tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13959480011513669582024-03-13T22:54:36.441-07:00Miniature EndeavorsMiniature dollhouse in 1:12 scale, a work in progress with a Steampunk Theme.
I plan to include most of what I learn in the process of building this project on this blog as a resource for others and as a place to record my progress and share it with you. I won't promise perfection, but I promise to share what I learn with you! I hope you enjoy following along and that over time this will become a valuable resource to those who want to learn how to build their own projects. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-64235154770520377192018-12-27T21:21:00.000-08:002018-12-28T17:04:48.461-08:00Happy New Year! and The Transfiguration of the 'Villa de Cuivre' Windows<br />
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I hope you all are having a grand holiday season! I wish you all a very Happy New Year too! </div>
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One thing I really love about the holiday's is that I always get to do that project that I have wanted to do, just hanging around, waiting patiently for it's heyday. This year, that project was getting solidly off and running on the Steampunk Manor...er…. Villa de Cuivre… I guess. Doesn't roll off the tongue in quite the same way!<br />
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In my last post, I shared with you some of the first efforts I would be making toward getting started this year with miniatures again. Of those, I have finished fixing the kitchen door (and broke the other one in the process! That still is not fixed. I needed more practice I guess. One step forward, one step back...!) The main project for me this week was working on the transfiguration of the Villa's front windows. <br />
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The old windows were kind of cool.... in their own way. <br />
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But the more I looked at them, the less they looked like they belonged on this villa. They belong on a forest cottage. You know, snuggled back into the deep dark forest on the gothic inspired cabin that Briar Rose grew up in. Now those are the right windows for that. </div>
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But when I compared these windows to the other windows and doors on the villa, they just did not play well together in my mind. </div>
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There are the butterfly reminiscent windows for the grand parlor;</div>
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The Victor Horta Reincarnation windows for the Grand Entry..</div>
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And the Victorian Double Doors in the Kitchen.<br />
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And then this....</div>
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See my point? Even the "pocket gingerbread" beneath the windows upstages the windows... So I had to rethink. </div>
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I knew I wanted something that had the same sort of effect...but this reincarnation had to be more in the spirit of the other doors and windows in the house (and in it's future!). They had to take on the bold, brash elegance of the rest of the house as well. </div>
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I also knew I wanted to keep the arched and somewhat Noveau air of the windows. And I wanted to open up the view into the rooms from outside the villa. </div>
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It actually took me a while to come up with the new ideas, because I was also working on the ideas for the new Grand Entry door that was such a dismal failure before. I wanted them both to integrate together, and also to echo the spirit of some of the other elements of the Villa. More on that dang door in another post. </div>
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In the end, I ended up with this: </div>
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I think it accomplished what I set out to do. </div>
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I used the same basic processes I used in the first set of windows I constructed.. piecing together the frame using basswood strips. But I learned a lot from the first set of windows I did, and I feel that these are much better constructed. Using the square, measuring more carefully, adjusting the amounts of glue and removing excess glue, all things that come from experience... made the job much easier and much faster this time around. </div>
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Over and above the basics, there are several "new" techniques I used for these windows. </div>
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First, I actually purchased acetate (at Hobby Lobby of course!) for the windows, because sometime in the last few years the plastic being used to package fruit, bread and other perishables has lost it's shape. It is so much thinner than it was? Or maybe it is just Texas. Who knows. I was just not happy with it. And given the opportunity to do this again, I will purchase the "real meal deal" again. It makes such a difference in the final product. Not quite as easy to cut, but the result is much nicer.</div>
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Secondly, there are actually two layers of window in this set. This is because sandwiched in between the two window layers are two arches made of copper tubing. This extra set of window surfaces really made this window feel more realistic... it loses some of it's detail in the photo, but it really gives the window a sense of being multi-dimensional. </div>
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To make the arches, I used bendable copper tubing (also a hobby lobby snag - Gotta love Hobby Lobby!)</div>
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I bent the tubing into arches using a jig I made up from cardboard, a piece of old molding, and a socket... Yes, you heard me. I glued a socket to a piece of cardboard. (Very long story... I have a son who carried off my tools regularly. I could probably replace Sear's inventory of socket wrench supplies!) </div>
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It was relatively simple to bend the tubing into arches of generally the same shape and size using this tool. I just placed the tubing next to the wood molding and bent the tube around the socket by pulling the tubing around the socket, as you see above. </div>
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Perfectly arched copper tubing every time! With the slightest bit of adjustment and straightening... I had perfect arches ready for my window. </div>
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Once the arches were bent, trimmed out, and straightened, they were sandwiched between two sheets of the acetate. The whole thing is held together by tension. </div>
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I did glue the wood trims in, but the wire is not glued, and is held by ensuring that there was just enough tension to keep the two wire arches in place, and enough pressure from the two pieces of acetate to keep them straight and level in the window. I felt pretty pleased with myself! </div>
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To finish off the windows and to help hide a few (minor) sins, I used skewers you can buy from the grocery store, with tiny carvings at their tops, and cut them to size to add some elegance to the window assembly. </div>
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I cut the tips off at just the right place to again create a tension, so that I did not have to glue over the window. I painted them the copper color and installed them... three to the inside, and 1 to the outside. I liked the final effect a lot.<br />
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There is still some work to do. I have not painted all of the mullions yet... I am stuck on the horns of a dilemma… I cannot decide whether to paint the mullions the same color as the windows themselves, or to go to black. I am leaning toward the black (not pictured), since I think it will add the contrast that is missing on the left... you can see the contrast of the wood tone to the copper, and I like that effect, so am thinking I will duplicate it with black instead. Any opinions are welcomed! </div>
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Once I have completed the windows, I plan to begin on the infamous grand entry door. I have some new ideas that I think (I hope), I can execute this time! </div>
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Enjoy Your Holiday! Until Next Time, </div>
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Doug S</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-78768128999279052782018-11-17T18:54:00.000-08:002018-11-17T18:54:33.339-08:00VILLA de Cuivre (the Villa of Copper) and a Catchup<br />
Two years have passed, and so much more along with it, since I last posted. I expect many of you thought me gone for good, but I have always intended to return to finish my manor house. I have wanted so badly to just stop and indulge my artistic muse again!<br />
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Instead, I was caring for my father until his passing in October 26th of 2016. He had been bedridden for nearly 5 years. <br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just over one year later, on February 26th of 2018 we lost my mother. She had congenital heart failure, and internal bleeding... the combination is inoperable. We lost her suddenly, in a matter of three hours. She was "mom" right up until the end.</span></span><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br />
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I probably do not need to say that I have spent the last year or so working through the aftermath.<br />
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Nothing makes you appreciate your parents more than losing them. And it has changed me entirely. I am still the same old me, but the "patina" is much, much deeper, and I think along with that has come a much richer "luster". <br />
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My inner landscape has changed entirely. These experiences have made me much more grateful for what God gave to me. It transformed my sometimes bitter memories of my father into the "true" reality of the deep love I felt for him, and it altered as well my view of who my mother was an angel abiding on earth, albeit an imperfect one, and beautiful to the core.<br />
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<b><i>Beautiful, wonderful parents. I could not have had better. </i></b></div>
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Inevitably, these experiences have also altered my own trajectory in life. I won't take you through the details of all that, but in the end, it has resulted in my family, lock, stock and barrel, moving to Temple, Texas! I think we needed a new start, and an opportunity to alter the emotional landscape that we had slidden into. Life had become a trial and a burden, we as a family had forgotten how amazing and beautiful life truly is.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view out over our new property at dusk, just today.</td></tr>
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The strangest and most wonderful thing is that it was very clear that this move was orchestrated by God. Independently from one another, 4 adults who would never have considered moving away from Washington arrived at the same conclusion. We were going to move to Texas. Why? I still don't know, but I do know that the string of "coincidences" that followed, from provision of money that we didn't know we would have, to unbelievable timing in the process of selling our home, to how we found our real estate agent, to the home we have ended up living in.... EVERYTHING has been orchestrated perfectly. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new house and the huge. beautiful, live oaks!</td></tr>
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And with the incredibly recognizable stamp of God's work in our lives....</div>
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Translate that to <i><b>UP and Down</b>,</i> never quite sure what was going to happen next; to the death of our "vision" of moving to Texas; to the resurrection of that same vision without us lifting a hand to make it happen. What a terrible and wonderful thing it is to blindly follow a path not understood, and to find such peace and new joy in the end. It has transformed us in the absolute best ways. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our almost nightly view from the front of our house!</td></tr>
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We have moved out of the busy rat race of the Seattle area, and stepped back in time at least 10 years. What a peaceful, beautiful place was provided to us. Each and every one of us had those little secret desires that we really don't share because they are unlikely to happen. For every one of us, in some way, the home and surroundings we have ended up in met all of those hopes and dreams...just a little bit differently than expected, but OH, so much better. We are in awe of our Creator. He who loved us and knew us enough to grant our secret wishes. God has granted our family a New Season.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front portion of our new property. It is HUGE. And SCARY! </td></tr>
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So you HAVE to be wondering now what the heck the title of this post has to do with the above... and you would be right to wonder. It has nothing to do with it. I just wanted to share with you why I was so long gone, and how incredibly grateful I am to be in this world, and to be back working on my small and stately project.<br />
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Now that I have you all caught up with our lives in the last couple of years, let's get to the subject, shall we?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>'Villa de Cuivre'</i> in it's new surroundings</b></td></tr>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FfIRrggaapI/W-92S6j3K1I/AAAAAAAACa8/l5zMXXoC-rou2Kj-Vm7eup26stdPBBgIgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The reason for the title of this post is that I wanted to let you know my "Steampunk Manor" has FINALLY named itself. I have been moving toward getting restarted with the Manor inside my mind, but we are still settling in here in Texas and getting our home into habitable form. But my head is with the Manor now... and I look forward to again experiencing the joy of a "tiny" problem to solve. :0) </div>
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Anyway, try this on for size... The Steampunk Manor's new name is ……</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Villa de Cuivre!</i> </span></b></div>
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In other words, "the villa of copper". The title of this almost unrelated post! <br />
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The French version sounded so much more mysterious and elegant...and I think it fits the manor to a T. As I was cogitating on the name, it suddenly was clear.... <b><i>Villa de Cuivre</i></b>. I knew it was right the moment I thought of it. <br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.bing.com/search?q=google+translate&form=EDNTHT&mkt=en-us&httpsmsn=1&refig=ed37638b70df4a3aba73bb6138207c48&sp=1&ghc=1&qs=SC&pq=googletranslator&sc=8-16&cvid=ed37638b70df4a3aba73bb6138207c48&cc=US&setlang=en-US" target="_blank">(For fun, go to Google translate and listen to this in French! Beautiful!)</a></span></div>
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As I have been wrapping my head around how to get started again building <i>Villa de Cuivre</i>, I have realized several things....<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the lines if I do say so myself. :0) </td></tr>
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First, WOW what a beautiful manor! LOL. <i>(Well, you have to imagine it's beauty at the moment, but I can see it coming!) </i><br />
