new otterine’s miniatures blog
Most of the content has been moved over from the old miniatures blog, more each day. You can still access the old blog for now by clicking the link at the top. If you run across broken links, it might be I have moved some but not all related posts. Or, it might be an oversight on my part.
Feel free to contact me using the form at the top if you see something wrong or can’t find what you are seeking. To leave a comment, you’ll need to click on an individual post title; the form will be at the bottom of the post.
Categories: Miniatures
January 24, 2024 | 0 commentsTrain Cabin book nook – part 2
Continuing work on the train cabin book nook. I spray painted the seat supports and the assembled luggage racks in a soft gold. The kit comes with gold colored metal sheets to finish the pieces in shiny brass, but I opted to leave those off during the process. Just a personal preference. I will be using the metal sheet in other places in the kit.
I then added the pre-cut leather to the seats I built previously. The quality is nice, and the pieces are self-adhesive. I did add a little supplemental glue where needed. (One note about the leather, though. Since the kit is laser cut, there will be some soot from the process. Be sure to wash your hands when handling the lighter color leather pieces during assembly.)
The kit includes artwork on regular printer paper for the wall frames. I used Wallpaper Mucilage to affix the black and white photos to white card stock to make them easier to handle.
After cutting them, I realized there wasn’t a black and white photo for the larger size frame, so I googled suitable images to fill in since I wanted all black and white photos for consistency. I painted the frames dark brown and left off the kit’s gold accents. With the leather installed on the side walls, I started putting it all together.
For the curved back wall assembly, I departed from the instructions slightly since I found it easier to glue the window frame piece 98 in place first, then add the leather pieces. This ensured a good fit and proper placement of the leather on the wall/ceiling and around the window.
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I have a discount code for 10% off your purchase at Anavrin (I will receive an affiliate commission when you use my link. This link should give you the discount, but the actual code is BRAE63636)
Categories: Train Cabin
August 16, 2024 | 1 commentTrain Cabin book nook – part 1
Starting work on the train cabin book nook. There are a lot of parts to this kit, but the instructions seem clear and thorough.
The the first half of the instructions involve the working mechanism to create the moving landscape seen through the window. Since I don’t need the landscape portion finished to work on the interior, I skipped ahead. I have some ideas on changing the interior, so I wanted to do some dry fitting to see what was what.
The kit pieces are precise so far, and I needed to use needle files and sandpaper to get the tabs and slots to fit without forcing connections and risking breakage.
The project is roughly 1:24 scale, and I have very little experience beyond plastic model cars in this scale. But, I do have a tiny pug named Pierre from Marina. Since there’s a pet carrier included in the kit, I think Pierre will have to do a fair amount of modeling along the way.
After dry-fitting the seats and table, I think my alterations are going to be minimal. If I were to scratch build, I would have room to change things more. I’m not at all disappointed, since I was fairly certain making alterations would be limited by the precision of the kit itself.
I put together some assemblies to set aside for spray painting. Note: I’m not using some of the brass metal sheet detailing as I go. I will use some but not all.
The flooring comes stained, but I wanted to make it a deeper brown. It also had some large, obvious grain. I used Staining Medium mixed with Bittersweet Chocolate, both by Americana. For the larger grain streaks that still showed, I used undiluted paint.
Once dry, I polished lightly by rubbing the surface with a bit of brown paper bag then sealed with satin varnish by Delta Ceramcoat. It’s now a deeper color with the obvious grain hidden.
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I have a discount code for 10% off your purchase at Anavrin (I will receive an affiliate commission when you use my link. This link should give you the discount, but the actual code is BRAE63636)
Categories: Train Cabin
May 27, 2024 | 1 commentTrain Cabin book nook – introduction
I was gifted this lovely 1940’s Train Cabin kit by Anavrin. I have loved this book nook since I first saw it, but other projects have taken center stage. When Anavrin contacted me about doing a build for my blog in exchange for the kit, I was overjoyed.
As part of the deal, I have a discount code for 10% off your purchase at Anavrin (I will receive an affiliate commission when you use my link. This link should give you the discount, but the actual code is BRAE63636) They have this and many other book nook kits.
