Kelirosh Studio

Halloween bash...........What a party............

2011-10-21T09:16:00.000-07:00

On Gravestone - the Caption for this scene is
" Here lies the Dear lady Jane, who died in Vain waiting for the perfect man "

We started with these TWO skellies, one became the Skeleton Tree and the other the Dancing partner

We added a few headstone for the graves and our setting was under way....

Sunday..............chilling in the breeze.......

2011-10-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

After a rocky start with James, I can finally say after 23 days, we have all settled with rach other. James is the biggest baby under the sun, now that his mouth is no longer infected, and his food adjusted for his toothless mouth, he is on his own mission, eating like a little horse, and has gained 6 kg's our vet is delighted as the 9kg little boy that arrived is now a 15 kg healthy spaniel. We have established he is infact older that his Sister, the vets are pretty sure he is 7 years plus, his heart murmur is under control and now we can chase the ball----------all the time............

Penny, is just a sweety pie, settled well and eating well. We estimate she is about 5 to 6 years old and in good health THANKFULLY as I do not think my credit card could handle another vet account. So far this year we have paid for their new practice waiting room, and that new XRay machine.....
I have decided it is safer to not add up the months and get a total as I am sure it is depressing!!! Rob is still under the opinion they all just visiting - so he lives in hope............

So as we go into our 4th week, we cross our fingers and pray for no drama........and just one week with no vets visits...It's a bugger when the vet phones you on a Sunday to say we closing a little early today do you mind???? like hey I know i have been there every Sunday for the last 6 months....sorry I forgot your muffins today guys..............

Have a stunning week
Lots of love and licks from the furry family

Ready to take the PLUNGE................ready steady go.....paint....paint...paint

2011-10-07T11:18:00.000-07:00

After a week of deliberating, changing our minds about colour's and effects, I finally took the PLUNGE

This is the end result after many hours of layers and layers and more layers and we still not really done, about half way. I am so CHUFFED with the results...so far, can't wait for sunlight tomorrow so I can finish the front of the building.....somehow this project is growing in leaps and bounds.....

The TUTORIAL sheets for these effects will be available from SUNDAY 9 October 2011. Email me for further details.

BRICKS............the easy way

2011-10-05T08:29:00.000-07:00

I took a piece of brick photo.....

left click / save as and save to a folder
open in word or simular document package, copy and paste and fill the page line up the rows. and print in colour - if you use an ink jet, spray with an ARTIST FIXATIVE SPRAY to stop the ink running and bleeding.
I mixed half a cup of builders fine sand in my acrylic paint MENTAL NOTE TO SELF - DON'T STICK BRUSH IN MOUTH...far tooooo crunchy.
Shake well. I mixed all my different brick colours on the lid of the jar I mixed my sand and paint in, I added a blob of black and mixed it in a circle nect to it the red etc etc etc

Carefully paint the bricks on the sheet of paper, texture them NOT TO THICK, and finish off with a light grey in between the bricks - leave to dry and spray again with a fixative spray. leave for 24 hours.
Tomorrow we will start the cracked plaster effect that gives such a lovely realistic effect..............

Colour so many choices ...........

2011-10-04T00:24:00.000-07:00

I remember well the times when I was to scared to paint over anything.....then I met Rosslyn, a friend of my Mom's and a fellow miniaturist...now my biggest dilemer in life is what colour and how....

In my mind I can see the effect I want......

follow this spot...and see how we do that amazing brick antiquing.....

Sir James and Lady Copper Penny...............

2011-10-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

James has recovered like a super star from his Surgery last week. Penny still just my shadow. Gabi and Sally have accepted their new siblings like they always been here. Rob adjusting well to the addition of 2 new furry children. Our feline border LULU (10 years old), is still not amused in the down grading of her home enviroment. From only cat to one of seven...from the banks of the Gonubie river to treehouse on the edge of the Sea...she will adjust with time. Calliandra has done evrything in her power to chase poor Lulu........the rest of the feline bunch are taking it all in their stride.

MONDAY.....................3 October 2011...........Books books and more books

2011-10-03T06:36:00.000-07:00

Hello from a cold wet East London, SOUTH AFRICA.....I have many obsessions in my life...one of my worst (According to my son's )is my personal library, at last count over 7000 books on art, miniatures, teddy's, dollhouses, sewing machines, DIY, Building, woodwork, painting techniques you name it I have the book somewhere................so it was pretty obvious that I would have at least one whole wall of books in the CSI project.

