A Kingdom Far Far Away

Once upon a time, a girl from a faraway kingdom sat in her Los Angeles apartment and packed up her bits and bobs for a fleeting visit to her homeland.

I just got back from 8 days in the United Kingdom and felt a blog update was in order. Oh, and this photo is of Bodiam castle in East Sussex (14th century). Thought the title of my post necessitated an image of a castle and this is one of my favourites. ;)

During my quick trip I had my mum's homemade scones with clotted cream (yes real cream - actual cream - not whipped air with sweetener) and during the gorgeous hot weekend I sat outside under the English sun with a glass of Pimms. It was marvellous. On my last night I had dinner at Ye Olde Fighting Cocks - an attractive pub, originally a mediaeval pigeon house which became the local centre for fighting cocks in the 17th and 18th century. The foundations date to around 793. Great place despite the typically British welcome we received - which reminded me of the scene in 'American Werewolf in London' when the two American tourists stop at 'The Slaughtered Lamb' pub for food.

Jack Goodman: Do you have any hot soup? Barmaid: No. Jack Goodman: Do you have any coffee? Barmaid: No. Jack Goodman: Do you have any, uh, hot chocolate? Barmaid: We've spirits and beers. If it's something hot you want, you can have tea. Jack Goodman: Then you have tea? Barmaid: No.
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I also visited my grandfather's estate in Reigate, Surrey (which was the reason for my visit) and since it is to be sold this year I included some photos I took below.

Rushed through some more pumpkin miniatures whilst away as I'm exhibiting at the Whimsic Alley fantasy fair this coming weekend.... argh - still so much to do. Pumpkins-in-the-making pictures featuring black cat attack below.

Return to La La Land...

It's hard to refer to Tall Tales Productions as an 'LA-based company' when I myself (the founder) have been all over the world with my workshop in tow, working on miniature film sets, commissioned miniature pieces, props and sets in other companies' art departments etc. 2012 was actually split between the UK and New Zealand only!

However... I hear the California waves calling and am heading back to Los Angeles at long last in about 10 days time... I've got something exciting to announce a little after I arrive as well. ;)

Once back I will rent a new space to work on short film Myrtle the Witch, re-purchase many tools (dremel, track saw, craft oven, soldering iron, clay pasta machine etc) and start taking photos week by week as the sets for the film come together. Been dying to work on these sets but mostly put it off for when back in LA as they're a bind to ship! Stay tuned for some fun work-in-progress photos...

So what am I looking forward to returning to in wonderful LA.....? I flicked through some photos and reminisced about the past 3 years I lived out there in Los Feliz / Hollywood. Take a look at some of my highlights which include; beaches, clubs in downtown LA, Renaissance Faire, Hearst Castle, weekend breaks to Las Vegas and San Diego, camping in Yosemite, Disneyland, Halloween parties, the Madonna Inn, Mexican food, fast food, hot sun and more and more and more...

Starting with my wonderful Art Deco apartment - the Demille building below. ;)

caroline mcfarlane-watts tall-tales productions

Talent and Wonders Up North

Who would have guessed that only 2 buses, a tram, a train and a mini cab away from my Oxfordshire doorstep I could step into one of the world's leading puppet making companies and arguably the most exciting and innovative talent pool in the North West of England? 

Last Sunday I began my 5.5 hour journey up north to spend some time making miniature props in the fantastic workshops of MacKinnon & Saunders.
If you're not familiar with their work then imdb them at once. Their impressive portfolio includes fabrication of puppets, props and special effects for such films as 'Frankenweenie' (2012), 'ParaNorman' (2012), 'Corpse Bride' (2005), 'Fantastic Mr. Fox' (2009), 'Coraline' (2009) and so forth. Aside from their exquisite work in film and commercials they've worked on popular childrens' programming -  'Postman Pat', 'Bob the Builder' and 'Fifi and the Flowertots'.

I was nine years old when I first saw the Oscar-nominated short film 'The Sandman' (1991) - a stop-motion horror which stills inspires and amazes people today. Produced by one of the co-founders of MacKinnon & Saunders, it set a standard of brilliance which they have clearly maintained.

...So, as you can imagine, I was in heaven being in their magical miniature world! The talent there really was exceptional and the energy and enthusiasm for their beautiful creations was infectious.

Take a look below at this little snapshot of some of the work of MacKinnon & Saunders...

We Lit up the World

HAPPY NEW YEAR ALL!

We've had the big countdown... can you believe it's 2013?! London's typically sensational fireworks were launched from the London Eye as I counted down from Brown's Oxford with obligatory champagne in hand.
If you haven't seen the London Fireworks display then take a look here....

What a year for Britain! The Queen's Diamond Jubilee, hosting the Olympic Games and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridges' announcement they're expecting their first child. I felt the choice to include Seb Coe's Olympic quote as a soundtrack to the fireworks display was a good one.

"We lit a flame and we lit up the world."

