A Christmas Card For You

There is still a bit of wrapping to do. Like this beautiful sweater and cap that was hand knit by Sharon Vries. chrystalsdesigns.blogspot.com/

I am afraid I have not had the chance to make the sort of ornaments I wanted to this year, except for a snowman. The others are very old ones I have had for (gasp) many years. They are all on straight wires of various lengths, that have hooks on the ends. Which is great because it means I can pull them all off and change the ornaments as new ones are made. I think I would like to move away from the traditional red and green next year.

BTW...I am very pleased with the string of 26 LED chip lights I used on the tree, made by modeltrainsoftware.com/ They are a bit fiddly to put on the tree but I remember the old style being rather time consuming too.

I am waiting for a drill bit to come in the mail which is all that is keeping me from finishing that 'certain promised something'. It will be my next post.

May your days be merry and bright...Happy Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I have been using my IPad because my laptop is in the hospital. I am afraid I cannot up load any photos here using it.

The good news is ..... I have been working on something I think you will love. Stay tuned.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

Catherine XXX

The Garden

While I am busy working on several projects (both 1: 1 and 1: 12 scale) I didn't want you to think I had forgotten my blog.

What could be more charming then a beautiful garden shed. It would be a great project in miniature that could even be set in a book shelf when finished. It might add a subtle source of light and interest to a 1: 1 room. I am thinking about LEDs and the coming option of using a transformer instead of batteries.

I have a file of pictures I saved for years out of magazines of garden sheds. I don't have a scanner so I can't show you those. The newly built ones I love most, use old doors and windows purchased from salvage yards. Those can be very chic or slightly quirky. I like them because they don't have that prefab 'new' feeling about them when they are finished, like some of these do.

Garden sheds are close to my heart because I remember the summer my dad built one in our garden. I was about four years old then. It took him all summer, I was convinced I helped him build it. We went to the hardware store every week to get something 'we' needed to build it. The building was quite elaborate. It had a covered front porch, interior closet, electricity, a brick fire place and screens on the windows. It was big enough that he put bunk beds inside. So my sister and I could 'sleep out' on summer nights. I was so sad when we moved two years later and had to leave it behind. I know there is one in my future be it 1: 1 or 1: 12 scale.

Transformer Coming For The LED Lights

The string of 26 warm white LEDs I ordered from Evan Designs has arrived. http:///www.modeltrainsoftware.com/mi.html I know I am going to love these because the wires and chips can be well hidden in the branches of the Christmas tree. The only time they will really be visible is when they are turned on. I was also very happy with the strength of the emitting light. Considering they are all going to be on a small tree.

Before I ordered I phoned and spoke to Dave. I wanted to ask him about a transformer for them. GOOD NEWS!!! He told me that he had that issue sorted out with a 3 volt transformer and would have them in stock in a couple of weeks!!!! He said he would email me when he got them in and that this transformer would not get warm where it is plugged into the wall. This is great because I don't want to be using up so many batteries to have the lights on every day for a couple of weeks for Christmas.

I am very glad I chose these. Plus I can think of several other ways to use these chip lights. You can also get a string of 12 LEDs from him.

Christmas Tree Lights

I assume many of you have made one of these Christmas trees, using a bottle brush tree and preserved lycopodium. I thought it would be a relatively quick project. I was wrong, it took forever. The unfinished tree was 6 1/2 inches tall. I found it on ETSY and the lycopodium on Ebay.

If you have made a Christmas tree, can you tell me if you used the new LED chip lights? Did you like the way those lights looked on the tree? http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/chip-led-string.html I am not sure which type of lights I want to use yet.

I see that you can get a string of 12 LED lights or a sting with 26. There are three color choices which is great and they run off a small battery pack. Particularly nice for people that have already wired a dollhouse or room.

500 Followers, WOW!!! Thank You!

My friend Linda Master http://miraclechicken.blogspot.com/ sent me a tiny cat she carved out of wood and painted for me. It is too small to be a 'live' miniature cat, it is meant to be decorative. She tells me, it is not a portrait of Kilmouski because she would need several photos to accomplish an exact likeness. I am sure if any one could do it Linda could. To appreciate it fully, you would have to see how she has painted the face and the eyes. I wish I could do it justice in a photo. Thank you so much Linda. You already know I love it.

The sterling silver tankards were made by using the roll printing process I discussed in a previous post about metal work.

Have you ever gone out to buy something VERY simple (a product) you needed to finish a project and come home empty handed? It drives me insane!!! I should have just gone ahead and ordered it online but I am so tired of paying for shipping. Especially when those charges are more than the item I want.

A half of a tank of gas and eight stores later I came home and ordered online. If I had been able to get what I needed, I would have posted a picture of the finished exterior lantern today also.

Trick Or Treat

My two daily trick or treaters... Groupie and Puffy. They will go all round the house looking through windows until they find which room I am in. Then they just sit there and stare at me through the window until I come out and give them a treat! They are very good at staring as you can see!

Quick Peek.

I have been working on two exterior lanterns that will go next to the front door.. I fabricated the top of it out of sheet metal. The lanterns are going to have a hinged doors and a latch (hopefully). I think I will go for a weathered copper finish rather than a highly polished one. The panels are 1/2 inch wide.

I bought microscope cover glass to cut for the panes but then I thought about using some mica sheet I have. I can solder right next to that and it has a nice aged tinted look. I am waiting for some copper foil to arrive to frame the mica panels with so I can get those soldered together.

I am stuck once again waiting for the mail to arrive. UGH!

