And then there was water...

For a long time I had this old little pond.  Some ten years ago I attended a workshop where we learned to make moulds with latex.  You know, that thin stuff that you paint over your item of which you want to make a mould, and you paint on coat, after coat, after.....  I think we did 24 of them!!!  We had made this little pond out of clay and then, with the mould we made one out of plaster of Paris.  Anyway, this was meant for a garden theme in a break-away box which I never finished, because I didn't like the pond.

I wanted to finish my witch's cottage and need water in the swampy area next to it.  Since I've never used clear resin I thought it would be a good idea to practice and what better then on this little pond?  I painted it, and luckily I hadn't done that until now, because I wouldn't have done a good job.  Since Rik Pierce's workshop I have learned to do things a lot differently, so I painted the rocks the way they should be done to look realistic.  I 'planted' some plants on the water's edge and fabricated a few goldfish from fimo and set about filling this little fish pond. 

And this is the result:

Perhaps I am going to finish that break-away box after all, but don't hold your breath. :-)

This'll be my last posting for a while as we are going on holidays for a few weeks.  See you soon and as always, thanks for reading my blog and for all your kind comments.

Bye for now
Marion

I take notice of your comments....

Just a quick piccie of the pram.  Sans pointed out that it could do with some paint, so I got the paint out and did the wheels (and a bit too much on the edge, but hey, nobody's perfect!)

Thanks for your advice Sans.  It looks so much better now.

Okay, off to bed.  It's waaaayyyy past my bedtime.

Bye for now
Marion

Wickerwork

We've been talking about wicker work and because I wanted to find out the thickness of my cane I thought I might as well try my hand at it and make a basket.  This was a kit that I've been sitting on for a while.  I really want to view it as some kind of practice, because it is quite different from working with waxed thread.  The kit was ok, but I couldn't work out the instructions for the top border, so I had a look around on the internet and found something workable.  Problem is, the stakes are thicker than the cane that you weave with, so they are difficult to bend and weave.  Also I broke one, although I kept my work damp at all times.  I would really like to find if there is thinner cane available, or if there is a possibility to strip it yourself.  Anybody with ideas or information?

And I discovered a new follower as well: Patty Clark at Mini Babies.  Welcome Patty.  I had just discovered your blog this morning and then the phone rang.  Will come back for a visit. For whom is interested in Rik Pierce workshops.  Patty tells you all about her recent workshop with Rik on her blog.

That's it for today.  The weather is perfect and I am going out for a ride on my bike.

Marion

Finally...

... I got a stand for my dolls house. It has been behind closed doors for a couple of years and then it's a matter of: out of sight, out of mind!  It's one of those Del Prado kits that you could buy as a series some 12 years ago now.  I have been working on it on and off, but hopefully it will be getting the attention it deserves from now on.  It will still have to compete with my other projects, which are many, but at least, it's close at hand now.

I've bought one of those cheap looking shelves stands meant for a workshop, but since I am using them for the rest of my workplace as well it's a handy addition.  Plenty of room to work on, and plenty of room for storage.  And who cares what the room looks like anyway?  Everybody entering is blown away by my miniature projects on display. LOL

The house still needs a lot of work done.  I was too impatient to build it completely first, so I started with finishing the kitchen, hall and living room first, before I started work on the other floors and the roof.  So, at least the ground floor looks good....

For those who know the Del Prado house, I have altered a few minor things so far.  Well, not all minor, a major one too.  Luckily I realised before I started building, that the house itself was not of crash hot quality, so I built a sturdy base first on which I sat the house.  The rest is minor.  I built a false wall in the kitchen, because I wanted the stove in the corner to create a more pleasant view and I left out the stairs in the hall (after I had constructed them), because they took up far too much space.  Instead I added a door at the end of the hallway to give the impression of more rooms behind the door from which stairs could lead to the other floors.  I haven't changed anything in the living room.  At a later stage I will go into more detail of the various rooms, but for now you'll have to be satisfied with this one picture. ;-)  And for those who are going to ask: no, the house hasn't got a name yet, nor do I have a specific plan or a family in mind that's going to occupy it.  This was my first dolls house and I have only concentrated on learning what to do.  If anyone can suggest a proper name I'll consider it.  Saves me having to put on my thinking cap. ;-)

In the meantime I have been making a few more things for my witch's house and I needed to print a few items, so spent all my day yesterday designing and searching.  I like to design things myself, but it can be quite time consuming and then I get impatient and just look for something on the internet that takes my fancy.  The Graphics Fairy is a good site for that, although dangerous when you don't want to waste time.....

Also I want to welcome a few more people who stopped by for a visit:
Jeannette Bashore at JRB Creations,
CM at My Realitty, who also has another blog called Left Coast Mini,
and Marie at Le Petit Monde Merveilleux de Marie

Welcome folks.  I hope you like what I am doing and will come back for another visit.

That's it for now.  I'm going to update my witch's blog and I am itching to find out what else I am going to make today.  I don't know yet....

Bye for now
Marion

Parcels in the mail

Is it really only a fortnight (or thereabouts) since I welcomed my 70th follower!?  Now there are already 82!!
Well, let's welcome all of you first and then I'll show you what I got in the mail the other day.....

