Tuesday, September 3, 2013

I'M TESTING MY NEW VIDEO CONVERSION PROGRAM....

THIS IS AN OLDIE, BUT A GOODIE.....
THE 1950'S MARX TIN DOLLHOUSE
WITH THE DISNEY NURSERY!

I USED MY NEW LITTLE VIDEO CAMERA TO MAKE THIS MINI~MOVIE, BUT IT WOULDN'T UPLOAD TO BLOGGER! SO, I READ A LOT ONLINE AND FOUND A CONVERSION PROGRAM TO CHANGE IT TO AN MP4 VIDEO. I HOPE IT WORKS! 
AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY IT!!!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! COME AGAIN, AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS!
T.

Monday, September 2, 2013

PICTORIAL HISTORY OF MY MINI PROJECTS

I JUST SPENT AN INTERESTING HOUR OR SO LOOKING AT PICTURES OF MINIATURES I'VE DONE IN THE PAST. MY TASTES AND INTERESTS CHANGE OVER TIME, AND MY MINIATURES DO ALSO! 
I THOUGHT I WOULD POST SOME OF THE PHOTOS HERE, AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THEM! 

MY FAVORITE PIECE, I LOVE THE FABRIC FROM KAREN COX'S ETSY SHOP CALLED FRENCHSCRIPT...


A PRETTY CHAIR AND SIDE TABLE, WITH A NOVEL AND A TINY VASE WITH A SPRIG OF FLOWERS...

THIS IS A LITTLE ICE BOX THAT I HAND PAINTED WITH ROSES, I AGED THE WATERING CAN AND ADDED THE VINTAGE FRUIT CRATE LABEL TOO...

A KITCHEN SHELF I BUILT, AND I MADE THE PRETTY TOWELS FROM MORE OF KAREN'S FABRIC...


SHABBY CHIC LIVING ROOM SET, I REALLY LOVED MAKING PILLOWS FOR AWHILE THERE......


THE CHANTICLEER SUITE, AMAZING REAL SIZE FABRIC THAT WORKS IN MINIATURE (FROM BRUNSWICK & FILS....

I PAINTED ROSES ON ALL THREE PIECES, AND THE BEDSPREAD IS A VINTAGE HANKIE FROM THE 1950'S...

MORE FABRIC FROM FRENCHSRIPT ON ETSY, THIS TIME ON A VERY PRETTY CHAISE LOUNGE...

I LOVE MINIATURES!

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY, AND DO COME AGAIN!

T.






Tuesday, August 13, 2013

I'VE GOT A NEW (SORT OF..)  LITTLE CAMCORDER!

I GOT IT ON EBAY! REAL CHEAP! SO, OF COURSE, THE FIRST THING I DID WAS TO VIDEO SOME OF MY ROOMBOXES. NOW, BEING NEARLY 60 YEARS OLD AND THESE BEING THE VERY FIRST VIDEOS I'VE EVER DONE, THEY PRETTY MUCH SUCK! HOWEVER, I'M GONNA SHARE THEM ANYWAY JUST CUZ I'M HAVING SUCH A BLAST MAKING THEM! I HOPE YA'LL DON'T MIND! AND I HOPE YA'LL ENJOY! SO, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND JOIN MY BLOG! I'D LOVE TO HEAR FROM ANY MINI~LOVERS!!!

HERE'S A VIDEO OF "MOM'S BOUDOIR", A GIFT FOR MY MOTHER'S 70TH BIRTHDAY...

SORRY FOR THE DARKNESS, I DIDN'T EVEN TURN ON THE LIGHTS IN THE ROOM! I LEARNED LATER THAT IT HAS A BUILT IN MINI~VIDEO~LIGHT. I WAS JUST SO EXCITED! I READ THE ONLINE MANUAL, INITIALIZED THE SDHC CARD, AND STARTED SHOOTING! I'LL GET BETTER, I PROMISE! I WILL GET BETTER!


THIS ONE IS MY "1930'S KITCHEN"...


I AM NOT SURE HOW THIS IS GOING TO LOOK ON BLOGGER, BUT I'M HOPEFUL IT WILL AT LEAST BE VIEWABLE!!! 

THANKS SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY! I GET LOTS OF VIEWS, BUT NO COMMENTS OR JOINING! PLEASE, LEAVE ME A COMMENT OR MESSAGE TO LET ME KNOW WHAT I AM DOING OR NOT DOING! I'M VERY OPEN TO CONSTRUCTIVE ADVICE!!!

HEE, HEE! I DID SAY ADVICE AND NOT CRITICISM YA'LL, SO PLAY NICE PLEASE!!!

t.



