tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44973228196799721272024-02-20T08:09:03.891+00:00The Gate HouseThis is my fourth project and my first quarter scale (1/48ths).
The Gate House is part of a country estate in the Cairngorms in Scotland. burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-45176625451114674152015-08-02T13:49:00.003+01:002015-08-02T13:49:49.634+01:00Delete this Blog?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does anyone need this blog left up and running?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If not I will delete it on 1 September.</span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-49677330094266644432015-04-12T16:25:00.001+01:002015-04-12T16:25:26.098+01:00What am I doing now?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a link to all my blog addresses if you want to see what I am working on now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://allmyblogaddresses.blogspot.co.uk/">All my blogs</a></span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-46048302743917789832015-04-12T16:19:00.002+01:002015-04-12T16:20:56.850+01:00Quarter scale for sale<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have just sold most of my (more than two hundred) 48ths. As they went for half price you can see this was something it would have been better not to do but it does emphasise that I am not leaving quarter scale lightly.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have a few pieces left if you want to take a look.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lilliputminis.blogspot.co.uk/">Lilliput Minis</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The house itself is also for sale cost around £250 - I would like £100 but am open to offers</span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-47637104848568020182015-04-04T16:24:00.000+01:002015-04-04T16:24:52.796+01:00Nice while it lasted<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is hail and fair well I'm afraid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I switched to quarter scale last summer because I had no room to keep my 1/12ths when they were done and thought forty-eighths would be the solution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not immune to their charm but, as anyone who has ever done both scales will know, it is a completely different ball game. I found while I was in Naples for the winter I never got started on the handful of small furniture kits I had taken over to do. I thought I had good reasons why not, lack of a place to work, loads of visitors etc etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't wait to get home and crack on. Well, I have been back two weeks and really can not get going. This is so not me as far as a hobby goes, I usually eat, breathe and sleep it. I came to the inevitable conclusion it is a wrong fit for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I loved the challenge of working on such small things - like I love the challenge of a crossword but, like a crossword, once it was done that seemed to be it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I really get the biggest kick out of being able to try to replicate real life as accurately as I can and that is difficult and very different in forty-eighths. It is all about illusion rather than scaling down and, I don't know why, it just doesn't give me the same satisfaction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been very brave and accepted it is time to throw in the towel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to all the truly wonderful quarter people I met along the way - they were so kind, helpful and just plain nice I shall miss them so much more than the hobby itself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyone who wants the Geoff Lewis house (the Gate House) which I have started for £100 plus pp (it cost £250) please email me. Also Petite properties (not started) plus all the stairs, doors,plinth cost me £57.13 so its yours for £28 plus pp. Again email me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have posted this in The Gate House and in Les Roches, so whichever one you are reading it in don't bother to go to the other blog.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want to see what I am about to start (though I don't know why you would) here it is:</span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u><a href="http://daltonhouse.blogspot.co.uk/">Dalton House</a></u></b></span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-10854429531876042702015-03-27T18:45:00.001+00:002015-03-28T12:21:26.325+00:00Back home<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived back in the UK on Sunday (it is now Friday) and we have managed to dig ourselves out from unpacking four pieces of luggage (the 50 lb size) and three months mail, caught up with a few people, done some house chores and are now finding some time to play.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got back into my workroom today with the intention of settling back into cracking on with one or both of my projects. Alas I am 'lost'. In effect it has been six months since I was working here and my quarter scale gear was all new to me then. I am in a room where I don't know what I have and, if I do think of something, I am not quite sure where it is.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I assure you I am organised to the nth degree but this is very, very tiny stuff and there are hundreds of bits and bobs.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to be kind to myself and allow another day's prevarication until I am grounded.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I haven't wasted my mini afternoon though. Part of my wondering where I am up to sent me to read this blog (that's partly why I write it) and I realised how unwieldy these blogs are if you want to actually locate a particular thing - I was looking to see who made the very nice floor clock I had made some time ago. This set me off labelling all 115 posts. Some have several labels to 'attach' so it took a while! I have also tried to change the titles of posts so I can easily recognise the items they refer to. Snappy/clever titles will go by the board and I will be sticking to pedantic descriptive efforts from now on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope this was an afternoon well spent and that if you are following The Gate House it will also help you find your way around should you want to back-track. I will be doing it to Les Roches too but, for now, I am trying to stop my butterfly brain flitting from item to item and trying to focus in on The Gate House and start to get on with the project properly.</span><br />
