Fine Print Open For Business

Well! All done.  Got over eighty pictures taken and chose four for submission.  I'm improving, last year I had over a hundred.

So starting out with the exterior...

The first floor is a shop front I bought from Miniatures.com.  I used baseboards, crown molding and wood to embellish it and attach the front of the kit to the top of the shop front.

I filled in the space for the doorways and built up the depth of the shallow windows so I could use all four across the front of the second floor.

The third floor is more wood, trim and windows I bought on sale, again from Miniatures.com.  The mansard roof is foamcore board covered with wood shingles painted to look like slate.  I made the decorative grill from a strip of wood, pieces of spindles and paper covered wire wrapped around it then painted black and black metallic on top of it.

I bought a brick stencil from Moonflower Minis on Etsy and used drywall spackle for my brick, painted it and then sealed it with ceramcoat before grouting and resealing it.  The stone texture on the roof lip and corbels is sugar texture medium.

The stone and brick on the base and corners of the shop are egg carton brick and stone.  The lights are from Miniatures.com.  And the sign letters are from Hobby Lobby.  I sanded them down a bit to make them fit in my space and painted them gold, aged with black.



The first floor, the main shop space, doesn't have a ton of floor space.  I read up on shopping in Victorian times and people would line up at the counter, request what they wanted and a clerk would get it for them.  Bookstores were a bit different because people wanted to browse.  But I still didn't see it as having a huge open space really.

The one thing I noticed about the pictures I found of different shops, was that they were crowded with goods. The walls didn't have a lot of bare spots.

And of course I had to have the cats come and keep me company while I took pictures.  Austen is lounging across the newspapers and fashion magazines.

Dickens is waiting his turn on the table top.  Bronte thinks the floor is too cold and jumps from the staircase to the top of the bookshelf nearby.

The bookshelves were barewood from Minimum World as was the counter.  I made the staircase from spindles, wood fan blades and beads and a lot of the books and newspapers from free printies.  I also bought bookmaking kits from LDelaney on Etsy.  I made the cabinet display tables from House of Miniatures kits and the display racks and stands from woodsies and spindle pieces.

More of the books, magazines and papers came from Lilliput Treasures, PetiteGiteMiniatures, LittleThingsInterest, and MiniShacks on Etsy.  The cash register and lamp I found on Ebay.  The rest of the light fixtures came from Miniatures.com.  And the stove was also an Ebay find, though the 'fire' light inside came from Miniatures.com as well.

Barbara sent me a bunch of books and a beautiful atlas that I refuse to glue anywhere... it's too pretty to make immobile.  I couldn't find a place for it in this build so it's very carefully kept in its little bag.  I love the little sign, and maybe it'll end up as décor in a more modern build.

The crown molding is also from Miniatures.com.

On the second floor, I left the center open, so the clerks or patrons could look over the railing to the first floor.  I imagine there's a lot of speaking between floors.  As you can see, all three cats enjoy the view from the railings and lounge there as only cats are able.

I made the door to the 'staircase' from scrap wood and painted it to resemble the actual door on the third floor with similar trim.  I went with single light sconces on the second floor since the chandelier would provide light as well.

I can't remember where the pictures came from.  Probably HBS but I can't be certain.

They like to move around, an easy leap from the railing to the top of another bookshelf, and thus a nice view out the windows.

Sometimes it's easier to take pictures when the lights are out.

I like the view here, seeing the staircase in the corner.

For layout the third floor living quarters gave me the most trouble.  Not easy to arrange the furniture for practicality and photography.  It had to look realistic as far as placement but I didn't want to block out details I'd taken such pains to add.

Dickens is guarding the wonderful copy of Pride and Prejudice Deborah made for me.  It's readable and absolutely gorgeous.  She sent it along with some little blank books for my shelves and I just adore it.  Another book I could not glue down, so it stays on the bed where it's safe!

The fish, sausages and turnips are from Etsy, they are the goods I'd ordered for the WQRC and they didn't arrive until well after Christmas.  When they arrived they also stank to high heaven of I don't know what.  Thankfully they don't smell anymore.  Otherwise Bronte wouldn't go near them.