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The manor has a place in our new home that is PERFECT for it. It's unfinished grandeur is so perfectly set off by its place against the wall in our Master Bedroom. Seeing it in this "new light", and seeing it every night before crawling into bed, has been such a pleasure... and a new awe of what I have started is dawning in my mind. I feel like an artist!<br />
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Secondly, I have realized that there are a few things I want to change about the manor. I have taken a page out of <a href="http://englishmanordollhouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Giac's</a> miniature book and I want to "remodel" a couple of things about the manor. (At least Giac FINISHED a room before remodeling, but I, I can't!)<br />
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The "broken" door. </div>
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One of the decorative grille pieces has come loose.</div>
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Our move was incredibly gentle on the Manor. It came through with only one broken door for the kitchen, and that fix is minor.. so I won't call that a remodel, but I do need to fix that up. It should be reasonably simple to do.<br />
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<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am a bit amazed that the Manor came through in as good a condition as it did...<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">2,105</span></b> </i>miles in a Penske truck, stacked on top of by movers, during some of the hottest days I have experienced in some time... a bit amazing it arrived in one piece if you ask me. (I guess technically it is still 9 pieces...more if you count all the bits n' pieces!) </span></span><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></b><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></i><u style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></u><sub style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sub><sup style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 11.06px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></sup><strike style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: line-through; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A7_HD3-5bOQ/W--CrbGQ6NI/AAAAAAAACcU/2scJ8t2gj8MkDqVM9lNOgnagw2a5KRmSgCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2592.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A7_HD3-5bOQ/W--CrbGQ6NI/AAAAAAAACcU/2scJ8t2gj8MkDqVM9lNOgnagw2a5KRmSgCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2592.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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The nice, but not nice enough windows. </div>
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Everything except the window grills will be left as is. </div>
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One thing I came to realize as I set the Manor up in its new home is that I just don't like the windows I came up with for the first floor front facade. They do not seem to fit the elegant forms of the rest of the manor. I like the windows, just not on this manor! So one of the first things to come is that I will be remaking the four box windows along the front of the manor. The boxes will remain as is, but the window insert design will be simplified and I will be redesigning them to allow more ability to view the interior from the outside of the Manor. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUR7IOOpadQ/W--HQnNjGLI/AAAAAAAACcs/jH7SCg_Tx8oeZHkehxGFoG4n6iNTWrClACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jUR7IOOpadQ/W--HQnNjGLI/AAAAAAAACcs/jH7SCg_Tx8oeZHkehxGFoG4n6iNTWrClACLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2652.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the very LEAST it needs a good scrubbing!</td></tr>
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Another realization is that again, I am not happy with the fireplace in the Grand Parlor. It's "cute". Cute does not fit that room! So I am going to try to remake the same basic fireplace but do it more conventionally (if you can call Art Noveau conventional!). I want it to come across as elegant, not cute! If I can rescue this one, I will, if not, I will start again from scratch. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grand Parlor as it stands today. This house must be built on a planet with two suns. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UsYvVGG5Sls/W--J09KMw6I/AAAAAAAACdM/e3qybkZdc1QueWGDYkfiPUCsCA7P6m51gCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_2661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UsYvVGG5Sls/W--J09KMw6I/AAAAAAAACdM/e3qybkZdc1QueWGDYkfiPUCsCA7P6m51gCLcBGAs/s400/IMG_2661.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Grand Parlor ceiling is cool, but needs to be trifled with a bit to lighten it up.</td></tr>
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The last "remodel" project will be the ceiling of the Grand Parlor. I love the ceiling, don't get me wrong there, but it is way too dark for the room as it is... it needs a tweak to lighten up the room, so something will need to be done on that front.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyAX5y_TAzs/Vg3ITt6iyKI/AAAAAAAACV4/TT29vbRsWsoaUHBrnObzvRXGDL90kD_8ACPcBGAYYCw/s1600/DSC06056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyAX5y_TAzs/Vg3ITt6iyKI/AAAAAAAACV4/TT29vbRsWsoaUHBrnObzvRXGDL90kD_8ACPcBGAYYCw/s400/DSC06056.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ugh! Please do NOT remind me. I bow my head in abject shame!</td></tr>
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And THEN, there is that dang door. I never did come up with a good result for that, and so it will also go back to the drawing board... though it never came to life in the first place! I STILL don't have any really good ideas....but I will cogitate... Cogitating creates magic eventually...??<br />
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So those are my plans in the immediate future for the "little"<i> Villa de Cuivre</i>. It is exciting to have room in my mind to cogitate on these "small" things again. I really do look forward to getting back in the saddle and making "goodly progress" on the Manor!<br />
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Bless y'all! <span style="font-size: x-small;">(<i>like that new "southern accent"?</i>) </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mug shot. I know you are glad to see me. </td></tr>
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Be Grateful for all you have! </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-65233948415069324692016-08-16T16:52:00.000-07:002016-08-16T16:54:57.456-07:00On the MoveHi folks! It has been a bit too long since I posted! And when I do, I post about something NOT mini related. I hope you can abide a short detour.<br />
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I must offer an excuse, you know...maybe two or three. <br />
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In October 2015, I began working on our current home, getting it ready for sale. I didn't know what I had started when I began! What I thought would take me about 3 months of work took me 7. Why am I surprised? I am slow at about everything, so I should have known.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVUfguZgdII/Vz-gdklfGyI/AAAAAAAACYI/ZtdNl_jVKg8-YiP-ZTr0dy2wWfSeIdtewCLcB/s1600/13629_Old_Home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WVUfguZgdII/Vz-gdklfGyI/AAAAAAAACYI/ZtdNl_jVKg8-YiP-ZTr0dy2wWfSeIdtewCLcB/s320/13629_Old_Home.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodbye Everett! (Our Old Town home on the left.)</td></tr>
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BUT, our sale closed this week, and we are 8 days away or so from closing on our new home. I thought I would share the reason for my delinquency in posting. Its been a long road, but we are finally there...(I think!). <br />
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At the moment, we are homeless...sort of. We are still in the old home because our buyers were gracious enough to allow us to stay until the end of the month...avoiding weeks in a hotel or in our relatives home. Both we and the relatives, I am sure, are very happy about that!<br />
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Here are a few pictures of the new home...it is larger and truly beautiful...totally turn key. So I feel very blessed!<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Here is the front of our new home...</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JiouVBikngs/Vz-q8zJaK-I/AAAAAAAACYk/P9QBIgTEDO8Vgg4kea__BJ_MSmWCCUlBQCLcB/s1600/Living_Dining_area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JiouVBikngs/Vz-q8zJaK-I/AAAAAAAACYk/P9QBIgTEDO8Vgg4kea__BJ_MSmWCCUlBQCLcB/s320/Living_Dining_area.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">We walk into the Living Room and Dining Area - Vaulted Ceilings!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ODV39sD0s8/Vz-r4BVCJ8I/AAAAAAAACYs/FX6HrBNwn20kgO-KnCSlOfDbbLXYmVquwCLcB/s1600/New%2BGourmet%2BKitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ODV39sD0s8/Vz-r4BVCJ8I/AAAAAAAACYs/FX6HrBNwn20kgO-KnCSlOfDbbLXYmVquwCLcB/s320/New%2BGourmet%2BKitchen.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A New Gourmet Kitchen...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NAgg-74kFfo/Vz-s2Yw6GGI/AAAAAAAACY4/pYauE2iEy6gYpZ395HZHHtxudzeJdjjeQCLcB/s1600/Mini_Room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NAgg-74kFfo/Vz-s2Yw6GGI/AAAAAAAACY4/pYauE2iEy6gYpZ395HZHHtxudzeJdjjeQCLcB/s320/Mini_Room.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Best of All! The soon to be mini room!</td></tr>
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I am looking forward to getting back in the saddle...I miss working on the mini house!<br />
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Oh..and those other excuses. Old computer dies...Doug buys cheap Chromebook to get by... It took me six months to figure out how to save a photo because the Explorer folders were well hidden. And gee.... I have been busy! </div>
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Thanks for your patience! I will be posting again some time [relatively!] soon.</div>
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Miss touching base with you all!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Addendum:</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>The above was written at the end of May! Obviously, I am still challenged in regard to posting! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>We have been in the new home now for 2 and one half months. It is wonderful! I still have MUCH to do to get things all put away, but most of the important things are unpacked and [er hemmm] "arranged". [That means they have been stuck somewhere out of the way for later sorting!]</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Since the above was written the "miniatures room" has moved. Until a week or two ago, the "miniatures room" was really a pile of junk. But over the last two weeks or so I have been able to sort through it all and now have just a messy room. Little steps. </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yw-ZNmTzCis/V7OluwwAx9I/AAAAAAAACZM/VXymF6rpRXwOae1_S2wj7660XmSrKVI_ACLcB/s1600/IMG_0107.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yw-ZNmTzCis/V7OluwwAx9I/AAAAAAAACZM/VXymF6rpRXwOae1_S2wj7660XmSrKVI_ACLcB/s400/IMG_0107.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Things are finally beginning to settle enough that I "think" about working on my mini project again now. Operative word? "Think". Every time I go near the room I see more to do that MUST be done now. Not Later. And so my project languishes. Not for much longer though! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I also haven't really been on the computer for any time at all since May. So I haven't been reading blogs either... so I have a lot of catching up to do! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>I look forward to continuing my project and being able to share that with you all. And I look forward to catching up with your projects again! </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Talk to you soon!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Doug </i></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-14006743080507943442015-10-01T18:01:00.000-07:002015-10-02T05:44:49.660-07:00EPIC FAIL (or Doug's Adventures in Miniature Stained Glass)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Disclaimer: No Manor Doors were harmed during the disaster that follows</i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5oX5GWuD1Bk/Vg26csSl8OI/AAAAAAAACUw/e0lWOPoFlpw/s1600/Train_wreck_at_Montparnasse_1895%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5oX5GWuD1Bk/Vg26csSl8OI/AAAAAAAACUw/e0lWOPoFlpw/s400/Train_wreck_at_Montparnasse_1895%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="332" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Failure#/media/File:Train_wreck_at_Montparnasse_1895.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Train Wreck at Montparnasse in 1985</a></td></tr>
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The <b>Montparnasse derailment</b> occurred at 4 pm on 22 October 1895 when the Granville–Paris Express overran the <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">buffer stop</span> at its Gare Montparnasse terminus. The train was late and trying to make up for lost time, and entered the station too fast. The driver crashed through the station wall and fell onto the street below - Place de Rennes, due to his air brake failing. Unfortunately, a woman who was temporarily standing in for her husband as a newspaper seller was killed. The driver was fined 50 francs. </div>
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I am reasonably sure that the minor disaster our Steampunk Manor door experienced was not near as severe as the Montparnasse derailment. No one was killed. Rather, the manor door was rescued, and is awaiting a new and better experience next time. We hope. Desperately!</div>
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However, it was a truly traumatic experience, and what is worse? It isn't over yet! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Starting Point</td></tr>
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But I WILL get ahead of myself, won't I? Slow down Doug, and tell the story...one word at a time.<br />
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It began innocently. As the creator of the Steampunk Manor, I have a very specific idea of what the Manor Door should look like. It must be grand, interesting, and must mesh well with the already designed Front Windows. A very simple request. Or so you would think. </div>
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I tried...really I did. I tried Glass Paint, I tried India Ink. I tried them all over again. I even thought about trying to find "the picture" of a stained glass window, and just print the crazy thing in 2D. Did it work? </div>
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Well, you be the judge.</div>
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I DID manage to create the door of my dreams. It was easy, if a bit time consuming. I cut out the wood shapes...varying each to provide interest on the two sides of the door (you get it, the INside and the OUTside, right?) I dutifully sanded all sides, cut out a center third piece to act as the frame for the acetate window, and cut the acetate to fit. All was well with the world. <br />
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THEN:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iH7H_frESPI/Vg3FjZpCJ8I/AAAAAAAACVc/sveL-3WrC4s/s1600/Inspiration%2BPicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="321" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iH7H_frESPI/Vg3FjZpCJ8I/AAAAAAAACVc/sveL-3WrC4s/s400/Inspiration%2BPicture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We began an attempt to create a beautiful stained glass door. I had an inspiration picture. I loved it. I still do!
