Wednesday 15 October 2014

MORE COLOR!





I recently decided that I needed MORE COLOR for the front garden entry of #43 Green Dolphin Street


Here is the front entry from my last post "Miracle Grow."
I feel that it is looking a bit dull for early summer
 This is how the front entry is looking now!

Often after I've published a post about a project that I have technically labeled as "finished", I will keep re-examining the photos of that said project, especially if I feel somewhat dissatisfied with what I am viewing.  I don't always know why or what is actually bugging me, but if I am constantly re-visiting a photo with a question in my mind, ("what's wrong with this picture?") then chances are, that I will sooner or later, be changing something.   
Most recently, the photos of the front garden walk from my last post "Miracle Grow", were not doing it for me.  I knew that for an English Garden, the front walk, was lacking some significant color.

the front walk "in progress" with oregano

And so I began at the top of the walk and worked my way down the stairs.  To draw the eye up, I added an acid green creeping plant, a golden oregano, close to the front door, used as under-planting for the purple heart and the finished tulips that are growing there.   The vibrant golden oregano that now skirts the hard edge of the flower bed, visually softens it and provides that extra jolt of hot color that was needed by the front step.
this is my second adjustment
the photo below was the first 
You can see how effective the acid green is with the purple leaves; it really makes them stand out.  I have bushels of this growing in my own garden so this was an obvious solution for the mini one.
After looking at the photo below for a long time, I saw that the oregano would look better if it were extended the entire length of the flower bed rather than stopping half way across.  
Even though I had already thought that this bed was "finished" for the second time, I was still making additional changes to try and get it right.
After making more oregano and re-taking the above photo, I was amazed at what a difference this made to the continuity of the border .  It made sense, it looks better and 
there is More Color!

below is the 2nd "before" and above is the 3rd "after"
now it's clear as mud, right?? :)) 
 Toadflax

I made a weedy type of plant that "grows like stink" in my Real Life garden.  I only recently found out that it has a proper name.
It is called Ivy-leaf Toadflax.  

This mini plant should have a red-ish stem but I wasn't able to achieve that effect (yet), but the tiny violet flower that it carries you can easily see. 
In real life, this little creeper climbs up walls and spreads out, over, and/or through other plants, I have this doll's house version crawling all over the sweet alyssum at the base of the front step.
I would normally be yanking it out by the roots to try and keep the Toadflax under control, but I am letting this miniature version alone to grow freely in my doll's house garden. 
:))
the making of Irish Moss

A quick trip to the hobby store is where I found some army 
(and /or), railroad landscaping foliage called "Meadow flowers".  In the package it looked like 1:12th scale Irish moss.  The very dainty flowers cost me $7.00 for a very small package but it was worth every penny because it was ideal for this miniature garden.
The package contained both yellow and white meadow flowers and so I tried to stretch it to both sides of the front garden walk.
this is what the product looks like out of the package

I had already made and added the dense pink soapwort, (a creeping plant I made from"cut and paste"fabric plants and pink wax crayons).  To increase the Color Quotient and intensify the color mix I perked up the walk with some purple campanula (grated purple kitchen sponge) for the left side of the entry and also a small bunch of switch grass for added interest.   I placed the white meadow flowers "Irish Moss" on the step below, in with the sweet alyssum.
The Soapwort, Switch grass, and Moss with the Alyssum

This was inching closer to what I was looking for but I still wanted 
MORE COLOR!
 My earlier geraniums, went from a peach to a deep pink, then I removed the boxwood ball that use to be there and replaced it with 2 pots of rich, red geraniums placed directly underneath the pink ones .
This was looking better and better and more like the 
 English Style Garden that I had in mind.



Having beefed up the visual impact of the geraniums, I returned again to the Irish Moss.  I really liked the tiny yellow flowers of the moss and I wanted some more.  I just so happened to be in the Thrift Store last week where I spotted this artificial primrose plant for sale.

Very cheap; so the price was right! 
the flower centers, had just the texture that I needed

I clipped the stamens from the plastic stems
initially I was going to use them as mounds.

But then I saw that the fibers could easily be peeled away from the plastic head.

so here is what it looked like- 
Big Fuzzy Yellow Caterpillars.
I needed them to look more like Moss so this is what I did...

I used some Super hold hair spray as the adhesive and sprayed some of it onto waxed paper. 
I divided the hairy yellow stamens and dipped them into the puddle of hairspray.
This artificial turf is fine enough for moss all on its own, but also works well when it is mixed in with other materials.  For this project I sprinkled it directly onto the fuzzy wet stamens and then worked it down into the fibers with a toothpick. 

This toned down the yellow and gave it more realism.

Ta-dah!
My new Irish Moss

I applied foam glue to the back of the clump and installed onto the steps 

 I have the tendency to "polka dot" plant in my Real Life garden, which is a bad habit that I am trying to correct.  To me, gardens look better when the plants are grouped together en-masse, rather than "a little here and a little there".  I made a conscious effort to group the miniature plants closer together. 
I had to make myself do it.  
My objective for the front walk was for it to look not only colorful, but lush and full, rather than disjointed and spotty.

