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Sturbridge Doll, Bear, and Miniature Show 06/03-06/05/2023

Sturbridge Doll, Bear, and Miniature Show 06/03-06/05/2023 published on 1 Comment on Sturbridge Doll, Bear, and Miniature Show 06/03-06/05/2023

Drove across the state to Lyrajean’s new condo on Saturday, June 3rd, and spent the night. We left very early on the 4th for Sturbridge, MA, and the doll/teddy/miniature show at the Sturbridge Host Hotel. We took about two and a half hours to get there. We turned around and had a late lunch on the way back and arrive around dinner time back at Lyrajean’s house.

Continue reading Sturbridge Doll, Bear, and Miniature Show 06/03-06/05/2023

The grocery store has more shelves and boxes!

The grocery store has more shelves and boxes! published on No Comments on The grocery store has more shelves and boxes!

I improved the grocery store a bit in the past week. I made some more boxes of produce to add to the bottom shelves. From @natalunasans, I also got some cauliflower and a farmer’s market stand, which I boosted on a riser and used to display all my berries.

It’s all coming together! I still need some more labels [and to put up the ones on the floor], but I’m proud that my set with the most pieces nears completion!

Continue reading The grocery store has more shelves and boxes!

The heteronormative kitchen has a freezer!

The heteronormative kitchen has a freezer! published on No Comments on The heteronormative kitchen has a freezer!

I finally turned my midcentury modern Ohio Art recipe card tin into a chest freezer for the heteronormative kitchen. The recipe card tin has been playing a chest freezer for months, ever since the photostory The Chest Freezer, but I’ve wanted to improve it. So I lined it with white paper and bubble wrap on top to simulate built-up ice. I also covered the RECIPES label with one that said FREEZER. The bubble wrap reduces the amount of storage space, but it adds much-needed insulation and realism.

Continue reading The heteronormative kitchen has a freezer!

The heteronormative kitchen is up!

The heteronormative kitchen is up! published on No Comments on The heteronormative kitchen is up!

I finally got around to upgrading the heteronormative kitchen today. NMI [my “plastic friends” according to @natalunasans] printed me some risers for the kitchen unit and my Pretty Maid stove so that they’re the right height for my dolls. I hot glued the risers to the kitchen and the stove. Then I added some significant shims to the front edge of the kitchen unit risers. Finally I cleared off the table and set everything up. The Magister shows off his kitchen!!

Continue reading The heteronormative kitchen is up!

The grocery store has more signs and better magnets!

The grocery store has more signs and better magnets! published on No Comments on The grocery store has more signs and better magnets!

Latest improvements to the grocery store set include more signs for the deli counter and magnets that are better scaled for 1:6 scale and holding up signs.

Continue reading The grocery store has more signs and better magnets!

More labels and posters for the grocery story

More labels and posters for the grocery story published on No Comments on More labels and posters for the grocery story

I printed out vintage fruit crate, vegetable crate, or seed packet labels for almost all of my produce section, laminated the pictures with tape, and then put them by the appropriate fudz.

Continue reading More labels and posters for the grocery story

Workin’ on the grocery store and produce section again

Workin’ on the grocery store and produce section again published on No Comments on Workin’ on the grocery store and produce section again

I’ve always wanted to have a 1:6 scale grocery store set, but I’ve always been daunted by the amount of tiny packages needed to create a realistic market. Therefore I started with a produce section, thinking that I could leave all the other sections to the imagination. [Funnily enough, I said pretty much the same thing, in much the same words, when I first started this set.]

Continue reading Workin’ on the grocery store and produce section again

Hardshipper meets Doctor Who character in…The TCE!

Hardshipper meets Doctor Who character in…The TCE! published on No Comments on Hardshipper meets Doctor Who character in…The TCE!

Yeah yeah, you all know the guy in black as the Magister, but here he’s playing Roger Delgado as the Master in Doctor Who for comedic effect. Ethan is playing himself. Both the Magister and Ethan are custom sculpted and painted [and, in Ethan’s case, wigged] resin heads on Hot Toys small narrow shoulder male action figure bodies.
Continue reading Hardshipper meets Doctor Who character in…The TCE!

Dorklets Night and Day in…The Chest Freezer!

Dorklets Night and Day in…The Chest Freezer! published on 3 Comments on Dorklets Night and Day in…The Chest Freezer!

Don’t worry — they’re not inside the chest freezer. They’re just excavating in it. What will they find?? Chest freezer is played by an Ohio Arts tin lithographed recipe card holder from the 1950s or the 1960s. The bright, lovely graphics will go well with my tin lithographed stove! Dessert packages and desserts themselves are played by Moose Toy Shopkins, some of which are pretty useful, if you can disguise the fact that they have cartoony faces. Continue reading Dorklets Night and Day in…The Chest Freezer!

Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store IV!

Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store IV! published on 1 Comment on Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store IV!

Shuz Store drama continues. Salesperson of dubious skill is Caveat. Customer is Aphanarit, one of the recent Mattel Barbie Looks metallic series. Shuz are played by Moose Toys Real Littles Shoes. Caveat’s opinion does not correspond with my own because I think Real Littles shuz look good on everyone! Caveat is just being a jerk. Continue reading Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store IV!

Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store III!

Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store III! published on 1 Comment on Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store III!

The Shuz Store is only nominally involved here. The real star is one of the many sweaters I’ve made out of novelty socks. It’s time for a parade of dubiously sewn fashion! Stay tuned! Purchaser of the sweater is Evan, a Mattel Wizarding World H**** P***** Luna Lovegood head, dehaired and slightly repainted, on a generic fashion doll body from Aliexpress with legs shortened and feet replaced. Interlocutor is Terra, a Mattel Barbie head, slightly repainted, on a Mattel Creatable World body, covered up because it doesn’t really match her head and also because I added non-matching double elbow joints from an Obitsu 21. Continue reading Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store III!

Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store II!

Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store II! published on 2 Comments on Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store II!

The Shuz Store strikes again. Megan is clerking, along with Caveat. Customer is Priscilla, a Mattel Wizarding World H**** P***** Bellatrix Lestrange with slightly customized face paint and restyled hair. Shuz are played by Moose Toys Real Littles Shoes, which are all amazingly tacky, and I love them. Priscilla is obviously looking in the wrong store.
Continue reading Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store II!

Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store I!

Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store I! published on No Comments on Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store I!

You wouldn’t know it from the comic below, but I have developed an elaborate shoestore set — named the Shuz Store — on my set desk. The first of several Shuz Store adventures features Missy and Megan. Missy is a custom sculpted/painted/wigged head on a Playmates Toys Billie Eilish body with added upper arm swivels. Megan is a Mattel Sterling Silver Rose Barbie [Hispanic version] head with faceup enhanced by me on a Spin Master Liv body. Continue reading Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store I!

Oh no! Dorklets in the kitchen!!

Oh no! Dorklets in the kitchen!! published on No Comments on Oh no! Dorklets in the kitchen!!

Over my break, I finally finally FINALLY got some corner walls painted. One of them even has functioning windows and functioning French doors. Both corners are beautifully done in spray painted primer. I am not done setting up the room, but the dorklets have already overtaken it.

Continue reading Oh no! Dorklets in the kitchen!!

Traditional canned goods for my kitchens

Traditional canned goods for my kitchens published on No Comments on Traditional canned goods for my kitchens

I have a bunch of little glass jars with corks in them filled with different kinds of rocks. I emptied out some of the rocks and made home-canned preserves with two of the jars. I put real jam and real honey in the jars and sealed them with hot glue. Then I put fabric circles over the tops. Voila! Continue reading Traditional canned goods for my kitchens

New set: Ethan’s doll studio — and some new dolls for dolls!

New set: Ethan’s doll studio — and some new dolls for dolls! published on No Comments on New set: Ethan’s doll studio — and some new dolls for dolls!

I finally put all my toys for dolls to good use and created a set of Ethan’s doll room. Besides doll customizing, he also likes robots, radio controlled things, steampunk, and sewing, so I put in appropriate miniatures in those categories. Continue reading New set: Ethan’s doll studio — and some new dolls for dolls!

Unexpectedly amazing Rements

Unexpectedly amazing Rements published on No Comments on Unexpectedly amazing Rements

A few years ago, Rement did some miniature terraria — more like terrarium-inspired miniature scenes — in a series called something like Petit Terrarium Country Life. It’s a series of 6 miniature scenes from European country life, each housed in an appropriate plastic container made to look like glass. There’s a farmer and a Holstein in a milk bottle shaped container. There’s also a person watching a donkey with a milk wagon, and that whole thing is in a milk bottle. There’s a person cooking over a stove in a square-sided bottle with a short neck and a cork and a man picking olives in a corked olive oil bottle. There are two wine-themed scenes: a woman jumping on grapes in a white wine flute and a man and a woman in a rowboat in a red wine flute.

Anyway, I bought these because I figured that the little figures could work as dolls for my dolls. And they do! Some of the scenes work well as tiny sets that 1:6 scale doll lovers have created!

I thought that these things would be smaller. For some reason, I expected the bottles to be 1:6 scale, rather than 1:2 scale. I was also not prepared for the ingenious construction. Every piece, from base liquid to background foliage to people to non-human animals, is separate, with detailed paint jobs on the people and appropriate translucency on the liquids. Rement has made these scenes as easy as possible to assemble, with removable bottoms for all the bottles so you can easily set the scenes in. There are also removable caps and corks.

The level of detail reaches Rement’s usual outstanding levels, although I think the milk wagon scene must be the best. It contains a milk bottle falling off the wagon and dumping milk back into the milk that the whole scene is floating in [see picture]. There’s also a lamb standing on the cart-pulling donkey for no apparent reason. It’s hilarious.

I like the fact that these aren’t just scenes stuffed into any old type of bottle; the coordination between container and scene makes these miniatures both strange and wonderful. An olive-picking scene in an olive oil bottle is delightfully apropos. It’s also weird because the little scene appears to be floating [?!] in the olive oil. In fact, 4 out of 6 scenes are sculpted so that they appear to be floating. This is, as I mentioned, a very loose interpretation of the term “terrarium,” and I appreciate the fantastical impression of the floating scenes.

Bottom line: I thought I was going to get rid of the containers and use the scenes as dolls for dolls, but I find the overall concept and execution so clever and well done that I think I’m displaying all of them as is when they’re not being used as props for my dolls!

