Monday, March 18, 2013

The Wardrobe




A Foray Into Fine Furniture......

I left you, Dear Readers, Wondering about the Ceiling in the Chinoiserie bedroom, but I found myself taking a Different Direction altogether last weekend! What I had not shown you previously was my Terribly Disappointing Attempt to construct a Mini Wardrobe with Hinged doors....! Alas, I was so disappointed that I tore the hinges off and deleted the pictures! So You are going to have to believe me when I tell you that the hinges when first installed on the door panels ended up causing a Huge gap between the door and the side panel when the doors were in the "closed" position..... while they opened up to a tightly closed flat seam. (I know it is difficult to understand the description!) It was so glaring a fault that I was about to abandon altogether the idea of a Wardrobe with beautiful Hinges! But after several sleepless nights... (sort of) and Much pondering, I decided to re-examine the Science of the hinged door. Most hinges have their pivot point off-set from the plane of the surface they are fastened to.... ie the bolt sits above the surface when the hinge is open flat.... so when the hinged pieces swing.... they either swing in a tight arc or a wide arc from the pivot point.... depending on Which Face of the hinge is contacting the surface!  So in order to get my doors to swing in a Tight arc...(and therefore showing little to no gap) I needed to set the pin pivot face Down between the flat sections of the door and the side panel not face up as I had first thought!! I am Sorry to bore you with this incomprehensible description.... but I was just So Excited by the discovery that I wanted to share it with you! Go ahead and try it yourselves!
So thus encouraged I commenced with building the Mini Wardrobe.....

You can see above the beginnings.... I stained all the pieces Before gluing them together, and if you look closely you can see the hinges attached with the pin side Down ... requiring a space between the door and the side panel.... but if you envision it swung closed..... the door and the panel have no crack visible!

Here is a closer shot and a view of the base section as well....
One of the panels (on the left) cracked as I was attaching the hinges 
so I had to start over with a new panel....

Here I am testing the door panels for size 
( I needed to shave off a slice from each door... 
I had forgotten that the hinges in this position would mean 
the door did not overlap the side panels at all and so did not need to be so wide) 
Also you can see the drawer mostly constructed.

Here above you can see the nearly completed Wardrobe next to the rough (and very faintly drawn) sketch I made for an initial design... the size discrepancy is mostly due to the perspective.... the actual is quite close in size to the sketch!

And here you can see the doors open... 
with the bar for hanging clothes.... sorry it is a little crooked! 
But as beautiful as this was, I thought it lacked something.... 
so I added a decorative crown pediment....
and also added all the door pulls and tiny finials made from beads....

That is So Much more Elegant!
Here you can see the drawer open too....

The whole cabinet is just under two inches tall!!!
Which makes it a quite Large almost Eight feet tall in the Mini scale!!!

And then we Have to see it in place in the Tiny Dressing Room.....
Oh Dear.... is there room???

I measured So carefully, Dear Readers... Yes, it fits! 
But Alas, it covers so much of the painted walls....
Can we Forgive it...? 
This is the Dilemma posed by Painting the murals to begin with.... 
we have to hide the paintings with the furnishings...
I should be used to it by now....

But did I stop there, Dear Readers......
I had to make at Least ONE thing to go inside the Wardrobe....
Can you see it...?

And Now can you see it...?

I'm sorry the picture is blurry..... 
Besides.... I couldn't stop there either.....!

I had to make a Lacy Negligee.....

Of course it is really Difficult to photograph it well....

This Tiny little gown tucked into a Tiny Little Wardrobe....  
stuck into a Tiny little corner of this Tiny Little Room.....
Of this Tiny Little Tree House!


I am So glad I was successful with this Foray into Fine Furniture, Dear Readers,
Because what Dressing Room would be complete without a Wardrobe?


40 comments:

  1. Hello! I don't know how you manage to do the things you do as everything is so very tiny! You have to be patience incarnated! I have read very carefully striving to visualize as I went along. I must admit I got a bit lost with the hinges. Anyways, the finished product is a rare marvel and that's all that matters. That little dress is beyond a marvel! Thank you so much for sharing these little treasures of your creation!

