Romulus Bagthorpe

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IMG_20221124_100133_resized_20221128_095025113A new tinker has joined our esteemed band of 12th scale ladies and gentlemen at Steampunk-Shrunk Towers.

Meet Doctor Romulus Bagthorpe.  If you notice a certain similarity to ‘Doc’ Darius, you’re not wrong.  When Darius moved away to his new workshop, we searched for the most similar gentleman we could find.  As is usual with all our little people, his clothing, hair and – well, just about everything really – were in a very poor state of repair.  IMG_20221124_100108_resized_20221128_095026117Mrs S decided it would be fun to create a new version of Darius, so the clothes, spectacles and even the X-ray binocular goggles were reproduced as closely as memory and photos would permit.

Despite all that, though, Romulus has his own personality.  Each of the figures, whatever Mrs S may do with wigs, eyebrows and face paint, remains resolutely the person they started as.  This gent is calmer, more meticulous and an altogether gentler person than his predecessor.

We welcome him to The Steampunk Dolls’ House collection.  Please click here if you would like to view him in the Etsy Shop.

That Flock of Clockwork Birds

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They’re still here, you know – that flock of  twittering clockwork parts we bought for a birdsong from a local noticeboard about eight years ago.  Certainly there are less than there used to be.  Many have been sold as parts for other makers to play about with.  Dozens of others have been turned into little steampunk-inspired mechanical wonders by Mrs S and the team, to be snapped up by eager buyers around the world.

The trouble is, the company who made the little cardboard boxes that the motors fitted into perfectly has stopped making them!  We’ve searched high and low, but no one else makes that size of sturdy craft box, and we need them to be just right.

In a recent clear-out of the stockroom (aka spare bedroom), we found four of the boxes lurking in forgotten corners.  Amazing how many forgotten corners one room can have.  So the good news is that another clutch of mechanical birds has been made.  Clockwork Songbird Automaton with Vintage Mechanism Working image 1The less good news is that we can’t produce any more unless we make the boxes ourselves.  Quite possible, but time-consuming, so sadly they will cost a bit more.

In the meantime, do head over to our Etsy Shop and get yourself Clockwork Songbird Automaton with Vintage Mechanism Working Bronzeor a friend one of these little beauties. For your delectation we have:

Little Blue (Mrs S loves listening to The Beautiful South)

Coggle (The purple one with all the cogs and clocks)

Tailfeather (With added feathers, obviously)

and Bronze (named for her colour, and after Lucy – one of our favourite footballers)

Lots more pictures (and a little video on some platforms) on the shop site.

Oh, and for those new to these ingenious little models, there’s a tiny brass whistle with bellows built into the mechanism, so the birds twitter away merrily as they twist and turn.

Lots more amazing gift ideas in the shop.  So do take a look around.

 

Reviews!

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IMG_20220925_155642_993_resized_20220925_040108908Good day to you all.  Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Professor Darius Robottom, known to many as ‘Doc’ (something to do with resembling a character from some old film, I gather).

I have been – between vital experiments aimed at bettering the future of humankind – watching the twin ventures of Mrs S and her team:  The Steampunk Dolls House Etsy shop and the monthly craft stalls in Somerset where she trades as Steampunk – Shrunk.  It occurred to me that it might be advantageous to join their community at the awkwardly names Steampunk-Shrunk Towers, but I wanted to assure myself that this was a suitably classy establishment for a gentleman of my immaculate credentials before making any commitment.

What better place to look than at the present month’s reviews for the shop?   Well, they were charming, and most complimentary.

Sarah Luckenbaugh added a photo of their purchaseA customer called Sarah sent a photo of three items she had purchased, along with the following five star review:

“I was surprised by how much detail and writing there was on every page! Very well made, looks amazing and realistic!”

That impressed me.  I’m rather a stickler for detail myself.

Diane Burtenshaw added a photo of their purchaseThe next review came from a lady by the name of Diane.  She had purchased LG, one of the Offcut Robots, for a very particular – and quite splendid – reason.  Here is her photo of LG in position and her review, again with five stars, is as follows:

“Beautifully crafted item for displaying in a printers tray to represent items that my son enjoyed as a child.”

I was gratified to discover that craftsmanship is evidently valued by the group at Steampunk-Shrunk Towers.

