Taking myself, my miniatures and my blog and moving.

When your past calls, don't answer, it has nothing new to say. Unknown.

YOU CAN  READ IT HERE.

I have been changing. They way I do business anyway. And market myself. I have been learning a lot about internet marketing and trying to put those lessons into practice. One of them calls for leaving this blog behind. 

Not that this wasn't a great place to connect.

 And I think Blogger is fun to use too. It has just run its course for me. So from now on, I'll be blogging on my website. I hope you'll join me there. If you are on my newsletter list, you will be notified of a new blog. So you might want to subscribe. I am not pushy, salesy and I will never bombard your inbox. If anything, I am a negligent blogger. I have so much more fun creating things. 

Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End.

One of the latest will be a new tutorial for making realistic potion bottles. Or any kind of bottles and jars to fill up your pantry whether for a witch or wizard or just a housewife from one of the square states.

  If you think you might want it - sign on to the Newsletter !! and get a head's up once its available.

Other than that, I am gearing up for Halloween with some new treats for sale,  some new projects and orders, of course. Here's a few of the newest.

 And I am going to learn to sculpt a cat. Kerri Pajutee will teach me how. Fingers crossed.

Finally, Fall is beginning to show its face. I am seeing my spider friends again!!
I am finished with the heat and looking forward to what I consider to be the beginning of MY new year. How about you?

I am leaving this one here because there's some good stuff, fun stuff, growth stuff and important stuff. I did move a few of my most popular blogs over but the rest of that - a new beginning. 

I hope you will come with Me To the New BLOG
Got any new beginnings to share? You can still tell me below.

Making Minis with Idris Elba

 

 PSYCH !!!!

Sorry for that, but in a way, kinda true. I watch/listen to Netflix while working and my latest was watching/listening to the British drama series, Luther  While I worked Idris was right there with me. So I wasn't lying actually.

Here's what came out:

 

 I put together this Paleontologist's paraphernalia. Cute little Mastodon skeleton model right? Books, fossils too. If you'd like to own it here ya go.

 While I am not an animal maker, I do give it a shot now and again. This sculpted Afgan Hound is furred with Alpaca fibers. This was a hit and miss project that took more than several episodes of Luther.

I have done one of these before and this one is a bit different. The original is one of my most popular pins on Pinterest. So, another one.

I got this industrial barrel in an auction lot of stuff I wanted and this was extraneous to my needs. I thought it needed some toxic waste.

And some bird houses. Don't like the roof on the first one, so have since ripped it off. But now I have run out of Idris... 

Most of this will be on my Ebay.

Signed up for my Newsletter?  Do and you will get a nice surprise. For free.

Shopping at the Philly Show

In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures. Khalil Gibran

I must say I do enjoy when other bloggers share their show findings and purchases, so thought I might try that out here. 

I attended the Philadelphia miniature show last weekend, (which is actually in New Jersey in a very tricky to get to hotel), just for the day on Saturday. In missing the preview I lost out on my most desired items. I won't mention them here because, well, I lost out. I will say there were only 2 dealers who I wanted to catch and those 2 were just about sold out by the time I got there. 

The show is not at all what it used to be, sadly. I suppose partially due to the economy and of course, the internet.  So many top drawer artisans missing. Lots of smaller scales available too. Not for me, but popular when you start running out of room, but for now, tables that I could skip. (Here is a better review of the show 
By Susan Grimshaw)

Anyway, to business. I came away with a lot less than I did back in the day, but as mentioned, missing artisans and the internet (which is now a juicy place to acquire miniatures, a gift horse, so to speak, if you will).

 Animals are such agreeable friends - they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.


I cannot control myself when it comes to animals and it looks like I did it again in one form or another. 

I have a pug collection and could not resist this one by Sarah Hendry carried by Karon Cunningham

Pug by Sarah Hendry

 I found this little monkey and the tiny mice at Kathi Kuti .  Made by Kathi the monkey will go in my toy shop. He is just about 1.5 inches high. I also have a monkey collection. (I once raised a monkey for Helping Hands, an organization that trains and places monkey helpers for the disabled).  The mice are porcelain and can go anywhere and I do like mice. I also had some pet rats at one time. 

I had a really good look at Henny Staring-Egberts table and while she has some widely expensive pieces some are less than one hundred dollars and her work is exceptional. And I walked away with these gorgeous pieces and that tiny dog just .75 of an inch high. (yes, again with an animal)

I did also buy some inexpensive bits and pieces for future projects that need transformation of some sort. Birds and animals for repainting and some kits because I wanted to see how kits are made and packaged. Maybe I'll make some one of these days.