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forgive the Yellow Cast...My Dining Table is Yellow!</td></tr>
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I even managed to capture the essence of the design that I wanted for the window, get it proportional, and add the Art Noveau detail of the side windows to the design. I was on my way to success. Right?<br />
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Oh! So Wrong.<br />
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Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, Wrong!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yD8ohVdqE_w/Vg3HpAcszbI/AAAAAAAACVs/HV1ni2t4leM/s1600/DSC06041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yD8ohVdqE_w/Vg3HpAcszbI/AAAAAAAACVs/HV1ni2t4leM/s320/DSC06041.JPG" width="500" /></a></div>
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I started the little adventure using Liquitex Colored Ink. Beautiful Colors, JUST the colors I wanted to use. </div>
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I carefully painted each pane of the window design, using the utmost care to get even and beautifully blended colors. This is what it looked like once it dried. <br />
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UGH!!! Shiver, Shiver....Eeeew! It looked HORRIBLE. Victor Horta IS now turning in his grave! Right?!!<br />
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OK...grow up Doug. The door is PERFECT. Exactly what I wanted. <br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Window? Not so Much! </span></i></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n7GCOO40itI/Vg3KairwO6I/AAAAAAAACWE/bYFdZqiXheY/s1600/DSC06089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n7GCOO40itI/Vg3KairwO6I/AAAAAAAACWE/bYFdZqiXheY/s320/DSC06089.JPG" width="500" /></a></div>
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It "SORT OF" achieves the effect I wanted in the dark....<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--dp_Lpe9rGg/Vg3LczQH_II/AAAAAAAACWY/vE1jx98Pl1I/s1600/Wretched%2BStained%2BGlass%2BWindow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--dp_Lpe9rGg/Vg3LczQH_II/AAAAAAAACWY/vE1jx98Pl1I/s320/Wretched%2BStained%2BGlass%2BWindow.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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And it is "SORT OF" OK from a distance. But not really. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>So back to the drawing board.</i></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSl_dcv6_zI/Vg3MlHUfmWI/AAAAAAAACW0/r2HX6AmwmDE/s1600/DSC06049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tSl_dcv6_zI/Vg3MlHUfmWI/AAAAAAAACW0/r2HX6AmwmDE/s320/DSC06049.JPG" width="500" /></a></div>
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So we tried Glass Paint. This didn't even rate a serious effort. It actually dries slightly better than this...but it is NOT the look I wanted for the Manor. </div>
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I did find out that it looks somewhat better when added to a different kind of acetate. This is a specialty acetate that is designed to accept ink and paints. </div>
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The Glass Paint worked SLIGHTLY better on this. It would be the RIGHT look for a small forest cottage or a bathtub sliding door. Something to file away for the future, but definitely NOT suited for the front door of the manor!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zp39n1erErw/Vg3QNbSC3WI/AAAAAAAACXQ/QD2d22Yo5M0/s1600/Liquitex%2BInk%2BTrial.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zp39n1erErw/Vg3QNbSC3WI/AAAAAAAACXQ/QD2d22Yo5M0/s320/Liquitex%2BInk%2BTrial.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I als<span style="font-family: inherit;">o tried the India Ink again, and Yes, it was much better on this acetate, but it still does not achieve the clarity I wanted for the front of the manor.</span><br />
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So far, we have failed. But not to worry...we have another idea up our sleeve! My next try will be to use a product actually designed for Photography...a diffuser and color correction product made of polyurethane plastic and a layer of deeply dyed polyester. The colors are beautiful...and there are a myriad of colors.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zy9Up48ASrg/Vg3RyK2XAaI/AAAAAAAACXc/A4jLZwyIDjg/s1600/Cinigel%2B-%2Bthe%2Bnext%2Btry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zy9Up48ASrg/Vg3RyK2XAaI/AAAAAAAACXc/A4jLZwyIDjg/s400/Cinigel%2B-%2Bthe%2Bnext%2Btry.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.rosco.com/filters/cinegel.cfm?menuReturn=quickFilmTV&CategoryID=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Cinigel Color Swatch from Rosco.com</a></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More than enough to get the variety I had hoped to get with the window, and an opportunity to get a MUCH better color range than I have had with the other mediums. The product is slightly expensive, but I did a test before buying. I wanted to see if clear glue would be obvious behind this product. So far, so good. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hgGMtq8DxA/Vg3T7W7PWII/AAAAAAAACXw/8umNTeGzgLc/s1600/a%2BNew%2BExperiment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0hgGMtq8DxA/Vg3T7W7PWII/AAAAAAAACXw/8umNTeGzgLc/s320/a%2BNew%2BExperiment.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Sort of!</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoyed my learning curve! Under any circumstance, I must say that my fail was not QUITE as large as the Montparnesse accident...but it was close. :0) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am hoping to show you a finished product soon that is as beautiful as the one I have in my dreams!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until next time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-4108646679839221822015-07-03T09:59:00.000-07:002015-07-03T10:11:23.464-07:00Window Drama Channeling Victor Horta<br />
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One of my favorite Art Nouveau Architects is a Belgian named Victor Horta. He was born in 1861 and died in 1947. One of his primary beliefs was that an entire space should be designed as one entity, that every small part of a design should contribute to a whole. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Horta#/media/File:Victor_Horta_(cropped).jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Baron Victor Horta - Belgian architect and designer</a><br />
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His work is truly magnificent, and in every building he designed you can trace this philosophy within the final result.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/martinehrenhauser/8085701304" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Victor Horta Museum - Brussels</a></div>
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Every line complements every other part of the design, nothing is left to chance. Lines flow into one another, shapes work together to create a memorable effect, and colors harmonize into an outcome that leaves one fully enchanted. Every portion of the design, in some way, seems to be drawn directly from Nature itself. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exterior View of Manor Facade Windows</td></tr>
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I wanted the facade of my Manor to capture a bit of this feeling, to send ones mind back to nature, to contribute to a whole that feels a part of nature. Steampunk, in particular, often draws on this aesthetic to create environs that feel exotic and exciting.</div>
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Steampunk incorporates elements from many sources, a bit of fantasy and a bit of every artistic style imaginable. It is heavily informed by historical design, particularly during the Victorian era. The elegance and studied beauty of the Art Nouveau Style is a favorite element in many representations of the Steampunk genre. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closeup of the Entry Window</td></tr>
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One of the hallmarks of the Art Nouveau style, and of Victor Horta's work, is its asymmetrical lines and it's use of undulating lines that harken directly back to nature. The myriad forms of flower stalks, insect wings, vine tendrils and sapling branches are deeply embedded into the design style. </div>
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I chose to try and emulate the tendrils of vines to complement the colors I wanted to use, and to harmonize with the deep browns and blues of the interior of the entry. I felt like they went well together, and were in the spirit of the "designed whole" that Victor Horta displayed. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds Eye view of the Manor Entry Grand Staircase</td></tr>
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The shapes of the stairway, the door, and the almost water like appearance of the poured resin floor seemed to create a whole that I particularly liked. I felt like this window treatment is solidly in the spirit of both Steampunk, and of the Art Nouveau style I so admire. I feel like it echoes the spirit of the Entry so far. </div>
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In the photo of the Tassel House Stairway designed by Victor Horta, you can see the ghost of some of the choices I've made in my own Entry Stairway. This is one of my favorite pictures of Victor Horta's work. While the actual lines of the staircase above are somewhat different, the general effect of the final stair will be very similar, if I have my way!</div>
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<a href="http://www.omnilexica.com/?q=victor+horta#.VZJ7b9ynCjU" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Victor Horta's Studio</a></div>
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Above is a photo of Victor Horta's studio, which now has been converted into a museum. You can see the same curves and vine-like shapes in use in this example of his work. I wanted this same sense of natural movement to inform my windows. The result of this desire is the window set I created for the facade of the Manor.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foam Core Mockup In Progress</td></tr>
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I began as I usually do with a mockup of my potential windows. This was fashioned from Foam Core board. I used a photo of a firescreen that I loved to help me determine the right lines, traced it onto Tracing Paper, and transferred it onto the Foam Core. To transfer from Tracing Paper to the Foam Core I used the process of using a soft graphite pencil to scribble along all the lines of the tracing on the side I wanted to use. Then I placed the tracing, scribble side down, on the Foam Core, and then retraced all the lines. This left a clear imprint of the pattern on the Foam Core. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using the Scroll Saw to Cut the Windows</td></tr>
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I then transferred the same pattern, once I had decided I liked the design, to two 1/32" pieces of wood. I taped those together to try and cut the exact same pattern on both windows. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woeful results of the wood cutting process. </td></tr>
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Unfortunately, this did not work too well. Above is what I ended up with. A lot of work went into those two sad pieces of wood. Time to go back to the drawing board. </div>
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Suddenly, I decided my mockup versions looked just fine. We'll see whether that decision sticks. I am not done with the windows yet, as I intend to add a bit more depth to them, so we'll see. I may try a different thickness of wood and redo the windows with that, but for the moment, my plan is to see where this version takes me, and if I like it, it will become the final! See how that works?</div>
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I painted the Foam Core board a bronze color that I thought harmonized well with the floors and the gold leaf above the door on the inside. I am very happy with the results so far. While they do still look a little rough to me, I know that the work I plan to do on them should remove that roughness. </div>
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Now on to the door... getting the basic shape of that right will be my next task. I actually already have that shape designed, but the door is not yet built so we'll all have to wait for the final result!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rejected Door Design - the New One is much better!</td></tr>
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I did do a mockup of "the door", but this one has been rejected. I'll share it with you here, just because it really ought to see the light of day somewhere! It's cool, but just not right for the manor. This is why we do mockups! :0) </div>
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Hope you all enjoyed seeing the work of Victor Horta. He is truly my architectural hero...Everything he did appeals to me. Maybe its the curves...maybe the colors, maybe the truly designed total environments, but something about his work speaks to me like no one elses!</div>
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Until next time! I hope you all are enjoying your summer!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-87115736511560314232015-06-20T17:30:00.002-07:002015-06-20T18:27:34.529-07:00Bits and Pieces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello folks! I sure hope you all are getting some of the BEAUTIFUL weather we are having here in the Puget Sound! We've got sun. We've got summer breezes. We've got 70 + degree F weather! Who could ask for more!</div>
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There is nothing more beautiful than Seattle in the Sun. "The Bluest Skies You've Ever Seen Are in Seattle"! </div>
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Needless to say, I'm working only a few minutes at a time nowadays! But I am making progress, day by day, and am finally beginning to visualize the next phase of my project and working out the bugs. Today though, I give you bits and pieces...! I am in the process of trying to create an interesting and Steampunk - eee facade for the Manor. </div>
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I've had these two pics set aside for some time. Since the underpinnings of what I am working on are a bit mundane, I thought I would give you glimpses of things to come in order to whet your appetite and so that you won't think that I've dropped off the face of the earth!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tEm101wYiI/VYXwqJh6aQI/AAAAAAAACME/NbFQ9CkHyGw/s1600/Inspiration%2BPhoto%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tEm101wYiI/VYXwqJh6aQI/AAAAAAAACME/NbFQ9CkHyGw/s400/Inspiration%2BPhoto%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://impactdigital.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/33.0906_57915_JimFiscus_Unfortunate_Shot01_Aft-e1345221764242.jpg" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Unfortunate Moment of Misunderstanding by Jim Fiscus</a></div>
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First, a wonderful 3D Graphics painting from the Internet created by Jim Fiscus. This digital image spoke to me the moment I saw it, and I knew that it was going to inform part of what I did on the facade. It is an exciting and interesting image, and provides a number of ideas I will rework and include in my facade.</div>
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Here is another photo I love. This is actually of a window, also found on the Internet, This beautifully imposing set of doors captures the ornate sense of drama that I wanted for the Entrance Door for the Manor.</div>
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I do have several other photos I am using for reference, but these two are the two that are the forming the major inspiration for what I am doing with the Entrance.</div>
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Now for the bits and pieces! These are some of the major ingredients that will go into the facade...but there are many more! :0) </div>
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First, my daughters jewelry box. She recently tried to give it to Charity,and I rescued it and put it in my stash. I know. Selfish. But as you know, this has become a staple item for me!</div>
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A Picture Frame from Goodwill... </div>
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A Cabinet Pull from Hobby Lobby... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isn't this gorgeous tile? Metallic and all shades of brown and gold.</td></tr>
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Enameled ceramic tile from Home Depot... </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You will not recognize this Glass Tile when I am done!</td></tr>
