Miniature Allsorts...

Bedroom & Dressing Room

2012-05-13T14:56:00.001+01:00

Spurred on by your lovely comments I've finished the master bedroom and converted what used to be the wasted space of the staircase into a dressing room. Because the carcass had half-landings built in the only way round this problem was to add a false wall in front of the landings resulting in a small but functional area. The false wall in this room is meant to look like a wardrobe :)

I'm not sure that the style of furnishing in these rooms suit the overall feel of the house but until I revamp the other set of furniture I have it'll do for now.

Hope you like it so far! Back soon x

It's been such a long time....

2012-05-03T17:33:00.002+01:00

It’s been such a long time since I’ve posted anything and I feel I have been away from blogging for what seems an eternity due to every conceivable ‘life stressor’ landing on my lap en masse since the start of this year. However on a positive note there is a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel now and immersing myself in all things creative has certainly helped me through. So after a quick scroll through my blog to help my memory, shall I start with an update of what’s been achieved in my miniature world of late?

Just after Christmas, and after much heart searching, I had decided to part company with my Laurels doll house. I hadn't worked on it in a year, it takes up too much space and I really couldn’t see me finishing it. I started to strip out anything I wanted to keep with the intention of selling it ‘sold as seen’ but I never got round to advertising it for sale. Perhaps that’s just as well as one day I rolled up my sleeves and just started working on it like a maniac…although now slightly regretting that I had stripped out the wiring!!

The Laurels is a five storey townhouse with five large rooms and five narrow halls / staircases. I decided that the staircases were a complete waste of space and with some ‘bashing’ it now has nine rooms and one entrance hall. It then crossed my mind that the little people wouldn’t be able to move around the house! Hmmm...I decided it’s my dollhouse and if I think that doors are not a necessity then the house will just have to be viewed as a series of room boxes!! Besides which I have other houses-in-waiting in which the flow of movement around a normal house can be established!

So as not to bore you to tears I’ve split the unveiling of The Laurels into a number of posts. So let’s start at the top of the house; on the left is the nursery and on the right is the bathroom.

You’ve probably already seen a lot of the miniatures in the nursery. The main difference is the doorway has now been covered with a huge shelf for toys, books and games. The 144th scale houses I made previously now have a home, at a recent fair I bought a little desk that you can see to the right of the fireplace and the light was reinstated above the bed.

It’s at the stage now where I can continue to make or buy miniatures to fill the gaps in the room.

Moving across, the bathroom was actually the top hallway. As the house originally had dog-legged stairs there were bits of half landing built into the carcass of the house. This wasn’t too much of a problem at the top but, as you’ll see later, it caused some difficulties with the rooms below  A piece of foam board was cut to fit the hole in the floor and the room was tiled with some black and white tiles that I bought ages ago, finally glad to have found a use for them! The bathroom suite was a Chrysnbon kit that I made a while back and blogged about then – I just love these kits!

The room was too narrow to build another shelving unit so I used mountboard to build a vanity unit into the old door frame and inset the sink from the kit.

I intend to buy a Chrysnbon bathroom accessories kit and add them to the room too along with some shelving and, of course, loads more miniatures.

So, that’s the top floor. Next time, and I promise it will be soon, we’ll move down to the master bedroom … with dressing room! Until then, take care xx

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-01T09:00:00.010Z

Well, that's another year over and a new one just about to start! I don't want to reflect too much on 2011 as it wasn't the happiest of times so let's leave it in the past and focus on the future.
I was absent from my blog for much of 2011 but I fully intend to remedy that in 2012 so I would like to start by sending a warm welcome to all my new followers and extend thanks to those who are still following despite the lack of posts!

Here's to a Happy, Healthy and Peaceful 2012!!

Furniture Revamp

2011-11-01T17:02:00.000Z

Well it doesn't seem that long since I last posted but it's over a month ago..where did that time go??? Anyway real life has been meddling in my miniature endeavours so I've not done a great deal of late, however whilst having a clear out of miniatures I came across various pieces of mismatched bedroom furniture. A dressing table that had lost it's mirror and was a ghastly red mahogany colour, a pine wardrobe that the door had fell off, a bed that had been 'dressed' previously (but was a bit naff to be honest) and a chaise which was a wee bit small for 12th scale but fitted across the bottom of the bed. Rather than give them their freedom I decided I would revamp them. I forgot to take 'before' photos but here is the result of a week's painting, sanding and general tweeking.