One of the few flat walls in the living quarters so I could hang these two portraits over the door.

The gorgeous bonnet is from Just For You Miniatures. I bought it ages ago for my Gothic Victorian and it looked so good here I had to kidnap it.

I made the hair brush from some wood and the bristles are from an old paint brush.  The mother of pearl back is from an old necklace I'd taken apart for my bead stash.  The small blue, pink and white 'jar' is a bead with a jewelry finding and another bead on top to make a place to keep hair from the brush.  Jewelry made from hair was still pretty common in Victorian times, according to my reading.  Ladies would have three hair brushes. One for that day, one from the day before which was drying from being washed, and a third to lend to a friend if needed.  Brushing one's hair removed all the dust, coal and other types, that had accumulated during the day.  You washed the brush and let it dry while using the other one and kept switching them out.

It's toasty warm by the stove. Another Ebay find.

Bronte, Austen and Dickens are all creations of Maya Schippl.

I made the throw at the end of the bed.

I made the bureau from a House of Miniatures kit.  The blue upholstered chair is an Ebay find, and the bed is from my stash.  The rest of the furniture is from Minimum World. I bought a bunch at half price last year.

The mattress and pillow are from Minibeddingshop and the quilt is from MiniBargains, both on Etsy.

The mirror on the dresser is from Smallsminnimall.  The lamp is an ebay find as are the bottles.  I got the pretty box from an online mini show.  The clock is from Minimum World.

The letters, paperwork and leather-bound book on the desk are from FrancesLanePark on Etsy. I made the ink bottles and dip pens.

 

The blue glass pitcher is from Keli and the 'copper' pots are from Ebay (I think) I've had them in my stash for a while.  The green bowls are from Susi, I won a drawing of hers a couple years back.  The metal canisters are from Miniatures.com as is the wooden box.  The white plates and bowls are from Hobby Lobby and Ebay.  The packages of food are reallllly old, (I got them when I was thirteen? I think) although you can still buy them.

The Wicked Queen's Retirement Cottage - Details & Sources

Well I finished with two and a half days to spare.  Big sigh of relief here.

I took more than a hundred pictures during the whole process but I promise not to inflict all of them upon you.  And I'll try to keep this in some semblance of order.

So first the garden. I made the tree using a slightly modified version of Luke Towan's tutorial.  Rather than use wire for the entire thing I wrapped the wire around six inches or so of a wooden dowel to give the trunk some thickness and a sense of age.  I used Candytuft like Brae to imitate the leaves.  I got most of them from Scenery Solutions.  Can't say enough nice things about that site and the nice guy who runs it.

I added the apples by drilling through them and threading them with some dark embroidery thread for stems.  I had to do some research to find out what type of apples they would have in Tudor England and it turns out they weren't much like our modern apples.  I got mine from WowMiniature on Etsy. The brownish mushrooms under the tree are from WowMiniature as well.

The vegetable garden is a mix of vegetables I made and bought, leeks and lettuces from Jodi's tutorial.  The cauliflower is from IrinaMiniatures on Etsy.  I also got the toadstools from her, they're the more speckled ones under the tree.  The cabbages in the garden are from PureJoyMiniatures on Etsy.  I made the mint and chamomile plants.  The green onions are from WowMiniature too.  I got the carrots from myminicorner on Ebay.  I cut them into pieces and used reindeer moss to make more of them since I was 'planting' them.  The soil is made from two parts Elmers glue and one part coffee.

The rabbit is from Steve Panner.  His name is Lewis.   I got him on Ebay and he came with his own carrots but he likes to steal lettuce and carrots out of the garden.  I think he goes after the cabbage too but he's never been caught.

I got the gates from Miniatures.com, and the stones from Hobby Lobby a while back.  I guess they aren't selling the gate anymore, but it's really pretty.

Kristine from Paper Doll Miniatures made the door for me.  She's been an absolute angel and so supportive with this entire process.  That door got me going and so enthusiastic when I'd been sort of plodding along.

