May 28, 2014

to cheat or not to cheat?

not back yet, I just remembered an idea I was very enthousiastic about months ago (still am) and had not thought of showing yet, until now. 'Cause when I ordered the EL-light at Microstru for my laptop in January, I also ordered one of their kits for an amazing 1:144 scale house. Because every selfrespecting antique/old stuff shop should have an antique dollhouse right? And besides that it's a house I kind a fell in love with, it also seemed a very doable and realistic kit.

This lovely kit comes from Microstru - Millers Engineering

it's a closed house, so no inside stuff needed either. Which is good, since I never ambitioned anything as small as 1:144, I just admire everyone who works in this crazy scale ;). This kit however - because of it's solid structure and high level of detail & realism - is an exeption I was willing to make, at least housewise.
but when I received the kit soon after, the ambition, ideas and even urge to want to make 1:144 things got flowing. The parts are só detailed and perfect (with very clear instructions that even I can comprehend, not being my strong suit at all!) that I started thinking it would be so much fun if you would be able to look inside and see an interior, instead of painting the inside black as suggested. I did decide I will only do one room though (the biggest one), being two floors high (with a landing).
but to make that interior, I didn't feel like spending too much time and energy on it. Mostly because it would only be visible from the outside anyway, but I still wanted to have something nice and realistic, so it would be able to pass as a high-end antique dollshouse. Well: I can only love the modern times we live in! Soon after I got the kit I started 'making' parts for an interior on my laptop by browsing the internet for pictures of what I liked and was photographed in a way that it was usable. Then modifying them digitally to actually be used (and being able to fold as 3D furniture for example) and finally had it uploaded & printed as a postcard in a postcardwebshop. The cheapest and easiest way to achieve very detailed and crisp printing on a single piece of card. I will build things up in two layers, to make it more realistic and give it depth. Like the paintings will be the painting and on top of that the frame with an opening cut out. Some - or maybe many - would say this printed stuff all won't have the charm of handmade things, which of course is very true and I respect people not wanting things this way. But I do like it, a lot!
all the extra items are for cuttingfailures that will be enivitable
but is this cheating? Oh, I'm sure it is! But since all is fair in love and war, I figured that because I really, really LOVE miniatures, this would still be sort of fair ;), haha!

and in my defense: I am going to make a tiny spiral staircase - of very thin metals - that will probably make my head spin... And also a table, one or two chairs (besides the ones from card), the floor (that will be over 500 tiny wooden floorboards), a porchlantern and a chandelier with working lights, a floorcandelabra with 3 working 'candles' with ridiculously small leds, and 'real' curtains. So a bit more time and energy I will put into this after all, but because I really want to.

so I will make up a bit for all the corner cutting, at least I think so (feel free to disagree). And it will be fabulous, in my head it will anyway. But I must admit, I keep forgetting how extremely small everything needs to be in this scale... But hey, I definitely like the challenge!

and with all that, I (of course) thought it would be a shame to only be able to view it from the outside... ;) So I decided I'm going to make the room seperate so I can take it out, instead of dressing the inside walls before assembly as I initially planned. And to be able to put the longside walls flat (one at a time) so you can see one corner of two walls well from the side, as opposed to the whole room not so well from above. I did consider and wanted an opening side of the house, like dollshouses usually have, but I think that will weaken the structure of the house.

in time we'll see how all of that will turn out, looking forward to start this fun little project! (yes, yes, áfter the laptop ;)

22 comments:

  1. You've made my head spin! You are one crazy gal with plans to do a spiral staircase, flooring, etc etc in that scale! That said I bet it'll be one of the most satisfying projects you've ever done :) I really like the idea of a room that can be 'removed' and I don't think it's cheating at all to use printed detailing - let's just say that life's too short...

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    1. haha, well, I'll have to see if I succeed at it, when I realized how small the parts need to be I'm not always to sure, but I'll definitely try! And you're so right, life is too short!

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  2. I don't think it's cheating. After all, miniatures are meant to trick the eye into thinking it's a small representation of something big. I think it will look fab.
    Glad you're feeling miniature-inspired again =0)

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    1. I didn't look at it that way, I guess you're right ;)
      Btw: the inspiration was never gone, ideas and thinking of miniatures is even what keeps me going in didfficult times. But look forward to be able to do something with those ideas!

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  3. Hello Monique,
    Great project. I look forward to seeing it come to life. I don't think it's cheating...miniatures are all about illusion so any means that can create the look and feel you want are perfectly acceptable.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Thanks for your view on this, I guess you're right! At least I agree ;) Big hug for you too!

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  4. I think it's called kit bashing and it's allowed, it's not cheating at all it only makes you love the project even more ;)

    Hugs
    Marisa

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  5. Hello Monique,

    Your 1; 144 scale house is going to be beautiful. Nothing that appears to be right is cheating. I look forward to seeing your progress on the house.

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    1. Thanks! Nice to know you don't consider it cheating either (although I don't mind if it was)

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  6. Hi Dominique! I think of your plans as being exceptionally creative. This is an Art Form as well as a hobby and as such, you as an artist, are allowed to interpret your piece any way you desire. It is often the use of the unconventional that paves the way for other methods and options to be seriously considered. Brava for fearlessly paving the way for others to follow. :D

    elizabeth
    p.s. If you can make a lit laptop to scale then you can do this too

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    1. Hi Elizabeth (btw: it's Monique, but I like Dominique too :D )
      I like your view on this and thanks for the compliment. However I'm not sure I'm the first to think of this. I'm sure others have thought of things like this or similar. But if not, than it's a nice thought I think!

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  7. I think it s n't cheating at all. Even from the beginning of the making of dollhouses people uses stuff like paper to trick the eye.
    The house looks very sophisticated. You have given it a great deal of thought, no doubt it will look stunning!
    Hugs,
    Gee

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    1. Thank you Gee, I'm happy with your compliment! And I guess you're right about the tricking the eye part. Hug for you back!

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  8. You are very brave to attempt a 1:144 spiral staircase...I haven't even tried to do one in 1:12!

    Remember, there really aren't any rules with dollhouses. Just do whatever works for you and have fun!

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    1. Ha, let's call it crazy and not sure at all I'll succeed, but I will definitely give it a good try!
      I like your point of view, that there are no rules, and fun I have with it, even if it were cheating! ;)

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  9. I don't think its cheating. We all use printed papers for wallpaper and things. It's all about making something you love. Kudos to you for attempting 1:144 scale. I could never work with something that tiny. I'm sure it will be fabulously brilliant!

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    1. I'm glad you don't consider it cheating and you like my ideas, we'll see if it will turn out the way I hope (but I'm sure it will, I can do this!)

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  10. wow! This sounds like an fantastic idea!! I love 1:144 scale houses. I would love to have a kit one day, have to look at the link you shared =)
    I love making the houses, but the furniture.. not that much.. Making cardboard furniture is a great idea, I don't consider it cheating =) You actually design these, so its a lot of work behind them, and the cutting will be a hard work too =)
    Looking forward to see more!! =)
    Hannah

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    1. Hi Hannah, so nice of you to stop by again and thanks for your enthousiastic comment! I didn't really 'design' them, all I did was modifying photo's from internet, but still took some time of course (but nowhere near what it would have taken if actually designing them). I understand very well that you don't like to make furniture that small, it's quite undoable.. I hope you'll be able to order a house from the link someday, would be so great!

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