What's Bubbling At Cauldron Craft Miniatures?

The Making of a Miniature Pyramid Roombox

2011-06-26T17:37:00.029-05:00

Earlier this year, I just decided to to do it. You know one of those 'its' you've been thinking about but just hadn't gotten around to for like two years. Well I finally did! The 'it' was an ancient Eyptian Pyramid Roombox in 1:12 scale. Then I had to get around to blogging about it. After an inquiry about the piece, I finally was motivated to write a bit.I've made several Egyptian dolllhouse miniatures ranging from sets of museum crates & archeology desks, to Revival style furniture, and even a tacky gift shop set. The style seems pretty popular maybe because there isn't a lot of it out there in the mini world (hint hint to mini makers) and Egyptian anything is so magical (ok, except the recent riots). Anyway, I always wondered what type of setting my customers put their Egyptian style minis in. I suppose a Victorian house could have such touches because the 'exotic' other was very influential in all of the Revival movments, including those of that period. I kept thinking though, that a fully Egyptian setting would be really interesting. I had been keeping a folder of ideas for awhile. Some of the pics include:I decided on making a pyramid shaped tomb with an open front. For your history buffs out there, my design is purely FANTASY and may have elements from different historical periods... honestly, I just totally made it up based on my own imaginings. I began drawing patterns on newspaper and cardboard and the project just went from there! It was built with a combination of foamcore, styrafoam, paper mache, sculpy clay, paperclay, and my own stucco mix. It's a very lightweight but sturdy piece. It measures 18" square at the base and is nearly 16 1/2" tall.

I made molds using polymer clay of some of my Egyptian trinket boxes and jewelry and then used these to stamp pieces for the decorative elements. I made little lotus bricks, statuary, and carved hieroglyphs on the walls like this.

There is a central ramp leading into the tomb and an upper shelf inside to put additional trinkets on as well as hang the removable curtain rod. I admit that I was inspired a bit by the Mummy movie with all the gold curtains.I wanted the tomb to look very ancient and a bit spooky. I thought someone could really have some fun with a Halloween scene in this. I kept all the colors very dusty and earth toned, like the paint had worn off centuries ago leaving just a bit of the gold. The details were inked in black and soot to bring them out, with a bit of dribbling here and there like some water damage had occured. Yes there is flooding in the deserts of Egypt. In fact, I just saw a show about the water table rising enough to worry Egyptian authorities about the base of the Sphinx. On to the little goodies I made to go inside the tomb. My tomb has not been raided. The female mummy still lies within its wraps and there are jars, tabulets, and a bit of treasure about. I made several things specifically to go with the tomb as a set for sale. I used genuine obsidian and African wood beads, little ankh charms, and a glass scarab bead.

Now, I did do a photoshoot of many of my favorite little Egyptian bits and baubles in the tomb just for my own satisfaction. Unlike the things in the above photos, these are not for sale. Yes I know much of it is not to scale either (someone emailed me about that) but these pics were just for fun... because it was shiny and I like hoards of treasure! I should totally do a pirate cave too on that note.

Anyway, while I mentioned that there are not so many dollhouse scale miniatures in Egyptian themes, I did find a few here and there. Berkpanda on flickr has an amazing Egyptian roombox and set of dolls in their stream of photos. I was unable to provide any pictures here due to copyright issues but definitely go see these! http://www.flickr.com/photos/berkpanda/508229234/in/photostream/

I also found this ancient Egyptian domestic home- so cool. Not sure of the scale but I think it's a smaller war game piece. It would be pretty easy to make something like this with an open back. Maybe a fountain in the front. http://www.greenscollectables.com/proddetail.asp?prod=N25

Miniature dealers who do have Egyptian decor can be found with a bit of digging. Here is a selection from The Wild Orchid at http://www.c-we.com/wild.orchid/egypt2.htm Not sure if these are artisan? Some of it looks similiar to the Aztec miniature catalogue but I still like it all. The tiny sphinx bookends available on the site are beautiful.

There is a set of very realistic Egyptian burial scene dioramas by 'hummeline' on flickr, taken at the Field Museum (where?). Go check out the whole stream at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hummeline/1806580167/in/photostream/Now there are a ton of Egyptian miniatures in smaller fantasy gaming scales! Below is a tomb set which has the block set in standard gaming piece movement squares. I really like the details and the paint job. The molds are available from Crocodile games and you can customize with infinite detail. This picture doesn't even do justice to the main website's examples. There are temple columns, fountains, statuary, etc at http://www.hirstarts.com/etombs/tombs7.html There are some very unique accessory pieces by Crocodile Games as well. "Their range of miniatures for their Wargods of Ægyptus wargame is based in a egyptian fantasy realm, so there are plenty of sources for inspiration!" I heartily agree. http://www.leadfigures.com/posts/tag/egyptian/

On ebay, Jason's Collectibles and Comics has a nice selection of resin terrain pieces. http://cgi.ebay.com/Miniature-Terrain-Egyptian-Temple-IWSEGY010-/110695823626?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c5fc390a

My latest discovery: Medical Miniatures!!!

2011-05-11T09:00:00.028-05:00

Just imagine what you could do with a few well chosen medical themed miniatures... Insane Asylums, Embalming Rooms, or Spooky Hospitals! I've recently found so many miniature funeral and medical goodies that I will have to break this down into a few seperate articles. Let's begin with the basics: gurneys and wheelchairs. I found two spectacular resources on ebay for 1:12 scale medical equipment and props. These are:

Mortician's Friend
http://myworld.ebay.com/morticiansfriend/?_trksid=p4340.l2559

Northern Lights Miniatures
http://stores.ebay.com/northernlitesminiatures?_trksid=p4340.l2563

Mortician's Friend seems to be a general macabre gift store for funeral business professionals. Having been Mortuary Science student myself for two years, I saw a delightfully odd array of such knick-knacks in various morticians' and directors' offices. Tombs of King Tut, pink hot rod hearses, and all kinds of quirky headstones made me grin. A grim dry sense of humor seems to be an effective coping mechanism as humans are not naturally inclined to handle the dead. Couple the humor with a strong sense of respect and empathy, business acuemen, and an artistic eye - you have the perfect Funeral Director! Anyway, this shop offers miniature hearses and a very realistic looking gurney with a sheet covered doll. I'm sure this is mass produced because I've seen it in few other mortuary themed gifts shops, including Pushing Daisies online. I am bidding on one right now for myself...

The other shop I found on ebay has the most incredible selection of medical miniatures I've seen, both modern and vintage. Here are just a few of my favorite pieces.

I also just love these creepy little handmade organ models at Northern Lights. Line these up on a shelf with a few specimen jars.Below is another sickly realistic miniature organ find, this time from Wicked Gems on Etsy. For gooey jewelry and miniatures visit her at: http://www.etsy.com/listing/45326891/on-sale-on-the-butchers-block-tiny-hand

Wicked Gems specializes in anatomically correct charms and lockets, like the heart below.

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Now, to the medical staff. Every Haunted Hospital needs a blood spattered Nurse and Doctor. With a little work, these two could easily become Nurse Nihilism and Doctor Dead!

I'm Vending at Scarefest IV: Tribute to 80's Horror !!!

2011-04-07T09:00:00.014-05:00

It's official now! I will be vending at Scarefest IV: a tribute to 80's Horror!!! Scarefest is a yearly horror and paranormal convention held in Lexington, Kentucky (around where me pappy was raised). http://www.scarefestcon.com/ I'm so excited! Elvira will be there... OMG. When I was young, I wasn't looking to Brooke Shields or Christie Brinkly as my model of fashion perfection. I loved Cher and Elvira! Still do and they both look pretty damn good for their age. Anyway, the convention had a very cool line up last year including the Ghost Adventures guys, Danny Trejo (you know, Machete? the hot Mexican with all the knives and tattoos?), actors from Terminator, Preditor, various hit tv paranormal shows, movie artists and costume designers, the huge guys that play the movie monsters like Jason... This year there will be a costume ball, a zombie wedding, and so much more. We're turning it into the year's family vacation. I was contacted to vend after one of the directors saw some of my jewelry on Etsy. I probably will be focusing on fashion accessories and herbcrafts rather than on miniatures at this event but I'll take a few pieces, like my zombie cow. I've only vended much smaller local events in the past. This is a whole new ball game and just the challenge I needed. I finally got all my state and federal tax ID numbers and feel so O-fish-al... I've been looking at showing my work in some of the local galleries or even having a table at our First Friday art events here in San Antonio. I just feel really positive and like the sky is the limit for my whole artistic venture. I've been making things like crazy and have probably sniffed way too much glue haha! Bought 2 more shelving units to hold everything. The list of things to do is getting much longer hmmm. Below are just a few of the sponsers and guest stars at the convention. To see me and visit their websites go to the Scarefest Links: http://scarefestcon.com/links.html

CREATIVE CREATIONS WANTED BY THE DOLLS HOUSE EMPORIUM

2011-03-27T10:27:00.010-05:00

CREATIVE CREATIONS WANTED BY THE DOLLS HOUSE EMPORIUM

The Dolls House Emporium launches its 2011 Creative Competition with the release of the Garden Pavilion! http://www.dollshouse.com/dhe/competitions/creative-competition.aspx

Spring is finally in the air and with it the launch of the Dolls House Emporium’s 2011 Creative Competition – so if you are looking for an excuse to start a new miniature project this year, this could be it! Now in its seventh year, the Creative Competition provides the perfect opportunity for you to really let your imagination run riot, whilst also giving you the chance to win up to £650 worth of vouchers to spend at The Dolls House Emporium.

Each year the competition is based around a small dolls’ house kit which is easy-to-assemble and provides the ideal base for all of your ideas and aspirations. Last year’s competition featured the Village Hall, which was transformed into a Victorian Steam Punk-styled public house; a veterinary practice; and a Moroccan fantasy, to name but a few. This year’s competition is the Garden Pavilion. The Pavilion consists of a quaint one-roomed building, with double doors to the front opening out on to a small patio area, and a single door to the side of the building. Outside there is a detachable garden area with a fenced surround. Pavilions are traditionally found on village greens, playing host to local cricket matches, WI meetings or village weddings. However, the building can as easily be transformed in to a country retreat for a well-to-do town couple; a chic eatery; a Country and Western tavern; or even a stable block. The possibilities for this Creative Competition truly are endless!

“Our 2010 Creative Competition attracted a very high standard of entries and, as always, we were absolutely amazed by the creativity of our customers. It was very hard to whittle them down to just three,” explained Jackie Lee, Managing Director of The Dolls House Emporium. “The competition is also a fantastic way to gain an insight in to what styles, designs and eras our customers like to work in. We are always looking for ways to improve and expand our range and this is the ideal way to get new ideas and to make sure we are providing our customers with the products they want,” adds Jackie.

The sturdy, high quality Garden Pavilion measures 302mm x 414mm x 344mm, with the moveable garden measuring 80mm x 398mm x 322mm. Priced at just £39.00, the Garden Pavilion is an ideal introduction to the hobby of miniatures and a perfect starting point for your Creative Competition entry. For further information on how to entry the Creative Competition and be in with the chance of winning £650, £350 or £200 worth of vouchers to spend at The Dolls House Emporium, please call 0845 434 7447 quoting PRDHPU16 or visit www.dollshouse.co.uk/PRDHOU16.

About The Dolls House Emporium

The Dolls House Emporium is the world’s leading supplier of dolls’ houses and miniature collectables. Based in Derbyshire and trading from 65,000 square foot premises with a retail shop, the company employs over 65 people and distributes worldwide via traditional channels and the Internet, whilst supporting over 400 retailers at home and abroad. The company supplies over 30 precision-made house kits and over 2,500 related accessories, which it promotes through its free 220-page catalogue.

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FREE Garden, Gazebo and Greenhouses or Conservatories with selected Collectors' Dolls' houses.

OR 15% OFF Selected Dolls' House Kits

6 NEW products for this month! Introducing The Garden Pavilion a fabulously versatile building and the basis for the Creative Competition 2011 !

Join The Dolls House Emporium on Facebook and Twitter

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For further information please contact: Louise Hatton, PR Co-ordinator: + 44 (0)1773 514462 or email: louise.hatton@dollshouse.com or visit www.dollshouse.co.uk

Feature Artist: Enchanticals Fantasy Miniatures

2011-02-24T14:37:00.018-06:00

Today I will be introducing you to Marsha of Enchanticals (if you don’t already know her, she’s a delight!). I first ‘met’ Marsha on Etsy through Team MIDS (miniatures in dollhouse scales) and I also follow her work on flickr. She frequently submits her enchanting pieces (hence the shop name) in both my Spooky Dollhouse and Fantasy Miniature flickr groups. She was kind enough to answer a few questions about herself and her creative process.

Below is my favorite magical cabinet she has made so far. I love the tarot paper on the backboard!

Her shop: http://www.enchanticals.etsy.com/
Her blog: http://www.http//enchanticals.blogspot.com/

-Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a miniaturist, artist, writer, and poet. I am/was gifted with both a sense of wonder and curiosity, as well as a rich imagination that knows no bounds. My late parents encouraged and instilled in my sister and me a desire to learn all that we could from all sources available….the written, visual, spoke; to seek; to question; to think broadly and out of the box; to learn other cultures, customs, and make friends of every culture and creed; to create; be ourselves; think for ourselves, and, most of all, to imagine. For from imagination with action added to it for fuel, one can create boundlessly.

Here is one of Marsha's assemblage spell bottles:
My personality is a bit like yin and yang. I love nature, sunlight, sunny days, animals, flowers, meadows, butterflies (my Sacred Power Animal), and colors. But, my yin, so to speak, side, loves the night, the moon, grey overcast skies, rain, barren trees, melancholy, cold winds blowing, emptiness, fog, and mist. This yin yang personality of mine enhances what I create. When I am in a Yang mode, I create fairy, elemental, and the like creations and when Yin, I love to make spooky, dark, vampires, and etc.

Below are some of her nature inspired items.

-Please discuss your creative process.
As an artist, I create in various mediums. However, my preference and specialty are predominantly in 1:12th or miniature dollhouse scale…miniature items, but especially furniture, altered and/or made by me. I furnish them completely with one-of-a-kind, handmade, detailed, and realistic looking items made from nature and found objects.

There is no assembly line in my workshop. No elves either. For this reason, each piece is truly one-of a-kind. I keep no written “recipes” for the colors I use nor written instructions for any of the items I create. Each piece is from or includes nature or is created out of found objects I have available at the time. Thus, none of my finished pieces can be duplicated.

For each individual creation, I specifically write an original story entitled, “A Little Tale”. My little tales are fables, some with a moral, which either recount the personal life history of the previous “owner” of the piece of furniture or the origin, history or mystery surrounding the miniature item I created. My little tales are a way for me to bring my creations to life for the audience and also to draw them into and become part of, not only the items created, but also my enchanted little world. (Grim loves these little stories!)

Enchanticals is known for beautiful glass tipped wands, crystal balls, and potion bottles:

-How did you first become interested in miniatures?
I do not remember a time when I was not head over heels in love with miniatures and dolls. My late Mother loved and collected miniatures and, perhaps, this became imprinted on me.
Each creation is based upon a central theme or character and each altered found object created for that piece supports the main theme.

-What themes do you work in regularly?
My themes and characters for my creations run the gamut…from enchanted to fantasy to whimsy to fairytale to wizard to horror/spooky to realism. These themes do not have a season or Holiday associated with them; I create them year round. For example, spooky…Spooky is not just for Halloween, but rather exists in my enchanted world the entire year.

A spookier gray hutch:
-How do you define ‘spooky’? Do you make spooky or fantasy miniatures year round or just seasonally?
Speaking of “spooky”…my spooky creations are scary, sometimes a bit ghoulish, and may give you a bit of a chill. But, they are always infused with a dab and a dash of whimsy. My spooky is devoid of evil, harm, cruelty, repulsiveness, and hate to and for others. Spooky, to me, is fun fantasy.

Here are a few of her more chilling works:

-Do you have a dollhouse of your own and what do you like to collect?
Grim asked me to tell you about my dollhouse. Well, after three years I can finally talk about it and am ready, anxious, really, to finally buy a new one. Three years ago, when I was moving, I firmly decided that “I” was going to move my just completed, not yet furnished, dollhouse or rather French model’s atelier. I didn’t want the movers to damage it. Well, the oddest thing happened. I had the atelier firmly and tightly in my hands as I was walking to my car. All of a sudden, as if the element of wind decided to create a huge gust of wind (There was no wind.), my dollhouse flew out of my hands, went up in the air about 10’, and came crashing down on my pebble tek driveway. It shattered into a million tiny pieces. Nothing was left. I simply stood there and looked at it. (Grim throw hands up in horror and hides her face in misery) It was decorated with French blue and dove grey walls with white molding and molding embellishments, real wooden floors, a fireplace, glass windows, and tile. But, now I have three sketches ready for my new dollhouse and cannot wait to buy a new one and begin.
Marsha J. West

Links Marsha wishes to share:
http://www.hilarosenberg.com/
http://www.ravenrocksstudio.com/Home.html
http://www.alicemagazine.co.uk/
http://www.etsy.com/shop/AFancifulTwist
http://www.griselda.com/

I would just like to thank Marsha for sharing her time and creativity with us!

Holy Moly long time since last blogged! New shops I like...

2011-02-03T11:44:00.020-06:00

Yes it has been quite a while since I last blogged. Sorry sorry... I know. I will just say this - college courses with two week exam cycles, gull bladder hates me, family is crazy, my hair is blue now. Ta da. So that the excuses are out of the way. Let me introduce several new shops and artists I've discovered over the last several months that I kept meaning to tell everyone about.

