1/12th Scale Patterns for Static Display

Good Morning!  The entry today is to discuss a static display in your room box or vignette.  Oftentimes, the patterns and dresses that fit dolls are not suitable for fro room displays.  They do not always hang well on a hanger, though some do, nor do they manipulate well for laying across a bed or scrunched into a chair. 

The 2000 category of La Petite Belle Patterns is made just for this purpose.  The design of the garments is there without all the girth of the dress to fit a doll.  These patterns for you today do NOT fit onto a doll.  But if you wanted them too, you would have to do some extra fabric cut on the sides to make them work.  If you like the pattern for a project, do give it a try, you never know what you will achieve. 

Before I moved, I wrote a bit for AIM magazine.  It is a FREE e-zine completed by the Artisans that are shown in the periodical.  This is their blog address, and it is a great resource.  http://www.artisansinminiature.com/  Do visit the archives.  The magazines are through SCRIBD, which is also a Free to join enterprise for publishing books and periodicals.  This link will take you to the most recent issue, but there is plenty to see there.  https://www.scribd.com/document/423776008/AIM-IMag-Issue-71

I did a monthly for a jet setting woman of the 1950s and completed 12 articles for them.  Today I am providing you three of those patterns.  They are large PDF’s and printing is laden with color, so if you want to save them it is fine, be warned about printing them.

Today I have included some undergarments, always pretty to display.  I understand one of the products I used, Fairy Lace, has been discontinued, but I have some suggestions for if you would like to make this set.  If you cannot get the Fairy Lace, you can use any 2mm ribbon, or even cut the header off of heirloom lace and use it.  Thin pieces of fabric and even braided thread will work as well.  For Fairly Lace, please visit:

http://www.dragonflyintl.com/shop/contents/en-us/d56.html

The links for the patterns are under the picture, they are clickable. 

The dress and hat are meant to go together, pick some fun and contrasting fabrics to make a perfect ensemble.  The fabrics in the 1950s were colorful and fun.  Also, can be made in a sheer fabric a la Grace Kelly. 

Courtesy- https://www.theweddingsecret.co.uk/magazine/iconic-wedding-dresses-in-film-high-society/

I hope you use these patterns and have great fun with the fabric interpretations.   

 

https://www.minidolls.com/images/03SewRetroMarch.pdf

https://www.minidolls.com/images/04SewRetroDress.pdf

https://www.minidolls.com/images/PurpleHat.pdf

Have Fun!

Kathi

Christmas in August - Sort Of

 

Do you belong to a club?  Draw names?  Must make the gift yourself?  Need an idea? This was me a few years back.  I drew the name of a collector of beautiful things and maker par excellence!  She did not, she had said, I remembered, have much room left.  And I knew she liked the little ladies.  What to do, what to do? 

Here I am with a small gift and some easy instructions.  Not detailed mind, but if you make miniatures this could be easy. 

All you need is a 5” X 7” picture frame with a small mat, some scrap papers, a copier, some photo paper, and a half-scale doll.  The almost 3” size.

Create a small black box of a bottom dimension of 3” X 5”.  I made a box of black scrapbooking paper with a 1” side to it.  Borrow a picture of a pretty folding screen (outside) from the internet and print this onto shiny photo paper.  Scale it to fit inside the little black box.  (You can do this in any program now by squeezing to fit or dragging corners.) Cut this out with a scalpel.

This picture will allow you to see the size and scale of the project.  

Now copy a couple of dresses you like, size them, and print them on some cardstock.  Use bits of fabrics and ribbons to glue on the paper dresses for hanging on the screen.    And, dress your little dolly with small scraps by shaping and wrapping.  Embellish as you like.  Use a long glass head pin wrapped with ribbon as a parasol.  Add any other items you may have to spruce it up and bring your creation to life.   

This is a closer view.  Click to enlarge more.  