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not the current state as I have almost completed the kitchen</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also intend to be very brave and record (and U-Tube) the project as it goes along in hopes it helps someone find their way around their first quarter scale project - as I am doing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Please stick with me; I hope to do some work this weekend.</span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-21870518454393349362015-03-04T15:51:00.000+00:002015-03-27T16:46:59.395+00:00Quarter scale section in Dolls House and Miniature Scene magazine<br />
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Some of you might remember around September last year I was prattling on about my writing a piece about quarter scale in a dedicated section of DH&MS each month. Well it is going to happen and will begin in the June issue. Indeed there will be two quarter scale pieces in the June issue that I know of.<br />
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Slight change of plan - I found I was getting buried in too many interests and decided to trim back here and there. Part of that was my decision to only write an occasional piece for the magazine in the future and not take on a 'series'. Happily the editor is still running it (indefinitely) and the terrific Moi Ali has taken up the baton and will be authoring the series.<br />
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If quarter scalers out there want to see this little acorn grow it needs watering with some input from you. Please, please don't be bashful about contacting the magazine with any thoughts, suggestions or even just a plain thank-you. The editor does take notice. Please offer up any quarter scale news, ideas, or better still your own project to Moi. She (like me) believes there is no such thing as too much information. It is also an opportunity for any quarter scale trader to make themselves known to a growing UK market.<br />
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Please don't be bashful or assume your ideas aren't useful; it is all grist to the mill. We won't get more magazine space, vendors or shows without constantly reminding people how many of us are here and would love to see this happening.<br />
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The June issue will be in the shops 28th May 2015. You can subscribe or just buy a single copy. It is as rare as hen's teeth in the US newsagents but you could subscribe or purchase the imag thus avoiding mailing costs and you'd get the issue as soon as it is released. <br />
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Moi Ali: <a href="mailto:moi@...">moi@moiali.com</a><br />
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Carl Golder (editor DH&MS): <a href="mailto:carl.golder@...">carl.golder@warnersgroup.co.uk</a><br />
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-17995112432000778632015-01-25T19:12:00.000+00:002015-03-27T17:03:40.185+00:00Floors - True2Scale -<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have already used (and blogged about)<a href="http://www.true2scale.com/"> True2Scale's</a> wonderful peel and stick wallpapers. It really is the greatest thing since sliced bread as far as I am concerned when it comes to 'papering' quarter scale walls. They have now introduced a lovely finished (mock) wood peel and stick flooring:</span><br />
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It is in the same material as their wallpaper which is a sort of fabric rather than paper. This gives it durability and also a lovely matte finish. I think this will look just great in situ. I will show you when I use it, but that will be some time away so I wanted to share it now in case you are hunting up a good flooring for your project.</div>
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I can honestly say, hand on heart, there isn't a product on their stand which isn't just perfect for the job. Most of all, for me, they always live up to their name and everything is absolutely true to scale; this includes this newcomer to their repertoire.</div>
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For UK readers True2Scale will be at Kensington in May - worth a trip just for that!</div>
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I picked this up from the Sarasota show last weekend - if you want to see the show report and what I bought there you will need to go to my <a href="http://dollshouseshows.blogspot.com/">Dolls House Shows</a> blog.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Followers of this blog will remember I demolished a lovely little rocking chair kit I bought from Suzanne and Andrew at the Philly show. It turned out to be a kit from <a href="https://bjminis.com/">B J Miniatures</a> so I promptly ordered another just before I left for December in the UK. When I came back my little order was waiting for me. In true greed mode I determined it is never worth paying postage on one item so I may as well order a couple of other things!! Here they are:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>The next is one of those classic moments - "What a sweet little sled - I like that" - well yes, I liked it the first time I bought it - hey ho - one duplicated sled:<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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I saw this 'glassware' and thought it would look great stacked on shelves or behind the glass door of a cupboard.</div>
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I love the detail on these tiny teapots made by Ruth Stewart. </div>
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There is no way I will be able to paint them like this....</div>
