Thursday 25 April 2013

"THANK YOU, CHRISTEL JENSEN!'





Often times inspiration hits when you least expect it and this is how it happened to hit me.
 While spending valuable sleeping hours surfing through the internet and of course Pinterest, I chanced upon a tutorial by the well-known and incredibly talented Fimo artist, Christel Jensen.  This one was on YOU TUBE, which I hadn't scanned for a while so I decided to watch Christel in action once again, as I really enjoy her videos.

 CHRISTEL JENSEN HAS THE NICEST VOICE! 
 I watched tutorial after tutorial just so I could listen to the sound of her voice.  She is  so unhurried and treats her craft with the utmost respect and gentleness that is inherent within her.  After watching about 5 of her How-To's I decided that I wanted to give it a try.  She made a wonderful little tea shelf with the pot and the tea boxes and other cute little pieces. all out of Fimo and all of them were wonderful.  I, however, do not have a pasta machine and I don't cut straight either and this tutorial required both.  (SIGH)  I decided to try my luck and do a shelf anyway but my way.  My way required only one teeny tiny cut and NO fimo and NO baking!  In fact almost NO skill and it took me all of around 15 minutes to put them together.   So are you curious?
Then come right this way.......
*****
This is the shelf!

And this is how I did it
These are the tools
tweezers, snips, needle-nosed jewelry pliers and a pair of scissors

Then we have the pre- cut wood pieces  They are WOODSIES  and they come in a package from Michael's craft store but they are pretty common.  The package is RECTANGLES ONLY.  You can buy a mixed bag but for $5 dollars I want what I use the most and so I bought the assorted rectangle and there are tons of them in different sizes in the bag. These ones are 4cm long x2cm wide or
 1 1/2" x3/4".  I'm sorry that I didn't show the package but I threw it out long ago. Also you will need a wooden stir stick.  I bought a huge box of these years ago and I can't remember where but there were 1,000 in the box!  They come in handy for many things but for this tutorial you don't need 1,000, you only need
1.  That is you will only need one if you are NOT ME.  I not being able to cut a straight line had a few slips and needed a few tries before I got it right!  That is why I have shown more than one stir stick in the photo. hahahha    You will need glue and because I am impatient I am using Quick Grip and it holds fine for this project.  You will also need sandpaper and that is about it.
WHOOPS!I nearly forgot these.... decorative brads from the craft store.
I bought mine from Michael's in the scrapbooking section.
When I first saw them I thought they looked like wrought iron and I wanted to use them some how.  I decided to use them for the brackets for the sides of the shelves.  Christel used fimo cut outs for the sides of her shelf.  For me this was easier.
In the package there are only 2 styles and they all face the same way.  So there is going to be a little cheating on the application of them to the wood but more on that later.  I decided to use the bigger of the two styles but I am demonstrating on the other one.

This is what it looks like out of the package.

Spread the prongs apart because you are going to cut them off.


I used the metal snips but the prongs are thin so they are easy to remove.

This is what it looks like after the prongs are removed.
DO NOT THROW THE PRONGS AWAY!
So this is what the shelf is made of
 let's begin.

Lightly sand the wood pieces smooth.



Glue the longest edge of the woodsie and but the other shelf piece to the top to form a right angle.
Let dry.
 
When dry sand the edges smooth and make sure that there is no glue globs any where.  I say this for my benefit.  I have been known to try and ignore excess glue and to paint over it, trying to hide it.
More grief when you do it the lazy way. So take a lesson from me the Queen of the Short Cuts.  Clean up the glue, you'll be happy that you did.
Here is where the stir stick comes in.  Measure the length and cut the stick to fit the length of the back of the shelf.  I used scissors for this which is why I needed to re do it so often.  Sand the edges of the stir stick and then stick the stick onto the back of the shelf about 1/2 cm from the bottom. That is approximately 1/8 th inch in Imperial measurements.
Should look like this

Now you take one of your metal filigree brads and glue it at 3 points to ensure the most stability.
Again, I am using the Quick Grip glue and it works well for this.

