Workshop prototype finished

I have been stressing quite a bit about this workshop prototype and workshop in general. I had to have it finished earlier than anticipated so didn't have time for a trial run with a group. I wanted a 1-day workshop, but there is too much to do, so 2-days it will have to be. I struggle with pricing so not sure where to go with that. A couple of small details got dropped off along the way due to running out of time. I think one or two details could be changed, but they are very minor and I will see about that later. It's not quite how I was picturing it, but I am pretty happy still - I anticipated it being more rustic, but it turned out a little fancy! Never mind. Hindsight is a wonderful thing....

Quick Coxwolds update

Hi all. We had a public holiday here yesterday (Tuesday) and with going to Ballarat last weekend and my husband taking Monday off as well, I am out of whack for the week. So it seems like Monday but is actually Wednesday. 

I have made a bit of progress with the Coxwolds. The living quarters are almost done, which leaves the kitchen and shop downstairs. I have grand plans of having this finished by end of the year (in the sense of having rooms and exterior decoration complete; furniture/accessories/garden won't be complete of course!). 

Here is the entry almost done:

The bathroom:

(I didn't buy any floor tiles for here, and found some burgandy tiles in my stash which matched, but I didn't have enough. Originally I thought of having a built-in vanity or cupboard so I could omit tiles underneath it - I REALLY wanted the cupboard, but the room is so small it was too awkward. Then I thought of having a gap where I'd put a rug. Then, I thought given I had some of the same tiles in green and yellow, I could paint them black and use as a border tile. It worked out OK I think)

The bedroom:

The living room (NEEDS gap filling!!):

I didn't use the hinges supplied with the kit as I didn't want them all over my pretty walls, so used smaller ones. Unfortunately they don't quite shut properly. I may remove them and cut out a larger rebate to accommodate the screw heads or maybe try to screw the screws further into the wood. Either way it needs looking at.

Hope everyone's week is going well.

Tiny doll production line

A quick Saturday night hello. I have been painting these little ladies this week. I have since drilled the holes for arms and legs to be joined. Now they just need dressing and hair on some. Also need to figure out how to assemble the parion dolls - might need to do some googling. Hope your weekend is going OK.

PS I think I finally figured out why my photos are blurry. It seems to be something to do with loading photos onto my ipad from my sd card - perhaps uploading at a lower resolution. Ipads can be weird....

Doll shop updated

Well, it took 3 coats of ivory to cover all the blue trim (and four for the door!) but I am happy with how it has come out.

Now all I need to do is get the pastels out and age some bits of the wallpaper and the shelf wallpaper and I can stick the units in. They will need hardware, as I don't think I'll use what came with it. The counter (which I don't have) will be pink to match the back wall with the door in it. And debating installing a little fireplace on the left wall. I might try making a valance or something for the window tonight seeing as I am on a roll! 

It is amazing how many different iterations this little shop has had and never been finished. But I guess if you just keep painting, you will eventually get something you like! PS - I think it also needs a painted footpath out the front as it currently looks terrible!! (Yes I used it as a paint palette)

The vintage doll shop

Happy Saturday everyone! We had a public holiday yesterday (for football no less!) and so I got my doll shop out and finished off the shelf unit I started then painted everything blue. I was going for a more blue-grey, and lighter than it is. I tried aging and toning it down, but it is still too blue. I am not a big blue fan. I conferred with a friend and she is recommending green. I am now going to try green. Will try to post the results later. Wish me luck!

(You can see I ripped out some shelves. I will likely paper the back of the shelves)

Lovely city of Adelaide

Hi everyone. A little thankyou to those who posted kind and thoughtful comments on my last post. I haven't thanked you or commented individually I'm sorry, but it means so much to me that you did comment. It is hard to adjust to life without someone so dear but we are getting there. It's just pretty lonely! 

On to other matters, my sister and I attended the Adelaide miniature show last weekend which was fun. Adelaide is a nice city and we saw some lovely houses on our drive to and from the show venue. Many of them weren't old but new made to look old. I was pretty impressed with the standard actually - nothing much like it in Victoria unfortunately. 

And from Hahndorf, just out of the city:

I will try to post an update on some of my 1:12 projects soon (although it doesn't look like I've made much progress on any of them!). Enjoy your weekend everyone.

Melbourne Miniatures and Dollhouse Fair 2016

Hello all. Had an amazing weekend at the Melbourne miniatures fair where I had the good fortune to meet some really great people. 

Thanks to all the VAME folks for squeezing me in and making me feel welcome. As a dealer, it was a fantastic atmosphere. I met a lot of very enthusiastic, helpful and encouraging people, both dealers and customers alike. The positive comments I received were overwhelming, so thanks everyone for making my first Melbourne fair a huge success! 

I did make the mistake of complimenting some 1:48 scale gypsy wagons and commenting that I was working on designs for one of my own. I was promptly chastened and told all about copyright.... Hmmm, apparently these gentlemen own the copyright to gypsy wagons. Someone should tell all those other mini makers out there that have gypsy wagons in their range. Well, I guess if that's the most annoying thing to come out of the weekend, then I did pretty well I reckon!