I've still to add more items inside the wardrobe and finish the bolster cushion on the bed but otherwise I'm very pleased with them. The rug is one of my own designs and has a matching cushion on the chaise. And I don't know if you can see the detail on the bedspread but it is so pretty - it's tiny dandelion 'fairies' blowing in the wind with some script that's so small I can't read it.

As yet I don't have a home for them so I'll keep them in reserve for a future project. Hugs to all that need one x

Bad Blogger!!

2011-09-26T08:09:00.000+01:00

Hi Ladies and thank you for your lovely comments which I appreciate x

Blogger is not playing nicely and won't let me post a reply to your comments! If anyone has an idea on how to remedy this please let me know.

Eva, the kit is from http://www.petite-properties.com/ and costs £12.99
Hope that helps,

Hugs to all xxx

Love, love, love this tiny cottage!

2011-09-24T18:39:00.000+01:00

Thanks for your comments on my last post. As promised here is an update on the 144th scale cottage - well I've finished it actually but forgot to take photos of the in-between stages!!
I've done a couple of 144th scale houses before - both were much less sturdy, a lot more fiddly and a heck of a lot more expensive than this little treasure. The detail is outstanding for the price. It even has tiny chimney breasts, fireplaces and glazed windows.

Washtub Cottage 144th scale

It went together really easily. I decided to wallpaper the interior as I had some left over from a previous project. And as it is destined for display in a 12th scale dolls house I didn't bother weathering the exterior. There are more houses in this 144th scale series and I will definitely be ordering another.

I'm really pleased with how it turned out and hope you like it too!

I can feel my creative juices flowing again so in a logical progression I'm going to start on a 48th scale house next that has been lying untouched for almost 18 months. See you soon x

Right!! Time to restart life - on my terms!

2011-09-21T15:04:00.000+01:00

Hello again! I feel I have been absent from blogging, and the miniature world in general, for far too long. My miniature creations have been on hold while work was being done in our home and then five weeks ago the rug was pulled from under us again when my mother-in-law passed away unexpectedly. My eldest son also started university last week and it is certainly an adjustment not having him at home! At the start of this year I felt that changes were afoot and how true that was, just not the changes I was hoping for! However for my sanity I need to get back to creating. Anything!!! I just need that quiet time in my own little world to recharge so.........

I had a trawl through my current works-in-progress and decided to discard anything that just wasn't doing it for me. So the Orchid dolls house has gone although I removed all the work done so far and will rehouse items in a different project. The jury is still out on my big dolls house, The Laurels. Sometimes I love it and at other times I can't stand looking at it! I also have a dolls house-in-waiting which calls quietly to me in the night so I will try to reorganise the RL house to make room for that!

But to rekindle my mini-mojo I thought I would start small and have just bought a 144th scale kit from Petite Properties! Here it is - well, here are the components of the kit - they're tiny!!!

Washtub Cottage 144th scale kit

I feel some 'me-time' is due so I'll drop by in a couple of days with an update. Send me your mini-mojo vibes to keep me on track! Take care until next time x

Dying to get back to normal - whatever normal is!

2011-07-31T17:51:00.000+01:00

Hello to everyone! I have been absent way too long mainly because we started some renovations on our home which are dragging on a bit and starting to get on my nerves!!!
As a result I haven't been doing much in the way of miniatures - cross stitch in the evening is about all I can manage - but I promise I'll show you the fruits of our labours as each room is completed.
On a positive note I see that I have new followers, so a very warm welcome to you all. Normal service will hopefully resume soon :)
To those who have left comments on my blogs I have tried to reply but for some reason Blogger won't let me! Suffice to say that I appreciate the time you've taken to write and I will keep trying to send my reply.
That's all - short and sweet - I'll still be reading your blogs so please keep writing your posts to keep me sane and I'll hopefully be showing you my renovated kitchen (real one!) very soon. Big hugs to all who need them x

Back to the Conservatory!

2011-05-10T16:00:00.001+01:00

Hello!!!! It's been a long time since I last posted! Over the past month I've had frenzied mini sessions and then done nothing! At the moment I'm found with crochet hook in hand (show you what I've been working on later!) Anyway, I've been back working on my conservatory.

I always thought it needed a long sideboard along the back wall beneath the print and, as usual, we miniaturists have to make or adapt pieces to suit. Soooo....this sideboard was made from wooden newel posts and my favoured mountboard. It was painted and distressed and finally given a light coat of woodstain to dull it down a bit! I'm very pleased with how it turned out...

I've changed my mind about the sofa I made a while back and instead took a couple of chairs from a garden set which were a very naff glossy pine and gave them the distressing treatment too. The fabulous cushions were received from a swap friend in the US.