Continue reading Unexpectedly amazing Rements

Toy stoves as pieces for dolls

Toy stoves as pieces for dolls published on No Comments on Toy stoves as pieces for dolls

A while back, I acquired a cast iron child’s toy stove that would have worked well for 1:6 scale, except it was too short. I recently purchased a beautiful Little Maid pressed tin, lithographed toy stove from the 1930s with the same problem — too short. I justified this purchase by saying that I have three currently active characters who like to cook [Amish, Night, and the Magister], and the Magister is exactly the sort of person to have different cooking places for different foods.

Incidentally, I did some research, and apparently stoves really looked like that in the 1920s and 1930s. Little legs were common, as were multiple ovens, often set side by side with the burners.

I’m surprised that toy stoves running on electric current were so popular for decades. As far as I’m concerned, that sounds like second-degree burns or a house fire just waiting to happen.

Anyway, shortly after I acquired the Little Maid stove, I found Sixth Scale Studio on Etsy. Besides furniture, this shop also makes risers for kitchen furniture so that it’s a more realistic height for 1:6ers.  Huzzah!Continue reading Toy stoves as pieces for dolls

Recent work: Grass and pants

Recent work: Grass and pants published on 1 Comment on Recent work: Grass and pants

First off, I went to the craft store, bought a mat of fake grass, and cut it into four more naturalistic shapes. They now break up the straight border between sky background and ground cloth. I stuck some plastic ferns in the grass pieces to break up the evenness of the blades. Continue reading Recent work: Grass and pants

Crappy overview photos of all main sets and areas where dolls are out

Crappy overview photos of all main sets and areas where dolls are out published on No Comments on Crappy overview photos of all main sets and areas where dolls are out

For my info. Continue reading Crappy overview photos of all main sets and areas where dolls are out

Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie

Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie published on No Comments on Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie

Pulled from my crappy phone camera.Continue reading Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie

Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets

Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets published on No Comments on Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets

Well, I finished the Spymaster’s vintage/steampunk/old-fashioned computing center with the removal of the CRT on legs and the addition of a Mattel Barbie Magic Moves windup computer [the pink one on the right]. I’ve amassed quite a few Magic Moves windups and Acme magnets recently because, as I’ve stated many times regarding Acme magnets, they’re detailed, well made, and perfectly 1:6 scale. Continue reading Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets

Recent doll doings III: More steampunk stuff!!

Recent doll doings III: More steampunk stuff!! published on No Comments on Recent doll doings III: More steampunk stuff!!

While searching for steampunk stuff to populate the Spymaster’s lab, I discovered that old clock movements are as beautiful and sculpturally fascinating to me as the innards of stereos and record players. I got a cuckoo clock movement for like $20 shipped. It’s about 3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches, pleasingly harmonious and balanced in its asymmetry. I think I might get some more. They’re just so cool! Continue reading Recent doll doings III: More steampunk stuff!!

A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress

A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress published on No Comments on A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress

This weekend I also worked on a new Fiendish Device and the Spymaster’s vintage/steampunk computing center. Continue reading A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress

I built some shelves over one of my counters.

I built some shelves over one of my counters. published on No Comments on I built some shelves over one of my counters.

I used a cardboard box, art papers [for lining box], electrical tape [for covering raw edges of box], balsa wood [for shelves], hot glue [to secure shelves], and picture nails [to secure shelves to counter] to make some shelves for the back of one of my counter units. Look! More storage/display space! Continue reading I built some shelves over one of my counters.

Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 12/21/2019 — the Little Dorks

Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 12/21/2019 — the Little Dorks published on No Comments on Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 12/21/2019 — the Little Dorks

The Little Dorks and Clara [Mattel Nutcracker and the Four Realms doll of Clara, i.e., the only fully articulated Skipper-size body that was around before the Mattel Creatable World line] attended VTDL yesterday. I opened up my two Mattel Creatable World dolls, purchased on sale at the end of November for $10.00, and took pictures of the CW clothes with my Little Dorks.Continue reading Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 12/21/2019 — the Little Dorks

At long last, the 1:6 scale gingerbread house project is complete!

At long last, the 1:6 scale gingerbread house project is complete! published on No Comments on At long last, the 1:6 scale gingerbread house project is complete!

About a year and a half ago, I got some 1:6 scale candy house replicas made by BC Mini. This is what they looked like:Continue reading At long last, the 1:6 scale gingerbread house project is complete!

Behold, for I have made a two-tier produce shelf!!!!!!!!!

Behold, for I have made a two-tier produce shelf!!!!!!!!! published on No Comments on Behold, for I have made a two-tier produce shelf!!!!!!!!!

I finally upgraded my flat produce display furniture to appropriately slanted furniture. The frame of this piece is an unfinished wooden box from Michaels. Base is a wooden crate from packaging for some candy. Bottom shelf is just box lids glued side by side and also glued into frame. Top shelf has a support framework made with dowels, balsa wood, and hot glue. I ended up removing the shim under the front edge, and I put my mini pumpkins and mini squash on the top of the frame, but, other than that, the pictures show how it looks now.

 

Continue reading Behold, for I have made a two-tier produce shelf!!!!!!!!!

New and improved newspaper machine with custom graphics

New and improved newspaper machine with custom graphics published on 1 Comment on New and improved newspaper machine with custom graphics

When I first got my newspaper machine, a cast iron bank from Liberty Collectibles, it was emblazoned with logos of Shell Oil. It looked like this:

 

Continue reading New and improved newspaper machine with custom graphics

Zuru 5 Surprise Mini Brands miniatures — a little big, but they work for 1:6 scale

Zuru 5 Surprise Mini Brands miniatures — a little big, but they work for 1:6 scale published on No Comments on Zuru 5 Surprise Mini Brands miniatures — a little big, but they work for 1:6 scale

Zuru has come out with 5 Surprise Mini Brands miniatures. Like the Australian Coles Little Shops minis, the Zuru minis are small representations of familiar branded items one can find in a grocery store. Unlike the Australian Coles Little Shops, the Zuru minis feature United States brands. There are various sets of 5 apiece. I bought a bunch already opened off Ebay because I only wanted certain ones of each set. Below you can see pictures of various minis with a variety of 1:6 scale dolls for comparison. Overall, I’d call these minis a consistent 1:4 scale [unlike Coles Little Shops, which really vary in scale]. Nevertheless, since foods and drugstore products can come in so many sizes of packaging, I think these can easily work for 1:6 scale too. Continue reading Zuru 5 Surprise Mini Brands miniatures — a little big, but they work for 1:6 scale

What my dolls are doing as of 04/07/2019

What my dolls are doing as of 04/07/2019 published on No Comments on What my dolls are doing as of 04/07/2019

This is pretty much all my dolls, 1:12 scale, 1:7.33333333 scale, 1:6 scale, and 1:3 scale, that are finished and out. That’s 81 of them. Continue reading What my dolls are doing as of 04/07/2019

New 1:6 scale stuff — record player, mini vending machines, etc.

New 1:6 scale stuff — record player, mini vending machines, etc. published on No Comments on New 1:6 scale stuff — record player, mini vending machines, etc.

Got some 1:6 scale stuff recently. Clearing out my phone, I found these photos. Continue reading New 1:6 scale stuff — record player, mini vending machines, etc.

Acme magnets

Acme magnets published on No Comments on Acme magnets

Acme, a company that made lots of kitchen magnets in the 1990s and early 2000s, produced many pieces that can be repurposed for dolls. Here are my Acme magnets below. The first two photos show those that can be used for 1:6 scale. The third shows those that are too large for 1:6 scale, more like 1:4 scale. Continue reading Acme magnets

The Goblin Market has little jars of…uh…stuff.

The Goblin Market has little jars of…uh…stuff. published on No Comments on The Goblin Market has little jars of…uh…stuff.

Twenty-five little resin jars of…uh…stuff…arrived today for the Goblin Market. The labels claim that they contain jam. However, given the fluorescent colors, I think they’re probably extraterrestrial. I put them over with the off-world food.

 

Continue reading The Goblin Market has little jars of…uh…stuff.

Acme Magnets: a source of small-scale props

Acme Magnets: a source of small-scale props published on 1 Comment on Acme Magnets: a source of small-scale props

Acme Magnets, now sadly defunct, issued a wide variety of  kitchen magnets in the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s. A lot of them were household items, including furniture, appliances, and food. Some of them even had sound features. Anyway, Acme magnets, while popular on Ebay, can be had for decent prices [$5.00-$10.00 apiece shipped], and they combine sturdy construction with realistic detailing and, in some cases, obnoxious noises. :p Today we’re looking at a boom box magnet!
Continue reading Acme Magnets: a source of small-scale props

Coolest prop of the last 5 minutes: a newspaper vending machine!

Coolest prop of the last 5 minutes: a newspaper vending machine! published on 1 Comment on Coolest prop of the last 5 minutes: a newspaper vending machine!

I am now the proud owner of a 1:6 scale newspaper vending machine. It’s actually a diecast metal bank by Liberty Classics, a company mostly known for their scale models of vehicles. They also produce newspaper machine banks so that companies can commemorate various occasions with souvenirs. When I searched on Ebay for this one, which was commissioned by Shell Oil, I also saw ones commissioned by the Kiwanis Club, St. Petersburg Times, and Chevron/Texaco. I chose this one because its bright color scheme reminded me most of the attention-getting machines I have seen in my travels.

Made entirely of diecast metal except for plastic bottom and back, this bank is a sturdy, solid piece. It measures 13.4 cm high without the coin machine and 18cm with the coin machine. It is 7.5cm wide x 6.5cm deep. It’s beautifully detailed down to the diecast rivet heads, the branded graphics on the side, and the customized text, including the name and price of the paper, a preview window to the Petroleum Post, and a framed advertisement window below that. This piece is so well-made that I will not be able to remove the Petroleum Post and Shell copy, since they’re on pieces of metal. I’m just going to paste my own graphics over them.

The front of the bank even opens just like a real newspaper machine! Of course, there’s no place to store papers in there, as that would interfere with the bank reservoir. But it’s still fuckin’ cool. With some customization, this machine will show up in a future photostory as a convenient way of setting the stage.

 

Continue reading Coolest prop of the last 5 minutes: a newspaper vending machine!

House Rainbow Barf thrift shop turns into an arcade!

House Rainbow Barf thrift shop turns into an arcade! published on No Comments on House Rainbow Barf thrift shop turns into an arcade!

