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!

Sydney miniature show #1

Hello all. I had a great weekend in Sydney, attending the miniature fair for the first time. I did pretty well with my sales, enough to cover my costs and buy a few goodies, plus got lots and lots of oohs and ahhs, which is always positive! Had the chance to meet some people I hadn't met but had been in contact with over the years, which was really great (hello Linda!! It was so nice to chat!). I hear that numbers were down though, and some traders didn't do so well. It's such a shame and also quite hard for me to believe - the standard was so high with some really amazing things for sale. Here is what I purchased:

Some tiny paper clips (squeee!):

Some ladies toiletries and two fans by Di (no website unfortunately; her stuff was so beautiful and well-priced):

And a tiny sweet little teddy (made by Di's friend), a tiny teapot and a beautiful Margaret Crosswell bust: 

Had I had more money, I would've bought many more items. I didn't look around too much at the tables as there were just so many beautiful things, it was too heart-breaking!! I ogled Kim's Miniatures table, which again was really reasonably priced (and needless to say stunning) but given my money shortage, no purchases. However....... My husband, unbeknownst to me, also was very impressed by her dolls and bought me this as a surprise!

Being behind perspex in a little box, she is quite hard to photograph, but she is really exquisite. I feel extremely spoilt! Next time, I hope to bring her home a little Kim's Miniatures friend. I took some photos of the exhibits so will post those shortly. Have a great day everyone!

Little chairs finished

Hello everyone. Wanted to post some photos of my little chairs now that they're finished. I upholstered the seats and added a frill.

I have also, at long last, finished the other cabinets for the doll shop! I made the front panel of the cabinet so that it pops off for interior access, and the whole inside of the counter pulls out. I meant to photograph this but forgot. Anyways, they need a few more accessories, but otherwise I am quite happy with the way they turned out.

Might need to try making a 1/24 cash register....

Last pic - a sweet little lidded jar by Elizabeth Causeret that I purchased at Kensington a few years ago. Such amazing detail, what a clever lady.

One last thing: I finally got my husband to figure out how to switch on the reply to comments function, so can now reply to individual comments! Have a great week everyone.

Exceptions to architectural rules?

Hello folks! I am up early today, as our daylight saving finished last night, and it's a lovely sunny morning worth getting up for. 

So the reason for this blog post is Australian homes. I generally think Australian architecture is very different to most American (and other) architecture. We do have a lot of California bungalows, which I absolutely adore. Also some of the Tudor style homes built in the 1920s are very similar. Other than that, there aren't a lot of other similarities. Last night, I was looking through some internet photos of Australian Federation homes, and found this Gothic revival home:

I think it is in Tasmania. Anyway, I was struck by how similar it is to the American Gothic architecture. It's really not something you see much of here. It lead me to think that there are always exceptions to rules. And cross-overs with architecture.

I have put together my Sid Cooke Coxwolds kit and paperclayed the exterior. I was going for a Cotswolds stone, but then at the time I was doing this, I saw a lot of photos of old stone houses in Tasmania, and thought it could be Australian instead. Yet to decide.

On that note, I will sign off. Hope your weekend has been good so far. Take care everyone.

A mini break-through

Hello all. Happy hump day. I had a minor break-through over the last 24 hours. I finally got a little carver chair finished. This is one I have been working on from the start, one that I just couldn't get right. It's not 100% how I want it to be (it is in my eyes a tiny little bit too tall) but it is as good as it's going to get! I then altered the design to make a side chair (no arms) and a settee/bench seat. Now that I have this design done, I will be able to use it as a basis for other styles of chair without too many worries. I hope!

 

I can't wait to see the settee painted with a pretty seat cushion on it!

My plan between now and Sydney is to get the other kits I have up for sale in my Etsy store and finish off the almost ready designs (such as more furniture for the doll shop, the French canopy bed, an armoire and a few other pieces). 

Thanks to all those who have posted comments over the last month or so. Your encouragement has been gratefully recieved and appreciated. I feel like I am starting to get somewhere!