Both sides done.  Notice that the outside of the right bracket is indented.   All of the brads faced in the same direction and so I had to accept this minor flaw. It is what it is!
Now here is what you do with those cut off prong pieces.
You are going to form coat hooks and you will need 3 to 4 of them.
They will be made by wrapping them around the needle nosed pliers.  You will need to have a little
bit of a lip on the back end of the hook.  I forgot to measure the length of the metal before I began to shape them but you will be able to adjust them if you get it wrong.  Don't worry about it not being perfect ...
 I didn't!

This is why you need the lip on the back of the hook.  You will want to have it hooked to the top of the stir stick that runs across the back of the shelf.  The hooks will be glued on but they look more secure with the little bit of extra metal.

Glue the hooks on with Quick Grip and leave to dry
And there you have it!
All done
 
They were so easy that I decide to make some MORE!
I even made one with cut down decorative toothpicks.  For that one it did take me longer than 15 minutes but that was the only one.  I placed the band of the stir stick up under the top shelf.
The rest of the shelf process was for fun and experimentation,  In her tutorial, Christel Jensen made a tea shelf for the kitchen.  I was still undecided as to what I was going to put on top of mine so I tried a number of different finishes and not all of them were pretty.  I made some big messes and had to try and fix them afterwards.  I began by painting the whole shelf with a base coat of off while acrylic paint.  Then I decided to try Dale Flutey's school glue crackle technique again.  I had used it on the shutters of "#43 Green Dolphin Street" and also on the interior door.  On the shutters the crackle was ultra fine, on the door Wow!  Did it crackle!  There was so much crackle that the door was looking derelict and I had to sand it down and repaint it in the blue, which it is now, so I know that this will work..... 


Yup,  it Crackled




I then decided to make it look really old and I added brown glass paint and  you don't have to say a word.  It is looking GREASY and Nasty!  Would I want this is in my kitchen!!!???
NO!
I had to scale back the aging business because the cute little shelf was now looking very
 Skid Row.
Back to the sand paper and a lot of buffing and white washing and a restoration of
 'Shabby' once again.
And this is what the final collection looks like
So what do you think?
  ***

I still wanted to try a tea shelf
I have some paper doilies that I had purchased at the March 2013 show and so I pulled them out and this is what the package looks like.  This is how much I paid for them and it seems pretty steep but I like them and I knew that I would use them so, LIVE DANGEROUSLY.
The sticker shows the vendor that I bought them from and gives you the phone number if your interested.
These are the variety pack that I have used in the Victorian Sea side Cottage.
I really like the fine detail in these
 
These are the second package that I purchased and they are table runners and napkins.
I used one of the napkins for the shelf.


I folded the napkin over the shelf and let it fall over the front edge of the shelf.  In hind sight I will not have it as long in the front as it is.  It is just a fraction too long when I see it in the photo.
Although, I make my own teapots and have used them many times for the tea trays that I make to sell, I decided to try and use up some of the surplus perfume bottles that I have stockpiled.  I had fun filling the shelf with items that are far removed from a kitchen tea shelf but I still might do one with the other 7 shelves but I like the look of this one it is very romantic.
The mirror is made from a hair clip also from the dollar store.  It used to have big bright rhinestones in the centre, which I removed and inserted an acrylic oval mirror also from the dollar store.   I added a bit of extra gilt using nail enamel and then touched the edges of some of the perfume bottles to add a little PIZAZZ!
This is the lower part of the shelf with a bracelet on the hook and also a pink hair ribbon


SO THERE YOU HAVE IT!
project complete
Sometimes inspiration comes from the most unlikely sources,
from tea shelf to boudoir...... Go figure?

Thank you
Christel Jensen!


elizabeth







69 comments:

  1. Hi Elisabeth, thank you so much for this fantastic and creative tutorial! Would you mind if I put a picture of it on my pinterest board with a link to this post? Hugs, liduina.

