Still Life - Toy Store with tip of the day.

One of the miniature groups that I belong to decided to recreate a store front of a toy store.   Mine is done (almost, I'm looking for something for the back wall), but done enough to post.

Here is the original picture:

I did mine in an assembled shop.   It was such a lovely white that I decided to not use the green.   Here is my interpretation.

Now here a tip for you.   When you are arranging a shelf or store window and you need to  build it from the front to the back, it can be real tricky.  

My suggestion cut out a piece of clear plastic the size of the shelf and arrange separately and then put in the proper location. 

The following two pictures are on a clear plastic sheet.   The 3rd following picture is the clear sheet. 

The following picture is with the back door open, gives you a better view of the shelves. 

 Another picture of the front.   This was a wonderful project.   Still looking for the right background - plain black doesn't seem to be quite right so will look at some scrapbook stores when I'm near them. 

 

On to the next project! 

Still Life Swap

When does a picture turn into something else.   Most of my miniature friends have a hard time looking at anything and not at least casually figuring out how they would do it in miniature.   Well, pictures are the same.    This is what started one of my favorite swaps.

Isn't that a great picture.   Look at all the items:  books, food, cups, tea pots, spoons and spatulas, canned goods, rooster stand, corn husk dolls, pot holders, garlic, plants  and more items.    Very fascinating.    On Yahoo group, Swap Shop, we voted on pictures to pick this one and then divided it up into 12 pieces.   My piece was to do the 7 books, the bowl of apples and the lone apple.  

Unfortunately 2 of the swappers failed to deliver (one did swap individually later), but 10 of them did a wonderful job of completing the swap.    They were very careful about the scale and everything fit.   

The day my swap arrived in the mail, I sat down and assembled it.   I had to find some raffia to make the corn husk doll (mine is too big, but I will try it again.

Here is the finished project.

 One of the participants made the box.   The picture was put on an easel and it is in a Plexiglas covered box.   

 There is such a quantity of items in the little hutch.  

This was really, really fun.   We are looking forward to doing another swap of this type.   Take a close look at all the items that it took to recreate this picture.