The Gallery Seat

On speaking with my sister, who is an artist, we have decided to turn her corner house into an artists gallery/studio with her own artworks in miniature. Today I decided to have a go at doing a bench seat that will sit on the gallery floor for visitors to sit on to view her artworks. Lets just say it was very trial and error and still needs a lot of fine tuning, but attached is a photo of my first attempt. I need to get the padding a bit more even on the ends. I've cut the wood for another two attempts so hopefully I'll get it right by version 3. I also realised I really have no fabrics suitable for minis. The fabric I have used is from a cut up cushion cover. I'll have to do some shopping on-line as we don't have a fabric shop where I live. Will keep you posted as to progress.

Back at Last

I can't believe it is six months since I started this blog. So much for it keeping me accountable to put bum on seat and do some miniatures. My sister is still waiting for her dollshouse and my Christmas scene is no further ahead. However, I am pleased to report that this weekend I finally made some me time and created some miniatures. I decided to try to make some gingerbread cottages for my Christmas scene... but somehow I got distracted and made a selection of fimo foods and a bird house scene instead. Not one gingerbread house in sight!

Some of the food... my daughter's Little Pets and Sylvanians were the recipients of some of my less successful attempts.

I made the glass cake dish out of three clear buttons and a clear push pin. I read how to do it somewhere recently and it reminds me how much fun it is to use everyday items and bits of 'junk' to make miniatures. One man's junk... is a miniaturist's treasure!

This is the birdhouse scene. I really enjoyed working on this, although cutting the individual leaves was fiddly. I also didn't have the right glues but 'made do' with what I had. I need to work on the base but it is not quite dry yet.

Anyway, I'm just glad I've got something to report on for a change. I really enjoyed my weekend of crafting and will try and blog again soon.

Current Projects

Well a week has gone by since my first blog. I have spent a lot of that time flicking through magazines for inspiration after winning 59 miniatures magazines in an on-line auction. Bliss, but not conducive to the actual creation of miniatures! I have also taken stock of projects underway, some of which were started around 15 years ago before I moved on to other things and took far too long a break from the hobby. The photo below is a corner house which I told my sister I would wire and decorate for her back in the early 1990s. I love my sister - she is so patient. If you are reading this Karen you will be able to keep an eye on the progress of your house via this blog. I have checked all the wiring which still seems to be working and will now look at decorating it. Somewhere I have cardboard templates of all the rooms ready to go! There is a front door that will be hinged to the house which is away getting the windows cut out at the moment. 

Another project is the Joann Swanson project I mentioned in my first blog entry. I have put together the kits for the sideboard, holly wreath and table which I purchased from Hound Dog Studio. (Unfortunately no longer available).The kit is largely cardboard with faux cupboards and drawers and wooden top to the table and sideboard. The kits went together really well and it was fun trying to create an aged look to the furniture. It was painstaking but very rewarding gluing all the individual leaves to the holly wreath but I think the effect is well worth it. I created the little recipe book yesterday as an experiment.

I will keep you updated as to my progress with both of the above projects in future blogs.

I have also just wired a dollshouse my mother has passed on to my daughter that my father built when he was alive and I have the framework of a seaman's cottage that my father and I started back in the 1990s, so I have plenty to keep me busy for years to come - not to mention all the great ideas I am seeing in the magazines.

Until next blog - be creative and be happy!

My First Blog

Hi there

I have started this blog for myself really. Being a busy wife, mum and law clerk, I am notorious for not finishing projects and putting other things before my own creative time. I am hoping that by blogging about my creative endeavours it will inspire me to complete projects and to extend myself creatively. I am just getting back into miniatures after about a 15 year break and I have been enjoying looking at other people's blogs for inspiration. There was no such thing as blogs back when I was doing miniatures in the early 90s. To date I have mostly been flicking through some magazines but not doing so much bum on seat miniature making. Time to really get going and enjoy some creative 'me' time. I have however started Joann Swanson's project Sugar and Spice from her blog http://joannswansondiyminiatures.blogspot.com/. I love Christmassy things! My ultimate aim is that, as well as getting back into miniatures myself, I will also hopefully inspire other miniaturists, crafters and busy people who would like to explore their creative potential to just have a go. I will keep you posted and will attach some photos soon.