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

From Germany With Love

Hello Friends! When last I posted, I told you I had to take a little break from the fairytale treehouse to do a bit of spring cleaning. I had NO IDEA I'd be absent the entire month of May!!! Somehow, with two weekends hosting the kids and a surprise garden makeover (organized by my awesome bestie), the month completely flew by! Finally, I am ready to dive back into minis! And the timing couldn't be more perfect with the arrival of some very special love from Germany!

Unless you are new to the mini blog world, of course you know our talented and creative friend from Germany, Birgit, and her inspiring blog BiWuBären on the Blog. We've been exchanging gifts now for a few years, and when I see a package postmarked Germany, I know I am in for a delightful early Christmas! This time my greatest expectations were blown right out of the water!

Look at all those pretty packages! I shouldn't be at all surprised that Birgit thought of and included gifts for the entire treehouse gang!

The first package with it's warning label was so intriguing! I had to open it first. 

Oh, Rozario!!! Our very own pet dragon!!! What a proper little fellow! He's so very handsome, but I wouldn't want to be on his bad side. He looks formidable, in spite of his pastel coloring!

But who is this "Rozalinda" mentioned in the note? Wait and see...

I always save the biggest gift for last, so the next box to be investigated was the sparkly blue one! The intrigue continued because inside the blue box, there were three more wee boxes with labels.

For Goldie, the budding cookbook writer, Birgit included three porridge cookbooks for her to experiment with. Birgit also included three (of course) bears which have been delightfully customized in graduating shades of lavender. Hopefully, they'll be a reminder to Goldie that she shouldn't go around sampling any one's porridge without permission! 

Goldie loves everything, and she's so touched that Birgit thought of her!

The next box Birgit included was for our resident craftsman, Wayne. Somehow, our intuitive friend from Germany knew that raccoons like to eat. What better gift to give an ever hungry raccoon than a charcuterie board filled with gourmet goodies? She also included a little buddy for Wayne so that he wouldn't always feel like the smallest guy in the room. I have a feeling he and Rozario are going to become inseparable friends!

Don't mind the drool. Wayne couldn't wait to dig in!

The last little box within the sparkly blue box contained a couple very special characters we all know from fairytales and mythology. These guys must have inspired a million ideas since they've been around! Thank you, dear Birgit, for your décor contribution to this celebration of imagination!

Pegasus and Aslan

Birgit always adds an extra layer of art to her gift giving, and that includes her talent for beautiful handmade cards. They are always so thoughtful about the recipient, and often include photos from her incredible garden. On this card, she added a photo of our favorite pink BiWuBear, Rosey, posing with her favorite flower. I think they are both equally beautiful!

The box for Alice is incredibly pretty! And included inside were a couple of my favorite traits about Birgit: Her humor and her creativity! First, of course, a rabbit. Luckily, this sweet bunny seems less likely to cause trouble than some other hares Alice knows. And Birgit came up with an amazing lantern terrarium filled to bursting with the tiniest, most detailed sunflowers ever known! Such a neat idea, Birgit!

Sorry cow, it is Alice who is over the moon!

I have to stop here before I go on to try and portray just how many butterflies were swarming in my tummy as I opened Birgit's last and biggest package. You see, several months ago, as I was trying to create the back story of how this fairytale treehouse came to be, I wondered how two lost little girls could possibly survive in a treehouse in the forest all by themselves. Then I knew - a fairy godmother! One who kind of kept an eye on everything but still let the girls stay a little bit wild. Thinking about her wings, I immediately thought of Fluby, the most famous flutterbeary that Birgit has ever created. A Fairy Beary Godmother would be the best and most perfect character to oversee the girls. I mentioned it in a comment on the blog and Birgit read it. She wrote right away to let me know that she loved the idea and would love to contribute such an important mentor to the girls. Unfortunately, her dominant hand has been injured for a while now. She can hardly tolerate needlework any longer. I assured her that I totally understood chronic pain and injury, and persuaded her that it was really only a pipe dream. 

Then, she did this... Meet Rozalinda!

 A couple weeks ago Birgit emailed to tell me that she had actually tried and succeeded creating a very special fairy beary godmother for us! What??? Birgit!!! OMG!!!

We have both been on pins and needles (lol) hoping the package would make it safely on it's journey half way across the world! 

