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

Wire Handle For Your Basket

I make a wooden handle from a toothpick. I use toothpicks a lot in my work! Cut off the pointed end and about an 1/8th of an inch from the end make a groove with a file, my file has sharp edges and a little rounded on the broad sides, you can use a triangle file, too. I round out the groove and move to the other end leaving a middle that's about 3/16 of an inch. Make another groove, don't cut off the handle yet.





With your trusty "T" pin make a hole in the center of the end of the handle, just a hole, don't go waddling it out or you might break your handle.













I use a hand drill I bought from Hobby Builders, it's called the mini drill and it's $12.49, #37800 and comes with bit sizes #52 - #74. I put the smallest bit in, #74, and start the hole.











Continue to drill, but hold onto the handle like I am in the picture, this way you can feel if you are going straight. If not, you can correct it. Drill through, and cut off your handle.













I reinforced my sides by punching a small circle, 1/8 of an inch hole punch, and gluing them to the inside of my basket in the middle of the sides at the top.

Using the "T" pin and a block of wood to support the side, pierce a hole on the sides, in the middle, at the top through the rim.







I used green paddle wire from the floral department, it's 26 gauge. Any wire you have that will fit into the hole in your handle will do fine. You can also paint the wire. Slip the wire into the handle and bend the whole thing around the end of your basket. Cut off to just a little past half the length of your basket. Leave enough to go inside and fold over.







Thread the wire into the basket and bend over to secure.
















There is the basket with the twining and wire handle.















I hope you all give this a try, it's fun to weave them and fun to fill.


Kris

Just Back From Michaels

Hi Everybody!

Just got in from Michaels, and I found something you might be interested in. In the cake decorating section on a the side of an end cap there are some nice texture templates. They are from Duff Goldman, Charm City Cakes, I believe he might have a reality show? Anyway, these are clear plastic, Impression, Texture Tiles. I think they might be used with fondant. There are two that we maybe could use with Paper Clay or paper mache', the cobblestone and brick.

I also bought a Mary Engelbriet ( is that spelled right?) metal can with a window already in it, I don't when I will get to it but maybe a half scale scene? Oh, and a clear acrylic little paint can with rubber ducky design around the bottom, just enough room for a pedestal sink to load with stuff. These are two things I absolutely can not resist, Mary E. and rubber duck designs.

I will get the 2 other bits for the baskets, I thought I might let you digest the basket making instructions before I add on.

Kris