tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65403323863211789152024-03-05T03:50:36.321-08:00Miniature JourneyLaurarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893251201932481132noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540332386321178915.post-3118631764590106572015-02-17T02:19:00.002-08:002015-02-17T02:19:53.179-08:00Forgotten Photos<br />
I haven't worked on my Dolls House for several years now - and I was thinking I should get back into doing bits and pieces - otherwise it will never get completed...<br />
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Today I was just hunting through my photo collection and I found a few photos of something I made ages ago and forgot to write about....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhwHq1-TjWil0SRgVzl-RbiQ9OUjBvyFnqZZVAyThoFeb4cclJ8zQEqnoCBOQAN8RNNZBaGDdIQWGR2R7YCdq6KqYdw1m62QXUtguQZQ0fDtLG3DfTBO1XjFumrs57_uX_Z4SbcKfRzGB/s1600/SP+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhwHq1-TjWil0SRgVzl-RbiQ9OUjBvyFnqZZVAyThoFeb4cclJ8zQEqnoCBOQAN8RNNZBaGDdIQWGR2R7YCdq6KqYdw1m62QXUtguQZQ0fDtLG3DfTBO1XjFumrs57_uX_Z4SbcKfRzGB/s1600/SP+002.jpg" height="640" width="530" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBJu3gRGeTa8tsbMksewTiaWmoI-LwU9pI_BIWTzLWErR36vEY7BP3tpl_hzeCzerhsKIoKMS_5Z8xo3G324mrnjAjz75fHUBnhUXo7SIh6J25sUjAr9edrabCckP-D-yB53DIXP2_e6U/s1600/SP+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitBJu3gRGeTa8tsbMksewTiaWmoI-LwU9pI_BIWTzLWErR36vEY7BP3tpl_hzeCzerhsKIoKMS_5Z8xo3G324mrnjAjz75fHUBnhUXo7SIh6J25sUjAr9edrabCckP-D-yB53DIXP2_e6U/s1600/SP+004.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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This was a slightly tricky item to make - I love the addition of tiles (printed on photo paper) I wanted a washstand and was pleased with how it turned out. Whether it stays this colour or will be changed is undecided yet....<br />
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<br />Laurarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893251201932481132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540332386321178915.post-38934470479116197362015-02-15T04:25:00.004-08:002015-02-15T06:05:33.215-08:00Catching up<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I haven't written in this blog for so long. I am afraid my dolls house creating hasn't happened for a while now, but I have been thinking that I should get back to it a little and work on completing this gorgeous house...and also my children keep asking when is going to be finished so they can play with it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The nursery is finally done - though I might add little bits and pieces.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zVEja5o10XswOj8-6T_htqxuXQuGGVxtnO9qH14B2pQXwZDFhDcBfPHgk3kCHNsVzzSeZx_g0baH7IoQ-h4HvzPdlCPJ-6M2CPqXRwe5RxSn4cAVD_Oa0uyOoPtGd80j4vn-W5vxmZYb/s1600/SP+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zVEja5o10XswOj8-6T_htqxuXQuGGVxtnO9qH14B2pQXwZDFhDcBfPHgk3kCHNsVzzSeZx_g0baH7IoQ-h4HvzPdlCPJ-6M2CPqXRwe5RxSn4cAVD_Oa0uyOoPtGd80j4vn-W5vxmZYb/s1600/SP+020.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I decided to buy a nursery set of chair, cot, walker and toys. They were a cheap set, not looking very nice</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_16oLFSOzObK8dmZfr78ycXHu1Jtu0ntV7sEvphPDv6WMhZVvdtp9nqiDaxNGrkO13_vbzCPI3CxODDfBpxE6beNHLwlrgKIyQpCVNlHvIZO8WkBL3xj_9YkUcz3wtn2opiOxEw7DAlo/s1600/P1150799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_16oLFSOzObK8dmZfr78ycXHu1Jtu0ntV7sEvphPDv6WMhZVvdtp9nqiDaxNGrkO13_vbzCPI3CxODDfBpxE6beNHLwlrgKIyQpCVNlHvIZO8WkBL3xj_9YkUcz3wtn2opiOxEw7DAlo/s1600/P1150799.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The chair got re-upholstered. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I decided to paint the cot</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeBNH8Rjs0cikvEk6t25Unf-ZwbsNMW8DgHeYavGealZ7HzWFVAN3fzD8F2P7I-Tw8u-uCFZEHrNc2mJtAh2lDGsWuMXT8Uly-krvU7fTWCgVPLbXpMhy7GW2KpGy41c-Orh3wizbWCIJ/s1600/P1150802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioeBNH8Rjs0cikvEk6t25Unf-ZwbsNMW8DgHeYavGealZ7HzWFVAN3fzD8F2P7I-Tw8u-uCFZEHrNc2mJtAh2lDGsWuMXT8Uly-krvU7fTWCgVPLbXpMhy7GW2KpGy41c-Orh3wizbWCIJ/s1600/P1150802.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I made a cot duvet and pillow - embroidering the lettering myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxejjEM3EKqFx0Iida5emqfGzZpw6F00n3zwrdXqjXn3FyO8x4CFUoD_ROtJUthAuyakgQOEoO5ANq0TALfs0Kvr0_IEhaBrxAOX6JfBN7dQIOXQ7IY9MALI-BSnA-rDTxhmYaHIPLGDn/s1600/SP+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMxejjEM3EKqFx0Iida5emqfGzZpw6F00n3zwrdXqjXn3FyO8x4CFUoD_ROtJUthAuyakgQOEoO5ANq0TALfs0Kvr0_IEhaBrxAOX6JfBN7dQIOXQ7IY9MALI-BSnA-rDTxhmYaHIPLGDn/s1600/SP+030.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I made the little rag doll from fabric bits and pieces...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi0c7_jJZDWItOss2hoPRaat4aqfrno-5nzHJGLf9F97564BykT3mY6wt65uYUOQV9oO3j-_vbpE-doaLWsDOOK2nrR9pxZ0jUA2MeP5wHjGV0KMxDifQyYh4eUTKGAM42mF__pnjh_HL/s1600/SP+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQi0c7_jJZDWItOss2hoPRaat4aqfrno-5nzHJGLf9F97564BykT3mY6wt65uYUOQV9oO3j-_vbpE-doaLWsDOOK2nrR9pxZ0jUA2MeP5wHjGV0KMxDifQyYh4eUTKGAM42mF__pnjh_HL/s1600/SP+021.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The table and chair were bade with balsa wood, tooth picks and bannister spindles</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolgnlZxgIRjSGhWUVhg37D551vJmXisuDRPM3CmW1XllX7zO8ixTDmVFN7TeqSipcnb0NnBgRmvrBmcktFXBBBRJHxcuJqIjPic6M6hypP5y2F8zRv1qX_gjMZ8aKMssCxHCJ80ovFulo/s1600/SP+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjolgnlZxgIRjSGhWUVhg37D551vJmXisuDRPM3CmW1XllX7zO8ixTDmVFN7TeqSipcnb0NnBgRmvrBmcktFXBBBRJHxcuJqIjPic6M6hypP5y2F8zRv1qX_gjMZ8aKMssCxHCJ80ovFulo/s1600/SP+024.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> The chest of drawers was made with balsa wood, the side table made also from balsa wood. The table lamp was one bought in a set but I didn't like the lampshade so I simply made another from patterned card.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRiX7toe4jNg4YVbr48d8_QUc1cGUPoILPnrXcQqjXa1xo5XtY2zyyvoNquD-MCj8_C0MBG1-dRHJURvI9lStELiD-siA9yYUcRCLw93U2UjDsTzh_X_ySf0IanRlR1qjsRFwuezYjkHL/s1600/SP+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYRiX7toe4jNg4YVbr48d8_QUc1cGUPoILPnrXcQqjXa1xo5XtY2zyyvoNquD-MCj8_C0MBG1-dRHJURvI9lStELiD-siA9yYUcRCLw93U2UjDsTzh_X_ySf0IanRlR1qjsRFwuezYjkHL/s1600/SP+022.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <u>The Kitchen</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The kitchen has also had a lot of work done.....since this picture was taken...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5luAO4QK2CyGzVnMK4KPHF7EGpPpvwL64dTVuRz-bGVjPRyGxM3hb1uJVVqPhYm-1IqeC8a-7RCcN3790zPSXkIdUmKF8VUPWRDWk7tI-1akKAsr49Bd6cu0_Tp-p0180uCDGZrVa9D_b/s1600/P1120406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5luAO4QK2CyGzVnMK4KPHF7EGpPpvwL64dTVuRz-bGVjPRyGxM3hb1uJVVqPhYm-1IqeC8a-7RCcN3790zPSXkIdUmKF8VUPWRDWk7tI-1akKAsr49Bd6cu0_Tp-p0180uCDGZrVa9D_b/s1600/P1120406.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wkRgx-TTBymwNRHZGXDJM-udgY5bRADpvA0BLcIqE3iI6zIr4Cwkwg1yOVUIy6SCuUt_R7G2zypO8eWuN7e80NM8brLZ9KPjFiT1mkpw7DGXFvpwohQ0HqeiPrjq83xCqGB8JqGh8nKG/s1600/SP+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wkRgx-TTBymwNRHZGXDJM-udgY5bRADpvA0BLcIqE3iI6zIr4Cwkwg1yOVUIy6SCuUt_R7G2zypO8eWuN7e80NM8brLZ9KPjFiT1mkpw7DGXFvpwohQ0HqeiPrjq83xCqGB8JqGh8nKG/s1600/SP+013.jpg" height="440" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have begun to make the kitchen cupboards, thought the actual
