tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17088285666350421122024-03-14T05:29:02.789+00:00Dolls' Houses and MiniaturesAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-28925299609323262762015-05-06T11:19:00.000+01:002015-05-06T11:19:00.950+01:00Recent Additions from Miniatura<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I went to the Miniatura in Birmingham back in late March, it was good to get there again as I missed both shows last year. It's nice to meet with some of the miniaturists and crafts people at the shows and to pick up a few tips.</div>
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As always I had a great time looking at the huge variety of miniatures on sale, and it is satisfying to meet the people who made them and to look at the objects before buying. I bought more leather bound books from Ellie de Lacy (www.elliedelacy.co.uk), my book cases are taking FOREVER to fill!! ;) I also bought a very handsome portable globe in a case from Truly Scrumptious (www.trulyscrumptiousonline.com), which would have been a must for any wealthy gentleman in the 18th century. </div>
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These have now been settled down in the Library. Just look at those empty shelves!!</div>
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I have been thinking about replacing the serpentine tables in the Drawing Room for sometime, They were miniature white wood kits that weren't finished very well by me. They looked ok, and are still being used in the house, but I have finally been able to replace them in the Drawing Room.</div>
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John Hodgson's gilt pier tables were perfect! (www.johnjhodgson.com). </div>
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I needed a pair, which was a bit costly, but I wanted to be sure that the tables matched, and this meant buying them together rather than waiting and only buying one at a time. That match the Adam-esque style I have aimed for in this room, and the gilt finish picks up on other gilt details in this room.</div>
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And here is the room with all the other furniture back in position. I am thinking of making a rug for this room from a pattern I have found in a book, but know it will be a HUGE amount of work!! I already have the canvas and silk thread needed but it will take a very long time, if I ever get it started, before that there are curtains to make!! Needle and thread! I can already feel a cold sweat starting at the mention of those words!! ;)</div>
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I bought a few other things, which are in the Swan Inn, and I will do a post about them soon, I need to get some good pictures of them first!</div>
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-8124015191673093202015-05-05T23:06:00.000+01:002015-05-05T23:06:05.186+01:00Lego Corner Café; My Own Version<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My version of Lego's Corner Cafe, with adaptations .</td></tr>
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For several years now I have been collecting the LEGO modular street series, but I missed a few of the first sets when they were launched, and they have since been discontinued. The first set in the series was the Corner Café, which I well remember admiring several times in the LEGO shop, but was never able to afford. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cafe sign took some working out, fixing it to the building securely wasn't easy!</td></tr>
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The original Corner Café sets now sell on ebay for huge sums of money, I have seen an unboxed one selling for over £2500.00!! and built sets sell for about £500. This is clearly crazy as the bricks are worth nothing like that sort of money, and I though I could probably buy all the bricks to build it directly from LEGO Pick a Brick, at a much lower cost. Fortunately, I do happen to have a few LEGO bricks already, so this wasn't really necessary. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How the Cafe looks next to some official Lego sets in the series</td></tr>
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Recently I discovered that it is possible to download copies of all LEGO sets launched since 2002 from their LEGO website. This is FREE!! </div>
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My memories of the Café set were dimmed by the passing of time and the quality of more recent sets, I have to say that I was slightly disappointed when I saw the Café set in print. For example, there was absolutely no interior detail apart from a staircase. the cafe had seats and tables outside, but none inside, no counter, and no coffee machine! the hotel (above the café) lacked rooms, beds or reception! </div>
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This clearly would not do! I was also disappointed with the first floor. It just didn't look good to me. Fortunately, having the building instructions for the original meant that I could keep all the elements of the building I liked, alter the bits I didn't and make improvements inside. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cafe interior, not included in the original set. I kept some of the colours used in the original model as a tribute (yes, the lamps are from my spare 2015 Valantine's set)</td></tr>
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Now, I have probably got a good couple of hundred thousand Lego bricks, but even with this huge stash to choose from there were certain bricks I didn't have, or certain colours that were not available. I could buy some of the extra bricks I needed from Lego's Pick a Brick service online, and much of the roof was done this way, albeit in a different colour. However, I thought it would be fun to use as many of my own bricks as possible before buying any more bricks from Lego.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The counter with tasty treats and coffee machine (the dark red bricks look great for this!)</td></tr>
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The result is what you see posted here, some parts of the building are identical to the original, some are a different colour, but are built in the same way as the original, and some are completely different. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I chose Italian colours for the awning and seating, as I didn't have enough yellow bow bricks , which were used in the original set</td></tr>
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I had a great deal of fun building this set, sometimes it took forever to find all the bricks I needed, and puzzle how to build in alternative ways whilst keeping the spirit of the original.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the small hotel reception, complete with room keys and 'corporate' carpet. the hotel also has rooms upstairs, lacking in the original set!!</td></tr>
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I even created a hotel lobby with reception desk in the limited space available by pushing the stair case back into the rear of the building, instead of started just inside the doorway. It comes complete with groovy 'corporate' carpet!</div>
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-80007757048717491552015-03-29T17:58:00.000+01:002015-03-29T17:58:09.304+01:00HOW!!?Hello! I know I have been neglecting my blog for far too long, but when I checked it today after several months absence I was amazed to see that my last post was back in August last year! Time just flies past!! Anyway, I promise to spend more time on here this year. I went to Miniatura today in Birmingham, and it got me back into the miniaturist mood again!! I haven't been entirely idle; Plans are afoot for a new project, and I still have the 24th scale house to do. There are also a few new purchases to be placed in various houses here.Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-58712913335751594562014-08-26T10:14:00.001+01:002014-08-26T10:14:55.436+01:00Catching Up<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a post to try and catch up with the bits and pieces I have purchased, or been given as gifts over the summer. I haven't been to many dolls house fairs this year, and will miss the Autumn Miniatura in September too sadly. I did get to the Dolls' House Fair at Kensington back in May. I bought the telescope in the picture above, which is for the library in the Georgian house. I can't remember the name of the artist who made it though!</div>
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The little book below the telescope was a surprise gift from Ellie De Lacy! I had asked her at a previous show if she had any other books on architecture in her miniature collection, besides Colin Campbell's, and suggested Serlio's book on architecture would be a good one to do. And here it is in its miniature form! I was thrilled! the book is full of tiny architectural studies, a must-have book for any Georgian gentleman. See <a href="http://www.elliedelacy.co.uk/" target="_blank">www.elliedelacy.co.uk</a> for more of her fabulous miniature books, all handmade, with hand stitching and leather binding on many of them.</div>
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I finally sorted out some lighting for the servants' hall to match those in the kitchen. the battery operated lamp looks just the same, but without any of the fiddly wiring I thought I would have to do, however, it doesn't give out all that much light compared to the electrical lamps, something to bare in mind if you are planning to use battery powered lamps in any of your projects.</div>
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Some other views of the new lamp and a comparison with those in the kitchen.</div>
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In July David and I went to Hampton Court Palace, where we met up with Fi and her family, on holiday from Australia, we had a lovely day, Hampton Court Palace is an amazing place to visit, full of history, with beautiful state rooms and even actors dressed as former kings, queens and courtiers performing in the palace!</div>
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Fi gave me some loaves of bread she had made herself, she made the chopping board too, complete with knife marks and bread crumbs! She also gave us the pot of daisies she had bought at a miniatures fair in Australia.</div>
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Thanks once again Fi! Hope you enjoyed the rest of your holiday in Europe.</div>
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David Iriarte continues to produce some fantastic miniatures and it was nice to be able to buy a little something from him The Chinese style vases on the wall brackets fit in well with other items in the landing of the Georgian house. I think I might look into buying some new paintings or frames to go where the current ones are now, and maybe replace the half-moon tables at some point too. But all in good time.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-91stvMwcEYo/U9-3l-bv50I/AAAAAAAAD9k/gzz8FzjSg9Y/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-91stvMwcEYo/U9-3l-bv50I/AAAAAAAAD9k/gzz8FzjSg9Y/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I have always wanted a fan to go on the dressing table in the main bedroom of my Georgian house, but was never very impressed with any I had seen at miniature fairs or online before, I wanted one that would open and close, and still be in scale. A very tall order I know!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yy1e1ZqJT3g/U9-3L7NKGWI/AAAAAAAAD9U/8MXTBIuLUAs/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yy1e1ZqJT3g/U9-3L7NKGWI/AAAAAAAAD9U/8MXTBIuLUAs/s1600/IMG_2160.JPG" height="320" width="268" /></a></div>
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But not impossible!! I was so excited by this fan made by Truly Scrumptious, who do a fantastic range of miniatures from all periods, and all with great attention to detail. <a href="http://www.trulyscrumptiousonline.com/" target="_blank">www.trulyscrumptiousonline.com</a></div>
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As you can see the fan does indeed open and close, it is extremely fragile, especially for my big clumsy hands, so it does get opened up very much, but I like to think it can be done if needed, and still looks good when folded up, and sits very well on the dressing table. I am also planning to purchase one of their new range of desk top globes, they had sold out at the Kensington show when I went!</div>
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Also wanted to say congratulations to John of Merriman Park, and Giac of English Manor dollhouse for the recent articles on their amazing dolls houses that have featured recently in dolls' house magazines here in the UK. </div>
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-86598152595779756302014-08-05T22:22:00.001+01:002014-08-05T22:22:33.833+01:00Look for the Sign!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I haven't done much in the miniature line for a while, so there isn't much progress to show you, but one thing that has been done is the sign on the pub.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QKFUUqtC6j4/U9avJLzGTzI/AAAAAAAAD8U/IIV0GkUgfm4/s1600/IMG_2143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QKFUUqtC6j4/U9avJLzGTzI/AAAAAAAAD8U/IIV0GkUgfm4/s1600/IMG_2143.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you go back through some old posts you will see that I painted the swan (or swans as there is one on each side) a while ago, but that was as far as it got for a while. I recently framed the sign and hung it in position. </div>
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At first I thought it might be a bit low down, but </div>
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<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-52849020438895209732014-07-23T20:29:00.000+01:002014-07-23T20:29:06.605+01:00Period Style Guide: Charles II, his Mistresses and Other Pleasures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles II presented with a pineapple, supposedly the first grown in England in 1675, outside Ham House.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></span></td></tr>
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It can be said that Charles II lived a life in pursuit of pleasure. He was known as the Merry Monarch and he enjoyed the high life. He is most famous perhaps for his large number of mistresses and illegitimate children. From his mid-teens until his death, there were plenty of women in his life, but the king was not as debauched as some of his enemies would have liked you to believe. </div>
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Yes, Charles was married (though not when some of his illegitimate children were born), but he wasn't the first king to have mistresses, and he treated his wife well in comparison to some of his ancestors! But the king didn't have lots of mistresses all at once, they were spread out across his life, and, perhaps with one or two exceptions, he pretty much stuck with one mistress at a time. He also accepted parentage of many of his illegitimate children. </div>
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Some of Charles' mistresses were richly rewarded for their services with pensions and other incomes awarded to them, along with homes and expensive gifts. They were also in some cases given noble titles, as were some of their children fathered by the king.</div>
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Below is a roughly chronological list of the most well known of Charles' mistresses, and some of the children fathered by Charles.</div>
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Charles met Lucy Walter in 1648, whilst he was still living in exile. I suppose she was more of a lover than a mistress. In 1649 Lucy gave birth to a son, Charles' first acknowledged illegitimate child. The child was named James. </div>
