Dragon Egg Hunt

Draco Albionis, Draco Serpens, Draco Niveus ®... whichever kind you're looking to acquire, you're sure to find un-fertilised dragon eggs in many varieties at the Tall Tales marketplace this Easter.

Wishing everybody a Happy Easter today with photos from a fast turn-around dragon egg project I worked on back in 2010. It was one inch scale and there's a matchstick on the market stand photo for reference.

Have a great Easter everyone!
- Caroline

Formal Address

I'm delighted to say that Tall Tales Productions has moved and is now to be found in Los Feliz, in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California.

My workshop / office will be based here, whilst workshop classes will be taught elsewhere and exhibitions will take place across the US and Europe (check back for schedule of events).

Really pleased with this space and took some photos to share yesterday. It was built in 1927 so it has Art Deco features and great hardwood floors. Now the fun task of unpacking 6 suitcases and many boxes...!

Hitting the Bottle

That's right - the frustration of awaiting the keys to my new place in Los Feliz (near Hollywood) has forced me to hit the bottle. ;) I can't really spread out and focus on any particularly expansive miniature sets right now, so I am tackling little props in bulk such as these hand-blown glass bottles and jars. I have them hand-blown by my glassblower in NY and I finish them off.

If molten gold, gathered moss, mugwort and soot are on your shopping list then look no further. As usual, I've made far more than I need and sell any extras at my online shop. They've been popular sellers for years and featured in a magazine in the UK in 2010.

Taking a quick break from Myrtle illustration.... I thought I'd share some photos of these glass bottles of magic matter against a matchstick...
(I took these photos back in 2010).

Cutting it in Burbank

I've had my work cut out for me these past few weeks. Literally cut out for me - I've got this brilliant new table saw which cuts all my wood for me so I don't have to struggle away with a handsaw - yippee!

My workshop is semi-unpacked in a space in Burbank until the end of the month when I get the keys to my new place in Los Feliz. So I've been focusing on sets and some furniture (including painting these chairs pictured below). Some sets will be 1:12 scale (the chairs are) and some will be 1:6. Of course some very large exteriors will be made on a much smaller scale (in cases I don't want to use matte paintings).

Aside from that, I just had a great mini break in San Francisco... you know what it's like being cooped up in a hotel room - felt like getting out and stretching my legs in an Alcatraz cell. Our prison tourguide was hilarious - definitely worth the trip if you're ever in the area.

Will have more to show when I am finally settled into my new place....!

miniature model sets, miniature sets, making miniatures for film, san francisco burbank film production

Wellies, Oxen and Angels

From Wellington, New Zealand, to Oxfordshire, England to Los Angeles in the US...!

After 18 months of inadvertently chasing winter, Tall Tales Productions and I have touched down on American soil. Yes... we're back and I am super excited about settling into a new space in Los Feliz (a brilliant area next to Hollywood and Silverlake), un-packing and getting down to a frightfully long list of commissions. I'll also be pitching 'Myrtle the Witch' as an illustrated children's book at the Bologna Children's Book Fair next month (well, my literary agent will be) so will focus on that before Myrtle movie sets and share some artwork here on this blog.

Out of Interest...
Having landed the other day, my first priority was shipping a Frog Prince engagement ring to its new owner so that he receives it in time to propose to his girlfriend on Valentine's Day. Just made it. See photos below (click to enlarge) and note that I just had a feature about my jewelry written up in a US magazine which comes out in May. Will share at that time.

Stay Connected...

Did you know that I recently created a Tall Tales Productions Facebook page? If you're too busy to check blogs but dip in and out of Facebook then click here to become a fan and stay connected to our news. ;)

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.