Gilding the lily...

                                  ...definitely not!



Hello again! 
After an absence of more than a month in which I had a lovely vacation and didn't do much miniature work,  regular life started again this week.   On Thursday I thought I would make a little tutorial on how I do the gilding on my miniatures as this was something I had promised to explain to one of our fellow bloggers. 
I thought making a video would be the best option, so it would be as if you were taking a class and you could all see what I do .  Quick and easy.  Or so I thought.   Oh the filming was easy enough, but then the process of trying the get the video from the camera onto my computer....

It took me 2 and a half days (yes, really!)  and all of my wit and ingenuity to get it downloaded onto my computer, edited and then uploaded onto YouTube.  It was driving me up the walls!  And yes, I read the camcorder's instruction manual, installed their software and googled every imaginable option.  It just didn't do what it said it should do.   Grrr,  so annoying!  Next time I will just use my digital camera's video function.  It may be of lesser quality but I have it downloaded (in the right format!) in a few minutes. 



Gilding miniatures with gold leaf (part one)

In this video I show and talk about some of the miniatures I have gilded and about the materials I use for gilding dolls house miniatures. 


 
Gilding miniatures with gold leaf (part two)

In this video I show you how I do the actual gilding of my miniatures.  The process is really very simple but the results are great!

The videos are much longer than I anticipated, so if you have a spare half hour, get yourself some tea or coffee, sit back and watch.  I hope it is of some use to you!  Obviously... ;-)))




Comments

  1. Hi Josje,

    I did have a spare half hour when the kids were in bed... though I had a glass of wine rather than coffee!

    Thanks so much for taking the trouble to make such an interesting and,more importantly, inspiring video. I know how frustrating technology can be, but I am so glad that you persevered!

    I find it difficult to get back to mini-ing with so much going on in real life, but you have a good way of making me think 'oh, you know, that's fantastic... maybe I should go and do something as well'!

    So thank you!

    Jonquil

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    1. OK since you are in France, wine is allowed as well ;-)

      This is an easy technique do do in between other things, as you can walk away from it for a few hours, and not much can go wrong. But I agree with you, it is difficult sometimes with real life going on all the time (thankfully!).

      I am always amazed at what some people manage to get done while their life is really hectic with a job, kids, sports etc.

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  2. Thank you Josje for sharing. I've tried the same with silver paper (not so expensive) I was silver all over !! I must practice with this material. But when it works it looks wonderful !!
    Greetings Dorien

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    1. Hi Dorien, Good thing you started out with the silver then, lol!

      Yes it takes a little bit of practise maybe, but the main thing is to realise that it will stick to your fingers. That's why I use the paper in the booklet when handling it.

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  3. Many thanks Josje for sharing this tutorial! I have the material,but I never knew exactly how to use it. So I really appreciate your videos and now I will try it ;-) It looks so easy ,when you make it. Sure you have practice, but I will learn it now!
    Thank you,Jeannette

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    1. You're welcome Jeannette. You are used to working with little fiddly bits of paper so I am sure this will be easy for you.

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  4. Hi Josje,
    What a nice tutorial and gives the miniatures a more realistic appearance!
    And ofcourse it looks so much easier.
    I've seen some of those agath tools you've mentioned I will have a better look at them and let you know, ok?
    Thanks again for sharing

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    1. Hi Jeffry! I suppose a lot of people are put off by the expense of the gold leaf. But if you break it down itno all of these projects, it is not that expensive at all. And it really is easy!
      I saw your email, I think the tool is still too big...

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  5. Oh Josje! Thank you so very much for this great tutorial! You did such a good job creating it and teaching us the process. I am crystal clear now about how to begin. Plus it was so nice to hear your voice. :-))

    Please just one last thing. Please post the name of where I can order the red acrylic paint. Others may want to know where to order the gold leaf.

    Thanks again!!! I am sorry up loading it to YouTube was such a lot of trouble. All your work and effort is certainly appreciated!

    Catherine XXXXXXXXXXXX

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    1. You're welcome Catherine! I am glad it was of use to you. It is so very easy to do!

      I get these supplies from my local art supply store, but I'll find out where to get it online and put it in an update of my post!

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  6. I don't have a spare half a hour NOW but I shall have it tomorrow morning and coming back to your post will be the first act of the day.
    Thank you in advance for what,I already know, will be a great tut.
    Goodnight, Rosanna

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    1. You're welcome Rosanna! I hope it will be of some use to you!

