Victorian House Renovation Continues

The Victorian house renovation work is overwhelming at times. I feel it will never be finished.

I was able to take bits outside this summer and do the dusty, sanding work, so now, all the window frames have been painted and reglazed.

All the interior walls have been lined with paper and painted.

I'd previously scored floorboards for the Victorians on the ground and third floors so I have painted these white. I have to think what to do with the others yet.

Meantime I have worked on the ground floor Customer Toilet. As this will be enclosed I had to put everything in the corner first because I will not get my hand inside the doorway once the walls are fixed. 

I started with the floor covering, I made up some tiling and printed it to size then sprayed it with a satin finish inkjet fixer. 

I spent a day outside, beneath the sunshade cleaning the Victorian bathroom tiles of all the old glue and paper. 

I find the best way to tile a wall is to glue the tiles onto a piece of graph paper. This allows you to line them up well and once finished it is easier to place the tiles as a pre-made sheet. I also glued the skirting to the paper below the tiles before putting on the wall. 

Next, I put in the toilet, then placed the skirting on the side wall.

The basin was added next, with mirror above. I added some soaps and box of tissues, followed by the toilet roll holder and a paper towel dispenser. I was happy to reuse all the old fixtures and only needed to replace the toilet paper.

All of this will only be seen through the open doorway so I resisted the idea of making a waste bin and of putting up a hook for customers to hang their coat or bag!

Currently, I'm putting a light into a false ceiling which will be installed with the walls. I spent a couple of hours yesterday testing all the lights and wiring that I have for best effect. 

More soon, I hope,

Hot Miniatures!

Making miniatures in the heat doesn't come without it's problems like glue drying at twice the speed and paint drying on the brush before I can use it. Never-the-less, I wouldn't swap hot for cold any day.
Today I made up these little signs. I'd seen them somewhere in full size and just 'needed' to have a small version (like you do!)
Dedicated to two special cats, Sebastian, the ginger one and Kitkat the black and white.

Now I'll show you some of my recent purchases. I'm excited about these! From Sofia on Etsy I bought these gorgeous canisters which are perfect for the bakery of my Tea Rooms.

 I loved them so much I went back to Sofia and bought some Union Jack china to go with the patriotic cushions and glass in the Gift Shop. I love this big tray with alternate colouring.

 And the cup, saucer and plate are lovely. I need to get some plate stands to show it off properly.

Then I bought this adorable notebook! I got it on Etsy from LoLittleMiniatures. These are spiral bound! Truely amazing. They come in all different colours, patterns and sizes, so I have some more waiting in my shopping basket already!

You might rememeber the 2013 minutes I mentioned in my blog at the beginning of the year. Spending 2013 minutes this year, finishing all those projects that get started and then put aside. Well, I have to report that I'm doing really well.
The cat signs were printed last year and I'd made the porcelain cats but they were forgotten in a box until today, when I painted the cats and made up the signs. Easy- so why did I take so long? I feel better for having cleared so many projects already.
I sewed up all the cushions (nearly 100!) and most are now sold in my Etsy shop.
I've made up all the haberdashery, button cards, I've glued on all the buttons, thread cards are made up and boxed. Most have been put on Etsy.
I have heat-sealed paper serviettes that I'd printed, then I made a display box for them.

I had made so many packs of serviettes that I had to make two boxes!
The pink display box is in my Etsy shop.

I hope you're all enjoying a warm and wonderful summer.

Baby Buggy

Sometimes I make impulsive purchases of children and babies although I haven't got a nursery or baby shop. Last week I bought a buggy from Gill Red Bloor of Teeny Tiny Things for no real reason other than I fell in love with it. Isn't that how collections start?
Here is the beautiful buggy with a sad little toddler. I hope she cheers up a bit now that she has a new pram.

And Gill is selling her prams and buggies at a discount at the moment!
We have sunshine this week, I hope you're having sunny days wherever you are.

