My Little Corner of the Net

Sunday, October 30, 2016

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween !  This is a project I made from a foam pumpkin, some paperclay, paint, and a few other odds and a few years ago.  The pumpkin and lights were purchased at 50% off after Halloween.

Do you dare trick or treat at this scary house ?


Lots of jack-o'-lanterns line the yard and the porch is decorated for Halloween.  I made the stone porch out of paper clay and painted it to look old.


I painted the windows and shutters with crackle finish to add to the effect.  Still contemplating what kind of plants to put in the window boxes.  Maybe some sort of man eating plant or something from Harry Potter?


The jack-o'-lanterns are from Lemax.  I hid the transformer under the floor. The table inside is just an upside down plastic cup that I covered with some Halloween fabric.  The candy corn floor lamp is also from Lemax.  The parlor stove is a plastic kit by Chrysnbon that I put together back in the 1980s.  I am still contemplating how to make a cool chimney for it on the outside of the pumpkin.


The scary skeleton is sitting lounging on a Victorian chaise lounge, waiting to hand out goodies to anyone who dares come trick or treating.  I used a piece of scrap book paper to cover the floor.  The floor is a piece of foam core that I cut to fit.


I created a niche under the stairs for the display.  Did you notice the Halloween candy decorations hanging from the lights?

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

PLASTIC

I came across this miniature Tupperware bowl at an antique mall the other day.

It measures about an inch across

The lid lifts off - just like the real thing


I also came across this kitchen set.  I used to have the exact one when I was little in my Little People house.

To see my post about the Fisher Price House click HERE

To see some of my studio Halloween plastic decorations keep scrolling down


This skeleton has been camping in the Garbe house - click HERE



This skeleton has been haunting the 1940's Rich House - click HERE



And these twin skeletons have been hanging out in my cabin - click HERE


Monday, October 24, 2016

Sonia Messer Finds

I won these two Sonia Messer Blockhouse chairs on Ebay this week


To see some of my other Sonia Messer collection so far, click HERE

I have started work on some of the other Sonia Messer pieces in my collection that need a few minor repairs.

I purchased a piece of mahogany for the repairs from our local Woodcraft store.


I removed one of the good feet from the table to use as a template.  After a few trys, I found that the white pencil was easier to see on the dark wood then the graphite one.


Here are the rough cut pieces.  I discovered that I was using too large of a blade at first and broke a few pieces while trying to cut them.


I have started the repairs on the secretary doors too. 


If you are have a Michaels Store in your vicinity, they have a quite a few miniature items that they are marketing in the jewelry and bead section!


Thursday, October 20, 2016

Recent Acquisitions & More Irons in the Fire

I have picked up a few more items from estate sales in the past few weeks.

A pewter watering can, a small duck vase, a stone carved cat from England, a curved wood stand, a tiny brass rocking horse and an interesting bottle cap.

The cap has two Grecian looking women on top and is made out of plastic.  Anyone have any ideas?  The lady at the estate sale thought it was something fancy, but I assume it may just be AVON ?  I thought it would fit in with my Art Deco Kage house.
To see my Kage collection and the house I am building click HERE


The following are a few projects that I have in the works!


I have been accumulating a few Sonia Messer -Block house pieces.  I have aspirations to do a Sonia Messer furnished house.  Most of these old pieces need some work.
The table needs a couple of new feet, the secretary is missing the side and bottom of the door and a foot.  The chairs need some upholstery.  

I found this 1930's Rich dollhouse a while back and 
have started undertaking fixing the windows.

First I carefully measured and drew them in AutoCAD, 
then laid them out for the vinyl cutting machine


The new vinyl "stickers" are ready to be mounted on some clear plastic and installed.

Never a dull moment !


Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Miniatures at the Agricultural Fair

We had the chance to visit the ag fair at our local high school and a couple of the booths had miniature models as part of their displays.


This company manufactured pig barns and had models of their products.



