It’s been a while since I’ve shown some closeups, so here’s one about chairs. See the archived posts from the Close-ups Series here.
I use chairs as perches for my little dolls. The trick is making the chairs in shallow relief, so that they don’t stick out too far in my pictures. The first photo shows a girl sitting on a chair made from milled wooden pieces that are used in doll house miniatures.
detail from “The Storyteller” 1998
George’s chair is made with old worn upholstery fabric. The chair’s feet are sculpted with Fimo. Read about and see more pictures from “The Storyteller” and “George’s Chair” in another post here.
Detail from “George’s Chair” mid 90’s
Mary’s mother sits knitting in this detail from Mary Had a Little Lamb. I only had to show a board in the back and one chair leg to achieve her pose.
These little women from The Hollyhock Wall are about 1 1/4″ tall, so their chairs are tiny. They were made of wire wrapped with grey embroidery floss.
The yellow high chair is made from miniature doll house wooden parts. It’s in the kitchen scene in my picture book In the Heart. I was able to get some copies when it went out of print, so I’m offering autographed books for a good price in my Etsy shop.
detail from picture book “In the Heart” 2001
Here are a couple of details from Pocketful of Posies: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes. The girl is sitting in a wicker chair made with floral cloth wire.
Detail from “Pocketful of Posies” 2010
Scallop shells serve as a hat and chair back for this character in “Posies”.
Detail from “Pocketful of Posies” 2010
SALLEY MAVOR 
Salley, I love Mary’s mother’s knitting. Did you do it on toothpicks?
Thanks Emily,
I knit with the smallest size knitting needles I could find and then transferred it to tooth picks.
Salley,
Each time I open one of your wonderful books I find something new and amazing, I love your little chairs, just noticed the rug under the upholstered chair, delightful. Please keep on sharing.
Jenny
I love seeing all this detail and your narrative on how you achieved these lovely figures, the story books are just delightful and so is your amazing art form.
Happy Sewing
Wonderous tiny world. I feel about your work as I did about the Borrowers when I was a child. Come to think of it, I’d love to see you illustrate the Borrowers books.
Your chairs are so amazing and I love to see the whimsey in your work….wonderful!
Salley, I just love your work! Thank you for sharing details and information about how you did things and when. The seashell and driftwood chair is soooo unique.
I love your little world and adore finding out the little details that make it so delightful. I do agree that everytime I look at one of your books I find something wonderful and wonder how did she do that!!! Thanks for taking us into your world and helping us to understand how brilliant your mind is!!!
What an amazing talent !
Just found you on Craft Gossip today. Your work is absolutely beeeuuuuutifulllll!!! Lol! Thank you for sharing. I will be showing my grown daughters as well as my 6 yr old grand daughter Abby. Will be reading from now on. Thx again. Suzie
OMGosh what amazing talent (eyesight & patience!) you have!! Amazing work….I will be sharing with everyone I know! 😀