Packing for long journeys

I am often asked how such tiny miniatures with fine details such as sculpted roses with fine petals survive in perfect condition to destinations all around the World. Despite sending well over 1,000 packets over the years nothing has been reported as damaged, partly this is because the miniatures are actually stronger than they look but mainly it is the extreme care in packing them and a little ingenuity in providing protection.

My standard packaging is 35mm film canisters. Most things are small enough to be wrapped in a little bubblewrap and then placed in a canister which is then put in a bubble-mailer. Making friends with the staff of a photo processing shop ensures a steady supply of these - as long as digital photography doesn't replace film entirely.

However some things do not fit into a film canister and improvisation is called for.

I have found that very strong heavyweight card postal tubes cut into suitable sized sections or cores from packing tape etc. make good containers. I cut thinner card circles and glue one on what becomes the base, wrap the miniature(s) in bubblewrap and then add a lid circle using adhesive tape to hold it in place, I mark it to indicate to open this end.

N.B. I use my scroll saw to cut the long thick card tubes into sections.

My new iron weight holding a shallow card core from adhesive tape securely while tacky glue dries and the finished container about to have the lid secured.

The finished and sealed 'box' is wrapped in bubblewrap for extra protection and to help prevent it from splitting through the bubble-mailer. When I send several items in film canisters in a bubble-mailer I will use bubblewrap to keep them together and help prevent damage.

When I have a quantity of miniatures to send these are all carefully wrapped individually in bubblewrap and packed into a strong box.

While these methods of packing may not be pretty they are very practical and I hope it may provide some ideas on how to solve the problem of sending a dainty little miniature to the other side of the World and have it arrive just as it was when it left you.

Natural Scavengers

scav·enge
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(skvnj)
v. scav·enged, scav·eng·ing, scav·eng·es
v.tr.
1. To search through for salvageable material: scavenged the garbage cans for food scraps.
2. To collect and remove refuse from: The streets are periodically scavenged.
3. To collect (salvageable material) by searching.

1. To search through refuse for useful material.

It seems to me that all crafters are natural scavengers, never passing by an object that is discarded without seeing a potential use either as a material or tool. Added to this is the instinct of a squirrel to hoard anything that "might be useful one day" and this combination inevitably results in a storage problem.

Something that has always puzzled me as a miniaturist is how it is that despite making incredibly small items the amount of "stuff" accumulated seems to be no less than when working on larger crafts.

No fully fledged miniaturist looks at an object without seeing it as something in dollhouse scale, a discarded fork with the handle cut off could become a chair back, lolly sticks and coffee stirrers are garden furniture, floorboards and a hundred other interesting possibilities. Broken jewelry in a charity shop box of rubbish for throwing out is an irresistible magnet, findings make many small items. Bottle tops are carefully collected in boxes to make plant pots, bowls etc.

My most recent acquisitions came during the past week on two visits to my parents' home. We are currently having a tidying session. The first "find" was when I called to deliver their shopping the day before the rubbish collection was due. In the wastepaper basket in their living room was a bunch of old silk flowers, grey with dust. A good shake and they were almost as good as new and will provide petals and leaves to use as they are or cut into smaller pieces for years.

Yesterday while helping tidy up I came across an old flat iron - this was not for throwing away but of course had no use. I immediately saw the perfect weight to place on top of flat items while waiting for glue to set. Despite its small size it weighs almost four pounds and of course has a totally flat base.

That came home with me.

So if you also have this scavenging affliction don't worry - its normal.

New Wedding Cake for February

Not specifically a Valentine cake but it suits the February theme.