Sunday, July 21, 2013

CINEMA SERIES ~ PART 3 OF 3

THIS IS THE LAST INSTALLMENT OF MINIATURES BASED ON MOVIES!

THE FINAL MOVIE MINI COMES FROM MY LOVE OF A PARTICULAR ROOM IN THE MOVIE "HOOK" WITH ROBIN WILLIAMS, DUSTIN HOFFMAN, & JULIA ROBERTS.

SO HERE'S THE SCENE THAT GUARANTEED I'D DO THIS ROOMBOX:
THE CHILDREN'S BEDROOM, SO PRETTY, SO MUCH DETAIL!!!


AND HERE'S MY VERSION! I LOVE THIS ROOM! THERE'S JUST SO MUCH TO SEE!
THIS PICTURE SHOWS THE ROOM WITH SPOTLIGHTS ON,  BUT IT'S REALLY THE SCENE IN THE EVENING AFTER CAPTAIN HOOK HAS TAKEN PAN'S KIDS OFF TO NEVERLAND. THAT'S WHY THE ROOM IS SO MESSY! 


HOOK LEFT THE DOORS OPEN AND THE CURTAINS ARE BLOWING IN THE WIND! BTW, I MADE THAT CHANDELIER IN A CLASS AT MY MINIATURE CLUB!



HERE'S A SCENE FROM THE MOVIE SHOWING THE MOBILE OVER THE BED AND THE PICTURE ASKEW. ALSO, NOTICE THE CUTE LITTLE NIGHTLIGHT, IT'S ACTUALLY A TINY BROWNSTONE BUILDING WITH A LIGHT BEHIND IT. I DUPLICATED ALL THOSE DETAILS IN THE MINI!


AND HERE'S MY VERSION. THIS IS THE LITTLE BOY'S SLEEPING NOOK. SEE THE MOBILE, THE LIGHT, AND THE WONKY PICTURE! I ALSO HAVE THE BED MESSY AND TOYS ALL OVER! 



CLOSE UP OF THE PINK CHAIR. I TOOK LIBERTY TO ADD THE CLOWN I MADE FROM BUTTONS AND A WOODEN BEAD! I THINK ADDING SOME PRIMARY COLORS TO A PASTEL ROOM IS A GREAT CONTRAST AND KEPT IT FROM BEING TOO FEMININE FOR THE LITTLE BOY TO SLEEP THERE!



NOW FOR THE LITTLE GIRL'S SIDE. I MADE THE BUNNY FROM A KIT, AND I SCRATCH BUILT THE TWO CHILD~SIZED CHAIRS! HEY, DID YOU NOTICE THAT THE BOY'S SIDE HAS A PINK CHAIR, AND THE GIRL'S SIDE HAS A BLUE ONE? THAT'S HOW IT WAS IN THE MOVIE TOO!



HERE'S THE DOLLHOUSE AND THE BLUE CHAIR FROM THE MOVIE.....


MY DOLLHOUSE FOR A DOLLHOUSE WAS AN UNPAINTED KIT FROM HOBBY BUILDERS. I ADDED TEENSY FURNITURE INSIDE, AND PAINTED EVERY LITTLE BRICK ON THE CHIMNEYS!


CLOSE UP OF BUNNY IN HER CHAIR!



THE FIREPLACE IS ALSO SCRATCH BUILT, WITH HAND PAINTED TILES AND MARBLE EFFECT!


I LOVED THE SOLDIERS IN THIS SHOT FROM THE FILM SO I KINDA COPIED THEM! 


I'M NO WOODCARVER, SO THIS IS AS GOOD AS I COULD MAKE IT! STILL, I LOVE THE DETAILS!!!


THE SHELF OVER THE FIREPLACE WAS A ROUNDTABLE KIT FROM A N.A.M.E. HOUSEPARTY. IT FIT PERFECTLY IN THIS ROOM! AND DON'T YOU JUST LOVE THE GINGERBREAD TRIM?! I HOPE SO!!!



THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES IN THE WHOLE ROOM! THE RUG IN THE MOVIE JUST FASCINATED ME! I COULDN'T SEE ALL THE DETAILS, BUT THE COMPASS WAS A DEFINITE! I ADDED THE SAILING SHIP AND ISLANDS, ALL MEASURED OUT AN HAND PAINTED BY ME! NOT BAD FOR A FIRST TRY!



THE LITTLE TABLES ARE COPIED FROM THE FILM TOO,  I ADDED THE TOYS FROM MY COLLECTION.

