Translate

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Buy or make

I have always been cheap!! But I have always spent a little too much money.. Sounds weird, but you can do both ;) I use to shop a LOT!! But mostly cheap stuff, but a lot, which make it less cheap in the end.. And if/when I see something I like, I think, can I make that myself?! And when it comes to miniature I often want to try. Because I'm cheap, not because it feels like a fun thing to try.. often just because I want it, and I want it cheap..
But lately I started thinking, what if I stop buying lots of cheap stuff and save up for one really good thing instead =) And if someone else made something great, I can buy it, unless I feel like I really would love to try to make it myself. There is nothing bad in buying things I like, instead of trying myself.. I cant be brilliant at everything (hey, I can't be brilliant at anything.. ;) ) I always think it would be nice to have a scene entirely made by me, but I always ends up buying a few things anyway.. Better to buy really nice things than really cheap things.. And I start to think it can be a really good thing to mix both common bought things, ooak bought things from others and things I made my self in one scene!
So, I looked and looked.. That book Birgit did could look wonderful in my Fantasy project... and then I thought, well I have to buy it =)
Brigit bougt a frog from me, so it felt nice to buy something of hers too, like a swap almost ;) (But I cant make it a habbit, to buy from all that buys from me... But I started selling hoping I would earn some money so that I could buy more materials and miniatures =) So maybe thats exactly what I should do, shop when someone has bought something of mine =) )

So here is my latest purchase, Birgits wonderful book!! =) Bought in her Etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/se-en/shop/BiWuBear

 It's truly amazing, even better looking "in person" =) There are so many details!
The pages looks great, and there are different pictures inside.
And I even got a lot of extras!! =) These are all wonderful things. A wool-person like me got to love the sheep =)
And the dragon is wonderful, I see that I photographed it from behind..But the front is even better =)
The mushrooms are wonderful too! 

And that candle is so funny and cute, and it glows in the dark!

After unpacking all these lovely things, I felt like getting somewhere with the Fantasy project, I finally glued the "forest" in place. And I want to show you the wall I made. I had one idea first, couldn't make it, so I just went were my fingers got me =) And this is the result. I wanted a whimsical wall, and I like making stones and bricks from egg carton, so I wanted to use that here.
I have to add a doorknob, but I got a lovely decoration on the door, one of the extras from Birgit =) (First I thought of having the dragon on the door, but since it has a nice back too, I didn't want to glue it to a door like that.. so I took the unicorn =) )
I went a little crazy with the colours =) I was sitting beside my daughter painting with water colours, we had a great and fun time!
First this wall was yellow, but then I tried some green, and then blue and purple and brown and then I wanted it more grey/white, and this is what I ended up with. I have to say I like it =)

I'm going to start working on a roof soon, I have an idea, I hope it will be doable. Then I have to decide the colour of the inner walls. I think it will be more blue! =) I think my witch likes blue, so she will be happy here. (She might be under the influence of my daughter, that loves blue, and only paint with blue colours) ;)
I don't know what and how I will make the ground on the outside part, the floor on the inside is easier..

Have a nice summer and take care! Finally the heat has come to me, so I have to go out on the new balcony now to enjoy it while I can =)
Hannah

34 comments:

  1. Hi Hannah,
    You made a very good purchase. That book is unique and so well made. I love how Birgit aged the papers & made it look like it's moving or coming to life. The extras will be wonderful additions to your project. Sometimes, it is ok to treat yourself ;-) I am enjoying watching your progress on this project.
    Hugs,
    Lisa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lisa, I too love the aged paper!
      My progress is quite slow, but I'm on my way =)

      Delete
  2. Wow, Hannah! What a perfect purchase, this is an amazing beautiful creation made by Birgit. I can imagine you are very happy with it :D! That's really Birgit, to spoil you too with the extra gifts, they are so great to use for this project.
    You'll see you'll get even more inspiration now, for finishing your wonderful project........I also LOVE blue, so I think the door and wall will look fantastic :D!!
    Enjoy your summer! Hugs, Ilona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, and yes I am, very happy =) Hope you have a great summer =)
      Hugs Hannah

      Delete
  3. Amazing purchases. I really like the book.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Hannah, I like reading your thought process. It's a really great argument for buying from our artisan friends too, because as you said, sometimes someone else has mastered something, so we don't need to make everything ourselves. ;-) I used to buy a lot of cheap things too, and then I learned to enjoy buying fewer, but nicer, things. Now I'm on a tighter budget, so I must buy even fewer things, but that encourages me to learn to make a few more things. ;-)

