Now that I'm all caught up on orders, I have plans for some new things to be ready in time for the Guild Show in September.
First up will be a new storybook style cottage, inspired by the fanciful homes designed by Hugh Comstock in 1920s. http://www.flickr.com/photos/from_linda_yvonne/sets/72157600130746798/
It's in the design stage today - photos soon!
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Guild School Continued
I was so proud of my students, I just have to share the picture of all their cottages on display at thebanquet. The tables in the back row were made by Mark Murphy.
The button says: "I worked as little as possible at the IGMA Guild School 2011!" (We did, too!) I gave one to every student at the end of class.
The cherry on the sundae is that I will be teaching again next year - my Victorian Cottage this time.
The cherry on the sundae is that I will be teaching again next year - my Victorian Cottage this time.
Guild School Pictures
I've been working on orders, so I haven't had new pictures in a while. It seems like a good time talk about the 2011 IGMA Guild School.
It was my first year teaching, so I was very lucky to be assigned to an unusual and wonderful classroom in the old presidents's house. The house is almost at the top of the hell where the school is located, and has a great view of the bay.
The class was held in the sun room, which you can see at the right of the building. There were so mant windows that even though we had a clooudy, rainy week, there was very good light.
Here's the classroom, after I had set everything up on Friday.
The staff at the Maine Maritime Academy are so friendly and helpful, I was able to set up very quickly and have lots of time left to wander around Castine looking for inspiring architecture - not hard to find, because the little town is full of 18th and 19th Century buildings of all kinds and sizes. I took lots of pictures!
The week went by in a flash, and everyone finished their Garden Cottage a little early on Friday, so we were all able to rest up before the closing banquet.
Continued on next post....
The class was held in the sun room, which you can see at the right of the building. There were so mant windows that even though we had a clooudy, rainy week, there was very good light.
Here's the classroom, after I had set everything up on Friday.
The staff at the Maine Maritime Academy are so friendly and helpful, I was able to set up very quickly and have lots of time left to wander around Castine looking for inspiring architecture - not hard to find, because the little town is full of 18th and 19th Century buildings of all kinds and sizes. I took lots of pictures!
The week went by in a flash, and everyone finished their Garden Cottage a little early on Friday, so we were all able to rest up before the closing banquet.
Continued on next post....
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Off to the Guild School
I'm leaving for Castine today. Looking forward to meeting my students and getting away from the awful heat we've been having here in Michigan!
Connie Sauve sent me a picture of the Noel and Pat Thomas dolls she made for our aution piece. They are amazing, and I can't wait to see the whole thing together.
For those of you who have asked for kits: I'm afraid my houses are really too complicated to make to be sold in that way. However, I hope to continue teaching at the Guild School, and would urge anyone who can to join me in Castine. I will also be teaching classes for smaller items, such as domes and room boxes, at Tom Bishop's Chicago International and probably also at Philadelphia Miniaturia in 2012.
I hope to be able to post at least once while I'm at the Guild School.
Connie Sauve sent me a picture of the Noel and Pat Thomas dolls she made for our aution piece. They are amazing, and I can't wait to see the whole thing together.
For those of you who have asked for kits: I'm afraid my houses are really too complicated to make to be sold in that way. However, I hope to continue teaching at the Guild School, and would urge anyone who can to join me in Castine. I will also be teaching classes for smaller items, such as domes and room boxes, at Tom Bishop's Chicago International and probably also at Philadelphia Miniaturia in 2012.
I hope to be able to post at least once while I'm at the Guild School.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Getting Ready for the Guild School
It's been a very busy three weeks as I prepare materials for my class at the I.G.M.A. Guild School. So much to do!
I just finished the class prototype of "Garden Cottage", having sold the first one to a long time customer who called to ask: "Do I have to make one, or can I just buy it?" (Classes are not everyone's idea of a good time!)
I dictated directions into a small recorder as I worked; now I have to write them out and make assembly drawings.
I've assembled parts, made multiple lists, and the studio is filled with partially packed boxes of supplies. It's fun, but a lot of work! The very last thing I did was make and paint 15 of the tiny weathervanes (10 plus 5 extra, in case of disasters.) All the other construction will be done by the students.
The Guild School is a one of a kind experience, whether you are a student or a teacher. It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on - as the saying goes - if you happen to love miniatures!
I just finished the class prototype of "Garden Cottage", having sold the first one to a long time customer who called to ask: "Do I have to make one, or can I just buy it?" (Classes are not everyone's idea of a good time!)
I dictated directions into a small recorder as I worked; now I have to write them out and make assembly drawings.
I've assembled parts, made multiple lists, and the studio is filled with partially packed boxes of supplies. It's fun, but a lot of work! The very last thing I did was make and paint 15 of the tiny weathervanes (10 plus 5 extra, in case of disasters.) All the other construction will be done by the students.
The Guild School is a one of a kind experience, whether you are a student or a teacher. It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on - as the saying goes - if you happen to love miniatures!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
The "Thomas Table"
The the roof over the first floor was chemically weathered copper for the 1:12 version we made in class. It simply isn't possible to do that in 1:144, so I used .005" styrene with .010"X .010" ribs. I painted it black, then added a dark brown wash with just a tiny bit of metallic bronze in it , then a verdigris color wash.
The side walls were plastered in the 1:12 scale version; I used gesso for the 1:144 scale version.
My favorite trick learned in the class was making the drain pipe at the bottom of the downspout out of masking tape. Just a few wraps of 3/4" tape, with more wraps of a narrow strip of tape at the top, some paint, and voila! It looked just like the real thing! So that's what I have Noel making on the table.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Guild School 2011
Now that Chicago is over, I'm turning my attention to the Guild School. There's lots to do, especially in preparing for my Garden Cottage class.
First, though, I'm working on a piece to be donated for their annual fund raising auction. This is the last year legendary artists Noel and Pat Thomas will be teaching at the Guild School, so I'm teaming up with the wonderful doll artist, Connnie Sauve, to make a piece in their honor. Connie is making Noel and Pat dolls, and I am making a work table with an "in progress" version of "La Fenetre", the class they will be teaching this year. (To see it, go to: http://www.igma.org/guild_school/2011_classes/36.html)
I was lucky enough to take the class in 2009, so I have lots of photos to work from.
I've almost finished the 1:144 La Fenetre", and am about to set up the work table. I had planed to make a table, but remembered that I had a table by Mark Murphy (also a Guild School instructor) that somehow looks very "Noel Thomas-y", so I'm going to use that.
Pictures soon!
First, though, I'm working on a piece to be donated for their annual fund raising auction. This is the last year legendary artists Noel and Pat Thomas will be teaching at the Guild School, so I'm teaming up with the wonderful doll artist, Connnie Sauve, to make a piece in their honor. Connie is making Noel and Pat dolls, and I am making a work table with an "in progress" version of "La Fenetre", the class they will be teaching this year. (To see it, go to: http://www.igma.org/guild_school/2011_classes/36.html)
I was lucky enough to take the class in 2009, so I have lots of photos to work from.
I've almost finished the 1:144 La Fenetre", and am about to set up the work table. I had planed to make a table, but remembered that I had a table by Mark Murphy (also a Guild School instructor) that somehow looks very "Noel Thomas-y", so I'm going to use that.
Pictures soon!
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