I have been amassing miniature arcade cabinets to make a game room for my 1:6 [and 1:7.333333333] scale dolls. However, the games I have so far also work perfectly in 1:12 scale, that is, for House Rainbow Barf denizens. Proof below. Continue reading House Rainbow Barf thrift shop turns into an arcade!

Shopkins packages for 1:6 scale food packages

Shopkins packages for 1:6 scale food packages published on No Comments on Shopkins packages for 1:6 scale food packages

Shopkins, in case you have been living under a rock for the past few years, are kawaii anthropomorphic foods and household items made by Aussie toy company Moose. I have shunned them because I find their faces disturbing. Recently, however, Moose came out with Shopkins in small replicas of food packaging. The items range between 1:4 scale and 1:6 scale, and they’re sufficiently realistic in their details to serve as 1:6 scale food. Pics forthwith.

 

Continue reading Shopkins packages for 1:6 scale food packages

The Goblin Market got durian and tomatoes!!!!

The Goblin Market got durian and tomatoes!!!! published on 1 Comment on The Goblin Market got durian and tomatoes!!!!

Photos with 1:6ers Alison and Bill below. Both durian and tomatoes are resin pieces purchased from Aliexpress. Tomatoes were billed as “1:12 scale,” which seems not to actually mean “1 inch scale,” but “suitable for dolls; take your chances on size.” Durians all have an area of skin cut off to show pulp, but I have put that area facing the table so no one notices. Voila! Continue reading The Goblin Market got durian and tomatoes!!!!

Yellow peppers and bok choy for the Goblin Market — this time with 1:6 scale comparisons!

Yellow peppers and bok choy for the Goblin Market — this time with 1:6 scale comparisons! published on 1 Comment on Yellow peppers and bok choy for the Goblin Market — this time with 1:6 scale comparisons!

Yellow peppers and bok choy! This time, 1:6ers Alison and Bill show scale.

This set is the most detailed I’ve ever made. Even my forest and cemetery sets, while they contain many parts and customized pieces, don’t have the sheer number and variety of things as this produce section does.

I also think that this is the most expensive set that I’ve created. Most people who follow my work know that I tend to use simple, cheap, multipurpose objects in my sets. While I used this principle with the counters [made of a table, a miniature crate, cut-down box lids + dowels] and some of the produce holders [mini box lids and screw-top lids], the majority of the pieces, being food, are very specific. That means a lot of money sunk into single-purpose props, insofar as pieces of food are counted as single-purpose things. Someday I’ll add up how many objects are in this set and how much they set me back, but today is not that day.

Still to come: Rocket Fuel Foods snacks, cucumbers, tomatoes, and carrots. Ugh, I need more counter space…

Continue reading Yellow peppers and bok choy for the Goblin Market — this time with 1:6 scale comparisons!

The Goblin Market gets citrus and a full juice fridge!

The Goblin Market gets citrus and a full juice fridge! published on No Comments on The Goblin Market gets citrus and a full juice fridge!

More stock arrived today for the Goblin Market: oranges, yellow grapefruit, and more juice for the fridge. Continue reading The Goblin Market gets citrus and a full juice fridge!

Progress on the Goblin Market

Progress on the Goblin Market published on No Comments on Progress on the Goblin Market

I have decided that my produce section is part of a local market called the Goblin Market. Its eldritch name derives from the off-world foods it sells. The addition of fictional foods makes the Goblin Market a much more interesting set, as well as a perfect place for my DW dolls to hang out. Recent additions below. Continue reading Progress on the Goblin Market

Made some more counters, embraced the out-of-scaleness, and found background 1:7.33333333ers

Made some more counters, embraced the out-of-scaleness, and found background 1:7.33333333ers published on No Comments on Made some more counters, embraced the out-of-scaleness, and found background 1:7.33333333ers

I made some more counters out of a box top, which I cut in half and added hot-glued dowels to for legs. They’re so realistic that they have shims under one of the legs for added gritty realism because I cut them imperfectly. Continue reading Made some more counters, embraced the out-of-scaleness, and found background 1:7.33333333ers

The produce section has a shopping cart — will it work?!

The produce section has a shopping cart — will it work?! published on No Comments on The produce section has a shopping cart — will it work?!

I got a shopping cart off AliExpress in the mail today. Will it work for my produce section??? Continue reading The produce section has a shopping cart — will it work?!

1:6 scale or 1:7.3333333333333 scale grocery store

1:6 scale or 1:7.3333333333333 scale grocery store published on No Comments on 1:6 scale or 1:7.3333333333333 scale grocery store

I’ve always wanted a small-scale grocery store. However, the sheer volume of food available that I would have to make has always daunted me. Recently I decided to use my time-honored method of using a part to suggest the whole, but with the principle applied to a grocery store. I chose a produce section to make because variety of shapes and colors would be aesthetically pleasing. Plus fruit is much easier to make than endless permutations of, say, cereal boxes. Results below. Continue reading 1:6 scale or 1:7.3333333333333 scale grocery store

1:7.3 scale kitchen — Crescent cast iron stove and Rement kitchen

1:7.3 scale kitchen — Crescent cast iron stove and Rement kitchen published on 1 Comment on 1:7.3 scale kitchen — Crescent cast iron stove and Rement kitchen

1:7.3 scale Bill and 1:7.3 scale Missy pose with two recent acquisitions, a Crescent cast iron toy stove and a Rement kitchen, to show scale.  Half in the frame of the first pic is another project in progress: a small-scale produce section for when I want my characters to go to a grocery store.Continue reading 1:7.3 scale kitchen — Crescent cast iron stove and Rement kitchen

Coles Little Shop branded miniature food and products

Coles Little Shop branded miniature food and products published on 1 Comment on Coles Little Shop branded miniature food and products

Coles, a grocery chain in Australia, ran a promotion in August and September. People purchasing $30.00 AUD received a blind-boxed miniature of a product sold at the store. There were 30 miniatures, plus rare accessories like branded baskets, aprons, carts, etc. People went wild for the minis, not only in Oz, but around the world, and Ebay sellers did a brisk business in secondhand minis.

 

I, of course, being an aficionado of small things in the 1:6 scale range, perked up when I heard about Coles Little Shops. The inclusion of Nutella in the minis sealed my interest. I’m not really a fan of particular brands, but Ferrero Nutella is one of them. I have not acquired any Nutella in 1:6 scale, however, mostly because I didn’t want to sculpt its distinctive jar shape. When I saw that Coles had reproduced the iconic Nutella container and the packaging label in minuscule detail, I jumped on it.

 

In comparison to the premier 1:6ish scale products made by Rement, which are meticulously molded and painted, often with openable packages, Coles Little Shops are simpler. As duplicates of exterior packaging only, they are either paper or plastic packages filled with foam for shape, or they are single-color pieces of stiff, brittle plastic. Scale varies wildly among the 30 products. Daily Juice, eggs, Leggo, for example, are good for 1:6 scale, while Nutella, Milo, and Colgate look like larger 1:6 scale containers you’d buy at a bulk store…or 1:4 scale. Vicks and John West seem closest to 1:3 scale. It seems very strange that the promotion didn’t just pick a scale and go with it.

 

The advantage that the Coles Little Shops have over Rement is the fact that they’re officially licensed by certain brands, so they look exactly like the real things sold in Oz. For example, if you squint hard enough at the Colgate, you can see the toll-free informational hotline number for Australia and New Zealand if you want to call someone up to talk toothpaste!

 

My favorites are Nutella, Colgate, Daily Juice, Mount Franklin, Coles eggs, Pantene, Leggo, and Chobani. These all work really well with the solid, simple design of the minis. Colgate, Daily Juice, Mount Franklin, Coles eggs, and Leggo are all instantly identifiable, even if you don’t know the brands, so they’re very satisfying aesthetically. As for Nutella, Pantene, and Chobani, they’re recognizable as branded products that are either never produced in 1:6 scale form or are produced rather unrecognizably. When was the last time you ever saw decent yogurt in close to 1:6 scale?! Continue reading Coles Little Shop branded miniature food and products

Stuff I got last weekend

Stuff I got last weekend published on No Comments on Stuff I got last weekend

VTDL met last Saturday, with Eseme and Kukolka from the Figurvore boards coming specifically for 1:6 scale selling, swapping, and enjoyment. I got some cool stuff for both my sets and my 1:9 scale Dork fam.

Continue reading Stuff I got last weekend

Today’s 1:6 scale work: new hands and Tarot deco

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I decorated some of my 1:6 scale scenes with cards from my Tarot of the Sweet Twilight by Christina Benintende. I like the twisty, humorous, phantasmagorical designs on almost all cards, so I selected cards for each set based primarily on pictures.

I also gave 75% of the Little Dorks, Alison, the Little Witch, and the Little Fixit, new hands with which they could hold things. Little Bill will get new hands when I have the time. By drilling the holes bit by bit on a low Dremel setting and testing the new wrist pegs frequently, I achieved securely fitting pegs. That’s more than I could ever do when turning the Dremel up to highest speed. No melting plastic either!
Continue reading Today’s 1:6 scale work: new hands and Tarot deco

New 1:6 scale spaces in the living room

New 1:6 scale spaces in the living room published on No Comments on New 1:6 scale spaces in the living room

I walled off a corner of the living room with two bookcases to create a place where I can hang out in my new recliner and have [the illusion of] privacy. Here are the new scenes on these shelves:

Continue reading New 1:6 scale spaces in the living room

Recent 1:6 scale activities part I: BC Mini cake and candy house keyrings

Recent 1:6 scale activities part I: BC Mini cake and candy house keyrings published on No Comments on Recent 1:6 scale activities part I: BC Mini cake and candy house keyrings

Do your small populations need some totally blinged out desserts of questionable aesthetic value? Look no further. BC Mini, purveyor of Japanese novelty erasers, keychains, squishy food replicas, and other necessary things, sells overdecorated circular cakes and candy houses, perfect for all your small-scale baking competitions. Continue reading Recent 1:6 scale activities part I: BC Mini cake and candy house keyrings

New 1:6 scale spaces in my bedroom

New 1:6 scale spaces in my bedroom published on No Comments on New 1:6 scale spaces in my bedroom

I’ve been moving my furniture around the apartment. I used to have my compooper out in the main room, but I moved it into my bedroom onto the desk that I had been using for dolls and photos. Now my former doll desk is my compooper desk. The table that once held compooper now holds creative projects. I also ejected a large brown bookcase that stood on the bedroom floor in favor of shelves in the deep windowsill. And there are some new 1:6 scale sets for my dolls to enjoy! Continue reading New 1:6 scale spaces in my bedroom

Dolls old and new in their natural habitat — my room

Dolls old and new in their natural habitat — my room published on No Comments on Dolls old and new in their natural habitat — my room

A few shots of how the stuff from my vacation with natalunasans now appears… Continue reading Dolls old and new in their natural habitat — my room

Small sets in my bedroom and bonus Shalka dorks

Small sets in my bedroom and bonus Shalka dorks published on No Comments on Small sets in my bedroom and bonus Shalka dorks

I used to have just my dolls hanging out on shelves, talking to each other so that they wouldn’t get bored. Back in February of this year, though, I realized that I also had lots of nifty furniture, props, accessories, etc., that languished in storage. I could arrange them into vignettes for my dolls so they could do activities besides talking! Below are overviews of each scene, then detail shots. Continue reading Small sets in my bedroom and bonus Shalka dorks

MW’s biggest prop — and introducing Robo Ten!

