Fail to plan, plan to fail

This old house has sat for far too long waiting for me to start, so start I have. Most of the interior paper has been removed as it was in very poor condition and the same paper is available via Hobby's. I've retained all the external paper and fitments, however have removed the 'glass' which I will replace with acetate.

 

This scale is new to me and is bothering me a bit. I just don't get it or feel it. So, I've mocked up a room, converted some full, and 12 scale measurements to 16 scale and am feeling like I have a plan! Because I like to see quick results, I am leaving the roof and concentrating on the kitchen, my favourite room in a dolls house, in any house in fact.

 

I will also be choosing room colour schemes - at least wall and carpets - so will be buying paper and flooring over the next few weeks.

Getting a grip of the scale...

See how 12 scale looks awful in this house ...

A clean surface to either paint or paper. I've stuck down the edges of the external paper so that it will last longer without tearing ...

The old electrics revealed ...

 

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An exciting new 1:16 scale project!

A friend at the dolls' house club very kindly suggested I look at two of her houses that she had bought recently from an auction house. I had mentioned that I was ready to dive in to another project.

I fell for this lovely house on sight so bought it immediately! It was built in the 1940s to plans from Hobbys from the 1930s, and needs much care. It it will be stunning when complete. Much more to follow on this. I'm starting with the exterior but am planning on keeping as many of the original features as possible so will be trying to touch up more than anything.

What an absolute beauty. I can't wait to get started!

 

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Teeny ted

This has been the trickiest item I've made since starting my doll house hobby. This little bear is from a kit but the cutting out, matching up, sewing, stuffing and decoration are still required. He is really stunning, I will likely buy another of these kits, which are around £8. He sits just over an inch high and his arms and legs move but at this scale, joints are not used, just a simple threading technique.

And this is the kit ...

 

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York fair

Quite an age since I last posted, life often gets in the way of doing things we like. However it didn't stop me from going to the December Dolls' House fair in York. As usual there was far too much to tempt us.

We made Christmas roses at the workshop with lovely lady from Ladies Mile Miniatures and the equally lovely Jane Harrop talked some of us through furniture makeovers, some fab tips and she even e-mailed us with some notes afterwards including some on French polishing.

I bought a miniature teddy kit which I plan to make over the next week. He is going to be a bit of a challenge as he is only 1.25 inches tall, yet he has moving limbs. Or he might have, depending on how patient I am with him. More to follow.

 

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Toy theatre in 1/12 scale

I've admired some of fellow miniaturists' toy theatres that they have made and placed in their dolls' houses.

One of the ladies kindly copied the cutouts for the theatre and I made it last week. It features the story of Cinderella.

The theatre includes a curtain screen, and three sets: Cinderella's home, the ballroom, and the castle that she ends up living at with her prince.

The curtain is just about to rise ...

Here, Cinderella is with her ugly sisters with her home as the backdrop.

Cinderella attends the ball with her Prince Charming ...



Cinderella and her Fairy Godmother ...

A view of the rear of the theatre

 

The Swan is complete - but the bar remains unstocked...

My 1/144 scale pub, 'The Swan', is complete. I finished adding the bushes, flower boxes and roof ivy today and I love the result.

It is a challenging scale to work with, and is pretty much a case of following the kit instructions. I found it very difficult to be creative. With 1/12 scale, everyday materials can be used to make thrifty items, and the satisfaction that comes with making something from scratch that looks amazing in scale, and that has negligible cost, is priceless.

Not so with 1/144 scale I found. How can I make glasses, wine bottles or food? Perhaps there is a way. If anyone can help me fill the bar I would be grateful!

The last two photos have a penny displayed to better indicate the scale.

 

144 scale pool tables

I'd been putting off painting the pool balls for the Swan pub. They've been on my 'too hard' pile for months. Given that I'd had my paints out recently for the toy kits, it seemed a good time to give this a bash. I'm now pontificating about pool cues... what to use?!