1 : 12th Scale Miniatures

Cats and More Cats

My friend Ana has been honing her furring skills,
she is off to America to learn all she can.

 In the meantime she has been "getting ready"...

I know all her tools are packed.

I love the cats she has already made, can't make up my mind which one I like best!

The tails move and the eyes simply talk to one.

Enjoy

1:12th Scale Miniatures

I was asked to give a talk on Miniature Knitting at the Cape Town Lace makers Guild.
This I did on Saturday afternoon and was amazed at the lace that the ladies produce.

I have finished the second Afghan design....so everything that required my immediate attention was done and dusted....

So I spent the day trying out my new punches that I bought from Hanky Panky in America, only to find I had two ivy leaf punches in the same size,  not to worry I am sure it can be sorted out.

I have a vase of parrot tulips in my home, made of silk. I NEVER thought I would EVER have silk flowers in my home, never say never. When I first saw the vase I thought they were real, they looked so bright and happy somehow.


At miniature guild we have made flowers but we are given a kit, I wanted to start from scratch and these cheerful flowers was a good place to start.

Not having all the necessary groceries was not going to stop me so I improvised a little and learned a lot in the process.

Provo Craft punches the scissor type are not so good they unfortunately don't give a clean cut, I tried sharpening it by punching out in tinfoil, not at all sure if it helped.

I had bought various papers as they seemed fine enough to make flowers. I had been told that airletter paper was a good place to start, so with that texture in mind had chosen various papers with no particular flower in mind.

I choose a see through paper quiet stiff for the leaves and coloured that with the pastel pencils as well. Not having a punch for the leaves I hand cut them instead. The colour is a bit light but I will continue making these cheerful flowers till I perfect to a degree.

I did not put the stamens in the tulips that will have to be given some considered thought, maybe fimo or air dry clay would work for that.

My friend Erika had given me some papers and the one felt exactly as the coral piece I had. I put ordinary printer paper in the punch at the same time as the finer paper and that did help somewhat, but there is a little nick right at the top of the punch.

I believe we should come up with our own Latin names

 for our miniature flower tryouts!

I choose to colour each petal individually as I wanted only the tips of the petals to be a little lighter, takes a while but very therapeutic, I have not made a container as yet but thought a jug in a copper or brass finish should look good. Going to try making one out of cardboard that everyone has been doing. How to get the finish is anybody's guess at this point.....Mrs Google here I come!

In the meantime they are planted in a temporary container......

Did you know that real tulips continue growing in a vase of water...

At least 3 inches.

Most of the flowers have 6 petals, then some have 7 or even 8 petals.

All this flower making was jolly good fun!!!

I would like to try the cardboard jug today but have to do homework first in that I'm

off to read "iPhone the missing manual" by David Pogue 

Reading the first 18 pages had me going Ooohing and Awhing....(Spelling???)
I now realize I have bought a space ship by comparison to the little Nokia I have been using all these years!

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Miniatures

Thought I would share with you one of my most favorite miniatures.

A pram by the Roberson's.

I so wish I had kept a little black book of all the treasures I had bought over the years...

Stating -  Date - Price - Maker it sure would be a lot of fun to look at it today.

More and more collectors are concentrating on quality and not quantity, these will be the miniatures that survive into the future.....

All I do remember about this pram is that it is more than 15 years ago that I bought it,  at the time it cost me 69 Euro's and I had to save up for it. I have since bought a second pram from the Ronbersons as this one was almost identical to the pram one I had for my first baby, and this time it cost 180 Euro's

The real life carriage pram was second hand it was in perfect condition, taking Shane for a walk on our dirt roads was anything but peaceful, the poor little might was bumped around so much I had to only walk in the garden....but seeing it parked on the verandah with a little hand waving about under the net was so beautiful.

The joke was the pram would not even fit into our motor car.....

I had also bought the hat bag and parasol from a fair in Johannesburg..... once again I do not know who even made them. Then years later I got my friend to make a doll so I could display the pram and doll together ...

The quality of the ostrich feathers are an absolute delight, now I know one can curl feathers using your scissors, similar to curling ribbon when wanting to decorate a gift but the quality is not there. Have to make some inroad into sourcing those as well.

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Minitures

Patty asked if I would show how I display my collection, I initially collected and made large porcelain dolls and bears, after seeing an Eight inch Hilda in a shop on Pier 39 in San Francisco.

I did not buy the doll on the first stop, the ship carried on to Vancouver in Canada.

meanwhile I fretted the whole time that when I got back she would have been sold...

I was so lucky, she was still sitting on the shelf waiting for me. You can see her sitting on her Willow Twig bed in the cabinet...

I love her.

 These days I no longer have my large dolls having given them away.

The only doll I have kept is my Hilda antique reproduction and packed away in a cupboard is a large "Mein Liebling" which is my second best loved doll.

She still needs her wig and eyes.

Over the years I found I then needed toys for my dolls. 

1:12th miniatures 

were always the perfect size for this purpose. 

So the collection began!

I was sorting the cupboard especially for the photograph when I realized I don't actually have much of 

my miniature knitting on display.

I find I work with the garments all the time, reassessing, measuring and deciding on how a new design will develop before the stitches are cast on.

When they form part of the display 

the whole scene is constantly in a muddle and goes to pot.

My collection is housed in an antique display cabinet 

originally made as a shop fitting.