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    1. Hello Liduina! Thank you for asking but take anything you like at any time. I have many tutorials already in circulation through Pinterest and the idea is to pass on information to whoever can use it! If it weren't for Pinterest and Christel Jensen, this wouldn't be here in the first place! hahah! Thank you though you are very sweet to have asked and I am glad that you like it and I hope you can use it.
      Take care of your injury, Liduina. Get better soon!

      elizabeth

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  2. Gorgeous. I love your shelves. I remember seeing Christel's videos and I've been meaning to go back to them and have a go at the tea pot and shelf. She does great tutorials.

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    1. Hi Sharee! Yes she DOES do wonderful and very detailed video tutorials and they are all done with Fimo!!! She is the master of this medium and the fact that she does kitchen items as well as her FANTASTIC BAKED GOODS and her SAVORY dishes!? There is no end to her talents and incredible skills. I admire her greatly! So thank you for also liking my little shelf, Sharee! I don't know what Christel would think of it but it was certainly a lot of fun and so easy to do!

      elizabeth

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    1. Thank you Merja! I am so happy that you like this little shelf! I hope that it will be something that you will be able to try yourself! It is soooo easy!

      elixabeth

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  4. thank you for the tutorial!Christel Jensen is fantastic!i think this progress is really fun!i never thought to make with fimo something like this!thank you!!kisses!

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    1. Hello Filista! I too am a Big Fan of Christel Jensen and there is nothing that she does that is not Superb! The most recent posting shows the brownies that she has been making in miniature and they make my mouth water just looking at the pictures! She's incredible. I was watching her video and amazed at the skill she used to make an entire product out of clay. I know that this is not my forte and by now I am sure you can see why. I am too impatient to get the job done and move onto the next thing. Sometimes things don't turn out well, but then I go into FIX IT mode and I end up with something I hadn't even thought of and better than what I had originally intended. I hope that you like the little shelf and will try it out and make it your own too!

      elizabeth

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  5. Thanks for this tutorial. Your shelves are wonderful and I like the little scene.
    Bye, Faby

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    1. Hello Fabiola! You are so welcome and I thank you again for taking the time to leave me a comment! I am happy that you like the little shelf and I am glad that the scene turned out as well as it did. Originally, I only had the shelf on the wall and at the last minute I decided to add the oval mirror. As soon as I did the whole scene came together and so I think that when I take these to the show in June that the mirror will HAVE to be part of the package too!

      elizabeth

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  6. Oh YES! Thank you Christel Jensen, one of my "Fimo" inspirations and thank you for inspiring my friend Elizabeth who is my inspiration for everything mini. Elizabeth, I truly love your post. You made this amazing shelf tutorial available to all. You are so very generous with your gift as a miniaturist. I applaud you! The shelves are beautiful. I have to try the crackle method. I have this little tutorial by Christel bookmarked for and have wanted to do it for a while as I do love to work with Fimo.
    You introduced us to the "glue" which I had stored away and never used. So it is now on my worktable. However, and there is a however, how do you keep your little tube so clean? How do you prevent it from pouring out uncontrollably. I waste so much of it and while it is amazing I can't get it to cooperate. What is your secret? Am I the only one who can't work with this little tube? Reaching out.....fats.

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    1. Hello Fats! Thank you for your praise but I feel what I do is "small potatoes" when I think of the wonders of the extraordinary work that Many others are producing. I just like to craft. Now as to the Crackle glue technique. I used Elmers school glue but when I originally did the interior front door of the Parlor, I used a No Name brand which is a bit runnier and the crackle was off the charts! There is a perfect time to apply the overlay of the second coat of paint and I believe that you have to time the application to the drying stage of the glue. So before you do anything I would do a test piece and see how much time between the glue coat and the paint coat and the type of crackle that results. Or do like Lucille had sugested and just buy Crackle medium. Also, review DALE FLUTEY'S blog posting on how to do it with school glue. It is applied on his POTTING BENCH. He has had far more practice with this than I have.
      As to the Quick Grip glue scenario with it bleeding all over EVERYWHERE, there is NOTHING
      that I have found to prevent it and I have tried everything that I can think of. There is an enormous amount of waste when using this glue. I buy a new tube each month and half of it has been cleaned off the nozzle. I was in a hobby store 2 days ago and should have purchased an adaptor, ; fine tipped nozzle to use on the end of glue tubes. I kick myself now.
      I think that it is worth the purchase because it is the Bane of my existence this glue. Sorry Fats...... I'm reaching out with you!

