A blog about Sylvanian Families, toy photography, collection, miniatures and crafts.

15 February 2018

Ice skating

After a small break I can finally present my new photo story project! I've always wanted to make an ice pond diorama so I gave it a try! I made some of the elements like some snowed trees, fences, stall, pond, even clothes! I will be glad to answer any questions!
So enjoy!..

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It was a heavy winter in the sylvanian village and everything was covered in snow.
-Look Rebecca! The pond is frozen!
-Yay! Let's get our ice skates!
 


 -We can practice some figure skating moves!



 Soon the pond area was full of happy sylvanian kids having fun!




 In a small stall Mrs Dorothy Patches served delicious hot chocolate!
-Can I have a mug please?




 The Periwinkle siblings are very good at skating, they can even perform some dance moves! They have been practicing really hard!




 -Oh look how beautifully they are skating, I wish I could learn to skate like this, said Candy Mulberry!
-I can do better! said Ike Mulberry.




 -Oh really Ike?




 -Just watch me then...




 -Look, I can even perform a jump!!




 -Oooh, noo!




 -Are you sure you're ok?
-Hmm...I..guess so..




 Luckily Ike took his lesson and everything went back to normal!
Oliver and Rebecca asked for two mugs of hot chocolate to get warm!




 -Let's sit here to rest for a while and enjoy the view!




 The kids continued to have fun on the frozen pond for hours...




 ...and they only stopped when they got really tired and the sun had set behind the white hills!
 
 
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. . . some more . .

Many thanks I really appreciate all the kind words dear friends! Again I took many photos like I wanted to keep it for ever! Here are three extra ones:

The girls are showing off their winter fashions!
 



 Warm dressed babies!




 -Look, I have written an eight on ice!
-I win! I'm writting a nine!!



Piffle wrote:...
...I am trying to make a winter scene at the moment with my log cabin and my heart fell a little when I saw what you were doing cause I knew I wouldn’t be able to do anything nearly as nice! Haha but I got over it.

My favourite is the third picture where you can see the rolling hills in the background and the fence around the pool and the whole magical scene. So detailed and incredibly gorgeous.

I would love to know what you used to make your pond as I am struggling with that idea at the moment.
Haha I am absolutely sure your scene will be gorgeous! Can't wait to see it!
To make the pond I used a glass from a big photo frame. I sprayed the one side of it with fake snow powder (although I wanted to spray it more but there was no more left) and I put it on light blue paper with the clear glossy surface on top so I could have a reflection. The snow around it and all over the diorama is a white fleece sheet that is used for xmas decorations.
To form the hills I used two bed blankets and a white bed sheet which I covered with the snow sheet. :razz:
Also made the hot chocolate stall with foam board and the fences and some trees from sticks that I glued with glue gun.




As for making them stand on the skates, it was not difficult when both legs were touching the ground but in some photos that the critters balance on one foot I used a toothpick to support them ( it's hidden behind the foot or erased with photoshop).
To take an idea here is a before & after picture of the jump photo!

9 comments:



  1. pattysminiatures wrote:
    BRAVO!!!!!


    nzemily wrote:
    Amazing! You are so talented at photography and set up the cutest little scenes!


    CandyMulberry wrote:
    Wonderful scenes! I love everything! :clap:


    Amaia wrote:
    :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap
    Wowwww!!!!!! Your photos are amazing!!!!!!
    Congrats!!!!!
    Thank you for sharing


    IcePixie wrote:
    Awwwwww! Such an awesome diorama and detailing and storytelling and photography! Well done! :love:

    Excellent to see the finished hot chocolate stand too! So funny we were both making one at the same time :lol: It’s great to see your handmade items in such great shots. Brilliant work, Sylvanako!


    Jim wrote:
    WOW!!! WOW!!!! WOW!!!! AND......WOW!!! Did you make ALL those little adorable coats and sweaters!!!??
    You never cease to amaze me!!!


    Piffle wrote:
    These are amazing. Such a beautiful scene. Dreaaaamy.

