Books & cut-outs

The big work going on is so big that I needed a break, had to work on something small and simple.    So I have been cutting out sheets of things some of which you can see in & on a lap desk in these pictures.

I also made some mini books just last night and am very pleased with how they turned out.  I used my cut-outs and a narrow piece of illustration board.
My favorite is the "double-decker" novel (two together) which were popular in the 1800's.  There were even triple-decker novels and I will be making a few of those...later.

Working on doors

It feels like I spent the whole weekend working on doors and not one it is in yet.  But to show what I've been doing.    There will be stained glass in the space open over the doors.

I am going back and forth ad nauseum about whether or not it will be a single door from the hall to the morning room (seen here) or a pair of double doors.
Also, whether or not there will be double doors from the morning room to the dining room or a single door.
ARRGGGHHH!

Little bits

The picture frame was of that very cheap almost pot metal, you can see it in the picture of Ariel's parlor under the title "Clearing Up in Ariel"
That metal has a tendency (in the last 15 years I've had these small frames)
to get a little frost, I don't know what else to call it.
This one had a little and I also wanted a different look for it.
Out comes the ever handy brown acrylic gloss paint and voila!
The plinth got it's coat of varnish.  This might look obnoxious to some but I am keeping in mind that Ariel is being shown as recently built and furnished with new Victorian furniture as of 1880's -1900 and thus everything will look ... new.   I am pleased that the wine glass looks okay next to the bottle of wine.

This picture is just to show the two plinths with flowers that I completed.  Now that I look at it this way the one on the right seems to need more bulk on top.

First Lights in Ariel!

And they are in the kitchen and servant's hall.   The Victorians would be scandalized to have electric lighting in lower regions FIRST.   It is nice and bright as the dowager countess (Maggie Smith - I love her) says in Downton Abbey, "it's like opening night at the Gaiety."    This is an "overall" light which is what I wanted since I really can't afford the specialty lighting and don't want to mess with it even if I could.  I like the romance of this, I can turn on or off each room as I wish.
These are C-4 single lights and I have figured out a way to even leave room to easily change the bulbs.   The cords which for these two rooms are hanging out the side to the left, will be hidden in a downspout eventually or something similar.   I also got the flooring in the kitchen extension put in and in this lit photo, it was varnished.  The match is close enough for me although you can see the front bit is a wee bit darker than the back.

  You can see it in the raw state here and also you can see the ceiling doodad that houses the light.    I also cut the pass-through a bit wider by an inch (or one foot in mini-folks measurement).    There will possibly be a door or window on the left wall, I am pondering just how and what form it will take.



















In the servant's hall, since I cannot find more of that fine tile floor (it was a cut-out from a DHW magazine) I have put down, for now, this reddish bit of mat board and we will see what happens.  There is another door to come in this room on the right hand side somewhere, I haven't determined it's site yet.
So many delicious bits yet to finish and furnish...the copper boiler to the left of the stove being one of them.
I'm also thinking of have the coal furnace in the process of being installed in the basement.

First set of STAIRS in Ariel!

This set of stairs was worked on from Dec 22 through a couple of days ago and still needs it's 2nd coat of varnish and a few tweaks.    I got in the look at least of 2 drawers and it is enough to make me happy.

There will be a pretty elaborate floor (one my my cheater styles) and doors and maybe a fireplace in the hall.  I can't wait to hang pictures and put in the tiny details that make a house a home.

The plinth in front there needs a coat of varnish.

Things done & found

I have been busy!   I cleaned and rearranged mini-working stuff inspired by the AIM magazine articles showing artisans work spaces.   Came to light many an item I don't even remember making yet there it was.  One of those was this blue chair (from a kit).  
The push pin and pony bead glass I made six dozen of after learning, at last, how to get the pin out of pushpins cleanly and neatly.   You hold the pin over a candle flame for 8 seconds and pull it out with pliers - easy-peasy.   The glasses aren't fabulous but they will do.

The crystal ball thing is just some bits I glued together which I simply couldn't resist.   It is a curiosity and will go into someone's library or the pawn shop should I ever get that built.

The wonderful plinth with flowers comes straight from an AIM magazine project.  I am working on a second one right now.  

A demilune table

This demilune table was part of the big order I just made.  It was on sale I think and will be just right for...somewhere.    I had never heard the word demilune table in my entire half a century plus of life but now I know.