Carmela Dioguardi added a photo of their purchaseThe emphasis on craftsmanship is echoed by the third satisfied customer – clearly a person of considerable talent herself, which adds value to her review.  To her five stars, she added this photograph and the review below:

“I am so thrilled that I found this shop and this piece! The chestnuts roasting over a trash can couldn’t be more perfect for my Italian family’s shops at their farmhouse. Can’t wait to display it in my fall set up. It just adds so much ambiance. It is really beautifully made and was shipped timely and packaged for safe arrival. I will be looking for more unique things at this shop!”

Who could resist visiting Carmela’s family farm shops, when that much trouble is taken with the display?

Printable Bundle Witch or Wizard's Miniature Books - Tiny Book Kit for Instant Download - 3 Miniature Books to Make - 12th scale book kitThe final review (at the time of writing) is from a purchaser of a bundle of the printable miniature books available from the Etsy shop and craft stalls.  She gave the five stars which seem to be awarded to virtually all the shop’s items and commented:

“Great Print, quality item, super cute!!”

All in all, then, I have decided that this establishment meets my very high standards and I am delighted to become part of this community.  Thankfully, there are other creatives to chat with and I am very much enjoying my sojourn at Steampunk-Shrunk Towers.

Fair Life, by Evadne

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“Black holdall or suitcase?” the others were asking, nervously, as Mrs S prepared us for our journey to the craft and vintage fair.  They breathed a sigh of relief as she assured them we would all be in the holdall.

“Suitcase is ghastly,” Holly explained to me.  It’s on wheels – no suspension – and the pavements of Glastonbury are far from even.  The holdall swings a bit, but she puts all the really delicate items in there, so we get a smoother journey.”

I nodded.  Hardly the way I’m accustomed to travel, but it could have been worse.

IMG_20220612_104446_resized_20220622_121053618I opted to stand on the highest point, beside my wonderful astrologium, and we received many admiring glances.  One lady almost paid to take me home, but finally decided her funds were not sufficient.

Jewellery, I noticed, sells very well.  So many people bought those little steampunk pendants made from vintage watch parts set in resin.  The knitted nightingales, sold in aid of Ukraine, were popular, too.  I was delighted to meet a customer carrying a staff who seemed fascinated by my device, but ended up purchasing the last of the time dragons.

I was hoping to offer astrological readings, but the lady on the next stall to ours seemed to have cornered the market and had a constant queue of people wanting to be told their fortune with tarot, angel cards and other such wisdom.

Finally, though, a customer began browsing the books.  There were many titles to select from, but on seeing mine, she exclaimed, “Oh – astrology!”

Wizard Widdershins turned to wink at me.  I think he meant it as an encouraging gesture, but I found it somewhat inappropriate.  Sure enough, though, I sold my first copy and was highly delighted.  I’m really rather looking forward to our next fair, in the Town Hall on July 9th.  Perhaps I’ll see you there.

Oh, and if you’d like to download a copy for yourself, along with instructions on how to turn it into your own miniature book, for a very modest price, click this link.

Molly II

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I’ve been asked to lift my head briefly from this fascinating Botanical Almanack I was reading, to introduce myself to you.

IMG_20220413_104437_resized_20220501_125611650My name is Molly, but since there was a previous proprietor of this little bookshop who went by the same name, the inhabitants of Steampunk-Shrunk Towers call me Molly II, which sounds rather regal, I feel.  Apparently the first Molly was enticed to head off to live in a beautiful home in North Wales with someone everyone here calls ‘Her Ladyship’.  I’ve read her book, naturally.  It’s called ‘Molly, by Herself’ and explains how she took on the job of sitting in the bookshop and encouraging customers at our Steampunk-Shrunk craft stalls to buy some of our books.

Since she left, the little bookshop has been gathering dust and the book sales at craft markets have dwindled.  Apparently customers are less interested in a simple display of books, but enchanted by the idea of purchasing one from Molly’s Book Emporium – probably the smallest functioning bookshop in the world.