Put it all together.  Use some scrap paper to line the bottom of your little box representing wallpaper.  Using a ruler and ball stylus, score from the backside, the screen, and fold into thirds.  Sharpen up edges of the screen with scalpel and markers.  Then glue you pretend dresses as if they are thrown over or hanging on the screen. 

Glue the mat onto the box and allow to dry then frame it up with the glass holding it all together.  The frame stand should be free to sit on a desk or table or hang on the wall. 

This is a picture of the final presentation with the frame added.  

Have Fun, Kathi

 

Notes for Sewing Room Outside

 

I began with a box that had been created for us in a club situation.  One of our members Pate Steele’s husband created them for us.   I bought a few of them.  (Many mini and doll projects were calling.)

They looked like this:

I painted the box black and filled the interior with the Itsy Bitsy Mini wallpaper in fashion design.   I could not locate my specific pattern, but there are many from which to choose and personalize your room box. 

When that was complete, I decided to then paper the box, though I had already painted it.  So, I began to choose from some shelf papers in a French Toile pattern. 

After covering the lower portion of the box with the toile, I tried to think of something different for the top portion.  The box sat for a little while.  (I played with the interior a bit, to be honest.)   I thought and thought, and came upon the idea that this was a pattern box.  It was a sewing room or shop after all.  Placing a number of patterns in a basket, I took pictures from the top, bottom, right, left, back, and then printed, and cropped until I got the right picture for the top edges of the room box.  That was fun, however; it took a great deal more time than I thought. 

A little braid trim to hide the seam line and it was time for the fun stuff!!! 

And here is the fun stuff again! 

Use your imagination, and Have Fun!

Kathi

Country Armoire, Part Four

Before teaching my part of the birdhouse and bird’s nest, I took some inspiration from magazines.  One nest is from Victoria Magazine, the other is from Williams- Sonoma.  (Yes, those are chocolate eggs!  Yummy!) My turn came to teach the birdhouse and the nest, the inset shows the basic items.  Each person decorated to her own design. 

Birds Nest from Victoria Magazine

I used cardstock to make the bolts and cut tiny print cottons for the fabric to match my color scheme.  Marla Gilbert made the bunny; the metal etched glasses are a purchased item.  I made a little pin cushion with some wire with the ends dipped in paint.  I cannot remember but I believe the little yellow rubber glass was from a grab bag (?), and the flowers are centers of silk flowers.  They, too, are plastic.

You can see that I have moved on to add other items per the picture.  The little dress I taught at club, as was the heart vine topiary.  Cute, huh? The topiary was not complete at the picture taking.  My little white kitty (representing my late cat, Jack) sits curled up on the quilt.  

Finally, I used the samples I created for the La Petite Belle Pattern 1022, a shopping bag and hat, to fill out the corner next to the chair and to hang on the door.  (I was absent from the meeting when the hat was taught.)

Country Armoire, Part Five (Final)

This final post regarding the project shows more filling out of the armoire.  I have added lace to the shelves, and a knitting basket.  The basket is a purchase from Al Chandronait and a gift of knitting from Michelle Mahler of The Creative Doll; however, Michelle did not do the knitting.  The middle has a pot of plastic flowers. 

You can see from the pictures that I keep changing things.  I move them around a lot, and you will too when you create a vignette project such as this.  I have plates printed onto photo paper to stash, as needed, some ribbons, baskets, other porcelain china, as well as some Chrysnbon purchases with which to work.  Many items, like the copper kettle, did not make it into the final cut.  I found a tea set and knew I had the right thing for the top shelf.  The pitcher and bowl made it to the floor, and the excess china into the basket under the armoire.  Another china vase that Marla made shown next to the topiary is waiting for some additional something to add, and I snuck in a little Kewpie next to the chair. 

The next picture shows a Country Angel on top of the armoire made in a class at Suzanne Andrews Miniature Shop and a purchased country crock.  Kewpie is now gone and another bird’s nest placed in its space, while a mouse rests under the nose of kitty.  Another bag takes space behind the right armoire door.  More of the printed plates attached to the wall next to the chair.  Another bunny takes pride of place on the top shelf, and books complete the bottom shelf.   No doubt, you can see many things you would do, and I do too.  For example, I have a small china lamp to hang from the ceiling on the left to above the painting, but it is not there, yet.  For me, until I do that, this is a completed project.

