Grandparents In 1/16th Scale For A Change

In the last couple of weeks I've been sculpting in 1/12th, 1/16th and 1/24th scale....very confusing and not to be recommended as a rule!

Some of you who read my blog know that I'm somewhat behind when it comes to commissions.....and I'm truly sorry...real life has been a bit full-on lately. This is why I've been mixing my scales, something I try and avoid when I'm sculpting characters. On the whole the little people have been O.K. I think, although somehow I seem to have two left hands in 1/12th scale and three right hands in 1/16th scale sitting in a box on the workbench! I've just started on 1/24th scale so shall be extra careful with the hands.

Vintage dolls houses are quite different in scale to the modern ones and usually need 1/16th scale dolls to inhabit them, which is where I come in - not everyone can find, or likes the appropriate vintage dolls.
Grandpa doesn't really have two wives, I promise, it just happened that two lovely ladies had spotted a Granny in 1/12th scale on my website and both asked for a similar doll in 1/16th scale. I hope you can see that although they are similar, because they are individually sculpted without the use of a mold, the faces aren't exactly the same. Grandpa is sitting on a cotton reel in an attempt to show scale - he's about 4 1/4 inches tall and the ladies are a little shorter.

I was given some lovely lilies and thought they looked brilliant in this whacky glove vase, alongside two of my favourite things which live on our revolving Edwardian bookcase. Bit of a mistake....I've never actually used the vase as a vase and it leaked and I didn't notice for days until I came to take this photo!
I now have to restore the top of my lovely bookcase so I'm not a happy bunny.
Incidentally if you're looking for a miniature version of the bookcase you can find it on our website.

Hoping it might stop raining soon....thanks for looking.
Robin

A Bit Of An Update......

I 'update' on a regular basis - which mostly takes the form of making a list, crossing things out and making another.......then doing it all again.......

However, if you followed my moan about the P.O. and the unacceptable delay in a box of characters arriving at their a new home in Australia in my last blog, I can report they've arrived!  Huge thanks to Susan Monro for letting me know so swiftly and for the wonderful photographs.

Susan sent a number of pictures which she has also posted on her blog together with a witty and wonderful tarradiddle about their adventures. I won't attempt to compete but suggest you whizz over to her Blog, and while you're there check out her exquisite miniature crochet work.

Here's just one featuring the horse-mad teenage girl I made for her. I love the stable setting - and know that all the characters in her now large 'family' look equally at home.  Thanks Susan.

I thoroughly enjoyed my jaunt to Miniatura on Sunday - it seemed much quieter than usual. As always, there were wonderful original miniatures to drool over and it's a terrific opportunity to see quality artisans as well as catch up with chums.  I did have a little spend and amongst other bits and bobs, brought home two beautiful little bears by Shoebutton Bears.

                                                     Don't you just love 'em!!

I've been saying for....ages....that I would update the 1/48th scale Illustrated List which is on the side bar, just over there >>>>>  Finally I've done it!!!!

Weather update.....rushed back  from a day or two away to an Urgent Frost Warning from the T.V. weather men. Grabbed all the unripe green tomatoes, picked all the annual flowers and dragged inside fuschia and geraniums.

Outcome - no frost at all, but huge vases of 'mixed' flowers to cheer us up as it seems to have rained ever since!!

Thanks for looking, and a warm welcome to New Followers.
Robin

Where Have We Got To?

That's a question and a half isn't it?
Well...Celia and I, wearing our Nostalgia in Miniature hats, are back to work after an enforced break and busy putting together the kits for the next workshop and working ahead on the Full Day  'Christmas' workshop on November 24th here in Thame. It has the very snappy title of When Father Papered the Parlour....the week before Christmas. If you're 40+ you might recognise it as an old music hall song title...and if you're really intrigued you can listen to the song and have a giggle, read all about the workshop and also download a Booking form by looking at our website - all the details are there. Our latest Blog is also up (nice pictures) - just click on Latest News from the website.

Where have you got to - two little 1/12th people heading for Australia to join the rest of their miniature family?  I was going to do a rant about the Post Office who take the money and advertise a 6 day delivery aim for Airsure......two weeks later.....but I've done it before.... Grrrr!

I was nearly going to put up a picture....but it's a shame to spoil the surprise Susan!

It's Miniatura this weekend and I'm looking forward to seeing the work of exceptional miniaturists - and hope everyone has a really good weekend. So where have chums at Miniatura got to??

My friends at Model Village Miniatures have been in the same place for so long we all go onto auto-pilot. But they've moved to a new position. Look for them on HI.  They have a wonderful selection of precision furniture kits in 1/12th and 1/24th scale - easy to put together and really reasonable prices, and lovely unique knitted toys and squashy, sofas. Some of my 1/24th characters always go along to sit on the furniture and cuddle the toys.

