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 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...
Jodi, we all tick differently. I simply HAVE to finish before I start something new. This permanent 'I should' is something that bothers me too much. But I can full understand how the spark of tackling something new is impossible to ignore :-)
ReplyDeleteP.S. for the garage you definitely should order some stacking boxes and the toolbox from pepper on shapeways...
Oh Marion! I was a type A person all the while my kids were growing up. Everything in it's place, responsibility before fun, spotless house - the whole enchilada. Since I quit my corporate career, I have slowly been becoming more and more laid back over the past four years. It really is wonderful, and those "shoulds" don't stay in my thoughts for very long anymore! And I agree - I do need Pepper's garage items! Maybe buying them will inspire me to go back to work on it!
DeleteHello Jodi,
ReplyDeleteNon sense! you deserve every minute of joy and happiness. Is that not what a hobby is all about? I loved seeing all your projects. You do amazing work and have great skills. I tend to push through each room of the manor and finish them before I go on to the next...but I see nothing wrong with stopping and coming back later. Whatever the reason for not finishing a project, just remember you don't have to justify anything to anyone. Just go with the flow!
Big hug
Giac
Oh Giac! You always know just the right things to say! You area a positive and supportive soul who always sees the good side! I love that you read my stories and are always here to lift me up! Giant hugs to you, my friend! The world is such a wonderful place with you in it!
DeleteHey how you work is how you work. Are you happy? It's your hobby so that's the important thing. Having fun. My husband constantly asks if I'm enjoying the process of my builds and likes being amazed by all the tiny details. But if its not fun then what's the point of a hobby? I'm just OCD enough that I feel I have to get as much done as I can before starting a new project. And since my last two builds were contest builds they had to be completed.
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better I now have two houses that should be all done but neither of them have curtains. Now that I've got a pleater I'm hoping that will change but who knows!
Oh, and the lights won't work on the Beach Bungalow because...I don't know why. At least your stuff works!
DeleteI feel your frustration! It always comes down to poor contact for me. I just had trouble with the contest build in the junction splice. I ended up pulling it up, patching a sticker free strip on both runs, drilling deeper, attaching eyelets and crimping them right to the prongs before reinserting and pounding it in. They all work again, but I have been foolishly confident before. Argh!
DeleteThanks for the encouragement, too! We'll get them done eventually, right?
DeleteFrequently I wish I could have the discipline to finish one project before starting another. Currently I'm working on the Mad Man Office, The Citadel, 2 versions of the 2016 HBS Creatin' Contest, The Area 54 Loft Conversion and still have the Malibu house and the Contemporary ranch waiting in the wings. Plus I just signed up to do the miniature show here in September. I really need to stop doing contests!
ReplyDeletePS: As long as you love what you are doing that's what matters and Elizabeth is amazing!
DeleteThat's my girl! We just need to figure out how to stop time every so often so that we can do all of the things we dream of! I am so proud of you for doing an upcoming show!!! You are going to knock their socks off! Please post lots of pictures! Should I say "break a leg"?
DeleteAnd I am so loving what I do! I could almost say that I live for miniatures at this point in my life!
I'm with you. It's like there is an internal carousel & every day I have no idea which horse to ride....Unfinished headshop, pottery, market stands, gypsy wagons, a 1/48 town, my giant TWO beacon hills to be a castle bash, a separate castle tower base is 75% done & for some reason I'm working on the third floor instead of the 2nd & still have NO idea how the sections will stack or the doors will open. Sometimes I'd rather dream & plan & sketch than lift an actual finger to do something actual. It *is* a sickness, a danger for daydreamers & half-assers! I am totally incapable of finishing anything unless there are half a dozen other more pressing things that I can ignore. And let's not discount the time wasted putting away bits & tools from yesterday's project so we can even think about doing something else today.... I think for me, so many ideas, so little time, & a propensity for getting bored-I prefer to have many things going so I can bounce when I need a break, or get stalled. Somehow though, with the carousel approach, things slowly, slowly come together.
ReplyDeleteThe carousel sounds like a fabulous approach! It's like being a kid and never running out of interesting things to play with! Some people explore the world, and some of us explore ourselves. I'm with you - keep the creativity going and the boredom locked in the cellar!
DeleteHa! I just finished that house. I left out the stairs and have an open concept main floor. House is based on the movie "Something's Gotta Give". Do not feel bad. That house sat for over a year, because I got bored with the wiring I finally forced myself to finish it. I hated the floors and applied new ones. It is a beautiful kit. Unfortunately, there was one tiny porch pillar pieces missing. I had to improvise on that because it took two weeks to get the missing part.
ReplyDeleteOMG Nancy I LOVE the set design in that movie! What an awesome idea! I know that you took your blog down, but I am going to go lurk your Google Plus pics!
DeleteBoard = abandoning for me, too. Especially when the project is not turning out as fabulous as it looks in my mind.
I was thinking of turning the floors upside down so that it would have wood planked ceilings. What do you think?
I did that with mine and then added beams. I really liked how it looked. You can check it out if you want. I just used a sponge and some watered down white paint.
DeleteThanks Sheila! I went to your blog and bookmarked the tag so I can reference it during the build. Very cleaver hiding the wire in the chimney, and the built-ins and rope bannister were also very creative!
Delete