Egg carton stones

I've been researching making stones or bricks out of egg cartons, because I thought it might be a great way of edging the fireplaces in the kitchen.

Problem is, it's darned hard to find paper egg cartons with solidly flat lids where I live.  And the ones I can find are pretty flimsy (not like the egg cartons I remember when I was a child :)  But I really want to try this technique, so I guess I'll be buying a lot of eggs!  What can I make with a lot of eggs? (besides meringues, for pity's sake, because when I consume meringues, a great deal of whipped cream is involved :)

If you want to check out this technique, here are some two links:


China Doll -- Brick Tutorial

Carol Jones's Egg Carton tutorial at Victoria Miniland

This one also has some wonderful suggestions for grouting in general!

Castle kitchen - floor and hotplate

When the KnitWits met yesterday, we worked a bit on the kitchen.  Tiddles helped me cut the wood for the hot plate surround and she and Fred worked on the kitchen floor.  We smeared a relatively level amount of Poly Filla over the floor and then the kids scored it with knitting needles to make stones.  It needs to be sanded and so forth, but they did a great job :)

Later, I used the balsa wood cut outs that Tiddles made to construct the box in which the brick hot plate (over the charcoal burners) will live.  Again, it needs a lot of cleaning up (and I need to make the arch which will form the top of the hotplate opening) but it's starting to look like a room, already.  I'm not going to glue it in place yet -- at least not until Tiddles has had a chance to build the spiral staircase.

Tudor miniature shopping ... at Etsy!

I used to sell my artwork through Etsy, so I'm very familiar with the venue, and its good and bad points.  The good points definitely include some amazing artists and artisans who sell their work there.  I just thought I'd share links to a few of the Etsy shops that offer miniatures appropriate for the Tudor or miniature dolls house.

First up is Wightcraft, a miniature furniture builder from Cowes on the Isle of Wight in the UK.  The handcrafted settle, above, is one piece currently available from Wightcraft's shop.

Undancey is the name of Glenda Howell's shop:  she's a New Zealand artisan who makes very reasonably-priced miniature rush mats.  Wouldn't this little beauty (1.5" x 4.5") add a great level of detail to your Tudor bed chamber?

Cottage Miniatures is a UK-based shop which sells handcrafted 1:12 scale miniatures of all sorts, including some beautiful copper and brass ware (great for that Georgian house) or Tudor pieces like a punishment stocks and the lovely bed, pictured above.

And finally, for people looking for those hard-to-find Tudor items in half- or quarter-scale (1:24 or 1:48),  there's an Etsy shop called In Some Small Way, which makes both finished pieces and kits, like the half-scale dresser pictured above.  They have a quarter-scale loom kit which is the cutest thing!

Kitchen construction -- first phase

I finished my cut outs this morning and then I helped David put the basic box together.

From the first project (the Great Hall), David chose a method of construction which is simple and very, very strong.  On the back wall I first put the horizontal member that will support the back of the roof.  Then David put lengths of pine off cuts, roughly .75" square in section, running from just under the horizontal supports, down to the bottom of the back wall.  These vertical supports look just fine for this sort of dolls house, and mean that the sides are being nailed to something very sturdy. 

The side walls are then glued and pinned to the vertical supports (David uses a nail gun, because we happen to have one, but you could just as well use a hammer and nails) and then the whole thing is turned upside down and the base is glued and nailed to the back and sides.  This is the only part of the project where we nail into end grain, which helps make it very sturdy -- when this piece is done, you can sit on it, which is great if it's a building being played with by kids.

You could certainly do this sort of project with just an electric drill and jig saw.  For smoother cuts of the plywood (we used 1/2" for the base and 3/8" for the back and walls) just ask your local building supply centre to make the cuts for you -- they'll usually do this for only a few dollars a cut.  If you don't mind a purely rectangular building, it's an inexpensive and easy way to put it together.  I figure we'll use about $30 worth of plywood in this hall, with the floor and the roof and the dividing walls.