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Glass tile from Lowe's Home Center...</div>
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And a Jewelry finding of a Leopard's head from Hobby Lobby... </div>
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I've spent the last several weeks working my way through this. You know how you get an idea...and your mind "finds" the "right" thing over time...well, I have become a "finder". But now I am getting very excited about the possibilities!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Concept drawing of a Steampunk Boiler</td></tr>
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As a parting shot, let me also share with you another project that is "in work". This is a Steampunk Boiler that I dreamed up. This is also in the finding stage...I am sure the final product will be quite different, as concept drawings are nothing MORE than concepts, but I am a interested to see if I can carry this one off! </div>
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Hope there is enough here to capture your imagination...Mine is going wild! </div>
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Until next time.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-57041818960851125482015-05-28T20:32:00.000-07:002015-05-28T20:32:29.502-07:00How To Window Decor Steampunk Style!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello out there! I hope you are all well, happy and occasionally working on your projects! </div>
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I've had a couple of long awaited days off from work, and have spent them relaxing and catching up on the Manor. We spent the Memorial Day weekend in Sequim, Washington (pronounced Squim), after first visiting my Mother on Saturday, so we've been doing a bit of traveling. We had some good eats and some incredibly relaxing family time, We've had beautiful weather, and all is well with the world. I am sure you wanted to know all that!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3NULfb_wCk/VWZK-8DlZ6I/AAAAAAAACH4/_R1XGfJNatA/s1600/Ground%2BFloor%2BFront%2BWindows%2B-%2BSteampunk%2BStyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-o3NULfb_wCk/VWZK-8DlZ6I/AAAAAAAACH4/_R1XGfJNatA/s320/Ground%2BFloor%2BFront%2BWindows%2B-%2BSteampunk%2BStyle.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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Today I wanted to share with you how I went about creating the new facade decorations below the kitchen and grand parlor windows! This bit of work was a lot of fun, and I can see that the techniques used are applicable to many different projects, so I thought I would share them with you tutorial style!<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Carving the Wood Base</span></i></b><b><br /></b><br />
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You will need straight, close grained wood to carve from. I used Balsa Wood (it's soft and cuts like butter!) that was 3/8 inch wide. My local craft store didn't carry 3/8 inch balsa or basswood, so I glued together two 3/16" pieces to create the 3/8 inch width I wanted.<br />
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The red and black "clamps" are Closet Spacers I bought from an Estate Sale! They worked beautifully for this application. </div>
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The curves for the window base were drawn using a French Curve so that I could easily create a "flowing" curve that was pleasing. After establishing the curve on one side, I used tracing paper folded over in the center to trace the other side, so that both curves were very similar, if not the same.</div>
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For my project, I had to carve four nearly identical profiles on the front, so that the finished pieces look the same. To facilitate that, I established lines to use as a gauge to help me ensure that I was carving the same basic thicknesses and shapes at each measuring point. I transferred each line I established on the first piece to each of the other pieces using a ruler and extending it across to the new piece. I then used a pencil and a measuring caliper to establish points in a curve that were identical at each line on each piece.<br />
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Before carving out the unwanted material with a gouge, I used a chisel to create a Stop Line wherever I did not want the wood to split out. For this piece, I created a stop line at the top and the bottom, to protect the "sill" and the "foundation piece". You can see the piece carved to the stop line at the top of the photo below, and the stop line(s) at the bottom of the photo as well. These aid in getting a straight cut across the piece.<br />
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Then using the gouge, I removed the unwanted wood down to the lines I had drawn on both ends of each piece. Finally, using the chisel once more, I smoothed the basic carving surfaces and sanded out the gouge and chisel marks, to create a smooth finish.<br />
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I was placing a medallion in the center of the carved pieces, so I needed to create a flatter area in the center of the carved piece. Again, the stop cut comes into play. I used a stop cut to trace the shape of the medallion I was going to use, and then carved out the center to create a flat area to hold the medallion.<br />
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I used the same stain as I have used on the doors and windows already completed (Gunstock by Minwax) to stain the well sanded piece, and the carving step was completed.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i>Adding Steampunk Details</i></span></b><br />
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Now it was time to add the details that help to establish this window base as Steampunk. To do this, I chose to use polymer clay to create brick colored tile for the window.<br />
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I cut a template from card, and then traced around the template with my knife to ensure that my shapes were the same. I also traced around the medallion to establish the shape into which it would fit, and cut that out of each piece.<br />
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I used a knife to create the effect of tiles by cutting through the clay on diagonal lines. </div>
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I used four colors of acrylic paint to create the textural depth of the brick. The base was Brick Red, the next coat was a powder blue, the third a coat of Burnt Sienna, and the fourth a coat of "Burnt Sugar" (a golden brown color). All coats except the first were applied and then wiped off, leaving only traces of each color to create depth. I then added more brick red to a gloss varnish to deepen the colors just a bit more. The entire surface was then coated with a clear glossy varnish.<br />
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The last step was to add the "black stone" details, which I did again with polymer, this time painted black and coated with a matte finish. </div>
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You'll probably note that all through the tutorial, I have had the base "upside down"....actually this was a "fortuitous" discovery. When I had completed the piece, I turned it over to do something to it, and realized I liked it MUCH better "upside down"... so the "upside" is the "bottom-side" in the picture above...or what is now TOPSIDE. :0) I thought it looked even more steamy this way...and I think you will agree, it looks rather sporty on the facade of the Steampunk Manor. </div>
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That's all for tonight folks! I hope you enjoyed the "tutorial" such as it is, and that someone will find portions of it useful for their own projects. I again have to apologize for the quality of some of these photos. I have much to learn, it appears, about more than just minis...!</div>
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Until next time!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-1310208682138281062015-05-22T17:09:00.000-07:002015-05-22T17:09:05.357-07:00Steam Punk [Art Nouveau?] Window Progress<br />
Hi folks! I hope this finds you all well and happy! <br />
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It's been a day or two (try nearly two weeks!) since I posted, and what I have to show you today is what has been done in 15 - 20 minutes a day over the last several weeks. Life is incredibly full nowadays and what little time I think I have, I often don't feel quite up to the thinking! But some small Progress we have, and so Progress we shall report.<br />
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I left you with the basic wood shapes cut and formed for the Grand Parlor Windows. My efforts have been focused on both the Window Box itself and finishing up the Windows themselves. I have not installed them permanently, and won't until more has been done inside, but they are as far as they are going to go for now. I will not be finishing up the trims and covering the base windows until much later in the build.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Kiq4atcjJg/VUbSwkdTjII/AAAAAAAACE8/IRsPdmXP4Pw/s1600/DSC05615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Kiq4atcjJg/VUbSwkdTjII/AAAAAAAACE8/IRsPdmXP4Pw/s320/DSC05615.JPG" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unfinished Steam Punk Windows, for comparison!</td></tr>
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I will tell you, from the point above, to where I am now on these has again been quite a journey! My muse left me on a somewhat regular basis! Silly muse...cannot keep him on task. <br />
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These windows are actually quite complex...with many steps. I have been working on them well over a month by now. I watch all of you put whole rooms together in a month, and I somethings am "moved to despair" thinking I will never finish! I tend to "look", "stare", "mope" and "emote" my way to a final design for each step.. The whole process leaves me feeling like mush! I don't know how you all do it!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Tuxedo" Windows!</td></tr>
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Anyhow, my first steps were of course to sand, paint and stain the windows. I used a black acrylic on the outer trims, and a beautifully red tinted wood stain from Min-Wax named Gunstock. I loved the effect, it created a "Tuxedo" effect that I find enchanting. I added the Wire Details, using 4 rods this time rather than three, since the windows are larger, and I wanted to "fill" the space visually.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UE_SX-YYh3E/VV-9AUF2yVI/AAAAAAAACG4/IYldNLfqF54/s1600/Steam%2BPunk%2BNouveau%2BWindows%2BSpackled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UE_SX-YYh3E/VV-9AUF2yVI/AAAAAAAACG4/IYldNLfqF54/s320/Steam%2BPunk%2BNouveau%2BWindows%2BSpackled.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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I then glued the mount board pieces I used to box the window together and Spackled the edges, painting the box ends again, until I had a reasonably smooth, well covered surface, and added a layer of satin varnish to give the boxes a "metallic" sheen. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1McUBGzpP9Y/VV--jpH7bfI/AAAAAAAACHM/rzUqpeI8lqw/s1600/Resin%2BCast%2BWrought%2BIron%2BDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1McUBGzpP9Y/VV--jpH7bfI/AAAAAAAACHM/rzUqpeI8lqw/s320/Resin%2BCast%2BWrought%2BIron%2BDetail.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cast Resin Detail</td></tr>
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I cast the resin "wrought iron details" to match the kitchen doors and pull the two ends together from a design perspective. I purposely worked to "relate" the two ends, without duplicating the details slavishly, as I think that is one of the keys to creating interest...everything "goes together" but there is always something new around the next corner. <br />
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(Please forgive all the steel wool dust! Arghhh! I have so much to learn about Photography!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-pBaYnTAOg/VV_BBu1gS8I/AAAAAAAACHY/RP5xCfnv-M8/s1600/Shield%2BDetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I-pBaYnTAOg/VV_BBu1gS8I/AAAAAAAACHY/RP5xCfnv-M8/s320/Shield%2BDetail.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobby Lobby find! Fairy Tales line by beadtreasures</td></tr>
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The last steps were to coat the entire thing with the same satin varnish I used on the end boxes, and to add a bit of detail to the base. The metal "shield" on the base is simply a charm from the "Fairy Tales" line sold by bead treasures. I just cut off the top using my jeweler's pliers, and glued it straight on to the wood, as is. I like the "pop" of the metal against the warm wood colors and accented by the black. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXfHyr4QrkQ/VV_BuHYbw6I/AAAAAAAACHg/tSi0M-dCovQ/s1600/Steampunk%2BNouveau%2BWindows%2BWIP%2BInterior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nXfHyr4QrkQ/VV_BuHYbw6I/AAAAAAAACHg/tSi0M-dCovQ/s320/Steampunk%2BNouveau%2BWindows%2BWIP%2BInterior.jpg" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Those "empty spaces" below the window are very tempting... So many possibilities!</td></tr>
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I am especially excited about the interior view, which at the moment,doesn't look like all that much, but will be gussied up as part of the interior trim work. That is much farther down the line...so we'll just have to be patient.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Completed "Steam Punk" Window...why does it look so Nouveau? </td></tr>
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For the moment, these Grand Parlor windows are as far as they will go. I'll be adding additional trim to the outside while working on the interior trims, so a truly "finished" window is a few weeks away at best!<br />
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My next steps will be to move around to the front of the Manor, and add similar related details to the base of the windows along the front. I say "similar" but never forget...nothing happens the same way twice when I am building things! Who knows what extraordinary things are yet to come? (I'll tell you a well known secret. . . even I don't know! :0)<br />
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I'd like to welcome a few new followers on board! I am excited to share this journey with you, and to learn from you too!<br />
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Until next time!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-64212076476200329182015-05-03T19:24:00.003-07:002015-05-03T19:31:50.615-07:00The Language of the Eyes - Window Box ProgressHi folks,<br />
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Something about a window speaks volumes about what is inside a house. Like our eyes, they display our secrets, telling the world about how we live, who we are, and what we love. <br />
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My Grand Parlor windows are still in progress, I think now I have spent close to 30 hours working through this window set! The gestation period for these ideas was much longer than most! But, halfway through, I am seeing the spirit of the house come alive, as I add more and more details around the box windows. It is an exciting and rewarding period in the construction of this Chateau.<br />
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But what secrets lie behind these eyes, do you suppose? </div>
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Secrets of Love?</div>
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Stories of Horror and Destruction?</div>
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Maybe just the work of a very odd artist? </div>
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Whatever secrets are buried within the depths of the Chateau, I am sure they will come out one day. Secrets have a way of wiggling themselves into the Light.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-du8xrs1bfgc/VUbHvI1fEbI/AAAAAAAACDY/Na4SJoZGSt8/s1600/Secrets_of_the_Dolls_House_Makers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-du8xrs1bfgc/VUbHvI1fEbI/AAAAAAAACDY/Na4SJoZGSt8/s1600/Secrets_of_the_Dolls_House_Makers.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></div>
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My first secret is that I have discovered the difference between an artist and a craftsman! I have been reading my "new" old library book, 'The Secrets of the Doll House Makers' that I got off of Amazon for only 11 dollars! (This book has been priced over one hundred dollars when I have looked before) <br />
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Since I began building the Chateau in January of 2014, I have felt secretly guilty, since I have not "drawn out a plan". I kept reasoning with myself that a "reasonable man" would draw everything out, have every duck in a row, and everything generally "put together" before starting.<br />
