My Workspace - Cottage update

Here's an update on the fairytale thatched cottage project. You can see past posts on this miniature scale model house here.

As you'll see I've made a front door, added wooden beams to the front, stone wall details using Paper Clay, and changed the front door shape from rectangular to arched. I just felt it suited the design better.

I'm going to do a full in-depth tutorial on how to make this cottage and release that soon. It will include a step-by-step guide to making the door. I've shown a few pictures of the door process below, but there were actually many more steps to it than that and these are all outlined in detail in my tutorial.

Don't forget to check back here or the Facebook page for the final result!

My Workspace - the Thatched Cottage

Just to keep you all updated, here are some photos I took today of my thatched cottage. You can see the photos I showed before (the very first stage of the cottage) here.
Now you will see that clay, wood and plaster have been added. I've probably only put in another 3 or 4 hours since those first photos, but I plan on taking lots of photos of the process so you can get ideas and be inspired to create your own things. As usual feel free to stop by the Facebook page and comment / ask questions about materials and techniques. You can comment on this blog as well of course and I'll answer questions.

In case you can't tell, I am going for a whimsical almost (but not quite) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs style fairytale cottage rather than a realistic representation of a Tudor house.

More to see soon, don't forget to follow the blog and stop by!

Elixir of Life Potions

Ever craved the secret to eternal youth, immortality? Mystics, necromancers and sorcerers from East and West claim to have found the key, the mysterious water which grants immortality to the drinker. It was a French wizard by the name of Nicholas Flamel who reputedly created the Elixir of Life.

And now at only $8 a bottle (for a limited time), you too can own it!
Find my 'Elixir of Life' potion bottles over at my Pixie Dust Miniatures online store. It's made by myself in one inch scale and a great way to fill those cupboards and tables in your miniature fantasy scene. They really sparkle in natural sunlight and cast tiny rainbows around them - difficult to photograph, but take my word for it.

You can also see them in the making (blogged about here) at my workspace. As always, email me or comment on the blog if there's anything you'd like to see in the making and I'll remember to take photos next time I'm working on it.

* These Elixir of Life bottles do not really provide eternal life. They are decorative and do not hold liquid. *

My Workspace - Potions and an old Cottage

Another glimpse into the maker space of my magical miniature world...

Since I moved into my new apartment I have been busily making all sorts of fantastical items and running through commissions. However, I haven't had my proper studio lights unpacked and ready for use so have been unable to take proper photos of my new ranges. Still, I can take these snaps of my works in progress and always happy to share them here on my blog and on the Facebook page since so many people ask to see them. :)

Here you'll see my new potion bottles - my Elixirs of Life in the making.

Scroll past these for photos of a thatched cottage also in progress. Don't forget to stop by and check out this blog over the next few weeks so you can see updates on my projects and the finished cottage.
And pop by the online Pixie Dust Miniatures store soon to find Elixir of Life potion bottles for sale and also those dragon egg crates (previously blogged about here).

American Miniaturist Feature

I recently received my copy of American Miniaturist from Dec of last year (2012) with a little two page feature on my Pixie Dust Miniatures magical scene in Santa's workshop. They also included some photos from my other brand (blog here).

Here's the article and the images used below. They used pictures from my Christmas 2010 Range.

Click on the magazine front cover to be taken to the American Miniaturist site where you can find their back issues and such.

:)

My Workspace - belated Easter magic...

Now I told you all that there *would* be a Valentine's Day and an Easter Range 2013 over at Pixie Dust Miniatures... it's just a tad delayed due to my big house / workshop move!

So, here's a glimpse at part of my belated Easter Range in the making... have a look into my workspace at what I've been up to this week and then look out for the new items (including crates of dragon eggs) over at my Pixie Dust Miniatures online shop here. As you can see I have changed my dragon egg design quite a bit, and when the older range (to be found in store here) has run out then that's it - they wont be repeated!

Check back at my blog here often (or my Facebook page) for updates on a new competition soon and also more tutorials.

If you are on my commission list and haven't received a head's up about when your commission will be complete, then please feel free to email me. I am giving everyone a discount on their commissions lately due to the long wait I have made you endure! :)

C xxx

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Trading Dragon Eggs

Hi everyone!

Well it's been a while since I've posted any new ranges or posted much of anything at all because of my big workshop / office move! Never fear, I am back and busy and looking forward to sharing lots of new ranges with you just as soon as they're completed. There will be belated Valentine's and Easter ranges listed in the next few weeks - sorry they weren't available in time for the holidays, however they do work all year long.

Don't miss the dragon eggs I have in stock (in both one inch and half inch scales) - click over to my online Pixie Dust Miniatures store and find them there. They were collected from nests worldwide and I believe that they're not fertilised, so use them for cooking, not incubation. ;)

If you're interested in reading about my move then you can check out my company blog here and if you want to stay in touch with our mini filmmaking news then become a fan on Facebook here.

Scroll past the dragon egg photos to see snaps of my move to my new Hollywood workshop. That's right - 6 suitcases - mostly filled with minis and craft supplies!

Booked!