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The relationship was not to last long. As Lucy fell rapidly into a life of dissipation, she was alleged to have aborted 2 further children, and was also charged with murdering a maid, although the charges were later dropped. Charles distanced himself from Lucy, but made attempts to 'rescue' his son, practically kidnapping him, but his attempts were unsuccessful and it wasn't until 1658 when Lucy was dying of syphilis in Paris that she agreed to hand over care of her son to his grandmother, Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I and mother of Charles II.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tgaARnVcOgQ/U9AA30iF_OI/AAAAAAAAD60/kxoM_MaFCr8/s1600/tennis-history2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>As an illegitimate child, James could not be heir to the throne. He was given the title of Duke of Monmouth. You will hear more of the Duke of Monmouth in later posts when we look at the reign of Charles' younger brother, James II.</div>
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Married to Francis Boyle, son of Lord Cork; a wealthy Irish landowner, Elizabeth Killigrew followed the exiled queen Henrietta Maria to Europe and became the queen's Maid of Honour, as part of the court she would have met Charles often. </div>
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Elizabeth and charles had a daughter, Charlotte Jemima Henrietta Maria Fitzroy in 1650. I can't ind any pictures of Elizabeth, but I did find this sweet portrait of her daughter Charlotte.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--fNYOkY18Nk/U8_lmkuYh0I/AAAAAAAAD6M/mhBgaUaYUQk/s1600/Frances_Teresa_Stuart_by_Lely.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>Charlotte married twice, and it was through her second marriage, to William Paston, that she eventually became lady Yarmouth.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Catherine Pegge</span></div>
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Another affair conducted whilst in exile from England was that of Catherine Pegge. Her father was a Royalist supporter, and after he was captured by the Parliamentarians, he was forced into exile with his family. </div>
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Their liaison resulted in the birth of two children, a daughter Catherine Fitzcharles in 1657 who died and Charles Fitzcharles in 1658. Charles Fitzcharles was given the nickname Don Carlo, because of his Spanish looks. Charles became the 1st Earl of Plymouth.</div>
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Winifred Wells was a courtier, the Maid of Honour to Charles' wife Catherine of Braganza. Samuel Pepys makes reference to Winifred as the King's mistress in his diaries. Pepys also wrote in his diary that Winifred had 'dropped a child' (given birth) during a ball held at court in December 1662. </div>
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From what I can make out, this is one child that Charles does not acknowledge as his own.</div>
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Barbara Palmer is said to have met Charles whilst he was still in exile. She was married to Roger Palmer, a Catholic Royalist, who became a politician in 1660, and who was said to be a gloomy, depressed figure in the presence of his wife. It was in 1660 also that Barbara became Charles' mistress. Roger's father had warned his son that Barbara would make Roger one of the most miserable men in the world, when he discovered their plans to marry. In part he was probably right. Made 1st Earl of Castlemaine in recognition of his services to the King in 1661, he separated from his wife in 1662, though they never divorced.</div>
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Barbara gave birth to a girl in 1661, and claimed Charles as the father. Her daughter was named Anne, who later became the Countess of Sussex. A son was born the following year, Charles was later to become Lord Limerick, the Earl of Southampton - later the Duke of Southampton, and 2nd Duke of Cleveland. </div>
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Barbara was generally known in court as Lady Castlemaine. in the early years she had a great deal of influence on the King within his court. She was known to have a quick temper, which the king gave in to. Naturally, Queen Catherine (of Braganza) was not happy about Lady Castlemaine's power and she and the Queen were known to dislike one another. </div>
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When Barbara was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber, Queen Catherine opposed it, but, unlike those of Lady Castlemaine, her tantrums and threats were ignored. The Queen had the backing of Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon; the King's Chief Advisor. Clarendon, related by marriage to Lady Castlemaine, felt embarrassed by her role as mistress and her constant presence at court. He bitterly resented her, and tried what he could to remove her. His plans eventually backfired, and it was he that was dismissed in 1667. In the end Queen Catherine found that good grace, tact and restraint had a better effect on the King, and their marriage settled down amicably</div>
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For reasons that remain unclear, Lady Castlemaine converted to Catholicism in 1663. This was an unusual decision in a country still hostile to the religion. Perhaps she wished to appease her estranged husband, or maybe she felt it would curry favour with King Charles; However his response to the news was that he was interested in ladies' bodies, not in their souls. </div>
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By the end of the 1660s Charles affections for Lady Castlemaine were on the wane. He had fallen for the 'witty, pretty Nelly'; a young actress called Nell Gwynn, probably the most well known of Charles' mistresses. Barbara had taken several other lovers, including John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough. In 1670 Charles made Barbara First Duchess of Cleveland, Countess of Southampton and Baroness Nonsuch (it was Barbara who had Henry VIII's Nonsuch palace demolished and sold off the pieces). Generous perhaps, but seen by most historians as a form of Golden Handshake. Perhaps to appease her fiery temper as she was cast from Charles' affections. </div>
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Barbara's fate was sealed when the 1672/3 Test Act was passed, banning Roman Catholics from holding office, she lost her position as Lady of the Bedchamber and was advised by the King to live quietly and to cause no scandal. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbara, Lady Castlemaine with her son Charles Fitzroy</td></tr>
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Of her six children, Charles acknowledge five as his own.</div>
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Anne Fitzroy (Leonard), Countess of Sussex</div>
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Charles Fitzroy, 2nd Duke of Cleveland</div>
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Henry Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Grafton</div>
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Charlotte Fitzroy (Lee), Countess of Lichfield</div>
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George Fitzroy, 1st Duke of Northumberland</div>
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Barbara Fitzroy. (probably the daughter of John Churchill)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anne Fitzroy as a child</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charlotte Fitzroy as a child...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And as an adult</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Nell Gwynn</span></div>
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The famous diarist, Samuel Pepys took an interest in most of the King's mistresses, and recorded details about them within his diaries. He described Eleanor Gwynn as 'Pretty, witty Nell. </div>
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Nell is perhaps the most famous of Charles' mistresses, the 'rags to riches' story has popular appeal. Not much is known about Nell's origins, She is described as being born either in London, Oxford or Hereford, of Welsh decent. Her mother ran a bawdy house, otherwise known as a brothel, though Nell is recorded as claiming never to have been a prostitute there, only serving visitors with strong drink.</div>
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It was through a friend of her mother's that Nell obtained a job selling oranges to audiences within the theatre on Drury Lane, the King's Playhouse. Young attractive girls were used to sell the oranges and other fruits and confectionary to the gentlemen and ladies in the theatre, some would certainly be no stranger to prostitution, but that doesn't necessarily mean that they sold favours as well as oranges within the theatre itself. </div>
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Nell's looks, her quick wit and clear voice attracted the attentions of Thomas Killigrew, the theatre's owner. She soon found herself on the stage itself as an actress. Her first recorded appearance on the stage was in 1665, playing Cydaria in a drama by John Dryden titled <i>The Indian Emperour. </i></div>
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Nell was not taken by the part, she didn't like the serious parts and hated serious plays, Samuel Pepys, who saw a later performance of the play with Nell in the same part thought she was badly miscast. </div>
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Her famous wit meant she was more comfortable playing roles in the new Restoration Comedies of the day and it was in these roles that she grew to be a successful actress. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nell Gwynn stuffing sausages. Yes, this was as suggestive at the time as it might be considered now!!</td></tr>
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In 1667, George Villiers, second Duke of Buckingham, attempted to introduce the King to Nell, but the plan failed, perhaps because Nell had sought a fee of £500 a year to be kept by the King. Buckingham set the Charles up with another actress instead, Moll Davis (I'll tell a you a little about Moll Davis next!).</div>
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The king's affair with Moll Davis didn't last long, and by 1668 Nell Gwynn was well known to be the King's latest mistress. In April 1668 the King and his brother the Duke of York attended a play called <i>She wou'd if She Cou'd, </i>the King saw little of the play, instead he flirted with Nell, who was in the next box (probably not by chance!). Charles is said t have invited Nell out to supper after the play, but after the supper, the King found that he and his brother had no money. It was Nell Gwynn who ended up paying the bill, and is said to have exclaimed in good humour, "Od's fish! but this is the poorest company I ever was in!"</div>
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In 1670 Nell gave birth to a son, another on the growing list of Charles' illegitimate children. Charles Beauclerk (the K is silent) and to another son in 1671, James Beauclerk. Nell was moved into a house on Pall Mall, but was unhappy to be merely the lessee, not the owner of the property, and demanded the house be signed over to her. She did eventually get her own way in 1676. </div>
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It seems that Nell was also determined to have her children raised as gentlemen. Sadly, James died in 1681 whilst being educated in Paris. Her elder son Charles was granted the Earldom of Burford in 1676 (at the same time his younger brother was given the title Lord Beauclerk). Quite how he came to be granted this title is subject to speculation, some say that on a visit to his son by the King, Nell called out something along the lines of, "Come here you little bastard and say hello to your father!" The King is said to have protested at the way Nell called her son, to which she replied. "but Your Majesty has given me no other name by which to call him!" The other story is that Nell took her son and held him outside a window, threatening to drop the child unless he was granted a peerage, to which the King responded by saying "God save the Earl of Burford!". in 1684 Charles granted his son the title of Duke of St Albans. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LR3X_KnumAk/U8-YdfjBtBI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/TizO48hrL8Y/s1600/Charles_Beauclerk,_1st_Duke_of_St_Albans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LR3X_KnumAk/U8-YdfjBtBI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/TizO48hrL8Y/s1600/Charles_Beauclerk,_1st_Duke_of_St_Albans.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles, Earl of Burford, Duke of St Albans</td></tr>
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On his deathbed in 1685 Charles asked his brother james to "Let not poor Nelly starve." As James II, he obeyed his late brother's request and paid off Nell's debts, granting her a pension of £1500 a year. </div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Moll Davis</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n9JSNd4mlp8/U8-bE2LTlAI/AAAAAAAAD4s/rl6QSPSKseU/s1600/Moll_Davies_(Weston_Park_HiRes_framed)_Large_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n9JSNd4mlp8/U8-bE2LTlAI/AAAAAAAAD4s/rl6QSPSKseU/s1600/Moll_Davies_(Weston_Park_HiRes_framed)_Large_2.jpg" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
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Moll Davis was a singer and actress, introduced to Charles II by George Villiers, second Duke of Buckingham, who had also introduced him to Nell Gwynn, and for a time, both were rivals for the King's affection. For a while Moll was the one who succeeded. She received gifts from the King, such as a fine coach, and a ring costing £600 (a vast sum of money at the time), and she was accused of flaunting these gifts. gaining a reputation for vulgarity and impertinence. In 1668 the Kind is said by Samuel Pepys to have furnished a house 'most richly' which he declared 'a most infinate shame' Pepys wife had called Moll 'the most impertinent slut in the world!'</div>
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In 1669 Moll gave birth to a daughter, fathered by Charles II. She became Lady Mary Tudor (not to be confused with Henry VIII's daughter and Bloody Queen!!) </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Mary Tudor</td></tr>
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It is said that Moll fell out of favour with Charles II partly due to some dirty tricks played by Nell Gwynn and her friend Aphra Behn. One evening, when Moll was due to sup with the King, Nell and Aphra are said to have laced some sweetmeats destined for Moll with julap, a laxative. Her evening with the King did not go well! </div>
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By 1670 Moll had been bought off with a pension of £1000 a year, and Nell Gwynn and replaced her as the King's mistress. Moll took to high stakes card games and later in 1686 married the French born composer Jacques Paisible (anglicised to James) who worked in London and who worked in the court of James II.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Louise de Kéroualle</span></div>
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Louise de Kéroualle came from a noble French family. She was part of the household of Henrietta Anne Stuart, the Duchess of Orléans, Sister of Charles II and Louis XIV of France's sister-in-law. In 1670 Louise accompanied Charles' sister on a visit to Dover, partly to persuade Charles to sign the secret treaty of Dover with Louis XIV, where Charles could secure men and financial backing for a war with the Dutch, in exchange for declaring himself a Catholic. </div>
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The Duchess died suddenly in June 1670, and Louise was left unprovided for, until Charles II appointed her as a lady-in-waiting for his wife Queen Catherine.</div>
