Monday, October 28, 2013

Miniature Spanish Wall and Fountain

This is another thrift shop find, and it was broken in various areas, and missing some pieces.  So I used glue, then alcohol ink, for the floor, created two lion heads for the stops up higher (something had been glued there but was now gone) and so forth.  I think it could be used in the castle, but for now I want to continue fixing it up and adding some flowers.  I think a lower floor would be good as well.  That way I'll get a whole scene.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Finds for miniature table bases

These are just a few of the things I've used for making tables.  Look especially for egg holders, but also sometimes beads will work and I especially love using chess pieces as well.

Usually I make the table tops of clay but the coaster (looking lopsided) on the top egg stand was a garage sale item, used only to show it's possible.

Other things I've used, other than clay or wood, are cake decorations, candle holders, lamp parts, elephants (as you'll see on my clay blog) and various wedding supply items, to name but a few.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Oriental table and flowers





The table is a base from an oriental candle or vase, and the top is a real slate coaster.  I love making furniture the easy way. :)

The flowers I made in real pots, adding clay, and then sticking in the flowers from model railroading supplies.  I tested to make sure, and was able to cook them all to set the poly clay. -doc

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Dragon boat possibilities

This vintage celluloid oriental pieces might become the perfect bed for a wizard.  And I'm sure I can figure out a use for the sail if I take it apart.  It's about 6" long not including the rudder.  Tempting.  I suspect are other possible uses as well.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Embossed and Filigree Metal for Minis

Hobby Lobby has just started carrying this metal (iron) "ribbon" that is quite flexible and is easily cut with a scissors.  It's carried in the ribbon area of the floral department but I think it's a perfect craft supply and I can imagine many uses for this in miniature.  These vary in width from almost one inch to almost 2 inches, and they come in lengths of nine feet.

I have used similar metals to make balcony railings in a castle, and depending on how you cut these, they could be used to decorate tops of beds,  decorate tables, and so forth.  I'm sure that one could make interesting sconces and other decorations.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Carved Wood Castle Entrance

I found this carved wooden door that is perfect in scale, and I'd love to know more about it.  Anyhow, I could see using this as a side entrance in the castle, or creating a roombox for it.  The carving over the door is of a lion.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Miniature Castle Dragon Fountain

I found this at a garage sale and it was actually an ashtray.  I used Pardo clay that matched the rest of it to fill in the various indents (to hold cigarettes) and cooked that.  I guess I can use him (or her) either as a fountain or just a pond.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Old Carved Wooden Diorama

This primitive wooden diorama has clay pottery, and I really don't know anything about what this is supposed to be.  I found this at a local Humane Society thrift shop.  It's about 10" tall by 13" wide, and just about 1 1/2" deep.  I'd love to know more about this.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Faux carved diorama

I bought this old faux carved clam shell, made of celluloid, years ago and thought this might be great to add to the castle, although I've not figured out yet how to do that.  Perhaps it could be set into a grotto? It's about 3 1/2 inches wide, so a very small scale.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Glass Tile Flooring


Glass and ceramic tiles can be used to make castle floors.  I was lucky enough to find a dozen of these sales samples from Italy, covering three square foot each, at a garage sale.  I also picked up pure glass tiles.  Most of the glass is iridescent and difficult to show in a photo.  I'll be able to make many floors with different patterns from this find!