Touches Of Home

Do you ever feel like you've put a lot of time into a project, but don't have much to show for it? That was my impression when I started to process all of the photos to post on the blog. Tomorrow is Friday! I got back from camping Monday night. What exactly have I been doing for the last three days?

I started out putting together a Chrysnbon Dry Sink kit. In the past, I have successfully turned it into a "wet" sink, so that's what I did this time - minus the tap. I'm still waiting for it to arrive...

After I get the main structure assembled, I tape off the upper portion of the kit so that I can paint the base color. In this case, I went for DecoArt Americana Georgia Clay. Two coats, then a matte sealer.

Then I taped off the Georgia Clay, and used Krylon Fusion White Satin to paint the "porcelain" sink section. Then I added two coats of gloss sealer.

Notice how I drilled the drain hole? Once the paint and sealer were nice and dry I glued in an eyelet from the sewing kit I inherited from my beloved grandma. I just love looking through her sewing basket. I re-read letters we'd sent back and forth to each other after I first got married (I keep them there). It still smells like her house: homey and loving. I hope she smiles when she sees her old notions being used for something entirely different.

For the drain board side of the sink, I just made it look like a little cutting board. Here's what I did:

Here's the end result - I'll add the tap as soon as it arrives. Also, please remember that this project, even though it it being entered in the Creatin" Contest, is based on a children's story and will be donated to my local library after it is completed. It is supposed to look a bit "cartoony".

Here it is in the kitchen with a few little accessories added...

Next, I started on the beds for the little piggies. I originally wanted to make them a triple bunk bed, but the ceiling height just wouldn't allow for that. Instead, the gracious builder/mason piggy let his poor brothers, having recently lost their dream homes, to move into to his modest abode. Bunk beds for them were essential to the space.

See the two bags of scrap wood I've been accumulating/using for the last four years? I am proud to say that these beds are made from 100% recycled materials! They also seem to be a good fit for the space...

After adding a little color, it's starting to feel like home in here. Next, I'll make sure each of our hero's have comfy mattresses and homemade quilts! I know they are getting anxious to move out of their temporary drawer!

Here's to all of us having an enjoyable and productive weekend, which hopefully includes lots of mini-ing!

Seeing Mini Dreams Become Real...

Some people who are entering the 2016 HBS Creatin' Contest keep us all in such suspense! I see little peeks and get so excited that I am like a kid on Christmas Eve! I used to beg my parents to let me open my presents early. I'd say "Just one? Please can I open just one? Please, please, pretty please mommy?" I'd jump up and down with my hands folded in prayer gesture on my chest and display all of the childlike exuberance I could muster. Some years I must have been more skilled or adorable than others, because sometimes, rarely, she would say YES!!!

I suck at keeping secrets and surprises. I always want to give my gifts or good news to everyone AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! I am so much happier giving gifts than receiving them. Probably because I am a pleaser, and partly because I rock at giving gifts! If you squeal or even cry, I've done my job well!

All of that said, I am sharing every gory detail, success and failure with you during my contest build. If you like one of my ideas, I wholeheartedly want you to take it and run with it! Sharing leads to inspiration, and inspired miniaturists keep our childlike dreams alive. And best of all, we pass on the love for our obsession to a whole new generation of dreamers!

Okay, so where did I last leave off... Oh yeah! I got all of the bricking finished, except for the outside, so it was time to wrap up some structural issues. I left this little bit of space on the back foundation so that I could create a fake wall.

I cut a piece of plywood down to size with the rip saw, made the side strips then used the scroll saw to make the outer window openings. The outer windows are the exact same as the ones you'll see from the inside. Here's the glued and primed fake wall:

The fake wall will serve as the housing for the scenery that you'll see looking through the windows from inside. It will also store the artificial sunshine coming through the windows. Here are the window scenes: A blown down wooden house, and the remnants of the straw house being blown in the wind. That Big Bad Wolf can really blow!

Now for some structure... I combined two kits, butt to butt and reassigned the opening to the side. Lots of cutting and filling in. That meant that I needed to modify some of the structural peices - like the ridge beam for the roof. I had to join both into one, so I drilled a hole in the center ends of each and glued in a dowel for strength. Then, I needed to decide on my roof length and cut it to size. Later, I stained it and glued it in.

Speaking of the roof, I had a total of four pieces from both kits. All too short for the new configuration. This meant that I had to join two for each roof side, cutting one of them to the proper new length. I kept a small overhang on one end, and shortened the porch to keep the project under 30" (my shelf limit).

Notice here that I have had to add an additional piece of trim to the edge of the roof to account for the fake wall. Once the roofing is on, no one will ever know! Shhhh...

Here's a peek at the inside with the back roof in place. It's going to need some light in there!

Look what adding the front roof does to it! Downright spooky in there! I better make some adjustments, both for light and accessibility!

That's better!

Oh yeah! The beams on the floor have also been modified from both kits, beaten up a bit and will be added to the ceiling later...

