Where to find modern miniatures: Part 2 (Furniture and accessories)

Have you caught the modern mini bug after last week's round-up of houses? Or perhaps you're thinking that maybe (just maybe) you could bring your Victorian dolls house kicking and screaming into the 21st century...

The following is a list of some of my favorite sources for buying modern miniatures (and a couple that look interesting but I haven't bought from. Yet!).

Unfortunately some of the best ranges (in my opinion) are now discontinued, but it may be worth setting up eBay alerts for if you're truly dedicated.
1. AG Minis. Alas, now discontinued and fairly highly sought after by collectors, this range was produced by American Girl between about 2000 - 2003.

I was fortunate enough to stumble across their sell-out sale and bought all the pieces I loved at about half the regular price. They had a particularly good range of diner furniture (Lil's Diner) and a rather fabulous shoe shop (Petite Boutique) if you're into that sort of thing.

Voltage was 12 volt but the plugs needed to be changed if you wanted to use the lights in your standard 1/12th lighting system.

My pick: Orange "inflatable" chair and blue atomic cushion from the Blue Room add-ons set. From this set I'm also currently using both (reversible) pictures and the vase of orange flowers, so it was money well spent. 2. Delph miniatures A UK based company with a wonderful range of appliances, office furniture and supplies, prepackaged food everything you might need for your miniature hairdressing salon. Well worth a visit.

My pick:I snapped up the coffee plunger the minute I saw it and also have their CD rack and Electric kettle in my Kaleidoscope House living area plus their binders , a document box and wallet in the study.

3. The Dolls House Emporium has a selection of modern furniture and accessories (but won't let me borrow their images...) Be careful though as some of their pieces run rather large. I bought their Bang & Olufsen stereo and ended up sending it back as it was just too big...

My pick:I believe their modern bathroom pieces are the best around (and very Starck)
4. ELF Miniatures Another UK based company who specialise in up-to-the-minute kitchens, bathroomsand bedrooms for your dolls' house.

My pick: Can I just move into that kitchen above? Pretty please with a cherry on top? 5. Kaleidoscope House furniture. Now discontinued, of course.

The furniture was designed by Jasper Morrison, Ron Arad, Michael Graves and Karim Rashid. Accessories by Jonathan Adler and artwork by Peter Halley, Carroll Dunham, Mel Kendrick, Mel Kruger and others. What wasn't to love? There was even promise of a 1/12th scale Marc Newson car which never eventuated.

My pick:Hard as it is to decide, I'd go with the Jasper Morrison sectional sofa. 6. Kari Bloom Miniton Miniatures for great modern (and retro) sofas and chairs. Loving this 50s style rita chair!

7. Lundby. As I said last last week, this range would work if you were happy to move into 3/4 scale.

A number of the accessories would also work well in 1/12th scale, especially those that in real life come in a range of sizes (lights, bowls, books, rugs, pictures, dogs, cats and plants, for example)

My pick: I particularly like the rice paper ceiling lights and metal lights, although if I wanted them to be working lights in a 1/12th scene I have to change the wiring from 4 volt (Lundby standard) to 12 volt (1/12th scale standard).8. Our Generation Miniatures Also discontinued. They were similar to the AG Minis line but cheaper (I believe they were mainly sold in Target in the States, but I also spotted a couple of sets in a department store in Windsor, England in 2003.)

My pick:They had fabulous iMac computers!

9. Reac Designer Chair Collections 1-5. You've heard me praise these several times already, and with good cause. 1/12th scale models of some of the most famous chairs in the world? At decent prices (around $24.95 each of you buy them retail in Australia, less if you buy them direct from Hong Kong on eBay)? What's not to love?!

My pick: Buy them all!

10. Re-ment My Room furniture and accessories. (Watch out as Rement does a large range of pieces in 1/6th Barbie/ Blythe scale. You're not after those, you're after the smaller (now discontinued, I believe - the story of a modern miniaturist's life!) versions. Once again, eBay is probably your best bet.)

My pick: I particularly love the shelf cubes and the bubble clock.

11. The House that Jacq Built. Another UK based company which I don't know much about but has some interesting-looking pieces...

