Rug Site

Thanks to Nina for showing me how to link! I have a rug site for you to try, I like the selection, it's not large, some of the sites are too big and the rugs all begin to look alike, and the rugs copy at a large size so you don't have to loose definition enlarging them in a program. The site is:
www.woodworkersauction.com . They sell other things, but the rugs are really nice.


Remember, I use suede paper from www.dragonflyintl.com. When printing I used Windows Photo Gallery, and under paper, I chose "other specialty paper". I hope this helps for the paper jam difficulties you might have. I also gave the paper a press from the back side, paper side with a hot dry iron, not the cotton setting, the one under it. I've been doing all right with it.
I also use the paper that we use for our dollhouse ceilings, it has a plaster like texture. I buy it in a roll from wallpaper sections at the big box stores, I got mine from Menards, it's cheaper to buy it in a roll. It's the same stuff, the dollhouse supplier people buy it and cut it to sell to us. It makes nice rugs, too. Go the the blog entry, Rugs, to find out what I do to finish these off. This stuff makes great quick rugs, I spray them with a matt finish and when you glue the muslin underneath and fringe it at the ends the rugs really work in the room.

Hello To You All

I just wanted to log on to let you know that I am still here. I have just finished a custom order for a pair of Victorian Gothic wing chairs that will be going into Edgar Allan Poe's house in Finland, he's moved I believe, Ha, Ha!!
I have another custom order for half inch scale, I haven't made anything in this scale so it's going to be an experiment. This order is for the Ponderosa, yes, Pa, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe. Their house is made from Legos and is the most amazing thing I have ever seen.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaGfYusRVvE, I would make a link but I haven't been able to make one out of the Blogspot site. I don't know very much about computers.

I have a project for you and will be posting around the 20th again.

For more information on my custom work and ready-made upholstered furniture please go to CDHM.org, I am under furniture. TTYL Kris

Thanks Merry Jingle for Caterina

Caterina, Merry Jingle has sent some links for you! How cool is that, this Internet thing is super fantastic!! Thank you Merry Jingle :D.

Kris

Hi Caterina

I love playing on-line looking for stuff, I get lost sometimes and forget about the time. The Internet takes you off and you don't know where you will end up. I can't believe there isn't anything on the Tyrolean style or decor. I know it was popular in the US maybe sometime in the 1940's, I think, at least what we thought was Tyrolean. I just couldn't stop looking because I was convinced that the Internet had everything. We need to tell Google they have missed something don't we? Maybe you could use the suede paper on another project. If you have trouble getting it through the printer, my printer can be fussy, try giving the paper a press with your iron. I am going to try this, I didn't have trouble the first time, then I waited a while before trying it again and the printer said it had a paper jam, stupid printer. Maybe it was the humidity? Or . . I had just taken it out of it's shrink wrapped package, that's why I think a little press with the iron will make it work reliably. I had good luck the first time and even was able to send the suede paper back through to print the rug over and over about 3 times without getting a "double exposure" thing going on. The paper fed perfectly every time and printed exactly in the same place as the first time. I like to feed the paper back through to darken the colors.

For July the project is going to be the heat registers we have in the older homes in the US. I have an example shown in the bathroom room box that is in the blog with the shelf that uses quilling paper. As I am not a world traveler I don't know whether these are universal, maybe someone can let me know.
Talk you all later . . . . . Kris

To Cockerina

Hello Cockerina,
I have spent last evening and this morning searching, Dolomite Alps, Tyrolean Style Rugs, Tyrolean Souvenirs, Tyrolean Weaving, Tyrolean Decor, . . . . .I even went into Italian Rug Stores looking for examples, I couldn't find anything. I am sorry, I tried a lot of different combinations to get different sites. I did find www.souvenirs.cc Albert Demetz, Export:Handcrafts, he didn't have any rugs but some beautiful examples of painted furniture, maybe if you contact him he could direct you to a site for Tyrolean rugs.
I found another site www.fancygoodsofeurope.com, this has some good pictures of china we could copy and glue to plates.
When I was looking in the hotels and places I looked at for decor they had rugs on the floor that were Tyrolean, where did they find them? I don't know. Are you in Italy? Some store must have a catalog for this, even maybe hand weavers selling traditional style rugs.
My husband had an idea, go to a library, maybe a university library and look up traditional Tyrol textiles. Maybe they have some books that will show some examples for you.

And I have to say I was very impressed with your blog!!! I am not computer literate at all so I can't do anything with mine. I just keep it simple so I can understand it, but I loved looking at yours, loved the music and the little flowers that followed the cursor.
I think that your Tyrolean retreat is going to be very cool, I liked the way you have designed it. Will it be in a particular time period or is it going to be contemporary? Are you going to be making the furniture, the painted furniture is very pretty. There is a book about painting in that style for miniatures, Scottie's Bavarian Doll Haus with Decorated Furniture by Scottie Foster. I have used it and can paint the simple things. This style of painting takes as much practice as any other type to gain the skill and I don't have the time nor inclination to devote to it.
Good luck with your search, I am sorry I couldn't be of any help.

Kris

What Happened?

What in the world happened? I gained over 20 new followers almost over night. WOW! Hello, and I hope you enjoy making minis with us.

I just want to remind you all that I do have some instructions early in the blog. They are "wordy" with no as you go pictures, but are really worth a look.

Aged Painted Finish, March 8, 2010

Cheater Rugs, Part 2, Feb. 26, 2010, talks about buying suede paper from www.dragonflyinternational.com for making rugs with your printer.

Cheater Rug, Feb. 23, 2010, these are ideas for quick rugs.

2 Fancy Faux Finishes, Feb 15, 2010

Vintage Kitchen, Nov. 28, 2009 back to July 24, 2009, toaster, canning pot, stove, refrigerator, sink and cabinet and table.

Contemporary Shell Lamp, July 17, 2009.

And if you have any questions about anything in any of the room boxes I would be happy to make it into a blog project for you all.

Dangerous Mezzo, I was looking around online for fabric and I found Clarice Cliff fabric, who knew? It's at www.quilts - kits - online.com and made by Fabric Freedom and called Deco Dance. If I still quilted I would buy some, but I know if I bought it now it would just sit and my kids would have something else to throw out!

I am working on chairs for Merry Jingle, so I have to get back to work.

Again, Welcome to all the new followers.

TTYL Kris

Twining with Threads for Your Basket

Miniaturists I am left handed, so if I have this started wrong for you please try to reverse these instructions. Once you get what is going on it's very easy to do.

I have used button hole thread that has been twisted back on it self to make it thicker. Any thread or twine that you like will do, if it's the right scale.

Divide the thread in half and loop it over the end spoke.









Pick up the outside thread. . .











and put it behind the second spoke.






















Should look like this.















Now, pick up the outside thread. . .

(this "outside" thread changes every time, you see)















And place it behind the third spoke.

















Pick up the outside thread and place it behind the fourth spoke.












You are always picking up the "outside" thread and placing it behind the next spoke, all the way across.

This is a wickering technique, twisting the reed around the spokes. Lots of variations and can get very complicated but beautiful.

If you have trouble let me know.

TTYL Kris