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Louise was another mistress for Charles, and another rival for Nell Gwynn. Nell unkindly referred to Louise as Squintabella, and mocked her when, during the height of the Popish Plot ( a period of high anti-Catholicism), an angry mob attacked Nell's coach in the mistaken belief that it was Louise inside, pulled down the coach window and cried out, "Good people, pray be civil! I am the <i>Protestant</i> whore!"</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kiC-mERf5I8/U8_cOB6yY_I/AAAAAAAAD5c/B6OZ_8PRnKc/s1600/Lely_Ke%CC%81roualle_1671.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kiC-mERf5I8/U8_cOB6yY_I/AAAAAAAAD5c/B6OZ_8PRnKc/s1600/Lely_Ke%CC%81roualle_1671.jpg" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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At the same time as receiving gifts and attention from Charles, Louise was also being sent expensive gifts from King Louis XIV, not least among them a pair of earrings worth at the time over £18,000!</div>
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Was Louise a spy for the French King, expected to report on Charles? There is a possibility that this was the case. She received support from the French Ambassador Colbert de Croissy on the understanding that she should serve Louis, her native king. However, if Charles ever suspected any intrigue, he didn't show it. He found a domestic stability in Louise, and showed great affection for her. He nick-named her Fubbs or Fubbsy, a term used at the time to describe a chubby, rounded figure. </div>
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Almost inevitably, Louise gave birth to a son by Charles, in 1672. He was created The Duke of Richmond in 1675. Louise herself received the titles Baroness Petersfield, Countess of Fareham and Duchess of Portsmouth in 1673. She was also another of Charles' mistresses that he mentioned on his death bed, instructing his brother James to "do well by Portsmouth". However, the pensions and revenues she received were lost during the Glorious Revolution of 1688 (more about that some other time!).</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Some of the others and the one that got away!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRu5qxawtSw/U8_lXbGp8hI/AAAAAAAAD50/sOpYhyf6v8U/s1600/HortenseManciniJacobFerdinandVoet1675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BRu5qxawtSw/U8_lXbGp8hI/AAAAAAAAD50/sOpYhyf6v8U/s1600/HortenseManciniJacobFerdinandVoet1675.jpg" height="320" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
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There are several other women who have gone down in history as mistresses to King Charles II. Hortense Mancini had won the king's affection in 1675, but her promiscuity and possible lesbianism meant that she wasn't in favour with the king for long. She did receive a pension from Charles and remained in the various English courts until her death in 1699.</div>
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Other women named as mistresses include Jane Roberts, a clergyman's daughter; Elizabeth, Countess of Kildare; Mary Killigrew, Countess of Falmouth and Mrs Knight, a famous singer. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Francis Stewart, Duchess of Richmond</td></tr>
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There was one woman known to have refused all of Charles II's romantic advances, the face of Britannia herself; Frances Stewart, Duchess of Richmond.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4VAjjMNKRGo/U8_lcySlGXI/AAAAAAAAD58/oGOl6OysYY8/s1600/Charles_II-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4VAjjMNKRGo/U8_lcySlGXI/AAAAAAAAD58/oGOl6OysYY8/s1600/Charles_II-02.jpg" height="120" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An illustration of a coin dating from the reign of Charles II with Britannia on one side.</td></tr>
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Wearing a helmet and holding a trident, Francis modeled as Britannia, and her engraving appeared on British coins right up into the 20th century, where until recently a version of the original appeared on the back of the 50 pence piece.</div>
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Women were not the only pleasure in Charles' life. As we have seen the King was keen on the theatre and music. He was also a sponsor of the arts, architecture and sciences. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles' brother James, Duke of York, playing tennis</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some sporting gentlemen during the reign of Charles II</td></tr>
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Charles was also a keen sportsman. He was particularly fond of tennis and played very well. He could also been spotted plunging into the freezing water of the Thames, his courtiers looking on as he enjoyed his swim. He also enjoyed boating and fishing. Queen Caroline also took an interest in fishing and King and Queen would sometimes rise early and fish together at Hampton Court Palace. In winter he took to skating on the frozen ice, at the time it was referred to as 'sliding'.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An illustration engraving of the Frost Fair 1683-4</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A souvenir ticket issued to the King and his family printed at the Frost Fair on the ice! </td></tr>
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Charles enjoyed a walk too, he was known to have a fast pace, and enjoyed taking his dogs along with him. Charles' favourite breed of spaniel were eventually to be graced with his name. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some children with King Charles Spaniels</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles II as a baby with his own spaniel, the breed would eventually take his name.</td></tr>
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As a Royal, his love of horses started at an early age. He was an experienced rider and rode very well. He liked horse racing too, particularly in his later years. Horse racing became in integral part of the British social and sporting scene during Charles' reign. He was particularly fond of racing at Newmarket, and would stay at Audley End with the Earl of Suffolk, before buying Audley End for himself in 1669 for £50,000.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles II on horseback</td></tr>
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The King also loved birds, he collected rare birds and had aviaries built especially for them. Birdcage Walk, near Buckingham Palace, is named after the King's aviary.</div>
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Charles was known to take a great interest in Horticulture too. He was particularly keen on trees, and had thousands of them planted at Greenwich and at Hampton Court Palace. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The private closet at Ham House set out for tea.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Tea drinking paraphernalia from around the time of Charles II</td></tr>
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</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Whilst Charles II favoured Champagne to drink. his Queen had more sober tastes, preferring tea, and she was responsible for making tea drinking popular in England. It was Green China tea that was drank at this time, black Indian tea (our national beverage!) came along later. Coffee and chocolate were also popular, and there were hundreds of coffee houses in London during the reign of Charles II (and not a Starbucks or Costa in sight!!)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside a 17th century Coffee House</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A plaque in modern day London commemorating the site of the first coffee house in London</td></tr>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-59779525584871973582014-06-22T12:43:00.001+01:002014-06-22T12:43:50.834+01:00Period Style Guide: The Restoration and Later Stuarts<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">An Introduction to Charles II and events during his reign</span></u></b></div>
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It's hard for me to comprehend that it has been well over one and a half years since my last Period Style Guide! To save you looking back, it was The Civil War period in England. Scotland and Ireland, with Oliver Cromwell taking charge and eventually declaring himself the Lord Protector. King Charles I was executed and his family forced into exile in Europe. When Cromwell died in 1658, his son Richard was left to lead the country. However, Richard wasn't a good leader and was forced to abdicate in 1659.</div>
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Without a head of state, England was in a bit of a quandary, and Parliament seemed to have no idea what direction to take. In late April 1660 a new Parliament was assembled and they invited Prince Charles to return from exile and become the King of England.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles at a ball at The Hague the evening before he sailed to England as its new King</td></tr>
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In May 1660, Charles signed the Declaration of Breda, which included amongst other things a pardon for many of his father's enemies and to pay arrears of army pay. Parliament then proclaimed that Charles had been the lawful king of England since the execution of his father. King Charles II left The Hague on 23 May and landed at Dover on the 25th. His 30th Birthday was on 29 May, and it was on this day that Charles II entered London. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles II</td></tr>
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In August 1660 the Act of Indemnity and Oblivion was passed which pardoned all the past treason against the Crown, amnesty was granted to most of Cromwell's supporters, however, the Act specifically excluded those involved in the trial and execution of Charles I. Over 50 people were specifically involved in the trial, some had died since then, including Cromwell, but there were still over 30 people alive who had been involved in the King's trail and execution. Eventually 9 of those were charged with regicide and executed for treason, the bodies of Cromwell, Henry Ireton and John Bradshaw were all exhumed. they were tried and decapitated posthumously!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The King and his Queen</td></tr>
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Charles II was officially crowned King at his coronation on 23 April 1661 at Westminster Abbey. Charles married Catherine of Braganza in 1662. Together they produced no legitimate heirs, however, as the original Merry Monarch, Charles did have a number of illegitimate children (he acknowledged at least 12 of them) borne by his many mistresses.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catherine of Braganza</td></tr>
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It would be nice to think that after so much bloodshed and upheaval during the Civil Wars that the country could enjoy a period of peace and ease. Puritanism lost its momentum with the new King. Theatres reopened after having been shut down by the Protectorship. The bawdy shows from that time became known as Restoration Comedies. Charles II was a great patron of the Arts and of science. The King granted royal patents to William Davenant and Thomas Killigrew. With their monopoly over London theatre the two theatre companies were able to restore and rebuild new theatres in the city, including the Theatre Royal at Drury Lane and the Duke's Theatre. These theatres were also the first to allow Women to act on the stage. the new theatres allowed for more elaborate stage sets and special effects. It was during the Restoration that opera began to grow in popularity in England. Henry Percell wrote his first opera <i>Dido and Aeneas</i> in 1680.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Dukes Theatre</td></tr>
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Literature also flourished; this was the time of Aphra Behn; John Milton; William Wycherley; John Bunyan and John Dryden among many others, some celebrated the restored court, and some was critical. John Wilmot - 2nd Earl of Rochester is supposed to have said playfully of the new King; </div>
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We have a pretty, witty King</div>
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and whose word no man relies on</div>
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He never says a foolish thing</div>
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and never did a wise one</div>
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To which Charles is reported to have replied;</div>
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'That is true, for my words are my own, and my actions are those of my Ministers!'</div>
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Although there were attempts to suppress criticism of the Crown and Parliament, pamphlets, ballads and other cheaply printed matter had been in proliferation for many years. The <i>Oxford Gazette</i> was first published in November 1665, it is said to be the first official newspaper published in England, it was later retitled the <i>London Gazette</i> in 1666 (Scotland had a short-lived newspaper of its own earlier, in 1660, the <i>Mercurius Caledonius</i>). Newspapers were cheap to produce and were widely read in the coffee houses and taverns (more about those in later posts), which sparked widespread political debate in the city.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bp5FlrMYi3A/U6a_zD938JI/AAAAAAAAD1Y/c2viyIkeX0E/s1600/image086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Bp5FlrMYi3A/U6a_zD938JI/AAAAAAAAD1Y/c2viyIkeX0E/s1600/image086.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Royal Society of London was founded in November 1616. It was granted a Royal Charter by Charles II. The Royal Society was established to promote science and the 'improvement of natural knowledge'. </div>
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Sadly, the Restoration also saw its share of war and disaster. In 1665 a plague epidemic swept through the city of London. Known as the Great Plague it killed between 70,000-100,000 people (one-fifth of the entire population). Theatres and sports grounds were closed to prevent the disease spreading. Well over 200,000 domestic and stray cats and dogs were destroyed, as it was thought that these animals were the cause of the disease spreading. Victims, and their families, were shut up in their homes, doors nailed closed and red crosses painted on the doors (sometimes with the words 'Lord have mercy upon us' as a warning sign of infection within. There were actually two strains of plague at work during the Great Plague; the Bubonic plague, spread by fleas living on rats, and Pneumonic Plague an airbourne infection spread by sneezes and the biggest killer of the two, usually dispatching victims within the first 24 hours of infection. The dead were collected at night on carts with the call of 'Bring out your dead!', victims were buried in mass graves known as plague pits.<br />
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The poor living conditions and dirt help to spread the diseases, particularly the Bubonic plague, spread by the rats. A very hot summer saw cases of plague increase to a peak in Late August to September. Those who could, including the Royal Court (which went to Oxford) fled the city. </div>
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The fleas travelled in fabric, and the disease spread out from London to affect other parts of the country, such as the city of York and the village of Eyam in Derbyshire, whose inhabitants are famous for putting their entire village into quarantine instead of fleeing and thus preventing the disease spreading further in the area. Doctors and scientists did not understand how the infections were spread, or how to prevent and cure the plague. Nosegays, small bunches of herbs and flowers were thought to help ward off disease. Vinegar was also thought to help, and coins were often soaked in vinegar (and sometimes water) by people before handling them, in case they were infected. </div>
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The epidemic began to affect fewer people as the weather grew colder, after September 1665 the number of recorded cases began to drop steadily and people who had fled the city began to return slowly. Charles II returned to London in February 1666. </div>
