GSOLFOT MINI NEWS
| January 2010 |
| Welcome to our visitors and congratulations on finding your way here. Hello again to all our members. |
| Welcome to our 10th venture of sharing news and skills. |
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| Don't forget to bookmark this page and visit often, Noni The Oz GSOLFOT |
| We hope you have enjoyed this month’s edition of GSOLFOT MINI NEWS. If you have an article to submit for future editions please contact the editor: spwatson@ntlworld.com |
| Welcome to a new year in The Towers. We are looking forward to new projects and members and reflecting on past achievements. 2009 was a record year for Sockees in print and public recognition. It would be hard to find a miniaturists’ magazine without one of us featured or providing a project. The website has just picked up an award for excellence! This is an excellent start to 2010 and all credit to Noni for maintaining and developing the site. |
| Since our last news letter we have welcomed Eva McMahon from Utica, NY. Eva has fitted right in and has office 6 in turmoil! |
| It is a rare event but we have a space for a new member, please apply to Noni The Oz GSOLFOT |
| This month we have a couple of projects for you but our focus is on who and where we are. One member is spotlighted as usual as well as our newest recruit but many members around the globe have provided information about where they live and you can read about them over the next few newsletters |
| HOW TO MAKE A SIMPLE TUBE HINGE By Jacqui Marlin, Goddess of Chaos see more of Jacqui's work here X |
| This type of hinge is perfect for miniatures because it can be fairly well hidden and can be adapted to different scales. |
| Materials: |
#1 Very small tubing that can be found in model shops or hardware departments. The outside diameter
should be in scale with whatever you are making. You may use brass or aluminium – although if you are
using it on metal it should be brass so it can be soldered.
#2 Wire that will fit nicely inside the tubing.
should be in scale with whatever you are making. You may use brass or aluminium – although if you are
using it on metal it should be brass so it can be soldered.
#2 Wire that will fit nicely inside the tubing.
| Method: |
Determine where the hinge will be placed on your piece. It should be close to the edge so the door will
open easily.
open easily.
| Now measure the tube for length and cut it, then divide it into uneven number of pieces – five in this case, and cut these. You will lose a bit of metal when you cut but this is not critical |
| Cut a channel in the wood so the tube will be inset slightly. In my project I am making a refrigerator so the channel is cut on the main body of the piece. I used a small gouge but an exact knife or even a scribe will work. This channel should be deep enough to inset part of the tubing |
| the groove can be seen to the left of this piece |
File off any burs that appeared when you cut the tube and be sure the bore is completely
open. Thread your wire through all of the pieces to be certain everything turns smoothly.
open. Thread your wire through all of the pieces to be certain everything turns smoothly.
| Cut your piece of wire approximately 1/2 inch longer than the tube pieces – you might have to adjust this later. Keep your wire piece threaded through all of the tube pieces and carefully glue only every other piece into the channel. The wire will keep everything spaced and aligned. (I have shown one piece removed and one in place with the three pieces that have been glued) |
| This next step must be done carefully so as not to get glue anywhere but the door. Since I was using a CA glue (super glue) this is pretty fast. Put a bead of glue on only the top surfaces (looking straight down on the tube) of the remaining pieces of tube. Carefully align everything and set the door on top of the hinge. The wire is still in place. |
| The last thing you will do is to anchor the wire and this can be done in various ways. Traditionally each end of the wire is bent at a right angle and anchored into one side of the furniture piece. I want to be able to further work on this piece and I want the wire to be removable so I will only anchor the top end. If you have crimp beads available you can crimp a small bead onto the top of the wire and another at the bottom if you will want it permanently anchored. A tiny drop of glue might actually work just as well |
| On a smaller piece of furniture another method is to use a pin through the tubing much the way your doors in your house are attached. The pin head at the top allows the hinge to be taken apart for any reason by just pulling it up. I love this very flexible way of working because I can adapt it to many purposes. |
