Being home gave me time to start on the can lights for the ceiling. I painted the once silver grommets to a gold-er tone, then got them and the bulbs installed. See all of those wires? Today I will be labeling, combining and inserting into plugs. I have to make twenty LED bulbs and eleven 12v bulbs connect to only twelve outlets on the power strip. Excuse me for a moment while I go take my ginkgo and eat my Wheaties...
Facing that task has taken me a couple of days to work up to. Probably a lack of sufficient sleep - Woodson has been getting up with the light at about 4:40 every morning. He's not yet two, so the appreciation for sleep hasn't occurred to him yet. Instead, I focused (ha!) on some fun and less mentally challenging things...
These little resin candlesticks are super cute, but I thought I could make them even better. I drilled a 1/16" hole through the center so that candle flame bulbs could be added.
Then I painted the bases, candles and bulbs. I also made up some Mary Kinloch maidenhair fern leaves and added them to a couple pot metal planters.
Here they are in the fireplace - hope to have them wired in later today.
Here are the ferns in their planters on the dining room wall...
And to further avoid monumental brain work, I made a topiary and played with some accessories for the dining room furniture. It's so hard to decide what to put where - especially since it will not be easily seen. The sticks in the little bonsai pot will eventually become, well, bonsai-ed. Thanks Casey for the inspiration! Mine won't be nearly as detailed, but it has to be tiny for that space.
Now the question becomes... Shall I permanently attach the decor to the furniture for easier placement later on? I better give that some serious thought. What do you do?
Hope you are all off enjoying some Independence from responsibility, doing something you love!
Jodi
I love your candles! Though one seems a little tall for the fireplace. Maybe its the camera angle. Your planters with the ferns look wonderful on the dining room wall.
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid I'm useless on accessory placement. I love your plates. Gorgeous.
And now I'm totally rethinking having embers in my fireplace and thinking candles would be so much prettier!
DeleteThanks, Sheila! I think it is just the angle, and that the mirror had slipped before I took the photo. Hopefully, it looks proportional once I get them all glued down and placed properly.
DeleteCandles would be lovely! I think more contemporary/modern houses tend to have gas "switched" fireplaces like my real life one and updated old homes tend to have new heating and air systems where the fireplaces become architectural features rather than functioning heat sources. Depending on where your vision falls for the craftsman, you could go either way and have it be unique and neat. Kat's gas fireplace with rocks was super cool, too!
I would use the sticky wax designed for holding miniatures. I searched for "miniature wax" on Amazon and it came up.
ReplyDeleteHi Fribble! I do have a couple different brands of the tacky wax stuff, but I have experienced it "wearing out" or drying out and losing it's stick-um after a time. Since the dining room is going to be really difficult to access later, I am worried that I may end up with a bugger of a problem. Thanks so much for taking the time to make a helpful suggestion! I'll be sure to post what I ended up using, and how it seems to hold up over time.
DeleteMe gusta el efecto de la cerámica azul. También el toque de verde de las plantas.
ReplyDeleteSi encuentras algo que sirva para fijar las miniaturas y que se pueda luego quitar cuéntalo.
Thanks, Isabel! It is so nice to see things in 3D rather than just in my brain (this project has been a dream for so long)! Fran (comment below) suggests rubber cement, so I am thinking I will give that a try. I will definitely post about how it works both immediately and over time.
DeleteGracias, Isabel! Es tan agradable ver las cosas en 3D en lugar de sólo en mi cerebro (este proyecto ha sido un sueño durante tanto tiempo)! Fran (comentario más abajo) sugiere cemento de caucho, así que estoy pensando que voy a dar un intento. Definitivamente publicaré acerca de cómo funciona tanto inmediatamente como en el tiempo.
DeleteI'm diggin' your decor fireplace far more than I think I would a roaring fire type of fireplace. It looks informal and artsy :0) I never glue/wax anything to anything but that's because I borrow bits from one scene to put in another on a regular basis. Lovin the fern planters too. As for the LED's in a small amount of outlets..twist the matching (+ and -)wires together and put 2/3 in the same outlet. It won't effect the brightness of each LED as the 12v power remains constant across each one :0)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pepper! I was not envisioning a fire for this house either, so when I found I had the candles and the bulbs in my stock I said Yippee!
DeleteI am a bit of a clepto, too, when it comes to "borrowing" minis from other projects. Sometimes don't return them either, so I bet this house would love it if I couldn't remove anything!
Thanks for the suggestion and info about the wiring. I am going to try to get at least 3 sets of wires into each plug, and if I can successfully, I won't need to order any of those extension thingies. And if I can keep it fairly tidy and organized I won't hate myself later.
jodi, these candle holders look super! you seem to have a very steady hand for drilling small holes like these ;-)
ReplyDeleteas pepper says: twist the wires together once you know how you want to place them...
Thanks, Marion! Slow and steady, cleaning out the resin frequently seems to be the magic technique. I had to drill out a the socket and left over wires from a 12v fixture too, just to repair it after I had inadvertently sliced the wire. I replaced it with the same type of bulb used in the candles. I am so happy now to know this is possible, and wonder how many lights I could have saved in past had I just tried. Oh BTW... I just ordered some styrene sheet to give it a shot after your awesome trolley! Thanks for sharing!