MW’s biggest prop — and introducing Robo Ten! published on No Comments on MW’s biggest prop — and introducing Robo Ten!

I got a TARDIS in the mail from @natalunasans recently! Also a smiling Ten head! Here’s my largest prop and my interpretation of the Tenth Doctor.

Robo Ten is my fanfic universe’s version of the Tenth Doctor, a robotic replica created by Harry [Simm Master]. Robo Ten is a slightly enhanced BCS smiling Ten head on a BCS body with Triad Alpha hands and Hot Toys shoefeet. Sweatshirt is from TTYA.com, and jeggings were commandeered from a Mattel articulated Curvy.

Since Robo Ten is even messier than regular Ten, I took off their bangs, dunked in hot water, reshaped, then froze for a while. Antennae are wired that I coiled around a bamboo skewer, then hot glued behind the ears, adding beads to the top. Yes, I added eyeliner and lipstick to my version of Robo Ten. I love this headsculpt. The expression is playful, geeky, and slightly sheepish.

As for the TARDIS, this thing is so frickin’ cool [besides being frickin’ heavy and frickin’ large]. I’m pretty sure it’s the BCS Tenth Doctor’s TARDIS. It has a little phone, an openable door to go in, a little door to reach in and get the phone, and battery-operated lights. I particularly like the herringbone pattern of the flagstones inside. Anyway, you’ll be seeing more of it just because it’s really cool. I hope to do some on-location shoots….Continue reading MW’s biggest prop — and introducing Robo Ten!

Shalka Dorks and their tools [with bonus tortoise]

Shalka Dorks and their tools [with bonus tortoise] published on No Comments on Shalka Dorks and their tools [with bonus tortoise]

The Master apparently got a pipe wrench and a ball peen hammer for Christmas, while Alison got a drill and some pliers. All items are from ZC World’s latest 1:6 scale tool kit, shown on the floor in front of them. Jill’s tortoise, Sunny, is not 1:6 scale. Continue reading Shalka Dorks and their tools [with bonus tortoise]

The Modern Wizard school of set design illustrated with the Body Shop Cafe

The Modern Wizard school of set design illustrated with the Body Shop Cafe published on No Comments on The Modern Wizard school of set design illustrated with the Body Shop Cafe

Tonight I set up a corner of the Body Shop, a nexus of PWS culture in Zombieville. Continue reading The Modern Wizard school of set design illustrated with the Body Shop Cafe

Shalka dorks presenting interior decoration

Shalka dorks presenting interior decoration published on No Comments on Shalka dorks presenting interior decoration

Alison and the Master talk interior design. Scintilla, the Master’s TARDIS, butts in. Set is from the Mattel She-Ra doll box. Continue reading Shalka dorks presenting interior decoration

On the negative side of things, one of my full-spectrum LED bulbs burned out.

On the negative side of things, one of my full-spectrum LED bulbs burned out. published on No Comments on On the negative side of things, one of my full-spectrum LED bulbs burned out.

On the positive side of things, someone decided to repurpose it in his world domination schemes. Oh wait…that’s probably another negative, huh? 😛

Continue reading On the negative side of things, one of my full-spectrum LED bulbs burned out.

It’s quiet in the Master’s library… TOO quiet…

It’s quiet in the Master’s library… TOO quiet… published on No Comments on It’s quiet in the Master’s library… TOO quiet…

I’ve spent the last few weeks making miniature books, both openable and dummy. The openable ones have page blocks made from a notepad that I cut down with a paper cutter, gluing pages with hot glue. Some of the covers are patterned notecards, while most are made of origami paper. Dummy books are made of craft foam for page blocks, more origami paper for covers. I love making books of different sizes, thicknesses, and covers, then arranging them messily on the shelves. 😀

 

Continue reading It’s quiet in the Master’s library… TOO quiet…

The Stylist gets into the Master’s kitchen: a.k.a., True Friends Poison Each Other

The Stylist gets into the Master’s kitchen: a.k.a., True Friends Poison Each Other published on No Comments on The Stylist gets into the Master’s kitchen: a.k.a., True Friends Poison Each Other

@natalunasans sent me several sets of 1:6 scale accessories made by Battat for their 8″ Lori dolls. As you can see, they all work great for 1:6 scale people. While not on the level of Rement, all pieces show very good molding, sparing but realistic paint apps, realistic color schemes, and overall charming design. Better than Mattel playline.

Also starring a plastic overstuffed chair that came along with my Pop Toys British Detective [unlicensed Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock from the Abandoned Bride ep of the eponymous show set in 1895 or something]. And finally you can get a good look at the Stylist, who is a 2016 AA Holiday Barbie headsculpt on a Made To Move Body. I removed her eye makeup, brows, and lips, adding new brows, new mouth, and, of course, shading around eyes and nose. I also added a scar on her forehead because she was going to be Alison, but she doesn’t look like her.

 

 

Anyway, here’s the Stylist plowing her way through a selection, with eventual interception from the Master, whose pantry all that stuff was in. :p

No, apparently my Time Lords don’t have adventures; they just hang around and annoy the shit out of each other. 😛 Continue reading The Stylist gets into the Master’s kitchen: a.k.a., True Friends Poison Each Other

Another Fiendish Device or several

Another Fiendish Device or several published on No Comments on Another Fiendish Device or several

Behold my latest magnificent creation, which I have designed especially to achieve my devious plans. It may appear to be the underside of a record player turntable, but the ignorant masses clearly know nothing of such cutting-edge technology as mine. This is an audiovibratory physiomolecular transport device!

“You mean…he’s gonna send us to another planet?!”

“Planet schmanet, Janet!”

Continue reading Another Fiendish Device or several

Julian’s primary and auxiliary Fiendish Devices

Julian’s primary and auxiliary Fiendish Devices published on No Comments on Julian’s primary and auxiliary Fiendish Devices

Julian and Cara showing off their Fiendish Devices. The larger one I previously detailed. The smaller one is another circuit board from the same stereo, housed in an iPhone 5 box, with indicators made of findings with pins inside. Continue reading Julian’s primary and auxiliary Fiendish Devices

Angel of Death Victorious

Angel of Death Victorious published on No Comments on Angel of Death Victorious

Appearing on the Haserot family tombstone in Cleveland, Ohio, the Angel of Death Victorious is a fitting companion for the Angel of Grief. The verdigris tears of black make the figure all the more striking. Atlas Obscura has clear photos. Forgotten Ohio has creepier, more atmospheric photos.

I want one! No, seriously, I want one of these in 1:6 scale…

In times of great crisis, the angel will walk. It moves with a slow, sort of grating, slightly molten, titanic motion. It will arise and make its heavy, earthen way to the scene of the calamity. Its tread sounds like the bones of the earth resettling.

And it will stand, its torch burning with an eldritch fire, its eyes seeing everything and nothing. And it bears speechless witness, offering both illumination and darkness.

The people in its presence react variously. There’s the usual fainting, shitting of pants, screaming and fleeing, that sort of thing.

Some who see the angel feel peace, a peace as cold as iron, as heavy as the mountains, as deep as the crust of the earth. This weight, this solidity, this strength, and this groundedness unjellify their shaken limbs and steady their qualming hearts.

Now, having seen the angel, they know their own strength. The angel’s cold slow burn of indomitability becomes theirs as well. And they become the activists who are in it for the long haul. They will labor on the side of good and fairness and liberty and justice in whatever way they can for the rest of their days. They will do so persistently, unstintingly, tenaciously, for the angels of the earth are behind them.

And then there are those people who look into the angel’s eyes. We don’t really know what happens to them.

But there are always a few who are drawn inexorably to face that abyssal gazeless gaze. Whoever said that thing about being careful if you look into the abyss because then it might look into you was probably onto something… because the people who try to find the angel’s eyes end up losing themselves.

Their eyes become orbs of light, and they weep in endless illumination. We don’t know what they see [if they see anything] or why they weep because they won’t answer us. They no longer speak; they only sit in reverie.

And then, inevitably, one day, they take their torches, rise, and begin to walk.

Julian’s Fiendish Device 2.0 in progress

Julian’s Fiendish Device 2.0 in progress published on No Comments on Julian’s Fiendish Device 2.0 in progress

I worked a little on Julian’s Fiendish Device 2.0 today. I made a case for it out of a wall-mounted curio shelf. I had been keeping the shelf around for a 1:6 scale bookcase, but I never did anything with it, so today I took out the interior shelves. I then mounted my largest circuit board inside the frame. It just fit, so I hot glued it in there. Then I bent some of the loose wires around the back and in various configurations, gluing them there, so they appear to be plugged in. I added some unusual plastic capsule things [they kind of look like ornate vacuum tubes] at the top of the circuit board and the shelf decoration. That grille-like thing in the back is the base of my HT Princess Leia stand. More to come.

