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.