Monday 23 September 2013

I can't believe...

...that it's already pumpkin season!  


But, then again, I suppose any season can be pumpkin season in the 1:12 scale world.  


I've just added the cute pumpkin bread display to my Available Items page.

And I've updated my prices to show the postage charges.  There is now a single charge worldwide of £3.50 GBP per parcel, regardless of the number of items.  AND of course I've reduced the prices of my available items to reflect this! 

Different kind of pumpkin pie - now sold!




Monday 16 September 2013

Pass the Jam...

... and cream cheese, that's how I like my croissants!


I've just added this arrangement of croissants to my Available Items page.  Please follow the links to see more photos and pricing.

Friday 13 September 2013

Comparisons, Now and Then!

I'm constantly trying to improve my work and this year I'm trying even harder than ever, I really want to push myself to create the best miniatures that I can.  I'm probably far too harsh on myself (isn't that the curse of an artist; self doubt and being overly critical of one's own work?) and even though I try not to look or draw comparisons, there are so many fantastic artisans out there, it's now impossible for me to sit back and say "oh, that will do" about my own work.

So, with all that in mind, this morning I've been working on my mini croissants.  My thinking was... that I have a photo of the type of croissant that I made a while back and I'll take a photo this morning of one of my new versions and then I can compare the photos side by side.  THEN, I thought... might as well do this comparison live on my blog, me being a glutton for self punishment and all that ;)  Sooooo, here we go...


The first time I saw these photos side by side was just a few seconds ago when I was saving them as one.  My first impressions, I think I've definitely improved on the colouring and the shape is not as flat but I'm not sure if I like the actual curve of the older croissant than the more straight new one.  What do you think?

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Polishing the Silverware!

As if I'm that posh!  Stainless steel ware in my house only I'm afraid.

I am however polishing some miniature "silverware" today, "silverware" meaning cast pewter flatware from Warwick Miniatures/Phoenix Model Developments.


I know that it isn't really entirely necessary to polish up the fantastic flatware from Warwick Miniatures but I think my OCD has kicked in today and I'm being a bit picky with the details.  As you hopefully can tell in the photo above the top knife is in it's natural state, straight out of the packet, but the one on the bottom I've given a bit of a makeover with a sheet of superfine sandpaper and a 3M polishing pad (that's the cracked spongy thing top right, it's old, tattered but still good for a few years yet).  The blades will be masked off with tape once the knives meet today's picky standards and then the handles will be primed and painted.  It sounds like a lot of work just for flatware which isn't really the main focus of what I'm working on BUT I'm a stickler for the details! 

Saturday 7 September 2013

It smells like Autumn!

Or at least I think it would if I didn't have this darned head cold... Atchoo!

There was a definite freshness to the air in the North of England today.  Pretty soon I'll be getting all excited for Christmas.  Autumnal colours really inspire me, the colours on apples and pears are some of my favourites...

1:12 scale apples and pears in turned wooden bowl by NJD Miniatures.
...You can find this miniature bowl of apples and pears, while they are available, on my Available Items page. along with more photos.  

Enjoy your weekend all! 



Friday 6 September 2013

You say...

...Tom-A-toe, I say Tom-R-toe!

And here are some of the tomatoes that I mentioned were dinging in my mini oven in the previous post...


Ten juicy Beefsteak variety tomatoes in a striped Cornishware type miniature bowl.  You can find them, their price and other info on my Available Items or Facebook page.  

Rainy Day, am I blue?

Definitely NOT!

I love rainy days when I'm warm and cosy inside.  My studio, where all the creative things happen, is basically the conservatory at the back of my house.  The gentle pitter patter of the rain on the roof is so very soothing with the raindrops racing down the window panes and the soft light shining through the windows... it's a perfect day for making mini's...


...until the downpour really kicks it up a notch and then it's deafening in here!  

Ear defenders at the ready!

And there goes the timer on my mini oven, tomatoes and strawberries are ready, back to work I go.  Hope wherever you are that the sun is shining on you, if not then keep an eye out for that silver lining, there is always one out there just waiting for you to grasp it!

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Blog back up and running!

And I've given it just a little bit of a face-lift, still a work in progress but it's getting there.  I found that I couldn't sleep last night, it was too dark to work on miniatures, so I threw myself (not quite literally) into working on my blog.

I've added a few pages, see the tabs across the top, and one of those pages is where I will be showing which items I have available (as well as on my Facebook page).

I'll continue working on my blog on an evening until I am happy with it, but it's good so far even though I haven't changed it that much.

It's nice to be back!