It’s true, but it’s not often I get to actually demonstrate it.
Finished size 195 x 175 x 175mm (7.5 x 7 x 7 inches).
This is my secret project, the one I’ve been working on for a month.* Because it was a surprise gift for my friend Dale, I couldn’t show it before now. It was ready three days before we left on holiday, carefully stowed inside a storage basket and padded with scrap batting. It was gently transported nearly 1400km south in Miz Lizzie on her last big trip with us. It’s a much postponed (because The Rona) and much anticipated (because several/landmark Birthdays!) trip, and it’s been wonderful to get friends and family together in one place.
And this is Dale’s own full-sized potting shed/greenhouse, built for her by the talented G.O.
Do you see now where I got my inspiration?
*I made the broom, the trowel, the spade, all the plants, the flowerpots, the shelves and crates, the birdhouses and watering cans, the easel, pencil and paintbrush, the doors and the light (which I also wired in). It was a labour of love, and cursing aside, I enjoyed every moment of it!
talltalesfromchiconia 
Wow! What a triumph! That potting shed is fantastic – particularly love the stained glass windows. And your model is superb – I would love to have seen Dale’s face when she first saw it. What a fabulous gift! ❤
She said it was perfect as she’d always wanted a traditional conservatory. It has already had a place cleared for it on her desk, and has been displayed at lunch with the light on. Such fun!
Wonderful!
What a great gift – definitely one to treasure
I was so thrilled that she loved it.
Absolutely gorgeous. She will treasure it for sure.
She has already sent me a photo of it in its new home on her desk 😊
There is so much detail in that model – no wonder there was some cursing! I love the inspiration too – stained glass windows are always so special.
The tools were the fun bit!
I was truly amazed at this marvelous creation was created by Kate for me. SO much detail, work, time, patience and skill to put such a thing together. Every time I look at it I see something new. Which is why my desk is the perfect home for it. I get Kate’s inspiration was my potting shed-greenhouse but the model depicts something something quite more sophisticated and closer to my dream of a conservatory. That Kate took the idea of my shed and rendered it so beautifully makes it even more special. Thank you so much my friend. And even more wonderful, we’ve been able to spend time together with our friends ♡
I thought it was a fitting tribute to your amazing work towards a more resilient community. It’s your own personal haven/ regeneration project. And the fact that 12 people sat down to lunch at your house and ate terrific food as though it was something you did every day deserves special acknowledgment too!
It’s my longstanding social media community that has been with me along this journey of many years, and it’s wonderful that you have become irl friends and able to get together with local friends/family/community, and your model on my desk will be a touchstone of this until we get together next time.
Chippy and I already have tentative plans in place for Same Time Next Year, and are starting a To Do list. It was such a special day. I would be sad if we didn’t manage it again.
That is amazing!! It’s truly a wonderful gift from the heart. Hugs,
I was looking for another model to make, and this one just had Dale’s name written all over it!
well done – such attention to detail !
Making the flowers and plants was certainly exceptionally fiddly, but I do feel it was worth the effort, looking at the finished result.
Just lovely, such a sweet and thoughtful gift…alight with love!
It’s really the light that makes the magic happen. And the photos don’t do these models justice, they seem to flatten everything out rather.
What a lovely gift to your friendship with Dale. From her reaction it was obviously the perfect one! I like the idea too that your last big trip in Miz Lizzie was to visit with Dale, the GO and Diesel. That’s fitting.
It was, but the fun thing is that with a bigger van comes larger plans, the hope that we can all reconvene the same way at the same time next year, and maybe, perhaps, make it an annual get together. I wish I had thought to invite you to attend by FaceTime or Skype or Zoom, or something…
I don’t have enough words to express the wonder at this accomplishment. The conservatory is stunning!! It looks like it could be someone’s happy place. You have done an impressive and outstanding feat here. I would love to reside in that warm and welcoming space if it were just a tiny bit larger. 😉 Who wouldn’t?
I’m actually quite impressed with it myself, and it was perfect for Dale and her interests! It travelled the 1400km safely with only one tiny bit of paper falling off because the heat in the caravan had dried the glue out a bit. It is already repaired and gracing her desk. I do agree, it looks as if it’d be a lovely place to just sit a while. Perhaps it needed a comfy chair instead of just the stool?
What a beautiful gift, full of light and love.
It definitely hit the mark – she really enjoyed it!
Wow, just Wow!!! All the detail. I love tiny and detailed, and this is both. I admire your patience.
Fiddly, but such fun!
Gorgeous!
Thanks!
every comment and your reply has said it all – magnificent will have to suffice from me 🙂
Thank you, it was very fiddly, but also very fun to make.
WOW! That is amazing!! I love things like that. You are very talented!!
I can’t take creative credit, as it’s a very good kit, but I’ll take credit for patience and steady hands!
Kate, this is a treasure! I’m so impressed with the details, and your amazing creativity modeling it after Dale’s full-sized original. How did you come up with this idea? Is the greenhouse a kit, or did you build that from scratch, too? Is it glass, plexiglass, something else? I hope you have progress photos tucked away that you might share at some point. I love, love, love this treasure.
Yes, it’s a kit, and a very good one. The greenhouse element is either vinyl or acetate, but flexible. You first create the furniture and plants, arrange them on the base, add the back wall, and then slip over the acetate ‘glass’ that you have assembled with tabs and slots. Finally, you cut strips and glue them on to form the black frame. I have some progress photos for my own records but unless you’re actually making the kit I’m not sure they’re too interesting.
If you wanted to make this particular kit yourself, you can find it at 😦https://www.robotimeonline.com/collections/diy-miniature-room-kit/products/rolife-cathys-flower-house-diy-miniature-house-dg104?spm=..collection_1beb8e52-16f9-491e-9815-a4ff5802a2c5.collection_1.11&spm_prev=..index.header_1.1). I do recommend the site, there are some wonderful kits, both ‘tiny houses’ and fabulous wooden puzzles and models.
Thank you for the link, Kate. It’s charming. I love assembling puzzles, so I’m heading back to see what they have on offer. I love your creative endeavors.
I keep going back to browse, but it seems that everything I want is currently only available to ship to the US 🫤 Never mind.
I’m always happy to buy one you like and then send it your way. Please keep that in mind going forward. I wish I could hand deliver one, but that’s for another time. 🙂
Thank you! You might need to remove the glue and paint from the set so it can go through Customs without being stopped, though…
Oh dear. I never thought of that. They don’t make it easy, eh?
Nope. And I just discovered that my local Spotlight (Joann’s equivalent) stocks quite a few of the kits, so I might browse there before I order any more online.
That’s great to hear! Local is best when you can get it.
Wow !! amazing !
I’m so glad you like it. Dale was very pleased with it too.
Wow! That’s amazing, I love the detail in it. I keep being tempted by the miniature sewing rooms I keep seeing on instagram…I’ve resisted so far!
This one was more fiddly because of all the tiny plants, although the structure was simpler. The sewing room (https://talltalesfromchiconia.wordpress.com/2022/12/18/tiny-sewing-is-done/) was simpler in terms of contents, but the structure was more difficult to assemble. It really depends on your manual dexterity. If you can embroider tiny stuff, I’d say your hands were up to either version!
Ooooh can I live there? Gorgeous.
The tiny greenhouse, or the real thing? Both are a big gorgeous, aren’t they?
Amazing.
Thanks! It was fun to make!
My pleasure! And I believe it.. look at all the detail.
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