Strange tidbits from Yesteryear

His Lordship is purging more old newspaper from the Heritage Center.  I ask him for all October issues as I enjoy looking for Halloween content.  Sadly there was not a lot. I did find some weird stuff as is the case with newspapers of yesteryear.  Here is a great ad for the motion picture 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea  released in 1916. It was novel for the time because parts were filmed underwater.  I love that huge killer octopus - it's so steampunk.

Ah - Isn't that cute

I am so pumped about my tiny Ouija Board.  I rastered it today on the Epilog Laser Cutter at the awesome Sand Creek Library makers space, one of three run by the Pikes Peak Library District. Then  I used some dark brown wipe on, wipe off wax I purchased used at the Who Gives a Scrap and viola - isn't it cute?

Oops - I think the D could use more wax.  Now who wants me to make them one?

A Gloomy Cold Wet Sunday

What to do on a blah day like today when it is  snowing, cloudy, and cold?  Well firstly, make his Lordship move furniture around.  We have been meaning to flip the office and guest room as we are getting ready for a upstairs bathroom remodel.  So the desks went up and the bed went down.  His Lordship suffered badly as a picture fell on his head and he got his ankle squashed.

In addition, I found time to make a tiny leather covered book and finish gluing my scales.  These items are entirely made with up cycled materials from Who Gives a Scrap - a creative reuse center.  I think they turned out pretty cute.

Hope your weather is a little better than ours.

I found a live one

I found this gem the other day searching tiny books.  This artist, Erica V. of EV miniatures is just incredible.  She sells her stuff online here.  Her detail and artistry are perfect.  Best of all, she is a local girl, hailing from Colorado.

Source: evminiatures.blogspot.com

Teeny Tiny Books

I have been online scouring the web for miniature books covers to use in my dollhouse.  The results have not been pleasing me.  Most do not print with the detail with which they appear on my monitor. Here some I found that I liked and printed ok.

Source:http://joannswansondiyminiatures.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-witchs-kitchen.html

Then, duh, it occurred to me that I could just design my own using photoshop.  So here is what I have done so far.  I wanted to share them with you in case you get a hankering to make some tiny books.

        

That's Dave Lowe's witch on the back of perfect potions.  She makes a great Matilda.  These are offered for personal use only as I don't think Dave would appreciate anyone profiting off of his work.

If you do not know how to make a tiny book, simply find a small piece of wood and size the cover to wrap around it.  Be sure to paint the edges of the pages so they don't look like wood.  Then print your cover and glue it.  Easy peasy right?

More Tiny Treasures from Blogs of Yesterday

I discovered this amazing post through a miniatures website.  It looks like Debbie does not keep up with her blog any longer.  Her last post was 2016. But the remnants of this beautiful space are still on line to inspire us all. Just look at these pictures.

Wow - a slate floor - be still my beating heart.

The bottles look hand blown

Look at that cauldron - I want one.

I think she moved onto to twitter or facebook as so many are inclined to do.

Amazing Epilog

The laser cutter at the library is so great.  Lots of wonderful librarian help as well.  I could not be happier.

I got a lot of detail without any scorching.  Look at my spider chairs!!

Chased off of the Boss Laser onto Greener Pastures

At the end of January, I was literally chased off of the boss laser by a ranting bully who accused me of breaking the lens.  It was tragic because we were paying for the monthly family membership and had been trained so had every right to be there.  But this bully felt it was his laser cutter and did his best to make new users unwelcome.  I had put hours into learning the software, designing projects and learning to operate the machine.  Regardless, I refused to pay for such a toxic environment.  And no I did not break the lens - sources tell me it is just fine.

Enter the Pikes Peak Library District.  The PPLD runs 3 makers spaces all of which have Epilog laser cutters.  Last Tuesday, his Lordship and I went to be trained and tomorrow we have our first go at using the machine.  The best part is it is totally free.  Plus one can reserve a time to use the Epilog in a bully free environment. The drawbacks are that these libraries are all a 20 minute drive and I have to learn a whole new system.

Oh well back to the drawing board.  In the meantime, here are some projects I did on the Boss Laser before being bullied off.  It's that little doll bed headboard who incurred the bully's wrath.  The headboard that broke the Boss Laser - not!

More Inspiration

In searching for book covers for my witch dollhouse, I ran across this amazing mini apothecary from 2016 on the blog Artfully Musing. 

Just look at this beautiful detail.  I am inspired by the everything in this picture.