A warm welcome to:
Carol at True2scale,
Daydreamer at About my Doll Houses
Jody at Jody's Miniwereld (you'll hear more about her if you read on!)
Kim Saulter at It's a miniature life
Marit at Black Cat Cottage
Clara at Lavida en miniatura
Fiver at Mini Menagerie (who's stolen my heart with her little critters)
May at May
Esther Sanches Dias at Mi Mundo de Miniatura
Muriel at le Coffre d'Emilie

There are two more followers who don't seem to have a blog or a website, but I want to welcome them anyway: Kim@FairytaleCottage and AnythingMiniature. If you do have a blog or website, please let me know and I'll add them here.

And another edit of this posting, since Shellby wrote in her comment that indeed she has a blog: AnythingMiniature. So, I'm going to check it out right now.  You too?

(I had to edit this post, because in the large black space the following was missing:)

All these blogs are really worthwile visiting, even if I haven't mentioned what they are about. Better even: some will be a nice surprise for you. ;-) It's just that I don't have the time to add descriptions for everyone of them. And a few you will know already, because the are following my other blogs, but that's no reason not to welcome them here as well. And to all of you followers: I hope you have a good time when you're visiting my blog. I know I do when I visit yours.

And on now to the parcels in the mail.  One I received because I'd asked a question about scoubidous and the other because it was my birthday last week (My 60th! Do I really want to advertise that? LOL).

I'd asked Jody about the scoubidous and the wonderful person she is, she not only sent me a whole envelope of them, but added the transparent pins I mentioned as well as some other goodies, like beads and things.
Look at this:

Of course I am going to get a parcel ready for Jody.  We've already talked about what she would like to receive in return, so when I get a moment to catch my breath this week it will go into the mail to the other side of the world.  Thank you again, Jody and as you mentioned before, it was perfect timing! ;-)

And the other parcel was from my friend Dorothée in New Zealand.  She doesn't have a blog, so don't go looking for one, but she makes wonderful miniatures.  Remember the wicker chair in my witch's cottage?  Anyway, this time the postman brought me this:

Aren't they cute?  And so realistic! They are meant for my witch's cottage, but I will probably use 2 of them there and save one for another of my projects.  It probably means that I have to try my hand at birds too???  Now, that's what I call a challenge.  Thank you so much Dorothée.  They are lovely.

And that's all for today.  I've been on the computer all morning.  Shame on me, there is so much else to do.....

Have a nice day (or a good night's rest)

Marion

Welcome...

...again to a new friend on my followers list: Christine from Queensland.  Christine can be found at Hollyhock Cottage – a miniature home in the 1940s  and has even found the time to give her followers quite a write-up.  I can only do that if I keep on top, but mostly I lack the time.  (Been following too many blogs!!!)  Anyway, a warm welcome Christine and as you seem to live so close (where exactly?) we are bound to meet one day! :-)  I will be following you on your endeavours to build that beautiful cottage.

And now I am off to do some casting and I am also trying to throw a little cabinet together for my witch's house.  Inspiration is lacking, but if I persevere it might come back.

See ya and have a lovely day (or night, depending on where in the world you are)
Marion

Paperclay workshop

I've done it!  On Saturday and Sunday we've finally done the workshop that I have been preparing for for so long and I must say, it was worth every minute I spent on the preparations.  I was nervous and had butterflies in my stomach, but in the end it was a fulfilling experience.  As you can tell from my witch's house, I love working with paper clay and it felt great to share this love with other people who now know how to use it to its full potential.  My younger son also came along and took care of part of the workshop.  We needed a flickering light for the fire place and he, the electronics wizz he is, had put a kit together for people to solder the parts and make their own flickering light.  I don't have all the photo's yet of this very pleasant weekend, but will show you here the few I have:

Saturday morning. We're all ready to get stuck into it.

Demonstrating how to score the floor boards.

No, that glass of wine isn't mine. :-) Like Rik I demonstrate parts of the workshop at each person's table in turn.

Checking if everything lines up.

The soldering class. The tutor is behind the camera. ;-)

This clever lady knew that stonemasons leave their mark in their work.

A room with space to move. (slightly bigger than the others')

As you can see, this weekend also was our 'Christmas in July' celebration. Here in Australia it's always very hot at Christmas time and for years now people have been celebrating a watered down version in July. For us the coldest time of the year, although up here in Queensland you can't even call a winter cold. Anyway, a good reason to have a nice Christmas dinner and presents. It was good fun. We always have a 'Secret Santa' after dinner. We all bring and receive a small present.

And who do you think received this cute little cradle??? Yes, my 36y old bachelor son! LOL Fortunately I received a beautiful 'silver' bottle opener in the shape of a dolphin, so we quietly swapped and are both happy.

"Santa" was also happy for a while. He gave out the parcels and received a hug and a kiss from every woman. He wasn't so happy anymore when the men got up to receive their parcels and wanted to bestow the same kind gesture on him!!!! :-)

After that we worked till late in the evening and most got up early on Sunday morning, eager to finish their work. We hardly stopped for lunch and morning- and afternoon tea, which was a shame, because the food, prepared by our hostess, was delicious. And then, finally, it was time for a last picture and our farewell BBQ.

The group proudly showing off the results of their hard work.

My 'Scrooge' workshop, as I call it, because my setting is going to be the abode of Scrooge (Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol) had an unexpected spin-off.  Did I think all the hard work was done??? Not quite.  Everybody liked the door, window and shutters so much (they were the resin casts for which I had been making the moulds a while ago), that they wanted to order extra sets, so I have presently gone back to casting. And dear son is getting some extra flickering light kits done and is soldering a few as well, because not everyone wanted, or had the time, to do the soldering themselves.  Never a dull moment in this household.......... ;-)  Mmmmm, should I start thinking about an Etsy shop?  What do you think???

See ya
Marion