Miniature Funeral Carriage

Something a little dark but (I think) lovely today. A miniature funeral carriage, inspired by beautiful Victorian horse drawn hearses.

The Funeral Coach base is a chipboard kit available from AlphaStamps. Inside I've slipped a 6 Inch Coffin Box. 

Makers note: I actually didn't include the coffin lid and simply used the main part box upside-down. I trimmed the coffin height down as I was considering adding flowers, or a traditional funerary wreath to the top and was thinking of the available space.

The whole carriage is painted in matte black and gussied up with LOADS of black dresden borders. (I think I have a serious dresden fetish. It's like Franks Red Hot. I put that s**t on everything!)

I've also added loads of ornamental do-dads using Creative Paperclay* and this Silicone Mold - Architectural Flourishes. That particular material works really well with the matte black finish.

19mm Fancy Metal Drawer Pulls act as finials accents for the top. And there is the most lovely little Antique Brass Mini Trunk Lock on the back doors. 

Makers note: the rear doors aren't actually hinged in place. I am a horror show with hinges! They never seem to work well for me and I just make an awful mess. Since I don't plan on opening and closing those doors often, and they sit quite nicely without much fuss, I'm taking the totally lazy route and leaving them free.

I've lined the interior with Bright Red Suede Paper. If you're looking for a more 'authentic' feel, line that sucker in black. (I personally love the shock of red inside.) Finally, the windows. Many funeral carriages had swags of lush drapery inside but I was liking the 'clean' look of this little coach. I put together this Filigree Funeral Carriage Windows Collage Sheet with vintage fancy framework that can be printed on transparency sheets and glued into place. 

I'm smitten with this piece. It looks great on my mantle, and is a good size at somewhere around 10" x 6". Although it's intended as a Halloween piece, it'll stay out year round in my spooky old house ;)

Want to make your own?  

ALL THE BITS in one place

The list of individual bits:
Funeral Coach
Filigree Funeral Carriage Windows Collage Sheet
6 Inch Coffin Box
Creative Paperclay
Silicone Mold - Architectural Flourishes
19mm Fancy Metal Drawer Pulls
Antique Brass Mini Trunk Lock
Bright Red Suede Paper
Black Suede Paper*
12mm Flat Fancy Bead Cap - Bronze*
Baroque Dresden Borders - Black
Black Zig Zag Dresden Borders
Half-Round Dresden Borders - Black
Thin Fleur Dresden Borders - Black
Thin Looped Dresden Borders - Black

The Good Witch's Tea Party

It's October and I've been thoroughly enjoying myself, making all sorts of Halloween goodies. While so much of the focus of Halloween (especially retail) is on skeletons and coffins and monster mashes, for some it's much more about the magic that takes place this time of year. Halloween isn't all doom and gloom. For some of us it's a joy! And so, here is the 'Good Witch's Tea Party', a sweet, not-at-all-grim celebration!

I've used the Round Table and Chairs and very simply painted them white. Narrow Gold Fleur Dresden Borders* have been added as a simple accent and these Victorian Drop or Handle - Raw Brass pieces fit just so as a decorative element on the back of the chairs.

Then it's just a matter of adding tiny bits and pieces! I've added things a good witch would like for her tea party. There's a little crystal ball, a cup with tea leaves, cakes and jam... all sorts! If witchery isn't your jive, create your own theme and add elements that complement or reflect that.

Work in layers and try to create some height to make your little scene visually interesting. Have fun with the details and let your imagination soar! Try making a list of all the things you'd like to include. I'm sure you'll fill that tiny table in no time at all.

Although it's very simple to assemble the Round Table and Chairs I do have a very quick video of it's construction.

If you're interested in going even tinier (crazy, I know!) Gypsy Soul has an itty bitty 1:24 scale version of the round table and chairs too.

But here's the supply round up for this particular version:
1:12 Scale Round Table and Chairs

Narrow Gold Fleur Dresden Borders* Victorian Drop or Handle - Raw Brass

Some of the miniature accessories include:
Pumpkin Pods
Pewter Dollhouse Dishes
Mini Resin Honey Jars
Mini Silicone Cake Mold Set
and loads of other miniature accessories available HERE

I am not a morning person

I am not a morning person. I am a creature of the night! Dark and mysterious! (not really) But this morning I rose early and it was beautiful outside.

