Make Christmas Magic...

Growing up, Christmastime at my grandparents house in Anaconda Montana was magical. Even though we lived in Seattle, we would always make the drive back, no matter what. Grandma would always have at least 5 different kinds of homemade cookies, the house was decorated everywhere with lights, and the tree was always one picked and chopped by my grandpa and uncles. It always smelled so good at grandma's! Seeing ornaments that my mom had made growing up was always a wonder to me. My mom was once a little girl? Weird!

My grandparents had 7 kids, some moved out to Seattle, some to California, some stayed in the little town. But nearly every year, each one would make it home for the holidays. There were aunts and uncles and spouses and old family friends, all crammed in a small house, fighting for a spot to sit on the old gas stove because it was so cold outside. Wall to wall people, and a feeling of belonging to something very special.

There were really only four of us little kids that grew up together. We were all about 2 years apart in age. Every year, my grandpa would have their neighbor, Ray, dress up as Santa. He would come about 7:00 pm every Christmas Eve, toy sack and all. He would ask if we'd really been good, and then personally deliver one toy that each of us got to open right then. We thought we were so special, because none of our friends got a personal visit from Santa!

Since my grandma passed in 1998, we, as a family, have just never been able to recapture that magic. The youngest ones in our family are now 16 and 14, and they were born after that special time. Everyone is so busy with work and sports and activities that trying to get everyone together gets really complicated. Our kids are grown, and have to split time with the other family members of their significant others. It is sad to know what could be, but just not be able to make it happen.

Some things that we take for granted don't last. And you never know when those times will change, and how long you may have with those you love. Today is the good old days. Revel in it, hold on to each other, make being together happen. Say I Love You, stay connected. It's really all that matters.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Attempting To Make A Modern Sofa...

Having been hijacked by the new puppy (training is constant the first few weeks) and all of the holiday workload, I managed to squeeze in a few hours to make the sofa for Alki Point. It was my attempt at constructing using only a photo, and while not perfect, it is a great starting point for future improvements. 

Both MitchyMooMiniatures and 1inchminis have wonderful furniture tutorials, so I recommend visiting their web sites and reading everything before you settle on one method over the other. My method here is probably not explained as thoroughly, but here is a .pdf with cut list and and patterns, in case you'd like to give this one a try:

Make A 1:12 Scale Modern Style Sofa

My starting point was this sofa. I found it after searching the interwebs for 'apartment sized modern sofas'. I searched for the measurements, then did my best to convert them, based on guessing a lot of the time, to 1:12 scale.



The materials I used are as follows:

• 3/16" foam core
• mat board
• quilt batting
• cotton fabric
• The Ultimate glue

I even turned my cutting mat over to the "pristine" side for this project! 

I started by cutting the bottom, back and sides from foam core.

Then I glued them together.

Next, I got out the mat board I ordered from Amazon. This was my first time using this stuff. Maybe it was user error, but I found it quickly dulled my Xacto blades, and was a bit much for the job. My 85# cardstock was easier to work with IMO, but I recommend you try it for yourself.

Next, I measured the sofa base and cut a piece of mat board to fit.

Then, using a glue stick (based on Kris' recommendation), I affixed a piece of the fabric, leaving about a quarter inch around to attach to the sofa base.

Then, you guessed it! I attached it to the base using The Ultimate glue.

You've probably noticed by now that I am making two. One for me and one for Who? Post comment here to enter.

Bottoms up!

Here is where, apparently, I stopped to smoke a little crack or something, because I FORGOT TO TAKE A PHOTO OF THE NEXT STEP! Here is where most people would just redo the thing and take new photos once they realize that they were an idiot, but not me. Nope. I want you all to know how I often lose my mind. VERY FREQUENTLY! 

What I did was, I cut a piece of mat board that was the height of the sofa arms and back, and the length needed to wrap all three of them together. I then glued my fabric so that the bottom had a nice crisp edge.

