Make Minis While the Rain Pours!!!

Still working my way through the contents of Slug & Jiggers but having fun on the way. These are the potion boxes I made using my fabulous table saw. I have stained and sanded them then added a highlight paint wash to match the colour of Morticia Adams' Love Potions with complimentary taster!!

 Then I started to tackle the brown paper parcels inspired by Jenn Hatt of Looking Glass Miniatures. These are simply bits of balsa off cuts covered in baking/parchment paper. Then I printed of some packaging strips and labels.

 These items are for the display table in the shop. I wanted to make sure it had both a front and side view. The boxed syringe is a a fabulous piece by the ever so talented and creative Erika Van Horn with its tiny bottle of blood. I can't remember where I got the tall chemist's bottle but the wonderfully tiny but perfectly shaped brass funnel is by Tiny Ter Miniatures.

 The leaning towers of parcels!!

The table in place and how it will be seen as the door panel opens. Another job jobbed! 

Oh and I have also filled the boxes above the downstairs windows with dragon's eggs in a bed of green moss. These are actually Japanese crackers but seemed the perfect size and colour!

I am waiting for a parcel from the US at the moment that I really need to arrive soon as I need it to finish of the shop area.

Plus I am putting off a return to making potion bottles! If the parcel doesn't arrive tomorrow it will be potions and window dressing time permitting.

A Few of My Favourite Things..........Part 1, Erika van Horn.

As there is still not any sign of me getting back into my workshop I thought  I would start a series of blogs showing a some of the pieces I have been collecting for my current Diagon Alley project.

I hope you will enjoy taking inspiration from these marvellous artisan's work.

I have recently begun collecting pieces by Erika Van Horn of EV Miniatures from the US.  

 I have this marvellous vampire open book for Flourish and Blotts.

I especially like the the way the pages are aged as well as the book mark.

Of course this book of wands was a must for Ollivander's Wand Shop and will look perfect on the shop counter.

 The delicate candelabra will probably find a home in The Leaky Cauldron. 

 The candles are partly burnt down and dripping candle wax a technique I have so far found impossible to emulate.

Erika has a whole range of butterfly items which have sold out really quickly so I was pleased to have acquired these two wonderfully fragile specimens.

These are for either the Magical Menagerie or the Apothecary. 

Erika only produces a few items at a time and she has a lot of fans so I am delighted to have a few of her items in my collection. I missed out on the miniature reliquaries range recently which were very unusual but I will definitely look out for these in the future.

Erika also has an Etsy shop and blog where more of her wonderful work can be seen.