Fluffy Bunny and Paper Furniture

It's normal for me to put down what I'm doing and change projects like a flash when I come up with an idea, and I did it again yesterday. I came across these lovely resin rabbits while shopping and decided I'd try to apply fur to them. They are a bit big for 1/12th but I can use a rabbit for my Easter display.

 

The white rabbit is 1 3/4" high and I started with him as I had some white fur trim I've had since the 80s.

It's Paton's acrylic and cotton fur trim and I don't think they make it any more. I'd like some in other colours now that I've found a use for it! I cut the fur from the backing and glued on in small pieces overlapping the rows.  

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I gave him a hair trim as I worked and then finally gave him a neat haircut. Here he is after his makeover!

There were other animals which are a little too big but the dogs are perfect so I got these too!

Now, I'll show you my 1/24th paper furniture, hidden at the back of my cupboard, I found a little box full that I made with Oly during one of our club days. We found the patterns on the internet. I was keen to see whether I could make a whole dollshouse from paper. Here are some kitchen units

 The bedroom chair is really strong and I love the cabinet with opening drawers!

 These are the office items.

Some nursery furniture and a little dress.

My favourite paper sofa, upholstered in silk!

I've changed my mind about making a paper dollshouse but it was fun to make these few things.
Thank you for stopping here, I hope you're having a good weekend,

Basket of Flowers

Like a broken record I'm frequently heard saying I don't like making flowers. I ordered some kits from Pascale as I'd admired them on blogs and thought I'd be able to make some.
I started on one kit and then a year passed......
Oly encouraged me to take the kits from the back of the cupboard and yesterday  we made half each of two more kits. We were thrilled with the results and we now have a few Margarita's and peonies each. I have to thank Oly for her help and Pascale for her beautiful and detailed flower kits. Here are mine in a basket.

Now I hope to finish the poppies I started last year.

Underwear Stand for the Ladies Shop

I've always admired Marlies tiny creations especially her underwear. I bought some from her a few months ago but didn't have anything in the Ladies Shop to display it properly - until now!
Last night I made this stand and today I made the hangers.

 I've given each style of undies a name.

On the bottom of the stand sit a pretty pair of slippers that Marlies sent me to match the Sylvie set.

On top of the stand is one of Marlies corset sets and with such a pretty box.

Now I need more underwear so I made a set - not so easy as you might think!

Bras are really tricky to make but panties are a bit easier. I made these three a few years ago, they finally have a home!

Now I have the stand I need even more pretty underwear to fill it.

The secret to making the stand - Plastic lid from butter or similar.
Cut the lid in half.

 Cut the edge from one half

Draw round the shape onto mountboard or thin wood and glue the edge round it.

This will be the top as the edging forms a ridge and stops the hangers from slipping off.
Paint the other half of the butter lid white, this will be the bottom.
Cut a piece of thicker (approx. 1/4" thick) foam core or wood the width of the lid by 4 1/2" high for the back. Glue the three pieces in place and hold in place using books or something similar to keep the stand square until it's completely dry..
I used Tacky Glue but any you prefer will work. This is not strong enough for children to play with.
I hope this might be useful.

Keeping the 1 Inch Scale

Just a little thought - 1/12th  actually. Doesn't that mean that 1 foot becomes 1 inch? Some people call it the inch scale.
A six foot man is represented by a six inch doll. A three foot table becomes a 3 inch table. That is so easy to understand, measure and recognise, so why do some miniaturists now try to give measurements in metric, i.e. millimetres?
The metric system works in tens and is not easily and obviously divisible by 12.
It isn't just miniaturists in countries where only metric has been used but the English and Americans who have always used good old feet and inches are now doing it.
Anyone not understanding imperial measurements can easily buy a small ruler made of plastic for patchwork workers. They are marked in 1/8th, making it easy to measure parts of a foot to scale.
This little doll is the equivalent of a 3ft child but could you visualise if she was to scale if you were told she was 76mm or 7.6cm?
Can you visualise whether  a cupcake measuring 13mm is too big?
Well, it is. It equates to 1/2" (6 inches), you'd need two hands to hold it!
Please let's keep it 'the inch scale' and not ' 2.5cm scale'.