Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Books. Show all posts

Monday, March 24, 2014

Climbing The Walls.....




Every Little Step Counts....

The Process of gluing these steps to the Tower is one that requires Patience, Dear Readers, because the only thing holding the step in place is the glue, and the step below it.... which must be thoroughly dry before you attempt to rest another step upon it or they all slide down the walls! So I glue a step and then I walk away and do something else for  awhile.. and then come back and check the glue and press it more firmly against the wall... and walk away again.


If I get absorbed in my Other projects.... 
then it just takes longer before I glue the next step in place.... ! 
So it was that it took several evenings and days 
to glue enough stairs to sort of reach the next floor of the Tower. 
I say Sort of.... 
because the steps reach a balcony level.... 
and have to circle around the Tower to the entrance.....


And I think that some of the steps must have sagged a little while gluing.... 
because the balcony needed to slant upwards a little to reach the floor level....
But you can't cut that piece until you know exactly where the steps will end up....
You just have to go One step at a time!

Here you can see I am adding the cardboard for the second set of stairs....
as well as adding yet another Oatmeal box section to the Tower!

 And here you can clearly see the "stone" corbels I am using to help support the balcony sections.

And while that was Agonizingly slow construction....
The Library shelves were a Whole other kind of Tricky Fidgety Wall climbing challenge!
To begin with Dear Readers, you must realize that I am building inside a circular shape.....


So all the shelf sections had to follow the curve of the inside of the wall....
Part of which had a layer of "stone" on it.....
and it is really tricky to get anything "squared" in a circle!

I sort of just had to start gluing at the bottom and work my way up...
adding shelves and trimming them as best I could for each section...
I set it on top of a piece of paper because I didn't want it to glue to the floor...
I wanted it removable in case it needed more painting or other alteration...

And I had to wait for each shelf to dry before trying to glue the next one.....
Here you can see I am also starting to fit the desk...
Another incredibly fidgety fit.....
While waiting for the shelves to dry....

And Another part I worked on while waiting for glue to dry...
Making some Books!

They are non-opening books... 
just chunks of balsa wood with leather glued on for the covers.
Can you believe it, Dear Readers, 
that I have never before used this method for making books?
I wish I had thinner leather.... and will try to vary the thickness more....
but I think it will be a successful way to fill most of the shelves!

Here you can see I have also added legs to the desk....
I want it free standing for now.....
It will get a coat of paint.....
But first I had to test some of the books in place....

They do look a bit crude... 
I need to add labels and titles....
But it was getting late.....

Even with the little lamp lit... 
it was getting hard to see...
And I'd had enough of Climbing walls!
But I think you'll agree Dear Readers,
Every little step counts!

Monday, October 8, 2012

The Desk - Part Two




Just Like I Always Wanted...

I have completed the Tiny Desk, Dear Readers, and I realized somewhere along the way that THIS is the Desk I have Always wanted! There is just Something about the Gothic Doors on the upper portion that I LOVE!  So here I will show you the close-ups of making these tiny doors....because they presented some Challenges! To begin with, they are made from Cardboard rather than wood.... and since this desk is stained a lighter color than the Library Cabinets.... I tried the lighter stain on the cardboard as well. But it turned quite dark... much too dark to go with the lighter wood. And when I used the stain on lighter colored cardboard.... it was too Light to go with the wood! So I resolved to Paint the doors to match the stained wood! They are close in color.... but it is clear that they are not stained wood. Nevertheless... they are the doors I am using!

Here you can see the outer doors mostly assembled 
(I forgot to take pictures of the first steps)... 
and you can see the lighter color of the inner layer of the doors.
I used the same pin hinges I made for the Library Cabinets... but these are Smaller!
Below you can see the partly glued hinge....


The one on the left just has the wire with the cloth strip glued on....
The one on the right has the inner door layer added....

Here they are being tested for fit..... a bit crooked!

And here's the completed Desk!!!
Well... before I added the books...

Which you can see here! 
I made some that are just cardboard with the magazine paper glued over it.... 
so the thicknesses vary.. 
These shelves are smaller than the Library shelves!!!

I also added a "letter" or two to the mail slots inside the desk....
And I made an ink well with a Teensy-Tiny feather pen.... !
which is sitting on the Library Table...

And although it is Really hard to see once the shelves are in place.... 
I added books to the shelves on the back wall... 
Here you can see them removed from the Tree...
(I haven't glued ANY of it down yet!)

And the door handle rings too.... 
The cabinet Doors are open in the picture below.... 
so you can see the books.....

And I've even made a "Stab" at the pesky Lighting for this room....
I'm testing a "Torchere" lamp in the Front right corner.....


Made from jewelry findings and an LED.......
Right now it is leaning and wobbly because the parts aren't glued together yet... 
so they wouldn't stay put...

The idea being that if it is to the front... right in the corner.... 
it won't be too noticeable, but will cast a certain amount of light into the room....
I'm still not sure this is the way to go!
The jewelry finding is fairly bulky.... 
but it needs to cover the wire leads for the LED.....
And this room is Really Dark and Moody... 
it is amazingly difficult to photograph...!

 But at least I have finished the Desk!

I might still add one or two more accessories.......
But there you have it.....
The Desk.... Part Two!