The Shopping Sherpa

Knitting and thinking

2012-01-28T17:00:00.003+11:00

There's not been much happening here mini-wise over the past few weeks.
Except I've (oddly) found myself buying bags of Powder Puff and Fairy Floss yarn, in colours I don't have, on the two times I've been op shopping this year.

And have been trying them out. Which is good, as I do excellent thinking when I'm knitting (and mini flokati rugs are easy knitting leaving plenty of brain space for excellent thinking).

Part of the thinking revolves around my penchant for getting excited about things and making commitments I can't maintain. Something I'm aiming to address in 2012.

While I knit my rugs I'm currently pondering the option of opening an Etsy shop. And the opportunity to have a stall at the Sydney mini show in May. Both of which would be good outlets for selling said flokati rugs...

Mini distractions

2012-01-27T19:23:00.004+11:00

Not much in the way of creativity has happened this month. I've had a Phantom Flatmate. Plus a house guest. And visitors. Been away. Went to a Wiki camp.

Often all at the same time.

This is the first scene I've made in almost 3 months. (No, I can't believe it's been that long either...)

The Shopping Sherpa needs a Shopping Sherpa!

2012-01-14T08:17:00.002+11:00

So everyone's been all over these chairs from CB2:And they've just dropped in price again (to around 50 cents each). But for me to buy 2 Igloo chairs and 6 Reed chairs would cost $56.30 in postage...

Anyone in the USA fancy doing a deal with me to buy them on my behalf and forward them to me?

That wasn't on the list for today...

2011-12-31T08:54:00.004+11:00

But I suppose after a week of mainly house cleaning, and no creativity to speak of, I should expect this to happen when I return to my studio to (supposedly) clean it out:
And Blurb does have another 20% off deal at the moment...

Not quite my scale...

2011-12-12T18:23:00.002+11:00

But pretty amazing:

Miniatur Wunderland

(Thanks Kerry!)

La minis at La Cloche

2011-12-06T05:52:00.004+11:00

It's tradition on my last day in New Zealand that The Parental Units pick me up, we have brunch, and then they drop me at the airport.

This year we went to La Cloche, a french cafe in Kaiwharawhara. Where I discovered these, made out of wine cartons:
Apparently, the owner's wife studied architecture and makes these for fun...

Bad blogger

2011-11-19T17:19:00.004+11:00

I had exciting mini related news last week. Shared it on Facebook but completely forgot to mention it here.

2013 is the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of Canberra, and there are many celebrations and events (and a cake!) being planned to mark the occasion.

One of these is a conference called Shaping Canberra: One hundred years of the lived experience of a home and a capital, which is being held at the Australian National University in September 2013, focusing on "the lived experience of Canberra and the way local and national events run through this experience." The conference aims to "highlight the wealth and interest of material about the experience of Canberra in national and local collections (with some emphasis on the local collections which are unknown, overlooked or underused)."

At the same time, the ANU School of Art Gallery is planning an exhibition "about Canberra's real local life (as opposed to the standard media-driven political points of view)" and are offering an introduction and free access to a range of historic collections within Canberra for inspiration gathering.

And I've been invited to participate.

How fabulously wonderful to get to make miniatures about a city I love so much AND get to rummage through old photos and (hopefully) ephemera in the process.

That's next year's major project sorted then...

Missing

2011-11-18T18:43:00.008+11:00

Something. I don't quite know what.

After I pulled the Deer ♥ scene down and was left with just the carpet and one wall, I felt the need to create another scene with the same bones.
But somehow, no matter how much I tweaked it,
made the back story for it (holiday home, near the coast, available for rent when the family isn't using it themselves.... I guess I'm realising how long it's been since I've been down the coast in real life)
I just wasn't satisfied.
I left it alone for a couple of days, waiting to see if inspiration struck.

It didn't. So it's coming down tonight.
Oh well, these things happen, right?

Yes, I know four posts in one day is a bit much

2011-11-06T22:12:00.001+11:00

But can I get a squee?

I keep breaking wine glasses...

2011-11-06T19:07:00.000+11:00

Deer ♥

2011-11-06T15:50:00.008+11:00

With a lovely clear workbench (I won't mention most of the contents are now on the floor) I felt the sudden need to make my Amazing Miniatures deer trophy (amazing! I've had it less than a month!) And you know what? If you follow the instructions, it's actually quite easy! (A dry fit wasn't actually necessary, but I did it anyway just in case)
And in less time than I expected, I was done. Well once the glue holding the head to the backing dried, which didn't take long at all.

Since this is an (almost) step-by step post, I thought it was about time to do another "behind the scenes" on how I put this scene together:

Step one: I wanted a plain wall colour to show off the head, but wanted a warmer colour than the white card I usually use, which can be a bit blue. So I used some watercolour paper I had on hand. And from my pile of flooring choices I picked a sample piece of carpet I picked up from the hardware store for $5 months ago: Step two: Keeping with the natural theme, I tried out three or four shelving options and finally settled on a Lundby piece I'd removed the legs from which works well in 1/12. While I was digging through the mini store cupboard, I spotted this cane rocker which I thought might work:Step three: Dressing the scene...
Three a: I really like how the wooden vases and bowls continue the theme. The rocker cushions were from last year's Advent Calendar Swap, used the wrong way round to hid the stars. I'm pretty happy. Except for the items on top of the shelving.
Three b: With a different plant. Still not right, but I think the basket looks better on the right side.
Three c: Yep, I think that's it. I especially like the way the square of the basket is now mirrored in the square of the clock and pulls the eye towards the box in the middle...

(Time taken, including making the deer trophy head? 2 1/2 hours)

Lazy Sunday morning

2011-11-06T12:57:00.004+11:00

Not exactly how my morning was. .. But I did have a late start followed by an unexpected long and lazy breakfast date with a friend at a cafe across the road. From which I returned energised, bursting with ideas and, more importantly, the urge to clear off my workbench.

So I made a scene instead.

(Credits on FLICKR)

About bloody time...

2011-11-05T15:54:00.002+11:00

(Photograph shamelessly stolen from the book's Facebook page)

I think it was 2004 when I first heard that this book was being produced I was quite excited at the time.

But every time it looked like publication was imminent, the dates shifted. Now, finally, it's available to buy.

Anyone got a copy? Care to share a review?

Make it mini

2011-11-05T13:13:00.004+11:00

During a recent forage around Ponoko* I stumbled across this Adirondack Chair kit:I contacted the designer who tells me that it's "approximately 1:12 scale".

Two mini chairs for $38? I'd call that good value!

(*I'm slowly working on a mini project with a talented 3D modelling friend)

This week I applied for a job

2011-11-03T17:41:00.003+11:00

That is all

Because it's sometimes quite amazing what you can find in the cupboard...

2011-10-24T17:39:00.001+11:00

Yep, that would be a doily rug.

Mini mathematics

2011-10-22T17:34:00.002+11:00

This photo:(spotted this morning over at love you big during a blog reading catch up)

Plus this felt doily coaster (just stumbled across on eBay) Equals modern miniature heaven. Right?

(Adding a lack of funds then equals wait a week to test the equation)

A night on the tiles

2011-10-21T20:36:00.002+11:00

I've been lusting after the Anglepoise Giant 1227 floor lamp for quite some time (and, at $3,500 a pop, will probably be doing so for quite some time to come)

Recently I've been playing with ideas to create a version in miniature, even buying a Barbie one off eBay for a couple of dollars to experiment with.

While waiting for it to arrive, I happened to find myself in the National Portrait Gallery shop, where I discovered the Tiny Tim booklight:An almost perfect size, it lights up, and it was only $16.

Now I'm trying to decide if I should get a red one as well...

Stealing?

