying to resurrect.

So if you are wondering why I haven't posted lately......

Fish Crates

I have been making some fish boxes. I have several designs and sizes. I have based them on old vintage ones rather than modern plastic ones. These are not yet ready to add to my shop. To simulate ice, the one in the picture has been filled with 'shovelling snow', which will tip out,  and 3 mackerels.

Less than 3cm long

Another two which are different sizes

New at the Fish Stall

Some tiny prawns.

Create your own dish, add to a kitchen display or sell at your market stall or shop.

These are now available from my Etsy Shop.

Eggsactly

A friend gave me a selection of eggs from his chickens. They all lay different colours and sizes. I modelled some from the real ones. However, the eggact match for colour, changed when the clay was baked. I am working on an egg box at the moment.

I just thought, since today is Easter Sunday, that I'd post these.

Mackeral for sale in my shop

Update

I have been working on a couple of 'food' items and was in full swing when my oven died on me. I have to wait for a new oven to be delivered and installed but it's the Easter holidays so I wont get a new one until 11th April.

Something I have been working on will be too late by then. Isn't it just the way?

My Facebook Page is here

Fish Stall

I have been busy - again! - making some other things. Knitting jumpers, making dolls house curtains and finishing a room in my dolls house as well as other stuff.

I have managed to get around to making more miniature food and have made some 'whole' salmon with lemon and parsley on a  wooden board.

I have also made a facebook page. Hopefully I have it set up so it works! You can message me through that. I might make some stalls to sell - depends how I'm feeling!

Here is my fish stall with some of my makes adoring it.

Amongst other things, I have been busy making curtains for my dolls house as well as a piece of furniture. I am doing a bit of work on another room in it as well. I have been busy so haven't had time for any new projects. I have posted a picture of some whole salmon I made a while ago. They are on the 'miniatures' page.

Sorted - sort of!

Since I deleted the Igloo project by accident, I have been trying to re-do it. I have now done that, although it is not exactly the same as the original.

I hope it works and the other two things. I was just trying to do far too many things at once that day. I have also been working of something else for my own dolls house....and one things leads to another.

Of course I have a couple of further ideas which will incorporate miniatures (and uses the balloons again - well there is a whole packet!). But I have a derelict dolls house to attack.......

Deleted !

Yesterday, I tried to add a page and link for the mum card and somehow overwrote and deleted the Tutorial page.

There is no 'trash can' or undo on the blog site!  I will have to try and redo the whole tutorial. If anyone has printed a copy or saved it, can you please send me a copy so I can restore it to how it was.

It was a whole day wasted since everything I did went wrong - even the mum card!

Mum Card

It will be Mother's Day soon so I thought I'd redo a card I made a while ago.

Valentines Heart

This is what I have done with the heart so far.
The cord was a temporary measure to hang it for photos.
For more detail go to tutorials.

Busy Waiting for Glue to Dry

Doll's House Curtains

Whilst I have been waiting for glue to dry, on the various layers of another project, I made these curtains. I have tried a couple of times before but wasn't very pleased with the outcome. These were just a 'practise run' before I use silk for these actual windows. These curtains are not for here but have given me a good idea of what size to make. I just left these plain. I'm not sure if the green pelmets will be the same shape since I want them to fit right up to the coving. The main issue was the two windows being close together. I thought I'd have to make one run across but I think two sperate ones will work fine.

Now for sale in my Etsy shop

Trying something out

I have been trying to find out how to do something on Blogger.

I THINK I have found out how to do it and I THINK it works.

Please be patient whilst I do this.

I am sorry for any confusion it might cause. It's a learning curve!

Making Papier Mache

I have been asked how many layers of paper to add to the balloon for the igloo project.

I used 3 or 4 full sheets of paper to cover the balloon each time so I can't say how many layers this would be. I let it dry completely, which takes about 24 hours! Then I added the same again - several times! This does take several days so you have to be very patient. After all, it is the preparation that is the important bit for everything. Yes - it is really boring too! It is well worth the wait. I keep going until I can't squeeze a dent in any of it. It should be hard enough to knock on.

I can't say how many layers to add. It depends on the newspaper and the consistency of the wallpaper paste. If in any doubt, try painting the whole thing with wood glue and let that dry. This will give it a reasonable amount of waterproofing too.

Of course, the thickness and the hardness will mean you might have a problem using scissors to cut it. I use very old scissors but I also use an old bread knife, like a saw, if needed. If you use a very sharp craft knife, please be extremely careful as the thing being cut is not flat and stable.

Please post a comment if you need any help.

New Project

I have a new project under way. I will post details as I construct this 'thing'. Hope you will like it.

Scene Three

This is the last display for the final two stalls. I haven't filled the stalls yet but I will post a photo when they have all the things I want on them. Again I am not too fussy about the bits of photoshopping that aren't 100% but looks great with the stalls in plaice - well...!

Scene Two

This is the second backdrop scene for another two stalls. The manhole cover is not yet painted. I took the two photos to show that the manhole is removable. I have a plan for this which goes along with the backdrop.

Market Scenes

I made 6 market stalls some time ago. I decided to make a 'base & background' for them to make it easier to move them around. I covered the ground with cobbles using a stencil and a compund, then painted them. The backdrop has proved trickier since I wanted something particular. Here is my first one. 

I could have spent a bit more time photoshopping various sections but decided it was unnecessary since the stalls will hide a lot of this.

With the Fruit and Veg stalls in place. (Not all the fruit and veg are on display). 

 I took this to see what it looks like 'straight on' with the scene at the back.

 



This one was from a higher angle.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Miniature Fruit

The oranges can actually be cut in half, but with extreme care. They are segmented inside, more to follow on that! Although the bananas would seem a fairly simple thing to make, they are actually quite fiddly.

I will be selling these in packs of three. 3 oranges, 3 apples or 3 bananas. I will also be making a pack with one of each. You can then use them to fill your own fruit bowl, basket, market stall etc.

Peppers

I thought I'd add some of the peppers I made to the minitures page. (I haven't quite got the photography setting worked out yet). The halves are complete with the tiny seeds inside.

Etsy

I am slowly adding to the items in my Etsy Store. It will take time to make, photograph and list the things I have for sale. I hope you will pop back for another look and, maybe, buy something.

I am trying to take photos to show ideas for displaying the things I sell. I hope they give you some inspiration. I am adding these to the miniatures page on here. Click on the 'miniatures' tab above to see what is new.

Tutorial

I have now published a page with instructions for making the Igloo. Click on the 'Tutorials' tab above.