Windows.....

 

And Doorknobs.....

I Found myself recently, Dear Readers, staring at The Dollmaker's Studio project and wondering what it was that was preventing me from just gluing the second floor ceiling in place and moving on with the next level. So I pulled the building onto my kitchen table... the only place where there was room to work on it... and started to make a list. The reason for not gluing the ceiling in place has to do with a whole bunch of small details to finish on the inside of that room that would be much trickier or impossible once the ceiling is glued down. Little things like attaching the oval mirror over the fireplace, attaching the chandelier to the ceiling and spicing those wires, adding doorknobs to the doors, putting a few more curtain rings on the lace window curtain so it would fold more naturally, and so I could finally glue the window frame into the alcove extension, even though that could not be attached until after the ceiling was glued down..! (You can even see the thread that has been tying the window in place to keep it from falling out!) It gets complicated! But I could at least make a start!

 

 The mirror is now attached to the wall above the fireplace.

I used a small hook on each end to "grab" the mirror frame. 

The mirror is originally a Christmas tree ornament and is made of resin. 

(There is a matching one in The Folly Dollhouse.) 

 

I added six more curtain rings to the curtain... 

the original seven just left too much space between the gathers.

 

I spliced the wires for the chandelier

 and the window alcove Christmas light string

 and added shrink tubing to the joins.

I still need to "bury" the wires in the walls... 

but not until the alcove and ceiling are in place!

 

 

And I did glue the window frame into the alcove frame...

 

 Here you can see the building with out the Window alcove.

 

And while I was working on the windows, 

I decided to figure out how to attach the smaller window

 in the front opening door wall.

I had a couple of the small windows from Houseworks,

 but they are built for walls that are 3/8 inch thick,

 and these walls are only 1/4 inch thick.

I needed to decide how to pad the opening 

and support the window frame sturdily in the opening.

I decided to have the frame sit on a 5/8 inch square wood block

 which would attach it firmly to the door.

 

 

 Like so. 

The frame could be built around it easily

 with standard stock wood strips.

 

Here you can see the framework built around the window.

And if you look carefully, 

you will see the glint of a shining doorknob 

on the balcony door and at the top of the tower stairs.... 

 

 Which you can see slightly better here!

 

And while I was pondering those windows and doorknobs, Dear Readers,

 I was also doing the same for the Tree House! 

 

Waaay back when I had last worked on the

 Tree House Bath Dressing Room,

 adding the light to it's ceiling,

 I knew just what kind of window it needed...

 but I didn't ever get around to making it.

 And it had been so long... 

I wasn't sure I knew where the materials all were....!

 I needed some of that gold mesh I paint gray or black

 and I found a scrap partly painted 

(I thought I had more!)... 

but this was enough to get started!

This window wants the "Georgian" treatment

 with a vertical grid of window panes, like I used in the Salon.

You can see the beginnings on the above photo.

 

Here the window panes are being glued to the outer wall of the Dressing room...

 being weighted down by the glue bottle!

 

And here it is with the outer frame glued over the window pane.

 

And here is the interior view!

 

 

And the Nanny's room windows also needed to be constructed.

 Here I have added a knob to the shutter over the smaller window.

The Nanny's Room windows wanted to be

 the old fashioned "diamond pane" glass.

 

 

They always need a spacer frame and 

an outer frame to secure the pane to the wall.

 

Here the larger window has been glued to the wall.

 

 

Here are both of the Nanny's Room's windows

 with the knobs on the shutters!

 (Just look at all those beautiful tiny hinges!!!)

 

The interior view with the shutter open...
 

 And the larger window in the opening door wall.

 

And The upper side of the Tree House....

The Nanny's walls are still not glued in place.

 

And the side view with the doors open... and no flash....

(when will I ever learn!)

 Yes, Dear Readers, I have been 

wandering from project to Project, 

chasing Tiny details like

 window frames and doorknobs...

and making Progress! 

 

No Restraint!

How Much is Too Much?

