ProfessorQ Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Hi there! I'm Jamie from just a little northwest of Houston, Texas! I just recently joined the site (so I could purchase the Fairfield kit minilover62 was selling here, *Waves Howdy!*) But I have been reading the forums and drooling over all of your work for years I started building 1:12 scale furniture in basswood out of the old book, "The Book of Miniatures: Furniture and Accessories" by Helen Ruthberg right after it came out in 1977. The fact that my very first piece (a glazed front display case with hand made pin hinges and working drawers!) turned out perfectly is more a credit to Ms. Ruthberg's talent than mine. Nevertheless, I was hooked. I have built furniture, houses, room boxes, and miniature dolls off and on ever since-- depending upon what age and stage my 3 kids were at, how much disposable income we had, the size of our living space, how many jobs I was working and whether I was in school or not. Over the years pretty much everything I have made (houses included) has been given away, lost, destroyed (kids, hurricanes, etc.) or donated to one good cause or another. I recently got bitten by the mini bug again but due to a combination of cost and space limitations, I have been doing 1:48 scale. Although I LOVE this scale, I suffer from a rare brain disorder (after cancer treatment) that causes intense headaches and has damaged my optic nerve so badly that I am nearly blind at a distance. I use jewelers' magnification to work on my minis, but can't work more than 1-2 hours before my eyes (and head) are shot for at least a week. My hands also shake at random, inopportune times. So now, I am starting my Fairfield (it arrived yesterday) and it seems so HUGE! I am so excited at the possibility of being able to work longer and more frequently as well as adding the type of accessories, detail, and DOLLS I couldn't have in 1:48 scale! As far as me, I'm a "vintage" mother of 3 (finally) adults, 34, 31, and 26. I have been married to my "first husband" for 35 1/2 years, I am a former paramedic and have been a professor of history, literature, and the humanities for 22 years. I have no grandchildren but I have granddogs, since my children are uncooperative so I will play with my dollhouses myself and not share! I also cross stitch, knit, crochet, and sew. I'm also a part-time professional actress and I currently play Mother Goose at the Texas Renaissance Festival every Autumn. I look forward to learning a lot, admiring your work, and getting to chat with people here who "get it" about why tiny things are the best things! Thank you for having me! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minilover62 Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Hi Jamie! (Waves back Howdy!!). I am very happy and honored that the Fairfield kit that for years I push back to build, landed in your loving house. It will finally get the attention it deserves! Even though it is a bigger kit than the ones you were used to, be careful because no matter the scale, when we get our hands on a project we can go forever (if at all possible! lol!). Let us know if you need anything, share pictures of your progress and have TONS of Fun!!! Welcome to our mini home place!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Welcome to the little family, Jamie. I have both of Helen Ruthberg's books (also in the workshop, as I mentioned about my Scale Cabinetmaker offprint Volume 8). I usually build in 1:12 (and make everything), but in addition to the Fairfields I built to be halves of a Bar Harbor summer cottage I have built, furnished & populated a 1:24 hacienda. In addition to making little folks from polymer clay I also find & use 1:12 folks from other sources, including some jointed action figures I painted facial features and wigged and dressed. You definitely fit right in, so grab a cuppa and join in the fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elsbeth Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 What a great intro - 1:24 must seem huge, but the accessories are going to be so much fun to make, and so much more detailed - how fun! I have a fairfield and I love it! I too work in 1:48 but I still hang out with my larger houses - I still love them all. I do really enjoy the easy and great detail you can get with the larger scales - but I love the smoke and mirrors/illusion of 1:48. 1:24 is ideal compromise!!! What fun you will have! Looking forward to seeing photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mid-life madness Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Welcome Jamie, your excitement is contagious. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Debsrand56 Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Welcome! I love making half scale furniture--for me, it's the happy medium: small enough to fit in limited space and large enough to show detail. And I know what you mean about size--when I do anything in 1:12 scale, it seems enormous! Hope you really enjoy your Fairfield! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shannonc60 Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 Welcome to the forum. What an interesting story you have, and I imagine you probably are better at making mini furniture than you think, given all your years of making. Have fun with your Fairfield and please share progress. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mesp2k Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 Hey Jamie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colee1970 Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 Hello.... I am new here also. I just got a Pierce kit to start. Welcome to the forum :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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