Fairy Garden Challenge | Pt. 1

***NOTICE*** I have changed my name to The Miniature Bazaar, which means my username across all of my social media has changed as well! Make sure you are still getting my posts by updating your blog feed with my new link- theminiaturebazaar.blogspot.com - Thanks! I will eventually stop updating this feed and ONLY post on the new one.

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I want to start this post off by saying up front I have no practice with plants. I wouldn't say I have any green in my thumbs whatsoever so this should be interesting. Pray for the plants. I was recently challenged by HBS to try my hand at a fairy garden! The requirements were simple- incorporate miniatures and incorporate live plants. Again- pray for the plants.

I started my garden by removing the plants from the pots. I have no idea what these plants are, but I did keep the little spikes so I know where to keep them and how often to water them! I gently separated the bunches of plants and made sure to keep as much soil as I could.

Then I prepped my bowl. I found this for $1 at Marshall's on the clearance aisle. Score!

Then I started arranging my plants. I figured it was pretty straight forward. Soil, plants, decorations. I didn't add any means of drainage to this because this will be a temporary fixture. Once the plants grow a bit bigger I'll transplant them. Will they get bigger? Does anyone else know?! We'll see in time, I guess!

More arranging! Then it was time for some miniatures! At first I thought I wanted a place for the fairies to rest. Surely their wings get tired from all that flying around? But wouldn't you want a snack, too?

Since I just happened to finish my morning tea I thought they would admire these little mugs. These are actually made by a local ceramic artist. Her name is Michelle and she is SUPER talented. I took some pottery lessons from her and she is really nice as well!

Then I remembered how much fairies love sweets. Luckily the Sweet Shoppe had some freshly made goodies that I knew the little sprites would enjoy.

These ADORABLE glass cake stands and the glass canister can by found at miniatures.com - I might have bought a boxful so that I can always make a miniature spread of sweets. You just NEVER know when a flock of fairies might stop by. Or a herd of pixies. Gotta stay prepared!

Cakes. Gumdrops. Macarons. I think that'll do for now!

But now I'm torn. I can do the bench OR the sweets, but not both because I don't have enough room in this container. However, I do have more plants...

Looks like I'll have my hands in the dirt again! I'll be back soon with more fairy garden goodness.

X

-Blake

The Artist's Studio | Dry Fit & Initial Alterations

***NOTICE*** My blogger blog has moved to theminiaturebazaar.blogspot.com - if you want to keep getting my posts, make sure you add the new link to your feed! For now I will post to both links, but I will soon stop posting to abohemianbazaar.blogspot.com!

So this week I finally had some more time to work on the Creatin' Contest 2016 build. I've already decided I want this to be an art studio, but I am not set on any specific details just yet. The kit is super cute right out of the box, but my gut was telling me to make some changes. One of those changes was the front porch.

I don't want to worry with electricity with this build... I actually have never put lighting in a house- to be honest it seems SUPER intimidating. The front porch gets a bit dark depending on where in our apartment I sit the building- so I decided to cut it off. First thing to go was the beam at the peak of the house. Then I cut the roof.

To cut the roof without an electric saw I just used my x-acto knife and a ruler and made LOTS of firm cuts. Firm, but not too hard because I didn't want to risk the blade breaking. Or worse.

Once I got a decent groove made I used it as a guide for my hand saw. Then I used this side of the roof to trace onto the other side so that they are the same length.

This is what I was left with, but the porch is a bit awkward. Plus- it it too big for the base I will be making. Luckily my dad had a jig-saw that I didn't even know about! (Thanks, dad!)

MUCH. EASIER. I think I'll keep this for a while.

After the major changes to the front of the structure were done it was time to move on to the back. Do you remember that triangle piece that was at the top of the front porch? Well, I decided to use it on the back of my building, like in the picture below.

I'm also making a removable piece for the back wall. If you guys haven't noticed I like having full access to the inside of my builds. You never know what you'll want to photograph, you know! After I did all the major alterations to the building that I wanted, it was time to make my base.

My base was actually SUPER easy to make. All I did was take an old canvas apart and cut a piece of pegboard to fit it!

 I used glue and nails to hold it all together and that's it!

I bought a huge pack of these canvases a few years ago on sale and I'm glad to finally use some of them. I've also had the pegboard for years and its just been taking up space in my closet. Now I have more storage AND a nifty base for my build!

Remember that beam at the peak of the house? Well I took the part I cut off and cut it into 4 equal pieces. These pieces are now the supports beneath the house! This added almost two inches beneath the house so I will have plenty of height for the foundation.

I nailed/glued the supports to the base and then nailed/glued the floor of the house to the supports!

The final change I want to make for now is to the porch. Since I am having to work with a small base I had to set the stairs into the porch a little over an inch. You'll see what I mean in a minute...

As for the stairs- I got SUPER lucky. These steps were leftover from another kit. They were EXACTLY twice at tall as I needed and half as wide as I needed. Sound confusing? It did for me, too. To be honest I just went with my gut and it worked out in the end.

Cut 'em in half.

Glue the halves together.

Hold with tape.

And that's it! The stairs fit into the space I cut out earlier and I have a tiny bit of the base shown so I can do something with the landscaping! I'll be back in a few days to share more! I am working on the walls next, followed by the foundation!

X - Blake

P.S. If these pictures look a bit weird its because they are actually stills from the video I am taking of the process. I will eventually post everything to my YouTube channel as well, but I don't have time to edit it all right now. I will have more time in May, once this semester is over!

P.P.S. If you want to join my Mini Mail list, hop on over to theminiaturebazaar.com - there I will be sending out updates at LEAST every other week. These updates include progress on my builds, new lines of miniatures, shop sales, and more!

P.P.P.S. I love you guys and every time I scroll through my blog feed I drool over all the wonderful little worlds you guys are making!

IMPORTANT! To Keep Getting My Posts, Read This!

Hello dear followers! I didn't realize that when I change my blog name and URL that I would no longer instantly pop up in your feeds! So technically I claimed this url again in hopes that my followers will see this post and add my new link to your subscriptions. If you would like to keep getting my posts I would love it if you add my new link to your feed! Here is the new link

theminiaturebazaar.blogspot.com

I am currently working on a new website, but you can go ahead and check it out if you like! While you are there feel free to join my Mini Mail email list! That's where I'll send important info about current projects, new miniatures, as well other special offers!

I am currently working on the Creatin' Contest 2016. I'm part of their blogger campaign this year so I am sharing all my progress on my blog (the new link though). I am also sharing everything on my YouTube channel, Instagram, and Tumblr.

On the work table I have a new line coming to life and will be available May 1st! It will be the first of many monthly lines I have planned and I am really excited to share more about that as soon as I can! :)

Don't forget to find me elsewhere on the web! A change in identity for my miniature work was long overdue, and with the new name and look I have a lot of new things for you!

X

-Blake