Please note that Julian now has glasses on her face and TWO pairs of goggles on her head. She figures that it’s a logical place to store them until she needs them. 😀
 

Continue reading Julian’s Fiendish Device 2.0 in progress

Miscellaneous: new camera, sweater fronts, and Fiendish Device 2.0 pieces

Miscellaneous: new camera, sweater fronts, and Fiendish Device 2.0 pieces published on No Comments on Miscellaneous: new camera, sweater fronts, and Fiendish Device 2.0 pieces

I picked up a Canon PowerShot SX1001IS digicam yesterday so that I can take quick photos of my projects without having to set up my umbrella lights, tripod, white backdrop, and all my photostory shooting supplies. Apparently this camera was pretty sweet about a decade ago, and it works perfectly well for my purposes a decade later. Pictures below were taken with this new device, which I acquired off Craigslist for $10.00.Continue reading Miscellaneous: new camera, sweater fronts, and Fiendish Device 2.0 pieces

1:6 scale drug packages

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Lumberjack shows scale on some 1:6 scale drug packages I made. The bottles are white electrical tape, wrapped around cores made of glue sticks. I just wrapped the tape thicker for the tops. I put a few layers of tape on the top and bottom to cover up the core. Then I downloaded labels from online, deliberately going for pharmacist bottles, as opposed to prescription bottles. I scaled down the labels, printed them out, then taped them onto the bottles. The bottles are probably oversize, but check it out — you can read the labels, at least enough to see what drugs they are!

As for the Fentanyl patches, those were easy. I just found a picture of a package online. Since it showed both front and back, I found out the actual size of a 50 mcg patch and scaled the patches to approximate size. I printed them, cut them out, folded them in half like greeting cards, then laminated them with tape.

Continue reading 1:6 scale drug packages

The Fiendish Device: a 1:6 scale piece that I wish I still had

The Fiendish Device: a 1:6 scale piece that I wish I still had published on No Comments on The Fiendish Device: a 1:6 scale piece that I wish I still had

Back about a decade or so ago, I lived in an apartment on the third floor of a house. The landlord collected stuff. I got the innards of an old record player, as well as some vacuum tubes, from him. These, along with a circuit board from a calculator, as well as the halves of some plastic Easter eggs, some ball-headed pins, and some pipe cleaners, became a 1:6 scale Fiendish Device.

I originally thought I’d use it as a piece of equipment for my Frankenstein-like scientist Janet. However, the Device took up too much desk space to be a truly usable background element. Also it was really heavy, so I eventually ditched it before moving.

I’ve always missed the Fiendish Device. Sadly, though, the only record I have of it survives in this small photo of crappy quality in which Will, dressed up as Frank in prep for a midnight showing of RHPS, pretends it’s a sonic transducer.

I should remake it. It was the best vaguely ominous, sort of scientific-looking thing ever. Continue reading The Fiendish Device: a 1:6 scale piece that I wish I still had

Isabel’s shitty sock sweater and in-progress office

Isabel’s shitty sock sweater and in-progress office published on No Comments on Isabel’s shitty sock sweater and in-progress office

I’ve been focusing on digital for so long that I don’t even recall the last time I posted about doll-related creative projects! I’m shifting, though, away from an all-consuming obsession with digital to my first love, actual dolls. Right now I’m working on Zombieville stuff, but [eventually!] I’ll get to those BJDs who have languished, unfinished, for a year or more. [I’m sorry, Delmar and Fritillaria!] In the meantime, see below for details on Isabel’s wardrobe and workplace. Continue reading Isabel’s shitty sock sweater and in-progress office

Recent projects #4: doctor’s exam room set

Recent projects #4: doctor’s exam room set published on No Comments on Recent projects #4: doctor’s exam room set

Since Chapter 7 [and some of Chapter 8] of Zombieville centers on Isabel’s visit to Doctor Z, I decided a long time ago that I needed to make an exam room set. I started sometime last year with research. I had the opportunity to sit around in an actual exam room for about 45 minutes, waiting for a doctor, so I took the time to observe the layout and contents of the room. I sketched a diagram, which I then transferred into Photoshop. Continue reading Recent projects #4: doctor’s exam room set

Additions to the 1:6 scale fridge

Additions to the 1:6 scale fridge published on No Comments on Additions to the 1:6 scale fridge

At the suggestion of a Figurvore member, I added a local menu to the fridge. [I found it online and reduced it to 16.67%, then printed it out.] I also added a LOVERMONT sticker, since Vermonters really like to proclaim their attachment to their state.

Continue reading Additions to the 1:6 scale fridge

Figurvore prop challenge: I made a fridge!

Figurvore prop challenge: I made a fridge! published on No Comments on Figurvore prop challenge: I made a fridge!

This month’s Figurvore prop challenge was to construct something kitchen-related and to provide photos of dolls using the item. Originally I planned to make a popcorn popper, though I had no use for it, but I turned my mind instead to one of the gaps in my set collection that has long frustrated me: the lack of a 1:6 scale refrigerator. Sure, I’ve got a stove, a sink, a microwave, a coffee maker, a table and chairs, a toaster, a blender, cooking utensils, silverware, plates, bowls, a hutch, crockery, a colander, etc., etc., etc., but I wanted a fridge dammit!

Continue reading Figurvore prop challenge: I made a fridge!

Wig stands for Isabel

Wig stands for Isabel published on No Comments on Wig stands for Isabel

As the next ep of Zombieville will be set in Isabel’s bedroom, I needed to complete the interior decoration thereof. Isabel, because she dislikes her grey hair, shaves it short and wears a variety of meretricious wigs. In a natural extension of her interest in dolls, she has customized her wig stands by repainting them, renaming them and giving them personalities.

Continue reading Wig stands for Isabel

Anatomy of a set: The Cemetery of Her Dreams

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I had a few inquiries on MWD about the cemetery set for the latest episode of Zombieville, so below I’ve collected some notes and photos that I created during its creation.

 

Peter’s gumball machine

Peter’s gumball machine published on No Comments on Peter’s gumball machine

Sure, I have a wonderful little Rement gumball machine that I could use on the counter of Peter’s resale shop, Rumpy Pumpy. However, as much as I love Rement, I love even more the satisfaction of finding a Valentine’s candy dispenser for 88 cents the day after Valentine’s and quickly repurposing it into a gumball machine that I customized by my very own self.

Continue reading Peter’s gumball machine

From kitschy jaundiced crap to 1:6 scale cemetery centerpiece

From kitschy jaundiced crap to 1:6 scale cemetery centerpiece published on No Comments on From kitschy jaundiced crap to 1:6 scale cemetery centerpiece

Last year I acquired a small replica of William Wetmore Story’s Angel of Grief that he originally carved for his wife’s tomb. Made by Design Toscano, your friendly neighborhood purveyors of all things mediocre, tawdry and expensive, she looked like this initially:

Continue reading From kitschy jaundiced crap to 1:6 scale cemetery centerpiece

Graveyard elements: plaster pedestals

Graveyard elements: plaster pedestals published on No Comments on Graveyard elements: plaster pedestals

Ooooh, I think that the graveyard in Zombieville could use some plaster pedestals to suggest mausoleums! Here is a nice plain pillar, needing only some weathering, for $29.99. This Ionic one, at $14.99, is a bit cheaper, though. And here’s a Roman one for the same price. But maybe this column wall mirror would work [$19.99] too.

I’m a big fan of this curved Roman capital bench too…perfect for contemplating my grieving angel statue…

Perhaps I could get away not with some columns, but with some silly cherub statue from this category, as long as it looks suitably depressed.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1620473.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Fireplace!

Fireplace! published on No Comments on Fireplace!

After pining for one for quite a while, I finally found one on the DOA marketplace for $23.00 shipped, which is about how much I’m willing to pay for one. Woo hoo!

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1609291.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Acme magnets as 1:6 scale kitchen implements

Acme magnets as 1:6 scale kitchen implements published on No Comments on Acme magnets as 1:6 scale kitchen implements

In the 1990s, Acme made many refrigerator magnets of household appliances, some of which may be repurposed as 1:6 scale accessories. Here Isabel models my latest finds, a toaster oven with working door and a scale. I like the Acme magnets for their high level of detail and their realistic color schemes.

Continue reading Acme magnets as 1:6 scale kitchen implements

“Say hello to my little friend.”

“Say hello to my little friend.” published on No Comments on “Say hello to my little friend.”

Isabel’s glue gun is a ray gun from the Takara Cy Girl Aurora, repainted with green spray paint. I drilled a hole in the back end and inserted a polymer clay glue stick that DLSarmywife on Figurvore made for me. I wrapped a little tin foil around the nozzle for the metal and then added a blob of actual hot glue.
Continue reading “Say hello to my little friend.”

1:6 scale food I made last night

1:6 scale food I made last night published on No Comments on 1:6 scale food I made last night

Last night I took a class in making polymer clay foods with Melissa Cook, a local miniaturist. I really enjoyed myself as she taught us how to make jack-o-lanterns, apples, bananas and bread. She was teaching in 1:12 scale, but she provided enough clay for me to make fewer items, but larger ones.

Jack-o-lantern: formed, carved and baked around a core of loosely wadded tin foil.

Apples: lime green dusted with bright red pastel.

Bananas: bright yellow flattened to make four "ribs," brushed with lime green along top, bottom and ribs. Top to be colored with black Sharpie. Spots to be added with brown marker.

Bread: very pale tan with most color added via pastels: red, orange, brown, yellow, ochre. Red and dark brown look good for the toasted parts. Ochre gives the cooked parts a nice depth.

Continue reading 1:6 scale food I made last night

1:6 scale upright vacuum and handheld vacuum

1:6 scale upright vacuum and handheld vacuum published on No Comments on 1:6 scale upright vacuum and handheld vacuum

As much as I enjoy constructing or customizing many of my 1:6 scale dolls, set pieces and accessories, I always appreciate an accurate, detailed, appropriately scaled piece that looks and functions great straight out of the package. Sometimes I just don’t want to invest hours of work into everything.
Continue reading 1:6 scale upright vacuum and handheld vacuum

Stocking Isabel’s mess: art supplies

Stocking Isabel’s mess: art supplies published on No Comments on Stocking Isabel’s mess: art supplies

One Zombieville set that I will greatly enjoy making is Isabel’s room, including her mess where she customizes dolls. The accessories for this set will be easy to furnish since I can use many of my own supplies for Isabel’s. See:
Continue reading Stocking Isabel’s mess: art supplies

Moriendi, Isabel’s mannequin [formerly Bering Lusk]

Moriendi, Isabel’s mannequin [formerly Bering Lusk] published on No Comments on Moriendi, Isabel’s mannequin [formerly Bering Lusk]

My Harumika mannequin has changed looks and hands a few times before settling down.