      elizabeth

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    2. Elizabeth...thank you for the explanation of the crackle method. I do have crackle medium somewhere...probably dry by now. The glue sounds so much handier.
      Stop stop....do not buy nozzle. I will gift you want when we meet on Tuesday.
      fats

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  7. what do I think?? I think you are brilliant! I also think I wish I had a craft store that had more than mostly fabric in my town because I LOVE those brads! I have a really hard time with clay too- and when I do manage to make something decent I somehow manage to burn it-lol! I need more practice I guess. I love your idea of taking the tutorial and turning it into something you can do- and your shelves turned out wonderful! Thank you for always sharing with us :)

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    1. Hi Kim
      Here's a little help for you "Fimo" to prevent it from burning. A friend of mine shared it with me and I'm not sure where she got it from but I will share it with you.
      "Bury your pieces in baking soda when you bake them. Somehow it keeps the temperature even and not too hot. It is easily washed off after and even if you had left your tile to cool in the oven it should be protected. "
      I have not tried this myself as I have not had this problem for a long time. It is best to underbake at first and test then bake some more...
      Hope I have given you a bit of help. Have a great day.
      fats

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    2. Fatima-thank you so much! I will try this next time and see if it helps. You are so kind to take the time to share this with me :) Hope you have a great day too!!!♥

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    3. Hi Kim! You can't go wrong with advise from Fatima! She is TOPS when it comes to Fimo and all the intricacies of using this medium. I have never heard of using BAKING SODA as a cushion for the fimo and so this is a tutorial for me too! It makes perfect sense though and who ever thought of this has found a way around a problem that has probably plagued them too. Give it a try and let us know your personal findings. As to the brads, if they have them at Michael's then they are probably available through a wholesaler or a hobby supplier. Look for Scrap Booking supplies on line. I am pretty sure that you will come out on top!

      elizabeth

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  8. SO beautiful! Thanks for sharing your method, I have told you your mini eye is a great one. I love those decorative tacks I can see them in many applications.

    The antiquing really makes the shelf!

    Wonderful, *hugs*

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    1. Hi Jane! And.Thank you Milady! Now I know that YOU are also a FIMO 'affectionado' and so I expect that making an entire shelf out of it would be no problem for one of you talents! I love what you do with food and deserts in miniature and now you are making flowers as well! So Jane, just think if you combined the 2 projects, this shelf of wood bits and metal with the creations that you make for the kitchen....WoW!
      I am glad that you like the shelf. I think that if you made the lengths of wood longer you could use them in your holiday store for all the delicious candies and deserts that you are making for it. Hope that you can and WILL.
      enjoy!


      elizabeth

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  9. Dear, dear Elizabeth! Thank you so much for this lovely tutorial! Not only have I learned to do a cute little shelf but I have also picked up some pointers. You so often help me think out of the box when I read your posts. This time around, I have learned about not seeing a hair clip but a mirror. I have learned how to look at swirly things and seeing possible hooks to hang mini teacups. Also the possibility of taking apart some scrapbook pieces that I have in my stash to make burners for my stove thus saving myself a bus trip to the hardware although these trips do force me to go out there in the big wide world.