1) "A Pagan Dollhouse" with the whimsical gypsy dolls by artisans Carolina Gonzalez And Fernando Abisaab.
Their magical Etsy shop is Gypsy Minis: http://www.etsy.com/shop/gypsydeluxe
Their blog: http://apagandollhouse.wordpress.com/

2) "Rustic Miniatures" on Etsy has just the cutest and very well made natural wood furniture sets. There's a lot of that out there but these pieces have a distinct sense of craftsmenship. Linda and Mabelline make furniture in many scales including the larger sizes for Blythe and Barbie.
Rustic Miniatures on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RusticMiniatures?ref=seller_info

3)"Marfulhuz Miniatures" on Etsy. I love her mushrooms! Little tufts of fungus sprouting from logs and chopped brown mushroom caps ready to go into a boiling kettle. She has some cute ghostie potion bottles and other goodies as well.
Find these delightful minis at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarfolhuzMiniatures?ref=seller_info

4)"Mrs Tiggywinkle Dolls" by Tiggy on Etsy. A costume designer by trade, she makes the most beautiful porcelain dolls. Her Tudors especially caught my fancy. These can be purchased fully finished, in a kit with everything included, or just the doll unclothed. Visit her shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MrsTiggywinkleDolls?ref=seller_info

5)"Copper Fairy Studio" also on Etsy. A magical selection of paper goods including books, scrolls, and fantastic fairy wings that she will create in any scale! I simply must have a pair... or two.

Visit this shop at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/copperfairystudio

Well this is just a fraction of what I've been finding here and there. If you collect fantasy or spooky miniatures, there is so much if you are willing to look for the little treasures! That's the fun of it really, for me. The discovery and sharing it. By the way, hope you like the new look of my blog. I used the free backgrounds and also the graphics packs to make my own banners by Itkupilli... love love love her stuff! Check out her countless beautiful free graphics at http://blo64rt.blogspot.com/ and her Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/Itkupilli?ref=seller_info

Haunted Dollhouse Video & Gallery by DollzMaker

2010-08-01T10:29:00.009-05:00

Well, I found another spooky miniature artist on DeviantART today! Andie aka Dollzmaker is the name. She put together just the coolest movie of her collection of haunted houses, complete with screams and moody music. I am thrilled!!! So cool.

The video:
http://secure.smilebox.com/ecom/openTheBox?sendevent=4d6a4d324e7a59344e413d3d0d0a&campaign=blog_playback_link

Her gallery and profile:
http://dollzmaker.deviantart.com/

Her web site Mizfit Dolls, not your average rag doll...
http://mizfitdollz.com/

She creates custom one of a kind Haunted Dollhouses, miniatures, and unusual ragdolls. I don't collect ragdolls myself but I'm tempted... Andie describes herself as an Outside Artist and seems to have sold mostly on ebay. I can't find any new listings but she takes commissions, making one doll at a time. She has several beautiful dolls in her Deviant gallery and these are 2 of my favs.

Nature's Castles: Miniature Fantasy Homes by the Schramers

2010-07-10T15:29:00.014-05:00

While surfing Etsy for hidden treasures, I typed in 'fairy' and dug through 20+ pages. Amid all the baby tutus and charm bracelets, I discovered this absolute wonder of a dollhouse in a shop called 'Sunflowerhouse'. I was in awe and keep looking at the pictures... the artist Debbie Schramer likes to go on nature walks and collect treasures with her husband Mike, who is also an artist. They have over the years collected a huge amount of drift wood and other earthly treasures. With all of this, they went to work building two of the most magnifiscent dollhouses I've ever seen. Although they are built in the spirit of the now popular organic 'fairy homes', these two pieces are much grander in scale and design. These are truly fairy castles and mansions!

The couple's websites:
www.artmajeur.com/debbieschramer
http://beautiful-art.blogspot.com/
http://www.michaelschramer.com/

THE FAIRY TREEHOUSE
About their Fairy Treehouse, Debbie writes:
"This is the most amazing, magical, intricate work of art. My husband and I created this house in 1995 when we lived in Washington state. We always have loved going for walks in the mountains and by the sea and have collected so many incredible materials in nature over the years. We've always wanted to build our own very different, unique house (to actually live in) so I think we put many of our dreams and ideas into this house (the first fairy house we made).

This house is 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. It has 14 rooms (all completely furnished with little chairs, beds, tables, etc., dishes, books, sculptures, paintings, brooms, shoes, etc., also made from nature). We have used everything in nature you can imagine.....driftwood, branches, roots, vines, twigs, leaves, moss, flowers, stones, shells, seaweed, kelp, leaf skeleton, wild grasses, herbs, pods, the list goes on. We gathered nearly all of the materials we've used in the house as well.

It took us 6 months to make this house; towards the end of creating it, we worked 12 hour days quite often. Our Fairy Treehouse was exhibited at the American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland in 1995 for a year and was chosen the 4th favorite work of art out of the 400 artworks in the museum's inagural exhibit.

There is an observatory at the very top with telescopes, a sculpturing table and clay, pots to plant flowers, and little chairs. There are stairways that wander all throughout the fairy treehouse; there are nearly hidden little rooms, balconies, windowboxes, sleeping hollows, garden rooms, little ladders leading to separate little overhanging rooms and just endless, amazing detail that captivates a person for hours... Endless surprises everywhere"

Additional pictures and purchase details available on Etsy at:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51064598/the-fairy-treehouse

THE FAIRY CASTLE
Debbie says about the castle, "My husband and I made this fairy castle 6 years ago. It is made from all natural materials.....driftwood, branches, vines, twigs, leaves, moss, shells, stones, leaf skeleton, flowers, pods and just really everything in nature. We gathered nearly all of the materials ourselves.

It is 2 1/2 feet tall; there are wonderful stairways waundering all throughout the house that lead one on a magical journey to fairyland. Your imagination goes wild. Even after seeing this house millions of times, I never tire of spending time looking at it. It is truely amazing. There are little bedrooms with beds made from flowers and leaves, a living room with shelves of books, a chess set and little twig chairs. There is an art tower with a painting and sculpting studio and an art library. There's even a mud room with a sink and pots for planting little flowers. There's a bathroon, nearly hidden behind shelves of lotion bottles and perfumes. My favorite area though is the laundry room with it's ironing board and iron made form stems and pods. There's even a little wash tub and a package of (fairy) soap. A little mailbox is filled with letters and a newspaper. And there are three towers made of stones at the top of the fairy castle. One of the towers is atop a little hermitage cottage; one can barely see in through the door to the tiny furniture inside. There are tiny dishes, paintings, sculptures and other amazing detail, all created from nature"
Additional photos and retail details are available in their Etsy shop at:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51061672/the-fairy-castle?ref=v1_other_2

Moving on in life... my latest listing isn't a miniature!

2010-06-22T14:06:00.011-05:00

Although I spend most of my artistic energy on miniatures, I do work in other mediums. I like to make jewelry, wreaths, collages, water color, alter books and clothes and dolls... basically I'm always collecting things and making messes. I have a lot of porcelain dolls in various states of usage. About a year ago, I played with different surface treatments on these. I gessoed heavily and dry brushed to pick up the texture. I did a matte spray and then inked. I then tried a combination of crackling with 2 colors. About 2 days ago, one of my taller dolls, a 16" porcelain beauty caught my attention. I had painted her a base of deep red then crackled on a pale gray. I was going to make her a vampire but never finished.

I have an article in the free AIM magazine about my altered art dolls, Issue May 2010 on page 72. http://www.scribd.com/full/30774876?access_key=key-2l20kuni9h3qddn6sz5f

Now, you all know I love to Steampunk! My wheels and gears are turning... I had the cutest pair of brass and dark glass doll spectacles that I picked up at a doll fair in the Spring. I also have a collection of miniature hats in different shapes and I really like my black felt top hats. Hmm, also have some vintage watch pieces and new charms to use. Well, it all came together and the nameless doll has become "Steampunk Sally" !

I imagine that she is a little orphan ghost who walks about collecting trinkets, talking to crickets, and generally minding her own business - although your watch might come up missing if she passes by! She is a bit lonely and so I gave her a pensive pouty look, using ink and acrylics over the crackle base.

All of Sally's trinkets, clothes, and hat can be removed so her outfits can evolve. I spent quite of bit of time playing with her attire. The dress has been soaked in a combination of dark cocoa and chicory for a deep rusted color... they still smell delicious! I added layers of vintage lace and polka dot fabric, fraying edges and adding stiches for a distressed look. Her brooch is removable and able to be worn. It is an assemblage piece with a tiny vintage doily, a black cherub in a cloud of pearls, and streamers of ribbon and charms. The hat is a felt base. I wrapped silver and black knit on the brim, applied 3 layers of veiling in the back, and finished with a skeleton band, mushroom sprouts, and clock bits. I made little striped stocking to match. Sally has brown leather shoes tied with satin ribbon, a little bouquet of moss and mushrooms, and her spectacles.
Steampunk Sally is available in my Etsy shop at: http://www.etsy.com/listing/49937547/steampunk-sally-ooak-altered-porcelain

I'm being followed by an Art Thief: Is she following you?

2010-06-20T10:34:00.012-05:00

Hmm... that is selling well, people like that. Wow, it's sort of expensive and I could make that way cheaper. I'll just move this little piece here instead. Oh the original artist is offended? Hey I made this with my hand so it's handmade. Look angry miniature artists, you don't own the idea of a 'magical mandrake table' or other WITCHY concepts. I'm making money and you can't stop me!

Now I'm going to start following all of your blogs and mass advertising my shoddy knock off work and you can't stop me! You can't stop me haha! In fact, I'm going to advertise my work as original, ooak, and truly an expression of my own inner creativity...

Uh-hum... Most of us figure this out as children.

The picture above was taken and submitted to DeviantART by 'skullberries' at http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=dumb+girl#/d2m8k3z I give her credit, no matter how simple the idea is- because it's HERS! If I were to like this idea so much that I would take a picture of the word dumb tattooed on my own lip, I would be COPYING !!! Then if I were to try selling it on the very same sites she advertises on I'd have just the biggest pair of testicles EVER!

I know who you are.

In fact, we ALL know who you are.

I know how you have blatantly made poor quality copies of work belonging to other miniature artists in the Spooky & Fantasy genre.

I know that you have decided to follow my and many other miniature art blogs recently.

I know that you dress yourself up as a witch.

I am a Witch, lady... and I am pissed off. I do NOT appreciate you following my blog or pretending to be an original artist.

You have been warned many times in a friendly manner to stop copying other people's work. You have responded with nastiness and distain. You have NO INTEGRITY !!!

Just remember, whatever you do to others will come back to you, whether you call it Karma, Threefold Rule, or the Golden Rule. I support my community of miniature artists and original handmade art. You have lost your place in this and are a tainted HACK.

http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&q=art+theif#/d1b3otc

-An article on how to approach someone who has stolen your art:
http://news.deviantart.com/article/22971/

-Your full legal rights as an artist can be found in the BERNE CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION OF LITERARY AND ARTISTIC WORKS (Paris Text 1971)
http://www.law.cornell.edu/treaties/berne/overview.html

-10 Big Myths about Copyrights:
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

NOTICE !!!

I only personally follow blogs of original artists that I respect. Just because someone is following my blog, does not mean I support their work or want to be associated with them. As a collector and a creator myself, supporting the artistic community in all mediums is very important to me. I cannot stop someone from following my blog, stealing my pictures, or even physically copying my work. However, I can refuse to buy their work, follow their blog, and put the word out about them in my own artistic guilds and groups.

If you are visitng my blog as a shopper and collector, please consider the fine artists I have provided links for. Their work is a bit more expensive than mass produced items because they put so much time and thought into making them. Unique, One of a kind, Original

This actually means something.

My Gypsy Wagon Project Is Underway!

2010-06-06T12:13:00.021-05:00

Confession 1: My art room is trashed again but I've been making minis like mad!
Confession 2: I've gained weight from sitting on my butt painting things or in front of the computer too much.
Congession 3: I bought a Tai Chi video and just need to do it.

Between my many other projects (Steampunk, Spooky, Alien) I've been working my way through my first Miniature Gypsy Wagon Project! I have several themes in mind but began with a Blue Celestial magic wares wagon. After much thought I will offer these custom wagons stocked with goods but without a driver or yoked animals.

Below are my first pictures of the Blue Celestial wagon. I began with a vintage wooden wagon kit that I greatly altered with wire, additional wood pieces, pressed aluminum to mimic carving, and found ojects and jewelry findins. After all the main components were in place, I spray painted it flat black. Then I gave it the basic acrylic blue, pale green, and a hint of lilac acrylic colors. This was then washed over with more blue and then drybrushed with the light green. Who knows what will happen next?

Here is the Snake Charmers Wagon still under construction. The cage will be removable so you can put whatever beastie in you want!

Creation out of chaos... hey I know where everything is!

Tallulah Belle's Celebration! ... Your Chance to Win Beautiful Miniatures and Help Give Children Clean Drinking Water

2010-05-05T20:37:00.008-05:00

Wonderful Idea to celebrate her 200th Follower on Blogspot !!!
Visit Tallulah Belle's blog to see her beautiful creations, more information on her passionate support of a project to give children safe water worldwide, and how to enter the drawing for one of her lovely plants! http://networkedblogs.com/3zhah

Concerning the event, she writes, "As I mentioned in my previous post, this is a giveaway which a difference. Yes you will get a chance..or more...to win something but you will also be making a huge difference to the lives of someone much less fortunate than yourselves".

Did you know....
Every day more than 4,000 children in developing countries die, simply because they don't have clean drinking water.

* Contaminated drinking water is a major problem. More than one billion people do not have access to safe water.

* Diarrhea caused by drinking contaminated water remains a leading cause of illness and death among infants and children in the developing world.

* About 1.8 million children die every year due to diarrheal diseases.

* More children die from diarrheal illnesses like cholera and dysentery than from HIV/AIDS or malaria combined.

* It is well documented that simply providing safe, clean, drinkable water can reduce deadly diarrhea and other devastating diseases by about 50%.

The miniature plants she is offering in a drawing for those who donate a minimum of $2.

Not So Fresh Fairies!

2010-04-27T17:51:00.025-05:00

It might be Springtime but I'm still spooky. So what do spooky girls play with during the year's greening? Dead fairies, spider webs, and moonlit tea parties - oh my! Now, are these fairies the ghostly spirits of long deceased sprites or are they the collected corpses of unlucky tinker wannabes? Let's look at how various artists portray the matter... and yes I did find many tackling the oddball topic.

Brassnbedlam's Curious Taxidermy
Some of the most realistic and truly creepy Dead Fairies I've come across are by the Steampunk artist Brassnbedlam. These are meant to look like actual scientific specimens complete with notes. They look a bit gooey and still have some fleshy parts like their ears... ick. I'm fascinated by the psuedo scientific approach to fairies as a candidate for cryptozoology.
To see more of her work on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brassnbedlam/3295328455/
Above is her Welsh Blue Fairy, mummified and mounted in a shadowbox frame with real butterfly wings.
"Speckled English Fairy, mummified and mounted in a shadowbox/ frame with real butterfly wings, made by my fair chap, a lovely handmade creepy and macabre steampunk specimen, a dead fairy and comes with historical notes"

VooDoo Willy's Fairy Art Sculptures
This dark fantasy artist on Etsy produces some of the most interesting pieces I've seen. Each is a one of kind creation from the 'dark corners' of his mind... A keen sense of humor with a heavy dose of gloom has lead to the sculptures below. To see his shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/VooDooWilly

Below: "The Battle"

Below: "Morbid Martini"

Below: "Stopping to smell the roses"

A Well Crafted Hoax?
"A CRAFTSMAN IN England has posted on his website photos of what he claims to be a mummified fairy located in Derbyshire, England. What is unusual about the photos compared to the usual paranormal images, either of live or of dead cryptids (unknown animals) is that there are many of them, in full color, from multiple angles" giving the appearance of realism. Apparently this guy tried to pull off that he had found actual fairy corpses. Ok.

A few days before April 1, 2007, Dan Baines, a 31-year-old illusion designer for magicians from London, posted on his website images of the "corpse" of an unknown eight-inch creation. The unusual corpse was claimed to be the mummified remains of a fairy which was discovered by a dog walker at Firestone Hill in Duffield, Derbyshire. Read more below:
http://paranormal.about.com/od/othercreatures/a/aa033107.htm

Below is another attempt at fanciful fairy taxidermy, artist unknown.Below is a project page for how to make your own Dead Fairy prop, by Shadow Manor
http://www.shadowmanor.com/blog/?page_id=4666

The Fancifully Morbid works of Etsy artist Fairy Garden:
Fairy Garden's dead fey are a bit more fanciful, with bouquets and tutus. I love her 'Fairy Trap' which uses a large crystal as bait- what fairy could resist! Below are a few of my favorites examples.
Visit her store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/fairygarden

Visit her flickr portfolio: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fairygarden/3009172298/

What has happened here? Blame it on the trolls or the ogre?
Above is a fairy trap baited with a tempting crystal! Below, the Sugar Plum Fairy rests so serenely...
Ahh, where have all the fairies gone?

Hauntingly Elegant Miniature Interiors: Inspiration & Resources

2010-04-17T11:03:00.023-05:00

A shimmering lady in white came gliding down the luxoriously carved staircase, drawn by the smell of rich pipe tobacco wafting from the library. Once, so long ago, it was her husbands... Who is this strange man sitting there in her house, the house she had so lovingly filled with treasures and laughter? Once so long ago. As she circled behind his chair, the gentleman suddenly froze and looked about him. 'Is anyone there?' he asked. 'Why, I am sir', the lady in white answered. To her annoyance, the man seemed to be looking right through her. She reached out and gripped his wrist. With a start, the stranger jumped from his chair dropping his pipe on the floor. 'What have you done!' the lady lamented and a gust of cold air blew the nearby curtains about. The gentlman fled from the room and all was quiet again.

Many times ghosts are said to be attached to the material items they once so treasured in life. I often imagine a haunted mansion of that era being watched over by the head mistress who is unable or unwilling to leave her carefully crafted home. The Victorian middle and upper classes spent a tremendous amount of thought and resources on interior design and furniture.

Below are a 2 examples of my own Victorian inspired spooky miniatures: a haunted mirror and a gothic gargoyle hearth.