So I added even more homemade Irish Moss than I had originally planned.   I filled in the gaps which of course, gave the front entry 
More Color. 

for the tiny flowers, I grated some wax crayons 

I lightly sprayed the moss with hair spray and sprinkled the shavings onto the top.  Some stuck but most didn't.



I brushed off the excess

and this is the result

More color and much better!
:D
***

(interlude)
As I was busy working on the moss, I happened to find an old  laser cut kit of a pair of paper gardening gloves, with a hand trowel and a garden fork.  To paint them, I left them barely connected to the paper template.  I used a silver nail polish for both sides of the garden tools.  For the gloves, I bent alternate fingers so that the fingers wouldn't stick together, and then I painted both sides of the gloves with white liquid paper correction fluid.
I used this because it would give the flat paper some texture and dimension.  I gave the gloves a couple of coats each and then used it on the handles of the garden tools as well.

Liquid paper dries rather quickly, but when it is applied as thickly as I did for the gloves, it took a lot longer to completley cure. 

the original paper template
the paper correction fluid 

the paper garden tools in progress 


the garden tools and the finished gloves

Once dry, the gloves were painted with a brown acrylic paint and then when that was dry, I curved the fingers and the palm of the gloves so that the paint would crack and give the gloves a well- worn leathery look.  I cut two narrow strips from the left-over template to make cuffs for the gloves.  For the garden tools,  I applied several layers of liquid paper to build up the handles so that they would look more dimensional and would be easier for the gardener to hold.
These will be featured again in the garden, at a later date.
And so  another task has been completed.
***

Then it was back to the garden entry for some additional fine tuning.
I was constantly assessing the development of the garden walk, by taking picture after picture.  It is easier for me to see what I am actually doing with more objectivety via photographs, than it is to be looking at the actual project.  Through viewing the photos through the camera lens, I found that the stone was reading way too dark. 
I lightened up the stone steps with some highlights so that it would not only look more like stone but also so the plants would blend better.
Tai the cat has settled himself in the sun, where he surveys the entire front garden walk.
Both Tai and I agree, that this path is now
 Full of Color!





  which for me is practically
Purrrrr-fect!

*****

To all of my

New Followers, 
Welcome!
 and to those of
Long-Standing,
Thank You 

for 
visiting!
It is
always a pleasure 
to have all of you here,
and do
 come again soon!
:D


elizabeth

98 comments:

  1. I think you've nailed it with the mixture of colour and textures. It's amazing how much variation there is in real-life so I applaud you for getting all of that detail in there. I love the gloves - they really look like those laytex covered gardening gloves you get from the diy stores. Beautiful work Elizabeth =0)

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    1. Hi Pepper! Thank You for your compliments and your observations about the amount of variations in Real Life. I couldn't agree more! I think that because I am working so intently on this garden, I am paying much more attention to the Real gardens that I see, and I am noticing how many shapes, colors and textures are repeated over and over again, from Big to small and from plant to plant, yet each one remains unique unto itself.
      God is Amazing that way! :))
      The gardening gloves turned out better than I had hoped, so I am glad that you like them too! I can't remember when I bought the laser kit, but I know it has been years in storage. It was nice to finally be able to Find them and then to also Use them. :D

      elizabeth

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    1. Thank You Merja! I am so glad that you like it! :D

      elizabeth

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  3. Hola Elizabeth. Ya me parecía expléndido y real el jardín como estaba antes. En algunas ocasiones te he comentado, que en las fotos, parece un jardín real y no en miniatura.
    Pero después de los últimos arreglos, está aun mas bonito, cosa que no creia que fuera posible.
    Tienes un don para esto. Te felicito y te agradezco que compartas con nosotros esta maravilla de la cual disfruto muchísimo.
    Un abrazo
    Victoria

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    1. Hello Victoria! What a lovely compliment! I Thank You very much!. :D
      I am always trying to make my work look more real with each attempt that I make. Sometimes it happens early in the process but more often it happens later, after I have had an opportunity to live with it for a while.
      Thank You for your encouraging words about the garden; they are very much appreciated! :D

      elizabeth

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  4. Absolutely marvellous! The work of a real artist! And it is always interesting to read how you create and work. I love the gardening gloves too.
    Geneviève

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    1. Hi Genevieve! Thank You Very Much!!! I use to paint a long time ago and I guess I approach my miniatures with much of the same attitudes, but it is the crafting aspect that I love the most! :D
      The gardening gloves were an experiment that turned out better than I expected. The most difficult part was waiting for the liquid paper to completly cure.
      That took a long time.

      elizabeth

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  5. Hello Elisabeth!
    your garden is just beautiful! I love your fantastic ideas and ways, you are very talented.
    Thank you for the sharing,
    Magda

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    1. Hi Magda! It is so gratifying to receive such a wonderful compliment, Thank You Very Much!!! :)) I try to explain what I have done because I know how much I enjoy seeing how other people make their miniatures too. Sharing ideas is one of the best things about blogging, wouldn't you agree? And for me, that is what makes it even MORE FUN! :D

      elizabeth

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  6. Fantastic garden with just the right colours. I love your work on the front walk