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  7. Well now, I guess I can dig out my gilding supplies now that I can learn how to use them.:-)
    Thank you ever so much.

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    1. Oh yes please do! I hope I will see gilded miniatures everywhere ;-)

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  8. Hi Josje!

    This is SO helpful --thanks for taking the trouble to do it. I've thought of trying to make a video myself, but now that I know what a pain it was I think I'll pass! Welcome back to miniatures.

    John XO

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    1. You're welcome John. Please DO make the video you had wanted to make! If I had only used my digital camera it would only have been a matter of connecting the cable to my computer and the rest would have been easy.

      But for some reason the JVC people thought it would be fun to create some sort of obstacle course for the Everio camcorder user, which makes it easy to record, but then....

      What I would suggest to you before making the real video is to just try a very short test video. Upload it to your computer, edit it in your video editing program, save it to your disk and upload it onto YouTube (they have an option to keep the video private so that the whole world doesn't get to see your try-out). It should be quite easy. Millions of people do this every day. Right?

      I quite enjoyed the editing work, even though it takes a while to figure out how the program works and I only had very basic options to play with. Which I think in most cases is better anyway, I don't really like all of those fancy fading techniques where you see stars, or snow and such things while fading to the next shot.

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  9. Hi Honey
    what great videos - I've subscribed!!
    I loved the Blue Pete moment.
    hugs
    Simon x

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    1. Hi Simon! Thank you! It was only until I watched it back myself that I realised I said that and that probably only the people from the UK know what that means ;-)

      Don't expect too much from my video channel Simon, because I share it with my son who is too young to have his own channel. He likes things like Star Wars and GTA. People who don't know this may think I have a bit of a split personality, lol!

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    2. LOL
      Good job I like Star Wars too then.
      Take care honey x

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    3. Is that a way of saying you have got a split personality??? LOL!

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  10. Bonjour Josje!
    Merci beaucoup pour cette magnifique leçon. Je pense avoir bien tout compris. J'ai maintenant très envie d'essayer!
    Merci encore pour ce partage! Thanks again!!!
    Nathalie

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    1. You're welcome Nathalie! Yes please do have a go at gilding! If you still have questions you may always contact me and I'll try to answer as best I can. And even though I don't answer you in French, I do understand it!

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  11. An excellent tutorial. Thanks for taking the time to show the technique and you make it look so straightforward although perhaps you were sitting with a gold cheek that we didn't see - lol.

    Note - I'd love to know how to upholster a chair - maybe another tutorial? Irene x

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    1. Well, people do always ask me how I get such a beautiful golden glow to my hair ;-)

      Upholstery, hmm, I have to think about that one. The thing is, I took an upholstery class in Castine a few years ago, and even though I had already figured out how to do this before I took the class, it would still feel like I am steeling someones work a bit. So let me think about that a bit OK?

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  12. Thank you for the tutorial, very interesting! I heard Blue Pete and no I have no clue what it means :)
    ---Linda

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    1. You're welcome Linda! Blue Peter is a children's show on BBC television which has been on since the beginning of time. They always make stuff with cardboard boxes, bits of sticky tape etc. showing the process of making it and then bringing out a fully finished piece while saying: 'Here's one I made earlier'.

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  13. Thank you for your persistence I will view the video later when I can concentrate. I love your work.

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  14. hello Josje,
    thank you very much for your tutorial very easy to understand even if you do not speak englais. thank you for sharing with us. I know it takes time. I am a fan of your work. I look like your blog and discover your work.

    caherine

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    1. Thanks Catherine, that is really good to hear! I know for a lot of people out there it is not so easy to understand English...

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  15. Hello Josje,
    It's nice to see you posting again! Welcome back, we missed you.
    Thank yopu for the great videos. It is so helpful to see it done by someaone who acheives the results you do.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Thank you Giac! I agree, I find it easier to understand something when I watch someone do it than when I read about it. Now this is fairly straightforward, but still...

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  16. The videos are fantastic! Thanks for sharing. :)
    Hugs

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  17. Thanks for the video's Josje, I finally had time to watch them. I have been wondering how to do something on the casket and this might just be the answer, although I need silver in this case.

