Progress on various (too many) projects

 Hi all. After a very stressful and tiring year so far, I am having a week off to work on my mini projects to get a few things done. I really want to get some projects ticked off this year (you know, as finished as my projects will ever be). So today I have been working on my 1:48 Nob Hill from Suzanne and Andrews Minis. No I haven't mentioned that one before.... I didn't intend buying it, but I adored it and have worked on it in spits and spurts. I am pretty close to completing the structure so will post some photos soon.

Also I worked on my French reno today. I 3d printed some balustrade I designed and cut my own staircase (it is basically just stacked layers of wood/MDF - although it probably looks a little fancier than it is). So I rearranged the rooms a bit. The stairs are now in the entry which was part of the shop. The kitchen is through that back door.

And a side view

The salon in progress:

The other wall of the salon with a French fireplace by Halls Miniature Clocks:

The shop truncated (this will be a sort of craft room):

And the upstairs stair hall with the salon to the right:

Not sure about the wall colour, but it will do.

Here is my new little buddy, a beautiful Jack Russell Terrier by Ewelina Hasnik, which I purchased at the online Kensington mini show. I loved her and wasn't sure so decided if she as still there next morning, it was meant to be. Well, she was still there, soooo.....

And I have finally fixed almost all the lights in my Duddingwells! With my husband's help. So here is the shop as it is. Lots of accessories needed obviously.

And the front, landscaping done:

And the sitting room:

Lots of accessories still needed. I couldn't get this room to work and then one day recently I decided to swap the sofa to the right and table and chairs to the left and I liked it. I have birds for the cage too.

And bedroom:

I have aged the table a bit, so now I need to right the lamp..... currently not a good look!

Teapot not staying. Lots of bits needed yet, but I like it.

And that's it for today. I will try to post again this week and show more progress. It's good to feel like I am getting somewhere. And like anything, starting is the hardest part. After that, it's much easier. Hope you are all well everyone, and getting some sunshine (or rain if you need it!). xx

French shop update

Hello all. Thought I'd show some pictures of the half scale French shop, as I've almost finished the exterior. It really only needs the shop name panel (which I painted and then lost) and door handles (which are cut and just need painting and gluing on).

I cut the roof tiles with my paper cutting machine. They are smaller than I intended (something to do with the exporting of the .svg file) but I still think they look OK. Once glued on, I sealed with a matte varnish, gave them a black wash and then dry brushed white over the top.

I have also had little handles cut for the commode and I'm quite happy with how these came out. Here is the chest finished with a smaller version of the commode and a small trumeau mirror, both of which will be available when I sort things out.

Some other things I am working on: (you can't tell but these turned out way too large and also I have changed the design quite a bit to make them a bit more realistic)

And a French canopied bed: 

It needs a little reworking, but overall I am happy with how it is going. 

I am having trouble getting the people who are selling the laser cutter to actually get it crated and send a request for payment, which is quite frustrating. It would only take about a week to get from America to Australia. Until I have the cutter, I am using a cutting service. It has it's benefits but I am restricted with the materials they will cut with. So I think most of the furniture kits will need to wait until I get my own cutter so I can use the materials I want to use. 

I also was considering making a castle as the third kit I design (the second one is almost done and will be a cottage). Are people interested in something like that? If so, what type/style and how big? I'd appreciate your views on this. If possible, post a link to pictures in your comments. 

I hope you are all having a great weekend.

My tiny teddies

Hello all. I spent today working on the shelves for the half scale doll shop. This is the prototype and the parts were all wrong, so I cut bits up and cobbled them together and it came out OK. I printed out all the little pictures of curtains and furniture to add some detail. Here is the shelf almost finished with some tiny doilies and lace. A few more structural pieces to add but these will be added when the shelves are filled and installed.

And here is a pic with some of my handpainted minis.

All these pieces are the white metal ones. I undercoat them in a regular water-based interior undercoat and then paint with acrylics. Here are some closeups.

I landscaped this little house with that stretchy model railroad vine stuff and bunka cut into tiny bits. The hedge at the front is also bunka, but kind of hard to see at this angle. The bunka looks hilarious enlarged to this size!

I have put together a kitchen to fit into this house and it includes the wall tiles. The front of the wall cabinets comes off so you can access the inside. It needs a few basic modifications but overall I am happy with how it turned out. The tiles are the same pattern as the splashback behind my cooktop in my real life home! A tap set is still to come.

Here is the other side of the island bench:

And an overall view of the living room, with a chest which is about the only thing that was all right the first time! I have designed a fireplace to go in this room, which will probably go where the chest is, which is why I haven't finished the skirting. 

And lastly, a picture of the bedroom progress, with a little silk curtain over the doorway. I can't wait to see my little bed in here (but I still need some parts cut before it can go together).

I hope you enjoyed seeing my pictures and that this week is kind to you! See you soon!