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Here is a sweet little Eiffel tower clock probably destined for Les Roches rather than The Gatehouse. The face looks a bit wonky here; it is perfect in real life.</div>
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Finally a great piece of furniture if I can get it to fit inside the front door. It would be a shame to hang stuff on it!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-82884691276286421212014-12-31T12:12:00.003+00:002015-03-27T16:47:21.765+00:00Au revoir for a while...<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may have noticed a slump in my babble for a while - real life has intervened. We have been back in the UK for December and have been caught up in my daughter's wedding and Christmas. We leave here tomorrow to return to Naples (FL) until the end of March where we have two sets of visitors pretty much filling our time there. I have, therefore put aside my hobby until I return to the UK at the beginning of April. I had all kinds of plans to do stuff here and to sort out things to take back to America to make while I am there; realistically I can see that it isn't likely to happen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I will still be in the three groups I am in and have plans to go to Molly Cromwell's show in Sarasota and the mini flea market also held in Sarasota while we are away so they will turn up in my show blog (<a href="http://dollshouseshows.blogspot.co.uk/">Dolls House Shows</a>) when I've been.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't abandon me - I will be back in full flood, no doubt, in April.</span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-85936575387701218422014-12-11T16:38:00.000+00:002015-03-27T17:04:15.377+00:00Bases <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have been talking to various people about bases for kits and at the moment these are the three that are in play.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They all work in slightly different ways and look different. If you are thinking about getting one, you will need to go to the vendor's site and read all the detailed information about them - this is just a pointer to them. Start with what you want it to do for you and then decide which one does it best.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Price-wise it will be a case of where you are buying from and what the delivery cost is to you </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This all began for me because when I ordered my Petit Palais from </span><a href="http://www.petite-properties.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Petite Properties</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I also ordered the very nice base that goes with it. I think it really finishes off the structures to get them off a (piece of furniture) surface a little way. It also makes for a good way to hide the electricals.</span><br />
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1/48th Display Plinth Kit</h2>
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£4.99</h1>
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<img alt="" src="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/skins/kurouto/images/common/star.png" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/skins/kurouto/images/common/star.png" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/skins/kurouto/images/common/star.png" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/skins/kurouto/images/common/star.png" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /> <img alt="" src="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/skins/kurouto/images/common/star.png" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></div>
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5.0 average, based on <a href="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/index.php?_a=product&product_id=282#reviews" style="color: #4b8384; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;">1 reviews</a></div>
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Manufacturer: <a href="http://www.petite-properties.com/" style="color: #4b8384; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Petite Properties Ltd</a></div>
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<a class="magnify" href="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/images/source/Display_Plinth_Made_Up_Unpainted_48th.JPG" rel="" style="color: #4b8384; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" title="1/48th Display Plinth Kit"><img alt="1/48th Display Plinth Kit" src="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/images/cache/Display_Plinth_Made_Up_Unpainted_48th.270.JPG" id="preview" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>
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<a class="colorbox gallery cboxElement" href="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/images/cache/Display_Plinth_Made_Up_Unpainted_48th.600.JPG" id="image_1332" rel="gallery" style="color: #4b8384; display: block; margin: 0px 0px 2px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="Click to enlarge" src="http://www.petitepropertiesltd.com/onlineshop/images/cache/Display_Plinth_Made_Up_Unpainted_48th.50.JPG" style="border: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>
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Product Information</h2>
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The <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Display Plinth</strong> has been designed for our <strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Le Petit Palais</strong> kit but can also be used to further enhance many of our 1/48<sup style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">th</sup> kits, or can be used for a multitude of display purposes.</div>
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This kit comes with a set of full colour, step by step instructions which teach you how to construct the plinth.</div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><u style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Display Plinths Approx constructed dimensions</u></strong></div>
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Width = 23 cm</div>
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Depth = 13.5 cm</div>