Continue reading Moriendi, Isabel’s mannequin [formerly Bering Lusk]

New set piece: double-hung window

New set piece: double-hung window published on No Comments on New set piece: double-hung window

I acquired an unfinished double-hung window for a playscale dollhouse from Ebay. It came with a removable plastic pane. I took out the pane and spray painted the frame white.

I then measured two pieces of fabric the size of the pane from my backdrops collection. I ironed each piece of fabric and used Mod Podge to adhere it to a slightly stiff sheet of watercolor paper.

When I get some adhesive magnetic strips, I will put some on the back of the window frame. I can then pin the pieces of fabric between the frame and my magnetic backdrop so that the scene appears to be either day or night.

Continue reading New set piece: double-hung window

Succumbing to the fireplace

Succumbing to the fireplace published on No Comments on Succumbing to the fireplace

I’ve tried very hard not to want a 1:6 scale fireplace, but my irrational lust has not abated. When I have the money, then, I will get one from Mini Chair and then repaint it a flat white. Fake "distressed" paint jobs distress me. :p

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1567685.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Béatrice’s makeover and some 1:6 scale candles!

Béatrice’s makeover and some 1:6 scale candles! published on No Comments on Béatrice’s makeover and some 1:6 scale candles!

I redid Béatrice’s faceup over the past few days, as well as her hair. She used to have a faceup in unsealed Prismacolor colored pencil and no hair at all. Her faceup wore away with handling, however. I also found her blindingly white skin difficult to photograph. To cut down on the amount of blindingly white skin she shows, I made her a coordinating wig when I redid her faceup.

Faceup consists of the following: brown watercolor pencil for eyebrows, lashes and shading around nose, neon purple over neon pink acrylic for eyeshadow, neon pink with neon purple line for mouth, pink colored pencil for blush. Wig is faux fur with a blue 1" base, originally with 3" pink and purple spikes. I trimmed the spikes down to 1" as well and gave Béatrice bangs.

Everyone in Zombieville achieves a minimum level of loud tackiness, but Béatrice is especially loud and flamboyant. I mean, she wears neon lipstick, for shit’s sake! She also chooses, as a cancer survivor who has lost her hair to radiation, to wear a tricolor wig. Plus she is actually really loud and pushy, in part because she is used to being literally overlooked.

She still needs her chandelier earrings.

Continue reading Béatrice’s makeover and some 1:6 scale candles!

Rumpy Pumpy now stocked with bags

Rumpy Pumpy now stocked with bags published on No Comments on Rumpy Pumpy now stocked with bags

I had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to fill the Rement Beauty Counter with bags. I have very few purses and such.

I am thinking of making Rumpy Pumpy a general secondhand store selling cool stuff. Then I could use some of my interesting accessories that otherwise would never appear.

In any case, I have to change the title of the Beauty Counter.

Continue reading Rumpy Pumpy now stocked with bags

Isabel’s mess

Isabel’s mess published on No Comments on Isabel’s mess

Well, technically, it’s Isabel’s doll studio, but it’s a barely organized heap of several projects in progress, so it’s pretty messy. I should start making this. I’ve been amassing dolls, doll parts, shelves and tables for her for quite some time, and I think I need to just dive right in and do it. The huge list of supplies I want to stock her with looks daunting, but, as much of it is either easily made or cut down from my own supplies, I should be able to quickly generate it. 

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1557604.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Score!: a new addition to my set pieces

Score!: a new addition to my set pieces published on No Comments on Score!: a new addition to my set pieces

I love the Doll Page Show and Sell Site. It’s an online marketplace where people post free ads for their doll stuff, mostly FRs [Fashion Royalties] and high-end Barbies, though 1:4 scale Tonners and BJDs of all sizes form a steady minority. There’s also a small, but steady, minority of naked rescue dolls that I’d expect to find at a thrift store or garage sale. Prices are pretty reasonable for the secondary market, and, if you stalk the new ads, you can find some exceptional deals. The only thing I dislike about the site is that sold items do not automatically disappear from the search results, which means they keep hanging around to taunt me. :p

Anyway, I have sold a few items on the Doll Page and purchased even more. I got a kitchen hutch with crockery for $30.00 shipped, which was just about what I was willing to pay. The seller actually refunded me s/h [$15.00], as one of the crocks broke in transit, so the hutch ended up being just $15.00.

Some aforementioned cheap nudes also came from the Doll Page.

FR London Calling Kyu Barrett also came from the Doll Page. Just to give you an idea of the low prices you can find there, I bought Barrett for $75.00 shipped because the seller wanted to clear him out so she could buy someone else. :p Other MIB dolls of his type are asking $100.00, $115.00, $116.00 and $215.00 shipped. Asking prices are higher on Ebay.

My most recent Doll Page score is a MIB Rement Beauty Counter for $55.00 shipped. I had never heard of this piece before last week because it’s really rare and from the early days of Rement [2005, according to HLJ]. The most recent one that sold on Ebay went for $74.98 shipped, while there are a few that remain up for between $135.99 and $189.00 shipped, both of which are ridiculous prices.

Anyway, here’s a box photo by seller kari. Accessories not included. This set piece will show up in Rumpy Pumpy to display either jewelry or bags and other accessories.

Continue reading Score!: a new addition to my set pieces

Forest will soon have vines!

Forest will soon have vines! published on No Comments on Forest will soon have vines!

I have collected a sample from the woods near my work. It is most likely some kind of grape vine. I’m either going to use the sample itself in the set or make smaller models from it. 

This 1909 pamphlet on the state’s shrubs and woody vines might help me identify it.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1544304.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Growth of the 1:6 scale forest

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My forest set has been months in the making.
 
Back in November, 2012, I planned to get appropriate backdrops, including a sky, a deciduous forest in spring/summer and a deciduous forest in fall.
 

At that time, I also decided that I needed some 3D foreground trees, to be played by actual sticks.

Not until March, 2013, though, did I get around to beginning its construction. At this time, the forest was an extremely simple deciduous backdrop with a ground made of moss glued to foamcore. Trees were sticks with stands made out of nails.
 
I soon added another color of moss and brown crinkle paper to the humus on the ground. My first underbrush made of plastic greenery also appeared.

Next I made Aves Apoxie Sculpt bases, covered with moss and crinkle paper, for my trees. I added a few stands of slender trunks to the thicker ones.

The forest still looked sparse, so I added some sprays of plastic leaves to pass as young trees.

I tried putting down loose green crinkle paper for additional ground cover, but it was the wrong shade.

However, I eventually discovered the right shade of green.
 

Then I added stands of plastic ferns.

I am probably not finished with this set. I’d like to have the option of a stump or log, a conifer or two and maybe a rock.

EDIT: The pictures were not hiding behind the cut, so I removed them. >:(

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1543869.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Now the forest set has ferns!

Now the forest set has ferns! published on No Comments on Now the forest set has ferns!

I found some sprays of plastic ferns in the clearance section at Michael’s last week and couldn’t pass them up. Tonight I broke out the ferns, some leftover dried moss and the Aves Apoxie Sculpt to make some more ground cover.
Continue reading Now the forest set has ferns!

Got my Angel of Grief today!

Got my Angel of Grief today! published on No Comments on Got my Angel of Grief today!

Even though she’s yellow and averagely sculpted, I really like her. So does Isabel. Now I just need to remove that embossed doggerel on the front and repaint her a marble or granite color, including some bird shit stains.

Continue reading Got my Angel of Grief today!

E-Z Cacti [TM]

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Figurvore’s first custom challenge is to make a 1:6 scale plant. I toyed with the idea of making a bonsai tree with some of my various wire for a skeleton and possibly some fauxliage as leaves, but that looked like it would require hours, rather than minutes, of effort, so I scaled back. I made an E-Z Cactus, as previously mentioned in an entry in December, 2012, but with some improvements.

I made the cactus by twisting together two shades of green pipe cleaners. Then I formed the pipe cleaners into a club shape with a projection on the bottom to stick into the soil unit. To help the cactus stand upright, I rammed a slender piece of bronze wire up inside it.

To make the soil unit, I filled a 1.5" diameter terra cotta pot with Aves Apoxie Sculpt most of the way. I snipped off small shreds of brown crinkle paper and stuck them to the top of the Aves Apoxie Sculpt to look like wood chips. Then I stuck the wire on the bottom of the cactus into the soil unit. When the Aves Apoxie Sculpt dried, I used hot glue and more "wood chips" to cover the areas where the soil unit showed.
Continue reading E-Z Cacti [TM]

Alabama and the rest of my haul from Georgia Landau’s castoffs

Alabama and the rest of my haul from Georgia Landau’s castoffs published on No Comments on Alabama and the rest of my haul from Georgia Landau’s castoffs

Out of the blue, earlier this month, I received an E-mail from figural sculptor Georgia Landau, asking me if I wished to buy some of her dollmaking supplies. After decades of making dolls, primarily in porcelain, she has moved onto clay, leaving behind wool and other fibers, fabrics, furniture and other odds and ends. Unable to make her official Saturday moving sale, I trekked to Montpelier Friday after work in driving rain to examine the goods.Continue reading Alabama and the rest of my haul from Georgia Landau’s castoffs

Pieces of new graveyard

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Here is the dead version of Isabel showing off the hollow plastic gravestones I got at the end of last week. As you can see, the fronts are, like most Halloween decorations, bullshit in terms of cemetery iconography, but the backs are fine!

Continue reading Pieces of new graveyard

Proof of concept and the challenge of scratch-built 1:6 scale stuff

Proof of concept and the challenge of scratch-built 1:6 scale stuff published on No Comments on Proof of concept and the challenge of scratch-built 1:6 scale stuff

I have recently developed the useful and somewhat surprising facility for making my own serviceable 1:6 scale stuff. I go through the following process, demonstrated for example’s sake with an electric wheelchair:

  1. I want a 1:6 scale electric wheelchair.
  2. Let me search for a commercially produced one.
  3. There are no commercially produced ones, or they are too expensive.
  4. I’ll have to make one.
  5. Let’s break down the electric wheelchair into its simplest components, which I may be more likely to find in 1:6 scale.
  6. An electric wheelchair looks like an office chair on top of a lawn mower.
  7. I have procured an office chair, but I can’t find a lawn mower.
  8. I will have to use a 1:18 scale ForTwo Smart Car instead.
  9. [Construction ensues.]

The key steps, I think, are 5 and 6. I’m currently planning to scratch-build two 1:6 scale things, not necessarily because I need them, but because I want to see if I can.

