Sunday, November 9, 2014

Where Oh Where Has My Creative Ability Gone...

I don't know - you get days like that where nothing you put your hands to turns out the way you want it to!
 
For Christmas last year I made some little Christmas bird houses as gifts for Christmas swap recipients.
 
As per usual I never thought to make one for myself. I decided today I would try to make one to go in my Christmas workshop scene. While I did manage to create one I am not particularly happy with it.  I think the paper needs to be brighter and the bird smaller (you can't see the hole for the bird to enter the house) and unfortunately I didn't get the snow looking lovely and icy like I did last time. In fact I had to cheat and add some glitter to the roof.


I just tend to create and make things as I go and until recently never wrote down how I made things. I'll probably have another go next weekend and see if I can improve on it. I know I can do it - I've done it before. In the meantime this weekend's effort will sit on the shelf in Edward's workshop until I create a better one.

Talking about shelves, I added an extra shelf to the side wall of Edward's workshop so I could make room for the bird house.

I also made a little Christmas tree today from a tinsel pipe-cleaner, some glitter and a glass star.



I need to make some paper chains which I am going to hang on the inside door which Edward will hang on the North Pole Christmas tree closer to Christmas. He also likes to give some to his fellow elves to decorate the Christmas trees in their little North Pole cottages.
 
When I was flicking through reading some other miniaturists blogs this morning I came across one from Jane of Minifanaticus.
 
Jane mentioned some gingerbread houses which she is going to do as a workshop with some children. This reminded me of another unfinished Christmas project I have.
 
In January 2011 (aarrrhhhh where does the time go) when I first got back into miniatures after a break of about 17 years I started Joann Swanson's Sugar 'n Spice project. You can find the project here:
 
Her project is shown on the paper in the following photo:
 
 
I have added to my project some shelves I made at a workshop tutored by a Jewel Lewis at a NZAME (New Zealand Association of Miniature Enthusiasts) Convention in the 1990s (based on a 1920s kitchen). I have also added the stove which I had in my stash.
 




 
I even made a little cookbook with a 'Gingermen' recipe.
 
The main thing that is missing is some lovely little gingerbread houses. I will have to see if I can make some to finish the project. The project needs a few more little accessories and a dog under the table. I think it is probably about time this project was finished.
 
While we are on the subject of Christmas I came across an ornament my grandfather made me (probably about 45 years ago) when I was a little girl. I thought I would show it to you as it is quite a nice idea for holding a little miniature scene.
 
As you can see from the photos below the decoration is made from varnished pieces of log (bark included). He has just put one sloping piece of glass in the front and a removable piece of perspex in the back. You could easily replace the back with a background picture mounted on some cardboard.
 



 
It could lend to a lovely woodland fairy scene with some foliage, flowers and fungi or a number of other little scenes.
 
Lastly for today, and not a Christmas thing this time, I managed to pick up this second hand book to provide me with some inspiration for my Victorian Del Prado house. There are some lovely photos in it.
 
 
Now to decide what to make next.
 
Perhaps a knife cleaner:
 

 
or a butter churn:
 

 
We will see!
 
Have a great weekend everyone.


12 comments:

  1. Isn't is always the way that when you have time to sit and make something, it doesn't go to plan? I find if I make one thing well, the next one doesn't turn out the same.
    I love the ornament your Granddad made you. It's adorable. Your post has made me feel quite festive. Where's my tinsel...=0)

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  2. I agree with Pepper and believe me or not: since a few days I have the same feeling at this very moment....nothing works quite right!
    I never work with a plan, I start something, go along and I'll see where it ends ;)!
    It's so lovely to see the ornament of your Granddad, it is so nice that you still have it after all those years, Sharee.
    Hugs, Ilona

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  3. Thank you for sharing, Sharee. I have been feverishly working on swaps for a birthday and have had a hard time creating. I have the idea in my head and it is just not turning out quite right. It is nice to hear that it is not just me ;-) The ornament from your Grandfather is amazing. I love the curved detail and it is such a sweet scene.
    Have a great Sunday,
    Lisa

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  4. Cuantas cosas bonitas!! Ese libro tiene buena pinta. Un abrazo

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  5. I love your little birdhouse, I know you see flaws but its darling to me!

    If polymer clay doesnt pull you into creating the little gingerbreads, may I suggest using my sand,paint and brown glue mixture to cover a fw simple glitterhouse designs? Then you could paint your frosting on them and use beads and bits for the candy.

    Of course I would certainly suggest getting in there and smashin bits of clay!!

    I feel the pain of makin things work out from mind to fingers..I always have grand ideas but in the end we have to just go the direction creativity leads ;)

    Grand dad is a great inspiration!
    Hugs~J

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  6. Hi Sharee! Your little bird house is very sweet! The bird is perhaps too big.... now you will HAVE to make a Bird Palace for the big bird.... after you make the tiny bird for this one, that is..! LOL! I think your Grandfather's gift is adorable.... and I could never resist ornaments with little scenes in them... which is why I made my snowball ornaments which have little worlds inside them. (Many of which are still unfinished...!) You are certainly not alone with the feeling that nothing goes right.... how much "practice" happens before we think something is perfect? I think your Edward Elf box is Wonderful... and a project that you can continue to add to as the mood and time allow! "Someday" I hope to make a Santa House..... Workshop first..... Reindeer.... snow and elves.... *sigh* .... where does the Time go? Just keep on making things and the Creativity will show up!

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  7. You're not alone, Sharee... my creativity and I are always argueing with each other and she often tells me to leave her alone... ;O) But your little birdhouse turned out so cute... okay, the bird is a tiny bit too big - but hey, it's a decorative piece where anything goes and it looks adorable on your new shelf with that lovely tinsel tree. Your seasonal Christmas scene is a wonderful project and I really love that special ornament your Grandfather made for you - it's beautiful!

    Hugs
    Birgit

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  8. Tu proyecto está quedando precioso. Siempre me ha gustado las casa de pájaros y se adaptan perfectamente en muchas escenas.
    Me encanta el trabajo de tu abuelo.

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  9. It's fun seeing your various projects, Sharee. I love that tiny tinsel tree you made--so cute! That mini scene your grandfather made you is precious. Thanks for sharing! xo Jennifer

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  10. Hi Sharee! I think that your Christmas time projects are plentiful and I am glad to see that you have been busy! I think that your idea for the gingerbread house for the Sugar and Spice kitchen is a good one and the kitchen itself is Really Lovely!
    The tiny paper chains that you are thinking about for Edward shop will be great and already it is filling up with a lot of Christmassy things on the shelves. Keep it going!
    I know all to well, the high hopes and then the frustrations of things going sideways.
    What can you do except ride it out and then try again later. Thankfully, those moments do pass, but like you, I have made it a point of now writing things down.

    elizabeth

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  11. You have many great projects!
    I also tend to make things for others for example for a swap and then forget to make one for myself too =) and then when I want to make it again, I almost forgot how I made it =) I'm glad you finally got a birdhouse for your self too =)
    Hannah

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  12. Already working on Christmas, looks nice to me,the little deer are cute.
    I like your doll /elf and great work on your mini kitchen.
    gr. Gonda.

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