Thursday, May 28, 2015

Walnut Shell Gypsy Caravan




Having lost their caterpillar to his own agenda of spinning a cocoon, the travelers are going to have to camp for a few days while they look for an obliging beetle (or some other creepy crawler) to pull their caravan. It's no easy task to convince an insect to wear a harness or go in the direction you want him to for that matter. They tend to want to stop all the time to chew on a leaf or a berry.

When the walnut gypsy wagon occurred to me, I knew I was going to have to try it. As usual as soon as it started to come together I had several other designs pop into my mind. I am sure I will have to try another one eventually.

I am still waiting for clear 3 mm round beads to arrive for the front lanterns. Those fixtures may change entirely before I am finished, they are just waxed in place for the present.

I had intended for this one to have a polymer clay insect hitched up to the wagon. While I was working on it I realized that it would have to be mounted on a base or the poles that extend from the wagon to the bug would surely get broken over time. Anyway... I really prefer the houses not mounted. The wheels do turn so gluing them down to a base would have been a shame. 



at

50 comments:

  1. Mi mundo de miniaturaMay 28, 2015 at 2:42 PM

    Una nuez! Es adorable

    ReplyDelete
  2. miniaturistaMay 28, 2015 at 3:01 PM

    Que mini tan preciosa, pronto encontrara alguien que quiera tirar de esa nuez..me encanta....
    Un abrazo
    Maite

    ReplyDelete
  3. CatherineMay 28, 2015 at 3:29 PM

    Gracias Maite.

    Tenemos algunos escarabajos Ofthe más rápido que he visto nunca. Mi gato tiene incluso un tiempo tuvo la captura de ellos.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Isabel RuizMay 28, 2015 at 3:34 PM

    ! Es genial ! Imaginativa y preciosa.

    ReplyDelete
  5. miraclechickenMay 28, 2015 at 7:03 PM

    Oh this is the most fun piece ever! Fabulous work, and a great idea --- love it :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. DaydreamerMay 28, 2015 at 8:50 PM

    Wow! What an insanely Fun creation!!! You are not only extremely Talented, you are Wonderfully imaginative too! This is Awesome!!! (Is the interior decorated with a tiny stove and a little bed???)
    Oh, now I want to make a Gypsy Caravan... LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineMay 29, 2015 at 3:06 AM

      Of course it has a stove. That is a stove pipe in the back of the caravan. ;-) Yes and a fine bed box too. haha

      Thank you for your kind words.

      Delete
  7. 12CreateMay 28, 2015 at 11:09 PM

    Oh it is just amazing, and exquisite, and adorable and fun - love it. It made me smile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineMay 29, 2015 at 3:07 AM

      If it can make someone smile it was worth the effort. Thank you.

      Delete
  8. PepperMay 29, 2015 at 2:30 AM

    This is adorable. It made me laugh thinking of an insect wandering along pulling this caravan. Do you think other insects in faster vehicles get frustrated driving behind them? =0P

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineMay 29, 2015 at 3:10 AM

      I am sure they use bad language during rush hour! Those caterpillars go so slow.

      Thank you Pepper. ;-)

      Delete
  9. Catherine / MooghiscathMay 29, 2015 at 4:45 AM

    trop mignon

    ReplyDelete
  10. RosaMay 29, 2015 at 5:20 AM

    OOHH !! Que cosa tan bonita .Tan pequeña y tan completa .
    Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  11. ElgaMay 29, 2015 at 5:52 AM

    It is just gorgeous Catherine!

    ReplyDelete
  12. claudeMay 29, 2015 at 9:32 AM

    une maison très plaisaante

    ReplyDelete
  13. SanschichisMay 29, 2015 at 10:25 AM

    J'adore! Je me demande bien qui peut habiter dans une si jolie coquille de noix!

    ReplyDelete
  14. CatherineMay 29, 2015 at 10:41 AM


    Merci. Ils sont minuscules lutins de la forêt. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  15. NicholaMay 29, 2015 at 12:56 PM

    Astounding! Just incredible :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. CatherineMay 29, 2015 at 1:17 PM

    Thank you Nichola

    ReplyDelete
  17. elizabeth sMay 30, 2015 at 2:54 AM

    What an imagination you have Catherine! This tiny caravan is Beetleutiful!!!!! :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineMay 30, 2015 at 9:19 AM

      Thank you Elizabeth.