12. eBay. A standard Houses, Miniatures search for (modern,contemporary) can often pull up all sorts of interesting bits and pieces. Make sure you check the 'Worldwide' option for the best selection of goodies!

Baby steps

I've just opened my Made It store, even though there's only one thing in it at the moment. Yeah, I thought I'd go for the whole minimalist approach...

Seriously though, I figured I had to start sometime and if I waited until I had a huge teetering pile of beautiful goodies to list it might just never happen.

I'm thinking a small constant stream of new things might be easier all round than nothing for ages and a huge deluge once a month.

So there you go. Notice the nice new badge link over there on the left for your convenience.

Comments, ideas and (constructive!) criticism more than welcome!

A random Sunday afternoon post

It was a late night last night as it was J's 40th birthday party. So I had a slow start this morning.

I tried to do some sewing but the sewing mojo seems to have gone elsewhere for the day. After the second stuff-up I decided to give it a rest.But not before cleaning out my sewing machine tool box. I've had my sewing machine since 1983. So why is it I've still not worked out exactly what all these bits that came with it are for and how to use them? Maybe I should add that to the list of things I want to learn this year (Is there a sewing machine feet course available, do you think?)Since actually sewing wasn't going to be a happening thing today I thought I'd have a play with the idea of selling some of the vintage fabric I've collected. This is one set of fat quarters I put together which I plan to list on Made it.A post-lunch supermarket chocolate run was in order and I discovered stealth Kiwi food supplies!

I've not been focusing on the Woolies Select chocolate biscuit line but today realised it seems to be pretty much the entire NZ Griffins choccie bikkie line, repackaged!

Also discovered were "Pineapple Blocks" which I found in the lolly aisle skulking on the bottom shelf half hidden behind a pole. I can attest that they don't taste too different to the real thing (not that I've had the real thing for months)And I found a new time-waster: virtual Message in a bottle, and a rediscovered old favorite: Rockstarter - Make your own damn band!

And now I think it's about time for an afternoon nap...

Second Hand Saturday: all fabric, all the time!

Guess that answers my question as to whether I'll be partaking in Use What You Have Month for a third month running, then...

At least my faith in the op shops of the Canberra region is restored. On the other hand, my faith in my ability to actually get through all my stash is looking very shaky.

Do you think there's a market for vintage fabric fat quarter bundles?

Mirror in the bathroom...

Who do I see?

My small lunch guest on his best look don't touch behaviour.He enjoyed the company of my smaller lunch guest (who didn't seem so sure about his new friend's exuberance!)and happily modelled his favorite jumper for me:

How was your lunch?

Today is Singapore's National Day...

...and also the day my final payment was due for my November cruise to Singapore. Sort of fitting, I thought.

I'm a sad woman though - I was toying with the idea of buying a portable sewing machine to take with me to set up in my cabin. The thought of 18 days with no sewing was just too scary. Luckily I saw sense and talked myself out of such a mad cap scheme...

(Image courtesy of the Singapore Tourism Board)

"What I've got for free" Wednesday

I had other plans for today's post but since I've not been able to deliver my first Pay it Forward gift as planned that will have to wait... (which reminds me - I still have one spot free if you'd like to join in!)

Instead here's a twist on my old Friday Frugal and Free posts. I've been pretty lucky this past week with free stuff:

* On Wednesday last week I got free tickets to see Boynton Beach Club coutesy of Canberra Theatre. I wonder how Hopscotch Films manage to stay in business when there are free tickets available to pretty much everything they release? I shouldn't complain as it makes me a happy girl indeed!* Also on Wednesday, the latest issue of Inside Out mag dropped into my post box with a set of free postcards attached. Pity I'm in no mood to update my notice board at the moment...

* Then Made it offered me free credit to list stuff this week. Unfortunately I'm running way WAY behind with this plan (blame the order fairy. Not a bad thing!)

* On Thursday Princess B and I noticed this sign in the window of Rowie's:and now Princess B's fridge is decorated thus:

(my cake was free anyway since Princess B paid for it. Just as well as I made a sticky mess all over her car...)