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As I read through the well written articles about each of the mini masters of the past (and present!) I have learned about the way that each of them worked, and while MOST DO have detailed plans and spend hours and hours taking photographs and planning every move, there are SOME who operate just the way I do...and I feel oh so vindicated! I share my building approach with Robert Stubbs of all people! It's a relief to know I am not "wrong" in my approach!<br />
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It was very clear to me as I read through this book that we all approach our work so differently, yet most of us fall into one of two camps - the artist, or the craftsman. I just happen to be the "artist" type. Tall, good looking, and oh so romantic...ooops, that just slipped out. Please forgive me!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRf4VHENzek/VUbKpvVMQHI/AAAAAAAACD8/4iUISpNHXR0/s1600/DSC05598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vRf4VHENzek/VUbKpvVMQHI/AAAAAAAACD8/4iUISpNHXR0/s1600/DSC05598.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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However, this IS the reason that I struggle with many of my designs, each an idea that needs a (sometimes long!) gestation period before coming unbidden into the world. But I know now, that I have the soul of an artist, responding to the moment of creativity, and to the muse within. I am just not a craftsman! :0)<br />
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I spent three or four days obsessing about the color to use on the end caps of the Chateau. I loved the color of the Chestnut Brown on the front windows, but I did not want to carry that clear around the house, as I thought that would be too much of a good thing! I finally settled on a brick red color, and once I had it on the Chateau, it really spoke to me! It's all "Steampunk and Victoriana" like, and that pleases me.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVaCR7QGmyQ/VUbH_1Wd6TI/AAAAAAAACDo/frZVRTI-bZk/s1600/DSC05618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVaCR7QGmyQ/VUbH_1Wd6TI/AAAAAAAACDo/frZVRTI-bZk/s1600/DSC05618.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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As with everything at this stage of the game, none of this is anywhere near complete, but the brick red and chestnut brown will make a wonderful backdrop for the architectural and decorative trims yet to come. <br />
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I chose to close in the windows just a bit, and provide some additional detail, which I think has worked out wonderfully. I would have liked a fully open window, but I knew I wanted to carry the theme from the kitchen doors across to the other end of the house, and as I cogitated, stared, and cursed over the window design, it finally came to me that this treatment would meet my needs, and would add an additional element of interest to the windows both inside and out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_OBU9o8CGs/VUbNZc7PEtI/AAAAAAAACEI/zW_bWAzUi5k/s1600/DSC05593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V_OBU9o8CGs/VUbNZc7PEtI/AAAAAAAACEI/zW_bWAzUi5k/s1600/DSC05593.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the inner sanctum - a view of the new window from inside. Still has the sticker on it! :0) </td></tr>
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I love the effect created by the additional wall space added under the window. It cries out for some fancy molding and trims, and provides me with a wonderful opportunity! My wife is a talented painter, and she has agreed to paint this area with small murals, and I am stoked. I have "dreams a dancin' in my head". <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bones of the Window Insert</td></tr>
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The windows are made, so far, of 5 parts. You can see above the four panels that make up the wood portion of the windows, along with the small acetate piece that goes into the squared off opening. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inner Window with Sandwiched 1/32 inch basswood and acetate window</td></tr>
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Each "nouveau" window cut out is 3/32" basswood, while the narrower slice that holds the acetate and the nouveau trim piece on the outer window are of 1/32 inch basswood. The pieces are stacked one upon another to create the thickness of the window. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sdkZ9LrDWlc/VUbRi2hXcgI/AAAAAAAACEo/pld9Xmt0IPA/s1600/DSC05612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sdkZ9LrDWlc/VUbRi2hXcgI/AAAAAAAACEo/pld9Xmt0IPA/s1600/DSC05612.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stacked Window pieces</td></tr>
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The Outer Window surface was added over the top of the two pieces pictured above, and then Art Nouveau inspired trim was cut using a craft knife, and added to the outer surface for trim<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Window Trim</td></tr>
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To this trim will later be added some additional decorative trimmings and architectural details, that echo and morph the effects on the kitchen doors. The empty spaces on the window base will include some of this trim. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glued up stock, ready for carving</td></tr>
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To build up the trim below the windows, I used a very similar process to <a href="http://miniaturendeavors.blogspot.com/2015/03/building-steampunk-kitchen-door.html" target="_blank">the process I used to create the doors</a>, though since these were much larger pieces to carve, I glued up several pieces of varying heights which helped to set the basic profiles before carving, and allowed for less wasted wood.</div>
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The decorative panel below the windows has a slightly modified profile, as I wanted the panel to line up along the base of the window well. As with the doors, I sanded out the shape I wanted using a progression of sandpaper and steel wool, </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen Doors with Brick Red Surround</td></tr>
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My next tasks are to complete the windows by adding the metal decorative rods, staining the doors, and adding the decorative trims to further imitate the kitchen doors. Once I've completed that much, I'll be moving on to the exterior Entry Door and Windows, and then I will be working inside the Chateau again, and will resume work on the trims. </div>
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I look forward to the day when I can batten down the hatches and glue everything together. That, however, may be a while in coming! It is a good thing I enjoy the creative process, because I spend about 80 percent of my time thinking and about 20 percent actually building anything! But that is the progress on the Chateau since my last post, </div>
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I wish you all the best, every one of you! I enjoy your comments, and treasure every one of you who take the time to give me your thoughts and impressions! I look forward to revealing future secrets and look forward to that someday when the story of the Steampunk Chateau will be fully expressed!</div>
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Until Next Time!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-57690327257693829022015-04-20T04:55:00.000-07:002015-04-21T04:23:31.739-07:00Setting a Firm Foundation<div>
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I find it amazing how even in miniature, certain things must be present in order to create any realism. This addition of a foundation to the front of the manor, more than anything I've done to date, began to bring to me that sense of realism and architectural harmony that I have been excited about creating. It feels to me like finally beginning to turn the corner from building something to creating "art". <br />
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I am not anywhere near finished of course, most elements are not glued down which leaves some visible gaps, and I know I won't be gluing things together for some time. This will of course lead me to scrambling for a box or two to put things away into, but it still feels great to have taken this step toward the finished product. It is encouraging to see a "plan" start coming together. </div>
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All of this philosophical discussion is about nothing more than beginning the build of some trim for the foundations of the manor. Lots of fun in the garage, cutting tiny wood pieces, and a lot of glue, the final product months away, but still, I get a moment to get all choked up, right? </div>
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Remember this picture? This is what I started with, some real world, man sized (?) trim from Lowe's hardware. </div>
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I've spent the weekend back and forth into the garage, (slamming the door every time in my haste, I'll confess) cutting the trim into small pieces. Each section of the foundation is made of three pieces of wood. One backing piece of wood with two added pieces of molding. </div>
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You can see that the larger molding was used as a base, to create something akin to a marble or cement foundation (the decision has not yet been made!), and the smaller trim (also purchased at Lowe's believe it or not!) became the upper trim. Together, these created the sense of a strong, firm foundation. </div>
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The Window Boxes themselves will have a decorative treatment that will extend the linear lines at the bottom to encompass the entire house, but already the sense of a firm foundation is established. Anything from here on in will just be strengthening that. I am excited about where this is going. </div>
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Together with the newly "completed" (far from it!) window boxes, I think the facade is taking on a strong presence. I am excited to start doing things like adding the additional doors and windows, and cladding the exterior, but I will need to wait on some of that, since my goal is to complete the inside trims for the three modules so that I can attach them to one another. </div>
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I will be doing some additional window and exterior work where it affects the decisions related to trim, so those are my next steps. These things have to happen before I can finish the exterior, due to the modular nature of the house. </div>
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I want to welcome some additional followers! Thanks for joining with me on the journey to my Steampunk manor, with all it's ups and downs! I look forward to getting to know you all!</div>
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Until next time!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-39497309949523639132015-04-18T07:25:00.001-07:002015-04-21T04:41:57.019-07:00Redeux!There are many times in life when we want a redeux! (redo!) Most of the time, we are not able to, but happily, in the world of miniatures we are able to redeux to our little hearts content. The Box Windows needed a redeux, so just sharing the results. Therefore, no real progress beyond catching up to where I once was, but I am much happier with the result!<br />
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You probably could tell from my last post that I was not too happy with progress. After that post, I kept looking at the windows, and I just could not reconcile myself to the aluminum sheathing, because it was just too creased, and I knew if I didn't redo it, I would be unhappy with it for the life of the project. So I decided to make a change. </div>
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Basically, all I did was to rip off the aluminum sheathing (a scary proposition!), and cut new sheathing out of mount board, painted it up the same way as the aluminum, and started gluing. I am SO much happier with it and now feel like I can move on to bigger and better things! </div>
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I have little more to share, so unlike most of my posts, this one is a short one! Oh, and you can see just the slightest hint of the next step if you look closely at the first photo above. This plus the hint in the last post should give you a pretty good idea of what may be coming!</div>
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Thanks for letting me share my redeux! </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-67642287088436695532015-04-13T19:18:00.000-07:002015-04-21T04:42:13.791-07:00Box Window Progress Hi folks,<br />
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This post will be all about progress and the lack of it. Sometimes progress is one of those elusive things that does not show itself until the last board is in place. I've been working on the Manor off and on, in between the chaos of an extremely busy schedule, and while there has been a lot of progress, there is not much that speaks of any real beauty to come. </div>
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Most of what I have been working on is going to be "under the covers" at some point or another. Still it is progress, and I thought that you all might think I had died and gone to heaven or something if I didn't post, so here it is. </div>
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In the last few weeks, I have spent most of my effort on refining the design for the facade. And of course, most of that you will not see! Patience will be required while I slowly dredge the things in my mind out into the real world. In my quest to bring the imagined masterpiece to life, I have worked on adding coloring and assembling the previously built windows, adding some balance to the facade, and cladding the box windows in aluminum. </div>
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<b>Step 1:</b> You may remember my last post regarding the <a href="http://miniaturendeavors.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-quest-for-miniature-steampunk.html" target="_blank">Quest for the Perfect Windows</a>. The windows had yet to be painted, and this was my first undertaking. What I ended up doing with those is to paint the mount board with a copper color, and then used Indian Ink and Raw Sienna paint to age and stress those so that they looked weathered and aged, and like old metal. </div>
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They don't look like much set off by the white Foam Core, but they have a wonderful aged feel and they are similar in tone to the Steam Punk doors I last posted about, which pleases me, as it brings the color tones around the entire house (or will when I get finished!). </div>
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<b>Step 2: </b> I've wanted to create a Steam Punk Vibe with the foundation around the entire house, and I began work on this next. Again, no progress that looks like much yet, but I've created a wood base for the foundation that will help balance the front of the manor, and will provide a unifying element across the facade. I've several ideas that I want to pull together to create interest and add additional bulk to the foundation. </div>
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I've added a platform on top of the foundation pieces,with wood. Above, since I didn't remember to take pictures of that, is the Foam Core version, and only between the windows. The great reveal will be later in the post. You can take another view of the beautifully aged copper windows this way, right?<br />
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<b>Step 3: </b> This is the "interesting" but not necessarily beautiful portion of the post. Notice, you have just experienced the "big reveal"! Around the base of the module you will see the new wood base in it's full and unadulterated glory.<br />
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Now that we have that done, on with the rest of the story. I decided to overlay the window boxes with aluminum sheeting. What you see above is the underpinnings, so it is still Work In Process. I thought I would break down how I accomplished that, as I think it was an interesting process, and with a little more skill that I currently have, I think it could net extremely beautiful results. As it is, I am happy with it other than a bit of buckling in the aluminum that I will need to disguise.<br />
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This is what I started with. I purchased a sheet of recycled aluminum at 30 gauge from <span style="color: #0000ee;"><u>http://www.whimsie.com/index.html</u></span>. The service was fast, and the recycled aluminum arrived in a strong packing tube and in good condition. <br />