Julie Campbell has changed her name!! No, not really - but she has changed her trading name from Bellabelle Dolls to Julie Campbell - Doll Artist.  It's a good move - she is an artist and her stand is HJ - I'm looking forward to seeing her wonderful characters. Otherwise, this time I must really take the opportunity to look at new stands and not spend the time chatting to friends who will all do well I hope.

I like pictures in my Blog .....absolutely nothing to do with anything..........

And now, I've got to sculpt some characters for lovely customers and go and see my brand new Granddaughter.

Thanks for looking.
Robin

A Room in a Tray!

I've had a week or two of  'real life' so work on our miniatures has been a bit sporadic to say the least....a trip to the car boot last Sunday provided a welcome distraction......


I do love these sales and rarely spend a great deal but pick up some interesting bits and pieces sometimes. I bought a (modern) dolls house at a bargain price for a very special little girl on Sunday, but a week or two ago I bought a very unusual 'room box'!

Here it is! It does still need a bit of a clean up - I took the photo soon after I brought it back so it's a tad dusty

The slope sided tray is about 20 inches wide and 15 inches high and  clearly home made, together with the furniture and other pieces which are fashioned to sit on the slope but look in perspective when it's hung on the wall.  The screws and cord on the back also help to suggest that perhaps this is from 1940s or a little earlier. I think the stick hanging on the wall probably had a warming pan attached at some point.

Maybe someone was a keen model maker or it was a project in one of the hobby magazines of the time.
You have to admit - even if it's not exactly beautiful - it is interesting. If anyone knows anything about it I'd love to know more.

Thanks for looking.
Robin  

A Witchy Pair

The Fair on Monday was both very enjoyable and successful - so many thanks to everyone who came along and said hello!  It was so nice to jump in the car and drive a whole 1/2  mile to the venue......what a change!! It was also lovely to catch up with old friends - all events in this town seem to have a very welcoming and relaxed atmosphere.
But now - to the witches........

I'm not sure what happened to our summer this year but now autumn is just around the corner so it seems timely to introduce a couple of witches all ready for Halloween. Both are fully poseable and individually sculpted so if you're tempted to create a witchy scene and would like one of these witches or more details of how to commission one, please do email me. Contact details on the right bar.

Heggety is a 1/12th scale witch with flowing natural wool used for her hair, and vintage fabric for her clothing. I was going to give her a traditional hat, but couldn't bear to cover her tresses. A little down at heel to be sure but with her tame frog she's ready for magic.

Esme is just a little witch...a 1/48th scale little witch... still fully poseable and individually sculpted, at least she's still got her hat on and is relying on her magic crystal to work her spells.

Late summer flowers are such a treat - rich vibrant colours and folliage to cheer us up before the weather turns miserable. This is just a simple bunch of single dahlias and bronze fennel in a favourite glass jug.

Another treat was to see my good friend Celia Thomas pop into the fair to say hello to friends.
As many of you will know Celia has been sampling the delights of The NHS for a couple of months now so it was especially good to see her and welcome news that KT Miniatures is open for business again - albeit in a limited way for a little while longer. Welcome back Celia!
As my partner in Nostalgia in Miniature Workshops she's just put up our latest workshop news on her Blog/Journal - so rather than repeat it all - do pop along and catch up with her there too. 

Thanks for looking.
Robin  

Sporting Heroes ..and Other 1/24th Scale Characters

Sport is never very high on my agenda I must admit - watching or taking part  - although I spent many wet cold hours on the sidelines at boys football matches 'in the old days'. It does mean I know what a pair of miniature football boots should look like though!
So as a complete change, and wanting to produce a few new and fun characters to take to the Dolly's Daydreams Dolls House and Miniature Fair in Thame at The Leisure Centre on Bank Holiday Monday - 27th August, I thought I'd make a couple of sportsman.

I badgered my other half into making me a nice bat for the cricketer - definitely a weekend cricketer only, this chap. I also think the footballer plays for a Sunday league rather than the Premier.......as you can see
from the close-up he wears the number 9 shirt (must be a striker) and has studs on his boots. The old-fashioned leather ball was just easier to make than one with all those hexagons!!

If I'd had some more figures to spare I'd have gone on to rugby and golf players..... but there's always a next time and a 1/24th tennis racquet might be an interesting challenge....

I'm not sure what the vicar said to the window cleaner...there has to be a joke in there somewhere!

Another couple of my little lady shoppers...Mavis and Ethel, putting the world to rights!

And finally......this is my Nasturtium Eureka moment folks. If you read the blog earlier in the year you'll know I planned to copy an idea I'd seen, and plant up a couple of baked bean cans with nasturtiums.
They almost pegged out just after planting, in the short-lived baking hot week or two, then nearly drowned in the long rainy weeks, but now they're beginning to look great and the cans are nicely rusty.

Thanks for looking.
Robin  

And Some More In 1/48th Scale....