    Birgit's book is amazingly wonderful. What a great piece for your fantasy room, which is looking great. I look forward to seeing more. xo Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Jennifer! I'm on a tight budget too because I have no job. But I manage to treat my self some things every now and then anyway =) I'm very glad I decided to buy this book from Birgit =)

      Delete
  5. I'm totally glad you like my/your magical book stack... I have so much fun creating these stacks and it's good if I could be able to spread a little bit of this fun. And I can understand your thoughts about buying or not buying. It's always great if you're doing something yourself... but it's also great to have something special from talented people or dear people. I think it's always great to combine both things. - Your walls look fantastic, especially with the magical blue. And I like your diagonal brickwork, what an eyecatcher. And yes, I'm a little bit proud that this unicorn charm sent by me came in handy... ;O)

    Hugs
    Birgit

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can understand these are fun to make, it's so many details, just like I like it =)
      I didn't think of combining these things, buying and making, before, but that's great! I love to have things from others too, its like a memory it self, and reminds me of great miniaturists =)
      I had no idea that I needed a unicorn charm, until I saw it, I'm glad you knew I needed it before I did ;)

      Delete
  6. Wonderful buy from Birgit the book looks truly magical. She also sent you a lot of beautiful gifts. Wow I love your fantasy room the door and brick work is fantastic. A fantasy room is also on my list of to-do's lol so I will be watching the progress of your wonderful project.
    Hugs Maria

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Maria. I hope to see your Fantasy project come to life later =)

      Delete
  7. Фантастическая книга! ! Мне нравится свеча !!!!! Биргит прекрасный художник! Я поздравляю вас с замечательным приобретением! Себя надо радовать покупками, иногда!!! :):):)
    Татьяна

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Tatiana! I agree Birgit is great =)

      Delete
  8. ¡Unas compras maravillosas Hanna! Me parece muy original la escena que estás montando. La pared de ladrillo y la pintura están mu bonitas.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Oh I so love Brigits wares! Her paper stacks and chair pieces are just wonderful magic! It looks to be a wonderful piece to get your fantastsy projects fired up! The stone walls look great the color is wonderful!

    The little bunch of supplies are all fantastic as well, I hope your mind wanders into fantastic places!!
    Hugs~J

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks J! I like the collecting part, it's harder to start placing things.. But I hope to start filling the box in a near future =) Just need to fix the inside walls first =) I get stuck on ideas, but I have to let my mind wander a bit more =)

      Delete
  10. Hannah, your thought process sounds fun but totally true. I guess many people share the experience of buying cheap things but ending up with spending lots money...then learn to save to buy better with more.

    The book seems really well-made and fantastic. It has so many details and it matches the theme of your fantasy project.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you =) Now I only have to decide how to display the book in a good way =)

      Delete
  11. Finally I can post comments again! I think it must have been a glitch with my computer! That's an amazing door. I love the details of the walls. Quite unique.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm glad it works again Jane =) And thank you, I wanted something unusual for my wall =)

      Delete
  12. I think it is great you treated yourself to something special - the book is wonderful. I think the wall you made is great too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you! It's great to be able to buy something once in awhile =)

      Delete
  13. Hi Hannah, you bought a really amazing piece! You can see that Birgit had such fun making this. It's such a magical piece that will give you much nspiration for your fantasy project. hugs AM

    ReplyDelete
  14. What a magical piece! It's a cute one for sure . And it will fit in perfectly with your new project. I love the door with the bricks around it. The effect is outstanding!
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Caroline, you are so sweet =) I tried making something unusual for the wall =) Later I'll try painting the roof in some blue colour, I was so inspired and fascinated by your blue roof =)

      Delete
  15. I am cheap too! I love to buy things on sale or even better, repurpose something I already have! But sometimes it is better to save up for something really nice. Something that either someone else can make better or something that will last a long time. Great purchase! The candle is great. Love the face and the fact that it glows in the dark and the use of the stained spool for the holder. Can't wait to see more of your future purchases and/or your fantasy scenes!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Lindsey, I love the candle too, very funny and cute =)
      I started working on the roof for this scene, so I'm doing some progress, but I'm working quite slow now and spend my days outside in the sun (that finally has arrived) =)

      Delete
  16. Ottima scelta, il libro di Birgit è straordinario!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, that book is really fantastic!!! Great, great buy!!! I love it!! I like how your project is coming along and the door looks just great!! Well done Hannah!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for reading, I love to read your comments =)
Hannah