My dolls and my miniatures

eMBee Art in Making by Margo in The Netherlands

[margo-embee]

Today I reached the highest point of my castle tower dollhouse.

I crafted the base for the small pointy roof on the roof light.

For now this counts as the highest point. I'm so happy! In future I will create a medieval flag on top of this pointy roof, which will make the structure even higher.

After reshaping the castle roof a bit with some leftover cardboard, I made the actual pointy roof.

The white paperclay I used for sculpting the roof, gives a snowy vibe. I think I'll give these roofs a weathered copper finish in future.

Gives the whole thing so much more character! I love it!

Making my dream castle tower in miniature 1/12 scale; sculpted with paperclay on a wooden/cardboard base.

I have five different roofs to finish:

1. The large roof of the castle tower; 2. The small pointy roof I just made the base for; 3. A small flat roof on the bay window on the left (not visible in these photo's); 4. The larger pointy roof on the turret; 5. The large roof on the far right.

Plans for finishing: weathered copper for 1., 2. and 3. and colored roof tiles for 4. and 5.

Can't wait to start these finishings.

[margo-embee]

Next to do: blackening the LED light on the backside of my castle tower dollhouse.

I'm planning to cover the LED strip with faux climbing plants.

I'm making my dream castle tower dollhouse in 1/12 scale. Sculpted with paperclay on a scrap cardboard/wood base.

[margo-embee]

Today I permanently installed the extra cellar space under my castle tower dollhouse. At the same time enjoying the birdseye view inside The Great Hall.

I'll have to cover the two screws with some paperclay, they hold the cellar in its place, together with glue. All of the cellar sides are covered with strips of black felt, to prevent light getting in places where I don't want it to be seen.

Cellar space, including lights: LED strips, partially blackened with paper + black acrylic paint.

Next photo: just dollhouse lights; yet installed in cellar, armoury and Great Hall.

So excited! Love the stone steps leading to the cellar ❤️ Love the subtle light coming through the faux iron gate.

In real life the cellar visibility is better than what I could capture on photo.

It was my intention that this cellar wouldn't take much attention. Inside and out.

Armoury lightened with the LED strip: blacksmith "fire", indirect light from the back wall ceiling, plus the light coming up the stone steps from the cellar.

I've accomplished a hard and difficult part in the building process and I love how my castle tower is coming together.

1/12 scale FernField Castle.

Next to do: making the fireplace lights more realistic by colouring that part of the LED strip in browns, reds and oranges using alcohol markers.

[margo-embee]

Drawing version II of my coat of arms for the medieval castle tower dollhouse I'm building.

Ink, alcohol markers and coloured pencils on paper.

Sketch plus final design.

I love it! Next to do: make a custom frame.

[margo-embee]

I'm finally permanently installing the LED lights in my castle tower dollhouse. I've been working towards this moment for several months now, doing all sorts of preparations.

Working towards this moment: not so glamorous photo's from the underside of the dollhouse base.

Sculpting the base (also sculpting part of the drawer front while I have my paperclay out).

After the paperclay dried, I covered the whole underside with black felt to protect my oak cabinet the castle tower dollhouse is standing on.

For me it is very important that every side of my handmade dollhouse has a somewhat finished look; this includes parts that are rarely visible, like the undersides of each dollhouse part.

[margo-embee]

I found this gorgeous doll in a thrift store for 5 euro.

After washing and styling, I love her. She's a Franklin Heirloom Doll from 1980s / 1990s (?). She is 60 cm / 2 feet tall.

Porcelain dolls usually are not the dolls I collect. But this one's look caught my eye. She was in rough shape when I first saw her. At home she revealed her beauty. No sun damage at all!

What excellent quality! She even came with a bum pad!! Plus built in doll stand!

At first I bought her to make into an art doll; fully customised. Now she stands in my craftroom and I'm going to design something special for her. Because I see potential, she's not my style at the moment. To much lace? I don't know.

I really like her sculpted laced up boots and in my future design for her, these gorgeous boots will be visible (at the moment they are not visible under her long skirts).

Beautiful 1905 fashion, the quality is amazing!

Unfortunately she's missing one finger, I'll have to sculpt her a new one!

Can't wait to see where this leads to! And what elements I will remove and/or ad?

[margo-embee]

My two Smartdolls.

Did a quick setup with wrapping paper backdrop.

Love these two together 💚

On the left: Arrietty, Smartdoll Monday in cinnamon skintone. On the right: Blanche, Smartdoll Marvel in tea skintone.

Outfits + accesoires by me; except for the green silk overdress, apron and brown boots.

[margo-embee]

On my work table today: finished Blanche's mushroom hat.

Crochet in two different stitches and two different yarns; french knot embroidery in white; filled with sheep wool; plus a green cotton lining.

🍄❤️🍄❤️🍄❤️🍄

After finishing her gorgeous mushroom hat, I finally got in the mood to sew on some closures.

Two very tiny metal buttons plus embroidered loops on her sleeves. And a mother of pearl button plus handsewn buttonhole for her skirt/pants.

With some elastic I narrowed down her waistband a bit, the skirt-pants do fit better now.

