posting a few more pics.

I'm just posting a few more pics. I love doing miniature photography and the dolls house settings give such scope for creativity.
I knowit's an escape.. but heck.. it's a great escape!

From Mega at Http://Dollshousedolls.blogspot.com

dolls garden plants

If you double click on the image it will take you to the picasa album.

Do what you enjoy and Enjoy what you do!
From Mega at Http://Dollshousedolls.blogspot.com

I've been making potatoes- art and imagination!

When Lloyd came over recently he asked what have I been doing?
He didn't mean work (accounting, share trading, writing technical documents, and constant internet learning)

He meant in the miniature world of models, doll making, film making, photos and everything creative associated with that..

I had some smirks on the kitchen bench, two future duck ponds made from paint and glue, and some straw baskets with tiny handles. These were made from the straw from a recycled straw hat, cut and glued onto wood shingles. 3cms by 1.5 cms. (about 1 1/2 inches by 3/4 inch)
One straw basket was filled with fimo fruit. Carrots, cabbage, and other vegetables.

There was also a plate of fried eggs, which I explained needed a touch of yellow nail polish because the yokes were too orangey..

But what I wanted to show him was the fimo potatoes. Tiny, cut in pieces with skin on, and placed in a miniature bronzed baking tray. He seemed to approve of them. He is a bit of a perfectionist.
You can see how to make these potatoes in the video bar right at the bottom of the page.
It's worth watching. Enjoy what you do, and do what you enjoy!
from Meg at Http://Dollshousedolls.blogspot.com

Join our yahoo group for free mini competitions!

go to

http://au.groups.yahoo.com/group/ElginParkinside/
and
http://ElginPark.blogspot.com

Read about our photo comp details there.

back to dolls..

I made a leopard 3 piece sofa set with rug and doll. This setting is an original and I dont think you'll see another anywhere else. It has it's own rug and leopard dressed doll. The doll is for sale seperately at $29.00 usd free postage to us, canada and uk.
here's a pic of a leopard dressed doll. I made 4 only. They are 2.5 inches or approx 7 cms. They all wear a leopard hat and their faces are individual.

here's a picture of stonehenge smirky smirks

Because a smirky smirk is made of 3 components ( a squashed round body (or squarish) with two legs). They seemed to naturally lend themselves to look like stonehenge. No doubt in their evolution they will become more sophisticated.. more elegant. more socially acceptable.
But right now , Smirky smirks are still in miniature and somewhat restricted by their basic form... They have a job to do.. and that is to make me smile.. I hope they make you smile too. these are all in 1:12 scale

BUT they are great little actors, and respond so well to photography!

Someone asked me about the Photos

A friend asked me about the backgrounds used in the photos.
The DollYogue bridal photos were all my original art work. for example, Doll Renee rides her black horse at the seaside.. The background is a painting of mine and it works well. I could have used a photo of the shore, but I preferred the painting.
Other times I used a little "stage" where I positioned the dolls as if they were in a photographic studio.
In the slideshow of the Doll Tate art gallery, all the mini paintings are my work and the sculptures are my own work too.
Some of the dolls have been repainted to represent the real children, while others have been molded by me. In the slideshow way down, are Aprils doll photos. I painted all these reproduction dolls.(except the french one), as well as the mini food and clothing. You are looking at collections which I have added to and created over a period of 25 years..

I've decided that it's always Christmas at my dolls house (s). Christmas has already come and gone, and I didn't really "play" with my Dolls house much. I did clean the Christmas room, and I dusted with a beauty brush and took more Photos.
Like other Doll people, I realise that I get the biggest buzz from taking the photos.. so I will put up a few more. Unfortunately the "film" is lagging behind for lack of motivation.

I've also toyed with making a DollVogue Summer Bride magazine.
If anyone is interested in purchasing this 8 page E book, with the special mini page ready to fold into a mini book, let me know. Here is a picture of the cover, and a glimpse of the contents.
A free pattern is included and it can be modified to another scale.
Designing a Bridal outfit for your doll - deciding on the era from Tudor to Modern, Making miniature garments, Modifying a basic pattern, Making a special dress to drape on the bed and Making a simple veil/hat and flower garland.

$5.00 USD

Enjoy what you do and do what you enjoy!

How to make - wigs and mini pictures and Peg dolls

Someone asked about making wigs or hair for dolls. I have posted a picture of ringlets. These can be curly or not and can be tied back or put into plaits. I think it's best to glue the hair onto a coin size piece of fabric, rather than onto the doll. You can have fun changing the wigs, and photographing them in different colours and styles.

One tip I'd like to pass on, is to buy your stamps at the post office with the serrated surrounds not overprinted. A quick glance at the sticky serrated surrounds to the stamps, will show if there is any colour on them. When you remove the stamps, keep the surrounds and use them as mini picture mounts for your dolls house pictures. you can either paint a picture, cut out a tiny image from a magazine or print an image at a reduced %.. (about 10% works well).

You can also scan an image and print it onto a clear transparent label film. (The pack says to use it to make jam labels.) This will create a leadlight or stained glass appearance. When you place the sticker on the glass window, make sure you position it correctly! Draw a level line first in pencil.