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Another disaster the following year is said to have helped clear the last of the plague from the city. This incident was also to have a profound effect on the way the city of London would look in the future. </div>
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At 2.00am on 2 September 1666 a workman for the Kings Baker, Thomas Farynor, reported to his master that he could smell smoke in the bakery. The bake house was on Pudding Lane. Fire was discovered and the baker's family fled across the rooftops of neighbouring buildings, all except the one of the maid servants too scared to climb across the roofs. She, and the family business, became the first victims of a fire that would rage across the city of London for four days destroying 373 acres of the city, burning over 13,000 houses and 84 churches, including St Paul's Cathedral. </div>
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The official death toll was put at just four, including the Farynors' poor maid, but it is generally thought that the real death toll was much higher, the heat of the inferno being so severe that nothing remained of the victims. </div>
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I will give more detail about the Great Fire of London and its aftermath in a later post, as there is a lot to say!!</div>
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War and religious intolerance were also a part life during the Restoration and beyond. Charles' foreign policy swung between alliances with the Dutch and the French. The Dutch Republic was a Protestant country in a largely Catholic Europe. The House of Orange lent large sums of money to Charles during the English Civil War. In 1660, to cement diplomatic relations with England and to celebrate the Restoration of Charles II, the Dutch presented the King with a collection of paintings, sculptures , furniture and even a yacht. This became known as the Dutch Gift. However, despite this there was a good amount of commercial and colonial rivalry between the two countries. The Dutch used a system of free trade, their goods were exported around the world and lacked the tax duties that were carried by English goods, so naturally were cheaper and more popular. This ultimately led to what could be described as a trade war between the two countries, Dutch ships were attacked by English privateers. The King's brother James, the Duke of York, convinced Charles that a war with the Dutch would be in the best interests of England, capturing Dutch trade routes and their colonies. In 1664 the English invaded the dutch colony of New Netherland in North America and took control of it. However, the war didn't go well for England overall, they ran short of money which was not helped by The Great Plague or the Great Fire. In 1667 the Dutch sailed towards the mouth of the River Thames and attacked English ships anchored near Chatham Dockyard on the Medway. 'The Raid of the Medway', as it became known was a great shock the the English and a peace deal between the English and the Dutch was signed soon afterwards. The treaty that was signed allowed the English to keep possession of New Netherland, renamed New York in honour of James, Duke of York.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Artists Impression of the Raid on the Medway, 1667</td></tr>
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Charles II also admired the French king's court and his great wealth, money was always tight in the English monarchy by comparison. But France, and it's King, Louis XIV, were Catholic, the Anglican Parliament in England would always be suspicious of the French. However, Charles' wife and Queen of England was Catherine of Braganza, a Catholic. Charles had sympathy with the Catholics, but had to take care not to offend the Anglicans of the English Parliament. </div>
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When the French attacked the Netherlands in the War of Devolution in 1668, the English allied itself to its former enemy, the Dutch, and Sweden. This Triple Alliance forced Louis XIV return land taken. In an effort to solve his financial difficulties, Charles II agreed the Treaty of Dover in 1670, under which Louis XIV would pay Charles an annual fee of £160.000. In exchange for this Charles would agree to supply troops to the French, and to announce that he would convert to Catholicism '<i>as soon as the welfare of his Kingdom will permit'. </i>Louis XIV in turn agreed to supply 6,000 French troops to suppress any opposition to the English King's conversion. Naturally, the conditions of this Treaty were kept private. Charles must have known that a conversion to Catholicism would have been insupportable to the Anglican Parliament. However, he did use his prerogative powers to issue a Declaration of Indulgence, which suspended penal laws against Catholics and Non-Conformists in England. The Declaration was short lived, it had fierce opposition from Parliament and Charles was forced to withdraw it in 1673.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERKzZJ0-GgE/U6a-Syq8OlI/AAAAAAAAD1M/IyQ-G8BecO4/s1600/2-willem_ii_prince_of_orange_and_maria_stuart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ERKzZJ0-GgE/U6a-Syq8OlI/AAAAAAAAD1M/IyQ-G8BecO4/s1600/2-willem_ii_prince_of_orange_and_maria_stuart.jpg" height="316" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary with William of Orange</td></tr>
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To re-establish his own Protestant credentials; particularly in light of his brother James' marriage to Mary of Modena, another Catholic royal from Europe; Charles Married his niece Princess Mary to William of Orange, from the Dutch House of Orange (this was to have a large impact on later Stuart rule in England). </div>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-9130608759190472502014-06-12T22:41:00.001+01:002014-06-12T22:41:38.372+01:00Dolls' Houses of the World: Number Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb4A1PwATFM/U5mBE68prLI/AAAAAAAADxQ/UoZzMeasKG4/s1600/jessie-m-king-house-1912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb4A1PwATFM/U5mBE68prLI/AAAAAAAADxQ/UoZzMeasKG4/s1600/jessie-m-king-house-1912.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is the Jessie Marion King House. OK, so it may not be one of the world's most famous dolls' houses, but I have chosen it because I love it and it is by a fantastic Scottish artist and designer, Jessie M King. </div>
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<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bavr5mbsGf8/U5oUIcx7JNI/AAAAAAAADzo/9oNwUYEhNRg/s1600/king8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bavr5mbsGf8/U5oUIcx7JNI/AAAAAAAADzo/9oNwUYEhNRg/s1600/king8.JPG" /></a></div>
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King is perhaps best known as an illustrator of books, mostly, but not exclusively, for children.</div>
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However, she also designed and decorated ceramics, murals, fabrics, stained glass and interior designs.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3W3hn8jqHo/U5mGqAQPraI/AAAAAAAADzU/Fu2BYM8FDnc/s1600/The-Glasgow-School-of-Art-Dugald-Cameron-p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3W3hn8jqHo/U5mGqAQPraI/AAAAAAAADzU/Fu2BYM8FDnc/s1600/The-Glasgow-School-of-Art-Dugald-Cameron-p.jpg" height="156" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jessie M King was a student at the Glasgow School of Art from 1892 and became a tutor of book decoration and design from 1899. </div>
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Whilst we are on the subject of the Glasgow School of Art, an iconic building designed externally and internally by Charles Renne Mackintosh, I wanted to say how very sorry I was to hear of the devastating fire in May, which destroyed part of the wonderful building.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tunBra9g36k/U5mFx-mwumI/AAAAAAAADyg/a41ShXgbpTw/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tunBra9g36k/U5mFx-mwumI/AAAAAAAADyg/a41ShXgbpTw/s1600/1.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
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One of the rooms so tragically destroyed was the Library, a beautiful interior, considered by many to be one of Mackintosh's best works. The room was still very much in use by students, many of whom also lost some of their artwork in the fire.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-Ve6rnzp7M/U5mGd9jY21I/AAAAAAAADzM/bBkdp12LJGw/s1600/metalocus_mackintosh_bio_23_690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U-Ve6rnzp7M/U5mGd9jY21I/AAAAAAAADzM/bBkdp12LJGw/s1600/metalocus_mackintosh_bio_23_690.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hhEag9F-GI8/U5mGGFYp1gI/AAAAAAAADy8/-ppTPyHTkUA/s1600/gsa_lantern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hhEag9F-GI8/U5mGGFYp1gI/AAAAAAAADy8/-ppTPyHTkUA/s1600/gsa_lantern.jpg" height="320" width="190" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iuAjHg5ayE/U5mGtGhne8I/AAAAAAAADzY/E-dNsaUUPNo/s1600/trowles4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_iuAjHg5ayE/U5mGtGhne8I/AAAAAAAADzY/E-dNsaUUPNo/s1600/trowles4.jpg" height="320" width="219" /></a></div>
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The Library was full of irreplaceable pieces by Mackintosh, along with books and artwork.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nLn0nJ1sRCA/U5mF9ewIsUI/AAAAAAAADyw/Che7y6ugjQg/s1600/Aerial-shots-Art-school-on-Fire-Glasgow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nLn0nJ1sRCA/U5mF9ewIsUI/AAAAAAAADyw/Che7y6ugjQg/s1600/Aerial-shots-Art-school-on-Fire-Glasgow.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Firefighters worked extremely hard to prevent the fire from destroying the entire building. Thanks to their efforts much of what could have been destroyed by the fire was saved.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-za7lw9EOYlY/U5mFyFcqjMI/AAAAAAAADyU/YQyUw798Wh8/s1600/_75090757_img_0278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-za7lw9EOYlY/U5mFyFcqjMI/AAAAAAAADyU/YQyUw798Wh8/s1600/_75090757_img_0278.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr17LksxkyU/U5mF50X1uvI/AAAAAAAADyo/CA02UpjRG6Y/s1600/291828-the-interior-of-glasgow-school-of-arts-mackintosh-building-following-the-fire-on-23-may-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mr17LksxkyU/U5mF50X1uvI/AAAAAAAADyo/CA02UpjRG6Y/s1600/291828-the-interior-of-glasgow-school-of-arts-mackintosh-building-following-the-fire-on-23-may-2014.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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The three pictures above show the aftermath of the fire in the Library. A salvage and clean up operation is now underway, and hopefully the building and its beautiful interiors can be rebuilt and restored. </div>
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Going back to the dolls' house! </span></u></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb4A1PwATFM/U5mBE68prLI/AAAAAAAADxQ/UoZzMeasKG4/s1600/jessie-m-king-house-1912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wb4A1PwATFM/U5mBE68prLI/AAAAAAAADxQ/UoZzMeasKG4/s1600/jessie-m-king-house-1912.jpg" height="253" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jessie King married a fellow artist and Glasgow School of Art alumni Earnest Archibald Taylor in 1908. They moved to Paris in 1911 and set up the Sheiling Atelier School, to teach art and design. </div>
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In 1913 King presented her interior design for a nursery at an exhibition of art for children, Exposition de l'Art Pour l'Enfance, at the Musee Galliera in Paris. It was for this exhibition that the dolls' house above was created.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hu0hxMicLUY/U5mBLsss49I/AAAAAAAADxY/0fLyxDiM2BQ/s1600/100_5533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hu0hxMicLUY/U5mBLsss49I/AAAAAAAADxY/0fLyxDiM2BQ/s1600/100_5533.JPG" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a photograph of the nursery which had white painted furniture, blue walls with murals and stained glass windows. You can see the dolls house on the left hand side of the photo.</div>
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This is the exhibition poster </div>
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Above are two designs for the nursery: a mural of the Frog Princess, and a design for one of the walls, which gives some idea of the colour and decoration used in the final design at the exhibition.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2thg41nSkI/U5mBPXZCrEI/AAAAAAAADxc/GUQ_hETUJe4/s1600/2007BP1295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U2thg41nSkI/U5mBPXZCrEI/AAAAAAAADxc/GUQ_hETUJe4/s1600/2007BP1295.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Jessie King also decorated ceramics, this delightful jug, in the V&A, London, is one painted by the artist. You can see similarities in terms of style and colours used on the jug and in the nursery.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ek43_T2Vzps/U5mBpTA2x_I/AAAAAAAADx8/lM9UIg_exc0/s1600/mummys-bedtime-book-jmk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ek43_T2Vzps/U5mBpTA2x_I/AAAAAAAADx8/lM9UIg_exc0/s1600/mummys-bedtime-book-jmk.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
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And here is one of King's wonderful book covers for children</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HbAF4l5BPI/U5mBEmbAyYI/AAAAAAAADxE/dTu-5m0JkFM/s1600/J-M-King-If-All-the-Carts-were-Painted-Gay-1930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8HbAF4l5BPI/U5mBEmbAyYI/AAAAAAAADxE/dTu-5m0JkFM/s1600/J-M-King-If-All-the-Carts-were-Painted-Gay-1930.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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This enchanting book illustration is also by King. The houses in the background share some characteristics with the dolls' house created for the nursery, with their little square windows and green shutters.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YEfXLAwNUhI/U5mBUZdQReI/AAAAAAAADxk/gl5tyAjIO6c/s1600/A+Book+of+sundials.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YEfXLAwNUhI/U5mBUZdQReI/AAAAAAAADxk/gl5tyAjIO6c/s1600/A+Book+of+sundials.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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Another beautiful book cover design by Jessie King. The Jessie M King House is on display at the V&A museum in London. There are also some great vintage dolls' houses at the V&A's Museum of Childhood in Bethnel Green in London. Please see their website for further information.</div>
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Please see the Glasgow School of Art's website for more information on their iconic building.</div>
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<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-59117909607600564462014-05-24T13:31:00.002+01:002014-05-24T13:31:26.758+01:00Getting up to date!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RtYrr2AiQGY/U30QPepir2I/AAAAAAAADuU/mgCIwEcUuBE/s1600/IMG_1477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RtYrr2AiQGY/U30QPepir2I/AAAAAAAADuU/mgCIwEcUuBE/s1600/IMG_1477.JPG" height="256" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hello! Does anyone recognise this house? The occupants are quite well known around the world. Here's a clue; LEGO have rendered it in 3D, but it is usually seen in 2D! </div>
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Is this picture any better? Have you guessed? </div>
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Well, I am sure it was no surprise to most of you that it is,of course, home to the Simpson family! Here is my rather poor attempt to recreate the action during the opening credits!</div>
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The whole family have been created as LEGO Minifigures, including Ned Flanders, the next-door neighbour. You can see the famous sofa in the background, and the TV is showing an episode of Itchy and Scratchy; Bart and Lisa's favourite TV show. </div>
