This a landmark occasion in my miniature "career". I actually finished a room box. I mean, finished, as in I will not be adding or changing anything else in it ever again. It helps to have a deadline, in this case, Christmas Day. And then I gave it away to ensure that my hands will never again sneak inside and shift something or add some little tidbit I came across that would "complete" the box.
This particular room I created for my mother for Christmas. An avid crafter and sewer, among other talents, this box reflected all her interests or as many as I could fit in the small space I had. The box itself was one of the projects from Camp Mini Ha Ha 2011. It was supposed to have been a kitchen but I, as I am wont to do, decided otherwise. I did use some of the techniques that were taught at that Camp, such as using tissue paper and paint to create a plastered look on the walls and ceiling. For the floor, I glued down slats of wood from a woven wood blind sample and then sanded it down until I tired of sanding. Not my favourite thing to do.
The hutch and table were kits designed by the talented Samm Brockhurst and I did only minimal adjustments to make them suitable for what I wanted. I added shelves to the table to transform it into a workbench with "wicker" storage baskets below. I am fortunate to have access to blind samples with the perfect texture to make these baskets. The only thing I did to the hutch was to shape the upper overhand and the sides and to add a door. The bookshelf was a kit and the magazine rack and little dress at left were projects done at a mini club night. Some of the items I'd had since I was a little girl, the copper pot full of yarn balls and knitting needles as well as the stool made from the wire thingie from a wine bottle, made by my childish hands. Most of the books I had full size versions of, so I meticulously scanned each one of them, printed and assembled them into perfect replicas of the real ones. Except they don't open. I'd decided that was going too far to have them actually open. Besides, the books would not be able to stay on the shelf well had they been able to. The spool rack I designed and built, a fragile thing that met with a few catastrophes along the way. I thought it was safe once it had been glued to the wall but it had to thwart me one last time when my hand hit it, trying to glue something else. Arggghh!
My pride and joy in this room is the teapot and mug I especially made for my rooster-collecting Mom. I had used underglazes to create the shape of the rooster but with the high temperature of the kiln, some of the colours had faded out. So I used some oven hardening paints I had (Pebeo Porcelaine 150) to flesh out the missing colours. It turned out quite well in the end and may be the beginning of a different line of pottery. That is, if I can get my kiln working again. It has been out of commission for awhile. But that's another story...
This particular room I created for my mother for Christmas. An avid crafter and sewer, among other talents, this box reflected all her interests or as many as I could fit in the small space I had. The box itself was one of the projects from Camp Mini Ha Ha 2011. It was supposed to have been a kitchen but I, as I am wont to do, decided otherwise. I did use some of the techniques that were taught at that Camp, such as using tissue paper and paint to create a plastered look on the walls and ceiling. For the floor, I glued down slats of wood from a woven wood blind sample and then sanded it down until I tired of sanding. Not my favourite thing to do.
The hutch and table were kits designed by the talented Samm Brockhurst and I did only minimal adjustments to make them suitable for what I wanted. I added shelves to the table to transform it into a workbench with "wicker" storage baskets below. I am fortunate to have access to blind samples with the perfect texture to make these baskets. The only thing I did to the hutch was to shape the upper overhand and the sides and to add a door. The bookshelf was a kit and the magazine rack and little dress at left were projects done at a mini club night. Some of the items I'd had since I was a little girl, the copper pot full of yarn balls and knitting needles as well as the stool made from the wire thingie from a wine bottle, made by my childish hands. Most of the books I had full size versions of, so I meticulously scanned each one of them, printed and assembled them into perfect replicas of the real ones. Except they don't open. I'd decided that was going too far to have them actually open. Besides, the books would not be able to stay on the shelf well had they been able to. The spool rack I designed and built, a fragile thing that met with a few catastrophes along the way. I thought it was safe once it had been glued to the wall but it had to thwart me one last time when my hand hit it, trying to glue something else. Arggghh!
My pride and joy in this room is the teapot and mug I especially made for my rooster-collecting Mom. I had used underglazes to create the shape of the rooster but with the high temperature of the kiln, some of the colours had faded out. So I used some oven hardening paints I had (Pebeo Porcelaine 150) to flesh out the missing colours. It turned out quite well in the end and may be the beginning of a different line of pottery. That is, if I can get my kiln working again. It has been out of commission for awhile. But that's another story...
I had hoped to complete two finished rooms but alas, that was not to be. It was a bit ambitious, I supposed, given my habit of not finishing things. The room box for my dad reflected his interests in music. The room itself is another creation by Samm B, only it was supposed to be a 1:24 scale box. I turned it on end and made it into a small 1:12 scale box. There was just enough room to fit a 2" x 4" desk in there, a purchased chair and some musical accoutrements. Running out of time, I settled for a purchased bass guitar though I do have an acoustic guitar under construction. It will have to wait until next year. In actuality, my dad has about five guitars. I did make the amp from a piece of styrofoam, more blind samples and some leather. He used to play the bagpipes too which is why the piper is framed on the wall. With my dad being a space enthusiast, I had to include his computer with the screen set to the NASA homepage. I searched high and low to find a modern computer that resembed his and could not. So I made one from black Fimo. | This box is a little sparce at the moment but I have plans to include more items. I would like to include some military memorabilia to acknowledge my dad's military service. Of course, the other guitar and possibly another one will also make its way into this room, along with some other musical instruments that my dad has had occasion to play. Both room boxes were well received though in both cases, they were much neater than the rooms I was attempting to eumlate! But that's the beauty of miniatures. You can create the room of your dreams, regardless of reality! |