Fantasy again

I started up a Fantasy roombox some years ago. I had big plans and a beautiful picture of a magical forest in my head. But I had no idea how to make it. I stared with a "grass-carpet" but I didn't like the outcome. And lost all will to continue with that project. But my oldest daughter have been asking and asking when I will pick it up again.
The I saw a lovely pin cushion by lilla.ludenben and I thought; off course, everything gets better with a little wool =)
So I started to rework the whole forest and added wool. And I'm much happier with the outcome now. I realize I will never get that perfect result I have in my head, but I have to practice not looking for perfection all the time, because the world is far from perfect and I can never finish anything, ever, because it wont be perfect. (That's often why I start new projects all the time, if it's not done, it's allowed to be imperfect, but once you say something is done, it's done, and then it should be perfect..)

Anyway here is the result, I still can't decide whether to have wool on the tree or not. Maybe I can change it now and then =)

Before

After

Unfortunately the wall got messed up by lying in a drawer, have to try to fix it later, haven't glued it into place yet.

I'm not done yet, I think. Feels like I could keep adding stuff for ever =) And it's too small, I can't fit everything I want, maybe I have to build another room to connect with this one somehow later on.

Have a few other stuff to work on right now, but will keep working with this every now and then, I hope!

Hope you all are well, it's so nice to hear from old friends once more =) Have a nice day.

Hannah

Fantasy

Yesterday I was sick and had to stay in bed all day, I got very bored and tried to finish this post I started last week.. But I couldn't sit up, but I'm getting better today.. so here I try write some more.. =)


I don't celebrate Halloween but maybe it did inspire me to continue with my Fantasy roombox, all a sudden I felt like making a secret passage. For that I needed a bookshelf, so I built one, of biltema-pinnar. 
When I was done I thought it would have been nice to put wallpaper inside the bookshelf, but it might be hard to do now, I'll see what I can do..

I need to decide how the hole/corridor will look like, I was thinking a rabbit hole like Alice in wonderland.

I want to add things that reminds me of TV-series or movies I like:
Buffy the vampire slayer (my favorite TV-series)
Once upon a time
Once upon a time in wonderland
Harry Potter
Lord of the ring
Merlin
Lost (since my husband liked that show. I only saw the last season)
Friends (not a fantasy series.. But there is a painting I'd love to make a mini version off, since I love that show too =) )
(I might have forgotten some movies or series that I'll add later) =)

Anyhow, maybe a rabbit hole in the wall, behind a bookshelf could be my once upon a time in wonderland "thing". (I hope to add more from that series later too)

I also added some wallpaper since last time, and since I fell head over heal in love with Carolines roof painting, (we had a roof painting in our house when I was a kid too) I wanted to paint the roof. After a few attempts of making some kind of pattern, I gave up and just added paint, and more paint and yet again more paint.. and this is what I got =)

Not what I thought I'd do, but I do like it =) The left is inside the house, some kind of magical roof and the right is outside, the sky.

And finally I got to play a little and try out my saved stuff.

 Just testing

Testing the bookshelf. I need to make more books for it =) Can you see Jane's amazing dragon eggs? And a glimpse of Birgit's incredible book. And beautiful colourful mushrooms from Irina.

 A sleeping dragon in the woods, it's a sweet baby dragon, according to my daughter. =)

"Ap-tanten" (Monkey-lady) as my daughter like to call her... has been out picking mushrooms, she had to go all the way to Germany to get this kind of Birgit-made-ones ;)
I'm amazed she manage to go out at all, since she is missing a skirt... But she is happy for her new boots. (My first try with sculpey soufflé clay)


I have no idea how to make the outside part. I want trees, grass, stones and other woods-stuff.. Do you have any great tips for me? Please let me know =)
But I might start working on my Santa house soon, and I should keep working on the Pettersson's house too. I have lots to do, but I like it that way, so that I can choose the thing I feel like doing for the moment. =)

