Sunday, February 12, 2012

mini modfire (in progress) - i'm a gold dust woman

I've been working on a present for Miss Emily Henderson (it's not a modfire) but until she acknowledges her 'I'm a Giant Challenge', I'm holding that gift hostage and suspending all work on it. Pretty sure she doesn't care: but Emily, if you're reading... it's probably about halfway finished, and shaping up nicely if I do say so myself. There's no way you won't love it. And it could be yours in exchange for a brief update post. Then, and only then, will I finish up and pop it in the mail : )

So instead, I decided that I would take a crack at Pepper's 1:12 tutorial for the fabulous Modfire. I have been planning to make this in raw brass (because I kind of want to make everything in brass) since I first saw her blog post including step by step instructions.

It took a couple of hours and it came out OK. Lots of sanding was involved, which means I look like I'm covered in hooker dust glitter. Awesome. It's not perfect, but not bad for a first try. Just like how the first pancake/waffle in the batch always sucks. I'll probably make another now that I know what mistakes not to make.

So here it is:

I still need to paint the fire bowl and cement it in place. Might even make a grill grate for it. My next attempt will be a white one with a brass fire bowl. That would be mighty nice, and oh so glamorous. Although this one's pretty deluxe, if I do say so myself. Picture the fire bowl looking less like a beer ping pong ball, if you're able...


Those little green tables were 15 cents a piece at a local floral/decor wholesaler. They're some kind of floral arranging item. I don't know. I just saw patio side tables.


The patio set is something I've had forever, it was bought for the first dollhouse I never had. It's really sweet and summery.

 Not too shabby, for a first go. It really is a beautiful design

Crappy pictures, unfinished projects... I have no business being a 'blogger'.

20 comments:

  1. wow, that looks gorgeous! emily who? heh!

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  2. You are effing hilarious. Not only do I totally admire your work (if you lived closer I would steal it), but your posts totally crack me up. Love your sense of humor. Now what's your address... I want that modfire. :P

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    1. Sweet jebus, you don't have twist my arm. YAY!!! I was really going to attempt Pepper's tutorial but I already know mine would look like @$$. You are too sweet. Hit me up at modernminifan (at) gmail.com

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  3. I had high hopes for the 'I'm a Giant' challenge, but have been sadly disappointed with how it progressed. Particularly seeing people like you and Max putting in so much effort into your houses.

    (But that may be just me.)

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    1. It's not just you :) It's been pretty anticlimactic. I'm trying to see the silver lining, and that is that I wouldn't have this blog, or any semblance of a completed dollhouse if it weren't for the challenge. I wouldn't have 'met' any of you lovely people, or seen any of your work. If I recall correctly, you put a lot of time in as well :) Hopefully she'll post a lengthy comprehensive update soon!

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  4. Wow, it looks amazing! It looks like it's made of glass in that first pic! Very nice :D

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  5. It looks wonderful! I think it's strange the way emily h. just ignored the Giant Challenge but I like the way it got me working on my old dollhouse and introduced me to the whole mini world of other people working on dollhouses and making things I never would have thought about, like this little modfire.

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    1. Thank you! I feel the same way. I'm glad for the personal enrichment that resulted from the challenge, so it's hard to be too upset about how it ended (or didn't yet end, I suppose).

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  6. Oh, I wanted to try that, but it would have taken me so many tries that I would have just gotten mad and quit. Yours looks great.
    And yay! I was SO excited for you, when I went over to Modern Mini the other day and saw your house! Congrats. :)

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    1. And your updated blog looks good too, so glad you are going to continue with it now that the challenge is done.

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    2. Thanks! I was shocked and elated when I saw that feature post about my fledgling blog, and I was bouncing off the walls all day about it! I'll keep going with the blog as long as there's interest, so far things are on the up and up! You should definitely try that modfire tutorial, just do it in cardstock instead of metal, you can't go wrong. And if you do, it's not expensive.

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  7. Kudos. Brass is a pain at the best of times but you've done a great job.

    Ahh my work is done, grasshopper =0)

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    1. Thanks! It was a really nice tutorial! Clear, concise, and thorough. Couldn't have done it without your template, either!

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  8. New follower here!
    I have got to go check out the tutorial now... I wanted to make a roof patio for my girls on the bookcase dollhouse I'm trying to create (heh... heh... I know nothing about making miniatures... so far I've managed to get some wallpaper up... and that's it)
    I'm going to have to spend the weekend back-tracking through your blog! It's fantastic!
    http://majokkoshop.blogspot.com

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    1. Welcome! Glad you're here! Wallpaper is a great start :) I didn't know anything about making miniatures until just last October, so you're in good company! I'll be checking out your blog this weekend, too!

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  9. Your modfire looks fantastic! I'm in the process of TRYING to make one out of aluminum. How did you keep the metal so smooth! Mine is bent and crappy looking. Also what did you use to adhere the brass together?

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    1. Thanks! I have a ring sizer, so I used that (per Pepper's recommendation) to shape the metal while retaining some semblance of smoothness. As far as adhering goes, I recommend scuffing the surfaces that will touch each other with sandpaper, then use any type of super-glue that says it works on metal. I originally tried using my "Amazing Goop". I tried 4 times, and to no avail. Then I brought out the cyanoacrylate. And it's really hard to remove excess super glue, so apply very cautiously and try to keep adhesive strictly in the seam :P This is tricky only because the cure time is so very limited. Best of luck, hope it turns out great!!

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  10. I wandered here because I am a mid-century modern fan and fan of Modfire. In the past I was a little obsessed with miniatures and have made and given away, two doll houses. Most of the furniture is gone too except for a few of my favorite pieces which I have squirreled away. Of course the miniature people are blogging!!! I love the inter-web. :)

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