cupboard doors are not done yet!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRh07E7qQsUxZ8FrLd8wAiMgbOFGjvaNP8ArNl0l3abcOoefVTzsWREAbGlWQdy9Nn-lP6GQau3GdGje59DydNhms4ulw6VmFi_UhWkMFlNuXFynciDxMOAhr-Nbu8TTtSCcTBmCMmUhm/s1600/SP+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRh07E7qQsUxZ8FrLd8wAiMgbOFGjvaNP8ArNl0l3abcOoefVTzsWREAbGlWQdy9Nn-lP6GQau3GdGje59DydNhms4ulw6VmFi_UhWkMFlNuXFynciDxMOAhr-Nbu8TTtSCcTBmCMmUhm/s1600/SP+011.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I have managed to get the dresser done
though! This is my 2nd dresser...I LOVE making them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I had done the aga cooker right at the start of making the dolls house furniture....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> ....and I wanted a surround for it. I found one I really liked that cost £49.99!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Well I wasn't about to pay that much! Instead I used a sheet of balsa wood and some acrylic paint with some leftover brick paper....and totally guessing how to make it, I put together a surround - cost about £2 and at least it is unique!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Yes, I know there is only one utensil hanging there when there should be quite a few....seems my son likes to pretend to cook here and has 'misplaced' them!!! ;o)</span><br />
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<br />Laurarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893251201932481132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540332386321178915.post-34724388411341353102010-07-28T13:53:00.001-07:002015-02-15T05:53:47.313-08:00Retail therapy<br /><br />You will know if you have read my other blog posts, that Gil convinced me that I should learn to make dolls house furniture rather than just going to a shop and buying it. I see the attraction for making the items...I am so thrilled that the Aga, dresser and cabinet are unique and rather than buy something that is mass produced and will be in hundreds of other dolls houses, my furniture will only be in my house.<br /><br /> But the time had come where I felt I needed to buy things that I couldn't make very easily. I don't think Gil was convinced at my declaration that I couldn't make a washing machine...but I wanted to buy a few items anyway. These were really things that I didn't feel comfortable attempting to make or that I had tried and failed so spectacularly that I couldn't face another attempt. Sofa and chairs for example...material and glue don't work well in my hands. I can sew, but to upholster a sofa needs precision and care and I am just too messy.<br /><br /> So anyway...shopping plans were made. My birthday was in June and I requested a shopping trip to Maple street dolls house shop.<br />
<br /><br /> <br /><br />As you can see from the battered state of the catalogue I have been planning my shopping trip for a long time!<br />
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My husband agreed to drive me there and after we dropped Annie at school we made the journey to the shop. Adam took Jakey around the shop and left me to browse alone and unhindered....well the excited shrieks coming from Jakey were enough to put anyone off their shopping, but I tried to ignore it and enjoy the retail therapy.<br /><br /><br />As you can see from the picture below, the house decorating had come to a standstill. This is how the house looked when I went shopping at maple street. As you can see the bedroom needed carpet, the sitting room needed wallpaper and carpet, the hall was completely bare so needed wallpaper and tiles and the kitchen needed flooring. I was also unhappy with the kitchen walls and planned to re-do that as soon as possible.<br />
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<br />I had already bought the wallpaper for the sitting room. I had been to the Laura Ashley sale and found the perfect wallpaper for £1.50 a roll<br />
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Needed green carpet for the bedroom and peach carpet for the living room. Matching peach carpet for the stairs (this worked out well as the peach carpet compliments the flooring in the other two rooms that have stairs)<br /><br /> I chose stone flooring for the kitchen. Maple street do a textured cladding but it is very expensive and I wasn't sure whether stone was the right choice. So I chose the cheaper alternative of printed effect paper deciding that if I do like it then at some point in the future I can invest in the more expensive realistic option.<br />
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I had seen the hall I wanted on an ebay sale and had nicked the picture to keep for reference.<br />
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I adored it as soon as I saw it and knew that that was how I wanted the hall to look. I found the tiled paper at Maple street and popped it in the basket.<br />
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Sadly I couldn't find the wallpaper but a quick trip to a D.I.Y shop
saved the day when I found a lovely warm yellow emulsion tester pot.<br /><br />
So all flooring chosen....I managed to find other bits I needed. I
found bargain brass knobs at 99p a packet (for 12) and grabbed three
packets for future furniture making. Also I got some hinges as I wanted
to make cabinets with doors that opened.<br /><br /> I managed to locate a
plain sink - most of the sinks come with a cabinet attached but I wanted
to make my own kitchen cupboards. Matching up wood finishes would be
way to difficult. Luckily this one is very plain and I can build a wood
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Found a gorgeous green chair....for the bedroom....art room....hall......????<br />
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Set of four jars for the country kitchen<br /><br /><br /><br /> A dish for the kitchen<br /><br /><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140647.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiYjf0V-LmJO7oHsLIB-rX_Qevw7f4HeuVCBBjrRMvkvg_jGCIm_W5hUBJRSneX-lRw97o_FdFZFEpZyiJCwf-kH2iTEKYrAPuuIjWsrAUwSIVAoTXOV54fb4vL81J9y74LOJO_4chPcedthWSREckz6-0K1y9Hr9EL_f7m17-0bHE=" /> </a><br />