There are some amazing mini book makers out there and I am lucky to have over the past year to have aquired some truly beautiful books, for my personal collection in one of my dollhouse projects. My bank balance however does not allow for the few hundred books I need to do a whole wall, so have been exploring making my own..........

I tried the Balsa wood (Balsa is light and soft and can be cut with a scaple, and sanded with a nail file) cut pieces covered with very fine Leather, adding detail with a Gold Rolaball pen. Then I got adventurous, and started printing out some of the many FREE ONLINE DOWNLOADABLE PRINTED BOOKS, they worked quiet well and are also so easy. I added more books by downloading some outer covers, printing them on the laser and sticking them with a dry stick glue like Prit,over the cut Balsa blocks, they look rather nice to...and then there are the real deal books, the ones you can open and read......

CSI then and Now

2011-10-01T02:29:00.000-07:00

Today (FINALLY) I have started the CSI PROJECT. The idea conceived some time back by my addiction to the CSI TV series. Life comes to a stand still when CSI starts. My Partner Rob maintains he cannot understand how I can watch the seasons over and over again, 24 hours at a time. I must be honest at this point, I knit and crochet while I watch.........Multi tasking - Men just never understand.

Right back to our CSI Project. The house was donated by Tracy Bothma, a fellow miniaturist and ex owner of my favourite dollhouse shop MINI MANSIONS in Port Elizabeth South Africa.
The IDEA - CSI THEN and NOW - the house has 2 rooms on 3 floors and an attic.
Ground floor - on the left the Morgue, Modern day 2011 and the Right side 1890 - authentic
Second floor the Lab, then and now
Third floor the investigators office, Grisom and the miniature killer of the left and Sherlock Holmes and Hobson on the Right.
And the Attic, I think this is going to be the most fun - Ghosts.........a WW1 Pilot, a Naval officer from WW2.........I found the most amazing wheel chair on eBay, so have to do one of our men in uniform....I am such a sucker for a man in uniform.....

The house arrived in it's original colours ABOVE picture
First I tried the Gray Texture paint as the main building colour with white trim.

My first Ghost is waiting patiently, in the Attic for some company....my Ghost was made by Nancy Cronin. Nancy says :"I love ghost!!! I have a picturetrail site www.picturetrail.com/nancyc1938 ~~I can make you any ghost you would like. " So next time you looking for inhabitants for your house..............stop by Nancy's and pick out one with a difference...A Ghost can add an element of comedy to any serious miniature scene....

A true miniature artist when it comes to Ghosts....

I hope to fill the attic with forgotten treasures, with the 120 year period, it leaves me with so much scope to play around with.........I am just scared we run out of space and end up needing a building for each period.....this may well happen..............the mind boggles...so much to see...so much to do.....

While trying to work out what colour I want my Building, I decided to paint the roof....I started with Red, and just kept blotting other colours in, some black, gray, green, white and orange. The end result is pretty good and looks like a terracota roof tiles.

I am off to start making some books for the library............see you soon....back here.........right were we started.......
Hugs
Lianda and the furry critters of Kelirosh Studio, from our little treehouse on the edge of the Sea - on the East Coast of South Africa....Chow chow.

Cats cats and more cats

2011-06-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

With the addition of 3 real furry cats toour family, we have suddenly leaped into a whole different life style, now we have 5 demanding little furry children, all with their own personalities and demands - from our hectic life with Doupi to theis quiet life with these loving little noses.

With all the new paws helping in the studio, breakages are a majornew problem....we working on a compromise - the kids and me....

IN MINIATURE STYLE..

2011-05-19T08:26:00.001-07:00

Today, I would like to welcome and thank fellow miniaturist and writer Christine Verstraete,
Who has kindly taken the time out of her busy schedule to join us on our blog today - Welcome Chris !

Thanks, Lianda, and thank you for hosting me on your blog! I love talking (and talking) about minis - and also celebrating the release of my latest book, IN MINIATURE STYLE II. The book is available in eBook/pdf, Kindle, iPad, other e-formats, and print.

The book includes updated and new features, photos & dozens of new how-to projects in various categories by talented miniaturists and IGMA artisans. See above link for photos, details and where to buy.

