Wednesday 14 July 2021

A little of this, a little of that...

 I didn't have a lot of time for minis this week but I do have a few things to show you.  First, I mentioned in my last post that I had made a few whistles for my SIL, Jean,  who was knitting a life guard teddy bear for a client but I didn't get a picture of the finished whistles before I mailed them out. Well, Jean sent me a picture once the whistles arrived.  She has made many of these 18" bears in a variety of occupations or other special circumstances like graduates, etc.  Here is her life guard with one of the little whistles.


I also have some good news on the shepherd's hut front - the little lamb now has little eyes and a nose and...da ta da!!....his mommy showed up!


Michaels had a sale of sports memorabilia display cases so I bought one for a football and placed the shepherd's hut project in it.  That should keep the dust off and it has a mirror for the back wall so you can see both front and back clearly.  

Moving on, Marijke and I had  mini day through skype today.  Louise was not able to join us.  I decided to tackle those two exterior lights I had told Louise I would make for her Art Deco art gallery she is making. I mentioned what I needed to Liz at Grandpas Dollhouse and she was able to come up with a couple of suitable globes.  I also purchased some jewellery findings I thought would work.  I had a couple of brackets in my "stash".  Here are the pieces I started with, along with the inspiration picture of the lights she fell in love with.  Unfortunately, with taxes they would have cost over $300 for a pair, hence the decision to try to make a version of them for much, much less!  We didn't need them to be exact - just needed them to capture that "art deco" vibe.


First, I poured some watered-down paint into the little globes and swished it around to coat the inside for an opaque finish.  I set these upside down on some paper towel to allow the extra to drain out while I painted the brackets and the jewellery findings black.  When they were dry I painted them with a clear sealer then when dry again, glued the smaller jewellery findings to the top of the larger ones.  I then cut short lengths of the pearl beading and glued them around the globes to provide interest and to fill in the space between the jewellery findings and the globes. I painted the beads with the same colour I had used to coat the inside of the globes.  Once dry, I also used the sealer on the beads which had the added advantage of filling in the little spaces between the beads.  Perfect!

To get the aged, bronzed look of the metal in the inspiration photo, I used metallic gold paint, wiping some off the brush onto paper towel so the paint would go on with a very light hand.  I think they turned out quite well.


I actually could have finished these lights except....I couldn't find the little LED bulbs I planned on putting inside.  I think they are on my craft table downstairs which currently is hidden under about a foot of "stuff" that is set on top of them.  *sigh*  That may be my next project - cleaning up my craft room again!

So, with the brackets, I think they will probably have the art deco look we are going for.  Perhaps I will have finished pictures to show next week if I can find the darn lights.

I hope you all have a wonderful week and are able to fit some time in on your minis as well.  Big hugs to all!!  TTFN!!!! - Marilyn




20 comments:

  1. WOW Marilyn, they are fantastic, and what a great saving. I love how we always find a way to do something for the satisfaction of saying "I made that" and to save money. I'm so glad little lamb now has a mummy :-)

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    1. Thank you Polly. I'm happy with the way they turned out so far and, you're right - it's a double bonus! While I love saving money on things for my mini projects, I also love making things myself - sometimes just for the heck of it! *grin* - Marilyn

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  2. I love how the light fixtures look! Bonus that they're a money saver.

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    1. Yes, a big bonus! I would say if I paid for all the little pieces that went into these lights they would have cost around $10 for the two of them. Compare that to the $300 for a pair of the inspiration lamps and I think you would agree that, even though they are not quite as nice the $290 saving more than makes up for it! Hugs! - Marilyn

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  3. Has hecho un gran trabajo con esas piezas, las lámparas están genial, y además por poco dinero.
    Bravo !!!

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    1. Gracias, Eloisa. ¡Siempre me encanta cuando puedo tener una sensación de logro y ahorrar dinero al mismo tiempo! ¡Salud! - Marilyn

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  4. These lamps turned out stunning! And what a perfect win-win-situation: Saving money, earning this special satisfaction of "I have made this myself" and... having perfect lamps for your project. It was fascinating to see how you achieved this opaque glass effect - they look amazing.

    Hooray - Mommy came home to her little lamb. ;O) And what a lucky find this box has been - dust protection plus a view to the backside, what more could you have asked for? Oh, and not to forget - the little bear is really cute, thanks for introducing him to us.

    Hugs
    Birgit

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    1. How sweet you are, Birgit. Your kind words are always so encouraging. It's nice to have such positive input from people who you know understand the work involved in your project. Much appreciated. Hugs. - Marilyn

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  5. The light fixtures turned out fantastic. They really look stunning.
    How wonderful that mommy came back, and even more so, that the little lamb got eyes to see her.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Yes, Drora, the poor little lamb would have had a terrible time if he could neither see nor smell hi Mommy. I, too, am glad he's all better now. I hope I can find the lights for inside the lamps or I will have to wait ages for something to be delivered. Unfortunately, where I live I have to rely on internet ordering for most of my specialty supplies - even some basic wood pieces as well, like trims and such. Oh well, I love where I live so it's just a minor inconvenience in the grand scheme of things! Have a great day. - Marilyn

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  6. Hola Marilyn, la muñequita publicada en mi blog y contestando a tu pregunta mide 14 centímetros.
    Muchas gracias por tus amables comentarios.

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    1. ¡Tamaño perfecto para una habitación 1:12! Gracias por responderme. ¡Grandes abrazos! - Marilyn

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  7. Wow Marilyn! Your light fixtures came out fantastic! I absolutely love the results! Ingenious, and they totally do look like something you would see in the Art Deco era! Louise is going to be thrilled!

    What a great idea, too, using the football display case for the shepherd's hut diorama! I am glad to know mom and baby have found one another again!

    The Teddy Bear is precious! Absolutely love him, and the whistle came out perfectly!!! You are filled to the brim with great ideas and you execute them brilliantly!

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    1. Thank you so much for your generous comments, Jodi. When I see the incredible job you are doing on your beach bungalow I feel so very undeserving. That project makes me smile from ear to ear. It is si very cheerful. Big Hugs. - Marilyn

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    1. Gracias Isabel. Es genial cuando podemos usar cosas ordinarias para crear algo especial, ya sea para nosotros o para un amigo. Que tengas una buena semana. - Marilyn

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  9. Hello Marylin,

    And now I found your blog after you finding mine. :-)

    What a beautiful diorama you have made. I love the combination of the different elements. The little shepard's hut is very nicely weathered. I love how the drystone wall does not just end but has crumbled and tumbled down and dissapears into the grass.

    The Lamps definately have a deco vibe to them. A great combination of elements! I hope that you find the leds soon.

    Huibrecht

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    1. Hello Huibrecht. Thanks for dropping by and also for the kind comments about my little shepherd's hut. I would love to get those lamps finished but that would mean I would have to clean my craft room. Hmm... maybe I should leave some bread crumbs so I can find my way back out - or even in to the room for that matter. *smile* Have a good week! - Marilyn

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  10. Hey,
    I’m impressed by your blog. Absolutely amazing work.

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  11. Hi Marilyn D., I am so pleased the mommy lamb arrived to look after her baby in your wonderful Shepherd Hut. The lamp you made looks terrific and so great you shared how you did it. Mini Hugs, Jean

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