So if you attended the Philly show, what did you get?  Tell me below.

Step by Step.

 "There is no one giant step that does it, it's a lot of little steps". Peter A. Cohen

I have never done a work in progress like you see on blogs a lot. Step by painful step.
But might as well do one for the record.

This is a Trompe L'oeil called Le Pate after Jean Baptiste Oudry. I had done this one years and years ago but this was a request so did it again. Have to admit I have not painted in a few years so, something different. Keeps the old brain from getting tics, hopefully...

This one below was done long ago and I found it  on Google. Not the best lighting. For sure, it was not that yellow. I would love to see them side by side. See how close I came each time...

Let me know what you think. 
AND I would love for you to sign up for my NEWSLETTER - don't worry, I won't bombard your inbox. I am about as good at newsletters as I am at blogging. But...I have surprises up my sleeve so I would not want you to miss anything.

Mini Love,

TEN Tips for Finding the BEST Miniatures in Your Pajamas. (and at a bargain)

I have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best. Oscar Wilde

You don't need the expense of traveling to miniature shows when the very best miniatures are no farther than your keyboard. We all came to earth with gifts and one of mine I know for sure is that I can find the best things in just about anyplace. And I know who has what gift. So when it comes to miniatures I am pretty good at ferreting out great stuff. To add to my own collection. And here are some tips to help you find treasures of your own:

1) Don't Overlook Ebay.
There are wonderful artisan miniatures available there every day often going for way below original cost. Check under 'Artist Offerings" in Dollhouse Miniatures (under Dolls and Bears). But don't neglect the larger category because many things there are not followed by most.

2) Check out the Artisan.
If you see something on a popular miniature website and are not thrilled with the prices, go directly to the artisan (Google) You may well get the better price. Plus you can find wonderful things from artisans who might not be dealers at the shows you attend.

3) Auctions.
For years I thought I would never be able to afford the wonderful miniatures that were coming up for auction. I did not even know how to sort out bidding on those auctions. So, sadly, I passed up bidding. Eventually when an auction got to be too tempting, I jumped in.  While things are usually sold in lots and you might be interested in only one item, charge in and get the lot. You can later sell off the unwanted bits and in the end come out ahead with your prized item costing nothing.

4) ETSY.
While I find ETSY to have a lot of miniatures less than top, artisan quality (lots of decal-ed plates and crockery, computer printed books, paper watering cans etc), there are quality pieces there, you just have to look.  As new artisans emerge with wonderful things you can score amazing miniatures for great prices. These artisans eventually move on for some reason, often showing up on eBay where there is great competition for their work. Strike while the iron is hot. (And hey, nothing wrong with decals and computer printed stuff, I use and make it myself,  but that stuff will not bulk up the pocketbooks of your heirs)

5) THE CAMP. 
This is a Yahoo group consisting of over 1800 members at the time of this writing. Its a great place to share anything about miniatures and ask for help with your projects or locating a item. Lots of help from many well informed artisans and collectors. When one finds something fabulous it gets shared and you can find great deals and great artisans by word of mouth. I believe it to be the ultimate miniature online group. Join HERE.

6) Facebook. 
While not for everyone because I have heard that joining scares some people into believing their information might be shared, its still one of the biggest if not the biggest social media sites. There are many miniature groups there and you will find wonderfully talented artisans coming out of the woodwork from all over the world and many sell their work. I would start with IGMA: The International Guild of Miniature Artisans.Go HERE.

7) Pinterest.
Another social media venue full and I mean FULL of miniature eye candy. Again, you can find wonderful creators of minis there and many do sell their work. You can also leave a message asking to place an order.

8) Blogs.
Yes, there are millions of blogs these days. Just another sign of the times that the internet is where it's at. It can happen this way; you find something on Pinterest that links to a blog. That blog lists favorite blogs they happen to follow - miniature related, of course, and you can scroll through several at a sitting, see what the owner is doing and how they do it. Many show step by step photos of their own personal projects. But in and among this information is reference to items they collected and where to find the artisan.
 
9) Show schedules with dealer links.
Whether you go to shows or not, you can always visit the show's website. There posted are dealers for upcoming shows with links directly to the artisans. Click around and you will find something to please you in your budget directly from the artisan. Since you saved a pile of money not traveling to the show, spend away.
 