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    1. Hello Dominique! Thank You for your compliment and for mentioning the colors! :D
      Working on this miniature garden at this time of year, is like going on a mini vacation, where the weather is Always sunny and the plants are Always in full bloom and the gardens are Always Full of Color! So far it has been quite therapeutic and I still have the other side yet to do, but at least the front walk is now "finished". Hooray!

      elizabeth

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  7. Oh my, Elizabeth, you've done a purrrrfect job on your garden :D!!
    You even achieved a even more better look of your garden, after you did your magical work with some "this and that"! Amazing and very realistic result!
    Thanks for sharing lots of new materials and their special effects (at least they were for me), that is very kind of you! As usual your blog post wasn't that easy to read for me, but after some translations and visits to wikipedia, it was all clear for me and I fully enjoyed your garden tour ;)!
    Hugs, Ilona

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    1. Hello Ilona! I am glad that you have enjoyed this posting Thank You Very Much,but I am sorry that the translations were not easy. :(( I know how frustrating that can be when something is unclear and I do have a tendency to use a lot of slang. I shall try to cut back on that and see if it helps.
      I am glad that you enjoyed the "special effects" hahaha. But although I can handle paint and glue, I am not good at all with a needle and thread like you are. To me THAT Really Is a special effect! :D

      elizabeth

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  8. what a beautiful relooking ! thank you to share

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    1. Hi Claude! Thank You Very Much! I had fun sharing the ways and means of re-making the front walk. In my last post "Miracle Grow" I just talked about it but this time I tried to show it in more detail.
      Thank You for enjoying it! :D

      elizabeth

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  9. Toutes ces couleurs me font penser aux tableaux des Impressionnistes, c'est une merveille pour les yeux. Votre savoir faire est vraiment spectaculaire, la réalisation est parfaite.

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    1. Hi Claude! Back in my youth when I was still actively painting, I most admired the Impressionists so Thank You Very Much for that lovely comparison! :))

      elizabeht

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  10. Hello Lady Elizabeth,
    Your work is so well made, so realistic, so beautiful it hurts! I don't know where to begin! I can totally understand redoing parts of a project to get it just right. That is why your blog stands out, you always push and make things better, even though most of us can't even imagine that is possible.
    The flowers really make it feel like a wonderful English garden in the summer. I can imagine Miss Marple walking up to the door. Even though you added a lot of detail in color it still blends in perfectly...especially with the red on the cottage. I have to stop because I could go on and on, but I will just say the Irish moss is one of my favorite things. So incredibly well done my friend!
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. My Dear Giac! Having recently paid your blog a visit and knocked on the door of your Manor House and seen the Remarkable Up-Grades that you have made on the entry and in the Tudor hall, I was left Bowled Over by what you have accomplished! You have taken your Manor to a Higher than Higher level!!! It left me completely gob-smacked, so I feel very honored by your compliment Sir Giac!
      Thank You my friend :))

      elizabeth

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  11. Wow...WOW! Your garden is just the most colorful and lovely garden I have ever seen.. The details in the little bits you've used are what really fills this space out and makes evrything look so realistic.

    I love that youve used bit from other modeling products, I always see interesting pieces in railroad shops and wargamer sites that I think would be amazing but slightlyoff scale..now you made these eyes see to add layers like the little flowers, wonderful!

    Another level of amazing work madam! Thank you for alway inspiring us!
    Hugs~J

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    1. Ahhhh Janicus Smithicus, I Thank You for your most encouraging words! :D
      I too like to visit the sites of Railroad enthusiasts and Wargamers and find that their work is not only jaw dropping in the realism, but they are gifted with incredible ingenuity by which they make their dreams come true. There is So Much to admire about smaller scale enthusiasts.
      I am always glad to hear that people become inspired by my posts Jane, Thank You. I say that the feeling is Definitely MUTUAL! :))

      elizabeth

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  12. You are a Master Gardener Elizabeth. I have never seen one as realistic or as beautiful. The effort you are willing to go to for excellence is extraordinary!!! I adore your gloves and tools. They also are stand out creations. Thank you for sharing how you created all the new additions.

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    1. Hi Catherine! I am Very Flattered by your compliment but I am just a "WannaBe" when it comes to mastering either my Real or my Mini Garden. However, I am really good at seeing and then correcting my mistakes. I just wish that I could avoid making them in the first place so that I wouldn't have to keep on re-working my own work. Having said that, I DO Sincerely Thank You for your compliment about the Realism! :D I have been trying to achieve that effect with this garden right from the start. It is always challenging to keep on pushing myself towards that end. Often when I think I have almost arrived, I stumble onto something that gets me closer by accident, than by intention. There is always something new to learn in this hobby isn't there? This is probably why I enjoy it so much. :))

      elizabeth

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  13. Elizabeth, I vote you mini gardener of the year! It is not an easy job to translate real life wildlife into miniature. You nailed it in the most creative, ingenious way! I am with you and Tai. I am most satisfied with the garden! The gloves and tools just add the finishing touch!

