One of the down sides to my leisurely approach to big projects is that my abilities change. I find myself questioning what I’ve already done. A good example is my Princess and the Pea miniature, also known as The Gift of Sensitivity.
In 2004, I made a bed frame and two ladders and collected fabrics. It sat until 2009, when I made forty mini mattresses using colorful fabrics to mimic a story book illustration. I decided that the mattresses would be taken from all over the castle and therefore vary in size and style.
Another long hiatus occurred. Then the pandemic hit and I started watching miniature-making videos. I was particularly struck by the work of Ara at Bentley House Minis (check out her Addams family house.)
Inspired by the realistic look she achieves, I added carved details to my bed frame using a technique I learned from her. I also painted my ladders to make them look well used.
Now I’m worried that the parts are no longer a whole. The mattresses are highly colored, like an illustration from a picture book, while my ladders show realistic wear.
I love the more realistic look. Do I need to do something to the mattresses to make them “match?” Aging the fabric to make them look worn would help, but I’m not sure it will be enough. Am I willing to reconstruct them? Make new ones from scratch? (The last option is not my favorite, as I don’t want to waste materials.)
Ara does have a video on how to make miniature beds, but I’m not sure her modern bed style is right for my project. As I try to decide what to do about the mattresses, I will tackle painting the bed. How it turns out may decide things. If I’m lucky, it’ll tie everything together.
What do you think I should do?
Kit! Don’t remake these mattresses. Remake their back story.
Indeed they were *not* collected from all over the palace–that would mean they would have had varying amounts of wear. Instead, the royal palace placed an order for 40 mattresses from the however-many shops in town that made them (not very many from each shop, because their individual trade was, for the most part, in other directions, like clothing). So each shop had to figure out how to fill its part of the order–say 15-20 mattresses from two or three shops–within, what, a week? Really? So all of the apprentices and even urchins off the street were called to work on the project. Some were just running around collecting stuffing materials. Others were cutting the pieces. It was a frenzy.
And at the end, there were 40 new mattresses (of slightly varying sizes and in a multitude of colors) to stack up on the princess’s bed. The ladder was cobbled together to give her access to the top, using, as you say, whatever was around. Of course if this mattresses work to help the princess sleep, the cabinetmakers will be asked to provide something more elegant. But for now the ladder represents the hurried nature of the entire effort.
LOL! Fun idea! Only if memory serves, the reason they doubted she was a princess was because she showed up in the middle of a downpour looking wretched… And they put her on the pile of mattresses that very night. I’m not seriously thinking of remaking them… I really hope a little ageing will make these work.
Kit, the mattresses and ladder are just perfect together, as is!! Ladders are always old and worn because they live in garages and don’t wear out. My eyes grinned at your cleverness!
Sherry
Thanks! I’m hoping just a little ageing will make it even better…
I want to BE that princess!!!! So much beauty you have created for her! The servants certainly cleaned the mattresses, which is why they look so elegant and fit for a princess. And they were used rarely, and stored wrapped in linen so they would be fit for royalty. You deserve a richly jeweled crown!!!
Sherry
Thanks! So glad you like it.