10) And last but not least THE IGMA Fine Miniatures Forum. This is an online forum of the very finest miniatures but anyone is welcome to view and post their work. You need not be a member to participate. But once there, you may well be inclined to be part of a group promoting miniatures as an art form. Which indeed they are. Check it out.

Did I miss anything? Found anything wonderful yourself off the beaten path? 
Tell all below.

WHY ?

"He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how"  Friedrich Nietzsche

I'm in a bad mood today so I'm really glad I have miniatures.  Mention just about anything and it will piss me off.  Right now I am thinking about those dismissive people who think miniatures are toys for little girls.  And right now I can see their eyes glaze over. Or roll. And right now I'd like to see their eyes rolling under my desk.

Simon Sinek says, "People don't buy what you do, they buy why you do it."

I make miniatures (and sell them) because I get up in the morning and can't wait to get into my studio and create something. I love the creative process. I love designing a miniature and going bit by bit through the process taking the twists and turns until something that pleases me comes out.  And thankfully my customers are pleased as well. I love taking a blah piece and transforming it into something beautiful and unique.  I consider what I do making art. And miniatures are my medium.

Right now Halloween is on the way. So right now I am transforming my stash of commercial, yes, commercial, 1:12 scale chairs into something spooky in honor of the season. Which is by the way, one of my favorites.

So inspired by my favorite holiday and my love of creepy things I express myself through my art. How is that any different than any other more 'lofty' art?  No different.

 

I am also discovering new abilities and improving on old ones in trying to wrangle fabrics to lay believably on the tiny chairs, unearthing new mediums for sculpting, improving my sculpting, and maneuvering images in my photo software into images that will work in 1:12 scale and give the impression of 'eerie'.  I have yet to tackle Photoshop but its on my bucket list. 

Am I expert at any of this?  I am not. There are far better sculptors, far, far better upholstery geniuses and far better digital artists.  Will you see my original one of a kind pieces coming and going? You will not.  Am I having fun? You bet your ass.

This is art. It is MY art. And only one aspect of it. It is miniature and you can put it in a doll house. And you don't have to like it. But don't you dare turn your nose up.

So, what do you do and why do you do it?  Do you think miniatures can be considered ART?  Put your thoughts below.

And oh, by the way, if you like this blog, please share it.
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My $50,000 Miniature Mistake

       ]" A mistake is always forgivable, rarely excusable and always unacceptable."  Robert Fripp


$50,000.  Because that's how far I got.  It took years and years. A collection of glorious, wonderful miniatures and I SOLD THEM.  That would be the mistake.  Great. Big. Huge.

No, I did not have money to burn.  It's just that I was not buying expensive handbags and shoes.  I was collecting 1:12 scale miniature collectibles.  Little by little, year after year.    Something wonderful here, something magical there...

Still life by Paul Salterelli - I had several of his early, and in my opinion, superior works. One is better than none.

 

It started at a flea market where I was  thrilled to discover a table selling miniature bliss.  It brought me right back to a happy childhood playing with tiny tea sets, rearranging diminutive furniture in a doll house and then later dressing Barbie in her shoes and handbags. 
(If you are not familiar with miniatures, sadly for you, there is a whole tiny world of things reduced to miniature that might make you believe you could just put them in your house and use them yourself, they are so perfect as to deceive. Thus my reason for photographing them with 'big' things.)

Hand Painted Charger by Le Chateau Interiors - this was originally mine and I bought it again.

I bought a bunch.  Put them in a typesetter's tray.  Found a miniature catalog advertized in a woman's magazine and bought more. Found out about a miniature show locally.  Went there and found people making very serious hand crafted artisan pieces in miniature. Anything you could think of that existed in real life was right there. A paragon of miniature wonder.  I was hooked.

Brass Bird Cage and Hexagonal Rosewood Stand by David Krucker - found again on eBay

I SOLD THE COLLECTION !!!  They say you don't regret the things you did but rather the things you did not do.  Not true.

"Stupidity is a talent for misconception." ~  Edgar Allan Poe

I had new babies, needed money and figured, hey, I am never going to be able to collect miniatures again.  Who has the time when there are diapers to be changed and college funds to think about?  Duh. Babies grow up.

Ruby Glass Decanter Set by Francis Whitmore, Sterling Tray by Gugliemo Cini

Anyway, I am now on the lookout for things I gave up.  In truth some of them really did not matter so who cares now?  BUT...there are those perfect, thrilling, masterful creations that just haunt my soul.  From time to time I come across one and do my best to make it mine AGAIN.  Pictured here are some of my lost then founds.

