As most if not all miniaturists have discovered to their dismay is that scale is not always what it is supposed to be and we are often dissapointed. I hesitate to tell people that I make minis in case they give me some horrendous out of scale or cheapie piece that I will have to smile at.
When ordering, especially in China and Asia in general you see all kinds of things sold as 1:12 scale. Some turns out to be just too small to be serious or are in fact 1:6 th scale, Barbie/Blythe scale.
I wanted to paint some vases and plates for Ramsay house and at first thought that I would make them with airclay. I saw these vases and plates on EBay at 'fullrich-2009' for 5.29 euros for ten plates and 6.63 euros for six vases. The vases are the correct scale and quite good quality, the bases need light sanding to sit well. I think that painted blue and white they can look good.
The plates are not great but ok for testing painting on porcelain.
Now I have bought a few times some 'silver flatware' to find it's either plastic or is sold as 'charms' with integrated jump rings so when I saw these I wasn't that impressed. At a little over one euro for a Twelve piece set I ordered 3 and waited as you do from China. They came from 'onlineselection' a Chinese store via EBay. They are in fact rather good for what they are. All metal.
OK we all dream of Mike Sparrow and his incredible solid silver flatware but it's not the same league. As an accessory for a house or decor these pieces are good enough. You have to pass a pin between the fork tines to clean up the excess plating.
The knives are particulary good I think. Personally I like plain flatware not fancy.
They come in three colours.
The vases awaiting really bad weather so I can begin to try painting.
To finish I couldn't resist some Mike Sparrow from the UK. You can order just one set and build up as you go. For what they are the prices are not out of this world.
His incredible tea sets ! Wow !!
https://mikesparrowsilver.co.uk/
I love this guy's unfinished bisque pieces for painting and the pricing is phenomenal:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.ebay.com/str/blueskyminiaturesandcollectibles/Unpainted-Miniature-Pottery/_i.html?_storecat=5188026017
I bought a lifetime supply a few years ago and am still using them in my builds on a regular bases - in fact, I painted up several yesterday! Hope the info is helpful for you!
Goodness gracious great balls of twine !! What a find, many thanks ,these are PERFECT !!! I have looked for months and not found anything as nice ,,, I found this soman this morning via Mulvaney and Rogers and have jsut asked for the price list. Will keep you posted unless you already know her ? hugs and thanks Jodi
Deletehttp://www.ceramicminiatures.eu/UShome.html
Jodi I just looked up his prices and he is asking almost 30 dollars shipping on one piece at 99 cents !! This often happens from the US ,,, so sad ,,, I COULD have them shipped to a friend in LA ,,, xx
DeleteOMG how disappointing! Is the shipping to France from here really that expensive? Why do we just put up with that kind of nonsense from these shipping companies?!? If ever you think I might be able to collect some things here and then ship them to you in a bulk load, I'd be happy to do so.
DeleteYes it's often the case. I often see things I like for a few dollars but up to 40 dollars shipping and then import charges. EBay has their own system of calculating shipping and often sellers cannot go above them. I have a close friend, almost a son, who lives in Hollywood and works in fashion. He is French of Portuguese origin. He followed me to India ( I got married there in a temple !! ) and then Rio de Janeiro then Sao Paulo where I lived. His mother said that I could post to him so I will make a big basket of white porcelain thanks to you :-) !! huggss
DeleteDear mrs. M. You are like a whirlwind. When I think you put up a new post I have already missed two others. The cutlery from China looks good. Especially for that price. But Mike sparrows work is certainly superior.
ReplyDeleteThe 5 mm gap in the previous post is fixable. I think you have the solution already. Never despair. ;-)
And thank you for the adresses in the other post. I was nooit het aware of Dominique Levy's work but I love it. Thank you so much for bringing her work to our attention.
Huibrecht
Thank you, yes I am all over the place. I think I am partially fixated on all those wonderful blogs that seem to dissapear overnight ! When I was in college in London ( in 1872 !! ) I used to walk all over the town and down small streets finding little shops and bargains then post the listings on the school notice board. People didn't get it saying that you do not share good finds ! In the mini Community people seem to share which is my mentality. Jodi gave me a great source, the postage from the US is horrendous unless you know some one there , I also found this lady in Portugal you might like ,,, hugggss
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Dear Mrs. M. 1872? you are pulling my leg.;-)
DeleteThere is indeed a positive atmosphere in this community and I find that refreshing. Sharing information does not mean you loose it after all.
Henny Staring Egberts makes great miniature orcelain indeed! stunnning work. I hapen to own one plate of her. She exhibis at the miniature show in Arnhem in september and I hope to buy some more then.
I was surprised by the dedication of the miniaturists when I began researching. I spent hours going through different blogs and noting on the side suppliers and techniques, finding what I liked and wanted and what I did not want in my house. Every one has his/her own style and approach and that makes it fresh and interesting. When I told a couple of friends what I was doing one of them said ' oh there must be hundreds of miniaturists out there ' when I told him more like hudnreds of thousands he couldn't believe it. There is everything from Ferd Sobol and his wife to those who make 'dolly houses', space for everyone !! hugggss Mr H
DeleteHuibrecht express my own sentiments exactly! You are always 2 steps ahead of yourself with such a buzz of activity taking place in-between, that it is hard to keep up with with your progress! But PLEASE don't stop!!! :D
ReplyDeleteYour tableware challenges are yet another intriguing adventure. I too had purchased some of the same cutlery from China. I love the carving on them but found that the knives are the best, as they appear to be the closest in scale. The Mike Sparrow cutlery is Astounding and totally drool worthy as the majority of Sterling Silver in miniature, usually is. Still; one can dream....
