Working Vacation

Happy New Year you guys!!!!

Ah, back at work after a nice long vacation. And I'm totally swamped so let's get to it:

I had a lots of fits and starts but I did manage to get some work done! I busted my hump for 11 days but remembered to take pics yesterday so I apologize! I did use some lighting though, you'd be proud. But then come two little imps who were so excited about the strange cords going around the room, followed by high pitched screaming (by me), so yeah don't bet too excited about future lighting..

First of all, remember the lighthouse?

Sad, incorrectly scaled thing. Well look at her now (still not to scale)

The very top was made of a half circle of foam core, scored on one side and painted black.  The window panels are from a Barbie box, hot glued, then covered in the crease and the base with electrical tape. The top walkway is a piece of foam core, covered in contact paper. The fencing is a dollhouse white picket fence flipped pointy side down and painted black with  some "salt spray" accents.

The fireplace is a dollhouse base that I covered in those pebbles (giving that huge bag of rocks a real workout!). I added a white washed piece of scrap wood,  and a painted block of balsa on the bottom.

Here is the lonely lighthouse keeper (a Christmas present-Star Trek Capt. Pike). I added some gray in his hair and eyebrows. There might be a beard coming later...

 It was too tall to fit where I wanted it so I sat it here, where Zarrin used to live. Having a lighthouse in Midtown Grandville is just not acceptable so I'm working on that. Our walls are made of butter or something or else I'd just hang it on the wall.  The studs are in weird places so I need a stud finder I think...

This is the other big project. The park. Again, still.  I did it this time out of cardboard. I'm making a few stone steps to go from the record store to the park. And I will be making flagstones for the path.

Okay now for Downtown Grandville. The boutique is nearly done.

But I have a problem.  Will I never learn that Elmer's glue and foam core are an evil combination?   The cafe and "other store" walls are totally warped. Sigh. So the cafe is moving and maybe the other side of it will be Valentina's Auto Shop? I dunno yet.

Below is Hanna's new place. Remi and BAILEY (new name) canoodle.

 Zarrin has a new spot. It's a bit bigger here so she should be happy. Don't get used it Zarrin, this is where the lighthouse belongs.

 The Alurium Vaccarra hangs from the ceiling. Forgot to show you guys the booster at the bottom. Eventually it will have cotton "smoke" coming out.

Mistress Ava in another new place because the Gypsies rightly deserved her enormous space.

Mama Fear is still getting work done which is why she's allowing her room to be this messy.

She's just about done I think. Did I tell you her human spine cane didn't work out? (You can see it a bit under the pink suitcase.) 

So I was on MARTA (Atlanta's public transport) and I saw this woman. If I didn't know better I'd say she was Josephine Baker. Dark sunglasses (at night), big hat, awesome suede boots and this accent that was like she was schooled in England. Every time I see her she has a new fabulous cane. The first one was just a raw branch.  So I've done that for Mama Fear.

This is the second version. I broke the handle off the first one, then did it again on the 2nd! But I just glued it. F it.

 Here's her old lady face paint. And the updo I did for her. Barely had to cut off anything.

I did some makeup for June and I really like the way she turned out. I love doing face-ups! I may never be a PeeWee Parker but I'm very happy with my attempts so far.

 Your favorite girl Hanna got her bangs done. I never even knew she had green eyes.

 Aoki got her hair fixed too but still needs some work.

I'm exhausted but I still have more photos for you:

Because I never spend time with them and never unveiled the caravan, the Romany!

Milosh and Carmen (just named him. Reminds me of that Seinfeld episode...)

Okay lemme do some work before I get fired!