Overkill?

As you saw from my petal purchase I want to have a go at making a couple of vases of flowers and some indoor potted plants and a couple of things for outside, so I thought I would start with half a dozen roses, but I think I am approaching quarter scale flowers the wrong way.  If I was making 1/12th this is what I would do - and is what I have done so far for this attempt but, as I said, I can't see it working in this scale.

In twelfths I just measure the life-size thing, work out what it will be at 1/12th and crack on replicating it the best I can.  Here's the resulting exercise for a rose from life to 1/48th.

photo so I know how they look in a vase

photo of a bud

photo of a bloom

photo of a whole stem to measure

As you can see, in the diagram below, the converted measurements are nightmarishly small.  I don't reckon I can work below 1/16th inch so I am OK with compromising the accuracy a little.  Even then, how realistic is it to construct a rose at this level?  I am about to find out - watch this space.

click on photo to enlarge

Vendors - D & K Enterprises and Micro-Mark

English country garden in France????

My first buy from D and K Enterprises and I can't sing their praises enough.  I was a right faffing about customer and they were patient, helpful and prompt - what more could you ask for.  Here is the result - masses of petals and leaves and a few stems with the wild hope of my being able to produce a teeny bit of landscaping (not planning on using all this in one go) around the house and a vase or two of flowers.

guess which are my four

The other is from Micro-Mark which is somewhere I have shopped before and I can't recommend them highly enough either.  On this occasion I wanted a special offer they had on but it was a couple of days too early for posting it to me here - no problem - the order was accepted, charged at the discount prices and then sat on for a few days.

I bought some other stuff from Micro-Mark too but that was for The Gate House .  Click if you want to take a look at that; but these little people were for Les Roches.  Meet:

First from left:  Lucien - half of the young 'caretaker' couple
Third from left:  Beatrice - the English wife
Fourth from left:  Anthony - the English husband
Fifth from left:  Matilde - the other half of the French couple

It is a whole other world in my head ...... spooky music.....




If you don't find quarter scale woman too disturbing......

It might be worth a mention - I heard from two different people that they don't know when I write in one place or the other and are forever playing catch up.  If you want to know when I do a new post for any blog you can just sign up to be notified by email (right hand column).  No-one sees your email address (including me) it is just an automatic link to the blog so that when something changes it emails you to say so.  You don't get stuck on some advertiser's list and, when you get fed up, every email has an unsubscribe click place on it so you can leave when you like.

Parts of kits

I have just been working on this lovely little Betterley's kit for Les Roches.  Like the Pie Kitchen one I did over in The Gate House it has several items in it - all made to go with each other.

Also, like the kitchen kit it has made up beautifully and I am thrilled with the things I've done so far.

I will be buying both of these again to keep for any future projects and will just change colours/finishes to suit.

From this kit the dressing gown pattern will serve me well,forever, for coats, macs, more dressing gowns.  

unfinished tote - toothpick for scale

I can see a zillion ways to use the tote box - for a box of apples from the orchard, box of wood or kindling, box of knitting, sewing - all sorts.  

has a pretty back too

The screen could be adapted to so many situations and the slipper pattern and picture frames have endless uses.  

I just so wish you could buy the various components separately.  I do understand why not.  The Betterleys create whole worlds like Pickett Pond and these kits are there to help you complete the various vignettes needed.  I can't imagine they need to expand in any way as they must be run off their feet already with work.  I wonder if they know anyone who would like to run a 'side' business making or just selling their bits and bobs as smaller individual kits to quarter scalers like me who (much as I love their mini world creations) want to do their own thing.

Organisation - A5 ring binder

I have sixteen vendor's lists on the go right now

Do as I say not as I do.......

Somewhere in my recent trawling I saw and momentarily considered ordering a really nice Chinese wall cabinet for the salon in Les Roches.  I broke my own rule and didn't bother writing it down and now can't remember where I saw it.

What I try to do is this.....

I jot down anything and everything that has the slightest chance of ever being wanted - on a scrap of paper, or a note on ipad or computer, or just simply bookmark it on the computer.  Even better, when I am pretty sure I want it but not just yet, I make a note in my portable brain - aka an A5 ring binder.  

This is my four-year old friend and constant companion (other than my husband).

In respect of 'maybe items' I have a page for each vendor and just make a note of what I saw.  I go back and cull the lists now and then.  When there is something I really, really want I already have a list prepared of everything I want from them.  If they are things that can wait then the list grows over time until it is worth paying the delivery charge.

It is also there when a show comes up and I can pre-order from them or at least know what I want in advance. 

It works like a charm if you remember to do it.

Vendors - Odins Miniatures

I found these folk by accident but I am so glad I did.

Odins Miniatures

click to enlarge

They are a 1/12th supplier and even have a physical shop in Ramsgate in Kent.  

For us quarter scalers their 'crafty' shop is a real treat to shop in and I got next day delivery for just £3, including time spent sorting a query from me, talk about instant response.

If you enlarge the photo you may be able to see the price of everything - nothing over a pound.  As for scale: if you look at the glass phials of no-hole beads that will show you that they all work very well.  Stripe fabric might be too big but if I use them as long drapes they may still work.  The grey/white fabric is lovely as is everything else.  So, good products, great price, super service - long may it reign. 

A new Page

I have added a new Page (see link above) for vendors.

I want to keep a list of quarter scale vendors for my own use so I may as well share it.

Maybe useful for someone?

The Dining Room

You are going to need a lot of imagination for this one...

If the fireplace went to the back as it should I wouldn't be able to get the connecting door in so that's decidedly a no-go for me.  Before really looking at the space I did think I could get the door in beside the fireplace - they do that sometimes (think Regency) but in reality it just won't go.  The fireplaces on the second floor will be small and plain but they need to be 'showy' in these ground floor rooms and so it eats up too much space. The house has to work as it would in real life.  With the chimneys and fireplace on the side wall I think I can see how it will be furnished.

Dining table and six chairs if I can get small and dainty enough a demi-lune either side of the door with pillar mirrors above and a matching/co-coordinating pair of something something on them.  Failing that purchase (or make) I'll settle for two vases and flowers (again!!) 

I am collecting pictures in the Reference file as I go along - click on the link on the left if you want a look at some thinking behind the rooms.