GILDED FRAME
By Emma Rule - Champion of the Spence and Paramour of the Loathsome
By Emma Rule - Champion of the Spence and Paramour of the Loathsome
Materials:
#1 Mount board or thick card
#2 Fimo (polymer clay)
#3 Thin card to back frame
#4 Gold or silver spray paint or acrylic paint
#2 Fimo (polymer clay)
#3 Thin card to back frame
#4 Gold or silver spray paint or acrylic paint
| Select the picture that you want to frame, and measure the sides of the picture. My frame is 1cm thick, so add this on to EACH side and cut this out of the thick card, also cutting out the aperture where the picture should go. |
| Role out enough Fimo so that you can place the frame onto it and to be able to wrap it around the frame. Cut the centre Fimo to fit neatly into the inside corners, fold in and rub the joins together. Cover any exposed card. |
| Turn over and start to decorate. The beaded edge is done by making tiny balls, then pushing onto the frame. The angel faces are flattened balls and then a )( shape made with a ball tool (old biro) deepened at the eye sockets. An embossed design can be achieved if your Fimo is fairly thick. Once happy with your design, bake according to the packet instructions. Allow to cool, then paint. |
| Glue your picture to the thin card allow some extra all the way around. Place the frame over the picture and once happy with the position glue in place. |
| WHERE SOCKEES LAY THEIR HEADS |
| We are sharing our local places with our readers. This is where some of us are when we are not in The Towers |
Corinne Curtis
| There are also no dollshouse shops within a day’s travel of here, though it is amazing what useful materials and tools I can pick up at our local very well stocked general stores. To see a short video about our island visit http://www.westraypapawestray.com/ |
Kathy Brindle
| I live in AUSTRALIND, part of the greater Bunbury region, approximately one and a half hours south of Perth, the capital of Western Australia. 4.2 Perth itself is one of the most remote state capitals in the world, with its nearest capital city, Adelaide, in South Australia, some 3000 Kilometres as the crow flies. |
| Australind received its name at settlement around the early 1800’s when the company setting the area up had hopes of major commercial association with India, hence Australind! That fell through but the major forest timber areas to the south, foreseeable harbour facilities and reasonable farming land guaranteed the ongoing growth. |
| We live only an hour or two from the very South West bottom of Australia with its temperate climate and excellent wine production. Our temperatures down here vary from around 15 c in winter to top with the occasional 40 c in summer. Because of the two major deserts between us and the Eastern States of Australia, temperatures further north of Perth soar and at this time in January, temps around 47 c are not unusual. It is also the cyclone season now and the north has had its first cyclone for the year. We usually expect around 4 to six cyclones a year in our north. Our nearest neighbours to the North are Papua New Guinea and to the east, South Africa, the total distance of the Indian Ocean away. We are remote! Why do I live here? Well I am not an Australian by birth, arriving here in WA some 27 years ago from New Zealand. My husband was chasing work and we remain here and Western Australia has been good to us. A little remote, yes. A little laid back, yes, but with so many woes elsewhere in the world today, the price of the few inconveniences is little to pay. Please come and visit. |
Esther Westcott
| Summerland is in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley and overlooks Lake Okanagan, home of Ogopogo, a relative of the Loch Ness monster. I haven't personally met Ogopogo but then, I haven't gone looking for him. Or her. It isn't a very old town but for some reason, the powers that be have declared it to be a Tudor town. All public and business buildings have to have a Tudor theme. Tudor is interpreted very loosely. Stick some dark brown boards over stucco and you're fine. The Tudor theme isn't carried over to amenities, thankfully. The roads are paved and we don't have sewers running down the centre of the streets. The water is a bit iffy but that's because someone, thinking outside the box, decided to put the town dump just above the reservoir. The result is referred to as turbidity and must be boiled in the summer. You mustn't tell though as tourists might be put off. |