    I'm working on my kitchen right now and I keep changing my mind over and over again. I have inspirations that keep disappearing to be replaced with blanks. Does that ever happen to you? So, I cruise the net and Pinterest looking for the coup de foudre. Every day, I find myself thinking of that amazing living room you put together. I just hope my kitchen turns out to be amazing, well, to me anyways. I know it's possible and I keep telling myself that. There are so many striking kitchens out there and I want one. I'm looking forward to seeing your kitchen. My biggest challenge is that the space is small but I've seen the fantastic living room you did with a small space and it inspires me. Have a wonderful day! I forgot to tell you how much I love how you have decorated the shelf with all the cute little ornaments.

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    1. Hello Lucille! I know just how you feel and 'Yes', I am always indecisive and sometimes overwhelmed but everything that I see and WANT! This is no easy task is it? I am trying to think of how I can help you Lucille and the only thing that comes to mind is trying to get a STORY to use as a starting point. Christine's Hollyhock Cottage is based on the home of writer, I believe, and she is using it as a starting point. I have used a book " Green Dolphin Street" to get me going. Before I settled on it, I had planned to make it an American Country Sampler" to house the collection that I had amassed of furniture and accessories. But I couldn't get the lead out and you know how I procrastinated up until I started to put the stone on the outside of the Arthur. Then thanks to you and Giac and the encouragement of others, I did an about face and decided to do the Seaside cottage instead and as the book is a favorite of mine anyway... Well you know the rest. So if you are having trouble, Lucille, think about what puts a smile on your face and satisfies. I know that there is a lot of possibilities but to use them all is not possible. I have an inspiration board on the wall of my studio and I look at it full of photos of things I like. Guess what most of them are? Pictures of books, cottages,cosy bedrooms dressed in toile, bed frames that look like your mini one, vintage china and sea side pictures! These are what draw my soul and make me feel happy! I bet that you have collected things that are probably just as diverse and yet all of them make you smile. Try to find a way to tie them all together and them find a story that you can build around. You don't have to stick to any of it but it can help to keep you focused on an objective. Also, put your things into the space and play with them inside. I find that it helps to get a clear idea of what space is available to work with. Norma at "MAKE MINE MINI" has a very tiny kitchen and she managed to maximize it so that it all appears to be bigger than it is. A very clever solution to such a tiny space. Don't be discouraged, You can do it Lucille! I know you can!

      elizabeth

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  10. Magnifico and clever.... as usual! ;-)

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    1. Hello Ersilia! I thank you sincerely and I hope that you will be able to use this tutorial in some of your many projects! I think that accessing the brads will be the greatest challenge but look on line! There are so many wonderful things that are available to miniaturists that were non- existent when I was in my 20's and 30's. We are so fortunate that if there is something that we desire we are able, through the internet to acquire it, albeit that the postage and delivery is an obstacle. I hope that you will be able to find the bits and pieces readily where you live. Thank you again Ersilia! I ALWAYS value your comments!

      elizabeth

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  11. Your shelves are wonderful. I love how you finished it. Thank you very much for all the fantastic ideas and tips. Wonderful tutorial.
    Hugs Maria

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    1. Hi Maria! I am glad that you like this tutorial! And I am glad that you like the way I finished it although you wouldn't have a few days ago! The shelves all looked like they were hauled out of the dumpster! I was APPALLED at what I had done!!!! And thus I had to undo what I did and that was another challenge in and of itself. Whew! I painted myself into a tight corner and then I had to find a way out of it. But now comes the fun part of making the decorations for it. I had promised Gladys that I was going to do a tutorial on the perfume bottles so that is my next project, I think. Stay tuned.

      elizabeth

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  12. Hi Elizabeth!! Thank you for this great tutorial! It is all clear to me, but (perhaps for you it is a strange question ;D) what is PIZAZZ!? Never heard of this term (my language barrier?), I am sorry!
    The shelves look really great!
    Have a nice weekend. Hugs, Ilona