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    1. Oh Thank You Grandmommy! :D Do they even have such a thing? heehee
      You know, I am really pleased about those gloves and the garden tools. I don't know when, where or why I bought them in the first place, as I have had them for a very long time and still in the package. When I unearthed them again,as I was looking for something else, I was at last ready to tackle them.
      And having done it with the gloves, I might even give it a try with some other plant project. The sky's the limit......!!! :D

      elizabeth

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  14. Purrrrfect... yes, that's it... you wanted more colour and you added more colour in a stunning way. I'm totally impressed by your realism... and who would have thought a primrose could end up as Irish moss? Well, not me... Fantastic improvements - and your garden tools are stunning, too.

    Greetings
    Birgit

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    1. Hi Brigit! Acid green and purple and pink with just a touch of white or cream, have Always been my Favorite garden Colors. Years ago I tried to make an all white garden like the one in Sissinghurst, England

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    2. Whoops!!! Sorry, Brigit, I cut myself off!
      As I was saying: I had an all white garden which was fine for awhile but then I slowly began infusing More Color into it. I am happiest with color and so that is what I needed to introduce up the front entrance, ( in a more powerful way) towards that red door that you had mentioned once before. I love that red door and the complimentary acid yellow/ green, really makes it sing!:))

      elizabeth

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  15. I love it! It is so vibrant with all the colours you have added. This is going to be so much fun to look at in the middle of winter. Yes, you are the Master Mini Gardener! Well done!

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    1. Hello Isabelle! Thank You Very Much!!! I love the vibrancy of the colors too, and you are so RIGHT! With winter in the wings, this project will be just the ticket to get me through the dark months ahead. You know, I thought that this garden project was going to be a "quickie" but I think that I shall need every blessed minute of it, from now until next June, to get this house ready for the show. Time flies when you are having ..... fun! :))

      elizabeth

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  16. El jardín es una maravilla, no solo tiene color es que además tiene luz y un ambiente espectacular. Te agradezco todas la explicaciones sobre como lo has ido embelleciendo.

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    1. Hello Isabel! Thank You for your compliment and for your observation about the light! It was one of the reasons that I used the colors that I did was because it concentrates "sunlight" into a rather narrow opening. Atmosphere is everything, to me and so I am Delighted that you have enjoyed it too! :D

      elizabeth

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  17. I love the color, Elizabeth! So much more cheery and fun! Great work! xo Jennifer

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    1. Hi Jennifer! Thank You Very Much! :D It makes me Very Happy that you find it just as cheerful and as much fun as I do! :D

      elizabeth

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  18. You always have the most ingenious ideas Elizabeth! Using liquid paper to make the gloves thicker is fantastic and the effect amazing.

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    1. Hi Shannon! Thank You for your compliment about the gloves! :D The gloves turned out better than I expected, and I am so glad that so many like the idea as well as the finished product. I almost didn't include the photos in this post but now I am happy that I did. :D

      elizabeth

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  19. What an amazing miniature garden! It is a mixture of an English garden and a Monet painting. Truly extraordinary work!

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    1. Hi Neen! Thank You for enjoying my miniature garden and for the compliment about English gardens and Monet! :D This doll's house rides the middle ground of being both a little English and a little French. My friend Janine of MINWORKS, has a miniature Garden that is Truly FRENCH from one side to the other. Hers is a formal country garden of flowers, fruits and vegetables in High Summer, whilst mine is more casual city garden; late spring/ early summer. I hope that you will take the opportunity to see her garden too, as it too, is like taking a beautiful vacation to Provence!

      elizabeth

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  20. Tulips that have dropped their petals, creeping toadflax, witch grass, and flowering moss.... all details which a TRUE gardener would know to add... and which make your garden so much more realistic and SO Inspiring to us Novice mini gardeners!!! The moss with the flowers...... I ADORE it!!! And the tulips stems.... with the pistils still attached!!! It just makes me drool with mini flower admiration!!! (At first I was looking for the tulips.... thinking blossoms.... but then I saw the stems and was so tickled to see them!!!) And then the garden tools! From PAPER!!!! Aaaaahhhh!!! I can't believe it!!! Only you would think to make the paper so three dimensional with liquid paper correction fluid!!! Genius! Pure Genius!!! It is just so unbelievably beautiful and realistic.... I want to get down on my knees and yank at the witch grass!!! LOL! Please invite me in... I want to visit your magical garden and learn from the master! I could go on and on... and I will be coming back again and again to memorize all the materials and tricks.... Someday, I too, will have a tiny garden!!! Thank you for sharing so many of your fantastic ideas!!!

