Friday 28 December 2012

'GOTHICA'

'GOTHICA'

I made this lantern from two distinct pieces.  The black metal support is from a rather cheap dollhouse chandelier turned upside down and then repositioning the chain supports.  The 'glass' is from a toy dome that had I was able to detach from its original use and then glue to the overhead black frame.  The lamp lights but I  didn't want too much glare so I didn't turn them on but when lit the veining on the glass which is the skeletal remains of a chinese lantern plant, glued onto the surface, looks like a forest of trees in leaded glass.  God did all the work there, all I did was highlight it.  This project made me happy.
the right side of "Gothica' has a Realife blue chest of drawers with working lamps, a bowl of gourds, blackberries in a basket , a squirrel, and a piece of architectural fragment and a religious icon on it.  A stack of old newspapers in a bundle that Janine made for me is off to the side perched on a crate. A line drawing of a raccoon is nailed
  to the wall.  The yellow chest opposite supports the gothic mirror above it and an iron grotesque, grapes, books, candlestick etc.
Here is another look at the right side of 'Gothica' called this because of the Gothic mirror over the old
french chest.  I hand painted the chair and made or remade nearly all of the items inside.  I started this project over 12 yrs ago but put it aside until this past spring.  I needed a quick fix.  Something I could actually get finished and so I started playing with the story and here is what it turned out to be.
This used to be an abandoned out building on an enormous estate and held weaponry for the huntsmen
and servants of a baron.  Over time the shelter was forgotten and a very pernicious vine took over and  
obscured the entire structure.  New owners surveying the estate happened upon it and chopped back the vine to discover a little sanctuary where all was cool and quiet through the heat of the summer.
There was never a door but one was fashioned and used in the winter but otherwise it is always opened.  The vine they had to let stay as it now was a supporting feature of the wall and it is kept tightly in check as it tries to crawl again across the ceiling and the walls.  Not wanting to modernize the space, much has been left as it has always been with the exception of electricity but even that is minimal and often the lights of the ancestral candelabra is the only means of illumination.  It is beginning to get chilly in the evenings and the wool flannel lap robe is at the ready.  The last harvest of the summer garden has been brought in and its distribution has yet to be decided.  We will have to wait until the gardener returns....

7 comments:

  1. Dear Janine, Thank you for those encouraging words. They mean a LOT to me. I discovered that by changing the background to black the contrast was greater and the text became more legible. I took a lesson from your format. Tell Bruce that I would happily and gratefully accept ANY LESSONS with regard to the camera. Honestly, I feel so out of my element there. As you know so well, I am rash and impulsive and often won't admit to needing help. Laughing to myself now thinking that I was ready to blame the camera, when in fact, I was pushing buttons entirely at random and feeling clever if the picture turned out!! HAAHHA I am lucky that the lantern photo came out as clear as it did. That was literally
    A Shot In The Dark. Many Thanks again my Dear Friend and also to Bruce
    Elizabeth

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  2. Hello and Congratulations Elizabeth! I am inspired by you as always. You have come such a long way into the world of technology and I so look forward to reading every post and seeing every photo of your amazing talent as a miniaturist! I love the way you share your hobby and create from God's treasures using your gifted mind and hands.
    I shall wait patiently for your posts and urge you to keep them coming. You are an inspiration and my "mini" mentor!
    Fatima (fats)
    PS: I have signed up (subscribed)to receive emails when you post.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Fats! Thank you for your really encouraging words! I will admit there is a certain amount of pride in finally being able to say "I'm in the loop" I feel sooo blessed to have the enthusastic support of two of the dearest friends on earth, and I will try to live up to your expectations with regard to posting. It is more work than I thought and NOW I fully appreciate how much time and effort has gone into all the blogs I have been enjoying this past year. I am having so much fun but It is different looking at things on line than it is when they are in front of you. I am still wrestling with my camera but eventually I'll understand it and I'll co-operate. God bless you and your family in the New Year!
      Elizabeth

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  3. Benvenuta nella blogosfera, Elisabeth! Mi sono sempre chiesta chi fosse la Elisabeth che aveva firmato quel bel vassoio da colazione di Janine, e.....ora eccoti qui. Mi sono iscritta al tuo blog, anche se non compare la casella dei follower ed ho già letto i tuoi post, per cui c'è qualcuno che ti sta leggendo.Buon divertimento!

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    Replies
    1. Dear Blanche Sorry for being so tardy acknowledging your comment. My friend Janine was able to roughly translate for me and I think I have finally been able to work out the followers format
      so it is installed as I write this. I have been looking, for a means by which I will be able to translate future comments from you via this blog format. Being a rookie, I have not yet been able to figure it out but I shall have to resort to my teenage daughter if all else fails. hahaha
      Thank you for your support and I look forward to a long term friendship with you in future.
      Elizabeth

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    2. Hello again Blanche, Would you believe I have only today learned how to use google to translate your comment from Dec 30,2012? I am so pleased that you enjoyed the Breakfast Trays that I made many years ago for Janine. When she posted them on' MINWORKS' they received very good reviews and Janine is always encouraging me to make more of them. I've made several just recently and will feature the new trays sometime soon. Meanwhile, i thank you for your lovely comment about them.

      elizabeth

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  4. That is so good .... You are certainly improving your skills by leaps and bounds on the technology side of this. I am so loving this and look forward to more uploads. Love love!

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