I do hope you find a wonderfully inspiration picture and can turn it into a little memory box for yourself. 

Have Fun! 

Kathi Mendenhall

Country Armoire , Part Three

I wanted to catch up, and finally, I am. We continue to build on the Armoire Vignette.

I kit bashed an armoire I purchased as defective. The doors, completely removed and turned around, flipping the sides so it appears that they shut. I sanded and painted the armoire, as well as made shelves and glue them in. The lace covering the door is my attempt at reusing some old lace pieces as draperies. They cover all sorts of sins.

Add your large pieces at the beginning, as you will be working from the back forward now. The second largest piece is the purchased ladder back chair. The quilt taught at miniature club. I think it is darling. The process was simple and I feel like I could make many more. I had previously fit the quilt to the chair and sprayed it with water and steam to hold its shape. I borrowed some country signs from the internet and played with them as well. Notice the Antiques sign over the chair. In addition, I started working with the items I had on hand to fill the armoire.

I took a class on stained glass in Chattanooga with Penny Champion, IGMA Fellow. My first piece of stained glass rests on the wall above the armoire. To the right of the armoire is another picture of a picture behind a windowpane. I often use only some clear holding wax. I often use only some clear wax to adhere things to the walls.

Kathi

Country Armoire Chapter Two

My New Year wish list consisted of doing a new blog every Tuesday.  I have already failed!  Sigh!  Last week was busy getting the painters in and out, pictures hung, and the furniture in two rooms switched.  That's right we flipped rooms.  I like it!  We painted the new dining room RED!  Ming Red.  It's beautiful.  Not at all "beachy" as I had thought I wanted.  I love the Shabby Chic look, but apparently it is not me!  Or I should say US!

So, here I am back, intent on catching up.  Hopefully the next chapter will be correctly posted on Thursday and I will be all caught up.  For now, I will tell you how I prepared the body or the background of the vignette or shadow box for the Country Armoire.

I printed a brick sheet of paper I created in MS Publisher by fitting together a picture of an old Brick wall.  My intent was to show this as an indoor sunroom.  Perhaps it is in a converted porch area of a home or even a small resell shop in the square of Anywhere USA.  The feel I am trying to achieve is that of comfort and home.  The picture printed on matte photo paper, cut to size for the shadow box and glued it into place.  What you do not see very well, is I did the same thing with the floor and the sides.  The sides are red painted wood planking, also printed on photo paper, cut, and glued into place.  I had some wood flooring, so installed it per the instructions.  I did use a little paste wax when it was completed.
The final picture is the shadow box prepared for furniture installation.

I hope to have more steps soon and you can create a vignette using your miscellaneous miniatures, too. 

Kathi

NewYear, Sharing a Project

I find this picture seen on the internet most charming.  I would love to credit the artist, but so far have not found him/her.  I have had and saved this picture for years and years.  This picture inspired the project I am sharing.

Hating to dust, but having little time (or attention span) for a large dollhouse, I like to do little projects I can hang on the wall or set in a corner somewhere.  It is, more or less, how I save and display my collection of miniatures.  I am not great at it, but I love them just the same.   

To demonstrate how I do a project, which by many of you is overkill, I have heard it a thousand times; I like to draw it in a way that I think makes the most sense to me.  Then I can see what I have, what I have to make, or buy, and see what I have that is serendipity.  You know those wonderful little things we have taken as classes, or collected with no special idea where to put them, the pieces that are just fun!  (I have a shoebox full.)   

By first checking my supplies or the size of boxes available to me, I can see what will and will not fit my project.  In this case, I was able to use a trinket or shadow box from Hobby Lobby.  This particular box is a black metal one with a magnetic closure.  

