National Dollhoue Miniature Month - Day 3 - Sarasota's Circus in Miniature

For years, I ran up and down I-75 from Key West to see my son who was attending University of South Florida in Tampa.   Every time I passed the Sarasota exits, I had a little pain.   I knew there was a lovely miniature circus at the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus Museum.   It would have to wait.   I was either in a big hurry to see my son or a big hurry to get home.   After I retired, I found out about the Molly Cromwell Miniature Show in Sarasota and decided I would attend.   I had this mission - I had to leave early enough from Key West to reach the Museum about 3 p.m. so I would have at least 2 hours to see the circus   I left Key West at 4 am and made the museum about 3.   I was in awe.   I knew in my heart it would be fantastic; but wow - never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be so terribly enraptured with the museum. 

 

That first year, I didn't see anything other than the circus display, but the following time I went to a show, the hotel was closer to the museum and I spent several hours at the circus and a bit longer touring the rest of the museum.   All worth the time to go and see it.

 

First; the circus model is "The Howard Bros. Circus Model" and not the Barnum & Bailey Circus.   Early on, the use of Barnum & Bailey was denied and the "Howard Bros. Circus" stuck.

 

There are books and many pictures of this circus; I will share some of my favorites.    

 

 Lion Tent - lots of people in the grandstands

 Everyone loves a circus. 

 Lots of animals required at a circus.

 Here's the Tent Entrance.   Always exciting at a circus. 

 Parking outside the circus. 

 Tent to feed all the circus performers, workers etc. 

Circus workers need shaves and haircuts too. 

This is just a small taste of what you will see at the museum.   If you're traveling up and down I 75 near Sarasota - find a few minutes and stop and see this museum.   It is worth the time.   I think it's time for me to go again to see it.

 

 

 

 

National Dollhouse Miniature Month - Day 2 - What is my project for this year?

Last year my project was redoing my dollhouse.   It ran for about a week during the month.   This year's project will be a bit intermittent.   If you want to see last year's project you can go HERE   That link finalized the update to the dollhouse.   You can go backward from there to older posts and see the whole update.

This year's project will be a coffee table.   Here is where we are now.  What you see here is an upside down aquarium, 3 mangers, a box and an cart with attendant.     These little mangers were at the dollar store a couple years ago and I thought immediately that they looked like stalls at a street fair.   Whalla - that's what this is going on. 

 

The acquarium will have a base made for it; wheels attached and a glass top.

 

The 3 mangers will be a cake shop, a knit shop and a painting shop.   The box will be an eatery.   The cart is about finalized.   I did it a couple of years ago and it just didn't fit anywhere.   My attendant will be selling off some antiques.    

 

 

 

All the fibers have been removed from the mangers.   Anytime you do a scene like this it involves a lot of moving things around.   I have moved every single item MULTIPLE times.   I think I like the following arrangement.

 

 

Not much to go on just now, but you should check back every day and see the progress.     By the end of the month I fully expect to have a little street fair in process.   Also I have a surprise coming for my fair.

 

Stay tuned.  

 

National Dollhouse Miniature Month - Day 1 - What Scale

I had a very interesting discussion the year before last at the Orlando Miniature Show.   This woman was wanting to buy some pieces for a 1/2 scale room.   Her first pick was 1/12 scale and her second pick was for 1/4 scale.  Both wrong and she would not be satisfied with her selections.   She was very sorry she did not bring her tape measure.   I gave her a hint that she loved and actually hugged me at the show.  I didn't think the tip was all that hug worthy, but maybe you will.

 

Most of us don't think of carrying a tape measure with us but you have the next best thing.   A dollar Bill. 

This little 6 inch ruler would work but it can be a bit uncomfortable to stick in your pocket. 

 

As you can see the dollar bill is the same length as the 6 inch ruler   Six inches.   What else could be six inches.    A full grown man could be about 6 inches - Oops I mean 6 feet tall. 

 

Clearly there could be a little bit of change since not all men are 6 feet tall, but remember for every quarter inch, you gain or lose 4 inches of height. 

 

This tip

works for all sizes.   See my little quarter scale people.  They would be 1/4 the length of a dollar bill or 1 1/2 inches long. 

 

Go armed with at least a dollar and you can always determine scale.

 

Works for 1/12 scale

 

Fold that dollar over and you have the perfect measure for 1/2 scale.  

 

Fold it again and you got a perfect way to measure for 1/4 scale.  

 

I hope this little tip gets your off on the right foot.

 

See you tomorrow!  

 

September OMB - Green Farm House

As you know, I love this challenge.   Gives me a  great chance to make and complete items.   I also very seldom purchase a completed structure because I enjoy assembling them.   This green farm house was built and landscaped so all I had to do was to furnish it and add a few finishing touches on the outside.   It was obtained on eBay with 'or best offer' auction.   We went back and forth several times and after assessing what a kit would cost me; I got a completed structure for basically kit price.   I think it was a great deal.  

 

The following two pictures shows the interior.   No paper, unfinished floor, a couple of un-installed walls, and no interior window treatment.  

 

 Here's the outside.   I have a grill and picnic table on the upper porch.  

 

 Table and chairs, and flower arrangement on the front porch.   Very welcoming I think.   The most welcoming is the little Jack Russell - he loves company.

A little different angle on the porches.  

 First, I didn't notice until after I photographed everything was that the TV was really prominent in the pictures.   It was a back edition of Leverage.   Great series, doesn't add much tot he miniatures, but I'll try to avoid that in the future. 

 

Houses that I develop a story for work out so much better for me than just furnishing a house.   Starting with the attic - she loves her stuff.   She?   She is the very confident, very self-sufficient, very well off single woman who likes being single.   In the attic are pieces that I love, but haven't fit in any other setting   Like the wardrobe in the back.   Loved it and participated in a Bavarian swap, but this little wardrobe needed a home - the attic is perfect. 

 

Upstairs is a bedroom furnished in animal prints with an aged leather sofa, chair and ottoman.   Has a large TV, with none in the Living Room.   Next to that she has a library/study for her reading, scrap booking, bill paying etc.  She loves the view.   She can go outside and grill, have her morning coffee, etc.   She loves it there. 

 

 Here's the kitchen.  She loves turquoise.   She is getting ready for company and has the table with glasses and cake ready to go to the dining table.  She also loves nautical things and you see that by the all art and rugs. 

 Another view of the kitchen.

 Here's the living/dining area.   She loves the striped chair and the green love seat.   Loves the skirted dining table.   She has a lot of dishes in her hutch.   Some snack items on the table already along with wine chilling.   Should be fun.  

The living room has my little bookshelf project done in Orlando.   You can see that project Here

Here is one last picture.   I really love this project and once they are papered, furnishing is fun with my staff.  

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August OMB QS - Little Cup Project

This cup has been hanging around for years and years and years.   It has been glued down with the stones.   It has been relocated between two or three storage areas and FINALLY, I got my act together to fix it.  

 

 

 

I've seen dozens of scenes done in teacups or coffee cups, but never seemed to have the guts to get mine done.  

 

It is now done.

 

There are very few angles where you can see the inside, but believe it or not, these both show scenes from inside.   I found a family room with a very large bookcase,   I didn't want it to just be the back of the cup. 

 

It's a little fishing cottage.   You can see the plants about to over grow the front porch.   There is a little water to the left of the scene; I don't think it shows up real well but there are leaves floating in the water.  

 

I absolutely love the OMB challenge.   Gives me inspiration to finish a project every month.   What ever will it be next month?    Follow my blog or subscribe to email updates so you don't miss it.