2011-10-19T19:05:00.001+11:00

Well it's certainly been an interesting few days in the world of modern miniatures. First up, Mitchymoo Miniatures has done the first reveal of the swap parcel I (finally) sent her:(I nicked her photo without asking. I'm sure it's OK)

On a related theme, Amazing Miniatures has been accused of counterfeiting, which brings up an interesting question of copyright: if the original is 1/1 scale and the item in question is 1/12 (or any other miniature) scale, is it still a copyright infringement? (Let's not even get started on the related issues with the seemingly ubiquitous sliced stag idea)
(Oops, there's another stolen image, this time from Amazing Miniatures)

And, the next day, there's the news that modern miniatures have made it into a McDonald's ad:
(Oops, I did it again)

If that's not mainstream acceptance, I don't know what is.

Winging it

2011-10-17T18:30:00.003+11:00

Way back in March I picked up a scrap bag of fabric from the local quilting shop, which included some very fine black and white stripy fabric which you've seen before, and some fabulous fabric with mini writing on it. Which I decided on the spot had to become a wing chair for reading.

I even had a kit tucked away which would be close enough to experiment on.

And so, almost six months later, may I present:(Just don't look at the sides, OK?)It's been languishing for weeks and I finally gathered the brain space together over the weekend to start figuring out how to approach upholstering it in two different fabrics AND replace the skirt which came with the kit with legs.

(This is what the original Millie August kit looked like, if you're interested. Otterine putting together sister kits here and here and I've since bought a House of Miniatures version like this just in case I stuff this one up entirely...)

Mini Missoni

2011-10-15T16:37:00.004+11:00

I was happy to recently discover that you can now buy US Vogue in Canberra. I used to subscribe but lapsed last year and have been missing it ever since. Last week I treated myself to a copy of the September issue.

And noticed that Missoni has done a range for US Target. Now I don't usually like Missoni's style (except maybe for these) so was a little surprised to suddenly find myself inspired enough to rat round in the Cupboard of Possibilities in my Room of Shame to dig out my vintage mini ric rac supplies. (See where I'm heading with this?)Add a piece of my trusty old white sheet, some double sided sticky webbing stuff and some fiddly ironing.

Followed by some sewing, turning and stuffing... et voila!

(I should probably pipe them but I can't be bothered.)

Nothing (much) to report

2011-10-09T13:42:00.004+11:00

I don't seem to have been in the mood for minis recently.

Since my last proper post (almost a month ago!) I finally succumbed and bought a tablet computer. Alas not full sized.
The only change to the pink and white room is the addition of a stress ball I got in my TEDx goodie bag. I think it's time to pull this scene apart, don't you?I have a very scary looking cardboard deer head to put together.
Which I can't do until I've cleared space on my worktable. Which is a total tip.

I did achieve one thing, though. My May swap parcel for Mitchymoo Miniatures finally made it into the post. Only 4 months late...

... still playing

2011-09-18T11:55:00.009+10:00

Long time readers will remember the woven piece I created for my final assessment project in 2009 (and the tartan fabric I made from it)

This morning I pulled out the original photo and came up with these:
I really need to pay to get the full version of Repper so I can pull out high definition versions and chuck them through Spoonflower...

Repper what you sew!

2011-09-18T07:41:00.007+10:00

Sometimes clearing out your inbox sets your day out in a whole new (and very exciting) direction.

This morning, for instance, I finally made time to have a look at a link sent to me by a work buddy late last month. And, in the space of five minutes my mind was well and truly blown.

Repper takes an image and lets you turn it into a pattern. I trialed the demo version and here are the results...

From this:I made this in my first 30 seconds using the program: I turned this:Into this:
And this: became this:And, to give you an idea of the versatility of Repper, throwing this in: gave me, with five simple clicks, the following options:
Are you as excited as I am by the possibilities of Repper for mini use? (Especially if paired with Spoonflower...)

Three floors

2011-09-17T08:49:00.004+10:00

Two weeks have passed since I bought my bamboo table runner to use as miniature flooring. You'll remember that I undercoated one bit in white, and it's still in the same state as I dither about if I want to keep it looking shabby or finish painting it properly: (Yes, I still have the same half finished room sitting on my desk two weeks later)

I have, however, made progress with the second piece of runner. It got sanded and distressed slightly followed by several applications of stained coating wax and lots of buffing:
I like how it looks and how the house smells: it's been years since I last used my coating wax.
(Such a difference between the original and the waxed version!)

Now I have to decide how to deal with the third bit of flooring my bamboo runner produced...

Cushy: behind the scenes

2011-09-05T22:44:00.004+10:00

Because I suspect you enjoy seeing studio pictures as much as I do...

(And if you're wondering about the dice: I pulled out my collection and used them to prop the cushions up in the shelving unit... And yes, the owl lamp fell down and I couldn't be bothered putting it back in place before I took this shot!)

A Cushy Job (aka: That wasn't the scene I was planning to make at all)

2011-09-05T21:25:00.006+10:00

Having spent a couple of hours after work tonight doing boring house worky-type stuff, I decided to reward myself by putting one of the weekend's aborted scenes back together on my newly cleared desk*

But the scene that eventuated wasn't quite what I was planning: I blame the fact that yesterday's crafternoon saw me finally finish approximately 30 incomplete cushions I had hanging round on my work bench. Which I had no idea what to do with...
until I found myself creating a soft furnishings showroom. Which decided it was called A Cushy Job
(Who was I to argue?)
It would be wise not to mention copyright:Cushion images were lifted from my teatowel collection and various places online, including Aunty Cookie, who does fabulous (full sized) stuff that you should go buy. (Then she can't be (too) mad at me for stealing her designs in mini!)

(*And, in case you were wondering: yes, trousers were (eventually) taken up over the weekend)

Distractions

2011-09-03T12:44:00.004+10:00

Top of today's list of things to do was taking up trousers for a friend and (finally) finishing Mitchymoo's May Swap.

I started so well! I tidied away the trial scenes from this morning so I could pull out the overlocker and sewing machine. Turned the iron on, found the trousers, and...

Decided I'd "just" see how a piece of the runner looked with some paint on it. It seemed so sensible to arrange things so it could dry while I was working on those two very important priorities.

I got the first pair of trousers pinned up. Went downstairs to put a load of washing out, and on the way back through the kitchen, thought I'd "just" see how the flooring was going. And, what do you know, it was dry...

I rather like how it looks with just the first coat:
very vintage/ shabby chic.

It also works well as wall panelling (something else that's been on my wish list for a while now):
And those trousers? That's them buried under my mini storage box. *sigh*

Looks like I need to clean things away AGAIN, have lunch and restart the day.

Two for the price of one*

2011-09-03T07:51:00.009+10:00

And, suddenly, it seems that I'm working on two room ideas at once: The room on the left was inspired by this illustration in a recent marie claire (or was it Madison?) and the arrival of a too-cheap-to-not-bid-on loft bed from eBay.

I haven't done pink before and it's not usually a colour I'm drawn too but I'm enjoying playing with different options for what seems to have decided to be a crafty teenager's bedroom.
Next door is a much darker space. I bought new scrapbooking paper last night, and, following Petronellas miniplats' lead, went looking for a table mat I can use as floorboards (much cheaper than buying them from the dolls house shop, and less driving involved) Alas, David Jones only had a table runner. So I'll get to trial painted floorboards with the other end of it and still have some left over for wall panelling...

(*Humming this )

The Transport Cafe

2011-08-24T07:20:00.002+10:00

Inspiration: Vintage Routemaster bus Matchbox toy picked up at Trash & Treasure for 50 cents. Added: Amazing Miniatures' coffee table (part of our swap), turned on its side and used as a planter box.

Time taken: Fifteen minutes.

It's all there in black and white

2011-08-22T15:36:00.002+10:00

This black and white homewares shop scene started with the miniature Luuk tea towel cushion I finally got around to stuffing this afternoon.

I wanted to photograph it and was brainstorming ideas when I remembered the shelving unit that I received as part of a swap from Mitchymoo miniatures. Soon I had this: Wanting to pick up the black and white stripes in the vase, I dug out the black and white seating unit from here, and, as I wandered past, picked up the lid of one of my black and white striped storage boxes to use as a feature wall (probably influenced by the fact I was printing off mini copies of this book earlier today...) And the giant peg? It just seemed to fit, especially after my recent forays into incorporating oversized items into my scenes.