Now I'll rest again..
Take care
Hannah

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

Fantasy dolls

From a 1:6 scale Blythe to a 1:12 scale doll =)
I have been wanting to start working on a wizard for my Fantasy project for years now, but never got to it. But finally, I took out the doll clay, a present from some years ago, still unopened... and remember I have to wait for my daughter to go to sleep, I can't concentrate with her hanging over my shoulders... so back in the drawer again....
But then I went looking in another small drawer, that said, old doll parts.. Here I throw doll parts that I haven't made a body for, yet, or parts I don't really like.. well, that's almost every doll I try to make... (except one, that I gave away)
I found this weird looking head. I have redone it at least one time, but I was still unhappy with it, but I thought it might work as a crazy looking wizard. So I started choosing hair. Wool, seemed best for this one, and then I see, it's not a wizard, its a witch!! Well.. I wanted a wizard, not a crazy looking one, a nice one.. but I ended up with a crazy looking witch.. I suppose that can happen when you try to work with magic, when you are a novice, like me..

I hope I will finish this crazy witch. Her eyes.... and eyebrows... and her whole face... Not like I want it, but hey, who am I to judge a poor old lady...
I have to help her get some clothes.
And I would love to have a beautiful fairy. But I realize I'm not a great doll-maker, and started looking at ebay, wow!! wonderful faries.. but high prices, off course, when they look like real people... so I'm back to me making one again.. let's see how that turns out. Maybe I'll get a wizard next time ;)

This is my witch so far. She needs a skirt too. And I just made her some feet =)
And I opened that doll clay and tried making a young woman, I got a body, but then I just couldn't get a head to match it. I tried three times and every time I ended up with a male.. Why is females harder to make? And I did try to make a baby, but guess what, I ended up making a man, with a moustache...

That's when I gave up a bit and ordered a sculpey mold on ebay. I would love to get it now, but I have to wait a couple of weeks =(
Maybe I should try to finish the dolls I started until then =) I don't dare to show them to you, yet.. Maybe later =)

Take care

Hannah

Dragons, as promised =)

Finally it's time for the dragons to get their picture taken ;)
I often get ideas when I'm in my bed, trying to sleep. A few nights ago I thought it would be great to make a forest outside the "dragon-home". I will put up a wall inside my roombox, to be able to have both a inside and an "outside", inside the box =) Hard to explain, hope to show you soon instead =)
I found a perfect background for the "forest"-side of the box. I don't know how to realize my vision and make it more 3dimentional, and make a "floor" that will blend in with the background... I hope to add stones, moss and trees to the outside part..
This is the background I use: http://telusers.com/hd-fantasy-forest-wallpaper-29356-hd-wallpapers.html 

I just tried the background, haven't glued it in place yet! 

Looks like one dragon found his way to the forest already =) So did my 2-year old... 

Then my daughter decided my dragons could need some food, and after this it was impossible to take any more pictures with out her head and hands being in the way... ;)

But I manage to sneak away another day and take pictures of the dragons.

Finally my newest dragons:

I think I had some kind of beginners luck with my first dragon.. After I made that dragon head, I started working on this one, he's some kind of weird water creature =) He isn't as good as the first one, maybe because he got a body, that was harder to make than I thought.. He's a mix between a seal and a dragon ;)

 

Then I tried a dragon with wings. That was quite hard..
I'm not crazy about this one, but I guess he turned out OK in the end.. 

Another one with wings. (I see now that I have to repaint the white spark in the eyes...)

 

And at last, this one is my favourite =) But I realized I forgot about the wings... But he is so old they might have fallen off.. ;) I think wings are really tricky to make.. I have to work on that!
This dragon is very old and tired, just look at all the wrinkles in his face =) I think he is at least a couple of hundred years old..

