Making a Tiny Victorian Hall Lantern

I have been searching for some light fittings for my half scale dollhouse, however, in this scale I have not been able to find any affordable lights which are not clunky and look out of scale. I did find some that were nice but were about $150 - $200 each, which is too much if you want to light a whole house. 

So, I decided to make my own. The first light fitting I need to make it the entrance hall light because it will be closest to the lighting pack (which will sit under the stairs). 

I decided on a Victorian hall lantern. I love these lanterns so much! 

There are many different styles, but the common elements include leaded stain glass in simple geometric patterns, and quatrefoil patterned edging. 

To make my little lantern, I first found some cheap, thin bangles.

I also tracked down some fancy jewellery wire with a nice gothic-type pattern. 

I cut the bangle into 8 equal lengths to form the top and bottom frame of the four sided lantern.

I then cut small sections from the decorative wire and used them to cap the edges of the frame, top and bottom.

I then bent two lengths of wire for the "handle" on the top.

I then glued these two lengths on as you can see below.

Once the top and bottom frames were done I cut four equal rectangles from acetate for the glass. These glued into a cube easily using a plastics glue. 

Then I popped the top and bottom framing sections onto the acetate cube.

Next I used a length of gold tape to use for the leading (bought from a gold supply shop). This is thin lead strip tape with an adhesive backing which can be cut into very thin strips and simply stuck down to look like leading on glass. I also used it to cap the four side edges of the lantern.

The use of super glue to glue the metal frame to the acetate oxidises the acetate, thus making it a little cloudy. I personally like this because I think it makes the glass look old. 

I bought glass paints to colour the acetate however (after spending a lot of money on the paint) changed my mind because it did not give a smooth finish. Instead I bought coloured cellophane, cut it into pieces and glued it to the inside of the lantern.

The outcome is surprisingly real and effective!

Im still debating whether I have made the lantern the right scale for the hall. I feel it might be a tiny bit big. I guess it will become more clear once the other finishes are in.

I have been thinking of making some more to sell on Etsy (in both 1:12 and 1:24). Thoughts?

Making an Arts and Crafts Lantern for the Bungalow

I have been looking on the internet for weeks for some appropriate light fittings for the bungalow. I love these beautiful craftsman chandelier lanterns and wanted something similar.  

This picture (below) is from the dining room of the Gamble House, a house built in California in 1908 by the famous architects Greene and Greene.

Because lights can really make a room, they have to be appropriate to the period of the house. Because none could be bought, I finally decided to take a brave step and make my own. I bought some cheap light fittings and took the globes out.

I set about making a lantern chandelier and so started with a box made of balsa wood. 

Instead of using glass I decided to use paper. I don't have the tools to use glass, though I would have preferred it. Next time perhaps...

I then made the lantern top from base wood. 

I also made a ceiling fitting. 

To make the paper look like glass I coloured it with water colour pencils (I used special water colour paper which does not warp) and drew the lead light pattern on with fine line marker. 

I stained the wood in walnut and threaded and fixed in the light globe. 

I glued it all together, but it was quite fragile (I managed to break it twice before it went in to the house).

The finished product worked so well I have decided to make all the light fittings for the entire house!

2013 Sydney Miniatures Fair!

This past weekend, as a special treat, my Mum and I travelled to Sydney from Melbourne for the 2013 Sydney Dollhouse and Miniatures Fair. It was a great weekend and I was lucky enough to meet some fellow bloggers! I met Magaret from My Petit Parterre, and Fiona from A Passion for Miniatures. It was great to put some faces to names! 

I am very glad I went too because I was able to find some interesting things. I found some wonderful arts and crafts style wall paper for my bungalow dollhouse:

I picked up a cheap Chrysnbon bathroom and some nice tiles for the bungalow bathroom.

I also found some wonderful hand made colonial dining chairs.

Also, a nice little chaise lounge.

A little lyre sewing table and wash stand. 

A wonderful little hand made replica of an Australian meat safe. 

It is beautifully made. 

I also collected some sweet little lazer cut plant stand kits. 

And finally, the most exciting, some beautiful scandinavian style mirrored wall scones. These I bought for my Swedish house. The style is very hard to find, and finding them made the trip all the way to Sydney very worth while! They are made by Kim's Minis (from New Zealand), and I will be shopping there again!

A Little Chandelier Commission Arrives

Today a beautifully presented package arrived from Minst, in Sweden. 

I commissioned a Swedish style chandelier from Cilla at Minst and it had finally arrived! Cilla made it by hand with real crystal. It is also electrified. 

I don't think the photos do it justice. 

I am slowly collecting light fittings and other parts for my Scandinavian house, which is coming along very slowly. I will be satisfied though, that it will have an authentic look.