Sharing a love of Dolls House Miniatures - and making time for other creative crafts and the garden.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

Fiction and Song Inspire Two New Characters

Recently I was commissioned to make two very special ladies in 1/24th scale! One is a fictional lady from books and the other inspired, and is remembered, in a well-known song. 
Meet 'Miss Clare' and Molly Malone...............I loved creating both.

Dora Saint wrote a whole series of evocative books about a fictional rural village, its school, community and general 'goings on'.  'Miss Clare' is the much loved retired school teacher - who when I was making her -  brought back memories of Miss Tibbetts my first teacher. She looked very much like this - and gave us all a love of reading, starting with the Beacon Readers and Old Lob's Farm!


'Miss Clare' now belongs to Shirley Edgar who was a pioneer of the 1/24th scale in this country, so I know she has a lovely home.  In fact Shirley has been kind enough to share her photographs of  'Miss Clare' welcoming us to her beautiful cottage and giving us a wave from the garden bench.  Many thanks Shirley.


Molly Malone probably needs no introduction as she's the tragic Dublin girl in the song which is also known as 'Cockles and Mussels'.  I wasn't sure until I Googled whether she was 'real' or not - she is and there's a wonderful statue commemorating her in the city.


Celia and I are enjoying working on the prototype finishing touches for 'DOWN THE LITTLE OLD HERB GARDEN PATH WORKSHOP' which is on 27th September at Bicester Avenue Garden Centre - Just Off Junction 9 of M40. As usual my workspace is a muddle.....


But there are muddles..... and then there are productive muddles....


If you'd like to come along and enjoy a really friendly, fun and productive miniature day creating your own unique little herb garden just go to our NOSTALGIA IN MINIATURE WORKSHOPS website for all the details and pictures of past workshops - STILL A FEW PLACES.

Celia  (who is KT Miniatures when wearing her other hat) and I have worked on many projects together over the years and the WW1 project for Dolls House and Miniature Scene Magazine is  our latest 'in print' - so the workshops are a natural combining of our complementary but different skills and talents which we're happy to share with others who want to create something entirely original at their own pace.

Thank you for looking
Robin

4 comments:

Ilona said...

Hi Robin! Your new ladies are amazing, because the 24 scale is so tiny, but you did a great job :D!
How kind of Shirley that she sent you some pictures, now we all can see her in her new wonderful home :)!
For being Dutch, so I am not familiar with Molly Malone, but I can google her name, isn't it? She looks gorgeous. I always love to do some research too.
I agree with you that working on a miniature can lead your thoughts to something/someone in the past, but if the memory is pretty, than it isn't that bad, huh ;)?
You say that your workplace is a muddle, did you ever seen mine ;o???
Have a nice week! All the best, Ilona

Donna S said...

Robin, I just love both your dolls and I know Shirley does too as she and I have been pen friends for many years! And I always loved the Miss Read books. And sang the song, Molly Malone! Thanks for sharing.

jenann said...

Such wonderful characters! Your little Miss Clare is just as I've always imagined her. I always wished she was real and teaching in the classroom next to mine. She is one of the most endearing fictional characters I can think of and you have captured her personality perfectly.
Congratulations!
Jenni xx

Robin said...

A love of miniatures really does create a 'small world' doesn't it. Thanks to you all - glad I've got Miss Clare right! Your feedback and comments are really encouraging.

Hope you've Googled Molly now Illona.
Rx