Three cows' legs

Following on from my last post I can hear you all saying "what on earth would Irene want with three cows' legs?"

Well, this is why - *

 

I decided Netherton needed a dairy and while this property is more town house than country house, I had the perfect space under the "area" and opposite the privy.  

The tiles were taken from the inspiration photograph (Ham House) and I've used, but not directly copied, the general idea given that I don't have much space to play with.   

Fortunately I had quite a few bits that were suitable for inclusion and as it's a bit tricky to photograph them in situ, I've detailed them below as once the front and door are added it'll be tricky to see all that's there.

There is still some finishing off to be done (bits that have been highlighted by the photos!) and the front has to be added.   It's also not possible to light this space using electrics so I may use one of the new battery operated lights here - I'm thinking about that at the moment although I might just leave it the way it is.

* ©National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel   Reproduced with the kind permission of the National Trust (www.nationaltrust.org.uk)  

Just Whittlin'

I have been a really bad blogger of late.   Whilst I've been reading all the blogs I follow, I haven't been posting.   I think the oomph went again but I've been keeping up to date with all your wonderful work and I don't think I'm even going to try to catch up with comments - I'm so far behind, suffice to say, I'm back and enjoying all your splendid progress.

 

I have been doing some mini work but it's been in a sort of half-hearted fashion - a wee bit here and a wee bit there but nothing has grabbed my attention recently.    That was until the middle of last week.   I was looking through a National Trust book on conservation and which had some lovely pictures of the interiors of some properties - upstairs and downstairs.  

 

I wont say yet what it was that caught my attention to the point where I thought it could make a great mini scene - suffice to say the spark was ignited!

 

While the other half has been watching tennis (me, I'd sooner watch paint dry!) I've been up in my little hobby room whittling away.    I've never whittled before and I must say, it's quite an enjoyable pastime.

 

In case it's not patently obvious, I've created three cows' legs.   I may only need two but you never know when you might need a third cow's leg as back up!

 

 

 

I was motivated to create these legs myself by the exceptionally clever wood workers in blogland.   Without their inspiration, I'd probably have bought two plastic cows and cut their legs off so thank you for sharing your skills - I would never have done this otherwise..

Thank you Jeffry

 

I was lucky enough to win Jeffry's giveaway and it arrived safely the other day.

 

 

It measures approximately 1 1/2" high (4cms) and is just beautiful.   In fact my photos don't do this lovely little piece justice.   The detail is incredible.

 

 

I'm not normally a winner of things so this was a lovely surprise and I'll be sure to find it a special place in Netherton.

 

Thank you Jeffry!



.........and the Winner is....................................

I decided to use a Random Number Generator for this giveaway.   A bit of a first for me.    The numbers are slightly reduced to that shown on the blog as one or two comments showed up more than once.

Given my limited computer skills when it comes to doing anything fancy, I ended up with a cut and paste exercise to show the winner!

 

As you can see, the winner is..............ANDY!

 

Congratulations Andy.   Please let me have your details and I'll get the gifts in the post to you on Monday. 

Thank you all for participating.

Edinburgh Emporium - a Giveaway

I've really been amazed and thrilled by the enthusiasm of you all for my little Emporium!  I have to say that while I was pleased with it, I was concerned that it might be just a bit too twee and parochial.

I have so enjoyed reading all your lovely comments that I would like to say "thank you" by way of a giveaway.

 

So...........the giveaway consists of a RL spurtle, a box of Edinburgh Rock and a mini spurtle for your mini kitchen.

 

 

All you have to do is be an existing follower and leave a comment.   The draw will take place on Friday, 10th May 2013.

 

Good luck everyone!

Edinburgh Emporium 4

I found, quite by chance, this little resin model of Edinburgh Castle.   It's not a true 12th scale miniature but I think it fits the space quite nicely.

The commissioned items, mentioned earlier,  are the two Tam O'Shanters and the umbrella.   These were made for me by Margaret, The Mini Milliner.
 

Another famous painting is Landseer's "Monarch of the Glen" - a very familiar Scottish work of art.

 

 

I also thought I would include a leather bound book entitled "Clans and Tartans of Scotland".   The tartan shown is Mackintosh.   My mum is a Mackintosh!

 

 

 

 

 

The chair was barewood, varnished then upholstered.   The Tam O'Shanter is the work of The Mini Milliner.

and last but not least - Mary, Queen of all she surveys!

 

 

So, here it is in it's entirety - The Edinburgh Emporium.   It's this little project that's kept me away from my other properties.   It was a fun project to do and an exercise in patience as I searched for suitable items only to discover that I had to make a lot of them and that's where the time went.   I hope you like it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The whisky in the bottles displayed below is the real thing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Edinburgh Emporium 3

I'd like you all to meet Sandy, the Emporium Piper.   He'll take you round the Emporium and show you some of the items.

First of all, we have some kilts.   These are available in the mini world but I thought I'd have a go at making my own.   The fur on the sporran is real!
 

 

 

 

 

 

I had a look round some  RL shops for ideas and came across skean dhu's. A skean dhu is a ceremonial dagger worn down the side of the sock when wearing a kilt. They aren't something that's made in miniature, as I discovered after spending ages online searching, and because I'd made up my mind that I was going to have them, I had to create my own.  

Another item that I was originally going to buy was a spurtle. I wanted a few of these then decided just to make them. A spurtle is a wooden stick used for stirring porridge - very good for avoiding lumps. Folklore has it that you stir your porridge with your right hand in a clockwise direction to keep away the Devil!

 

More items for the Emporium that had to be made were post cards, cushions, slippers and half a dozen quaichs. A quaich is a shallow Scottish drinking cup traditionally made from wood but the ceremonial quaichs are made of silver or pewter.

 

 

 We also have some little flags - Saltires on the left and Lion Rampant on the right.

 

 



This painting - The Reverend Robert Walker skating on Duddingston Loch by Sir Henry Raeburn (circa 1795) is a well recognised Scottish painting so I had to have one of those.

There is also a selection of shortbread and whisky cake.

I couldn't do this project and NOT include Rabbie Burns - Scotland's greatest poet

 

 

 

I've also included Scotland's worst poet - William McGonagall!

 

For the sweet tooth, there is some Edinburgh Rock - terribly bad for the teeth, but yummy!

There is also my Scottish take on the famous "Little Brown Bag" -

The "Wee Broon Bag"!

...............a selection of tinned goods -

 

 

and a sampling of our other National drink!