Here they all are relaxing in the sun ;)
I don't "need" any more dragons now, but I think I'll be making more one day. Its fun to see were the clay takes you =) And the best thing about dragons, they can look how ever I want, there is no right or wrong =) (Well not how ever I want, because I can't seem to manage to create the exact thing that I want... ;) )

I hope I'll get better and better at this and I guess it takes practise to make a dragon look more like I want it, but I hate practise, I want to be great at the start, at everything ;)

I'll keep working on this project and I hope to put up a wall soon in the roombox, but I don't know exactly what I want.. If it should look like a house, or a tree or if I can come up with some other really cool idea for their home.. =) Meanwhile I'm still working on the nursery =)

Don't forget, you can still use the code for discount in my Etsy shop:

If you find anything you want to buy in my Etsy shop, use this code to get 10% off; WELCOMEDISCOUNT
Use the code before the 8/6 to get the discount.
If you don't want to buy anything just start your own Etsy shop, use this link to get 40 free listings =)

http://etsy.me/1tkbw77

Take care

Hannah

A quick update on the dragon-making

Just a quick post today about my first dragons. I tried some clay I got from Jane, and I bet her magic clay hands left some magic on this wonderful clay, and after an hour I had made my first dragon. =) I also made an hatched egg, with a tiny dragon looking out on the world. That one could have been done a little (a lot) better, but its my first dragon egg, ever.. so I hope I'll be better with time.
I realized I have now done 2 dragon heads, but no body... I have to try a body next time ;) But I tried making another dragon, (with a body) with "my" clay, and it did not turn out well at all...So I will keep working on that one, or maybe "recycle" it into something else.. (Haven't baked it yet)
Maybe it's my beginners luck, I always manage to do one new thing, that I'm quite proud of, and then, when I think I have practised and learn something and will be even better next time, then I fail... Maybe it's just that I didn't use the clay I got from Jane, it might be something magical over that clay.. I'll have to try more of the clay I got from her instead ;)


Anyway, here are my dragons:

 She looks a bit mad, but she is just scared I'll take her baby away, otherwise she is a real nice dragon ;)

I thought this dragon could hide her body under the water surface, or in a box or something, I wanted to try a head first, and then I got scared I would ruin her by making her a body, so she is bodyless..

I hope to get more time for clay this week. I have had a needlefelting break for a while now, but I made an owl today (sorry, no picture of that right now..) But I might try to work more with clay for a while and let my needles rest a bit longer. I worked so hard for the miniature show, so now I want a rest from wool for awhile =) But I will be back with felted animals before you know it =)

A group shot. I think all my dragons are getting along well now =) My table is glad to see some company, waiting for a home =)

Table is made by me, brown/golden dragon and dragonegg also made by me, and the incwell, red, green, purpel and golden dragon is made by Jane.

Last but not least a warm welcome to my newest followers:
David Edwards Miniatures
Contrastes - Rosa Mª
Piikko
pilar6373
Dave Williams 
Felma
Ketsia Elie
Meritan nukkis (cant find your blog right now, just leave a comment and I'll update this list)
Ilona

Thank you all for following my blog, I'm so happy to say that there are 101 followers to this blog with Google friend connect now. I feel so lucky that people take an interest in my work! Thank you all =)
Take care
Hannah

Swap-package from Jane

I went to the hospital this morning to get an x-ray of my shoulders, I had to sit in the waiting room for 3 hours, they had a lot of emergency patients today, and since I've had pain in my shoulders for 3 years now I wasn't that urgent I guess... well, it was a long day, and when I finally got to take the x-rays, I had to wait again, for the result... They didn't find anything and might want me back later to look for something else.. So my day was not the best one, (But my daughter had fun at the hospital, there were some great toys there.. and my husband got almost the whole day off, because it took all day and he had to come with me to drive me and take care of our daughter when I went to the x-ray..) And then we went by the post office, and there were a package from Jane waiting for me =) A great way to end a long day =)
I most say that I have always been very impressed by Jane. She's just able to make great things, all the time.. Just look at her latest project, it has the power to give the viewer a lot of different feelings, and there is a lot of great details to look at. I want to be able to do that too ;)
And I fell totally in love with her treehouse! I have been thinking of making a fantasy scene of some kind, for a long time, but I never know were to start or what to make. So I asked Jane for some inspirational pieces for this project. (And I did mention dragons) And she spoiled me with great things! I was so happy when I saw not only one, but two dragons =) And then I realized I had more to unwrap, and guess what, there were two more dragons =) And dragon eggs (They are so wonderful I kinda hope they never hatch ;) )

My camera is still living it's own life, and today it thought it would be great to add some mysterious "Fantasy-colour" to this picture...

