Sunday, June 29, 2014

Coffee table

It's freezing. I have a flat inspection on Tuesday. So decided that my focus this weekend would be on cleaning and tidying the house (which would hopefully keep me warm).

What wasn't on my list was finally deciding what I was going to do with the second table I bought for $4 at the 2013 Sydney show (you'll remember that I painted the first one yellow last year).

But I did. I was inspired by a rustic table I'd seen some time last week in my magazine, book or blog reading (I can't remember which), where the legs had been painted black and the top was rustic and worn looking.
Miniature dining table leg assembly, painted black, sitting on a cutting mat with a spray can of chalkboard paint.
I'd planned to pull apart one of the Typo boxes and use the sides to make the table top, but when I noticed that the one I pulled out of the stash was a coffee box there was a bit of a change of plan.
Miniature dining table leg assembly, painted black, sitting on a cutting mat with a spray can of chalkboard paint and a wooden coffee storage box.
So I experimented with cutting up the front of the box and mixing the bits up for some rustic reuse.
Miniature dining table leg assembly, painted black, topped with a top made of lengths of rustic-looking wood with black printing on them.
After a bit of work with the raw umber acrylic to stain the sides and gaps, I'm leaving it to dry overnight.
Miniature dining table made of lengths of rustic-looking wood with black printing on them, surrounded by black and chrome dining chairs. Behind the table is a bottle of raw umber acrylic paint.
Then I'll decide it I want to attack it with the sander...

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Snot-free Sunday

After a nap which took pretty much all afternoon and an early night I woke up this morning feeling almost human.
Modern miniature round kitchen table with reading glasses and magazine plus tea, toast and jam.
 After a leisurely breakfast I decided a gentle walk in the sun was just what I needed (the fact that the monthly markets were on had nothing to do with it, honest!)

And I'm very pleased I ventured out. Because look what I found waiting for me on one of the trash and treasure stalls:
Vintage miniature quilt displayed over the front porch railing of a miniature school building.
 Can you believe they only wanted $5 for it? The old dear who was running the stall said 'Oh, it's a bit old and faded: I guess you're after it for your dog, now the weather's turning cold...'
Miniature shelving with a rolled up doona on the top shelf and a folded vintage quilt on the shelf below, On the bottom shelf is a pair of green socks and a pair of gumboots.
I didn't have the heart to tell her I wanted it for me, precisely because  it was old and faded. It'll be a perfect extra layer over winter.

Saturday, June 21, 2014

One times table

I've had a cold all week and wasn't sure I'd make it up to Margell this weekend, but told myself that once I'd unpacked I could go straight to bed if I wanted to. And at least I'd be ill in a whole new location (and in clean bed linen).

Besides, I had a few things to deliver.
A selection of modern miniature groceries arranged on shelves.
Grocery supplies (I shopped online with The Miniature Supermarket. Excellent service and fast delivery.)
Modern miniature metal kitchen bench unit displaying a selection of kitchenware underneath.
A new kitchen bench (An ex-commercial-kitchen bargain from ALLBIDS*. I still have no plumbing but at least I don't have to hunch to reach the school desks I was using. And this unit dismantled nicely to fit into the car.)
Interior of a modern miniature holiday house kitchen, with a round white table in the foreground.
 And a super-cheap IKEA DOCKSTA table I scored second hand off Gumtree*. Looking forward to using this.
Selection of modern miniature homeware items displayed on a tabletop, including a tea towel, set of mugs, old school case, bell, letter A and cat ornament.
I couldn't resist a quick stop at the op shops on the way though Margell, where I picked up a few necessities and a few fripperies.

And now I'm heading back to bed for an afternoon nap.

(*Not really but I can pretend, right?)

Saturday, June 14, 2014

Afternoon treats

Ruth brought me a present for letting her be my first guest at Margell:
Miniature holiday house showing a sitting area in the background and a large apple container on top of a piano in the foreground.
We agreed it was a perfect house warming present for a former school.
Miniature holiday house showing a sitting area in the background and a large apple container on top of a piano in the foreground, with a gift bag on the floor below it.
 A few more things have been added to the decor this weekend. I got the pear poster from Superdooper Studio last week and Ruth brought the director's chair with her when I mentioned she'd have to either sit on the teacher's chair or a classroom chair.
Miniature holiday house showing a sitting area with a 1950s-style lounge chair and directors chair . Between them is a piano stool set with two flans on plates and two cups of tea on top.
 So now there's somewhere for us both to sit while we eat delicious cakes for afternoon tea.
Aerial view of a miniature holiday house scene showing a sitting area with a 1950s-style lounge chair and directors chair . Between them is a piano stool set with two flans on plates and two cups of tea on top.
 I got two posters from Superdooper Studios,as I couldn't decide between them. The second one went up in the sleeping area.
Miniature holiday house scene showing two mattresses on the floor, made up with sheets, pillows and doonas. Next to each is a wooden box on end with reading material on them.
It's all looking much more comfortable, isn't it?

Back to school

My friend Ruth was keen to join me on a weekend away at my new holiday house, so I invited her to join me this weekend.
Inside of a miniature holiday house, showing a doona rolled up on the floor next to a pile of magazines and a bag of knitting. On the table behind is a selection of miniature grocery items, and a bag of groceries is on the floor underneath,
 We both thought it might be a wet weekend, so brought lots of things to keep us amused inside.
Inside of a miniature holiday house, showing a doona rolled up on the floor next to a pile of magazines and a bag of knitting.
 Plus we brought enough supplies to last us in case we didn't feel like heading into the village.
Inside of a miniature holiday house, showing a table with a selection of miniature grocery items, and a bag of groceries is on the floor underneath,
There's still a bit to unpack from the car before we stop for lunch, so we'd better get back to it...