| There is a lot of arable land which the earliest settlers used for orchards. Lately, many of the trees have been given the chop and grape vines have been planted. There are lots of wineries in the area and some of their wine is excellent. So I hear. The only wine I like is Ice Wine which is harvested after the temperature dips to a level which freezes the grapes. Why they don't just stick the grapes in a freezer is beyond me but they don't. This year, they'd just barely harvested the regular grapes when they were out there again picking frozen grapes. Summerland is supposed to have a great climate. By this locals apparently mean that you bake in summer and slide into the depths of depression from never seeing the sun all winter. Something called a valley inversion which keeps the clouds so low they do indeed seem to be hanging right over your head. In my opinion, the best thing about Summerland is my backyard which climbs up the side of Giant's Head. Giant's Head is usually referred to as a mountain. It is a somewhat low mountain, being less than 3000 feet but it's a nice thing to have in one's backyard. |
Jacqui Marlin
| It is home to bald eagles, adorable families of quail and marmots. It is lovely when dusted with snow or when the setting sun makes it glow. We don't have any special greeting, although you will hear "will that be cash or VISA?" fairly often if you hang around. |
| I live on the Big Island of Hawaii on the side of the most active volcanoes in the world. The current eruption began in 1983 and has been ongoing since then! It is a very slow moving kind of flow and if there were any danger it would give us plenty of time to remove ourselves. As for the area I live in - it is a very lush rainforest with ferns, wild orchids and exotic birds. Of course being a rainforest area it is . . . well . . . usually rainy! Average rainfall is 124" a year although this year we have been in a drought with absolutely no rain for 3 weeks (promise of some this week tho) Average temperature is around 80º year round and with trade winds there really isn't a lot of humidity although when the winds shift we do get some. I think it might add up to around 3 weeks or so in an entire year. |
| We have many places of interest - depending on your interests. If you happen to be lucky and time it right you could even ski on the white mountain, Mauna Kea. And then drive around 60 miles to the beach to sun and swim! Every year the week after Easter we have a major hula festival and this event brings people from all over the world. We also boast the Ironman triathalon and that takes place in October. I know there are famous people who have homes here on the Big Island but I haven't really paid much attention to who they are but movie stars and political people alike come to play in the sun. We just had some of the biggest surf which only happens every so many years and that brings a very special surfing competition to Oahu - the Eddie Aikau where only the best and daringest surfers dare to compete. I believe an Aussie won but am not sure. |
| E komo mai (come on in - traditional welcoming greeting in Hawaiian) |
| AND NOW FOR OUR REGULAR SPOTLIGHT on an established member |
| Karin Langeveld |
I'm Karin, and I'm 46 going on 12...
I live in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, with my husband and two of our sons. Our middle son, who is autistic, lives elsewhere
and comes home for the weekends.
In the past few years, I've become involved in cat breeding, so besides our two older moggies, we now have anywhere between
6 and 12 LaPerm cats in the house. And a bunny.
I am also a stitcher (mostly cross stitch, but some other stuff as well - I love blackwork!) And of course I have a craft room in
the attic, which is stuffed to the rafters (well, it would be if we had rafters) with miniatures, mostly 1/12th scale.
I tried my hand at 1/144th and 1/24th, and like both - but most of my houses are 1/12th, and I feel most comfortable working
in that scale.
I also have tons of miniatures in what I think is something like 1/72th scale - where the humans are about 1" high. These are
metal miniatures used in tabletop wargaming, but I tend to fill my tabletop with inns that have real bars and kegs, and
marketplaces, and other stuff that real gamers have no patience with... I'm hoping to be able to do some dioramas with these
one day... If I live to be 100.
and comes home for the weekends.
In the past few years, I've become involved in cat breeding, so besides our two older moggies, we now have anywhere between
6 and 12 LaPerm cats in the house. And a bunny.
I am also a stitcher (mostly cross stitch, but some other stuff as well - I love blackwork!) And of course I have a craft room in
the attic, which is stuffed to the rafters (well, it would be if we had rafters) with miniatures, mostly 1/12th scale.
