Thursday, February 27, 2014

221B Baker Street - Redux Update!

First things first. I've completed two tins and they will be going up for auction tomorrow (ETA: BOTH ARE NOW SOLD). I will post the links to the auctions all over the place. You'll be fed up to the back teeth with me before this is through.

The details...

There are 10 new tins, at least 6 of them will be for sale (in some form or other) online. I will always post the where and when's prior to listing. (There will probably be an etsy listing next week.) I also wanted to say that I will not be making any more of these particular tins. In the distant future I may do the bullet marked wall or something else Sherlock related... but this particular design is being put to rest.

I'm really proud of this lot of little Baker St flats and I'm glad to have had the chance to improve upon the original and 'fix' a few things that ate away me. Here's a look at the completed pieces...



The fireplace is now much closer to the fabulous BBC Sherlock set, which is designed by the amazing Arwel Wyn Jones.





The tins do shut, but once again the chairs have to be removed... but I'll send along extra papery bits to mess up the apartment with to make up for that particular annoyance.



Finally (while I have your attention) I wanted to say a few words about The Undershaw Preservation Trust and ask you to consider taking a moment to 'Like' their facebook page. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle holds a very special place in my heart, not just as the creator of Sherlock, but as someone who had a deep interest in fairies. Preserving his home not only acknowledges the significant mark he left on the literary world and our very culture, but also respects his memory... something I believe he deserves.

 
The trust isn't accepting donations at this time, but I'll be holding on to one of these tins (for a while at least) in the hopes that the sale of one of these silly things can benefit their cause. We'll have to see what develops. Again, I'll keep you informed.

So that's it for now. If you're planning on bidding I wish you all the luck in the world. If not, thanks for being nosy.

SMOOCH!




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Artist Trading Blocks for Graphic 45

A few Artist Trading Blocks created for Graphic 45 using Good Ol Sport. It’s great fun to create these tiny 3 dimensional works of art and I thought it would be a fabulous medium for the Good ol Sport collection. They remind me of little trophies! How great would these look in a masculine den or sports lovers room?

 
A few tips for making your own: The top finials and bottom stands are simply miscellaneous wooden pieces adhered together. Old wooden knobs and pulls, chess pieces, crafting pieces pieced together until they look just right. Once painted or stained they look as though they are one piece. Add some age to the pieces by grunging them. Sand all of the edges and then staining them with dark brown, watered down acrylic paint. To protect the finished project, coat with a light sealant.



There's more pics over on the Graphic 45 blog, along with other beautiful projects by Olga and Miranda :)

Materials List:
 Good ol Sport
Number 1 Fan
Cheer On
Victory
Play Ball
Teamwork
Champion
Touchdown
Game Day
Big Score
Ornate Metal Keys
Wooden Block
Rusty bits and bobs
Wooden Egg Cup
Small Wooden Finial
Miscellaneous old wooden knobs, pulls and pieces
Acrylic paint
Sealant
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014

In Praise of Odd Birds

I wrote you a poem.

Yes you.

While working on my 'Odd Bird' projects for Alpha Stamps my mind did turn affectionately to the odd birds I have come to know and love. And I do love them... you... you with the ruffled feathers who believes in magic and embodies kindness.

So I wrote a few rhyming words and made a little book in praise of odd birds. (Don't squint... the full text is at the end.)








Cherish the odd birds 
With their hedgehog plumes
Who sing wild songs
In quiet little rooms

Delight in the sparrows
Overflowing with strange dreams
So filled to the brim
They are splitting at the seams

 Marvel at the darlings
Who smile with crooked teeth
Whose wings are not straight
But who have the brightest cheeks

Cherish the odd birds
The irregular and quirky
For they are beams of hopeful light
When all the world seems murky


Stay odd. For I love you as you are, and it suits you :)


And with gratitude to Alpha Stamps, here is the great big supply list for that little book:

P.S. The 'Curiosity' papers listed above are rather beautiful :)

Check out the Alpha Stamps newsletter for even more pretties :) 
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Monday, February 24, 2014

221B Update: Slippers, stacks and love

Still plugging away. This weekend was spent making little stacks of magazines, end tables, rugs, slippers, and mantle statues. There are still a few interior items to make like tiny pen knives, portraits and bat specimens.

