So FUN! This year's Christmas miniature scene is even better thanks to the new working miniature TVs from Tiny TV Classics. The miniature TVs so far come in four styles and eras with Batman, South Park, Back to the Future and Friends.
So cool that technology has made it possible to have a working TV that plays assorted clips from TV shows and you can even change the channel with the tiny remote! This is the Batman TV in my room (though I also have the Back to the Future model.)
So, since I decided to have a vintage-flavored Christmas using my miniature vintage dolls, I thought what's better than having them waiting for Santa and watching TV? You can see a bit of it and even hear some of it in the video below. Isn't that cool???? I got such a kick out of this!
The shelving unit contains assorted Christmas teapots made by my Dutch friend, Kitty.
(Dragons and centaur statues from WCD Miniatures) (Click photos for full size.)
I'm baaaack! Went to the annual fall dollhouse show in Elk Grove Village, IL, what was the Wee C show, previously run by a NAME club and now run by T&D Miniatures....
Small, but not a bad show, at least for me as I had some good finds! The sad thing is it was the end of an era - the club has pretty much disbanded as most of the members are older and many had died, so no more display room or discount table. They had the best (and only) show display so sorely missed that. (Type Wee C Dollhouse Show in search to see previous show pix).
Well, the discount table proceeds used to be donated to charity and I always found some great deals and cool stuff. The new show apparently had some things out but most of it was gone by Saturday.
The centaur and dragons (above) were a cool find from WCD Miniatures. He always has a great selection of Egyptian and other unusual statues. I have a Pan statue that's in the front yard of my other Haunted House. The centaur was the only one I saw and I envisioned it in the center of a garden room or a hall and the dragons out in front. They all are about 3" tall. I also bought that aged rug from the entry table.
The cool thing is I won a door prize! I picked a great frame display made by Ron Chase (D-Tales Miniatures.) I'm going to paint it black, turn that bird into what looks like a crow or raven, and put spooky family pictures in it! Second time I won a door prize at this show. I won a 1/2" scale house kit a few years back that I made up for Halloween. See photos here.
I had bought a 1/2" scale kitchen cupboard kit and a radio from Ron at the last show and really admired his clocks, so I was surprised he was at this show, too! So I got a carved clock! (Oh, it probably won't be the last one. ha!) I also have a beautiful carved filigree shelving unit from him in my 1/2" scale dollhouse that I got in last year's Half Scale group swap. (I can't find that post showing it outside the bedroom, but I think it shows in the house video. See miniatures website page. - Found the post and photo here.
The clock is just under 2" tall.
So... what else did I find?
Well... got some cool frames and a cat rug... Witches love black cats, you know. Plus more metal minis to paint like some tiny phones and a bust statue from J and K Minis. I thought it would be fun to make a time-stood-still dingy kitchen with a wall phone on the wall. ha! And well, you'll see what I do with that dagger and saw! heh-heh....
Found a few 1/2" scale kits.... I haven't seen these resin couches in eons. Have an idea to make them look old and dirty with stuffing coming out. (See the examples below.) I had a similar set that I used in another project. (Here's the other couch I painted and added trim to for Christmas.) The old-fashioned stove will be perfect for the kitchen, too! I had used this same kit in my Country Victorian Dollhouse kitchen but I shortened the back. The chair is one of two in a set (one is undone.) The small package is a chest kit (with the teeniest brads that I doubt I'll be able to get in the hinges!)
And... ta-dah! Another dollhouse kit! But.... I've admired (and dreaded doing) the 1/2" scale Fairfield. But I always liked the style of this house. Well, this was a price I could NOT pass up! (I would've kicked myself if I didn't buy it!) So... this will be the main haunted house, I think. (Yes, the other one is still underway and I am wallpapering it now.)
As I mentioned about shabby/old couches... saw these at a table. No vendor was there, but I think it was named Behind the Attic Door (or something similar.) I thought they were well done.
Oh, and I also found this beautiful silk tie at a Goodwill that will be perfect for some curtains or upholstery... The color is a pretty goldish-yellow with a nice print.
So, I didn't buy a real lot (but it still adds up. ha!) But I was happy with what I found, esp. as I love kits and you don't always find half scale.
** Thanks for stopping by again. Stay tuned for more project updates! **
I'm off to the annual Dollhouse show held today and tomorrow in Elk Grove Village, IL.
It used to be called the Wee C show run by the local NAME (National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts) club, and now has been renamed the Chicago Autumn Showcase run by T&D Miniatures.
