Christmas Eve

The magic of Christmas and walnut houses just seem to go together! This cozy cottage is all decorated and ready for a visit from St. Nicholas.

It's for sale on my web site : www.nellcorkin.com, and I'm offering free shipping for this item until Christmas.

Parget Cottage, 1623

It was so enjoyable making the Pargeted House, I just had to make another one. This one is smaller, but has the same kind of elaborate plaster decoration. The door and windows would be "improvements" done in later centuries.

The interior has cozy cottage furnishings and a sleeping cat on a hassock made by Sylvia Mobley.

Class for Chicago International 2013

In talking to people at shows, I've found that there seems to be a great deal of interest in "how-to" classes for finishing 1:144th scale interiors. With this in mind, I'm offering this class at Chicago International 2013.

It should be an enjoyable project for anyone, whether you have experience with 1:144 scale or not. Students will learn a variety of methods for creating and finishing furniture, including modifying cast resin pieces and scratch building from found materials, as well as painting and marbleizing techniques.

It should be up on the show website soon: http://www.bishopshow.com/chiinfo.htm

House For Sale

I have one Victorian Cottage available for sale now. For more information, go to the "For Sale - 2" page on my web site: https://nellcorkin.com/Victorian_Cottage.php

Guild School 2012

Once again, Guild School was amazing - and exhausting! As I've said before, it's the most fun a miniaturist can have with her clothes on! Here's a sign in front of the wonderful Bah's Bakehouse welcoming the Guild to Castine.

My class was a delight. I am very proud of my students, who all did a great job on a very complicated little cottage. We had a nice little subdivision of Victorian Cottages for the exhibit on graduation night!

Off to Castine

I've been unbelieveably busy getting ready for the Guild School! I did take the time to make a piece for the auction night, though. It's called "Kittens for Christmas."

The porcelain kitties are by Sylvia Mobley, and the tavern table is by Mark Murphy.

Opening in Guild School Class

 One of the people who had signed up for my Victorian Cottage class at the IGMA Guild School in Castine will not be able to come. If you have been wanting to take the class, but thought you were too late because the class was full - this is your opportunity!

This is a great project, whether you have done 1:144 scale before or not. No special skills are required, and no power tools are used for this class.

For more information, contact Guild School director barbara Davis at: guildschool@igma.org

Marmalade Stops By For Tea

This chubby fellow followed me home from Chicago! Doesn't he look pleased with himself? He will be for sale on my web site.

Chicago International

I'm back home after an exciting Chicago International 2012. One of the best in years - lots of exciting dealers with wonderful new pieces. I almost sold out. The two remainig pieces will appear in the "for sale now" section of my web site shortly.

Thanks to all who stopped by to say hello - it was great to see you!

Now back to work at getting ready for IGMA Guild School in June.

Upton Abbey

Like so many others, I am addicted to the PBS series Downton Abbey. Highclere Castle, where the series is filmed is a grand example of the "Gothick" Revival style popular in England in the late 18th - early 19th Century. This house is a less elaborate version of that style, and like some actual examples includes both medieval and neoclassical elements in its design.

The design is my own invention, rather than a copy of an existing building. To my surprise, about two weeks after I finished it, I watched an episode of Midsomer Murders on Netflix that included a house very much like it - central tower and all!

Midsomer Cottage

This traditional English half timbered cottage is the result of my watching many Midsomer Murders episodes over the last few weeks.  The series has wonderful locations in the heart of England, and I keep stopping the film so I can examine the architecture more closely.

Wildflour Cakes and Tea Room

The pargeted house was so much fun, I just had to do another one. What could be more perfect than a decorated cake shop? If there isn't a real pargeted shop like thios somewhere, there certainly should be! The interior has a pastry shop on the ground floor and a cozy tea room upstairs.

See it in person at Chicago International!

One Spot Opened Up in Chicago Workshop

One spot has opened up in my Pastry Shop class at Chicago International on Thursday, April 19th.
If you're interested, go to: http://www.bishopshow.com/chiinfo.htm and click on Workshops, then scroll down to Thursday to see the picture; click on that for more info.

Wildflour Cake Shop

After finishing the pargeted house last fall, I had the idea that a building like that, with its similarity to a decorated pastry, would be perfect for a cake shop. I've been working on the cake shop for about ten days, and it's almost finished. Pictures soon!

Painting 1:144 Scale Furniture

I just received an email from a customer who wanted some tips on painting the cast resin furniture I sell. I thought I'd share my answer:

 

You can use any of the acrylic craft paints, like Delta Ceramcoat, Folk Art, etc; that's mostly what I use. No need to primer the pieces before painting.