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    1. Hello Ilona! Thank you for your comment and I am happy that you like the shelves and that the instructions were clear. Now as to the term" PIZAZZ." I don't know its exact origins but the late great former Vogue Magazine editor Diana Vreeland, is accredited for having used it regularly. Roughly translated it is that 'little extra something' that is not specifically anything but turns what was good into what is better! Diana Vreeland was quite a character in her lifetime and you can Google up some of the famous quotes that are attributed to her. "Pink is the Navy blue of India" is a good one and If you have ever seen the Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire Movie called " Funny Face" the editor portrayed is supposed to be a parody of Ms. Vreeland. She was a power house of a woman at all stages of her life.

      elizabeth

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    2. Hi Elizabeth, thanks for answering :D!
      I'll Google on this subject, thanks for sharing PIZAZZ ;)!
      I have another question for you: I got an update from your blog about Fairystudiokallies, but I can't see this update. Your blog showed up after I clicked on the link in my readerslist, but it says that "something went wrong" and I can't see this post???
      Did you remove your latest blog post? This can explain what happened...I thought I'll tell you about this.
      Hugs, Ilona

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    3. Hi Ilona! Yes, My Bad! I was leaving a comment on the "Fairystudiokallies" and hit a key that sent the post and the comment to my blog! I'm not sure how I did that but right away I deleted it and sent it back! However, I see that the memory of it lingers! The doll that I was looking at is adorable and so it is worth having a look at yourself, but I am going to have to get my posting out A.S.A.P. just to knock it out of my blog reader. Sorry about that Ilona. You and Wryna have mentioned it to me and probably others will too. Thank you!

      elizabeth

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    4. Hi Elizabeth, I have looked up the blog of the fairystudiokallies: awesome work!!!
      Thanks for mentioning it to me!
      Hugs, Ilona

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  13. First I want to say that your finished room of the last post is beautiful and it came all so well together!!! I thought I left a comment in that post, but I'm in shock to see I didn't ??? So I apologize for that:( Christel is a very lovely woman and I'm very honored that we have meet each other in Paris were we had a beautiful diner with some mini friends:) Her tutorials are great, but I love yours too!!!! Thank you for sharing your ideas with us:) The shelves look wonderful:))))))
    I wish you a good weekend!

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    1. So lucky! She does sound really lovely and during the months that I was packing to move etc...watching her videos brought me into a magical world.
      fats

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    2. Hello Sab! Thank you so much for this comment on the shelves and I am so glad that you like the Parlor too. I called it 'Finished' but have since been doing a little more here and a little more there..... It is Never Finished is It? How wonderful to have had the opportunity to meet and have dinner with such a lovely woman that she seems to be. Mind you most people that I have had the pleasure of knowing over the years that are involved in miniatures, are delightful. So with a collection of all of you over dinner it was probably like a miniaturists idea of heaven. Good food, good company and good conversation...!!! What a combination!

      elizabeth

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  14. Te ha quedado un conjunto fantástico, todos los elementos que has puesto ,te ha quedado muy romántico,gracias por este tutorial tan bien explicado, besos:)

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    1. Hola Rosa Maria! Thank you for the lovely comment and I think it is quite romantic too. I like making perfume bottles and sometimes I make them and change my mind in favor of something else and so I have 'left overs.' All of the bottles and jars came from the left over jar. I shall try to get a tutorial out on the process although there is really no right or wrong way to make them it is all just a matter of personal preference and what you have on hand. I am glad that you like the way the shelf turned out with the items on it. ! Gracias!

      elizabeth

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  15. I love to see your tutorial, you are so good to show all the details. Thank you for once again making me wiser, one day when I get time, so... Lovely with your inspiration, it makes me think a little differently.
    Hugs
    Wyrna

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    1. Hello Wyrna! It is always a pleasure to hear from you! I think that the most difficult part of being involved in this hobby is the way you have to train your brain to see what things could be instead of what they actually are, don't you? You and I could be sitting side by side working with the same materials and you would do it one way and I another and each of us would be saying " why didn't I think of that?" I say it regularly to the computer screen when I am viewing all the innovative ways that people have surmounted obstacles to enable them to get the job done. And Christel Jensen is enough to inspire anybody!

      elizabeth

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  16. Beautiful shelf! Thanks for this tutorial. ;)

