Making Compost ......And Other Jobs.

So - as our workshops are all about an imaginary little old garden - it stands to reason there's work to be done!!

Gardening is like that!

Down the Little Garden Path is the second in our series of workshops and as this one is looming rapidly...... (Sunday 18th September), you can imagine we are busy putting kits together.....partially assembling cold frames, making miniature compost and printing instructions.

This won't be the most exciting photograph you've ever seen....but it does indicate that everything is coming together nicely.....

There was a cat - he's called Sam - in the picture, but it didn't seem terribly professional to include him, so he's been cropped out and is complaining like mad!!

We do still have a few places available on the September workshop.  Please see the website for full details. 

www.miniatureworkshops.com

Now to check on the cold frames......

Thank you for looking.

Celia and Robin

Featured In Dolls House & Miniatures Scene Magazine!

If you take a look at the brand new issue of Dolls House & Miniatures Scene magazine (Oct No 208) that has just come out in the shops, you will find on pages 34 and 35 a feature on our very first workshop in June and how this whole "Nostalgia In Miniature Workshops" initiative was conceived.

If you came to our workshop in June, there are some photos we took on the day so you may see yourself in the magazine!

Also, you will see at the end of the article that if you sign up to Dolls House & Miniatures Scene Magazine email newsletter before September 14th, you have the opportunity to win a free space on our October 23rd half day workshop - Over The Little Garden Fence Workshop - which is our first June workshop repeated all over again.

Weathered old cold frame, old fashioned crazy paved path, compost bin, slug eaten hostas, pansies, old garden fork, old seed packet plus various foliage as seen above, are what we will be creating at our September workshop.

Meanwhile, just to say that we only have 5 more spaces available for our Down The Little Garden Path Workshop that is taking place on the afternoon of September 18th. If you would like to book a place please do get in touch with either Robin or Celia asap. It is advisable to either email or ring one of us first to confirm availability then a reserve can be placed whilst deposit/booking form is being sent.

Our full contact details can be found under Contact Us on our workshop website.

Celia & Robin

www.miniatureworkshops.com

The Little Path in 1/24th Scale

In the last blog we showed you some of our preparations.......seems fair to show the results in the 1/24th version of 'Down the Little Garden Path' !


As we offer our little old garden projects in both 1/12th and 1/24th scales we create the 'show gardens' in both scales as well. Like any other miniatures, the two scales offer different opportunities and different challenges. In 1/12th scale it's possible to include more specific details - like individual petals on tiny flowers perhaps, while in 1/24th the challenge is to create even more of an illusion in such a small space. As always each garden will be just that little bit different!


Again we've used the fabulous purple pansy kits - in 1/24th scale - supplied by Georgina Steeds and although they are tiny and delicate, they are truly so easy to assemble. The wonderfully authentic 1930's cold frame with the sliding lid is only 1 1/2inches square and the tiny hosta leaves still have nibbles made by the slugs on them......mmmm....the slugs are a bit of a challenge!


This is the second Workshop in the series and as you'll see the garden projects can stand alone or join together alongside an existing house.
There are some places still available to book on both the September and October half-day workshops and all the details are on the website, together with more pictures.


'Over the Little Garden Fence' and 'Down the Little Garden Path'

Thank you for looking.
Celia and Robin

Already Preparations For September Workshop In Full Swing!

Even though September 18th is still a few weeks away, preparations for our Down The Little Garden Path Workshop are well under way. Spaces are beginning to fill up for this September workshop however we do have a few more spaces available. It is advisable to book now to avoid disappointment.

These cold frames are being tweaked, easy to read instructions being worked out and with the 1/124th scale frame standing next to the 1/12th frame, you can see the huge difference in size.



Somewhat less exciting, but just as necessary, is the basic landscaping....so the good old miniature standby of tea for soil, means that tea-bags are being collected and the contents dried out!
We're having an old fashioned compost 'bin' made of posts and chicken wire, so two different sized net is sprayed silver ready to be aged and on the day. Now to create the compost itself.....

Celia & Robin

Down The Little Garden Path Workshop Photos Revealed..............

At last Robin and I have been able to photograph the 1/12th scale garden for our next workshop project to be held in September.

We will be showing you how to construct a coldframe based on original 1930s plans, a crazy paved pathway, slug eaten hostas and even a compost bin! Different techniques are used for this scene that were not used in the first project.

Lots more photos can be viewed in the Second Garden Project Gallery on the website.

The delightful pansies were supplied by Georgina Steed of The Miniature Garden Centre.

Above you can see the first project from our Over The Little Garden Fence project alongside this next project. Our garden scenes have been designed to stand alone, butt up against an original dolls house or as above, join up to each other.

BOOK NOW FOR OUR SEPTEMBER DOWN THE LITTLE GARDEN PATH WORKSHOP!

SOME SPACES STILL AVAILABLE.

CLICK HERE

Celia

Over Another Little Garden Fence....

One of the nicest things about organising and running the workshop - was seeing how other enthusiasts took the basic idea in the form of instructions and materials, then made it all their own!!!

Janet has very kindly sent a photo of her 1/24th scale little garden which she put the finishing touches to at home - and it's lovely!!

We're delighted to see how each garden has emerged from those original bits of wood and bags of landscaping ... and the way that personal miniature treasures plus different choices in additional flowers and plants have made them so individual.

We have just finished working on and photographing the 1/12th scale prototype for the next project "Down the Little Garden Path", using some techniques and materials that are different again....... but more of that later.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT- Waterperry Gardens Is To Be The Venue For Our All Day Workshop!

We are delighted to announce that Waterperry Gardens in Oxfordshire is to be the venue for our all day workshop on Sunday March 25th 2012.
THE LITTLE OLD GARDEN SHED WORKSHOP

This all day workshop will take place in the classroom block at Waterperry and will start at 10.30am and finish at 4.30pm. We will be making a unique quirky model of an old fashioned shed and contents. This will not be your old common or garden shed......oh no siree......think old, rusty, well-weathered with oodles of character! The techniques and materials used in this project will be different again from previous workshops eg. the roof will be constructed in such a way that it will take on the appearance of an old rusty corrugated metal roof!
The little shed will of course be set in another part of the back garden of our imaginary old cottage - so you will have to tackle some weeds as well! This project will stand alone or butt onto one of the previous gardens in our workshop series or join on to your existing dolls house - as it is offered in both 1/12th and 1/24th scales.

BOOKING IS NOW OPEN......places are limited so early booking is adviseable to avoid disappointment. A booking form can be downloaded from the website or alternatively please contact either of us (see Contact Details on the website).

WATERPERRY GARDENS is tucked away in Oxfordshire, a tranquil haven for garden lovers everywhere! It is easily accessible from the M40.
It was once the home of a Horticultural College For Ladies, founded in the 1930s by Beatrix Havergal and is steeped in history. It continues to offer horticulture and arts and crafts courses and the world famous beautiful gardens are breathtaking! Below you can see some photos that Robin took last year on one of her many visits.

Visitors do have to pay a fee to view the wonderful gardens, but is well worth it!

The rest of the estate is freely open to the public and you will be able to visit the Saxon Church, Garden Centre, Arts & Crafts Gallery, Barn Gift Shop, Museum Of Country Life and The Pear Tree Teashop!

So well worth a visit in it's own right.

We hope you can come and join us for the day and for full details, please see the website.

http://www.miniatureworkshops.com/