Amazing metalwork tutorial

Via the Greenleaf forum (if you haven't been there yet, you should check it out!), I was introduced to this great Japanese blog that shows how to do some very adorable miniature metalwork. I love that they include pictures to show how it was done for those who (like me) cannot read Japanese. It looks like you need a thin sheet of metal, shears, at least two handles for miniature drills for twisting the metal, needlenose pliers, adhesive or solder, and spray paint.

Room box idea

Hello everyone! I hope those in the Northeast US are safely digging themselves out of this blizzard! Here in Albany, we only got about 6 inches, which is rather minimal compared to what I've heard has been going on in coastal New England. Lots of friends without power and some serious coastal flooding in Massachusetts.

I have not been posting much as I have been very busy with my job and haven't had much time to think about, or create new, minis (except, of course, for filling any Etsy orders that come in!). I've also been indulging another hobby for the first time in a couple years: playing the guitar. Thankfully, I just need to get my tough fingertips back, but I look forward to playing music again.

Not to worry though! I am thinking about minis and I do read your blogs to see what you've been up to! There are so many wonderful creations and new designs and just simply amazing things being created by miniaturists everyday!

I did want to share with you one thing. I have those Carolyn Curran pottery pieces that I have blogged about before, and I wanted to display them since they are simply amazing. So, I went to my local Michael's and found a hinged, unfinished shadowbox. I built a floor inside of it and wallpapered the interior (adding moulding and a chair rail). It's simple but is a nice piece to hang on the wall. (It does come with hanging hardware, too).

This is the back of the shadowbox. The hanging hardware is pre-installed, but on the short end. I am going to remove this and reinstall it on the longer side so I can hang this on the wall.

The shadowbox is just wide enough for shallow pieces of furniture (e.g. hutches and shelves). This is perfect for displaying or more miniature collectible pieces.

Here is the interior with the lid open. I added a floor inside...

...so that you could easily see the hutch when the lid is closed. The little framed picture was given to me for my birthday, but came from Memoriesnminiature's Etsy Shop. It has photos of Paris and tiny hooks to hang miniature hats, umbrellas, etc. on them!

Here is a closeup of the hutch and pottery pieces. The hutch came from an antique store in Maine (which I had blogged about before) and these are the Carolyn Curran pieces that I bought from Sutton's Marketplace antiques shop in Queensbury, NY last year. I love these pieces! The toile wallpaper is from Hobby Lobby.