Miniature Hymn Board

 

Well time is flying by, only two weeks now till our next fair, weather has finally got a little warmer over the last few days so I have been back in the workshop.

Getting a few new miniatures ready for Stratford on feb 10th, the above is a miniature Hymn Board, numerals can be slid in and out of place so you can put in your own hymns.

Actually working on a couple more items for a church which I hope will be ready in time for Stratford.

But then I intend concentrating on some furniture, got my book about Queen Anne furniture, got a bargain off ebay, I thought it was a paperback but when it arrived it was a hardback, also signed by the author and is in mint condition, now need to spend the evenings reading and learning, then it's fingers crossed and follow the plans, good grief they certainly knew how to make furniture in those days and without all the modern tools that we now have, real craftsmen.

Overgrown

Finished this one this afternoon, titled 'Overgrown Cottage', just from an idea of many in my head, keeps me occupied while it's too cold in the workshop.

 

Hope the cold weather soon goes away, have just ordered my book on Queen Anne furniture, so hopefully photos of my attempts at some fine furniture in miniature will follow, that's of course if I can produce some!

Just like my art I have had no training at all in woodwork and indeed like everything else in my life I have learned myself.

Woodman's Cottage

Sorry it's been so long since my last post, I haven't been doing much apart from painting.

The painting above is titled 'Woodman's Cottage' and I have tried to give it an autumnal feel.

 

Workshop is still way too cold, we have had snow over the past few days and it doesn't look like clearing yet, in fact it seems there is more to come.

 

I did have one little session in the workshop, been practising on producing cabriole legs, these are not easy but I think I have finally got there, so hopefully have some furniture made soon with this style of leg.

 

Stafford went well last week, was nice to meet up with lots of my regular customers and also got a nice surprise a few days ago when my photo was featured in the Express & Star newspaper along with a write up on the Stafford Fair.

 

Our next fair is at Stratford on Avon on February 10th.

Will also be updating my website over the next day or so with the list of fairs we shall be attending this year.

New furniture

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas, not quite over yet but soon will be, seems to pass us by quicker these days, oh the joys of getting old!

The chests and accessories above were all created by my wife Pauline, all I did was cut the wood to size and she did the rest, I shall be redundant at this rate.

Lots of ideas to come and all being well I shall be back in the workshop Sunday morning, new frames are now in production, also hopefully make a start on my tudor furniture, I used to make this a few years ago but going to get back in to it again.

 

I will also be adding the fairs on to our website that we hope to do in 2013 over the next couple of weeks, our first will be Stafford in January and then in February we shall be at Stratford.

 

And if I don't post again during this week I hope you all have a wonderul New Year and hope to see some of you at the Fairs.



Autumn Cottage

Afraid nothing new from the workshop at the moment, was busy last week and the past four days have been laid up with a virus, today I have managed to finish the two paintings that were on my board and have to say I am more than pleased with them both.
These are of course miniatures, the top one measures just 2-1/4" x 1-3/4"

I just need time now to make a new stock of frames, for the Balmoral Castle one I have to produce my latest frame, which I hope will be done in time for the Stafford fair which is just over three weeks away, but it's going to be the end of next week before I get back in the workshop.

White Bridge Cottage

Added a few new paintings to my website at harvington.com, with the cold weather I'm spending more time indoors rather than in the workshop, I do not like being cold.

But I am working on some new frames, felt it was about time as the ones I have are now looking a little tired, this is a long process though and they won't be ready till after Christmas, hopefully in time for Stafford.

Pauline is still working on the furniture and hope to have a bit of a selection ready for the Stafford Fair.

Not sure if I will post again before Christmas Day, so if I don't I would like to wish everyone a Happy Christmas, I hope all your dreams come true.

New Ottoman and painting

I'm not posting so much right now, mainly because I haven't been making so much, reason being is that it is blooming cold in my workshop.

I shall be so glad to see the Spring here again!

Not been totally idle though as you can see from the upholstered ottoman above, but I can't take the credit for this, I cut the wood on my table saw, but it was then glued together and upholstered by my wife Pauline.

I may be biased but I like this a lot, there is a lot more furniture to come and all being well on our table at Stafford in January.

But with the cold weather upon us it means I get my watercolours out more, have managed two more over the past week.

The one below, well no prizes for guessing where this scene is.

And my very very latest painting, this is Hilltop, which was the home of Beatrix Potter.
This will be on the Breast Cancer Raffle table at the Thame Miniatures Fair on 23rd Feb 2013.