busy, sticky l'il fingers!

Hello Peeps... me again :o)

I've actually done some more work on the Skool of Majick and finally FINISHED one room!!!
I've been planning and plotting for years on how to finish it, and had originally intended on having a parquet floor... bought all the wooden pieces, got covered in wood glue, sanded it down, sanded down my fingers too, sanded a bit more and it still looked awful so I resorted to plan B, threw it out & fitted floorboards instead... much simpler, and it finally enabled me to move on!!!

(I'm sure some of you out there are thinking "Plan B? I'm suprised she even has a Plan A!")

I also added paperclay stones around the doorways to add a bit of detail into the hallways & rooms... and because they are arched doorways, there was no way my woodworking skills were up to adding wooden architraving!!

First step - add a dark line into the mortar crevices.
.this is /was my palette. Normal acrylics, mid grey & earth brown, with a water to thin.


next step, applying thin, uneven layers of differing shades over the 'stones', until happy with the colouring. (this proved tricky painting in a 6" halway with an 8" brush!) Wait to dry between coats. When finished, apply a last thin coat of colour over ALL the stones, as this blends them all together. When dry, seal with a matt varnish.

Despite my woodworking skils being fairly minimal, I did however work out how to cut a nice neat angle onto the skirting at the top of the stairwell, as it is very thin and could be cut with a craft knife, so I had no worries about chopping off any digits LOL
Remember to fill in any cutlines with more stain/varnish to hide the join.

I also added some more detailing to the dormitory wall, my next challenge is to work out how to make and fit doors!!

I've been collecting those free wooden coffee stirrers for some time to try & make the doors out of, but will need a lot! This has always provoked lots of 'those' looks from my family when were out but my needs must have rubbed off on their conscience, as my daughter came home from a well known burger chain at the weekend with a nice suprise for me :o)

bless her! I still need a few hundred more tho LOL

The finished room, "Hagatha & Grumpbold's" bedroom.
Both of the dolls were made by Nicky Cooper, long before I learnt how to make anything with clay.

oops ...actually its not! now I see it in a picture, it needs something at the windows! Aaarrgghh! what do you think? more stonework around the windows, or dark curtains?... or both?
is a miniature setting ever really finished?!

the luv-spud and other 'things'

Hello Peeps!
Happy New Year!!!

I've been a bad blogger... again!!! (methinks far too many of my posts start this way) It being a new year and all that I really should do something about it, especially seeing as my good friend Debbie from Tiny Treasures has been nagging & wagging her virtual finger at me to to update my blog.
So here goes... well I thought I didnt have much to blog about until I sat at the keyboard and now I think shall have to make several posts with all I'd like to say since I last said something! I never learn.

Xmas brought me some lovelies that I hadnt expected, most of you by now have realised I have a 'thing' for pumpkins & chickens, but I also have a 'thing' for mushrooms and a 'thing' for hearts, amongst other 'things'. So imagine my suprise while preparing the breakfast on Xmas morning when this heart shaped mushroom made an appearance.

then my lovely hubby gave me this as a present

I'd admired these mushroom stools for a long while and was over the moon to get one that had heart shaped seats :o) I had no idea he had hidden it in the shed, he apparently got up at stupid-o-clock to carry it through the garden full of snow into the house, whilst I slept!!! (note more of my collection spreading across the background)
and to complete the hat-trick, I also had a heart shaped potato... we called it the luv-spud... and it was luv-ly :o)


I was also delighted that my son bought me another Pendle Witch to keep the one that sits above my workbench happy

my first Pendle Witch above, and below the new one I got for xmas :o)


she has such a kindly face :o)


(you can read about The Pendle Witches here)
... methinks witches should be alone or in 3's so methinks another may be needed... this is beginning to sound like yet another 'collection' brewing LOL it did however leave me pondering if it were possible for me to scale up rather than down and try to make one by myself? I've only ever worked with polymer clay in 12th scale and smaller so this will be a real challenge for me. My miniature 'to-do' list has grown so long, that I really should be working my way through that rather than venturing into different scales. But to be honest, my dream of being able to make miniatures as a business venture has slid almost out of reach due to various health issues hindering my timescale for creativity ... and deadlines... pfft, I'm not the best with them! So, similar to the claims I made for my last new years resolve, I have decided (again) that I'm not pressurizing myself into making anything this year! it'll happen when it happens!!! (which isnt usually very often! LOL) but if I do make anything for sale I shall list it on here first.

When the snow from holidays cleared and the postman resumed his duties, I received a beautifully made xmas ornament from my friend Kat over at 'Little thoughts from an Average mind'.

it will look great alongside the other felt ornaments I made for the tree, but alas, it didnt make it onto the tree in time this year, but has been packed away safely ready for when the big event comes round again. In the mean time, I can play with the other goodies she sent me to go into the sewing shopbox I'm putting together. I shall show pics of its progress next time hopefully.


The Teapot is for Hagatha in my Skool of Majick... and the bear will go into the Santas Toyshop, more buildings which I hope to show you progress of soon!

Another reason I've not posted much is that I have been discovering so many new blogs! for example one I found has given me a numb behind where I have sat reading & admiring her work for so long today! LOL & my head is now filled with so many wonderful images that you just have to go see for yourselves. Pop over to Boxoftrix and have a peep, if you love embroidery,textiles & miniatures, you'll be glad you did.
I have also been remiss in welcoming my new followers, I apologise, and will add links to your pages with a proper introduction SOON x

right, off to prioritize that 'to-do' list!