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    1. Hi Lucille! Thank you so much for commenting! I am sorry my Hinges discussion was confusing.... I knew it would be impossible to describe what Exactly I meant! But I thought it might help anyone else who ever tried to make things from scratch with hinges! As you say, the important thing is it worked! LOL! Just so you know... I use tweezers all the time... and you do have to be patient... because it doesn't always work the first time!

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  2. Beautiful work. The wardrobe and negligee are very elegant. Everything is so tiny.

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  3. My 1st reaction was o no, the murals! Bets, it is an adorable little wardrobe but you really must try not to cover the murals anymore! This one with the rambler (although I much prefer to call them "rambling") roses and that Chinese vase has got to be my favourite one of yours!

    I have also just started to make little furnishings from scratch. Simple stuff like shelf etc. The precision that is required was enough for me to tear my hair out. Yours , well, I don't even want to start. You are tenacious and there's no doubt about it, you are amazing!

    That negligee and the o so tiny hanger are but testaments of what I just said.

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    1. Dear Sans! I have to cover the murals... or never build again! It is agony of a strange kind....the Chinoiserie bedroom in The Lovely Old Dollhouse has no furniture because I cannot bear to cover the murals! In this tiny Tree House... perhaps I am trying to accustom myself to hiding part of the paintings... at any rate, the furniture is removable .... and I know the paintings are there! *Sigh* Can we not let them fade into the background... become the shadowy corner... let the three dimensional pieces take center stage....? At least I must try... we will see if I can stand to leave them hidden!

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  4. Another amazing piece, Betsy! I love your wardrobe and this little hanger and negligee again made me think you must have saint's patience.:)

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    1. Hi Ewa! I am just getting started! LOL! There are more surprises to come! I will go polish the halo! ;) (Just kidding!) I LOVE working at this scale... I really don't think it is that difficult once you get used to it! And in a funny way I think it allows me to get away with out of proportion stuff that would never be acceptable in the 1:12 scale world! They make up in charm what they lack in perfection!

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  5. Hello from Spain: I like to see your photos and your designs. This wardrobe is awesome. Great job. We keep in touch.

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    1. Hi Marta! Thank you for commenting! I have enjoyed looking at your blog too! I am a "secret" fan of Barbies... my dolls were sold when I was a teenager... so I no longer have them! Yours are Beautiful and so much Fun!

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  6. Hi Betsy, just like you I have been struggling with hinged doors in the past but I can see you manage very well right now: the wardrobe is cute and the negligee tiny and fine. My compliments!

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    1. Thank you, Liduina! I know my description was hard to follow! I am glad to know I was not the only one who has wrestled with hinges! Thank you for commenting!

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  7. You lost me when you wrote about the hinges, too much technical and difficult terms in English for me, I am sorry :D but by seeing your pictures I know what you mean, Betsy! This is awesome work, the tiny negligee and the hanger, so delicate! Your creativity seems to be endless and we enjoy it :D
    Hugs, Ilona

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    1. Hi Ilona! It proves that a picture is worth a thousand words... especially if the words are a foreign language and the subject is technical! I think it was confusing even for me... it is really hard to describe those things clearly! I should have taken more pictures... or at least kept the ones of my failed attempt... that would have made it easier to see what I meant! Thank you so much for commenting!

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  8. Betsy,
    each time I look at your beautiful painted walls I am completely enchanted. The wardrobe is lovely and you are so committed to working it all out. EVERYTHING is so tiny and so well thought out it's just divine!! You patience is amazing.

    ML Fi xx

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    1. Thank you, Fi! I really appreciate your comments... you have such exquisite taste! This project is all about enchantment... it has me Utterly in it's spell!!! LOL!

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  9. Hello Betsy,
    Terrific! The first "horrible" wardrobe was worth it. Look at it as a practice piece that enabled you to create this wonderful wardrobe. It looks lovley and the hanger and negligee...Bravo!
    I hate furniture covering beautiful detailed walls, but there is something I love about spring cleaning when you pull out a piece of furniture and see what was hidden.
    I think it looks marvellous in the room.
    I love it!
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. It is a real struggle for me, Giac, to hide these walls! But the wall murals were so unexpected... all the other parts of the room were the original plan.... I must try to make them all work together.... and we will be able to see glimpses of what is behind the furniture.... And like with any creation, there is always another layer that takes us beyond where we are... and we must just be brave and attempt it.... Or leave the work undone! I like your idea about Spring cleaning...!

