This Might Work...

I wanted to share with you the Art Deco Bust. I completed the sculpture, put it in the oven and forgot about it. As you can see, the translucent clay burned. I tried making a mold of the bust, but it did not work out :(.
After a few days of thinking about it, I decided to prime the bust so that I can paint it. My initial idea was to use make-up to color it, because of the over cooking, that won't work.
Yesterday I sketched out the face, it looks like it just might work! Last night I sanded the bust and will take my time painting it. I really want this one to work out. I love the originals and know for sure I only have one shot at this. :0


Here's a peek:

The sculpture after priming it and sketching the face.

Put it in the oven and forgot about it :(…overcooked!

Wrapping up the Week...

Wrapping up the week with a few more accessories.

I'm going to put my favorite first, the ballet slipper, I love it! My daughter is a little ballerina, so I thought it would be nice to include some ballet items.
I also tried to make a Ugg boot. I followed a tutorial I found on line, it looked so easy, it took me forever!!!…and I still did not get it right. I will give it one more try, but not sure if I can do it. Remember the clog? Well my clog turned into a sandal. I have to paint the straps, but I'm okay with it. I would love to make a clog, but I have to rethink how to put it together

 I also spent a lot of time on books and artwork. The trailer will have a wall of shelves, so spent much of the week creating and painting book covers in Annie Sloan paints. I also want to include a collection of children's books. I was able to find lots of great covers on the web, but have to Photoshop them (work in progress). This trailer will include artwork by the masters. I Photoshop several and will decide what to add once I start decorating.

Lastly, I worked on a few boxes. I love vintage boxes, they are so "girly". Found a few on the web and also scored a wonderful Tylenol box.

I'm in love with the ballet slipper!

Close up of slipper

The good and the bad

The clog turned sandal

Books, books and more books!

The Masters on canvas. Still need to age and add paint effects

Vintage boxes and Tylenol

Lots of Work, Little to Show...

Today I worked on the structure of the trailer. Lots of gluing, painting and taping. Not much to show.  There will be a table and shelves the entire width of the trailer, so I will need tons of accessories. Today I got a chance to work on a few.

First the lamp. I purchased the glass base from HobbyLobby a while ago. I immediately knew that I would be making some type of lamp out of it. I wanted to make something a little unique, so I created a lamp shade made from metal and rusted the entire shade. I love the two together. I am now searching for the tiny led lights I purchased for this project. (I can't find anything now that I have reorganized!)

While the paint and glue was drying, I was able to get the bust (which I overcooked) painted. I am not sure if this idea will work out, but I have to give it my best shot.
I also made a mold for the clogs (if I can pull this off, they will be super cute!). 

Lastly, a LIFE game box. We love playing games in our family, so I want to make sure to include several in the project.

Here's a peek:

Miniature Dollhouse Bedside Lamp
by
Anita Smiley for fabulouslyflawedminiatures

Miniature Dollhouse Accessories
by
Anita Smiley for fabulouslyflawedminiatures

New Luggage for the Travel Trailer...

Happy Monday!

Wanted the share the new luggage I made for the Travel Trailer today. I am really happy with the colors and the way they turned out. Glad I decided to go "Eclectic Girly", it's giving me so many options....I just noticed that I did not age the handle on the Duck Egg case, will have to fix that.

Tomorrow I will work on the actual trailer structure, along with a glass and iron lamp that I may use to sit on the luggage next to the iron bed.

Miniature Dollhouse Vintage Style Luggage
by
Anita Smiley for fabulouslyflawedminiatures

Handmade Miniature Dollhouse Vintage Style Luggage
by Anita Smiley for fabulouslyflawedminiatures

Vintage Style Dollhouse Luggage
by
Anita Smiley for fabulouslyflawedminiatures

So Much Fun...

I've been working on a few things this week as I continue the Trailer project. Sometimes I get seriously distracted by the ideas dancing in my head and I just have to tackle one or two.

This week it was Suitcases, Art Deco Bust, French Flea Market Suitcases and Clogs!

As I'm working on the Trailer, I'm also thinking of accessories I would love to include in the project. The Art Deco bust is something I've been wanting to do forever. It looked pretty easy to do, but once I started working on it, I realized how difficult it is going to be. I have my fingers x'd on that one.

The French Flea Market Style suitcases. I envisioned them next to the iron bed, kinda using them as a side table. I played around with a few ideas (see below). Not sure if this set will go in the trailer, but I'm liking the way they turned out, so I will make more in the theme of the trailer.

Okay, the clogs, these are the cutest EVER! I own several swedish hasbeens clogs. When I saw this picture, I went ABSOLUTELY CRAZY, I must have a pair in the trailer!! The Etsy store is Minis2you, she doesn't have any available right now but it looks like you can ask for a custom. Of course, I just have to give it a try, not sure if they will turn out this fantastic, but I will do my best and I'm sure they are super fun to create.