I fetched out the tripod for my camera and took pictures of more 1/48th dolls - should have done that before - and also Farthing Stores a little village shop in the same scale.

I thought I should take at least one photograph with the famous match stick to give an idea of scale - but to be very exact she's just 1 3/8" tall. All the dolls are fully poseable.

This little old lady is even shorter and wears a tiny ribbon-trimmed cap and shawl in vintage lace.

If you follow the blog or have seen these little people at a fair, you'll know that most have been costumed very simply - chaps in jumpers and trousers and ladies in short knee-length skirts, cardigans or jumpers. In response to many requests, and when I have a little more time to work on a group I am making some more detailed costumes. This little group shows some of these, including a rare child.  All will go on sale first at the fair on 27th August here in Thame.

Also being shown at the fair for the first time is Farthing Stores a tiny one-roomed village shop in 1/48th scale. As you can see in the last photograph the thatched roof just lifts off and the back is open to allow easy access. The bow-fronted window is just ready to be laid out with goods and there's room for a counter and shop shelves which we also make.  You can see these if you click on the 1/48th scale List in the side bar here.

The old stone walls support an old fashoned rambler rose and the thatched roof is mossy with age. Adding depth and tone to the walls, the moss and lichen to the thatch and the plants, is almost the best bit for me and it's always hard to actually stop fiddling.

An old brass bell hangs on a spring on the door and I'm sure all the shoppers get a warm welcome when they push it open. I've really enjoyed working on the shop - just wish there was time to finish another before the fair.

Thank you for looking.

Robin  

New For The Nursery In 1/48th Scale

After some time working in other scales at our respective work benches, we've been concentrating on new items in 1/48th scale and I'm delighted to able to show you our first nursery pieces.

With a 'Thanks to Jen' who inspired us to make the first one, first is a tiny rocking cradle which is simple enough to fit into a variety of settings through the centuries. 
The wooden rocking horse is my favourite even though my heart sank when I first saw it in it's basic form ready to be painted and titivated. Fiendishly fiddly!!
Well a nursery does need children and although these don't really feature on my 'list' of characters in this scale I've made a couple of little girls.  Sorry about the quality of the photograph - you get the general idea -click on the image for a larger version.

The items pictured, along with some more little characters and a tiny shop will go on sale first at our next fair which is a Dolly's Daydreams Fair held on August Bank Holiday Monday - 27th - at Thame Leisure Centre.
we're looking forward to it very much and also catching up with old friends.
After the fair, the remaining new items and dolls will go into stock for sale.

When I've taken some more photographs of other pieces  (hopefully better than this one) I'll put them up on the blog.

Last week we had some sun and I had a happy day in the garden digging up a bit more lawn....less lawn, more flowers!! Now of course it's raining again which has at least ensured I finished the dolls.
One photograph in the blog doesn't seem much -  so there has to be room for a flower!!

This is a Cleome - fabulously pink and whirly. Love it! I grew them from seed so I'm very chuffed - I do just wish I'd planted them out in the borders instead of big pots but if you remember it rained and rained and rained so there was no chance at the right time.

Thank you for looking.

Robin  

There's No Comfort Zone....

If you're a maker of original, individually sculpted dolls, who enjoys working to commission in more than one scale, actually there's not really such thing as a comfort zone...the different challenges are part of the fun.

This little group of 1/24th characters are all completely different - different challenges, even different centuries!

First up is a Scotsman - a character you may have seen before as he's one of my most poular. I've photographed him alongside a sweet little laddie I fell in love with in a charity shop recently. I'll guess he's a 1950s/60s 'Present From Scotland'  - but it's unusual to see a proper boy's face in dolls like this and although his kilt is threadbare and he's lost his bagpipes I don't mind a bit. Which reminds me - my Scot needs some bagpipes.

This little lady has gone to U.S.A to run an Olde Tea Shoppe.

 

I like to think this this rather down at heel old boy probably knew Charles Dickens.

 

She's a Vampire! I'd love to see what final setting she's destined for.....

...but then there's a Mummy too!

I can't wait to see what I'll be asked to make next!

Thanks for Looking
Robin

Let's Go Dutch!

I thought this was a quirky and appropriate title for this blog....then realised that it is a very 'English' expression.  For those of you who mightn't know - it just means a couple each paying their own share when going out for a meal or date. Ummm - maybe I should have thought of another!

Anyway...........here they are a 1/24th scale couple in traditional costume - or at least my interpretation of it. I admit to being slightly anxious that someone will point out a glaring error.

It was a fun commission from long-time customers and friends and made a nice change. I Googled like mad and found so many fabulous examples of the various regional costumes. Just lovely!!

I'm just back from a week away - yes it rained!! Our lawn looks like a field...with lovely daisies and clover flowers......the borders resemble a colourful jungle with everything twice as tall as it should be and falling on it's neighbour.  At least you can't see the weeds!!

Thank you for looking and a warm welcome to new Followers.
Robin