Monday, January 20, 2014

221B Baker Street

It's not often that I create something for myself.

I've gone a little bit mental over Sherlock ever since watching the entire series while in my sick bed. Benedict Cumberbatch is now my newest imaginary boyfriend and I am smitten with all things Sherlockian. Since dear old Sherly (that's what I call him... we're besties) pulled me through my life threatening illness (not really but let's go with it) I thought I should commemorate and celebrate our relationship in some way. A keepsake just for me. And so, here is my altered Altoid tin of 221B Baker Street.


The numbers aren't perfect but that's ok. I didn't want to use printouts, just things I had on hand, so I bent some wire to create the tiny address. The two tiny round bits used for the locks are the heads off of jewelry posts.


The 'glass'  above the door is from a transparency that arrived in my last Alpha Stamps design team kit. The mail slot is a tiny snippet of gold dresden. The wallpaper? That's from Graphic 45's 12 Days of Christmas 6x6 Patterns & Solids Pad.

And the inside...


There's a lot going on in that little space. Some of the things that I've included are... a violin (very hard to see but you can just make out the bow to the right of the fireplace next to the stack of books), a stack of correspondence jabbed onto the mantle, a skull, famed specimen, a blue slipper for hiding ciggies (to the left of the fireplace), books galore, file folders, strewn papers, a framed portrait (in this case the face from a stamp).


The chairs (which are made from paperclay) have to be removed to close the tin. I'm sure with enough fiddling that I could make something that shut tight with everything in place, but since I made this just for me, well, I think this fine.


For a better idea of the scale, here's a penny for reference.



P.S. I would just like to add here that I am not entirely mental... just slightly. 

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ETA: THANK YOU for all your kind words :) I'm overwhelmed by the reaction to my little tin. For more information about the possible availability/unavailablitiy of other 221B tins please see THIS POST

ONE MORE EDIT: A post of the 'new and improved' 221B tins can be found HERE

50 comments:

  1. quelle belle présentation, j'aime beaucoup

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  2. You are definitely Sherlock-smitten! What a dynamic pocket shrine filled with details to discover. Mahalo for sharing.

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  3. Love it! You are definitely an true member of the Irregulars! :) Nice work.

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  4. Wonderful! I'm addicted to Sherlock as well.....

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  5. Lol........that's brilliant and amazing. Wish I had your ideas :)

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  6. Quite amazing and wonderful! While watching Sherlock, I thought of your work...so so cool and well done!

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  7. Quite wonderful!! But where are the bullet holes? Lol!

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  8. Absolutely adorable!! I'm sure even socially inept Sherlock would be amazed and pleased!!! This is really wonderful!

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  9. Most Awesome!!!! I've always been a fan of Sherlock - in any form.

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  10. This is terrific! I have a blog devoted to fannish crafting - would it be okay if I posted a photo and maybe you'd like to add a quote or two?

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  11. Just saw that you design for Alpha Stamps. I adore them but I've been too intimidated to try one of their projects.

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  12. WOWS!!! Just brilliant! :)

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  13. How did you make the recessed door and bookshelves? This project is so endearingly lovely and fun. I absolutely love it.

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  14. Kate: The effect of depth is just created with layers of paper. The wall was created in the deeper portion of the tin to allow more depth :)

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  15. this is so amazing ! I absolutely love it

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  16. Handsome piece! You brilliant nutter you!

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  17. Handsome piece! You brilliant nutter you!

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  18. Hello- glad you are feeling better! Your little altered tin is brilliant! We are huge 221B fans over here and share your enthusiasm for Mr. Cumberbatch and Mr. Martin! I had to smile at your creativity because I'm a papercrafter too. Your use of gold dresden is genious. Fun project. Stop by and see my 221B themed photo shoot and have a cup of tea with us. :)
    http://poetryinapotoftea.blogspot.com/2014/01/tea-at-221b.html#comment-form

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  19. This is beautiful. I found your creation via FB. Someone posted it to Pinterest. And there it was in my newsfeed.

    First I thought it was a faerie house. So I had to know more!

    You're a creative genius and I'll be frequenting your site now :D

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  21. uhh-- not to sound greedy, but is there any chance you will commission these? etsy store perhaps? because i'm dying to get my hands on one.

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  22. Yes, sell them!

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  23. All I can say is FANTASTIC. Your work is a treasure indeed.

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  24. Are you on Etsy?! If you aren't then you really should be. You have an incredible talent here!

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  25. That is brilliant! Wonderful work!

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  26. This is amazing! Love all the little details.

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  27. Terribly cute! Wonderful detail!

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  28. this is incredible! such great details..fantastic job!

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  29. :O It´s fantastic! i love it!

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  30. This is absolutely amazing. I can't believe the amour of detail you squeezed into a tiny tin. That takes so e real talent. Thanks for sharing this is really cool.

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  31. I saw the original post for this and thought it awesome. I too am a fan of that show and wish netflix would upload more of them. I understand your dilemma. I make altered tins and am often asked if I can sell them. I really haven't made any that have a "personal" theme. My problem is I have a hard time parting with them because I made them and they represent that I actually have some kind of artistic talent I can show to people. But if an opportunity arises and it means something to someone else, I will gladly sell it to them or donate them to a cause. I am actually in the process of packaging up some to send to my sister-in-law for an animal shelter auction. Do what feels right. And look at it this way... with the money you make? That means you can go buy more art supplies. Haha.

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  32. This is so cool, i love these tins been meaning to do one for ages, think you might have given me the get up and go to get one done i love all the tiny features you have in the tin brilliant i am in ore x

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  33. OMG! Such a great job!
    Congratulationsssssssss, I love it!

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  34. I've been a sherlockian since i was ten and discovered the stories. I just watched the first 2 seasons last week and the 3rd season just arrived in the mail today.

    Isn't this adaption just amazing! As a side note, I'm so bonkers about Sherlock, I think I'm giving myself an ulcer, and I haven't had more than 4 hours of sleep any night and not eaten regular meals since I saw THAT episode.

    I got some wooden B's from the craft shop and have been painting them blue with gold 221's on them!

    Just love the tin!

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  35. I'm a Brazilian Sherlockian, and I wanna tell you your work is absolutely amazing!

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  36. So cool!
    I want to buy one for my brother

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  37. It's just lovely!! Thank you for sharing your talent!

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  38. What a beautiful piece of art!

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  39. I would dearly love to have one of these. Do you have any plans to make them to sell?

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    Replies
    1. I did create a limited edition of these but they have all been sold and I don't have plans to create any more.

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