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Saturday, September 20, 2014

Wood Floor and More

Morning folks.  Welcome back!

Sharing progress so far on the Grand Parlor.  This room is getting me kind of excited!!  However, I also have a lot of frustration at my inability to "perfect" what I am doing. This house will have a lot of features brought about purely to cover up something!



As you know, I have been working on the ceilings and floors for the Grand Parlor.  As usual, I think my ideas outstrip my abilities...but I guess that is how I learn!




After adding my cookie tray to the ceiling to create a base for a carved ceiling, I had some trimming, spackling and sanding to do to create a smooth ceiling texture.   My first step was to use Gesso over the whole surface, which helps provide an adhering surface for the Spackle.   After Spackling the cookie tray, I sanded each groove to ensure a smooth surface. 




Above is a shot of the process in my "other" work space...the one I reserve for the dirty work.  I have a table in my garage where I sit to do this sort of work.  Now isn't it just COZY? 





Sorry for the side trip!  :0)  If you look closely (at the picture of the ceiling mind you), you can see that there are lines everywhere that I cut the cookie tray.  I spent quite a lot of time cleaning that up!  

The process was something like this...Gesso, Spackle, Wait, Sand....  Gesso, Spackle, Wait, Sand...  Gesso, Spackle, Wait, Sand....  you get the picture! However, creating a gesso base on this project was important, because I plan to paint the overall surface, and the cookie tray was a slick, non-porous surface, so without a base coat of  primer (Gesso in this case), I would not have been able to get the paint to stick. 

But it was worth the effort, because what I finally ended up with is this...




You can still see some of the lines in the shot above, but those will be covered up.  Each of the grooves is as smooth as silk!  (or will be after I sand the heck out of everything again!)  My "carved" ceiling will be brought to life with resin castings.  Did I tell you I just love resin?  

Not really...I just haven't really learned to carve yet, and am postponing that momentous event until I get some of the basics under my belt!  So for now, resin is my tool of choice to create the fine details!  It IS pretty versatile, and not hard to do...it just takes a lot of time!



The other project I have been working on is the Parlor Floor.  This is what is getting me so excited, and yet frustrating the bejeezus out of me at the same time!   I have decided that I will spend eternity cutting flashing off of resin pieces and cutting out small pieces of wood with a utility knife!  Oh well, guess things could be worse.  :0)   

The wood in the photo above is a veneer made of Sapele Pommele which is native to tropical Africa.  It has a wonderfully curved grain that just makes me melt...I love it.  It comes in sequence matched packages that I am able to pick up from Rockler's Wood working and hardware store.   




Rockler has an Internet store at Rockler Woodworking Store, but I pick mine up locally, since I live in the big ole city!  There are few advantages to living in the city, but that is one of them!




The copper look material is - guess what! - Those paper plates that were part of the "inspiration" for this room.  The entire room, as I mentioned before, is built around those plates, the Christmas ornament, and the Double Decker floor!



I cut the center out of the paper plates to create a piece that I could cut from.  I then created a transfer pattern from tracing paper to help me transfer my design from the floor where I drew it originally, to the paper plates.  

To aid in the shaping of the pieces, I cut out paper templates first out of thin paper, adjusted them to where they fit the required profile, and then used those as the pattern to draw and cut the shapes required.  




I am also using a mahogany veneer, available through wood specialty stores such as Rockler or Woodcraft.  I love the beautiful contrast between the Sapele and the Mahogany.  The lighter wood circle is Birch Wood Tape. 

Above you see pictured where I am now in the process.  It represents about 12 hours work...lots of trimming and shaping for this floor!  I have promised myself that my next floor will not be quite so complex! HA.  Good Luck with that, Doug!

You can see in the photo above what causes my frustrations!  I got most of it worked out, but I have a gap near the circle above that I will have to figure out how to close.  Sigh.  

I also want to welcome Vivian as my latest follower!  Thank you for joining my wild ride, and for your lovely comments!  Vivian has a wonderful project in work that I love.  You can see it in progress at V's Miniature Manor.  Be sure and pop over and enjoy!