I made the windows using a modified technique from Glorious Twelfth I found on Pinterest. Instead of lead strips I used aluminum mesh, the type you put inside a sculpture for support.  Since I can't cut straight lines to save my life it was a good compromise.

I made the bay window using some of the kit window frames cut down and fitted with casement windows and trimmed out with more knotwork trim and molding.

The rocks are from Hobby Lobby, from their model train section, as is the moss.  I added the weeds with some fake vines I also got from Hobby Lobby.

I bought these windows and the casement windows from Miniatures.com.  I didn't use the frames, just the windows, at least for these single ones.  The knotwork trim is from Manchester Dollhouse and Wood Works.

I made the decorative piece at the peak of the eaves from a spindle piece, part of a newel post and a wooden bead.

I made the oriel window out of two bay windows, which I got from Miniatures.com.  I had to make casement windows to fit into it.  The windows on the lower level are from the kit, at least the frames inside are. I made the actual windows and shutters from scratch.

I got the chimney pots from Minimum World.  The dragons are plastic from Amazon.  I primed them with gesso and then painted and aged everything once they were glued to the pots.

The pigeons came from Ebay, a very nice lady made them for me when I asked if she'd have more auctions.  She's at DebbieMiniatures.

A little closeup of the dragons on the chimney pots.

I made the support timbers from wood I bought from Hobby Lobby and the braces are from  Manchester Dollhouse and Wood Works,

The plaster is paint and a texture medium, another technique from the awesome Glorious Twelfth.  You can't see the texture as well in the pictures but I used a stiff bristle brush to make sure it looked like plaster.  The beams are thin strips of wood, something that should be flooring really, stained with Minwax Dark Walnut and cut so they look irregular, as if they were hand hewn.

The stones are cardboard, the type that you get from toner cartridges and ceiling fans blades.  I painted them various shades of grey and coated them with a satin polyurethane then used the mortar from Miniatures.com to finish them.  I should have worn rubber gloves when I did that.

The tower is made of Quaker Oats boxes and cardboard, and then finished with my homemade Tudor windows and Magik Brik.  I got that off Ebay and used the Dollhouse Stucco from Miniatures.com as mortar to give it a slightly different look than the cottage. I can't find the link now but they sell it under tints and textures.  Greenleaf makes it.

The roof is cardboard of varying thicknesses, painted black, then two different shades of grey to give it the look of slate.  I got the technique here.

Boadicea came from Ebay, and I've been very tempted to get her a brother or sister but it will need to wait.

A couple of pictures from the front door, giving us a view of the ceiling, beams and shutters all the way down to the tower staircase.

I made the drying rack from strip wood, spindles and other wooden pieces.  The fish, and onions are from IrinaMiniatures.  So are the cabbages, onions and some of the carrots in the baskets on the floor. Also the mushrooms in the bowl on the table.

The cloak is from Anna, and the axe from Minimum World.  The clogs and spoon holder are from Keli and the spoons are from Minimum World.

I made the fireplace and chimney for the kitchen out of balsa and more cardboard stone, then aged it with charcoal.  The table, hutch, chair and sink are all from Minimum World though I made the sink stand out of wood strips and newel posts.

The jars, wooden bowls and goblets are also from Minimum World.  Most of the black cauldron/stewpots came from them too.  I got the 'silver' plates off of Ebay.

The mortar and pestle are from myminicorner on Ebay as are the eggs, and carrots in the basket on the floor.

The footed cauldrons/pots are from an online mini show.  The bread is from myminicorner.  The basket of rolls is from Keli and the cake is from RealisticMiniature on Etsy. 

I made the little lantern and coat hooks.  Also the handled basket with the vegetables in it.  The sconces are ones I made with altered candles from some purchased sconces that looked too modern to me once I started to put them in the house.  I also made the candles on the table.

The baskets on the floor are from Wicker Miniature on Etsy.  The butter churn, barrel and bucket are from InSomeSmallWayMinis on Etsy.  The 'rush' mats are from Minimum World.