(Time taken: twenty minutes.)

Anniversary

2011-08-22T07:29:00.004+10:00

Another scene inspired by an Avant card. This one was picked up last weekend and made me think of a pair of Frankie hipsters celebrating their anniversary.

I've obviously been watching too much Ugly Betty recently...

2011-08-21T11:51:00.005+10:00

As I suddenly felt the need to create a homage to the Mode offices...I ended up creating a second space-saving version of the room:(Credits on FLICKR)

Around the world

2011-08-21T07:18:00.002+10:00

I'm fighting off the travel bug, which is grumbling about how long its been since I've been on a real holiday and singing me this on high rotation in protest.

In the meantime, I used the back of the scrapbooking paper from yesterday's scene as a starter for this:
(And a random vintage game piece I picked up for free at the op shop last weekend. I think it looks like an interesting bottle)

Browned off

2011-08-20T14:50:00.002+10:00

I came home from last weekend's Trash and Treasure Market with (amongst other gems) a set of gargoyle coasters and an acupuncture doll.

Add some scrapbook papers from my trip to Div's in May, a couple of pieces from a cheap dining room setting I picked up at a show a few years ago, some accessories from the stash and:

Big game hunter

2011-08-20T13:13:00.003+10:00

A surprise delivery from Amazing Miniatures this week included a fabulous perspex chair and one of her new perspex rhino heads.
Which inspired me to create my first scene in a while. I envisage it as the office of a successful 50-something single woman, who's still looking for Mr Right.

(Credits on FLICKR)

We three kings

2011-08-06T15:03:00.004+10:00

Inspiration can strike in the strangest places.A friend and I wandering round the CMAG Imitation of Life exhibition this afternoon when I spotted these three crown-wearing budgies as part of a work by Danie Mellor. And, suddenly, I had to take close up photos photos to frame and use as the basis for a scene*.

The only problem is that once I returned home in the cold and rain I lost my miniature mojo. So did nothing more than resize and print out the photos and check how they'd look framed.

Dammit! I need my miniature mojo back! I have embarrassingly overdue swaps to finish and get in the post this weekend.

(*I said to my friend that I could imagine them with a wing chair under them. She waited two counts and then cracked up. Having realised what I said I then declared that the scene should also feature beakers.)

Tea towel Tuesday weeks 49 - 53

2011-08-02T18:26:00.002+10:00

Gawd! Has it really been 5 weeks since I did a Tea towel Tuesday post? This must be rectified immediately, especially as it takes me through the end of the first year (with only one repeat...)

Week 49 Dick Frizzell for Esther Diamond, (I have two. You saw the second first). I bought this at Wellington airport on the way out on a trip a couple of years ago. I think it's the most expensive tea towel in my collection.

Week 50 A yardage design towel bought at the opening of Shop Handmade in April last year.

Week 51
Birds. Bought at Big W.

Week 52
Flies. From a gifty homewares shop in The Canberra Centre, bought on a whim one Friday night.

Week 53
The second of two matching tea towels given to me by a friend as a farewell gift when I left New Zealand in 1996.

And since I had the walls up anyway...

2011-07-24T14:04:00.008+10:00

... I thought I'd play with some newish pieces: a fabulous Minimodernista clock I was given for my birthday and some vintage German furniture I won off eBay a couple of months ago.

At first I thought I could make the other corner of the bedroom I put together earlier today.but decided to do a lounge corner instead.I was pretty happy at this stage, all I needed was a few layers of "story".

A throw, a book to read, and a little something to drink. But, somehow, drinking bubbles by yourself just doesn't feel right.

Luckily I had another matching chair. And another glass.Perfect!Now, what are we celebrating?

Pushing the envelope

2011-07-24T13:01:00.004+10:00

My miniature mojo returned around 3am this morning, when I woke up with a start and knew exactly what I needed to do with all those security envelopes I've somehow started keeping over the past few weeks...

A few minutes with the 1" square punch, some graph paper and a glue stick. followed by some scanning, fabric printing and sewing and voila: I call it my security blanket...

Graft

2011-07-07T07:12:00.002+10:00

"Dismayed by the destruction of our architectural heritage, artist John Radford has recreated a suburb in miniature. And he's selling the houses off the plan."

The first Graft Street Party 2010 in the Q Theatre construction site from John Radford on Vimeo.

Story here, website here.

(I rather fancy owning a house in Auckland...)

Feeling the Frankie...

2011-07-03T18:18:00.003+10:00

Who says wallpaper should only be used on the wall? A quick trip through the laminating machine and yesterday's wallpaper suddenly becomes today's lino.

Add a vintage chair (another piece from an eBay estate sale job lot) and a few other bits and bobs and suddenly I have the beginnings of a studio reading corner. You can just imagine that the pieces in the photo have been sourced at no great cost from various op shops and markets to provide inspiration to the artist, who uses this corner to relax and regroup.

And what exactly is on those shelves?

Not quite Frankie

2011-07-02T16:47:00.003+10:00

But, you know, if you squint I might be getting close)Even a more modern chair doesn't help much...But I bought a MIP roll of this vintage wallpaper for $5 and so help me, I'm going to make it work in a modern scene*.

Just not today, as I've lost the light...

(*Want some? Let me know: I have 13 2/3 yards of the stuff to use up)

Back to school

2011-07-02T15:45:00.002+10:00

The starting point: Alphabet fabric from M1K1, schoolroom clock from Call of the Small and a simple, beautiful table and chair from Mitchymoo Miniatures. Plus a giant apple from a recent Re-ment set purchased on eBay.A schoolroom themed scene it was going to be!

I added another recent flokati rug knitting project, my blackboard and a large overstuffed chair I made years ago. Which, unfortunately, was quite the wrong shade of red.I really really really wanted to use the clock so added it to one side of the scene, balancing it out with a vintage block I picked up from an op shop in Wollongong.And added a red Mitchymoo stool underneath with the herb box from the same set as the apple.

Then all I needed to do was layer the details: and I was done.

(What sort of natural herbs are they exactly? Hmmm....)
The final step was to take a couple of horizontal shots to use as desktop wallpaper:
Before putting everything away.

Orange you lovely?

2011-07-02T14:23:00.002+10:00

The end result.

More orange and pink inspiration

2011-07-02T13:26:00.006+10:00

Take one orange desk lamp.Add one fabric remnant picked up at Clegs' remnant sale on a recent trip to Melbourne, and one newly knitted pink flokati rug.
Mix with various bits of furniture from the stash...
...and leave to rise.

Inspiration from Amsterdam, via New Zealand

2011-07-02T12:31:00.005+10:00

This photo from last month's Urbis magazine, leaped out at me. Partly because of the grey walls which is a colour I've been working with lately, but also because I have an almost identical AG Minis desk lamp that I've not used in a scene yet:I was planning to scan it but before I got around to it Urbis launched a website which included the article in question. Yay, Urbis!

Here's my first trial:I wanted to use a grey armchair but I don't have one. Yet. So a piece of my vintage Concord sectional had to do. No stool of the right height either. Or white painted floorboards: something that's been on my list for weeks. But, overall, I'm pretty happy with it.

I decided to try adding the pink flokati rug I knitted this week, which works too:But it still needs a bit of oomph, so I swapped out the lamp which originally inspired the scene with a recent arrival from Mitchymoo Miniatures' swap parcel. Which lights up!

I also (finally)remembered I have some Tord Boontje-esque bits downstairs which I bought to use as napkin rings. Which, although not white like the original, will work as a light shade. (Now if only I'd completed those black cushions I said I needed to add to the armchair...)

And for those of you who enjoy behind the scenes pictures:
(Credits on FLICKR)

Fluff and nonsense

2011-06-29T19:52:00.004+10:00

Working on a swap.

Not everything in the picture is part of it.

Mwahahaha...

Tea towel Tuesday weeks 46, 47 & 48

2011-06-28T18:41:00.000+10:00

Week 46 Spotted while wandering through David Jones on a short cut from Hot Dollar to Lincraft. It was the last one and had no price tag or bar code on it. The poor sales assistant took 20 minutes to track down the price. Luckily I was on a day off so didn't care...