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    1. Hello Dear Betsy! The headless tulips is one of my Favorite details Betsy, so your compliment is making me smile from ear to ear!!! :D The fact is that they are mixed in nearly invisibly with the other growth, so they usually go unnoticed. Thank You for seeing them and Thank you for thinking of my garden as "magical".
      And as far as transforming the paper;... paper is the "NEW WOOD"! What I have seen done with paper on so many other blogs including your own,( ie the bathtub in your Rose Cottage) , is some of the most interesting and creative that I have ever seen. But I am truly Delighted that you have enjoyed my work Betsy, just as much as I have enjoyed yours. :))

      elizabeth

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  21. Hello Elizabeth,
    When I look at the garden through my eyelashes it looks like firework! It certainly is a lush garden.
    Thank you for the how-to's, am always grateful if people share their knowledge.
    Your garden is a feast for the eyes, did not think it could be improved but you did just that!
    Hugs,
    Gee

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    1. Greetings Gee! I am so Pleased that you have enjoyed the Lushness of the garden walk, Thank You! :D I love sharing because not only do I get to pass on what I have learned which will hopefully be useful to others, but it also reminds ME of what I have done and how I did it. You would not believe just how quickly I forget stuff. hahha
      I should also learn to never call anything "finished" because I AM always trying to improve it, but I Thank You again, for your generous compliment on the improvements! :))

      elizabeth

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    2. Don't thank me, you fully earned all the compliments others and I have given you, and about forgetting things: I know all about thát ;) but sometimes that is a blessing too
      Hugs,
      Gee

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  22. Hi Elizabeth! I wrote you a comment sometime today! I came back to your blog to admire once again your lovely garden and read the other comments and I noticed that once again, my comment has disappeared. This is so strange as it has never happened to me before. Well, I am mentioning this so you will know that I had not neglected you. I so very much admire your talent and appreciate your blog and all the generous sharing of your tutorials.

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    1. Hello Lucille! I don't know what is happening to what you write but I am certainly glad that you have tried and succeeded a second time. :))
      Thank You Lucille, for all of the Wonderful things that you say about my work. I have always cherished your honest praise and the thoughtfulness of your comments, not only here, but on many other blogs that you and I both follow.
      I am glad that you have been enjoying the tutorials. They are fun for me and give me a bit of a mental breather from stressing out from this mini house project. By the way, how is your Victorian Farmhouse coming along? I hope that you are still working on it. Keep me posted. :))

      elizabeth

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  23. Hi there Elizabeth,

    I want you to know that I love what you did! I am a "sometimes" gardener, and the plants you have made rival any in my garden! They are absolutely believable, and the new colors you introduced really ground the space...it feels real now. You ALSO achieved what you set out to do. . . to create an English Garden. I can't wait to see more...sounds like you have a whole other side to do! I love the idea of the bee keep too...this is gonna be good! :0)

    Doug

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    1. Greetings Doug, We meet again! :))
      Thank You so much for your compliments about this mini garden. I am always delighted to meet other Real Life gardeners. It pleases me to no end that you think that this looks like an English style Garden... Hooray!!! :D
      I feel that I had a real break through when I added that moss, because suddenly the entry came alive and looked like it was actually growing.
      I have recruited my friend Janine of MINWORKS, to make me a mini bee skep such as the one that she has in her own mini garden. I am looking forward to that. She also has a bee hive in her Real Life Garden that is fascinating to see when Fatima and I lunch together at her house. I hope that you will take the time to visit her blog and see her French Style miniature Garden. It is like a Beautiful, Soothing and Calm oasis that I know for sure you'll enjoy!

      elizabeth

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  24. Wow, I'm in awe. I just love your attention to detail. Whenever I think your work is absolutely fabulous you still manage to take it up to another level. Thank you for sharing your great ideas and techniques.

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    1. Gooday Sharee! Thank You for your lovely words and for your compliments! :D
      I am rarely satisfied with my work for very long. I have a desire to always try to improve it, and consequently it takes me a loooooong timmme to get a project "finished" to the point where I can leave it alone and move on to the next one. *sigh*
      Nevertheless, I do like to share some of the good things that I have learned along the way, and I am really glad that you have enjoyed them. :))

      elizabeth

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  25. Hi Elizabeth, Fantastic work! Love that chartreuse green in a garden it really lights its surroundings. Only you would think of using White out correcting fluid ... How does that brain of yours come up with these things!

    Loved it all! Janine

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    1. Hi Janine! Thank You Very Much, fellow Miniteer and RL Gardener Extraordinaire! :D
      I Love the chartreuse green too, and it does bring so much "sunlight" to the surroundings. :))
      I am glad that you like the gloves and the tools Janine. Except for the fact that they took a long time to cure, they were dead easy! It has made me think that perhaps there are other ways to use the correction fluid in miniatures? Anyway, I have tons of work to get done before the next time you and Fatima come over, and more Left Garden still to plan. However, my brain has NOT come up with ANYTHING for that, as yet. :((
      It is a "sel-ec-tive" brain. hahaha

      elizabeth

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  26. Hallo Elizabeth, ik vind het fantastisch,wat een verandering.
    En gelukkig voor ons, laat je ook zien wat je bedoelt met de materialen.
    Erg mooi geworden.