But I manage to get a more real picture out of it, at last =) (I have to press all the sides together and then take the picture..) =)
The dragons had a little fight on the way to Sweden, I guess that can happen when you pack 4 dragons in 1 package.. Some horns and feet had feel off, but I think I manage to glue them back were they belong now =) (after taking the picture)

I love everything! I do love green, so the green dragon may be a favourite, but its hard to choose. But, I don't have to choose a favourite, because I got them all =) They are so detailed!! And look at the eggs, so shiny and with scales! And that cakes! The little strawberry look so real and everything really looks tasty! And a great set for my magical desk! And the small glass bottle has very tiny "beads with no whole" in them, and glitter, this can be very useful at my magical home/store or what ever I finally decide to make =)

I got a little "help" arranging this picture....

And yes, that was not all, I did win Jane's clay-giveaway too =) I can see many fun hours of clay looking at this! I want to try to make a dragon of my own too. I came to like dragons a lot after seeing Merlin, the TV-series. And now, after seeing Jane's dragons, I really LOVE dragons =) so I want to make a great scene/house/store for them.
I think I should just stop thinking and start making.. Just start a smaller fantasy project right away, and maybe I can make a whole house later. The thought of making a perfect and big fantasy scene scares me, so I might just start small. And when I have these wonderful pieces I can't go wrong. Thanks Jane for pushing me in the right direction =)
I'll go to bed now, and think a little more of this project, but tomorrow I really hope to get started!

Take care

Hannah

Böcker

Jag försökte skriva ut några böcker från minisonjas julkalender (som hon nog tagit bort från nätet för jag hittar den inte längre) Men min skrivare är helt knäpp och vägrar skriva ut i färg, så jag försökte med svartvitt men det blev inte heller så bra, men jag gjorde en bok, som ska få ett omslag sen med =)

Sen surfade jag runt lite igår kväll och hittade denna blogg: http://illyriasminiatures.blogspot.se
Där såg jag massa fint och bla några böcker. Och senare fick jag en idé till en bok till mitt fantasytittskåp...

Jag limmade fast en bit gråmålad äggkartong på en blädderbar köpt bok.

Sen skar jag ut fogar med en vass kniv och så blev det en tegelstensbok =) I Sverige (jag vet inte hur det är utomlands) kan man ju kalla en tjock bok för en tegelsten. Så jag tyckte detta var en kul idé =) Och den passar nog in i fantasytittskåpet sedan. Jag tyckte det var så roligt så jag gjorde som vanligt några till =) Nu fick jag ju användning av min tegelstensteknik som jag funderade att ha till växthusgolvet (men det blir nog det första golvet med oregelbundna stenar ändå)

Här är några jag påbörjat som är gjorda av reklamkataloger med limmad rygg som jag skurit i småbitar.

Sen tänkte jag bara visa en fågelbok jag gjort förut genom att klippa ut bilder (som är från nått häfte) ur ett reklamblad som blev en perfekt bok.

¤

And a big thank you and welcome to new followers:
cwethington
Doortje

Illyria Miniatures

britt

Färdigt bord

Bordet är färdigt, eller?! Jag har ännu inte bestämt om jag ska byta ut bordsskivan eller ej, men den passar ju bra här, men den var så fin på ett "vanligt" bord med... Får se hur det blir.

Jag gjorde lite mer saker i lera förra veckan, bla.

Många räkor blev det, jag älskar räkor men verkar ha blivit allergisk och kan inte äta dem mer =( så jag passar på att göra massa i miniatyr istället =)

Prickigkorv

Svampstavar

Bröd