Medieval Miniature Dollhouse Castle Created in 2012

I was looking at my blog again today and realized I have so many things Ive created over the past few years but have never blogged about it. One of them is a Medieval Castle Tower I made from scratch for a Client of mine. One day she sent me a message asking me what I was working on. At that moment, I wasn't working on anything and had decided to take time off that year to create only things and ideas that had been stuck in my head for years. The idea of a Castle tower thrilled her.

Her Castle tower was inspired by Rik Pierce's "Norman Castle" class he did at the Tom Bishop show. I saw it the first time I attended the Bishop Miniature show. I was so very excited about it because he told me he had taught it as a class project. The sad part was that I missed out on it but he told me he would do another class the following year.

Well, the next Spring, I took the class "Snape's Dungeon". I was hooked on Creative paper clay form that time forward. The problem was, I couldn't keep the Tower out of my head. I sent an email to Rik about it and he sent me pictures of his tower and sold me the casts from it. He told me he had faith that one day I could create my own version of that Castle. Seven years later, I took out that picture and created my version of it. I called it the "Dragon Castle Tower".

My castle was wider and larger because I wanted more space for my customer to decorate it. I didn't do a Moat or drawbridge. But we were both very pleased with how it turned out. She had a doll artist create several dolls for it and shared pictures of them with me via Facebook last year sometime. Here are the pictures of my Tower. I plan to make another one in the future. There are things I want to change on it.

Anyway, I thought I'd share this because it is a piece of work that I haven't shared here online. I post most things on InstaGram now. You can visit me there by clicking here. MinisOnTheEdge Instagram. I was happy I started on it before I had my car accident later that year.  Had I waited, It probably wouldn't have been built.

Thank you for stopping by to read my blog. Wishing you all a Fabulous day.

Tracy Topps

Medieval Lighthouse Rik Pierce Class Project

I took a class back in 2007 at the Chicago Tom Bishop Miniature show and it has been sitting covered in my workroom every since. Most of it was complete but, I was working on projects for customers and just set my house aside.

Last year, I decided to work on it but after the car accident last summer, it just made my other health issues harder to bear and I did mostly nothing. Last week, I was having an extremely good day. Hadn't had one in so long that I dusted my project off took pictures and got busy on it.

I Love this project because I took it with two of my friends from Greenleaf so we all have this rare class project by Rik. He only taught it for our class and that means there were under 20 of these world wide. Anyway, after a little over a week, the pictures show where I started and where I am at with it right now.

I hope to be finished sometime next week. I hope you enjoy the pictures and Thank You for viewing my Blog!

Tom Bishop International Miniature Show, Part 2

My friend Deana, sent me pictures that she took at the Bishop show of some really cool Steampunk items she found and she said I could share them with you all. These items were created by Rainbow hand and Kathy.  These are some truly Wonderful items for those of us who love to look at Stempunkery. Check these out:

She also had the opportunity to go to the IMA show (I didn't get the chance to go) and she took pictures of a Fantastic Tree house. She said it was created by M.R. Daniels   Isn't it fabulous?

The only things I purchased this year at the show were flower kits from Pepperwood Miniatures  I bought some of her Morning Glories. I have a feeling I am going to want more of her flowers. I was looking for petunias but it seems that must be a hard one because I did not find those anywhere at the show. I also bought some supplies from Templewood Miniatures I took a class a few years ago with Katheryn and learned how to create several flowers using cold porcelain.

I also took pictures of the other houses Rik had for sale at the Bishop show

Rapunzel's Tower

 Smugglers Cottage

 Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor

(this is the next Project, I will work on)

 

Thank You again for stopping by to read my blog!! Wishing You a Fantastic Day doing Miniature!! I would like to give a Special Thank you to Deana for sharing her pictures with us all!!

Tracy

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Tom Bishop's Chicago International Dollhouse Show 2012

What a Show! This past Saturday, I had the opportunity to go to one of the greatest Miniature Shows on Earth. It was the Tom Bishop's International Show 2012 in Chicago. I missed last year's show and was so disappointed because I love to see what new items different artisans have created over the past 12 months for this show.

It's a Great time for many artisans to show off their talents on so many different categories in miniature. Some make custom lights fixtures, animals, furniture, buildings, flowers, even stained glass and pots and pans.

What makes this show so unique from the others is the items. You can easily find lights to light your dollhouse, but artisan hand create these lights and they can look so much like a real light fixture in your full sized home, that when you look at the picture, it will have you guessing, "is it real"? Even the animals, carpets, furniture, flowers and houses can just leave you in awe.

Well, I took some pictures but, I am so sorry to say that I got so wrapped up with talking to people that I have only talked to online or friends I haven't seen in years, that I found myself stopped at their table and I forget to take pictures of their wonderful items. I'm sorry about that and promise to do better next time. I was so excited to just be there.

Of course my first stop was to see Rik & Marcia Pierce. I learned from Rik how to do the stones in paperclay and have taken several classes over the years with him. I had such fun stopping by and chatting and talking with both Rik  and his wife. It's so fun to get a view of her new items. The one below, is incomplete. The insides is not finished. Some of the rooms has not been started on at all and other room are not painted yet.

This is of the Dragon Wizard Tower he is creating for one of his Clients. It's stunning!

Front with dragon head door

This is the back

Next, I saw my friend from the Greenleaf Forum Deana who has gone through a lot in the past year. We talked for about 2 hours straight! It was our first time meeting in person and she is just a sweet and funny & cool lady! Her gorgeous daughter talked to my daughter while her Mom and I talked then I realized we were standing across from Erik Goddard's table!! I LOVE his stuff! My Favorite was his roombox depiction of Edgar Allen Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado". My Daughter loved his Modern Scenes, it made her think of the Movie "In Time" that came out last year.