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    1. Hello Thea! Thank You for your compliments on the garden, and I am glad that you have enjoyed the mini tutorial on how I did it. :D I didn't show how or what I did on the post "Miracle Grow", but I know that showing the process is a lot easier for others to understand than if I just talked about it. :))

      elizabeth

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  27. О, Мой Бог! Это так прекрасно! Я хочу иметь такой же реальный сад! Может быть, когда -нибудь,я осмелюсь сделать что-то подобное в реальном мире! Я буду читать и перечитывать вашу статью. Мне очень нравится переход от одного растения к другому. Такие плавные линии, ласкающие взгляд. Такая гармония цвета и линий!!! Так хочется прикоснуться ладонью к верхушкам цветов... Ах, Элизабет, вы такой талантливый художник... Я всегда радуюсь, когда смотрю на вашу работу... Я не могла поверить своим глазам, когда рассматривала перчатки и садовый инвентарь. Так реально смотрится, настоящая кожа, металл, древесина. Сделано из картона!!! Невероятно! Ну я же говорю, нет слов. Я онемела совсем !:) :) :)
    Ваш большой почитатель!
    Татьяна

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    Replies
    1. My Dear Tatiana! Your comments are always such a Pleasure to read, you have the gift of painting with words! Thank You so much, my friend! :D
      I hope that you know that I feel exactly the same, when reading your blog because I am a Big Fan of All of your work, since the time I discovered your blog.,
      I love the image of caressing the tops of the plants in passing. In fact, that is what I do in my Real Garden. :))
      Now, with the season changing, and the cold and dark creeping ever closer, it will be good therapy to be able to enjoy perpetual sun in my miniature garden.
      Big Hugs Tatiana, and once again, I Thank You!

      elizabeth

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  28. I like the colors of this beautiful garden. It's very luxuriant.
    The cat is so cute.

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    1. Hi Faby! Thank you for your compliment about the colors and the luxuriant of the plantings. That pleases me that you like them, very much! :D
      And the cat thanks you too! hahha

      elizabeth

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  29. Ooo myyy!! Such an amazingly realistic garden!!! I adore it! How clever, the irish moss. The gloves and tools... wow!!! And the colours: wow again. I think I've gone speachless. All I have is Wow. But it's soooooo amazing!
    XX
    Véronique

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    Replies
    1. Hello Veronique! Thank You!!!! The Irish Moss was a Find that's for sure and once it was installed in the garden, everything else perked right up! I am so glad that you like the gloves and the tools as well. That was a project proved to be the perfect little filler between waiting for paint to dry and taking more photos. :D

      elizabeth

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  30. Elizabeth, ce jardin est fabuleux !
    Que de fleurs diverses, que de couleurs, les passants vont s'arrêter devant tant de merveilles ! Un véritable régal pour les yeux.
    Bisous. Joce

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    Replies
    1. Hello Joce! I was looking at an article not long ago about an English woman who had a front garden full of colorful flowers and one of the pleasures that she took when out in it, was the time spent with her neighbors who stopped by to chat and talk about her beautiful garden before they carried on with their day. She was doing as much conversing as she was working but she enjoyed every minute of it! So Thank You for your compliment and for mentioning the mini neighbors. I think that you are so right about that! :D

      elizabeth

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  31. Dear Elizabeth….
    I am so overwhelmed by the sincere and humble reality of this garden! It couldn’t be more perfect! – Except ofcourse when I see it in person --- I love all the various plants, colour and textures. Takes me back to my grandmother’s country garden where everything had been growing for a very long time. Shaped and attended to mostly by nature yet organized so pleasing to the eye. What a lucky little kitty to be able to sit and enjoy the smells and colours of your garden. I want to put on those amazing garden gloves and start digging around to find a little place in which to place just one more little plant. They are wonderful and you have turned a laser cut item into a most realistic piece. And in the words of Isabel Ruiz Alonso not only does it have colour, it also is filled with light as well as a spectacular setting.
    Thank you for your sharing your talent. I for one can’t get enough of your blog and only go on it when I have full and undivided attention to absorb all that is there. That being said, it takes more than one view to really appreciate all the beauty.
    fats

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    1. Hi Fats! Thank You so much! What a Great Friend you are; you are ALWAYS so encouraging! :))
      And what a great comparison to equate it with your Grandmother's garden. I love it when there is a spiritual and emotional connection between what is cherished and lovingly remembered.
      And I am very pleased that you like the gloves and the tools. I know just how well, you yourself work with paper. Actually, why stop at paper; you work well with EVERYTHING you do! Your men's shirts that you were showcasing just recent on BEAUXMINIS, will attest to the fact, that whether it is paper, cloth, cooking, sewing, baking, plastic, painting, sculpting, clay, wood etc etc....., there is nothing that your don't do, and can't do well!
      So Thank You once again, my friend,. Your compliments are very highly valued. :D

      elizabeth

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  32. Thank you for sharing this wonderful work with gorgeous results. Your garden looks
    very realistic and colorful.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Hi Drora! Thank You Very Much for saying that the garden looks "realistic". You know just how much every Miniaturists treasure those particular magic words! :D
      And they are music to my ears! :))

      elizabeth

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  33. It's beautiful, it really is, the effects are perfect. You would think that you had used a lot of bought kits, had you not explained the materials used. And the little gloves are fantastic. I like that idea for the moss, so I'll be off to Poundland to see what false flowers they have :D