Week 47
Bought as a twin to this one from Week 2. I'm pretty chuffed that I made it to almost a year without repeating a tea towel pattern!

Week 48
I'm not actually sure where this one came from. The fact that the label says "fiber" makes me think it might have been from the USA in a Black and White Swap but I can't be bothered checking back through my archives.

If all else fails...

2011-06-27T21:10:00.004+10:00

...revert to black and white:

Making minis

2011-06-27T07:23:00.003+10:00

Fred laptop's resurrection from the dead on Friday meant I could finally print out the cushions I'd planned to make almost a month ago.Guess I'll be spending tonight turning and stuffing...

I wasn't completely absent from my studio over the past few weeks. I spent quite some time clearing things away(although I wonder how long it'll be before I can no longer see the desktop again...)

Purple? Painful.

2011-06-26T09:24:00.005+10:00

While I was offline I received a mini mini swap parcel from the fabulous Call of the Small

She knew I was after the Bandai clock she showed in this post and managed to pick one up for me, including a few added extras in the parcel:So, the weekend before last, I decided to create a scene using the clock and the lilac seagrass paper she'd included. Things did not go well: and I gave up in frustration after half an hour.

Perhaps the problem is that I don't actually have much in my collection that's purple?(The perspex table in the trials above was ordered as cerise but they were out of it and substituted the purple instead. I figured I could always give it away if I didn't find a use for it...)

I've had purple on my mind ever since, mulling over how I could make the scene work at odd times of the day (and night). Yesterday I picked up a ball of Fairy Floss at the Lincraft sale. In purple. Perhaps a purple flokati might help things along?

Fred* Sir, in bed Sir, not dead Sir**

2011-06-24T20:59:00.002+10:00

How was your Friday night? I spent mine in the back streets of Fyshwick gaining much satisfaction from Jamor who did magic things with Fred's hard..... drive.***

The PC Professional gets top marks from me for going above and beyond the call of duty (folks, they supposedly close at 5pm on Friday night: I finally left with a fixed laptop just after 8pm!) And for reasonable rates, straight forward explanations and selling you what you need not what you think you want.

I discovered that they do house calls, which made me start plotting the idea of "PC parties": grab a group of girlfriends with computers and laptops that need cleaning up and who want to learn more about them. Gather with snacks and wine (and a chap from The PC Professionals) then share the hourly rate: while one computer is upgrading he can be working on another or explaining the basics of what exactly all those programmes your computer came with actually do and why (and how) to safely delete them.

(* My laptop)
(** With apologies to Spike Milligan)
(*** You probably have to be a local to get this)

Postal problems

2011-06-14T12:18:00.002+10:00

You may have noticed it's been a little quiet round here this week. That's because my computer died during a Windows update last week and I'm waiting to get it to the computer chap to suck the data (no, of course I don't do regular backups, but will from now on) out of it before we reset it.

Oddly enough, a long weekend without a computer wasn't as painful as I thought it might be: mainly due to the fact I now own a smart phone so could still access the internet when I got too twitchy...

Tea towel Tuesday week 45

2011-06-07T22:16:00.000+10:00

The last of the gifts from Div.

This one bought, apparently, in Holbrook...

Parcels and letters

2011-06-06T20:35:00.003+10:00

It was a good mail day: a swap package from Call of the Small (the contents put aside to use in a scene this weekend) and a collection of pop bead letters, which I bought solely (of course) for the letter As. I had fun sorting them out as a reward for finishing filling in my very first grant application.

Anyone after any other letter of the alphabet for their mini scenes? They're just under 1.5 cm tall and the sticky out bits cut off easily with scissors...

Then sometimes, when you stop thinking...

2011-06-05T16:09:00.006+10:00

it all just clicks into place. As I was tidying up, the light fading fast, this scene popped together with a number of items I've picked up in the past few weeks. (Credits over on FLICKR)

A grey day

2011-06-05T14:50:00.009+10:00

When I got up this morning I wondered if there was going to be enough light to shoot the mini scene I'd planned to make this weekend. But, by the time I'd spent the late morning going to buy more black spray paint, made lunch and shared it with a friend, the sun had come out and I was good to go.

Except there were problems. The original plan for the grey and yellow kitchen which I sketched last week looked like this:I wanted to play with the idea of working into a corner. Except I only had one sheet of the grey scrapbooking paper and really couldn't face a trip to the mall for one piece of paper. Just as well, really as I realised that, although the Miele kitchen sink worked rather well, there weren't any more bottom cabinets in the set and I didn't have the brain space today to muddle bits into something appropriating the bench return I was after...

Feeling most disheartened, I threw together a couple of pieces anyway, including a set of flying ducks I'd painted just for the occasion, and noticed that the sun was hitting the space I was working on rather interestingly. So I placed my cardboard window wall across the side of the scene to see what the effect was with the sun shining through it:and decided it was worth working on the scene further. (Still not happy. Very sterile all round. And I'm also bummed that it would seem that the lovely fat jugs aren't going to make it into the scene)

Taking a moment to step back and review the photos I've taken so far, I realise there is no story to the scene. It's a kitchen, it's morning. Maybe the owner has just returned from the Farmers' Market?Better, but the tulip chair is ruining the view of the table and flowers so it gets swapped out:And, since the scene is now very top heavy I add a crate of purchases to the floor
(which doesn't work, much as I like the idea.)A straw shopping bag? much better, but the scene still isn't really working for me so I give it away as an idea that just didn't come together the way I'd planned. That doesn't stop me taking some detail photos before I dismantle it.

And, just as I'm about to rip it apart, a beam of light shines through the window and I capture a shot I'm happy with:
(Time taken: 20 minutes, not including putting things away afterwards)

In the shadows*

2011-06-04T18:59:00.002+10:00

Here.

Doing stuff.

Nothing worth photographing.

Except this shadow on the wall at NGA this afternoon...

(* If you need a soundtrack)

Yellow, hello!

2011-06-01T19:09:00.008+10:00

A little package of goodness (from myself) arrived in the mail yesterday: And I thought I might try to share the full creative process in putting together a scene.

Again.

After I got home I popped them on the pile of "things to play with" and saw this:which made me think of an interesting juxtaposition of natural and man made.

Then I thought of a rug I made last week:Hmm... maybe I should go with the whole 70s retro vibe...

Then I remembered the grey paper I bought last week:and liked what I saw. So I explored the idea a bit further this morning over breakfast,and decided that I wanted to try a room I hadn't worked with before:and likedwhat I saw...
(Time taken: 50 minutes while doing other things)

(To be continued...)

Keeping you in suspenders*

2011-05-31T17:45:00.007+10:00

Oh yes, there was something else happened last week that I gave you a sneak peek of but have neglected to return to...

On Monday afternoon, the minute I'd unloaded the car, I skedaddled across to the Post Office with extremities crossed. The Postal Fairy was with me big time as not only was a package from Blurb waiting for me, there was a good friend propping up the other end of the counter who had time for coffee, share in the unveiling and help document the occasion in true bloggy style.

How restrained I was, in letting her take the plastic wrapoffandhavefirstlook?But, soon enough I had it back on my side of the table and was, generally, well pleased.Now I have to make a few corrections, buy an ISBN, arrange CIP (although I'm tempted to just do it myself) and then donate a copy in The National Library**.(This is actually the Dickson Public Library, but you get the idea!)

Oh, and then it'll be available for sale. Another friend is demanding a book launch. Which will be a bit odd as there'll only be one copy of the book to launch: unless I make it the date far enough away in time that anyone local who wants to buy one can and then bring it along...

(*Old family saying)
(** Sorry can't take that seriously)

Tea towel Tuesday week 44

2011-05-31T05:39:00.000+10:00

New Div tea towel two.

Not a miniature

2011-05-30T18:49:00.006+10:00

(But, now I think of it, it might make a great poster to use as the basis for a scene...)