<br /><br /> Then I encountered a problem....I couldn't find any of the other products I wanted. I found an assistant who very sullenly said they didn't have any of the other items I wanted in stock. No offer of help or any solutions - don't you just love shop assistants who hate their jobs. I thanked her for her help (not without a tiny hint of sarcasm) then I went to find another assistant who couldn't have been more helpful. She apologised that I was unable to get everything I wanted but she said she would be happy to place an order...and as they do free postage on any order over £40 she would be able to combine what I buying that day with what I was ordering to be able to get the free postage.<br /><br /> The only thing that really bothered me about doing this was that I didn't like buying the items without seeing them. I could have just ordered the whole lot online, but I had made the journey there so I could see the items and check they were right for me. I explained this to the assistant and she said she understood, glanced at my list and went into the back room and emerged with several items from the list (which were at that moment being packed to post to customers) she said that now I could see what at least some of the items looked like - this was especially helpful with the sink drainer as I was buying a sink that day and wanted to know if the drainer would fit on it. It did so was added to my list.<br /><br /><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140644.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiw7uunA1oogROAjLrlti2XGBPBXxZ7nBoFshhfHaDslh7kY_LJAgQ75O8uplY4LlI1avRhyphenhyphengl9J1kyrPtJlXB4sbRFINV5TRBxtnx3-Z_gZo4A2xsVleAG6sRq0uCeAd576wyoS98HJvPO4Sr8U-J8WltEYDO-Lj1aSxpNNkRmRgE=" /></a><br /><br /> So all the items bought that day were added up and then she ordered the extra items for me. Now to show you the items I bought -<br /><br />A sofa and chair, cheap and cheerful and sadly damaged when they arrived - nothing a dab of glue can't fix but made me sad all the same not to have them arrive in perfect condition. But they were soooo cheap it is no wonder they weren't perfect!<br /><br /><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140652.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEi6hsBK53qMUkfRyv6BsIcYpDAI9CFfHBUZCmg4Nnrr5-gavPuHgFoyzEL7RuQPbLNY7ae_qTbNSDv8d3Gl1ei98ICkDE2j6hhAWwMxUI-0hYc-jbdYfciNmw1RYPLMag4n28sduRt_2x-SQivKuLdJ1ilphLakawPewJZhJL08hxs=" /></a><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140657.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiaMjSfRUhGFT_1Wz-RwX-9izRvh21cDfiuvQHOv8WhzDvXiuCQUvyTxvIZBn6ej1yKz5VXsAwVyrmT6q3LM9TPc_Z09QHXAmnpcrxX_KMvidSYNOVBe2ez7spXk990fb2VnhrUYPzFGc0OXudXqoMkGh-KEZ9IltO0XKridgxIXHg=" /></a><br /><br /><br /> An American style fridge - I LOVE these! Couldn't resist having one for the dolls house.<br /><br /><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140630.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhcOoYTWT14OTlfOgr_I_LuhYJujNFVfXKUKHt5UQQywhiJ_Q9gMGbTqm5fCyFrOaRTUXKNCdVT8RP6ilCXsQ6wJBUOMNUkPZOx65T0euoVOCH8puJssnZ-IwMYsrxa7szyOmSqgzMuU_3IB8uvQ64gIDEQoYOK2i7n4A-vVkqW5zc=" /></a><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140632.jpg"> </a><br /><br /> A mahogany bed - again another reason to see before buying is to check colour. It is much redder than appears in the catalogue and it is really too bright. Gil suggested painting it which is an option as I haven't made any other furniture for the bedroom so the bedroom is still a blank slate really.<br /><br /><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140620.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEiUXVLza-motX5AJqoJw1VTDyghQe-dbvQgxEGGMPRW0-a_8ANtpvbOiEetm1XZM31012oVAJiHbuFvT2NM1wS5CRU-21OKbahwKfv4y5gt-Zf24M3icrbR4eZ3I5A8_6QIG2ZlPOgx46DN1bjg73vtVDfZW0Gnkx39EwxfboNk0fc=" /></a><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140622.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEhrXDRHgXA_P_dvNKq0WETaeQfD5N2UHVFc1vhZK9XIKsJDe6uzSMNfkTbiUpLLozVehujSTRBP-lgsZL12MJq2mjENahGm_EcfunLP1nnprjPHYpYqWgpJgI0_8YoX7QZ6c3U4HN0BFtOKszvLeib7y_hs2OdDvwREHMZdYr80UVU=" /></a><br /><br /> A washing machine<br /><br /><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140635.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEjF8Br3Z_gZ35siQoox_xDcCpoIjlP-Lnb5uO6khx1RWWXI_zRex8LIrASJt0qGda2QF0OYZErxgknpr3FSXh52r6MWL4KlEdvauNGsWX0ik-nFAx2wLB5Mbdrs5117gkLc2WzP-jlj98XwEDBQBtlkEM-Hv0cvHaHbg5D9lef14uc=" /></a><br /><br /> Set of copper pans<br /><br /><a href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/blog/?action=view&current=P1140642.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgJJK-rX45H8dAWN-r6LHcOCNh_XJbeV2jt9oHt5iFQ3X4pwp9p0QYTHrHMrLgXl3H4GmETZnljiHAMTYenqHH1gKFVKQGn8KZFNIClINPh77-h-KnT9HCdF4HCw0S4u7UZdzsq01B0j6xOTvTuhir2U6Qv_hCTO61Za4qb7cZa5Bk=" /></a>
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thoroughly ashamed of myself. I had planned to be posting blogs every
few days but sadly my back problems kept me away from the dolls house
for a few months...but I am ready to get on with it now and have a few
posts to catch up on. For this blog I will talk about two pieces of
furniture and how a disastrous mistake led to a beautiful room....<br /><br />
First thing to talk about is that bookcase that I totally messed up. I
wanted it stained dark wood but I forgot the stain and glued it all
together and only realised that I had forgotton the stain when it was
all done.<br />
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Too late to apply the stain? Well, maybe the
professionals are all wrong and you actually CAN put stain on after you
have glued the wood together...<br /><br />
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No...It seems all those warning tales are true - You simply CANNOT use stain after glue, however much you might believe otherwise.<br />
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I am a determined person though and I will not be beaten. Chuck this furniture away? Nooooooo. Somewhere it can be used. I need it painted though and the only room (at the moment) that will allow for painted furniture is the nursery in the loft, a nice white painted bookcase will look lovely up there. But, alas, the walls are not tall enough to take the bookcase so drastic measures are needed and I decided to chop the bookcase in half. <br />
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Quickly I add on another base to one half and there I have two smaller bookcases.<br />