      My imagination does run a bit wild. haha

      Delete
  18. rosannaMay 30, 2015 at 7:11 AM

    Have you senn the Tale of tales ? new movie by Garrone starring Salma Hayek and vincent Cassel ? there is a flea pulling a teeny tiny wagon , you must see it .
    Lovely work but this was tacit ;o)
    Rosanna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineMay 30, 2015 at 9:20 AM

      Thank you Rosanna. I will have to see that movie.

      Delete
  19. miniacollectionMay 30, 2015 at 10:14 AM

    Absolutely charming! It's really amazing what you can manage to achieve in miniature.
    Geneviève

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineMay 30, 2015 at 11:05 AM

      Thank you Geneviève. I really have fun making them.

      Delete
  20. skulptressMay 30, 2015 at 11:03 AM

    So wonderful!! I just love these whenever you post them. Do you sell them or are they simple for yourself?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineMay 30, 2015 at 11:07 AM

      Thank you. Yes, They are all for sale. Though I haven't tried very hard to market them. I may put this one on eBay, as soon as the lanterns next to the front door are finished.

      Delete
  21. DeboraMay 31, 2015 at 3:08 AM

    Aaah... food for the soul! A caterpillar going through puberty, and limited choice in replacing it...

    Your creations are simply gems, bringing joy and fun wherever they go. Pepper; picturing rush hour now too...? whahaha, I'm smiling from ear to ear here behind the pc.

    Awesome job & good luck finishing the lanterns!
    ps, agree on mounting. Would be such a shame to glue down working wheels.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineMay 31, 2015 at 11:01 AM

      Thank you Debora. I have a lot of fun making them.

      Delete
  22. FabiolaMay 31, 2015 at 10:18 AM

    Amazing and original!

    ReplyDelete
  23. CatherineJune 6, 2015 at 2:00 PM

    ho , je n 'avais pas vu votre petite roulotte !!!
    je suis très en retard pour faire un commentaire .
    J'ADORE !!
    je suis la plus grande admiratrice des petites maisons dans les noix . c 'est une nouvelle maison très originale .
    je me demande déjà a quoi va ressembler la prochaine .
    je vous embrasse

    ReplyDelete
  24. CatherineJune 6, 2015 at 3:10 PM

    Catherine, vous devez avoir été très occupé à travailler pour le spectacle SIMP. Je suis impatient de voir ce que vous avez été la peinture.

    Merci! Je suis très heureux que vous aimez la roulotte.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Monika Demi (Besu)June 9, 2015 at 5:18 AM

    Wow... so tiny! So amazing and so beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineJune 9, 2015 at 9:52 AM

      Thank you Besu.

      The pictures are a lot bigger then the piece actually is.

      Delete
  26. Kikka NJune 15, 2015 at 4:49 AM

    Aaaahh... I Love it, Love it, Love all the details!
    Wonderful!
    Hugs
    Kikka

    ReplyDelete
  27. CatherineJune 19, 2015 at 2:20 AM

    Thank you Kikka

    ReplyDelete
  28. SarahJuly 18, 2015 at 12:45 PM

    So cute! love the details, especially the acorn porches. Are you going to use a real "dead" beetle?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CatherineJuly 18, 2015 at 4:18 PM

      I think the next one will have a polymer clay beetle.

      Thank you Sarah.

      Delete
  29. SumsNovember 27, 2015 at 4:38 AM

    So so so so cute i can't stop looking at all the little detail. Are you selling ?

    ReplyDelete
  30. CatherineNovember 27, 2015 at 9:59 AM

    Thank you Sums. Yes I sell them. Here is a listing on eBay.
    http://www.ebay.com/itm/OOAK-miniature-1-1-44-Scale-Christmas-Walnut-Shell-Cottage-by-Catherine-Ronan-/311479279891?hash=item48859ca113:g:mrMAAOSwsB9WEa4G

    ReplyDelete
  31. NinaFebruary 12, 2016 at 12:59 AM

    That is truly the smallest caravan I have ever seen!! Sooo lovely. :))

    ReplyDelete