In the studio

While I was in the middle of the craziness and stress of packing to shift (date not quite known) from a place I'd lived in for almost 20 years and (as no doubt you noticed) not being in a position to find the time or space to create any minis, Uppercase magazine announced submissions for a feature on subscriber studios.

'Rats' I thought as I looked around my studio, which was stacked with boxes. 'That's not going to work'.

And then I decided that I had nothing to lose, and got cheeky.

Uppercase had previously published an article I'd written about miniatures. And the submission didn't say that the 'subscriber studio' had to be full-sized. So I decided that there was nothing to lose, and submitted pictures of some of the miniature studios I'd created over the years, saying:

'I bought my first home earlier in the year and am waiting for the tenants to move out, and packing my current residence (including my studio).
While my current studio is in boxes, I can dream of my new space and gain inspiration from the one-twelfth scale miniature studios I've previously created...
(I'm delighted to see how often Uppercase magazine features in my miniature creative spaces!)'

 And so I was very pleased to read this, in the magazine, on the balcony of my new home, soon after I'd (finally!) moved in:

I'm a 'grown-ass lady'. Who knew?

We're in the latest issue of Bust magazine. Pop over to Call of the Small for a looksie...

Oh such sweet sweet irony...

You might remember, almost twelve months ago, that I wrote a post about how I'd spotted two books titles with miniatures used on the cover on the same display stand in a local bookshop.

And how, when I got home, I tried to find out who had created the cover and decided I'd have buy a copy of the book (which was on social anthropology, so would have been on my list anyway). I wondered if they indicated a new trend in book cover design, and, if so, how I could be involved.

I added the book to my wish list. And there it stayed as my book-buying budget had became quite curtailed.

After this year's miniature convention, a friend and I spent a few days in The Blue Mountains, where we visited our favourite mountains book shop, and I discovered a few books from my wish list on the remainder table, deeply discounted.

Including the one with the miniatures on the cover.

Over a glass of wine, my friend asked what the book was about, so I turned it over to read her the back cover blurb. And found this:

 (And almost spilled my wine in shock.)

It was a weird feeling: one of the things I'd said at ProBlogger was that I wanted one of my images published on a book cover, and it had happened. Unfortunately I'd known nothing about it and it was only a series of coincidences that made me aware of the fact. On one hand, I felt proud and chuffed. On the other: quite violated.

So I wrote a letter to the publisher, which I posted last month. And yesterday I received a reply:

Today, with a feeling of all's well that ends well, I can now proudly say:

MY WORK'S BEEN PUBLISHED ON A BOOK COVER! *squee*!

Awww, thanks guys!

The Dolls' House Magazine made my day.

A(nother) good mail day

Look what I found in the post box today,

 with this on page 29!

I originally made the scene back in 2011 inspired by a number of gifts I'd received, from M1K1, Call of the Small and Mitchymoo Miniatures.

And I liked the photos so much I still use one as the wallpaper on my phone:

The tiny Times: some work and some play!

The August issue of The tiny Times is finished, printed and delivered (well, to Australian-based members anyway*).

And my mind turns to the next issue. Based on some of the very cool miniatures I saw on display at the May Sydney show, I convinced my Editor to make the theme of the November issue 'Out of the ordinary'.

I also convinced her that our next Editorial Retreat needs to be in The Blue Mountains so we can drop in to visit Lewis and Marilyn's studio.

Continuing on the theme, I showered and dressed on Sunday morning just gone to visit The Old Bus Depot Markets in Kingston where I tried not to be a complete fan girl in front of Marisa and David from Suitcase Dollhouse.

You understand why now?

(And possibly even more when I mention that Marisa made the stop-motion animation Tegan the Vegan, which I had a wee rave about a few months ago).

 I own one of their fabulous National Library matchbox buildings,

and have an invite to visit their studio!

(*Want to subscribe? AMEA membership includes four magazines a year and costs just $A35 for the first year for Australian addresses and $A45 for international addresses. After that it's just $A25 and $A35 a year.)