The photo above will give you a better idea of what I meant when I said that the ovens on the back wall would be cut out of 2" thick lumber (actually I laminated two pieces of maple together, because that's what I had on hand.)  It's not really very deep, but I think it will be deep enough.  I might build out the surround with some egg carton stones worked around the fireplace and oven openings.

Kitchen Plan

Before I go any further, here's a little sketch of the ground floor of the kitchen wing.  It's not to scale, but shows the relative placement of features.

David and I cut the floor and walls of this wing a couple of days ago out of 3/8" plywood.  I marked the back up for windows and doors, and I've cut most of these out with a hand-held jigsaw.  I just have a few more to do, and then we can assemble the shell, leaving off the main floor's room.


I've planned the fireplace/oven wall of the kitchen so that I will add 2" depth of wood in which the fireplace and oven openings have been cut.  David made those cuts earlier today on the band saw.   The fireplace will need a brick back and two cob irons.  The ovens will need to be built into the sawn gap as per Brian Long's instructions.

With the hotplate top just about finished, I'll be able to construct that inner wall; one reason I made the hotplate first!

Tiddles wants to make the circular staircase all by herself, so she'll be in charge of that. I found instructions varying from the terminally vague to the over elaborate, so we'll have to fake our way through it!

Brick hotplate top, more detail

Okay, I decided to go ahead and do some more work on the hotplate top.

First of all I finished the bricking (it actually took a full package of mini bricks -- 50 of them) then painted the individual bricks to give them more character.  I mixed the acrylic artist's paint with a medium lustre acrylic medium, so I sealed them as I painted them.

Then I mixed down some Poly Fix -- a fairly fine crack filler -- with water to make it the consistency of thick glue.  I tinted it a little, but could have tinted it more.  (As it is, I'll have to go over the grout and "age' it.)

I then loaded up the tool on the right of the photo, above -- it's a "Monoject" syringe used for gluing, and I happened to have a spare one.  It worked just fine, once I trimmed a little off the tip (making the opening big enough for whatever particles are in the Poly Fix.)

I grouted the bricks, then cleaned them off (I used baby wipes, because I always have them around for polymer clay work).  I left the piece then for about three hours, and when I came back, the grout had very politely sunk more deeply into the lines, and I applied a second layer of the stuff, and cleaned it off again.

I think it'll look quite good when I "dirty" it up a little with paint and it's set in place!  I'm already looking for mini cauldrons and such to put on the hot plate when it's done :)

UPDATED:  just had to add these two photos of the finished work.  I'll add some more soot when the thing is in situ.

Brick hotplate top

I intend to build in a Tudor charcoal burner on the left hand wall of the kitchen, using Brian Long's instructions, by and large.  I wanted it to have a brick top, like the hotplate in one of the kitchens at Hampton Court (see photo below).

I'm using a base of balsa wood just to have something to glue the bricks to.  Here's what I've got so far:

These are Houseworks mini bricks, available from most dolls' house stockists.  They're a little too regular for the period, so I'm shaping them as I go.  I'm nipping the bricks with a pair of pliers, which works well, but results in a lot of waste.  I'm sure there's a better way to do it, but I have a couple of packages of little bricks so I'm feeling profligate :)

I'll hand paint them for detail when I'm done.

I have no idea what I'm going to use for grout.  If you have any suggestions, let me know, othewise, stay tuned!

Castle Kitchen

This weekend we started work on the castle's kitchen wing.  When finished it will have a hallway, the kitchen and a storage room on the main floor and three small bedrooms above.  I've been working with Brian Long's book The authentic Tudor and Stuart dolls' house, which has very detailed plans for various types of kitchen fireplaces and ovens.  The kitchen will have a large fireplace with cob irons, three baking ovens and a bank of hot plates, all taken from Long's book.

