nid_dabeille: bee (stephen bonden slabline)
[personal profile] nid_dabeille
Three subjects - glassware, china and paneling.

    

The glassware comes from Ray Storey Lighting in the UK.  They're actually a little larger than I expected, but it's lovely stuff.  The blue one is a poison bottle - or at least, a bottle for things like ammonia that aren't meant to be taken internally.  They often would put things like that in bottles that were differentiated by color and/or shape or markings, like ridges or bumps that they could feel in the dark to avoid mistakes.



I think the mortar and pestle are my favorite.



And while they're waiting for their permanent home in Stephen's sick bay or dispensary, they're living on the bookshelf.  With the sheep.



This china by Stokesay Ware is beyond amazing.  I can't describe how incredible it is to see in person, and the pictures don't do it justice.  It is just so incredibly beautiful and perfect and tiny.  So tiny.  Well worth the price for how very fine it is.  I can't tell you how remarkable it is.  It makes my heart skip a beat.  And the blue and the gold and even the creamy white are just... beautiful.  Flawless. 

From their website:  Dating from approximately 1830, this tea set matches our Sovereign blue dinner service. Hand made in fine bone china, it is decorated with a blue enamel border and 22k gold rims and swags, all permanently fired on in the kiln.  (Yes, I know 1830 is a bit later than my things, but it's my favorite china.  So beautiful.)











The rare times I acquire fabulous expensive miniatures (such as this china, or my amazing Nantasy Fantasy scales), it still makes me shake my head in wonder at the people who can load up a whole dollhouse with the things, chock-a-block.  I wonder if they realize what treasures they are?  Or if they just think, "Oh, I should get some china for the dining room scene, I'll pick that, it looks nice."  I have to admit, sometimes it irritates me when I see a room with something like a fabulous €200 Taller Targioni cabinet just stuck in the corner in a room crammed full of other distracting things.  The room should be built AROUND that cabinet to showcase it!  It's not just a add-on extra!  Sigh.  Oh well.

I finally made the paneling for the great cabin.  I think it turned out very nicely.  I didn't like the way the tapewire was showing through the paint, being bumpy (and, I think, unadhered), so I made new wall coverings out of card stock and worked from there.  Plus I didn't like the machine-cut look of the wood texture.  So I covered it up.




The brass eyelets are where a light will plug in.  And the square cut-out next to them is where the stern locker will go.  In fact, it has since then been glued into place, which was quite a commitment for me!  I still haven't glued the windows in place though.  I'm not quite ready to give up that back entry into the room.  But I'm almost ready.  And then, the cabin itself will be structurally finished!  Or no, no it won't.  I still have to make a cabinet that will hang from the wall just above that slanted panel.



And this is the, uh... starboard side, looking aft.



linked at [livejournal.com profile] doll_houses  and [livejournal.com profile] little_world .

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-04 11:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] latin-cat.livejournal.com
I envy you so much right that that it's unbelievable. *sighs with longing*

But that china set! It is absolutely fantastic. I've only ever seen cheaper sets up close, and they've usually got some defect or other with the pattern, or are too chunky in design to be elegant; but those are certainly excellent. Worth every penny. :D

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-04 11:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Thank you! For which do you envy me? :D I feel special.

It really is remarkable china, SO perfect. Even under magnification!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-04 11:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
OH, it's the Victor Hugo set, isn't it? Yes, I love it. It's richly illustrated too. <3

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 01:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cionaudha.livejournal.com
So beautiful!

You are my favorite mad genius. <3

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 06:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Hooray! And you are mine. :D

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 03:08 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] elizabathory.livejournal.com
I covet your entire talent and scheme and ability and ... stuff... but you knew that already...

*miniature envy*

...

*but in the bestest most flattering way possible*

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 06:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 03:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kiramowett.livejournal.com
*drools* If I didn't spend all of my money on cross stitch and beading materials, I'd love to collect miniatures and build dollhouses...You find the most awesome stuff!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 06:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Thank you! It's a lovely hobby, but expensive too. It's so much fun to have brought this childhood hobby into my adult world where I have an income and can actually BUY things!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 04:26 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] materia-indigo.livejournal.com
Oooh, that china set is absolutely beautiful! And how are making those walls? Are you buying the moulding, or sculpting it, or what? They look really really nice!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 06:14 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Thank you! I buy the molding, definitely. I love moldings. The whole room just drips with moldings! Well, not really, but there is a lot of molding in there, on the ceiling, on the walls, in corners, on the windows, everywhere.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 07:39 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] obeliamedusa.livejournal.com
Your walls and ceiling look AMAZING. I've had this post open in my browser since yesterday, because I keep coming back to look at the pictures. :P Your work looks to be of fantastic quality. The china will fit right in! :)

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-05 11:35 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Aww, wow, well thank you!!! That means a lot, coming from you. I actually rather wish I had more wallspace in the cabin to work with so I could do more paneling. It's such a pretty effect! It's a lot of work to measure and mitre all the corners and glue the tiny pieces of wood together, but I love the effect of light and shadow on pure white. (In full size, too. I'm not one of those people who hates white walls. I love them. And white curtains and white bedding and white towels... White!) But I think I'll put paneling in the tiny dining cabin (which I've barely started) because it's actually a continuation of the captain's cabin.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-07 02:53 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] obeliamedusa.livejournal.com
Ha. I am not one of those people who likes white walls. But I love your panelled walls, because they look JUST LIKE A SHIP!!! Eeeee! I am excited by tiny things that look exactly like big things. :P

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-07 08:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Thank you! Hee, I'm excited by tiny things that look like big things too. And I'm very glad to know it looks just like a ship!!!

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-07 08:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kindstar.livejournal.com
Your work is truly amazing! Your conservator's attention to minutiae certainly serves you well, and provides the perfect framework for your imagination to soar. I, too, love the play of light and shadow in rooms, and white is definitely the best background for it.

The china is simply lovely. I'm sure Jack and Stephen will enjoy eating from it. And I love the little glass pieces, too. Luckily you have them with sheep, not goats, who would probably eat them.

At the same time, putting glass items among the sheep reminds me of "So Sheep May Safely Graze," and I'm thinking only in the land of frozen miniature will this set up work.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-07 08:58 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Thank you very much!

Hee, I was totally thinking of "Sheep may safely graze" too. I hope it IS safe for them, messing with all those chemicals.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-07 11:15 pm (UTC)
ext_14096: (Default)
From: [identity profile] agentxpndble.livejournal.com
:::DIES::: OMG, I'm just MAD about the glassware and tea set... AUGH!

*Gorgeous* work on the interior... Wow.

(no subject)

Date: 2009-02-08 01:02 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grace-poppy.livejournal.com
Wow, thank you very much! :D The glassware is a bit big, as I said, so it might actually work for you! And there were bigger sizes too - I ordered all the smallest versions of what was available. And the prices were quite good!