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    1. Hello Eliana! Thank you for your comment and you are welcome to the tutorial! I have just finished paying you a visit too and I see that you have a new project under way in a cigar box.
      I am very intrigued and will be back to your blog to watch its progress! Looks like it will be Fun!

      elizabeth

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  17. Merci pour le modèle ! L'étagère est superbe, elle est joliment garnie.
    Bon week-end ! rosethé

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    1. BonJour Rosethe'! Thank you for your comment and the compliment! I am so glad that you have enjoyed this little tutorial and the little perfume bottles that are upon it. As I mentioned earlier, I am thinking of doing a tiny tutorial on the perfume bottles so please stay tuned.

      elizabeth

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  18. Once again I'm gobsmacked by your eye for T2T goodies! Lovely shelf, even lovelier little morsels added to it.

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  19. Hello Susan! Lovely to chat with you again! Yes I always have an eye for Trash! You should see my studio. It is over-loaded with trash and the sad part is that I am reluctant to dispose of any of it, because as soon as I do that is when I shall finally think of what to do with it! So the pile up is steadily growing! I am sure that you can appreciate the concern I have of one day being 'buried' within the studio and never being seen again! With only the sound of the tap, tap, tapping of the computer keys, as the only indication of me still alive. (hahah ) Food would have to be left at the door and I will have to have a mechanical arm to enable me to reach over and through the trash to get to it. It would take a lot of effort to finally finish what is left for me to eat. Perhaps though all that exertion would result in some significant weight loss. Wow, wouldn't that be nice?!

    elizabeth

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    1. Sorry Suan, I kinda got carried away with the image of being skinny again! Thank you for the comment and the very nice compliment re: the perfume bottles! Stay tuned for a mini tutorial, come very soon to a computer screen near you!

      elizabeth

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    2. I did smile about there being a possible link between T2T and weight loss - if only, eh??? Sigh, my trash pile hasn't made me skinny yet ;) Anyway, who cares about weight when there is so much amazing creativity around us to feed the soul?

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  20. Hello Elizabeth,
    thank you for this fantastic tutorial! I love your shelves!
    Thanks for your fantatic tips!!
    Greetings
    Melanie

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  21. Hello Melli! Thank you for leaving a comment and it is very much appreciated. The shelves are sooo simple to put together and I hope that you will be able to give it a try and have better results than I have had. I wanted a shabby chic look with an old vintage finish to them. The shelves have many coats of paint on them as well as a layer of glue for the crackle. If I were to make more, I think that I would not do the crackle but I would age them. I like things that look kinda old. Anyway, Have fun with them. It would be interesting to see how other people could interpret them.

    elizabeth

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  22. Hello Elizabeth,
    Fantastic job, as usual. It looks great and your explanations are always terrific.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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  23. Hello Giac! Thank you! They are frivolous and quick to do and I am happy that you like them. They are made much better by the accessories so I will show the collection with all the bits and pieces on them very soon. However, I have one month to get all the items for the miniature show done and that means priced as well as boxed and ready to move and what have I done..... NOTHING but play with my stuff. MY BAD!
    Big hug back!

    elizabeth

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  24. Awesome! I love your perfect explanations. Thank you so much. All the finishing details make it gorgeous!
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

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  25. Hello Caroline! I thank you for the compliment,. I think the shelf is nothing much and the bottles are nothing much and the mirror, but put them all together and they begin to gel into a pretty good piece! I am so glad that you like it! It is very shabby! And it was a lot of fun!
    Congratulations on the New York magazine piece about your miniatures that is coming out soon. Looking forward to seeing the article all about your cottages. What an honor; Well deserved!

    elizabeth

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  26. Hi Elizabeth,
    Christel really makes lovely miniatures and you have done wonderful justice to her tutorial. I know what you mean about her voice....very gentle and sweet.