I found a wonderful example of ostentatious Victorian interior design. Below are photos of the Linden Towers James Clair Flood Menlo Park home in 1878. Featured are the Grand Entryway, a bedroom, a parlour, and the Dinning Room. To see more photos about this magnifiscent residence and family, visit: http://www.flickr.com/groups/942580@N24/

Looking at this, what type of elements would you need to add to your dollhouse to develop a similiar mood? Patterned wallpaper, ornate molding and columns, patterned rugs, large paintings in gilded frames, intricate doorways, mantles, fireplaces, and lighting pieces... basically a lot of layered bling!

You can find fairly inexpensive molding pieces at Hobby shops and also another overlooked resource, your local Home Depot or Lowes! Check in the cabinetry and molding aisles. There are many smaller pieces that can be adapted to dollhouse scales. Also consider jewelry bits and do a search for 'charms', 'cameos', and 'findings' online. Visit the dollar store for inexpensive picture frames: the smaller ones can be used for wire hung paintings while the larger ones can be glued directly to the ceilings as molding details.

An artist that I especially like for such a project is Jim Coates! He produces handmade high quality moldings from his own designs. These can be purchased bare or prepainted. His line includes picture frames, fire places, mantles, and columns. His work is beautiful and well priced!

Examples below are available at: http://stores.ebay.com/JIM-COATES-COLLECTION

The Influence of Assemblage Art on My Approach to Miniature Making

2010-04-07T11:54:00.027-05:00

I would describe myself primarily as a miniature artist that works in assemblage style and one of a kind repaints (with the occasional dabbling in twig furniture when a fairy tickles me). Most of my spookier fantasy pieces are of the first category. Assemblage art may be defined as 3 dimensional visual art formed from everyday ‘found’ objects. The creative expression is found in the manipulation, alteration, and placement of many individual pieces into one final composition.

As a student of art at Kent State University in the early 90’s, I had a very hard time finding my niche. To the delight of my mother, I was accepted into the Roger Silverman School of Fashion Design. However, having neither the money to buy fashionable clothing nor the inkling to sew, I moved onto the Fine Art Department. I dabbled in Graphic Design and Painting. I joined a rural guild for Spinners and Weavers. I took classes in Art History and became fascinated with religious and indigenous art. Finally, I changed my major to Cultural Anthropology and kept my art as personal therapy rather than trying to make a career out of it!

I was creating very large paintings that incorporated natural fiber, sand, and drift wood. I was also making collages blending ink illustration, found objects, and magazine clippings. At some point, a customer labeled me ‘mixed media’. My work was becoming increasingly three dimensional, which seems to be the difference between collage and assemblage. Below are examples of my collage work which moved into altered book art.

For side money, I began painting fantasy and futuristic gaming figures and building terrain pieces in 28mm. This pushed my ability to see creative uses for everyday objects and also expanded my knowledge of clays, glues, faux materials, and texturing. When I rediscovered my childhood dollhouse in 2004 and began working in 1:12 scale, I had a euphoric ‘Ah-ha!’ moment. This is IT! However, I was all by myself in the hobby for nearly four years and so applying what I gleaned from the occasional miniature magazine with my previous artistic experience. My background in the fantasy gaming world is probably why my work looks a bit different from much of the cleanly crafted scale dollhouse miniatures.

I love Demeng and Kuski!
Although they are not miniaturists, there are two outstanding assemblage artists that have greatly inspired me, Michael Demeng and Kris Kuksi. Demeng’s book ‘The Secret of Rusty Things’ was like a long awaited secret tome detailing the magical transformation of trash into elemental art. His work is crusty, aged, earthy, and filled with countless bits of pseudo-sacred folk imagery and the modern world’s cast off ephemera. I especially love the stories of how he finds his materials.
Visit http://www.michaeldemeng.com/

In contrast, Kris Kuski’s work is glorious, ephemeral, a bit creepy, and often appears to float. Thousands of spires, figures, and gothic motifs are painted in pale colors, mimicking the remnants of classical marble figures. He creates fantastical assemblage temples, vehicles, and whole cities. He also will surround a large archetypal being with countless smaller writhing figures. You could look a hundred times at his work and always find new details that were previously unnoticed.
Visit http://kuksi.com/

Why do I love assemblage style? To begin with, it is cost effective and promotes recycling of broken items and ‘junk’. Then the artist is faced with the challenging puzzle to put all the bits together into one single cohesive piece. Finally, the great joy of an assemblage artist is the ‘Hunt’. I am always on the lookout for a treasure, a rare and interesting bit to use. It is a style that suits an intrepid collector’s mentality. Needless to say, such an artist must have an organized system of storing all their stash. I can keep this a bit under control because I work in miniature… I only have one room and two closets full.
As an AIM member in the Fantasy, Myth, & Magic category, my offerings range from Gothic inspired spooky to Elvish fantasy themes. I’m constantly on the lookout for interesting twigs, wire scraps, vintage watches and cameras, unwanted action figures and broken toys, costume jewelry, and holiday decorations. I’m frequently seen at thrift shops and dollar stores. My family must restrain me at the sight of a yard sale. Here are a few of my favorite miniatures made in assemblage style.

A Brief History of Assemblage Art:
The origin of the word (in its artistic sense) can be traced back to the early 1950s, when Jean Dubuffet created a series of collages of butterfly wings, which he titled assemblages d'empreintes. However, both Marcel Duchamp and Pablo Picasso had been working with found objects for many years prior to Dubuffet. They were not alone, alongside Duchamp the earliest woman artist to try her hand at assemblage was Elsa von Freytag-Loringhoven, the Dada Baroness, and one of the most prolific, as well as producing some of the most exciting early examples, was Louise Nevelson, who began creating her sculptures from found pieces of wood in the late 1930s.

In 1961, the exhibition "The Art of Assemblage" was featured at the New York Museum of Modern Art. The exhibition showcased the work of early twentieth century European artists such as Braque, Dubuffet, Marcel Duchamp, Picasso, and Kurt Schwitters alongside Americans Man Ray, Joseph Cornell and Robert Rauschenberg, and also included less well known American West Coast assemblage artists such as Wallace Berman, Bruce Conner and Edward Kienholz. William C Seitz, the curator of the exhibition, described assemblages as being made up of preformed natural or manufactured materials, objects, or fragments not intended as art materials.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assemblage_(art)

Miniature Wizards n Witches in TeamMIDS!

2010-03-22T11:39:00.003-05:00

Above is TeamMIDS slideshow entitled "For Mini Wizards Only", featuring a collection of artisan Fantasy miniatures with a magical theme. Feature artists include:

*Blue Kitty Miniatures http://www.etsy.com/shop/bluekittyminiatures
Deb's Minis, Dollhouses, Dressed Beds, & More http://www.etsy.com/shop/debsminis
Enchanticals http://www.etsy.com/shop/enchanticals
Fairy Furnishings http://www.etsy.com/shop/fairyfurnishings
Fairy Garden http://www.etsy.com/shop/fairygarden
Lil'Witchy Haunted Dollhouse Minaitures http://www.etsy.com/shop/lilwitchy
*NJD Miniatures http://www.etsy.com/shop/njdminiatures
Polkadot Toadstool Art Dolls & Miniatures http://www.etsy.com/shop/polkadottoadstool
*Turnings In http://www.etsy.com/shop/turningsin

(* currently on hiatus)

Plus, there are so many more shops offering Modern, Art Deco, Asian, Egyptian, Cabin, Country Primitive, and Victorian miniatures! If you love handmade, original, artisan created miniatures, then come right over to Etsy and search TeamMIDS in dollhouse miniature categories!
http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=tag_title_all&search_query=TeamMIDS

For the latest news and mini goodies visit TeamMIDS Blog: http://teammids.blogspot.com/

WHAT IS ETSY? WHAT IS TeamMIDS?
The concept of Etsy was originally to provide a market place for and by artists to sell their work. It was also meant to foster a sense of community among artists of various mediums. It allows artists a venue and a voice without the markups of retail middlemen. TeamMIDS (Miniatures In Dollhouse Scales) serves the miniature artisan community on Etsy and they really are a wonderful and supportive group with so much talent!

TeamMIDS was featured in Etsy's Storque Blog about handmade art: http://www.etsy.com/storque/reviews/dollhouse-scale-miniatures-facts-and-fancies-3169/

However, there are a large number of shops on the site selling 'vintage' items, but that is a seperate category from 'handmade'. Unfortunately, within 'handmade', there have also been several wholesalers of cheaper mass produced miniatures flooding Etsy. Etsy should not become Ebay! TeamMIDS has diligently continued to protect the integrity of the handmade dollhouse category, insisting that something mass produced in a factory- even if it was hand assembled- does NOT COUNT as a handmade artisan item. At TeamMIDS, you wll find unique, quality, limited addition miniatures from devoted artists.

As collectors of handmade original work, all you have to do to bypass commercial items is choose to search in the 'Handmade' category for 'teammids'

!!SUPPORT ARTISTS!!

To see all the wonderful shops, visit the main website:
http://teammidsdollhouseminiatures.goods.officelive.com/default.aspx

I'm in the March issue of AIM's free online miniature magazine!

2010-03-01T15:43:00.005-06:00

The latest issue of AIM's free online miniature magazine is available now!
http://www.artisansinminiature.com/issue10.html

It is full of so many great projects and Artist offerings! There are gnomes, tiny gardens, tree houses, and much more. I've been posting the link to the zine all over the place and just this morning sat down to read it myself. To my surprise, on pages 40-43, I'm featured in the "Getting To Know" artist meet and greet article! I was pleased to see my Steampunk, Fantasy, and Egyptian items mentioned as well as my Spooky stuff. They popped in a pic of one of my favorite pieces that I've made, a Steampunk mantle clock.

To find out more about AIM (Artisans In Miniature) and browse the outstanding galleries of work by an international group of miniature artists, please visit at
http://www.artisansinminiature.com/index.html

The Green & The Ugly: Swamp Witches and Their Homes in Miniature

2010-02-24T09:52:00.022-06:00

Way up the road from Hattie's Shack
Lies a sleepy little Okeechobee town
Talk of swamp witch Hattie lock you in when the sun go down
Rumours of what she'd done, rumours of what she'd do
Kept folks off the track of hattie's shack
In the back of the Black Bayou

When you do an online search for 'Swamp Witch', you will arrive at 2 very different archetypes. You will find the warty, slimy green skinned hag with a bad temper as exemplified by Meg in the movie 'Legends' (remember the one with the unicorns and Tom Cruise dressed up like Robin Hood). You will also find the elegant and wise depictions of the Cajun Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. This article will focus on the first, greener version!

I've heard of women making secret magic deep in the woods since I was little. I remember giggling at the song 'Marie Laveau' when the guy would shriek and say 'another man done gone!' It was first released by Dr Hook on the 'Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show' album in 1971. Marie Laveau was then released by Bobby Bare on the 'Lullabies, Legends and Lies' album in 1974. Check out this fan video on YouTube! It's a snaggle puss beauty pageant and a warning to any bad man! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9qaIFS16nE

THE GREEN & THE UGLY
I've recently discovered a new miniature hobby in the Garage Kit horror and fantasty sculptures. These are not dollhouse related, being more in line with collector's quality action figures and fine art sculptures of larger scales. However, many of the techniques and themes are similar to what I do for both dollhouse minis and war gaming minis. I found two fantastic versions of the Swamp Witch Meg!

Above is a 1/6 scale resin model sculpted by Miles Teves for Dimensional Designs. Painter unkown. The kit costs $150 and was released in 1994. Below is another version of Meg in resin. This one is by Al DeGregorio and posted on MyToyCollection.com
Some of my favorite 1:12 scale depictions of the genre are...Above: The Dressy Witch by Solet Luna Studios
Above: This bent back witch by Blue Kitty
Above: The Sea Witch by Pat Benedict, ocean or swamp she looks green and watery

Where does the Swamp Witch Live?
Black water Hattie lived back in the swamp
Where the strange green reptiles crawl
Snakes hang thick from the cypress trees
Like sausage on a smokehouse wall
Where the swamp is alive with a thousand eyes
An' all of them watching you

Solet Luna Studios has a fantastic spooky house for any anti-social Swamp Witch! This piece is entitled 'Muddy End' and it won 3rd place at the Westcoast Dollhouse and Miniatures Show, 2008. I love the roots and tree limbs twisting about. Visit at http://www.soletluna.com/
The very first roombox kit I made was a hovel I called the 'Hag's Cabin'. I scratch built the hearth from styrafoam, rocks, and repurposed Halloween jewelry. I covered the wood walls and floor with a sandy stucco mixture and made tattered leather curtains. It was a very early attempt and also one of my first miniature sales. I've learned a lot since then but I still look fondly at the pictures!

My Miniature Haunted Mansion Renovation: Painting the exterior!

2010-02-13T19:30:00.018-06:00

I'm a full time college student in Mortuary Science and this last week was my first round of exams. I had Thanatochemistry, Jurisprudence, and Management II. There were times late at night that I just needed to relax and put the books down. I started to work on my Haunted Mansion renovation project again! This is my own personal dollhouse and not for sale. It's a 1:12 scale cedar kit that I purchased for about $40. It was in terrible shape, water damaged, dusty, pieces put on upside down or backwards... I had a lot of fun tearing it apart and rebuilding it! It has 3 floors with no room partitions. It did have 2 horrible flights of stairs right in the center cutting through the space- I took a hammer and pair of plyers to that. While smoothing over some of the joints and dings with filler, I did leave many of the imperfections because it is after all, a spooky home for odd residents.

My color scheme was inspired initially by a Martha Stewart article on incorporating subtle greens into a Halloween scheme. I want a haunted mansion that I can decorate year round rather than something that was strictly a black and orange Halloween theme.

I bought several used books on Victorian and Gothic style and Painted Ladies. Some pictures that were inspirational are below:
Above a delapidated entry way of a once grand Victorian home.

Subtle greens...
Intense purple with odd lemon creme and sage accents...

So the ideas of color are floating around in my head as I glue all the spooky do-dadds and edging onto the exterior of the house. I used plastic bats over the windows, repurposed Christmas ornaments as spires, jewelry findings, felt web cutouts, plastic garden gating, and disarticulated bits of plastic skeletons... and whatever else I could glue to it!

Next, I spray painted the whole exterior with a flat black and then touched it all up with a gloss black. The windows are covered in tape at this point to protect them.

Then the crackle medium was applied over the wood panelling and wood edging. Next I painted the base color coat of pale lilac with the black showing through the crackle, giving it an aged appearence.

Now the detail colors: an olive green for the majority of edgin with areas of lime green and periwinkle. All the green areas are also coated with a glow in the dark paint that is not noticeable in the light. All of the fencing and bone details are painted in a cream color. Everything is inked in black and then drybrushed in pale sage green. Each panel is also shaded with a magenta ink. This might seem labor intensive but it didn't take too long actually. I put wear marks on raised surfaces, made rusted and water damage trails from underneath raised details like the flower beds, and simulated grime accumulation in corners.

I'll be basing the piece on a large circular board so I can build a yard with trees and a cemetary. I'll also be adding greenery and moss to the house itself, as if its overgrown with ivy. There's more on the way!

The very cool and creepy clay works of 'wetpaintco.' ... I need to know more about this artist!

2010-02-03T11:13:00.009-06:00

While perusing the web for other spooky miniature artists yesterday, I discovered the incredibly imaginative creepy clay works of 'wetpaintco.' on ebay. There's not much information on the artist's profile so I'll need to do a bit more research and actually make contact... The primary medium seems to be polymer clay sculpting over wire frames, then hand painted.

For current auctions: http://myworld.ebay.com/wetpaintco./

The work is all one of a kind and described as being in 1:12 dollhouse scale. The style is certainly spooky but also a bit whimsical with organic shapes, shadowy colors, and little faces peeking out. The artist seems fond of animating various objects with spirits! Everything from trees, candle sticks, to chairs show a grinning little smile and peeping eyes. I think the 'haunted flames' pictured below are my favorite!

Wetpaintco. also likes tentacles. That is always a frightening motif, the idea of a slimy limb snatching at you from dark mirky waters! These are curling about bathtubs and sinks with a hideous grasp.

There is also this fantastic witch on her bike! Named " Rambling Rosie", she stands 6 3/4" from trike wheel to her hat. All Handmade of polymer clay and handpainted.
Well I will try to find out more about wetpaintco. and maybe even snag an interview!

TeamMIDS Valentine's Project: The No-Tell-Motel !

2010-01-18T15:38:00.014-06:00

TeamMIDS has a big PLAN... and it's all about romance!

The plan came about sue to some harmless joking on chat one night, bantering back and forth about romantically inspired miniatures... Well somebody took us seriously and decided to put the PLAN in action! So the miniature 'No-Tell-Motel' opened its doors for Valentine's day and steamy romance... so cool.

I made a birch wood room box in the theme of a Venetian Bedroom, complete with velveted wallpaper, grecian columns, red silk drapery, and murals of nymphs cavorting. I will be listing this piece in my Etsy shop later this week!

The PLAN has it's own blogspot now! To see more pics of my Venetian Bedroom please visit ;)

http://teammids-ntm.blogspot.com/2010/01/venetian-bedroom-grimdeva.html

There are more items from other talented MIDS artists on the way!!! Here are a few other romantic TeamMIDS listings available on Etsy now:

-A leopard print living room set by 'Debsminis'

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=30082929

-A marble cherub urn filled with red roses by GoldenUnicornMinis http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=11777902-Red hot passion perfume bottles by Enchanticals
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37014225 -Heart shaped tuxedo box of chocolates by Jellybeanminis
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33400705
-Here is a delicious pink and chocolate tort by MouseMarket
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37208325
-A pair of heart pillows by Kibbles
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23830543
-The Sweetheart punch bowl set by EverydayGourmet
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37716132
-A Candy and Cherry Cake by PetitPlat
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=38095137
-3 sweet Valentine Pillows by RemarkableCreations
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37919665
-Miniature Valentine rose heart by PolkaDotToadstool
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20373904
-A lovely red lace doily by Snowfern
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37954274

Tutorial: How to build your own Pumpkin Fairy House!