Monday, June 09, 2014

Last night

Exterior night view of a miniature school house, with lights on inside.
It's been a lovely relaxing weekend away from reality, but now I must return to real life. For the week, at least.

I'm already planning my next visit and making lists of what I need to bring to make the space cosier and more comfortable.

Saturday, June 07, 2014

Margell magic

As promised, I popped into town this morning to check out the op shops.

It's a small town, so there's only two, but I came away with treasures:
Collection of miniature items including a 1950s-style chair, a tea towel, a stack of old National Geographic magazines, a white plastic tub, a 'Be a health Kiwi' poster and an old biscuit tin.
A 1950s-style chair ($30: perfect for reading by the fire until I decide on what I want there in the long term), a stack of old National Geographic magazines ($5: because every holiday home needs old National Geographic magazines!), a white plastic tub for doing dishes in ($2: I'll get plumbing and a sink installed eventually but in the meantime I can get water from the toilet block taps), a 'Be a health Kiwi' poster ($5: a surprise find in an Australian op shop but stranger things have happened) an old biscuit tin ($2) and a tea towel (50 cents).

Did you notice what the tea towel was?
Close up of a 1950s-style miniature chair, displaying a 2011 fund-raising tea towel for Margell Public School and a stack of old National Geographic magazines.
How perfect is that?!

Friday, June 06, 2014

In the night kitchen

The car's completely unpacked (finally!)
Modern miniature scene of a holiday house kitchen at night, with a bar fridge, microwave and shelving holding various items of crockery and kitchenware.
 and the first round of basic cleaning has been completed.
Modern miniature scene of a holiday house kitchen at night, with a bar fridge, microwave and shelving holding various items of crockery and kitchenware.
Time for a spot of dinner and, probably, an early night. I hear there are decent op shops in town: tomorrow I might pop in for a poke around...

Unexpected pleasures

1. First breakfast at Margell School, in the sun
Miniature school house interior with breakfast set up on desks under a sunny window.
 before the day's unpacking and cleaning starts...
Miniature school house interior showing unmade bed on the floor with coffee mug next to it and a broom propped up at the end of it.
 2. An intriguing-looking package waiting for me at the post office this morning:
Large shoe box, wrapped with various washi tapes.There are postal sticker on the top of it.
Large washi tape-wrapped shoebox with lid off, showing tissue paper and a colourful envelope on top of it.
 With a note:
Letter which explains to the recipient that the send no longer uses the miniature contents and so is gifting them to the recipient.
 I have only sorted out the furniture pieces and already I am overwhelmed by Elvira's generosity!
A large selection of modern miniature furniture and accessories, laid out on a  white workbench.
Now I'm looking forward to sorting out the tiny things and deciding which bits could be added to the school (all found at the local op shop, don't you know?)

Thank you so much Elvira, I will enjoy playing with these.

Thursday, June 05, 2014

Going bush

It's a long weekend here in Australia, and I've made it even longer by taking tomorrow off.
Miniature scene with a mattress and bedding on the floor, a red crate marked 'ropes' next to it with a glass and bottle of wine on it, and a piano in the background.
So it seemed a good time to get away from it all and (finally) spend some time at Margell Public School...

In a slight related note, I was lucky enough to finally see the documentary Marwencol last night:
It was inspiring and thought-provoking (and not just because there are miniatures involved).

Monday, June 02, 2014

Dejunk June

April and May flew past without me being able to catch hold of them so I'm hoping June gives me the opportunity to sort some stuff out before winter kicks in.

I've declared it 'Dejunk June' and hope to spend the month focusing on clearing stuff out. I figured a good first step would be to blog the rest of the photos I took at the Sydney Miniatures Show, back at the beginning of May.

This munitions factory scene didn't have a name next to it.
Dolls house miniature of a wartime munitions factory with two dolls at machines.
 I enjoyed seeing someone tackle something so different in miniature,
Dolls house miniature of a wartime munitions factory with two dolls at machines.
 and especially appreciated the well-worn look of the place.
Dolls house miniature of a wartime munitions factory.
Dolls house miniature of a wartime munitions factory.
Lewis Morley was a new exhibitor at the show and his pieces included this miniature comic book store:
Modern miniature comic book store, corner view.
Modern miniature comic book store, side view.
 Once again, it was refreshing to see something different on display and I know several people who will geek out at these images.
Modern miniature comic book store, interior view showing a rack of comics, a wall of posters and a fantasy art piece on an easel.
 The fantasy paintings are created by his wife, Marilyn Pride.
Modern miniature comic book store, interior view showing a rack of comics, a wall of posters and a fantasy art piece on an easel.
Piece of paper with the back-story to 'Wertheim's Comics on Kirby & Lee'
I'm not usually into smaller scales but I loved this half inch scale duplex by Thelma Carr, with one side being as it would have been just after it was built and the other side the modern renovated version:
Back of a half inch scale dolls house duplex with pool, patio, pergola and french doors.
For some reason, even after reading in The tiny Times about the street scene created by Virginia Paton, I hadn't quite realised it wasn't one inch scale but quarter inch scale. Duh!
Quarter inch scale modern Australian town street scene with newsagents and cars parked outside.
Quarter inch scale modern Australian town street scene with council building and motorcycles parked outside.
Quarter inch scale modern Australian town street scene with supermarket and Christian Outreach Centre.
Quarter inch scale modern Australian town street scene with National Australia Bank building on the corner.