I tried my hand at 1/144th and 1/24th, and like both - but most of my houses are 1/12th, and I feel most comfortable working
in that scale.
I also have tons of miniatures in what I think is something like 1/72th scale - where the humans are about 1" high. These are
metal miniatures used in tabletop wargaming, but I tend to fill my tabletop with inns that have real bars and kegs, and
marketplaces, and other stuff that real gamers have no patience with... I'm hoping to be able to do some dioramas with these
one day... If I live to be 100.
When I was a kid, I loved dolls. I did have a dollhouse at one point, but my baby brother climbed on it and trashed it, and I
never got a new one. I used to build Barbie houses in my big walk-in closet, and I had two tiny rubber dolls with huge heads
that I used to crochet clothes for... They got a new wardrobe once a year from the time I was about 6 until I was in college...
My grandmother taught me how to crochet and knit doll clothes. She made dresses and booties for all my dolls (about 25 or
so), and then for my cousin's dolls, my best friends' dolls, my cousins' best friends' dolls... My grandfather made carts - bakers'
carts, ice cream carts, etc. So I'm pretty sure I know where I got the addiction...
When I was about 11 or 12, I decided I was 'too old' to play with dolls, so I put them in the closet, and really missed them.
Funny thing was, that about a year later, I discovered doll making - so I bought tons of kits for making cloth dolls and stuffed
animals, and in the end, I had more dolls than ever before... But these, of course were 'collector's items' and therefore not
childish. :)
When I was 16 and living in the U.S.A., I found Nutshell News in a magazine shop, and was hooked. Got my first dollhouse,
tons of Concord furniture and a few (very ugly) porcelain dolls. The only one I still have is a baby - who is also very ugly but a
cute bonnet and a lovely christening dress go a long way to hide that.
The house was left behind when we moved back to Europe - I heard last year that it's still being played with by the
grandchildren of the lady I gave it to!!!
Back in The Netherlands in the late 1980's, I found that there really wasn't a miniature hobby - at least not that I knew of. For
about four or five years I was distracted with things like dating, finding a place to live, earning money, and other mundane
things, and I didn't have much time for miniatures. I met my husband, who introduced me to metal gaming miniatures and
role playing games...
Then I found a hobby magazine that included an article about miniatures. I found a newly opened shop quite close to where I
worked, and took the afternoon off to visit it.
Pretty soon I had bought a Greenleaf Glencroft house, some Mini Mundus (X-Acto) kits and some much nicer dolls. I think
that evening was the last time we actually ate at the dining room table. :)
The first few years I collected everything mini. But mostly dolls. I think my miniatures have always been a background for my
dolls. I very much admire displays like the Thorne rooms, and I acknowledge a doll would be out of place there.
My own projects are usually shops, bars, very crowded houses with large families in them, family gatherings and any other
excuse to stuff more dolls into a house than would normally 'live' there.
Since my husband worked at a university, we had Internet since the late 1980's - he would bring me home print-outs of “all” of
UseNet in those early years.
So I joined Small Stuff some time in the first year it was out - and met a few other Dutch miniaturists there. Nowadays it's
hard to imagine what a thrill it was at that time to find someone else who lived in your country, liked miniatures AND was on
the Internet... I don't think any of my miniatures friends understood Internet, nor did most of my Internet friends
understand miniatures...
never got a new one. I used to build Barbie houses in my big walk-in closet, and I had two tiny rubber dolls with huge heads
that I used to crochet clothes for... They got a new wardrobe once a year from the time I was about 6 until I was in college...
My grandmother taught me how to crochet and knit doll clothes. She made dresses and booties for all my dolls (about 25 or
so), and then for my cousin's dolls, my best friends' dolls, my cousins' best friends' dolls... My grandfather made carts - bakers'
carts, ice cream carts, etc. So I'm pretty sure I know where I got the addiction...
When I was about 11 or 12, I decided I was 'too old' to play with dolls, so I put them in the closet, and really missed them.