A little peek at my table:

I hope you all have a great week everyone!

Mid winter post

Kinda boring. It is cold, I'm cold, I'm over being cold, winter's just started, blah blah blah. On the upside, I have some new kits coming out very soon, and will be at the Melbourne Miniatures Fair on 9 and 10 July. Come and say hello if you are there.

Here are some pics of new kits being developed:

A little fridge:

A firescreen:

An armchair that will probably not be ready for Melbourne:

The kitchen for the Carmel cottage:

And lastly, if you are a Facebook fan, I have started a page: 

https://www.facebook.com/redcottageminiatures/

Come along and 'like' and I will do my best to keep it updated. Hope your week is going well and that you are also getting some mini work done. Take care everyone xx.

Carmel cottage kit

Hello everyone. Just wanted to give an update regarding my Etsy store. I have listed another little house kit, the Carmel cottage, based on the gorgeous Hugh Comstock cottages in Carmel-by-the-sea, California. I love these houses, as well as the beautiful little town they are nestled in. I didn't get much of a look there, but enough an idea of the character. Another visit is definitely on the bucket list!

I have since mounted this little cottage onto a base with a turntable, and done a fair bit of landscaping. I love how this has turned out!

I am working on a French sofa/armchair set as well as armchairs for this cottage but they are proving difficult. There are too many curves in too many directions necessary for a good design, not to mention the fact you can't really laser cut too many foams. Anyway, hopefully by July I will have something ready. Take care everyone!

Sid Cooke Coxwolds store

As requested, here are some (bad) photos of my Coxwolds kit (it is tucked into a shelf unit, so hard to photograph). I love this kit, and I am really happy with how it turned out.

Little entry/stairhall on the left side (this will be aged when the timber is all finished and glued in place):

Bathroom, above the entry:

I think it is less bright in real life, a little dustier. There will be a wall at the back, yet to be inserted. I was trying to get all my wiring figured out before getting too far ahead.

I recut the doors so they were a little more detailed, and had a go at hinging the doors yesterday, and this is how it will look (not fully installed thankfully):

But when I tried to open them, this is as far as they opened:

Maybe 45 degrees. The screws for the hinges are too chunky and prevent the hinges opening fully. So I am thinking of maybe just gluing the hinges on and putting some brass brads in the holes. Or just gluing the doors in place. I'm not a doors-opening-drawers-full-everything-has-to-work person, but for photos, I think it would be cute if they did work. Any suggestions?? I know that many of you out there have some amazing work-arounds for all sorts of things.

I want to get moving on this project. And then get some patience to make flowers for this, my Mountfield and Duddingwells. 

Bye for now!

Dollhouse dilemmas

Hello all. Another week started - where are they going??

I had the chance to work on some of my 1:12 projects over the weekend but didn't make a lot of progress. As per this post's title, I am a bit undecisive about a few projects:

1. I haven't worked on my French chateau much as I am contemplating either pulling it down and remaking it from gatorfoam, or having the back, sides and floor laser cut in 6mm ply. The reason being I am worried about strength and rigidity in such a large structure. I dread the thought of having to recut the windows in gatorfoam, but it would be the lighter option than ply (even light ply). Still, I'm not going to be carrying this baby around, am I? I suppose the other options is making it in roomboxes. But then you have the issue of joining them seamlessly.

2. I really want to relocate the Mountfield bathroom into the music room at the back of the house, maybe then putting the piano into the dining room. But it's about finished. Not sure about ripping two rooms apart and having to redo them. Here is a photo of the front as it is and some of the bathroom about done (with a little room left for some choice minis as I find them!):

And the front entry:

3. I put many of my painted metal minis into the 1:12 doll shop and I don't like the paleness of the room with the toys. So this isn't much of a dilemma anymore, as I tore it all apart at the weekend.....

Chaos and devestation. By yesterday afternoon, this is how it looked:

The alcove/door bit is just foamcore. It needs to be painted. Next step is to make a shelf unit to match the one on the right and then paint all of the timber/trim in a pale grey-turquoise-green colour. Or something. I spent a lot of time looking at Veronique Lux vignettes and thought I'd try something along those lines. I think I'll try colouring the wallpaper too, maybe a teabag stain. I probably shouldn't have stuck all the trim back in, but I couldn't help myself. I think I just like to make things hard for myself.

If you have any golden nuggets of wisdom to help me with my dilemmas, I'd love to hear them. Have a great week everyone.

Sydney miniature show #2

Monday again! How did that happen?? I am tired and not very coherent, so I will post photos of some of the exhibits at the show with little text, so I don't have to think too much, and you don't have to read!

I didn't capture the maker's cards for most of the exhibits, so my apologies to the makers. 

Warren Barnard designed 1:48 house built during a workshop:

Chell Oldfield's cute kitchen cabinet also from a workshop:

Adelaide Cann's beautiful courtyard garden:

Real fountains!!!

Ray Powell's cool Victorian:

And his little French house:

View from the bleachers:

Enjoy your week everyone!