Monday, September 9, 2013

Tiny Painting, Tiny Tiles....




Tiresome Testing and Tweaking....

I hope you can Forgive me, Dear Readers, (and Ewa!), because not much got Done in my Mini World this past weekend! Father Alban is still trying to determine what it is that he knows in his heart is Not Finished about this painting, and even in the Bright Saturday Morning Sunlight he is not quite sure. So he will bide his time and keep looking and when he sees the missing touches... sometimes the Tiniest shadow or most delicate line can change an expression from disappointing to Sublime.... he will know! So for now, he will keep pondering and in Time, he is confident he will see the missing touch.
As for the progress on the Tree House room... it is not as much as I had hoped there would be.... but I made a start on the Flooring! To begin with I must show you where we left off... with the large circular piece of shell I wanted to use...

I admit that in this form it does not look very promising as a floor surface.....
It presents several technical challenges because it is not flat and the thickness of the material varies. But I hope you will bear with me because I was determined to use this for the floor!
After much pondering and tinkering, I decided that the best method of evening out the surface was to cut away the floor beneath it and imbed the shell into the floor.....
Like this.......


Right away the surface profile looks more manageable!
As you can see, I still have not attached this floor to the Tree House structure...
so it is removable to make construction easier! It slides on and off the guide wires....
I cannot tell you how many times I have taken it off then put it on again....
But the next step was to add the rest of the floor tiles....
Starting with a circlet of gold tiles....

These are tiny scrap-booking decorative tiles... 
but they appear to be made of glass....
Each one is about 3/16 inch square....
And I had to remove the sticky backing 
so the glue would connect with the tile surface....
So It was slow going!
But I finally glued the circlet in place.....

So I could start in on the rest of the tiles!
Which required testing Exactly where the walls would go.....

Over and Over Again....!
Here below you can see the view looking down from the top....
With a few black colored tiles added at the back by the Fireplace...


And speaking of the Fireplace....
I added the glowing coals (using one of those tiny LED's)

And glued the Picture Frame to the Tile Surround.....
As you can see here below... testing the fit....
 but I forgot to take good pictures....
 
And slowly adding more tiles..... 
this time the pale blue ones for the front of the floor....

With only some of the walls in place (temporarily)....
And I discovered that Yes, I Can cut the Tiles with my Wire cutters!
So convenient because we have a lot of odd corners in this room!
And the doors on the side wall lead into two smaller chambers....
(Have you guessed yet, what room this is...?)
Okay, I will tell you.... It is the Bath Room....!
And one of the Tiny chambers is a Changing Room....
And the other will hold the Toilet....!

So as you can see, I have a Long way to go to complete the Tiling.....

But it is Starting to show the effect I am looking for.....
It is just an Illusion.....
But doesn't it look like a lovely deep pool of water???
(Just don't try to Dive in!)
And as with any work of Art... 
Every added touch reveals more of the picture...


And Eventually.....
Perhaps we will be satisfied.....
Father Alban and I...

With enough Tinkering...
Testing and Tweaking....
Tiny Painting and Tiny Tiles will get done!
(Still Finishing Details, Ewa!)

19 comments:

  1. Hi Betsy,

    It's so exciting to see the progression of your projects! Father Alban must be LOVING that gorgeous floor as much as I. I could dip right in!

    XOXO,
    John

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  2. That floor certainly does look like a pool of water and I love the fireplace. Look forward to seeing the bathroom's progress.

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  3. Hi Betsy! I love the fact that you have countersunk that fantastically blue water effect shell into the floor! What a mystical effect it has to the space. The tiling around it is also good and the fireplace has turned out to be Fabulous! All of it is so creative and so marvelous, Betsy. You are soooo Clever!

    elizabeth

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  4. HI Betsy, wow,what a great floor you made for Father Alban! He can warm his hands at the fire of your gorgeous fireplace, it is so realistically done! Your mini painting is gorgeous so far, would love to see it if it is finished. You are good at finding solutions for your miniature problems, I like that :D!
    Hugs, Ilona

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  5. Hello from Spain: This project is very beautiful and interesting. You're doing a great job. I like the result. Keep in touch

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  6. Hello Betsy,
    I think the shell in the floor is inspired! What a fantastic idea. It looks wonderful. The room is really coming together and once again I think you are going to outdo yourself! Hang in there father Alban, the painting will be perfect!
    Big hug,
    Giac

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  7. Take as much time as you need, you both.:):)
    I love the floor, it does look a bit like a swimmingpool in the room, but who wouldn't want to have such stunning floor? I truly love the colours and glowing coals are great!

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  8. This is great work!
    The floor of the room is an endless beauty, sensitivity can be felt emanating from every detail.
    I'm a fan of your work. ;)

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  9. So, the blue shell floor is actually a bath full of water? What a luxurious idea, bathing in such a beautiful tub in front of a glowing fire! And I'm sure the rest of the room will be equally sumptuous. Wow. I want one! And dear Father Alban; I'm glad he's taking his time with his painting.
    Lots of love
    Mom

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  10. OK --the bathroom!!! I thought that floor looked like water and it is and is a gorgeous blue. What luxury! I want one is real life, now ... oh well, fat chance!

    I am glad to see that Father Alban is working at his picture. I am glad he is back -- perhaps he could offer some solace to Daphne --perhaps when he was visiting monasteries in France he learned something to help her?
    Cheers
    Iris

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  11. Dear Betsy,
    What a great idea to use that shell. It looks like real water.Your burning fireplace is a nice piece also.
    Greetings Doien

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  12. That floor is beyond beautiful... what a great idea. And with those tiles it reminds me of an Atrium (hope you know what I mean, I don't know how it's called in English) in an ancient villa in Rome. Fantastic job - worth every effort with those teenytiny tiles. And that fireplace with the coals and the light is breathtaking. Oh, and please let Father Alban take his time... this picture is for Ewa so it has to be perfect... let him work and paint until he thinks that it is perfect... ;O)

    Hugs
    Birgit

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  13. Right from the beginning I knew it was some source of water. I thought a pond. The tiled bathroom is much more creative than a pond! Very enchanting.

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  14. Dear Betsy
    that floor is really coming along and those tiles are really cute, stick a pin in Father Alban..he needs to step it up a bit there is being creative and then there is just being a Diva!

    Hugs
    Marisa

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  15. The floor is fantastic. I relly like this magic room.
    Bye, Faby

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  16. The floor looks magic, very nice! =)
    Hannah

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  17. I immediately had the feeling of wanting to dive into that beautiful floor!!! it will be a magical and wonderful bathroom!!!

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  18. What a super way to use that stunning shell. Great work. This will certainly be a wonderful bathroom and well worth all that fiddling with the tiny tiles. Sandie

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  19. Your work is amazing. I love your fireplace. x

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