 

Although the guts of 221B still need attention, I turned my focus to the exterior for a while. The original door numbers are very sweet and I rather like their handmadeness (my word, I'm keeping it) but I wanted something a little more polished for the new set.


Pardon the muddled and messy appearance, they are a bit wet and very much 'in progress' here. Scouring my usual crafty sources it was pretty clear that teeny weeny golden numbers were not going to be easily had. After a great deal of trial and error (mostly error of course) I hobbled together a 221B stamp and used gold embossing powder to create the numbers.

I am now deeply in love with embossing powder. Don't tell Cumberbatch, I wouldn't want him to get jealous :P
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Thursday, February 20, 2014

Graphic 45 By The Sea Matchbox

I've been waiting AGES to show off this project, created with the lovely seaside themed papers "By The Sea" from Graphic 45. It's featured over on their blog today so I can finally show it off!


The base of the piece is a Graphic 45 Staples 8x8 Matchbook Box. If you're unfamiliar with them, they are sturdy (truly!) kraftboard boxes that look like this...


I embellished like crazy, did loads of fussy cutting and ended up with something quite nice :) The layered bunting effect at the top with the stamps, starfish and snippets is one of my favourite elements of this piece.


Check out that octopus paper covering the box. That's Gathering Shells and the reverse is covered in starfish! "By the Sea" is such a fun collection with a lovely colour pallet. Slightly subdued for a bit of an aged, vintage feel with wonderful graphics.


Perhaps the element I'm most pleased with...


... the wheels! I have utilized those Ornate Metal Key Holes for all sorts things. Now here they are holding some small wooden wheels in place. Proof you should never be afraid of turning things upside down ;)

More photos on the G45 blog and here's the complete supply list:


Ornate Door Plate

Wooden Craft Wheels
Small Wooden Buttons/Wheels
Twine


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Wednesday, February 19, 2014

221B Update: Fireplaces and Injuries!

I took a break yesterday for an impromptu 'date night' with my kiddo. We ate tacos, made homemade donuts, watched Shaun of the Dead and played Hungry-Hungry-Hippos. It was the most excitement I've had in ages ;)

After my little man went to bed I crafted my guts out... until 5 in the morning. It couldn't be helped. I was on a streak and it's been a long while since I pulled a late night. That work continued this morning, into the afternoon and here I am, 4:30 pm, in my jammas from the flurry of progress.

The new fireplaces are done and I'm soooo happy with them. A vast improvement over the original (on the left). Far more detailed.


And they are much closer to the BBC Sherlock set!


Arwel Wyn Jones is the Production Designer on Sherlock. The more I look at the world he creates the more astounded I become. Such lovely, detailed work.... and the wallpapers are swoony! I am so smitten that I am contemplating spending my summer making a great big detailed miniature that includes ALL THE THINGS! Working on this tiny scale is fun, but it's also a bit limiting in a way.

Anywho, amid all this fireplace flurry I managed to snip myself with scissors. If you don't count gluing my fingers together (something I do daily) then it's my first crafting injury of 2014. I'm surprised I've made it this long to be honest. 

Here's hoping it's another night packed with crafty action!

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Tuesday, February 18, 2014

221B Update: Teeniest Books and Organization

This week's updates will mostly focus on the set of 221B tins and (hopefully) the flurry of progress in completing them. This morning's task was to complete the books that litter the shelves and floor of Sherlock's abode. Here's a look at some on a penny for an idea of size.


I've made loads. LOADS! And I know it still won't be enough. No matter how many extra I make, it never seems to be enough. I am always left thinking... "If I just had a few more." *sigh*

With so many little bits and pieces completed it's been necessary to level up my organization and use one of my favourite tools... the cheap plastic divider box! Stepping into my studio you might think that all things would be lost in the evil vortex of chaos, but I do know where most things are. These little boxes keep my mess shockingly organized.


This little darling is keeping all of my papery Baker Street bits exactly where they should be :)

Lastly, a word about the sale of the tins. As much as I dislike auctions, I'm leaning toward that option for their sale. I feel like an auction would give more people the opportunity to own one, rather than just good timing. It also takes pricing out of my hands (something I loathe) and assures that the winning bidders are paying a price they are comfortable with.

Any thoughts? I'd really like to hear what you think.

I'm off to build bookshelves for all those little tomes... maybe even a mantle or two.
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