I been enjoying making some peg dolls. (Another diversion from share trading, accountancy, housework and DVD editing!) I wanted to do some for the Xmas tree and the dolls house(s).

I found if you drill a hole at the armpit, and insert a piece of pipecleaner for arms, they look so much better. (all girls have a power drill, don't they?) You can buy the pipecleaners in various colours at craft and cheap dollar shops. Make sure you make a bend at the doll elbow and match the pipecleaner colour to the dress. Slightly longer arms are best, because they can be raised overhead or can carry a posie or basket. Use Nail polish to paint the edges of the fabric to avoid fraying, and craft glue to attach bows and pearl necklaces!

Don't forget to sign your peg dolls with your name and year. One day they might be an heirloom or a collectible. Someone will want to know who made them.

I also made two Raggy dolls, pictured above on the armchair. I made the heads in fimo and baked them in the microwave. They have raggy elasticated arms and legs. I have some video of my real dolls (children), playing with an 18" (50 cm) doll with two faces. The legs and arms are elastised, so I made these two as 1:12 size. I cut off some of the fabric on the big doll to make the bodies, so they will look very similar. One day I will make the video sequence linking both.

I've done some more of the cooking video with my actors. Sometimes it's like mission impossible to get a few minutes of usable footage, but I'm getting there! I'm trying to link the real children and the dolls -cooking and having fun!

Enjoy what you do, and you will be happy!- at least some of the time!

Hobbies might be an escape, but they do rest the mind.

In today's world, our minds do need some recreation and rest.

kind regards,

Mega

http://dollshousedolls.blogspot.com/

Some people ask me where do I purchase the furniture

Some people ask me where do I purchase the furniture and miniature items. I don't intend to promote or support individual businesses but I can say the kitchen furniture, the tv console and sound, the dinner set of knives and forks and pink serviettes etc etc were purchased on EBay from Eurekaonlinestore. at Ebay.com.au
I have purchased from other sellers, but Eureka have given great service and when I compare their products with comparable products in the US they are so much cheaper. I ask for combined postage and that helps to reduce the price.
I also source op shops (charity shops) and make many of the pieces myself.
I made some blocks of chocolate nested in a piece of gold paper, and was quite delighted when one of my Daughters asked where didi I buy it... (see pics at side)
At the moment the editing of the DVD is behind schedule, so I have decided to re- edit to mini segments, very short pieces 2.5-4 mins long. you can see some of my shorts on you tube, under the name of Megamoneybox. There I have a range of good and not so good. I'm called Megamoneybox because I am a small share trader trying to raise the funds to create my artistic work.
You can get the occasional free share tip on my other blog at http://megamoneybox.blogspot.com/
You can earn money to buy things... (even in these tough economic times.)
Megan

The dolls in their kitchen- Everyone wants some!

The Renee doll had eaten the last of the DJ's chocolates. The other dolls were not happy! Neither was Renee! Sean doll (her brother) wanted some too. You can imagine the kitchen squabble, with Renee doll protesting that there was only one left, and she ate it. They were her chocolates..Nanny doll, (Granny doll ) had given them to her on her birthday!
see slide show on the right.

Our Dolls at Dolls house dolls have been busy

We've completed the first draft of a 2 minute movie called
"Dolls visit the DollTate modern art gallery".
The idea came about when my eldest daughter April, and grandson Lloyd, reminded me of our visit to the Tate modern Art Gallery in England in 2004. I had been quite excited by the exposure to new ideas and "thinking outside of the box". I was also very impressed by similar artworks in Paris. Prior to that, I had probably been less than appreciative of modern art and it's influence on how we see the world.

This experimental draft movie was made from several hundred still photos using Picasa 3- a free program. (you should download and try it!)
The movie shows the dolls visiting the DollTATe modern art gallery and viewing rooms containing some of the images of the Blob Body, some artefact's and paintings. (all original works by Megan A Sampson)
The Doll Nanny has her own paintings and sculptures on exhibit and there are also some of the dolls paintings on show (the actual children's work). This short movie culminates in an art gallery performance by the Blob body and a stick doll singing "under an orange sky". It is quite touching. Some of the Dolls were quite impressed and thought it was funny!
It is being refined right now, deleting some captions which are too hard to read, and adding a few early shots to establish the time and place. Input from "the real dolls" has given some new ideas.
I do intend to redo do this short movie in Adobe Premier incorporating the real children and images of the actual short film we made on shoes and legs, which was shown on the actual screen in the Wollongong art Gallery, some time ago. This will be uploaded to you tube under our name there - Megamummy
The real children (now represented as the dolls) assisted in the making of that film and were enthused and motivated when they saw it exhibited. The purpose of these efforts was to teach them that you can do anything if you are dedicated and really want to..

I hope that lesson in motivation helps them through life. I think it has.
you can view the DRAFT 1 of the movie at http://community.webshots.com/user/Dollshousedolls
if you have a look at the slideshow on the dolls art gallery on the right side on this page, you will get a better feeling for time and place.
You can view some of our work at http://community.webshots.com/user/Dollshousedolls
I am refining some of my writing for children and completing some other miniature books on Dolls in the dollshouse and adding Bilbies and Possums in the roof. (a Bilby is an endangered Australian marsupial with a hopping gait, large ears and long nose. )