Worlds Under Foot

In 1812, the adventure novel "Der
Schweizerische Robinson" by Johann David
Wyss was published. Later, a publisher by the
name of Pierre-Jules Hetzel modified the story
republishing it as "The New Swiss Robinson".
Since then, a number of versions and adaptations
have been produced but none have been more
influential than Disney's 1960 release of "Swiss
Family Robinson" for the big screen.

In 1991, "Wreck of the Brighton" was completed
and put on display in Old Town San Diego. In
1992, the treehouse was shown at a miniature
show in La Jolla, California where it received
praise from a newspaper article as "a treehouse
Swiss Family Robinson would kill for."

Although the "Wreck of the Brighton" was
heavily influenced by the concepts put forth in
Wyss's novel and Disney's movie, the story of
the Brighton involves a much larger group of
castaways (20 in all). And as anyone who has
ever built a treehouse knows, every tree is
different so the only similarities that can be
drawn between the "Brighton" and the Robinson
treehouse are that each is a structure
supported by a tree. One can use the same
techniques and materials right down to the color
of the paint (if there is any) but the tree always
dictates the outcome. Except in the land of
cinema where the tree is designed and built
around the treehouse.

So, no...this work was not designed nor intended
to look like anything previously created...
by anyone.

Miniatures open up a whole new world of
discovery. For all the places you can dream of,
you can make in miniature and have an adventure of
your own. This is where the magic began with me.

As I was working in the "lumber yard" for the
Treehouse, I was always thinking of my own place
to build. The Wizard's Cottage is that place. The
cottage itself is made of 1/4" plywood and
stuccoed with spackle and measures about 18" wide
and 10" tall. The windows are made of microscope
slides framed in wood. Kim carved out 7 beam
heads to hold up the loft. The floor and fire pit
are made from pour stone. The furniture are
pieces I made from thin wood planks, cut and nailed
together with very tiny nails and brackets.
Most items in the cottage are hand made by myself
or my husband.

The door is always open, so please come in and have
a closer look......

Unlike most of our other projects,
I don't recall exactly why we started
this one, but once we did it took on a
life of its own.
Built on a 54mm scale, about half of
the castle was put together brick by
brick. And, it's not finished, yet! The
weathering and landscaping is next.
Now, this is what I call fun!