Binge & Purge

I've been on a bit of a bender. A mini bender that is. Since about June of 2012. That's when I allowed myself back into the world of my beloved miniatures. Prior to that, minis were completely out of the picture for nine years. Once I began indulging again, I fell totally off the wagon!

Mini Projects from 2012 - 2013

There were just so many possibilities. So many things to make for the worlds I could create. I just had to have it ALL! I was compelled to try! There was so much to learn! I am sure a lot of you can relate.

Mini Projects from 2014 - 2015

While all this mini love can give you a full heart, it can also lead to a very full house. When some of my finished structures, out of necessity, started matriculating into my bedroom last year, I knew I was going to have to make some tough decisions. Why keep things that were not going to be enjoyed? So, like any difficult decision, I had to let it marinate. But finally, I came to the realization that in order to continue to fulfill my future dreams (and I have plenty), I had to let some of the finished ones go. And really, I am surprisingly at peace with that.

Mini Projects from 2016

But how do you let things go? eBay? Some of the structures would be too cost prohibitive to ship. Plus, who'd want my vision and design choices for their new mini home? Craigslist? There aren't a whole lot of mini enthusiasts in my area, so finding someone who'd be willing to buy a completed project for a fair price seemed pretty implausible.

Projects from 2017

So finally, an idea hit me. What if I separated the minis and furniture from the structures? I could group like items and have fun with $.99 auctions on eBay for the furniture and accessories, then list the structures as "rehabs" on Craigslist. Sounds reasonable, right? The only way to know is to try...

So, I began last weekend with the Real Good Toys Contemporary Ranch. It was a funny project idea to me at the time, but somehow, a marijuana dispensary wasn't funny to me any longer. I began removing all the little wonders, and boy were there a lot of them, trying to cause as little damage to the wallpaper and flooring. Let's just say I learned a lot through trial and error and each room got progressively better. A heat gun and putty knife are essential tools!

I removed practically everything, including all of the landscaping. You'd never know it was once a place where nefarious happenings went on. The wallpaper will have to be replaced or just removed and walls painted. I damaged some spots on the wood flooring in two rooms, but those can be easily filled in and repaired. I am going to leave that up to the new owner. I am even going to leave the hideous green color scheme in hopes that some kind hearted person will want to enjoy the pleasure of it's obliteration. We'll see if there are any takers.

I was surprised how much I enjoyed deconstructing. Maybe just knowing things I'd loved were going to get new life someplace, and that I'd feel free to begin new projects guilt free has something to do with it. Once I had it gutted and the mini items cleaned and sorted, I started on the Real Good Toys Ruff & Rustic barn.

This was one of the projects that I never really finished. Didn't even shingle the roof. Poor planning on my part resulted in unfulfilled visions, and complete loss of passion for the whole project. I learned so much throughout the process, that I still consider the experience a good one. I am just ready to let it go. I am really enjoying and excited about reacquainting myself with every wonderful mini thing I made or specially purchased for the project! Some things I won't be able to let go in this one.

My work table looks like a mini flea market, and with the whole upstairs left to go, I may have a good number of eBay auctions to put together.

The other project that will get dismantled and sold is the Bigfoot tourist shop. I have three more after this, but those structures are smaller and may be better off sold as dioramas. We'll see. Just making progress in organizing and purging feels good to my soul.

xo xo,
Jodi

Sinks For Sam

Sam over at Blueprint Minis has recently discovered some techniques for miniature watercolor painting, and boy has she exposed a hidden talent! If you are not a follower of her blog or seen her awesome works of art, I suggest you go take a look! She shares her resources and encourages everyone to give it a try!

When she left a comment a couple blog posts ago saying she should commission me to make a sink for her basement apartment bathroom in the San Franciscan she's building, I saw my opportunity for a swap! We discussed styles and measurements, then I got to work! I love a challenge, and I super hope that one of the designs I've been playing with will satisfy the look she's trying to achieve.

Sam's Inspiration Sink with My Doodling

I wanted to try versions with both round and square sinks. I had a square plastic sink left over from a Reallife kitchen kit, and a round one I'd salvaged from the Barn when I realized I wouldn't have space for the two bathrooms I'd planned. These would make suitable models for the prototypes.