Hoping they still have the big club display room and the discount table, which are both fun (and big draws, in my opinion!) Will take photos of the displays as I always do so be sure to check back for the posts.
Here are the photos from the 2019 show here at the blog. (There are three posts with photos.) Type in Wee C Dollhouse Show in the search box to see other years back to gasp - 2012. Maybe even earlier.
More miniatures posts are coming up here, so stay tuned. Halloween is NOT over! I'm still working on the mini Haunted House. Maybe, just maybe, I'll make some progress to show you soon! ha! But I will be taking my home display down. I'm in a mood for putting up a bunch of mini Christmas trees! haa!
And don't forget to have some pie! There's a couple pieces left, I see... Or make your own! (Ghost pie by Lauren Bathory, Too-Damned-Cute-Bakery/Etsy. See Day 4 for "recipe.")
Go, Frankie, Go! At least someone likes to dance! Who knew the big lug could boogie that well? (By Sharon Cariola, See Day 2)
Whew, that was fun. Did you enjoy yourself?
And now.... A HALLOWEEN SURPRISE!!!
Last minute that I am, I began working on the new Halloween book I'd mentioned before, but I didn't get really serious about it until the beginning of yes, this month.
My idea was I wanted to offer a small collection of books on themed projects, so I think you'll like the dozen projects I've included in this one. These are some of my favorite projects and things I haven't shared how to make before. The bonus is you don't have to stick to the Halloween theme. Change the colors and fabric choices to fit into any of your other projects.
Ta-Dah! Up on Kindle:
Make a dozen accessories for Halloween - and all seasons! Don't like Halloween? (What?) The projects included here are easily adaptable. Change the colors or themes to fit your own project! BUY: Pre-Order Kindle/Print, Amazon US - Amazon UK - Amazon CA - Amazon AU - Amazon DE
Note: It takes time to get to other online bookstores once the print comes out.) Also check at my website for updates. https://www.cverstraete.com. There's a sporadic newsletter signup if you want to join. Put dollhouse in the entry so I know.
** Sign up for the giveaway below to win either copy. (BONUS! One person will also win a copy of my handmade mini spellbook! Instructions are in In Miniature Style: Halloween! ) Please include your email to contact you and to be included in newsletter notices on updates. (Actual print book is US shipping only and it may time time for me to get the proof and then actual copies.)
Wouldn't you know it? The party's winding down and finally - at the stroke of midnight - who shows up? Why's it's Marley... You know, Mr. Scrooge's longtime, and long-suffering, former business partner?
A sad soul he is, so we'll let him "hang around" for a while as we move on... (Marley is hand-sculpted by Sharon Cariola. See more of her work and about her on Day 2's post:
Hungry? Let's stop and have a snack. Mmmm, how about some Ghostie Meringue Pie? It has just a "hint" of flavor!
(Pie by Lauren Bathory, See more of her fun & creepy offerings at her Too Damned Cute Bakery on Instagram. Find the pie pic there for more instruction photos.)
Materials- Bottle cap, Liquid polymer clay, dough and yellow colored polymer clay; chalk pastels in
terra cotta and dark brown, Liquitex modeling paste gel medium, Black acrylic
paint, Clear varnish (one compatible with polymer clay).
Tools- Pasta machine or
something to roll the clay flat, small cutters or punches, even the end of a
plastic straw will work, Stiff paint brush or a tooth brush.
Roll out the dough
colored clay to form the pie crust. I rolled it out on the medium setting of my
pasta machine. Put a little dab of liquid polymer in the bottom of bottle cap
(this helps keep the clay in place) and press the clay in to form the pie
crust. Texture the crust by dabbing at it with the stiff brush.
Roll out some
more dough colored clay to the same thickness, and texture with your brush. Use
your small cutter to cut out little shapes to form the edge of the pie crust.
Use a little dab of liquid polymer to ‘glue’ your cut out shapes in a ring on
the top edge of your crust.
Lightly brush the terra cotta chalk pastels onto
the pie crust to develop a nicely baked look. Bake your pie crust according to
the directions of your polymer clay. To make the filling, mix together the
yellow polymer clay with the liquid polymer until you achieve a custard
consistency. Spread this into your pie crust and bake again according to the
directions.
Put some of the Liquitex modeling paste into a small plastic bag
and snip off the very corner of the bag. Carefully pipe the Liquitex in little
piles forming your ‘ghosts’. It is a good idea to do some test ghosts before
you start piping them onto your pie to get a feel for it. Once the ghosts have
set (I like to give them overnight to fully dry) use a wet paint brush to
lightly ‘toast’ your meringue ghosts with the dark brown chalk pastel. Paint on
your tiny ghost faces, and then coat your entire pie in a clear lacquer to
protect the chalk pastels.