DeleteUn trabajo increíble la electrificación¡cuantos cables!, el resultado es fantástico.Yo suelo utilizar cinta adhesiva por las dos caras, así se mantiene y se quita muy bien, cuando lo tengas ya definido lo puedes pegar ya definitivamente.Tus porcelanas preciosos.Buena semana:-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rosa Maria! I am happy that you like everything, and it is a great suggestion to tape in place before permanently adhering everything down. I also added you to my Great Reads list and am excited to go see your creations!
DeleteGracias, Rosa María! Estoy feliz de que te guste todo, y es una gran sugerencia para la cinta en su lugar antes de adherirse permanentemente todo. ¡También le agregué a mi lista de lecturas estupendas y estoy emocionado de ir a ver sus creaciones!
Each added thing brings so much life to your build! I love the candlestick makeover! The plants really warm the space, too. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks, Brae! Aren't those Mary Kinloch leaf and flower sheets amazing?!?
DeleteI love... everything!! the candlesticks, the plants, the fire place, all the decoration you are testing and trying so far. This house is going to be amazing.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Alexandra! I have been so excited about doing it for so long, and It is truly wonderful to see it finally coming to life! I am happy you are here sharing the excitement with me!
DeleteHi Jodi, this project is coming along beautifully and will be a space to drool over when you are finished. My best tip for semi-permanent attachment of accessories is rubber cement. I use it all the time, in every scene, for every thing (including furniture). An older, gloopier bottle will set faster but fresh cement may need a prop and patience while it dries. Everything will stay put while you want it to but be easy to remove if you change your mind.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the finish!
Fran Casselman (HBS/miniatures.com)
Thanks so much, Fran! I'll be sure to hand you a box of tissues if you ever get to see it in person, lol!
DeleteWhat a fantastic tip! I am going to pick up a bottle and try it out - thank you! I don't think I've used rubber cement since grade school! I am sure the smell will bring back many fond memories!
WOW-EEE Jodi! Your latest accessories add yet another paragraph to the personal story of this Amazing New Orleans house! I think that the mirror behind the candlesticks in the fireplace is going to make a Real Impact once they are "lit", and I also love the transformation of the topiary planter- it looks like it has both substance and weight enough to support the tree planted in it.
ReplyDeleteAnd the collection of blue and white china which you have on display is also ideal because they not only stand out against the dark wood but they look Really Pretty and I can hardly wait to see them in your dining room. :))
As a rule, I try not to glue down my accessories except when absolutely necessary because I usually change my mind and/or find something else later on which I like better, but if it is a tight space where you are not going to be able to make adjustments without knocking everything down after it's installed, then save yourself the grief of trying to reach in later; just bite the bullet and glue it down.
elizabeth
Thanks, Elizabeth! It makes me happy that you like everything because I LOVE everything you do!
DeleteI think for this room I am going to have to glue them down, though I really hope I do not regret the decision. I think I'll try Fran's suggestion for rubber cement, then if I ever (God forbid) have to sell or donate the project I can still save the pieces. Wish me luck! :O)
Hello Jodi,
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun post! I really love what you did to the candle sticks. They look amazing! The ceiling is coming along really nicely...great job on the pot lights. The planters are such a perfect touch and really work on the wall. However, the layout of the items on those wonderful pieces of furniture is awesome. It looks so beautiful. I usually stick my items down with wax. I have yet to not move an item or change a piece of furniture in a room.
Big hug
Giac
Thank you, Giac! This is really one of the first projects that I have invested in nicer furnishings and accessories. But they are still not real artisan pieces. You have such exquisitely fine things that to glue them would be a shame. I am going to have to move this house occasionally, so I am concerned I won't be able to get things back in place if they shift or fall. I am going to try Fran's rubber cement on some test furniture and see how well it holds, and what if any evidence it leaves when I remove it after a few days. I'll let you know what happens...
ReplyDeleteI have the same candles and I've often thought how cool it would be if they lit. I can't believe you risked it and actually drilled them!!! I LOVE IT!!! They look amazing!! And your colour choice blends them seamlessly into the interior.
ReplyDeleteI mentioned on instagram too, but for attaching minis I love The Museum Putty. Works amazing, no residue and you can move it around and take it off when ever. It holds up everything (walls, cabinets, tiny wineglasses, and food). It's my cheat to an easy dry fit!
Thanks, Kristine! I have ordered another set of the candles so I can give it another try. This time, I will drill the 1/16" bit up through the bottom for the wire to pass through as I did with these, but I am going to take a little more risk and use a 1/8" bit on the candles themselves so I can hide the bulb down inside. I also want to try a flicker bulb and see how that will work. I hope you do try it and pass along any improvements to all of us, as well!
DeleteDo you find that the Museum Putty holds over time? I have also heard folks over at the Greenleaf forum say that they have experienced that it discolors and blemishes surfaces over time. Has that been your experience?
Love the candles and the fern... I definitely think you should try the flickering flame bulbs next time.. how fun! Can't wait to see the Bonsai. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sam! I had an idea to perfect them... I am going to make molds of the candles and cast them in both polymer clay and resin so that I have loads to experiment on. I'll definitely try the flicker bulbs and see if I can post a video so you can actually see them flicker!
Delete