I have to say that the fun of writing IN MINIATURE STYLE II is that I got to learn more about some creative miniaturists and introduce their work to everyone else, besides sharing some of their unique projects. Speaking of unique... (how's that segue? :>) ), be sure to check out Lianda's fun figures! They're the "cat's meow!" Okay, okay, you can groan now... ha!

Now it's Lianda's turn...

The book (IN MINIATURE STYLE II) is an inspiration to beginner, intermediate and professional miniaturists, the ideas are realistic yet the tasks are made so simple everyone can understand what to do -we do something that stands out, and with the help of the new volume two, it is so easy to follow the projects yet allow yourself to shine through in your own interpretation of the miniature scene you are creating.

The ideas shared are exciting, some new, some old (great reminders of things we have forgotten.) The thing I loved the most about this book (and the first issue) unlike when I order anything from anywhere, I have to wait from 3 weeks (If I am lucky) to 9 months for it to arrive - normally by the time it does arrive I have long since forgotten why I wanted it to start with. I LOVED the fact that I could download my book within minutes, print and bind it within half an hour of ordering it, and was well on my way to enjoying the projects within an hour. As a teacher I am always looking for new ideas and this volume two is jam packed with ideas. Now we just need to decide which one first....

Wow, Lianda, thanks for your kind words and great thoughts on the book. I really appreciate it. I have to admit I'm still stuck on the arrival time you have for some things... nine months? Like waiting for a baby! Wow!

So, on to... The Contest!

Each blog on the tour features one question for a kind of online scavenger hunt. The answer may be at Chris's blog (type the words in the search box in left column), but will most likely be on her website. Hint: click miniatures, a good place to start, or see the IN MINIATURE STYLE II book page and video.

Comment on that day's blog (DO NOT post the question's answer!) to be eligible to win the day's prize. Then collect all 7 answers --- EMAIL all to me with Blog Tour in subject line to chris @ cverstraete.com (remove spaces or click contact at website or on blog) - DO NOT POST ANSWERS ONLINE!!. There's a new question and prize each day. Names will be drawn from correct entries. **See Chris's blog for the prize list and tour schedule.**

Today's Contest Question

Question 7: Name one project from IN MINIATURE STYLE II you'd like to make - and share how you'd change it (colors, style, etc.) and what project you'll use it in.

I want to thank all the gracious hosts for letting me take up space on their blogs! Also, thanks to everyone for participating and playing the game! Check my blog for all the questions if you missed one. Entries will be accepted until 5/20 then I'll try to get the winner's names up. If I don't get a response then I'll pick another winner.

One more day.........

2011-05-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

Gee only one more day and all the holidays are over and back to doing what we do best......conjuring up a storm in my studio....cant wait
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\] HAHAH that is my new furry secretary HANNAH helping me type
Have a wonderful day
Enjoy the last day of the holiday

My past year.......

2011-04-26T00:03:00.000-07:00

As I reflect over the last year, which was filled with much laughter, pleny tears and many broken hearts, my year started for my this time last year when I got to spend 8 hours in a car alone with my youngest son, the most time we had spent together in more than a year - we talked we laughted and we made friends.........he got his first speeding fine.........he was so proud. (like 5km p/h over the limit) I was heart sore to drop him back where we started this journey 6 days before...
I only saw my sone once after that at my mom's when he came to say goodbye..
I never realized that would be the last time I would ever see my son..we spoke on the phone over the next few days, little did I realize that 10 days later I'd get the call that would forever change my life - in the 46 weeks since my son died, I have cried more tears than I though possible and I have created more than ever before...this was the legacy my baby left me with. This all started because of him, when I was pregnant 20 years ago when my dear friend Robbies God Mother, Helen and I decided that every little girl needs a porcelain doll........3 months later this beautiful little boy was born TOO LATE to send him back and far to late to turn back time...I was hook into a world of dolls...a love affair that would last a life time - within 6 months of Robbies birth I stared teaching doll making in a studio called Sh-Ke-Ro Dolls ( SHaun, KEvin and Robert)

The last year saw me withdraw into my own world and create more, many times with tears, sometimes with plenty smiles - My life has forever changed, everyday is a challenge, as this year for me draws to an end, and I face the final hurdles of the first year, we only have Mothers day ahead of us and then my son's first Anneversary in heaven, then I will ne ready to embark on my second round of Birthdays, Mothers days, holidays without my youngest son.