    I am trying to make a winter scene at the moment with my log cabin and my heart fell a little when I saw what you were doing cause I knew I wouldn’t be able to do anything nearly as nice! Haha but I got over it.

    My favourite is the third picture where you can see the rolling hills in the background and the fence around the pool and the whole magical scene. So detailed and incredibly gorgeous.

    I would love to know what you used to make your pond as I am struggling with that idea at the moment.


    Chill82 wrote:
    This is spectacular & beautiful timing as I’ve been watching the Olympic Winter Games figure skating...


    Miss Holiday wrote:
    Needless to say that I :love: love your storytelling and photo-shooting - they are doubtlessly :happy: among the best this forum has to offer!

    But I particularly :love: adore the winter outfits of your Sylvanians: every single one is so chic and purrfect in scale ....and those little buttons on Miss Periwinkle's pink coat - awsome - where do you get these? (Also had a :oops: modest try on winter clothes, you know?) Think, I'm gonna "steel" :lol: some of those "ear-protectors" -They are simply too cute :dance: !


    Amaia wrote:
    :love: :love: :love: :love: :love:
    These are amazing!!!!!
    Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you all so much for the lovely comments! I loved this diorama I wish I could keep it somewhere permanently but I had to take it down! :cry:



      IcePixie wrote:
      ...
      ...
      Excellent to see the finished hot chocolate stand too! So funny we were both making one at the same time :lol:

      A: Yes I could not believe it when I saw your ig picture, such a coincident! It had happened in the past with cutata too! :lol:



      Jim wrote:
      ...
      ...Did you make ALL those little adorable coats and sweaters!!!??
      You never cease to amaze me!!!

      A: Yes I made the coats with felt and Ike's sweater from an ornament sweater. I also made the hats and scarfs from socks and tiny pom poms!

      Delete


    2. Chill82 wrote:
      This is spectacular & beautiful timing as I’ve been watching the Olympic Winter Games figure skating...


      A: Haha yes, I was worried that it was too late for such a theme but luckily it is up to date due to winter games!



      Miss Holiday wrote:
      ...
      ... But I particularly :love: adore the winter outfits of your Sylvanians: every single one is so chic and perfect in scale ....and those little buttons on Miss Periwinkle's pink coat - awesome - where do you get these? (Also had a :oops: modest try on winter clothes, you know?) Think, I'm gonna "steel" :lol: some of those "ear-protectors" -They are simply too cute :dance: !


      A: I accidently found those buttons in my daughter's beads toys, I think we had bought them from a craft store! I think these buttons are like the one Freya has on her dress only they are pink. Of course you can use the idea for the ear protectors, they are made easily with pom poms and wire.

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  2. Piffle wrote:
    Oh I love behind the scene photos more than anything. Thankyou for this!! It’s so great to see how it’s all set up.


    Jim wrote:
    FANTASTIC!!! One thing I can tell by everything you do is that you are a PERFECTIONIST!!! LOL!! You must spend a great deal of time getting things just right!! I LOVE IT!!! Plus you have a VERY good eye!! You have a great gift!!


    A: Thanks! If only I had a dedicated place where I could arrange my scenes and dioramas... Now I have to set them up in my living room and take the photos just in a few hours and I am supposed to keep them until next day before I take everything down... So I have to be completely ready and have my miniatures, critters and scenes arranged before I start the photoshoot. That is sometimes quite stressful but it's also rewarding!


    LadyLollipop wrote:
    I am always in total AWE when I see the setups that you have! The setup is the part that we all can do to some extent, BUT the actual images is where you make the magic happen. Somehow you just have a talent for making these little dolls come alive in a truly special way.


    Terra wrote:
    These photos are so incredibly sweet and beautiful! I love how natural the pond looks and all the winter colors. Everyone looks very cute in their warm clothing, particularly Ike in his jumper :love: The hot chocolate stand is great! Makes me wonder why there's not yet been an official hot chocolate shop. Everything looks perfectly lovely. Thanks so much for the behind the scenes photo too! I always enjoy seeing how a scene came together. Brilliant work!

