Monday, January 30, 2012

Book Nook And Fireplace Updates

A Gift From Nina!

As some of you Dear Readers may be aware, Nina of "The Tudor-Medieval -Jacobean- Queen Anne Dollhouse "Blog, (http://tudordollhouse.blogspot.com/) upon reading about the VAST Emptiness of my New Book Nook Shelves in my second to last post, decided from the Goodness of her Heart, to send me a selection of her own hand made Books! Her blog is one of the first ones I discovered as I began my adventures in Mini Blogland and DIRECTLY inspired my Construction of my Own Castle Dollhouse, so I am Doubly touched and Honored by this Gift! And of course, you must understand that WITHOUT the awareness of the immanent arrival of these volumes, my New shelves and the rest of the reading nook Probably would have remained unadorned for weeks, if not months! But Just LOOK at how many lovely books she sent!!!


They are not opening books..... but some of them are even covered in gorgeous leather bindings! And they are an assortment of colors and sizes as well! I truly am touched by this gift!

And while I have not yet made any BOOKS myself, I did manage to make some cushions to soften the nook! I started by making a mattress out of some very old and worn sea-green velveteen..... so soft and faded looking...... please excuse the roughness of my stitching... I am out of practice!

And added some round bolsters for each end, tucked into the corners......

And while I was decorating....
I found the right color blue paint and re-painted the shelves to match the rest of the trim.......

And then I made a couple of cushions out of some sparkly Paisley inspired fabric.....
isn't the pattern just Gorgeous?!

And I FINALLY finished the tiny piece of needlepoint I had started almost TWO years ago.... making a cushion out of the little rabbit......

And added a cup of tea on the window ledge....
and a Pear for snacking........

And the books...... Isn't it Cozy?

Nina's books look SO At HOME with the rest of the books I have!
I am going to have to make some more......

Thank you, Nina! I LOVE them!



And now I must show you Another little detail that I have FINALLY completed......
You have seen the ceiling for my Dining Room in the Cupboard House a number of times.... but ever since I started painting it, I have wanted to add some tiny Heavenly Figures looking down from the Clouds.... as though the Gods of Olympus are feasting up above the clouds and happen to look down on the Dining Room below........

Here is a closer view.....
it was a bit tricky to approximate the correct foreshortening......

And here is the view in situ in the Dining Room....
it is such a tiny detail.... they are hardly noticeable at all...
but I just didn't want to leave them out!

And Finally..... you want to see what I have done with the fireplace.....
I have painted the Initial coat of black....
very loosely .... to resemble Marble....
just so I can decide whether black marble is what I want.......

Here you can see it in place.......

And closer..... to see the details...
it is SO difficult to photograph black......

Then I decided I needed to paint the bricks of the firebox in order to really see how it would look.... so I cut some cardboard to the shape and quickly painted the bricks.......

That looks MUCH better!

But I REALLY wanted to see it with the Mirror in place too...
And because I haven't found any mirrors like what I am looking for.....
I started to build the mirror frame...
Using some of that small molding stock from Home Depot.....

Because my cut piece of mirror is a little uneven.....
I built up the back of the frame to surround the glass.....

I am leaving the bottom edge of the glass with no frame....
because I want that sense of the Mirror rising straight out of the marble mantlepiece......
And I have painted it antique gold .......
Here you see it with the glass in place...........

And giving it a try on the Mantlepiece.......
(Oh boy, is it ever difficult to photograph mirrors!!!)

You get the wackiest junk in the reflection.....
or the glaring lightbulbs!

And while we're at it..... I thought I would give a try to the Lighting.......
Gas lamps were the NEWEST technology at the Time of this House......

And another view......
I might need to get the lamp with more arms......
And forgive the still un-repaired ceiling.....

And THEN upon further reflection.....
I decided that Maybe the mirror DID need a bottom frame piece....
just a slim edge.... not the same as the rest......
So I added one temporarily......

Here's a closer view......

But now I'm not so sure.......
THIS is the first way........

And THIS is the second way.....
Such a Subtle difference.......
And I CAN'T Decide!

Sorry to leave you hanging......
but that's as far as I've gotten!

Book Nook and Fireplace Updates

29 comments:

  1. I Love your reading nook and what a lovely gift! I wish I could go up there and read :)
    The dining room is coming along nicely, I like the tiny trim on the mirror.
    Lights add so much to a doll house, I wish I had better luck with lighting.

    Hugs,
    Victoria

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    1. Hi Victoria! I'm glad you like the nook! It is very inviting! As for the lighting... I think I just can't live without it! This room wouldn't work at all... WAY too dark... if there were no lights! I have a lot to learn... but I'm Determined!

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  2. Oh, my dear :) This has made me SOOOO happy, happier than you'll ever know! I'm so glad you like the books, and your nook is looking cosy and inviting. And your ceiling is amazing! Truly, I adore it! I was playing with lights tonight, too -- they make everything so magical, don't they?

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    1. Hi Nina! The Lights make things Magical... But so do the Kind Blog Friends!!! Your books are perfect for the nook... and will inspire me to make more! Thank you again!

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  3. You showed so many wonders in this post that I do not have enough words to show my delight.
    The books that you received are beautiful! I loved the pillows under the window.
    The decoration of the ceiling is a work of art and the fireplace ... wow! Great work!