2010-01-08T10:44:00.024-06:00

Supplies Needed:
- 1 large fake pumpkin or ‘funkin’: available at most arts and crafts stores
- 1 base: Any stiff sturdy surface in any shape (wood, chipboard, foamcore)
- selection of sticks ranging in size from twigs to thick wood chunks and root brambles
- variously shaped wood crafting chips available in craft aisles
- acrylic paints in green, light green, dark brown, cream, orange, and yellow
- various glues: craft glue, goop, superglue
- paint brushes: 1 stiff dry brush and 1 soft bristle medium sized flat brush
- paint towels, water cup, plastic cup for mixing spackle mix
- selection of textured rocks no bigger than 1” in diameter
- sand and modeling gravel in various grades (gaming, comic, train and hobby stores)
- paperclay
- modeling flock (fake grass)
- reindeer moss and sponge moss from craft stores
- fake leaves and flowers of choice
- found objects like old keys, buttons, crystals, beads, thimbles, wine corks, marbles, springs
- twine and chain (available in jewelry crafting aisles)

Note about glues: Craft glue works on porous materials like cloth, wood, and cork. You will need goop or liquid nails for metal and plastic items and superglue for the tinier found object details. Sparkle craft glues are also nice to glaze your pumpkin with.

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Step #1: Cut the fake pumpkin and base it
I bought my fake pumpkins on sale after Halloween at Michael’s Arts and Crafts. I used a taller pumpkin that is about 11 ½”. There are 2 basic cuts, although you can add more if you want windows or an extra door. First, cut the bottom off so the pumpkin can sit flat on your chosen base. Next, cut a side opening in the pumpkin so you can easily see and decorate inside but not so big that it cuts the pumpkin in half.

It’s ok if the bottom is not perfectly level because you will be ringing it, both inside and out, with rocks, moss, and sticks. This adds natural looking detail as well as further securing the pumpkin to the base with more points of glued contact.

Now, choosing the base. You can just mount your pumpkin on a wood disc that is a bit bigger than the circumference of the gourd. I glued mine onto a pine wood disc that still had bark edging for a more rustic look. These are available at most craft stores. I decided to take it a step further and glue the disc onto a large rectangular board from an old shelving unit so that I could add a walkway and garden area. This all can be as complex or simple as you like.

How to finish the raw edge of your pumpkin’s opening? Lace, sticks, flowers or leaves, stamped paper clay… that’s up to you! I used clay with a sandy textured finish and sparkles.

Note: Keep the cut out pieces of your pumpkin and use for Gazebo roofs later!
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Step #2: Adding wood details
There are many things you can do at this step. You can make steps, a path, and a patio with wooden chips. You can build a gazebo, porch, fencing, or raised garden with sticks. Pine cones can be used like bushes around your pumpkin house. With my pumpkin house, I used dried roots from my lantana plants, potpourri bits, dried bark from mulch, craft chips, and sticks from my oak tree.
First, I built a 3 sided stick frame and let the glue dry. I made a path and a circular patio with variously shaped wood chips. I then put glue on the feet of the stick frame, pushed them into paperclay balls, and then glued these to the base around the patio area. I built the other 2 sides of the stick gazebo right onto this, using the paperclay balls, which air dries, to make the structure sturdy. It’s ok if the glue drips, that can be painted to look like dew or resin later.

I also built a wooden fireplace, a shelf, and added a bit of curving wood across the top of the pumpkin’s entry way. Large roots and gnarled ‘tree’ trunks were placed on either side of the pumpkin and the far corner of the patio area as well.

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Step #3: Applying gravel, stucco, and sand
I glued a ring of lava stone around the inside of the pumpkin’s base. These rocks are light weight, highly textured, and porous enough to stick with basic craft glue. I snitch these from the flower beds of banks and grocery store parking lots, a few at a time!

Next, I mix my basic terrain texturing ‘stucco’. This simulates dirt and worn areas of bare earth so it will be used inside the house and around walkways. The recipe varies a bit based on the surface I’m applying it too. On a wood base I use a whole bottle of acrylic paint (light green or tan), about ¼ cup of craft glue, about ½ cup of sand, and a bit of water until it has a porridge like consistency. Thick but still able to be spread about. You don’t want it runny or the grains will flake off. You also don’t want it too dry or the brush will just clog up. You can use gesso instead of paint or hodge pode collage medium instead of glue but those products are more expensive. Now take this mixture and paint all over the walkway, patio, and floor of your pumpkin house.

Now take your craft glue and make a line between the big rocks and the stucco surface inside the house. Take your medium sized gravel and sprinkle it on, pushing it in a bit with your fingers. Then do the same around some of your patio and path stones and around the legs of your gazebo. This will make a more naturalistic look, blending the textures of large pieces into the ‘dirt’ surface.

While all of this is still wet, sprinkle a bit of fine grain sand all over it, patting it in areas that have glue oozing out. Let all of this thoroughly dry.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Step #4: Painting the base colors
The Pumpkin:
If you want to change the color or enhance the exterior of your pumpkin, this is the time. You can add warts with clay, stripes, speckles, or vines. You will need to paint the inside of your pumpkin though. I used a deep orange on the outside with red streaks. On the inside I used a mustard color and then worked in a brighter yellow on the large open spaces. Around the fire pit, along the ring of floor rocks, and around the shelf I shaded with a brown.
The Ground Surfaces:
The floor of the pumpkin, the path, and the patio are all a light green at this point. I painted dark brown around the fire place, the base ring of rocks, and around the patio with more dark areas where rain might drip from the gazebo.
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Step #5: Detail painting
At this point I use 2 distinct techniques:

-Washing In a little container or flat surface, I mix water and pigment (acrylic or ink) and then wash this over textured surface. This picks up the negative space details and works best by using a color darker or in contrast to the base color. Don’t tip the painted surface until it dries.
-Dry-Brushing Taking a stiffer bristled brush, I will lightly dip it into a paint color that is a bit lighter than the base color. I will brush excess off on a towel if need be. Now I lightly brush in various directions over a textured surface, highlighting raised details.
Note: You will need to do the wash first and let it completely dry before trying to dry brush a lighter color or they will blend into a muddy mess.

On my pumpkin house, I used brown wash all over the interior floor surface and exterior walkways. Then I dry brushed light sage green and cream all over the shelf, ring of floor stones, floor, and fireplace inside the pumpkin. I also dry brushed the exterior wood bits like the gazebo, pine cones, and ‘tree trunks’. This still allowed the natural wood color to show through but tied all of these elements together a bit more and picked up additional wood texturing. I then brushed a clear sparkle glaze all over.
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Step #6: Adding the greenery
Now I glued the flat green reindeer moss on all the negative spaces around the patio and walkway and also around the back of the pumpkin house. I added cream colored spongy craft moss near the root bunch and tree trunk areas. I put a bit of this around the fire place inside too and on the shelf. My pumpkin house is more like a hut open to nature and so green has crept in!
With lines of craft glue, ring some of the stepping stones, around the front of the fireplace, and up on the pumpkin stalk and sprinkle on a bit of the faux grass ’flock’. Fake grass for miniature modeling can be synthetic, dyed sawdust, or made from dyed horse hair. You can find these type of products anywhere that sells gaming or railroad miniatures. Try hobby stores and comic shops.
Now pop in silk and dried flowers, leaves, and nuts as you please! I used potpourri bits, silk flowers, and dried items from my own yard. My gazebo is covered with fall colored leaves and little bits of lavender sprout here and there. You might want a spring time theme with lighter flowers, or a spooky pumpkin with webs and fake spiders… be creative!
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Step #7: The decorating!
You are now ready to really have fun and make your pumpkin ready the fairies! The little folk like to ‘borrow’ treasures and so found objects look especially cute. I used copper chain to hang charms and crystals about. I also glued iridescent marbles in niches. I put buttons by the fireplace to be dinner plates and an old key on the shelf to be a platter. A scrap of old cloth and twine became a clothes line. Just look in your junk drawers and use what you have!

Good luck and have fun!

My New Studio Space!

2010-01-07T15:01:00.016-06:00

Hmm... where do I put all my art junk? How did I end up with so much anyway? Geesh...

So now its finally done! I've actually fully moved into my new studio space, a small bedroom on the second floor of my house, with a handy large walk in closet. It's at the front of the house so gets plenty of sunshine through 2 large windows. I painted it a deep forest green and just love it. I haven't fully finished decorating but I've already gotten to work on several miniature projects. It's so nice to be able to close the door and keep kitties from stealing my tidbits and supplies. It's also nice to have a room that is 'all mine'.

I previously was working in the loft style family room. This was fine until the holidays came and we definitely needed more space to entertain family and friends. As you can see below, I sort of took over the area! The family voted and I was given the unused guest bedroom which is now called 'the art room'.

At first, the move really seemed like a hassle. A huge amount of moving furniture and sorting right when everyone also wanted all the holiday ornaments up too... and believe me, my family goes nuts with the decorations. We had 4 trees up this year! It's getting excessive and I'm trying to convince everyone that we need to simplify things a bit. Anyway, the move turned out to be wonderful.

It forced me to really sort through my supplies and junk. This led to a huge Goodwill donation. It also got my creative juices flowing again because I rediscovered supplies I forgot I even had. It's all in labeled bins and drawers now!
Here's the closet! Having this helped so much. I can't even remember what we had in there orginally- blankets, sweaters, old mittens.
What's nice too, is that I'm also able to display some of my collectibles again. I just didn't know where to put everything and most of my dolls had remained packed away since the move to our new house.
Above are some of my Living Dead Dolls, Spawn action figures, and Remax Spooky Town stuff. Above are my 2 Wizard of Oz Tonner dolls and my Harvest Tree.

In the art room, I have 3 dollhouses that I'm currently working on: my spooky cedar renovations, my mom's Victorian renovation, and my Swiss Chalet renovation. I also have several dollhouse kits unopened in the closet. As houses are finished, they will be moved out of the room.

Above is the cedar Victorian being renovated into a Spooky Manor.
Above is my mom's old Victorian that needs a lot of work. Notice the orbs in the photos?
Above is the Swiss Chalet with the initial layer of stones and gesso. And below is my new messy table!
I'm not sure what to make of the orbs in the photos... We've been seeing them and catching pictures of them since a few of our pets have passed on last year. I have some photos where they are very bright with tails and about the size of golf balls. In these photos they were much larger but faint. Dust or spirit? We all return to dust... Anyway, here are 2 enlarged photos of the faint orbs. Dust in photos usually gives of a snow like look, not a basketball sized circle.

Converting a Greenleaf dollhouse kit into a fantasy "Mouse House"

2009-12-04T12:34:00.021-06:00

I have nearly completed a fantasy Mouse House from a converted 1:12 scale Greenleaf dollhouse kit, specifically the Arthur Cottage. This is for my mom's Christmas present this year and I'm just tickled with how it turned out!

I know that many warn against purchasing these type of kits, especially older versions that float around online auction sites. Yes they are often very confusing to put together with pages of directions. They do need to be ‘popped out’ from their perforated sheets and then sanded. There are splinters and cracking and warping. The wood is usually very thin. The doors and windows are not quite to scale… hmm. So why did I choose a Greenleaf to work with on this project? First, the kits are cute and readily available. Second, they are fairly inexpensive and so I don’t mind chopping them up and making my own alterations. I would be reluctant to do that with a pricey ‘furniture quality’ dollhouse. Third, because these kits are composed of thinner wood, they are very easy to alter. Below are product pics of Greenleaf's Arthur Cottage.
How did I make the kit stronger and more durable? The most important point to prevent the structure from leaning and eventually collapsing is to base it on a solid surface and seal all joints. For the base, I chose a thin highly compressed chip board often used in painting classes. This product does not warp and is pretty inexpensive and easy to cut. After I built the basic walls, floors, and roof of the cottage, it was glued down and weighted. I then used a variety of materials to strengthen it and give it the texture I wanted.

My mouse family lives in a meadow and so their home is composed of moss, twigs, rocks, vines, and mud spackle. This allows for a very organic and highly textured look using inexpensive materials and freely found natural supplies from my walks around the lake. I made hundreds of paperclay rocks to cover the exterior sides of the home, giving it the appearance that it was built from fieldstones. I then mixed my own spackle from craft glue, gesso, acrylic paint and layered this all over the ‘stone’ surface. This was then sealed with a glaze and painted with dry brushing and inking techniques.

From this point, I added sticks along the roof and on the exterior of the cottage. I focused on the joints at corners, windows, under the eaves, and along the base. I built flower beds and a porch and then layered bark and moss on the roof and along the front walkway.

In the interior, I layered the floors with peel and stick linoleum floor tiles, cut to the room’s shapes. This is a very inexpensive product, often under a $1 per foot, and it comes in a delightful range of colors and textures. With the mouse house, I was not concerned about the color, just that it further secured the structure and gave added thickness to the floor boards. I then attached balsa strips along interior surface edges, giving it a clean finished look and covering any gaps. The entire interior, including the ceilings and the floors were then covered with my spackle mixture in two layers. This was followed by two heavy glaze layers and then painted with acrylics and inks. Although the house is small, it is heavy and very sturdy!

The Furnishings! The kit was in 1:12 scale but since it is a fantasy piece for mice, I am making it true to life scale and so mix actual items like acorns and life sized mushrooms and flowers with 1:12 scale dollhouse furniture. A lot of furniture and accessories I made specifically for this project:
Above is the Kitchen pantry hutch with a set of my handmade mushroom dishes.

Above is my OOAK orange mushroom and twig table and chair set.

Above is the wash tub I put together from odds n ends. The bubbles are actually oxidized gorilla glue! I found this works well for foam and can have ink and sparkles mixed in while wet for added effect.

Fantasy Miniatures by Etsy Artist FairyFurnishings!
I've also been collecting many artist items for the Mouse House and will be featuring these in a future article. Today, I'd like to showcase FairyFurnishings very cute fairy toilet set! Made from natural wood bits, the potty has a flip top seat with sparkles inside (what has that fairy been eating?) and just the sweetest little toilet paper dispenser on a twig. She is an extremely creative new artist on Etsy and a member of TeamMIDS! I've also gotten a fairy mailbox too ;) Her shop is at http://www.etsy.com/shop/fairyfurnishings

Above is the fairy bathroom set within the house.

Above is FairyFurnishings' mailbox, stuffed with letters and little flowers.

Additional Links:
Greenleaf Dollhouses http://www.greenleafdollhouses.com/

Greenleaf provides detailed photos, online support for kit construction questions, and a forum for discussion among collectors. I actually had so much fun building this house that I have since bought 3 more kits for future projects!

Vintage Petite Princess by Ideal: Plastic and Modernism in Miniatures

2009-11-30T09:21:00.023-06:00

I stumbled across treasure...
I began buying various lines of older dollhouse furniture, ranging from the 30’s through the 80’s, while working night shift at a hotel in 2006. It was addictive and I ended up with boxes and drawers full! I wasn’t sure what they were actually worth or the history behind specific companies but in the end, I did get quite a few deals. Upon seeing the glow in my mother’s eyes and a few other women in that generation as they gazed on my little treasures, I realized I had something special. My mom would say “Oh I had one just like that” or “I always wanted one of those”. In a way it was heartbreaking that I had found by chance what she as a child had dearly dreamed of but never been given.

My intention originally was to artistically alter these into gothic and fantasy works. I was tired of the same old 1:12 scale kits China has been pumping out and was not yet ready at the time to buy a saw and make furniture from scratch either. Reusing vintage pieces seemed like the best idea. However, after researching the history of many of these unexpected gems, I just couldn‘t chop them up. Yes, I liken my approach to a ’chop shop’, get a basic old frame and build a wonderful new marvel! I decided to put the best pieces up on eBay for collectors and donate the rest to a children’s bookstore..

This was the right thing to do. One collector wrote in her Dollhouse Blog,
“Missing the umbrella from the Plasco Little Homemaker garden set from the late 1940s? Wait and one will turn up on eBay. When placed with its pole into the patio table's hole, the resulting set looks as if it had never suffered the indignity of parts having been misplaced. While Tomy items are still plentiful and inexpensive, the pioneers of plastic – Renwal, Ideal and Reliable from the late 1940s and early 1950s are becoming more costly and, if a more unusual pieces such as a sewing machine or carousel, more difficult to locate. That, of course, only serves to whet one’s appetite.”

I didn’t make a mint on my auctions, but felt good because these little finds are worth something emotionally to many collectors. I also don’t plan to purchase any more of these lines but consider the experience a lesson in a very important point of dollhouse history: how radically new styles and materials can swoop onto the scene! One question in my mind remains: These widely distributed plastic brands brought modernism into miniatures in a big way. However, today it is only a small number of artisans and collectors who focus on what is perceived as ’modern’, either in the retro or current fashions. Why didn’t a larger interest in modernism continue in the dollhouse community?

The Dawn of Plastic:
I found that the brightly colored plastic pieces of furniture I have came into popularity in the 1940’s. This decade proved to be a watershed for dollhouses and actual real life furnishings because of the introduction of new easily produced materials such as plastic. In the 1950’s the post war economic boom in North America only increased the popularity of dollhouse products. Brightly colored sturdy steel homes became common and their hard plastic accessories could be intricately detailed. However, the very ease with which molded plastic could be made in factories also spelt the end of individual variations as manufacturing throughout the first half of the 20th century often fell into repetitive forms. Even so, many 1900 to 1950 miniatures had aspects of hand finishing and variations in color. Now pigment could be controlled at the time of molding and medium blue, strong blue, pink, red, cream, brown, and even marbling and faux wood grain were popular. Rarer colors like robin’s egg blue, orange, and bright red can also be found.

Above are examples of the spectacular metal candelabras by Ideal that were the original impetus for my spending spree. I still have a drawer full of these and will eventually put them into my Spooky Mansion.

Above are examples of the robin's egg blue with gilding. I also had a pretty cool kitchen in this color with red detailing.