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And here is Bart in his bedroom.</div>
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This is the most recent LEGO set I have purchased, and like the Haunted House I featured a long time ago, it opens up to reveal furnished rooms, just like a dolls' house would, So I thought I would add it to my blog.</div>
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I also got some great buildings for Christmas, and my birthday, which have been added to a department store I have had for some time. When they are clipped together the building create a street scene, and there are lots of lovely details in each building.</div>
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I have put the buildings together on top of some new bookcase I had to buy earlier this year, after my old ones collapsed! (thank heavens for IKEA!) </div>
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This is the department store that I have had for several years, and some of you have spotted in earlier posts I have done.</div>
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It forms the corner building for the street scene.</div>
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Next was this Brownstone style townhouse and the pet shop.</div>
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I got the Parisian restaurant for my birthday. I think this is the best of the modular street series that LEGO have produced in the range so far, and is packed with great features and unusual LEGO bricks.</div>
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The Town Hall is the tallest building in the series so far (I don't have the whole collection mind you) </div>
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It is actually slightly too tall to fit on the shelf, so I had to remove the top most roof tower brick, But as you can see (or rather can't see) it is too dark amongst the roof timbers to be noticed!</div>
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The Palace cinema is the last building in my street scene, and is another corner building. Trouble is, I have now run out of room almost, so I might need to buy more bookcases!! ;o)</div>
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This is just to apologise to you all for not being a very good blogger recently, I have been having some problems getting access to Blogspot with my vintage Mac! It takes ages(!!) to download on here, and I don't find the Ipad alternative very easy to use. I have tried to keep up to date with your posts, but even this is a bit tricky!<br />
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However, I promise to try and work on my blog more than I have been recently, I noticed it has been well over a year since I did a Period Style guide, and so that is way overdue, and will be a very exciting period for architecture in the UK!! so watch this space, even if it looks the same as it did last year!! ;)<br />
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I got some nice new Lego sets for Christmas too, so might just post about those at some point too, and there are loads of other ideas I have that need working on, so please bear with me, whilst I cope with the technical difficulties I have and I will, hopefully, have some new posts for you soon!<br />
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(speaking of Lego, have you seen the new Simpson's house in Lego? I MUST have it!!!!)<br />
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The dolls house fairs are beginning again this year, I'm not sure I will be able to go to many, but will try, and will let you know what I find.<br />
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Hope you enjoy the new look on my blog!<br />
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Andy xAndyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-5735412633630408162013-12-17T12:16:00.000+00:002013-12-17T12:20:05.324+00:00A Not Particularly Christmassy Christmas Post!<br />
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Hello there. Sorry I haven't posted anything in ages, as usual, life seems to be going at such a fast pace I hardly find time to do anything. I had hoped to do a condensed Christmas Countdown this year, but even that failed to materialise, and now with barely a week left to go until the BIG DAY </div>
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I felt it would be a shame not to get something on my blog, even if it wasn't particularly Christmassy!</div>
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Back in September, I went on a short break away to Yorkshire, staying at a castle gate house just outside the city of York. I would love to show you some photos of the inside of Fairfax House, a georgian house set up with period rooms, but photos were not allowed inside, which is understandable, but is also a pity as they are well worth seeing!</div>
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I did, however, get some good photos from the York Castle Museum, just a stone's throw away from Fairfax House. The museum has various room settings, a Victorian street scene and household appliances through the ages. The photo above is a typical Victorian parlour of a middle-class family, there is also another shot of the room with its fireplace below.</div>
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It's the sort of room Scrooge's nephew might have had in A Christmas Carol. (shoehorning in a little bit of Christmas there!!) Victorians loved to fill there homes with clutter and bold, fussy patterns. </div>
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This is an example of a more working-class family cottage, more likely in the country than in a city. It looks fairly cosy, but would probably have been little more than one room for a whole family to live in.</div>
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Here is the other view of this room.</div>
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A view of a 17th century room. Lots of dark carved oak and panelling was typical of interiors during the 17th century, though things did change during the latter part of the century, as you might well see in some planned new posts in the New Year!</div>
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Here is a view out onto the Victorian street scene below.</div>
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A mid-18th century parlour. </div>
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Do you see the dolls' house in this room?</div>
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Here's another view which I hope shows the dolls' house a little better.</div>
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Oh! must have posted this picture out of sequence! we've gone back a century here! The 17th century room again!</div>
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A 1930's living room set up for a birthday party</div>
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It's the sort of look I was trying to get in the parlour at the Swan Inn, though this is more typical of a suburban semi. Notice the TV? This family must have been fairly well off. TVs were quite a novelty in the 1930's, with limited amounts of programming available</div>
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a 1930's kitchen.</div>
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Again, this would have been fairly middle-class, with all the latest labour-saving appliances, the electric iron was plugged into the lightbulb fitting!</div>
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Some older ways to cook food! An open fire with a clock work turn spit, and chimney cranes to hold the pans, and griddle.</div>
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This fire is much smaller and comes with a bread oven, hot coals would be put inside the bread oven, then when the oven was hot enough, all the coals would be raked out before the bread was cooked. </div>
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This 1980's kitchen is very similar to the one I remember from the house I grew up in. It does seem strange to see this in a museum!! (makes me feel old!!)</div>
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Wash day! All that would be needed, though it took all day to do!!</div>
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early carpet sweepers and pump vacuum cleaners.</div>
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An early fridge. This would have been a very expensive luxury when it was new!</div>
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A victorian range cooker.</div>
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a Victorian pantry.</div>
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A Victorian carpenter's shop from the city street scene, a large part of the job was making coffins!</div>
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A shop on the Victorian street scene. </div>
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Seems to be selling all manor of household goods.</div>
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The street urchin's view!! ;o)</div>
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Dolls' house furniture for sale inside the toy shop. Looks like we managed to avoid the Christmas rush!</div>
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some other 21st century time travelers, anyone seen the Tardis?</div>
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the Grocer's shop window. York was home to several famous confectionary and chocolate makers, including Rowntree's and Terry's</div>
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A candle maker's work shop, I think they were known as chandlers.</div>
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The home of a poor family living in the city.</div>
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Some of the other city residents or should that be rodents?!!</div>
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York Castle Museum is filled with wonderful things and well worth a visit, particularly if you have an interest in social history or are doing some research on particular periods of domestic life. </div>
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So, not perhaps a particularly Christmassy post, as I said, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway. I do hope to catch up with my comments soon, but I have been keeping an eye on all your blogs and enjoying them.</div>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-64220281092702221692013-10-28T19:09:00.001+00:002013-10-28T19:09:11.292+00:00What HAVE I been up to?<br />
OK! it is now officially the end of summer! British Summer Time has ended, and we are back to long, cold, dark evenings. The last time I wrote anything on this blog was way back in August! If you were to ask me what I have been up to during that post and this, I am not sure I would be able to give a reasonable explanation! I've been away on a little holiday at the end of September, and been to visit a few friends and family in that time, but miniatures have been put a little on the back burner. <br />
I think, in part, it's because I wasn't able to go the the Miniatura show in September, and won't be able to go the Kensington Christmas Show at the end of November either; it has sort of blunted my enthusiasm a little. Not that I have been entirely inactive on the miniature front...<br />
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In my last post I mentioned some miniature projects that needed to be done before I moved on to other things. I have done a few of these, some not worth noting on the blog, but I have made some plants to go outside the pub, a project that has been waiting for a long time. I decided that some lavender would look good either side of the porch entrance to the pub.</div>
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I took some simple things I had in my miniature stash, including some modelers grit, which was left over from my Miniature Garden Centre Wisteria kit. </div>
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I cut some florist wire into short lengths, and some green 'tinsel' I bought last Christmas from Kristin Baybar's shop (though have seen it available elsewhere since), which was also cut into short lengths.</div>
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I then used the same principle to make lavender flower heads as were used on the wisteria kit, only kept a lot smaller (I think mine are actually a little too big to be accurate 1-12th scale, but don't think it really matters too much). this was done by dipping the wire into a drop of Tacky Glue then coating the glue covered tips of the wire into modelers grit.</div>
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I then had to think about the colour! English lavender tends to look a bit grey, both the foliage and the flowers, however, a visit to the garden centre showed that there were several varieties of lavender, some with greener foliage and purple flowers, and that is what I opted for. I painted the flowers with two shades of lilac paint, first a light colour all over, then a darker one which I just dabbed on, and was quite pleased with the results.</div>
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I filled a flower tub with some Das air drying clay then arranged the flower stems, trying to make them look like they were growing 'naturally'. Then I pushed in the green foliage, again bending and shaping it to look like it was growing 'naturally'.</div>
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The final touch, still needing to be done is to add some 'soil' to the top of the Das clay. I bought some modeling material from the miniature garden centre, which is brown and passes for soil, but it occurred to me afterwards that the contents of a cheap tea bag might do the trick just as well!</div>
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Here is a view with both tubs finished (except for the 'soil') sitting outside of The Swan, and which seem to work very well with the wisteria, which gave me the idea of making lavender in the first place!</div>
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A closer view of one of the finished tubs.</div>
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and here are the two, either side of the porch.</div>
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I've also started to make a sign for The Swan, to hand on the metal bracket I purchased a long time ago. This meant painting two sides of a piece of wood with two painting more or less identical. No easy task for me!! I drew what I wanted first of all to give me an outline to follow, I decided it would be easier to paint directly onto a piece of wood.</div>
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I then used oil paints, thinned with turpentine spirit, to create a swan swimming on the water. I am no great artist and found working in a small scale even harder, but was fairy happy with the result of the first swan. The second swan is now finished, and is not quite the same as the first one, but looks reasonably OK (sorry I don't have a picture of it). I know the bull rushes are not very good, but will mostly be hidden by the frame that will be used to surround each picture before the sign is finally hung in place outside The Swan Inn.</div>
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I will do my best to catch up with all your recent blog posts, but it takes ages for them to download onto my vintage Mac these days, which is partly why I have been so neglectful. I do hope you will forgive me!! </div>
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<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-20928954162394676162013-08-23T22:21:00.001+01:002013-08-24T09:24:58.899+01:00A Spark of Inspiration! A Sweet Surprise and Some New Minifigures<br />
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I feel that I have been rather neglectful of my miniatures and my blog this year. A major project at work and redecoration at home have taken some of my spare time, but I really don't think there has been enough progress on the miniature front. Now that autumn will soon be spreading its russet mantel across the country, I feel it's time to settle down and crack on with things.</div>
