An Award and some new pieces

An exciting wee thing happened to me not that long ago.    I received a message advising me that Small & Stately had been given a "Top 100 Miniature Blog" award.   How cool is that?   I was so pleased.

The next good thing to happen recently was finding the kits created by Arjen of Arjen Spinhoven Miniatures    I love these.    Arjen is based in the Netherlands - and I must say, postage from there is very quick.  Great, because I'm not very good at waiting for stuff!

My most recent purchase is this Curule seat which is destined for The Great Hall in my other property Marsh Hall -

It is beautifully crafted and (once I got my head round it) very straightforward to put together.   As it's possible to enlarge the pictures on Arjen's site it is very easy to double check construction - very helpful when putting together this chair but not necessary with the other items I bought.

One of these "other items" was a pair of bookcases.    These have now taken up residence in the Drawing Room of Netherton

They have great detail and a lovely finish which can be varnished or painted.   The purchase of these little items meant I had to create lots of books which is in itself a very satisfying task.

Finally, my very first purchases from Arjen were this little Moorish stool and the umbrella stand.

I've used my favourite Metalcote paint on this and I'm very pleased with how it looks next to the main door of Marsh Hall.

The little stool has only recently been put together (today in fact) and doesn't yet have it's finish.

This is also destined for Marsh Hall.

I must add, I'm not affiliated in any way with Arjen or his miniatures.   I just wanted to spread the word and say how pleased I am at having found his site - thank you Josje of A Beautiful World blog for posting his link in the first place!

By the way - Arjen, if you read this - I'm not finished yet!

A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

Firstly, a big thank you for all your lovely comments regarding my last post.    I found myself smiling every time I read one.   It really is encouraging to know that you like what I'm doing.

For Daydreamer - I really like your idea of a drying rack for cloths in The Still Room and I intend investigating that and putting one in.    Also, with regard to the Dumb Waiter - it's just a fixed backing and a shelf placed at Basement and Dining Room level.   I can't get a good photo of the one at the end of the Servant's Corridor but here it is outside the Dining Room.   They're identical.

I think I must have been a bit too keen to get the last post up there because I forgot to say anything about my "fourth wall"!

I like to decorate the inside of the doors as it gives more scope to add things I may not have space for in the rooms themselves.

This is the inside of the door at the Still Room

I would love to have had the space for a "Cold Store" but don't so I created the item on the left with the brick piers and stone slab as a "Cold Preparation Area"    The central item is a vegetable bin with a piece of "slate".   (I saw this item in the basement of a stately home we visited some time ago and I took a sneaky photo!   Metalcote paint was used to get the look of "slate").   The cabinet next to that has tins and various stores - still  to be added to - and the meat safe is up there because I couldn't think where else to put it for the time being!

The inside of the Kitchen door -

I think I've shown this before but not with the accessories.   Again, I would love to have squeezed in a lamp room but couldn't so this unit serves the purpose with lamps, candles and bulbs with lots more to be added.

A closer look at the right hand side

I love this sign.   It was "borrowed" from a Stately Home Guide Book.

Another little addition, this time in the Dining Room.   I felt there was too much brown in the original photo so I added a tablecloth.

............and finally.    A decision has been taken regarding the furniture in the Drawing Room.   I'm going with the club sofa and chairs.    I fiddled with this for ages before settling on the layout.  

There's still a fair bit to do (including changing the colour of the table) and lots more accessories to add (to relieve all the brown) but I think I'm happy with this set up.   Thank you all again for your very helpful suggestions.

The Kitchen and Still Room

Quite some time ago I posted pictures of The Kitchen despite the fact that it was quite sparsely furnished.   I was waiting for the time when it would be complete and full of accessories but I managed to get myself distracted with other rooms.  

The Kitchen still isn't fully accessorised but there's enough in there now for me to show you the whole space.

This is the photo you've probably seen previously

The door to the back right gives access to The Wine Cellar

To the front left of the room is an archway leading to a room I don't think I've mentioned previously, The Still Room -

The Still Room, in Medieval times, was where beer and ale were brewed, herbs were prepared for flavouring food, making ointments and also soaps and polishes.   Later on it was where the Lady of the House would teach her daughters the ways of running a household.    It then became the place where delicacies were prepared, jams, pickles, preserves, desserts and cakes. 

This is the space - to the right is the archway through to the Kitchen, the door (back right) leads to The Servant's Hall, stairs leading to the back of The Dining Room and the green baize door and to the left is The Servant's Corridor with the dumb waiter at the far end (which you can just see the edge of).

There is a mirror and brush at the foot of the stairs so that the staff can check their appearance before ascending to the Dining Room and also a better (but not great) picture showing the Dumb Waiter through the internal window.

Items can be passed through the window on the right (from the Kitchen) and taken upstairs when ready.

Looking at the picture below, I think I'll add a cloth.

A little view through to the Servant's Corridor.

There is more to be added to the spaces in and around the sink but I've still to think about what that might be. 

A slightly better view of the Dumb Waiter (sorry, it's the best I could do!)

The Servant's Corridor - complete with bell board, rules and fire buckets.

