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! 

Happy Easter

Hello everyone. I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying your weekend, whether you celebrate Easter or not. We are not religious and therefore don't really celebrate it, but I do make sure that in the lead-up to Easter, I've stocked up a year's worth of Cadbury Creme Eggs!

Here are some pictures of my little chocolate shop, (partially) filled with Easter items. Stuff I've either made or metal minis I painted. I need lots more bits yet. I had a heap of tiny eggs but can't find those. 

I took the photos at night, so they're kinda crappy, but you can see the gold embossing on the windows.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone.

ACT show

Hi all. Happy midweek! Some photos of my table at last weekend's miniature show in Canberra:

The food they provided was amazing. This was my delicious chocolate cupcake with white chocolate frosting:

It was only a small show, and not a lot of people through, but it was a fun day and I sold a few things. Also got a lot of encouragement and positive feedback. I should be attending the Sydney show too, at the end of next month so lots of prep work ahead for that one! I hope to have more of my kits listed within the next week, including my new cottage kit.

Hope you are all well. Enjoy the rest of the week and have a safe and happy Easter, if you celebrate it.

I would use the term 'progress' in this blog post, but.....

I feel like I am going in circles. Today is the first time I've seriously questioned my career change. I threw a piece of laser cut ply across the room, and because it didn't break up enough to satisfy my anger, I had to pick it up and scrunch it into tiny pieces. Next time I will throw a bigger piece with more weight to make it more efficient. The upside - I must be learning something at least......

I have about a week until the Caberra miniatures show, and not too much to sell there. I just can't seem to get the cutter working at it's most efficient. Add into the mix slightly bendy ply and an inexperienced user with high standards and you have a fight a-coming. I keep buying ply and I am lucky if I get 50% success rate. Oh well, I guess everyone starting out has these teething problems. The cutter really needs a good service and some parts replaced too, which doesn't help. I will be working all day and night between now and next weekend! 

Anyway, a couple of pictures to show that at least some of the kits are working out. 

One of my shadow boxes landscaped and in need of some accessories:

The cottage stove all painted up:

All that's left to say is I hope that your week has been more successful than mine. Bring on the weekend!

Tiny dollies!

A quick post of some tiny dolls I made yesterday. Well, I only finished off the big doll, and she will go in my 1" scale doll shop. The other tiny ones will stay in this 1/2" doll shop.

Trials and tribulations of the novice laser cutter

Well, it has taken me considerably longer than I would've hoped to get more kits up for sale but I am slowly getting somewhere. I think. The laser cutter, laptop and myself seem to have fairly different world views. There have been quite a few scraps along the way, the laptop had to be let go in favour of a much newer version and I have learnt a lot about myself and the way that I want to be able to run things. I have even redesigned (or rather in the process of redesigning) all the cabriole legs on my furniture pieces. So what I have photographed below won't be the final product. I am excited with my new work, and although many of the kits I had almost ready to go may take a little longer, the finished product will be far superior (famous last words??).

I installed the doll shop cabinets and some more little pieces of furniture.

Little owl having a lonely tea party:

View of the entry, which is about done I think:

The kitchen and salon:

A closer view of the fireplace, with my poor attempt at marbling:

I have two versions of this fireplace. This one is for rooms where there is no room for a chimney breast, and it has the metal cover on the front (no actual opening/hearth). The other has an opening/hearth for when there is room for a chimney breast. You can also see the cabriole legs on the green table. I am in the process of changing those out for better ones.

I am really struggling to get materials also. Australian businesses just don't stock much in the way of miniature timber supplies, so I have resorted (at least temporarily) to buying from the US and UK. I wish it was easier and quicker but that's the way it goes.

Hope your week is going well folks.