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.

 

 

Goosey Lucy

A blog friend made me laugh recently when she told me she was amused by my recent interent purchases. Rocks, feathers and fly cutting scissors. Thank heavens for Etsy. It was the first place I went to look for white feathers.

I chose silk embroidery floss to cut into flock. It acts completely different to the Alpaca I have used on my cat and dog sculpts. Silk flock tends to clump when it is cut into dust. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to use it. It looked awful!!! Finally I found a way to get it to smooth out. You might not be able to see it in these photos but it has thick luxurious surface. They are a little over 2 inches tall.

What better to have in front of an English cottage then a couple of geese.

Cookie Please

Kilmouski is always in his high chair right next to me while I'm working. Which is a huge wood tray affixed to a tall kitchen stool. The tray has a thick cushion with a baby blanket over it.

Long ago...I taught him to shake hands and sit up by grabbing his right paw then giving him a treat. I had no idea when I did that I gave him a voice. Now when he wants one he puts up a paw. If I ignore him he sits up like a rabbit. That is my breaking point. When he does that, I have to stop working and give him a "cookie". 

Asleep at last. I am getting close to finishing two pieces I have been sculpting. I will post some photos in the next few days.

Meissen Reproductions by Olszewski

I had forgotten how wonderful and detailed the old Goebel Olszewski pieces are. I bought both of these on eBay last week. "The Poultry Seller" was in mint condition still in the plastic bag. The Parrot was described as being in excellent condition and still in its original box. I was very lucky in both of these auctions. Buying each of them for less then the original price was in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

 

They were sculpted out of jewelers casting wax and cast in bronze. Then they were painted once the castings were cleaned up. The detail is just wonderful. Far better then my photography skills can demonstrate. 

 

If you are interested, have a look in eBay. there are quite a few in there now up for sale and auction. Be sure you are buying a dollhouse miniature. Some of the pieces he did are not.

How do you like it?

 I just loved this cottage when I saw it. It has great potential for a dollhouse. It is NOT my preferred style either. Sadly when I drew out plans, it was going to be too small for my collection. I really didn't want to enlarge it because part of its charm are the proportions.

I have never seen anything like those wrought iron pieces that are at the edge of the roof (attached to the house). If anyone knows about the use of those... I would love to know what they are about.

Back to the drawing board and my huge collection of inspiration photos.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g551650-d2450012-r181831510-A104_Rose_Cottage-North_Bovey_Dartmoor_National_Park_Devon_England.html

Ivy Cottage (Update)

Ivy Cottage is located in the Village of Nuttingham. It has a lovely view  from the top of a 300 year old walnut tree. This is the reason all these cottages hang from 'cables'. 

The house has Belgian spider silk lace curtains in all the windows. It is the first house in the village to have a fireplace. There is a large stack of 'rainbow makers' in one of the bay windows. I suppose you thought there was a scientific explanation for rainbows.. In the other bay window there is a basket of fairy dust. There is a nest in a tiny acorn cap just over the front door. It has three blue eggs in it. Who's I wonder? 

The tiny terracotta flower pots were kiln fired and made by Braxton Payne. http://www.braxtonpayne.com/

Nutshell Cottage In Progress

Three days later... This is all that I have. Waiting for oil paint to dry is a PITA ;-)  when you need two or three coats.

The shell is so thin on the edges where the two halves meet I really thought it would break while I was sawing it out.

Hrmmm.... I see Kilmouski has added a fly away cat hair that has landed over the front door. Grrrrrrr They are as fine a spider silk. I may have to shave him or give him a bath in GLUE!

There is a lot more to do. I love it when it is time to decorate. That is fun....but several days away at this point.

I could never get one of these together without the help of Bostic Blu-Tack. It holds things in place for me while I am fitting things.

Now I can start the back side.