Of course we got to see all kinds of livestock too:  lambs, goats, hens, cows, and the two little piglets


Another display was about home products made from soy






Friday, October 14, 2016

Take A Seat

I was able to find a couple more chairs from the Take-A-Seat Collection


 This comfy looking green arm chair is called the Viridian and is based on furniture designs from the 1920's.


This ornate chair is part of the Biltmore Estate collection and is a copy of the carved walnut chairs found in the music room.

I found a picture online from the estate showing the actual 1890's embroidered chairs.



To see the rest of my Take-Seat collection by Willits, click HERE

 I came across this miniature brass armillary sundial at a local estate sale this week.  
It is marked "Made in Holland" on the bottom.


Friday, October 7, 2016

Take A Seat Collection

I have been helping the local miniature club get ready for a show in a few weeks.  One of the projects is a small cabin and I have been cutting out the pieces for the kits.  I know that my family will be glad when I get all of the pieces out of the house!



I have found a few more miniature chairs from the Raine  Take-Seat-Collection.
They are approximately 1"=1'-0" scale and made from metal, resin and plastic.  The company is no longer in business and the chairs have become quite collectible.

This one is called the Willow Rocker.  It is modeled after a 1930's model with sweeping lines that form intricate patterns.


 This chair is modeled after the 18th-century style of King Louis XVI of France with revival straight legs and simple embroidered silk upholstery.

This deck chair is modeled after those found on ships in the early 1900's like the Titanic.

This is my new favorite chair.  It is modeled after architect Le Corbusier's famous chair from the 1920's.  It is finished in chrome and "black leather"

The Peacock Splendor chair is modeled after an artist chair from 2000.

The following chairs have been in my collection for a while, but I decided to photograph them, since I had them all out in one place.

The Longhorn chair is based on a 1930's design and upholstered in "cowhide"

The Adirondack know for it's craftsman style is based on a 1940's style from a mountain resort in upstate New York.

The Red Heart chair is bases on an artist's rendition of a wing back chair from 1999

The Racing Red chair is based on a design from 1991 

The Slope Wing Back chair is based on a chair from 1944 and sits on an a 
frame made of "ebony"

This chair is part of the Biltmore Estate collection and is modeled after a chair that Mrs Vanderbilt has in her private bedroom.  The design if Louis XV Style.

This chair is based on Pierre Paulin's 1966 Ribbon Chair.

This chair is based on Brittian's Charles Renee Mackintosh's famous 
Art Nouveau chair from 1902.  The original was crafted from painted oak.

This chair is called Regency Leopard and based on a design from 1810.  It was inspired by Egyptian tombs that were being discovered at the time.

This chair is miniature replica of George Washington's desk chair.  The original was built by New York cabinet maker Thomas Burling.  The seat sits on a central spindle over bone rollers set in the top of each leg.  This model revolves too.

The Slipper Chair is based on an 1880's style and was designed to accommodate a Victorian Lady's layers of petticoats.

This called the Form and Function chair from 1999


This chair is called Full Circle from 2000 

This chair is titled Mexican Leather and is based on a historic design that utilized pigskin and and wood bound with cactus fibers.


This chair is called San Demas and based on a 1992 design.  The artist reflects elements of French Empire and modern design.

This "leather" miniature is based on chairs designed for the billiards room in the Biltmore Estate.  The original design was based on 17th century chairs from London.

This is miniature copy of Mr Vanderbilt's chair from his bedroom at the Biltmore Estate.  The original was made from walnut and upholstered in 
red wool and designed by Richard Morris Hunt.

The Mission Style Rocker is based on a Gustav Stickley style from the early 1900's.

This chair is simply called Patio and based on a design from 1990.

 This comfy looking green arm chair is called the Viridian and is based on furniture designs from the 1920's.


This ornate chair is part of the Biltmore Estate collection is a copy of the carved walnut chairs found in the music room.


 This  armchair is called Art Nouveau and is based on a chair design from around c.1900.  The frame is meant to simulate carved walnut and the fabric is meant to simulate a golden Art Nouveau motif.