Funny thing was, that about a year later, I discovered doll making - so I bought tons of kits for making cloth dolls and stuffed
animals, and in the end, I had more dolls than ever before... But these, of course were 'collector's items' and therefore not
childish. :)
When I was 16 and living in the U.S.A., I found Nutshell News in a magazine shop, and was hooked. Got my first dollhouse,
tons of Concord furniture and a few (very ugly) porcelain dolls. The only one I still have is a baby - who is also very ugly but a
cute bonnet and a lovely christening dress go a long way to hide that.
The house was left behind when we moved back to Europe - I heard last year that it's still being played with by the
grandchildren of the lady I gave it to!!!
Back in The Netherlands in the late 1980's, I found that there really wasn't a miniature hobby - at least not that I knew of. For
about four or five years I was distracted with things like dating, finding a place to live, earning money, and other mundane
things, and I didn't have much time for miniatures. I met my husband, who introduced me to metal gaming miniatures and
role playing games...
Then I found a hobby magazine that included an article about miniatures. I found a newly opened shop quite close to where I
worked, and took the afternoon off to visit it.
Pretty soon I had bought a Greenleaf Glencroft house, some Mini Mundus (X-Acto) kits and some much nicer dolls. I think
that evening was the last time we actually ate at the dining room table. :)
The first few years I collected everything mini. But mostly dolls. I think my miniatures have always been a background for my
dolls. I very much admire displays like the Thorne rooms, and I acknowledge a doll would be out of place there.
My own projects are usually shops, bars, very crowded houses with large families in them, family gatherings and any other
excuse to stuff more dolls into a house than would normally 'live' there.
Since my husband worked at a university, we had Internet since the late 1980's - he would bring me home print-outs of “all” of
UseNet in those early years.
So I joined Small Stuff some time in the first year it was out - and met a few other Dutch miniaturists there. Nowadays it's
hard to imagine what a thrill it was at that time to find someone else who lived in your country, liked miniatures AND was on
the Internet... I don't think any of my miniatures friends understood Internet, nor did most of my Internet friends
understand miniatures...
I honestly don't remember who urged me to become a Sockee - I
racked my brains, but my memory isn't what it used to be. I do
remember bits and pieces of the letter I wrote to Noni, which included
a description of my mascot at that time - a big fat goldfish named
Mama Cas.
Grandad David came up with my title, I remember that. I also
remember that for the first year I lived in the Towers, I had a cloud of
pixies who followed me everywhere. That changed after I got my
dragons (Ishalla the Deep Purple, and Ishmael the Shocking Blue) - I
have always wondered what happened to them, but I'm afraid to ask...
racked my brains, but my memory isn't what it used to be. I do
remember bits and pieces of the letter I wrote to Noni, which included
a description of my mascot at that time - a big fat goldfish named
Mama Cas.
Grandad David came up with my title, I remember that. I also
remember that for the first year I lived in the Towers, I had a cloud of
pixies who followed me everywhere. That changed after I got my
dragons (Ishalla the Deep Purple, and Ishmael the Shocking Blue) - I
have always wondered what happened to them, but I'm afraid to ask...
On the other hand, I have the feeling that lately I've been getting glimpses of the light at the end of the tunnel (I think it's 12
Volts and wired with CirKit) I've actually bought some dolls and lots of lovely fabrics, and I've even started to clear a space in
my workroom (which has lately developed in to Laundry Central, with my scroll saw being used to dry socks...)
I think the first projects I'll be picking up will be some of my poor nude dolls... And then there's the Emerson Row by Greenleaf
that I started to bash - now if only I can remember what I was thinking when I started the project, the bits and pieces that are
left might make some sense...
Volts and wired with CirKit) I've actually bought some dolls and lots of lovely fabrics, and I've even started to clear a space in
my workroom (which has lately developed in to Laundry Central, with my scroll saw being used to dry socks...)
I think the first projects I'll be picking up will be some of my poor nude dolls... And then there's the Emerson Row by Greenleaf
that I started to bash - now if only I can remember what I was thinking when I started the project, the bits and pieces that are
left might make some sense...