About the Creator: Lauren had a creative dry spell after being diagnosed with MS, but was inspired to start creating again by YouTube videos. She recently relocated to Georgia where she now works on miniatures full-time. She has a growing collection of various cabinets to house her haunted bakeries full of "ghoulish goodies" and hints that there are likely more to come! 👻
Back to the guests... Look who came in! Now this is more like it, talk about contrasts!! Look at that smile! (Mr. Bones also by Sharon Cariola.)
Mr. Bones is a rather notable entertainer. At the graveyard, he has guests just "dying" to hear his act. Get it? haa!
As the party excitement "dies" down, I hear that Mr. Bones has added some new jokes to his repertoire. Jokes "to die for." Seriously.
OOps! Watch out for that web. Please excuse the spiders hanging around, too. Honestly, they're friendlier than they look! (Spiders by Georgia Marfels/Etsy. Georgia, who lives in Germany, started working in miniature at age 9 and fell in love with making spooky items since it's more creative. "It gives you more opportunities and freedom than just creating real stuff in miniature," she says.)
Uh-oh! Oh, never mind. This ghostly fellow won't have any trouble getting around the webs!
Ta-Dah! What I am Working On... Kindle up for pre-order: (Print in the works)
Make a dozen accessories for Halloween - and all seasons! Don't like Halloween? (What?) The projects included here are easily adaptable. Change the colors or themes to fit your own project! BUY: Pre-Order Kindle/Print, Amazon US - Amazon UK - Amazon CA - Amazon AU - Amazon DE
Are you enjoying yourself? Have you had enough to eat? I hope so...
For a "treat," I thought you might like to stop in our lovely Halloween Store. No, I'm not pushing you to buy anything, but I'm sure there'll be a few things "to die for," right?
There's nothing more fun, I think, then working on a themed project. As I have several of the Houseworks' Street of Shops kits, I had the idea to make them in matching Halloween colors of different shades of purple, lavender and orange.
Even my miniature record store is the same color range though the door there is a hot pink and the decor has more of a '60s vibe. (Hey, ghouls like music, too! ha!) Here's the front of "The Broken Record" record store in all its tacky glory. 😈
I'll share other photos later.
I'm hoping to make one more store I've had in mind for a while, a Witch's Bakery. Maybe that will be open for next year's event (at the rate I work these days. ha!) (Click photos for full size)
So, welcome to The Halloween Store!
I loved doing this project as I tried to be as bright and colorful as possible. The outside top decorations are dimensional stickers. The backgrounds are scrapbook papers. The second pumpkin rests on top one of those cheapie pumpkin lights as it can be turned on and off as needed.
The wreath includes colored plastic bones and a skull from a Dollar Tree necklace and some of that fuzzy yarn.
The Apothecary was made in a wood case holding wood snowflakes. The signs were in a Ken Holtz package of signs. The top square jars are made by covering foam "beads" and topping with paper and metal paper fasteners. Handmade mums are planted in a hollowed-out foam pumpkin. Gotta have a Halloween tree, too, of course (The bones are from a Halloween necklace.) The back row large hats are made by the fab Katherine Hazelton (Kat the Hat) of England. The feathered hat is from my Dutch friend Kitty. I made the other items.
The walls are scrapbook paper. The coffin shelf is filled with Stephen King books - of course! The teapots (except end pumpkin) are made by my Dutch friend, Kitty.
The other wall features Halloween "groceries" and books. The light string (from Target) has potion bottle shapes. There also are snacks on a table by the front window (not shown.)
Speaking of snacks... Hungry? Let's stop for something to eat before we move on. Oh... well, you may not like these but one of the monsters will! (These are really well done! From KatieAnneCraftsEtsy)
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** Be sure to come back tomorrow for more Halloween fun! (Links are not live until the day of post.)
Come in, come in, honored guests and friends. Make yourself right at home. (Click photos for full size.)
Oh, do try the Glog. It's simply delightful, I hear, with oil of bat, bergamot, herbs, eye of newt... Cook doesn't scrimp on the good stuff, you know. (Glog from Patricia Paul Studio.)
You'll be excited to hear we have some distinguished guests visiting with us this year, even some celebrities. (The hand-sculpted 1" scale (1/12th) figures are hand-sculpted by Sharon Cariola. See more at her FB page: https://www.facebook.com/sharon.cariola)
Click photos for full size.)
Oh, look. Can it be? Yes! Frank? Oh, there he is!