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I used tin snips for the first cuts. I drew all the lines with a green felt pen to give me something to cut along. Cutting the metal turned out to be very simple to do.<br />
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Lessons Learned, I would use my utility knife (and did for the final two that are pictured). While it takes a bit more effort, the result is smoother and cleaner than using the tin snips, which caused the metal to curl, and necessitated flattening the metal again. You see above that the pieces are a bit lumpy, which was caused by the tin snips. It is easier not to bend it in the first place than to take out the unwanted undulations.<br />
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In order to manage the fold over the top of the window box, I cut the pieces larger than required to fold over the top of the window box. I cut flaps at the top to the depth of the box, so that I could fold over and glue the metal to the box. The first attempt, pictured above, ended up being too damaged to use, and was used to cut the patterns for the "new" ones. :0)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfE5jkZV7Gs/VSxiY7FoEGI/AAAAAAAAB-8/xO7uKk2h2ks/s1600/DSC05491.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xfE5jkZV7Gs/VSxiY7FoEGI/AAAAAAAAB-8/xO7uKk2h2ks/s1600/DSC05491.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Prior to cutting the flaps into the "new" pieces, I painted them using Rust-oleum's Metallic Paint and Primer in One. The color is 'Flat Chestnut'. It leaves an incredibly beautiful finish, with a real depth to the color that adds a lot of immediate interest by itself. I put three coats on the metal, adding the paint in very light layers to build to the final color.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bvioEaR1KY4/VSxjlgyKzWI/AAAAAAAAB_E/QLaEP4zLGQc/s1600/DSC05493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bvioEaR1KY4/VSxjlgyKzWI/AAAAAAAAB_E/QLaEP4zLGQc/s1600/DSC05493.JPG" height="475" width="350" /></a></div>
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I then bent the aluminum using my metal ruler to attempt to keep the metal smooth. I laid the metal ruler along the lines I wanted to bend, and slowly bent the sides and top back to create the box.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_6cSSpk3DI/VSxkWkyRGUI/AAAAAAAAB_M/7m5k4iOXrLg/s1600/DSC05509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j_6cSSpk3DI/VSxkWkyRGUI/AAAAAAAAB_M/7m5k4iOXrLg/s1600/DSC05509.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I then glued the bent aluminum onto the window boxes, using, of all things, Arlenes Tacky Glue. I love that stuff. It will glue just about anything!<br />
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I left the base of the windows open, because there will be some details added there. I'll save that for a later post. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1CGumURqAo4/VSxlVpJ016I/AAAAAAAAB_c/WTn25KbKBKQ/s1600/DSC05516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1CGumURqAo4/VSxlVpJ016I/AAAAAAAAB_c/WTn25KbKBKQ/s1600/DSC05516.JPG" height="475" width="350" /></a></div>
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You begin to see the hint of the eventual effect by getting up close and personal with the windows. I am liking the overall effect. You can see above though that I had to cut away a bit of the aluminum to allow the window to go back in on this one. I'll have the exciting task of making that melt away over the next few weeks. :0( I figure it will be covered up by the trims, so have left it to deal with at that time.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ97t5JF1r0/VSxmAE0TDeI/AAAAAAAAB_o/audoqpWqqwk/s1600/DSC05517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJ97t5JF1r0/VSxmAE0TDeI/AAAAAAAAB_o/audoqpWqqwk/s1600/DSC05517.JPG" height="475" width="350" /></a></div>
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Here is the other window looking onto the Butler's Pantry. It's a bit exciting to start seeing the effect that is being created. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_Gonp5_tA0/VSxwG51MvsI/AAAAAAAACAI/0tq1ZmUkNd8/s1600/DSC05507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q_Gonp5_tA0/VSxwG51MvsI/AAAAAAAACAI/0tq1ZmUkNd8/s1600/DSC05507.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I chose the deep brassy color for the box exteriors in part because I wanted to balance the Oriel windows in the next story. I like the way it brings the color down to the base of the house, helping to draw in the coloring I used above. This is a picture of the brief vacation the house got from me poking into it's corners over Easter. It's a lot of work transporting a bunch of modules up the stairs and rearranging them on the base board! Unfortunately, I hadn't put the windows back into the openings when this was taken, so you'll have to imagine for while. </div>
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<b>The Future:</b> Now I will leave you with a bit of a glimpse of the future. Not sure when I will be adding this detail, but it'll give you an idea where I am thinking I will go. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tQCnCPlwI8/VSxzRE7EB-I/AAAAAAAACAU/YfKXZFfhSsM/s1600/Molding.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5tQCnCPlwI8/VSxzRE7EB-I/AAAAAAAACAU/YfKXZFfhSsM/s1600/Molding.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Here is the baseboard trim (real life size!) that I bought to use on the wooden foundation that I have added on both ground floor modules on either end. I'll be cutting it up and using it as part of the decoration for the foundation. Still working out the details!</div>
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Until next time! </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-59439079513499770822015-03-28T09:13:00.001-07:002015-04-21T04:42:46.645-07:00[Overheard in The Forum] Kitchen Faucet Tales<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;">Greetings,</span><br />
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Strange happenings at the faucet. </div>
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<span style="line-height: 15.996000289917px;">Sink has a faucet with a Steam Punk look and a </span><span style="line-height: 15.996000289917px;">spout able to rotate.</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GIZ1V6mz8NI/VRa2q0dCvpI/AAAAAAAAB5s/yv-_qtWP8vQ/s1600/DSC05462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GIZ1V6mz8NI/VRa2q0dCvpI/AAAAAAAAB5s/yv-_qtWP8vQ/s1600/DSC05462.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;">When the hot tap is turned on fully the water runs warm only</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;">and then runs cold and back to warm again. It never runs fully hot.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;">The sink is a couple of feet away from piping hot water.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;">The supplier says to switch the cartridges between the Hot and Cold</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;">levers. This does not sound right. Its a fancy Steam Punk brand.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KXcg_2WA9CQ/VRa2Nns3RII/AAAAAAAAB5k/_s9WBJskE3E/s1600/DSC05463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KXcg_2WA9CQ/VRa2Nns3RII/AAAAAAAAB5k/_s9WBJskE3E/s1600/DSC05463.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helvetica, 'Bitstream Vera Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 15.996000289917px;">Some insight would be appreciated.</span></div>
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Oh the joys of learning on the fly! I've had a fun couple of weeks [yes WEEKS] figuring out my Steam Punk Kitchen Faucets. The lessons learned are too many to list, so I'll provide you with the short cut! How is that!? <br />
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Nah! That would be no fun. So I'll show you how I made a set of Steam Punk Kitchen Faucets with only a COUPLE of side trips. Rest assured, this was only scratching the surface when it comes to detours on this project!<br />
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The funny thing is, once you "know what you are doing" (maybe a stretch!), this little project is actually fairly simple to accomplish. I'll attempt to impart the great wisdom I have gained as I wandered far and near. This should make it very simple for 'the next guy'!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qu1QI95-v2w/VRa7N-fNxvI/AAAAAAAAB54/GOapXTAdgKA/s1600/DSC05371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qu1QI95-v2w/VRa7N-fNxvI/AAAAAAAAB54/GOapXTAdgKA/s1600/DSC05371.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Presenting the materials required for this project. So Simple. Beads and wire, Beads and Wire. Simple. SOOOO Simple. Yes. So Simple. <br />
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I should share that this idea was not my own. I stumbled across a tutorial at <a href="http://nasunnukkekoti.blogspot.nl/2013/02/hana-fauchet.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Nasu's Dollhouse</a>, which I adapted to make this faucet set. Hers is much more professional looking... I'd tell you it is my photography that caused mine to appear less polished, but I would be lying!<br />
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OK, back to the faucet tales. I used various beads, some very small springs, and 20 gauge [modify that to 16 - Lessons Learned!]. I had to do it over again, because the wire wouldn't hold up the final product! So use 16 gauge wire if you are foolish enough to try this at home!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmkv9HpigT8/VRa_0WgN68I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/xPDTZTm4Fco/s1600/DSC05431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xmkv9HpigT8/VRa_0WgN68I/AAAAAAAAB6Q/xPDTZTm4Fco/s1600/DSC05431.jpg" height="415" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Droopy faucets <b>:'(( </b></td></tr>
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Once re-assembled using 16 gauge wire, the outcome was much better. But I get ahead of myself.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKRHW9v8UN8/VRbB3q02fLI/AAAAAAAAB6c/phGuUAoIHNs/s1600/Assembled%2BFaucets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKRHW9v8UN8/VRbB3q02fLI/AAAAAAAAB6c/phGuUAoIHNs/s1600/Assembled%2BFaucets.jpg" height="345" width="500" /></a></div>
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Using the assortment of Steam Punk themed beads and wire, I strung the beads onto the wire, and bent the ends to create a return on both ends. Each bead was glued [Lessons Learned dictates Super Glue for those quick on the draw!] to the wire, so that it remains stationery. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qY5SlqrHTio/VRbETgyDT8I/AAAAAAAAB6o/ULphS1moQBU/s1600/Connector%2BBead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qY5SlqrHTio/VRbETgyDT8I/AAAAAAAAB6o/ULphS1moQBU/s1600/Connector%2BBead.jpg" height="357" width="500" /></a></div>
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This is one of those beads that is threaded to use as a clasp on a necklace (no I don't know what they are called!) I glued the connector bead on top of the squared bead in the center to create a pipe traveling upward. By using this threaded piece as a pipe routed upward, I have a "working" faucet. [OK, no. It just swings from side to side. Nice, huh? :0)) ]<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hbjHER3g9zQ/VRbFlE7wqrI/AAAAAAAAB60/L1fJCqFA9UU/s1600/Kitchen%2BFaucet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hbjHER3g9zQ/VRbFlE7wqrI/AAAAAAAAB60/L1fJCqFA9UU/s1600/Kitchen%2BFaucet.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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For the faucet itself, I used 12 gauge wire, and bent it into shape. I super glued a bead finding at the base where the faucet would meet the wall.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJg7hsr_p4M/VRbGReMUQmI/AAAAAAAAB68/AIBDhpKSx3M/s1600/Faucet%2Bwith%2Bbead%2Bspout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JJg7hsr_p4M/VRbGReMUQmI/AAAAAAAAB68/AIBDhpKSx3M/s1600/Faucet%2Bwith%2Bbead%2Bspout.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I super-glued two additional beads to the faucet end to create the spout. [For the observant ones, this was NOT superglue on this photo. Another lesson learned!]<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6cJRU9alkjI/VRbHB7xc28I/AAAAAAAAB7E/chC-DLx0rG8/s1600/Two%2Badditional%2Bsquare%2Bbeads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6cJRU9alkjI/VRbHB7xc28I/AAAAAAAAB7E/chC-DLx0rG8/s1600/Two%2Badditional%2Bsquare%2Bbeads.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Added two additional square beads to the top of the connector bead . . .<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sdKGB8dEGQw/VRbH9a9fISI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/Zao8ZSJCneY/s1600/Painted%2Bassembly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sdKGB8dEGQw/VRbH9a9fISI/AAAAAAAAB7Q/Zao8ZSJCneY/s1600/Painted%2Bassembly.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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and then added some additional beads to create a decorative element. I painted several of the beads to a copper color, to create the elegant metallic effect I wanted. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kK3jS8FScV4/VRbJC4B3yLI/AAAAAAAAB7c/Rx_c8cZ_8TE/s1600/Painted%2BFaucet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kK3jS8FScV4/VRbJC4B3yLI/AAAAAAAAB7c/Rx_c8cZ_8TE/s1600/Painted%2BFaucet.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Painted the faucet assembly. . .<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JLqcrN1l6XQ/VRbJuBrla1I/AAAAAAAAB7k/-nVtaEUAs6o/s1600/Final%2BAssembly%2Bof%2BFaucet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JLqcrN1l6XQ/VRbJuBrla1I/AAAAAAAAB7k/-nVtaEUAs6o/s1600/Final%2BAssembly%2Bof%2BFaucet.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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And assembled the entire thing using a combination of Arlene's Tack Glue and Superglue.<br />
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This is the point at which I discovered my droopy faucet problem. I could not get the wire to hold up the assembly, as the weight of the beads and wire was too much for the 20 gauge wire I had used.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pkyr9mY-Q4k/VRbK-bni8RI/AAAAAAAAB7w/TJGajRjV0Xk/s1600/Reassembled%2BFaucet%2BAssembly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pkyr9mY-Q4k/VRbK-bni8RI/AAAAAAAAB7w/TJGajRjV0Xk/s1600/Reassembled%2BFaucet%2BAssembly.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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As you can see in the above picture, the entire assembly looks just slightly different. I used the same exact processes, but used 16 gauge wire instead. You can just see the difference in sturdiness. Much better. </div>
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I also shortened the returns on the wire, and left off a couple of the springs on the rebuilt faucet assembly, again in an effort to solve my droopy faucet syndrome. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bpVympAQcs/VRbMNjBHjtI/AAAAAAAAB78/FozFJJK1EWA/s1600/Attached%2BFaucet%2BAssy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7bpVympAQcs/VRbMNjBHjtI/AAAAAAAAB78/FozFJJK1EWA/s1600/Attached%2BFaucet%2BAssy.jpg" height="500" width="325" /></a></div>
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It worked like a charm! I super-glued the entire assembly to the sink using very small holes drilled into the back-splash of the sink. Superglue is a wonderful thing.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gvTUHseo75E/VRbNMG6iINI/AAAAAAAAB8I/n5p0iAM-HLE/s1600/Faucet%2BHandles%2Badded.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gvTUHseo75E/VRbNMG6iINI/AAAAAAAAB8I/n5p0iAM-HLE/s1600/Faucet%2BHandles%2Badded.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I added the small Victorian faucets which I bought at the Seattle Show, and declared the sink done!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pQn2U5RH_c4/VRbOJckR6VI/AAAAAAAAB8U/8kP0kZ9AElE/s1600/Victorian%2BSink%2Bcomplete.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pQn2U5RH_c4/VRbOJckR6VI/AAAAAAAAB8U/8kP0kZ9AElE/s1600/Victorian%2BSink%2Bcomplete.jpg" height="500" width="350" /></a></div>
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Oh. Of course I must share the tiniest little detail, yes? I also did another little project to add final details to the Steam Punk Kitchen Doors. I added some door handles. Worth sharing, right? :0) </div>
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That's all there is folks! Not so much for four weeks is it? Some battles are hard won, but those are the better for it! </div>
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I am excited now to move on to the Box Windows on the Exterior. I have some wonderful ideas for those, we'll see if I can pull them off! </div>
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Until next time!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
