Thursday, May 26, 2022

A miniature community

Over the past week I have been taking some time in the evenings to make a little room box for Olli the otter. I sculpted him earlier this year.


He likes lounging on his comfy sofa. He keeps his rock collection on the book shelf. Otters are very particular about collecting special rocks. They play with them and also use them as tools to crack open shells for food. 


While daydreaming, Olli suddenly had a big idea. He wants to make a community. A very special community. No dream is too big if you have passion for it so he got to work drawing it out…



Olli worked late into the night, but there it was, his dream was in motion. Now all he has to do it get to work… 



Stay tuned as Ollie makes a little community called, Otterville!


Lancaster Miniature Show finds

I don’t know why Instagram would not let me post this, They disabled me after I tried 2 times, so I will share it here...

I picked up these little wallpapers for my half inch scale cottage from

the Lancaster show!





Fun fact: this wallpaper was the very first wallpaper I ever put in a 1:12 dollhouse 
back in 2007!



I got this kit last year and it is always in the back of my mind to start, but it continues to get bumped back by other projects. One day will be the perfect day to start it!
At the moment I have been working on a little room box home for an otter named Olli. Stay tuned...I will be posting it here as soon as I get some good photos. 


Friday, May 6, 2022

Monday, May 2, 2022

Miniature shelf for dollhouse

 



This little display rack or storage unit, depending on what you are using it for, is perfect for a mini shop. Mine is a shop for green witch supplies. The top unit is filled with candles. The second is filled with pouches to hold herbs and stones and the bottom shelf has a selection of rolled up altar cloths.


First, trace the pattern onto 1/16” thick basswood and cut the main side shapes into squares.




For the first cut, cut the diagonals as shown. Then for the second cut, cut the lower diagonals as shown.



I stacked them up and sanded each angled cut to try and get them uniform.



Cut the planks that are the width of the angles you just made on the main piece. (About 1/4” wide.)


Push 3 of the sides against a level backing and put a dab of glue on the ends of the planks and push them against the sides. Then add glue to the ends of those planks and push the second set of sides onto them so you have three sets as shown. Let dry.


Glue in the center base strips as shown. Keep any excess glue cleaned away. Using a toothpick. Let them dry.


Fill in the two left over holes with more strips. You may have to trim the width to fit. Let dry.



Cut 2 strips of basswood to 3-1/4” tall for the 2 side legs. Line the first half bucket up at and angle and draw the line on what will be the top of the side legs and trim both leg strips. Cut two 1” wide by 3/16” tall strips of wood. Mine are a little thicker than 1/16”. These are the feet.Sand the top and fronts of the feet so they are rounded. Glue the tall strips to the center of the feet. Let dry.

 


Stain all the components. If the stain doesn’t take to areas with wood glue, just paint those spots with a fine paintbrush and dark brown paint. Add a varnish if you like.


Glue the top half bucket on, lining it up with the angled cut at the top of the legs as a guide. Let dry. Be sure the feet are flush to the floor as it’s drying.


Glue on the bottom half barrel and try to keep it at the same angle at the top one is. Let dry.


Glue in the middle half bucket. Let dry.


Draw on some ‘nail’ marks with a black fine marker and fill with mini items. Now fill your piece with lots of goodies!




Little potion ship in progress...

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Townhouse dollhouse



I have finished the Townhouse! It is available for purchase. $649.00. I will be at the Lancaster show and can bring this with me if the buyer will be there to save on shipping. Email me at auraleakrieger@gmail.com if you are interested. I accept Paypal.

This 1:12 scale structure was made to house a treasured miniature collection.

It serves as a beautiful protective housing for your miniature treasures and keeps them dust free. Because it is tall versus wide it takes up less space but still holds a large amount of miniatures with three rooms to fill.


10” x 12”, the garden extends out 6” and is removable.  Stands 30” tall.







Accessories and furniture not included.








Fill it with all of your favorite furniture and accessory and decorative pieces. There is electricity so lamps can be plugged in. There's also a hole above the stairway in the ceiling to the attic where you could hang a beautiful chandelier and run the wiring down the back of the house to the plug. The strip has room for three more lights. The on/off switch is on the strip tucked inside the base of the house. You can add a beautiful garden next to the steps. And also add your own house numbers by the door!

transformer plug

This piece started with a double room box. The walls were thickened, the attic was added as well as the opening front door on hinges. The clasp keeping the door shut is antique brass.

There is real wood flooring and the fireplaces were handmade. Windows and door open. Handmade paper poppies in the window boxes.


The stairs and front lawn are removable with the artist's signature under the steps.

The roses down the side of the house also hide the wiring from the electrical plugs in the walls.

The facade has a stuccoed effect. This is an artisan piece. There is a ladder that is removable and can be replaced with a spiral staircase or left as is.


A big thank you to miniatures.com for the double room box, brick(which I painted), windows and door. Also to Bleaus Custom Molding for the floor kits.


Saturday, March 19, 2022

Story Book Cottage dollhouse


I have finally finished the half inch scale Jasmine cottage kit! This little story book cottage was featured in American Miniaturist magazine in the way of many tutorials showing how I put it all together. It was a lot of work and turned out just as I imagined.














Sold and on its way to the new owner!