The inspiration sink appears to be constructed from thin metal, so I used 1/16" basswood. I cut the top and shelf using the life sized measurements scaled down to 1/12th. It is roughly 3" wide x 2" deep x 3" high (not including the back splash).

To cut the sink hole, I marked the center point between the sides, cheating the sink toward the front edge to leave plenty of space for taps (and bathroom-y stuff). Then I measured each of the sink halves out from the center point, top and bottom, then drew the circle around to connect them. You could also just trace the circle, but my sink will be under-slung and the sink is too large to just trace - the hole would have been too large. You could also just use a Circle Template, but that is one tool I don't have!

To cut the circle, I first traced the line with my flower making stylus, a tip I learned from the fabulous tutorials on Julie Warren's YouTube Channel. Then, my Xacto played nice and just stayed in the pre-grooved line.

To make the rounded legs, I used 1/8" dowel rod, the smallest I had on hand. Scale-wise, I think it's fine. For added stability, I sanded the ends to fit inside bead spacers with holes just slightly less than 3mm. I used contact cement to glue them together, then glued the spacers to the bottom of the sink tops so that the spacers were flush on the sides. To the bottoms, I added another spacer and some tiny beads that looked like they'd make good feet.

I added an extra shelf, as Sam suggested that the more display space the better. And I agree! We both weren't quite sure about the back splash and shelf, and the 3" w x 2" d measurements would leave the bathroom space a little tight.

With adjusted measurements, 2-1/4" w x 1-1/2" d and still 3" h, I cut new pieces, this time using a large bisque bowl for the round sink and a homemade wooden square one.

And employed the same method for the legs with bead spacers and feet. To fit the lower shelves, I traced the 1/8" dowel onto the corners of the shelf pieces, then cut and sanded away until they had a nice fit.

Here are the smaller versions. Sam and I still need to consult about back splash, details and finish, but since she is on a fabulous three week ski vacation, these may sit like they are for a bit. Which is good because, there hasn't been a hint of good spray painting weather here in weeks!

I don't know what that groundhog is seeing, but I never trust that guy, or the weatherman anyway! :O)

Hope the sunshine finds you, wherever you are and whatever the temperature may be!

xo xo,
Jodi

Guest Post With Love

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, Amanda Austin, the founder of Little Shop of Miniatures, wanted to shed a little love (and a coupon!) on all things small in this guest post. 

Here’s her list of 14 reasons to love minis just in time for February 14!

14 Things to Love About Miniatures

By: Amanda Austin

1. They let you dream. They say if you can dream it, you can do it. And that is certainly true when it comes to miniatures. Whether you’re pining to create a cozy cottage scene or a sleek, modern miniature kitchen, go for it! Your only limit is your imagination. 
2. They let you be creative. Speaking of imagination, you probably use a lot of it when it comes to miniatures. Everything from the scale you use to the colors you choose to the way you arrange a scene lets you flex your creative muscles in countless ways.
3. They put you in control. With so much in our lives out of our control, it’s comforting to have total domain over a small, magical world.
4. They’re great conversational topics. Tell people you make or collect miniatures, and you’re sure to get lots of questions about your super cool hobby. 
5. They’re an awesome collector’s hobby. Coins, stamps, souvenir shot glasses—we all know someone who collects these. But miniatures? Now that puts you in a rare and special class of collectors.
6. They’re cooler than ever. If you’ve been creating and collecting miniatures for years, congrats—you were officially ahead of the curve! The growing interest in miniatures has captured the attention of major publications like The New York Times.
7. They’re a productive use of time. We all need time to decompress. And indulging a miniatures hobby is a way better use of leisure time than watching back-to-back episodes of reality TV shows. (That said, I do love a good binge watching session once in a while—current favorite is “Say Yes to the Dress!”)
8. They’re just so darn cute. Tiny things are just adorable. Period.
9. They keep you sharp. Your brain is sure to get a workout when you’re assembling a dollhouse kit, making a mini piece of furniture, or arranging a mini room just so. 
10. They’re the perfect escape. We all need a pick me up after a rough day. Escaping into a miniatures world can give you just the distraction you need to emerge refreshed and refocused. 
11. They let you slow down. We live in a fast-paced world where the ping of our phones is never far away. Spending time with miniatures gives you a needed respite from the world and its endless demands.
12. They connect you with other miniature lovers. Other miniature lovers are the best, right? And they’re easy to meet at miniatures shows, miniatures museums, or by reading their miniatures blogs or following miniature lovers’ accounts on social media.
13. They transport you to a different time and place. Maybe you have a thing for the Victorian era. Or maybe you always dreamed of decorating your own mansion but have yet to win the lottery. That’s no problem at all when you’re into miniatures, because you can literally recreate any time and place your heart desires in small scale.
14. They’re always new possibilities. Sometimes it can be bittersweet to finish a project. But isn’t it great to know there are endless possibilities for your next one?

