Spring Vignette

I have posted this 1/4" scale vignette as a "little byte" class on NAME's online region website http://www.miniatures.org/. The Spring vignette would make a wonderful nursery, or as the picture used as an Easter scene.

It is the same kit used in the posting below.

Rain, Wine and Roses Vignettes

1/4" vignettes, "Rain, Wine and Roses", each are made from the same kit. Just by changing the paper and some paint- each individual personality emerges.

The Vineyard Vignette was made for a roundtable at Portland's Rain, Wine and Roses Houseparty.
These are very quick to put together, and without sounding conceited- they turned out beautiful. After the houseparty, I will be adding accessories to each and will post them again.

Castle and Cottage Vignettes

1/4" scale Vignettes specially made for submission for NAME's National Nashua Houseparty roundtables.

The theme is "Castle and Cottages".


I used the same kit for each vignette, just by changing the paper and a little paint- they look very different.

These are my 5th and 6th vignette. The sideboard is a different design.

Seaside Beach Hut Project part 2- Quilt Shop

Seaside Quilt Shop:

(click on pictures for larger view) but be warned I may be creative with paper but with a camera I am learning....

This is another example of the same pre-convention workshop, in this hut, there is no openings for the windows and door, there are faux ones on the exterior. The advantage is more usable wall and floor space. So yes... another choice that is required by the student to make, it's good for you.

I enjoyed creating this project, I used very basic materials: foamcore, matboard and index card and some imagination. Added it all up and now I have two wonderful places to visit after a hard day at work.

Seaside Beach Hut Project part 1- Bakery Shop

Seaside Bakery Shop:

Made from kit for my pre-convention class (May 1st) at Portland's Houseparty- "Rain, Wine and Roses" Seaside Beach Hut

(click- on pictures for bigger views)

In the class/kit- you make the hut with or with windows and doors, this one has real door and window opening.

You have multiple choices in wallpaper (over 10- all come in every kit)- so the hardest thing you have to do in the class is decide what paper you will use and what colors do you want to paint the exterior. So many choices, so little time, but don't worry if you can't decide I will do it for you.

You make the deck and landscape the base with real sand from Mexico (thank you Barbara), rocks, crushed shells and some really tiny shells (thank you Lorene). All topped off with Finishing Liquid (thank you Joan for the recipe), that seals all in and yet keeps the sand very natural and touchable.

As in all of my classes, there will be "quiz" related to the subject being taught, with PRIZES!!!! for all who participate.

The class does not include the furniture and accessories, but a list of all known artists are included.

Intrigued???? there are still some openings for anyone registered for the Portland Rain, Wine and Rose Houseparty, and for those reading this who are already signed up for the class- I make one guarantee- YOU WILL HAVE FUN!!

NAME Small Scale Houseparty 2012 in Portland Oregon

I am so pleased and excited to announce that N3 region of NAME (National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts) will be hosting it's first Small Scale Houseparty in Portland Oregon ever!!

Tentative date is set for May 3-6, 2012. It seems soooo far away, but we have much to prepare and will have it all ready for everyone to have a fantastic time.

What's a houseparty? What's NAME? Check out their website: http://www.miniatures.org/ .

I am the hosting chairperson for this new houseparty, the theme is based on the 4 Seasons. We are furiously working on pinning down a name for our houseparty.

I am so jazzed.... Small Scale Houseparty is like the SuperBowl of Miniatures. Contact me if you have any questions or ideas.

debby

Our April Ketchup Club Meeting

I have the honor of being a member of Ketchup Club. (Krazy Enthusiast Together Completing or Creating Unique Projects). We are a small group of 5, that has been together for over 12 years.

During that time, we have spent time working on finishing projects, starting projects, teaching each other new techniques and having tons of fun. We have been on trips together, have shared happy times and sad. The greatest benefit of being in this club, is the members, who are now my dear friends and sisters in life.

Now that I am finished waxing poetically, let me tell you about our club meeting today. We are putting the finishing touches on our "Dr. Seuss House" and our "Grinch House". Both are 1/4" scale houses that have been custom painted by Susie Newell (amazing artist and club member). We are going to display all of these at the NAME Portland Houseparty "Rain, Wine and Roses" (May 2-4, 2008).

It is going to be so exciting to see 10 of these unique and wacky houses all together on exhibit.

I am including some pictures of my Dr. Seuss house, wait till you all see the others. Talk about altered mini's, Dr. Seuss believed in doing things his way- so we honored him with our houses.

I hope all of you who aren't registered for the houseparty, come on public day and see these houses exhibited plus so many more from so many other fantastic miniature artists.

More Pictures of 3-Sided House, complete with Critic

Beauty of art is in the eye of the beholder, dear Little Jo obviously thought this was ok but not edible. Note the disgust on her face.

Altered Quarter Scale 3 Sided House

I am a small scale contributor for NAME (National Association for Miniature Enthusists) Members magazine "The Gazette", this is my 4th project in a series.

This project takes a basic shape, blending quarter scale miniatures with the freedom of expression of the art blended in. The complete project (basic construction) and instructions will be in the Summer Gazette. So every NAME member has a chance to take this basic shape and make it their own.

You do not have to decorate the interior with "traditional scale" miniatures, the house size could be the miniature focus, while using any item in the interior that would represent "home" to you. It could be a picture of a family member to a childhood tooth (the toothfairy left behind). This house can represent your reality, or you can take it to the place you always wanted "home" to be...

Fusion of Miniatures with Altered Arts

I am on a journey to fuse two of my passions "miniatures and altered arts" into a fresh expression of art.

Basic Definitions:

Miniatures- a miniature is any copy of a realistic item that is smaller than the original item. Scales used are 1:12, also known as “one inch” or “one twelfth”. In this scale, one inch in miniature equals one foot in the regular world. Other scales used are 1:24 (half inch scale) and 1:48 (quarter inch scale) where a half inch and a quarter inch equal one foot, respectively. One of the smallest scales people use is 1:144 which is one twelfth of one twelfth. In miniatures scale is everything.

Altered art - uses an object (such as a book, empty cigar box, picture frame, old suitcase etc...) and changes and modifies it to create a unique piece of art. Altered artists use a myriad of techniques such as painting, calligraphy, collage, decoupage, beading, embroidery and more to embellish their altered pieces.

Altered Miniatures (A.M.)–uses miniature techniques and scales with altered arts techniques, blending them into a balance fusion of multiple scales creating a unique piece of art. This new scale or category encourages mixing one miniature scale with another miniature scale. Or even mixing multiple scales from the micro mini’s to human scale in one project. It adds another layer of self-expression that can be recorded and revealed in your miniature art.

Even though I say this is a new category of miniatures it has been showcased over the years by miniaturists. Miniatures using an unusual container are a great example of Altered Miniatures. Miniature scenes have been made in hats, tin containers, stuffed animals, and dolls. People are using “scrubbies” that belong by the kitchen sink to put build miniature scenes, teacups and paper mache forms are turned into a mini vignettes.

There are current examples of Altered Miniatures on the N.A.M.E.’s home page http://www.miniatures.org/. On the left hand column there are pictures of Shannon Moore’s buildings built out of real books (that is really altering a book), Suzanne Larson-Tamburo’s ballet shoe scene, Robin Betterley’s project, “Feathering your Nest”, Rachel Rice’s “Father Sky, Mother Earth”, and my “Shrine to Surgery” and “Heart of the Home”.

This is just the start of my journey, will you join me?