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  18. You're welcome Elga! I look forward to seeing something the silver in combination with emroidery. Silver will tarnish though so you may have to put some sort of sealant over top of it.

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    1. I discovered you get aluminium leaf too, a lot cheaper and like gold it doesn't tarnish, I wonder how it will work for mirrors? Check out these gorgeous colored leaves http://www.stonehouses.co.uk/aluminium_leaf.php, I am always learning something new :-)

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    2. Yes the metal leaf comes in all sorts of colours and funky patterns. And of course is much cheaper than the precious metal. It is different in colour though than real silver leaf. The metal leaf has a much 'harder' look to it and you will have to experiment with it to see if it works for you with the emroidery.

      With the gold leaf, for me there is no comparison. The real gold has such a beautiful depth and reflects light in a different way than metal leaf does.

      If you want to try the metal leaf for mirrors, I would go for the thicker leaf, as the thin leaves easily break and you may see the cracks. Also if you are leafing a larger flat surface, you have to make sure your size (glue) is very even, as any bumps will show through the leaf.

      It would be great though if that works because you could make a very thin mirror that way. Or you could just use very thin highly polished metal sheet as a mirror. They used that in the past as well.

      The wax model of the mirror I am carving will eventually be cast in silver and have a sheet of highly polished silver as the reflective mirror surface.

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  19. Bravooooooooooo! *klap klap klap* Bedankt voor de duidelijke tutorial. Tof!

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    1. Graag gedaan Hellie! Ik moet steeds aan je denken en zoals de Fransen zeggen: I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

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  20. Josje bedankt voor de workshop,maar mijn engels is niet zo goed.Mijn zoon maakt schilderijen met bladgoud , hij gebruikt speciale lijm ervoor en dat is te dik voor miniaturen.Nu wil ik graag weten wat jij gebruikt,ik heb een hele pot met afval stukjes van hem,en daar zou ik veel mee kunnen doen en het is gratis,leuk toch!!!
    groetjes doortje

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    1. Hallo Doortje,
      Nou dat is geweldig als je de afval stukjes van je zoon kunt gebruiken! Ik gebruik een voorgemengde lijm, ook gewoon bedoeld voor 1:1 werk hoor! Bij deze lijm zit de rode bolusaarde (die voor de rode ondergrondkleur bij het 'echte' polimentvergulden zorgt) al door de lijm gemend. De lijm is ook in transparant te koop. De lijm heet 'mixtion rood' van Classic Paint Effects. Het is een acryllijm. Deze lijm is ook een beetje dik, maar dun genoeg voor miniaturen.

      Er zijn veel andere merken te koop, dus je moet maar even kijken waar je makkelijk aan kunt komen. Waar je op moet letten is hoe lang de lijm moet drogen voordat je het goud kunt gaan lijmen en hoe lang de lijm kleverig genoeg blijft om het goud te lijmen. Het is fijn als de lijm snel aandroogt zodat je snel aan de gang kunt, maar het is nog fijner wanneer de werkbare tijd van de lijm vrij lang is. Dan kan je nog eens van je werk weglopen of de volgende dag met je werk verder gaan.

      Je zoon kan je vast nog wel advies geven hierover en hij weet waarschijnlijk ook waar je het kunt kopen. Ik koop mijn spullen bij mijn lokale winkel voor kunstenaarsbenodigdheden (Arts & Crafts http://www.artsandcrafts.nl/ maar ik zie de lijm die ik gebruik niet op hun website) Ik vind het altijd fijn om advies te krijgen van de mensen in de winkel, zo ben ik ook aan deze lijm gekomen. En soms is het ook een kwestie van proberen (hoewel het natuurlijk niet leuk is als je geld uitgeeft aan iets dat uiteindelijk niet goed werkt).

      Ik hoop dat je hier iets aan hebt Doortje!

      Groet, Josje

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  21. Bedankt voor de uitleg,nu weet ik weer wat meer.Ga maandag naar canada,en zal daar wel rondneuzen of ze het daar hebben.Bedankt.
    groetjes doortje

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    1. Hallo Doortje, ik zie nu pas je berichtje. Ik hoop dat je inmiddels de materialen gevonden hebt en iets hebt kunnen vergulden! Groet, Josje

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  22. Wonderful video, beautifully demonstrated.
    best wishes
    Michelle

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