I got the oven hook at an online miniature show.

Medieval Morsels created the pottage and roasting chicken (or duck or goose) along with the drip pan.  I made the bread board but Mary made the bread in the background and the bread on the table as well. She also made the honey and small wood jar of peas on the table.

There was a lot of work that went into this room, the shutters were particularly annoying with their hinges and little screws.

But on to the bedroom we go.  The furniture is from Minimum World.  They had a barewood sale and I bought a bunch of furniture and stained it different colors.  The wood paneling is also from Minimum World.  It darkens the room but it gives it such a rich look I couldn't resist.

The fireplace is resin, painted and aged from Miniatures.com.  I made the box and cushion for the crown.  The crown is a ring from SimplyCindiii.  The mirror is from Smallsminnimall.

I made the candles and red necklace.  The silver box is from Shapeways.  I made the candelabra.  It looks a bit like some candles are tilting but I like it.

The tapestries are from GreenGypsies.  The books are from a lot of different places, including Hobby Lobby's jewelry aisle, Little Things of Interest and Lilliput's Treasures.

I made the rush mats for the bedroom.  I like that they look a little scuffed, I imagine they need replacing and she'll have to harvest more rushes and braid some new mats.

I made all the bedding, adding a second mattress and sheets as well as the curtains and blankets, woven and fur.   The tassels weren't easy to make but I really like how they look.

Bathsheba is from Miniature*pets on Ebay.  Anna made the pillow.  I got the lute off Ebay.

The tower stairs weren't easy.  But somehow I managed to get them done without killing myself, a cat or wrecking the stairs.

For my first time I think they turned out well.

The workroom is the result of a lot of research and invaluable help from Keli.  Without the wool she sent me I'd be reduced to using watercolors on cottonballs to get wool.  I doubt it would be a good look.  The hutch and shelf is from Minimum World.  The loom is a kit from SDK Miniatures.  They only had half scale but when I asked they very kindly offered to get one cut in 1:12 scale.

I made the drying racks and the standing candelabra.

I made the hourglass in its holder out of a necklace, I was very excited to make it actually turn in its stand.  It's useful for timing how long wool has been dying.  The wooden jars are from Hartwood Woodturning.

I got the spinning wheel on Shapeways and thanks to some feedback managed to get the wool and thread on it correctly.  The baskets are from Realistic Miniature.

I made the floor out of tongue depressor woodsies.  I made the bolts of woven fabric and the spun thread on the cupboard and the wool cards.

The workroom involved a lot of thought.  I bought most of the furniture from Minimum World.  The scrolls and a couple of the crystal balls came from felix1415 on Ebay.  The spilled potion bottle is from Amber of HuesDesigns on Ebay.  She was really great when I asked if she'd be doing any auction soon.  The crystals next to it are from Keli.

The scrolls, wax and seal on the desk are from PiccoloInfernoFG.

Cleopatra, who very much enjoys the stillroom's chair, is from Maya Schippl.  I have such a weakness for her animals. I need a twelve step program.

I made the potion in the cauldron.  It's bubbling over, Cecelia Alyse had better check on it.

The tarantula is from Mini Fanaticus.  She sent me a little crown as a surprise for the queen as well.  I didn't end up using it since I had one but it was very sweet.

I made all the magically pouring potions and the dousing apparatus.

The cage is from Keli, but the mice are from ginko305 on Etsy.

The bucket is from Keli as well.

You're all fairly familiar with the tower room.  I made the furniture here to match the curve of the walls.  All of the astronomy apparatus in the room are things I've made.  I also made all the scrolls on the shelves.

Bathsheba and Cleopatra are messing around.  They'd better not move the telescope.

But the view from up here can't be beat.

The magic potion holding the parchment is also from HuesDesigns.

A few shots of the workroom through the windows.

I'm sure that I've forgotten something, so if you see something that you just must know where it came from feel free to ask!  Hope you're all having a great day and everyone got their submissions in on time.

I'll leave you with another look at the cottage.