I asked if I had to build it to spec, and they told me I could do what I liked. Music to my ears! I have a few ideas on how to change it up to make it my own, so it will take me a bit longer than just building it right out of the box.
Everything you need is included, but I am sure to reinvent and reuse and add.
I have a few more things in the hopper, but I hope to start on this build next month.
Categories: Train Cabin
April 24, 2024 | 4 commentsFlowers and plants
Just some highlights of various plants, flowers and trees I’ve made.
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Potted plants – available in my etsy shop
Container tree at Whinnie’s Terrace – (the process ends here, but you can click back through the links at the beginning of each post to see the full process)
Homemade shrubbery – an otterine original, tutorial available in my etsy shop
Making a tree – (the process ends here, but you can click back through the links at the beginning of each post to see the full process)
Snake Plant – Ruth Hanke design
Tiny white flowers — work in progress
The Miniature Garden verbascum and Bonnie Lavish purple daisies
Dogwood tree – for The Aero Squadron Lounge
The Tree – creepy old tree for the Haunted Heritage
African violets – The Miniature Garden kit
Autumn leaves – an otterine original
Flower in a milk carton – True2Scale kit
Snake Plant – Ruth Hanke design
Elephant Ear plant – Shirley Vallas design
Categories: Flowers, plants, and trees
April 20, 2024 | 0 commentsNeedlework
Quick links:
– Post on punchneedle tips and tricks
– Post on finishing a French knot rug
– Post on Baby Z Lap Frame
– Post on Morgan No-Slip Hoop
– Post on Morgan Lap Stand———–
Cluny Animals – modified from a Bobbie Schoonmaker design, French knots – future project
Five Felines rug – The original pattern was made by Anne Ritter, and I was inspired by the rug made by Shelly Norris from this pattern. I altered the position, shape and size of the various cats to better suit the real life cats they represent. The rug measures 3 1/8″ by 1 3/4″ and took me 28 hours to stitch.
Birds on a Branch – Sue Bakker design, re-charted in Pattern Maker Pro and printed on cotton, French knots – work in progress
Gazelle Rug – cross stitch, 32ct Jobelan – Pattern from Miniature Embroidery for the 20th Century Dolls’ House by Pamela Warner, work in progress
Mod Flowers Rug – French knots on cotton – based on modern real life rug by Thomas Paul – work in progress
The Persian – French knots on cotton – original latch hook chart by Patons – work in progress
Bargello seat covers in green – 40 count linen, two strands DMC floss – pattern from the book Miniature Needlepoint and Sewing Projects by Kathryn Falk
Bargello seat covers in tan – 40 count linen, two strands DMC floss – pattern from the book Miniature Needlepoint and Sewing Projects by Kathryn Falk
Tribal Foxes Rug – cross stitch, 32ct Jobelan – adapted from vintage original, work in progress
Horses and Birds Rug – adapted from a book on Ukrainian embroidery, charted on Pattern Maker Pro. I’m not sure if I will stitch this rug, but it was a good exercise in learning the software. I love the ease of changing colors universally in the Pattern Maker software.
Tree Ring Rug – freehand French knots, inspired the Woody Wood Carpet by Dutch designer Yvette Laduk
Nine Horses wall tapestry – half cross stitch, 32ct Jobelan – adapted from vintage original
Prairie rug – punchneedle adapted from Mitchell’s Interiors original – work in progress
Bees and Trees – French knot kit by Teresa Layman
Blue Medallion rug, chart provided by Jorge Cubells
Bedding pillows, pillowcases and accent pillows – most available in my etsy shop
Navajo rug – Natalia Frank design based on a Navajo original weaving
Topiary with Birds – motif from a Dutch sampler dated 1776
William Morris rug – adapted from a Janet Granger design
Llama rug – Brenda Keyes design
Orange Tree tapestry – Brenda Keyes design
Mackintosh chair covers – Sue Hawkins design
Faux crochet throw blanket – tutorial available in my etsy shop
Categories: Needlework - French knot rugs
March 21, 2024 | 1 comment
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