It was foggy and slightly cool.

There was dew on the rue... and everything else too!

I discovered some new mushrooms that had popped up by the old locust stump. 

And checked in on the little pixie houses in the woodpecker holes.

The sun climbed a little higher, and there was a moment when the light was glorious perfection!

It was beautiful.

(But I'm still not a morning person :P )

Plugging away

As per usual, I have a week of crazy daily posts, then silence. If I were organized (which I am not) I would schedule my posts, distributing them over time. I really don't have any idea what I'm doing and I'm such a scatterbrain.

But even though I've been quiet over the past week I have been working. I have a few projects waiting on the edge of their seats to be posted. And there's loads of WIP's on my work table. I've even started on some cheeky snowballs!

I didn't make any last year, and to be honest I was grateful for the break, but I'm looking forward to forming those naughty tongues once more.

Anyway, I just wanted to pop my head in, let you know that I'm dandy and have not fallen off the face of the earth. I hope you're well and good and busy too. New projects very soon, I pinky swear!

 

P.S. Here's a love story picture of me and my mower. We're in love. It's a very passionate affair.

Wildfire and True Luv 4 Evah!

I've been working on a package of Game of Thrones goodies for a crafty buddy. Last night I made a little bottle of Wildfire... and then things just sort of grew.

A table full of glowy green vials of dangerous stuff, scrolls, bowls and more.

Can we talk about my hands for a second. I have serious envy when I see other lady crafters hands in vids and pics. Beautifully manicured nails, clean, long delicate lady-like fingers! And here's my forever grotty grungy digits. My filthy uneven nails. My little kid hands. *sigh* I do like that they reflect work... but a day of dainty would be nice once in a while. 

But, I digress... the little table is an inexpensive and wobbly wooden thing from the kids section of a discount store. The vials can be found HERE. The little bowls and jugs are made from air dry terra cotta clay.

I also made a little mixed media matchbox...

"You're mine. Mine, as I'm yours."

Jon Snow + Ygritte 4evah!

I did love those two as a couple but I'm much more of a Littlefinger or Sandor groupie than a Jon Snow girl. "Only the ladder is real. The climb is all there is." Yeah, baby!

Time to pack up all these bits and send them on their way. I hope she likes them as much as I've enjoyed making them for her.

And a happy Monday to you, lovely! There seems to be an epidemic of the 'blahs!' going around so I hope the world is nice to you today. 

Light and Magic in the Cemetery

I've always spent time in cemeteries. As a child I'd practice math by figuring out the age of the deceased while wandering through the rows. As I grew older it was the history, the beauty of those places, the artistry and symbolism of the stones that appealed to me. Now, it's the quiet, and an appreciation of natures ability to wear down those strong edges, the lichen blurring the facts of death.

There is a small cemetery very close to my house. The Bullis', the people who built our house, now reside there.

All of my visits have been during the day... until last week.

I was running late and it was nearing dusk, but I wanted to get in a quick walk with the dog. Walking up the entry lane way to the cemetery I saw a single light shifting colour near one of the gravestones. I thought it was a bit weird but as I made my way deeper into the yard more and more lights revealed themselves. 

Stringed lights, colour changing lights, lights shaped like humming birds, white lights, red lights, green lights... you name it! All over this tiny little cemetery lights glowed beside the headstones. 

You would think that a graveyard might be a frightening place to visit in the almost dark, but that yard was pure magic!

It was like a celebration!

And I've been back there, soaking up that magic... bringing extra lights for those graves still dimmed.

Sweet Spookiness

It's the first day of fall, Mercury is out of retrograde, Mr Pixie gave me a crystal ball for our anniversary, and all is right with the world.

Today's spookiness is on the sweet side.

It's a coffin, and sure those are a bit creeptastic but inside...

... is a very sweet town overlooked by a happy autumn moon.

The wee houses are some of the clay ones I pit fired in the back garden. The moon is handmade from paperclay. The starts are Tim Holtz Mirrored Stars. The little pumpkins are THESE amazing pods. (They are absolutely one of my favourite products from AlphaStamps.)

And if you're in need of sweet spookiness, this wee thing is listed HERE.

Happy Equinox lovelies! I hope the new season is good to you.