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Height = 2.8 cm </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I have pinched this from PP's site - hope it's OK to do that. Obviously I don't have mine built to show you just yet.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Also in the UK <a href="http://www.jsminiatures.co.uk/viewcategory.php?groupid=71">J. S Miniatures</a> has just developed four stands and they come in a couple of sizes. Two work with Jen's lighting kits and have an additional extension connector so they work with her micro plug and the other two bases will work with any other sort of kit you might want to use. Jennifer will also be offering landscaping in small amounts to help you finish off the structures. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Prices - £12.99 - £16.25</span></div>
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<img alt="Bases for Smaller Scale Lighting Kits Image" src="http://www.jsminiatures.co.uk/ccdata/images/imageThumbCat_71.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Again I stole the photo.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the States <a href="http://www.true2scale.com/base-kit-for-lighted-structures/">True2Scale</a> is also making very nice stands with a drawer for your leccy bits. I did share a photo of it yesterday with you but here it comes again finished and underneath their Bushel and a Peck kit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">This base kit is priced at £18.47</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Again I stole the photo.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I will check with all the vendors that this is OK.</span></div>
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-40646374859253299712014-12-10T15:31:00.003+00:002015-03-27T17:04:44.958+00:00Lighting - True2Scale <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I was at the Philly show I stopped by <a href="http://www.true2scale.com/">True2Scale's</a> stand - why would I not?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carol, who has an amazing memory for stuff, remembered that I had been wittering to her at some point about needing longer wires for my lights and fires. She had devised an elegant solution to the problem...... this is it:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHv88ZUcB1w/VIhlm0n3UGI/AAAAAAAELgE/eUGLM4cT2xY/s1600/IMG_7478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nHv88ZUcB1w/VIhlm0n3UGI/AAAAAAAELgE/eUGLM4cT2xY/s1600/IMG_7478.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">simple connectors, no need to solder or wrap</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zcof9US2Gx8/VIhln9bXRSI/AAAAAAAELgU/XPKH7fY38V8/s1600/IMG_7786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zcof9US2Gx8/VIhln9bXRSI/AAAAAAAELgU/XPKH7fY38V8/s1600/IMG_7786.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just plug and go</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have filched Carol's description of the item from her site to explain how this works: </span><br />
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PRODUCT DESCRIPTION</h2>
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The perfect solution for extending the length of wires when lighting a project. These also provide the ability to easily disconnect the wires from a project when moving the project.</div>
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<strong style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">How the wired connectors work:</strong> the small pins on the male end of these wired connectors are pushed into the holes in the female connector. Then, the wires on each of the connector ends are twisted to the negative and positive wires (red to red, black to black) on the project. Shrink tubes are put over the twisted connections and are heated.</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 2px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">1 male and 1 female connector per set. The wires are attached.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 2px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">Set includes shrink tube connectors. No need for soldering!</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 2px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">8" long. The wires may be cut and stripped to any length.</li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 2px; outline: none; padding: 0px;">These may be used with 12V, 9V and 3V systems; including round wire systems, a 9V battery, and the <a href="http://www.true2scale.com/battery-holder-and-switch-for-3v-led-lights/" style="color: #6e6e6e; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">3V battery systems</span></a> that we offer.</li>
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The wired connectors work well with our <a href="http://www.true2scale.com/base-kit-for-lighted-structures/" style="color: #6e6e6e; margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;"><span style="margin: 0px; outline: none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">Base Kit for Lighted Structures</span></a>. The wired connectors make it easy to extend the wires from the project into a battery holder and switch that is hidden in the drawer under the base. So, no need to plug anything into a wall outlet and it makes transporting the project easy!</div>
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These wired connectors are also great for connecting/disconnecting different systems. For example, if a wall adapter system is used to light a project at home, but a battery system will be used for traveling to a show, 2 sets of these connectors could be purchased. One end of the wired connector would connect to the wall adapter; the same end from the other set would connect to the battery holder; while the opposite end from one of the sets connects to the lights in the project. </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">At just </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">$1 or 64p per set how can you beat it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I you are in the UK and want to shop from home <a href="http://www.jsminiatures.co.uk/viewcategory.php?groupid=39">Jennifer Smith</a> has them too. She also does small connector blocks if you want to join multiple wires rather than one to one.</span><br />