Well, for today, that is all!  I must tell you, I love that I am able to share this with you all.  While my family appreciates my work...they are not "miniaturists"!  They don't completely understand my obsession with cutting little tiny things all the time.  So it is good to know that I have some "friends" in cyberspace that know what this is all about!

Until next time!

Doug S

7 comments:

  1. Hello Doug!
    I hope this doesn't post twice. I was typing along and everything disappeared.......so again I am enjoying your progress and love the wood floor you are doing. You have a wonderful imagination and it shows in this house. You are being tough on yourself when you say your abilities aren't up to you imagination.
    You have tackled things that most don't even attempt. Trust me when I tell you that everything I do in miniature has an issue, here or there, that requires a fix or cover. It's just how it goes. Keep up the great work!
    Warm regards,
    Ray

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    1. Hi Ray!

      Thank You so much for your encouragement! It pleases me that you are enjoying my "miniature endeavors".

      I truly doubt my wisdom in "tackling things that others don't even attempt". But I do have one of those cursed things called an imagination...and I just cannot NOT do it! :0) The "artist" in me demands it!

      I should not complain. I have truly found a new love in working with miniatures. It resonates with my inner spirit in a way that nothing else has since I was a child...maybe that is why it appeals so much...it takes me back to my childhood...and building those extraordinary mansions with Lego!

      Whatever it is, I will probably continue always to push my limits in spite of my complaints. It is just my nature to stretch (and complain!) I guess!

      Thanks again for your interest and encouragement!

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  2. Hi Doug
    I am loving your floor. That is a skill I'm afraid I'm yet to try. My floors are really plain in comparison...and you are coming along really well with the ceiling of the parlour. I think when you have an idea in your head it's wonderful to give yourself the challenge of finding a way to make the 'dream' a reality. A lot of wonderful things in life often come around more by accident than design lol :)
    Thank you for mentioning my blog, and I'm so glad you enjoy it...that's what miniatures are all about....enjoyment, and if others get the same enjoyment from following what we do, then that is added bonus.
    All the best and take care.
    Vivian

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    1. Hello Vivian! I am glad you like the floor! I am having fun with it in spite of my complaining. :0) It is fun to see it come alive!

      I know how much I enjoy seeing what others are doing with minis! I have spent many hours reading the blogs and websites of others, and I find every one of them unique and special in their own way. In fact, were it not for some of those blogs, I would not likely be here at this moment answering your comment! They have inspired and amazed me, and made me want to create on my own.

      I do love what you have done with your house...I ESPECIALLY love the ceiling in the Gentleman's Study (I think that is what is was called?). I am amazed by that entire room, but that ceiling was the highlight in my book!

      Thanks for dropping by!

      Doug S

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    2. Correction! I just popped over to see what that room was called...it is your Games Room! It is the ultimate in masculine comfort. Wouldn't mind moving in!

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  3. Hello Doug,
    My friend, I sympathize! Don't despair, the wood floor is looking absolutely fantastic! Excellent choice of woods and your design is awesome and perfect in the house. The ceiling looks great and was worth all the effort. Keep it up and don't fool yourself...if you are happy with the wood floor you will want to make more and just as intricate! Trust me!!!
    It is a huge pleasure to follow such a terrific project. I am actually excited when I see you have a new post up.
    Big hug,
    Giac

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    1. Hi there Giac,

      I do especially love the Sapele Pommele wood...it adds such a beautiful textured look to the floor. I am glad you appreciate the design! It excites me that you look forward to my humble little posts...lol.

      You do know, of course, that You, Mr. Giac himself, set the STANDARD for wood floors, right! :0)

      It is your attention to detail in the wood floors that you have labored so intensively on that inspired me to try this...and now that I am getting closer to the completion of that floor, I am SO glad I tried it out. I feel like it is perfect for the theme...so Thank You!

      Trust me! I ALREADY have in mind my next challenging floor! :0) I think I am a true masochist!

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