Vines for Garth Manor

 

 

Here are the vines that will cover parts of Garth Manor. The kits are from Peaches in Canada. You can see her work here:

http://miniflowers05.blogspot.com/

 

The grape clusters won't be included but will be used in the Bavarian Cafe project. I think the leaves have a much more creepy feel to them as opposed to plain ivy. This was her suggestion and I couldn't agree more. I think they are absolutely fabulous! Check out her site and if you have ever thought of doing some flower kits, DEFINITELY check her out. Her work is amazing.

 

I am still furiously working on jewelry, trying desperately to get enough inventory together for the gift giving and show season. I got a late start because I was so busy with the manor (and I was kind of lazy and putting it off).

 

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Off Topic- Jewelry Time

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, I have been in high gear creating my jewelry which has shifted my focus away from the manor just a bit. I am still working on the windows and finishing the shingling (pictures soon) but have been busy creating my non-caloric treats.

 

 Guaranteed NOT to add to your waist line. These are scented like chocolate.

 

The pendant is scented like cream cheese frosting.

 

This tort charm is super duper tiny. It was impossible for me to take a clear picture. Grrrrr.

 

These pictures are just horrible. I really need to get a better camera and a light box but they are sold at a retail level so buyers see them up close.

 

Thanks for checking these out. Making these always makes me smile despite the rain. Now I have to get back to work! Have a great day!

 



Swap Stuff!

I LOVE SWAPS! It is so much fun to just randomly swap stuff with mini friends. These just arrived all the way from Slovenia- The Sunny Side of the Alps! These are all handmade pieces from one of my favorite fantasy artists- Jana!

Check out her blog here: http://illyriasminiatures.blogspot.com/

 

 

I loved these fun "dragon scale" books! They will be at home in the Garth Manor library! The potion bottles will also be featured in the hidden "witchcraft" cabinet.

This unfinished throne chair is amazing. Completely hand carved. Now I just have to figure out in which direction I want to go with finishing it! Just the perfect chair for reading in the study by the fire on a stormy night.

 

If anyone is ever interested in random swapping, let me know! Just for fun!

 

Vines....Finally!



 

 



Wedding Bouquets by Monica (aka Peaches). Aren't they stunning?

So I found a source for vines for not only Garth Manor, but for the Bavarian Cafe as well! There is an artisan in Canada who makes the most incredible flowers! Her name is Monica Lavoie aka "Peaches". Here is her link:

http://miniflowers05.blogspot.com/

I have spoken with her directly and she is putting together a relatively huge batch of Geranium, Sunflower, Grape vines, and other flower kits for me.

After trying to come up with a vine on my own that would look good creeping up the sides of the manor, I gave up. Nothing looked good. I have ordered 12 sets of vines from her and will be assembling them as soon as they arrive. I will post pictures of each step of assembly.

The kits for the Bavarian Cafe will include over two hundred stems so it will be time consuming but the results should be stunning. I am truly excited to get started on this. I have also created a blog dedicated to the upcoming Cafe project. Please swing by and join! Unlike the Garth Manor project, this site will follow the project from wood selection to design, cutting, assembly, and finishing. It is going to be fun! And probably filled with some frustration as well! Here is the link:

 



http://bavariancafe.blogspot.com/

 

 

I am still working on shingles (I am sick of eggs!) and am getting the landscaping foundation ready. The Halloween deadline is NOT going to happen but I am ok with that. I am going to take my time.

 

Until later mini friends!

 

Michi :)

Flower Kit Giveaway!

Check out this AMAZING giveaway contest! It is for several flower kits as well as some other goodies. And while you're there, check out her whole blog. Lots of fun stuff.

I love the spirit of miniaturists. I mean really. Just in the spirit of sharing these wonderful things. Awesome. Here's the link to get in on the fun:

https://everylittlethingblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/05/giveaway-2-flower-kits/#comment-881

Good luck, even though I really want to win these badly. Those flowers need to be in my Bavarian Cafe project.

Slate Shingles Going Up

I have finally started to get the egg carton "slate" shingles up on the roof. I still have a few more shingles to color and cut but I am off to a good start. these are not at all as tedious to cut and prepare as smaller egg carton "bricks" can be. It goes pretty quickly.

 Here I am just dry fitting them before gluing. I really want to make sure they don't match their neighbor. Seeing that round window reminds me that I need to start planning the ghost effect soon!

 A close up so you can see the detail better. I am pretty pleased with how the coloring came out.

Here you can see the front doors which are going to be painted, aged, and then put in place this weekend. The will mostly be covered up by boards since all first level entry points will be boarded up and sealed off to thwart further entry and possible theft or vandalism.

 

I feel renewed on this project after taking a couple days off to start sketching and making the pattern for my next project. Really helped clear my head.



On a Mission (and a ramble)

So today I swear I will get all my "slate" shingles colored, cut, and ready to go on Garth Manor. I already have a bunch but not near as many as I need. Here is a link to the tutorial where I learned about egg carton slate shingles:

http://blog.treefeathers.com/2008/11/making-aged-slate-roof-shingles.html

I hate that I have to go to work right now. Working a job cuts way too deep into my mini time. I slept like poo last night because I had epic dreams that kept waking me up. And all of them had a soundtrack: Return To Oz by the Scissor Sisters. I still have the song stuck in my head. I love the Scissor Sisters but that song is very depressing.

Anyway, I will feel much better once the shingles are on. I still need to make the windows but it is proving more challenging than I anticipated. Because the clay work created such a thick wall, I can't even "cheat" and buy pre-made windows because they won't fit without extensive modification. I am just waiting for a solution to pop into my head. I have the windows framed out, just need to finish them. I have decided to salvage the door that came with the kit since it will be boarded up anyway. Putting so much work into a scratch door will just be a waste.

I am also perplexed about the interior. The house has been long abandoned so furnishings should be minimal since they will have all been stolen. How much is the interior damaged by the elements. How busted out is the glass in the windows? The closer I get to having to figure these details out, the more I keep changing things. Ugh. I feel like I will never finish.

I will just breathe and take it one step at a time. After all, the sooner I get through this project, the sooner I will be able to start the next one. And it will be perfect timing since I will need to work on a happy themed project to get me through the next 8 months of grey skies, rain, and (hopefully) some snow.

Ramble, ramble, ramble. I hope you all have a great day and I hope to have some pics showing progress within the next couple of days.