More Specimen

After the first blocking, it was urgently clear that I needed more butterflies and dung beetles.  Devon got to work on this right away. (Thank you, Devon!)

I affixed the frames to the wall with temporary miniature wax, and used more blocks for the pedestals.  The dung balls look surprisingly regal.

Crustaceans next!

First Blocking

Next came the crucial decision of how to position the sewing box.  Options were as follows:

                                

A.

B.

C.

After much deliberation, I went with "C" and turned the box into walls.  Then I stained a cutting board for the floor.

I used a napkin ring and more toy blocks as display pedestals.

Early results below!  I still have more pieces to make, but it is starting to take shape.  (The framed pictures aren't mounted yet - I just positioned them in the general area of where I think they will go.)

Mini Fountain

I decided that my mini museum needed an indoor fountain.

And as luck would have it, the ceramic blue soy sauce dish that I found at the kickoff was the perfect scale, color and shape for a fountain base.  I started with this and some of the larger beads from the wooden necklace.

I painted the beads gold, and stacked them into a fountain structure.

For the fountain streams, I took some of Bob's fishing wire and threaded it through the beads.  (Thank you, Bob!)

And for the pool, I bought some clear acrylic artificial water from Amazon and poured it into the bottom. 

The acrylic hardened overnight, and came out looking very much like water.  I've positioned the fountain here in front of my Marx Skyscraper.

Here is a closer view.

Happy Thanksgiving!

More Amber

I was especially pleased with the amber specimen paperweights that I made for the Goreyosity Shop.  And since I still had the supplies, I decided to make more.

These will fit well with the crustacean pictures.  It's starting to look like a museum!

Mini Meteorite

I was determined to use this rusted railroad spike that I found at the kickoff.

The scale was too big to use all of it, but I thought the head alone would make a convincing meteorite.

Megan did the cutting with a Dremel (thank you, Megan!)

I've mounted it on another napkin ring for now, but I am still deciding on the final display.

Mini Dung Beetle

One of the more interesting items that I chose from the kickoff was the Monkey Brand Black Tooth Powder.  I used the box to make a poster, but I thought it would be fun to use the actual powder as well.

And in a moment of clarity, I decided to make a miniature dung beetle.

I used one of the round wooden beads as the foundation for the dung.  I had several sizes to choose from, but I ultimately went with medium.  (The small bead was not interesting enough, and the scale of  the large bead was too grotesque.)

I covered the bead with brown-colored clay, and rolled the wet clay in the tooth powder.  Incidentally, the tooth powder smells like a combination of tea, moss, and pencil shavings, although I don't think it contains any of these ingredients.

Then I shook off the excess powder and mounted the dung on another bead that I had already painted gold.  I am quite pleased with the result.

Mini Taxidermy

Continuing with the natural history theme, I decided to add some Victorian taxidermy to my 1840s sewing box.  Please see here and  here  for some real examples from the 1850s.

I, of course, used faux taxidermy, and I stuck with the butterflies.  I ordered a small butterfly hole-punch from eBay, and went back to the books from the kickoff.

Devon punched out a few butterflies and mounted them onto a page from one of the books. (Thank you, Devon!)

Results are below.  As it happens, the wings from the devil-like creature shown above made some very nice moth wings.

Mini Crustacean Pictures

My upcycled sewing box has a distinct museum feel.  With this in mind, I decided to try a natural history angle.

And once again, I started with the wall art. 

I found some creature-like illustrations from the Wok and Tempura Cookery book, and ordered some ornate frames from eBay.

Results are below.  I have not affixed the pictures to the sewing box yet. When I do, I will use temporary miniature wax to avoid any damage to the marble paper.

Second Project: Upcycled Sewing Box

I am pleased to report that I have enough inventory left from the Goreyosity Shop kickoff to make a second miniature project. And in the spirit of repurposing, I've decided to experiment with an upcycled house such as these.  (Note: I did not make or photograph any of these.  Click on the titles for the source.)


Suitcase House

Violin House

Clock Shop

Radio Cabinet House

For the structure, I've settled on an 1840s sewing box that I found on Ruby Lane.  The box is 8" x 8", and is the right scale for the remaining inventory items.

The box is lined with marbleized paper, which will work well for a museum or upscale store:

And when turned upside down, the sewing compartments become display shelves.

More to come!

Finished!

My mini Goreyosity Shop is now complete. I confess that it will be difficult to part with, but I hope it finds its way to someone who loves it as much as I do.

I still have some inventory items left, so I will determine shortly whether I have enough to make a second project.  Until then, thank you Bob, Devon, and Megan for your contributions (order determined by alphabet only).  And thank you to the Edward Gorey House and the Cultural Center of Cape Cod for the wonderful experience.   

Finishing Touches

Completing a miniature project is much like finishing a long, wonderful book that you don't want to end.  So for this reason, I found a few more spaces to fill and details to obsess over.

I realized with sudden urgency that I had to include this chicken portrait.  I took him from the Tempura Wok and Cookery book.

I also wanted to include this plush elephant that I found at the kickoff.  I decided to make him the shop keep:

And finally, I decided to include one of my early advertising charms. This one is from Little Brown Jug whisky, and appears to be from the 1920s.  I am donating this affectionately from one collector to another.

And now, the final blocking.