"Just think how happy you would be if you lost everything you have right now, and then got it back again." Frances Rodman

Lute by Ken Manning. Ebay.

In the end we just can't take this stuff with us.  But letting it go is just not an option.  Not for me.  Not again.  A word to the wise...

Chair by Barbara Logan - found again in a miniature shop

Samurai Sword by Cliff Fleltrope - my original was black with a dragon head.  This will have to do.

I sincerely hope you have spared yourself my agony.   And learned from my mistake. I hope you'll share your thoughts below.  (Oh, and if $50,000 is shocking to you, get out your receipts and just add them up.)

"If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning."  Catherine Aird

FUN IN A BOX

"Look at me! Look at me! Look at me NOW!  It is fun to have fun but you have to know how."

Just like the Cat in the Hat has his own FUN-IN-A-BOX which in case you may have forgot houses Thing 1 and Thing 2.  They, of course,  represent pure, unadulterated, carefree mayhem, my idea of that would be something miniature.  (Because this is a blog about miniatures and if you love them then you KNOW.)

I have had for years a small plain wooden box that measures 8 x 10 and 4 inches deep purchased from a miniature shop.  I moved it around a thousand times from pile to pile until finally I found a drawing by Anton Pieck and transcribed that into the box using Creative Paperclay, some wood and a print of a garden.  It has a recessed window and ceiling beams and  'leaded' glass windows with one open showing a garden scene.

"And this mess is so big and so deep and so tall..."

Empty room box...Waiting for FUN.

So it sat around for quite some time longer because I was unclear what to do with it.  I moved it around again from pile to pile. Finally I took it out to play and realized what a great piece it turned out to be because it can be anything. I went to my stash of collected things and arranged several settings you can see here, FUN number 1:

Doll by Carole McBride, bunny by Kerri Pajutee, blocks by Terre Fernandez, flowers by Barb Plevan, plate by Rosey Duck, painting by Linda McBreen

More rooting around in the stash and I got this, FUN number 2:

Chair by Bernhard Originals, Pug by Gudrun Kolenda, Rug by Classic Carpets, Birdcage by Ursula Dyrbye-Skovsted, Plants by Kyoko Mikai, Plates by Dominique Levy,  Stag head and horse pull toy by Linda Master.  

So pull all that apart, dig through boxes and bins and yet another lovely little vignette, FUN number 3:

Chair by Betty Valentine, Book case by Erny Levy, Mandolin by Ken Manning, Vintage bird cage, Bowl by Debby McKnight, Cat by Liz McInnis, Painting by Linda McBreen, Saki set by Ligia, Celadon bowl by Joan Westphal

I am truly impressed with the versatility of a small wooden box. Who knew?  Really, I need to do more.  Maybe a class one day??   I have a frame for it too and just need to slap that on and there's an enchanting little piece to show off a collection.  Let me know what you think.

IT"S COMING !!!!

"Eat, drink and be SCARY"

It's coming.  Halloween IS coming.  I know this because the great, fat spiders are busy building great fat webs.  Huge webs.  The Halloween kind of webs that get in your hair when you inadvertently walk into one.  The kind that are so beautiful you want to press them between two pieces of glass and save the creepy forever.

I know I am rushing the season but I can feel  the spooky coming on.  And for a creator of miniatures that spooky and scary gets into the miniature work.  I am busy at work getting ready for the IGMA Show but I am distracted by all the ghostly things that could be made in miniature.

 

So in honor of the harbingers of Halloween and the Day of the Dead, my friends the spiders, I made up this poor mourning mother pushing her poor baby for eternity in it's carriage.  Unable to accept the loss of her child, she died of grief.  But not before she wore herself thin and wretched walking the baby to the ends of the earth.

1:12 scale Mourning Mother

I know this is not for the faint of heart but the idea was suggested to me by one of my sick customers and I love her for the brilliant idea.  If you really hate this let me know and I'll give you her name.

"Halloween wraps fear in innocence, as though it were a slightly sour sweet.  Let terror, then, be turned into a treat..." Nicholas Gordon

Great mourning outfit, don't you think?

And yes, folks.  IT'S A CANDY HOLIDAY.  What's better than that?
And what's your favorite part of Halloween.  Tell me below.

Yes, she is one of a kind.  Thankfully.

Inside every Great Dane is a puppy longing to get into your lap...

Finally finished my Great Dane and he's all covered with 'fur'. I think Ann would have liked him.