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I have not done much at all to the 1:24th scale house project I started late last year, it's still in pieces and unpainted MDF! Truth is, I haven't felt very inspired by it, though I do intend to finish it, I just haven't had a passion to get on with it!</div>
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The pub still lacks a swinging sign and I need to make some plants for the front too. Of course the dreaded curtains have still to be done in the Georgian House too, though this should be much easier to do thanks to John of Merriman Park, who has given me his Pretty Pleater.</div>
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So, there's plenty to be getting on with. But wait!! What is this? A spark of inspiration? </div>
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Yes! whilst rummaging in my local Oxfam I found a little soft toy, a dressed frog, or rather toad. Mr Toad, no less!!! And where does Mr Toad live?</div>
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Toad Hall!!!!</div>
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So, when I have got on with a few jobs I need to do, I will have a go at making my new friend a miniature Toad Hall. EH Shepard illustrated one of the Wind in The Willows books (the smaller of the two in the top photograph) there is a small illustration of Toad Hall, looking like a rambling old ancestral home. I want to recreate something akin to this, but pared down to capture the essence without taking up too much space. I'm thinking of a Great Hall, Minstrel's gallery, huge fire place, armour, ancestral portraits, a smaller parlour with a masculine edge, a bedroom and some other rooms, a jacobean staircase and much more besides. </div>
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I have plenty of bits of furniture which have been removed from the Georgian House over the past few years, which I can put to use in Toad Hall (this includes, for those sharp eyed readers, the large chair that was in His Lordships bedroom!!)</div>
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I also happen to have some other pieces that were earmarked for a secret project I was going to do in January. </div>
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You can see that it didn't get very far! I was going to create a gothic style room box for David as a surprise gift, and bought a few things to use in the project. </div>
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However, in passing one day, David mentioned that he wasn't keen on room boxes, so the project got shelved without him even knowing about it! It had wondered what to do with the pieces I had bought already, but realised that they would be perfect for an Edwardian period home, so these miniatures will also find a place in Toad Hall!</div>
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Without getting too carried away, I have started collecting ideas that I might be able to use and recreate in miniature; there are postcards, books, cards and so on, I have even begun looking for miniature frog ornaments which might come in useful in the project!!!</div>
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I will let you know more when I have some more idea of the final look I want. I will also keep you updated in other little things that I have been doing on my other dolls houses.</div>
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And now for the Sweet Surprise in the title of this post. Yesterday, after an extremely long day at work, I arrived home to find a parcel waiting for me on the dining room table. I looked at it and wondered what it was, who had sent it? 'It's from Ilona', said David. How did he know? and how did Ilona get my address? I opened the package and read the pretty card that was enclosed; David and Ilona had been talking it seemed!! Inside the package were some beautiful miniature peonies, so delicate and wonderfully detailed! </div>
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They looked perfect in the vases I had on the dressing table of the Georgian bedroom, I had to split the flowers between the two vases as the vase necks were so narrow that wouldn't fit into just one, but I think they look better in both vases anyway!</div>
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Thank you Ilona, for a beautiful gift and a wonderful surprise, yet again, I am amazed at the kindness shown by my Blogland friends!! </div>
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I also received some miniature perfume bottles, which Jenny from The Swan Inn insisted on having!!</div>
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Whilst out shopping today I found these new Lego Minifigures. I knew that they were being launched soon, but thought it wasn't until September! Being a huge Lego Head, I spent quite a while squeezing the packets to try and find all the figures I liked best, though the box was almost empty!</div>
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You can see that I still managed to get quite a few!! My favourite is this traditional British Bobby (I'm a sucker for a man in uniform!! if only they still looked like this!!) complete with truncheon! </div>
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I also love the Gingerbread Man and the Christmas Elf (who will go nicely with the Father Christmas Minifigure I get last year). I never collect the full set of each series of Minifigures, I prefer to just try and find the ones I like most. I've done quite well with this set already, but there are still one or two I would like, so I will be back to squeeze and poke the little packets again very soon! LOL!</div>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-37932972856611879362013-08-18T21:27:00.001+01:002013-08-18T21:27:25.493+01:00The Artist of Oz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week a very special parcel arrived from the other side of the world (two in fact, but that is a whole other story!). Inside the parcel, carefully packed, were a host of heavenly gifts from Australia, sent by the angelic Fi <a href="http://apassionforminatures.blogspot.com/">apassionforminatures.blogspot.com</a> </div>
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David has already posted about his special little gift from Fi on his own blog. I also received a lovely painting in miniature. A picturesque landscape full of amazing detail. in a delightful golden frame!</div>
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Once I had had time to take in the detail of the painting, and imagine all the hard work that went into it, I had to find somewhere special to hang it! Fi suggested that it was not quite right for an eighteenth century home, and might look good in the pub, but I was certain that it would look perfect in the Georgian house. I tried it in various rooms, resting on a chair, for want of an easel! </div>
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But the painting wasn't the only thing Fi had made for me! There was also this perfect pineapple, sent with a collection of other pineapple related gifts for the Big Pineapple. The miniature pineapple, or Little Pineapple, has been placed in the hall in a grand comport to welcome guests to the Georgian House. </div>
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And I also felt that the landscape painting looked perfect in the hall as well, where everyone who came to the house would see it!</div>
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Here is another shot of the two gifts together, the pineapple does look a bit lonely in its great big stand doesn't it!!</div>
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In putting Fi's lovely landscape in the hall, I was left with a stray Stubbs horse (always a problem!!). However, I soon found a new home for it in His Lordship's attic bedroom; it also meant I was able to replace the dull old painting that was there originally!</div>
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His Lordship seems quite fond of race horses and paintings of them, there is also a horsey painting above his dressing table. I'm not too sure about the chair in this room; a recent addition. It looked OK in the shop, but seems massive in this tiny room. I'm also not entirely happy with the colour of the wood. Still, it was a bargain, the shop was selling off its remaining Bespaq stock, and there were one or two other things I snapped up.</div>
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So, I would like to thank Fi for her lovely thoughtful gifts and show her that they have settled into their new home very well! Over the past couple of years I have been sent some amazing gifts and prizes from generous people all over the world, and I would like to take this chance to thank them once again, I have been touched by the kindness and generosity of my friends in Blogland!</div>
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xxxx Andy xxxx</div>
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<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-29440506858719221532013-08-01T21:42:00.000+01:002013-08-01T21:42:56.795+01:00Back from the Real World!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone!! Sorry to have been so quiet for so many weeks, but I have been flat out with things to do in the real world that the miniatures and blog land have taken a back seat. One of my tasks has been to redecorate my bedroom, which took a lot longer than I thought it would, but is now (almost) complete!! </div>
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Above is a photo of the rather scruffy piece of furniture I purchased recently for ebay. The picture really does it too much justice!! It was in a real state when we got it home (the top of the chest of drawers fell of as we were carrying it!!). However, there was something about its size, shape and nice cabriole legs that appealed to me - it had potential!!</div>
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So, after days of sanding and cleaning it up, priming and painting it, giving it some new handles and installing it in my bedroom, it now looks quite unlike its old self and is quite at home now. My own version of shabby chic, without too much shabby!!</div>
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And here is the chest of drawers in its new home!!</div>
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I also need to say an overdue thank you to some of my blogging friends. Irene from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Small and Stately</span></div>
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sent me a wonderful miniature spurtle, use for stirring porridge, along with its life-sized counterpart, when I won here blog give-away recently. She also sent me some Edinburgh Rock, which brought back some wonderful memories of my Scots grandparents. I have gobbled all the rock up now, hence why it doesn't feature in the picture!!</div>
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The miniature spurtle has been beautifully made and will be found a very good miniature home. Thank you Irene!</div>
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John from <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d;">Merriman Park</span> also deserves my thanks for very kindly sending me his very own Pretty Pleater!! Yes, Pretty Pleater herself! I will, once I have fully regained my mini-head, get to work with the Pretty Pleater and make some curtains for my dolls house. No excuses anymore!!</div>
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There are several other mini projects I am thinking about too!</div>
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I promise to try and catch up with all your recent posts, sorry I haven't made many comments recently, I am sure I will be back in full swing very soon. </div>
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Andy xxx</div>
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-45890669239918038452013-06-20T22:13:00.001+01:002013-06-20T22:13:15.056+01:00A Few More Miniatures... And Some Sewing!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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OK, so we're not talking the 'Great British Sewing Bee' here, but the very fact I picked up a needle and thread is a minor miracle! I am not a good seamstress, it doesn't come naturally to me at all, The few stitches I had to do for this pelmet were quite a trial, the thread got caught up often, got itself into a tangle I couldn't undo, and was generally a rather ham-fisted affair! The sewing is a practice, I intend to do more, and hope to get better at it too! I have quite a few sewing projects coming up soon. </div>
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Anyway, the pelmet and shelf I built are for the pub kitchen, to go above the window above the sink. </div>
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I bought a few other miniatures whilst at Kensington recently, destined for the pub kitchen. These include a copy of Mrs Beeton's Cookery Book, a copper jug and bottle of Zebo grate polish. </div>
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Mrs Beeton's book was a hugely popular collection of recipes, household tips and social advice. It was first published in 1861. Isabella Beeton was 21 when she began work on the book, and sadly died only a few years later aged 28. The book is still published today. we still have David's mother's copy given as a wedding present in the 1950s!</div>
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So, when I saw this miniature copy, complete with illustrations and just about legible recipes, I snapped it up! </div>
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This miniature book is made by Et Cetera and comes complete with a hand written miniature recipe for marmalade tucked inside!!!</div>
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Here is the shelf and pelmet in position above the sink. I found a few other items to join the jug and Zebo polish on the shelf, some jars I purchased at a local dolls house show a few months ago. </div>
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And here it is with everything back in place. I think it brings some much needed colour to this room, as the grey is a bit cold looking. It also provides some useful space to display a few of my miniatures too (the kitchen table was getting far too full up with things!!)</div>
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So, what will I be sewing next!!? I wonder! ;o)</div>
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-62845570858948307472013-05-26T21:22:00.002+01:002013-05-26T21:34:50.394+01:00Kensington<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The day after we returned from our little holiday, I trekked off to London to visit the Kensington Dolls' House Festival. I went on Saturday, which seems to be the first day of the show now, rather than Friday. It was very busy inside, but there were some great miniatures and some lovely artisans at the show as usual! </div>
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I bought several things, and won't show you everything, but I was very excited to finally be able to purchase this Stokesay Ware dinner service. It's the jubilee pattern, which I think was launched last year. I was torn between this one or the Greek Key design that Stokesay Ware also do. If my memory is correct (which it may very well not be!!) this pattern is based on a Royal Worcester one from the early 19th century, so fits well with the Regency/Georgian period my house is set in.</div>
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I have been looking at the Stokesay Ware china for many years now, since I first started going to the dolls' house shows. I admit that it did cost more than I would usually pay for a miniature, and had to use the Fantastic Plastic to help pay for it, but decided to go for it at last. </div>
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Here it is in all its miniature glory! I did check, and will still be able to add to the set over the next few years if I need to. I bought four place settings, and could get more over time. I love the vegetable dish and soup tureen particularly!</div>