Now for the sunshine... I ran a long strip of warm white LED's across the top of the window openings on the interior of the fake room. I also tied in the ceiling lanterns and the fire from the hearth into the tape runs. I lined the interior wall with aluminum tape for optimum reflection, and added just a peek of a hedge to both windows so they'll be seen from the inside.

Here it is all closed up with the back roof getting glued into place. I'm going to need some fascia on the roof edges to help hide the light leaks.

And here it is from the inside. I will wait to add the front roof piece until I am done with most of the fiddling inside. I have been planning this fake window scene in my mind since I dreamed up this project many years ago, and I am really please with how it is turning out!

Next time I'll work on ceiling beams and a lot of pig friendly furniture! But first, I need a nice long weekend away with the hubs enjoying the beautiful forest, warm sun on my arms, and reconnecting with the knowledge that we are all a part of something bigger and more beautiful than our daily lives allow us to perceive!

Wishing all of you a wonderful and happy Fourth-Of-July weekend!

Jodi

Hard Work Pays In MINI Ways!

Every couple of months my job completely takes over my life for several weeks. Looooong hours, little sleep and no time for minis. I like my work very much, and working from home in my PJ's is the best part of my benefits package. The torturous days of 80 mile and three hour commuting has been behind me for four years now, and I feel absolutely blessed! I speak words of gratitude to the universe every day!

Working a weird schedule has it perks, too. The "off time" I get can mean many days laced together with guilt free mini play time. And, if I do a really great job, it also means bonuses! You know what that means? A nice little vacation for the hubs and me to escape into the great wilderness exploring in utter peace and solitude. And... New Minis and Toys!!!

Because I was a very good little worker bee this last round, here are my rewards:

New Brother Sewing Machine - Yes, I will re-teach myself so that I can make perfect little pillows! And other important stuff, too...

A Little Clover Iron So That I Don't Have To Drag Out The Big Clunky One Anymore!

It really surprised me that I bought the RGT Beachside Bungalow. It was not on my wish list and I had no intention to. But, it was $40 off at Hobby Lobby, plus another 40% off with the coupon, so $90 including shipping + tax later, I am suddenly planning a new project. The original price tag on these is around $160.00. Apparently, Real Good Toys is out of stock on them until September. The moral to this tale is that when I've had a couple delicious Lemon Drop cocktails, a good deal is just too good to pass up.

I have had my eye on Brimble's Mercantile as a someday project FOR YEARS! Then of course when I went to finally buy one, they are not available through Greenleaf. Apparently, their laser cutting machine is broken, and they pretty much stopped production on the old die cut machine so that means unavailable until further notice. Somehow, the universe smiled upon me and I found one from a great mom and pop mini shop in Pennsylvania!  

They were SO NICE, too! Here's the email from the owner:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi Jodi,
Thank you for your order of the Brimble Mercantile Kit. The order has been
processed and the Kit will go out to you tomorrow UPS. I will email you a
tracking # as soon as I get it. I hope you enjoy putting you kit together.
It was so much fun to do.

If there is anything else you need in the future, just email me as not
everything we CAN get is on the website.

Best Mini Wishes,
Shirlee
A Touch of the Past
www.atopdoll.com
atopdoll@npacc.net
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll remember the kindness and great service and continue to shop there in the future!

I ordered some items from my own Shapeways store. I just love my big double sink (used in Alki Point) and I love that I can order the faucet in Polished Nickel for about $12.00. So much better than trying to paint it! I also have not had the chance to use a couple of the lamp designs yet, so the Beach Bungalow will make the perfect opportunity!

Once I knew the Beachside Bungalow was mine, I started to plan the design in my head, along with a few modifications (because I can never leave well enough alone). The kitchen came first, because I love me some kitchen design!!! That lead me, of course, to Elf Miniatures. I ordered the Easy Oven Front kit because I had success using it on Alki Point:

Then I chose the Dummy American Fridge/freezer kit (I hope our British friends  just mean "dummy american" as in 'for looks only', LOL!)

I'll be making a Chrysnbon bathroom kit but I thought a purdier faucet would make a nice touch, so I ordered the traditional mixer tap in silver. It's soooo purdy!

Of course I got a few extra accessories but the Deal Of The Day was this:

I know - it's hideous, right! But I see ripping off the ugly fabric and ruffles and having the foundation for some really contemporary tush tuffits! And, do you know what I paid for them? Ten Bucks!!! I love a good (cheap) rehab (just ask the previous six fixer upper homes we had before we bought the "finished" one. Finished... Yeah right...

So I totally got to spoil myself, including ordering some basic restock and fun items from HBS! The Fourth-Of-July Sale started today and you save 20%! I't free minis and a no brainer, so go get you some goodies today!

And, in case you were at all curious, I have been diligently working on the Creatin' Contest build. I am at a stage where many things are in phases of completion, so until it all gels and I actually have some good eye candy, I'll save the progress post for later!

Hugs to all and I hope you get to celebrate more than just independance! Do something nice for yourself and then let your gratitude infect everyone!