Smaller Projects

Brenda and her husband Mike once spent a whole evening in the local pub, dreaming up scenes in unusual containers - which only proves what sad lives they have! So far not many have got beyond the Round Tuit file and the worry is that there may not be enough years left to fulfil all the ambitious projects in this file.

MONET'S KITCHEN AT GIVERNY
Linda saw this picture in a library book and thought it would make a lovely room-box setting which would symbolise her passion for Monet. Having seen the original photograph, we can assure you that this is a very faithful representation. 'Monet' himself was wigged and dressed by Karen.

THE MOTORCYCLE SHED
This was Kirsty's very first miniature project and was made as a gift for her partner, who unfortunately has to come to the shop to see it as we keep it on display to inspire those who think making miniatures is only about Dolls Houses. The contents of the box represent the various interest Les has, whilst the half-stripped table is reference to Kirsty's penchant for buying old tables to strip and re-polish. Oddly enough this seems to have been cured since she got hooked into miniatures full time.

THE DISTILLERY
Mike's interpretation of his own idea (you can guess where his interests lie) Apart from the half barrel, which was bought from a Garden Centre and the dolls which were lying around the house, naked and doing nothing better, everything is made from 'found' materials - card, wire, sawdust etc. The barrel has proved to be a bit of a problem in that it expands and contracts according to the humidity and also being mad of oak is extremely hard and has given Brenda many a sore head when she has accidentally walked into it in passing. Last year we visited a real distillery in Scotland and found that Mike's interpretation to be remarkably accurate.

 

JUNK AND DISORDERLY
This is Brenda's interpretation of a project by Linda Storey - OK let's be honest! She copied!! (with permission) It was enormous fun to do and made use of a lot of broken bits and pieces, which we just KNEW would come in handy one day. It also gave a home to many of the early indiscriminate purchases that, with hindsight, make you shake your head in disbelief and wonder "why did I buy that?" The book cover was a left over from a club project. Strangely, the difficult part was getting it look disordered. Anyone who knows Brenda and has visited her home or the inner sanctum of the shops cellar workshop/storeroom will tell you that she is the most untidy person in the world, but this project remained stubbornly NEAT! It took quite a few weeks to get it looking like this. Linda Storey's original is much better.

THE DECORATOR
Kirsty made this scene - the hardest part was finding a large, clean paint tin. It's a very simple scene, but don't you just love the witty touches - like the dog with a scrap of paper stuck to his nose. This is now the only record we have of the project as she was 'persuaded' over a period of several months to sell it and she decided it would help her fund a larger project.

THE SECOND HAND STALL
Once she had seen Brenda's Junk book, Kirsty wanted one for herself, but decided to create a different layout for her scene. If you look very carefully at the bottom left of the scene, you will see a framed print. This is a catalogue cut-out of an Anton Pieck print for decoupage and provided the inspiration - one of Kirsty's very first miniature attempts. Like the 'Junk' book it made use of a lot more broken bits (we accumulate a fair amount, courtesy of the odd clumsy customer). It is one of those wonderful scenes where you find something 'new' every time you look.

GENERAL STORE & ICE-CREAM PARLOUR
Linda had this very large room-box which she thought would satisfy her need to have an old fashioned American style General Store and Ice-cream Parlour. The rather wonderful bent-wood chairs and café table are by Trezjootes of Belgium, whose stall we always drool over when we go to Miniatura. Kirsty made the children from Sculpey. The little girl - who looks as though she is eating her bowl of ice-cream without the benefit of a spoon, is actually quite demure. She is appalled at the behaviour of her brother, whilst he (the little demon) was thoroughly enjoying he ice-cream cone when he caught sight of the camera and treated us to one of those very wide grins that only red-haired children can produce.