* On Friday I got a very nice bottle of wine from work (plus a slap up lunch) Both were consumed before pictures could be taken.

* Saturday saw Princess B and I get free entry to The Powerhouse Museum since I've got membership for the next 3 years...

* ... and we both got a free Home Beautiful magazine. Princess B also got a free newspaper but I wasn't interested.

That damned rabbit...

It would seem that Trudy has been lead astray by Lulu and got into the yarn stash at Knit 1 Blog 1.

I think I need to go and have a talk with her tomorrow...

My kitchen has reached a state of satorial splendour

Today at Woolies I spotted white sponges!

After doing the happy dance (luckily there was no one else in the aisle), I scooped up the entire supply and whisked them home. Which means I now have a three and a half year supply of sponges to go with my black rubber gloves. (I'm stopping myself from visiting every other supermarket in the city and cleaning (hardy har) them out too.)

My dish washing accessories coordinate. My life is fulfilled.

Where to find modern miniatures: Part 1 (Houses)

I'm very aware that finding modern dolls houses, furniture and accessories often takes a lot more digging that buying the standard Victorian. So over the next couple of weeks I'd like to share some of the sources I've found for modern houses (this week) and furniture and accessories (next week).

All items are standard 1/12th scale unless I mention otherwise. If I miss something out, please leave me a comment or drop me an email!1. The Dolls House Emporium stocks the Malibu Beach House (see above) which is available in a number of kit options plus fully assembled. They also have a miniature Mackintosh House and furniture and a Lutyens House for the 20th century purists among us.

2. Across the pond, Real Good Toys offers a contemporary ranch house kit.

3. If you're lucky you might be able to track down a Kaleidoscope House by Bozart Toys. eBay is probably your best bet at this stage as it's been out of production for quite some years. 4. Villa Sibi by Wolfgang Sirch & Christoph Bitzer is a true modernist house (and is currently on sale at Modern Nursery.)5. If price was no object I would have commissioned Mark Turpin to build me a house like Diamante .6. If you're happy to consider 3/4 scale, check out the new Lundby Stockholm house (with pull out patio and pool!)

Do you find this odd?

These are the adverts at Canberra airport baggage carousel...Betya don't get that anywhere else!

(Oh - and does that first one come in pink?)

My day in pictures (because I'm too stuffed to write screeds)

Today was:

1. An early start down at Pyrmont for the Good Living Growers' Market2. Followed by a wander around Darling Harbour while waiting for The Powerhouse Museum to open3. And the first Krispin K tour of the season (cue applause and cheering)Which, as self designated Head Nigel Sutton Groupie, I have to say was fabulous. (Luckily it's the truth!)4. This year we were extremely lucky to have not just the Krispin K tour, but also a Krispin K show in the afternoon
Which was just brilliant. He's promised it'll be up on the Powerhouse site sometime soon so I'll keep an eye out for it and add a link.

The sights of Sydney

So what's a girl to do with a day off in Sydney? Check out a gallery or two? Have a wander round Pitt Street Mall? Check out the Japanese craft books at Kinokuniya?

Of course not, I had a whole new suburb's worth of op shops to check out!

Meet Marrickville. Three op shops (and lots of discount stores and cheap crappy fabric shops.)

Op shop one: Salvos. Thumbs down big time, unfortunately. Were they playing "Salvos Radio" (is there such a thing?!) or just a happy clappy radio station? Whichever, it put me quite off. The shop was dark and cluttered, the stock looked particularly sad and tired. I bought nothing.

Further down the street, op shop two: The Smith Family (I fought the urge to have a two minute silence outside for the death of Canberra's Smith Family Shop)Once again, it was small and cluttered and nothing jumped out at me. No groovy vintage linen or fabric and no wool to be seen at all...

So by the time I got to the bottom of the hill and op shop three, I wasn't expecting much. But then I noticed the sign said St Vincent de Paul Society not Vinnies. My heart lept. My breath quickened. Yes! I had found an old style Vinnies!They had woo... err yarn (very lurid colours very odd ingredients. I left it alone). They had buttons (I bought 13, for a total of $1.30 - slight more than I'm used to paying but I was getting kinda desperate to buy something) Still no decent fabric or knitting needles but after the last two stops I was happy enough.
But on the whole, I won't be in a tearing hurry to head back to the op shops of Marrickville next time I'm in town.