I looked at the link of Jodi's recommendation and the postage IS exorbitant, yet still worth the look. How wonderful that you have a liaison in California who can act as an overseas agent for you!
I am excited to see what you do when painting the vase and plate blanks. I can only imagine how Cool they will look after you've done with them, and I for one, Can't Wait to See.
Keep it coming Stephanie! :D
Hello Miss E, thank you. I must say that even if no one read my posts I would still put them up! BUT I am so happy to have you lovely followers all to share with. I sometimes have to hold back with some posts as I Don't want to suddenly tell you Something that you all know and that I am the last one to find out. Last night I was still in the repair mood and today is a busy day delivering a ton of goodies to a Young friend who has opened a guest farm and all the previous furnishings are terrible. Luckilly i bought a LOT of silver, porcelaine and embroidered linens when no one wanted them and am so happy that they are going to a good home. Thursday a couple of friends drop by to leave their little dog with me for two weeks and then they come back to pick him up and stay for four days site seeing in the region. It's raining so it would have been a good day to do miniatures but sometimes RL gets in the way. Hugggsss Mis E xx
DeleteDear Mrs. M.! It's such a wonderful idea to share sources. Aren't we always on the lookout for 'just the right thing'?
ReplyDeleteNot being very experienced in miniature work I wanted to ask you about this 350g kraft paper that you have mentioned before. I'm completely unfamiliar with it, but it sounds like it's the right thing for many a project. When I looked around a local craft store, all I found was poster board, which is much too thin. Do you buy the craft paper online? And if so, would you be willing to share your source? Also, (as if you don't have other stuff to do) would you enlighten me as to the use of gesso? Why do you use it and what, specifically, does it do? Many thanks in advance!!!
Dear Iris, yes the kraft is great, it is like really fine mdf wood. You can glue several layers and the result is like wood and can be cut and sanded and painted like wood. I buy it in China via AliExpress, it's quite inexpensive. Here is a link, a bit long but good.When I say Gesso, I usually repalce it with plai nwhite mat acrylic house paint, same thing. It seals and 'fills' the card and prepares it for final painting. If you use the technique of layering the card to look like panelled wood it's best to gesso before sanding of using filler/spackle, I learnt the hard way ! Good luck and happy crafting ,, hugggs
Deletehttps://fr.aliexpress.com/item/32888111340.html?spm=a2g0w.search0204.3.1.4d3217c8iart2j&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0%2Csearchweb201602_2_10065_10068_319_317_10696_10084_453_10083_454_10618_10304_10307_10820_10821_537_10302_536_10843_10059_10884_10887_321_322_10103%2Csearchweb201603_53%2CppcSwitch_0&algo_expid=f9a25dea-8657-4670-972f-84eb31fb1c2c-0&algo_pvid=f9a25dea-8657-4670-972f-84eb31fb1c2c&transAbTest=ae803_4
Iris I will add about the gesso/mat acrylic paint, you can paint several layers of it over the card, it makes a sort of plaster like finish than can be sanded after several coats making a really smooth finish that takes paint really well. I pay about ten euros for a 75 ml pot of white house paint. It dries fast ( I sometimes use a hair drier! ) The forst few times I made my door panels I fillered/spackled before gesso and the filler made quite a bit of mess that took work to get off. Finally I realised that I had to use the gesso on the card layers THEN use the filler smoothing it with a wet finger to give a smooth finish before some fine sanding. I am quite impatient but I am getting better at taking my time. It has taken me days to finally glue my stairs in place ! hugggssss
DeleteThank you so very much for your answers!! I'm in the learning and planning/dreaming phase of things. This kraft card sounds like it is just the right thing. In the past I have always tried to make everything out of wood but, as you know, thin but sturdy wood is hard to find. I have already had a look at the link and saved it to my favorites. To my relief, they seem to be shipping to the US. So: Yay!
DeleteThe use of gesso/paint is also a very helpful tip. There is a lot to learn when you get into crafting. My sad little piece of advice so far to anyone even more inexperienced than I am: Don't get superglue on your fingers - you will lose some skin! ;)
Thank you so much for your help!!
Ah !! superglue !! I recently bought transparent Gorilla Glue which seems to ahve the qualities of superglue but dries slower. When you use it on non porous surfaces you have to wet the surface to activate the glue, strange but it works. Otherwise I use two part époxy glue for stronger things but it is a fuss. I recently discovered the qualites of Tack Glue. I bought it when I read people using it and thought oddly that it was some for of temporary glue until I read that it's jsut very sticky white glue, perfect when you Don't want pieces 'sliding' between each other. Yes the Kraft card is great, I would suggest two weights, 350 or 400 and Something lighter like 200/250. The more you buy the cheaper it is. On AliExpress there are many people who sell it. Check the sizes because once I bought some and it came postcard size ! still useful but. Kraft is great whe you make a floor or wall, you can decorate it, lay parquet then glue it to the floor or wall already decorated. Good crafting Iris , huggss
DeleteYes, thank you, I will have a very good look at everything before I order it. Using it for walls and floors is exactly what I had in mind. 😃
DeleteThis is the type of information I’ve long been trying to find. Thank you for writing this information. crockery wholesale
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