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  3. cutata wrote:
    WOW, Sylvanako! :clap: :clap: :clap:
    It´s such a pleasure to log into the forum after a few days of absence and find your amazing winter diorama, lovely storytelling , adorable handmade winter outfits and such a cute hot chocolate stand. You have so much talent!
    Once again , you outdid yourself! Thank you so much for your wonderful pictures and all the time and detail you put in setting up your scene! :<3: It´s a pity you don´t have a place to leave it for longer.
    Thanks for the behind the scene photo! I love to see how you arrange your setup.


    Jim wrote:
    YIPEEEE! More pics!! I love ALL those winter fashions!! I also love that you include your set-up pic. That is so cool. Thank you


    Rowena Moss wrote:
    I showed these photos and read the little story that goes with it to my 3 year old (who is mad about both Sylvanians and the figure skating at the Olympics at the moment) and she loved it and has asked to see it again since. Thank you for something so beautiful that I could share with her.


    cutata wrote:
    My children loved them too!



    Terra wrote:
    Beautifully done. I'm enjoying these so much! How difficult was it to get them to stand in their ice skates?


    Chill82 wrote:
    Oh be still my heart, those babies are simply adorable!! :love: :love: :love:


    maria1976 wrote:
    OMG! It's amazing! :love: :love: :love: I love everything, but the outfits totally stole my heart! Such a delight to look at these photos.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much! I am really happy to hear that your children enjoy the stories and photos! In fact my storytelling is so simple ( writing a decent story in English is quite a task for me), I emphasize on pictures more so I have the feeling I am addressing to kids too!

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  4. Jim wrote:
    I was wondering how you did this!!! FANTASTIC!!! BRAVO!!!


    MosswoodFells wrote:
    That is amazing Photoshop skill! I'd never have guessed. O.O


    littleowl wrote:
    Beautiful! :-o


    Miss Holiday wrote:
    Dear Sylvanako -
    :think: wondered h o w you managed to make that gorgeous jump photo! Thanks for revealing the trick - :clap: :clap: :clap: It still impresses me a lot!


    Webbedflipper wrote:
    AMAZING Sylvanako! I laughed out loud at the fall! oh dear!!!!! So much work has gone into this. I love your pond and the trees. And especially the way all eyes are following the jump and the Expressions on everyone's faces. You make it all so real! Absolutely fabulous. Can't wait to share with my daughter when she's home from school


    froglover wrote:
    I just read through every page from the start! I love these pictures so much. They are so cheerful! You are great at making them!


    bloem wrote:
    That is amazing again. So perfectly captured. We should make our own forum calender and feature you in every month :lol:


    LadyLollipop wrote:
    You just made my day! I am having the worst night and being up at midnigt with pain meds and sylvanians somehow seems a bit better. Love the ice skate photos so much and the little story is just too cute.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't thank you enough guys for all the support! I enjoyed these series too it was something I wanted to do for long! After that I felt a little out of ideas but... hey! inspiration is back so I am currently working on something new!

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  5. LadyLollipop wrote:
    I am having the worst night and being up at midnigt with pain meds and sylvanians somehow seems a bit better.

    A: Santie all my thoughts are with you, hope the pain goes away as soon as possible! :love:


    Random Faerie wrote:
    Your photos are amazing. I can't comprehend how all these happens in your living room! :O What kind of lighting do you use?


    cotton1234 wrote:
    So so stunning,you´re simple a master to what you do sylvanako. :<3: :<3: :<3:


    wstran wrote:
    How did I just discover this thread?!?! :shock: I stumbled upon it on Sunday and spent hours going back to look at every stunning photo. I am truly impressed with your photography and photoshop skills sylvanako. :<3: :<3: Having taken classes on both at the local college over the years I know how much work and skill went into these beautiful photos and stories. You have a true talent! Thank you for sharing it with all of us!

    ReplyDelete