Wanna see my picture on the cover...

The latest edition of The Tiny Times arrived today and I'm so chuffed to see my picture on the cover (and page 6, and page 10, oh and there I am again on page 22!)

I suppose this means I should actually, you know, make some miniatures sometime soon...

The Fiscal Fast: one month on

I figured a month on from the end of my Fiscal Fast would be a good time to revisit the ol' finances and see what's changed and what hasn't.

There have been a couple of ouchy expenses this month - my medical insurance was due and I also had winter electricity and gas bills turn up. Plus the matter of an unplanned-for visit from the vet for the Fluffmeister. But generally, I'm pleased to say, habits started last month have held pretty steady. I'm particularly chuffed by that low Entertainment spend.

Changes which are still in place:

* I continue to bake my own bread, and am getting itchy to try out some more creative loaves.

* I'm also still making my own hummus, making fudge instead of buying chocolate and baking biscuits.

* Grocery-wise, I'm still buying local and organic wherever possible, which is sometimes more expensive but since I'm eating almost 100% at home, still works out cheaper overall (I can count the number of times I ate out this month on one hand). For instance the change from Home Brand UHT skim milk to organic has caused my milk costs to rise from $1 a litre to $2.60. But it's worth it. I'm also trundling off to the Farmers' Markets at sparrow's fart on Saturday mornings to buy my fruit and veges.

* After much gnashing of teeth and wailing I decided to cancel my holds on UK Vogue and UK Elle at the newsagents, thus saving me $24 a month. I seem to spend my time reading blogs rather than magazines these days so having a constant backlog sitting scowling at me is causing mucho stress. And when I do read either of these titles I find myself aghast at how much people are prepared to pay for clothing. Maybe I'm finally getting old?

* Speaking of paying for clothing, the only item I bought in July was one pair of shoes. For $20.

* Finally, all of the above has given me the option to go down to 3 days a week in paid work, giving me more time to work on The Shopping Sherpa and other stuff. Which I'm pretty excited about.

If you did a Fiscal Fast with me in June, I'd be interested to hear what's happening a month down the track with you...

Town House. Country House.

Here's a miniature project I did a few years ago with a couple of small sized Bas frame from IKEA ($4.95 each). Because I already had most of the materials I used for the project the boxes didn't cost much more than $20 to complete in total!For the Town House balcony:

First I masked off the glass area on both sides then sprayed both inside and out with a couple of coats of White Knight Spray Stone, an aerosol product that produces a finish that looks just light asphalt. Perfect for the industrial city look I was after.

While this was drying I found a picture in a Belle magazine which would give the illusion of the balcony being part of a bigger block of apartments. Cutting this to the same size as the wood backing of the frame, I glued it in place.

I measured a scrap piece of bass wood to fit over the bottom part of the picture for the balcony front, then a piece of mini corrugated iron from a model shop, which I carefully bent over the top and glued in place.

Finally, I cut a length of dowel to fit across above the balcony wall, painted it gloss black (by pushing a pin into one end which I used to hold it while I was painting then to suspend it from my drying rack on the laundry door to dry)

Once the Spray Stone was dry, I peeled off the masking from the glass and cut a floor piece from a piece of sandpaper. Then all that was left to do was chose and arrange the furnishings while I waited for the black dowel to dry enough to be glued in place.

I already had the folding chair which I stained with coloured wood wax, but if I was making this again I'd probably buy something like this which has a much more modern and IKEA-like look about it.

For a true inner city vibe I added a laptop, a cordless phone handset, a coffee mug and a stovetop espresso maker (which started out life as a zipper pull that a fellow miniature friend gave to me. Removal of the hanging tag with a pair of wire cutters, a lick of black model paint in the usual spots and it turned into one of my favorite mini pieces...)

