Fishies!

Sometime ago, April sent me a link to a lovely modern home that featured some enormous artwork. While the Greek horse was fine and all, it was the fish painting (we thought it was a painting) that drew us in.

I put it in my inspiration file for later. Then April’s birthday rolled around, and I remembered the fishies!!! I wanted to find the original so I could see the entire work, and after some quick Google searches I found it at New Ravenna Mosaics. It’s actually a mosaic and not a painting. It’s called Ellen’s Fish by Ellen McCaleb.

Painting I can do. Mosaics in miniature? Not for me. I cut some canvases measuring 3 3/8″ by 4 7/8″, which are fairly large for 1:12 scale, but this is modern art we’re talking. I painted a base of blue-greens and grey then added paper fish swimming in a school. The works are more inspired by the original than a precise replica.

This is the one that will stay in my collection and likely be housed in The Brownstone since it has high ceilings and large rooms good for modern art. (I sent one to April for her birthday.)

This one is listed on eBay. It’s #3 in the series. Where will the series end? I suppose when I get tired of making these.

Categories: Art and paintings
October 28, 2015 | 0 comments

Isabeau

There’s a new mini kitty in my collection. :D

Isabeau is a beautifully made Maine Coon cat by Maya Schippl.

Isabeau is slightly smaller than the other cats I have when shown in comparison, like Ophelia here, but they both fit perfectly in 1:12 scale. :]

So pretty, so bewitching.

Her small stature reminds me of a real life kitty from my past. I worked at Save-A-Pet one summer and took care of the incoming cats. This was a room with individual cages for quarantine before the animals could be integrated into the general cat room. My responsibilities included cleaning the incoming cat room cages as well as those of the “sick” cat room where the vet oversaw more intense cases.

One incoming cat the staff named Howard was about the size of a 10 week old kitten when he came in. He was so ill. He had a terrible respiratory infection and was sick for quite awhile. When I would clean his cage, he would lie limply around my shoulders like a scarf. He had so little energy from fighting the infection that the vet wasn’t sure he would ever get any bigger. He would spend his adulthood at the size of a 10 week old kitten. I fell in love with that cat in the time we spent during his recovery, but my parents didn’t allow animals in the house so adopting him myself was out of the question. He was adopted one busy Saturday later that season, and the staff came to get me to break the news. The people adopting him let me hold him as they filled out the paperwork, and he fell asleep in the hustle and bustle around us. Sweet little kitty. I always wondered how his life turned out. :]

Categories: Animals and birds
October 27, 2015 | 0 comments

It’s hot, it’s cold

In the ping-pong weather of autumn, I now have my choice of vintage fan or parabolic heater. :D

I’ve shown you the vintage fan before. I thought it was by The Kummerows, and Barbara Kummerow said she did think it was their work. :]

I didn’t show you the back, however. The rattan side table was purchased on a business trip to Vancouver from Ross’ Miniatures.

I’m not sure who made the parabolic heater, but it’s so well done.

It, too, has a false cord just like the fan. The table is my recreation of the Oly Studio Ichibad Side Table in miniature.

Categories: Miniatures
October 26, 2015 | 0 comments

Making a custom door, part 4

I’ve finished working on the custom door. I cut some Avery silver labels to add some interest around the door knob from ELF Miniatures. I didn’t add a lock detail because all of my attempts fell short of what I wanted. So, we’ll just say it’s a smart house and it knows who should come and go. :D

I like to cut out the underside of the hinge pin to countersink the pin head. This will keep the door from tipping or floating over the flooring surface.

I painted the door frame Warm White and the base step Neutral Grey, both by Americana. Here’s a sneak peek!

Categories: Otter Cove
October 21, 2015 | 0 comments

Autumn color

The orange vase is a vintage piece found last autumn at an antiques mall. The LED twigs are from Bed, Bath & Beyond. It’s the perfect item for a hard to decorate space.

Categories: Art and paintings
October 12, 2015 | 0 comments