Although I believe I know every corner of our dusty little Victorian pile, staring at one small part of it for hours, while you try to replicate it in miniature, can throw up unexpected challenges.
For instance, I'm pretty certain in the 9 years we have lived at No1. Heatherside Corner, I must have noticed at some point, that the front door was glazed with "Flemish" patterned obscure glass. After all, I have polished it and the two round bullion panels, on numerous occasions.
And I've peered through it even more times, at countless unexpected callers, before opening the door.
I'm sure anyone on the other side must have noticed. Or at least they had hoped that the large distorted face, with googley eyes looming out of the gloom at them, was down to the pattern in the glass, and not a permanent trait of the inhabitant's countenance.
So I'm not sure why, after having finished the miniature arched door for the Mini House, that one morning as I was dragged through the real one by an eager Furball on the way to his ablutions, I was slightly surprised to notice it wasn't glazed with plain glass.
I don't know what that says about me, although I don't ever remember sewing an "Observancy" badge to the arm of my Brownie uniform, which suggests I was never awarded one, and therefore it's something of a relief to know I haven't let myself down.
But having already made the miniature door and sealed in the glazing, when this epiphany took place, I was faced with a dilemma.
How to turn the glass, already firmly in situ, with no way of removal, into "Flemish" patterned obscure glazing.
I had a few unsuccessful trials with a spare piece of window glass and various clear substances, before turning to the web for inspiration.
Step forward Deluxe Materials Glue 'n' Glaze, which annoyingly I could have bought in person at the City of London Dolls House Fair a couple of weeks before, had I known that 1) it existed, or 2) that I would need it a fortnight after I had trotted past their stand on my way to ogle the miniature plant stall.
That aside, after considerable research on the subject, I decided this was the stuff to save the day.
The product, designed for glazing dolls house windows, can be applied in the required thick white "gloops"- technical term*, and dries crystal clear over a period of days.
As I type, it still probably needs a couple more days to dry completely clear but the general effect is there.
Not quite "Flemish", maybe a little more "blemish".
But guaranteed to distort the tiny face of any occupant of the Mini House beyond recognition, and therefore my work here is done.
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There was some trial and error on a spare piece of glass before taking the bullions by the horns
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Almost dry. All that is missing is the googley-eyed face looming towards you from the other side....
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From Oxford Dictionaries
gloop
Pronunciation: /gluːp/
Lol love your posts. That is a very interesting effect using the Glue 'n' Glaze. I have seen this stuff advertised but never used it myself yet, might have to get some now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane! I'm truly flattered and delighted you are enjoying reading them.
ReplyDeleteIn hindsight I would have put the Glue 'n' Glaze on the inside rather than the outside, so it might have looked a bit more like the real thing. I did try several ways of "blobbing" it on a spare piece of window to see what was most effective. This, while not perfect was the closest.
I bought mine from www.emodels.co.uk as it was on special offer and delivered very quickly. Quick plug for them!
I believe you can use it to make the actual "glass" for tiny stained glass windows etc too, and not just as a glue. Pretty cool stuff, really. I'd be interested to know how you get on with it, it if you do get some.
I have to say, Pearly Jones, that the solution to the wobbly glass dilemma has worked in your favor. The final results are Perfect for the door.
ReplyDeleteelizabeth