Monday, June 11, 2012

Have I Lost My Marbles?


The Moon Window

Have you ever dug in the ground, Dear Readers, and come across Marbles buried in the dirt and wondered how long they were there and Who LOST them? It seems to me that all my life I have found beautiful Marbles whenever I have dug a new Garden! I have collected them, of course... but I have also LOST them again.... because they Always seem to turn up Somewhere, so I have NOT kept them very carefully.... but tend to leave them amongst the other rocks I unearth. So it can be no wonder that when I think of Treasures found in the Earth.... I think of LOST Marbles... and how they would appear to someone who is building a little Home underground.....


So I decided to include one that got Lost in the Ground and was partly swallowed by the Tree Roots, but was close to the surface so it could let the light into the Underground Room......!
I realize that the walls for the Kitchen are not completed in this picture below.... 
but it gives a Sense of how the Marble looks without any lights on..... 
I think it looks like the Moon!


And speaking of unfinished Kitchen walls.... 
Before I could finish the walls and the ceiling, 
I needed to Finish ALL the little things that would go in this room!  
I had wanted a small Framed "Picture" that said "Home Sweet Home" that looked as though it was a stitched sampler... but I couldn't find any suitable candidates to copy...
so I drew one myself! 
You can see it here below....

It is Quite TINY!
And then I added a Frame made of Sticks.....


And Because I simply Couldn't imagine a House without Tea and Sugar....... 
I made some Tiny Canisters of wood with labels I painted myself.....





And carefully added them to the shelf with the Clock.......
Along with a little jar full of Amber Honey!


I have also added a Tree Root handrail along the stairs....


And I have also added the Rafters overhead in the ceiling...... 
This is the view from overhead before the "Root" rafters are added ...


And here you can see the Roots added.....

Of course, they will be Barely visible from inside... 
unless you are looking up.....
(This is after I added the Ceiling infill...)


Which you can see from the top here......
 
And here I have started the attaching the Lantern in place... 
the wires go above the ceiling, but below the floor above...


And here is what it looks like with the floor layer (Temporarily) added...
And the front archway in place..... 
but not glued in.....
I need to work out the catch mechanism for this opening side... 
I'm thinking magnets.....


And here you can see the framework as a whole.... 
this room nearly done...

And me starting to think about the framework for the next level.....!!


And while there are still a few TINY details I want to add...


Like a Tiny Teapot.... and a stool.... and a basket.....
and the ceiling needs completing..... and ......
This room is Nearly Done!
But, have I Lost my Marbles?


35 comments:

  1. Of course not, you have found them for certain. What a perfectly wonderful idea, that a marble lost becomes part of the tree house, and lights, (from within, it looks like!) It's making me think of so many buried things, even things not exactly buried but rescued from above, like the coin that Charlie Bucket finds that buys the Wonka Bar that holds the Golden Ticket. And of course, Alice falling down the Rabbit Hole, with the walls of the fall lined with tea cups and candle sticks and armchairs.

    You know, I've never found even one marble buried anywhere. Here, in the yard, there are tiny shells, though we're not that close to the beach. But just imagine what could be down there, under our feet.

    A second level! Betsy! I was happy enough witnessing one, but this will be an added gift!

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    1. Prepare yourself, Amy.... there are going to be even MORE levels!!!! (I just can't stop myself!)
      And speaking of found things... I am being sort of amazed at how many tiny treasures I've saved for YEARS are finding a home in this Tree House!!! Who would have thought.....!
      I am becoming a LITTLE obsessed with this one!

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  2. What a fabulous little room. I am looking forwards to seeing the next.
    Lucy

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    1. Thank you Lucy! (I have been admiring your painted wallpaper recently.....I LOVE to paint tiny details and you have done it SO Charmingly...!)

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  3. When I enlarged your pictures (especially the 1st one) and stared into my screen and I hear all the birds and the water and the winds, I left my own and entered yours.

    I read your last post and walked through with you your struggles with the doors, the light, wires and the teeniest tiniest furnishing and I am glad you did what you did, Betsy because I have thoroughly enjoyed your world :).

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    1. Sans, That is the GREATEST Compliment Anyone can give!!! Thank you for coming into my Tiny World!!! I am becoming a little obsessed with this project.... I'm not sure why... but I Dream of it and think of all the little pieces I want to make....maybe it is that I want to MAKE the WHOLE thing...!!
      Gotta get busy...!

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  4. Well..you know where 1 of your marbles is now LOL I love the treehouse, it's getting more beautiful everytime you work on it. Love the root handrail and the little sampler looks great!!! It's such a cozy little home!!!

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    1. Margriet, I have to tell you... that I started with the ONE marble that was lying around... but then I went LOOKING for More marbles.... and couldn't find them Anywhere!!! LOL! I am still undecided as to whether I will Buy any marbles to complete these rooms..... or only use the ones I FIND!!!

