If You Are A Lover Of Antique Dolls Houses....Just Take A Look At Deb Jackson's Latest Creations!

I recently spent a wonderful day visiting Kensington Dolls House Fair....I love it there! Not only does it give me a chance to catch up with old friends but gives me a wonderful opportunity to just marvel at the wonderful skills of so many other artisans.....and the sights were a magical feast as always. 

Once again, as I came to Deb Jackson's stand....not only did I get the opportunity to catch up with Deb, but I found myself truly mesmerised by her creations. Mind you, she had had a fantastic fair and much of her stock had already flown off her shelves by the time I got to her.

If you are a follower of Deb's work and also of this KT Miniatures Journal, you will know that Deb made me a vintage Tri-ang style miniature dolls house, which is now a focal point in the nursery of my c1930s Hobbies 186 Special Dolls House....seen lower down on the right side of this blog. And it was Deb's little vintage style dolls houses that particularly captured my gaze at KDF!! Deb has kindly sent me some photos and allowed me to show you a couple of examples which I felt would be of particular interest to those of you who are very much into antique and vintage dolls houses.

Isn't this exquisite!

This beautiful little antique style house is even furnished and has tiny antique style dolls too.....

So too this antique style house.....the quality of detail is simply breathtaking!
Deb has some more fantastic creative ideas up her sleeve...can't wait to see what she does next!! To find out more about the above or if you want to know how to get hold of Deb, just go to her website: www.debjacksondesigns.com

Meanwhile....after yet another mammoth session of cutting wooden components for our impending June all day workshops....I have finally managed to squeeze in a couple of sessions of listing some antique and vintage miniatures.

Quite a mixed eclectic bunch...ranging from antique mirrors, a kitchen dresser, bedroom furniture to some extremely old chairs.....

Including this intriguing little beauty....probably either late Victorian or early 1900s. Ok...the seat maybe a little threadbare but that's just how I love it....has obviously been well used and much loved! This and other furniture recently listed include a German sideboard and old chairs, all of which can be found on the following page:
http://ktminiatures.com/Antique_Vintage_Living_Dining_Room.html

This is a very old mirror, could be used in a variety of rooms.

Plus there is this pressed tin cherub scene fixed to a material and metal frame....quite unusual but would look fantastic in an antique dolls house.These and more recently listed old curious items can be found on the following page:
http://ktminiatures.com/Antique_Vintage_General.html

This is stunning.....a real lovely solid wooden dresser, of continental origin and very old....is now up for sale on the following page;
http://ktminiatures.com/Antique_Vintage_Kitchen.html

Moving onto a completely different era now....yesterday, I managed to list one or two c1960s vintage Tri-ang Spot On and Jennys Home pieces.....including the following:

These and more can be found on the following link:
 http://ktminiatures.com/Tri-ang.html

I have shown you just a random selection on here and I will continue to list as and when I can, in between putting the finishing touches to our workshop kits.
CeliaX

Bits Of Wood Everywhere!

If you are wondering why KT Miniatures has had no vintage or handmade stock listed to the website these past couple of weeks or so, then this is the reason why! 

I've well and truly had my "creative hat" on, and have been loving every single minute. 

Once the plans had been drawn up, it was then a question of "how" to work out the easiest way for workshop attendees to put the components together.  You have no idea how long this has taken!

With two full day workshops looming rapidly upon us in June - plus another special workshop for a miniaturist club in the west country at the beginning of July, this is an incredibly busy time for both me and my Nostalgia In Miniature Workshop colleague Robin.

This particular day it was  "creating the shop frontage" day...all 25 of them!

Robin and my skills complement each other perfectly. I love creating and working with wood so have the task of hand cutting all the hundreds and hundreds of components needed for this particular project. Robin is in charge of  designing and creating the amazing vintage style toys that will be accompanying this project....over 30 no less!

Here is a peek at just a handful of the many vintage style toys that Robin has been designing for this workshop.

Her 1/12th scale miniature Tri-ang toy mangle and wash set, made simply out of card, paint and glue etc......is truly magnificent!

All 25 main shop carcasses, including roofs are now put together. 

Another day it was "creating the door frames" day! By the way....clothes pegs are fantastic for clamping bits of wood together!

There are literally dozens of separate components for each individual kit, all handcut - I've worked out a cunning numbering system to avoid confusion....(hopefully)!

I truly love working with wood....oddly enough, sawing wood can be extremely therapeutic!

And Something Else.....

In the midst of all this, Robin and I spent Thursday morning creating a 1/12th scale and 1/24th scale prototype for yet a different workshop we are undertaking in July, this time for a west country miniaturist club!!

It gave me a much needed break from cutting up bits of wood....am pleased to say that this was another job well done-we were chuffed to bits with the results, pics are winging their way to the relevant club and we are looking forward to seeing all of those twenty club members in July! It will be taking place in my old stamping ground....so by the end of that particular workshop, I will have slid straight back into my Gloucestershire accent...haha - be warned ladies (and gent)!

LAST REMAINING GLASS PIECES.....

And finally......for all those of you waiting patiently for me to begin listing antique and vintage items once again to KT Miniatures website....fingers crossed, by midweek...I shall be able to start in earnest!

  

 

  

Meanwhile, the last few remaining pieces from over 180 amazing antique and vintage glassware pieces, all from one single collection, have now been amalgamated onto just one page, so that you can see at a glance what is still available.....

CLICK HERE TO VIEW
Celia

Anyone Up For A Spot Of Miniature Camping?

This camping scene will be featured in the Dolls House & Miniature Scene Magazine over the next few issues.

If you are wanting to embark on a spot of miniature camping this summer, why not take a look at the latest joint "how to make project" with my Nostalgia In Miniature Workshop colleague Robin Britton? Part One can be found in the current  issue of  Dolls House & Miniature Scene Magazine (May 2015 - No. 252).

A side view of the tent and campsite.

This project has been inspired by books from our childhood such as 'Swallows & Amazons' and 'The Famous Five'! A series of instructions will be shown over consecutive issues.

Here we were in the process of tightening the ropes, just like on a real tent. You can just see the hedge on the left.

 Part One shows how to make the hedge at the back of the scene and tackles the construction of the old fashioned tent based on an illustration found in a c1939 Army & Navy Stores Handbook. Our tent was made from the leg of a pair of old M&S trousers and stiffened with glue and paint. The tent is a little tricky to make and if you find the instructions a tad confusing, you are welcome to contact either of us if you need help. But do please stick with it as we are sure you will be pleased with the results.

The landscaped base has been made in such a way that you can push your tent pegs into the ground!

 

 Part Two of this project will tackle the guy ropes, tent poles, making of the groundsheet and the grassy field.

The sleeping bags are based on the old fashioned style ones that we can remember as children!

You can just see a hint of the campfire with accessories.

 And in the final part,  you will be shown how to complete the landscaping, make a campfire and various accessories ranging from a can of baked beans to old fashioned sleeping bags!

This scene is quite versatile and could be used in a variety of ways, maybe it could be turned into a Girl Guide or Scout camping scene for instance?  Even if you didn't want to make the entire scene, perhaps one or two of the elements such as the tent or some of the landscaping may interest you instead?

It was great fun to make and we hope that these images will inspire you to have a go too!
Celia