Sooooo

 I have a baby boutique in progress.....as it turns out it will have to be a department store far too much to display.

Also I would like to make the special fittings I have in mind, myself... so am now the proud owner of a new soldering iron......it does scare me ever so slightly!

 

 

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Miniatures

For many years I wanted a miniature silver mug to place on a  highchair that I have.

Monica Roberts of Hither Thither and Yon was kind enough to buy a book on Ebay for me as the seller would not ship to South Africa

So we arranged a swap....

I knitted her some goodies and Monica arranged the purchase of the 2 books and the silver mug....

ONE BIG PROBLEM

The little mug is not placed on the highchair ....

WHY

Well as you can see the wrapping an presentation was simply so beautiful ......

I was loath to remove the mug and spoon from the card.

So the card sits happily in my cupboard amongst my baby things looking beautiful!

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Miniatures

I now realize I had promised to show you the Birthday Cake my friend Ana Esteves made for my collection.

After doing a cleanup of my stash 

 I found the "Safe Place" I had put it.

Of course it is always the last place that you find it in...that's when you stopped looking...... I get so confused with that expression.

I think it is perfectly wonderful, I feel so spoiled!

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Miniatures

This is my basket of strawberries that will go onto my table. 

 Click on the picture to enlarge it!

We were given this little wooden basket which we stained with Plaid Folkart stain, colour Apple Butter Brown, how delicious does that name sound.

We then applied some candle wax where we wanted the basket to look a little worn, then painted it with Americana Acrylic paint in a soft cream. When it was dry we knocked off the wax...hey presto a perfectly used basket.

When I got home I decided I needed to play with mine and this is what appeared on my worktable. I was so excited about how it turned out, I clean forgot to shade the leaves with my chalks.

 How daft is that!

I simply don't have another excuse for it. 

Anyway it will have to do for this time round.

Now look at this plant.....

I had to share it with you......This was made by 

IGMA Fellow - Kyoko Kimura, from JAPAN - Plants

I am so happy to have won this on our annual Auction, it is hard to believe it is not real.

One can sure aspire to making plants of this quality.

Apparently he uses a resin clay....so much to learn.

He gives lessons at IGMA's Guild School at Castine, now there's a reason to attend Guild School.

Ah well one can dream!!!

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Miniatures

This is the second class I did at convention it was such fun.

 Our Miniature Baking Table

This is Erika's our teachers table, I am busy with mine.

The fun part was using molds and hey presto...

 a slab of chocolate, 

a pound of butter,

 scones by the dozen, 

custard slices 

These all appear as if by magic

One was so tempted to pop them into ones mouth.

One has to get used to icing the custard slices, 

using texture paint to make "cream"

No wonder there is so much miniature food around it is "WONDERFUL FUN " to make

I have not glued my goodies down onto the table as yet as I would like to have my bowl of African Violets on the table but have to wait till I do it at guild.

I would love to make cakes the best part is one can make them without having to eat them.

Tomorrow I will show you a cake a friend made me, only just found it again I had put it in a safe place

So wish I would not do that.

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Miniatures

I gave myself space yesterday to make a dress for dear Miss Mouse

 A PROTOTYPE at this stage.

What Fun it turned out to be.

Having been introduced to Vera de Muis so many years ago

I loved the idea of a mouse dressed in real clothes.

My friend Ana has made the most delightful mouse doll. 

I call her Miss Mouse.

Ana's ability to make the finest quality of miniature critters and 

teddies is astounding. 

See one of her creations  which is on Ebay at the moment.

Item number:290615686059

Her seller name is anabear555

Her ability to constantly push herself to greater heights, 

and to be innovative is only to be admired.

Miss Mouse has arms and legs that move!

Looking through my photograph albums 

I managed to find the photograph of the first  mouse 

I made and dressed.

It was in 2004, seems hard to believe,  how time flies!

I sold her on Ebay

I realize now that I called that first little mouse, 

Miss Mouse as well.

Her outfit was knitted in DMC 80 at the time, 

ones taste and quality does change  and improve over the years. 

Believe me when I say, I love shoes.... and so does Miss Mouse.

Enjoy

Sharon

1:12th Scale Miniatures

Searching through my photograph Albums which are in rather a muddle, 

I come across a hidden treasure here and there I thought lost in a digital world

I am busy uploading the pictures to Picasa Web Albums which is a job and a half.

 I know you have seen this hat and bag before on Miss Sally,
I rather like the photograph showing it on the stand so thought I would share.

What a difference the background of a photograph can do to a picture.

The Good news is this ....
A week ago I had my first cataract removed and yesterday the second eye was done.....
My what a miracle the first eye was! It was as though someone had put a spotlight on the world!

Today they removed the dressing on the second eye....
I know it makes all the difference when it comes to playing with hats and bags.
 

 I need to make a special hat for the upcoming Royal Wedding after all. I know some of the ladies in my Doll Cupboard are already talking about it. The one lady is very conceited and she
"Just has to have a new hat" she says.

As I have said before this is my very first hat made out of Fimo and it is my most favorite

 Do you know this hat took all day and way into the night to make...but it was fun!

 I don't own this little hat and bag anymore I gave it to a friend.

Would you like to see a tutorial on my kind of hat making and decorating?

Answer me in the comment section and lets see what happens!

Do any of you know where can one buy brass Hat Stands?