Friend Kerry and I have been doing a "Creativity Challenge" since May last year, with a few weeks off recently as she went overseas and then had a flat full of visiting family.

But, last week, she got back into recording what creative things she did each week. Which caused me to feel guilty and hunt down and dust off the notebook I've been using to record my daily doings up until recently.

The notebook was hiding on my worktable, waiting for me to find the inspiration to decorate the cover in a fitting way. Which I did yesterday: I sent a copy of the scan to Friend Kerry in lieu of a long overdue postcard and she tells me she's printed it out and hung it up where the other creatives in her company can see it.

I might have to do the same at work once I make it to Officeworks and pick up new ink for my printer.

This is my second notebook. The first one's cover looked like this:and lasted me six months.

Big A, little a. What begins with A?

2011-05-29T16:11:00.002+10:00

Another purchase from last week's op shop adventures was a 50 cent fawn linen tea towel which I thought could make great miniature wall covering.

This afternoon, as I was putting the pieces from yesterday's studio scene away, I pulled together my miniature letter A collection and made a 5 minute scene as inspiration for something bigger next weekend.

The only problem is that I've stopped tidying up and now I'm trawling eBay for tiny vintage letter As...

...and a relaxing Sunday morning

2011-05-29T09:34:00.004+10:00

This scene started with the Rement beauty storage cabinet on the right, which I'd mentioned to Div last weekend when she said she planned to make a Componbili unit sometime soon. I had it sitting on the workbench, waiting for me to buy the white paint needed to cover the (green) top and (yellow and blue) handles. Which I did on the way home.

I decided on a bathroom scene since I haven't done one for a while. The wall colour came from the original painting, which was part of an estate lot I bought off eBay a couple of months ago, and gave me my first feel for where the scene was heading. I wanted to play with using my window with a view, so that was the next design decision. The bath would be the biggest piece in the scene: clawfoot tub or modern DHE one? The modern tub won out. Flooring was from a bag of wood veneer I picked up from Lifeline last Monday for $1, a lovely light piece.

With the basics in place I got to play. I remembered the bathroom pieces I received in my Advent Swap, and, as I suspected, they were the perfect colours.While hunting for some white fluffy towels I knew I had tucked away I came across the oar, various bottle shaped bits and the white mirror, which I added :
(Still not sure about it, though).

The pouffe is Lundby, the plant, Rement and the mat was woven for me years ago by someone I knew. The shells were collected off a beach on by me around the same time. (If only my real bathroom was this serene...)

An afternoon in the studio...

2011-05-28T16:09:00.004+10:00

Something old, something new

2011-05-28T13:55:00.005+10:00

A fifteen minute scene I put together to show some of my new goodies:What's old: The sofa from the Bay Villa. The glass of wine. The books. And not really old but you've seen it before, the white storage drawers.

What's new: Black dog ornament (birthday gift from a friend). Round thing (two for 50 cents, Vinnies Mittagong). Frame and wallpaper (from a couple of scrapbooking kits the three of us picked up in Mission Australia's op shop in Wollongong and shared out). Digital camera (one of the three items I bought from Fairy Meadow Miniatures last weekend). Mirrored coffee table (a recent experiment at the perspex place). Blue fluffy rug (knitted with some cheap ack I picked up at Dimmeys in Goulburn on the way through. I find it funny that I'm now on the lookout for cheap ack). And the beautiful lace throw? A birthday gift from M1K1.

Wrapping up last weekend

2011-05-28T07:44:00.010+10:00

(Just in time for this weekend)

There was exploring of new-to-me op shops where I wanted this: (but in miniature).

And this:The size it was.Especially as it was $120 with 30% off. I did spend some time calculating the size of Div's boot in my head until I finally came to the realisation that I really didn't have anywhere to put it at home and that it didn't really go with the rest of my furniture...

Across the court was what we'd really come for: the new home ofFairy Meadow Miniatures. With the upstairs library and display area where we got to admire Div's latest project, Cliff Drive:(which started life as a DHE Ocean Drive)
And, before we left, I got to see the article in The Meadow News about my 2008/2009 exhibition:
(I can't wait until I get my own copy for the archive so I have the time to actually read it!)

The postscipty bit

2011-05-27T19:41:00.000+10:00

Sorry if my last couple of posts scared those of you with Brinca Dada Emerson dolls houses tucked away waiting to be built.While I admit there was some cursing and hair pullingand some major structural issues(fixed, I believe with the chocolate edition),scratched perspex (fixed, I believe with the chocolate edition)a weird hole left in the wall (not sure if this was fixed with the later edition), some general bad finishing (fixed, I believe with the chocolate edition), and a weirdly after-thoughtish-feeling staircase which takes up most of the great room, doesn't quite line up with the first floor and which you'd have to crawl through a three foot gap when you get to the top if it were real sized) I have to say, once we added furniture to the house it became strangely alluring.

Sexy almost.

After Jennifer Revell (sister of Julian, and a Textile Designer*) moved in I could almost overlook the fact that the first floor bits didn't line up neatly.And once the sun went down,the hard work and agony seemed to melt away and I became rather, well, enamoured. And overcome with that wanty feeling. (Even after I reminded myself about the weird ceiling heights. And lack of access between the two floors unless you positioned the staircase outside)
You do understand, don't you?
(*More on this later. We're concocting a whole family history...)

Brinca Gaga (or how it took three grown woman plus one Electrician/ Engineer far too long to build a house) Part 2

2011-05-26T07:20:00.002+10:00

Lunch is over. Mr Div is back from the shed at the bottom of the garden with the recalcitrant chimney piece from part 2. The clock says 1:20 and we're off!
OK, off with a little more sawing...and fiddling...
and sawing. And coaxing holes to be the correct size to accept the screws.But, finally, it's together. We add the next couple of pieces: (A little befuddled but following the instructions,discovering bits that have become unglued in transit and putting them back together)
Things are going reasonably well. The mood is confident.

The time comes to join the two parts of the house together and we start to realise quite how large (and heavy!) it is...We screw the two parts togetherand its at this point that we realise they've missed a very important step in the building process.Can you see? On the right there, two sides of house butted up but the wiring not connected? So these screws were screwed in and unscrewed a couple of times.
The shoelace finally came off. The wires were connected. And the screws were screwed in for the last time.(By this time our collection of swear words was growing rather impressive)
The bathroom wall goes in and the contortions get more and more elaborate to reach the screws:
We're not sure if the roof is supposed to flick up at each end or if it's warped in transit. But, to make sure the screw holes line up we ignore the what the instructions say about the order to screw the screws in and, with much fiddling to make sure parts line up and perspex is still in the groves it should be in (and the bits that slide, do) and all hands on deck to push bits and hold bits we finally get the roof on.
Div does the ceremonial chimney screwing on. You see, it's actually her house as M1K1 gave it to her. How nice is that?!
Finally, at ten to three, it's finished.

We check that the lights all work (using normal batteries as we're too impatient to wait for the rechargables that came with the house to charge through the solar panel).And collapse.

After shoving those rogue wires you see behind me back into the (ugly) hole in the wall, we give it a dustand test some of the furniture in it.(You'll notice we didn't quite get to covering all the screws with the plastic caps that came with the kit)

Brinca Gaga (or how it took three grown woman plus one Electrician/ Engineer far too long to build a house) Part 1

2011-05-25T19:10:00.017+10:00

Once upon a time (well, actually, last November) in a ~~Kingdom far far away~~ City just up the freeway...

OK, so the fairy tale doesn't work. Which is just as well, as this story isn't a fairy tale (although it does have a happy ending)

Last November the wonderfully talented M1K1 treated herself to a Brinca Dada Emerson dolls house and matching furniture. The putting together of the house did not go well and I suggested she could drive south with the half built house, I could drive north and we could rendezvous at the also wonderfully talented Div's house for a weekend of building.

Like all good things, this took time but, finally we managed to get together this weekend just past. Saturday was filled with op shopping, dolls house shop visiting and lunching by the sea but Sunday morning we set to work to sort the house out...