The first is a tape dispenser, which is basically a block with a channel down the center and a roll of tape half-submerged in the channel. I know exactly how I want to make this; I just need to sit down and actually do it.

The second is a grandfather clock. I started coveting a functioning 1:6 scale grandfather clock on the Doll Page Show and Sell site, but $33.00 for something I don’t really neeeeeeed seemed too rich to me. Even when I got the idea that the dead version of Isabel could come and go in Isabel’s room through the door in the clock, I still couldn’t bring myself to spend north of $30.00 for one.

I’m perfectly willing to make one, however. A grandfather clock is basically a clock face on top of a locker, so, once I find the appropriate 1:6 scale locker/narrow cupboard with working door, I have the base for a modern grandfather clock!

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1521675.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Latest bookshelf

Latest bookshelf published on No Comments on Latest bookshelf

New things since last time, going L to R, top shelf to bottom: Rement mushroom container with frog, 1:6 scale Vermont bicentennial license plate [scanned from personal collection], Rement vase of flowers, Rement orange pen [below vase], Mattel watch, Rement magnetic paperclip holder, Kitchen Littles mug with Rement utensil sticking out.

Continue reading Latest bookshelf

Continuing to work on the bookcase

Continuing to work on the bookcase published on No Comments on Continuing to work on the bookcase

I’ve gone off on a bookcase tangent. I’m trying to make its contents a little more interesting than just books, but generic enough so that the bookcase can be used as a general backdrop. I added three things today:Continue reading Continuing to work on the bookcase

Thoughts on filling a 1:6 scale bookcase

Thoughts on filling a 1:6 scale bookcase published on 1 Comment on Thoughts on filling a 1:6 scale bookcase

As I’ve mentioned before, bamboo drawer organizers make wonderful bookcases with little to no modification.

Make page blocks for dummy books by hot-gluing together "signatures" of balsa, foamcore or craft foam cut to size.

Don’t forget to vary the dimensions of the dummy books. No one’s library contains uniform volumes of all the same size.

Use scraps of paper sticking out from between "signatures" for bookmarks.

Create the impression of a diverse library by binding your dummy books in a variety of papers. Magazine pages and origami paper provide aesthetically pleasing patterns. Used cheap self-adhesive gift tags for trim, stripes and further differentiation.

While you’re at it, don’t forget to distribute colors and patterns randomly amongt the stacks. Very few people shelve according to the color spectrum. :p

For added realism, make it messy. [Tip for the lazy: Falling-over books take up more room than neatly stuffed shelves!] Have some books stick out further than others. A pile of books can act as a makeshift bookend. Try shelving some books on top of other books.

Use some sort of adhesive to keep the books on the shelves, particularly those that are falling over or leaning precariously.

See these principles in practice below.

Continue reading Thoughts on filling a 1:6 scale bookcase

Flower’s bucolic reverie

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Brought to you by cotton print fabric, dried moss, sticks, acrylic paint, plastic greenery, Sculpey, Aves Apoxie Sculpt and brown crinkle paper.

This is a test of brown crinkle paper as undergrowth to break up the rectilinear lines where the sky fabric means the ground board. I think I need some green crinkle paper too. The brown alone does not provide sufficient variation.
Continue reading Flower’s bucolic reverie

[Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the fifth time

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A test of the forest against the deciduous background reveals that it needs more filler.
Continue reading [Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the fifth time

[Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the third time

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Okay, so technically Isabel’s not in these pictures. Let’s pretend she’s standing just out of frame. :p

Behold the understory! Yesterday I harvested some slender twigs from the nearby woods, then turned them into the understory for my forest set. I made bases for clusters of twigs using the same principles that I used when making them for my underbrush this weekend. This time, though, I did things differently.

First, I didn’t use polymer clay. I used Aves Apoxie Sculpt. It is a two-part sculpting medium that requires manual blending in 50/50 composition before use. It then has a working time of approximately two hours before it dries rock hard. When pliable, it may be tinted with acrylic paint. When dry, it may be sanded or carved.

I really like Apoxie Sculpt. I find it easy to use, with the caveat that hand-mixing just about three-fourths of a handful of it at a time is best. Otherwise I hurt my hands in an attempt to blend huge wodges at once!

Once blended, Apoxie Sculpt starts off slightly tacky, soft and very pliable, slowly stiffening and drying as time wears on. It responds readily to tools, cut it’s also easy enough to form with one’s fingers. [The instructions recommend wearing nitrile gloves and make it sound like the stuff is difficult to get off, but it’s really not. The second time I used it, I didn’t wear gloves, and I removed the sticky bits from my fingertips with soap and water.] Unlike polymer clay, it cures on its own, so no putting things in the oven, then juggling hot items as they come out.

Second, I didn’t glue the twigs into guide holes the way that I did with the underbrush. Instead I just stuck them in the Apoxie Sculpt bases and let the Apoxie Sculpt cure around them. As much as me and hot glue are BFFs, sometimes it’s nice not to have to use it.

Continue reading [Isabel] Forrest in the forest for the third time

[Isabel] Forrest in the forest

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I did a quick mockup of my spring/summer forest set. I used a moss table runner for the ground. The backdrop is North American Wildlife 2011 Forest Green cotton print by Elizabeth’s Studio [no really!]. The trees are my aforementioned sticks.

Continue reading [Isabel] Forrest in the forest

Really nifty 1:6 scale things that just sit around

Really nifty 1:6 scale things that just sit around published on No Comments on Really nifty 1:6 scale things that just sit around

Back in my less discriminating days, I used to acquire stuff more easily that I thought looked great, but which I did not immediately have a use for. Now that I’m older, pickier and possessed of much less space, I have winnowed my collection of set pieces and accessories down to those that I can use in multiple situations. [Well, with the exception of my Shoezies shoe display rack — it’s so cool that I will write shoe stores into my photostories just so I can use it for its sole purpose!] Though I have drastically reduced my 1:6 scale stuff to the most practical and useful pieces, sometimes some stuff hangs around that I’m not sure what to do with.

Take this 1:6 scale cork scene, for example, with which Isabel is posing below. It’s a cluster of miniature, carved, wooden buildings in a glass case with black trim.
Continue reading Really nifty 1:6 scale things that just sit around

Clea Bella Room With A View magnetic set walls

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Basically the Room With A View series of products, made by Clea Bella, is a tabletop trifold display board with magnetic walls, just the right size for 1:4 or 1:6 scale sets. Of course, you can blow extra money on wallpaper and floor coverings, sold separately, or you can just stick up your own backdrops with magnets, which is what I plan on doing. I am therefore planning on acquiring the Basic Wall Unit, which is $86.65 with shipping included. This is actually cheaper than trying to find similar magnetic trifold boards in the wild and repurposing them.

I am so incredibly sick of foamcore with fabric stapled to it. It’s loathsome.

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1474971.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Easy 1:6 scale pillows

Easy 1:6 scale pillows published on No Comments on Easy 1:6 scale pillows

I acquired a few gunmetal satin drawstring bags in a recent purchase of 1:6 scale doll heads. You can easily find such bags in a variety of sizes in craft supply stores or online shops in the category for weddings. I guess people often put favors [Jordan almonds BLECH!] in them.Continue reading Easy 1:6 scale pillows

Isabel now has a pink Bug.

Isabel now has a pink Bug. published on 1 Comment on Isabel now has a pink Bug.

I’m not sure if I want to spray paint it either black or white or just leave it pink and put some weird designs on it. For some reason I’m thinking that there should be cemetery iconography on it. :p I mean, she likes this couch, so why not extend the same excruciating design principles to her car?

Vanity plate: EPITAPH. Isabel’s name for her car: Eppie. Yeah, she’s weird…

Isabel rocks! \o/

No wonder she gets haunted by a dead version of herself.

EDIT: I think I’ll leave the car pink, but stencil some death’s heads on it in black. FUCK YEAH!!!

EDIT 2: Gravestone Artwear generously allowed me to use some of their designs on Isabel’s car, so I vectorized four of my favorites. I will then create custom window clings that I can stick on the doors, hood and trunk of her car. This is going to be amazing! Hmmm, I should also create a little gravestoneartwear.com window cling too. 😀

This entry was originally posted at http://modernwizard.dreamwidth.org/1467129.html. You can comment here, but I’d prefer it if you’d comment on my DW using OpenID.

Set pieces from the depths of time, part 1, 03/24/04: the jelly bean seat

Set pieces from the depths of time, part 1, 03/24/04: the jelly bean seat published on No Comments on Set pieces from the depths of time, part 1, 03/24/04: the jelly bean seat

There’s a thread on Figurvore about one’s first attempts at set pieces compared to one’s current efforts. It got me thinking about how I used to make sets.

When I first started in 1:6 scale, I built movable sets on my desktop or more permanent ones in bookshelves. I had very few backdrops and/or set pieces, so I mostly made do by repurposing commonly available items. One of my favorite examples of such reuse was the jelly bean seat.

To make the jelly bean seat, I started off using a short cylindrical container for binder clips. I brought it home from the office because it looked about the right size to serve as a table or ottoman or something.

When I got it home, I discovered that it was, in fact, the right height. However, the flexible plastic bowed under the weight of a doll, so I needed something to balance, solidify and add support.

It being in the vicinity of Easter, I hit upon the idea of filling the container with jelly beans. Hey, why not? I reasoned that they were attractively colored and also unspoilable [being made mostly of wax :p ]. I filled the container with a pleasing series of jelly beans, then glued the top on with my best friend ever, hot glue.Continue reading Set pieces from the depths of time, part 1, 03/24/04: the jelly bean seat

Bed

Bed published on No Comments on Bed

After suffering many years with a 1:6 scale bed made from a saggy, undersize cracker box covered with a piece of fabric from a pillow case, I improved my 1:6 scale bed tonight. This one is a sturdy, NON-saggy doll box, also covered with another pillow case. Isabel enjoys a book on it. I need some throw pillows that DO NOT have monkeys on them.
Continue reading Bed

Recent projects: spaghetti and Peter

Recent projects: spaghetti and Peter published on No Comments on Recent projects: spaghetti and Peter

I made some 1:6 scale spaghetti this week. At first I coveted Rement’s Fun Meals #8, Spaghetti and Meatballs, but it’s out of print and running at ridiculous prices on Ebay. I am not paying $20.00 for a plate of plastic spaghetti! I don’t even pay that much for a plate of real spaghetti.

