It feels so big!!!

I am not used to thinking big. Big being a 1: 12 scale room/house. I am very comfortable with making many of  the tiny elements that go in a house but this seems huge to me. haha

I have watched with fascination and admiration as so many of you have built your houses. I am only just beginning to fully appreciate how much thought you have put into them. And frankly I am more then a bit intimidated. There are so many things to consider. So many measurements that all have to tie into everything else.

So I am just going to play with some cardboard mock-ups and interior schemes.  I know what I want, I just have to figure out how to get there. It may not be possible.

For instance...

I really want to use this stove I cast in bonze. The look is so different in metal then it was in plastic. Even though the rest of the kitchen may have been updated to some degree. If I later I change my mind and want to have a more modern stove, I want to be sure it will fit in the area I build for this one. The stove will fit inside the surround.

Does anyone know the measurements of a small AGA stove by Hearth & Home? They have not put them on their site.

Between the Sue Cook brackets, I want to have a brass rod to hang all the copper pans I have made from hooks. Looking at this I see the brackets need to be lower so someone would be able to reach a pan.

I want lots of textures in this room. Wood beams with baskets and herbs hanging from them. There might be cabinets built in above the mantel with hinged doors.  The bricks in this photo are clay fired on a mesh backing. I bought them looooog ago. They can be aged very nicely.

I am going to try to design a house from the inside out rather then the outside in. I want  to see if what I want will work with the sort of exterior I have in mind.

1: 12 Scale Kilmouski # 2

I just finished this cat. I think he is my favorite to date. Not just because he looks so much like Kilmouski but because I have found a new way to add color and stripes to the fur. I love these new dyes I just bought. They allow me to make the strength of color I want by diluting them with alcohol. I can also make very thin stripes on the head with these.

The fur on this cats back is dark. A bit darker then the stripes. This is sort of like Kilmouski. His is actually black on his back but when you separate it you see it is almost white close to the skin.

On a recent ETSY search I found this great pet carrier made by FranMadeMinis.   https://www.etsy.com/listing/166888021/cardboard-pet-carrier-112-scale?ref=shop_home_active_1  It comes flat in an envelope and you just fold it up and put the tabs in the slots. It is just like a heavy cardboard one I used to have.

 Fran told me she would personalize the message on the box if I needed it. How wonderful! It will be fun to send animals off to a new owners in these.

Please click on photos for a closer look. :-)

I forgot the words on the box will not translate. It says....

"MAKING TRACKS"

"FOR MY NEW HOME"

Out With A Friend

 I am ready to move on to something totally different now.  I really enjoy adding flock, fur and feathers to sculpts but I hate working with polymer clay.

Hope you are having a good weekend. We are finally having a warm, sunny day here.

They're Multiplying

Sculpting with this new (gooey) polymer clay is a bit madding. Even if you leach it out on paper over night. it is easier to add a bit of clay to the piece and bake for a few minutes. Other wise you mess up what you just finished sculpting in a different area. I refine the clay with an X acto # 11 blade and sand paper. There is strong wire in the all the limbs and ears and body. He still needs some work before he gets his coat.

 

 

Wild Rabbit

I wanted to make a wild rabbit. I should have remembered how this Alpaca heather brown mix photographed.. Despite the fact that this fiber is as soft as anything I have ever used, it looks like steel wool in photos. I suppose that is because you see the individual hairs. That doesn't happen when every fiber is the same color. In person though, this color Alpaca  looks just right for this sort of rabbit. He can sit on the tip of my finger.

He looks pretty cute sitting next to the geese. Though I am sure you are sick of seeing those. So am I!!!

Still alot of sculpting to do in this photo. It helps me to see what needs more work when I take pictures. Here his eyes were too big.

.

eBay Auction...Starting the bidding at TEN PENNIES

Just for fun I have decided to list the latest goose I made for ten cents (USDA) It is a huge risk but it will be fun to watch.

Keep your fingers crossed for me. :-)


http://www.ebay.com/itm/310879428136?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

They Are Flying Away!

These are new ones I made this week. One is on his way to England and another one is off to Australia.

 

I have ordered feathers again to make a few more. The next ones will be up for auction on eBay. I will post a link when I have a goose listed.