As a special note, I took this picture to my miniature club in Nashville and suggested it for a yearlong project.  Each of us could select something in the cabinet to teach as a class each month when we met.  Yet each of could interpret the project any way we saw fit.  This drawing following is difficult to see, but you get the idea of how I work.  This is my working plan or idea.  Things do change; no design is set in stone.  (Also, my measurements are often off.)   

Before we get into the pictures and the steps for completing my project, I will also add, that now is the time to make things in pieces or search for special items.  Save them in a pretty shoebox (or an ugly one, I don’t discriminate over boxes and plastic containers), and collect up supplies you know you are going to need and get them in one place.  You will need rulers and cutting mats, glue and tape, perhaps a computer, some fabrics and patterns, whatever suits your goals.   For example I had to purchase the ladder back chair, and make the quilt.  Collect up our interesting things, you never know what will work.   

Kathi 

(I’ll be back with more steps and pictures soon.) 

Holiday Muff Tutorial

Part 2

   I hope you were able to make a fur edged pillbox hat, or at least save the project for a later date.  Today I am posting the fur muff to go with it.  Enjoy!  Kathi

Merry Christmas From Michelle and Kathi

  Wishing you all the joys of the holiday season!

The year has been a rush for me, first with the sale of our house and the move to the new one.  I admit I am a bit overwhelmed still with downsizing.  I thought I was a super organized person, but am finding faults.  We shall overcome it, and have everything down to manageable soon.  The house has taken a festive tone with our tree in place, a lighted wreath on the door, and some pleasant arrangements around.  I hope you are having a wonderful season as well. 

For me it is a time of year to count my blessings and tell people how much I appreciate them.  So, in the gift giving mode, I will be sharing my pill box hat and fur muff tutorials with you.  One this week and perhaps one next or the following week. 

Usually Michelle does all the posting, but I am going to give it a try.  Enjoy!  Kathi

More Tools to Help your Creativity Flow

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Woe is me for being so naughty as to not keep up the posting. It has just been crazy with the new school routine; 2 kindergartners and a 1st grader. Then Halloween hit! In early October it seemed like a much better idea to make 3 costumes than is did around Oct 28th. But I did get them done and all look cute and scary.  2 mummies and a mermaid = 20 lbs of candy.  Wu Hu!  But on to more things Creative doll related...
Kathi worked so incredibly hard on some great tutorials.  Enjoy!
Michelle minidolls.com

Click Picture to See Larger

More Cool Tools to Help your Creativity Flow

 

Click Here to Enlarge

Tutorials - Bowmaker

Kathi as been very busy with tutorials. I am so glad to include them in our blog. It is so nice to learn from someone so talented. This bow jig can be purchased from minikitz.com
Michelle minidolls.com

Click picture to make bigger

Basic "Cold Porcelain" Miniature Flower Making Tutorial

Make an Apple Blossom

Gina Bellous has so generously allowed us to reprint her tutorial on Cold Porcelain Apple Blossom flower making. She has other REALLY nice and informative tutorials on her site:
GinaBellousDolls.com If you hurry you can also purchase one of her in stock doll kits that are EVER so hard to purchase.
There are instruction to make your own cold porcelain clay included. But if you do not want to or don't have time to I stock cold porcelain clay on my site. Click Here: Cold Porcelain Clay
Thank-you Gina! Now everyone get to flower making!
Michelle minidolls.com

What is Cold Porcelain?

Cold Porcelain is not actually a real porcelain clay. It's name comes from the effect achieved with the finished product. Porcelain is a clay body that requites a high fire temperature in a kiln to vitrify.

"Cold Porcelain" is a mixture of cornstarch, water, glue, glycerin and cold cream. It is mixed up and heated on a stove until it forms a solid clay type ball. It can be colored with acrylic paints or virtually any coloring medium.

It's best feature is that it air dries to a very hard porcelain like substance. It also shrinks quite a bit, very much the same as porcelain does when it is fired in a kiln, making it a very useful product for many applications.