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-51819239021522439992014-11-28T19:15:00.002+00:002015-03-27T16:48:30.439+00:00Trying to improve Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may want to click on each of the photos to enlarge them so you can see any differences. If you look carefully at the clock face on each photo you will see how the clarity diminishes. </span></div>
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There is something ironic about my inability to take decent mini photos. I was married to a professional photographer for twenty-five years. My photographic inability is a testament to my lack of interest in how <u>anything</u> works - cars, washing machines, you name it - I simply want them to do it without cluttering up my brain with how. (Kind of applies to people too!)</div>
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So here we go....</div>
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I am unhappy that my Canon A-1300 16 megapixel camera takes such good photographs. To explain - they are too detailed for quarter scale items and show every little flaw. I have been trying to find out how to improve them without getting bogged down in technicalities.</div>
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I understand that if you are a whiz with Photoshop or similar software this will never be a problem to you but again, being lazy, I don't want to tackle that either.</div>
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Incidentally Carole Kubrican of True2Scale has a great tutorial on her blog if you do want to travel that road: http://blog.true2scale.com/p/photoshop-tutorial.html</div>
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After asking for advice on three groups I belong to the consensus seemed to be - step back from the object.</div>
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So here are three photos of the same objects in (sideways) daylight taken at the same time in three different ways. There is a notation beneath as to what I did.</div>
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To deal with the first one last - for me that is just out of focus and too vague. The second one isn't a big enough improvement over the first to put up with the lack of sharpness. So it looks like I am still stuck with 'up close and personal'.<br />
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I am continuing to experiment. </div>
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I adjusted my camera by changing the recording pixel setting but I am not convinced that taking it down to post card size quality made a lot of difference.</div>
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I then changed the compression ratio again down to the same post card size quality and yes, it made a slight improvement BUT so slight as to not make it worth chopping and changing settings on my camera each time I use it.</div>
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I am going to have a go at decreasing the resolution on the finished picture in Picasa which I suppose is the same as fiddling about with Photo Shop et al so I will let you know if that reaps results.<br />
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Footnote:<br />
Just did the Picasa 'How to decrease resolution on Picasa' exercise and it does what it says on the tin. It decreases the resolution on a sliding scale down to a workable minimum. Guess what - Mrs Awkward doesn't like that either. It all becomes so vague it just annoys me on a whole other level.<br />
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Quite seriously I have realised the problem lies with me - I want super sharp images of a perfect object; while the object remains imperfect there is no (simple) way to obtain sharp images which make it <b>look </b>perfect - it is an impossible ask. I am resigned to all my 'manufacturing' flaws showing up and live in hope that it impels me to simply get better at it.<br />
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-7857034983232677942014-11-26T21:38:00.004+00:002015-03-27T17:05:21.544+00:00Sleigh, Sewing Machine - Two little sweetiesOh, how I wish I knew how to photograph quarter scale in a flattering way. I assure you that both of these have turned out just great. They really look the part: not at all lumpy bumpy and scabby as seen in these photos.<br />
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This little sledge is a B J Miniatures kit (again). I just have to chew and generally mess up the string to age it a bit and maybe dirty up the sledge a little. It will then be hung on, or leaned against, the wall along with two pairs of skis. I have seen some on someone's printies - if I could only remember who.....<br />
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A 'Sister' (not Brother!) sewing machine from Robin Betterley's Miniatures. I think is it so clever how these designers decide what to leave in and what to leave out to give you a great representation of an every day object at 48th. Like painting, cooking, writing (!) I suspect what you leave out is the important factor. It is very easy to over-egg the pudding.</div>
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I really enjoyed this one as it offered new(ish) sets of challenges and several of them in one small package. It may not look it here, but this is a little gem. Four bits of wood, a piece of paper, a pin, some wire along with paint and glue and we have a sewing machine.</div>
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<br />burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-57340605478906876702014-11-24T23:24:00.004+00:002015-03-27T17:02:58.390+00:00TV - B J Miniatures againNo particular reason for a-make-a-day for the last three days being B J Miniatures other than they must be incredibly useful.<br />
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I have a stack of kits, most of which I can't attack until I know where precisely I want to use them. They might need a wood finish they may need painting and then, if upholstered, the upholstery fabric could be anything, depending on which project and which room and how decorated............<br />