Dear Readers, I have been working on the Salon of the Tiny Tree House and find myself wanting to take EVERY idea to it's Extreme, following naturally the philosophy that if I love it a Little bit, I will Love More even More! This is translating into not wanting to stop with the Embellishment of Every surface in True Rococo Fashion. In the Beginning I thought I might just leave the floor uncovered because there was such a lovely patterned marquetry printed surface that I thought it would be a shame to cover it up. But then I thought I might be able to find a piece of patterned cloth small enough.....

To Maybe resemble just a little bit an elegant carpet.... perhaps it is an Aubusson? And because it doesn't cover the entire floor... we can still see the lovely patterned marquetry!

And then I got started on the Furniture for the Salon.... 

here you can see the settee in it's rough framework...

And of course, there must be an armchair to go with the settee, and a side chair too....

But before I show you their evolution... 

I must show you what I did to the Fireplace!

I forgot to take pictures of all the fiddly little steps... 

but you can see here below the transformed mantle....

I painted more marble and added the oval and gilt accents, 

as well as the andirons and the flames....

Here below you can see the fire being tested.....  

before I decided to add the embellishments to the Mantlepiece....

I LOVE the realism of the glowing fire!!!

Back to the chairs.... they each got several coats of antique gold paint (after the primer coat)

 

And then the upholstery!  I have had this fabric for Ages.....

and found a piece of the pattern that looks lovely on such a small piece....

And then the seat.... carefully aligning the pattern!!!

It is SO Small!!

But the Chairs are even smaller!!!

And the arm chair too!

And here they are being tested in the Salon.....

But I could NOT leave them as is, Dear Readers..... I wanted MORE!

So I started the VERY Time consuming process of adding a gold "braid" trim around the edges of all the upholstery..... which you can see below if you look closely.....!

Was it necessary? Would ANYBODY ever notice if it wasn't there?

And That is not all I have Adorned in the past few days.....

I have added Embellishments to the mirror... 

Do you not remember me promising to Tone It DOWN a Bit?

Well, I added some sconce arms from metal scrolls and jewelry findings....

I know it is hard to see in this picture.....

And then I added some broken bits of "crystal" from iridescent "snowflakes"! 

And I did paint it all the same Antique gold to unify the pieces.... 

but did I "Tone it Down"???? 

I think I Jazzed it up!

I could not even leave the STAIRS alone!

They are barely visible as they go up behind a wall on the right.... 

but they had to have "marble" treads

To go with the Marble hearth.....

And speaking of "Marbles" I have found another one of my Lost Marbles!

It is now the Window in the Alcove on the other side of the room.....

But before I could glue it in place... 

I HAD to Paint the Alcove to resemble an Arbor in the Garden...

And what is an Arbor with out a Blossoming Rose?

The Marble makes Such a Beautiful Oriel Window!

Even though you can barely see it at all when the Alcove wall is in place...

And I Am going to make a smaller Settee for the Alcove.... that matches....

I have become SO Obsessed with this Tiny Scale... 

that I am Alarmed...SHOCKED with the comparison...

to the normal 1:12 Dollhouse scale...

Do You recognize this? The Still unfinished Floor of the Castle Great Hall?

It seeme that the Wizard has been doing some Conjuring Experiments... 

and has summoned chairs of the Future.....?

In Miniature!!!

And Belle has Never seen Anything Like it!

"Can you make these bigger?" she wonders....

They would be so comfortable to sit in .... 

and the fabric is more beautiful than anything she has ever seen!

The Wizard is thinking he may have to do a Memory erasing charm on Belle... 

Chairs like these are still four Centuries in the Future!

Well, Never mind.....

The Tiny Tree House has me Enchanted Too....

And now that the Marble stairs are attached and leading upward, 

I am already planning the NEXT floor in my mind.....!

Even though there are still quite a few details to complete in the Salon......

Not the least of which will be the Ceiling itself.... and a Chandelier?

And Certainly I need a Statue for the Niche....

And can you tell I will probably be thinking of More ways to Adorn it all? 

Most Likely I will be showing No Restraint at All!