Materials for Cold Porcelain Paste

3/4 cup of white glue
(any child's white school type glue)
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup of water
1 teaspoon of cold cream
(any thick moisturizer like Ponds, Curel, etc)
1 teaspoon of glycerin
(available at any drug store or pharmacy)

Making the Clay

Over a medium heat, add all ingredients in pan except the cornstarch and mix together until it is smooth over medium heat. Stir constantly for a few minutes. Slowly add cornstarch. Continue stirring (this is important) until it forms a ball. Remove from heat. Let it cool just a bit so you can handle it and knead it with your hands.

The clay should be very smooth and soft. It is important to Keep in it an airtight bag. Wrapping the clay in cellophane and then putting it in a zip-loc bag will help to keep all air out. If any air stays inside the bag, the clay will harden and be ruined.

When working with this clay you can use extra cornstarch to keep it from sticking to your fingers or you can use cold cream to moisten your fingers.

It is sort of like making bread dough when you are baking. When you are working with bread dough sometimes you need to add more flour (cornstarch), or you can oil your hands to keep the dough from sticking (cold cream).

Materials for Cold Porcelain Flowers

1 batch of cold porcelain clay
1/4" heart paper punch & leaf punch
(Fiskars makes many different shapes)
Acrylic Paints: pink, lt. green, burgundy, dk. green, yellow
Very fine wire, Tacky glue, toothpicks, tweezers, brown or dk. green thread, Kemper Ball stylus
(small ball has been cut off and ground to a point)
Clear No Hole Beads & Crystal Snow White Ultra Fine Glitter

Coloring the Clay

Next we will mix some acrylic paint into small portions of the cold porcelain to make the petals and leaves. Keep in mind that when coloring your cold porcelain the acrylics help make the clay less transparent, and add a lot of color. A little goes a long way. It dries much darker, be careful!

Break off a small chunk of the clay and roll into a ball. Add a small amount of acrylic paint to the clay and knead the paint into the clay until color seems uniform. You may have to keep adding cornstarch so it won't become too sticky. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and set aside.
I would suggest making a very pale pink (blush color) for the flower petals, a darker pink for the flower centers & a light leaf green color for the leaves. Be sure to keep those little balls wrapped very tightly in plastic wrap so they don't dry out.

Dip the tip of a piece of fine wire into some tacky glue as shown in the photo. You don't need quite as much as the photo, but I wanted to be sure you could see the glue.

Roll a very tiny ball of medium pink clay and add it to the tip of the wire. The glue really helps it to stick. Shape it more into a narrow oval (think of a stamen on a flower) That is what we are making.

While "stamen" is still wet, dip it in the container of "Crystal Snow" to coat it with a sugary sparkle. I personally like this little effect as I tend to like my flowers a bit sparkley when I am using them in my doll's hair or gowns. Set aside to DRY!!! (you can make several of these stamens ahead of time, you can never have too many).

Now you will need your 1/4" heart punch You can use a smaller one if you like as apple blossoms really are very small, but I like to make some of them larger, and besides it will be easier for you to learn on them if they are a bit bigger. Take a small ball of pink clay & flatten it out as thin as you can get it. Use plenty of cornstarch to keep it from sticking to your hands.

Be sure to dust the flattened out clay with cornstarch to keep it from sticking too much (it will stick a bit)to the heart punch. Carefully position the clay in the punch and "punch it out".

Use a toothpick to help push the hearts through the punch & let them drop to the surface below. Try to make them as thin as possible. Try not to touch them right away as they are very fragile. Let them set up a little.

Carefully place a heart cutout on your index finger. Use the ball end of the stylus to cup the petal and use the pointed end to add tiny detail lines. This is a good time to help thin out the petal if needed.

Gently dip the pointed end of petal in tacky glue (or you can add tacky glue to the stem). Lightly press the pointed end to the side of the stamen. We want the stamen to stick up so be sure to place petal near the base of the stamen.