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  10. Betsy, malgré quelques difficultés, vous avez réalisé une jolie armoire, très mignon le petit cintre, la nuisette est élégante.
    rosethé

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    1. Merci beaucoup, Rosethe! I must come and study all the tiny buildings you have been making! Thank you for commenting!

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  11. The wardrobe is wonderful and vey elegant. I also like the negligee.
    Friendly greetings, Faby

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  12. Wow - that is amazing! I didn't really realize how small it was until I saw the pic of it in your hand! Truly amazing! -ara

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    1. Hi Ara! It is Tiny... 1:48 scale or as close as I can make it! I think I get away with a lot at this size!!! Thank you for commenting!

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  13. Well, you've outdone yourself this time. Maybe you need a jeweler's loup, then you could hold the magnifying loup in your eye thus freeing both hands to work on the piece. I'm quite serious!
    Sad about covering up the mural, but the wardrobe IS magnificent, and the tiny hanger and nightie even more so.
    Lots of love,
    Mom

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    1. Thanks, Mom! I'm still working at non-magnifying scale! I do have a magnifying glass... but I find it difficult to use... although I am going to practice when I start doing more needlework! I have some plans.... stay tuned!

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  14. This is what I really love about blogging - it's so educational. The science of the hinged door... why don't they teach something like this at school? ;O) But now you get my honest opinion - this wardrobe is stunning like everything you do... from the scientifical hinges to the (well-deserved!) crown on top to the teeny tiny hanger with that incredible negligé. It's only a shame it covers so much of your gorgeous paintings... Did you ever think of painting the wardrobe? I think it would be great with a flower pot on it matching with the murals.

    Greetings
    Birgit

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    1. Hi Birgit! I am so glad you benefit from my *ahem* scientifical treatises!! :) I know it is a difficult subject to comprehend... especially when I can barely describe what I mean! Good thing all my followers are so patient and forgiving! I am sad about covering part of the walls... and your idea about painting the wardrobe is a "Dangerous" one!!! (you can see examples of what happens when I paint on Furniture on my other blog...(link through my icon)!) I have pictures of my painted walls and furniture there!

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  15. Betsy that is just fantastic! That little negligee on the hanger is simply over the top. I'm glad you figured out the hinge dilemma --I know from working with 'life-sized' hinges that they are sometimes confusing and shrinking them down so small must add another element of perplexity to them. So great job! What an incredible amount of work!

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    1. Thanks, John! I have plans for a whole lot more tiny wonders! And I'm glad Someone understands a little bit what I was trying to say bout the hinges!!! :)

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  16. Beautiful! I love the tiny wardrobe and the walls are outstanding :)

    Big Hugs,
    Victoria

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    1. Hi Victoria!!! So good to see you here again! I have been wondering how you are and whether the winter has been treating you well...! Thanks for commenting!!!

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  17. You just keep going on and on surprising me with your tiny little makes! The wardrobe is perfect, right down to it's little pediment. To give it contents is the cherry on top!

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    1. Thank you Irene! I LOVE that description!!! (Cherries are one of my Favorite fruits!) Just wait 'til you see what comes next...!!! :)

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  18. the wardrobe is beautiful....and that little drawer...unbelievable!!!!
    We should have known you wouldn't stop there and even made a negligé on a hanger..stunning!!

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    1. Thank you, Margriet! I am enchanted by this Tiny scale... I am having so much Fun making Tiny things for it!!! I'm so glad you like it!

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  19. I have a real life wardrobe like this made out of cedar and yours is so much like it. You did a fantastic job so your practice did make perfect. That is so how we learn. Love that tiny hanger. WOW... Will be enjoying this blog.

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  20. Hi Betsy,

    I am so pleased that you managed to resolve your problem, still not sure I fully understood it, but I will reread the post again!! The wardrobe is charming, and I love the tiny coat hanger and nightgown hanging inside - fantastic!

    It is a shame it hides the murals, but I love the wardrobe so much I can forgive it, certainly!

    hugs
    Andy xxx

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