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  5. What a wonderful idea! I remember both playing with marbles and finding them in the garden so this is a real treat.
    Well done x

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    1. Thank you, Simon! (I HAVE lost my Marbles!!! LOL!)

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  6. In your cave, you can make yourself comfortable and dream about the world outside. Wonderful ideas and great work.
    Hugs from Craftland

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    1. Thank you, Craftland! I Love places to sit and Dream! I think this little kitchen fills Many of those old Cave Dreams....!

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  7. I almost cried! This is so perfect..

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  8. Es una pasada, me encanta!!
    Besitos

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  9. I can only repeat myself, dear Betsy! Awesome work! I adore the Marble Moon! Can't stop admiring how you can make these teeny tiny things for this house!!! And of course I can't wait to see the 2nd floor! :D

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    1. Thank you, Ewa! (Go ahead.. repeat yourself as often as you like when it is Such nice words!!! LOL!) As you have guessed... I am enjoying this TINY project More than I would have imagined!!! Prepare yourself for MANY more rooms! :):)

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  10. I can't even find words to describe how perfect you have made the first room! I can't wait to see the next room!
    I find marbles, old silver ware, nails and horse shoes in my garder :)

    Hugs,
    Victoria

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    1. Hee hee... Horseshoes!!! We're not so LUCKY around here!
      Thank you, Victoria... I am finding this Tiny Scale More Enchanting than I would have Imagined... Just passing it along...!

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  11. Un'idea meravigliosa!!!! Piena di dettagli, incantevole! Non vedo l'ora di vedere il secondo piano.....
    Luisa

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    1. Thank you, Luisa! The details are the FUN part! And prepare yourself for many more floors!!

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  12. Nice idea! I'm curious to see the second floor.
    Bye Faby

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    1. Thank you, Fabiola! I am planning Many floors... so stay tuned!

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  13. Estoy deseando ver el 2º piso, te ha quedado simplemente genial.
    Es un verdadero placer ver esos pequeños detalles, enhorabuena.
    besitos ascenison

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    1. Gracias, Ascension! I am glad you like it! I know you make the TINY things yourself...!

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  14. At least one marble that can never get lost anymore... ;O) Your progress is amazing, so many lovely details - you're thinking of everything. Can't wait to see more...

    Greetings
    Birgit

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    1. Thank you, Birgit! I am finding that there are many of my little treasures that I have been saving for YEARS that will go into this project! It is SO Fun to be able to use them ... as you say, now I will never lose them...! Prepare yourself for Many more Tiny Rooms!!!

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  15. I only find rocks in my soil, I would prefer marbles!

    I like how you are using them in the tree house, and the second floor -- I can't wait to see what interesting these you make to put there.

    Cheers,
    Iris

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    1. Thanks, Iris! I had more rocks in my Vermont Garden..... almost none here in the River Valley...!
      The second floor... and the Third floor.... and the Fourth floor... I will be busy for a while!

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  16. I love this little project!

    The marble is a great idea, I used to find them in the garden too when I was young, along with old its of clay pipe, broken shards of china and once a broken silver pocket watch with no hands!

    Your tree house looks very cosy. It reminds me of a show on TV for children, shown here years ago called Wind in the Willows (based on the book) which used puppets and a stop motion fiming method. I was always keen to watch it!!

    Tea and sugar are essential! I'm glad you have stocked up on them!! ;O)

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    1. Andy, I HAVE to tell you that I LOVE "The Wind In The Willows"!!! It is one of my Favorite stories! (I have only read the book.... never seen a film... but I Loved the version illustrated by Michael Hague...!) And I have been thinking of Ratty and Mole as I work on this House... in fact I have been thinking of them in connection with "The Folly" since I first started to decorate it...!!! But it never seemed right to have them "doll" sized and living in it.... but just MAYBE they could be the Secret Tree House residents...??? ( I think you have reinforced my suspicions that it is they who live here........!)

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    2. Yes maybe they do, or could it be two bad little mice?!! You might find some of the Willows shows on Youtube, I loved them!! and yes, I have the book too!

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  17. Betsy, who lives in the tree house? I've forgotten. I hope they're small enough, so that they have room to turn around.
    I love the lantern hanging from the ceiling, and the concept of the door which will close hiding the house altogether! And of course the tea & honey & sugar. What's a kitchen without food!
    I just went to your 2010 dragon blog - didn't comment 'cause I didn't think you'd find it. Loved it.
    What's next? A dolls house for the dolls house inhabitants?
    Love, Mom

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    1. Hi Mom! The Residents are a Mystery.... but it may be developing that they are the Wind In the Willows characters... Ratty and Mole.....! I will probably never make real figures...because they need to be so Small!!... but the Evidence that they were JUST there a moment before you looked will be Everywhere...!

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