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However they aren't suitable for use in the nursery because they are just slightly too big for the room....But I don't give up and I paint them white and plan to squeeze them in somewhere. Luckily white acrylic paint will always cover a multitude of sins.<br />
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So...my furniture making isn't going too well. I make very silly mistakes all because I want it completed as quickly as possible and I don't take the time to think about what I need to do next. Luckily Gil told me about some dolls house furniture items that were on sale at Lidls. Nice and cheap items, some were terrible and not worth any money but some were ideal. I went along and bought a bathroom set. Plain white, not what I had originally planned but then I change my mind about the house all the time. I had already painted the room and the furniture looked fantastic in it....but it needed more. The room was too large to just have the sink, toilet and bath sitting in it. I needed additional furniture...Suddenly ideas began to float into my mind - a nice cabinet based on the kitchen dresser plan, peach marble, wicker basket....I wanted to do it all (quickly of course)<br />
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No photos exist of me making the bathroom furniture as it was way too stressful an experience to even think about picking up the camera. I should point out that stressful might seem like a harsh word to use, that it might seem to others reading this that I am explaining that the experience was awful. It was stressful but in an exciting, challenging, difficult, occasionally exasperating, growl inducing way. But it wasn't anything that would make me think that I want to give up on my dolls house dream. Perhaps stress is too negative a word - complicated? difficult? challenging? <br />
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I managed to make a sink unit (the sink was very plain and I felt a sink unit would look fantastic) I saw the plan in my mind and made it from stratch with no plans or ideas drawn up. Maybe it is because I was moving on from the safety and reassurance of using designed plans that I just copy, cut and glue, to creating a piece of furniture that I have only seen in my mind - whatever the reason for the pride I feel - I am very proud of this piece of furniture.<br />
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I based the unit on the dimensions of the sink. I first planned to have a marble surround surface for around the rim of the sink with drawers placed on top of it either side of the mirror and cupboards underneath (basically the welsh dresser design), but this made it look larger then 1/12th scale. So it now has a marble back with a mantlepiece and drawers at the side.<br />
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There was room in the bathroom for another cabinet and I remembered the two white painted bookcases that were sitting all forgotten and lost in the loft, worried that they might never see the light of day again...I got them out and began to think what I could do with them. No one has bookcases in the bathroom (though I think that would be my mother-in-laws idea of heaven) so bookcases they were not to be. Maybe.....maybe ....I can glue them back together?...Stick doors on the base section....Nice cupboard for lotions and potions and bits and bobs and towels and flannels and general bathroom junk.<br />
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Well now they aren't lost, forgotten and sad. They are now a lovely bathroom cupboard. A bit empty at the moment but the day will come when I can begin making all those little bits.<br />
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So a mistake led to the beautiful bathroom. The tiles on the floor were nicked from a D.I.Y site. I simply found the tile pictures online, saved image to my pictures and then put them in a windows document (once I had done two or three rows in the pattern I wanted I just copied and pasted those few rows over and over again....very quick and simple). Printed on glossy photo paper and I had shiny floor tiles. I had bought also some pale peach carpet for the living room and had changed my mind deciding to use cream carpet so I used this peach carpet for the mats in the bathroom (my mind changed back yet again afterwards of course and the living room now has that same pale peach carpet!!!)The bathroom was the first room to be completely finished (furniture wise) but now I think that the walls are too dark so I want them painted a paler blue - Will I ever be happy with the finished house?<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></span></span>Laurarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893251201932481132noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540332386321178915.post-75926063643377206272010-02-22T04:45:00.000-08:002010-07-26T14:02:53.295-07:00A challenge<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">This is a rare type of blog - my second in one day! But there won't be many like that. I did the sewing blog today but I have been making the quilt for over a week and it is nowhere near finished as it has been interupted by illness and boredom, and I really don't want the blogs to be in the wrong order. You see, I made three items of furniture last night - insommnia strikes again! and to be able to write this blog I had to sneak the sewing one in before!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I mentioned before wanting the bedroom done but do not have the right stain. I do have the right stain (indian rosewood) for the craft room so thought I would get started on furniture for that. I have been reading the books that Gil very kindly lent me and one features an art room. I really liked the work table and chair and I knew I wanted a bookcase in the room...</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=41.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/41.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I got greedy I am afraid and decided that while I am cutting out one piece of furniture why not cut out two?...why not do three?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I found some banister rods that would make perfect chair legs, had some toothpicks and some wood to cut out. I cut out all the parts for the table and then designed a bookcase based on a store display cabinet in the book. I am getting more confident at manipulating the designs I am finding. Knowing that the basic shape is 1/12 gives my imagination the freedom to create what I want. I would be too unsure of sizes to design from scratch....I saw a cabinet in the film "The devil wears prada" which I loved and want for the sitting room...I know I can take the basic shape design of the kitchen dresser and by adding on cupboard doors instead of shelves I can have that cabinet featured in the film.