So how, I imagine you wondering, did I arrive on the scene?  Well, to be honest, I was one of a large group of 12th scale porcelain orphans who were (oh, the shame!) being auctioned off on a well-known online site.  Mrs S was the successful bidder and we duly arrived at the steps of Steampunk-Shrunk towers in a state of considerable disarray.  Between us, we had an assortment of missing limbs, grubby, torn clothes, matted hair and ugly faces.  Regardless of that, we were all warmly welcomed and given a comfortable home.  Eliza brought us each a toffee apple (except for the babies, of course) and asked whether there was anything we needed.  I asked whether there were any books I could read to the younger ones and Eliza jokingly enquired whether my name was Molly, by any chance.  When I told her it was, she gave a gasp of excitement and bustled off to tell Mrs S.

Can you imagine my excitement and pride when I was taken to the workshop for a makeover and then presented with my very own bookshop, positively bursting with all manner of volumes?  I have a padded chair to sit in, a table with an oil lamp and shelves and boxes filled with all the reading material I could wish for.  I’m allowed to go and read to the little ones whenever I like and my only duty is to work once a month on the market stall.

I attended my first craft and vintage fair last week and sold 27 books!  Everyone was delighted and praised me for being a first class bookseller.  Perhaps it’s my turn to write a book…

How not to be a craft market customer

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Well that’s another craft market done and dusted.  Business was slow – all the stallholders agreed.  A fair few people wandered into the town hall and did the circuit, but most appeared to be either exercising their dogs (yes, really) or deliberately aimed their line of vision just above the height of displays and sellers as they walked very briskly and left with wallets intact.

Ah well, we’re used to days like that.  Cost of living rises and all that.  We roll with it.

Fortunately we did shift plenty of the badges and knitted nightingales Mrs S was selling for Ukrainian refugees and – let’s face it – their need is far greater than ours.

IMG_20220326_105649_resized_20220329_112816967Of course there are customers who take an interest and engage.  Most are charming, mildly apologetic that they won’t be buying, but enjoy looking closely at the wares and asking questions.  The smiles on the faces of small children allowed to turn the handles of the wobbly mechanical things and make the birds, balloons etc twirl around made up for the lack of takings.  Then there was the gent who was walking past and did a double take, recognising Mrs S from quite different circumstances.  Having greeted her, he stopped to take in the the stall’s contents.  His eyes moved slowly along the six foot table, then he stopped and stared at Mrs S.

“You made these?”  he asked incredulously.  “What, ALL of them?” when she had smiled and nodded.

He paused for a long while, shaking his head as he clearly made far reaching adjustments to his opinion of our stallholder.

So yes, customers like that are just fine.  We are not expecting everyone to buy and bear them no malice if they don’t, but there are a few who needlessly raise the hackles of those trying to sell their wares.

Please:

  • Don’t bring your dog to an indoor market if it is likely to forage around the displays, scent mark the table corners or yap continuously.
  • Don’t look pointedly at a stall and say, “Did you make all this?  Yes?  Hmm, well done.” in the patronising tones of a schoolmistress from the 1950s.
  • Don’t allow your child to finger anything unless the stallholder specifically invites them to do so.
  • Don’t tell the stallholders they should have made particular items into earrings/brooches/tea cosies if they expected you to consider buying. (These people always smile graciously when politely thanked for their opinion and walk away convinced that they have done a great service.)
  • Finally, and above all, don’t smile at the female stallholder selling items created with wood, metal and resin and ask if her hubby made them.  We quail when Mrs S replies icily that she does not have a ‘hubby’ and if she did, she wouldn’t let him anywhere near her workshop!

Ginger Flies In

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IMG_20220213_104455_resized_20220213_105303441That was a close shave!  Just as daylight was fading on Friday night, Mrs S pronounced Ginger Jenkins, our latest arrival, fit to travel with us on the Saturday morning, to the Craft & Vintage Market in Glastonbury Town Hall.

We were a motley crew, but drew many admiring glances – Ginger in his flying leathers, Wizard Widdershins glaring enviously as other wizards’ staffs outshone his own, Eliza the tiny toffee apple seller, the two young glamorous ladies (Holly displaying rather too much of her scarlet fishnet stockings for my liking), dependable George the tinkerer and Cecily and myself – Gwendoline – engaged in a tea duel in our favourite little café.  Mind you, I do think Cecily should cut back on the amount of gin she secretly adds to her tea.

20180206_164936“Just a nip, my dear, to keep me alert,” she insists, but she slid from her chair on numerous occasions.  Rather unseemly.

