The Miniature Zone...

"It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of a person's fears and the summit of their knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call The Miniature Zone."

You may recognize my twist on the monologue from The Twilight Zone. For me, being elbow deep in the fulfillment of a long imagined mini dream is just like being transported into a different time and space. And it is... Simply Marvelous!

The above photo demonstrates how utter chaos transforms, and the vision in my mind emerges into reality! But how to get there? Simply one little task at a time...

First, I added some head room to the kit's walls with an additional inch and one half of plywood. And then I glued on the kit's gabled wall sections. Last week I also cut the opening for the window over the sink. A sink window is a Must Have! It's such a treat to gaze through, the view and the possibilities taking your mind away from whatever kitchen drudgery you happen to be currently engaged in. Even five inch tall dollhouse people like it, trust me. :0)

I added an embossed wallpaper to certain sections of the walls - the ones that are going to show. I like it because of it's plain white unobtrusiveness, and yet it still gives texture in a vaguely nautical way.

I glued the back and left wall to the floor. The right wall will remain apart for a time, so as to allow for my very unladylike hands to reach in and manipulate, clamp and have access to things.

The cabinetry, both design and execution was complicated. In fact, I am pretty sure that I overheated my brain circuits and that actual smoke escaped from my ears. Is that why the dogs were looking at me funny?

Overall measurements are simple enough, but start subtracting the thicknesses of material while watching a pretend video in your mind of how parts will fit together and that's where trouble begins. I found that I had confused myself several times. It is indeed an activity for the sharp minded. I used to be one of those...

The numbers on the graph paper have to be converted into shapes in the Cricut Design Space program. Here, I convert fractions to decimals. I usually get them right. And when I don't, or I miscalculate, I must come up with a solution. I often ask myself "what was I thinking?".

Each color represents a cabinet and a sheet to be printed.

The Cricut Maker cuts the flat pack designed furniture parts from 2mm chipboard.

Or 1/16" basswood. It takes stain beautifully.

And then, the assembly begins. You have to remember your intentions. How did I plan to fit these pieces together? As I sit and ponder what I've done, I imagine I have the look of a person who's just been concussed. The lights are on, and there are signs of life, but the systems are coming online again ~slowly~... The dogs stare at me, tilting their heads left then right. It seems I've confused them, too.

Ah yes! Basic box cabinets with simple Shaker doors affixed to solid cabinet fronts. Appliance dummies where appropriate. Now I remember!

And we're getting somewhere...

Time for some paint. I check with Tasha again to make sure she has chosen her favorite shade of Navy. This time, she picks the opposite of the one she chose the first time. Oh nuts! I talk her into the one on the left which is slightly more jaunty because that is the perfect adjective for Tasha.

And much gluing, painting, sanding, clamping later, we have the semblance of a kitchen.

And there's still so much left to do.

And I LOVE it! And I love The Miniature Zone!

This weekend: cabinet hardware, cabinet fronts, loading permanent items into glass front (non accessible later) cabinets, appliance fronts and... Possibly, if time stops for me as it did in the Twilight Zone episode A Kind Of Stopwatch, countertops. But I doubt it.

And making rubber molds of bottles. I need lots of bottles. And I had almost enough mold material for the first mold. Almost. Now I await UPS.

I hope your projects are showing promise and that you find yourself in The Miniature Zone!

xo xo,

Jodi