RANDOM MEANDERINGS

Congratulations to the new prospective parents to be! [Photo - 12 March 2005] Yes indeed, that it will be. On the night of June 3rd i found out i am going to be a grandmother! Crikey how exciting is that! I had flown to Christchurch for the weekend of Queens Birthday to catch up with family and what perfect timing! My daughter Jessica and her husband Hamish picked me up from the airport and back to their place where i was staying. A cup of coffee was made and a piece of Nanna's [my mums] fruit cake served up for me on a plate. I duly quaffed the coffee and finished the cake. As i was putting the plate down beside me, i noticed writing on the bottom of it.... [our writing has evolved into LOLSpeak we love the icanhazcheeseburger website]...... Well crikey that was a surprise! Jess had had a hip operation last year [don't let your kids do karate when they are young!] and i had thought they might start a family soon but expected it more to be next ...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/porkynz/2515222283/ ©2010 Sarndra Lees

I finally got back in to my miniatures for a few hours this weekend. I started with good intentions of putting the wall paper on but ended up starting to try and miniaturise some documentation for the scene. I can't believe how long this took! I wanted to use some of my own genealogy documentation and although it is so tiny it can't be read, it's rather cool to know that all these 'little bits of my family and I' will be in the diorama. 2 photos below: I miniaturised a screen shot of my genealogy software [Family Tree Maker 2010] for the little laptop that is going in the diorama. I did finally get around to printing out the wallpaper on acid free 120gsm card. This is light enough to print easily in my printer and flexible enough to attach to walls, but firm enough so that the glue will not interfere with the integrity of the end product. After printing, I sprayed with matt sealer. Affixing the largest piece to the diorama. First main strip affixed. I used the bla...

I was rudely interrupted in my quest to continue some headstone photography today as the weather turned quite rainy so back home it was to continue on my Genealogist's study :-) I decided to complete the window and floor today at least. Architrave and outer window sill made of balsa wood and fitted/glued Interior architrave and window sill made of balsa wood and fitted/glued I use Mylar* for the windows. This is perfect as it is clear and very firm to work with. Cut 4 pieces of 'window framing', this will be fitted to the mylar. Trimming the frames to fit the exterior architraves, i then carefully sliced down the centre of each piece of window framing, not fully through, but half way through the thickness and then slid the frame along the mylar. The completed window with knob attached Completed window - side Completed window - front on. I have glued it to appear open. Beginning to paint. A darker colour for the exterior frame. Lighter colours for the interior Com...

I've decided to only do bricks for 1/3 of the way up the diorama and doing a stucco type exterior for the rest. This will add a more interesting texture to the outside and not make it appear like a prison cell! Having completed the brick section, i have commenced grouting inbetween the bricks tonight. 1. Using Polyfilla and mixing scrapings of soft pastels to colour i then put the mixture in to a syringe 2. Squeeze the mixture into the spaces of the bricks [harder than it looks!] 3. Using super thick Pams brand baby wipes, i then smoothed the grout into the gaps and wiped the excess off 4. Rear of diorama completed with the ungrouted bricks to compare on the right 5. Side section half completed Part 1 - 1:12 scale Genealogists study Part 2 - 1:12 scale Genealogists study Part 4 - 1:12 scale Genealogists study ©2010 Sarndra Lees

Another satisfying afternoon continuing on my diorama. This time, concentrating on making 'bricks' for the exterior. Cutting the 'bricks' for the exterior. These are made from egg cartons. After this, each corner of the brick is cut off ever so tiny so that it gives a more realistic look when glued on the diorama. Colouring the 'bricks' with soft pastels until i get the shades i want. The 'bricks' are then affixed to the diorama box A 'spacer' is used to ensure level placement of the bricks and an even space to 'grout' later to complete the job. Row upon row.... Close up of the 'bricks'. Egg cartons are fabulous for this! Corner shot Taking shape. VERY time consuming... preparation of these bricks and affixing took 3 hours, but VERY satisfying :-) ©2010 Sarndra Lees