(WARNING: Picture heavy posts ahead)

The half-built house as it arrived with M1K1:
After a fabulous multi-course breakfast, we started work at 10am.Our first plan of action was to dismantle what M1K1 had already done so as to be able to start from scratch.We laid all the pieces out in the order that the instructions said we would need them. The house comes in two parts so we tucked the "2" pieces aside and concentrated on the "1"s... Step One and so far, so good:Because side one of the house had already been put together we needed to work out what had been done to the electrics. The shoe lace is in case the wires slip back inside the chimney.
We add the mezzanine floor:And parts 1G and H (I think) (Yep, we're still having fun) A few more bits of perspex. And wood. And we're feeling confident.On a high, we stop for Elevenses(And check what's next) (Do you think there was too much sugar involved in Elevenses?) This is about when things start to go a little screwy. A millimetre out here, a millimetre out there adds up to a bit of an issue right about now. It's OK: we were expecting this as this is about the point that M1K1 (building on her own, mind) became derailed. We push on through (literally, on some steps), feeling lucky that there are three of us and a table which means we can turn the house this way and that...
OK, the frustration is starting to show, but we did just manage to put Part One together. Wee hee!

We lay out the parts needed for the second half of the house:The instructions warn us that this is the harder part of the structure. We think we're prepared. But it would seem that the notches for the chimney have been cut in the wrong place. And we finally admit defeat and bring in Mr Div (Engineer and Electrician) Show him what the problem is, and, after we practice looking suitably pathetic, he decides to head down to his shed and sort our chimney problem out for us.While he's gone we take the opportunity to try out some of the furniture in the half-house we've put together:and then decide the only thing to do is have lunch while we wait his return...(to be continued...)

Tea towel Tuesday week 43

2011-05-24T08:47:00.002+10:00

Another destination roll towel and another present from Div. She gave me three new tea towels for the collection this weekend. Watch this space...

(Parramatta Street?!)

How very odd

2011-05-24T08:01:00.003+10:00

I'm 45.

Last week I was having a moan to myself about what a crap year I've had. Then the sensible part of me demanded I prove it by writing down what I've achieved since my last birthday:

Finished my What I wore today challenge
Started Tea towel Tuesday
Curated Call of the Small at Craft ACT
Interviewed on ABC Central West radio
Featured in the September issue of Collectors magazine
Completed an internship at Te Papa
Where I attended National Digital Forum
Featured on the Frankie magazine blog
Credited on Greg Johnson's latest CD
Changed my blog subtitle and started a) working in 1/12th scale again b) making miniatures again
Started 2011 Inch by Inch (which only lasted three months as life got crazy)
Started a new contract which gives me full time hours (and money to pay the rent)
Invited to be part of the ANCA twentieth anniversary celebrations
Wrote an article for Uppercase magazine
Reached the final audition stage for Top Design
Interviewed for a job with Weta
Made a book
Created a window display at Little Sprout

Hmm... Maybe it wasn't a crap year after all. Maybe I'm just exhausted.

(Credits: Flooring and skirting, Victorian Dollhouses. Rug, made by me. Desk, a recent experiment at the plastics place. Chair, Reac. Storage drawers, 1/24th dresser from Fairy Meadow Miniatures with legs removed (bought this weekend). Large vintage numbers, part of a bag of goodies found for 50 cents at Vinnies this weekend.)

A long weekend away: the pictorial preview

2011-05-23T15:45:00.006+10:00

Not small at all...

2011-05-18T18:18:00.005+10:00

(But rather fun)

While adding my latest read to Library Thing I noticed a message telling me about some new services.

One of them compares the height of the books in my library against the heights of various other things: (I feel the sudden urge to run off and find the thickest books I have waiting in my reading piles and add them to see if I can reach Cleopatra's Needle. Except I suspect that way madness lies...)

Gone to pieces, out to lunch

2011-05-17T06:24:00.004+10:00

Google Alerts are great.

Recently they let me know that some of my photos are being used to make online jigsaw puzzles: I had no idea such a thing existed (and was a little surprised how difficult it was to put them together even though I knew the image really really well...)

Tea towel Tuesday week 42

2011-05-17T05:33:00.000+10:00

I've liked Luuk's self portrait since I saw it as part of the 2009 National Youth Self Portrait Prize at The National Portrait Gallery.

So when I spotted this teatowel for sale while I was at Megalo for the opening of Book ("An exhibition of artist books, flip books & an exquisite corpse") last week, buying it was a no-brainer. Especially as it was pay day...

Alas, not The Big Reveal I'd planned

2011-05-16T16:50:00.000+10:00

After Thursday's teaser I'd planned to build a Eurovision themed scene* with the contents of my swap parcel from Ann. And post it here yesterday.

Except I came down with something first thing in the morning and have spent a very miserable two days either becoming reacquainted with my black and white hankie collection or asleep in bed. I did watch Eurovision. In my PJs. Wrapped in a blanket. On the sofa. Feeling very sorry for myself.

So there is no cool Eurovision themed scene. Or superlatives. Instead there are simple shots of my new treasures, taken in a race against the failing light when I woke up late this afternoon:
First up is one of Ann's new Locke series coffee tables. Custom painted for the swap, I suspect. The vase and bottle are from my collection but the teeny origami crane was part of the swap parcel:Also included were two round acrylic stools/ low tables (which also look great stacked into one higher side table):And, my favourite, a custom framed Keith Haring print. (Unlike me, Ann does her matting properly)

(*I had the red and black already as part of the swap. and just needed to round up and create some yellow touches. And find my mini disco ball)

Before and after (A Setting the scene post)

2011-05-14T15:59:00.003+10:00

Take:Four old fashioned, rather nasty frames and a lamp with good bones but an insipid shade from a recent eBay lot.

Remove:(Pictures, lamp shade and wiring.)

Add:Candy coloured scrapbooking frames picked up from Lincraft last week (whoops: forgot to mention them) and black paint (of course)

Mix well with:Fabric from an earlier aborted scene (still banging around on the worktable), the last of the repainted cafe chairs, a little something I'll tell you a bit more about later and a previous purchase

While experimenting with:
Building the scene sideways after you get the shits with trying to attach itty bitty frames to fabric with blutack (without it showing or the frames all falling off while you turn the camera on!)

A right royal pain in the arse (Setting the scene: Part Six)

2011-05-14T12:46:00.007+10:00

So I rebuilt the Royal wedding scene (10 minutes including bunting making and tea cup finding: you were right, Pepper). Took 26 photos (10 minutes), pulled them off the camera and sent 17 straight to the bin because of focus issues, bits overlapping other bits and things chopped off that I hadn't noticed.

I sorted through the rest, found the best photo and used Office Picture Manager to tweak the contrast and saturation on it (15 minutes for uploading sorting and 2 for tweaking).

And, just as I thought I was done I looked again and saw:a giant ball of blutack under the paper hat, holding it in place.

Argh! You weren't supposed to see that and, since I don't have Photoshop at the moment (not even Elements), it was back to the proverbial drawing board rather than off to electronically erase the blob. (9 more photos in the bin: 30 seconds)

By this stage the sight of bunting makes me want to hurl, and I'm getting more and more frustrated trying to make sure all the various bits I do (and, more importantly, don't) want included are in (or out) of frame.
I finally decide, 12 photos (and 10 minutes) later that close enough is good enough. Load them to the computer, go straight to the last one (usually the best), and tweak it (2 minutes).

Then write and edit this post (20 minutes).

Finally I'll load the chosen image to my FLICKR photostream, tag it and add it to the Modern Miniatures pool (5 minutes, but I'll probably do my weekly check and clean up in there as well: another 10 minutes) before clearing the actual scene away (several weeks*).

(*Just kidding. I think)

Scene been? (Setting the scene: Part Five)

2011-05-14T09:21:00.004+10:00

I'd planned to return to the Royal Wedding scene this weekend, finish it off and photograph it properly.

But this is what it looks like this morning:It's very tempting to just tidy it away and play with something new. Especially as I've received some inspiring mail this week plus found my mini disco ball* last night...