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P.S. I really did find the opening piece on this post in a forum. I thought it was funny, and tweaked it a bit to fit my post. No, my house will not have running water [THIS time!]<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-7056745991569035772015-03-13T11:56:00.001-07:002015-03-13T11:56:15.828-07:00Caught in a Trap [and I Can't Walk Out!!]<div style="text-align: center;">
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Something about the miniature world just captures me, and sends me on little trips into a fantasy world. That is how I felt at many of the booths at the Seattle Miniatures Show this year. While the show has suffered over the last few years, both from vendor attendance and attendees, it is beginning to build again, and many wonderful artists bring their work. I wanted to share with you all a little of that experience. I thoroughly enjoyed the day, and spent just enough to feel slightly guilty about it. Hence, this post acts as my confession! </div>
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Of course, I took lots of pictures, and came home with about two that were decent. I really need a new camera! Mine is at least 15 years old, which was the dawn of time for digital photography. Oh well, I am going to share the two that came out decent, because the projects were way cool!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Country Maid by Bespaq - Shawn Flading</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My favorite piece of the day was actually at the Bespaq Table, and they were kind enough to allow me to take [many!] photos of it. They actually took off the dome so that I could get a picture without the glare, I took enough photos that they offered to charge me for the privilege (yes, they were joking!). In this case, the many attempts to take a decent photo paid off, and I actually got a picture that worked!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I really loved the scene, it connected with me, the little country maiden taking a short rest surrounded by all her work implements. For me, miniatures are all about these little stories, whether they contain the mini people or not. If you can see the story, it works for me. This one definitely worked!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You'll be able to see the price tag there too. Ehh-hemmm!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>'Tea Tiny' by Shana Stewart</b></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here is my other real favorite from the show. Luckily, the two favorites, I was able to come away with pictures of! They are not perfect, but at least somewhat usable.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This little party table really spoke to me. Actually, the mix and match chairs echo the dining "set" in our own home, so this was a shoo-in for me. I loved the play of color and shape used in this piece. Everything looks as though it goes together, and there is nothing that is the same in the entire piece. I thought this was very well done and it really appealed to my personal aesthetic. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The rest of my pictures remain rejects! So that is the extent of the "Seattle Miniatures Show" that you will see on MY blog! :0((</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I said, I did spend just a tiny tiny bit while at the show. . . thus the title of this post! Here are a few things I was able to purchase. Most of these will not show up in the blog again for some time, but are being hoarded for future use.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are a couple of beautifully Steam Punk Picture Frames from 'Mini Masterpieces' owned by Dick & Irene Hines.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YswUWK-KOAI/VQMaeX-e6GI/AAAAAAAAB3w/1EOGkIiDpFs/s1600/Kitchen%2BItems.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YswUWK-KOAI/VQMaeX-e6GI/AAAAAAAAB3w/1EOGkIiDpFs/s1600/Kitchen%2BItems.jpg" height="475" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Also by 'Mini Masterpieces" some wonderful little kitchen items. A meat grinder, a cheese grater, and a truly exceptional serving dish with a patterned lid. Unfortunately, the detail is totally lost in the photo above, especially the meat grinder. It is a wonderfully detailed piece. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">I</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">loved the items this next vendor sold. Her work was minutely detailed, and each piece is layered so that were you to cut into the pieces, they looked like real cut pieces. She had several cabbages that were layered piece by piece so that it truly looked like a real cabbage when cut. I purchased the two loaves of bread pictured above, but I wanted to buy just about everything. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Unfortunately, she didn't have the name of her business on her receipt, so I cannot tell you who it was that did this. If you ever sell things, PLEASE include your business name! Right?!! In looking through the dealers at the show, I was unable to identify this dealer. That is too bad, because you all would have really loved her things. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pnywemKPoII/VQMeKJgP-eI/AAAAAAAAB4I/4KR7TXMrUpM/s1600/Metal%2BHat%2BRack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pnywemKPoII/VQMeKJgP-eI/AAAAAAAAB4I/4KR7TXMrUpM/s1600/Metal%2BHat%2BRack.jpg" height="475" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">This black metal hall tree was from <a href="http://stores.ebay.com/Price-Right-Miniatures_W0QQssPageNameZl2QQtZkm" target="_blank">Country Store Miniatures</a>. I loved the metal detail and the delicacy of the piece. Jim and Carol have a shop at home, by appointment only, and it is within reach of my house (only a 4 hour drive! ha!) I may have to stop there some time in the future as I travel through! They had a WIDE array of miniatures, from very fine to mainstream, and I actually spent more time at their table (think shop!) than any other place in the Show. They had a lot of those 'itty bitty" things that every miniature house needs! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">As you can see, I succumbed to the temptations. They had BOXES of little things that you had to sift through, but there were some wonderful things in there! You'll see a few of these show up soon on the blog, because most of them were bought to help finish out some of the things I have already done. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVC4bF0XPtM/VQMhLSyPANI/AAAAAAAAB4c/USWTnL3WO2A/s1600/Weather%2BVane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GVC4bF0XPtM/VQMhLSyPANI/AAAAAAAAB4c/USWTnL3WO2A/s1600/Weather%2BVane.jpg" height="475" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Here is a Steam Punk Weather Vane that I picked up from one of the vendors, another vendor that didn't put their business name on the receipt. They had a few Steam Punk items, all of which I liked. The weather vane is SO far in the future in regard to "use" that I think I probably should have just left this one alone, but it "fit" my ideas so well, I couldn't walk away from it!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Remember I told you I don't like skulls on things? Well, this vendor had a grandfather clock I really liked, but it had skulls on it. In order to get them out, I would have had to take the whole piece apart, and I wasn't sure I could get it back together. So back it went. One trap I managed to walk out of!</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNuXyVH2vBo/VQMjgbg99pI/AAAAAAAAB4o/Wb2ucpUJcr4/s1600/Bespaq%2BChina%2BHutch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XNuXyVH2vBo/VQMjgbg99pI/AAAAAAAAB4o/Wb2ucpUJcr4/s1600/Bespaq%2BChina%2BHutch.jpg" height="500" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the favorite piece that I was "trapped" into buying by my "sinful desire". It is a Bespaq piece from Shawn Flading that I absolutely love. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">Every door and drawer works, the shelves are glass with a mirrored back to set it all off. It is a truly incredible piece. I bought it for the Grand Parlor, that wonderful little space beside the fireplace. Remember?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #45818e;">Hah<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">! Oh the things that might have been. The piece was twice the size of the space it needed to fit in. I will have to keep looking for a piece to go there, because this one was totally overwhelming in that spot. It BARELY fit in the footprint, and looked totally out of place. But never fear. It WILL find a place in the house. :0) </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, size matters. :0( </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got so intrigued by the next three items that I plopped the money down and purchased them from Newton's Apple. Price was right, story was great! Purchased from an estate sale. Loved the pieces.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This one has a working cross bar. The bar swings up for baby's convenience.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is my favorite of the three purchases from Newton's Apple. I can just see a chair of this style in one of the rooms. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unfortunately. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They were all out of scale! I got them home and started playing with my new toys, and discovered that I had forgotten to think about scale. Sigh. Live and learn. I may be able to rescue the chair above, since it is proportioned such that trimming the legs down may allow it to "fit" scale, but I am afraid that it will look chopped up. Jury is still out on that. Luckily, the prices were not too terribly high, so it is not too much money down the drain! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are a couple other odds and ends that I was able to pick up, but not particularly noteworthy, so I've not included them in this post. You'll see them show up over time, I imagine. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the greatest pleasures of the Show for me was to get to meet Elizabeth of <a href="http://studioeminiatures.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Studio E</a> and Janine of <a href="http://minworks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Minworks</a>. I made a total fool of myself. You see I have this little problem. It is called hearing. I may not LOOK very old, but I am! :0) So when Elizabeth found me, I of course couldn't hear her name, so I had to flag her down again and make sure I knew who she was! Slightly embarrassing. But, in this case, I was so glad it happened because I got to meet a new friend, Janine, who was at the show with Elizabeth. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is MORE to that story, believe it or not! Somehow, I had Janine confused in my mind with Elizabeth. I had been to both blogs, and seen Janine's picture on hers, and somehow assigned it to Elizabeth, who does NOT have her picture on her blog! So if it had been left up to me, I would never have found either of them most likely! Thank goodness for small favors! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In spite of my buffoonery, it was a real pleasure to meet and talk a bit with both of them! It is so good to put a [real] face to the names of my blogger friends! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also got to meet and talk with Sylvia Rountree, whose work you can see at the <a href="http://goodsamshow.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Shoemaker" target="_blank">Good Sam Show site</a>. We had a pleasant chat and I enjoyed getting to know her a bit. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All in all, the show was a wonderful experience, again. I look forward to the next! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My own work has suffered mightily from real life in recent weeks. So my next post may be a few days (maybe weeks!) out. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #45818e;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until then! </span> </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #45818e;">Doug S</span></i></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-38643021358807597672015-03-02T16:39:00.000-08:002015-04-21T04:43:06.273-07:00A Unique Opportunity (Deja Vu) <br />
Hi there folks!<br />
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Anyone need a new miniature house project?!! I just stumbled across something this morning that I thought might be of interest to some of you, and thought I would post it. <br />
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Then I thought I would not post it, and deleted the post for multiple reasons I won't go into. But in the whole hour it remained on line, a couple of you found it, and asked me about it. So I thought again, and am re-posting it per request! :0)<br />
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I do think it is a unique opportunity, and goes for a cause I'd love to support, so here we go again! Thus you may be experiencing "Deja Vu". <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credits: <br />
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<span id="yui_3_17_2_1_1425342049925_3807"><a href="http://www.chateaudegudanes.org/dollhouse#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CHÂTEAU DE GUDANES</a></span></h3>
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I thought a couple of you might be looking for a new project, and perhaps a couple more just need a few more future projects! This looked intriguing to me, and I thought that it would be neat to see what someone might do with it! </div>
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The doll house is in a pre-order state and for those who are part of the first 100 to purchase,you can pick it up at the discounted rate of 65 US Dollars. For details regarding this offer (which I have no stake in!) see it at <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: center; text-transform: uppercase;"><a href="http://www.chateaudegudanes.org/dollhouse#" target="_blank">CHÂTEAU DE GUDANES</a>. </span>There you will see the full story. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Screen Shot 2015-02-28 at 02.13.01.png" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/53c3b576e4b02bad423517b8/54f11d21e4b02d9040d8e88f/54f11d40e4b04c134f827a5b/1425087810027/Screen+Shot+2015-02-28+at+02.13.01.png?format=500w" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image credits: <br />
<h3 class="text-align-center" id="yui_3_17_2_1_1425342049925_2122" style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: proxima-nova; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.2em; margin: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span id="yui_3_17_2_1_1425342049925_3807"><a href="http://www.chateaudegudanes.org/dollhouse#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CHÂTEAU DE GUDANES</a></span></h3>
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While you are there, take a look around at the website. It is an exciting restoration of a once abandoned French Chateau. There are some wonderful photos on the site, and some history about the project and how the home came to be abandoned.<br />
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If nothing else, you will enjoy the history and photos! Take a look if you are so inclined!<br />
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Thanks!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-45445227963309746092015-03-01T20:58:00.000-08:002015-03-02T03:54:55.592-08:00Building the Steampunk Kitchen DoorHi folks! <br />
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Since my last post, I've been busy working on the Steam Punk Kitchen Doors. My first version, I actually liked fairly well, but not for this build. It didn't fit, as is, with the feeling I wanted this house to have. So I went back and started from scratch again. I've set aside the original door for a later project that has a little more of a cottage feel. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Why didn't I see the mullion not aligned BEFORE the photo! It's fixed now! :0) </td></tr>
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This project was a quite complex project from the perspective of there being many steps, and took me quite a long time to figure out. I am reasonably pleased with the final results though, so it is was well worth any effort put in. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cAbnpI6nz1w/VOxibjy0rzI/AAAAAAAABv0/Z5ZGUnn6K8c/s1600/Concept%2BDrawing%2Bfor%2BKitchen%2BDoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cAbnpI6nz1w/VOxibjy0rzI/AAAAAAAABv0/Z5ZGUnn6K8c/s1600/Concept%2BDrawing%2Bfor%2BKitchen%2BDoor.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></a></div>
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I've brought forward my concept drawing for first timers. In the last post I explained how I needed to make some simple changes due to the narrow door size I left, resulting in a basic change in the shape of the windows. However, the basic concept was still what I wanted for the kitchen doors. I have continued to modify the concept slightly here and there as I went through the process and fleshed out the design. These doors are the final result.</div>