Lastly, the Trailer. I used plaster on the walls and it did not turn out too well. There was crackling and peeling where I covered the windows. Probably should not have used scotch tape in those areas. I was able to get the plaster pretty smooth, but when I painted, it crackled (not the look I'm going for). So I came up with an idea that worked out perfectly…
First I sanded the walls to get them smooth, painted them in white and let dry. I cut a piece of muslin fabric, gave it a glue bath and let it dry, it was pretty stiff when dried. With a brush, I put a nice amount of glue on the wall, then covered with the muslin, making sure every area was glued and there were no bubbles. Let dry, then paint.
The walls now look very nice with a slight texture. I'm thinking I may use this technique on the exterior of the trailer instead of the corrugated paper, it looks great when painted.

Here's a few photos, have a wonderful weekend and I will catch up with you next week.

-Anita

Art Deco Bust Inspiration

My attempt at the bust and clogs…fingers x'd on both!

Seriously, the cutest miniature I've ever seen!
My inspiration

The French Flea Market Suitcase
(first attempt)

French Flea Market Suitcase
(2nd attempt, different technique)

The suitcases together and a few new topiary plants for the trailer

Turning ugly mini walls into beautiful, slightly textured I'm happy walls! :)

After windows cut out and a few coats of Annie Sloan "Old White"
The wainscoting in Annie Sloan "Pure White", still need work, but looking good.

Call Me Crazy...

Call me crazy, but I had to make a theme change on the Travel Trailer. This project is being made for my daughter. I want her to have some type of dollhouse in her room without it taking up too much room. The Travel Trailer is perfect in size. I started out with one theme, but soon discovered I was creating it in a different style, my style. Yesterday morning I woke up and decided I would go back to the original theme, "Girly Eclectic Vintage". This allows me to use pinks, duck egg, old white, rust and aged wood. I will save that daybed for "Chez Marcelle", which will be designed in my style.

With that said, I had to create another bed, still vintage in style, but more "girly". I plan on rusting it, then painting it with Old White, and rusting some spots again. This will give it that old, old look I'm going for and I can create beautiful linens and throw pillows.

Here's a peek at the bed. I finished building and priming it this morning. Of course, I will have to make another mattress (eyes rolling)…mini work is never done!

New bed for the "Travel Trailer" project. Still in raw form.

Close up of miniature dollhouse vintage iron bed
by
Anita Smiley for fabulouslyflawedminiatures

In Progress: Travel Trailer...

I'm loving this project. Moving along on the Travel Trailer. I made a few edits to the shape. Still trying to figure out how I am going to work the top. I don't like the trim that goes along the top of the wall. I know it serves a purpose, but I am going to figure out a way to not include it…I need that wall space!
This trailer will have beautiful Annie Sloan Pure White wainscoting and trim. Today I am doing a dry fit and some cutting.

Last night I came up with an idea to make a wire shelf unit, of course, I spent the entire evening getting it made. I still have to apply the rusting technique, but it's going to hold lots of accessories!

Enjoy your weekend :)

Here's a peek:

Items for the Miniature Travel Trailer. It gives you an idea of the direction I'm going in,
French Flea Market Eclectic.

Wainscoting and trim will be painted in Annie Sloan Pure White.

Dry fitting the wainscoting and door trim.

Finally Working Again...

Happy New Year!
Hello my friends, it has been quite a while since I have been able to work. My middle finger has bothered me since October. I was so afraid that it would get worse, so I decided to let it rest. I am happy to say that it is so much better. Not 100%, but better. Thank goodness it's my right hand (I'm left handed).
Okay, enough about the finger…

I am working on a full project. This one has me super excited. I got the inspiration from "Cinderella Moments", a blog I love. The artist makes the most adorable Travel Trailers. I've been wanting to make one for my daughters new room, so with slow sales and a desire to make a "completed project", I decided to give it a try.

The theme is French Flea Market Vintage. So far I have put part of the trailer together, stained the hardwoods, made wainscoting, textured the walls, made frames for the the doors and windows, tested stained glass window techniques, made a few baskets and what I am most proud of, made a French Flea Market Daybed.

I have Chez Marcelle in the back of my head, but every time I start working on it, I start feeling overwhelmed. So I decided I should start small. I'm having so much fun with this.

Here are a few pictures:

Really excited about this daybed. Still have a little editing to do on the color, but so happy with it.

Close up of French Flea Market Daybed. I wanted it to look as though it has been in someones
basement for years. I will be adding a tufted mattress and beautiful linen toss pillows.

Kinda of, sorta of the direction. I am sure there will be lots of edits here.

Made a few edits to the structure.

Added some plaster to the walls.  Paint at the top, wainscoting on the bottom, painted with
Annie Sloan Chalk paints.

Making wainscoting for the project. Will be painted Annie Sloan Pure White.

Walnut hardwood floors, stained and reading for waxing.

Playing around with stain glass panels for one of the window. Used colored pencils for the grey, Sharpies for the yellow. They both turned out nicely.