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> So all cut out and ready to go....</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=42.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/42.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Staining is soooo messy and as yet I haven't found a clean and tidy way to do it. All I can do is just make sure I don't ruin our dining table with it!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=43.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/43.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> All stained and drying...</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=44.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/44.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I think I might leave it till tomorrow...but I find I am still unable to sleep so am getting on with the seat padding while watiting for the furniture to dry.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I find a lovely dusky rose material in the material bag...it is perfect for the craft room that has cream wallpaper with tiny rose coloured flowers. I cut out two pieces of card for the back and one for the seat. Cut some wadding for one of the back pieces and for the seat and glue the material to all of the pieces of card, securing with pegs.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=48.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/48.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I plan to join the two back pieces together and glue them and the seat to the chair. When I did stick the two chair cushion parts together there was a very large gap along the seam despite the edges having been held togther by pegs. Once the glue had dried I sewed the edges togther and was very impressed at the final finish - I think you can barely see that it was originally in two parts.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=442.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/442.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I also did some very tiny stitches in the seat padding to emphasise the padding in the chair..although you can't see it very well from this picture</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=445.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/445.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">I decided to make the seat backing mainly because after I had cut out the back of the seat, I decided I didn't like it very much and I couldn't be bothered to cut out another!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=446.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/446.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Making the chair - very very difficult. Getting the toothpicks stuck on is a nightmare. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=49.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/49.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;">Making the table - again very hard to do. The legs were determined to be wonky!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=46.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/46.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Making the bookcase - slightly easier</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=45.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/45.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> All done!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=4444.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/4444.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=4442.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/4442.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=4443.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/4443.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=448.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/448.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> WOW! so much furniture! I just had to do some room layout pictures. This is not how the room will be...I just put most of the finished items in there so I could see what a room might look like. What it will actually be like in the end is very much chaos...work surface covered and paper on the floor, lots of books around and generally representing how I work...in total mess! But until that is done have a sneak peek at what a room in my dolls house could look like.....</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=444444444.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/444444444.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=44441.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/44441.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=4445.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/4445.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=4446.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/4446.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=4447.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/4447.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=4448.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/4448.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=4449.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/4449.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a></span>Laurarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893251201932481132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540332386321178915.post-64583958018195894332010-02-22T04:04:00.000-08:002010-07-26T14:02:19.618-07:00Sew simple?<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">Would like the dolls house to have a bedroom now and I have some ideas....A bed, cabinets, drawers, table, chair, linen box....I possibly have planned too much and there won't be room!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Only problem is that I don't have the wood stain that I want (mahogany) or the fixtures I need. Can't decide what fixtures I want at the moment so furniture is on hold. However I have lots of material and thread and I can sew...ish!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I want the bed to have a patchwork quilt cover....I have made a patchwork quilt before when I was expecting my daughter. I made it the old fashioned way by wrapping squares of material around squares of card and tacking them with thread, then joining all the squares together at the edges with tiny stitches and then removing the card. Very tedious work. I have a sewing machine and although I did a patchwork course years ago I am still not brave enough to tackle the sewing machine. So stitching by hand it is...and anyway I can't possibly stich 1/12 squares by machine!!!