Plastic was used to represent every texture and material found in the modern home from wood, upholstery, bedding, metal, ceramics, enameled steel, etc. There were older precedents for faux work in the dollhouse world, for example cast-iron standing in for wood, textiles and ceramics as seen in the Arcade line of dollhouse furnishings. Some plastic pieces were only molded on 3 sides while others were fully molded and included moving details, such opening doors, dropping crib sides, potty chair with lifting trays, and agitators spinning in washing machines. The scale could be quite small and this meant a child could place many pieces in an average dollhouse. For today's collector , there is particular interest in "dated" items such as phonographs, floor radios, wringer washers, pedal worked sewing machines and smoking stands. The social mores of that period are also reflected in the furniture. For example, decorum was preserved by giving ‘married’ dolls twin beds. On the other hand, other items and customs are interesting because they have changed so little from that time.
Below are 2 Renewal pieces.

The product names associated with the American boom in hard plastic dollhouse furniture are Ideal, Renwal, Plasco and Marx. Items are usually marked and easily identified by the collector. For example, Marx is MAR imposed over an X within a circle. Some unmarked items originate in Canada from the Reliable Company of Toronto. They used many of the same molds as the Ideal Company. All of these companies produced ¾ scale pieces which worked well together. The smaller Allied Plastic Dolly's Furniture was in a relatively tiny scale. The Allied twin beds measure 2.75 inches long (representing 6 feet). These sets were also made in a more limited range of colors: white, red, blue and pink. Living room, dining room and bedroom furniture styles reflect variations on Hepplewhite, Sheraton and Chippendale. Kitchen, bathroom, nursery and utilitarian or entertainment items such as washing machines and radios were more modern in style.

There are numerous online auction sites and shops that carry these Dollhouse lines. Country Joe's Collectible stuff has decently priced and harder to find Renewal pieces. Below is an example of a Renewal nusery's washing maching which came in either pink or blue. http://countryjoescollectiblestuff.com/renwal-01.html

Another great site is 100 Tons of Stuff To Sell which had these cute Renewal sets:

http://www.100tonsofstuff.com/renwaldollfurniture.htm

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Petite Princess, the pinnacle of plastic dollhouse miniatures:
Ideal’s Petite Princess dollhouse furniture represents the top of the line in the genre of plastic modern furniture. It was made by the Ideal Toy Corporation for a very limited time, from 1964 to 1968. These toys are often simply called Ideal, which is short for the Ideal Toy and Novelty Corporation, reportedly in business since founded in 1907 in Brooklyn, New York.
The Petite Princess pieces took plastic dollhouse furniture to new heights of elegance and detail, incorporating more realistic marbled surfaces, hand painted gilding, velvet like upholstery, and period décor such as brass candelabras and Buddhas, ceramic vases, and other lovelies. The line remains in the ¾ dollhouse scale.

Below is an available Etsy listing by IDConnection for a variety of brass Petite Princess accessories: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26141178

Below is a complete vintage Petite Princess dollhouse loaded with furnishings and accessories. Posted by Vixie Vaporous is Vaccilating on Flickr. Go to the link to view many more photos! http://www.flickr.com/photos/8836406@N08/2793578102/
The following information is taken from The Ideal Petite Princess Information website:

In the “Petite Princess” line, the company sold groups of furniture that were often very stylish and indicative of the time in which they were made. All furniture was hand painted and hand tailored. Special attention was given to detail with an “antique look” which was indicative of the 1960’s. Petite Princess vintage miniatures were produced in ¾ inch scale (.75 inches=1 foot).
The manufacturers of this beautiful furniture line describe Petite Princess furniture as “The fulfillment of every girl’s dream.” Ideal explains, “Here, at last are beautifully detailed, hand crafted furniture and accessories to fill many hours of fanciful play. As explained in their 1964 black and white Petite Princess brochure, “Petite Princess Fantasy Furniture is hand crafted of satins, brocades, porcelain, brass, glass mirrors, and other fine materials. You will find soft, plush chairs and sofas, gilt-edged mirrors, dressers and cabinets with drawers and doors that really open and close. Everything you can dream of. Perfectly made, so you can play with it, collect it, and be the perfect Petite Princess."

Ideal’s Petite Princess Fantasy Furniture first appeared in the Sears Christmas Wish Book in 1964. They offered the originally boxed thirty main pieces, as well as the original Fantasy Family (father, mother, sister, and brother) and their Fantasy Rooms (available in pink, blue, and yellow.)
Some of these pieces returned in 1966, 1967, 1968, and 1969 Sears Christmas Wish Books. However, neither the name Ideal nor Petite Princess were featured in these later Christmas catalogs with their furniture, possibly because Ideal had produced their less expensive Princess Patti line in 1965. The Princess Patti house featured the same furniture in four of the rooms- a bedroom, living room, music room, and dining room, and furnished two additional rooms- a bathroom and a kitchen.

In 1966 and 1967, twenty of the original thirty pieces of furniture were offered in red roofed vinyl colonial dollhouses that could only be purchased at Sears. These pieces included the dressing table and stool, bed, lyre table and lamp, piano and bench, treasure trove cabinet, guest chairs, occasional chair with ottoman, sofa, tier table and lamp, and occasional table set. A different family than the original Fantasy Family came with this furniture.

Similarly, in 1968 and 1969, Sears sold thirteen pieces of the original collection in orange-roofed colonial mansion dollhouses. Included in these mansions were the dressing table and stool, bed, tier table with lamp, host chairs, sofa, salon wing chair, occasional table set, and a new bathroom set with a bathroom tub, stool, and towel rack. The original fantasy family didn’t return this year either and was replaced by a different family once again.

Pictured below is another shot of Vixie's collection, representing the full range of Petite Princess.
-A wonderful site called Petite Princess Collectibles provides an online store for these vintage pieces, links to collectors' galleries, and the history of the line.

http://www.petiteprincess.com/

-For the ONLY published complete Petite Princess Reference Guide:

http://www.petiteprincess.com/ebaybook/about_authors.htm

The Latest Fairy Abode: The Pumpkin House!

2009-11-21T09:36:00.019-06:00

My fascination began with this picture...

This photoshopped frosty pumpkin home was an 2006 art entry by Worth1000 for a contest entitled "Edible Architecture" http://fx.worth1000.com/entries/251729/pumpkin-cabin I found the pic floating around the web and had to do some digging to find the original source. Just so cool!

When building miniature fairy homes, artists often think of mushrooms or twig structures with moss roofs. How about using a pumpkin! With the popularity of resin and foam realistic looking pumpkins, this becomes a very do-able idea. In late summer through Thanksgiving, you can find these in varying sizes, shapes, and colors at Walmart or various craft stores like Micheals. There are also paper mache pumpkins that are easy to work with too, found in limited quantities at arts and crafts stores. They tend to be a bit smaller too, about 5 or 6" tall. The resin and foam pumpkins, on the other hand, can be large enough to make a two story dollhouse in. All of these are fairly easy to cut and the nice thing is, the scraps can become gazebo or porch roofs! I've even thought about lining 3 pumpkins up beside eachother with doorways cut between, making a 'ranch style' fairy home. I am currently building a single pumpkin structure and will be posting pics soon...

Various Artist Examples:
I found a variety of miniature Pumpkin homes online.

Above, a very cute little Pumpkin home by Grahzinas: http://grazhinas-dollhouses.blogspot.com/

Steve Weller and Tori West of MiniMotion studio have a very detailed tutorial on how to make your own 2 story pumpkin dollhouse. Their example is pictured below and info is available at: http://www.minimotion.com/HOWTO/quarterpumpkinhowto.html

Above FimoFrenzy of Flickr used her pumpkin as a case to hold a spooky diorama. More pictures available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/16666966@N00/275553398/

Below, artist Cindy Gould made a smaller scale dollhouse using an altered paper mache pumpkin. She gave it a rustic interior look with wallpaper made out of book pages... a fairy who uses what she has lying around is a thrifty fiary indeed! To see more of Cindy's work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cindyg/1538253972/

Below is an unusual ceramic black pumpkin witch house by Bethany Lowe available at http://www.cydneysantiques.com/index.php?cPath=71&main_page=index

Actual Pumpkin Homes:
To my surprise, when searching for miniature pumpkin dwellings, I came across several beautiful actual homes! Below is a house featured on the site Unusual Homes. http://www.lostinjersey.com/house/house.html

It was built in 1925 entirely be a blind man who knew nothing about carpentry and had very little economic resources. Looks to be maid of local timbers and field stone. Concerning the collection of odd homes on his website, the writer says "I'm always curious about these unusual homes that seem to be everywhere. Who built it and why? And who lives there now? What are the people like? Are they completely oddballs or are they normal like you and me? Although every homeowner is different, one thing is the same in almost every case: every homeowner is unique, sometimes more so then their house!"

Note: I cannot find the writer's name but the Blog is LostInJersey http://lostinjersey.wordpress.com/

Next I have the odd pumpkin log cabin found on Tom's LogHomeBlog. He didn't provide any info about it but it is an actual home. It looks like painted metal sheeting over the rounded log structure. http://www.logcabindirectory.com/blog/?p=1011 Onwards! I also found a home famed for its yearly gigantic amazing display of Jack O'Lanterns. It is in Kenova, sitting on the banks of the Big Sandy River separating West Virginia from Kentucky. This town is an important stop on the way between the major cities of Huntington and Ashland. The name is a unique combination of the words "Kentucky," "Ohio," and "Virginia".

"Kenova is also a home of world-famous Pumpkin House with about 3,030 pumpkins, carved with everything from presidents and the St. Louis arch to West Virginia-themed pumpkins. The Pumpkin House, located at 748 Beech St., Kenova, recently got a national exposure when Emmy-Award-winning NBC day-time talk show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, gave this Victorian home some props." Doug Nicols, photo by Cabell County Schools http://www.greaterhuntington.com/city/surroundingareas/kenova.asp

On BlissTree.com there is a shot of an older home painted like a Jack O'Lantern. The author didn't have much to say except that it is in Concord? http://www.blisstree.com/articles/jack-o-lantern-homes-69/

In searching for 'pumpkin homes', I additionally found many shack type structers composed of wooden planks layered like shelves for pumpkins to rest upon. The pumpkins then make the walls.

Well there you go folks! Now go shack your fairy up in a magic pumpkin ;)

Bountiful Harvest: The Cornucopia in History and Miniatures

2009-11-20T14:03:00.021-06:00

I've always loved images and decor that feature a cornucopia or 'horn of plenty'. There is a sense of richness, bounty, and welcome in that symbol. In the West, we usually see it featured in the context of harvest but it also appears in Winter holiday imagery as a sign of feasting and wealth to be shared. Below is a lovely vintage Victorian card depicting seasonal sentiments.
Since the 5th century BCE, deities such as the Roman Fortuna, Goddess of luck and fate, would be depicted carrying a cornucopia. Today the “Horn of Plenty” is a symbol of the abundance of the harvest, most often associated in America with the Thanksgiving holiday. It is filled with New World pumpkins and maize. Also, the cornucopia is no longer a genuine goat or bull horn, but rather a large, cone-shaped wicker basket. Though the material may have changed, the meaning of the cornucopia has persisted throughout the centuries and many a horn of plenty graces the center of the Thanksgiving dinner table. I found many lovely examples in miniature!

Above is a handmade 1:12 scale work by Sandy Copeland, available in her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=17168304

Above is another handmade 1:12 miniature available on Etsy, this time by the artist Deana or 'minide'. Available at: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31766688

Above is a beautiful hand woven miniature cornucopia basket by Etsy artist Yahzmin available at: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33078725

The History of The Horn:

The cornucopia is an ancient symbol, deriving ultimately from the coveted horns of the now extinct aurochs, a huge breed of wild cattle. 'Corn' refers to the modern word 'horn' much as unicorn means 'one horned'. Above is a modern painting 'The Aurochs' by Heinrich Harder (1858-1935), probably created in 1920. The earliest indication of the importance of this animal can be seen in the beautiful cave paintings of Lascaux, France.
Below is the famous cave carving of the Neolithic Goddesses, found in Laussel, France. She holds a horn with 13 rings, said to symbolize the 13 full moons in a year.
New evidence shows that the Aurochs became extinct around AD 600 in most of Europe. The last known aurochs died in Poland in 1627. The animal was much larger than the common cows we know today, with aurochs bulls measuring between 160 and 180 cm at the withers, and aurochs cows between 140 and 150 cm. The huge species from the ice ages died out not only because it was hunted, but also because more and more land was being used for agriculture and the human population was increasing.

The Fighting Bull, also known as the toro de lidia, toro lidiado, ganado bravo, Touro de Lide, is a direct descendent of the highly aggressive and solitary wild auroch subspecies, Bos taurus Ibericus. In fact, this is thought to be the ancestor of all the dark colored breeds found on the Iberian peninsula. Modern breeding still selects for aggressiveness, strength and vigor. They are bred primarily in Spain, Portugal and those Latin American countries were bull fighting is organized.
Depictions of cornucopia also include the curved horns of rams and goats, symbols of male fertility and general earthly bounty. These horns were used as drinking vessels, musical instruments, and containers of prized goods. Below are a Victorian example of ornate drinking horns.

In my studies, I found pictures of numerous beautiful drinking horns from throughout the ages and all across the globe. I also discovered many depictions of horns of plenty carrying grains and fruits in Classical Greek and Roman artwork. Below, an ancient vessel painting depicts Hades carrying his bride Persephone's harvest grains and gourds as she returns to the earthly realm to visit her mother, a metaphor for the return of Spring. Below, the Greek God Zues recieves an offering within an ornate cornucopia. According to Greek legend, one day Zeus was playing with his goat foster mother, Amalthea (Amaltheia), he accidentally broke off one of her horns. To atone for this, Zeus promised Amalthea that the horn would always be full of whatever fruits she desired. Amalthea then offered it him as a sign of reverence. Zeus was humbled by her generosity and set the goat's image in the sky to become the constellation Capricorn.

The magic horn then became the cornucopia of the Roman goddess Copia, the personification of plenty. Other goddesses, including Fortuna and Pax, also held the cornucopia.

And so another year comes near its end... Everyone have a Happy Thanksgiving and eat waaay too much!!!

Nibbling at the Neck... Vampires in Miniature!

2009-11-15T23:05:00.037-06:00

Ahh... so the sequel to the latest Vampire novel turned movie is due out. Filled with teenage angst, love triangles, and brooding pale people; well it just inspired me to search for vampy items in the mini world. Apparently it is very fashionable to be a vampire now and the wicked blood sucker has a sex appeal that has moved far beyond the hump backed goul of the original black and white Nosferatu flick! Check this bit out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pr4lfgrAgEM

Be careful what you wish for. Isn't that the truth? Anyway, vampires aren't just for Halloween anymore kiddies. The Western world has a serious romance with the fanged. So go ahead and turn your mini mansion into a vampy abode with these elegant additions!

1) First, you might want to move a well dressed Vampire into your dollhouse:
Above is Dracula by Julie Kendell of Jakdaws Attic http://www.freewebs.com/jakdaws/

Above are 'The Waspies' by Eileen Sedgwick. She didn't title them Vampires specifically but they sure fit the bill! http://www.eileensedgwick.com/web2009.5_files/page0001.htm

Above is a beautiful Goth girl by PetiteProperties. Is she a Vamp or just the girlfriend?

Pat Benedict of WhoopitydooArt has been a prolific creator of an increadible array of Vampish dolls and ornaments, all one of a kind and handmade. Below are 2 of my favorite examples. To see more of her work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/20126126@N08/

2) Next, maybe add a few select pieces of bat winged or coffin inspired Gothic furniture? Above is a Gothic Vampire Bat Magical Hutch by MidnightsDream. The leathery curtains resemble bat wings! : http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33009601

While searching for goulish goodies online, I stumbled across some of my own work on a forum called VampireRave.com They feature links and member ratings of all things related to Vampires. My OOAK Bella Lugosi Bed had a pretty good rating! Thanx my infernal friends! http://www.vampirerave.com/db/entry.php?id=18383&category=53

Below is my most recent creation, the OOAK Vampire Bat Dungeon Throne... not for the faint of heart! Available at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33945649

3) Since the current bloodsucker frenzy was inspired by a novel, how about a Vampire themed library?

Above is a medieval Vampire manuscript and vial of blood by Erica Vanhorn. I love the extra details like her tiny bat tag and red wax seal! She is a member of AIM and I'm still searching for links to a website or shop?

Item currently available on eBid, artist or manufacturer unkown: http://us.ebid.net/perl/auction.cgi?mo=auction&auction=15349448&from=googlebase#pic

Above miniature Interview with a Vampire novel by Anne Rice, available at:
http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/miniaturebookshelf/items/Dollhouse_Miniature_Book_Interview_w__the_Vampire_Rice_lt__H

4) Next, we mustn't forget the bloody goblets!

Above is an exquisite turned acrylic vase by Turningsin that looks suitably red stained: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33040736

Above is the delicious Plasma set by Enchanticals: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=32241152 Below is a full Vampiric Kitchen, also by Enchanticals who just outdoes herself with the details! I find the leg bone stirring stick amusing... What recipes would a succubus keep? For additional pics of this work:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/enchanticals/3256655728/in/photostream/

I then found some very cute mice drinking from goblets of red 'wine'... does it have to be merlot or could it be the elixer of Mr. Vampire's poor dinner date?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mouse-Sipping-Spilled-Red-Wine-DOLLHOUSE-Miniatures_W0QQitemZ120299259125QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c026504f5

http://cgi.ebay.com/Tipsy-Mouse-in-Red-Wine-Glass-DOLLHOUSE-Miniatures_W0QQitemZ120351283823QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1c057eda6f

5) Finally, every Creature of the Night needs a sturdy coffin for napping! Ray, or minibuilder, creates handmade wooden coffins in 1:12 scale.