THESE WERE MY FIRST AND ONLY TRY AT TROMPE L'OEIL! THEY WERE PAINTED TO LOOK LIKE DRAPED FABRIC. 


I COULDN'T RESIST ADDING THE WEENSY JACKS AND THE YOYO!

AND FINALLY, THE MINI IS MEANT TO DEPICT THE ROOM AS IT APPEARED AT NIGHT. SOFT LIGHTING, AND MESSY FROM HOOKS VISIT. HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE ROOM WITHOUT THE SPOTLIGHTS, THE WAY I LIKE IT BEST....


SO PRETTY! 

I HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED VISITING THE CHILDREN'S BEDROOM, I KNOW CAPTAIN HOOK SURE DID! AND OH, IF YOU WANT TO RESCUE PETER PAN'S CHILDREN, TINKERBELL GAVE THE PERFECT DIRECTIONS:
"SECOND STAR TO THE RIGHT, AND STRAIGHT ON 'TIL MORNING........
NEVERLAND!"

SEE YOU THERE!










Monday, July 15, 2013

CINEMA SERIES ~ PART 2 OF 3

ONE OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES IS
"THE QUIET MAN" FROM 1952 WITH
JOHN WAYNE & MAUREEN O'HARA!

I'VE WATCHED THIS MOVIE LITERALLY 100'S OF TIMES! I KNOW EVERY LINE OF DIALOG AND THE SMALLEST DETAIL OF EVERY SCENE! 
I WILL SHOW SOME PHOTOS FROM THE MOVIE AND PICTURES OF THE MINI I BUILT BASED ON THOSE SCENES. I HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY SEEING THEM!

THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING FROM THE MOVIE. I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE GREEN SPLIT DOOR WITH THE LARGE HINGES, AND THE DIAMOND PANE WINDOWS! THE PRETTY WHITE STONES AROUND THE FLOWER BEDS, AND THE WALKWAY ALSO STAYED IN MY MIND FOR YEARS!

SO HERE IS THE FRONT OF MY COTTAGE. THIS WAS A CLUB PROJECT CALLED AN INSIDE/OUTSIDE ROOMBOX. IT WAS PRECUT WITH A WIDOW AND DOOR. IT IS NOT AN EXACT MATCH TO THE MOVIE. STILL, WHEN I SAW IT, I KNEW I WOULD DO "WHITE O' MORN COTTAGE" (THAT IS THE NAME USED IN THE MOVIE)! IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY AT THE VERY TOP OF THE PHOTO, YOU CAN SEE THE THATCHED ROOF. WE LEARNED THAT TECHNIQUE JUST FOR THIS PROJECT.
I TOOK LIBERTY TO ADD THE ARCH, AND THE WAGON IS BASED ON THE ONE THAT SEAN (JOHN WAYNE'S CHARACTER) GAVE TO MARY KATE (MAUREEN O'HARA'S CHARACTER) AFTER THEY WERE FINALLY MARRIED...

I ADDED A SMALL ENGRAVED PLAQUE ON ONE SIDE WITH THE MOVIE INFO. THE PAINT COLOR I USED IS THE SAME EMERALD GREEN THAT SEAN USED IN THE MOVIE. 

I LOVE THE LITTLE BUNNY! THERE'S ANOTHER ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR TOO. I MADE THE PLANTING BOX WITH THE FLOWERS SPILLING OUT. THE CART IS A KIT THAT I HAD FOR OVER 15 YEARS!!! FINALLY GOT TO USE IT!

THE STONES FOR THE WALKWAY ARE MADE FROM PAPERCLAY. IT'S SO MUCH FUN AND EASY TO USE. I PAINTED THEM WITH SEVERAL SHADES OF LIGHT BROWN TO GIVE THEM MORE REALISM. 

A GOOD SHOT OF THE DOOR...  THE CLUB PROVIDED THE DOOR, BUT IT WASN'T SPLIT. I DID THAT MYSELF. I LOVE THE LARGE HINGES FROM MOUNTAIN MINIATURES. OH, SEE THE OTHER BUNNY NEXT TO THE FENCE.

THIS IS A SHOT OF THE FIREPLACE AND TABLE & CHAIRS FROM THE MOVIE. THIS SCENE REALLY MADE ME WANT TO DO THIS IN MINI!