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Hunting through the material scraps I was looking for shades of green and perhaps some red and I came across the leftover material I used for the patchwork course - How great to make a quilt out of something that was a lovely memory...it consisted of red tartan, beige tartan, plain red and beige with tiny flowers...also found a lovely green and the leftover cream material from my daughters baby quilt.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120493-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120493-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I did find a lovely quilt pattern of diamond shapes that when sewed together formed a flower pattern, but after cutting the card I knew I couldn't sew something that small, it was way too fiddly. Instead I did squares...boring maybe but I had to keep it within my capabilities here. I chose the material I wanted and designed a simple pattern (took me three or four attempts to get it right) - drawing it on paper and colouring it in to show me which squares were what and where. Then sew sew sew....very boring and as of yet not completed! It might be the last thing I do complete!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120495.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120495.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120496.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120496.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Getting bored with the quilt I needed something new but wanted it to be for the bedroom....a cushion for the bed or chair? I collected some colours from my embroidery cotton box and checked that they would go with the quilt - they did (sort of) well it was the best I could do without shopping for new cotton.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120498.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120498.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> I found a pattern for a carpet in a book and based the cushion design on that, first placing the material in a hoop</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120497.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120497.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Drawing the square cushion outline</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120499.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120499.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Sewing the outline</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120500.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120500.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Filling in detail</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120501.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120501.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Looks ok at the moment</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120503.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120503.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120505.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120505.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> YUK!!!! don't like that now! All the lines are wonky and I don't like the colours after all....</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120506.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120506.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> So I made a cushion for the living room which will be cream and blue. This is based on a cushion I used to own.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: georgia;" href="http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/?action=view&current=P1120574.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j53/cefer1971/P1120574.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: georgia;"> ....and now back to the quilt..unless of course I can find something else to do!</span></span>Laurarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893251201932481132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540332386321178915.post-59186089686163268812010-02-09T15:31:00.000-08:002015-02-16T13:06:20.783-08:00A lovely evening<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><br />Kids were tucked up in bed and husband out for the evening, I settled down to watch T.V. After finding that nothing was on I picked up the dolls house book that I am getting lots of ideas from.....an evening of planning what to make....sounds good!<br /><br /><br /> .....what to make???? Need something that is easy, nice, isn't going to cause problems with room plan layouts in future (not really got any definite plans yet) and doesn't need hinges/doorknobs or any other extras.<br /><br />I had made a bookcase for the craft room a few days ago. Its based on the pattern for the dresser and it was easy to make....but stupid me messed it up as I normally do. I had planned to have it stained dark wood and I knew I had to stain it after the wood had been cut as stain won't cover glue. It wasn't until all the parts had been put together that I realised my error....now it has to be painted but as yet I haven't decided what colour to paint it - here it is anyway.......</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Back to tonight's project ......A settle! I had never heard of a settle before (excuse my ignorance) but it looked lovely in the book and I thought that it could go in the hallway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First I cut out all the pieces.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Sadly due to a lapse of concentration and a mix up with already cut items and wood waiting to be cut, the bench is a couple of inches shorter than it is meant to be....do you think anyone will notice?<br /><br /> This time I did manage to remember to stain the wood!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> All the pieces laid out ready to put together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Wiping away blobs of glue</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Taking shape now.</span><br />
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<br /><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> All done! Looks too bare though....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How about a cushion? I rummaged through my bag of scraps and found a perfect tapestry style material. Cut out a rectangle of cardboard slightly smaller than the seat and stuck foam on top with glue....</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> I wrapped the material around it tightly and glued the seam holding it together with pegs while it dried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then I sewed the ends and hey presto a cushion!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not too bad.....and all done in about 2 hours!!!</span></div>