Rachel's Favorite

I then had the opportunity to see Dennis Nordman. He taught his first class this year and it was called "Wizards R Us". He is also a student of Rik Pierce. He was excited to be at the show selling and teaching. I met him 2 years ago while of course, I was taking one of Riks classes.

I then went to the doll room. I wanted to see my friend Bev Gelfand. She had a fabulous table and was just a Wonderful person to be able to talk to. She is so open and friendly. Her dolls were so Gorgeous! 

She and I together.

I also had a chance to see my other doll friend Gayle Clausen. Her dolls just brings a huge smile to your face!

 I had the chance to briefly see Jo Bevilacqua and her wonderful roomboxes and other items. Isn't this Fabulously Gorgeous!

 This one is a class she is doing at her home. This was totally Beautiful at the show:

These were just a few of my favorites and am so sorry that I did not take more pictures! If you have blogged things you got at the show this past weekend, please feel free to leave a comment with your blog address so others can see what you liked most at the show. Please feel free to visit the links provided so you can see more of their items. Unfortunately, Dennis Nordman does not have a website. When you click his name, his email will show up though. 

Hope you enjoyed the visiting my blog today!

Tracy Topps

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Rose Cottage Roombox 1" scale Dollhouse Miniature

I am adding the last touches to my latest Courtyard roombox setting and I just wanted to share it with you all because this roombox style has been discontinued for years and I only have a few. The scenes I create in my last few are each different and unique. I am not taking custom orders because I am working with the stash I have on hand. This is one of those pieces that is simply gorgeous!! It would be the perfect conversation piece and there is still room for you to add some of your own special unique touches to it. I do NOT use Stamps or Molds. Each stone and brick was hand sculpted  and hand painted by me. I have learned from the King of this technique (Rik Pierce) himself who teaches his students how to do this free hand. Much time and imagination has gone into this creation to make it into this special item you see here.

It will be for sell in my CDHM shop and you don't want to wait and let it to get away!! There are over 40 handmade roses in the climbing rosebush alone! Their are 3 different shades of pink roses on this bush to simulate a touch of nature.

The fountain with water sprouting from it, is just so beautiful and has an aged verdigris hand painted effect. The entry way has massive pillars with fierce looking protectors guarding the entry. The flower box is full of flowers in shades of pink, white and purple.  The window has a spiders web "lead glass" looking insert.

All I have to add are the butterflies and birds to this Wonderful scene. Can't you just picture yourself enjoying the scene in this Beautiful rose Courtyard?! The Working hanging coach light has also been aged a green verdigris color. If you purchased this scene, I am sure you will be happy with it.

You can purchase this scene here:

http://www.cdhm.org/user/minisontheedge

You can see more pictures via my webshots album

Rose Cottage Courtyard roombox

 

Thank you for taking the time to view my blog!! If you have questions please do not hesitate to ask them.

Tracy

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Chicago International Tom Bishop Show 2011 workshops

Last week, I was looking over the pictures of the workshops offered for the Tom Bishop Chicago show next year. As with every year, I always see several classes I'd love to take but am unsure which, if any I will take. I have been wanting an iPad for a couple of years and 2 of the classes I'd like to take cost more than an 64g iPad. Of course, this has never stopped me before.

If you haven't seen what they are offering, you can click here:

Tom Bishop Chicago 2012 Workshops

What are some of my favorites? Well of course, I LOVE Rik Pierce's Smuggler's cottage:

I'm Also in LOVE with Ron Hubble Jacobean Drawing Room:

One of my Favorite artists is Claude Monet and Karl Blindheim is offering a fantastic class titled Camille's Terrace:

Roz & Aidy Gilmore are teaching a sculpting class on how to sculpt and dress a doll:

Erik Goddard is offering a class that appeals to me too titled Rue De La Croix:

Charrita Teague is offering a class on creating  food such as Cheese, grapes, wine and much more for your dollhouse settings. It's being offered in 1" & 1/4th inch scales:

There are seventy (70) classes being offered and many that can catch the eye of any miniaturists. There are classes on making furniture, animals, smaller scales and Much much more. They also offer a fantastic show & sale during the weekend. If you have not been, this is a show you will want to save for and attend.  You can click here: http://bishopshow.com/chiinfo.htm for more information about the show in Chicago next year.

Hope you all have a Fantastic day!

Bishop Miniature Dollhouse Show 2010

I had such a Wonderful time at the Tom Bishop International show in Chicago this year! I saw so many Wonderful items. There is just so much talent and you get a certain energy buzzing around a room full of warm, friendly, inspiring and Artistic people. It's a shame but this year, most of my pictures did not come out. I am thinking this camera may be too old now (3 years) because it's been being weird for a while and I had been using my son's and decided not to bring his cause I was afraid, I'd lose it or something. I sure wish I had brought it! My daughter Rachel took better pictures than I did and here are some of those show stoppers. These are the only ones that came out decent enough to share. There were so many roombox pictures I took. My daughter Rachel took more than half of the best shots here!

I hope you all enjoy the pictures and I want to say "Thank You" to all of the Wonderful people who let us take pictures of their tables & items!!
Thank You All for stopping by and reading my blog today!

Anna Hardman Dolls

This roombox was based off of the painting by Painting by Konstantin Flavitsky of Princess Tarakanova.  You can read the tragic story of this Princess here

Arline Smith Roomboxes & Dolls

Arline was so sweet. She took time and talked with us for a nice period of time. She even explained to my daughter Rachel, exactly how she created the roombox and what types of parts and findings she used to create them. She even shared secretes as to how she create such wonderful rugs! The great thing about it is, she volunteered this info after Rachel asked her if she could take pictures of her wonderful work.

Rik Pierce Roomboxes

Rik' version of Weasley's Burrow from Harry Potter