From this sad experience, the shattered heart and the feeling of being lost in time, came the creations that have changed my life - the cat sculptures, who were closely followed by real cats who have taken over my every moment. Bella Mae just loves me all the time, when I need a hug she's alwasy there. she listens to me talk and licks my tears when I cry, he "sister" keeps me running around getting fit, I am forever rescuing birds, frogs, some thing from her jaws, she is adventurous just like my son, she has no fears and between them they keep my mind busy and my tears at bay -

This picture is the last picture taken of my sons together, while we shared breakfast on the Sat over Easter in Port Elizabeth. It was to become the weekend that would change the way we all saw Robbie - he made friends with everyone that weekend he showed he was finally growing up -
I am grateful I got to see my son turn into the amazing young man he did, he suddenly started to mature, he was on the road to becoming the man I always knew he could be. I became more responsible, he became more reliable, he cared more about the people around him, he made friends with his brothers in the weeks before he died, he made peace with everyone - I wish we had more time, but fate changed all that. there sre so many wishes, but I've stopped beating myself up over the choices my son made on the night his life was cut short. I am grateful my son died on impact, he never knew what happened it was so quick. He never suffered. By the time I got the call at 3:07am, my youngest son was already dead. He died at 2:22am on the 5th June 2010 in 8th Ave Walmer Port Elizabeth South Africa.
His ashes are spread over the river where he grew up and the last part of the East Coast where he fished last -
Rob was a very serious fisherman, he had an amazing passion for the Sea, he understood the Sea.
In the last 8 months of his life he got to do so much, I wish he had been able to do more.
There were so many things I still wanted him to do...but fate changed all that and decided he had done enough.
I learned so much about the people around me over the last year, I learned so much from my online friends - so amny days I'd just break and they would rally around pick me up and put me back together - Thank you to everyone of them that made a difference in my life over the last year.

SOPHISTICATS ONLINE WORKSHOP DETAILS

2011-02-22T09:48:00.001-08:00

Our online class info
- you can sign up for one or all four - if you sign up for all 4 you only
pay for 3 and you get the fourth one free. You only pay the postage.
You can also substitute the cats for people, so if you want you could do 1
cat and 3 people or 4 people if you prefer.
The techniques are in the dressing and it will make no difference to me if
you dress a cat or a person.

We send out the kits which contain everything you need to complete the
project and we meet online on the day of our class and we go through
everything. You can ask any questions you like in the class - remember you
are one of a few students so you will see all their questions too. And no
question is a stupid one.

We all started somewhere. Have a look at our cat family on our blog
http://kelirosh.blogspot.com/

First Workshop Sat 26 March 2011 Mrs Priss Lounge Singer -painting and
Detailing your cat - evening dress 1930's

Second workshop 28 May 2011 Can-Can lady cat (great painting workshop,
Heavy eye make up, Real Lashes, and multi layered skirts.

Third Workshop 30 July 2011 Mrs Cat-a-paws / Medieval maiden

Final workshop 24 September 2011 Santa Claws / King Arthur-piss-cat
Pattern to knit very authentic chain mail.
Kit
Will include needed, threads etc

Announcing the birth of our TWINS - Bobbin and Lulu

2011-02-22T09:46:00.000-08:00

http://www.facebook.com/editprofile.php?sk=contact&success=1#!/lianda.sutherland?sk=wall

2011-02-17T09:27:00.001-08:00

Do Not stand at my GRAVE...

2011-02-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Do not stand at my grave and weep.I am not there; I do not sleep.I am a thousand winds that blow,I am the diamond glints on snow,I am the sun on ripened grain,I am the gentle autumn rain.When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight.I am the soft stars that shine at night.Do not stand at my grave and cry,I am not there;I did not die.

New Victorian Cat lady..

2011-02-17T08:30:00.000-08:00

2011-02-01T09:30:00.000-08:00

" If roses grow in heaven Lord,then pick a bunch for me. Place them in my son's arms and tell him they're from me. Tell him that I love and miss him and when he turns to smile place a kiss upon his cheek and hold him for a while."

Then and Now.......20 years ago this is what my dolls looked like.......

2011-02-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

Monday 31 January 2011

2011-01-31T11:25:00.000-08:00

Baby's up for adoption today........

2011-01-30T06:49:00.000-08:00

Sunday 30 January 2011

2011-01-30T05:11:00.000-08:00

The Sun is out high, the sky is blue, a perfect day to meet all of you -
Welcome to my world, where the sun shines most the time, the Sea looks like a painting and the Sunrises make getting up that early worth while.