“Say Cheese” !

One of the skills I love to  work on while creating in miniature is trying my darndest (is that a word?) to make the space look  REAL.  Yup, not miniature at all, but like an actual, honest to goodness place where human beings could live. I understand that it’s all part of my love for interior design and architecture. But, somehow it’s easier in this smaller scale.  And, since I am making all of the surroundings and furnishings myself, it’s great to have everything at my fingertips to arrange just how I like it.

My husband caught me taking these pictures this afternoon, while the natural light was fading. As he strolled by he said : “Say Cheese!”, which of course got a chuckle from me.  He knows how intent I am about my work, and he also knows how serious I can be when I’m working.  This little moment in time when I was reminded not to take myself so seriously, helped me remember why I love doing what I do. It’s fun ! It’s exciting!  It’s branching out from all that I have learned and putting my talents to good use.

I hope for a few moments, you too, will look into this room and forget your troubles, or whatever worries are currently on your mind. Just imagine a place of solace, relaxation and content.

Enjoy the moment!

 

Backdrops – Scene Maker, or Scene Stealer?

Ok, so I just finished making some back drops for a friend of mine. It’s obvious that I love nothing more than to make a scene, photo, or diorama look as real as possible, so I set to work trying to decide on some type of backgrounds that would be possible to make, and also be versatile in their use.

The Paneled Wall – This is a traditional, classic look in a lot of homes. It can be dressed up, or dressed down as the case may be.  The design I made is simple, however, it’s quite time consuming because of all the cuts and measuring and preciseness of the design.  This particular one features a faux fireplace.  I chose ivory as the color since it is a neutral and will go well with any thing you put near it.  Ivory is also less glaring than white, and when photographed gives off a more subtle, subdued look.

Here is the piece by itself:

Here, with one of my favorite models!

And now, with some simple furnishings -

And if you have a slightly taller doll than Barbie – It works just as well -

Hot pink against that luscious cream? Fabulous!

For a less formal look, how about sliding glass doors? This piece is perfectly suited for natural light! It can and should be used near a window for the best effect, but it also looks great when photographing at night. The crackled glass shows just as well. 

I gotta tell you that this is a two-sided piece, not only for stabilization, but for professional looks as well. So, it too is time consuming with its double  frame and gold trim both in the window and along the inside of the frame.

I made a curtain rod and rod holders at the very top of this piece. This make it flexible for the owner to make his/her own drapery which in turn will give the space a multitude of looks!

Here is the piece by itself:

Here it is with drapes!

With a gorgeous model ! -

And, with furnishings -

I do admit that I love how well the backdrops bring scenes to life, and excite the senses when we look at photos of our dolls !  I am unsure sometimes, if  I am more excited over the doll being in the photo or the furnishings – LOL.  I am a huge fan of architecture, decor and how we surround ourselves with pieces that reflect our personalities! I love the idea of creating a miniature world for my dolls and sometimes, yes, I  admit, that they live in a way that I cannot.

Back drops add so much dimension to a scene! It makes you look into the photo rather than skim across it.  For a designer like me, I wonder sometimes if the back drop makes the scene, or steals it? I mean, yes, it brings the subject into focus. It leads your eye to look at more than just the main object. It somehow makes what you are trying to convey, real, and in the moment. So, be it scene stealer or scene maker, it provides it’s service well.

This brings me to a bit of a dilemma that perhaps you can help me with. I am grappling with the idea of  making some of these for sale.  The problem being, as I mentioned, time consuming and rather tedious. Would it be worth my while to offer something like this to the public? And, if so, how much would it be worth to you?

I welcome your input. If you would like to email me privately, please use this address:

welcomehome@maryannroy.com

Outfits for models provided by: Bellissima Couture, Integrity and By Shane

Futuristic Glamour ! Space 2010

Recently, I’ve been working with new mediums. Metal and acrylic to be exact. You may have noticed this trend with my ”Glamour” line which includes mirrored pieces as well as clear acrylic pieces.

 It’s fun to experiment with new material, and at the same time, it’s also a learning experience. Acrylic and metal need different adhesions than wood, for instance. They cannot be sanded as rigorously as wood, so preciseness is a must! Stress levels are different too. While some acrylics have a little “give” to them, they also crack easily if you are not using the correct tools when cutting and shaping. All said and done  though, acrylics and metals bring a different look to home decor.

 My recent article in Fashion Doll Quarterly Magazine explores the idea that furnishings for the home can be made from many different materials. And that “futuristic” does not necessarily mean cold and uninviting.

For your viewing pleasure, here are some photos from the shoot that were not used in article.

The Living Room

The Dining Room

The Bedroom:

See the article in its entirety in the Autumn 2010 issue of FDQ. On sale at book stores now  !