Creating Contest 2015 Party Beach Pad

I've made a little change in the layout of the Modern Party Beach Pad.

I decided to add one of the walls to the front so that there will be a little privacy for a bathroom.  There will be a dividing wall, but it won't go all the way to the ceiling.  This will provide room for a bathroom and storage area.  I'm going to attempt to make the upper windows so that they can tilt to open. 

I've started on the sliding / folding glass doors.  I'm making four window frames that will turn then slide from one side to another.

I've started on the frames, but I'm waiting on my order for 1/16" plexiglass.

I still haven't decided whether or not to go very modern or more mid-century Palm Springs for the interior.

International Show Highlights

Just some highlights of some of my favorite miniature artisans at the Tom Bishop International Miniatures Show.

Kari Bloom

Ray Storey

Roomboxes Etc. / Peter Tucker

Atomic Miniature - Michael Yurkovik

Pat Hopkins Studio

PRD Miniatures

 Erik Goddard

I had an awesome time at the show.  It was nice to meet some new mini friends and put names with faces. There was a lot more modern and mid-century modern minis there.

Sale at MINISX2

Patie at MINISX2 is having 20% off a sale in her Etsy shop!

Just enter SPRING2015 at check out!

All Decked Out!

So here's my entry for the Shapeways Miniature Contest.  Unfortunately, we are only allowed one photo for the entry, but here are several.

The Pouchard chairs are by Pretty Little Things, The table is by Modernminifan, The Vegetal chairs and the Octo lamp shades are by Marion Russek, I spray painted the Vegetal chairs lime green, the Pouchard chairs bright yellow and the Octo lampshades chrome to mimic the center privacy panel. The Octo lampshades are lit up with LED bulbs although you cant tell with the sunlight. I left the table white. Thanks for the opportunity to enter this contest and for Shapeways!

 I had fun doing this and will be able to use all of these things in future builds and scenes! and made me take advantage of these spring days we are finally having.

Citadel Tower Windows

I decided not to make the windows for the tower glass block.  I thought it would be too difficult to stack pieces of plexiglass to make windows and too expensive to buy miniature glass blocks, so I thought I would try bending some plexiglass in a curve to fit the tower.

I started by cutting out two tall windows in the tower piece.

 Then I cut a piece if 1/4 inch plexiglass the height of the window space.  I tried both 1/4" and 3/32" thick.  The 3/32 was much easier to bend but I thought trimming out the 1/4" would be much easier to trim once the windows are in place since the walls of the tower are also 1/4" thick.  I placed the plexi on a baking sheet raised with a couple of wood blocks.  I raised it because as the plexi gets soft it can get marred if it touches the baking sheet.

I heated the plexi at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes.  You know if the plexiglass is getting soft when it starts to droop in the center. Yes, I know my oven is filthy. ;-)

Then I used my husband's fishing rod case to shape the heated plexiglass.  I used this because it's the same diameter as the inside of the tower walls. 

I trimmed the width so they would fit and painted the inside of the window cut outs silver. The top window is a bit too short, but I think I can cover that with trim.  After several tries to get the curve correct I really don't want to remake it.  I think I like the large windows better than the glass block idea.

I also nearly have the Shapeways contest entry finished.  Thank goodness for a couple of nice days and some spray paint!