Learning and Doing

I started gluing the Andi-Mini flagstone to the front of the barn, around the garage doors - so far, so good. It's like fitting a puzzle together, only there is no box cover telling you what it should look like when you're done. Freedom to get creative! I LOVE the 3D depth they are giving...

Then, I had rocked up to the front door. Oh. Yeah... I am going to have to make the entry deck before I can finish the flagstone. Hmmm... I've made lots of stuff before, but never a deck. Again this barn is stretching my comfort zone.

Thank you Universe for Google! Deck photos disected and plans studied. It all makes so much more sense now! Putting my own together is going to be challenging!

Thank you NancyLand for the excellent tip: using pins to hold wood pieces together. Sometimes things seem so simple, after someone tells you about them!

I am going to try to put this deck together as if I were a little carpenter. We'll see how it all comes out...









Meanwhile, I wait for glue to dry, sipping coffee while I fritter away in TinkerCad. Here are the next series creations:

Enliven Kitchen Sink w Faucet

Exhilarate Bathroom Fixtures

Exhilarate Modern Wall Toilet

Exhilarate Bathroom Sink

Exhilarate Bathroom Shower Fixture

Exhilarate Bathroom Shower Fixture with Tile Wall

Exhilarate Bathroom Shower Tile Back Wall

Exhilarate Bathroom Shower Tile Side Wall

Persuasion Bedside Table

If they turn out to be good and usable in real life, I'm going to have one cool Alki Point project. If not, I've literally wasted a good deal of time and mini money. Oh please let all of those tutorials pay off! Fingers crossed!

Finding Inspiration Again

You know when you reach that point in a project where you become, well, I'll just say it - BOARD!?!

I had gotten there with the barn. I think because mostly it just wasn't turning out at all how I'd envisioned. AT ALL! It wasn't just that I've encountered so many obstacles, because that's normal in working with miniature building. It's really because the obstacles that I've encountered have forced me to completely change the layout. Which made the pre-fabbed pieces I made not work or look at all like what I had in my mind's eye. I'm just so sad about it, that I had lost some steam...


The optimist in me always wins, so I rolled up my sleeves and just started making little Sharpie pens out of toothpicks. I found an old plastic shim in my junk drawer, probably left over from some Ikea piece I purchased years ago. These, once cut apart, sanded, filed and glued together became an organizer for the garage bench. That kind of got me excited, and that is usually all it takes to get going again!

I needed to measure, cut stain and install the trim for the doors, and then I needed to finally figure out what I was going to do with that window. I like to use Zots to temporarily hold things in place for measuring or painting and such.

The kit came with barn doors, which I didn't use because I installed the working garage doors where they were supposed to live. Why not put them on the end? That would solve both the window and door problems.









The upper part of the barn doors need something... Maybe a frame with our last name initial inside? Hmmm...
Also, I have decided NOT to put an elaborate deck off the bedroom french doors. Just a juliet balcony, I think. I have other, more exciting projects to get to...







I printed out a barn door photo to Mod-Podge onto the inside of the barn door. I printed an insulated wall photo for the interior window frame. I may add 2x4's and some pink batting later on. Just a peek into the walls.









Here are a few more photos of the details. I really need to start using the iPad or the GoPro and not my phone taking for photos. Laziness is the excuse...









The next steps will be:
1. Finish Painting.
2. Install remaining roof and trim pieces to the open back.
3. Install roofing.
4. Make deck for entrance.
5. Finish exterior lighting.
6. Buy base mdf.
7. Landscaping, touch-up.
8. Figure out where it's going to live.




 I've learned a lot with this complicated project. The biggest take away is that I will definitely plan better, and make a scale layout ahead of time.

Time Stretch

I seemed to have figured out a way to stretch time this weekend. It feels like I packed a lot into two days!

I made chicken breast stew with beans, veggies and noodles for Georgie and Rusty to go along with their kibble for the week. Yes, they are spoiled doggies because as of now I do not yet have grandchildren to dote on.

Georgie - My Baby

Rusty - My Grandpuppy

I made tuna casserole Saturday, and eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy today at the request of my husband.

I also did some loads of laundry, spent about 2-1/2 hours working my "real" job, and even watched TV and football with Russ.

I also was able to carve out some play time in the TinkerCad 3D program again. Here is what I have to show so far in addition to the lamps I made Friday:

Afterglow Lamp

Moonbeam Lamp

Resplendent Left Side Lamp

Resplendent Right Side Lamp

Twilight Lamp

Entwine Headboard

Forethought Headboard

New Horizions Headboard

New Horizons Wall Sculpture

I have them uploaded to Shapeways. It looks like the lamps are around $10, and the headboards are around $30. I am going to upload the headboards on a different axis and see if that brings the cost down any. Then I'll see what I can order, and see what they really look like in person. I'll experiment with different materials, I'll spray paint some and cover some of the lamp shades with fabric. When all the testing has been completed and any necessary changes made, I'll make the files available to anyone who wants them.

Have a wonderful week!