Wednesday, August 6, 2008

What do Dollmakers do when they are not working on dolls?

Well, this one dabbles in learning other miniature skills. Often I describe myself with Adult Attention Deficit. No lie! I cannot finish a large project to save my soul. Really, I cannot stay focused long enough. That is why I do not have a doll’s house, or a real miniature shop or a completed room box.(I have to admit I am getting close on the room box, though. I will share when I am done.) So, how do I remedy my passion for trying new things and having a completed project? I opt for small ones. That is correct. I make vignettes. Vignettes allow me to try many new things; show off a piece of furniture or a class project or place some collected items together to show them off. One needs to stay focused on the subject, but if it is a short subject, that is not a problem.
My inspiration is a picture from “Victoria" magazine. I thought the simplicity of the potting bench on the porch delightful and serene. I look at this every day. No, it is not your eyes, my picture is a little crooked. I edited the inspiration picture from the magazine a bit, as there were doorways and screens and a porch bit the private corner, this moment in time is what I wanted to capture. As I do not build furniture very well, my friend Bill, cut the parts to the table to my specification and I assembled and painted the piece. I purchased the pots, a few tools, the watering can and Al Chandronait basket, but I created the rest. The flowers, the narcissi, and quince designed by me, the violets (directions by Ruth Hanke of Hanky Panky Crafts, http://hankypankycrafts.com/ ), all completed by me. I even figured out the design for the French Flower Can. All the precious pieces inserted into a small 5” X 7” shadow box (Hobby Lobby) with scrapbooking stickers to make it fun.
Now you try it!
Kathi

3 comments:

Tarnished Rose said...

What a wonderful article. Sounds just like me LOL. As long as I do small projects, I'm good to go, but something huge----let's just say a dollhouse I was building for someone took a couple of years!!!!!
Beautiful shadowbox and I just love your inspiration. Now if I can just find them at Hobby Lobby....never have been able to! Marilyn H.

Tarnished Rose said...

What a wonderful article. Sounds just like me LOL. As long as I do small projects, I'm good to go, but something huge----let's just say a dollhouse I was building for someone took a couple of years!!!!!
Beautiful shadowbox and I just love your inspiration. Now if I can just find them at Hobby Lobby....never have been able to! Marilyn H.

zzdeville said...

The shadow boxes are very fine. I especially liked the July Picnic one. For a few minutes I thought I was looking into an actual room. I looked for the shadow box expecting to see it on a wall. Then realized my eyes were playing tricks on me. The country blue an white pulled me in. I go back and look at it sometimes. Makes me happy.
Brad