Русский 
English Art nouveau cabinet – WIP
Hooray! I’m back to making art nouveau furniture. More than happy about it, though it means a lot of marquetry, carving, veneering, etc.
Drafting was really fast, I finished it in a couple of days. I took the original from one of Majorelle’s cabinets, found this one on the auction’s sites.
For now, I finished sides (they are veneered with madrone wood) and one marquetry panel for the door. And I’ll need one more, and one more carved panel.
It’s kinda hard to see anything on this panel tight now, but trust me, it’s going to be just fine, though I always worry about the result.
I used about five types of veneer here, lots of work, but it was worth it! The butterfly (if you can spot it;) ) made of mother of pearl.
I wish I could make it faster, but I have another project to work on (the worst part – I can’t show it to you).
Video of the week
As you probably heard the new version of Sketchup is out. I loved the new Extensions warehouse, they included woodworking category, everything looks pretty neat, before that I had to search for the extensions on different forums, so now it’s a bit easier. New icons! So unusual 🙂
And some videos I liked, the first one (not that particularly new) – How does a fine woodworker change a lightbulb?
And the second one – from Kickstarter. It’s a documentary trailer made by Jogge Sundqvist – “The Spoon, the Bowl and the Knife” – a film about Swedish craftsman Wille Sundqvist. Very touching story, you can read about it more and support the project here.
Blanket Chest
I’ve been a fan of such old 17th century chests for quite a while, I’m reading several green woodworking blogs. So one day I thought it would be nice to make this blanket chest, besides I found the drawing of it in Sketchup Warehouse.
Here it is:
Second Doll
These last several days I’ve been busy with working drawings for the upcoming project, so I had to stop working on my last piece of furniture, there isn’t much to do there, so I hope to show it to you this week later. So for now, my second attempt in dollmaking – she’s about 7cm high, so it’s just the right scale.
I had to put some clothes on her, but I’m planning to make proper one later. Sorry for the quality again, I didn’t have my own instruments, magnifiers etc.
And of course, my main problem was face painting -no magnifiers, no proper light, and the result is not that good, next time only with lights.
And the last photo 🙂
My First Doll
My long-long holidays are over! Finally! I couldn’t wait to get back to work, especially when there’s lots and lots of it ahead. It’s super hot in Moscow, seems like the summer has come. During all this month I had no access to my tools and equipment, so the only thing that could entertain me was sculpting and stitching. So here it is, my first doll. It’s a long story, actually, during this year I was slowly learning sculpting and anatomy, I’ve manage to sculpt couple of skulls, heads, etc. The only thing I was lazy and reluctant to do was a doll. With the help of my Mom I finally did it!
I love sculpting kids much more than grown-ups, to be honest. She’s not that miniature though, almost 17 cm height.
She doesn’t have any clothes yet, I have to make some soon. I can’t say I’m fully satisfied with this doll, but for the first time (especially when I made her with instruments that were not mine, with bad lights etc). At least my Mom liked it. 🙂
I have another girl, perfectly in scale, but that’s a different story. I think I should make some furniture for my first doll too.
And some more photos:
The Art of Marquetry in Russia
I had to make this break for several weeks, something needed a change of sceenery. So no tablesaws or anything even close to my usual equipment, just several pieces of embroidery, mini sculpture and some old books I remember from my childhood.
Here’s one of them:
I have a very good memory of how my Dad used to make one of the marquetry table tops (the original was from this very book). Unfortunately, this table top is gone somewhere now, at least I have this book and good memories.
Chess Figures
Yesterday I finished the second game table, the first one is already at its owner dollhouse. I made several changes and also started making chess figures for it.
I’m almost done with blacks:
Victorian Game Table
It’s done! I’m writing this post and this cute table is right next to me. For now.
More Bobbin Lace Spam
Unfortunately, I don’t have much time for my bobbin lace practice, only recently I finished my first Torchon lace book, and still in the middle of making the projects on Bedfordshire lace. Here’s one of them, this flower:
I have only one book and a chapter from another on this type of lace, my main source of inspiration- DVD lessons, actually there are four, so the flower was the third lesson. It’s still very complicated lace for me, sometimes I don’t get the logic of it, and have to watch one episode all over again, but the process is worth it. I’m trying to find one more book on Bedfordshire lace, but no luck so far, either it’s too expensive or sold out. So I had to move to Bucks Point for now. I have a DVD too and one book, another is on its way.
So far, I started from the first lesson on DVD, simple net, I made it before, though decided that second try won’t hurt, so here it is, still in progress.
Victorian table – part two
Well, here it is – the first part of the work, the most difficult is over, this will be a game table.