THIS IS THE INTERIOR OF THE MINI "WHITE O' MORN" COTTAGE. THE FIREPLACE WAS MADE BY THE SWEETEST LITTLE COUPLE. IT'S AN EXCELLENT REPLICA OF AN IRISH FIREPLACE...HOW APPROPRIATE, SINCE THE MOVIE TAKES PLACE IN INNIS FREE, IRELAND! THE FLOOR IS LAID PIECE BY PIECE, WITH SCRATCHES AND NICKS ADDED TO GIVE IT AGE. I'VE INCLUDED THE PEWTER PIECES ON THE MANTEL TO MATCH THE FILM! 

THE SIDEBOARD HOLDS ROAST CHICKEN AND BOILED POTATOES (AN IRISH STAPLE), FROM A SCENE AT THE END OF THE MOVIE. 

THIS CABINET WAS ONE OF THE SOUVENIRS FROM A N.A.M.E. HOUSEPARTY ENTITLED "NO PLACE LIKE HOME". I WAS CENTERPIECE CHAIRMAN FOR THAT EVENT IN 1998 IN SAN DIEGO. I LOVED FINALLY USING THIS PIECE IN THE COTTAGE. IT'S FILLED WITH WHAT MARY KATE CALLS "MY CHINA AND PEWTER SHINING ABOUT ME"!

AS SOON AS I SAW IT, I KNEW I HAD TO HAVE THIS PIECE! IN THE MOVIE, MAUREEN O'HARA'S CHARACTER, MARY KATE, WIELDS A LARGE CROCKERY VESSEL LIKE THIS AND THREATENS TO HIT HER BROTHER WITH IT! MAN, DID SHE TRULY HAVE AN INFAMOUS IRISH TEMPER!!!

REAR VIEW OF THE FIREPLACE WITH A CLOSE UP OF THE PEWTER ON THE MANTEL.

I MADE PLATE HANGERS TO MOUNT THESE LOVELY PLATES OVER THE WINDOW. THE CURTAIN ROD IS JUST A SIMPLE PIECE OF HANGER WIRE BENT ON THE ENDS AND GLUED INTO SMALL HOLES DRILLED INTO THE WALL. I HAD TO HAVE THE RED FLOWER TOO, SINCE THE MOVIE HAD ONE ON THE TABLE!

ANOTHER LIBERTY I TOOK WAS ADDING THIS LITTLE STOOL AND THE FIREWOOD IN THIS GREAT CARRYING BASKET. I JUST COULD NOT RESIST THESE TWO PIECES! THE DRAWER DOES OPEN, THE HANDLE ON THE BASKET IS VERY THIN WOOD, AND I SPLIT THE "LOGS" MYSELF!

AND FINALLY, MY BELOVED SPLIT DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. I LOVE THAT SLIDING LOCK AND THE DOOR HANDLE, ALSO FROM MOUNTAIN MINIATURES. AND WHAT A GREAT EXCUSE TO USE THE TEENSY THATCHED COTTAGE ON THE PEDESTAL TABLE. THE GREAT LITTLE WALL BASKET AND THE WOODEN CARRIER ON THE FLOOR ARE TWO MORE OR MY FAVORITE PIECES. SEE THE SLEEPING BAG NEXT TO THE SIDEBOARD? IT PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE MOVE, SO I HAD TO INCLUDE ONE IN THE MINI!

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED VISITING "WHITE O' MORN COTTAGE" WITH ME! I PLAN, ONE DAY, TO GO TO INNIS FREE, IRELAND WHERE THEY STILL HAVE "QUIET MAN MOVIE" TOURS AND A REPLICA OF THE COTTAGE!!! 
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! PLEASE JOIN AND FOLLOW MY BLOG! AND I'D LOVE COMMENTS TOO!!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

JUST A THOUGHT!

I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO POST SOME PICS FROM THE MOVIE "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS". THIS WAY, YOU CAN SEE WHAT INSPIRED ME TO DO A MINIATURE BASED ON THE FILM SET OF MUSHNIK'S FLORIST. I CAN ONLY FIND SHOTS OF THE FLOWER SHOP "BEFORE" THE AUDREY II. IT LOOKED MUCH LIKE MY MINI IN THE "AFTER" SHOTS, BUT THIS WILL GIVE YA'LL AN IDEA ANYWAY!

THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING FROM THE OPENING CREDITS. AGAIN, IT'S THE BEFORE SHOT, BUT IT REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE!!!

THIS SHOT SHOWS THE PAPER ROLL AND CUTTER, AND THE OLD FRIDGE LIKE THE ONES IN THE MINI!


THIS PIC SHOWS THE COUNTER WITH THE BRASS CASH REGISTER, AND THE LIGHTED FLOWER COOLER! IF YOU LOOK REAL CLOSE, PAST SEYMOUR'S SHOULDER, YOU CAN SEE THE PAYPHONE ON THE WALL AND THE "NEW" FRIDGE TOO!