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  34. Hello Sarah! You know I still get a giggle when I think back on your cushion and rug post!!! :D What a gift you have not only for telling a good tale, but with what you do in our miniature world, ESPECIALLY with paper! Your paper garden pots and watering can were to die for so if you feel that the effect of the liquid paper was good, then coming from you, I am like a cat in catnip.... Thank You!!!! :D

    elizabeth

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  35. Astonishing work Elizabeth! The garden is beyond perfect. You're so exact on all the details. It's jaw dropping amazingness!
    And the gloves and garden tools are so incredible! Paper! Who would know? I shall put that in my memory file to try out sometime.
    Thanks so much for sharing your inspiring work.
    hugs♥,
    Caroline

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  36. Hi Caroliine! Thank you Very Much for your praise and enthusiasm about the garden! :D I am actually enjoying it more than I had thought I would Caroline. With the garden the plants are more representative rather than exact because I am learning as I go, but they are close enough for me, and so long as they are not too far afield from what they are suppose to be, then they can be quite believable.
    And the gloves and the tools were kind of a bonus, because not only did I already have liquid paper sitting on my desk when I made the gloves, but lo and behold, it was Still Liquid! Whoohoo! :D

    elizabeth

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  37. Hi Caroline! Thank You Very Much for all of your praise and for your encouraging words! It is still a work in progress but I have to say that I am now really getting into this garden project whereas just last month I was finding it rather overwhelming. For me, the plants only have to representational rather than exact copies. Just so long as I am close enough, is fine with me. What I do require though, is that "the spirit" of the house and garden, jive with the picture in my head, and that is Always the real challenge for me.
    As to the paper garden gloves and the tools; I consider them a happy bonus. Not only was the liquid paper sitting on my desk when I was needing to paint the gloves, but it was also ...STILL LIQUID!!!
    Whoohoo! :D

    elizabeth

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  38. Hi Elizabeth! Some of these pictures look like real landscape shots from the real world, it's unbelievable! The colours are fantastic too. Very bright and cheery! I think my favourite is the moss and the little dots of colour in the ground cover. These just elevate the whole scene . It looks like a garden where you would sit a spend some time - very peaceful.
    I meant to write sooner... I seem to be on a roll of reading and enjoying your posts before bed on my phone and forgetting to go back in the morning on the laptop! Better late then never!

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  39. Hi Kristine! I Thank You for taking the time to make a comment here and I know just what you mean, about reading posts before bed. I have Often fallen asleep with my finger on the keyboard! Then I awake with a start and look at the gibberish that I wrote, then have to begin again and while I am typing I fall asleep. It is much better, I've found, to blog when I'm not too sleepy. :))
    Having said that I DO appreciate your lovely compliment especially about the moss. That is a favorite feature for me too. It is like 3D sunshine along the walk, and at this time of year, sunshine comes in handy. :D

    elizabeth

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  40. Realmente impresionante el trabajo que estás haciendo con el jardín de la entrada,es tan real que cuesta imaginar que solo con tus manos e imaginación puedas realizar algo tan bello!!!!! Enhorabuena!!!!
    Besos.

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  41. Hi Pilar! Thank You for your Wonderful compliment, I greatly appreciate it! :D I had a lot of fun and enjoyment when working on the front entry for the second time. It isn't always a smooth transition from what is in my head, to what my finger are doing, but at least for now, I AM happy and I am Delighted that you like it too! :D

    elizabeth

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  42. Wow Elizabeth, you really have a mini green thumb! I love English gardens too and yours is divine, thanks for sharing all of your ideas.

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  43. Greetings Margaret! Thank you for your compliment about my little garden! :)) I have come to understand with a little more clarity, what some of the distinguishing features of an English garden are, compared to the French and even North American styles. In the process of trying to get this mini one on track, I have been learning all over again.
    So, it seems that you CAN after all, teach an "old dog", new tricks,.... but it just takes longer! :D

    elizabeth

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  44. Tai the kitty is super cute! Love all the gardening you have been doing. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Lindsey! Still working on the other side of the yard but it is slow going. Glad that you like Tai, the cat. He has been with me a long time, so it is nice that he is able to enjoy his retirement years in the garden! :D


      elizabeth

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  45. hello ,

    je n'ai plus beaucoup de temps pour écrire un petit message mais je regarde toujours votre travail . incroyable ! j'aime vraiment votre travail . cette maison avec son jardin me fait rêver . je suis triste … elle est bientôt finie .