Beyond Belief !!!

Not much totally astonishes me but these lace doilies sure did. I was afraid I would tear them just taking them out of the glass envelopes they arrived in. They were a birthday gift from my dear friend Linda Carswell. http://une-petite-folie.blogspot.com/

Spider silk comes to mind when I look at how fine the threads are. My first thought was that they would be beautiful framed on a black back ground in gold leaf frames. I want to hang them in the master bedroom. All three frames in the same place.Perhaps over the bed with the square one being in the middle. What do you think?

Please don't ask me where she found these beautiful lace doilies. A girl has a right to a few secrets, so I didn't ask either. :-)

Thank you so very much Linda!!!! I am delighted and thrilled to bits with these gorgeous pieces.

What Perfect Timing!

I have been waiting for a couple months for an order from Colin Bird. How nice that it should arrive on my birthday! I couldn't be more delighted! Colin's craftsmanship is always perfection. He has all six legs pegged to the seat. That wasn't something I noticed in his sample photo.

This new settee is very like the chair I have of his. They are both destine to be in a cottage living room. Though not right next to each other (too many spokes in one place).

I have not collected any upholstered pieces for that room. I thought it would be wise to wait to see what color the walls are going to be. One thing that these pieces tell me from photographing them is that I am going to need a lighter colored wood floor or they will disappear.

Linda Master, Thank You So Much!!!

If I could live seven more lifetimes I would never achieve a fraction the talent Linda Master has. Ever since I saw her work I have known I was in the presence of greatness!!!

Even though I have never actually met Linda, she has become a good friend. I love talking to her. We laugh our heads off.

She has totally blown me away with this beautiful 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inch pencil drawing of Kilmouski. I see she did it from a photo I posted here on my blog of him. Unbelievable! I have not done it justice in this photo I'm afraid. You have to hold it in your hand to really appreciate it.

I am going to take it tomorrow to the best framer in town. Then... I will put it on my vanity table so I can see it every day.

Thank you so very much Linda. You have delighted and thrilled me with this beautiful, beautiful Birthday gift.
http://www.miraclechickenurns.com/

http://miraclechicken.blogspot.com/

Catherine XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

French Flower Buckets / Pails

I have been busy making French flower buckets/pails for the past few days. I have photographed them against a photo I found on the internet of a real Paris flower shop. It is sort of scary to see mine against the real thing.

I used a miniature pot of daffodils, you have seen here before so you could better understand the scale. If these buckets were 1: 1 scale they would be 13 inch's tall. So I am calling this first group size 13. They were made in the same way the watering cans were.

My weather plays a big part in how the faux galvanized finish comes out on these pieces. It has been very humid here since May, so there isn't much choice in when I can put the finish on them. Better fall weather coming, so I am going to take this finish off and re-do it again soon. But for now... Here they are.

A Lovely Surprise Has Arrived From Peiwen

WOW!!! Just look at these beautiful Laduree bags and gorgeous box of macarrons. I love the clear top on the round box with the Laduree logo printed on it. She also made the beautiful white Peonies. There is one of her Laduree wine bottles in one of the bags and a perfect glass pitcher.

Thank you so very much Peiwen!!! I am thrilled to add these lovely pieces to my collection!!!http://oiseaudenim.blogspot.com/

Signing Your Work

Please click on photos for a close up.
I have been busy with other (bigger) work for several days. I am trying to get a piece finished and shipped. So I haven't gotten much miniature work finished.

I thought I would share this because it is a nice way to sign a room box or a dollhouse. I think all projects should be signed, even if it will be virtually invisible on your work, in some inconspicuous place.

I have tried many different ways to transfer a design to a sheet of metal I want to cut out. My favorite way (especially if it is a intricate design) is to draw it on a piece of contact paper first. Which is great because you just peel off the back and stick it onto the metal. Once you have your design cut out, you can either soak off the paper or burn it off with a torch.

I still need to polish the plaque but it is very hard to photograph once there is a mirror finish on it.

Yes, I cut it out of sterling silver. All you need to do this is a drill, small drill bits, jewelers saw , sand paper and polish.

Congratulations!

This morning I used the random number generator to choose the winner of the watering can. The number was 27. Congratulations Peiwen!!! http://oiseaudenim.blogspot.com/ Please email me your full name and address. Catherine XXX

A Brand New Kit by McQueenie Miniatures

I have been playing with kits because I haven't been able to go to work. I am waiting for all the medical restrictions to come to an end. Bored out of my mind!!!

I thought I would share a new butlers tray-table made by McQueenie Miniatures. They offer two styles. I like their kits because I don't have to stain them. I just sand them, apply Tung oil and finish with #0000 steal wool & Johnson's paste wax.

You can adjust the height you want the table to be and the tray is removable.

20/20 A Special Thank You & GIVE AWAY!

I want to thank those of you who crossed your fingers & toes, sent good vibes, prayers and wished me well. To those people that left me such kind well wishes for my surgery...Thank you so much!!!! It meant a lot to me, more than you can imagine. More than I thought it would.

I wish I could send each of you a gift but I am going to draw one name from those 31 people who took their time to leave me a comment. To the winner I am going to send the last miniature watering can I made. If the winner should not want it for some reason, I will draw a second name. I will announce the winner on August 22.

My doctor said today I would only have 80% of the sort of vision I will have a month from today. It will continue to improve as the swelling goes away and the healing is complete. Today in the eye I had surgery in.... I have 20/20 vision! HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catherine XXX