And she's here, safe, and she's entirely beautiful and perfect and beyond anything I could ever hope for or imagine! I LOVE her! And the icing on the cake, the cherry on top is that my friend, injury and all, bore the pain to do this amazing thing for me. Birgit, ~Thank You~! My heart is full and your kindness inspires me and I hope you know how happy you have made me! I am going to treasure Rozalinda forever!!!

The whole gang is having a Welcome Rozalinda and Rozario party and we wish you were here!!!

Next week construction begins on very special housing for our new residents! For now, this love from Germany has me floating on clouds!

xo xo,

Jodi

At Last...

Hi Guys! I know it's been a long while, but I'm back to the craft table! I was beginning to worry I might not ever find my motivation again! First, the onset of holidays, then a bout with the nasty RSV bug, then more holidays and finally Russ being home for the majority of the last three months. It was all so counter to creativity! Finally, I just remembered where I'd left off, what the next step in the fairytale treehouse project was supposed to be, and I got busy. Thinking can be the death of creativity for me, so ignoring the "shoulds" is the only path back to my table...

Before the bug struck, I had been working on stairs for the left wall tower. I didn't have much of a plan but that is the plan for this project. I want to allow my imagination to wonder and figure out solutions as problems arise. That seems like the best way to have the most fun with this fantasy genre. So, without much measuring and only using my eyecrometer, I cut up some 3/16" foam core to create a circular staircase. I carved in some stones, added a base coat of paint and applied some glue veining because I thought it might look neat. Then I sponged and pounced on various paint colors until it looked like a staircase that belonged in a forest fairytale treehouse. And that's all for the staircase until I get a better idea of how its going to function in the treehouse...

I cut the opening for the staircase tower... At Last! The scroll saw noise sent Woodson under the bed! Guess we're going to have to work on his tolerance all over again. Poor guy!

And like usually happens when I just stop thinking and get to work, more progress happened! I took the pop out window from the kit that was meant for the left wall (but got nixed in favor of the stair tower), reconfigured it a bit, made an opening for it in the right wall and it will become a sleeping loft upstairs for one of the girls.

Window seat from kit meant for the left wall.

Traced onto the second floor of the right wall.

Another opening to cut - poor Woodson!

Test fit.

Side view to see the protrusion.

Below the bedroom will be a kitchen for the girls. Goldie is working on a porridge cookbook and will need to test recipes! I thought it might be nice to have a little light coming into the room from outside, so I made a pop out window for above the sink. I repurposed the tall foundation pieces that I omitted from the kit. Woodson doesn't like the noise from the mini table saw any better than he does the scroll saw. You should see him take off when I release the steam on the Instant Pot! Poor Wubby!!!

Simple lean-to type pop out design.

Now this wall is much more interesting!

Profile view.

The last wall to get a bit of a pop out feature is the second floor window of the front wall. It didn't need much, just a little elevation change to add some detail and interest. This was a little more complicated than the other two windows because I had to figure out how to remake the arched window into a pop out, how to create an arched roof and how to keep it from interfering with the gable trim to come.

Here is how the original kit it configured...

Opening window.

And here is the wall with the pop out mock up. I used illustration art board for the arched roof, sliced at intervals to make the curve. It protudes only 5/8" - just enough to add a little charm.

Profile view.

So, it looks like I am back on a roll! Hopefully, I'll be able to keep the momentum going! But first...

Some of you receive my posts in email form. I have used MailChimp's free service for my 1,500 email subscribers since Blogger stopped sending them in 2021. After March 10th, it won't be free any longer. I know $13 - $20 per month ($156 - $240 per year) for their service doesn't sound like too much, but for someone who doesn't make money from her hobby, it's a lot of mini supplies I could be buying each year. I'll be looking for other free alternatives and hopefully, I'll find one and be able to continue sending the emails. More info to come...

Also, I wanted to share the wonderful treasures that Birgit (BiWuBären on the Blog) sent for Christmas! In addition to yummy marzipan and chocolates, she sent a 2023 calendar featuring photos she took of her amazing garden. Each photo features her adorable handmade BiWu Bears Flubby and Rosey. It brings such joy each time I look up and see it on my desk! She also included a handy closable storage/lunch box, a kit to make a palm plant (yippee!) and the best gift ever - Bottled Sunshine!!! Boy do I need that!!! These are tiny marvels of the biggest kind!  Thanks to Birgit and all the gang! It is thrilling to receive such love, thoughtfulness and kindness all the way from Germany! 🥰💗🤗

Hope you are all feeling mini motivated and having fun!

xo xo,

Jodi