Back to work

I hope everyone has had a nice Christmas, I've enjoyed it but perhaps over indulged with the chocolates.

But been back in the workshop, turning mainly loads of small wine bottles, but did manage time to turn a few fancy ones, a couple of which can be seen here, these two are now on ebay.

Will not be doing much in the workshop though till after New Years Day, then it will be back to normal, need to get the stocks back up as we intend exhibiting at quite a few fairs this year, due to health problems we only managed three last year, all being well our first will be at Cheltenham in March.

The new year will also see a lot more paintings back on our stand, already started with the paints, what better composition can there be than a box of watercolours coupled with a box of Chocolates!

Happy New Year to everyone.

The pixies

Thanks for the tips on the pixies folks.

I was going to let them out, but just like the chap at the store said, they were mega pixies, actually mega wasn't the word for them, they were huge, seems like the micro chips must be very fattening.

So they are still in there.

Cruelty to Pixies

Well it was a visit to the Big City yesterday, visit to the hospital which went well.

We did a lot of Christmas shopping as well, as good as done in one day which was nice.

Anyway I decided to treat myself to one of these modern  telephones, good god that salesman must have thought I was a dippy, okay I'm not completely compliant with the modern phones, but come on, he was telling me they have a camera incorporated in them!

What on earth will they think of next.

But hold on a minute, even I could see straight away that the phone wasn't big enough to get a roll of film inside it, anyway he then tells me the camera is digital and has 10 pixies in it and doesn't need a film, okay if it's true then that is amazing, but come on if that is the case then that is sheer cruelty, what have the pixies done to deserve that.

Anyway me being what I am, tonight I am going to remove the back from the camera and let the pixies out, after all it is Christmas.

the dreaded winter months

It's now the time of year I don't like, dark, cold and damp, yuk.

But it won't stop me from working on new ideas for next years Miniature Fairs.

The above is one of my one off sets, 5 hand turned bottles with copies of old labels, the majority of my labels are now designed by myself.

This milk of magnesia label is one of my own designs (the 'Harvington Miniatures' part does not come on my bottles) this and many other labelled hand turned bottles were very popular at the new Midland Fair, a fair which is definitely on my list of must do's for next year, Nov 18th 2012.

Must say I had a very good day at the Fair and all the customers seemed to be enjoying themselves too.

 A lot more bottles and other miniatures will be added to my range for next years fairs and if all goes well I hope to be back on the road in March.

As I was asked quite a few times about half scale on Sunday I now working on some 1/24th bottles which will be added to my range for next years fairs, am quite pleased with the way these are going, these little ones measure under 1/2" tall.

almost ready

Just a small selection of what will be on my table 'Harvington Miniatures' on Sunday 20th November at the Chateau Impney Hotel in Droitwich, this is a new fair with many established and recognised miniaturists displaying their work.

Already there is a buzz of excitement for this one, if you can make it then do come along.

If you do then please come and say hello at stand 95.

For me, all that remains is to pack my boxes and I will be ready.

But I won't be standing idle, I shall be making a few last minute miniatures, perhaps another pair of quirky goblets like the ones in the photograph.

something old something NEW

Photo above is just a small selection of our new range, more will be revealed at our next fair which is in Droitwich on November 20th.

Anyone who saw our old stand and miniatures may be a little surprised when they see the new stand, we have diversified quite a lot, many many new items have been added to our range.

The medicine bottles above and along with a lot more are all unique, all hand turned by myself, the labels I have also designed, plus they don't fall off.

A good point of our bottles is they all stand perfectly, none are lopsided.

See more at the HARVINGTON MINIATURES stand, stand No 95 at the Chateau Impney Nov 20th.

Our stand only contains miniatures that we have made ourselves, nothing is bought in.

We are now working on our own jars which will be filled with pickles and much much more.

something new

Only four weeks now till my next fair, November 20th at Droitwich and still busy busy busy making stock.

And it is a complete change of display from my last fair, having always concentrated on paintings I have moved on a little, as you may have seen from my previous blogs there will be a lot of turnings as well as a new range of bottles and jars such as the four shown above, been having fun making these and also designing my own labels.

Oh and some new doorstops as well.

Latest news is that my work is being featured in Dolls House & Miniature Scene magazine which goes on sale on October 27th.

latest news

The incense burner above I have turned from a lovely piece of Brazilian rosewood, possibly the nicest turning I have so far produced. 

Am busy busy busy in the workshop preparing for my next fair, November 20th at Droitwich. 

Anyone who has seen my fair table before will see a huge difference now, spent all summer working on new items and had to change the display as a result.

Also my work is to be featured in the Dolls House and Miniature Scene magazine which is due out at the end of this month.

New woods

Still busy in the workshop, building stock for the new Midland Fair in Droitwich on November 20th.