Going outside, to the Kitchen entrance, there is a small table with a very swanky beer barrel and a pint of ale.    The fruit and veg man would deliver the order to the Kitchen door and while The Cook was checking for quality etc. the man would be given a glass of ale while he waited.    The baskets of fruit and vegetables are from Country Contrast

Finally, thank you all for your helpful comments regarding the "chair debate" I had in my last post.   All suggestions were very helpful but I've still not made up my mind!   The Drawing Room now has curtains so some progress is being made.   It would help if I could get a clear picture in my head of where this room was going but I'm struggling a bit so thought it better to leave things alone in that space for a while until inspiration strikes.

The Great Chair Debate

It's been a wee while since I last posted here but I'm afraid I got caught up with my other property Marsh Hall.   The ideas were coming thick and fast so of course I just had to get on with it!

I did, however, managed to do some work on Netherton but it's been slow as I had to remove my Scottish Baronial head and replace it with the Edwardian one in order to "get into the zone" - as they say!

The walls have been papered, doors/skirtings and cornices fitted and the lighting is in place.   The next job to tackle will be the curtains.

I am however having the great "chair debate".    As you may remember I couldn't find furniture I liked so created my own - a sofa and two chairs.    Then I bought two chairs.    Now I'm trying to make a decision on which chairs to use.    It just goes on and on!

Here is a photo of the sofa with two matching chairs -

Or two co-ordinating chairs -

I'm after a more homely atmosphere than that of a stately home and I've had all those chairs in and out so often, they should be on elastic!

October Miniatura

I had a great time at Miniatura, Birmingham this past weekend and came back with, what I think, are some great items.   There were a couple of sellers whom I had hoped to see there, but weren't but that didn't hold me back and there were some new sellers selling lovely things who I would hope to see again.

So, here's what I've got and I've listed the seller where I can -

Skirting boards, J & A Supplies;  fabric, The Silk Route, stripey fabric, Blue Riband Fabrics.

Framed picture and candlestick telephone, Truly Scrumptious;  tap, Sussex Crafts;  wallet, notebook and records, Karon Cunningham;  Accounts Book, Dateman Books;  Tea set, Victoria Fasken;   boots;  footstool;  sandwiches, Country Contrast;  parsley;  china ornament, Ottervale China;  urn;  mirror, Elite Petite Interiors;  and finally, the painting and lamp, The Little Dollhouse Company.

I'm not sure yet whether these fireplaces and chairs will find a home in Netherton or my other property Marsh Hall where they would fit in equally well, so I've posted them on both blogs!    The fireplaces were from Eggers Delight and the chairs from Alison Davies Miniatures.

Finally, what I've decided has to be my best buy, is this little commissioned blue glass eye bath from Phil of Glasscraft.   I've shown it against a 5p piece for scale and I am so pleased with this!   Thank you Phil!

 

Suite success

What do you do when you've purchased your wallpaper and flooring and have hunted high and low for furniture to tone in and at the right price but can't find anything?   You do it yourself!   (Perhaps I should have bought the furniture first as it's much easier to find a paper to match, but I didn't).

I quite fancied a Knole sofa and scoured the internet and it was after seeing a few that I began to think "I could make that".    So, out came the foamboard.

This was a dummy run to check scale but it didn't look right so after chopping bits off the height and depth, it morphed into a Chesterfield.   I liked that so added a chair.

I had a couple of goes at creating the buttoned back but try as I might, the effect kept getting lost when the fabric was taken over the back and arms so I decided to abandon that idea.

My assistant brought along her friend to check for scale and proportion

After fitting the seat pads, I decided to ignore the fact that their feet didn't touch the ground - a foot stool would take care of that little issue, and besides - they wont be staying.   Once they've finished their tea - they're out!

So, here it is - my three piece Chesterfield suite which took ten days out of my life and I doubt I will make another one but it worked and I'm a happy bunny.

I have to say, I didn't do this all on my own.   Whilst not making a standard easy chair, I followed (diligently) the various instructions provided by Kris.   Her very detailed photos and instructions were exceptionally helpful and very clear to follow so "thank you" Kris for that tutorial.

York Fair

Following my recent trip to the York Fair, here is the result of the spree.   I didn't get everything on the list but did get quite a bit that wasn't!   

It was lovely to meet up with mini mates I only get a chance to see at these fairs and I also managed to squeeze in an afternoon of shopping on the Saturday.   All in all, a very good weekend (and I didn't spend all the budget!).

I've added the site of those sellers that I can remember!

The parquet flooring is from Jennifer's of Walsall;  pier mirror, laser cut frame and curtain hold backs;  toilet roll and bathroom accessories Valerie Claire;  wine bottle and silver stand;  ceiling rose, white lace trim Tee Pee Crafts.

This sorry little item was found in a box of bits by a friend who knew I was looking for a "glass" topped display table.   It was marked down in price because as well as looking a bit sad, the items inside were coming off.    This find was very fortuitous as it is my intention to strip it of it's contents in any case and remove the base covering as I have a plan for this little item when I start working on the Library - more to follow!!