23rd of December

It's that time of the year when things are winding down, the end of the year and a summer break is squarely in sight for most people (if not already started!), and I've pulled up the drawbridge until all the madness is over.

So I figured today needed a serene pre-Christmas scene.

(With, of course, the now-mandatory number included...)

Christmas day plans...

...look a lot like this:

(Yes, it's another post where I get out of bed in order to make a scene of my bed so I can tell the world I'm not getting out of bed...) 

It's a Christmas-day tradition around here,

except for last year, which looked more like this (and makes me particularly appreciate my ability to return to tradition for this year):

I hope your day is just what you need it to be.

(Almost) The half-way point...

...and the back of one of yesterday's op-shopped box frames called to me as it sat on my worktable.

So I decided to see what we could come up with (after spending 20 minutes or so having a wee unexpected nap on the sofa: I love the summer break!).

I'd spotted the gold and white striped Lundby lidded bowl in stash last week when rummaging for kitchenware for the asian market-stall scene, and had made a mental note that it could come in useful if I decided to make one of my 'I don't do Christmas, but...' scenes. Especially since Kat had sent me a couple of toning miniature table-top trees in her swap parcel.

It seemed like an easy solution for today's need for a quick blog post solution with little brain to set to the task.

I was particularly pleased when I spotted the number blocks I bought at the 2017 ACTME show, and thought to use them to show the date, and liked the idea of including an empty dolls' house (from Dollhousedesign) to signify the Daily Dolls' House December challenge.

(I'm now a bit concerned that I'll come to the conclusion that it's a brilliant idea to try and include the date and/ or a dolls' house in every post for the rest of the month!)

The banner is from JHD design, bought at the Wellington Underground markets, and I made the 'cut-glass' bottles from some edging I bought at Pete's Emporium, also in Wellington.

As for the rest of the scene: the low cupboard/ coffee table unit was in the same swap parcel from Kat.  The chair is by minisx2: last seen back in 2005. The basket is Rement. And the carpet square and heart-shaped cushion were both Daiso finds...

Christmas post

May your day be just what you need it to be...

A Christmas story

But to read it, you'll need to revisit 2006...

Stocking filler*

May I present to you: The Ghosts of miniature Christmas Past?

(*Because I'm still researching the potential pitfalls of painting Fimo. Oh: and doing important things like buying sparking wine and cherries and dolmades).

In which I accidentally create a Christmas-themed scene...

I only wanted to display the scrollwork side table that was made from a solar light cover (and idea I yoinked from Mad Missy Minis).

But, somehow, the scene that emerged has a decidedly festive bent. *Shrug*.

Actually, I'm quite pleased as it means I got to use the tinsel given to me by Kitty and Kat Miniatures this time last year, The strings of miniature Christmas lights (some deconstructed!) sent to me by Catherine earlier this year. And the 3D-printed wall art given to me by friend Sandra while I was in New Zealand last month.

Time taken (excluding painting time): 20 minutes.

Behind the scenes

Yesterday's christmas-themed scene started while I was editing the February issue of The tiny Times, which is themed 'For the love of miniatures'.

Although the submission deadline isn't until February 10, I know that it's always a bit of a struggle filling the February issue as people are more focused on end-of-year festivities that on writing about what their club and they have been working on recently.

So I figured it might be a good idea to have a couple of scenes ready to fill space, just in case (and besides, it's been two years since any of my miniature work has been published in the magazine!)

At this stage of the editing process I often have a temporary picture for the front cover of the issue: one that would be perfectly adequate if nothing is submitted that would work better, For this issue I decided that my Lucky Dip scene from April would do the job nicely: and if it ended up being the final cover, I could include a DIY project for making the dipped vases.

I remembered last year's never-completed lounge for Seaside Shack, with its wall of heart art, and made a note to finish it off and photograph it just in case.

But before I got to that I noticed the pile of Lundby dolls' house furniture sets I'd been given, sitting on my spare office chair waiting for me to use them. Including the Småland Red LivingRoom Set (60.2081).

And it seemed like the perfect time to finally work some of the (3/4" scale) Lundby pieces into my usual (1/12" scale) scenes.

From this set I chose the picture (of course) and the books (I always need more books). I want to try using the tables in a future scene as wall display shelves, so I put them aside. The sofa and cushion were also put aside as I'm not sure how I'll use them yet...

Also in the pile was a Småland White Bed (60.2062), given to me by a friend and set aside until I had a scene to use the heart-shaped cushions in.

I shopped the stash for other items that might work, including a christmas tree that's been loitering for ages and that I have no memory of acquiring, some scrapbooking paper given to me in a swap from my friend Sandra, and a Tiffany & Co bag from a swap with Phillip Nuveen, which picked up the teal in the love picture.

By this stage I was feeling quite uncomfortable, partly because it's been almost two months since I've made a scene and partly because the whole feel of what I'm putting together is so not my usual style...