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When I go home in ten days time (counting the hours) I intend to measure and photograph The Gate House and Les Roches and try to make lots of decisions so I can bring back notes and can crack on making stuff to fill the houses. I won't have much time when we get back Jan 3rd as we have back to back visitors pretty much until we leave for the UK at the end of March but there will be time here and there. The joy of most of these kits is that generally they don't take a lot of time to do.<br />
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So for now I have sorted out just a handful that are sort of generic wherever they are used - the infamous rocking chair, yesterday's coat hanger and today this lovely little gem:<br />
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man-size TV and stand</div>
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Just like my portable Jim, I think it is the bee's knees. You even get a choice of programmes that you can stick on the screen which I have ready in case any of my little people end up watching TV. Right now I have other plans for them.</div>
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I had fun with the no-hole silver beads. B J kindly made holes for the handles/beads to sit in and provided gold ones. I swapped to silver - the fun bit was trying to lob them into the holes - talk about pin ball alley. Proud to say I only got four out of the pot and was able to return two.</div>
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Incidentally these came from the little mixed pot I bought from Ruth Stewart's table at the show. Absolute bargain ($1.25 I think) and hundreds of all sorts of colours and sizes. I would imagine they would do most things for quarter scalers without having to buy pots and pots of different colours. That said I do have a few pots already back in the UK! Don't do as I do, do as I say........ just because I am like a magpie for shiny things.****</div>
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**** scientifically studied this year and declared to be bunkum - I am nothing if not a source of useless information. </div>
<br />burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-34848024357276764982014-11-24T00:43:00.001+00:002015-03-27T17:05:38.758+00:00Coat rack - Boo hooBoo hoo! There doesn't seem to be another rocking chair like the one I turned into a pile of crumbs. I looked on Debbie Young's site and B J Miniatures and nada.<br />
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I did go on to make a pair of coat stands from B J Miniatures in (probably) the very same wood as the chair and they are OK. They are very fine so need to be treated with respect. I did not stain these pieces nor attempt to buff them up in any way. I still managed to break off one of the hooks trying to remove some excess glue.</div>
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Hope you can get some idea of how delicate these pieces are.</div>
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Tah dah!</div>
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My gent is about six feet tall aka 1.5 inches.</div>
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-38708981385226394302014-11-23T01:19:00.001+00:002015-03-27T17:06:06.510+00:00So sad<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of you who do these things will understand when I use the big words 'heart breaking' to describe this evening's 'work'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These nine pieces should be only five.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This was the loveliest rocking chair with a rush seat. It is a kit made by B J Miniatures but I think I bought it from Debbie Young's table. I stained it last night, left to dry thoroughly overnight and came to assemble it this evening. It simply fell apart with each handling. Now I know the material (wood) is very, very fine but I think the issue is something more than just that. It would 't take the <u>slightest</u> pressure, so gluing and straightening up the angles was just impossible. It even felt sort of soft in my fingers when I was handling it. I wonder if it was the stain that affected it? I used one of my Min-Wax pens. If so I have no way of knowing when that may or may not happen with something else .....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I tried to mend the first couple of breaks a few times but that made additional breaks and eventually I had to admit defeat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Footnote some days later: After lots of help and tips from three mini groups I am pretty sure it was all down to me. Basically I soaked it in stain and assumed it would dry overnight and now I suspect it hadn't - hence it sort of funny feel and weakness. I am a chump. A good tip for staining was to put on the minimum and blot off excess and give it as long as you can to dry thoroughly. Common sense really when the pieces are so fine.</i></span></div>
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-39056361588057515672014-11-20T01:05:00.001+00:002015-03-27T17:06:46.144+00:00Experimenting with my iPadII have known for ages that I should be able to blog from my iPad but have never seen the need until I was away last week and had time here and there when I could have 'done something useful'. So this is my first attempt to blog away on my lap instead of at my desk to see if I can do it.<br />
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I just made a sweet little clock from Petworth Miniatures...... Now, there we go, how in heaven's name do I link the name to its web address? Can't be done.... </div>
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Onwards..... Try inserting photo....</div>
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Well that seemed to work from here no idea how it will turn out in the blog and I don't seem to be able to resize it or add a caption or get it to sit in the middle.</div>
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Back to the clock...</div>
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I did a couple of things wrong with this little gem so if you want to make one listen and learn! </div>
