Monday, March 25, 2013

La Recamier




Learning As I Go.....

I am Rather pleased, Dear Readers, with the results of this Tiny furniture experiment! I have wanted to make a Mini version of the Iconic Recamier sofa ever since I can remember! There are many commercial versions you can buy, and I think someday I might even try making one in 1:12 scale, but I just could Not resist attempting one for this Tiny Tree House bedroom! The sofa has many variations in form, some with a low back rest on one side, some with equal height curved ends, and some with a recurved foot like the one I have made. I did not make up this design, I saw a picture somewhere on the Internet and knew at once that I wanted to copy that design! I will confess right away that my version is Not perfect... there are things I would do better if I were starting another one.... But  nonetheless, I started with a Tiny to scale sketch...
Which is Very faintly drawn here.... 
I refined the sketch on the right... and cut out patterns.... 
and started to cut the tiny pieces from thin plywood....

The pieces are Very Tiny.... 
and I used my small files to refine the shape more....
and attached them to the seat.....

I did not file the curved end down enough... 
it ended up getting thicker than I had imagined especially after the upholstery was added.....

But I thought at the time that it matched my drawing well enough... so I kept going....
I added cardboard for the shaping of the curved ends....
and cut tiny legs from the tips of spindles...
 
I Really love the profile.... 
but ultimately think the foot curve should be smaller in proportion to the whole sofa.....
Of course, I had to test it in the Tree House.....

And then it needed painting black.....

And Upholstering!
Which took quite a while!
I have the PERFECT pale green silk.....
But I wanted to have tufting like on the original...
 
I used manilla folders for the paper base..... 
punched a pattern of holes....
I used a layer of felt as the stuffing....
And carefully stitched it together....

And glued it to the outside of the foot of the sofa!
And did the same for the head.....

The seat section is covered with an un-stuffed layer...



because there will be an additional tufted cushion covering it.....


As you can see, the upholstery is making the curved end much thicker than in my drawing....


But it is also because I did not file it down enough...... 
the whole foot should be a bit smaller.... and a little less incurved.

Perfect or not, I also wanted it to have lovely gold trim.... 
which I made by gluing gold thread....

One tiny section at a time....

On both sides.....

It is starting to look Almost as I had Imagined Dear Readers.... 
but what Recamier is finished without a bolster pillow?
You can see the beginnings below.... 
it was the most time consuming part of the entire sofa!
Because I wanted it to have tassels... 
Gold tassels.... 
and the first pair I made with the same gold thread I used for the trim... 
but they were much too coarse and large. 
Fortunately I found some gold sewing thread and made a much smaller pair!
Here you can see I have attached them to the ends before gluing the cloth to the bolster....


And here you can see the completed bolster....

What a lot of trouble just for a bolster!

But I really do think it makes the piece!

And while I might wish the foot was a smaller curve... 
I think it works Just Perfectly in this room!
Talk about a Learning Curve! 
It may not be Perfect, 
but I LOVE my first Recamier!


23 comments:

  1. Absolutely awesome! You are so talented!

    Vicki

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  2. Such a charming little piece! A real tiny treasure!

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  3. Maybe a lot of trouble but what an effect! You have made a beautiful sofa as befits that spectacular room! It's really inspiring seeing all the artistic effects you create.

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  4. Oh it is just fabulous and it looks great in the room. I think learning as you go is the best way to do things. To see the recamier in your hand it is so sweet. You make me want to try something in a smaller scale.

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  5. Your sofa is tres elegant!!! Unbelievably tiny and detailed, it looks wonderful in the room.

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  6. Hi Betsy, the sofa is another beautiful addition to your room. Thanks for your showing your workingprocess so extensive; it's very nice to look at the stages in your way of creating things.
    Hug, liduina

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  7. Hello from Spain: I love that couch. Great job. You are very talented. Keep in touch

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  8. Not perfect she says.....I think it's unbelievable pretty and I'm amazed as always that you can get that amount of detail in such a smaal piece of furniture! The little tassels on the pillow...so wonderful!!!

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  9. Betsy!!!!!!It is just AMAZING!!!! Great great great! I was thinking of making one like this in 1/12 scale but making it SO SO Tiny! It's unbelivable!!

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  10. And I LOVE it too!

    My dear Bets, you have once again outdone yourself! That bolster, no no no, it is not too much trouble at all because it IS that perfect touch to the Recamier. You have made the bolster so perfect, it look just like a real life one.

    I have to confess I didn't think you could add anything more to the room but I was wrong. This Recaimer is PERFECT!

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  11. Gorgeous Betsy, well done! Love the shape and the tufting and the little bolster cushion. And it looks so perfect in the room!

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  12. As you probably already know, the recamier is one of my favorite things and I have a few of them in my house...but non of them are as sweet as your divine divan! Very well done, Betsy!

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  13. I think it looks perfect in every way!!! -Ara

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  14. you might not think it's perfect but I do! I love it and that silk just sets it off perfectly! very well done ;)


    Hugs
    Marisa

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  15. Oh Betsy. Betsy! It's elegant, and detailed, and dare I say, dream inspiringly comfortable? In other words, perfect. What I especially love is that you know exactly what to do when most of us would be relieved that it worked and stopped, thanking the creative spirits. The bolster is the cherry on your parfait of a divan. No mystery why the french word for perfect is what your beautiful Recamier recalls...

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  16. Gorgeous! It's perfect for this bedroom.
    Greetings, Faby

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  17. Betsy, this is breathtaking, really beyond words. As always I stand in awe that you can work all those beautiful details in that size. And as Sans! already said - that bolster was worth every effort. Tassels in that scale... I can't believe it!

    Greetings
    Birgit

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  18. Hello Betsey, I swear I want to lie on that ricamier and just enjoy being in that gorgeous room. I have seen many people make beautiful ricamiers, but never at such a small scale. The detail you get into that small, small size is just incredible. Terrific job!
    I say it often, but I just love your world!
    Big hug,
    Giac

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  19. Betsy, you are a genius, so tiny and perfect, well done!! It looks so beautiful and elegant, okay, the the foot could have a smaller curve, but that is for the next one, huh ;)? Finally that bolster has made it complete, it was a lot of work, but it looks perfect!
    At first I thought: what is a Recamier?? But then I remembered me that John had a blogpost about this Recamier, so I remembered what it was.
    Hugs, Ilona

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  20. It's true what all your readers say, you have the most AMAZING PATIENCE! I think the Recamier is the most lovely - and it makes that bedroom the most lovely - of all your work so far. Maybe I'm forgetting something, but I am WOWED. WOWWWW!
    Carry on. Lots of love,
    Mom

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  21. Wow, that is Absolutely Exquisite work - Beautiful work and blog!

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  22. Betsy,
    The whole tree house is incredible, but you have outdone even yourself with the Recamier! I can't believe my eyes. Just amazing!!
    Well done, my dear,
    Iris

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  23. I read the bit twice that said you wanted to tuft the cushions! You should be really proud of yourself, it's a marvellous thing and beautifully made - even if you do think the foot curve could have been smaller - it looks great just as it is.

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