More.... So....

Shelves and Stems Continued... Plus a Pot or Two....

In Case you might think I have forgotten the Attic Shelves, Dear Readers, in my excitement about the Lilac Bushes, I wanted to reassure you that I have been continuing with their construction too! You will understand that there are quite a few things that can be worked on while waiting for glue to dry... and the Lilacs need a lot of waiting for glue to dry! You might recall that I had completed all the shelves for the Attic except for the small ones right at the front by the open side of the House. The space here is quite narrow, only about 1 and 3/4 inches wide, but being right by the opening it makes a good place for easy viewing of any Treasures stored on these shelves. And because the shelves are so narrow, I thought to make them a little different from the rest of the shelves in that one section would be compartments for holding scrolls, and the other would have drawers for storing ingredients used in potion-making! I began the unit for scrolls first as it would be simpler to construct...

Here I have added the facing trims, 

And started the dividers for the scroll compartments....

And added the glittery silver paper too!

Alas, it is night-time so it is difficult to see it in place....

But I have also started the other unit.... 

which has the spacing of the shelves closer together 

because there will be drawers instead of open shelves.

(When I get those built!)

But at least I have the basic unit constructed!

And here you can see them in the bright light of Morning!

These are the shelves which will hold scrolls...

And here are the ones which will eventually

 have drawers in the openings... 

so I have not added the silver paper to these.

Here you can sort of see the whole Attic....

Those units at the front make it harder to see the sitting alcoves...

 but that just  makes them feel more secluded and intimate!

And another little project I was working on while

 all that glue was drying on the Lilac Bushes, Dear Readers,

 was the modification of some lovely ceramic beads.....

Which I thought would make lovely little "pots" for tiny plants....

So I glued a "base" on each bead made from card stock

And painted the silver rim eyelet white  to look like ceramic.....

I think they have a lovely little shape and a beautiful pattern.....

And there are a whole bunch of them.... 

each in various stages of painting.... 

they needed several coats of paint

 to get the silver to look like ceramic....

Still needing more paint.....

Nearly done! Now All I need to add is the crocus..... 

and the Muscari...

Meanwhile, Dear Readers, I have been

 working relentlessly at those Lilac Bushes...

(and forgetting to take pictures as I go....)

I decided that the bush needed more of the "stems" to be old and twisted....

(I had bought more of that paper covered wire)

and each time I added one to the "primary Pod".....

I had to add one just like it to the Three other seasonal "pods"......

(the fourth one just isn't showing in this picture)

before I would forget just what it was I had added or changed....

Because I am Determined to make all the shrub "skeletons" 

at the same time so that Eventually I will have

 all the Seasons represented! 

(This might take a while....!)

And these are just the Main stems! 

The smaller branches all still need to be added!

(What was I thinking?!)

So Now I not only have to make an incredible amount 

of Books for those shelves, Dear Readers, 

but I also need to make an unbelievable amount

 of leaves for the Lilac Bushes, 

as well as an ever growing number of Lilac blossoms....

And the Vinca Too....!

It seems that the More I make, 

the More I have More.... 

so So much More still to do!

Building The Built-in Shelves.....

And the Spiral Stairs.....

I had a week off from Work, Dear Readers, and I can assure you that I spent as much of it as possible reveling in my myriad mini projects and I have So much to show you that I don't quite know where to start! But I think it would be unkind if I did not show you the second set of ornate brocade curtains that I did complete for The Folly Living Room! Above you can see the panels completed, with their wires sewn in the hems and the gold braid fringe added. These are for the larger window, so they needed to be wider and show more of the blue flower pattern, which works perfectly with the colors in this room.

Here they are installed with the pelmet which has the wider design too.

I may need to make the pelmet trim go "around the corner"....

 because you can see that side from this angle.

And with more furniture... 

I think it adds to the cozy feel of this room 

and brings the blue into balance.

Without a Doubt..... 

these curtains transform this room!

But the real project I want to show you, Dear Readers, is the building of the Shelves for the Hardwick Hall Attic Reading Room! I had ordered the wood to build these shelves weeks ahead of time, but it was on back-order and did not arrive in time. I was forced to make do by cutting my own wood strips out of basswood sheets, which actually turned out to be for the best because it allowed me to build  deeper shelving units for the far wall, which would be useful for holding larger sized books. So I cut 1" strips for the back wall shelves and 3/4' strips for the side shelves. The whole process was very time consuming because the attic is not exactly square.... (you have to love these kits!....) which required cutting and testing for fit every step of the way!