I have a little more cutting to do, then we'll assemble the first stages tomorrow, I hope!

McQueenie kits and Suramics pots

I wanted some joint stools for the castle, so I ordered two kits from McQueenie Miniatures in the UK.  This is a great source for early British furniture, both in kit form and ready made.  Want to make your own aumbry?  McQueenie sells a kit!

The joint stool kits were quite easy to assemble, (although the "spacer" they included confused me so I just improvised that part of it :)) It's all hardwood (mahogany in this case) and I just used a linseed oil mix, and then wax, to finish them.  Mahogany isn't "period", of course, but they're still lovely little stools, and very high quality.

I don't think I took photos of some adorable hand-thrown pots I ordered a few months ago from Suramics Pottery in the US.  Let me rectify that right now:

I love these little works of art and the warm, brown glaze!  They will look great in the kitchen we're just about to build for the castle.  Sue Dix, the artisan, makes full size pieces, but she also sometimes throws some minis.  You can find Suramics Pottery both at ArtFire and Etsy.

Great Links for William and Mary / Queen Anne / Early Georgian miniatures

Here are some links to artisans, inspiration and books concerning late 17th century and early 18th century 1:12 scale dolls house miniatures.  While the years between 1680 and 1715 are usually called the late Jacobean or Stuart, Queen Anne or Early Georgian period, it may be more commonly called the early Colonial period in the United States.

Artisans

Kris Compas is an American artisan who makes upholstered furniture, including Queen Anne settees and sofas and wing chairs (one pictured, below) .  She's happy to collaborate on custom pieces.

Colin Bird is a UK furniture maker who offers pieces that would work for this period, including this simple cupboard:

James Parker is a UK furniture maker who offers some pieces that would be perfect for this period as well, including both single and double manual harpsichords.

Iulia Chin Lee is a US furniture miniaturist who makes stunning pieces suitable for this period. IGMA Artisan.

Herdwick Landscapes -- makers of 1:24 scale houses, also 1:12 and 1:24 scale fires, grates, lighting fixtures and furniture.  Some great pieces for this period, including hob grates :)

Small Time Miniatures (UK): miniature clock makers who also make other lovely pieces in both 1:12 and 1:24 scale, including furniture and scientific instruments suitable for this period.

George Pennell (US): miniature furniture maker.  Mostly Shaker pieces, but some Queen Anne era pieces, including a very elegant chair.  IGMA Artisan.

Pear Tree Miniatures (UK): makers of medieval, Tudor, Jacobean and Stuart furniture (the Carolean daybed pictured below, for example.)  Beautiful stuff.

Avon Miniatures (UK): a fine array of fine English china in 1:12 scale.  Just about everything is available in either white or Willow pattern (plus some more Victorian patterns), making it perfect for Georgian dolls houses. IGMA Artisans.

Braxton Payne (US): Fireplaces, mantels, firebacks, pots, fireplace accessories, many available in smaller scales.  IGMA Artisan.

UK Artisan Tony Hooper makes many pieces suitable for this period, including an early Georgian kitchen range and tons of great hardware.

Town and Country Planner (UK) sells a wide range of roof and floor tiles as well as garden pavers and hanging signs -- lovely looking work.  

Ray Storey, Lighting:  UK artisan Ray Storey makes perfect period lighting, including some lovely (and hard to find) black chandeliers and lanterns.  Also brass chandeliers.  Highly recommended.

Len Lewis (UK) builds extraordinary dolls houses, many of them Georgian, and you can see his work on his website at Classic Houses.

Sally Meekins Miniature Ceramics (UK) hand made and painted.  Particularly useful for this period is the range of extremely charming blue and white ware.

Stokesay Ware (UK)  Exquisitely fine, perfectly in scale, Stokesay Ware offers quite a few blue and white pieces, and will custom make a Willow pattern teaset for you without handles, perfect for the early Georgian period! IGMA Artisan.