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I think this shot gives a clearer image of the pattern on the china. You may have noticed the teapot depicted on the box is in the same pattern, so I think a tea service must also be available.</div>
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And here is the service laid out on the dining room table (which is crying for a table cloth!) I also gave the silver a little polish as some of it was starting to get very tarnished, but think I need to silver jewellery dip rather than the silver cloth I have, as I can't clean all the fine details. (you might also notice the hand painted plate I bought at Miniatura has found a home on the mantle shelf of the fireplace, replacing a Victoria Fasken one).</div>
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Do you remember my quandary over the Bonheur-du-Jour a few weeks ago? Gee very sensibly suggested that I do not pass judgement upon it until it has been bought to life a little with some suitable accessories. Well, taking his advice, and my own <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">HOT</span>list (thanks John!! x) I looked out for some things to dress the bonheur with...</div>
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And here is the result! The beautiful bird is by Veronique Cornish and fits in with the other bird ornaments in the room by the same artist. The letters are copies of genuine ones complete with wax seals (before envelopes were invented!), Made by Ellie de Lacy, a STEAL at £2.50 a pack, I bought two packs of assorted letters and used them to fill the bonheur and the bureau bookcase in the parlour. </div>
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The little leather-bound book is also by Ellie de Lacy, and is actually a 1/24th scale book, but I thought it was just right for the bonheur. I also found a tiny pair of spectacles (just about visible behind the chair) from Truly Scrumptious. </div>
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Here's another shot. I am very happy with the result, and think the bonheur works better in the room now it is dressed, though I would still like one or two more things for it, an ink well and quill maybe, I have some keys I might use too, but all in good time! Thank you for the advice Gee!</div>
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And here is another shot showing more of the bedroom. Fi will be thrilled to know that I am now planning to start work on the bed covers and curtains (ONCE I HAVE FOUND A PRETTY PLEATER - which seem to be as rare as hen's teeth in the UK!).</div>
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Meanwhile, at the Swan Inn...</div>
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For a long time I have been thinking of getting a wife for the pub landlord, why not? everybody needs somebody to love as Queen once said (or sang!). Well, I had a bit of trouble finding a female doll that fitted the period and had the right look (this from someone who wasn't ever going to have dolls in his houses!!). Mid 20th century dolls are actually quite hard to get hold of, there tend to be mostly Victorian, Georgian and Elizabethan dolls about. However, after looking out for a suitable wife at several shows to no avail, I finally found one I liked! It is by Woodside Dolls, who made all the other pub dolls. I love her floral house-coat, but what I liked most about her was that she looks quite a bit like my own mother (a psychologist would probably have a field day after that little confession LOL!!). </div>
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I am going to call her Jennifer in honour of my mother. She looks a little plump on all the traditional British food (she loves her cottage pie, cheese scones and trifle, and she makes a great roast dinner!!) but is quite healthy with all the fresh country air about her. Trouble is, I can't remember what name I gave her husband downstairs behind the bar! (He certainly isn't going to be called Thomas, Mum! I'm not letting you make that mistake again!!)</div>
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Well, there you have it! I did buy a few other bits and pieces, and I might do another post on those sometime, but these were my main purchases.</div>
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-11180754047634242422013-05-21T21:12:00.002+01:002013-05-21T21:12:10.845+01:00Holiday Snaps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple of weeks ago David and I went on a little trip away, with his parents, to Staffordshire. Our home for the week was Tixall Gatehouse, owned and maintained by the Landmark Trust. It is the most amazing building, originally the gatehouse to an Elizabethan manor house, which was demolished long ago. Work began on the gatehouse in the 1560s, the standard of carving on the stonework is astonishing, and the building uses many classical motifs in a purely decorative way.</div>
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The front and rear facades are both equally decorative, and the four turrets, one on each corner, are finished with distinctive ogee shaped domes. (that is me getting into the car by the way!!)</div>
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Here are some pictures of the building taken closer up, can you see all the details in the stone work? Do you notice the classical orders are followed vertically, Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, clearly someone had been studying their classical text books!</div>
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My favourite feature on the whole building were these elegantly nonchalant angels above the gateway, there to greet us on arrival, they do look a little worn, but then they are over 450 years old!!</div>
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The front facade has soldiers above the gateway instead of angels, not quite so welcoming!!</div>
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The views from the rooftop over the Staffordshire countryside were incredible. Tixall is on the edge of Cannock Chase an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Our neighbour across the way was Shugborough Hall, ancestral home to the Earls of Lichfield. </div>
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Also in Tixall, a little way from the Gatehouse is this sweet little lodge gate, which also has an ogee shaped roof, and is believed to be part of the same estate as the Gatehouse. It is now a private home.</div>
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Our closest neighbours were sheep, with their sweet little lambs, it was a delight to see them, and they slowly got used to us, and get closer to us as the week progressed.</div>
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And here are some of the places we visited while on holiday.</div>
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<u>Biddulph Grange Gardens</u></div>
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Biddulph Grange has a beautifully kept garden, maintained by the National Trust. The Victorian Garden was created by James Bateman, and is filled with plants and trees he collected from all over the world. The garden has several themes, including the Italian style terrace above...</div>
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The Egyptian Garden, complete with Sphinxes and monkey god in the temple...</div>
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And a stunning Chinese style garden. The garden looks fairly tranquil in the photos, but when we visited it was absolutely POURING with rain!!</div>
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S<u>t Mary's Church, Ingestre</u></div>
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This beautiful English Baroque church is believed to be the work of Sir Christopher Wren, and would be his only parish church outside of London. The building of the church was commissioned by Walter Chetwynd, and he paid for its construction. </div>
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Work began on the church between 1673-1676. </div>
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The interior of the church is truly breathtaking! It isn't normally left open, so if you plan to visit you might need to contact the key holder, we were very lucky that someone passing by could let us in.</div>
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The ceiling is a very fine example of plasterwork popular in the late seventeenth century. </div>
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Notice the pillars along the nave, which are very similar to a design used by Wren at St Brides in London.</div>
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The pulpit and tester are said to be the work of Grinling Gibbons, a prolific carver in the seventeenth century. I'm not entirely sure it's true, but they are certainly in his style. The Tripartite screen above is also attributed to Gibbons.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07p6vCKFOlc/UZuqmI3z5oI/AAAAAAAADc4/XwHyaIt0B6U/s1600/IMG_0862.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07p6vCKFOlc/UZuqmI3z5oI/AAAAAAAADc4/XwHyaIt0B6U/s320/IMG_0862.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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this is the font.</div>
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Here are some close-ups of the carving.</div>
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There are also some stunning Arts and Crafts Movement stained glass windows, one by Burne Jones (on the right) </div>
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The other by Baroness Gleichen (on the left) from the William Morris Studio.</div>
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<u>Lichfield Cathedral</u></div>
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Lichfield is a rather pretty city, it has some beautifully kept parks and this amazing cathedral (note the poser in sunglasses who 'just happened' to get into my shot!! (thank you David!)</div>
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The interior of the Cathedral is worth seeing, but the most amazing thing I thought was this doorway, </div>
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the main entrance to the cathedral. The stone carving is exquisite!</div>
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<u>Buxton</u></div>
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Buxton is a small spa town in the Derbyshire Dales, surrounded by beautiful rugged countryside. It is most famous for its Opera House, alongside which is the Winter Garden and Rotunda...</div>
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It is also famous for the crescent, almost, if not perhaps more elegant than the Royal Crescent at Bath. The Crescent is currently being renovated after years of neglect, and is due to open as a hotel and spa in the next couple of years.</div>
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Here is a shot of the centre of the crescent.</div>
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Well, there you are, a little snapshot of our recent holiday. I hope I haven't bored you all!! I realise that there are no miniatures in this post, but they will be coming in another post very soon, as I popped along to the Kensington Dolls' House Festival after my holiday, and have a few things I'd like to show you.</div>
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Ta ra for now!!</div>
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Andy xxx</div>
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-21128026652418284362013-04-28T20:06:00.000+01:002013-04-28T20:06:35.892+01:00Fancy a Pint? The Swan Inn Gets a New Punter!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah! Spring is FINALLY here!! After what seems nothing short of a new Ice Age, we have suddenly arrived full swing into spring! The sunshine of the past week or so has brought out all the lovely spring flowers, so the garden is filled with colour once again, the birds are getting frisky, and the butterflies and bumble bees are embracing the early sunshine.</div>
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What better time to take you by the hand and take you through the changes at the Swan Inn?</div>
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You might notice Fred, the new customer seated on the settle at the back of the room. It's another Woodside Doll, from their cheaper range. He does have a slightly similar look to the barman, so maybe they are related (well this is a country pub!!).</div>
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You might also have noticed the little canine companion, which was a little stocking filler a few months back. And what else? well, there is the table and chairs, picked up from The Dolls' House in Northleach, as I felt the pub needed a bit of furniture in it. I'm not entirely convinced that it's right for the pub, but I love the chairs that go with it.</div>
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Charlie has seen a few changes also; gone are the narrow benches (there's one still under the window) to be replaced by a lovely settle (from Northleach again!). I seem to have misplaced his dominoes somewhere though! I have also been thinking of dirtying the fireplaces a bit too, adding some soot, to make things look more realistic. What do you think?</div>
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Behind the bar there is a new swan! the old one was really a white duck, and when I saw this little china swan, I thought it might look a little more graceful behind the bar. </div>
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I also got some new things for the kitchen. The mixer was another of those 'heart over head' purchases that I was discussing in my last post. I think I can just about get away with the period, but it doesn't really matter, as I do love it! The knives, jars of pickles, utensils and bowl of eggs were all purchased at a dolls' house fair just a few miles away near Milton Keynes. I think the maker for most of the items was called Dollshouse Delights (sorry if this is not the case!!).</div>
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I also got the little broom, dustpan and brush from the same maker. I like little dolls house brooms and brushes, they remind me of Beatrix Potter's <i>Tale of Two Bad Mice.</i></div>
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My next little project will be to make some little curtains, or perhaps just a pelmet in gingham fabric for the window above the sink. </div>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-39877565586230333252013-04-16T18:31:00.001+01:002013-04-16T18:31:18.581+01:00Recent Purchases (and a Note of Caution!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello! I was going to post a few pics of some recent purchases I had made at dolls' house shows and shops over the past couple of months. It occurred to me as I was taking the first few photos, that despite the fact I love all the things I have bought, I had mixed feelings when I actually got home and tried to place the items. I realised that I had been buying things simply because I liked them, and not because I had a place in mind for them in my dolls house. To put it another way, I was buying with my heart and not using my head!!<br />
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Take the first item I have shown you; the bonheur-du-jour, made by Escutcheon who had returned to Miniatura in Birmingham after a long absence, I saw a similar one in a book of dolls' house miniatures and had loved it, so when I saw this one, I snapped it up! It only really occurred to me later, back at home, that I didn't really have anywhere to put it!<br />
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I have put it into the main bedroom, in the corner, but I had liked the arrangement I already had there, and the pink upholstered chair just didn't look good next to the bonheur-du-jour, so that meant rearranging the bedroom even more.<br />