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    1. Thank you, Eliana! I'm glad you like them! I am always afraid my home-made pieces are too chunky and not true to scale. But I am starting to like the effect as it is getting done!

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  4. That nook, I can totally belong there, dear Bets. All those colourful cushions with the books to match. With the right clothes, I can disappear in there :) .

    The other amazing transformation is of course the fireplace. Masterpiece, my dear! I think its a work of art. I like the mirror with the trim.

    The real art is of course the painting of the ceiling. Ms Michaelangelo, you are truly amazing!

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    1. Thank you, Sans! I wasn't sure if the cherubs would be "too much" for this ceiling.... but I finally decided to give them a try... I could always paint over them if I didn't like them! But I think they will stay.. :)
      You are welcome to visit the nook any time.... it will probably be crowded there! LOL!
      I am starting to like the mirror with the trim.... probably why I was thinking it needed it in the first place! The fireplace still needs the real marbleizing done..... so we will see when it is done! Fortunately... the black hides a Lot of rough edges!

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  5. I want to this nook! Soooo comfy!! Thank you for making me a cup of tea! A pear - how did you know I love pears? Now, where is my shrinking potion? A, Snape surely has it in his office....;D

    Love your cushions, Betsy! The mattres is something I wish I could make myself and yours is so pretty! The fireplace looks so elegant now, the mirror with the trim adorns it well! And as usual I am in love with your paintings! Have no idea how you could paint these sweet little faces!

    And yes, Nina makes pretty books, I know for I own one! Lucky you!!

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    1. Hi Ewa! YOU bring the Shrinking Potion and we'll ALL meet at the nook for some tea!!! Hee hee! That mattress is made from some cloth.... an OLD shirt actually... that has been Begging me to cut it up for cushions! It is SO SOFT and the color is SO Pearly- Blue-Green... I just LOVE it!
      I'm glad you like the fireplace... it is amazing what a coat of paint can do! ( And you Know I LOVE to paint!)

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  6. Great gifts! Everything looks so beautiful!

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    1. Thank you, Lotte! I LOVE the books! Nina was Very generous! And they fit so Perfectly! Thank you for commenting!

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  7. Wow, I love the little reading area. I can't think of anyone who wouldn't want to relax there and read a good book. I also like your cherubic ceiling! Its great and you did a good job.

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    1. Thanks, Troy! It does have a HUGE amount of Appeal for SUCH a small space! LOL! Just goes to show what one can do with a tiny corner! I was afraid it was going to be wasted.... but then I had to find somewhere for books...! I'm glad you like the ceiling! :)

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  8. Felicidades por los regalos. El techo impresionante y bueno todo una maravilla, hasta la música de fondo...
    Besitos

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    1. Thank you, Cote! Welcome to my Blog! I am glad you like it! Thank you for commenting!

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  9. Enhorabuena por los regalos.
    Me encanta ese colchon y los cojines.
    Es un precioso rincon lleno de grandes detalles.
    La chimenea es muy elegante, me encanta.
    El espejo queda genial, enhorabuena por todo tu trabajo.
    besitos ascension

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    1. Thank you, Ascension! I am glad you like it! Thank you for commenting!

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  10. Betsy , I want it , I want that nook,nobody else would ever be allowed to get close to it.I love it to bits! Rosanna

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    1. Hee Hee, Rosanna, Haven't you heard.... Ewa is bringing the Shrinking Potion and we're all meeting there for a Party! SHHH! A VERY Quiet READING and Tea Party!!! (You can bring the Extra Cushions!)
      It is My NEW FAVORITE Space too, Rosanna! It has ALMOST everything I love..... Tea, Books, Cushions, Windows, more Books....!

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  11. Welcome to my blog! And Thank you for commenting! (I need to learn my way around the Cyrillic alphabet!)

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  12. That booknook is very cosy, sweet of her to send you the books. I love what you did with the ceiling and the fireplace/ mirror.
    Hugs
    Maria

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    1. Thank you, Maria! I am always amazed at the generosity of this Blog world! Thank you for commenting.

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  13. The Book Nook looks SO cosy!! I could happily curl up with a good book and a cup of tea in there!

    The ceiling looks great and I like the mirror you made too, perfect above the fireplace!!

    keep up the wonderful work!!

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    1. Thank you, Andy! I really appreciate your feed-back! I am always worried that my home-made pieces look too home-made! And they do..... but I am learning and I have to remind myself to keep on trying and eventually I will be Really good at it! So I am happy with the encouragement from others!

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    2. Home made things are always a welcome sight in this modern world, I think you do s wonderful job, I love seeing what you've been up to, it's great, please keep going!! ;)

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  14. Hi! I adore the colour of your mattress! And, the pattern on those two cushions is exquisite. There is a touch of zentangle there! The reading nook looks very cozy. I love the little shelf. It permits your little people to enjoy a cup of tea and leave it on the shelf as they carry on with their reading! Such fun!

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  15. Thank you, Lucille! Welcome to my blog! I ALWAYS have to have somewhere to put the teacup... teamug... and snacks when I am reading! So I assume my doll friends will too! I am glad you like it! Thank you for commenting!

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