Today is the last in this week's series of Behind the Scenes posts. 

​I keep a list of interesting Special Days that I might want to do a photo shoot for, and I really wanted to do the garage sale. I knew it was going to be a lot of work, but I like a challenge.

​For anything that complex I always do a preliminary set up inside on the kitchen table before bringing everything outside.  So the first thing was to gather all the sales tables and larger props that would be up for sale. Then I piled on all the 'old' toys, books and glassware.  

I took a photo and printed it out so I'd know how to set it all up again outside, then emptied the contents of each table onto a separate tray to help keep everything organized.

I set everything up again on the patio picnic table, then started placing all the dolls into the scene. First the adults...

Then after the children were positioned I started taking photos.
The whole secret of forced perspective is to take the photos straight on at the doll's eye level.

Then I walked around taking close ups...

And in order to get the feel of all the stuff for sale I took some photos from a higher angle..

I didn't think of taking a wider behind the scenes shot until after all the children had already left, and we were in the process of cleaning everything up...

Then it took me a while to put everything back into storage where it belonged, so I know exactly where to find it next time I need it.

With Naomi's due date fast approaching, I've been keeping busy with several other things as we wait.  Last month after taking lots of photos of Lawrence and his horse, I finally settled on one to serve as the model for the painting for a future photo shoot....

I need the painting to be only partially complete because the artist will still be working on it, and I have no idea exactly what the actual background will be like, so just underpainted it in vague dark colours. Then it took me two days to paint Lawrence and his horse to where they need to be. 

I was very happy with Lawrence's outfit and his horse so far, but just couldn't get his face right, even after several attempts. So I doubt I'll finish it after the photo shoot. So, just one more for my growing collection of unfinished portrait paintings.

I'm also working on some props for my little DreamHigh Studio 'army'.  Otto, the Otter arrived recently, and I finally figured out how to manhandle him into his suit of armour. 

He came with a stretchy red scarf, but it's too bulky to wear with his armour, so I need to knit him a finer one. He also needs a sword.  And I decided to make some tattered war banners. They are mini versions of the ones that hang in Winston and Saphira's den.

Last week I photographed the next chapter in Baron and Naomi's story, and there's hundreds of photos to process before I can start posting them, so I thought I'd share some of the other things I'm currently working on, in addition to the Phantom costume.

I'm working on another mini afghan. I use vintage needle-punch yarn for my mini afghans. It's a very fine yarn, perfect for tiny projects.  I've been collecting them and have a huge box full in a wide range of colours.  ​The afghans are a nice mindless project to work on in the evenings while listening to the TV.  Back in June I started a mini version of a full size one I'd made for our second son when he was little. It was called a 'Granny Ripple', and I couldn't find the book the pattern was in, so found a picture online and had to work from that.

The finished afghan....

I used it on the bed in the Tooth Fairy photos....

 With that afghan done, I chose another to work on. I personally prefer bright colours but decided this time to go with something more subdued in all my least favourite colours; beiges, browns, and greens (well, I do like cream and turquoise). After all, 'variety is the spice of life', and I'm sure some of my dolls would prefer a more neutral coloured afghan.

Ever since I made Christine's and the Phantom's costumes four years ago, ​I've wanted to make more for the series.

Most notably the Phantom as the Red Death in the New Year's Eve Masquerade scene.  It was going to be my project for this year, to make the Red Death and several of the other Masquerade costumes for an eventual huge photo shoot. But life got in the way.

I did make his mask way back in early spring, using Baron's head for the model since he was going away for a repaint anyways.  I'd made a Red Death mask way back when I made the first Phantom mask, but it was molded on Lawrence's head before he was painted, and I decided that even thought it looked good, it would fit too snug on anyone's face and I'd risk scratching their faceup.

So I needed to make a new mask and this time I decided to consider faceup protection. The mask would need a felt lining to protect the doll's faceup. I couldn't just make a mask on a plastic wrapped head and add the felt afterwards since it would end up too small on the inside, so I needed to account for it when I sculpted the mask. So I covered Baron's head with a double layer of plastic wrap, then a layer of felt which had been trimmed so there would just be a single layer with no overlapping, and then I covered the felt with another double layer of plastic wrap. I tied it all down with strong thread....

...and drew on where the eyes and mouth should be...

As much as I love the strength and durability of Apoxie after it cures, it can be a challenge to work with, so I first built uf the basic mask shape...

Then after adding the final layer, and letting it cure, I painted it. Then after removing the plastic wrap and felt from Baron's head, I glued the felt inside the mask...

Then the mask lay around for several months. My sister and I were working on a new book to feature photos of all my Fantasy Doll costumes, and the spreads with the earlier Phantom costumes seriously needed something. It needed a photo of the Red Death!  Finally, the push I needed to make the costume. So I printed out the original costume sketches for the Phantom stage production, and gathered every red satin and brocade fabric I had...

First, and easiest to make, was his big red hat...

I was going to use Rex as my model and he'd need shoes before I could continue with the costume. I sewed some red stocking, then I removed Rex's feet, and inserted them into the stockings. I used Monica's shoe as the model for the Phantom's shoe, building the uppers out of leather. Then I covered them with a double layer of plastic wrap so I could make the soles out of Apoxie...

After the soles cured it took considerable sanding to make them nice and smooth. Then they were glued onto their respective shoe.

After the shoe soles were painted and varnished, I gave Rex his feet back, and I was ready to start on the pants. I chose a bright red and a darker brocade for the stripes of the pants, adding them in layers to a cotton base.

After stitching down all the fabric strips, gold trim was sewn over the edges, and finally the pants back opening was stitched. I did the back first so I could make a nice neat overlapping opening while the fabric was still flat.

The pants with codpiece are now almost done.

Next is the top, which needs to be built up in layers, along with some very elaborate sleeves. So that's what I need to start on today.

Yesterday, August 25th, was National Dog Day, and Efreet decided to take all my pups out for some fresh air.  

He loves all the dogs, and they love him too.

Then his friends Eric and Coco came and joined him...

Byuri enjoying a special treat on National Banana Split Day...

August 22nd was National Tooth Fairy Day.  Each evening before starting on their nightly rounds, the fairies would head over to the bank machines to stock up on some cash....

Raillie was the tooth expert...

...and Hope was in charge of the money.

One of the first stops that night was Holly's house. She'd lost a tooth earlier that day, and had tucked it under her pillow, in hopes the tooth fairies would drop by.

Raillie reached under her pillow to get the tooth...

While Hope got out the going rate for that particular tooth....

Raille gave the Hope the tooth and took the money to put under Holly's pillow...

"Hurry up!"

"We have a lot more to go to tonight!"

Meanwhile Sparkle was taking full advantage of the view from the other side of the table...

So he and Elliot had a much better view of treats on the table...

But Nuri wasn't so much interested in treats.
​She just wanted to be closer to her favourite Auntie.

When Saphira and the children arrived they joined Agnes out in her garden. ​

Saphira was pleased with her daughter's behaviour...

...but a bit annoyed and embarrassed by the others' manners.

"All right children. Don't push and crowd Auntie Agnes. You'll all get your turn. There's plenty for everyone."