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Handle gently. I broke the legs on one side trying to squeeze everything together when it was gluing.</div>
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Obey the maker. I keep telling you this but I don't heed my own advice. In her instructions Gayle suggested it could be painted and then gilded. I decided it would be utterly impossible to just gild all those incredibly tiny details so I just went with 'painting' it gold with my lovely pen.</div>
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You will note it is impossible to get the pen in all the nooks and crannies so it would have been easy to paint and gild.</div>
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Never mind, unpainted and half crippled it is still a sweetie.</div>
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Cross my fingers as I hit Publish.</div>
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PS Think I would have to be pretty desperate to Blog from an iPad and if I can't add links it is a definite no-no. Is any one out there doing it this way? Why am I not loving it?</div>
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-43579266264396804322014-11-18T16:37:00.000+00:002015-03-27T17:07:20.139+00:00Finding Findings<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 16.25px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I find it really hard to track down bits and pieces to make accessories with as I am not out at the craft shops on a regular basis. Also, if you do find the one you want, you have to buy how ever many there are in the packet. When I was at Philly I discovered a fantastic source for findings. They are called <a href="http://jar-jaf.com/">Jar-Jaf Miniatures</a> and have just been acquired by Judy Oak (Acorns by Oak). </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 16.25px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the show they had great displays of their items beautifully laid out on revolving boards so you can find just the one you want, note the ref number and buy the required amount. Clearly this isn't the cheapest way to acquire one piece if you are lucky enough to have a hundred friends you can share with but, if like me, you work pretty much in isolation it is still cheaper to pay 95 cents (or whatever) for a piece rather than three, four or more dollars for many of them and never use them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #3f3f3f; line-height: 16.25px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a link to their catalogue where the items are printed life size, so you can measure any that interest you and figure out if it will do what you want. It does satisfy all scales. This is high on my keeper list: <a href="http://jar-jaf.com/wp-content/uploads/JAR-JAF-cat-7-07.pdf">Jar-Jaf's catalogue</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I was told after publishing this in an on-line group that mailing costs and possible import duties make things very expensive to buy from the States but I was reminded we do have <a href="http://www.teepeecrafts.co.uk/">Tee Pee Crafts</a> who do some lovely stuff.</span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-619694791563216702014-11-17T20:50:00.001+00:002015-03-27T17:08:47.141+00:00Bought at the Philly Show<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you want to see the things I bought at the Philly show for Les Roches and The Gatehouse, click here </span><a href="http://dollshouseshows.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dolls House Shows</a>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-64508767260242445102014-11-17T00:48:00.003+00:002015-03-27T17:08:27.388+00:00Philadelphia Show<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My comments on the Philly show and a link to the photo album are in my <a href="http://dollshouseshows.blogspot.com/">Dolls House Show Blog</a>. </span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-75383421464227252212014-11-16T16:32:00.000+00:002015-03-27T17:09:10.585+00:00Photos<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's a link to a few general dolls house related references, so you have something to look at while you are waiting for the proper blogs from my Philly trip.</span><br />
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<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111541135918891492122/GeneralReferencesForDollHousing?authuser=0&feat=directlink"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo References</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Agecroft Hall is a 1600s house moved from Agecroft in Lancashire (five miles from where I live!!) to Richmond Virginia with (as the English would say) more money than sense and reassembled as a centrally heated electrified (contemporary) home. I have mixed feelings - nice to see how much has been saved but it sort of begs the question, when it is redesigned and reset this way, as to why? Hey Ho!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is a Sears and Roebuck bungalow aka The Avalon which I am still slathering after and a reminder that if I am ever stuck for references for an American Victorian house I need go no further than Google 'houses Cape May images'.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are some visual notes for ideas I have stewing such as buying several of the same building and making a row of houses with very different inhabitants in each.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoy.</span><br />