For the Country House balcony:

I wanted a much more laid-back holiday vibe for this piece to contrast with the Town House balcony. When I found the beach picture for the back wall in a back issue of Australian House & Garden the rest of the box fell into place.

Once again, I masked off the glass on both sides but this time I painted the box with a tester pot I bought to match the colour of the apartment building in the picture, which I glued onto the back wall.

The balcony railing was built on top of the picture, using a layer of greaseproof paper to stop the glue seeping onto the actual picture. I cut scrap basswood to size, glued it together and once it was dry, painted it with a second test pot I'd bought to go with the trim colour of the apartment building in the picture.

The sun on the wall was an earring I'd had tucked away in my mini workbox for years which I painted with a mat terracotta coloured model paint.

Tiled flooring was was made from a piece of black cardboard from the newsagents which I then glued squares of terracotta coloured card to, making sure to leave space for the "grouting" to show through.

Once the railing and box were dry, I removed the masking off the glass, glued the railing to the back and the sun sculpture to the wall.

From my collection I chose a beach-like director's chair from Betty's Wooden Miniatures which I'd had for years, a miniature magazine I'd made, a crocheted hat and a pair of Fimo jandals (thongs/ flip flops) which I'd almost thrown away as I'd broken one of the straps (not that you'd notice the way I glued them in place), a Chrysonbon glass and a selection of miniature shells and rocks that I'd collected from the beach on Quail Island in Lyttleton Harbour and had tucked away for years for just such a project.

Finally, note how I angled the chairs so the two settings would work well when displayed together.

Which balcony would you prefer to be sitting on?

Decisions, decisions...

As I mentioned before, Sydney Design starts this coming Saturday. And as a good little Nigel Sutton groupie I've already organised to be there for the Krispin K tour and show.

But what to wear to such an important event? I was thinking of going all trendy and Henry Holland:
What do you think?

(The other choice was "You're cute as a button, Nigel Sutton" but I think that would freak him out way too much...)

Warty Cheesy Daisy Biscuits!

I made a (square) batch of these last night when Aunty A called to say she was popping in, thinking there may be leftovers to have with soup at lunch today.

WRONG! You know how addictive just-out-of-the-oven cheesy goodness is? Those little suckers didn't last 10 minutes (which is about how long they took to make).

So I made another batch this morning (since the oven was on for the bread anyway). But this time I got all carried away with the daisy shaped cookie cutters I've had lurking in the back of the drawer for far too long. Not too sure about the warty bits, but they tasted just fine with my lentil and spinach soup!

Here's the recipe, which will be fine for those of us who have breakfast cups in our kitchen cupboards to measure with...

Warty Cheesy Biscuits

1 breakfast cup flour
1 Tbsn icing sugar
1 (scant) tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
pinch of cayenne pepper (I used 1/4 tsp cause I like a bit of bite to my cheese)

2 Tbspn butter
3 oz grated cheese
a little milk

Preheat oven to 200 c.

Sift the first five ingredients into a bowl. Rub in the butter then add the grated cheese.

Mix to a stiff dough with the milk. Knead and roll out very thinly. Cut into squares, fingers, daisies (or whatever else tickles your fancy) Prick (I'm referring to the biscuits, not you.)

Bake about 10 minutes.

Serve with soup or good red wine.

(I found if I just baked these on a greased oven tray the melted cheese stuck to the tray causing some rude words to be uttered when trying to transfer them to the cooling rack. Second time round I used baking paper and it worked a treat.)

Grit teeth, take five deep breaths and walk away...

I spent the afternoon working on the orders I had for two Knitaholic bags.

Feeling very pleased with myself, I turned the bags right side out to sew in the lining and realised...

When you're making two bags and change fabric batches between cutting out bag one and bag two you should keep track of which is which.

Otherwise you'll end up with bags where the front is a different colour to the back. (See above)

I felt very mature and adult when I simply sighed, put the bags aside and went upstairs to ring my clients and explain that their bags wouldn't be with them today after all. No crying. No throwing of bits of fabric across the room. No stamping of feet. And no screaming.

Not that I'd ever consider doing any of those things, of course, being a grown up...

Corners of my Home