I've had a rummage through all the miniatures I have accumulated over the years that were still needing a home and I've tried to use what I can here. Of course there's always room for more but for now we have a distressed set of storage boxes, an old trunk, knitting basket, magazines, books, plants - maybe you'd be better having a look at the photos and see for yourself.

I can't put a name to this style, any suggestions? Folksy? Americana? Primitive? Haven't a clue! But I like how it's turning out :)

Hugs to all x

Spring was here but now it's gone and an Orchid update

2011-04-03T23:00:00.001+01:00

As I basked in the morning sun, having my breakfast and admiring the daffodils on the table this morning I thought that spring had finally reached the west of Scotland. By 1.30pm we had hailstones the size of golf balls and heavy, heavy rain!!! I think it'll be a while yet before I can watch my washing fluttering in the breeze! Oh well, while indoors....

My Orchid hasn't been touched for many weeks so I've been busy getting things back on track.

I've made, or rather assembled and painted, all the bathroom fittings. This is from a kit by Chrysnbon, which I love. I'm sure going to have lots of fun accessorising this room ... once I've decorated it of course!

Also here's a sneak preview of the 'wallpaper' for the bedroom. I was browsing the rails of ribbon in Hobbycraft and came across this - isn't it just gorgeous!!!!!

I will make a card template of the walls in the bedroom and fix this ribbon to it. I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Mini hugs to everyone x

Back in Harness!!!

2011-03-21T16:30:00.002Z

It has been so long since I posted anything - sorry! I haven't been idle though! Still gripped by my stitching demons I've been cross stitching, mainly Un Finished Objects (UFOs) but also some miniatures that I can't show you yet but will in time.

I finished a cross stitch of the 'Tate Baby House' and instead of having it framed have made it into a cushion. Here's how it turned out....

I also finished a 'Victorian Floral Heart'. This one is tinged with sadness as I had stitched it for my parents 40th Wedding Anniversary. Although my Mum saw the stitching finished she passed away before I could have it framed. I don't feel it would be appropriate now to frame it so I unpicked the lettering in the centre and replaced it with a simple 'A', my mum's initial. Again this has been made into a cushion and I've stitched a tiny 'For Mum' into the design although you will have to search to see it!

One cross stitch that made it to the framers is 'Harmony'. I just adore this little girl sitting at a piano. The kit was made by Bucilla who are (were?) the company allowed to reproduce the work of artist Bessie Pease Guttman. Sadly I can't find anymore of these kits so I assume they've been discontinued, shame!

You can see some more of my finished cross stitched projects on the Stitching Allsorts blog. So that's just a wee quick update - I'm starting off on some more minis now as I've swaps to do and my Orchid house is starting to get a bit mardy as I've not so much as looked in its direction lately, so it's off to work I go. Take care x

I've lost three weeks!

2011-02-15T00:21:00.011Z

I have absolutely no idea where the last three weeks have gone!!!
It's not as if I've been particularly busy, no one has called on my time, no extra hours at work and the house looks much as it always does.
The time has gone and I feel that I've nothing to show for it!
Well perhaps that's not strictly true. My eye is drawn to the coffee table in the living room, a table which has all but disappeared under an avalanche of charts, threads, fabric and frames - ah, yes, now I remember. I was possessed by my stitching demon and I have been totally absorbed in cross stitch over the last few weeks to the exclusion of all other crafts! Not really good for a girl to be stitching so intensly but even sore shoulders and bleary eyes can't stop me when I've got to stitch!
I finally completed a piece of work I started about three years ago. I was never happy with some of the colour choices and kept stopping and starting it so I eventually unpicked the offending part and restitched it. I think it will be made into a cushion front so I'll show you that soon.
And then I thought it would be a good idea to sort out my threads so I bought a load of bobbins and wound, by hand, all the skeins of thread onto them. I've still loads to do. I think I'll need to buy more bobbins!
And finally, I sorted through all the charts and kits I had amassed over the years. The charts are now filed neatly and some have been flagged as new projects but this frenzy also unveiled so many works-in-progress that I'm determined not to start anything new until the backlog is cleared. I think I'll add them to the side of my blog and if you see that there is not much happening with them, would you be good enough to give me a gentle nudge?
Take care x

Kitchen Table & Chairs

2011-01-24T10:00:00.001Z

Must be on a roll this week...two posts in as many days!

I bought a whitewood unfinished table at a fair a couple of years ago and did nothing with it...until now! It was sanded, painted, sanded, stained, distressed and finally polished before I was happy with it.