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=31832187 and for the natural wood http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=31832715

You can also find wooden coffin trinket boxes at Micheals and other art supply stores. Of course more is available around Halloween so stock up! The scale might be a bit off, maybe too wide or too short for 1:12 dollhouses, but if you keep looking you will find some nice items that you can alter. Below is one of my own examples:

Novelty Wood makes very nice handmade coffins in a variety of scales:
http://www.novelty-wooden-coffins.com/

Another option are the countless very pretty resin coffin boxes that can be found at any fantasy or gothic gift shop online. I've gotten a few and think the 6" ones look the best in my 1:12 scale settings.
-Dragon Art carries very pretty Gothic resin casket shaped trinket boxes:
http://www.dragon-art-work.com/realistic-miniature-coffin-trinket-box-with-tribal-designs.htm

-True Sword also has beautiful 6" long resin coffin boxes:
http://www.trueswords.com/gargoyle-coffin-style-treasure-box-p-5209.html

There are also a multitude of little Vampire war and roleplaying figures that can be turned bookends, lamp posts, tabletop sculptures, and all manner of knickknacks around a spooky house. An example below that measures about 1 1/4":

Mushroom Magic in History and Miniature

2009-11-09T19:18:00.005-06:00

The best known-and perhaps most inspired-literary mushroom of all is the one nibbled by Alice in her Adventures in Wonderland. Eating from one side of the mushroom makes her grow larger, eating from the other side makes her shrink. It's possible that author Lewis Carroll knew of the properties of Fly Agaric. One effect of this hallucinogenic fungus is to make objects appear larger or smaller in the user's eye. In recent times it's no surprise to find fungal references at "Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry' in the Harry Potter stories.

Not Just For the Lazy Fairy To Lounge On...
In my little world of cobwebs, wizards, and really all things magical and SMALL... I find a variety of ways to use the mushroom motif. Not just for the lazy fairy to lounge on! No no these little brightly colored fungi are useful in a wide range of applications. They can be turned into gazebos or pixie hut roofs, seats and table tops, dish sets, mushroom people, mushrooms sprouting from magic cauldrons and potions, gnome hats, and so many other possibilities. As an example below, I've made little sets of mushroom cap dishes with acorn bowls for my mom's mouse dollhouse.
I've also made several sets of variously hued mushroom tables with matching chairs, using the caps as both table tops and seats. These were sculpted in paperclay on top of wooden discs. Here you can see the lilac and a dark red sets.

The Quinissential Magic Mushroom:
The magic mushroom was not the invention of Hippies! For thousands of years, the beauty and mind altering properties of certain mushrooms have been known. The spotted brilliantly red mushroom cap in popular folklore is actually a depiction of the Aminita muscaria, or 'fly agaric' mushroom.This psychoactive fungus has been associated with magic and shamanic religion for millenia throughout the Northern Hemisphere, sprouting up in Native American, Siberian, European, and Asian folk lore. The revered fungus has since found its way into our modern fairy tales, usually as a perch for some chubby gnome or sex pot fairy. The quintessential toadstool is a large white-gilled, white-spotted, usually deep red mushroom. However, several subspecies with differing cap colours do exist, including the brown regalis (now considered a separate species), the yellow-orange flavivolata, guessowii, and formosa, and the pinkish persicina. So take artistic liberty in your crafting choices!

Lory, a miniature artist who can be found on Etsy as 64tnt, makes lovely jewel toned collections of mushrooms, often sprouting from acorns for a fantasy affect. I bought this set for my magical pumpkin kitchen that I'm working on. To visit her wonderful shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/64tntga_search_query=64tnt&ga_search_type=seller_usernames
Another source for miniature mushrooms and forest folk doo-dads are the many Terrarium crafters, like 'Doodle Bird Designs' on Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/doodlebirdie
So many fungus options... Here I've put together a little slideshow with an array of exotic examples to help inspire you!

Siberian Shamans and the Mushroom:
To this day Siberian shamans dress in ceremonial red and white fur-trimmed jackets to gather mushrooms. Traditionally these were partially dried on pine boughs, preparing them for ingestion. This practice seems to have been shared by Northern European peoples as well and is the likely origin for decorating Yule or Christmas trees with mushrooms... now translated into red bulbs.

“The amanita mushroom needs to be dried before being consumed; the process reduces the mushroom's toxicity while increasing its potency. The shaman would guide the group in stringing the mushrooms and hanging them around the hearth-fire to dry. This tradition is echoed in the modern stringing of popcorn and other items.” -Dana Larsen, “The Psychedelic Secrets of Santa Claus” 2003

In Siberia, these precious mushrooms were then carried in a sack by the shaman who delivered a portion to each house. Stories tell how during long winters, the snow piled up past the doors of the yurts (huts), so the red and white clad shaman had to climb down the smoke-hole (chimney) to deliver his gifts. Hmm... who is this sounding like now? Finally the appreciative villagers strung the mushrooms up on pine limbs or put them in stockings hung affront the fire to dry.

The Koryak tribesmen of Kamchatka in Siberia would drink an intoxicant made from the fungus. It was so prized that poorer folk would collect the urine passed by revelers. When 'recycled', the effects were said to be as powerful as the first time around. Reindeer seem to be attracted to urine with the scent of the fungus! More than one intoxicated tribesmen relieving himself was reported trampled to death by a crazed ruminant!

Both poisonous and hallucinogenic, Fly Agaric seems to impart a feeling of great strength and stamina. This fact may provide a clue to the ferocious reputation of the Berserkers, ancient Norse warriors who are said to have consumed the fungus before going into battle.

The Mushroom In Mesoamerica:
Throughout Mesoamerica spiritual usage of mushrooms and other plants continues to this day. In particular, the Mayan and pre-Mayan civilizations of Central America left behind many rock carvings called "mushroom stones," showing that hallucinogenic mushrooms were an important part of their culture. The Aztecs also used mushrooms in religious ceremonies and for recreation from the 12th-13th centuries on. In the mid-sixteenth century, Spanish priest Bernadino de Sahagun traveled throughout Mexico writing about Aztec culture. He noted a mystifying “mushroom cult.” In 1559, within his Florentine Codex, Sahagun recorded the first known account of a magic mushroom ceremony during which the participants ate small mushrooms called “teonanactl” to gain spiritual insight. They called these "teonanactl" meaning literally “Flesh of God.” The priest believed that the
“mushroom cult” had been conducting such ceremonies for several thousand years.

Other Ancient Mushroom Fans:
Scholars speculate that the sacred Soma drink of ancient Vedic texts of India might have been concocted from mushrooms as well. The exact recipe of the tradition has been lost but Fly Agaric has been used in parts of Eurasia for nearly 6000 years. It was called a "God Plant" by ancient Hindus.

Hallucinogenic mushrooms were also used in ancient Greece, most notably by Delphic Oracles.
There have even been assertions that the Biblical plant of knowledge was not a tree, but indeed a mushroom. This theory is old enough to have been illustrated in medieval illuminated manuscripts!

Witchcraft and Flying Ointments:
The hallucinagenic properties of the mushroom are also said to be a key ingredient in fabled witch flying ointments. Historians have dismissed the Church accusations of witches physically 'flying' to their sabbats. It seems likely however that this was not literal but rather a drug induced sense of flight akin to the spirit journey of modern peyote practitioners.
There's even a particular species of mushroom named the "Witch's Hat", the Hygrocybe conica! Read all about it. http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/oct2001.html

Nikki Rowe of 'Witch and Wizard Miniatures' on Etsy, often adds mushrooms to her spell crafting creations. Below you can see the red caps peeking from her herb crate and potted on her root table. I also spy unicorn horns and dragon eggs... well done! To find more of Nikki's excellent work: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Nikkinikkinikki72

The Wee Fairy Ring and it's Dangers:
A single mushroom is potent, but a full ring... beware! The Fly Agaric is one of the many species of mushrooms that can form a 'fairy ring'. One of the earliest references to such sites comes from German-speaking Europe. Fairy rings were known as hexenringe or "witches rings". These were created by witches dancing in the forest. Their magical energy left an imprint on the ground so creating a 'fungus' circle. Many locals would see this as a warning sign, and avoid the area.

For centuries, the sudden and rapid eruption of circles of mushrooms from the soil led people to believe that dark or terrible forces were at work. Lightning strikes, meteorites, shooting stars, earthly vapours, and witches have all been proposed as agents of their origin. In France fairy rings were called sorcerers' rings. A Tyrolean legend claims that the rings were burned into the ground by the fiery tail of a dragon. In Holland they were said to be the marks where the Devil rested his milk churn. In English folklore, mushroom rings were known as fairy or pixie rings. These were caused by the wee folks dancing in a circle. As they wore down the grass, they left a circular pattern of basidia (a type of mushroom) behind. Toads would then sit on the mushroom and poison them, creating a 'toadstool'. New Englanders, bringing over British folklore, call sucha fungus the "death baby". To see it growing in the yard is a harbinger of imminent death in the family. On the positive side, fairy rings were said to bring good luck to houses built in fields where they occur. In another tradition, the rings were sites of buried treasure, but there was a catch—the treasure could only be retrieved with the help of fairies or witches.

In Scandinavian folklore too, such rings were created by elves dancing round, leaving their magical presence behind in the form of mushrooms. In the district of Norrland in Sweden there is a tradition of throwing toadstools into bonfires on midsummer's eve (June 23) to ward off evil spirits.

It is said that time slows down within such fairy circles. Various folklore stories call these rings gateways into the fairy world where unwary wanderers may be trapped by woodland spirits. Others tell tales of these rings transporting people to far off places or strange lands. Others tell of taking unwary people to the same place, but in a different time. I found an image (artist unknown?) of a very dark version of a dryad or tree spirit sprouting toxic mushrooms. What an interesting doll concept...
Below is a more lighthearted fairy ring by the aforementioned artist,Lory. Her ring features the fly agaric amid a mossy circle. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33449560

Blue Kitty Miniatures of Etsy TeamMIDS has taken miniature mushrooms to new heights of creativity and interest with her tiny perfect clay works! I've purchased one of her sweet mushroom fairy ring cakes but she also has spell books, cookie jars, and coat racks featuring the fly agaric. To see her darling shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlueKittyMiniatures?ga_search_query=Bluekitty&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

The Enchanted Mushroom Man:
In modern fantasy art, the mushroom itself can become an enchanted spirit being. Mealy Monster Land makes mushroom people with so much personality. Here are 3 of her funny little guys below... I got the red gent for myself. He is about 6" tall and so lives outside of the mouse dollhouse. He looks rather sad but wise.
To see her Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mealymonster

http://www.etsy.com/shop/LITTLESbyKris
Another cute find is this cheery chap below by clay artist Kris. He and his friends are available at Etsy's 'LITTLESbyKris'.

Other mushroom people I have found include figurines, fantasy gaming miniatures, Halloween costumes, and plushies... Above is another mushroom guy, by PolkaDotToadstool of Etsy. His cap is unusual in that it was covered with moleskin or suede? http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=12588432

Magical Mushroom Houses:
Beyond using mushrooms as umbrellas, beds, and ingredients in intoxicating brews we frequently see mushroom houses in fantasy art and literature. Hey, Papa Smurf thought it was a good idea!

I'm fascinated by the tiny miniature mushroom houses and teapots by C. Rohal of the Etsy shop Artistic Spirit. http://www.etsy.com/shop/ArtisticSpirit Go have a look at her teeny beauties!

Another miniature artist who makes very detailed and lovely mini mushroom houses is Bonnie or 'irish00128' on flickr. She produces one each month I believe and below is her 'September House'. To see her work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bonnieminis/

Three Dollhouse Artists and the 'do it yourself' Haunted Mansion!

2009-11-08T08:19:00.011-06:00

Here are 3 miniature artists 'do it yourself' approach to building their own Haunted Mansions!

1) Jolie's Mini Stuff
In her blog, Jolie discusses how she took a $5 garage sale dollhouse kit and turned it into the cutest little blue magic shop. All of her pictures feature the bright blue exterior... hmm what's inside Jolie?
http://joliesancturary.blogspot.com/2009/09/halloween-magic-and-witches-supply-shop.html

2) Ghost House Project by Ginger Wyatt
I love how Ginger describes the beginning of her spooky project! "I purchased a $30-$40 dollhouse kit, skeleton earrings, a bat pencil, a box, pumpkins, Halloween cutouts, paint, muslin, hot glue, and elmers glue. " So with just these basics and her own creativity, she made a cute original Halloween style dollhouse. Not everyone has the time or the dinero to spend on a $1000 mini mansion (although I love those folks too). If you fondly remember the magic of childhood and all your secret little treasures and play worlds... making and collecting miniatures could be a very relaxing and joyous hobby to share with your family (or hoard for yourself lol). Fun is fun regardless of the cost, its what you enjoy doing that counts. I like this house because it seems like a spur of the moment burst of creativity using what she had!
http://www.worldofminiatures.org/ghost_house_ws.html

3) Marie's Minis Darkside Manor
The artist takes us on a fantastic step by step journey in which she transforms a sunny yellow perfectly fine Victorian dollhouse into an eerie haunted Manor. Marie gives excellent pictures and instructions in how to go about this yourself and her eye for detail is wonderful. Wait until you see all the goodies (especially the handmade lighting fixtures!) she created for the interior. I'm in love with this house and will be lurking around her site more often... Please lurk with me.
http://www.mariesminis.com/DarksideManor1.html

By the way, she has many interesting and fairly inexpensive miniatures for sale as well.
http://www.mariesminis.com/HalloweenMinisForSale.html

2009-11-07T09:51:00.009-06:00

Here is Etsy's TeamMIDS Halloween miniatures slideshow! I have a few things in there along with oodles of spooky goodies from the many other talented artists in my team.

http://www.slide.com/r/zD-OV8UJzT966bN-97xsq71ijS-MGV7i?map=2&cy=bb

The Halloween slide show is currently featured on the TeamMIDS blogspot too but will soon be moved for the next theme so that's why I gave the direct link. Anyway, go check out our blog for many other fine scale dollhouse miniatures! Golden Unicorn and Blue Kitty are our fearless leaders and there are so many members I can't name them all here.

http://teammids.blogspot.com/

Also, my one of kind Spooky Autumn Moon Bed is the featured miniature of the week on the Team BlogSpot! I'm very honoured to have something chosen. Thank you GUM!

This particular piece is an altered vintage handmade bed. It was pretty old but the wood was sturdy. I used epoxy clay, paper clay, wire, actual twigs and vine tendrils, dried moss, and jewelry findings in its facelift. It was then base painted black, dry brushed sage, inked with chestnut and green, drybrushed bone and gold, then glazed and sparkled. I made the bed coverings from vintage black lace and buckskin. I edged the coverlet with silk bats. A rusted tin star and silk marigold completed the harvest look. The piece sold earlier this Spring.

Celebrating the Day of the Dead with feature artist ArtistaMuerta!

2009-11-04T09:37:00.000-06:00

Have you ever suddenly come across something by accident that just totally inspires and fascinates you? Well I just did this morning and I'm blogging all about it! I found a fellow Etsy Dark Team Member named 'ArtistaMuerta' who made this increadible El Dia Del Muertos Dollhouse, celebrating the Day of the Dead in minute detail.

Her Etsy Shop Link:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/artistamuerta

Her Dollhouse Listing:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20249619

Her Flickr for additional pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50642478@N00/sets/72157613024332606/

The house gives a sense of eerie vertigo with 1:12 scale furniture mixed with large printed wallpapers. ArtistaMuerta hand made the skeleton dolls and all accessories are removable, put in place with a tacky clay.
Each room is unique and full of so many treasures I don't know where to begin! I think the living room fireplace with the Virgine de Guadalupe is my favorite. Oh wait, maybe its the music room or the attic...In her listing, the artist describes her creation thusly:

"A project that was a complete joy to create - a Dia De Los Muertos Dollhouse. I started with a raw wood dollhouse frame, added handmade wallpaper in red and gold, decorative wood elements of scrolls, flowers and molding painted in black and gold. The roof was finished with hand-aged copper foil, sealed to protect the patina.The largest room features a gold, flowered and jeweled Dia De Los Muertos altar with Lady of Guadalupe statues, flowers, santos candles, brass candlesticks, cross, hand-painted sugar skulls and a crown. The walls are decorated with a family portrait, other portraits, pictures and paintings, brass milagros,stars, a jeweled cross, ornate mirror, and candles. The familia sits vigil over a jeweled coffin, with a velvet couch and table with candelabra.The familia was created out of wire armatures, polyclay and various bits and bobs of fabric, ribbon and jewels." She goes on to detail each room's contents

For the history of El Dia Del Muertos:

-Aztec Central http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/

-wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead

-In San Antonio, TX http://www.visitsanantonio.com/visitors/plan/featured-stories/dia-de-los-muertos/index.aspx

Eerie Glow In The Dark additions to your Miniature Haunted Mansion!

2009-10-24T09:41:00.000-05:00

It was the middle of October and I was taking a break from making minis to clean my studio. I was also mulling over ideas for my next line of spooky miniatures. While sorting through my paint box removing empty and dried bottles, I came across a long forgotten bottle of glow in the dark paint. Ah-ha! Such a simple thing but I realized I hadn’t ever made any glow-in-the-dark items before. I ran out and bought some fresh glowing paint and came home to search for something to test it on.

The previous night, my brother who is also an artist took all the paint with him to the game shop. We often host ‘paint nights’ but somewhere along the way we failed to communicate the paint schedule. I was left at home with an old basket of folk acrylics and a few bottles of Citadel acrylics. The gothic style furniture I had made was supposed to be dark black and purple in my mind’s eye but I was left with pale greens, silver, and grays. Oh well, I just used those… and this made the perfect base for the glow in the dark idea. I dry brushed a heavy layer all over each piece and in the daylight, it gave it a ghostly chalky look that I liked. Then with the lights out, it was so cool- glowing and showing the crackle texture underneath. I was very pleased!

I then took a skeleton closet I made and painted spider webs on it and made glowing drips on the skeleton inside. Wow, the piece was just that much more interesting. I then worked on photographing. I think I was only partially successful because my camera didn’t fully capture the glowing effect in the dark. Anyway, these will be available in my Etsy shop this weekend!

