Saturday 29 June 2019

2019 #10 Tiled Patterns: Around the Fireplace with ESC {by Alison Bomber}

2019 Topic 10: Tiled Patterns


So every now and then we get a blog post that is totally left field. It's particularly fabulous when it crosses over into another sister-craft zone. I've known for years that Alison had an interest in Dolls houses, but the level of detail in this is truly astonishing! When can I move in? ~Leandra

Hi everyone, it's Alison here from Words and Pictures with you today, and I've been tempted into the world of miniatures by this Tiled Patterns topic.  Some of you may know I have a sideline of working with dollshouses, using my craft supplies in a slightly different way.  (If you are curious, you'll find links to some of that work here.)

If you say "tiles" to me, the first place my head goes is to dollshouse tiles - floors, bathrooms, fireplaces.  And I immediately thought that Scrapcosy's botanical stamps stamp (yes, I do mean that) would make lovely Delftware tiles around a fireplace.  Well, one thing leads to another, especially when I'm playing with dollshouses, and so this is what I ended up with.  (You might want a cup of coffee for this post!)


The original idea was very simple.  Aren't they always?  Just a nice tiled surround for a fireplace.  I googled "Delft tiles fireplace surround" just to make sure I wasn't imagining things, and then started to create my tiles.  I stamped the lovely stamps from Scrapcosy ESC 15 in Cobalt Blue Archival onto some card which I'd smooshed with Antique Linen and Weathered Wood Distress Stains.



On the same inky card I stamped some of the crackles from Courtney's ECF 04 in Watering Can Archival ink, so that I could have some cracked or marbled plain tiles to go in between the Delftware ones.



I cut out my tiles and started arranging them in a fireplace sort of a way on the craft mat...


... before sticking them down onto some sturdy grey card torn from the back of a large, used do-not-bend envelope (waste not, want not) and cutting them out again.




Next, a bit of work with UTEE (ultra thick embossing powder) to create a look of ceramic tiling.  Love how it gives you dimension as well as that lovely surface sheen.


Once I had all my tiles embossed, I started trimming some coffee stirrers to create a wooden frame for them.  (I always pick up a few extra whenever I'm in a coffee shop.)  At this point, I was thinking I'd probably stick it all down flat to a piece of card and fill in the space around them with drawing or pictures.




But I think below the surface my brain was already plotting something more elaborate - a little teasing thought kept bubbling up of how nice it would be to have a properly deep hearth in the centre of the frame.  As I was looking for something else, this bit of packaging surfaced (not sure what it's from - looks like maybe an iPhone or something, but there are two of them, and I definitely haven't got two iPhones!).


It was exactly, but exactly the right size to go behind my tiled frame, and so my fate was sealed.  Because once you've got a proper fireplace, well... you have to have the mantlepiece to go with it, don't you?  
And once you've got a mantlepiece, you need things to go on the mantlepiece.



And if you've got a fireplace and a mantlepiece with things on, then you really need a wall for them to go up against.  And if you've got a wall over a mantlepiece, then you have to have things to go on that wall, don't you?


You see what I mean about one thing leading to another?!  So I started gathering bits and bobs, at first thinking it might all go on a jumbo tag, until I found
an 8x8 inch canvas board tucked away, still wrapped in its cellophane... perfect.



I wallpapered the canvas board with some paper by Maja Design.  These two designs, above and below the dado rail (more snippets of coffee stirrer), are the front and back of one sheet - clearly perfect for dollshouse-makers.



The interior of the hearth is painted with Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic paint in Slate, with just a touch of Little Black Dress mixed in. And most of the logs are trimmed from some lawn edging intended for (full-size) gardens.




I used an Idea-ology Metal Gate to create the grate, with a couple of MDF hinges from Calico Craft Parts at either end to give it a more Gothic look.  They're painted with Little Black Dress and have just a touch of Treasure Gold in Pewter for a metallic gleam.



The mantlepiece itself is just some more of the envelope card, painted white, and I found some very elegant Bo Bunny brads deep in the stash, bought maybe five years ago, which make for great little picture frames.  Slightly unusual pictures in them, I know.


The frustration of setting out on a piece like this is that there is a huge dollshouse stash in the Czech Republic, where my mother's collection of dollshouses is open as a small museum, Small Worlds, in the summer months.  There are so many brilliant bits and bobs there which would have been just right for this, but that's rather a long way to go, so I had to get creative with what I had...


There are some more Bo Bunny trinkets up on the wall, plus a little butterfly book ring embellishment I made right at the start of my crafting journey with some UTEE.  Maybe not what your average Victorian would have in their picture frames, but there you go...