You are less likely to get brush marks if you

- use really good quality brushes with fine bristles

- use larger, square ended brushes for large areas

- don't try to cover surfaces with one coat; several light coats is always better.

To get wood grain effects:

- for dark woods: paint the whole piece a dark color first; then dry brush with a lighter color.

- for light woods: paint a light color first, then dry brush with a darker color

If you're going for realism, let the pieces dry overnight and then give them a very light wash with brown watercolor (I use watercolor pencils).

Medieval Furniture Site

I'd like to pass along a great site for those who might be interested in making their own miniature medieval and/or Tudor furniture:
http://marhamchurchantiques.com/

It was recommended to me by David Hurley, who made the cabinet for the medieval baby house. It's a commercial site with an ever changing collection of interesting pieces for sale; and they give measurements! A very useful reference.

Medieval Baby House III

As I was taking pictures of the finished baby house, I realized that I hadn't yet posted a good picture of David Hurley's beautiful cabinet, so here it is:

The interior is very hard to photograph. It is almost impossible to get all four rooms in focus while still getting close enought to catch the detail.

The interior details are slightly different from my original design. I decided to make slightly more elegant brass andirons; the originals were black wrought iron. The "cloth of estate" behind the high table is a deep red instead of blue with fleurs-de-lis. I added a bit more furniture, and decided the chair near the fireplace in the hall should have a high back rather than a low one. I also added two little lap dogs on a cushion (porcelain, by Sylvia Mobley).

A tiny replica of the little pottery jug that inspired the project can be seen on the cupboard at the far left of the great hall.

Medieval Baby House II

Panelling and doorways have been installed on both floors. There is wood panelling on the right and left walls on both floors.The dooorway in the great hall has a curtain instead of a door, to make it easier for servants to enter when carrying food and drink

The next step will be to install the back wall and the fireplaces, and then add the furniture.

(Sorry the photo is a bit out of focus)

A Medieval Baby House

A few years ago, I saw a photo of a tiny medieval pottery jug. It was dollhouse size, and started me thinking about what kind of dollhouse someone in the 1400's might have had. As far as I know, there are no surviving examples, but why not a cabinet house? Luckily, I was able to conspire with my wonderfully talented friend David Hurley, who makes exquisite museum quality 14th-17th century furniture, he created a beautiful cabinet with space for a great hall, bedroom and "solar" (day room).

You can see the result, with a medieval lady by Todd Krueger, in the photograph at the lower right.

Now I'm making another medieval baby house as a special order for a client. It will have a slightly different color scheme from the original.

Here it is just as I was getting started. I'm using gesso to add a slight texture to the interior walls, which were then painted a soft white. The floors are molded "stone", painted warm grey and drybrushed with the same white I used for the walls to add texture. David left the back of the cabinet loose - it makes interior finishing much easier. It will be glued on later.

Miniature Miniatures Web Site

It's here - the new Miniatures Miniatures web site!
Miniature Miniatures 

Lots of goodies there, including galleries of works from the past and items available for immediate sale.

Please drop by and have a look around.

Today's Quote

I couldn't say it better myself:"I am often asked, 'Don't you hate to see things leave your studio?' Well, no, I don't hate it. I make my living from letting things go. You just hope, if you make things as I do, that they can make their way in the world and have some longevity." - Edward deWaal, from The Hare with Amber Eyes

Opening in Guild School Class

My Victorian Cottage class for the IGMA Guild School was full, but unfortunately, it turns out that one of the students can't come to Castine this year. This means that as of this afternoon, one spot in the class is again availble. If you've ever thought of treating yourself to the fabulous Guild School experience, and would like to take the class, we would love to have you join us!

Coming Soon!

The web site I have been promising for some time is finally under construction, and will be up and running shortly. It will have information about me, a gallery of past work and items available for immediate sale.

I will post the url here as soon as it is ready for visitors. Check back for further developments!

Pumpkin Patch

This fall themed walnut house sold at the Philadelphia Miniaturia show in November. I've waited to put pictures up because it was to be a surprise Christmas present.

HO and N scale molded plants are becoming available - a great resource for those of us who work in small scales, though they take quite a bit of tweaking in order to look natural. They are molded in very bright colors, so they need repainting, as well. When I saw the pumpkins, I couldn't resist using them with a walnut house; it seemed like the perfect combination!

The cozy interior includes two tiny cats on an ottoman by Sylvia Mobley.