Well we certainly did in London, NYE. ;)

Images courtesy of Daily Mail

Here are some flashbacks of 2012 from my world and Tall Tales Productions.
Throughout last year I took on bigger and more adventurous commissions, had my work featured in 11 magazines, 2 books and on 4 front covers whilst continuing to sell my work in over 40 countries worldwide. I moved to Wellington New Zealand and lived there for 6 months, worked with the fabulous Weta crew on Richard Taylor's Project Born and flew back to Great Britain in time to ring out the new year. I'll be moving back to LA next year!

Stills from short film 'Myrtle the Witch' plus Halloween pumpkin.

Fairytale sets, Cinderella pumpkins, Halloween collectibles

Fairytale sets, props for Myrtle

Life in Wellington, New Zealand June-Nov 2012

UK Christmas commission, featured on front cover of magazine Nov 2012

Patisserie commission featured on front cover of US magazine Sept 2012

Grinch candy village sets, Sept-Dec 2012

Ringing out the Old Year

Christmas 2012 is a wrap and it's been brilliant! I usually take the few days between now and New Year's Eve looking back on what I've accomplished in the past 12 months and what is going to be achieved in the next.

I spent Christmas at home in England with my large (and expanding family) eating my mum's fantastic food, drinking mulled wine and posing for photos with everyone I'm related to. I'll be back in Los Angeles in early Feb.

In 2012 my work was featured in 11 trade magazines (published in the UK, US and Spain) and 2 books (including 4 front covers), 2 web features, a tutorial commissioned and published by a US magazine, continued to sell my work in over 40 countries worldwide, expanded my business, taken some big commissions, lived in New Zealand for 6 months and got a little bit of work in on my short film 'Myrtle the Witch'.
2013 is going to be even more productive... ;)

Just had word that an interview I gave in November is now online so I thought I'd share a link to it and share some of the pictures they used below. It's a fun 'Take Ten with Caroline McFarlane-Watts' interview and you can find it at the Craft Institute website here.

An Inkling in Oxford

Wondering in which Tudor corner of Oxford I took shelter yester-evening as I sipped hot mulled cider? I'll give you an inkling... it was the very pub that J.R.R Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and other members of their writers' group the 'Inklings' congregated at the time The Hobbit and The Chronicles of Narnia were conceived and written.

Despite seeing 'The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey' at an industry screening last week in Soho, London, I ventured into the beautiful city of Oxford from my very own shire to see it again at the much talked about 48 frame rate. Afterwards we walked all of 20 yards to the famed pub - 'The Eagle and Child' to sit at the fireplace where it all began. Dating back to 1640 (which is younger than the house in which I was raised), the charming narrow little pub has the familiar low doorways, paneled rooms, monks-benches and fireplaces I love and miss when in LA.
It was brilliant fun chatting about the script for 'Myrtle the Witch' over drinks - at the same fireplace and perhaps the same chairs that were once filled by the fantasy greats.

Take a look at some pictures we took in Oxford. The snowy Oxford scene was not taken by us but so gorgeous I wanted to include it for those not familiar with the city.

Back to the Beginning... Hogsmeade

Nope, it's not a lot of old hogwash, I was actually quite lucky to have been given the opportunity to work on the miniature model village - Hogsmeade - used in 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix' back at Leavesden Studios in 2005.

I was 23 and working as an assistant at Miramax Films (my second job after graduating from university) and a rather brilliant boss gave me the opportunity to nip over to the art department of Harry Potter for a spell. It was my first miniature model work - I would never have guessed then just how big a part of my life miniatures and miniature filmmaking would become.

Never had decent photographs to show people of the miniature model Hogsmeade village I helped to build, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to see it at the new studio tour and take some. Flick through the pictures of the white card model and see it as it looked in the film.

Harry Potter art department, miniature model sets from Harry Potter, miniature model village of Hogsmeade, Caroline McFarlane-Watts, model village, Hogsmeade village model, WB studio tour

What? - Front Cover Feature again?!

Yes - I'm a cover girl again!

First, a little Tall Tales update...
I set sail, or took to the air rather, from Wellington, New Zealand on the 20th November and just a hop, skip and 30 hours of flying later I arrived in London Heathrow. I'll be based and working out of the UK for the next few weeks until I fly back to LA in early Jan. Short film 'Myrtle the Witch' will just have to wait until I'm back in the US...
I said goodbye to 'Windy Wellington' - a cheery little city with quaint restaurants serving lamb, lamb, and lamb as well as most things with a side of beetroot and aioli  Always beetroot and aioli. I loved my 5 month stay, loved the people, loved Weta Workshop and look forward to returning.

A bit of a shame to miss The Hobbit premier on the 28th, but still, it's nice to be back in Tolkien's neck of the woods - Oxford (where he penned The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.) Besides, I'm enjoying the numerous industry screenings I'm invited to in London! ;)

The photos below show a commission I undertook whilst in Wellington for a client in the UK. It comprises of several Christmas scenes in exact 1:12 scale (one inch - meaning 12 times smaller than real life) and it took me about a month to complete. Everything was built by me, from the hardwood floors I laid by hand, to every tiny piece of food and piece of holly decor.

English publishers Warners Group Publishing took an interest in my work and featured me in their 'Dolls House & Miniature Scene' magazine as well as giving me the front cover for this month's issue.

Here are some photos I took of my work on this project and the feature itself.