Then, just to add the discomfort, I decided that this would be the perfect scene to finally try and make a bath sofa for. I've only been wanting to make one in miniature for 20 years, since I used to sit in one at our local after-work drinking spot in Wellington.

Luckily, I have a couple of Chrysnbon bathroom kits set aside for just such an occasion.

Initially, I was trying to work out how to cut a curved line out of the front of it, but after some googling of pictures of bath sofas, I decided that it would be easier all round if I just cut straight across the front.

So, secure in the knowledge that I had a spare if I completely wrecked my first attempt, I attached a length of masking tape where I wanted to make the cut, drew a guide line onto it, help my breath and turned on the scroll saw.

And all was well!

In the end I was a bit over the whole thing. There are a couple of things I should have tweaked, but all in all I'm happy with the results of my experiments: I discovered that Lundby works well in 1/12 scale (there are actually five Lundby items in the final scene), and I now have a miniature bath sofa, which crosses one more thing off my mini wish list!

December decorating

Tonight's scene started with an image I cut out of a catalogue some months ago. Of course, the end result ended up only vaguely referencing the original, but it's appropriately festive for this time of the year (for those who do that sort of thing), so I'm happy.

Here's the original image, which I cut out because the lamp was similar to the one in the parcel that Elvira sent me in June this year, and the picture easily replicable from the one in the package Pepper sent in September last year. The fact I discovered plentiful supplies of miniature pinecones recently sealed the deal:

Of course things didn't go quite according to plan, I have the perfect desk for the scene. Unfortunately too buried to find this early in December, So I used the vintage German cupboard I (finally) mended last night as a base.

Then I discovered that I don't seem to own a plain white ceramic bowl (let alone a slightly grey version). Not to worry, I substituted the rectangular one that Mad for Mod sent me in February this year.

And of course I don't have white-dipped wooden bead vases. Or that plate. So it was at this stage that things went off-plan. While looking for plate options that might work, I found a wooden star, And the angel that Penelope sent to me in the returned Bellabox in September.

Suddenly my generic-themed copy of a catalogue image had turned into a meaningful display of items gifted to me by various blog buddies. I'm satisfied (but still off to buy a plain white bowl, And find my beautiful new desk...)

Join me for lunch...

(Credits: Table: Dolls House Emporium. Chairs and lamp: MitchyMoo Miniatures. Sushi: Show find. Wine glasses: At home with Hello Kitty)

All is calm, all is bright

(Credits on Flickr)

Quiet and contemplative

Not matter what your plans are for tomorrow, or what you beliefs are, I hope you have a quiet, contemplative and relaxing day. With too much good food. And a present you bought for yourself, just because.

(I'm giggling as I realise it seems I don't own a miniature beer can: I only noticed this one was full of wine when I was loading the photo...)

Done and dusted*

(*Not without some swearing)

 Look! A change of level! Poles! And properly fitted day bed cushions!

The tea sign stayed. And was joined by a vintage lace table cloth (a lunch-time op shop find for $2)

The sideboard is set up for a light celebratory lunch (glasses courtesy of the latest At Home with Hello Kitty magazine: $12.95 for four wine glasses, four champagne glasses and a water jug seemed a worthwhile investment.)

It's a lovely day outside. Perhaps a walk outside on the beach is in order later this afternoon (once the UV levels have dropped a bit).

Speaking of outside, here's the wider view of the scene:

(The swearing was caused by the frustration of  working in my very hot studio after a very trying day and attempting to keep several bits of cardboard in the right place to stop light coming through, with blobs of Blu Tack which kept failing.

Often, just as I'd lined up a shot, this would happen:

I'm so over this scene... See part 1 here, part 2 here and part 3 here)

Christmas at the coast

So while I should be working on more important things on my list of what needs to be done to finish this scene (re-cover day bed seat and make cushions, finish and mount pictures, then complete the latest crazy plan which involves moving the kitchen side of the scene up so there's a step-down to the sun room and adding posts to hold the roof up along the edge), I find myself putzing...

... Filling the dresser shelves with crockery just so.

... Digging out one of the two miniature Christmas trees I own and playing with night scenes. 

... And finding myself compelled to visit Officeworks on the way to work to buy a packet of miniature bunting I spotted there on my last visit, which would be perfect for the windows...

Looks like it's Christmas at the coast this year.

(Edited to add: See part 1 here, part 2 here and the final instalment here)

Out of practice

I thought today would be a good day to dip my toe back into the mini water.

Alas I hadn't realised how out of practice I've become. :-(

(The details:
Flooring: back of a vintage scrabble board. Wall: paiinted placemat.
Table: AG Minis sofa on its side. Chairs: from a set of plastic shot glasses I picked up at an op shop for $1. Lamp: AG Minis (upside down). Star garland: made from black cotton and silver stickers. Modern 'Christmas tree': top of a L'eau D'issey perfume bottle. Tray: Rement paint box lid. Jug, glasses and metal bowl: various shows)