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  46. Hello Catherine! Thank you for your visit and Thank You for your Most Welcomed compliment! :D The garden makes me dream too! And it has given me an opportunity to learn some new skills and dig out some old and "rusty" ones; however, I am also dreaming of getting everything finished soon. It has been over two years of working on this 4 room house, yet there are still many things on the "to do" list. I know that eventually, it will feel VERY GOOD to have completed a difficult, albeit, enjoyable task, from the beginning to the end, especially in light of the fact that I am surrounded by a number of Still Unfinished miniature projects,here in my studio.
    And so, although I will undoubtedly feel some sadness, I know that I will also feel gladness and a great sense of accomplishment, when I can at last see this house on Green Dolphin Street as,- Finally Done!

    elizabeth :D

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  47. Hello Elizabeth, your lovely garden looks so realistic. It is so beautiful and amazing. You really have a mini green thumb! Hugs

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    Replies
    1. Hi Sirkka! Thank you Very Much for enjoying my miniature garden. :)) As you know, things done in miniature take almost as long to get right, as they do in Real life, and so my "mini green thumbs" tend to get a Real Life workout, as I try to grow my little garden. :))

      elizabeth

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  48. Wow, this is AMAZING. I love the gloves. For a minute there, I thought I was looking at a live size "real" garden. Absolutely beautiful!

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    Replies
    1. Hi There Anita! Thank you Very Much!! :D I have to tell you that those gloves were a bit of a mind-easer as I struggled with some of the other garden distractions. They were fast and they were fun and best of all, they were soooo easy! But waiting for paint to try is always a challenge for me so it was good to go from them, back to the garden and then back again to the gloves, when they were finally dry. It is always best for me to keep it moving once I am on a roll, since it takes me such a lonnnnng time to get started.
      That is because " the ol' Mojo" doesn't like to visit here, as often as before. and after all I've done for her too.......!!!!?
      go figure? :/

      elizabeth :D

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  49. OMG! Your garden is simply fantastic!! I'm sure you spent hours upon hours arranging everything and making it look perfect. And that it does! I simply don't have the words to describe your wonderful work - perhaps magic? :)
    Truly, it is incredible and full of life. I swear if I didn't know it's a miniature garden I would never have guessed it isn't real.
    I also love the way you made the gloves and tools. So clever! They look like they're made from really thin leather, not paper! Amazing!
    Oh, and of course I can't forget about the wonderful kitty :) He's adorable!
    Can't wait to see more of your projects!
    Regards,
    Jana

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  50. Hi Jana! Thank you for your wonderful enthusiasm about the garden! :D
    You are right in that I have spent a lot of time constructing it. The part that seems to take the longest though, is the "thinking about" doing it. Once I get started, the time goes by quite quickly. Yet how often I have wished that I did have a magic wand and could just ZAP, the garden into existence! :))
    The gloves and tools were a fun kit that I was finally able to usefully employ, and I am very happy that you like them too! :D

    elizabeth

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  51. oh my god, I think you've done an AMAZING job with this beautiful English garden, it's just georgeous! I cannot believe how well you've done this, especially the diversity, even within very small parts of tiny flowerbeds, it's so incredibly realistic! I just can't find words to do your work (which must have been daunting) justice. I thought the before that I just saw as well, was beautiful, but you are right, with more colour and all the other adjustments it looks even better! You have a very good eye for what's right and realistic and I think what you've done here is the best possible and natural mini garden and I LOVE it!

    Haha, I recognize all too well that things can seem off without knowing what, but it's always for a reason that things keep buggin in your mind and you go back to photo's because of that. And I also see that best in photographs, it gives more distance to our work, even if we see things at the same distance. Don't know how that works, just that it does ;)

    ReplyDelete
  52. Hello Dominque! Thank You Very Very Much!:D I was trying to make the garden reflect not only the English style of gardening but also My style and I have lots of different plants crammed into my Real Life garden, although I have been religiously trying to thin it out whenever I can. :/
    I am so pleased that you have recognized this as a "natural" space because that is exactly what I am striving to achieve and so this garden is constantly being amended.
    The camera helps with this process enormously and you are Right in saying that it gives "more distance" but it does work! :D
    Thank you again for your wonderful comment.... Loved reading it!!!

    elizabeth

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    Replies
    1. My Apologies "Monique! " not "Dominque"
      duh :((

      Delete
    2. you're so welcome! Haha well, Dominque is a nice name too :D

      Delete
    3. You are so right Monique, since I do know several "Dominques" here in blogland, but no name is as nice as ones own! :D

      e

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  53. The garden gloves look great, so real and the garden looks so nice, I just want to bring a chair and enjoy the garden. The moss is great, it gives a very nice feel to the garden. Just great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank You Very Much! The garden gloves were fast and easy and I had fun doing them up. The moss was a piece of cake, just peel and stick, no fuss,no muss.
      Just the way I like it! :D

      elizabeth

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  54. I can't believe the garden gloves started out as PAPER. An amazing transformation. The garden is beautiful - I would like to shrink myself down and sit on the steps there. Thank you for all the advice and inspiration.

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  55. Hi Penelope! I had forgotten that I had made these garden gloves and in re-reading the procedures of this post and seeing the gloves again, I will admit that they did turn out pretty darn good! :D
    Not Everything does, yet as I recall the leather look was really easy to achieve.
    Thank you for wanting to sit on those garden steps, which means to me, that I have done something RIGHT :D

    elizabeth

    ReplyDelete

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