Life on a cork: A walk in the park

I’m not sure exactly of the point of my cork work, only that I love making them. They are tricky to display and not very good gifts - I can’t imagine giving these to anyone! 

I like creating them because they can be completed in a day, they are freestyle so I challenge myself to be resourceful with the things I already have at home.

Really it’s just moving imaginary scenarios from your head, onto the top of a cork. And because of this, they are each unique.

Miniature work is so varied isn’t in? From kits you must follow to the letter to make sure the result is as you wanted, to complete freestyle. Both are a wonderful use of time but which is best?

I love the woman in this latest creation. I’ve given her an off the shoulder top, black skirt and a brown handbag, When I get a bit more practised I will start to add features to their tiny faces.  

Coming next, another cork scene - this one from a film we all know...

Apples: real v mini

 Picture your creations next to the real thing for impact 🍎♥️

Tomato and basil sandwiches - Mini style

I’ve batch made these super cute sandwiches this week. They are filled with ‘tomato and basil’ with a ‘parsley’ garnish. 

Lovely fun making them, I need to think of more vegan fillings. I already have Pret’s avo, what next....?

These cuties are available from my Etsy shop if you’d like your own

Life on a cork: watching tv and having a beer

I do like 1/144 scale and the very different challenges it presents. The first challenge is scale; establishing sizes is much trickier than with 1/12 scale, and I do a lot of it on gut feel. It helps if you have a constant checkpoint, and these N scale railway figures that arrived last week have certainly come in useful. 

The second challenge is that you have to make everything. In larger scale you can complement bought furnishings with your own creations. Granted there are products on sale but I’ve yet to find something that’s worth buying. If you spot any good products I’d love to know. 

With these little cork projects you can do them in one day, and one thing I do love is quick results!

This guy in my model is taking it easy with a beer and watching tv.

If anyone would like a step by step guide to creating these still life’s on a cork, let me know and I’ll capture the key steps and add these to my next one. On that note, any ideas for my next scene gratefully received!

My new shop name - Dinky Designs

My little Etsy shop has had a makeover, it’s now called Dinky Designs by Julie. Creating the new site header stirred me into action so here are a few items that I have just loved making these last few days. What a treat our love of miniatures really is 💕 

Visit DinkyDesigns by Julie 

Painting people for the pub

These N scale people seemed like a bit of a bargain from eBay. I received 25 for less than £2!

Their quality is a bit iffy but that gave me a new opportunity and a new challenge, so I started to paint them.

These are my first two, a pleasant couple. They are certainly enjoying their visit to the Swan, my 1/144 scale miniature pub. 

Plenty more to go!

As they arrived and before they are painted...