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Monday, October 3, 2016

Speaking of Lists...



It seems that a lot of us participating in this year's HBS Creatin' Contest are beginning to realize that the December 16th entry deadline is coming up rather quickly! Several of us have been posting and chatting about our To Do lists. In my case, it seems that as soon as I check something off, I realize I need to add several more things. Talk about lighting a fire under your butt!

The highest priority item on my list was addressing the fireplace's flame lighting. It was the age old story of how everything was working just perfectly until I lost access to the connections, and then it just stopped working. It took me a good while to sit and think about a Plan B. But I finally just got out all the parts and made myself sit there until I came up with a solution.


The first thing was to remove the grate with logs from the fireplace. I had to cut the original wires in order to free it. Then I removed the non working bulbs and saved them for another project some day. Rather than trying to connect the new lights to the 12 volt system, my only option seemed to be running them using a 9 volt battery system.


I debated for a long time about having access to the switch while still camouflaging the battery and wires. In the end, I remembered Brae's hidden battery in her firewood box and that gave me an idea. If I loosened the firewood from the fireplace cubby and made it so that it could slide in and out that would solve all my issues.



I inserted the new lights into the fire grate, drilled a hole into the side wall of the fireplace, strung the light wires through, met them up with the switch wires in the firewood cubby, attached all wires together then and heat shrink tubed them securely. Now I only needed to come up with the camouflaged log system.


I grabbed some quick wood scrap and Woodsies and came up with a sort of log/battery box toboggan. When it's inserted into the cubby, you (almost) can't see a thing!




To celebrate after the resolved lighting issue, I decided it was time to mount the head of that Big Old Bad Woolf! It will serve as a reminder that no matter how big the bullies are in your life, just look them right in the eye and you'll persevere in the end!


Now that one important item was finally crossed off the list, it was time to move onto some of the fun details for the project! The oldest piggy, Bob, knew that it would be important and inspirational to chronicle the events that took place with The Big Bad Wolf. He's been typing up a novel about it since very near the beginning. He used to have his typewriter sitting on the kitchen table, but now that his brothers were sharing the space he needed a dedicated writing desk. I took one of the HOM kits in my stash and gave it some new legs that would fit better into our cartoony scene, For the seating, I added a bigger seat, padding and fabric to a little milking stool.



It was also important for Bob to have everyday supplies like pencils, paper pad, stamps, envelopes, tape, twine and a ruler. I'll have to hunt for some scissors to add in the drawer soon.



Here's the extra large but somehow perfect typewriter with the last page of the story being written. I think Bob's publisher is going to be pleased!


I'll leave you with a few up to date progress shots. There are still many items on my list that I'd like to include on the project. We'll see how many I end up with time for.





I am always looking to the next mini projects in the queue. It's embarrassing to admit, but in my daily gratitude conversations with the universe, I often express just how lovely my life is, and that when it's my time to leave this Earth I will do so with no regrets. I always include an asterisk at the end of the conversation, though, asking if I can please stay until such and such mini projects are finished. I bet I get some head shaking with that request. What can I say - I really love miniatures.

I'd love some wisdom and feedback on a particular decision that I am struggling to make. After the contest build is completed, do I start on the Beachside Bungalow, or finish the Shabby Chic Soap Shop first? I am leaning toward finishing the soap shop. What do you all think???

Thanks for your two cents...

Jodi


16 comments:

  1. Great solution. It will work much better in the long run, because had you left the flickering lights wired into the same power supply as the rest of them they would all start to flicker eventually. That is where I'm at in the English Cottage Kitchen.

    Might I suggest a bracket and hanging pot in the fireplace?

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    1. The lights that I had originally put in the fireplace did not flicker, so I think I came out ahead all the way around! It is hard to see in the photo, but I do have a metal swinging arm in the fireplace for the big copper pot. I have not hung it yet as I still need to make the veggies and hunks of meat for the wolf stew. I had the perfect loaves of baking bread for the arched side of the fireplace, but I seem to have misplaced them. I'll have to make some more bread now, too!

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  2. Hello Jodi,
    That was an excellent idea to camouflage the battery pack. the fireplace really looks lovely and the wolf head is perfect. It is such a cozy cottage! the desk is great and I love the full drawer...it adds so much realism. the bench came out great as well. I really am loving this project. I say work on the shop for now and if ever you need a break, start on the bungalow.
    Big hug
    Giac

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Giac! I have so many more fun details to add and I hope you enjoy them too! Thank you for the advice to work on the shop - I really think that is is the right thing. I am pretty organized by nature, and leaving things undone is like a rock in my shoe! :o)

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  3. Amazing Jodi! The build looks spectacular. Always makes me smile.

    I just bought that fire kit last night!

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    1. Thanks, Kat! The fire kit is fun!!! I can't wait to see what you're going to use it for!!! I hope it includes those amazing wicker pieces you just got!!! I'm so glad that I'm following you on Instagram so I get to see all the fun scenes you post!!!

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  4. Well done! :D You are so much further along than I am. :O I also do the bargaining for mini time. :D

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    1. Ha! As if our bargains really work, right? But you gotta try!

      With the list of things I still have left to do, and my job getting crazy again for the next three weeks, you will surely pass me up! And I am glad, though, because I know whatever you are doing, it will be spectacular!!! It's so hard to wait for your entire process posts!

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  5. I love your desk drawer full of supplies. Notes are important for revisions! The house looks so happy and co-ordinated. The brothers are doing pretty well at living together in the small space.

    I feel your pain with the lights and the fireplace. So frustrating to have everything finally enclosed and then something stops working. I ran into that last year and I was ready to just tear everything apart I was so aggravated.

    Which reminds me, I really need to run another test of my lights. Just in case.

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    1. Argh! I always have massive anxiety each time I know I need to test again. Especially as the build gets further along. At some point, I will have to smarten up and get creative with leaving access areas for the lighting. I swear, I am going to be soooo nice to new miniaturists in the future. The ones who go before us have really saved our bacon, haven't they?!?!

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  6. It's looking wonderful Jodi! You have put so many interesting details into your build, and they all work beautifully.

    I agree about finishing the soap shop when you are done with this one. That is such a beautiful project too!

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    1. Thanks Kathi! It's been a run project for my imagination to go! I started looking in the drawer full of stuff waiting for the soap shop and I am starting to get excited about it again! I'll most likely be well into November before I am finished with the contest build. Work has once again taken up all my time!

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  7. Me encanta lo que estás haciendo en este trabajo. Hay montones de detalles. El cajón ha quedado muy bien.

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    1. Muchas gracias, Isabel! Me alegro de que usted está disfrutando el progreso! Una vez que tengo que poner los cerdos en la construcción, creo que va a ser mágico para mí y los niños en la biblioteca!

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  8. Wowza! You have all the details. I love how you have the typed paper with the story on it and all the supplies in Bob's desk. The wolf's head is the perfect touch. I think I'm bowing out of the contest. The miniature show just took up way too much of my time.

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    1. Thank you, Cyd! Don't you just love it when you get to include the tiniest of details, some of which only you know about!

      It is such a bummer that you won't be in the contest this year, but I totally get how preparing for the show must have taken all your create time. Please let us know your idea and progress on your blog! Even if it takes a few years to finish something, your amazingly creative ideas must live on!

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