(*This link might have spoilers for Australian readers: I ensured my eyes were firmly averted as I harvested it)

Small at the mall

2011-05-14T07:42:00.005+10:00

So, finally and belatedly (thanks to Blogger's enforce blogging free zone the past 36 hours), here are photos of the real window display at Little Sprout's city store:

I arrived to help about an hour after the official window dresser started, just as she was struggling with the puzzle of what went where (I'd left large pictures and labeled boxes and all the accessories sorted in room order in egg cartons: which made sense to me but not to someone meeting my houses for the very first time, in a confined, very public, space and under time pressure)
Working on putting the 1957 Lundby house to rights:The window's almost done:How much is that dolly in the window?(Where I'm sitting should, by now, be taken up with the newest Smaland house, now stocked by Little Sprout and the reason for the whole display, which is up until the end of the month, if you happen to be in, or passing through, Canberra...)Have you seen the animation on the international Lundby homepage?

Thursday teaser

2011-05-12T07:08:00.003+10:00

I got a lovely parcel in the post yesterday but haven't had time to do more than (slowly and maturely*) ~~rip~~ take the wrapping paper off the contents...

Watch this space!

(*One or two of these words might, just possibly, be a tad deluded)

How to make ugly interesting

2011-05-11T19:23:00.004+10:00

(Without using black paint)

Tonight after work, the Manager of the local toy shop picked up the houses they're going to use in their Lundby window display. But the window dresser isn't coming until late tomorrow afternoon.

What to do? Leave a pile of ugly looking boxes and empty houses in the window or whip together a "work in progress watch this space" pop-up display?

We chose the latter, of course. It was great fun and we think it looks fabulous...
(Before you ask, the Union Jack is left over from their last display)

My red swap arrived at its destination

2011-05-11T07:14:00.002+10:00

And Ann has displayed the contents beautifully. Pop over for a look!

Yesterday I cleaned three houses

2011-05-11T07:05:00.002+10:00

(None of them, alas, full sized...)

Tea towel Tuesday weeks 40 & 41

2011-05-10T10:00:00.001+10:00

Something old:(I think this is the last of the Conran Shop set)

Something new:(An early birthday present to myself from Shop Handmade, by Buppo & Wren. Which is making me rather desperate to do lots and lots of dishes)

Nothing borrowed.

And most certainly nothing blue!

Tuesday temptations...

2011-05-10T06:58:00.007+10:00

Back in April I stumbled across this project on Kickstarter and was excited and intrigued by the offer of a mini chair for every $25 that you pledged. Hell, it doesn't matter what I though of the project, a mini designer chair for $25 is a good deal, right? So I contacted SketchChair and enquired about scale. Their reply, that they were 1/7th had me replying quick smart, saying:

"What a very odd scale to chose, and alas far too big for my needs as I work in 1/12th (and, at a push, 1/10th.)

You do know that if you make them 1/6th you’ll have a lot of interest from the Blythe and Barbie community and, at 1/12th, from the dolls house miniature community? I know you haven’t set out to be dolls house furniture manufacturers but, as a way to make money, it may well be worth exploring. At $25 a chair I know I was considering buying all three if they were the right scale!"

And I sent them a link to the New York Times article.

As I'd hoped, they took the bait, and replied early last month:

"We really appreciate you passing along your insights and links, your (sic) right dolls house scale miniatures is something we hadn't thought about but we're certainly not apposed (sic) to this at all. I love the Times article you sent and how much passion people have for design at all scales!

At the moment we're testing out chairs at a 1:12 scale to make sure that they're going to be strong enough and look right when built. But so far everything looking really good so we might be offering two scales on the minis. We'll let you know soon."

And so the wait began...

This morning this was sitting in my inbox:

"Hello again, sorry for the delay! It's taken us a long time to finalise these designs and decide on an appropriate scale. We finally updated the campaign with the final designs on Saturday: http://sketchchair.cc/minis.php

They are at 1:9 scale, as this was the most practical scale for us at this stage. However, we hope to offer some designs at 1:6 and 1:12 scale for order from SketchChair.cc sometime in the not too distant future, after the campaign has finished."

And, on their webpage, were not only the three original chairs:
(The Antler Chair)(The Edge Chair)(The Stroke Chair)

But some new arrivals:(Tiggy and Rocksteady)(The Tote Lounger)

It looks like the Kickstarter campaign finishes in three days but I'm sure if you email SketchChair direct after that I'm sure they'll be pleased to hear from you.

(As you can imagine, I've not seen the real things yet so am unable to comment on their ease of assembly or appropriateness of size within a 1/12th scale environment... Just saying)

Setting the scene: Part Four

2011-05-08T11:47:00.006+10:00

As I was hanging the washing out I realised I never explained the red chair in my recent post. And then, when I came upstairs to clean off my work desk, I somehow found myself playing with said red chair instead of putting it away...

The idea of painting one of the ugly brass chairs red came from this image, spotted in the Conran blog:(which I duly saved for future inspiration)

Then, last night I remembered these cutouts in an old issue of Dolls House and Miniature Scene I picked up cheaply at last week's show:And I started thinking about a Royal Wedding scene: someone watching the wedding at home on the TV, having decorated the room with bunting and stuff for the occasion.

(Of course, I learnt long ago that what you think you're going to create and what you actually end up with are usually quite different.)

A quick google for "Royal Wedding design" turned up some potentially useful wallpaper from Graham & Brown. So I stole the image and printed it out on A4 paper. Pulled out a Lego Scala TV from one of my houses (it has a great back) and the crown I pulled off the top of a Re-Ment clock (storage beauty #3). Cut out the bunting. And pulled together a test scene to photograph:
Nup. Not right. (Although I wonder now how it would work if I'd made the bunting and had it hanging across the top?)

I quickly added a vintage tea towel Union Jack cushion and shot again:Even worse.

Maybe if I balanced the red of the chair on the other side of the scene? I cut out the party hat from the printables and tried:

Better but still boring.

The hat one the chair?Nup.

By now the next load of washing was done so I stomped downstairs grumbling about it serving me right when I wasn't supposed to be making scenes anyway. And on the way out the back door I noticed the blue version of the red chair waving at me in an "I'm dry enough to play with" way...

And I instantly thought "Royal: blue blood"Nice try but... meh.

I (finally) realise I forgot to add the skirting...Which didn't help much.

Hang on: maybe the issue is that the scene looks lonely! Most people got together to watch the wedding. And (if you want to get deep and meaningful), a pair of chairs, one red (female) and one blue (male) might add extra meaning to the scene:
(You can see the edge of the papers in the photo: I left it there as this series of posts is to show my process. If I'd been satisfied with the test photo, I would have moved the furniture further to the left to shoot the final version)

I'm pretty happy with the test, but swap the chairs around for a second test shot: And decide to leave the scene alone, get on with what I'd planned to do today and wait for further inspiration.

First though, I'll share a shot to the right, showing an idea I had of using the window in the scene, with a picture of a street party outside: And, finally something I threw together as I continued to put things away: my funny little head from the show, looking all regal, wearing a crown and watching the TV... (Crap, maybe that was the scene I was after all along?)

Time taken: Around an hour between clothes washing, lounge tidying, and studio clearing.

Setting the scene: Part Three

2011-05-08T08:05:00.003+10:00

In the spirit of full disclosure of my process in creating a miniature scene, here's a picture of my desk when I got up this morning: I can do one of two things:

1. Push the piles aside to make a new scene (yes, there's one bubbling in my head and it's not the one I started documenting yesterday morning...)
2. Spend some time cleaning up and putting stuff away.

Speaking of which, today I have to dust pack three dolls houses for an exhibition which starts this week, cook lunch for guests and do the housework. So the next scene probably won't be happening any time soon...

A seventeen yearly tradition?

2011-05-07T20:15:00.003+10:00

Looking through the window:

Oct 20 1994: (With the Bay Villa)

May 7 2011:
(With a random piece of cardboard...)