I have some new woods which I have imported from Hawaii, the pedestal above I have turned in aged Hawaiian Milo.

This hat stand I have turned in Hawaiin Banyan, this has some very interesting grain and markings.

I have and will be turning more in these woods ready for the fair.

Am also working on a couple more new things, which I am confident will also be on my table.

Back to the wood, well this time it's rare wood.

I have turned this in Cocobolo Burl, this is as rare as rocking horse pooh, it's a difficult wood to turn but has such a beautiful finish as you can see from the dolls house trinket box above.
I couldn't avoid the camera flare due to the high gloss finish I obtained.

Again this is the same wood as above, I only have a small amount of this and shall be very careful how I use it, whatever I turn now, most of the turnings will be at the Midland Fair, this is in Droitwich on November 20th.

even more bottles

Had a good online fair last weekend, my wood turnings and turned bottles went down very well.

Now have a lot more colours and different types now to turn from as you can see from the above photo.

My sizes start from 6mm diameter and upwards and I have approx 30 colours, can turn in many different heights as well as many different syles.

Top row second from left is spiral, to the left they have bubbles inside.

Others include flourescent, transparent, clear, opaque, I can even tint them.

Visit my website for more details on how to buy my turnings; www.harvington.com

Lot more to come very soon, currently working on some labels.

Online show this weekend

These are just two of 45 listings I have on the online fair, it starts tonight and finishes Sunday night.

This is the link if want to have a look http://aminiminiatureshow.weebly.com/

You'll find me on page 5 under Harvington Miniatures.

To see any more you have to visit the show.

back in the workshop

Back to the lathe, I just can't keep away from it right now, been practising for a while now with turning acrylic, this one I am very pleased with, it has some wonderful colours in it, it's now on ebay.

And due to a great response from my last couple of lots of bottles I have turned even more, this time in clear acrylic, again these are now on ebay, but there will be a good selection at the Midland Fair in November, that's only just over three months away now, doesn't time fly when you're having fun.

Paintings Sale

This year has seen me concentrating on lathe work, but thinking it's now time to get the paints out again, so with still a fair few paintings in stock I am now having a sale, 30% off all marked prices on my website.

All my paintings are in frames that I have made myself.

If interested in a painting just email me at daveywills@blueyonder.co.uk

I am a published artist and as well as appearing on the BBC I have been featured in many newspapers and magazines all around the world, my paintings are in many private collections worldwide.

 http://www.harvington.com/

30% off marked prices until the end of August 2011.

I will also include free shipping on all paintings to anywhere in the world.

latest turnings

And for something different I have turned an auctioneer's gavel and block, so if you have an auctioneer doll this could be ideal. Turned in Olivewood the gavel measures 9/16" long, the block is approx the same.

And now a honey pot, again it's in Olivewood, I just love turning this wood, the grain is fantastic and I get a real nice smooth finish.

The dipper measures 13/16" long and is turned in rosewood.

Here you can see the other side of the pot.

Height of the honey pot is 3/4" to the tip of the lid.

Both of these items will be on ebay tonight, my user name is smallartist.

Back to the spooky stuff

This is a one of a kind, I turned the cauldron and then added the legs and handle.

Then I filled and painted it, you can see a few bones and bits on the surface.

The handle is not movable.

Am very pleased with this one.

Love Goblet

Took a bit of work and a few that didn't quite make it, but finally got there, a love goblet with two rings, I have turned this from a solid piece of wood, rings are not removable unless you break the stem in half.

My next step will be to try and turn one with three rings, now that is not going to be an easy task, but being a determined old so and so I shall get there eventually.

and now for a bit of art

Just trying something different, a little bit of hand turned art deco.

Lots more ideas on this type of turning, depends on how well this one does on ebay.

Want a cheap hat, then try Kat the Hat Lady's shop on ETSY, she has a sale at the moment.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/katthehatlady?ref=seller_info

Turning bottles

Been trying to turn this clear acrylic for some time now, finally got a bit of success as you can see from the photo.

My tools were too large so after some experimenting I have turned my own tools which deals with this material so much better, still takes a while for each bottle, but I was determined.

These are solid acrylic so tops are not removable, but with labels added I think these could look quite impressive.

I have listed 10 on ebay under my user name of smallartist just to see if there is much interest.

Distressing time!!

Thought it was time I had a go at some furniture again, I made this set in mahogany and stained it in dark oak.

I have distressed it to make it look aged and well worn.

Ideal for a tudor house or even a witches or wizards house.

I have just listed it on ebay, under my user name of smallartist.

Have now got a week off work and I must must must start getting stock ready for the online fair and the 

new Midland Fair which is at Droitwich in November, I have a sneaky feeling this is going to be a really high class fair.

back into my stride

After a few days break I am now back to the wood turning again.