 And while I was doing that I also had begun to glue the spiral stairs together... (until now they had been temporarily strung on a thin dowel... and fell apart with every shift!) This was also a complicated process of gluing one part then waiting 'til it dried thoroughly before gluing the next one!

This was especially necessary when it came to attaching the spindles to the stairs because they were wobbly and had to align exactly with the curved railing that would go on top.... but the railing couldn't be attached until all the spindles were firmly and precisely in place. And because it was a curved shape.... spiraling upward.... just supporting two ends wasn't enough.... you had to have a middle-point also supported at the same time. I managed to get the bottom two spindles glued in while the railing was balanced on the upper spindle.... but you had to add the spindles one at a time and wait for the glue to dry.... or it all would fall apart! I would add a piece every two or four hours....!

 Meanwhile I was building the bookshelves....

Starting at the back in the darkest corner of the attic....

where I had to measure and fit and test and then glue...

The gap you can see between the side of the shelves and the wall 

is to allow for the depth of the side wall shelving.... 

I made a drawing first so I could do the math 

and get the general measures worked out...

 but all the pieces needed adjusting to fit the actual space.... 

Here you can see the top shelf which

 covers the distance all the way to the side wall....

 and needed to be just the right length and angle.....

Here I am building the basic unit....

 with my cutting mat to help keep them square.....

 (except that the walls aren't square....)

And slowly adding spindles to the Spiral stairs.....

 that folded paper is being a force to push 

the spindle against the railing while it dries... 

without exerting too much force which would make the railing fall off....

 because it is not attached  but is only there for alignment purposes!

Here is the Attic with morning light.... 

showing (sort of) the back two shelf units in position.

 And Madame Durant has come to inspect the work....

there is still a long way to go!

Here you can see an overhead view of the two back units 

and the two sides also begun....

(I know.... it is dark.....)

And then I had an idea.... 

one of Those ideas that wouldn't go away.....

How could we get more light into those back corners? 

Could we add mirrors behind the shelves...?

Or perhaps some glittery silver paper????

Which I had several sheets of.... purchased long ago.....

Shouldn't we at least test it out?

At first, Dear Readers, I thought it was too much....

But the more I looked, the more I liked it...

Especially when the outside spotlight was not shining directly in!

But what about with the books in place... 

would they block too much of the paper...?

Well, we had to try a few books....

(Gosh I am going to have to make/acquire/buy a lot of books!)

Ohhh, I am liking this!!!

And even though the books will eventually cover much of the paper...

 I think it will still be lurking there... a presence... 

like a mist on a meadow at dusk....!

And in the morning light.... with no additional lighting.....

It is simply radiant!

Here you can see the side shelving also completed

 and the top edge trim has been added too.

But all the side trim and end trim has yet to be added....

especially where the shelves meet the bench alcoves.

 

Meanwhile I have completed all the spindles on the Spiral stairs...

And it is time to glue on the handrails

... a much easier task... but still best done one rail at a time!

The shelf units are getting their facing trim....

Always testing the fit of every piece.....

The units will not be glued to each other

 until they are glued into the Attic... 

because of those crooked walls!

And once they are... 

you will not be able to get close enough

 to see this top view.

The trim on the ends has been added too....

 

And Finally, Dear Readers, 

I take my courage in my hands

 and Glue the Shelf units in place!

Because only then can I start to add the trim

 around the alcoves where they meet the shelves.

I have pulled the curtains away to keep them from the glue... 

and I know you can't see it, but I have added the trim in that dark corner!

And the alcove trim on the side alcoves is also being added....

Here you can see where the shelves and the alcove have a gap....

And here you can see all the trim has been added....

Except for the near side of the alcove... 

because those shelves have not been built yet!

And let's not forget the Spiral stairs railings... 

another section attached!

And the attic Shelves are very nearly done....

 (except for those aforementioned units at the front of the attic)

And we can revel in those amazing shelves.... 

and the contemplation of all those books....

By Day and also by Night.....

Especially by Night.... 

can we admire the brilliance added by those silver papers....

And perhaps with the fireplace too.....

Yes, those back corners are going to be hard to see...

Dark and Sparkly and Mysterious!

But my Vacation is quickly winding to a close....

Even the Spiral staircase is Almost complete... 

only the finials left to add....

And I must say, Dear Readers, 

there was even more that I accomplished...

 but I will show you that another day. 

Right now all I want to do is 

Revel in that Attic with those Built-in shelves... 

and Contemplate the next parts of those Incredible Spiral Stairs!