I began checking out other glow in the dark ideas for dollhouses and found several artisan examples. From Etsy’s TeamMIDS we have several cute things in clay:

Below are Blue Kitty Miniature’s ghostly glowing figures!
store link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5725162

Below is Sandy Copeland’s peeping ghost from one of her fantastic enchanted wood tables!

store link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6177061

Below is Dollhouse Kitchen’s glowing Jack O’ Lanterns!
store link: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6537317

I also found a Victorian Dollhouse (sold in 2007 by Laurel Auction) that has glow in the dark trimming. For an even more spooky effect, on the home’s siding you could do a light colored crackle over top of black then fully paint the exterior with glow in the dark glaze. These type of paints tend to be translucent and will show the hue and texture below it.
Other ideas for adding a bit of glow to spooky accessories:

1) Use glow in the dark printed fabrics on your miniature bedding, drapes, or upholstery!
Here are a few links:
- Star pattern
http://www.promwishescatalog.com/prom/GlowintheDark-Gossamer.cfm
- Fairy Frost pattern
http://www.annsfabricsandcrafts.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi?product=Fairyf&productid=CG0376_Glow&tracking5=froogle
- Glow in the dark fabric spray
http://www.lynchs.com/item--GlowInTheDarkFabricSpray--4568.html

2) Paint glow in the dark spider webs in the corners of your rooms or on table and counter tops!
3) Paint little skeletons with glowing paint and stick them in closets, under tables, or hanging from the rafters! Here is an example of one of those little Dollar Store skeletons turned into a creepy glowing Bridal doll. This was done by Leslie Sheperd.
This life sized skull display by Martha Steward could be easily translated into miniature. I really like how there are 3 distinct colors of bones: white, green, and black. With a thin layer of glowing acrylic, a little pile of bones would look outstandingly creepy on a buffet or dinner table or even tucked under a bed in your dollhouse.
4) Splash some glow in the dark paint on spooky plants, pots of soup, or on mirror surfaces! These ravenous Venus Flytraps are by Kate Lansing of Solet Luna.
Below are life sized glow in the dark cake plates that could easily be copied in miniature scale. Just glaze white dishes!
I also found glow in the dark tarot cards! You could print tiny black and white tarot cards and then glaze them with glow in the dark paint and some sparkles.
My first glow in the dark work: When I was little, I loved to write my name on everything… walls, bedspreads, my mom’s dog. I especially loved red lipstick. You can imagine the trouble I got into! Well, then I wised up and started using glow in the dark paint and lip gloss. I would go into my closet with a flashlight and doodle for hours. This continued until my dad decided to change the doors and add shelving in the closets. He could clearly see the texture of my work. After being severely reprimanded, I ended my graffiti days and moved onto other mediums.

Flash Text Generators at Layoutlab.com

Cauldron Craft Studio News!!!

2009-10-03T14:56:00.000-05:00

Hello out there!
I know it has been awhile since I posted here but I've started my first semester back to college since 2004... wow, I guess at 37 that makes me a non-traditional student now. I received my BA in Cultural Anthropology in '96, took an extended vacation in Alaska for 2 yrs, and then goofed around in a Comparative Religion Masters program for awhile. It seemed time to finally focus on a 'real job' . Therefore, I entered into a Mortuary Science Program (the reasoning behind this choice is another story). I'm now taking 5 classes and also doing an introductory internship with roations once a week. It has been fascinating but I had forgotten what exam weeks feel like emotionally and physically. I came out of it very satisfied and I think I actually over studied!

This last month has not seen me blogging at all and my miniature making was stiffled a bit. I have new listings in my etsy store but not nearly the amount of things for October that I wished to. Still, I have managed to participate in the artist groups I am a member of. Highlights of September at Cauldron Craft Miniatures:

1) I participated in the 1st Annual EtsyDarkTeam Halloween Scavenger Hunt! Players were led from one darkly spooky Etsy shop to the next by following the little ghosties.
It began this morning, Oct 3rd, at 10am and is already over with 14 winners randomly matched to one of the lovely donated dark art prizes. There were hundreds of dollars worth of handmade goodies by the Team's very talented members. The event was a great success and hosted by the hardworking Room3Designs, whose work can be found at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5866511 Yay Go Dark TEAM!!!

2) I made and sold several miniature magical scroll and parchment sets. When I create paper related accessories like books, maps, posters, and photograph collections, I tend to make several sets within a similiar theme. No 2 are ever alike though and even if I receive commission requests based upon someone seeing a previous item, I always tell them that each piece is intentionally different and unique. Here are a few examples from September:

3) I joined AIM, Artists In Miniatures, a group run by and for dollhouse miniature artists. If you are interested in reading more about the group go to their main site: http://www.artisansinminiature.com/index.html

I've really enjoyed reading their online FREE zine in the past and am very honored to be included in its pages this month! The October issue is packed with goulishly delightful Halloween and spooky miniatures by so many talented artists! For some reason however, I was inspired to write about one of my other passions: the Western world's fascination with ancient Egypt. Beginning on page 20, you will find my article "An Intriguing Theme, Egyptian Revival Style". There I discuss my own first attempts to make miniatures with an Egyptian flair and also the historical development of the movement in art and design from the Colonial period on. Follow the link: http://www.artisansinminiature.com/issue10.html

4) I bought many wonderful miniature goodies from my beloved Etsy TeamMIDS! All in the name of shopping for Christmas (yeah right!). My mom and I share our toys and dolls so it really is in all honesty shopping for me too. A few examples of my treasure trove:
Above is the cutest little hornet's nest from PeachBlossomHill: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7945829

Above is my new darling fairy toilet, complete with an organic tp dispenser and sprinkles inside (what was that fey eating?). Made by the creative and very nice fairyfurnishings at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7725354

Above is my new Fairyring Cake made by the star mini baker Blue Kitty Miniatures at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5725162

5) I'm also participating and donating to the so cool Mrs. B, the Pagan Soccer Mom here on blogger who is hosting the amazing 30 Days of Halloween! All the creepy crafts, spooky stories, and shocking recipes you could imagine. She has cooked up quite the stew of contests and other activities... jump on your broom and fly on over there to see what its all about! http://silvermoonwitch.blogspot.com/ My items will be featured on:

Skull brooch - October 11
Mini Ouija board and crystal ball - Oct. 16
Mini coffin shelf - Oct. 21
Witchy spoon - Oct. 23

6) Finally, I participated in the Etsy Dark Team's shop swap and had 2 fantastic partners! The whole affair was so much fun and really challenging artistically. These lovely ladies and their works will be featured in upcoming blog articles here!

For beautiful vintage spooky assemblage work and fashion, Kristy from Gypsy Eye Studio at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5696240

For frightfully altered dolls and fashion, Mrs. Evils of My Pretty Zombie at:

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6079480

They both liked my artistic style but requested something beyond my usual 1:12 scale miniatures for their swap gift. I ended up making an altered art 'Cemetery Journal' and a playscale sized Zombie Baby Bed for spooky Barbies!

As you can see, it has been a VERY BUSY month! Now onto Halloween!

My Flickr Groups to post your Spooky and Fantasy Dollhouse Miniatures

2009-08-12T10:25:00.000-05:00

I am always searching for other collectors and artists of both Spooky and Fantasy themed dollhouse miniatures... both for inspiration, good company, and to empty my wallet!!! I am trying to fill my dollhouse with one of a kind handmade goodies by various artists. Other than depleting my fundage, I would really like to promote interest in these subgenres within the miniature hobby.

On flickr, I have a Spooky Dollhouse Miniatures group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/spookydollhouseminiatures/

I've also just opened a Fantasy Dollhouse & Miniatures group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/fantasydollhouseminiatures/

Please stop by and share photos of your little worlds with us!!! Or just browse for inspiration!

The Many Incarnations of the Red Witch in History, Dolls, and Popular Media

2009-08-09T09:29:00.000-05:00

Who is the Red Witch?
The phenomenon of the Red Witch came to my attention after I noticed a common motif in vintage Halloween greeting cards. These images have always served as a wealth of ideas for my mini making and are a little window into folk practices long forgotten in America. Halloween now is much associated with children or horror movies. In the past, the American holiday was an adult affair with many romantically related games… sort of like a spooky Valentines day. Well, that’s a subject for another day.

Back to the Red Witch. In these vintage images this figure is often a whimsical young girl with her kittens and jack o’ lanterns. She may have red curls, a red hooded cape, or a red cone hat, which at the time was not always pointed but looking more like a pilgrim’s hat. The little Red Witch was a beneficial and sweet natured figure in contrast to the dark hag beings.

Above are several examples, from the exemplary Vintage Halloween collection of Dave ie “riptheskull” on Flickr. To see numerous examples of his vast collection go to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66974474@N00/

Another aspect of the Red Witch is the Sexy Sorceress. This is possibly a more modern incarnation, taking on the less than impure attributes of the Scarlet Woman. Red is danger, fire, change, blood, and fierceness. This is the magical practitioner in the bloom of her womanhood who bends others to her ways. Often the secret mistress of a king, she helps him toward his own goals but ultimately exacts a high price. This version of the Red Witch can be quite fierce, although not necessarily evil. One of my favorite portrayals of this was Tia Carrere as Akivasha in the uhum… less than good movie “Kull”, supposedly the son of Conan played by Kevin Sorbo.

Sci-fi and fantasy books, games, and comics have recycled the Sexy Red Witch stereotype countless times:

Fashion dolls, such as Tonner’s Wizard of Oz dolls, have dabbled with the Red Witch. To read more about these amazing dolls and where to purchase them: http://www.tonnerdoll.com/wizofoz.htm

Digging deeper in time, the Red Witch ultimately has ancient Gaelic roots. She is Bridget a multi faceted figure in Irish folklore. As an ancient goddess she was variously known as Bhrid or Bridget. From her name are derived the words “bride” and “breed”, terms associated with fertility and family.
This fiery haired lady was the patroness of metal smithing, music, and animal husbandry. Her three fold nature is a common motif of Celtic goddesses, however Bridget was herself trifold rather than being a member of a triple sisterhood of associated beings. Bridget’s priestesses later converted to Christianity and she became a much loved Saint associated with a historical Irish Nun carrying her name. Now her wonders are discussed in terms of ‘miracles’ rather than ‘magic’…

Further investigation produced the Red Witch Hazel plant, Hamamelis intermedia, also called the ‘Red Diane’.
The Roman goddess Diana was said to be a red headed woman of great beauty and wildness, dedicated to the wilderness. Her daughter Ariadne or Aradia was known as the Queen of Witches in Tuscan regions.

This beautiful winter plant resembles their wild red hair, with scarlet or orange blossoms, and has long been associated with witchcraft, midwifery, the land of fairy, & folk medicine. The Red Witch here blends with the Fairyfolk, and she becomes the Autumn Fey.
Ouphe & goblin! imp & sprite!Elf of eve! & starry Fay!Ye that love the moon's soft light,Hitherãhither wend your way;Twine ye in a jocund ring,Sing & trip it merrily,Hand to hand, & wing to wing,Round the wild witch-hazel tree.

Hail the wanderer again,With dance & song, & lute & lyre.Pure his wing & strong his chain,And doubly bright his fairy fire.Twine ye in an airy round,Brush the dew & print the lea;Skip & gambol, hop & bound,Round the wild witch-hazel tree.

The beetle guards our holy ground,He flies about the haunted place,And if mortal there be found,He hums in his ears & flaps his face;The leaf-harp sounds our roundelay,The owlet 's eyes our lanterns be;Thus we sing, & dance, & play,Round the wild witch-hazel tree.
-Elfin Song, by Joseph Rodman Drake (1795-1820)

Links to gardening information: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/79888/
Links to herbal usage information: http://www.paghat.com/witchhazelblooms.html

Well now, you should have plenty of new ideas to work with on your next project!
　
　
　
　

Miniature Dollhouse Chinese Apothecary Shop by Berkpanda!

2009-08-08T10:07:00.000-05:00

After writing about Apothecaries here, I discovered a wonderful Chinese Apothecary Shop by Canta ie Berkpanda on Flickr! With her permission, I am posting links and description here... unfortunately the file format of her photos won't allow me to post them. She made this lovely scene using altered Bespaq furniture, both artisan and commercial dolls, and lovely accessories. It really is the most complete Apothecary scene in miniature I have yet to find! The labeling is fantastic, there is a wide variety of jar shapes filled with all sorts of powders and tinctures, and she made great use of actual dried herbs and roots. Describing her work, Canta wrote:

"My dad's family used to own an apothecary shop in China. I never saw it, but I have seen life-sized models of such places in museums and always wanted to do one in miniature. When I saw the Bespaq apothecary cabinet, I knew I had the key piece of furniture for my shop. I cut out names of herbs from pictures of Chinese medicine cabinets -- like the ones shown on your blog -- to label the drawers. Kiva Atkinson made some of the bottles of herbs, as well as the gensing roots on the counter. . I filled other bottles myself using herbs from my kitchen."

To view her work go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/berkpanda/3761320345/

Thanks so much Canta for allowing us to see your collection!

Miniature Tutorial: How to Make Your Own Spooky Dollhouse (or just dress it up for Halloween)

2009-08-06T14:26:00.000-05:00

Making a dollhouse in any theme is a large project and ultimately a labor of love! Whether you are designing and building one from scratch, making one from a kit, or decorating a pre-built house, a miniature collection involves a bit of work and creativity. Adult collectors carefully consider scale, theme, and quality. If you find yourself drawn to haunted houses, Halloween folk art, or gothic elegance, having a permanent spooky dollhouse might be fun for you! Or you might just really enjoy the idea of decorating your dollhouse seasonally. In either case, here are a few ideas…

Maybe you just want to add a few haunting or autumn type details to an existing collection for a seasonal display. In this case, consider an eye catching magical cabinet, desk, or trunk filled with mystical goodies to set the mood. Below is a beautiful magical cabinet by LilWitchy that would be an interesting focal point:

Throw around a few baskets full of spotted mushrooms, pumpkins, spell books, a cat or two and viola! Here is a lovely set of pumpkin displays by Golden Unicorn Miniatures that could frame a front porch or a magical bookcase for instant spooky and autumn appeal!
From here, you can add layers of black silk or mesh across furniture and hanging from drapes or even stretch a bit of faux cotton webbing about. A few high quality artisan pieces will distinguish your collection rather than covering your house in plastic bright orange bits. Consider other color schemes besides the stereotypical orange and black. How about silver and sage or red and gold? All of this can then be neatly packed away when the dark holiday is over.
Here are Etsy Miniature Artists who can help you with this treasure hunt!
GoldenUnicornMinis.etsy.com
LilWitchy.etsy.com
SandyCopeland.etsy.com
Jemjoop.etsy.com
STARSGEMINI3.etsy.com
Enchanticals.etsy.com
CauldronCraftMinis.etsy.com (that’s me !!!)

An easy add that can really give an eerie ambiance to any scene are the variously lit lamps and lighting kits from the Lemax Spooky Town series, found every year at Michael’s Arts and Crafts. Piles of skulls with glowing eyes, street lamps shaped like witches’ hats, or the basic purple or strobe light kits for about $8 to $12 look really great. I usually steer clear of mass produced items in my own collection but Lemax has nice basic lighting sets that don’t require copper tape and boxes to be affixed to your structure. You just pop the battery in the little power box and hide it behind the couch. These are the Lemax lights I use:

Official Lemax Spooky Town Website with links to displays, news, and online shopping:
http://lemax-spookytown.com/

If you are interested in trying a more permanent spooky or fantasy collection but aren’t up to a whole dollhouse, consider doing a roombox first. Be creative: your roombox could be made from a faux pumpkin cut open or a cigar box bound to look like a spell book! Turn a large oatmeal container into a castle tower or create a cave scene with paper mache and Styrofoam!

My first attempt at spooky miniatures was this little room box entitled “Hag’s Cabin”. I had a picture in my mind of a little old wise lady living alone in the swamp. It is made from a board kit with a scratch built skull hearth that I constructed out of Styrofoam, stucco, resin, and Halloween plastic skull rings. I made tattered curtains from inked leather and painted the walls and floor in shades of purple and brown with ink running down to simulate age and smoke damage. Then I made my very first spooky accessories! That was in 2006 and the whole piece sold on eBay.

Another option is to purchase and build the smaller Greenleaf Haunted House Kit, available for about $38 through various dealers online, hobby shops, and toy stores. The official Greenleaf site for the kit is http://shop.greenleafdollhouses.com/Wooden-Haunted-House-Dollhouse-Kit.html
Below are 2 different variations made from the same kit:

If you are doing a whole house or roombox, what theme do you want to focus on? Spooky miniatures are a growing subgenre in the hobby with a lot of potential for new directions. It’s more than simply Halloween decorations with an orange and black color scheme (although I admit to loving all of that). You could create a unique collection based on the Old West, Zombies, Victorian Ghosts, Frankenstein, Vampires, Dark Fairies, Sexy Witches, Egyptian Mummies, Swamp Hags, Pirates or any number of other ideas! Think about the creepy movies you have seen. I personally have developed lines of furniture and accessories for Egyptian Revival, Victorian Gothic, Medieval Wizardry, Vintage Halloween, Dark Fairy, Modern Abandoned, Magic Steampunk, and Rustic Country Witchery.

If you are ready to take the plunge into a fully haunted miniature mansion or castle, there is quite a bit of variety in the actual architecture to achieve an eerie feel. Do you want a quirky brightly colored holiday house, an abandoned home with tattered curtains, peeling paint, and shutters askew, or an elegant gothic mansion with iron gates and ornate interiors?