Details ❤️

Blanche is a Smartdoll Marvel with elf ears and pear body in tea skintone.

Crafted by me: floral skirt-pants, linen top, choker and mushroom hat.

[margo-embee]

While working on this crochet/embroidery mushroom hat for my Smartdoll I discovered something fun.

Blanche is obviously helping me and test fitting her headwear. I discovered my craft light/magnifying glass on my desk is the perfect size table for her.

Although her mushroom hat is not yet finished, I did a little photoshoot, like trying out. Planning for a photoshoot eventually, when her hat is finished.

Got some cute accessories: my favourite miniature tea set found at a thrift store and some pastries I sculpted years ago.

What fun it'll be to fill her teacup with real tea next time!

The wooden part, placed onto the magnifying glass for safety reasons, I made from a large wooden spool, which was filled with natural fibre rope, found in a thrift store.

Doll photography is a fun change while crafting.

Blanche is a Smartdoll Marvel with elf ears, tea skintone and pear body. Outfit, choker and mushroom hat by me.

[margo-embee]

Adding more details!

This is the blacksmith' workspace I crafted for my castle tower dollhouse.

Also did some more LED light tests.

This is how the indirect lighting is going to look in the armoury. First time for me, seeing my design in reality. Love it! Especially love the way the light falls on my sculpted stonework.

Building my dream castle tower dollhouse in 1/12 scale. Doing the lights, part 1 (cellar, armoury and the fireplace in the great hall).

[margo-embee]

Today I made Blanche her choker.

With some satin trim and silver jewelry pieces.

Having fun working on a larger scale for a bit.

Blanche is a Smartdoll Marvel in tea skintone, she has a pear body and I customised her with elf ears. Outfit by me.

[margo-embee]

Found these four plastic miniatures while thrifting. And two small pieces of fabric.

I think after some painting these will be perfect for my castle tower dollhouse.

The fabrics for pillows and/or curtains?

[margo-embee]

Work in progress:

1/12 scale castle tower dollhouse.

Still working on the preparations for installing the first LED strip; today while working at my temporary standing desk enjoying the view in my summery front yard at the same time.

Got side tracked by altering the drawer front (which is totally not necesary at this stage; it is fun!). I sculpted the stone like surface with paperclay and finished the look with acrylic paints and washes.

I'm not sure why, I always knew there would be a drawer; for extra storage space! Also for the quirkyness of it. Having the freedom to add beautiful fantasy parts to my crafts where everything is possible.

Also did some last paint jobs on the blacksmith shop I built in the armoury.

😍 I love how it's coming together 😍

Project FernField Castle, working on this dollhouse, on and off for four years now.

This is the second larger dollhouse I've ever made. When I started the built in 2022 I thought it would take me perhaps a year to finish. Who was I kidding, my first larger dollhouse, Morgerak Manor, I built on and off since 1999 and is still not completely finished!

[margo-embee]

Working on another smaller project at the same time: crocheting a mushroom hat for Blanche.

The cap will get some white spots naturally.

After finishing the cap I'm now crocheting the white gills.

🍄 Love it so much 🍄

Blanche is my Smartdoll Marvel; tea skintone, pear body, elf ears. Outfit by me.

[margo-embee]

Another layer of paperclay.

On the left: before.

And on the right: today I made the drawer front fit into my mountain.

Making it fit with a plastic bag between the sculpted mountain and the wet paperclay, to prevent it from sticking to each other.

The hardware is from a vintage cabinet my mother in law gave to me years ago.

[margo-embee]

Update FernField Castle:

finished the support beams in the Great Hall on the first floor, after filling in the gaps with paperclay, painted with acrylic paints and washes.

My solution for difficult to reach places: my hand through the window for easier access, works out nicely that there is no glass in it yet.

The seams are partly painted with acrylics and I'm enjoying the process very much. It's fun to work on my own makings I created a few years ago.

Love this birdseye view into the great hall; while making this part of the castle tower, I specifically chose to make the whole dollhouse in three parts, so I'll be able to use this birdseye view in future photoshoots (my plan is to make a long table full of food and drinks, plus seven seats for the seven inhabitants and this scene will be visible from five different angles, including the birdseye view, which will definitely give some satisfying photography).

For the drawer I've wanted to change the front for so long; I want it to "disappeare" into the mountain. Before applying another layer of paperclay, I filled in the space with some aluminium foil.

Also sculpted the blacksmith shop, last stages before permanent placing, filling in the gaps, as if it was actually built inside the armoury.

Work in progress: building my dream castle tower dollhouse in 1/12 scale. Most parts sculpted with paperclay on a base of scrap wood/cardboard.

[margo-embee]

Doing some more light testing in one of the rooms in my castle tower dollhouse: the blacksmith' fire.

Details are important!

After adding a variety of colour to the flames, better then the solid orange they were. More realistic when lit with the LED strip. Used some alcohol markers on the Re-Ment flames, also tried some colour on the LED strip itself.

The last two photo's: the actual test, LED strip lights the faux flames from below. I very much like how it looks!

Work in progress: this is a small part of making my dream castle tower in 1/12 scale.