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I have put the pink chair next to the dressing table, but am still not happy with the result, I think it doesn't work next to the chinese Chippendale chair. Or am I taking this whole thing way too seriously!?!!<br />
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I also purchased this exquisite hand painted china plate (the photo really doesn't do it justice!) which came from Escutcheon too. Again, I have absolutely no idea where to put it! It still hasn't found a home and is currently sitting on the floor of the bedroom!<br />
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Another purchase made at Miniatura has ended up in the library, after much placing and replacing in different rooms! Can you see what it is?<br />
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It's a beautiful pie-crust edge table, made by John Hodgson. I have an almost identical life sized version of this table in my bedroom, so knew I had to have it, trouble is, where could it go? Fortunately, I am happy with it being in the library, though it is hard to see all the fine detail on the table when it's so far back in the room.<br />
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I bought a few more miniature books by Ellie de Lacy. You may have noticed the book shelves need a lot more filling!! I hope the picture above isn't too dark for you to see one of Ellie's books on the desk, which has a sweet little silk page marker!<br />
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This chair was also added to the library recently, after sitting in the attic for months with nowhere to go! I bought it in a sale at a nearby dolls' house shop. It was only by chance that I noticed it matched a chair I had in the library already. so it made sense to put this with the other one!<br />
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I suppose this is really just a little note of caution, to think about where things are going to go perhaps, before rushing in to buy them. There will always be things that you buy simply because you love them, but you need to keep an eye on the practical side of things too sometimes!!<br />
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Or maybe I really am taking this whole miniatures thing far too seriously!!!!?<br />
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-1955309374691639522013-04-10T19:23:00.001+01:002013-04-10T19:23:40.059+01:00Book Review<br />
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Hello,<br />
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For my first book review I have chosen two books by Brian Nickolls; <i>Making Dolls' Houses </i>and <i>Making Character Dolls' House, </i>Both published by David and Charles. My reason for choosing these books first is that there are the books that all three of my dolls' houses were based on plans taken from them. If you have a keen eye, you will probably notice the houses I have built on the covers of the two books.<br />
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<i>Making Doll's Houses</i> contains the plans for the Tudor building, David's father built a copy of this house, and later I furnished the inside as a 1930's shop.<br />
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The second book, <i>Making Character Dolls' Houses, </i>was where I got the plans for my Georgian House and The Swan Inn.<br />
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The books both contain detailed plans, and written paragraphs telling you how to complete each house, step by step. And there are pictures of the completed projects on most pages too, which helped me to visualise how it would all look when I had finished.<br />
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Building a dolls house following plans from a book has plusses and minuses; on the plus side, you can adapt and change things, you have all the measurements required along with the correct shapes the pieces that make up the dolls house should be, and a fairly useful guide to what has to be done, and how to do it. The minuses are that you have to measure and cut each piece (though commercially made doors and windows could be used instead and plans adapted accordingly), some of the instructions aren't so clear as they could be to a novice builder like me, and some of the projects require a level of carpentry skills that may surprise you (for example the Georgian House pillars and balustrades need to be turned on a lathe).<br />
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One thing I would strongly advise you to do is check the measurements and plans well before cutting, on the Georgian House I routed out a groove in the base of the house, following the plan, only to find that the position of the groove was wrong, and should have been 9mm further forward, fortunately I spotted this before assembling the dolls house. The plans for the Swan Inn project also had a mistake in the position of the smallest window on the first floor.<br />
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Despite these small errors, both books give a wide variety of projects, and cater to newbies and experienced house builders alike. The projects are presented well, and are fairly easy to follow for the most part.<br />
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I would recommend these books to anyone thinking of building a dolls house from scratch. If you already have a kit house to build, these books won't be much use, though do give some useful tips on construction and tools required. They might also provide inspiration for current and future projects.<br />
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I believe that these books are now out of print, but many second hand copies are on sale. There are both hardback and paperback versions of these books available.<br />
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I hope you enjoy these books if you find them!<br />
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<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-47498407720217972512013-04-08T20:57:00.004+01:002013-04-08T20:57:53.514+01:00Who Knows Where The Time Goes?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can it really be the 8th of April already? I saw with some surprise that my last post was back in February, what happened to March? It really does only seem a week ago since I was last posting on my blog, but the past month has rushed by in such a blur, I find myself plunging deep into April!<br />
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I had a lovely birthday, and had lots of little treats all of that week (not least Fi's wonderful little birthday post, and her Pineapple mug she sent me; once I had worked out it was from her!!). AM sent me a copy of <i>Le Grand Livre De La Maison Miniature </i>for my birthday too, which was so very kind, and is a lovely book! (What <u>HAS</u> happened to AM, B.T.W?)<br />
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I also visited two dolls house fairs and went to a dolls house shop in the Cotswolds last month. More on all of those another time.<br />
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I promise to do the first book review I promised to do ages ago, as soon as possible! I have managed to keep up with most blogs I follow, and apologise if I have failed to leave a comment, I will do my best to rectify that as soon as possible also!!<br />
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The video above is one of my favourite songs, sung by Sandy Denny, who was a singer in the band Fairpoint Convention, until her sad, untimely death. I am sure you'll agree that she had a fabulous voice, and the song is both beautiful and moving. (Nina Simone has done a nice cover version of this song too!).<br />
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(I don't think my blog is an appropriate place for politics, but the tune above could just as easily have been <i>Ding Dong the Witch is Dead </i>from the Wizard of Oz!! <i>Ding Dong! the Witch is dead, which old witch? The Wicked Witch! Ding Dong the Wicked Witch is dead!!!!')</i><br />
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<i><br /></i>Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-65152715291125276012013-02-27T21:40:00.001+00:002013-02-27T21:40:28.439+00:00Bibliophile<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love books! I have collected quite a few over the years on the subjects I am interested in; art, architecture, history, dolls' houses etc etc. Some of my library ( if it doesn't sound pretentious to use that word!) are pictured here. Most of my books on Architecture and dolls houses are stored on these shelves down in my work dungeon (AKA the cellar). The bookcases aren't very good, so the shelves sag a bit with the weight of all the books, but they fill the space down here in the cellar very well, so I live with them! </div>
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I get most of my books from second hand bookshops or charity shops. I like to have a good rummage along the shelves, and sometimes find a real gem amidst all the Catherine Cookson paperbacks. </div>
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So, why am I showing you a shelf full of books? Well, partly it's to show you part of my work area you may not have seen before, to satisfy the current vogue for showing off work spaces in Blogland; and partly because I have been thinking of using some of my books to do little book reviews. Nothing profound or enlightening, just whether I like them or not really, and how they might help a fellow miniaturist (Elga did something very similar on her blog recently!).</div>
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I'm currently doing quite a bit of research for my next "Period Style' post (and there's a lot to be researched! it's taking ages!). The books I show may be on Architecture, history, furniture or dolls' houses, whatever I have that might be interesting to you.</div>
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I'll probably only do one or two books at a time, and will only appear occasionally, not every day I promise!! ;o). If you are able to see them ok, most of my dolls' house books are pictured above. Some have been well used as you may notice!</div>
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These are some of the books I have bought over the last couple of weeks. All of which will come in useful for my miniature projects and historical posts.</div>
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Sorry there are no miniatures today!! </div>
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Look out for my first book review coming soon!!</div>
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<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-90608560157194272592013-02-13T21:41:00.002+00:002013-02-13T21:41:44.377+00:00Spooky Darling!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Anyone who has read my blog might be aware that I am a not so secret fan of Lego. When I saw this Lego Haunted House on sale last year, I had to have it! After a few quiet words in the ears of Santa's Little Helper, I got to unwrap this on Christmas afternoon!</div>
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It has lots of great little details and as it's a house, opens up to reveal its interior and is furnished inside, I though it deserved a place on my dolls' house blog! </div>
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The house is supposed to look run down and derelict, which isn't easy with Lego bricks, but the designer did a great job on this! </div>
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It comes with its own gates too. Inside there's a kitchen, a bedroom, an entrance hall with fireplace and a study, there are also attics in the Mansard roof, complete with old gramophone and of course all the resident ghosts! There's also a zombie chef and Lurch type butler.</div>
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Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1708828566635042112.post-48088622570037972112013-02-06T20:09:00.001+00:002013-02-06T20:09:26.834+00:00More stuff!!<br />
In Britain there is a phrase we use which goes something like this ' You wait all day for a bus, and then three turn up at once!'. Well, I think that is something like what has happened on my blog, I've don't do a new post for over a month, and then do three in a week!<br />
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This post is part two of my list of recent purchases. This one focuses on things used in or around the kitchen, so there won't be any fancy gilding or Chinoiserie!<br />
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The first picture is a rather shameless, as there is only one thing in it which is new, and you would never guess unless I told you (which I will soon!), I just happened to think this shot was a rather good one of my Georgian House kitchen; which rarely gets seen. I love kitchens in dolls houses, they are always rather special, but they take AGES to fill up! Not helped by the fact that the kitchen/servants hall is the largest room in the whole house! You can see all the empty shelves still on the dresser, and the table looks full, but that is more of an optical illusion than anything.<br />
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As I mentioned in my last post, Tony Hooper was exhibiting in London for the last time in January (though the website is still open for a while) he was selling all his items at half price. I only discovered this when I was about to leave, as there were great crowds around his stall when I arrived, and I really don't do crowds! So much of his stock had gone, as had most of my ready money (Tony's stall was one away from John Hodgson's, which explains my lack of crinkle!) however, I bravely stood my ground and picked up a few little things to go inside my kitchen (and a few other things for a secret future project). The only new thing in the picture above, which was from Tony Hooper is the large pewter dish behind the marrows and hour glass on the dresser. I actually bought two of these dishes, the other is under the kitchen table.<br />
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And just so that you get a more or less complete picture of the kitchen here is a photo of the opposite wall.<br />
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Ah! but wait, there is another new purchase lurking in the above image too, can you see it? It's another miniature from Tony Hooper...<br />
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Well, yes it's the kettle, which is an unusual oval shape, and I thought looked suitable Georgian (though it may not be!) The 'brass' kettle was purchased from Kristin Baybars' shop; I have no idea of its maker, but it is nicely detailed. It lives on the range in the pub, and keen eyed bloggers might have noticed it before on previous pictures.<br />
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Here is my miniature version or <i>Where's Wally. </i>Can you spot the new things in this room? Ok, here's a clue, they are on the tray next to the plates! Two divine little spoons! This picture by the way, is the servants' hall. The servants' hall contain old fashioned furniture that once had pride of place in the old manor house that was demolished to make way for the new house! Not nearly elegant enough for an 18th century gentleman's home, so consigned to the servants quarters! ;o)<br />
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Another new purchase in the Georgian kitchen is this marble slab with wet fish. Made by Et Cetera. The fish are beautifully painted and have very fine detail, I think they are lovely!</div>
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And here are some food items which are in the kitchen at The Swan. The toast rack has been mentioned before by some of you. It was again a miniature made by Et Cetera. The frying pan with full English breakfast on the go, was a nice find at Kristin Baybars' shop; I think they should have cooked the bacon a little earlier as it still looks a little raw, and the egg is almost done! Ah! I'm getting hungry now, and I don't even eat red meat!<br />
<br />Andyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03064247140624108019noreply@blogger.com37