Fit For A Queen

Or, more accurately, a Fairy Beary Godmother. What I'm talking about is Roz's bed. As you know, Roz falls perfectly into twelfth scale, though at just 4" tall, she's at the petit end of the bell curve. In addition, her trunkhouse, having been custom designed for her, is also what the realtors like to call cozy. So, when it came to making the perfect bed for her, I had to think a little outside the scale.

Roz's Bedroom is just 9-1/4" in diameter.

I started off with a House Of Miniatures Chippendale Canopy Bed kit. If assembled as intended, it would have taken up nearly the entire floor space of the bedroom.   

This meant that I'd need to make adjustments which allowed me to engage in my favorite aspect of mini kits: Customization! After measuring what the perfect width of a bed would be for the room, I found the center of the headboard piece and measured half that amount out from each side. 

Then I cut off the excess and carved the bedpost notches back into the new headboard. I still really loved the curved shape, even after losing the "wings".

Then came the complicated part. Here's where tenacity really pays off. After determining the perfect length for Roz and the room, I had to figure out which kit pieces needed to be cut for both the length and the new width. My advice for anyone attempting this is get plenty of sleep the night before, work in a silent environment, measure and visualize several times and don't go anywhere near a saw until you're CERTAIN about what you're doing. Luckily, I heeded my own advice and everything went well. 😊

The new configuration measures 4-3/4" L x 3-1/4" W x 6-3/4" H. It fits Roz comfortably and leaves plenty of "living space" in the bedroom. Hooray! 

The kit calls for making incremental holes in the frame to string "rope" through to support the mattress. Once I'd drilled the holes for the smaller frame, I realized I could just use a couple pieces of the leftover wood scraps to make cross braces instead of a complicated stringing process.

Here is what the viewer will see looking in through the trunk's opening.

The next step was to make Roz a super plush mattress. Considering the amount of headboard that I wanted to show above the mattress, I determined a good thickness was two layers of 3/16" foam core. Then a layer of Thermolam, and on top of that, a layer of quilt batting. Before gluing the layers to the foam core, I pre-drilled a series of holes for later tufting.

Next I covered the mattress with a very fun ticking type fabric. Purple stripes and hearts? It couldn't be more fit for Roz!

After sewing the tufts in, I made a bottom cover with fabric covered cardstock. I don't know if anyone will ever look under the bed, but if they did and saw a bunch of thread and knots, I'd be mortified!!!

The only thing left to do was to create a boxing strip (to wrap around the mattress) with more cardstock and fabric. I love the finished look and am suddenly craving a nap!

The final test was to check the mattress on the bed. A great fit with room for bedding!

You can see the beginnings of adornments being added to the bed frame, as well.

For efficiency's sake, I made Alice and Goldie's mattresses while I had all of the mattress making supplies out. Wayne and Rozario will get theirs made at the same time, too (soon), but with a more masculine fabric.

Every time I look at this unfinished floor I feel badly! Soon girls, I promise!

Once the mattresses were finished, I could focus on the adornments for Roz's bed. I may have had to skimp on size, but I could still load up on regal detailing. I added lots of Dresden trims, pearl half beads and Roz's initial. Then I painted a base coat of warm white.

I could have stopped right here and it would have been a beautiful bed. But not quite fit for a queen (or a Fairy Beary Godmother). But because this post is already long, and has (I am sure) eaten up much of your blog reading budget, I'll leave you with a... To Be Continued...

BUT... Before I go... I have one last event to share that is sure to make you feel the warm fuzzies that are pervasive in our mini community...

Many of you know and follow Sheila's wonderfully creative blog, Shenandoah And Stuff. This week I was surprised by the loveliest note of encouragement and unique gifts from Sheila. She crafted a beautifully embellished set of china for Roz! There is a serving platter, a pitcher, a large bowl, dinner plates, dessert plates and cups with saucers. Wow! What a thoughtful gift! She intended to give them to Roz for her kitchen, but after seeing the delicately petaled floral spray which was hand appliqued on these pieces, Goldie insisted that they belong to her! Boy, that Goldie has no qualms about stating her opinion! Roz, seeing Goldie's delight, and having everything she needs, couldn't argue. Here are the gorgeous dishes which will soon be adorning Goldie's open kitchen shelving. Aren't they delightful?!?

Thanks so much, Sheila, for sharing your encouragement, creativity and talents with me and the gang! 💗 The china is so adorable and will add a wonderfully unique charm and warmth to Goldie's kitchen! 

More sets are coming soon to Sheila's Etsy Shop. 

Until next time, my friends, find ways to share your talents, inspire others and spread the mini love!

xo xo,

Jodi