Had to fit a new dust extraction system, the dust from most woods is very harmful and most of the exotic hardwoods are very toxic while turning and the dust being so small can get through even the best masks, it's now so nice to breath fresh air whilst turning.

Here we have a six piece apothecary set in bethlehem olivewood, a lovely smooth finish and some lovely grain.

Please note all my turnings are my own ideas, when I put a piece of wood onto the lathe, for me it's creating art, I just let my imagination go.

Some of my turnings are available on my website www.harvington.com also some are available on ebay and even more will be available at the new Midland Dolls House fair at Droitwich in November.

And after putting my paints away for a short while I have started painting again, the first one is shown below, PROVENCE FARMHOUSE and is listed on ebay under the username of smallartist

back to 1/12th turnings

Managed to get some more Bethlehem Olivewood, I do enjoy turning this wood, it has a wonderful grain, here we have a mortar & pestle and a pill silverer which I have based on a 19th century antique one.

Apothecaries having fashioned their pills would coat them with silver by placing them in these containers with a silver powder. Gently rolling the pills within the sealed sphere with a gum resin would cover them, ready for bottling.

a little bit smaller

Thought I would see how small I could go and still keep the detail, well this is it, a dolls house communion set in 1/24th scale. The goblet measures just 5/16" tall. Had to make three lids for the flagon as I lost the first two, dropped them and never to be seen again!!

Feeling a little lopsided!!!!!!!!!

I love turning these, a mortar & pestle along with 2 quirky lopsided goblets, am busy making stock for my next fair but also love turning a few things for ebay, these three items are in the exotic wood cocobolo.

I use my own technique for turning things lopsided. Now listed on ebay item 120738941294

busy inventing

Had an idea last night and spent a couple of hours this morning turning and putting together.

This is a 'penastrole', it is a ring of the future for a wizard or experienced witch.

I have turned this in rosewood and cocobolo and different pieces of acrylic, it measures

1" diameter and 3/4" tall to the top of the astrolobe.

still on the wacky things

Something else a bit different, still trying to come up with new ideas, this time a Wizard's staff, this one I have turned in an exotic wood 'cocobolo' it measures 4" long.

The handle end measures approx 3mm wide.

Normal turnings

A day off work means a day in the workshop, gone a bit more normal this time, but soon back to my witchy things, this time though I have turned a dolls house communion set in olive wood, what a lovely wood to use, but very hard to get hold of, got a few pieces left though.

Just put this set on ebay.

Checking your dreams

Ideal for a witch, a pensieve, I have turned this in three seperate pieces, rosewood, cocobolo and acrylic.

It measures 2" high.

As seen in the Harry Potter films, a pensieve will allow the user to review their dreams, I can visualise this with two or three witches stood around it arguing over who will use it next.

Yes I'm still in my witchy mode, life is never boring in my workshop.

Unusual turnings

Back at work but still working on new miniatures, the items above are medical, but also suitable for a witch, a pill silverer and antique stethoscope, below is a medicine holder, a witch could let the brew mature and then pour it into the goblet for drinking.

These are now all listed on ebay.

bit more turning

First week of my return to work has gone okay, been back in the workshop today, practising with acrylic again, quite pleased with the way it is going, just got to be more patient than with the wood, but I will get there, the one in the photo has a rosewood lid, 1-3/8" to top of the finial.

Hooray, my new DVD player arrived this morning, so can watch my Guns 'n' Roses DVD again, November Rain what a classic.

slowing down

Well the lathe is still getting well used, turned a few items today, been listing them mainly on ebay.

The two pictured here I am quite pleased with, rosewood lid on the left, on the right it is an ebony lid.

If you want to look me up on ebay anytime my user name is smallartist.

Am returning to work on Monday, five months off, it's been a long time, so the mini work will all slow down  a little now, I shall still manage some miniature work now and then but obviously not as much as I have been.

And just for something different

Had an idea in my mind for something a little different and here we are, two vases which I have turned in rosewood. I have just listed them on ebay if interested. Just type in two quirky vases and you should find them.

Giveaway winner

As promised I would give a prize when my followers reached 100, amazingly here we are, the winner of the 1" tall apothecary jar pictured above which I turned in cocobolo is

JULIE KENDALL

Julie if you let me know your shipping address I will get it off to you, I will post anywhere apart from the Moon.

My next giveaway will be when I reach 200 followers.

Am ready now

Okay as good as ready now for Stourport on May 1st, the 9 art deco vases above will be on our table along with lots and lots of new items and everything on our table is hand made by myself and wife Pauline.

I note that I now have 99 followers and as promised when this reaches 100 I will be giving a prize, I shall get someone at Sunday's fair to pick out a number between 1 and 100, I have yet to decide what the prize will be, any suggestions will be gratefully recieved.