Lights! And Other Hauls!

The pink bats were, maybe, an homage to something in my subconscious.  I'm a huge Elton John fan, and he's serenaded me quite a bit during this project.  In any case, less pink bats--and a l'oeil de boeuf window that's, um, somewhat unusual--are coming.

In the meantime, some treats have arrived!  I bought several lighting fixtures; I'm still waiting on the second batch (the shop apparently had to special order it), but the first finally arrived.  That was a special order, too.  Which brings me to my first question: what's going on at Clare Bell Brass Works?  I've noticed that, recently, much of their line has been exceedingly hard to find--and what is available isn't, actually, available.  Inventory is, I'm told, really hard to come by.

At a job site earlier today.

The above picture represents the end of four years' worth of work.  Hey, it was a growth experience!  I don't know what everyone else does for work, but, sometimes, don't you just want to slam something (like your head) into a wall?  Now that this case is finally over, I should probably be nostalgic...but I'm not.  It was my First Big Case; I went in naive and stupid, and came out...naive and stupid but slightly more highly paid.

We're apparently taking publicity shots of ourselves now.  Or, at least, trying to convince our overseas relatives that we're not quite as loony as they think.  Mission impossible, right?

I like things meant for model trains.  Most of the LED's and other electrical equipment I bought are.  In particular, I'm excited from this "fire kit" from Evan's Designs.  Most of their stuff is pretty reasonably priced, so if it all turns out to suck I'm not out too much.  Unlike usual.  Then again, considering what we pay for Jackson's baby food, maybe I should stop beating myself up about it.

My haul.

High hopes!

Clare-Bell's "orient express" lamp.

This haul comes from Evan's Designs, S and P Miniatures, Swan House (thank you Greg for special ordering all of this for me!) and eBay.  I'd been searching high and low for a suitable newel post lamp (which is really more Eastlake Victorian than Gothic Revival, but who cares) and, surprisingly, there really isn't anything good.  At least, not in my price range!  I finally found this little Asian-style dolphin lamp which, once it's had a bit of a paint treatment--the "gold" color it comes in is ghastly--will, I think, fit the bill.  I'm also considering rewiring it with a (different colored) LED.  But that might be a bit over the top.

Thank you eBay, you veritable trove of delights!

These Nova-Lytes have been a bit tough to find, too; these were special ordered from Swan House (and at a really reasonable price; not everything they sell is expensive).  I'm planning on using them in a few places where I need illumination but not, necessarily, a light.  Like in the crypt.  We shall see.  Jim says he'll help me install them; he has a great deal more aptitude for wiring than I do.

Clare-Bell sconces!

I really like their shades.

And then, well, there's the increasingly bizarre family of creatures who actually live in this house.  Inspiration-wise, it's something of a hodge podge, but hey.  Aren't real houses?  As an excuse to hoard little vials of potions, etc etc etc, my resident wizard is something of a chemist.  Who, indeed, has quite the home office.

From S and P Miniatures.

"Syphilis Can Be Cured" just cracks me up.  As do the leeches.  Hey, not everyone wants a love potion.

I plan on giving this sign (which will go somewhere near the front door) a chemical wash and, hopefully, a nice patina.  Wouldn't want anything encouraging, would you?

Well naturally.

Another view of the would-be newel post lamp.

Every lawn needs an abandoned croquet set.

Who knows when I'll actually get to start installing these lights.  And as for the rest of it--it'll just all just have to wait!  A long time!  At the rate I'm going, Jackson will be taking the SAT's before this house is done.  Which is just as well, because how many more dollhouses do we really have room for?

I Can't Believe I Bought It

In further news, after a very, very long period of yearning, I bought myself (with my family's help) my birthday present: an 1880's-era "White Clad" ice box from Shaker Works West.  I will now retire to a darkened room to recover.  Seriously though, there's nothing else on the market even remotely like it.  I've never owned one of Dr. Byer's pieces, but I'm familiar with his work and have always admired it.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Ken Byers

Not only is this the Cadillac of ice boxes, it's the only ice box!  Bizarrely, ice boxes don't seem to be something artisans make--and as Dr. Byers correctly notes on his website, you can't really make your own because the hardware simply isn't available.  The, um, complete and utter desert of misery that is dollhouse hardware is another post altogether.  So when my beautiful new ice box arrives, I'll post pictures and write about it!

It's not for another couple of weeks, but happy birthday to me!

A Little Piece Of The Magic

I forget if I mentioned before, but I'm making a roombox for my husband. 

Although I'm making most of its components myself, a few will be contributed by other artisans.  The first, and in my opinion, most delightful of those components arrived yesterday.  Although I can't afford De Cave Designs' magical bookseller's shop, I can bring home a little piece of the magic in the form of a Louis XIV bookseller's table.  This sort of makes the room, with nothing else in it, doesn't it?

The room itself, architecturally, is Dutch, but we'll be filling it with an eclectic mix of French and American (and a few British!) pieces.

Doesn't it look great?

If you'd designed it for this space, it couldn't fit in better.

The finish on the table itself is really lovely.  I adore the burl effect.  The books themselves, too, are utterly charming.

One last look...

Some Highlights From My Artisan Miniature Collection

I designed the interior of the Wizard's Eyrie around a few of my favorite pieces, so, in celebration of finally finishing it, I thought I'd share a few of them with you.  Introducing them to their new home is only the start of what, I think, will be a long furnishing project.  I still have to find, or make myself, the wizard's bed, desk, work table, etc.

The chairs are hanging on the wall, upside down, so they're out of the way until they're needed.  Anyone who needs to furnish a small space--of whatever scale--should take a few cues from the American pioneers.  The wizard's bed will go along the right-hand wall, his desk under the window, and his work table in the middle of the room.

These chairs were made by Pete and Pat Boorum of Smaller Than Life.

A chair flanked by two gathering baskets.

I collect Al Chandronnait's baskets, as well as fill them for sale, and wanted to give some of the pieces in my own collection a good home.  Like most wizards, ours is very hardworking, and must grow or gather most of his own supplies. He, thus, has a range of baskets for various jobs: small baskets for gathering herbs, big baskets for gathering his neighbor's pies.

Mr. Chandronnait's work is truly extraordinary, requiring a fine and steady hand.

On good days, these baskets might be filled with apples.

I purchased this piece at Molly Cromwell's Sturbridge Miniatures Festival several years ago.

This bellows was made by Al Chandronnait.

This is another piece I purchased at a show.  Sadly, I don't know the name of the artisan.  If I did, I'd buy more of her work!

It opens!

This is my small but growing collection of wizard's implements.

This is a piece I actually purchased for a different project; it's an historically accurate medieval rat trap from SP Miniatures.

I pity the poor rat!

I made this shelf to hold the wizard's prized potions, and other supplies.

So there you have it: a few highlights from my small but growing collection.  Now that I'm finally building (and finishing!) a few homes for my own collection, instead of to sell, I'm hoping it'll really have a chance to grow.