Long Weekend, Short Pieces.....

Lots and Lots of Little Pieces....

The Long and the Short of it Dear Readers, is that even when I have a Three day weekend, I end up not getting much accomplished on my many mini projects! Perhaps this is due to having too many projects under way, and no clear plan of action written out. And perhaps it is just that I Expect too much of the three days. Nevertheless, I did make a Lot of Little improvements to several of my current Big projects, and several big improvements to some of my smallest projects! To begin with, I shortened the legs of the teeny Tiny settee for the Roombox in the Folly. I know, you can hardly tell with the fractional amount I cut from each leg, but it had bothered me that the legs were just too tall in the first place. Here you can see above, the newly lowered version! And while I was making such monumental adjustments to tiny things, I decided to make the tiny hassock that goes with the settee.

Yes, that is it, stuck to the bit of cardboard 

so I wouldn't loose it while the paint was drying!

And here Halcyon has come to show you 

that it could indeed pass for a hassock!

And here you can see them both in the Roombox 

on The Folly Parlor shelf....

The original hassock in The Folly Parlor is a RL ring box

which my sister and I appropriated from our Mother 

when we were young!

 

And while I was waiting for that Tiny bit of blue paint to dry

(after I had carefully rounded the edges of the block of wood)

I was also working on the Porch for Hardwick Hall.

I apologize for the dark night photo....

but here you can sort of see the completed framework of the front porch

 propped in place... or rather temporarily squeezed in place!

This porch framework has to be "inserted" 

between the porch floor base and the porch ceiling, 

 which is an extension of the second floor itself..... 

And there is not really room to test any of the fit 

of the "tabs" before you try to "insert" it!

I am really trying to get the exterior of this kit to a point 

where all the trim pieces have been attached 

and I can move on to the base itself.

Here you can see I have followed the instructions to 

"lay the house on its back" 

in preparation to inserting the porch between the floors....

And here you can see I have "inserted" 

the porch framework and glued it in place!

It was not easy to make it fit! 

I even trimmed the length of a couple of the tabs

 at the bottom of the posts... 

and even then two of them snapped off

 while trying to squeeze it into the slots!

But it is now attached and Nothing will make me take it off again!

And while the house was turned on its back, 

I also added the front steps framework... 

pieces which interlock with part of the foundation framework.

Of course, once these steps have been added, 

it no longer is easy to turn the house on its "front" 

to work on the underside where the wiring comes through!

I also had prepared all the pieces of trim that circle the house at the Foundation level, 

but when I tested them for fit.... 

several of the pieces came up Short by a good quarter of an inch!

Hmmm.... what to do, Dear Readers.....

start from scratch or make a patch????

How about switch to another project while you can't decide!

Which is where I introduce you to another one of the Teeny Tiny Sisters....

Her name is "Theodora"... she is the black haired one 

which you can barely see there in the front of the group.....

She is Quiet.... and bookish.... 

but you must not mistake that for "plain" at all!

I started on her gown... and she had requested 

a black velveteen spangled with blue and gold glitter...

And sleeves.... we had to start with the sleeves....

I do apologize for the blurry photos,

 it is very hard to get good focus on these tiny ladies!

Theodora is on the right, and Halcyon is on the left in the above picture.

 

 

And for Halcyon's sleeves you might notice 

that I added a double layer of gold mesh to the edges of the sleeves.

You start by gluing the strip of cloth to the back of the arm.

 Let it dry completely before trying to wrap it around the arm!

Once it is dry, you wrap it around and glue it to the back, 

trimming the extra length. 

Here I have started to glue Theodora's gown on....

I did end up trimming the length of the pile of the velveteen 

on her sleeves... they were just too puffy!

You have to glue the gown on one bit at a time, 

starting from the center front...

and wrapping first one side to the back and then the other, 

trimming the excess length as you go.

Here you can see Halcyon's gown started.... 

I have cut her a "v" neckline and slots for the arms...

and I am gluing the neckline in front first...

Then you carefully glue the shoulder tabs over the shoulders...

working around the hair (a sewing pin is what I used to dab the glue) 

and another one to prod the fabric into place...

Here you can see Theodora's gown is nearly finished... 

and a good shot of Halcyon's from the back...

Theodora's gown from the back.... 

all it needs is a little bit of trimming at the hemline!

Here is Halcyon's gown with the main part finished.

 

 And here is Theodora with her finished gown!

 

She does have a very Serious nature!

And here is Halcyon .... 

(remember to poke the pictures to see them bigger!)

Can you see how lovely she looks?

Oh, but wait, she says her gown is Not done yet?

It is lacking the overskirts in gold mesh?

(If you insist!)

 

 I am adding the gold mesh, 

and using the scissors to hold it in place while the glue dries!

She says one layer is not enough!

So we add another one......

A much fuller layer...

She says that is much better!

"Now I feel as Radiant as a Summer Sunrise!" she declares!

And here they are gathered together....

it's hard to believe there are still two more sisters to dress!

 

And did I make a start on the Attic 

of the Lovely Old Dollhouse, I hear you ask?

Yes, I did! I managed to cut out two new walls... 

and the door openings....

but I have not yet decided how or where they will be attached!

I seem to remember having this same problem

 many many years ago when  I first tried 

to re-design the attic of the Lovely Old Dollhouse!

 

So you can see, Dear Readers,

my Long weekend was filled up quickly 

with lots of Tiny Pieces

And no Shortage of Projects!