Little by little

I feel like I've opened a Pandora's box of photos and stories that I meant to blog, but...

As the panic started to rise around the fact I was blogging X, which happened after Y, I stopped, took a deep breath and decided I'd blog things as they came to the top of the list, whether or not they made chronological sense (to me, at least).

First up, I'd like to dedicate a whole blog post to the pictures I took of Div William's 1/48 scale model of Rose Seidler house:

I left the edge of the lazy susan it sat on in the image below, so you can see just how small and perfectly-formed the model is...

or, if you prefer, here's my hand for scale:

Once again, she's got the details just right.

(Although it seems I neglected to take a photo of the mural on the patio wall).

Popping in to collect my Bad Blogger award...

It's over half way through 2018, and I've blogged a total of five times. And I don't even remember the last time I made a scene...

Life's got in the way (thankfully, in a good way). Since the beginning of this year, I've

• changed jobs (within the same, awesome, team I've been in since the beginning of 2016, but in an expanded role. But I've still had to getting to grips with expanded duties)
• accidentally bought my first home (two years earlier than planned).

I'm excited about my new home (I think), but I've been dealing with the fact that it's tenanted until the end of 2018: and there's been some issues with the notice they've been given (now all sorted, thankfully). But that meant that for a few months I was living in a situation where I was packing in case they gave a couple of weeks' notice to move (not fun when you're packing a place you've lived in for almost 20 years...).

I realise that during this time I completely forgot to blog my trip to this year's Sydney Miniatures & Dollhouse Fair (although I did post in Instagram). So finally (and belatedly), here's what caught my eye...

This chap was on Kim Murdoch's stall and I thought encapsulated our feelings just before the door to the show opened (I was fortunate enough to gain early access this year, even without having a stall or an official position on The tiny Times).

A peek into a secret garden made by members of the Miniature Makers and Collectors club.

Long-time readers may remember Div Williams made and displayed a 3/4" scale model of Rose Seidler House back in 2008/ 2009. This year at the show she displayed another model of it: this one in quarter-inch scale:

There were a few gardens in the Miniature Makers and Collectors club display that caught the attention of my camera. This Japanese one:

this one, which felt to me like it was in Bali:

and this poor chap:

Lidi Stroud was displaying Willunga Cottage, based on a real-life cottage in South Australia (I believe she's planning a class on how to build one...),

She was also displaying her completed Venetian building: which I thought I'd blogged as a work in progress previously, but can't find: so suspect it was in The tiny Times instead...

(I have photos of the interior but for the sake of actually getting a post published, I'll find and publish them later).

And then there's her other build, Flourish & Blotts:

I don't know who made this workshop scene, which I had to take a photo of because I'm a sucker for well-used workspaces.

Another Kim Murdoch doll, in a build by Cassandra Stevens. Another one I know I photographed previously, but obviously for The tiny Times, not here...

And this chap on the roof felt just like I think most of us felt by the end of the day!

So,what came home with me?

First up, I was delighted that Minis by Twinmum had remembered a conversation we'd had at the 2016 show, where I'd said one of my holy grails still unrealised in miniature was a Philippe Starck Bubu stool, which perhaps her 3D printer could magic up for me

She gave it* to me for free, because she said she wasn't able to get a 'decent print'. I didn't really care as it was at least the right scale.

(*Yes, there was more: keep reading to see just how generous she was to me, and how happy that made me feel).

Speaking of free, this chap was one of my first acquisitions, from a freebie box:I was delighted by my discovery and decided there and then that there was quite a story attached to the chap: I just had to find out what it was and build a scene around it.

Later in the weekend I weakened and bought this lass from the same stall: as I was sure that they belonged together (and for $2 for both, who was I to quibble?)

And here's the full recap of what I brought home with me. And which I am looking forward to playing with once life settles down...

1. The black and white edit
Including two Philippe Starck Prince Aha stools from Minis by Twinmum...

2. The yellow and orange collection
More Prince Aha stools (gifted) and retro kitchen cannisters (bought) from Minis by Twinmum. Our lass, a piece of modern art (which by now I can't remember where I got it but it was either cheap or free), a French feve and a bottle and glasses of red wine (because I always need glasses of wine!)