I should think most crafters have some of these little glass jars somewhere in their stash.  These were quite cheap ones (from The Range, I think - you can see them in their "naked" state in the photo with the bare canvas board) filled originally with bits of glass glitter.  I had the brainwave of creating some Delftware jars to go with the tiles.


I stamped the ESC15 flower stamp in Cobalt Blue again, but this time onto tissue paper.  Once I'd given the jars several coats of Snowflake paint, inside and out, I glued on the tissue paper to create the floral design.



I sort of wish I'd left it there, but I'd seen some lovely jars with words on when I googled "Delftware jars", so I decided to add a couple of the words from the same stamp to make them into antique tea jars.  (The stamped words were left over from the original stamping done for the tiles - if I'd been thinking straight, I'd have stamped again onto some thinner paper so that the labels didn't stick up so much.  Ah well... next time.  No, there will be no next time!!)


The large picture frame is an ATC design from Calico Craft Parts, and one of the new Idea-ology Found Relatives fits perfectly into the slot.  I wanted to have some more echoes of the Delft blue around the place so that, despite everything going on, the tiles would still draw the eye, so I used Double Denim Fresco Finish Chalk Acrylic in the apertures around the edges.  (You can put in the picture and paint the apertures before sticking down the top layer of the frame, so that makes life easier!)


The shells on the picture frame also got a little touch of Double Denim, and reminded me that I had some shells tucked away in the stash somewhere.  I suspect this is just one of the extensive collection of seashore treasures hoarded by the owner of this fireplace.


Nearly there, I promise... I found that the Double Denim was also the ideal colour to create a faux Wedgwood vase.  I painted the metal thimble with a couple of coats, before applying a very simple design with toothpickfuls of Snowflake.



I tucked in some rosebuds from the stash, and that was ready for displaying.  Oh, and the little clock is one of those Bo Bunny brads too.



So that's pretty much that, I think.  I really like my Delftware tiles (and matching Delftware jars).  I'm so happy I was right about the Scrapcosy stamps working in that way!



They catch the light very nicely, and have that aged look I was after with the crackled plain ones in between.



I think it's pretty effective... another lovely crossover of craft supplies into miniatures work.


I know this might look like a lot of work.  Well, let's be fair, it is.  But taking it one step at a time, it's honestly something anyone could do, and it's all made with things most crafters probably have tucked away somewhere, and with plenty of recycling and upcycling too.  You needn't go full-on dollshouse, of course... you could just create some miniature "ceramic tiles" to use on tags or journals or layouts.  That basic technique is really versatile, and gives you some unusual tile embellishments you can use any way you like.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and persevering through this long post.  I wanted to share all the ins and outs so that you might be inspired to try at least some of it for yourselves.  Happy crafting all!
Alison xx

Blog: Words and Pictures
Pinterest: butterfly crafter

43 comments:

Helen said...

oh my flipping word, Alison - this is simply stunningly beautiful!! it must have taken hours, but so worth it.

Miriam said...

Oh wow... This is so clever... Stunning!

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Fantastic, amazing attention to detail ❤️❤️

Keren Baker said...

That first picture had me thinking that actually your fireplace. Bravo; completely fab project- just adore all the tiny details! x

Isa.C said...

That is truly amazing ����

Country View Challenges said...

Beautiful, amazing work Alison. xx

Cestina said...

I don't know where to begin! It's a stunning crossover between the two crafting worlds. I don't know how you can say that you don't know more about all these finishes than me. The effects you manage to get are astounding. Now which house can it go into do you suppose??? Xxx

Kathi said...

Absolutely brilliant with so many gorgeous details.

I love Delftware, so I really love your fireplace tiles. I also love Jasperware and your repurposed thimble is ever so clever.

Thank you so much for the clear instructions and step-out photos.

Amanda said...

Absolutely brilliant, great detail in miniature
Love
Amanda x

rosebudlia said...

Beautiful detailed work!

Etsuko said...

Absolutely stunning project Alison!! Lovely work and idea with Raquel and Courtney's stamps, I look forward to seeing this mantel in your dollhouse. xx

Lucy Edmondson said...

I'm just astounded, Alison. My eyes deceived me at first and I didn't know what was the project: I thought it was an actual fireplace. I hope it is going into a dollshouse as it is wasted on a canvas. Incredible attention to detail. Love it x

experiments in paper said...

