Monday 19 October 2015

Here We Go! New Project Down the Rabbit Hole.......

When I first started this wonderful hobby I spent a lot of time in Blogland reading and learning from the many artisans and home miniaturists that posted about their wonderful creations. One day I came across a truly inspirational setting by the miniaturist Susan Wener of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. 
I decided that one day I would attempt my own tea party and for a number of years I have been collecting the relevant characters by Jain Squires both from fairs and with a little help from my friends.
Well at last the time has come......
 It will be a room box scene to go in my newly vacated bedroom, my youngest son has recently left home, that I have been de-cluttering and re-dressing for the last couple of weeks. Big clearing out and lots of bags to the local charity shop!! 
I like the projects I have in the house to match the room they will be placed in so the exterior of this room box will be soft greys and creamy chalk paints with an Alice quote or two, maybe.....
 This is quite a large room box, as usual my plans seem to grow and grow, that I had made by a very helpful man at Dolls House Concepts. I sent my measurements to Ted and he made exactly the size I asked for at a very reasonable price. The really cool thing about their range of room/display boxes is the fact that they have a perspex ceiling which means that the project can be seen from above as well as from the front. The perspex roof will also allow for much more light to enter the box, especially at the back. 
The back and side edges will hold all the flowers and bushes that I intend to make myself from the huge number of kits I seem to have collected. I love the planning stage and spend a lot of time thinking things through to try and avoid problems as the work progresses. In order to create the flowerbeds I will need a good layer of 'soil' because the stems will need to be planted so I have drawn a shape for a floating floor/lawn. 
 All projects start with an undercoat for me. This seems to give a good base surface and prevents warping. I have also primed all the wooden trims and mouldings I will also be adding to the exterior.
 I use a very cheap all purpose paint from B&Q so it can be used over and over again.
The floating lawn has been built with a variety of wood off cuts and then primed. Once I have finished messing about with the exterior walls I will cover this with a grass sheet purchased from a model railway supplier. 
Having raised the floor level I have had to add an extra piece of wood to the front to hide the gap. 
Now I need to plan the mouldings for the case of the room box and then start mitring, definitely not one of my favourite jobs especially where cornices are involved.

18 comments:

  1. Great start! Looking forward to the step by step progress. I continue to tweak mine with new purchases, ideas, etc.
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We are never really finished are we?! Yours is so beautiful I had to add this scene to my list.

      Delete
  2. Es un bonito proyecto. Me gustará seguir su evolución.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's going to be spectacular!! I really like the idea of the perspex roof because it will fill it with light and it's entirely appropriate because it's an outdoor scene. The 'floating' lawn is so clever, can't wait to see it all come together.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had never seen a room box like this before but it really does make perfect sense for an outdoor project. It means I won't be able to have lighting from the ceiling as I had hoped but that shouldn't be a problem at all.

      Delete
  4. Me encanta tu nuevo proyecto! Los comienzos están muy bien planteados!!
    Besos.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great idea to raise the lawn area. It is going to look fab surrounded by plants. I'm happy to see more roomboxes with an acrylic roof. So much nicer to view it from more than just the front.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely Pepper. This was the first one I had ever seen and it makes perfect sense.

      Delete
  6. Looking forward to the progress

    ReplyDelete
  7. This is going to be fantastic :-) x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perfect for the winter Jayne. I will be making plants while the rain and wind howl.

      Delete
  8. Ooo, Janice I am dying to see progress with this project :)
    Your characters look fabulous and I'm sure this roombox will be just wonderful!
    All the best
    Vivian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jain has really got these characters perfectly. Mine will be very traditional Vivian, a real old fashioned Tea Party.

      Delete
  9. Oh Janice,
    This is going to be magnificent when completed!
    I love the miniatures you have collected for the house.
    Jain is such a wonderful doll artist.
    Thank you for sharing
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Penny, they have been a while coming but how fabulous they all look re-united. Now it's up to me!!

      Delete

I really appreciate all comments that readers take the time to leave. I try to reply to all of them.