I left the fabric loose at the top, so that after I had glued the piece to the sofa, I could use the excess fabric to cover the remaining arm and back mat board.  

Does it make more sense with the photos?

Next I made the banding for the arms. Here is where I will tell you NOT to do what I did. 

A) Do not cut the mat board the same width as the sofa arm. It looks better when it is just slightly smaller in width than spilling over the edges.

And B) Go all of the way to the bottom of the sofa with it. I thought it would look better if I stopped at the top of the sofa base, but now regret it.

Moving on! Next, I cut the foam core for the bottom cushion and the two back cushions. I wrapped them in the quilt batting 

Then covered them in fabric.

Make neat little ends, like wrapping a present. Yes, those are my chubby little fingers. If you put a tap in my rear end, Ben & Jerry's would flow out. Please don't. It might hurt!

Next, I used a pilot hole punch from a lighting kit to poke a hole through the fabric and into the foam core. This is for the dimple buttons. I am using silver colored brads. Kris shows you a better way to make fabric ones with paper but I can't seem to find the link now on her site! Dip the brad ends into glue, then push in and let dry.

Now for the legs...

I wanted to use some of that stainless tubing (you know the stuff that broke my metal blade before hubs said he had a tool for the job?). I used said tool, it took forever to cut through, it was so hard to get the tubing to line up to the blade/measurement marks and tighten down without moving that all 4 monumentally difficult pieces were not the same size and it %*$$#& me off so much that I gave up.

Aluminum tape did not produce the desired effect, either, so I went with good old paint. Burnt umber to match the wood flooring.

In the list of things I will do differently next time, add drilling holes for toothpick dowels to the list. I just went with gluing wood to fabric, and I know I will live to regret it.

Also, not pictured but in the trash can are about 7 attempts at bolsters and throw pillows. Some attempted with fabric glue, and one hand sewn that looked like it was my first day in 8th grade home ec. I am blaming the fabric. Pillows still need to be made, but it's best to wait until my patience tank is filled up again. After Christmas.

I am working on the pattern sheets and updating all of the adjusted measurements. I hope to have them posted by the end of the year - which is next week! Yikes!

Three's A Joy!

Recently, my son's ex-girlfriend (but still close friend and surrogate daughter to me) came in from Tennessee to visit. She brought with her, Tucker. Tucker is a part pug and part chihuahua. He is just the neatest dog to know. Smart, so sweet, playful and a good friend to everyone he meets. Belly laughs abound when Tucker is around!

My son was with Tucker every single day, training him and teaching him about his world for about the first 15 months of his life. He knows so many tricks, like shake, high five, roll over etc. Then Tucker's mom (Jessica) had to move back to Tennessee to help her ailing mom. Ande was absolutely devastated. It was a very hard loss for him.

In late April, the Universe worked it's magic ways, and brought Rusty into our lives. He is truly my grandpuppy, and even at 9 months old still wants his daily "grandma nap", where he snuggles into my neck and falls deeply and heavily asleep. We absolutely adore him, and even our 8 year old beagle, Georgie likes to have him around.

When Tucker came through that door, Georgie absolutely lost her you know what! She was beyond excited to see her old friend! When Tucker and Rusty met, they instantly bonded, chased each other around the house and played tug of war with every toy they could find. I don't think that either of them stopped playing to sleep for the entire 10 days!

The day Tucker had to go back to the airport was a very sad day around here for all of us. Tears were shed, by both people and puppies. After 2 days of really, really sad doggies, I was beginning to get worried. They did not want to play, they did not want to eat. Georgie always wants to eat, so I called a family meeting.

The decision was made. A high energy miniature pinscher mix was a little much for a beagle with a seizure disorder and a hip issue. She just can't keep up with Rusty. We needed another puppy.

In our case, three is not a crowd. It is perfect. We got to bring Woodson home yesterday. He is a blond min pin mix that my son named after his favorite Oakland Raiders player. It is puppy mayhem, they are all having a ball together, and we are all sore from laughing so heartily.

Life is good...