THESE PICTURES ARE NOT REAL CLEAR BECAUSE I TOOK THEM OFF MY COMPUTER SCREEN. I HOPE THEY GIVE YOU SOME IDEA, AND SOME COMPARISON TO MY MINI!
THANKS FOR LOOKING! PLEASE, LEAVE A COMMENT, JOIN, & FOLLOW MY LITTLE BLOG!!!
T.


Monday, July 8, 2013

THE CINEMA SERIES, PART 1 OF 3

WANNA SEE SOMETHING COOL?!!!
TAKE A LOOK AT THIS.....

DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THIS MOVIE? THAT'S RIGHT RICK MORANIS AS SEYMOUR KRELBORN!!! 
I WAS SO TAKEN WITH THE FLORIST'S SHOP! IT WAS SORTA IN THE BACK OF MY MIND TO MAKE IT IN MINIATURE. THEN ONE DAY.......

I CAME ACROSS A MINIATURE VERSION OF THE FILM'S TRUE STAR...
THE AUDREY II, MANEATING PLANT FROM OUTER SPACE! IT WAS AT JEANETTA KENDALL'S TABLE AND I HAD TO HAVE IT!!! I STILL TELL DALE THEY OWE ME THE $750.00 I SPENT TO BUILD A SHOP AROUND IT!!!

SO FOUR MONTH'S (AND $750.00!!!) LATER, HERE IT IS....
MUSHNIK'S FLORIST, AKA "LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS"!
OK, I KNOW IT'S A TWISTED STORY, BUT SO VERY ENTERTAINING! AND THE SHOP IS JUST FAB AS A MINIATURE!!! 
I BUILT THIS SHOP IN 1998, AND IT'S STILL ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES! I USED A KIT FROM THE "STREET OF SHOPS" LINE, THE CORNER STORE MODEL. EASY PEASY BUILD TOO! THEY GO TOGETHER SO NICELY!

HERE'S A FEW MORE PICS SHOWING SOME OF THE DETAIL....

LEFT SIDE FRONT WINDOW WITH THE AUDREY II. THIS IS BEFORE HE BECAME TOO BIG, HE WAS JUST DRINKING BLOOD FROM SEYMOUR'S FINGERS AT THIS STAGE!
(GEE, THAT SOUNDS TWISTED!!!)

RIGHT SIDE WIDOW WITH SOME PLANTS I MADE!

FULL INTERIOR VIEW, I EVEN COPIED THE GREEN AND WHITE CHECK FLOOR!

COUNTER AREA WITH A PRETTY BOUQUET OF ROSES! SEE THE GREAT FRIDGE IN THE BACK?!

COOL PAYPHONE, HUH?!!! THERE'S EVEN A CUP ON TOP OF THE FRIDGE WITH MY NAME ON IT!

WALL BEHIND THE COUNTER WITH THE FIRST GRAPEVINE WREATH I EVER MADE!

THE FLOWER COOLER WAS THE BEST PART OF THIS BUILD FOR ME! I MADE IT FROM SCRATCH JUST LOOKING AT PICS ONLINE! IT EVEN HAS GLASS SHELVES AND LIGHTS THAT WORK!!! SHOULDA PLUGGED IT IN FOR THE PICS!

HEY, THEY HAD TWO PHONES IN THE MOVIE TOO! I LOVE THE OLD RADIO AND LONG NOSED WATERING CAN!

TWO MORE UNUSUAL PLANTS! ONE HAS A TINY FAIRIE SITTING IN THE BASKET, AND THE OTHER IS A TEDDY BEAR IN A POT!!!

LAST SHOT OF THE LEFT SIDE.......
AND FINALLY ~ 

LAST PIC OF THE RIGHT SIDE. I HAD A GREAT TIME PAINTING THE SIDEWALK AREA TO LOOK KINDA GRUNDGY! MATTER OF FACT HERE'S A CLOSEUP! 

KINDA COOL HUH?! I SMOOSHED ON SOME GESSO AND THEN USED A WASH OF GREEN, IVORY, AND BROWN PAINT RESPECTIVELY, WITH JUST A TEENSY TOUCH OF BLACK. COOL PIDGEON TOO!

THAT'S ALL FOR NOW!!! COME ON BACK SOON! I'VE DONE MINIATURES FROM 2 OTHER MOVIES (NO HINTS!!!), AND I'LL SHOW THOSE VERY SOON!
THANK YOU FOR LOOKING! PLEASE JOIN, FOLLOW, LEAVE COMMENTS!
T.