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Laurarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893251201932481132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6540332386321178915.post-14293311330949167452010-02-04T05:06:00.000-08:002015-02-16T12:52:59.327-08:00Start at the very beginning...a very good place to start<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><br />This will be a long blog entry I am afraid - I have over a year of catching up to do!<br /><br />All my life I wanted a dolls house....I think that creative urge was there early. I knew what wallpaper would be just right and that there had to be paintings on the walls, many comfy seats and definitely plenty of flower arrangements scattered around (carefully of course!) The people who lived there would just love the homely atmosphere that I had created.....but all those plans went unfulfilled, as no dolls house arrived. Even as a teenager that dream didn't go away. My best friend and I shared the same dolls house ambition and would spend ages reading dolls house catalogues and discussing the merits of choosing one cooker rather than another and which sofa was the best.<br /><br /> I was amazed to then see that my mother-in-law was even more of a fan than I was...and had many houses that she had created. I was in heaven....oh, how I wanted one! Yep... the dolls house bug was still there despite the fact that I had forced myself to accept that I would never own one.<br /><br /> I occasionally peeked at dolls houses on eBay, usually when they were pointed out by my mother-in-law (I hope she won't mind me calling her by her name to save typing!) Gil would send me links of ones she knew I would like and I always did love them - It never failed to start me off daydreaming about furniture and fixtures....I would watch the bidding and then she and I winced at the final prices. I have two small children and our budget doesn't allow for the extras that creating a dolls house requires. I don't mean to come across as whinging about that. I don't resent it at all.....my children are the best people to have ever come into my life.....but I couldn't justify spending that amount of money...and wouldn't for many years to come. I put that dream away again...occasionally sneaking images/ideas away from ebay sales when they caught my eye! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Such as this lovely hallway...I have already tracked down that exact wallpaper and flooring and I will get it for my dolls house!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />Then......one day I saw an advert for a dolls house on a selling site I belong to. Hmmmmm....should I ask about it? An email was sent asking for pictures and a price....Pictures came back with details of room dimensions and my heart skipped a beat I think! It was PERFECT!! Just what I had wanted - 3 floors with a loft.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I wanted non symmetrical rooms and this lovely house had a variety of room sizes....and they were good size rooms too , not little box shapes. Only one room was painted (teenager had given up very quickly) so no wallpaper to strip....it was a beautiful blank canvas.....and to top this off the price was good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />I wanted an expert opinion so wrote an email to Gil...she had often pointed out the pros and cons to certain houses - things that I had not noticed and I was thinking maybe this house was too good to be true - was I overlooking a problem? She really liked it and in fact she offered to buy it for me for Christmas....I was so grateful and thrilled that I was on the first step of my dolls house journey at last. On Christmas day I had totally forgotten about the dolls house gift (I have that kind of brain I am afraid) and was bewildered when handed a strand of wool and told to follow it along....it led my up the stairs to one of the bedrooms and inside was my dolls house....although technically it wasn't a surprise I must admit there were tears in my eyes...and I could have hugged Gil forever.<br /><br /> I decorated the house very quickly...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I needed to do this without spending much money so I would grab a few feet of several wallpapers from a DIY shop under the pretence of needing a sample....pots of tester emulsion are cheap and searching a DIY store online I found some samples of parquet and laminate flooring I liked. I copied the image and then put it onto a word document and printed it up on card....hey presto - I had a really good floor for the art room and the nursery. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I did a similar thing with tiles...finding tiles I liked online and then printing them onto photo paper....as of yet I haven't found the right tiles for my bathroom but I will find them sometime! Decorating the rooms was fun but I did go through a slight hiccup in my plans though. I had decided very quickly what rooms were what and I knew that the woman who lived there was a art and craft lady and would have her own craft room....so I set aside the small hallway outside the main bedroom for that use. I chose the perfect wallpaper and although there wasn't much of it, the paper would cover the room but it wouldn't allow for many errors. Very carefully I pasted, cut and papered....stepped back and admired the work....allowing for a moment of smugness - I had done a very good , neat job.<br /><br /> However, hold on a minute - something is wrong, this definitely doesn't look right....oh blooming heck! (I am ashamed to admit my actual words were much stronger) I papered the flipping living room instead! - carefully I unpeeled the freshly hung and expertly cut paper that I had no more of....took a deep breath, Well, the art room is smaller thank goodness. I'll just try and use it in there. Of course it fitted and the mistake wasn't too horrendous. It taught me to be far more careful in future. I am a rusher by nature, wanting everything done yesterday and I have learnt the hard way that dolls house creation takes a long time...it is a journey best taken enjoying the view, not hurried along ignoring everything that passes.<br /><br /><br /><br /> Time was passing however - with no money for furniture, the house stayed empty and even sadder was the fact that it had become a handy place to store letters and general bric-a-brac out of kids reach. This wasn’t what I had intended - I didn’t want a dolls house shaped storage cupboard. I wanted a beautiful house full of lovely furniture...my daughter was upset at this too and would ask “when is it going to be ready to play with Mummy?” I wasn't forgetting my dolls house plans though. I was collecting many ideas and items from the internet. Every time I saw a thing I liked, flooring, wallpaper, furniture, pictures etc I put them into files on my computer, all tucked away until they could be used.