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Showing posts with label Alki Point. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alki Point. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Very Little Progress...

I started to wonder why in the heck I wasn't making encouraging progress on the New Orleans build when it dawned on me: I've been busy doing other real life stuff for the past seven weekends! No wonder! And it's not about to get better any time soon. I am heading down to Arizona with my mom tomorrow morning to get the new retirement house all set up. We'll be gone at least two weeks, and when I get home, we have a family Father's Day camp out. Good thing all of this real life stuff is so fun and interesting - it makes the slow progress on mini dreams more bearable!


I got the enlarged stairwell opening cut, then traced out the rooms onto the ceiling so that I could decide where and how many can lights to add.


I laid out some of the ceiling decorations to help decide on the light placement.


I decided not to put any inside the living room ceiling decoration because I will have the fireplaces sconces and a couple of lamps. I did leave myself the option of adding a ceiling fixture later if it looks like the room needs more light. The hall at the back of the room will have two can lights.


The kitchen is going to be a little more modern, so I decided to plan for four can lights and a possible hanging fixture over the sink. I still have a few left from all of the 3D printing and testing I did for Alki Point.


I'll have two in the porch ceiling in addition to a wall fixture by the door.


The lights I have are spotlight LEDs from JS Miniatures. They come in a set of 10 with the lights and eyelets for around $30 including the shipping from the UK. Although the bulbs are not flush with the ceiling, they are a much more economical option that the Novalyte can lights which run about $12 each. 


They don't seem too intrusive, so I think at 1/4 of the price that they'll work out fine.


Once I had all of the 1/8" holes drilled, I had to make the channels for the wiring. The large hole in the center of the floor is the hub where all of the wires will run to the power strip behind the chimney breast. I basically just marked, scored then chipped out the plywood to make the grooves. Hopefully they are all deep enough or it will mean more sanding.


Oh! One quick tip for getting a good non slip grip - put a silpat under the board or saw. It's nice not to have things move on you! This one is dedicated for minis, and I also use it to cover the cookie sheet when I bake polymer clay.


Here is the ceiling after the ceiling paper has been applied.


And the test fits.




Next I dug out a whole mess of stickers, Dresden and findings to try and come up with the ceiling decoration for the living room. I hope in the end it's not too busy and not too plain.


For the dining room, this is all it needs. The crown starts where the pencil lines are, and because it is behind the kitchen and the arched doorway you will hardly see it at all. I'm going to add a fancy chandelier from the center above the dining room table.


I debated adding the faux tin ceiling in the kitchen, but in the end decided to add it and paint it sea foam. The rest of the kitchen will be white, including the tile, so it was a chance to add some texture and a little color.


Here's the living room ceiling after two coats of ceiling paint. I also added trim to the columns, but haven't gotten to paint them yet.

I hope all of you have a ~W~O~N~D~E~R~F~U~L~ Memorial Day Weekend! I'll post anything interesting and/or mini related while I'm basking in the Arizona sunshine. A Trip to Auntie Em's, perhaps? I hope so!

Jodi

Monday, July 25, 2016

Confessions of a Mad Miniaturist Plus Some Exciting News!

Before I share the exciting news, I feel that I owe respect to honesty and therefore, need to first make a confession. You see, I seem to be suffering from (que dramatic music)... Project completion impotency! To prove my point, I will list off for you the projects that are started, some pretty far along, and yet not fully satisfied. Ahem...

1. Real Good Toys Barn Bash - trimming out the back opening, attaching it to a foundation, roofing and landscaping are all that she needs to be completed. Why have I stalled? Because I am a fickle be-otch and began fantasizing about Alki Point. There she sits, dusty and disheveled. If you listen closely, you can hear her say "cheater"!



2. Alki Point - She is done! Finito! Terminus! Only, she needs to have her power strip tidied up and concealed. Then she needs to have her glamour shots taken at the real Alki Beach. Why is this not done, since February you ask? Because. I got busy with (and excited over) the Shabby Chic Soap Shop. Plus, driving to Alki from Spanaway means traffic. Lots of it. I. Hate. Traffic! Oh, and see that building next to her on the right - that's next on my list.



3. Starbucks - this is the first in the set of three Street Of Shops. I stopped work on her because I wanted the brick facade to be continuous, and therefore would need to complete the other two in the set first. Yeah... That was like three years ago... I just need to finish it by itself and be done. She's all finished inside. I even built on a replica bathroom which is also finished inside. If/when I ever get to the next two shops, I'll improvise on brick continuity.



4. The Shabby Chic Soap Shop - I got stuck and frustrated trying to make the chandelier, which turned out to be way too chunky and completely horrible looking. Then I stalled out on whether or not to drop $60 on a real battery operated chandelier (even though I have wired wall sconces) and just forget trying to make one. Then I decided maybe it didn't need to be electrified at all. Then I felt lazy about not doing the wiring. Then I walked by it one day (it currently sits on the shelf so I'd have room to work on the Creatin' Contest build) and HATED the outside color scheme including the shingles!!! Now I've decided it all has to be repainted. As soon as I figure out what and how to do it.




And of course on top of all those, I am currently working on the Creatin' Contest build. See that list there? There's sooooo much left to do on this project! You'd think all of this wanton mini lust and the associated guilt would be enough to make me just stop and FINISH WHAT I STARTED!


Nope. I can't...

I have a serious addiction! It is a disease, you know. I can't be blamed for that. Can I? I'm not trying to hide anything. The blog name says it all...