Come say hello to Mr. Frankenstein...
"No, call me Frankenstein's Monster..."
"Sorry, how about Frank for now..."
"Very well. Tank you for inviting me. I, um, am hoping I can finally make some friends. You know things didn't work out so well with my wife-to-be. And those villagers, all those pitchforks... The fires. Oh! It makes me shiver... I mean well, honest. It's just... sometimes... my thoughts get... mixed up. Garbled. You understand?"
Oh dear, he seems nervous, doesn't he? Maybe...
"Yes, yes, I see. Come into the other room. Get some snacks for yourself. We'll be right back."
There now. I think it's best Frank is by himself for a while. I hope he can control his anger...
Now, oh, look who it is! Why, it's the Snail Lady. My, my, she is even more exquisitely dressed than the rumors I heard!
Psst, please I heard her ask a couple people if this new shell makes her look, you know... big? She got very perturbed at the answers...
She's rather sensitive, so please, be kind. Tell her she looks wonderful!"
(The Snail Lady figure is amazing! She looks just like the movie character in the Italian-made version of the movie Pinocchio by Roberto Garrone, starring Roberto Benigni as Geppetto. See the trailer on IMDB. I've borrowed this from the library - well, kind of an odd movie, mostly good for the scenery and the strange characters. The Snail Lady is really interesting.)
Oh, my, now I am a bit flustered myself! Why it's Morticia Addams from The Addams Family! My, my, she is quite lovely, isn't she? I wonder what her beauty secrets are, though I'm sure she'll never tell!
The room is getting rather crowded. I hope there are enough snacks for everyone....
Oh, darn, catch that one, would you? Heh-heh, Morticia thought that was pretty funny. (Crawling tentacles, Michael R. Miniatures/Etsy, UK)
Hey, look! There's Grandpa Munster from The Munsters TV Show... Now there's a real celebrity, thousands of years old, I think. No flash in the pan...
Well, he's a good guest to have as he only needs a fresh decanter of blood. I think we have some...
Has anyone seen cook? Ah, I'll be right back. I can't figure out where she went. It's so hard to get good help these days!
* About the creator:
Sharon Cariola has been making 1/12th scale figures of polymer clay over a wire armature for about 19 years. She was inspired after seeing some hand-sculpted dolls at a local dollhouse show and learned about making them by watching videos from UK doll artist James Carrington.
She's had no special training, although working as a dental assistant, she jokes, could've helped a bit: "All that looking in people’s mouths has helped when
it comes time to sculpt that area." But she says, "I always enjoyed drawing and took what art classes
were available in school, but had no professional training. I am a people watcher
by nature. I observe hands, ears, how clothing drapes, how shoes show wear, so
many things."
She's since made literally hundreds of figures, mostly of typical "everyday" people or character sculpts of well-known celebrities and actors. "I usually make more everyday type dolls, but once in
a while something more unusual catches my interest," she says. The dolls range in price from about $700 to $900, with portrait-type dolls on the high end.
After about a year of making them, she had amassed quite a few and with the help of her husband, Cariola decided to open a store on eBay. "I was really
surprised when one finally sold," she recalls. "Now I am kept fairly busy filling special
orders." See her FB page for information and photos. https://www.facebook.com/sharon.cariola
The dolls, which she works on one at a time, take "at least a week" to make. Cariola starts by sculpting the head and face separately, then she does the hands, feet, and the torso. The body parts are then baked, painted, and assembled on wires. Wired areas get padded for shape before she makes the clothes.
"I like to use old cotton clothes from second hand shops and I cut
my fabric from those," she says. "I used to really dread the costuming, but now it has become something I enjoy."
The most difficult aspect of sculpting, she notes, "is the head, but I also
really like to work at it. I often work three days on just the face." Her tip: "If you want the
doll to look “human” use photo references. You can find pictures on the
internet of people with some claim to fame. Good profile images are very
helpful."
While she says her early dolls were much simpler and thus took less time to make, she's still amazed at how far she's come. Several of her dolls are in museum collections including a miniature Harriet Tubman and the painter, William
Turner in the KSB (Kathleen Savage Browning) Miniatures Collection in the Kentucky Gateway Museum Center.
Others are in personal collections around the world. But a few... well, they don't make it
"I recently cleaned up my work area and tossed a few 'loser dolls' in the
trash," she says. "I wonder what folks at the dump must have thought of them."
(Of course, we often are our harshest critics. I can't believe her 'misfits' were that bad, even if they didn't measure up to her exacting standards. And wouldn't you like to dig in her trash?) --Christine Verstraete
