The Conservatory: a place where shadows and memories dwell.

Hi all, I hope you're doing well!

A couple of weeks ago I started working on a new project: the building of an elegant conservatory, which came as a kit by The Dolls House Emporium.

Those familiar with my style will understand that the conservatory will not be a cute and tidy little place to be, but rather a derelict building, where shadows and memories dwell...

Its construction is going pretty well, and in the meantime I'm also working on stuff to put inside when it's done. On the above photo you can see some of the things I finished already. I think they turned out pretty well. This conservatory will totally kick butt when it's done. It's a promise.

That's all for now!  Thanks for visiting, and see you next time!

© José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.

On Lockdown

It's April, and in the Northern Hemisphere, the sweet rays of the Spring sun are awakening Nature from her winter slumber once again.

Inside the Centennial dolls house, Pebbles the little bear is enjoying the view of the garden, and all that blossoms and blooms in it. But not all is what it seems. It's not safe to go outside.

A dangerous virus, Pebbles was told, was traveling through the entire world, making everyone sick who was unlucky enough to cross its path.

Pebbles was worried, yes, even a bit scared. She was told to stay inside, "on lockdown" they said. And she had to remain there, until the virus blew over. She opened the window a bit, and peered outside. 

"Don't even think of going out," her big brother Oscar said, "there is a pandemic out there!" A pan-what? That word didn't mean anything to her. It made her think of pancakes, and actually she felt a bit hungry.

She thought of her big sister Posy, who lived on a beautiful island, far away. She wondered how Posy would be, and if she also had to stay indoors because of the virus.

"I hope she's alright," thought Pebbles, "I should send her a message, or better still, call her online and see how she's doing. I miss her a lot. Besides, she makes such delicious pancakes!"

 

To everyone out there, please stay safe, and look after each other. One day the virus will be gone, and we'll all be able to play outside again!

© José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.

Rust & Steel: Lights and Shadows.

© José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.

Looking after a Pumpkin Head.

For the past few months, I had the privilege to look after a rare, and extremely beautiful 'Pumpkin Head' doll for a dear friend.

She stood on my living room table,  surrounded by a multitude of other small dolls. Until last week her owner came to pick her up, and give her a new home.

And although saying goodbye was a bit hard, as I had grown accustomed to her gracious presence, I know with absolute certainty that  my friend will take great care of her, and make the 'Pumpkin Head' as happy as she can be!  What's more, she promised me to bring her along for a visit next time around!

 So, so long, Pumpkin Head, take care, and until we meet again!

That's all for now, folks, thanks for visiting and see you next time!

© José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.

Rust & Steel Photography: The Old Incense Goblin.

The Old Incense Goblin perfumes the air of my house with whatever incense scent I choose. That's his job, that's what he was made to do.

But has anyone ever wondered what he'd really like to do? To me, his body language shows that he's a bit bored. And then those eyes, that gaze... Do I see anger..? Frustration..? Oh, I don't even want to think about what he'd do if all that was unleashed, if he was freed...

That's all for now, folks! Thanks for visiting, and please check out this blog from time to time for news and updates. Have a great one!

© José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.

Three new miniatures.

Hi all, I hope you're doing well!

Although I haven't been blogging for a while, that doesn't mean that I didn't work on any projects! In fact I've been quite busy at that! I have a backlog of things to share with you, projects big and small, which were completed in the last few months, and even before that.

The 'problem' here is one of time. When I complete a project, I usually do a photo session of it, followed by post production work on the pics. Then comes the photo selection process and the editorial part, meaning writing the blog. All these steps are equally important, yet very time consuming, hence the backlog.

So today I'm starting small (no pun intended) with three items I worked on: a scooter (I prefer to call it a "step", but a certain Rebecca insisted I should call it a "scotter", so I decided to humor the woman, so we could move on with our lives), a coal iron (to me: "an iron"), and a whisk (ok, in this case I gladly adopted her suggestion, cos my alternative would have been to call it a "thingie you use to mix stuff with"). The first two items were intended for Jane's attic, while the whisk was meant for the Centennial dolls house.

Note that I bought these items 'off the shelf', so please don't think I made them myself. But they looked pristine, hence -to me- quite boring, so I had to 'work' on them, if I wanted them to look old and weathered, just as I like my miniatures to be!

The scooter was factory fresh, shining in all its glorious redness. The coal iron looked like a polished museum piece, and the whisk looked as if it just had been purchased at the Walmart. Enter the weathering gnome (me), and the photo's in this blog show the results of my endeavors.

Now the scooter looked 'real', i.e. as if kids had played with it till they dropped; the coal iron looked like a rusted barn find, while the whisk showed clear  signs of extensive stirring..! My work was done, I could take a break (but not for too long!).

That's all for now, folks! I hope you enjoyed the photos, thanks for visiting, and please check out this blog from time to time for news and updates. Have a great one!

© José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.

Jane of the Attic: The Lament of the Nightingale.

From her attic window, Jane looked over the garden, which was bathing in the pale light of the moon. Hearing the lament of a nightingale, an old, forgotten poem came to her mind. Below is an extract of that poem, titled: "In the Garden the Nightingale laments", by Friedrich Martin von Bodenstedt (1819-1892). Scroll down for the English translation.

Im Garten klagt die Nachtigall
Und hängt das feine Köpfchen nieder:
Was hilft's, daß ich so schöne Lieder
Und wundersüße Töne habe –
Solange ich mein grau Gefieder
Und nicht der Rose Schöne habe!

Im Blumenbeet die Rose klagt:
Wie soll das Leben mir gefallen?
Was hilft's, daß vor den Blumen allen
Ich Anmut, Duft und Schöne habe –
Solang' ich nicht der Nachtigallen
Gesang und süße Töne habe!

In the garden the nightingale laments
And lets her fine little head hang down:
What's the use of having such beautiful songs
And wonderful sounds-
As long as I have my gray plumage
And not the rose's Beauty!

In the flower bed the rose complains:
How should life please me?
What's the use that from all the flowers,
I have grace, fragrance and beauty-
As long as I don't have the nightingale's

singing and sweet tones!

 

I guess there is a moral to this poem, but I'll leave it up to you to figure out...

That's all for now, folks! As always, thanks for visiting, and please check out this blog from time to time for news and updates. Have a great one!

© José Pereira Torrejón. All rights reserved. No part of the content of this blog may be distributed, published or reproduced without prior authorization from the author.