That's right - Pixie Dust Miniatures is now part of a great new book recently released by Ashdown Publishing!

Traci Nigon has edited a fabulous handbook of tutorials in which you can learn how to make an array of spooky things in scale miniature. My Grinny Pumpkin Cauldron tutorial can be found inside along with contributions from many other artists.

Find it on Amazon, Barns and Noble, and iTunes.







The book description on these sites reads:

From wacky monster plants to witches who need flying lessons, the creatures and spirits of Fun Halloween in Mini are bound to make you smile instead of scream. These delightful 1:12-scale projects include grinning pumpkin cauldrons, mad mushrooms, and an adorably creepy monster cupcake. If you're looking for inspiration, you can meet Brizzelda Digbottom, the plump proprietor of a broom-repair shop. With over 10 items for your mini scene, Fun Halloween in Mini is full of treats--and no tricks!

If you're interested in finding more of these books of mini tutorials, then more can be found over on the Ashdown site here.

** SHOP NEWS! *********************************************************

After a much longer time away than planned, my online Pixie Dust Miniatures shop is back! I have moved back to the US, settled back into LA and the shop is now re-opened. I'll be able to start taking commissions again shortly - just email me to discuss.

Let me tell you a Tale...

Fans and customers often ask me what I do when I am not making miniatures for Pixie Dust Miniatures to sell to collectors.

Well I thought it might make a good post topic!

When I'm not making minis here or working as a VFX artist, I work at a small production company (which I actually founded) called Tall Tales Productions. We make miniature model sets and character sculpts for other production companies and some private collectors also.

We're currently working on our own short film called 'Myrtle the Witch' which is being made using several miniature sets and hand-sculpted characters made by us to our own designs. We're filming it here in Los Angeles using green screens and adding visual effects. It will be available in 3D also.

So, if you're interested in seeing miniatures in motion and miniature filmmaking, then follow the Tall Tales blog or find us on Facebook and stay connected! The main website is here.

Stills from 'Myrtle the Witch' showing her pet snail.

The Tall Tales Productions website...

Me (Caroline) shooting miniatures...

Me working on non-miniature projects (which occasionally happens!) and below an original ogre sculpture

The Pixie has Landed

Hello everyone,
Yes I know... it's been absolutely ages since you heard from me and my online Pixie Dust Miniatures shop remains closed at this time... sorry!

As you probably know, I had to close this shop (and other shop) for a few weeks whilst I had the messy move from NZ to UK to US with plenty of Embassy meetings, packing, flying and landing going on around this time. Well... the Pixie has landed! 

So, please note that Pixie Dust Miniatures is back in Los Angeles, California and will be re-opening in just a few more days (keep your eye on this blog, or the shop or on the Facebook page so you know when) and I'll be launching some fun new miniature magic ranges, furniture, a free-to-enter competition and a new coupon to apologize for my absence!

As usual, feel free to email me if you have any questions!
Warmest wishes, Caroline
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Tutorials and more for 2013!

Wondering what's in store for Pixie Dust Miniatures in 2013....?! I'll tell you. :)

First of all, I must apologise for my absence for a few weeks of this year thus far. I've been busily preparing for my move back to the US and also had some exciting work in miniatures at a film company... for an insight into my miniature work outside of Pixie Dust Miniatures see my professional blog here.

Now, as for 2013 - I'll be moving back to Los Angeles in about 10 days time (during which I am afraid my online Pixie Dust Miniatures shop will remain closed)... then I will re-open, all miniatures will ship from LA and I will soon introduce my new ranges. Yay!

Expect to see a magical Valentines range as well as fantastical new unicorn horns, more bottled magic, cauldrons, books, a Pixie Dust Miniatures FURNITURE RANGE and a whole lot more in store which I'll be a bit secretive about for now! Follow this blog here and / or become a fan on Facebook here and you'll be able to stay ahead of these new ranges, new coupon codes and a brand new competition coming soon....

Anyway, here's my first Pixie Dust Miniatures tutorial available for sale here. It's a clear and easy to follow step-by-step guide on how to make a miniature Grinny pumpkin cauldron in one inch scale. It comes in PDF form with full color photographs (as seen in image two). It is for Beginners / Intermediates (age 18 plus).

Happy 2013 and Shop Announcement!

Hello everyone!
Happy New Year......! Yes I know, it's already 11th January 2013 and have only just found the time to wish you all a Happy New Year but I've been a busy bumble bee as of late! Hope you all enjoyed the countdown and have set off on the right foot.

Thank you to everyone who jumped on my big post-Christmas sale. All orders were shipped out promptly via First Class Delivery of course, and everything wrapped ready for gift giving as usual. :)

SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT
I am off to Manchester, England to work on some miniature sets for a film company, so I have set my shops to 'vacation mode' for a bit (hopefully not much more than a week or two). So please note that as of today my online Pixie Dust Miniatures shop will be on vacation, but you will be able to buy again soon. Feel free to email me if you have any queries.

Until then - have you seen the latest Pixie Dust Miniatures YouTube video? It's from Halloween of last year and I finally uploaded it yesterday!
Click here to watch it or click the image below.