Jardinire tables

Been a short while since my last blog post, have been concentrating on my mainstream minis for the upcoming fairs and only three weeks now till Wolverhampton and then quite a few on the trot.

More or less got the stock made that I wanted to and can now concentrate on one off miniatures, such as the ones above, a jardinire table in 1/12th, one in the middle is 1/24th scale (just over an inch tall) and a cake stand/table.

Been slowed down as well due to finding out the hard way that table saws and fingers do not go together!!

The throbbing now eased off and slowly getting back in the workshop again, but going to be a few more weeks before I am back to full strength.

More new items on the way soon, head still full of new ideas and the sketch book is overflowing.

New mirrors

Not a lot to report, been busy fulfilling orders and making stock for the next few shows, thankfully my next show isn't till April, still need more time to work on stock making and rebuilding the show stand.

The photo above shows my two latest miniatures to come out of my workshop, couple of fancy mirrors, 1/12th scale (2-7/8" diameter) and 1/24th scale (1-1/2" diameter), am very pleased with the way these have turned out.

 

Am also currently working on a new range of miniatures, something which I have not seen anyone else selling, these will be ready in time for the Bantock House fair in Wolverhampton fair on April 7th, am hopeful they will prove to be a popular addition to the Harvington Miniatures range.

 

Bantock House is going to be popular again, I've been told that there is now quite a waiting list and they only charge 50p per family entrance fee, now that is a bargain!

 

New Church Miniature

Even though it was cold I still managed to venture into the workshop this morning and still on the Church theme I managed to make a font, this is 100year old mahogany and Indian rosewood and finished with sanding down to 12,000 grit and then laquered and resanded several times.

This measures 73mm tall.

 

The fair at Stratford on Avon went reasonably okay despite the horrible weather, very cold and pouring with rain all day long, what a vile day.

Well done to all who ventured out.

On a plus I enjoyed two beautiful bacon sandwiches, I did try to pay for them honestly, but I was told to take them for nothing, now I was not about to argue with that, was I!

 

Now got almost two full months for creating some new miniatures before our next fair which is at Bantock House in Wolverhampton, going to be some good makers there and I hear that there is already a lengthy waiting list, if it anything like last years event, it will be a cracker.

New Miniatures

Been busy this past week, finished off a couple of new miniatures, both plaques for a church, the top image is of a gold remembrance plaque, had to take photo at an angle to avoid flare, sorry.

 

Been busy making stock for out next fair which is now only 4 days away, it's at the Welcombe Hotel in Stratford on Avon, 10.30 till 4, we shall be right by the entrance.

 

After this we have two months break and then we shall be at Bantock House in Wolverhampton, this will be the start of four fairs in five weeks, so will be busy for the next couple of months, making extra stock and also hope to finalise even more new miniatures.

 

Tomorrow Thursday 7th Feb I am to be featured in the Express & Star newspaper and for this I have not only cleaned up the workshop but also given the website a make over, lots of miniatures now there for viewing, www.harvington.com

 

This final photo is of a sign you would usually find outside a church and will come with varius different wordings.

 

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.