It looks like a rooly trooly magazine!

Monochrome miniatures in the May mag...

Thanks to Pepper from Mitchymoo Miniatures for emailing me to let me know we're 'magazine mates' in the May issue of The Dolls' House Magazine:

The newsagents here still have the February issue on the shelves, so I'll have to wait patiently to get my hands on a hard copy. 

Oddly enough, after I'd answered some questions from the magazine several months ago I'd pretty much forgotten all about it. So seeing the screen dump Pepper sent was a surprise end to a pretty blah week.

A triple treat

On the way back home after taking Miss Daisy in for a service this morning, I dropped past the newsagents to pick up my mags and took the opportunity to flick through the January issue of The Dolls' House Magazine to see if they happened to have used any of my photos in it.

The answer would be yes

yes

 and yes!

(I'm particularly chuffed that my playroom scene was their top choice for November...)

February flick-through

Look what I discovered in my post box this morning:

Me with the February 2014 issue of The tiny Times

My first issue of The tiny Times as Assistant Editor!

And, since Cider Teak wanted another vlog post:

More exciting than I expected!

I was a bit excited at the beginning of October, when I saw the first images of 'my' cover on the November issue of The Dolls House magazine.

I was a bit more excited at the end of October, when my very own copy arrived in the mail (sorry, that was a Facebook-only share)

But yesterday, when I visited the newsagents after work to pick up a couple of extra copies for my archives, I couldn't believe how jump-up-and-down-in-glee excited I was to be nestled in there amongst all the 'professional' people (who, I realise, probably do exactly the same when they see their work on the news stands...*)

(*Right, Jodie?)

Latest news

It's been a wee bit quiet round these parts lately: my mind's been other things (including a new job). But I have news!

News items number one

I finally have miniature Emeco Navy chairs, something I've been after for many, many years.

Many thanks to Etsy seller Amparo, who was able to accommodate my request to tweek her kitchen table chairs for my needs.

News items number two

I sorted my work table, which has been covered with a mountain of fabulous things to play with for many weeks, and has been so overwhelming every time I've looked at it than I've run away rather than create a scene.

News items number three

The Dolls' House magazine chose one of my photos to use on the front cover of their November issue. (Anyone who's been reading this blog for a while would understand the complete irony of it being their Colour Issue...)

 Oh, and there's an article on my yellow table challenge inside as well.

Mid-week news

There is excitement in the air at The House of TSS this week.

Firstly, I popped up in The Huffington Post again yesterday.

Secondly, I'm in discussions with a major international newspaper which is wanting to publish a photo essay of my work.

Thirdly, for those of you who read this via your feed reader, you might want to pop over to my new page and have a look (excuse the smell of new paint and piles of sawdust and tools: it's still very new. And, hopefully, very temporary. Let's call it an online pop-up shop, shall we?)

Hello, Huffington Post

Well that was an exciting start to the day...

(FYI: Huffington Post are currently running a series on tiny homes full of wonderful inspiration)

Guess that means I'll be getting back into minis again, then...

I've just been offered a rooly trooly book deal. With a rooly trooly publisher (none of this self-publish nonsense*). And a rooly trooly advance**.

Am still in shock, as the possibility only came to light 74 hours ago.

Alas I suspect a lot of what I'm doing over the next three months mini-wise will be a wee bit secret squirrel, but I promise to share what I can.

(*Not that I'm meaning to put down self publishing. I think it's great)
(** Before you ask, not enough to quit my job and live the life of a disheveled writer)

(Sorry about the random non-miniatury photo: my first pair of reading glasses arrived yesterday and I was practicing looking all writerly)

Current priorities

1. Finish overdue swaps

2. Finalise Moments in Miniature book for an exhibition with submissions due in less than two weeks

3. Create stock and gather all the other stuff needed for our stall at the Sydney Mini Show next month.

Most definitely not on the list:(Whoops...)

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

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...

Keeping you in suspenders*

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)

Wrapping up last weekend

(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!)