<br /><br /><br /><br /> I knew that although the ideal "easy quick" solution was to have enough money to go out and buy all brand new furniture - there was very little fun to be had doing that for a person who likes crafts as much as me. Of course, there is the 'retail therapy' point of view but that is a very short lived thrill. I began to look for second hand furniture on eBay with the view to renovating it - but prices are still very high and many of the mixed lots on there would have only one or two items I liked and the others I wouldn't use. So that idea bit the dust. Gil suggested that I make my own furniture. she certainly has more faith in my abilities than I do. "I CAN’T make furniture!" I would reply. "I can’t even do flat pack full sized furniture". My husband refuses to let me help with furniture building as I have no understanding for the need of instructions and surge on ahead guessing what piece goes where. I would never have the patience to sit and cut out wood and then horror of horrors….follow instructions!!!<br /><br />Last week Gil visited me while my husband Adam was away. She carried with her a bag of the dolls house magazines that I love reading. While Anya was out and Jakob was asleep I began to flick through the pages when I found a “make your own Victorian kitchen” magazine. That looks nice I thought, again dismissing the possibility that I could even understand how to make anything. A dresser caught my eye….it was too big for what I wanted but I could see that the plans were very simple yet the finished item looked fantastic..something people would pay £15-20 for…suddenly I was tempted. What could go wrong? I just buy some balsa wood (the item was actually made from cardboard but it said wood could be used and I wanted something sturdy) If it went wrong I would just know for sure that I couldn’t make furniture. I glanced at other pages…ooohhh a nice coffee grinder, shelf unit, aga cooker, gas lamp, bucket, saucepans….all made from cardboard, balsa wood, beads and gilt findings…...I wanted all of them and to get them I had to try to make them.<br /><br /><br /> Something small to begin with…the shelf unit. A back, two sides and two shelves and a base. Easy shapes to cut out. My long suffering husband responded favourably to my request to buy balsa wood and glue etc and I got to work. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I cut out the templates and then the wood. Hmmm.....instructions - PAH! Don’t need those! I know where the bits go…but as you could probably guess I did it wrong because as with so many of these things, bits have to be done in a certain order otherwise they don’t fit. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">“You mean I have to sit and hold the items together while to glue bonds?” Oh for heavens sake! that doesn’t fit in with my total lack of patience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Anyway I held the shelves onto the back of the unit, impatiently waiting for minutes to pass, let go......."yes they have stuck!" only to then watch the shelves slowly collapse....with sticky fingers I would apply more messy glue and I would try to construct it again....... the whole lot a soppy mess of glue and fingerprints. I have a 'bit' of a perfectionist streak in me and if something isn't absolutely perfect then it is wrong! I glared at the gaps where the knife had cut at an angle instead of straight and realised that to make things 'perfect' I would have to take more time and sand down the edges....such a small detail but taking that extra time all adds up to making them look more like professionally made items. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> If I was going to continue with my rushing "make it in ten minutes" plan I was going to end up with shabby crooked wonky furniture - something I had hoped to avoid by buying things new. However before this realisation hit me I growled and cursed and then announced “Oh this is hopeless…I CAN’T do it and it looks awful”<br /><br /><br />Adam, as always was there with the patient calm words of encouragement along the lines of 'practice' makes perfect….try and try again…don’t give up….The ambitious, tenacious side of my character took over and announced “OK…I’ll do the dresser tomorrow”<br /><br />This time I looked at the instructions…even crossing out what I had done so that I didn’t get confused with all the “attach A to side B then attach two G’s to corner C” etc etc…. I also labelled the cut wood so that I knew what bit was - very unlike me! I took it slowly, even sitting holding bits together till it had set. I was amazed as the dresser too shape…it looked great. I even managed to divide the pattern in half as the original was too big for what I had wanted…. The dresser went so well I have plans to adapt it into a bookcase and also maybe a sink and unit for the bathroom. I hope it will work... the plans for the dresser are very simple and I think very easily adapted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /><br /><br /> Now I needed beads and gilt findings for the other items. Gil to the rescue. She let me raid all the dolls house bits she has collected and it was great to find everything I needed, even old party poppers which apparently I can make into saucepans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now with all the metal bits and pieces perhaps I could make an aga cooker? First just to get some more practise maybe something simple...a clock? Probably the easiest thing to make and cost pennies to do. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Two bits of wood, a bit of metal, a button and a printed clock face....easy peasy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The cooker was tougher. I wanted to reduce the size and height by about a third and my maths wasn’t up to the precision needed. So it didn’t go together as accurately as the dresser did. But I was very happy with the result and although I don't mean to brag I actually prefer it to the original one in the magazine.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I also like the fact that it is now an original rather than just a copy. I was pleased to find the perfect door hinges (links from an old bracelet) in the items Gil donated. The magazine recommended brass nails but I think the links work better. Rummaging through the items I found other appropriate metal bits including perfect handles and a dolls house door handle made a perfect ash drawer handle.......Adam really liked it and added his recommendation that I paint the hob plates a silvery metal so they show up which I will do at some point............. I finally have a cooker!!!<br /><br /><br /><br /> What will I make next?</span>Laurarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16893251201932481132noreply@blogger.com0