The chairs were also in my stash and, other than dusting, only needed cushions to finish them off. I had a tiny scrap of this pretty blue fabric left so made a couple of chair cushions trimmed with some pale blue bunka.

I think I'll turn my attention to the outside of the house for a while as the siding I ordered has finally arrived..woohoo!!!

Sink unit is finished!

2011-01-23T17:30:00.003Z

After a few false starts I have finally finished the sink unit for The Orchid dollshouse. (Must think up a name for this house soon!!!!)

Again the top is made from Fimo, the framework is made from mountboard. The same red gingham curtain keeps things looking tidy.

The tap is made from a piece of thick wire and a couple of little beads so we know which is cold and which is hot.

Off now to think about a kitchen table and chairs.

Take care x

New Year! New Project!

2011-01-08T12:15:00.000Z

Yes, I know I already have several projects on the go but one more won't hurt, will it?

Over a year ago I started putting together an Orchid dolls house by Corona Concepts, a sister company to Greenleaf. The plywood proved to be a bit of a pain and after much anguish the dolls house was put to one side. I don't even have a name for it yet but over the Christmas holidays I had a sudden surge of mini-madness and started working on it again. I've not yet decided how the exterior should look so I started on the inside while I thought about the outside. First thing I did was remove the dividing walls as they made the rooms so small they were practically unusable. Next I found that standard 12th scale furniture I had in my stash looked a bit too big, hmm? So what's a girl to do but to make a custom-fit kitchen!!

Using my favoured mountboard, glue and plenty of paint I created a range cooker, cupboards and shelving. Here's one end of the kitchen, I couldn't help but start to 'accessorise' but no doubt things will change in time...

The wall tiles are also made of dark grey mountboard. I measured out a grid of 1cm squares and using a very sharp craft knife scored along the grid lines twice with a little gap in between each line. Then using the tip of your knife you can lift the coloured top layer of paper to reveal a pale background which becomes the grout lines. I picked out some random tiles and painted them blue and white to match the colour scheme and then painted over it all with an acrylic gloss varnish. I was so pleased with how they turned out!

I had some red gingham fabric in my cupboard that I bought long ago which was perfect for the curtain in front of the shelving.

I would love granite worktops for my RL kitchen but can't afford them so having them in my dolls house is the next best thing. These are made from Fimo in 'Granite' and I like them soooo much!

So that's where we're at .... back with some more soon x

Seasonal Catch-up!

2011-01-02T20:00:00.002Z

Hi Everyone! I've had no time to be on my computer over the holidays due to a gas leak, water leaks, boiler and lighting problems - happy days!!!- so it's most enjoyable to be catching up with you all. I hope everyone had a happy and peaceful Christmas and are looking forward to 2011 and all that it will bring.

Despite the problems at home I took some time out to catch up with some miniatures (and calm myself down!!!) I was asked to make some more crocheted bags for a friend in the US so they're finished. A dolls house that has been sitting like a wreck for more than a year has been started - more on that in the New Year! And a good sort through of the miniatures I've collected revealed some lovely items I forgot I had - it was like Christmas all over again!

As usual I've also had another crafty project on the side to dip in and out of. I found a tutorial for crocheted snowflakes (and loads of other crafty crocheted things) on Attic24's blog (well worth a look if you're interested in learning to crochet!). After a shoogly start I got well away and found these to be so addictive!

They were pinned to shape and starched. Then sewn onto a length of ribbon and draped around our Christmas tree - aren't they pretty?

May I wish everyone all the best for the New Year and hope 2011 brings you everything you wish for

xxx

Swap Group Update

2010-12-20T10:00:00.000Z

Just a very quick post today to show you the Christmas Gift I made for my fellow swap group member. Now that we've all opened our pressies I can share this with you. It's a miniature version of a real-life cross-stitch I have hanging in my home. I printed it onto transfer paper and ironed it onto fabric to give it some texture before making a little frame to go round it.

A Bear for my Sister-in-Law

2010-12-17T15:00:00.002Z

Hi Folks! I've not been doing much as I've been laid low with a heavy cold but I've enjoyed looking at all your festive preparations. I'll finally be decorating our house this weekend too.

But first, I've been meaning to make a bear for my sister-in-law at Christmas for a few years now and I've finally done it. So here is ... Flynn!

He's approximately 8" from head to toe and made from mohair. As it's chilly out I knitted him a little sweater and made him some trousers and a wee scarf. Just need to nestle him into his gift box now but I thought I'd share him with you all first. Take care x

'Snow' Joke Any More!