Repeat the cupping and forming with the next petal. Add it to the stamen overlapping the first petal. We will continue going around the stamen to add 5 petals total. Each time one edge will overlap the last and the other edge will go under the next petal.

It is hard to see in this photo but there are 3 petals in place. Each one overlapping the previous petal. I don't know about you, but this is exciting to me! Our flower is really taking shape.

Petal # 4 continues it's journey around the stamen. As tiny as this flower is, you can really see the small details helping to create the illusion of a real flower.

Petal # 5 is now in place. You can see clearly in this photo. How each petal overlaps the last one. Now we will just set this flower aside to dry a bit. It can be just a couple of hours or overnight.

Our flower is really taking shape now but we need to make some leaves.

You will need your ball stylus, tacky glue, a leaf punch & some green clay. A magnifying lamp will be helpful if you find it difficult to see tiny things well. Flatten out a ball of the green clay like you did with the pink clay. Make it as thin as possible. Be sure it is dusted with cornstarch so it wont stick to the punch. Pictured are two different leaf punches, either one will work fine or you can use a large teardrop punch (my favorite, but I couldn't find it).

Gently pull the clay into the slot on the punch. Press down firmly and hold the punch down so it can't pop up. It will easier to remove the clay this way.

While still holding the punch closed turn the punch over and use either a toothpick or the pointed end of the ball stylus to gently remove the punched out clay. Let it fall to the table below.
Here are some punched leaves. They will need to set up a bit. If you are going to be away from your work for a bit, you can cover the cutouts with a piece of lightly moistened plastic wrap.

Next we will paint the details on our flower while the leaves set up a bit. A simple coated paper plate is the perfect palette, and disposable! I used burgundy, rose, beige, yellow, brown & three different shades of green. A light, medium and dark hue. These are just everyday normal bottle acrylics.

This will be our final process.
We will paint the fine details on the flowers & leaves.

You will need a very fine 18/0 liner brush, acrylic paints, water, & clear no hole beads A magnifying lamp will be helpful if you find it difficult to see tiny things well.

Be sure to water the paint down We want it to go on as a wash and not become chunky on such a delicate flower. Mix yellow with some beige to tone it down a bit. Add a wash around stamen on center of petals.

Use water downed burgundy to carefully go along some of the outer edges of the petals. This is where a photo or live flower model come in handy. Apple blossoms have random edges of color, but not all over. Use a tiny bit of water to help blend the paint.

Look how lovely and realistic the petals have become. Keep the paint simple. Don't over do it!

Let's not forget the back. Make tiny radiating lines on the petals with burgundy & some rose paint.

Now it is time for even more detail. This will give the tiny flower even more depth! Use medium green mixed with dark brown and put the finest line around the stamen very close to the center of the flower.

Lets' not forget the back of the flower. Paint the pointed parts of the petals green and make tiny triangular shaped areas to simulate the tiny leaves that often surround the base of a flower. Amazing effect!

Add some tacky glue around the center of the flower very close to the stamen. Use a toothpick or the pointed end of your ball stylus to add some tiny, clear, no hole beads around the center of the flower. When this dries, it will really sparkle like the sample in the picture at the top of the page.

Now it's time to add some leaves. I like to put them on first and then paint them. Use the ball stylus to shape and cup the leaves just like we did with the petals. Dip the stems of them in tacky glue and add them to the wire stem randomly around the flower.

Use several thin washes of the three green paints along with the dark brown and even a bit of burgundy. Keep the washes light and go back and add more coats as needed. You can paint the leaves while they are still wet or wait until they dry. Either way works. The paint blends a bit nicer on the slightly damp leaves.

That's it! You made an Apple Blossom.

If you want to make the buds, just use a dark color thread. Dip the end in glue and add a tiny round ball of med. pink clay to the end. Let dry. Cut the thread shorter and twist 2 or three buds together and secure with glue. Add the painted details like we did with the flowers. You can brush the tips of the buds with glue and dip into the crystal snow to give them a tiny bit of sparkle.