The Flickr artist Tomdotcom has several brilliantly colored and generally funky dollhouses! http://www.flickr.com/photos/34966479@N02/
Below is a very darkly elegant home by an artist that went by 'subrosa'. I unfortunately can’t find the link anymore so if you have any information, let me know!
I do not spend oodles of money on architectural add-ons. Instead, I buy jewelry findings to dress up window sills and doorways, I build mantles and pedestals with cardboard, balsa wood, and stucco, and I turn action figure bits into sculptures and friezes. Look in wedding supplies aisles for miniature gates, gazebos, and columns. You’ll find interesting gothic papers for walls and books in scrapbook stores along with precut board frames that make interesting architectural niches. Check beading supplies for bits that can be turned into chunky hinges and locks on furniture and beads that can become potion bottles. Consider broken toys, chains, chopsticks, and found natural items. Material for art is everywhere! Well good luck on your spooky journey…

The Apothecary in History and Dollhouse Miniatures: much more than a Druggist

2009-07-19T14:12:00.000-05:00

In this article, I will explore the history of the Apothecary as well as the essentials in creating a miniature Apothecary setting in your dollhouse or room box. My investigation began after seeing this incredible Apothecary Chest made by Lil Witchy, pictured below. She is yet another fantastic Etsy Miniature Artist!
The listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27613719
The Shop: Lil Witchy Haunted Dollhouse Minaitures LilWitchy.etsy.com

HISTORY OF THE APOTHECARY
“Apothecary” is a historical name for the medical professional who formulated and sold medicinal materials, a role now served by pharmacists in the US or dispensing chemists in British English. According to Sharif Kag al-Ghazal, the first apothecary shops were founded during the middle ages in Baghdad. By the end of the fourteenth century, Geoffrey Chaucer (1342-1400) mentioned an English apothecary in the Canterbury Tales. These men continued to ply their trade until the advent of modern medicine in the last century, completely dominating mainstream medical care and so marginalizing female practitioners, such as midwives, during this time.

The early Apothecary performed a much wider range of roles than today’s Pharmicist. They performed surgery, they took over midwifery, they were the dentists, and even made house calls. In Colonial Williamsburg, apothecaries also sold cooking spices, candles, salad oil, anchovies, toothbrushes, and tobacco, making them true precursors of today's drugstores.
The work of the apothecary may be regarded as a precursor of the modern sciences of chemistry and pharmacology, prior to the formulation of the scientific method. Some of the ingredients that were used in Colonial remedies are the basis for modern medications. This includes chalk for heartburn, calamine for skin irritations, and cinchona bark for fevers. Later it was discovered that cinchona bark contains quinine for malaria and quinidine for cardiac conditions.
Ancient folk herbalism and healing practices continued in tandem with the new Apothecary system as many people could not afford professional Doctors. They would simply self diagnose and buy the needed ingredients for home made medicines from the local Apothecary shop.

MAKING A MINIATURE APOTHECARY
What items must you have to make an Apothecary room? The basics are bottles, mortar and pestle, and storage units. Throw in an Apothecary sign, vintage labels, dried herb and powder specimens, and a scale for further realism. You could even refine your theme to Colonial Early American, Medieval European, the Country Quack, or Asian style medicine. Well, my aspiring mini herbalists, lets begin!

1) BOTTLES
Containers for all the powders, tonics, and salves are the key to creating an Apothecary scene. Glass canisters, tubes, jars, and bottles of all kinds are a must! Here are examples of actual Apothecary bottles and vintage look labels: Below, you can see the dark glass bottles used to preserve contents from sunlight: Good sources for miniature glass bottles and chemistry components:
- Dollhouse Hand Blown Glassware by Royal Miniatures from FINGERTIP FANTASIES Dollhouse Miniatures http://www.dollhouseminiatures.com/Accessories/glass.html Examples of this line can be seen below: - Glasscraft of England hand blown glass can be found at various dealers such as Daisy’s Dollhouse and Bits n Pieces Dollhouse Miniatures online. Examples of this line can be seen below the links. I have personally seen lovely work from Glasscraft and it is cheaper to buy it online rather than in an exclusive dollshop. The cranberry and amethyst pieces are especially lovely!
http://www.bitsnpiecesonline.com/store/index.php?cPath=11
http://daisysdollhouseminis.com/shop/index.phpmain_page=index&manufacturers_id=7&zenid=323aad... - D’s Miniatures and Collectibles on eBay has some very unusual medical pieces including these handmade glass test tubes.
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Ds-Miniatures-and-Collectibles

2) MORTAR & PESTLE
Here are various examples of actual life sized mortar and pestles available today. They come in a wide range of shapes and materials so be creative when crafting miniatures! Try beads, clay, or carved wood.
I found several antique miniature mortar and pestles on the market, mostly made of brass and dating to the early 1900’s. They are easily found at online dollhouse auctions, just search ‘vintage’, ‘brass’, or ‘antique’ miniature mortar and pestle. Below are a few examples.
There are also many sources of new porcelain, turned wood, and brass mini mortar and pestles. I like the one made by Clare-Bell Brass Works. You can find this through several retailers priced from $4 to $6. Here it is at the Dollhouses and More online store:
http://www.dollhousesandmore.com/product/CE1735100/Miniature_ClareBell_Brass_Mortar_Pestle.html 3) APOTHECARY STORAGE
Concerning storage, you could have a store room full of shelves, a single desk or cabinet next to a working table, or even a carrying case for a traveling practitioner. Here are several historical examples for inspiration:

Below are examples of Apothecary carrying cases and travel trunks:

4) APOTHECARY SIGN & LABELS
Personally, I love love love the labels available in Dead Spider’s Etsy store Curios and Dark Arts. There are wonderfully vintage looking labels for both 1:12 scale and life size bottles. She has two different sets of miniature lables and I just ordered one of each! Yay... presents in the mail! Item link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_1&listing_id=27665055
Store link: deadspider.etsy.com Don't forget to make your Apothecary Sign!
For futher inspiration, check these links to historical Medical, Scientific, and Industrial Museum collections and dealers:
1) MedicalAntiques.com http://medicalantiques.com/medical/Medical_Antiques_Index.htm
2) Urban Remains Chicago: Antique American Architectural Artifacts http://www.urbanremainschicago.com/
3) Gilai Collectibles http://www.gilai.com/
4) Transylvania University Museum of Medical and Scientific Apparatus
http://homepages.transy.edu/~museum/muslist.htm
　

Moving Into My Miniature Haunted Mansion...

2009-07-16T14:31:00.001-05:00

The Origins...
Last summer, while I was working at a dollhouse miniature shop, a lady rushed in with this rickety, dusty, warped, badly scaled unfinished cedar dollhouse that she picked up for $25 at a garage sale. Her deal was this: she and her family were storm refugees in town from Austin and her daughter needed something to play with at their hotel room pronto. Uh, well… refurbishing any dollhouse takes time and this one, OMG. The proprietor of the shop, who is notoriously brash with her opinions, straight away told the mother to just chuck it in the trash because it was beyond fixing.

While the conversation continued, I eyed the house. It did have a mildewed lampshade as the tower’s roof. It had several splintered and missing pieces of exterior wood. It had a horrible layout with huge oversized stairs cutting up each floor through the middle. Windows were broken out. Shingles were placed crooked and many were missing. The front porch roof was put on upside down. Terrible. I fell in love with it and had a vision!!!

As the boss lady went on her way to the back room leaving the crestfallen mother, I stepped over to comfort her and point out our pre-built decently priced dollhouses. Then there was all the bargain furniture sets well suited to children. I even offered to take that rotten house off her hands for the same amount she had paid at the garage sale so that she wouldn’t be loosing any money. Ta-da!!! The store made a $300 sale, I got my trashy treasure for $25, and my boss was outraged.

The shop owner buzzed over unhappy that I had spent any money on such ‘junk’ (and probably annoyed that the lady hadn’t agreed to purchase a new house when she had a crack at her). The customer left all smiles. Then it was on. I was reamed for nearly 30 minutes about the ‘mess I was in’. I should just ‘donate the house’… I asked her, why would I donate ‘trash’? Plus I pointed out, buying the house for a pittance had given the store a good sale. Hmm… mean stare.

I was overjoyed and took my prize home - after throwing out the lampshade! Below are pictures of the house after a good cleaning.

It has taken a year before I have finally pulled the house out of my closet. What prompted this move? Well, I made this super cool little cauldron with an owl and stars and liked it so well I decided to keep it for myself rather than selling it. Ok, its sitting in my room on a bookcase. It needs a ‘place’… hmm, the place should be a spooky mansion!!! Shabang. Just like that I got busy. First, remove rotted splintered wood and replace with fresh new pieces. Glue all the loose floors back in and straighten the walls. Re-attach the roof. Make spooky!!!

Below are pictures of exterior alterations to my haunted mansion. Notice how one of my kitties, Pumpkin, is monitering the whole project. She is very organized and demanding.

It definitely needs a name so I will have to think on that. I also will be purchasing a spooky electrical light kit for dollhouses. These can be found at MainlyMinis.com in two different sizes!
http://www.dollhouseminiatures.net/product_info.php?products_id=4806

This will be an ongoing project... I have big BIG plans, like seasonal decorations, basing it on a round board and landscaping, making dolls to live in my creation and so much more! If I can find the time with college starting soon... no no think positive! Anyway, below are various examples of lovely haunted houses that inspire me:

Remember Our Forgotten Wizards: Nikola Tesla

2009-07-11T08:53:00.000-05:00

Spooky History and Examples of: The Witch's Hat!

2009-07-10T18:02:00.000-05:00

When you say the word ‘witch’ a whole host of images come to mind… cauldrons, brooms, and HATS! In fact, anyone at Halloween can claim to be dressed as a Witch as long as they put on a pointy wide brimmed hat. You can’t just carry a cauldron or a broom and pull that off. It is the HAT! Whether you see it on the vamp Elvira or a fairy tale hag, the hat says it all.

Shadow Play Magazine offers several historical origins for the pointy witch hat in this article:
http://www.shadowplayzine.com/Articles/witches_hat.htm

Conical medieval hats, often pictured worn by a princess with a veil attached, were called Hennins. I have heard the theory that the rural populations who were slow to give up their folk ways were also wearing outdated fashions like this hat style. Both the hat and these beliefs became associated by the Church with witchcraft. Further negative connotations were added to the style when the pointy cap was used by the medieval Church to humiliate Jews and heretics during Inquisition trials. Remnants of this practice can be seen in the dunce hat today. Strangely, the stereotypical Birthday hat is also conical which may be related to ancient European revelry and festival practices.
WAYS TO DISPLAY WITCH HATS:
- on a witch doll or even on an animal familiar
- hanging on a coat rack or within a witch’s wardrobe
- sitting amidst other magical items on a witch’s desk or bookcase
- on top of a jack-o-lantern or on a scarecrow
- sitting on a scenic wooden or stone fence
- on top of a hay bale, a basket of apples, or on a broom
- on a little mannequin head with jewelry

Here are my own sculpted clay hats.
FANTASTIC MINI WITCH HATS:

First, check out Kat the Hat’s amazingly cool BlogSpot. I already did the search for ‘witch hats’ for ya! Her work is outstandingly creative with high craftsmanship. Her hats look to be made of wound straw braids and are very whimsical. The artist resides in the UK and sells on eBay.
http://katthehatlady.blogspot.com/search?q=witch+hats
http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/avielon

Next, you have to look at Richard and Jodi Creager’s collaborative dolls and miniatures! They work in a wide range of themes but their witches and ghosts are to die for… Their elegant hats are made of a variety of rich fabrics and doodads like feathers and gems.
http://www.creagers.com/
http://www.creagers.com/gallery%204.html (the Halloween gallery)
Here's a darker example of their work... so very nice.
HARRY POTTER SORTING HATS:
Harry Potter. Enough said! Between this guy and Gandolph, it’s a wonder that pointy hats aren’t being seen on fashion runways… then again, you are supposed to be wise to wear one. Well, I found 2 equally fantastic examples of miniature Sorting Hats!

Once again, the Creager’s came through beautifully, with this cloth example.

Then, one of Etsy’s own artists, NJDMiniatures produced this fantastically sculpted clay version! Even the stool it rests upon is superbly detailed.
http://www.njdminiatures.com/
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6017026

COUNTRY PRIMITIVE HATS FOR THE RUSTIC WITCH:
Although the Country and Primitive Crafts crowd may not rub shoulders that often with the spooky Goth and Dark Art crowd, they have witches and Halloween motifs in common! I love rustic and autumn harvest inspired witchy crafts and dolls. Here are a few fine examples of hats from this genre:
HIGH FASHION WITCH HATS FOR THE ELEGANT SPELLCASTER:
Gotta love Halloween time when all the sexy costumes come out… Our moment in dark paradise for all my fashion conscious sisters! It’s the only time of year I can walk around in public and not be stared at like a… dare I say it… freak. I manage to celebrate Halloween every day in some capacity. Woops, my striped stocking are showing… Here are a wide range of witchypoo hats to inspire you!

Being A Miniature Artist On Etsy

2009-07-05T08:15:00.000-05:00

Switching from Ebay to Etsy as a Miniature Artisan:

I sold both my handmade ooak miniatures as well as vintage dollhouse items on ebay for about 4 years as Darkattic Oddities. I had regular customers and 619 100% positive feedback scores. Still, I felt the need to look for other venues. Something that was run by artists for artists, something that drew collectors of handmade work, something more personal and supportive, something without all the freakn small charges that really added up... What was this 'something'? My cousin told me about Etsy nearly 2 years ago. She embroiders monograms on everything (which I always secretly thought was a sign of meglamania and self importance)... towels, underwear, robes, pillows all with personal initials. Hmm I'm getting off track. Anyway, she says she's had great luck on Etsy. At the time, I didn't find many miniatures on the site and so wasn't sure if it was the place for my work. Especially my spookier stuff. It seemed like a nice idea though and I kept it in the back of my head.

Checking on Etsy again 2 years later, I found several wonderful miniature artists and about 3 miniature Teams. I developed a new store, Cauldron Craft Miniatures & Oddities, and put up some things. Other than a few bumps switching my PayPal account, it went well! I still had my ebay store open too but I felt that my new store's concept was much more interesting. Plus, Etsy had this cool community energy thing going on. I decided to take the plunge! I closed my ebay store, although I still have my personal account (there are some sources there that I'm still a regular customer of). I put all my product up on Etsy. I went though the Teams and have since joined 3: Etsy's Dark Side Street Team, TeamMIDS (miniatures in dollhouse scales) and TeamMinimakers. It has been a great learning experience and fun fun fun... I am actually artistically challenged again rather than feeling like I did on ebay- selling junk at a gigantic garage sale.

Selling miniatures on Etsy is like this: You have to work harder to market your items because the traffic is much less than on ebay. However, people coming through specifically want quality handmade work and so will pay better prices for it. This increases the amount of time and quality of materials I'm willing to put into any given piece. For me its been a win win situation.
New people at Etsy:

- Join teams and be active! If you support your team, they support you and its free advertising!

- Join flickr, photobucket, or DeviantART and develop an online portfolio of your work!

- Join myspace, tribe, facebook, or whatever social network you like. Chances are, your team has a site there as well so link up with it for more networking!

- Blog! give tutorials, discuss artistic inspiration, talk about your pets, your hair...

- POST LINKs on all your sites going back to your store, your teams, your blog!

- Understand the importance of TAGGING your items and how they show up in Etsy searches and larger meta searches online. What tags does your team use? There are specific Team Tags as well as descriptive product tags. Check out similiar items and see what they have. Use tags appropriately! To much misuse of a tag and buyers will stop typing it into searches. Don't allow your product tags to become cluttered with non-related garbage - report misuse.

Tags that work best for my miniatures:

- OOAK "one of a kind" "handmade"

- 112 (for the scale)

- spooky Halloween horror Gothic Steampunk dark fantasy fairy

- dollhouse minaiture miniatures

- item specifics like furniture or whatever

Your chances to increase visibility in searches are in your product title, your store section titles, your 14 Etsy tag options, your online portfolio titles and sections... Plus you can pay for additional advertising on Etsy and outside craft searches.

In a tiny world full of pink couches, is there a place for a skull chandelier?

My miniatures are fantastical and creepy, making many dollhouse shop owners a bit uncomfortable. I've actually watched them squirm... But then a random customer spies the little Witch's closet and actually runs over, grabs is out of my hand, squeals and throws money at me! This actually happened. I knew I had a market no matter what the shopkeeper said. There are people out there with Haunted Dollhouses, Halloween Mansions, and Wizard Castles gnashing their teeth for spooky and magical miniatures. I will give them cauldrons, spirits, ouija boards, dragon wing beds, and skulls galore!!! I cannot be stopped muhhahah!

Uhh... so anyway, back to knowing your market. Make what you love even if it is not mainstream. There is a market for variety in minatures because people are tired of buying the same thing from China and even Bespaq. It's mass produced and that's why you, the new miniature artisan are soooo special. You are the only source of your work!

The History of Miniatures and Dolls on Etsy:

Miniatures and Dolls are a fairly new category on Etsy and the search system is still evolving. However, a growing number of very talented miniature artists are joining Etsy. One of the first miniature artists on the site described the evolution of the category thusly:

"For 2 1/2 years people had been asking Etsy for a suitable category to list non-toy items which were of a "toy type". Listing in "Toys" was inappropriate and in "Everything Else" items were lost. Collectors looking at the front page of Etsy would probably think that no collecible miniatures were offered for sale, the search facility isn't a lot of help and a new visitor to the site would be unlikely to be able to find anything by using it. A main category naming miniatures on the front page was desperately needed.In March/April 2008 Admin announced they would be creating a category for "Collectibles" this resulted in a heated debate about what a "collectible" was and it became obvious everyone would be wanting to list in the category which would be little more than another "Everything Else" category. Admin cancelled the category and said if anyone could come up with a suggestion they would go ahead again.Art doll makers and miniaturists joined forces and started a petition asking for a Dolls And Miniatures main category which eventually had over 700 signatures. The campaign gained momentum and many long forum threads were kept running. An Etsy team DAM was formed.Eventually Etsy Admin created the category on October 6th 2008 but unfortunately included some toy items in it so it wasn't quite as good as everyone had envisaged it would be but a lot better than being stuck in "Everything Else" or "Toys".The DAM team began to think about its future direction and held a vote, it was decided to keep it more as a general social team and those of us who believed there was a need for a Team which would specifically deal with scale dollhouse miniatures for adult collectors formed "Miniatures In Dollhouse Scales".Etsy confirmed the team as official on November 12th 2008. --------------------
Blue Kitty "

Hopefully, all of this info will help any aspiring Miniature artist considering Etsy as a home! Please join us... join us.... join ussss....