Exquisite, Alison - I'd like to hire you as an interior decorator! Delft is one of my all time favorites, though I have none in my home - would be lovely to have such a beautiful fireplace and mantel. My mind boggles at your creativity, and ability to work so small with such perfection. I adore your frame, and that photo is exactly right - probably the collector of that shell, which most certainly is not the sole such souvenir in this house, as you say. Absolutely lovely - I do hope it will work with one of your mother's sweet houses! (And I am coveting that osprey she got!) Hope the rest of your weekend is lovely - xxx Lynn

geezercrafter said...

Amazing tiled fireplace Alison. The little Wedgwood pot is ingenious. Love it.

Nikki Acton said...

Oh wow.... speechless!

Helen said...

Fantastic Alison.

Helen said...

I meant to say, when I saw the first pic I thought it was a real size fireplace and I was thinking 'how did she do that?'!

Flo Langley said...

Brilliant! :) Amazing detail. xx

craftytrog said...

Simply incredible, and wonderful to see your process Alison. X

Craftyfield said...

Fabulous creation, all the details that build up a real looking fireplace and the amount of fiddly work involved... so impressive!

Redanne said...

Once I picked my jaw up off the floor, I was just marveling in all the wonderful detail! An astounding piece of art Alison - completely fabulous! x

Susan Battensby said...

Absolutely fabulous, amazing work, so detailed and beautiful.

Andrea Small said...

MInds blowing all over the place...brilliant xx

Raquel Burillo said...

Oh my gosh, Alison!! I love the miniature scene! I'll definitely try! Tiles out of my postage stamps, how clever and beautiful!! Off to see your other doll house projects! I love miniatures too, although I never tried creating one, but now I'm in need for giving it a go! Thanks for sharing all the details! Big hug!
Raquel

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Amazing, love it to bits. Very clever. Happy creative week, Angela xXx

Mac Mable said...

Stunning and so unique. Lots of hard work and so much patience and so worth it.....Amazing x.

Chris said...

Incredible work Alison, I love it and your ingenuity! Chris x

Sue said...

Wow this is amazing, so clever and unique xx

A Pink said...

Absolutely Outstanding Alison. Design, Creativity and execution above and beyond exceptional. You totally and utterly 'rocked' this project .
x

Hazel Agnew said...

Such amazing attention to detail, wow, what an imagination. The stamps suit this style so well, but, who would have known? well, you did Alison! xx

froebelsternchen said...

Divine! So much love for details.... I am impressed !!!WOW!

Mrs.B said...

Absolutely fabulous, and I loved seeing the process pictures.
Avril xx

maj. said...

What a sensationally lovely artwork, Alison!!!

Jennie Atkinson said...

Oh my ..... absolutely stunning work Alison xxx

sarascloset said...

So hard to find a place to start...just an amazing project filled to the brim with thoughtful and accurate details! (Those jars!) Your tiles are stunning and make a wonderful fireplace surround! Any homeowner would love to have your come and design a brilliant room for them fashioned like this. I was on the edge my seat through your entire post-well done! Love!

Neet said...

"Persevere" is not the word I would use for my having read every single word of your post - it was a "Pleasure" to read, in fact I was lost in the words as I read the process and I must confess the pictures took my breath away.
Alison, this is something else. It is wonderful, marvellous and so beautiful. Thank you so much for making and sharing with us all.
Hugs, Neet xx
ps am now going back and starting again reading and marvelling at the pictures.

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Amazing amount of detail has gone into this Alison worth every minute, you must be so proud of this sweetly designed piece. Now time to start on the full sized one hee hee! Hugs Tracey xx

Jenny Marples said...

Absolutely breathtaking Alison!!!!!! Your attention to detail is extraordinary from the tiles themselves to the delft bottles and even a Wedgwood vase! It was so good to see how each piece came together too.

Suzanne C said...

Brilliant! This is just a wow moment to think in tiny terms and make it look so real!!!

suzyb said...

How did I not see this before?!?! WOW, I can't believe it's miniature! Love the detail, that must have taken forever. Just amazing Alison, just amazing.

Karen Petitt said...

Absolutely awesome! So much creativity and artistic talent, thank you for sharing this beautiful piece with us xx

Marci said...

Gorgeous fireplace and vignette!

Margaret Mifsud said...

Oh my word!! I am totally speechless! Cannot believe this is s miniature. It looks so real!!!! I am completely Gobsmacked and totally enchanted!! I adore Dollhouses and all sorts of miniatures and this is simply incredible Alison! The attention to detail is amazing and each small item is a masterpiece! Cannot tell you how much I love this and, when I get the chance, I will be checking out all your Dollhouse posts! This one is awesome!!! hugs xx