Know Your Tools

Check out this interesting blog that I stumbled across (well, not so much "stumbled" as "clicked the link when he signed up as a follower"): Sir Richard's Took Kit: A Blog About Hand Tools. It's exactly what the title says it is, giving explanations, descriptions, and instructions for various hand tools as well as extra interesting bits. Learn all about various clamps, vises, saws, knives, brayers, engravers - and the mighty clothespin! Seems like a very handy reference site for miniaturists.

Also, I am totally envious of his miniature book press, as this is what mine looks like:

Herod's Temple in 1:100 scale

Posted yesterday in the Daily Mail (read the whole article here), the work of Mr. Alec Garrard of Norfolk, England. Mr. Garrard has spent the last 30 years working on an amazing miniature recreation of Herod's Temple in Jerusalem.

The original temple was built in 19BC by King Herod the Great but was destroyed during the Siege of Jerusalem, just six years later. Mr. Garrard spent more than three years researching the temple. His version is so impressive that some of the world's top archaeologists and experts from the British Museum have come to view it.

'It's now recognised as the most authentic version of the temple in the world,' he said. 'I've had a lot of offers from people to buy it, but it's not for sale.'

Mr Garrard, 78, has dedicated 33,000 hours to constructing his 1:100-scale model. He has hand-baked and painted every clay brick and tile and even sculpted 4,000 tiny human figures to populate the courtyards. The temple measures 20ft by 12ft and is housed in a seperate building in his garden.

'Everything is made by hand. I cut plywood frames for the walls and buildings and all the clay bricks and tiles were baked in the oven then stuck together,' he said. 'I have been working on it for decades but it will never be finished as I'm always finding something new to add.'

'I look upon it as a work of art, there is lots of detail and I want it to look as real as possible,' he said.

The Royal Porch of the temple.

The Court of Prayer.

'I have sculpted and painted 4,000 figures, measuring just half an inch and all wearing their correct costumes. Each one takes about three hours to make and there are 32 versions of Jesus, although no one can ever spot him no matter how religious they are.'

Orlando Miniatures Festival

Sorry for the lack of posts this month - I've been overwhelmed getting ready for the Orlando Miniatures Festival this weekend. I promise to post all about it when I get back! If you're going to be in Orlando, I hope you'll come and see the show.

Orlando Miniatures Festival
Holiday Inn International Drive Resort
Sunday, Feb 22 10am - 4pm
for more information visit: http://mollycromwell.com/

Now back to work, I've just revised my display for the THIRD time, and I have to ship it out tomorrow! Thank goodness Wally World is 24-hours.

Another blog award!

Well, luckily for the post-holiday late-winter doldrums, there's blog awards to pass around! Thank you to Rosanna at La Stanza di Giuggiola and Casey at Casey's Minis for this one!

I passed on the last award to other miniatures sites, so this time I'd like to pass it on to a few non-miniatures blogs that give me inspiration. Check them out!

* Claudia at the paris apartment
* Vicki at turkey feathers
* Lidy at French Garden House
* Elizabeth at Gardening While Intoxicated
* David at Cooking Chat

To pick up the award please copy the picture and paste it on your own blog.