Still, all in all, it was a delightful affair and Mrs S was very pleased with our takings.

We will be returning to the same venue on March 26th and hope to meet more lovely customers then.  Meanwhile, Mrs S is busy adding Ginger, and a few items of jewellery to the Etsy shop, which you can visit here.

Message in a Bottle

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Just a week to go until our first market stall of 2022!

Mrs S has dusted down the wheelie suitcase and the big black bag and we are preparing for the half mile trundle down to the Craft & Vintage Market at Glastonbury Town Hall on Saturday 12th February.

IMG_20220205_103944_resized_20220205_104029899Obviously Valentine goodies will be featured – from steampunky stuffed velvet and leather hearts with keys, clocks, chains and more or less anything else that came to hand, to heart-shaped pendants decorated with cogs or crystals.

Talking of Crystal – our lovely little fortune teller won’t be joining us.  She has left the Towers and should be arriving in Indiana around now to join her new custodian.  Wizard Widdershins has agreed to join us, though (unless the person who has had him in their basket at the Etsy Shop for several weeks now finally heads to the checkout) so there will be a good selection of miniature ladies and gentlemen.

IMG_20220203_140856_resized_20220205_104030215Perhaps under the cover of those mists we mentioned last time, a selection of tiny bottles has washed up on our banks.  (Avalon is, after all, an Isle, if only in name at present.)  Each contains a couple of sparkles or tiny gems and a mysterious message, intended only for the eyes of its new recipient.  That’s if they can manage to get it out of the bottle… not easy but possible.  We’ve tested them.

Some of these items, and more besides, will be making their way across Somerset to the ever-exciting Magpie Vintage shop in Midsomer Norton in the next few days.

Enjoy your week and we hope to see some of you at one of our outlets soon.

The Towers in Winter

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Few visitors are finding their way to Steampunk-Shrunk Towers at present, shrouded as it is in the mists of Avalon.  Travellers pass by, huddled in their greatcoats, gloves and bobble hats (Why do those hats have bobbles?  Such an odd custom…) but few would guess the hive of activity concealed behind our heavy timber doors.

IMG_20220112_142044_resized_20220112_022338333 (2)No peace for us.  We’ve been busy replenishing stocks – trying hard to remember just how we made those lines that sold out last year and, obviously, inventing new ones.  Once again, we’re happy to announce, there are over 100 lines for sale at the Steampunk Dolls House and more still to fill our market stalls for the coming year.

IMG_20220116_105511_resized_20220116_105704052 (1)The first of those is fast approaching – Saturday 12th February (so just in time for Valentine’s Day!) at the Craft and Vintage Fair in Glastonbury Town Hall, Somerset from 10.30.

Take a look at some of our latest creations – the tiniest pendants decorated with real (but suitably miniature) crystals,  a range of larger heart pendants with our usual steampunk twist and if that doesn’t warm the cockles of your heart sufficiently on these cold, grey days, take a look at our 1:12 scale fire pits, complete with flickering flames.IMG_20220127_150539_resized_20220129_100109982 (1)

Enjoy browsing the shop, from the comfort of your own living rooms, and we look forward to seeing those of you who live in or close to Somerset very shortly.

Wizard Widdershins

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New Year felicitations to all from Steampunk Shrunk Towers.

IMG_20220105_132929_resized_20220105_013402215Allow me to introduce myself.  My name is Arborius Widdershins – alchemist, magician, man of letters and all-round white wizard.

Not exactly steampunk, I hear you say.  Well no, perhaps not, but Mrs S has always had a keen interest in all things mystical and when I noted the range of magic books in her little library, I couldn’t resist accepting her invitation to come and stay for a while.

Obviously, in my line of work there is a need for solitude.  Not easy to find here with that tinker chap thumping away on his workbench and all those ladies chattering away, so I asked if any of the towers were vacant.

Fortunately there is one that will be suitable.  Rather small, perhaps, but my skills are such that I should have little difficulty applying the ‘tardisium’ spell to increase its inner dimensions.  I’m sure I can persuade Mr Entwistle to make me a couple of pieces of suitable furniture.  My needs are few.

Meanwhile, a charming young seer by the name of Daphne de Voire has agreed to allow me to use her desk during the night, while she is sleeping.  Most agreeable.

All in all, I think I will enjoy my sojourn at this curious residence.