2010-12-06T12:00:00.000Z

There seems no let up in the snow here in West/Central Scotland. Today we awoke to falling snow and it hasn't stopped all morning. Traffic is grid locked all around and things are grinding to a standstill. This is the second year in a row when snow has caused so much disruption and serious thought needs to be given as to how we cope with it next time. Other countries manage it so why can't we?

Meanwhile here are some more photos of Cumbernauld taken last Thursday - we've had about another 12" of snow since then. It does look pretty but after a while all snow pictures seem to look the same...

Wherever you are, stay safe and warm xxx

And it's only November!!!!

2010-11-30T11:25:00.000Z

Not had much time for mini-ing lately so nothing to report on that front! However, we are shivering under the heaviest snow fall that I can ever remember in our 20-odd years here! We had a 'team' of neighbours clearing our street yesterday but after more heavy snow we are now unable to get vehicles out of the residential areas and even the main roads aren't that great. As a result we've been stuck at home for the past few days. I'll try to rustle up some enthusiasm and get on with some projects today but meanwhile here are some photos from a very snowy Cumbernauld xxx

Such Tiny Knitting!

2010-11-17T13:00:00.003Z

I have to share with you the items I received from my swap partner this month. Jennie does the most fantastic miniature knitting and made these two little dresses.

The detail in them is breathtaking and, having tried miniature knitting (ie. sharp needles, sore fingers, crossed eyes - and six hours to knit a 1" square cushion!!!), I applaud anyone who manages it. Aren't they wonderful? Perhaps I should try making a doll or two to wear them...maybe next year!

The Paper Crimper

2010-11-16T17:56:00.003Z

Following on from my earlier post today, here is the paper crimper I mentioned. You put the paper between the rollers and turn the handle - it's that simple. It came from our local Hobbycraft store, found among paper punches, etc. and best of all it was only £3! Hope this helps x

Conservatory Roof Blinds

2010-11-16T14:10:00.000Z

I've got a new toy.... a paper crimper! I've mentioned already my idea for blinds in the conservatory but the thought of fan pleating so much paper was too much to bear. Now with this nifty little gadget the vellum comes out with just the right amount of 'ripple' to look like blinds when they're closed. Perfect for the closed blinds on the back roof of the conservatory. For the front I wanted blinds to look more like they were partially opened so there was nothing else for it but to run the vellum through the crimper and then pleat the rest by hand. Some beading nylon was threaded through them and here's how they look in situ....

the back...

...and the front, if a little crooked!

I'm pleased with how they've turned out...now what else needs pleating?

Swap Group Update

2010-11-10T23:00:00.000Z

You may know that I'm a member of an online swap group, Dedicated Mini Swappers. It's quite a small group, very friendly and there's no pressure to take part in every swap. I'd signed up for swaps in October and November but as none of my swaps were 'themed' I hummed and hawed for quite some time before deciding what to make. October was my month in our Half-Yearly Swap so, with my new found crochet skills everyone in my little group each got one of these, a little shopping bag ...

For November the swap theme was an item of my choosing, so I chose to make this little Christmas rug and cushion..

And finally, our annual Christmas Swap has to be mailed out by the end of November so we can all open them together before Christmas. I have made .... oh no, sorry, you'll have to wait until then before I can 'show and tell'!

I hope my partners like my gifts to them and if anyone is interested in joining our group please drop them an email and say Allison sent you!

A Comfy Sofa for the Conservatory!!

2010-11-09T17:00:00.003Z

I'm still thinking about the roof blinds so while I was thinking about them I made the sofa for the conservatory. This was a fairly cheap sofa that I bought some time ago always with the intention of stripping it. However, having stripped the sofa to the bare bones I now realise that it's basically simple shapes joined together so I'm tempted to build a matching chair from stratch using foamboard as I don't really like cutting wood.

I wanted a sofa that had a rattan-type frame with some plump cushions and here's how it came about. The original covers were removed and the sofa base recovered using Aida, the fabric used in cross stitch. (For any fellow cross stitchers out there this was justifiable as I had a large piece of bright yellow, 14 count fabric that I knew would never be used for cross stitch because of the colour - see photos for verification!!!!) Here are all the bits recovered in Aida!

After reassembling the sofa it was ready for painting. I painted it with brown acrylic paint, several coats to mask that yellow! Then a light coat of satin varnish to seal the paint and add a bit of a sheen.

I then got on with the cushions for the seat and back. I bought this dark red fabric at the same time as the blind fabric because I thought it complemented it well. Some little scatter cushions (these might be changed) and the sofa was done.

I'll let you know how I get on with my matching chair! Until next time x