Anyway, I decided to make my own. I mixed up some yellowish tan polymer clay and rolled it into a long thin string. The I swirled the string into a pile and cured it. After curing, I added sauce. The lumpy consistency of the acrylic paint worked in my favor, giving the appearance of tomato chunks and possibly pieces of ground beef.
Continue reading Recent projects: spaghetti and Peter

What do you call a little hard piece of candy on a stick?

What do you call a little hard piece of candy on a stick? published on No Comments on What do you call a little hard piece of candy on a stick?

A smallipop, of course!

I finished making a bunch of 1:6 scale lollipops last night and tonight by modifying a tutorial by Linda Chang on WonderHowTo. She uses polymer clay for both lollipop sticks and the candy parts themselves, but I used toothpicks painted white, trimmed down and sealed with matte varnish for my sticks. I also lacked any colors of polymer clay besides white, so I tinted my clay with shaved chalk pastels, which worked really well! I was able to get surprisingly vivid colors, especially in my second batch of pops [red/white/purple].

These smallipops were really fun to make because they required very little effort to create a really cool spiral/swirl effect. My favorite smallipops are the green/yellow/white swirls and the red/purple/white ball pop.

Here’s Peter and Isabel showing off my smallipops. I love taking pictures of both of them because they have so much expressiveness in their faces. Peter’s all "Oh shit!" and Isabel’s all "No shit." Continue reading What do you call a little hard piece of candy on a stick?

Chaz and Dandelion!

Chaz and Dandelion! published on No Comments on Chaz and Dandelion!

Chaz, a denizen of Zombieville [my future storyline], is a Batchix Nan Sook BJD in tan resin. Her spondis [fictional condition that causes people’s body parts to fall off, which can only be arrested by a diet of 50% fresh human brains] has cost her her right hand and forearm, as well as her left foot and calf. Ideally she should use an electric wheelchair, but I only have one, which is currently occupied, so :p.

Chaz rescued her Russian tortoise Dandelion after Dandelion lost her leg in a car crash. Chaz nursed Dandelion back to health with a steady diet of dandelions…hence her name. Chaz and Dandelion love each other very much. ^_^

Dandelion is a custom Russian tortoise figurine sculpted by theTurtlePond on Etsy. She is anatomically detailed down to the accurate patterns on her shell. She is stylized, though, with a bigger head and eyes than true scale, as well as an overall larger size. [Female Russian tortoises rarely get over 8 inches long, from beak to rear feet.] She’s also smiling. I plan to put some wheels on an elastic strap that fits around Dandelion’s shell so that she can have a tortoise wheelchair.Continue reading Chaz and Dandelion!

Lazy bathroom finished and lazy kitchen in progress

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I made a bathroom today. From left to right we have a wooden box [once held gift condiments] supporting DripClips paperclip holder sink, various Rements [soap dispensers and tissues], some Barbie bottle, Japanese t.p. erasers by Itasho, unknown trash can [helpfully labeled RUBBISH BIN!] and a squirting novelty toilet with the squirt removed.
Continue reading Lazy bathroom finished and lazy kitchen in progress

The Rements [well, 95% of them, anyway]

The Rements [well, 95% of them, anyway] published on No Comments on The Rements [well, 95% of them, anyway]

I took some large pictures of my boxes of Rements. Actually, they’re technically my boxes of 1:6 scale accessories, with the exception of those currently in use or in storage. But a huge portion of them are Rements, so that’s why I’m calling them.

Some people organize their Rements according to the sets in which they were packaged. I organize mine by category.Continue reading The Rements [well, 95% of them, anyway]

Peter shows blender and lazy cacti.

Peter shows blender and lazy cacti. published on No Comments on Peter shows blender and lazy cacti.

In case you haven’t noticed, Peter has been modeling most of my recent 1:6 scale accessories and set pieces. That’s because he’s the only finished Zombieville denizen of average height that I can stand. Both of these qualifiers are important, because Béatrice is finished, but she has dwarfism, so she’s not as easy a reference as a Zombieville denizen of average height. Theophany is finished, but her personality annoys me too much to let her in pictures frequently.

Other Zombieville denizens exist, but they are not ready for modeling:

  • Anna needs her hair finished. I’m having an epic fight with it, to be detailed later.
  • Carter needs a headback, a custom body constructed [fat doll!], faceup, eyes, hair and clothes.
  • Chaz needs faceup and hair.
  • Isabel needs a custom body constructed [fat doll!], faceup, eyes, hair and clothes.
  • Novella needs faceup, eyes and hair.

Okay…anyway…here’s Peter showing off the blender that I got from stupid.com. It started off as an Xmas ornament, hence the little metal loop at the top. It’s a solid piece of painted resin, 2 inches high, which scales out to 1 foot in 1:6 scale. There are no removable parts, but it’s well sculpted. I also may be biased toward it because its design reminds me of the blender in my kitchen growing up. Continue reading Peter shows blender and lazy cacti.

Lazy bookcase finished

Lazy bookcase finished published on 1 Comment on Lazy bookcase finished

I finished shelving books on my 1:6 bookcase made from a repurposed drawer organizer. A shipment of premade dummies in two sizes arrived today from Factory Direct Crafts, so I spent from about 1:30  to 9:00 PM [with a break for an appointment, a brief trip to the grocery store and dinner] completing the project.

I’m not the sort of person who feels the need to scan actual books and print out their covers in 1:6 scale for a library appropriate to each character. However, I was dissatisfied with the plain, undifferentiated spines in the earlier iteration of the bookcase. I spent most of those hours creating unique dummies with the help of solid origami paper, patterened origami paper and gift tag stickers with vaguely Xmas- and winter-related patterns.

I also endeavored to arrange them in an aesthetically pleasing fashion, representing a variety of heights and colors, as real bookshelves do. Then I glued them into blocks of several books, but these blocks are not glued to the shelves. Instead they are kept in there by the fact that everything is wedged so tightly. I’m sure there’s a technical term for that, but it escapes me at the moment.

Anyway, behold the bookcase! Though it’s currently displaying Peter’s interest [flora], this bookcase, like pretty much in my collection of 1:6 scale set pieces, will be used wherever a full, well-used library is needed. In fact, the shelves with the flowers and lava lamp I have intentionally left open so that their contents can reflect the bookcase’s current owner: cacti for Peter [have to make some of those], 1:6 scale figures for Ellery or Isabel, zombie dolls for Theophany, mementos mori for Lucian, etc.

Continue reading Lazy bookcase finished

Some of my favorite little things: 1:6 foods and accessories

Some of my favorite little things: 1:6 foods and accessories published on 1 Comment on Some of my favorite little things: 1:6 foods and accessories

Since I have such a collection of Rements and other 1:6 foods and accessories, I decided to highlight some of my favorite pieces, mostly food. Boy, I have a lot of this stuff!

Continue reading Some of my favorite little things: 1:6 foods and accessories

1:6 toy chest

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Here are most of my 1:6 toys. Can you find the [not all are listed] Barbie [starting from top left and working toward bottom], warrior woman, zombie, American Maid, princess, woman with stole, blond girl, 1:144 dollhouse furniture, doll of Jareth, happy family, angel, baseball glove and baseball, basketball, soccer ball, mushroom mat, ray gun, pink squirt gun, [now moving up the right side] cars, VW bus, school bus, backhoe, stuffed pigs, stuffed bears, stuffed bunnies, puzzle mat, helicopter, duck pull toy, dog, penguin, caterpillar, lunchbox, swan training potty and toy shelf with black-haired girl, bunny, devil girl, horse, bird and art supplies?Continue reading 1:6 toy chest

Haul from parents’ house V: Rements

Haul from parents’ house V: Rements published on 1 Comment on Haul from parents’ house V: Rements

Finally I brought from my parents' house my collection of Rements. I don't like to say that I have a collection of dolls, but rather an "amassment," because I readily use my dolls. I do, however, admit to having a collection of Rements, more than I could ever possibly use. [Seriously, when am I going to use that birthday cake? However, it was too cool to pass up.] Here they are.Continue reading Haul from parents’ house V: Rements

Haul from parents’ house IV: clothes, accessories and such

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I also brought back from my parents' house a selection of clothes and accessories for Me and My Muses.Continue reading Haul from parents’ house IV: clothes, accessories and such

Haul from parents’ house III: sets

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I brought back from my parents' house selected pieces of furniture from my amassment to build sets. Most of this stuff is for Ellery. Jareth and Jennifer host the pictures.
Continue reading Haul from parents’ house III: sets

1:12 scale room for Waverley

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Here’s Waverley’s studio, perfectly customized for her 14cm frame. Since Waverley is not here yet, my Dollmore Banji, which has no character as of yet, provides an idea of scale.

Yellow end table with lamp is from Rement. Bed/seat is an Orientdoll box topped with 1:6 pillows made by a friend. The end tables are made from carpentry scraps thatI hot-glued together. The plants are bits of fake greenery glued into wooden spools. TV stand is a ring box. TV is from Rement’s Merry Strawberry set. Books are 1:6. The penguin is an Iwako eraser. The stuffed bear is a modified Only Hearts Club Little Pet. The briefcase is probably something from Barbie, and the mini computer is a Playmates Uhura communicator.

Continue reading 1:12 scale room for Waverley

Tonight’s project: the lazy lawn

Tonight’s project: the lazy lawn published on 2 Comments on Tonight’s project: the lazy lawn

Angelie shows off my realistic lawn. Realistically, it’s in a half-dead state, in desperate need of some water. I achieved this effect by using an Ikea Trampa doormat with brown grass-like fibers as the base. Then I applied Liquitex acrylic paint (Light Green Permanent) very sloppily with a foam brush. The result looks much greener in some areas than others, just like a real lawn. Angelie shows off the effect. Continue reading Tonight’s project: the lazy lawn

Lazy set development: Chow’s house

Lazy set development: Chow’s house published on 1 Comment on Lazy set development: Chow’s house

Bamboo placement as backdrop. Plant stand as table. Miniature maneki neko, teapot and cork scene in a case from Chinatown. Food a combination of Rement, Iwako erasers and polymer clay. Cardboard bookshelf made out of a small box with books from printmini.com, more Rement, etc. Altar made out of jewelry box tops and carpentry scraps with photos from printmini.com.  Continue reading Lazy set development: Chow’s house

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