3. Got the blues
Art, Sebel chairs, and retro kitchen cannisters bought from from Minis by Twinmum.

4. Black and gold
Because you know how I like these colours combined...

5. Kits
Yes, I bought another tray kit, plus the latest from JWT Dollshouses and Miniatures. When I'll get to them, I don't know.

6. Treasures
I prevaricated about both of these for almost the whole weekend, but am glad I decided to buy them.

The box is by Alan Waters. The metronome was (I thought) Petite Princess but now I'm not so sure.

Nevertheless, I am in need of a metronome, so this will do.

The Golden Film Festival

Fifty seems to mean 'films' around here. This week at least.

You see, one of the local independent cinema chains has a 'Birthday Club' which offers members $5 films the week of their birthday. And there are rather a lot of films on my list of things to see. So I'll be spending a lot of time this week sitting in the dark feeling frugal.

Speaking of cinemas, here's Lewis's latest creation, The Egyptian cinema, on display at the Sydney Show:

And a quick video to show the full awesomeness of the lighting:

(He had me at the sight of the vintage Vespa parked outside...)

I forgot to take a photo of the inside of the ticket booth, but it contains the story details I've come to expect from Lewis, such as the counter top being worn down in the middle, and a half-finished lunch sitting in the corner.

And outside the lobby there's a whole story happening, involving a certain time-travelling dwarf:

Still at the show...

I'm feeling so far behind, mini-wise. It's been almost two months since I've had a chance to make something and it looks like it'll be a while yet before I get the chance to do anything miniature-related for fun.

This weekend I finally made the time to start sorting out the photos I took of the displays at the Sydney Show.

First up is this 1970s house displayed by Mountains Miniatures (that's the club that Margell came from: I was most disappointed that they didn't have a sales stall this year).

I realised that didn't take photo of all the rooms: probably because I thought I'd photographed and shared it in a previous year. Rebecca has, however.

Here's the upstairs hallway,

 the lounge,

 and a couple of views of the kitchen:

(The theme for the August issue of The tiny Times is 'In the kitchen': that last image is a strong contender for the cover...)

Sydney show stash: 2016

I wanted to share my finds with you last weekend, but the weather closed in on Sunday and so the lighting was terrible for taking photos. And since it's now autumn here, and I'm in full-time employment at the moment, catching the light during the week is becoming almost impossible.

Of course, the good thing about being in full-time employment is that I had more money to spend at the show this year than I did last year.

First up, the black and white pieces. These included some daisy fabric given to me by Jennifer, and some embroidered slippers made for me by Judy Foster (who also made the black and white stitched cushion that I bought,)

The  black and white flower cushions were by Dianne Cotterill, who told me she thought of me when she made them (clever woman). The white kitchenware with black edging were from Chells [sic] Miniature Corner, as were the black and white cupcakes. JWT Dollshouses & MIniatures had the white containers and bowls. The owls were from Liz (I think), and the 3D-printed plant pot, gnomes and vases were new lines from MinisByTwinMum. Finally, the crate bookcase was from Handmade by Andrea (I realised I was never going to get around to making my own).

Then I surprised myself by buying a collection of yellow items. I forgot to note which stall the cushions came from, or the bedding set. The Yellow pitcher and glasses set and the yellow spotty planter were new offerings from MinisByTwinMum, the champagne bottle and glass were from Kim's Minis, and the laundry basket from The Doll House.

There were blue items too: another bedding set, more 3D-printed pieces from MinisByTwinMum and a cheap bed and balls of wool from two stalls I forgot to note.

And more bargains: the set of stools and a fold-up table, icebox (which I want to use as the basis of a speak-easy door), and bento box came from one stall which was having a close-out sale (I took their card but have misplaced it...) The picture of the sad-looking skinny woman was $1 in a bargain box and the cushions were $1. And there's a second cheap bed, which I'm probably going to paint.

And, finally, there are the kits. (Like I need more kits). The Hoover Constellation is, once again, new from MinisByTwinMum. I didn't need the kitchenware kit but it was only $3 *shrug*. The display cases will be interesting, and I couldn't resist the wooden spoons and tray kit.

Hmmm... perhaps it's time to resurrect Finish it off Friday?