Setting the scene: Part Two

2011-05-07T18:57:00.009+10:00

I was out and about today but came home with lots of new bits and pieces for mini inspiration.

Which means (and this is fairly typical) that the scene I thought I was going to make wasn't the scene I ended up working on.

I started the day with a haircut at the mall. And since I'd reached my $15 off coupon I decided to pop downstairs to Lincraft and see what they had that could be used for minis that I could spend my windfall on.

And left with this... (Which cost a little bit more than $15)

I then headed down to see James at Victorian Dolls Houses to pick up more frames. And I spotted a cheap plastic white window: just what I've been looking for as I'm aware that some of my scenes are lacking a certain depth.

Finally, after lunch and a catch up with a friend, I dropped into the model shop round the corner. only to discover they're closing down! Oh no! But they had 30% off all Tamiya spray paint so I bought some non-black varieties.

I came home. Tested out the metallic red spray paint on some of the ugly brass furniture I have. Cut a hole in the cardboard I use as backing to fit the new window. Attached the black and white bead to an Irwin Interior Decorator lamp shade. Clipped the hanging bit off the top of the silver letter A.

And set up this test scene:(With a still slightly wet chair: if you look carefully you can see the smear on the wall from when it fell over onto the chair with the extra weight of the shelf and the window)(Cropped as it would usually be, without my hands in the frame)

Ignoring the lack of scene out the window (It's in a box. I'll find it tomorrow) I realised, after looking a the photos that there was something else needed. So I added a "blind":And decided that tomorrow, when the paint is dry and the light has returned, this is a scene worth continuing with...

(Time taken: the whole day, on and off)

Setting the scene: Part One

2011-05-07T08:40:00.006+10:00

Call of the Small's recent post on how she puts a scene together came around the same time I was contacted by The Editor of Tiny Times (The Australian Miniatures Enthusiasts' Association magazine) asking if I'd like to write a piece about how my minis have moved out of the the dolls house and into a more ephemeral world.

So I'm playing along with what I'm sure will turn into a miniature meme (you always have the best ideas, CotS!)

I'm finding it almost impossible to make scenes during the week at the moment: a combination of long working hours and autumnal light fading early. So, unlike the 14 minutes Call of the Small's latest scene took, mine will take days, with plans hatching in my head as I eat lunch,drive to work, or drift off to sleep in bed.

My starting point are some recent eBay purchases (yay for having enough extra money in the budget to buy minis occasionally coupled with a lovely AU/ US exchange rate!):

1. This antique table and vases2. These Fisher Price tables (snapped up for a song after remembering Call of the Small's clever use of them as shelves last year) 3. This Art Deco bedroom suite:(All bought for Stephen's apartment, which you can see a bit of in this post)

I wanted a masculine but sumptuous look, something referencing an antique dealing man-about-town.

Reading the latest marie claire the other night I saw this:And remembered a piece of fabric I was given last year which I really didn't know what I was going to do with (and almost sent to the op shop several times)

While pulling it out of the fabric tub I discovered a piece of leopard print carpet which I though might go with the whole feel I was after, using the fabric to upholster the wall. But alas, together, they seemed to moph into a ponderous German between-the-wars feel:
Not what I was looking for at all

I played around a bit. Introduced some more modern touches. Tried the fabric as curtains.
Realised I was probably trying to fit too many pieces into the scene and needed to pare down. And I left the whole idea to mature in my head...

(Time so far: three days, on and off!)

Midweek miniatures

2011-05-05T06:21:00.007+10:00

A link from a friend a couple of days ago pulled up this: "Marc Giai-Miniet is a French artist who looks like Santa Claus and works like a madman, building much of his livelihood on small, fastidiously complex dollhouses, some just 36 inches long and 35 inches wide. "

(Check out pictures of the artist's studio on his site:Jealous yet?)

And you might want to check out The Design Files' guest blog, where Sydney Architect and Designer Scott Weston is in residence, along with a number of his concept models... (images shamelessly nicked from the respective sites)

Still six months behind, alas

2011-05-03T19:22:00.003+10:00

Today I made a visit that's been on my list since the Call of the Small exhibition closed.

And then I came home and knitted some wool I bought while I was in Wellington last year.

*Sigh* One day I'll catch up, I'm sure...

Sofa so good

2011-05-03T07:18:00.002+10:00

Just quickly, before I race off to work:

Joann Swanson's latest blog post includes instructions for making this modern sofa with a base of foamcore:
If you decide to have a go, I'd love to see your end result!

Making modern miniatures: an index?

2011-05-01T15:10:00.003+10:00

Hi guys

Before I launch myself into a new project I thought I should check: is there in existence an index of modern mini projects from the dolls house magazines (Nutshell News/ Dollhouse Miniatures, Dolls House & Miniature Scene, Dolls House World, The Dollshouse Magazine etc etc)?

And if there's not (and before I start driving myself potty with creating one) would you be interested in contributing if I were to set up a wiki similar to Call of the Small's excellent Mini-sizer?

A day-trip to the Sydney Show

2011-05-01T08:34:00.028+10:00

I took the ACT Miniature Enthusiast's bus to the show yesterday. It stopped for a "comfort stop" half way up. On the road between Canberra and Sydney there's not much choice in food: or:or (of course):(which is where we stopped). I did wonder if all the junk food on offer might cause this:
but it seemed everyone was fine.

At the show I met Judy, who has set up Modern Miniatures by Neu, an Australian-based site which deals only in the modern.She's absolutely lovely and coped rather well with my excitement at seeing a whole stall full of things I might just like to buy, either in person or online

I, of course, dragged Div over to meet her too.

Speaking of Div, she's finished the black and white house I visited at her place last year:
It gained a lot of interest
and I was chuffed to read the sign that went with it:
Where else did I visit?

The local Community Centre, which had a library...(I missed the dolls house and miniature section) and a knitting group in the room upstairs...Just down the road I stumbled across an artist's studio open day (you can tell they tidied up especially!) I met Bill, the artist who owned the studio, who told me it was all cardboard. He showed me some of his other cardboard modelsand seemed surprised when I got so excited(Do you think we could convince him to make 1/12th plans and kits if we asked nicely?)

By this time I was completely exhausted with seeing the displays and trying to catch up with friends old and new. So I ducked back to the Community Centre for a quick massagebefore Rooruu whisked me off for our almost traditional trip to IKEA, returning me to the bus just in time for the return trip to Canberra.

So, what did I buy? Not terribly much (but certainly more than I have in previous years):
(Dangly charm things for inspiration board use. Scrapbooking frames to experiment with. Mini rug canvas for a couple of ideas I want to ~~steal~~ try.A swag of plastic bottle tops of some sort to use as plant holders and vases. Some cheapy random bits I picked up for a couple of dollars. Two more sets of IKEA lights. Three magazine back issues (at $2 each, I figured they'd make good bus reading on the trip home: except they didn't have the lights on...). The almost complete stock of vintage plastic houses from the same seller ($2 each!) and some flowers that aren't white for future scenes.)(Just to make you super-envious...)

Credits*: Fast food outlets, Dom Furcciniti. Operating theatre ("Aftermath"), Maree Flaherty. Revell House, Div Williams. Blue Hills Community Centre (Library and Nifty Knitters' Group) by Mountain Miniatures. Art studio and Miniature buildings, Bill Maguire from Leprechaun Miniatures Club. The Pysiotherapist, Colleen Tynan.

(*Yes, I actually got them all for once!)

Show time!

2011-04-30T20:41:00.004+10:00

I realised today that I've never taken a photo of the whole Sydney Mini Fair...There are (of course) more photos. But I'm exhausted.

Tomorrow, I promise.

If it's ugly you should put black paint on it...

2011-04-29T06:57:00.003+10:00

(I'll run out of black spray paint eventually. Really!)

Today's mini makeover features these very shiny (and kinda ugly) side tables, which I bought along with some other (fabulous) items from an eBay estate recently: I figured that a coat of gloss black spray would turn them into something rather Adleresque.

And I was right:
(Call of the Small, and Top Design, you have a lot to answer for!)