Old Bell Pottery, another UK site selling beautiful china and pottery for many eras.  Hand painted.

Arlette's Miniatures, a UK furniture maker specializing in upholstered furniture perfect for this period, including Knole settees, a personal favourite of mine :)

Bubba's Minis:  A US furniture maker who offers all sorts of early American furniture, some of which would be very suitable for an early 18th century Colonial home.

John J. and Sue Hodgson (UK):  master miniature furniture makers with a particular focus on the later part of this period, and on Rococo pieces more suitable for Louis XIV and XV.  These pieces are truly works of art.

Teresa Thompson (UK) maker of extraordinary 1:12 dolls costumed for a wide range of historical periods.  Please do check out her site, Costume Cavalcade, even if only for the inspiration!

Pete Acquisto, famous US silversmith, works in  dollhouse scale.  Many, many period pieces, appropriate for this era.

Mike Sparrow (UK): maker of miniature silver, offers both Queen Anne and Georgian pieces.

JS Miniatures (UK): maker of Georgian fireplace surrounds and fireplace kits.

Tarbena Miniatures (UK):  furniture from 17th century.  Expensive, beautiful pieces.

Lee-Ann Chellis Wessel:  stunning miniature ceramics, including blue and white Chinese patterns, suitable for this period. IGMA Artisan.

The Linen Press (UK) maker of miniature embroidered textiles, including those suitable for 17th and 18th centuries.

Sussex Crafts:  (UK) 1:12 scale ironmongery with fabulous pieces for this period. 

Turnings in Miniature:  Thomas Saunders makes wonderful turned bowls, vases and stands out of wood and stone and sells them through his Etsy shop!

Nantasy Fantasy (US): fabulous assortment of unusual instruments (both musical and scientific) accessories and specialist items for quite a few periods.  I love this place!  IGMA Artisans.

Masters Miniatures (UK): makers of period furniture, including the charming spinet, pictured below.

Retailers

New England Miniatures carries a full line of JBM Miniatures, which include many pieces of good quality wooden furniture suitable for this period.

Itsy Bitsy Minis -- carries an extraordinary range of wallpapers and coordinating fabrics -- many damasks and Jacobean patterns perfect for this period.

Les Chinoiseries:  1:12 scale fabric and wallpaper -- a Spanish e-tailer with gorgeous yard goods for every period.

Janet Granger (UK) sells a wonderful array of kits for miniature needlework, many of which would be perfect for this period, including cushions, cabriole leg stools and rugs.

Micro Stitchery (US)  carries a full line of Bonnie Schoonmaker's miniature needlepoint kits on silk gauze, including patterns suitable for Jacobean, William and Mary and Georgian projects. (see the Oriental bench, below).

Miniature Needlepoint (UK) sells Carolyn Waldron's kits for a huge range of carpets, wall hangings and cushions.

Mini Stitches (US) carries a wonderful range of kits for historical samplers on silk gauze, ranging from 1690 to 1822.

Dovetails (UK) makes miniature fireplace surrounds, ceiling roses and other plasterwork for different periods, including the very hard to find classic Tudor fireplace and lots of Georgian options.  Reasonable prices, too.

Inspiration and Advice

How to achieve a genuine Georgian house style - a useful little article on period detail, including the early Georgian period.

Carol-Anne-Dolls Georgian Dolls' House -- great inspiration here!

Lesley's Garden -- List of Historical Plants:  very useful list of what plants are appropriate for what periods.  Lesley also makes wonderful kits!

Books


Miniature embroidery for the Georgian dolls' house by Pamela Warner.  40 period-appropriate projects.


Making Georgian dolls' houses by Derek Rowbottom.  This is perhaps my favourite book on Georgian dolls houses -- both inspirational and very, very practical, with lots of projects and plans.

The authentic Georgian dolls' house by Brian Long.  An excellent companion for the above, Long's book has a great deal of research on individual features and fewer actual projects.