Why do you <3 miniatures? Let us know in the comments below!

Little Shop of Miniatures is an online store specializing in wooden dollhouse kits, room boxes, dollhouse building supplies, and dollhouse miniatures. In honor of Valentine’s Day, they invite you to take 15% off your entire order before taxes and shipping. Simply enter MINILOVE at checkout from now until 11:59PM February 14 to receive your discount! 

In Sink

I've had some inspirational a-ha moments and quite a few where I stared off into space wondering (or dreading) what the next steps would be. Having more than one thing going at a time and keeping track of what's left is really giving my brain an exercise! To look back and summarize though, it would be fair to say I've really enjoyed the exploration.

I did some more manipulating of the basic barewood sinks just to create something unique and interesting. I added some parts, removed some parts and just let the imagination loose.

 

I had an idea a while back about using cup hooks and earring backs to make faucets. I played around a little, and I am satisfied with the outcome (though there is always room for improvement).

I bought these cup hooks and these earring backs. They each come with lots of variety so that future options can be explored. For these faucets, I used the bell shaped clear silicone back. I drilled the hole a little larger so the cup holder shaft would slide in but still fit snugly. Then I slid the earring back on and painted with Krylon Short Cuts metallic paint pen. I definitely could have achieved better results with spray paint, but with the current cold and humidity, I wanted a simpler option. Just playing with the pieces made me think of Candle Snuffers and 1/4" scale non working sconces, too!

To make the taps/spigots, I used the metal bell shaped earring backs for the bases, adding a spacer bead for the tap and jewelry pins to cover the hole and hold it all together. Added bonus: the taps actually turn!

The brilliantly creative Fran Casselman was very kind and sent me an excellent faucet idea and How To. She also generously gave me permission to share it with everyone! Thanks Fran! This is definitely a "try someday" project, and it just so happens I need new socks!

It was easy to drill a hole and add an eyelet for the drain in the bucket sinks, but some of the other sink vessels I want to use are bisque, porcelain and glass. I am going to need research and practice before I try to drill through these materials, so I needed a simple alternative that let the work continue NOW. Many sinks have the plunge type plugs covering the drains, so that is what I decided to employ. I used the Tim Holtz round metal fasteners in my stash. To make them sit a tiny bit proud of the surface, I slipped a plain cylinder silicone earring back over the tabs, then cut down to size with wire snips. This allowed for more gluing surface and provides a steady base..

I played with many different styles and finishes to test the accumulation of "have to try that someday" supplies in my stash. It was fun to just go with an idea and not worry about the outcome in relation to how things would look in a particular build. I really enjoyed that!  I was thinking fun and funky B&B when I came up with the names and the themes.

The Mermaid

The Hacienda

The Old West Hotel

The Blue Bayou

The Shabby Camellia

The Boone River

Each one is going to get it's own specialized accessories: baskets for shelves, candle, soap dispenser and vase of flowers, hand towels, linens and special mirror. With so many still left to do, I am going to have to decide whether to commit to this idea or finish the other 20+ when next inspired. The joy of minis is that you can choose whatever strikes you! Whenever it strikes you!

Marion - here they are in the sink shop. With so many more sinks to do, I am going to have to expand the building! ;O)

I am so looking forward to whatever is striking your fancy, and I can't wait for all the inspiration I know it will bring to me!

xo xo,
Jodi