My Tudor Travails started with a brilliant idea. I would make a 24th scale Tudor hall based on something I saw in my travels. It would pull apart and lay flat for taking to shows. It would have an interesting story. I would put the tower on a pivot to act as a hinge for… Continue reading Tudor Travails, a flat pack 24th scale hall.
MY BLOG
A knitted beach-loving family downunder
I’ve had this idea of a knitted 12th scale beach-loving family in my mind for ages. Originally there was going to be a little girl as well. It took some time to get these knitting patterns right and actually knitting my family. One good thing that came out of this was the same pattern for… Continue reading A knitted beach-loving family downunder
Save your milk bottle tops
Recycling the tops of the New Zealand milk containers. I use them for glue and paint. I also used them in my bird cage project and now in my rustic vegetable stand. Looking for a project to make out of recycled milk container tops, at the kitchen table? This is a great one. Rather than… Continue reading Save your milk bottle tops
Tudor times in New Zealand!
This hall is made from 3mm foam board, machined Native timbers and a card tile roof. It is a departure for me. While I encourage downunder miniaturists to create our unique styles here, sometimes you just got to go with the Tudor theme because it is so darn creative. This Tudor hall kit was made… Continue reading Tudor times in New Zealand!
Tudor Medieval Dollhouse – 1:24 Scale
This lockdown has seen me almost full time in the studio. I’m working on a Tudor Dollhouse Delight, 1:24 scale medieval Weldon house for my small miniature club. I have to do six kits. Had I known how much timber I had to cut I would have had second thoughts. But it is coming on… Continue reading Tudor Medieval Dollhouse – 1:24 Scale
Immortalizing family history in miniature
Miniature houses are great places to immortalize your family. Incorporate family photos, favourite pets, interests, and meaningful items into your work. The gentleman’s den was an opportunity for me to carry forward our family history in miniature. This story is in the August issue. This gentleman’s study evolved from the making of an orrery and… Continue reading Immortalizing family history in miniature
Still Flying with the Birds
I promise I will soon stop flying with the birds and move on to something else! I am creating a Tudor Hall kit for my club members and so I can see lots of medieval ideas getting into the queue in my mind. First I have been exploring the creepy predilection that the Victorians had… Continue reading Still Flying with the Birds
Miniature Birds in Felt
Recently I attended a workshop on making miniature felt creatures. Well, if there is anything destined to make one humble this was it. It is probably easier to make larger animals but when you are making tiny ears, it is a painful experience. Those needles are not only sharp, they are barbed. Bandages were supplied… Continue reading Miniature Birds in Felt
Adding punch to your work
In the latest issue I have gone a bit medieval. Inspired by Barbara Keeling’s castle no doubt. I had fun making some stocks. I had even more fun working out how to use LilyPad lighting. This is something you have to explore. It is washable wearable lighting and my school teacher sister had been getting… Continue reading Adding punch to your work
Meet me at the Flamingo Cafe
How ‘Meet me at the Flamingo Cafe’ came about. The story has evolved over my last few posts. First there was the painting of the Flamingo sign. Then the making of the parrot on a perch. Then a rearrangement of my lounge around the painting. Then getting on the computer and designing an Espresso machine… Continue reading Meet me at the Flamingo Cafe
Bird cage developments
Bird cage developments: following on from my birdcage workshop was this lovely result. Maria did things a little differently as she wanted to put more things in the base. She hand painted everything rather than spraying. She used a paper lace rather than cotton lace. The legs were made from beads. She decided to make… Continue reading Bird cage developments
A great project to do
Birds have been on my mind. First it was my paintings of the Flamingo and the Pelican. Then a Fimo parrot made an appearance. Now it is budgie cages! This example is based on a full-size Victorian one I saw in a magazine. It is a great project to do. This is a lovely project… Continue reading A great project to do
A little bird crazy
A painting started it all. It was in my head for about a year then a few weeks ago I finally got it on to canvas, a flamingo tin sign, rather aged. then I went a little bird crazy! This led to a lot of tropical thoughts and the 12th scale parrot called Pompey made… Continue reading A little bird crazy
Getting techy
Having brought a 3D printer recently and spending some time trying to get my PC to talk to it, finally all systems are working. After some help from my personal Digital Senior advisor (husband) who said “This kit is designed by technicians for creative people. Therein lies the problem” And how true! But I’m slowly… Continue reading Getting techy
My latest 12th scale project
This is my latest 12th scale project. A lovely 12th scale chaise lounge. This is somewhere I’d like to be today with temperatures here recently in the high 30s (that degree’s C, or over 100 F). And if I was 5 inches high of course!! If you would like more information on how I made… Continue reading My latest 12th scale project
Titania’s Palace – A stunning Miniature Castle from the early 1900’s
This beautiful house was the correct answer in our last “Guess the Dollshouse” competition. For those who entered, the winner of the free magazines has been drawn. Congratulations to Astrid McGinty of North Melbourne who correctly named it as Titania’s Palace. Her three free magazines are en route as I type this. Enjoy the reading… Continue reading Titania’s Palace – A stunning Miniature Castle from the early 1900’s
A Xmas box of projects
All these projects can be found in the December Issue of Miniature Time Traveller. Very easy to do. And if you enjoyed reading this post, why not subscribe to future posts? See us this year at Miniatura or the VAME Convention
The postal service is going down the toilet!
I have the December issue of the magazine at the printer and will be able to post it away to subscribers in Australia and New Zealand by the end of the week. I am hopeful they will get it, and it’s festive season projects, before Christmas. The rush is because the postal service to Australia… Continue reading The postal service is going down the toilet!
The Jigsaw Cottage Miniature Project
My latest miniature project project started off as an inside/outside scenario, with the kit provided by John Duff, Lower Hutt Miniature Makers. His intention was to create a Provencal or Tuscan scene. My last trip was to France, and I had started making a lot of French Shabby Chic furniture so as a result the… Continue reading The Jigsaw Cottage Miniature Project
Christmas is coming – arghh!
I love Christmas. I love decorating my tree. I love wrapping up presents. What I don’t love is some of the pressures that come with Christmas. Mostly self inflicted. I have my famous Worcestershire Sauce to make (for gifts). Some Limoncello to make (for gifts – mostly) as the lemon tree has produced bigtime this… Continue reading Christmas is coming – arghh!