Making knick-knack

I had thought, I was going to log the building of the Toy House and its contents in some kind of order that made sense...

As much as that seems a logically and sensible way to go about things, that is never going to happen :-). I make things higgledy-piggledy, when I feel like it, when a great new idea comes into my head and when time allows. 

This week I made this 'thing'. Any guesses? 

It is tiny. Only 15mm (5/8") wide. There are three holes in the top piece and tree corresponding diverts in bottom piece. 

It is tiny. Only 15mm (5/8") wide. There are three holes in the top piece and tree corresponding diverts in bottom piece. 

Another clue...

I bought these Tiny Resin Pipes from Nalladris some time ago and painted them. (Obviously, Thomas Tjørngren would enjoy a pipe in the evening). They are minute and I needed to somehow keep them together and make sure they wouldn't get lost. I had thought perhaps a wall mounted shelf or rack of some kind, but then I found a few pictures of antique pipe racks and was surprised to see just how elaborate and clever some of them were with built-in tobacco drawers and detailed decorations. 

I settled for this more modest version as a model for my mini version. 

   

The little pipe stand fits beautifully on the shelf in front of the top row of books. The beautiful little vase is by the talented Lorie Marsh of Lorie Marsh Ceramics - I was so lucky to win this and a larger pot.

~ ~ ~ 

I built a small bookcase for the upstairs apartment from scratch a little while ago. I couldn't find one the size or height I wanted - sort of half way up the wall. Those I looked at were either way above my budget or clunky and 'ugly' looking so I figured... It's all just rectangles, how hard could it be?

The bookcase is made from basswood with timber mouldings for the trim at the top and front edges. 

I took the photo before it was varnished - or rather, I use layers of French polish. It takes time and layer upon layer but I find it easier to control the final look of the piece. 

The top moulding doubles up as the front of a shallow drawer. My grandmother had a cupboard with a very shallow drawer at the top like this. Just out reach of little people but not so high grown-ups couldn't reach it easily. I found it most intriguing as a child.

In it, she kept special things.. 

... like photo albums and medals. 

Like the pipes, the tiny medals are from Nalladris. I threaded the medals onto tiny pieces of silk ribbon before popping them into little boxes. The boxes from black card, with ribbon for hinges and silk ribbon for the little 'pillow'' inside.

 

To fill the shelves, I first made a pile of books. Books are fun and easy and filled the shelves quickly. A couple of them open, but most are made from covered balsa blocks. 

To make the wood look like pages, I scored the block multiple times with the tip of my craft knife before painting them cream/ivory and then rubbing a bit of chalk pencil onto them. I think it works.

There are way too many books and I need to find more knick-knacks, but this is a start. 

I hope you are all keeping well, staying safe and looking after yourself and those around you.

Anna X

Toys for the Toy House shelves

Four months ago, I (mostly) finished the exterior of my little Toy House. I felt, I was on a real roll and so excited about how it was all coming together. What happened, you may wonder? 

I have been tinkering a little bit, but haven't made any major progress. Having said that, the shelves in the shop are filling slowly with toys that I have gathered so far. Some I have bought, some are made from kits and some from scratch.

I thought I would start listing them here as a way to somehow log what they all are so that I can look back and remember what they all are when where I found them. 

These three little pieces are some of my oldest tiny toys. I bought and painted them.. many, many moons ago. I am guessing they are phoenix miniatures. I rediscovered them in a box when I was cleaning out the shed and almost threw out - before deciding to play with them instead. 

I painted this family of teeny wild animals more recently. As you can see, they are the tiniest of tiny. The Ark is from a very basic little kit. I made groves in sides and roof to add just a bit of details before painting it.

The toys look cute when piled in on the shelf. Time will tell if they stay there. 

The polar bear is just a cheap plastic micro mini - I think he might need a bow around his neck to make him look a bit more friendly. 

The Humpty Dumpty Circus boxes at the back are made with the graphics from original lids that I found online and scaled down. 

One day, I might like to make some tiny Humpty Dumpty circus figures to go in the boxes.

Some of the first toys, I made from scratch are these three. It started with the monkey seesaw, made mostly from paper, with a little bit of balsa for them to sit on and pins for the mast and for securing the wheels. The little seesaw boat is made from a bit of balsa with the tops of fancy toothpicks for the little sailors. 

I love antique toys, so I have had a lot of fun looking for ideas for toys to make for the little shop. So when I saw this pull-along monkey, I just had to make one like that too.  

Another paper toy - a tiny merry-go-round. I found this brilliant download and tutorial HERE. Although it is in French, the pictures are excellent so it is pretty easy to follow. 

Next a few little dolls made from kits from Tower House Dolls (the website is currently under reconstruction). The larger doll was a full kit and my first attempt. For the slightly smaller doll, I just got the porcelain doll and made up the costume from silk ribbons and fine lace trim. I am not overly excited about the hair, but it will do (for now).

I had so much fun making these little ladies and I can highly recommend Sandra's kits if you are ever looking for a really special mini doll for your mini people. 

The dolls house is also from a kit - well partly. This one  is from Jacominis. The print is really excellent, but I was so disappointed when I discovered the beautiful front was just to be glued onto a wooden block! That wouldn't do. 

After a bit of trail and error, I managed to create a paper interior on the computer, that when folded made four rooms. Looking at the photo, I now see the front edges are a little bit wonky (another thing I need to fix) but I still prefer this to a wooden block. Notice the wallpaper in the upstairs bedroom is a scaled down version of the living room above the toyshop :-)

I have been looking for some 1:144 furniture, but have yet to buy some to fill the house. 

There are many more toys on the shelf already, perhaps I need to pull them out and log them shelf by shelf. 

Take care everyone,

Anna