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-30758167845791980852014-11-05T23:01:00.001+00:002015-03-27T17:09:39.523+00:00Felt tip pens<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I have been boning on about the gold leaf pen I thought I might share the sum total of my 'painting' pens with you - this is all I have - no colours or anything fancy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />As you can see I did a sample of each of the Min-wax wood finish pens on coffee stirrers. I need to get a few more for the other pens: meanwhile they are on a piece of scrap wood. These are just a quick reference when deciding what to use for what. Their colours will change from material to material but this is a </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rough </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reminder of how they look. In addition I satin varnished half of each of the wood ones so I could see the difference that would make.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Sorry this is so out of focus but it will do well enough to show you the difference between the gold leaf pen (left edge) and the gold pen I was using before. Incidentally there is a down side to the gold leaf pen it has a rather chunky nib for our purposes; don't despair, if you pump it a few times to get it wet you can pick up the gold from it with a fine paintbrush and go from there if you want to do any detailing. Your brush will need to be cleaned with spirits though as I discovered too late to save my sweet little brush. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You will now get a week's respite from me as I am off to the (four day!) Philadelphia show tomorrow and then a bit of a road trip down the coast to end up flying back out of Richmond, Virginia. What japes, Pip!</span><br />
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burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-72703302831599435832014-10-31T19:43:00.004+00:002015-03-27T17:10:02.914+00:00Karin Corbin - my hero<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The hugest of thanks to Karin Corbin - she solved the problem of the missing photos - this blog now has all the stuff it has been missing for months now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Virtual bouquets being sent to Karin (I will always be grateful but remain cheap!)</span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-63552045936659119632014-10-31T18:46:00.000+00:002015-03-27T17:10:38.087+00:00Lighting - Evan update<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just an update from Evan Designs about the lighting. Don't forget if I can help just ask. Haven't done much lighting yet in this scale but think I have it sussed thanks to Evan Designs who decidedly went above and beyond.......</span><br />
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So you need an adapter with a switch, it is there now....</div>
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<a href="http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/3-volt-adapter.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.modeltrainsoftware.<wbr></wbr>com/3-volt-adapter.html</a></div>
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And red and black wire are here</div>
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<a href="http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/kynarwire.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.modeltrainsoftware.<wbr></wbr>com/kynarwire.html</a></div>
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I also ordered in some "quick change up" units, for those who see the need to swap between adapter and battery. Like when you want to show off your beautiful creation, say at a club meeting or show and a wall plug is not handy. I go over that on this page</div>
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<a href="http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/pin-connectors.html" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.modeltrainsoftware.<wbr></wbr>com/pin-connectors.html</a> (scroll down for the pictures) but to make it easier, I am having some AA holders made with a pin connector female already part of them. And some power jacks also with pin connector female. Then, if you hook the leads coming from the various floors to a male pin connector, you can quickly plug or unplug from either supply.</div>
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I ordered them today so they are likely coming in about 10 days. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS: If you are in the UK and want to shop nearer home - this is your lady:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.smallscalelights.co.uk/index.php">Jennifer Smith</a>'s small scale lights</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Get out all the lights you can - it is Hallowe'en!</span></div>
burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4497322819679972127.post-26204452520599136772014-10-30T17:41:00.002+00:002015-03-27T17:11:15.661+00:00Ott light<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I told you about buying the Ott light and said I would get back to you; well here I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This photograph is taken around mid-afternoon in my dining area of the condo. As you can see it does look pretty dark in the room around the lamp. Our apartment is long and thin and so it is well lit at each end; anything in the middle is always a bit 'shady'. That said working with good daylight in my room in the UK is still less than great on a dull day or past the peak hours. This Ott lamp fills those spots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To explain why it is better than an ordinary lamp takes more little grey cells than I possess. I am told it is a full spectrum light which acts as daylight and that will do for me. Does it work any better than any other table lamp - certainly does!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It gives a very clear crisp light without 'hurting' your eyes and the colours and the definition of a piece show up really well and accurately. I am very, very impressed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For anyone who wants to consider it and has a Jo-Ann's near them, when I bought this they had a ton of different sorts. This was midprice at $50 but had 50% off! I considered a lovely (less expensive) little one which folded neatly and even had a carrying strap so you could take it to clubs and workshops (?). As I don't really do that it made more sense to get one more suited for lighting a larger area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I get back to the UK I am going to take a look for full spectrum light bulbs for the main centre light in my room - seems the easiest solution if they exist - with fittings for a normal ceiling rose.</span>burygardenershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07930807695134677074noreply@blogger.com2