I don't have any current projects. I have both ADHD and a mild
autistic spectrum disorder - and clinical depression. The past few years
I've been trying various medications, which all helped in getting my
life back in order - but also seemed to have sapped all the creativity out
of me. Apparently I do my most creative work when I'm depressed...
Maybe I should cut off my ear and see whether that helps...
autistic spectrum disorder - and clinical depression. The past few years
I've been trying various medications, which all helped in getting my
life back in order - but also seemed to have sapped all the creativity out
of me. Apparently I do my most creative work when I'm depressed...
Maybe I should cut off my ear and see whether that helps...
And our newest recruit – Eva McMahon
My name is Eva McMahon and I live in Utica New York. I have loved doll houses and miniatures every since I can remember.
It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I received my first dollhouse. I started to collect and make minis from that moment on....
I got busy with life and stopped making minis for a while, but collected them here and thereon and off; I would pick back up
making mini's and then stop again for a while.
Two years ago I was involved in a car accident and have been home with back and neck injuries. So I have had a lot more time
on my hands to do what I love to do. That’s making miniatures and collecting them as well.
I enjoy making mini's from fimo and sculpy. I try to make as much as I can myself. I do hand sewing, some machine sewing,
and pretty much anything I can figure out or learn.
Though I am very fond of knitting, crochet, bobbin lace and all those wonderful hobbies, I cannot do any of them. One day I
hope to learn that as well.
Currently I have 7 dollhouses. And a few of them are either unfinished works in progress or waiting to be built.
Because I love this hobby so much and that I love people, I decided to start and online miniature swap group:
EvasMiniWorld@Yahoogroups.com
I am also an active member of other miniature groups as well as a proud member of the GSOLFOT.
I am in the process of building a blog as well as website. I have started selling mini's on Ebay, Etsy and Miniatures Only which is
also a work in progress. Can't wait to accomplish all my goals!
It wasn't until I was in my 20's that I received my first dollhouse. I started to collect and make minis from that moment on....
I got busy with life and stopped making minis for a while, but collected them here and thereon and off; I would pick back up
making mini's and then stop again for a while.
Two years ago I was involved in a car accident and have been home with back and neck injuries. So I have had a lot more time
on my hands to do what I love to do. That’s making miniatures and collecting them as well.
I enjoy making mini's from fimo and sculpy. I try to make as much as I can myself. I do hand sewing, some machine sewing,
and pretty much anything I can figure out or learn.
Though I am very fond of knitting, crochet, bobbin lace and all those wonderful hobbies, I cannot do any of them. One day I
hope to learn that as well.
Currently I have 7 dollhouses. And a few of them are either unfinished works in progress or waiting to be built.
Because I love this hobby so much and that I love people, I decided to start and online miniature swap group:
EvasMiniWorld@Yahoogroups.com
I am also an active member of other miniature groups as well as a proud member of the GSOLFOT.
I am in the process of building a blog as well as website. I have started selling mini's on Ebay, Etsy and Miniatures Only which is
also a work in progress. Can't wait to accomplish all my goals!
NEXT TIME……..hoping to introduce a new member and have more news of our exploits,
and we tell you more about the members that make up this club from around the world
and we tell you more about the members that make up this club from around the world
I live in ORKNEY, which is a group of about 50
islands (15 or so inhabited) just off the top of
mainland Scotland. Westray is one of the
smaller north isles of Orkney with a population
of around 600 people on an island about 10
miles long. There are no miniatures clubs here
(or at least not yet), so I rely on internet groups
such as GSOLFOT to keep in touch with other
miniaturists.
islands (15 or so inhabited) just off the top of
mainland Scotland. Westray is one of the
smaller north isles of Orkney with a population
of around 600 people on an island about 10
miles long. There are no miniatures clubs here
(or at least not yet), so I rely on internet groups
such as GSOLFOT to keep in touch with other
miniaturists.