Category: "Miniatures"

Baxter Pointe Villa, after the renovation

by brae  

After the lightning strike on my condo back in 2013, a couple of the houses suffered some damage.  One was Baxter Pointe Villa, where the Yes paste had failed in the kitchen, bath and living room.

I removed the wallpaper and aquarium (which I wanted to keep in my private collection elsewhere).  I scraped the glue and paint from the walls to start over in the kitchen and part of the living room.

And, now, for the big reveal!  :D

Even though I didn't make changes to the exterior, I did take some updated photographs all around.

The exterior and landscaping have held up well in the past four years.

There really isn't anything I would change about this build.  :D

The sand sheds from time to time, but it is also in great condition.

The bedroom needed only a light dusting.

The bed was custom made for the space.

I was able to salvage the bathroom paper and just glued it back in place.

I made a new aquarium for the space.

I had to replace the living room paper around the aquarium base and to the right of it.  I used Mini Graphics Wallpaper Mucilage.

I also finished the baseboard trim that I never got around to the first time around.

I was able to finally photograph the candles in the fireplace in a more realistic manner.

Since I might end up selling this house (been saying it for years), I did eliminate the hardwired table lamp and my signature faux outlet.  This is what it used to look like.

The kitchen cabinets had no damage -- just the wallpaper, so now it's all back together.

I raised the breakfast bar and bought two barstools from Just Miniature Scale to finish the space.

While it wasn't hard work and there was not a lot to fix, I now know for certain that renovations are not for me.  :D

Buzz kill

by brae  

I recently discovered VK.com (very much like Facebook) and found well over 150 of my images posted by users on that site many without attribution and likely copied from sites other than my own.  One user even put their logo on my photos.  I've sent a DMCA request to the site for what I could find, but there are likely even more and who knows if they will do a thing about it.  I also recognized the work of many other miniaturists on there.  Over the years, I've found my images all over the place (and reported them), but this is by far the worst.

NOTE: If you are a vk.com user, please do not post my images to that site.

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Edit 4/16/15 -- The main user who posted their logo on my work has removed the images volunarily so I've removed reference to that person.  I am still pursuing other posts and making progress.

It should go without saying that no one should put their logo on my work, but many have done so and not just on any one website.  Please do not put your logo or name on my work.

Making minis with Shapeways

by brae  

One recent and amazing development in the world of miniatures is 3D printing.  Shapeways gives designers and shoppers a way to meet and mingle.  There are so many custom miniatures in different sizes and materials available.  Shapeways held a contest featuring miniatures, and I made a mini crafting scene to enter.

I started with a miniature reproduction of the Shapeways shipping box shown here at Baxter Pointe Villa.

I split apart a real one then reproduced the wording and logos through scanning, manual type-setting and clip-art alteration.

I even made a tiny USPS label.  :D

The shipping tape dispenser left the best detailing on the ends, so I kept that intact.

The tiny X-Acto knife is by Ulus Miniaturas.

Open the box to find Shapeways 3D printed items wrapped in thin foam (many thanks to Peggy for the foam supply).  Maybe one of these days I'll figure out how to make bubble wrap in 1:12 scale.  I did at least include tiny pieces of masking tape to hold the foam secure.  :D

 

Inside were a 3D printed swimming pool in N scale from TheDallesHostler and a 3D printed N scale bridge from railNscale, bought just in case of disaster with the pool.  :D  I will likely use the bridge for the tiny Hampton House.

My mini craft room is also the laundry room.  This beautiful washer and dryer set from Barbara are accented by a wonderfully detailed 3D printed laundry basket by MarionRussek.  I spray painted it flat white.

Ophelia likes to hang out in the laundry room when there is crafting going on.

The 3D printed bookshelf which I painted Liquitex Iridescent Bronze is from modernminifan.  I added various miniatures to fill the space, using the largest of the books in my collection to make the best use of the space.

The modern vase is from modernminifan and was molded in white.  I painted it Testors Gloss Teal, a gorgeous metallic blue green.

I removed the ladder from the pool since the printing was slightly off and painted the pool using acrylic paints.  The 3D printed desk accessories are from modernminifan.  They were printed in a lightly metallic grey, so I left them as is.  I added accessories and even a tissue for the tissue box holder.  The 3D printed stacking bins are from MarionRussek, designed by Pepper.  These were molded in green.  I made the masking tape roll and sketch pad.

Then it was time for the resin (Acrylic Water from Walmart).  I've included a tiny dispensing cup and stir stick.  I tried putting measurement lines on the cup, but that's apparently above my pay grade.  :D

The 3D printed overhead lampshade is by MarionRussek.  I painted it soft tan to mimic a bamboo shade, added a Novalyte can LED and fed the wire through a length of aluminum tubing.  The window was originally in the Newport and has my custom café shutters.  Yes, they open, too.  :]

Burning the midnight oil.  Yeah, I've never done that before.  haaaaaaaaaaa!

Hooray!  Done with time to spare.  :D

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You can see all of the entries here and the results here.

Room boxes and mini scenes

by brae  

Just a recap post to make it easier to find my mini room box scenes.  These are typically for holidays or humor and are not permanent structures.  You can click the title links for additional details and photos.

Mom's Kitchen

A quiet little Christmas

Happy Halloween 2015

Presto! - 2015

The Maple Room - 2015 -- a quick-change room box for photographing minis

Laundry Room / Craft Room - April 2015

No-no! - 2014

Double Trouble - 2014

 

What in the... - 2014

Sewing Room - 2014

Merry Christmas!  - 2013

 

Happy Halloween! - 2013

 

Happy Holidays - 2012

 

Baking in miniature - 2012

 

Happy Halloween - 2012

Mackintosh Dining Room - 2012

A little Halloween humor - 2011

 

Christmas at The Newport - 2009

I also have a post on photographing minis without a roombox.

brae's guide to sanding grits

by brae  

A question came up about sanding and how to figure out which is the right sandpaper to use.  Here's a simplified guide to the main grits of sandpaper I use for building.  :D

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