Ugh... Now that I've admitted all of my shame, I'm a little hesitant to share my good news. Maybe you'll all be really mad at me. Maybe you will all want to come to my house and take these poor unloved projects away from me. Maybe you'll all think I'm a really bad person. :O(

But wait! YOU guys are my peeps! We are all completely and madly codependent! We support and enable each other all the time! You! You glorious comrades totally get it! You probably have a dozen or so mini skeletons on your shelves or hidden in closets, as well. In fact, you have probably purchased something in the last couple weeks that you totally did not need but wanted really, really bad!

Phew! Thanks for being in this with me! I love you guys!

Okay - so finally out with the good news!

A few posts ago I mentioned that Hobby Lobby had the RGT Beachside Bungalow kit for $119, then had the 40% coupon. I got it for half the regular price, so there was no way I was letting that opportunity pass me by.



I told myself that I was not even going to open the kit until I at least had the contest build completed. Then one day I was sitting at the computer, minding my own business when the kit's finishing page just pops up on the screen! I didn't think there would be any harm in reading it, right? But it got me so excited! It has already finished wood floors! I wondered what they looked like. I opened the box. I looked at the pictures online. I wondered if I could swap the stairs to the other side of the house. I drew out the dimensions and made a first floor layout in my design program. That got me to thinking about the kitchen. That got me looking for cabinet kits. That got me looking over at Elf Miniatures to see what they had available and what the pricing was like. That got me talking to Elizabeth (I love her!) and totally coming up with an affordable and awesome kitchen plan!

The Wall Of Cabinets Layout


The Island Layout


I was shocked at how quickly Elizabeth got back to me. She asked me so many important questions and clarified every detail to be sure I would get exactly what I wanted. She offered options to me that weren't even listed on the web site, and ended up saving me even more money so that I could afford the fridge cabinet enclosure. Then, to put the cherry on top, she said they would go out airmail from the UK on Wednesday!!! What?!?



I just don't deserve so much happiness, but I am so grateful for it! My "Notes From The Universe" this morning said:

"The secret behind miracles is that the person performing them begins without any knowledge of exactly how they will succeed... yet still they begin.

When you move, I move -
The Universe"

Thanks for sticking through all my rambling to the end! I'll post photos of the new loot as soon as it arrives!

As for when the project will actually start - that remains to be seen...

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Springing Into Spring...


I can't believe that so much time has passed since my last post! To say that we have been busy around here would be putting it mildly. But, I can see the end in my sights now, and I expect to get started on a new miniature project the day after Easter. Oh I'll still have a lot of extra To-Do stuff on my plate, but I need to make time for something mini every day. I have realized during this past couple weeks that minis fill up my happy tank, and that I am much better equipped to take on life's new challenges when the tank is full. Otherwise, I tend to get a little cranky!

I also have a lot of catching up to do! It seems the mini world did not take a break while I was busy, and many creative things are being worked on by all my mini friends! I don't want to miss anything! I am looking forward to Saturday morning, where I will catch up on all my favorite blogs and see what everyone is working on! I get butterflies just thinking about it!

The Alki Point project just needs a little touch up stain and a little dusting, then she's ready for photos to be taken. The weather forecast for Seattle next week looks Stellar!


An excellent opportunity to take her to Alki Beach for photos. Blue skies, the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound in the background are why the first white settlers made their first homesteads there so long ago, and why it is still one of the most coveted places to live in our region. Oh I hope I can get some awesome pictures!


Until then I have many domestic projects to attend to. It takes a lot of spring time work to get my yard looking like this, and maintaining it isn't easy.


In addition to that, we are moving all of the furnishings out of the family room to lay down the new wood flooring. It's a lot of work, then we'll move on to the living and dining rooms a.k.a.my office and workshop.

Hope the new spring season is also inspiring creative ambitions in all of you too! I can't wait for more mutual mini sharing to begin!


Wednesday, March 9, 2016

I Want My Mini Life Back!

But my "regular" job, Russ' new business tasks, taking care of the puppies and the household are all that there is time for right now. It is making me very, very sad... :O(

I took these photos of the nearly completed Alki Point very quickly last weekend (that was not really a weekend because I worked all day both days!). I found an app that uploads 100 photos at a time from my iPad to my PC lightning fast - best $2.99 app ever!!!

When there is time I'll do a proper "Finished Showing" with the lights on before calling her "Complete". Sorry for the lack of quality and realistic background...










Thursday, March 3, 2016

An Unexpected Adventure...


So, so much to catch up on, and only a few minutes to do it! Bear with me while I just hit the high notes from the last few days...


For our 29th anniversary get-away, we turned left instead of right and ended up in Moab, UT. That's a pretty serious detour I know - 1,100 miles or so one way, but it's been a Bucket List destination for both of us for quite a while now. With gas prices hovering around a dollar and a half, it seemed crazy not to go now. Five days to adventure in one chunk is pretty rare for us, so we decided to jump at the opportunity.


Often the most profound moments in our lives are completely unexpected. Just when you think you know the most breathtaking and majestic places to see on Earth, The Universe has a way of taking you to a whole new level of awe. There are no words that justify the magnificence of Moab or Arches National Park. Not even the photos can adequately portray the feeling. All I can tell you is Go. Just make it happen. I hope you do, and I hope, like me, that you are inspired by the abundance life offers to all of us. And I hope that you, too, experience what it's like to be grateful to the core of your soul.


 Every living thing wants more than anything just to be loved. Somehow, seeing a place worked on so magically by time, elements and the creativity of an unimaginable power, leaves no doubt in your heart that You Too Are A Masterpiece, And That You Are Dearly Loved.



Of the 285 or so photos we took during the trip, these samples seemed to me to convey in a very small way the magnitude of what we got to experience. I hope you enjoy them!




Btw... Alki Point is 99.9% finished, and I'll post a few photos in the next few days! :O)