    ML Fix

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    Replies
    1. Hello Fi ! It is always a pleasure to hear from you and so I thank you for your visit! Thanks for the compliment regarding my tutorial. I have by now pretty much given up all hope of doing a tea shelf. BUT, I have been rapidly finding new homes for all the left over perfume bottles that have been wasting away inside a jar and the results are better than I had expected. I should have the show and tell ready by this weekend, so please come have a look see then too.
      I think that if Christel Jensen has the most soothing and relaxing voice that I have ever heard. There is no stress and no anxiety in it and I can't imagine that she ever raises her voice even in anger. Janine of MINWORKS has a voice very similar to Christel's. Perhaps that is why I enjoy it so much! MY speaking voice is like that of a locomotive. You can hear me from a long way off! hahaha

      elizabeth

      Delete
  27. Another great tutorial! :) Love the pieces you used for the wrought iron look.

    toddlindsey.com

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    Replies
    1. Hello Lindsey! I thank your and I am so glad that you liked this project. I have just finished decorating the tops of the shelves and hope to get another posting out within the next day or so to show the results!

      elizabeth

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  28. Strange, but I can not come in and see your new post today. When I press into your blog, it brings me to the record from 25 April.
    However, I can see that you have made ​​a new post "Fairystudiokallies: Ilka ... a miniature Girl in 1/12th scale ... She is absolutely adorable! I love miniature children dolls and you have fallen in love with yours! Elizabeth"
    Maybe it's my blog that make mess, maybe it's a general error.
    Perhaps more have problems, just so you are informed.
    Hugs
    Wyrna

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Wyrna! I hit a wrong key for another blog that I was on and it transfered it to mine!!!??? I don't know how that happened but I deleted it right away but it shows up on this site anyway. The blog is wonderful and I'm glad that you have checked it out! I was trying to leave a comment about that doll because she really is a beauty! I will have a new posting very soon though, thanks!

      elizabeth

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  29. Great shelf, thank you for sharing another wonderful tutorial.

    I just added links to a couple of your tutorials to my tutorials list at
    http://mslists.blogspot.com/2012/04/tutorials-i-j-and-k.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Mary! Thank you and thank you for the link! I am also always interested in what other people are doing in the world of miniatures so I really appreciate this information! Glad that you enjoyed this tutorial! I'm just finishing the dressing of the last shelf and hope to have the photos of them all before this week is over. Stay tuned!

      elizabeth

      Delete
  30. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  31. And thank you, Elizabeth! :)

    ReplyDelete
  32. Absolutely wonderful artistry!! Is there a way to sign up for your blog with email! I'm having trouble subscribing to your blog cuz Google doesn't work anymore for me. Oh yeah, also....my local Arizona bead store "Beads Galore International" (www.beadsgalore.com) carries thousands of crystals & glass beads (on strands) for quite inexpensive prices, including LOTS of clear glass & flat shaped beads perfect for perfume bottle making

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hello Deanne! Welcome aboard and thank you for your lovely comment and the compliment! I show you now as a follower on my site but there is a gadget just below on the right side at the bottom of the comments that will let you subscribe by email. I have a post that may interest you entitled 'The Bead Works' where I talk about the beads in my collection and where I get them. If you are bead addict like I am, this may be of some use to you. Also look at the post " Perfume Addict" where I have the collection of all completed perfume trays using the beads from my collection. Have fun Deanne and enjoy!

    elizabeth

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  34. Thanks Elizabeth.

    Gracias desde Barcelona, Spain.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Very Happy that you enjoyed this tutorial! Please come and visit again. :))

    elizabeth

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  36. Olá,

    Muito legal esse tutorial, obrigado por compartilhar

    abraço

    ReplyDelete
  37. Hi Susy! I am so glad that you have enjoyed this tutorial, and Thank You very Much for leaving a comment too! :D

    elizabeth

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  38. Danke, Susi für deine Anleitung, ich bin ein ganz blutiger Anfänger und für solche genauen Anleitungen unendlich dankbar. Ich habe mich bei dir eingetragen und hoffe noch viel zu lernen. Liebe Grüsse Christine

    ReplyDelete

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