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I thought it might be of interest to folks to know how these doors were built, so I am going to attempt to put this post together as a tutorial. My camera (definitely the camera, it could NOT be me!) still won't take decent pictures for some shots. I think I am going to have to replace it. :0(</div>
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Meanwhile, here we go on a very long post, I imagine. Hold on to your hats!</div>
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<b><i>Step 1: Transfer The Pattern</i></b></div>
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Cut the door shape out of 3/32 " basswood or other somewhat soft, small grained wood. I first made a single template and drew the window shapes onto mount board, and then cut them out so that each drawing would be identical. I cut the basic rectangle(s) out of basswood prior to drawing on the door shape (in this case the window holes), and kept at it until I had four equally sized pieces. </div>
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I then drew, using the template, the base pattern on each door blank, in my case four, since I was making two doors. If you are making only one door, you will need to cut and prepare only two door blanks. You will need two door blanks for each door you wish to make.</div>
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Make sure that as you do this, you are keeping the template exactly on center, and that you keep the pencil lead close to the leading edge of the window recesses in each case, otherwise, your pattern will be in a different place on each door blank and you will get to do a lot of sanding, and perhaps even have to cut additional door blanks. The most important aspect of this step is to measure equally spaced sets of window holes on each of the door blanks, so that they can later be glued together. </div>
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<b><i>Step 2: Prepare the Window Panes </i></b></div>
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Cut out the window shapes using a scroll saw. Begin this process by drilling holes into the center of each window space as seen above. This allows you to put the scroll saw blade through the hole and allows you to keep the base door shape all one piece. </div>
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Once you have cut out the windows, use heavy grit sandpaper to align the edges as perfectly as you are able to. Sand the edges of the window recesses first, ensuring that the center door post is sanded smooth, then progressing outward continue sanding and aligning the edges until all window and door edges (including outer door edges) are sanded smoothly into identical shapes. </div>
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Finish sanding can wait until the next step. For now, you are just ensuring you can eventually glue together two of the door bases and have them fit well.</div>
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Before moving to the next step, insert the door into it's door frame, and mark the location of each vertical edge against the jamb. This is the available work space to add door detail and decoration. </div>
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<b><i>Step 3: Carve the Door Kickplate</i></b></div>
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Now you are ready to cut and carve the door kick plate. Begin with a wood blank. I used balsa wood on this second set of doors, in the first, I used basswood. Balsa is much easier to carve and allows for very smooth shaping fairly easily, but is so soft that I do wonder how well it will hold up. Luckily, no big people will be kicking at the door plate! <br />
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Start by cutting the wood to be carved to size. Remember to stay inside the lines you drew, as these are the edges of the door frame, and you will not be able to close the door properly if you stray over the lines. <br />
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Measure in and carve guidelines for the basic outer edge shapes of the kick plate. Here, I used a compass to create a gentle curve from one corner to the next. <br />
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Draw in and carve the door folds. Using balsa wood, I found that simply drawing my mechanical pencil carefully through the wood several times along my measured line provided me with perfectly shaped door folds. If using harder woods, you will need to use a chisel to create the folds.<br />
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Begin to shape the wood into the profile you want it to become. This process looks like you are destroying everything, but is somewhat necessary to shape the basic contour of your profile. <br />
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I used a curved gouge, a straight chisel, and a curved chisel to achieve the shapes I created. I used the gouge first, to penetrate the wood, and shape it into a very general approximation of the shape I needed. Note that I left a raised center with a very, very slightly lowered basic profile above. I then used the curved gouge to shape the upper ridge and to cut into the edges along the door folds, and to smooth out the gouged wood in the center of the door plate. I then used the straight chisel to clean out the edges along both the door folds and the upper ridge.<br />
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The next step is to sand. Using heavy grit paper, sand carefully the entire piece. You are looking for crisp edges and smoother surfaces. After you've achieved the general shape you desire, move to medium grit sandpaper, smoothing further the shapes and using the edges of the sandpaper to achieve straight 90 degree angles along the door folds and the upper ridge.<br />
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Continue sanding with fine grit sandpaper until you have a smoothly contoured surface. You should end up with something resembling the above left wood piece.<br />
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Use the newly carved blank to create a second blank. Again, remember to keep your pencil as close as possible to each edge so that you do not end up with two blanks of different sizes. However, using the first as a template helps guarantee you get exactly the same shape with both blanks. If you do get one blank larger than the other, sand to ensure that each blank is exactly the same shape and size. A little bit of variation has a lot of impact in the final picture on miniatures, so measure and compare carefully.<br />
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You can use the same technique to ensure that the folds along the bottom of the blanks are the same. I used a long ruler to align the folds on the two pieces, thus ensuring that the two door blanks have as little variation as possible.<br />
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Shape the second blank in exactly the same way as the first. Sanding is the critical step to ensure that the shapes are identical. Compare often, and adjust both carvings as needed to obtain identical shapes.<br />
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<b><i>Step 4: Cut the mullions</i></b><br />
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This is the hardest step to get consistency, but with patience it can be managed. Cut mullions using a mount board template for all four mullions (for each door, a total of 8 for two). Unfortunately I do not have a photo of this part of the process. I tried, but forgot to photograph this step!<br />
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To create the template, draw the desired shape for the mullion on a piece of scrap board. I wanted the serpentine shape so common with Art Noveau, so drew a mullion shape that incorporated that feel.<br />
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It is very important to cut and then actually temporarily install the mount board mullion piece into its final home in the window. It is easy to get it too short. Do NOT use the mullion you drew in your original pattern, as it WILL be too short. Its length does not account for the cutting width of the saw blade. <br />
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Once you've measured the template and know it fits, use the template to draw 4 mullions (one for both sides and for both back windows) per door. Cut as closely to the drawn lines with the scroll saw as possible, attempting to ensure that the shape of each cut is similar. I couldn't figure out a jig for that, but if you could, that would be a good idea. I have a ways to go to learn how to think that way!<br />
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Sand your mullions to finesse the shape, again, you are looking for identical shape as much as possible.<br />
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<b><i>Step 5: Sand and Stain the door pieces. </i></b><br />
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Sand all of the pieces well. I used heavy grit sandpaper first, mid grain sandpaper, then fine sandpaper, and then followed each sanding with 0000 steel wool. This provides a very smooth surface to stain. </div>
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I used Traditional Cherry wood stain which gave a deeper tone than my original door, which I like much better for my application. Note that no gluing has taken place as yet. This is because it keeps the surfaces clean and clear for the stain, and does not provide opportunity to get glue in places you don't want it. Once glue is introduced on the surface of the wood, stains are likely to highlight those areas since they coat the wood and do not allow for consistent absorption. </div>
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<b><i>Step 6: Creating the Ornate Details</i></b><br />
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I used<a href="http://miniaturendeavors.blogspot.com/2014/11/magic-is-something-you-make.html" target="_blank"> the process I have used several times before</a> to create details for the Steampunk doors. I found a small frame at Michael's Craft Store that I felt like had the right vibe. I've sort of arranged the "Amazing Mold Putty" molds I made near the areas of the frame I used to make the molds. The center medallion from the bottom of the frame, the additional detail at the bottom of the door from both bottom sides of the frame, and the detail at the top of the door from the top of the frame. These frames are very inexpensive, mine was about 3 dollars. <br />
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Use this process, or another process, to create details that you would like to use on the doors. One method I thought of that I knew would work was embossing paper. This was my first thought, but I could not find an embossing pattern that I liked for my Steampunk doors. I am sure they are out there, they just weren't where I was!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNI-SMC3UX4/VPPaJZfNh7I/AAAAAAAAB0c/5XBGJh2Iw_M/s1600/Resin%2BPieces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hNI-SMC3UX4/VPPaJZfNh7I/AAAAAAAAB0c/5XBGJh2Iw_M/s1600/Resin%2BPieces.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the picture quality~ Ouch~!</td></tr>
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After casting the resin molds, trim out the details that you want to use. All of my pieces started out like the large cast piece above. (Sorry for the horrid pic, I haven't figured out why some of these come out this way when most pictures are fine! I took about 15 pictures of these and THIS was the best!)<br />
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I cut portions of the patterns out that fit the portions of the door that I wanted to decorate to get my final look. Use your imagination!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lzcmljzy2nc/VPPcBO_HN9I/AAAAAAAAB0o/ByXz25NpqY0/s1600/Painting%2Bthe%2BResin%2BDecorations.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lzcmljzy2nc/VPPcBO_HN9I/AAAAAAAAB0o/ByXz25NpqY0/s1600/Painting%2Bthe%2BResin%2BDecorations.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Once your pieces are trimmed, paint them flat black, and then apply Polyurethane Satin Finish. I like the Minwax Water Based poly, since it is a breeze to clean up. <br />
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<b><i>Step 7: Adding the Decorative Metal Bars</i></b><br />
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Now for the fun part! We get to begin assembling the door. Finally! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-jYMLXDjSE/VPPd3bQrxXI/AAAAAAAAB08/wBcnJlAarr8/s1600/16%2Bguage%2Bwire%2Band%2Btools.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2-jYMLXDjSE/VPPd3bQrxXI/AAAAAAAAB08/wBcnJlAarr8/s1600/16%2Bguage%2Bwire%2Band%2Btools.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More horrible pictures~ ! </td></tr>
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To create the decorative metal bars, I used 16 gauge wire. All you will need is a pair of wire cutters and a wire forming tool. <br />
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I will share with you that using the green wire was not my original plan, but it was a happy accident. I love it. I had originally thought I would use copper wire, but the craft store I went to was out of just about everything! So I found green wire and gold wire, and nothing else. The green was the lesser of two evils, so I bought it. Now that it is in the door, I am SO glad that happened!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAm6744ojGU/VPPfCUjhGRI/AAAAAAAAB1I/wL28zu2qWMU/s1600/Cut%2B16%2Bgauge%2Bwire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cAm6744ojGU/VPPfCUjhGRI/AAAAAAAAB1I/wL28zu2qWMU/s1600/Cut%2B16%2Bgauge%2Bwire.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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To make the decorative door rods, I cut three pieces of wire for each window, and shaped them into matching gentle curves for both sides. They ranged from about 2.5 inches to about 4 inches in length.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3UNOzEbyEc/VPPgE325vVI/AAAAAAAAB1U/FQwthuRoRFI/s1600/Drilling%2BHoles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E3UNOzEbyEc/VPPgE325vVI/AAAAAAAAB1U/FQwthuRoRFI/s1600/Drilling%2BHoles.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I used a mini awl to create small pilot holes along the vertical edges and bottom curves of the windows on one of the two door pieces that make up each door. I chose to place the metal bars on the outside window surface, they could be placed on either side. This was a delicate process, but doable. I placed holes at the (reasonably) correct angle for each bar at the bottom of the window and the outside edges.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kD5pI9atFFU/VPPhK-_oprI/AAAAAAAAB1g/gyW4w9lHgoc/s1600/Inserting%2Bthe%2Bmetal%2Bwire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kD5pI9atFFU/VPPhK-_oprI/AAAAAAAAB1g/gyW4w9lHgoc/s1600/Inserting%2Bthe%2Bmetal%2Bwire.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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To insert the metal wire into the door frame, I chipped tiny channels into the wood to hold the wire between the door pieces. I chipped them out with a utility knife, just enough to allow the wire to sit inside the sides of the window. I placed the wire into the channels and glued it in.<br />
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<b><i>Step 8: Assembling the Door</i></b><br />
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I applied the two door sides together like a "wire sandwich" with the wire laying against the acetate I used for the window, and the 2nd door piece in back of that. I glued and clamped the door at that stage, to ensure a good solid meld. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6PKJ_CZqz4g/VPPjC-shM_I/AAAAAAAAB1s/Wp4Qw88a5yg/s1600/Clamping%2Bthe%2Bdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6PKJ_CZqz4g/VPPjC-shM_I/AAAAAAAAB1s/Wp4Qw88a5yg/s1600/Clamping%2Bthe%2Bdoor.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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After the glue dried, I applied the kickplate to the door in its proper position.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aygb_Axh8zE/VPPjtvnoYUI/AAAAAAAAB10/Wftr33BM6N8/s1600/Adding%2Bthe%2BDoor%2Bkickplate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aygb_Axh8zE/VPPjtvnoYUI/AAAAAAAAB10/Wftr33BM6N8/s1600/Adding%2Bthe%2BDoor%2Bkickplate.jpg" height="500" width="350" /></a></div>
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I applied the "metal work" next, which helped me to decide exactly where to place the door mullions to look best. They are slightly lower than the original pattern, but are where I think they look best. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_EkokXkLla0/VPPcuQbUc4I/AAAAAAAAB0w/4rDRPcP_30k/s1600/Kitchen%2BDoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_EkokXkLla0/VPPcuQbUc4I/AAAAAAAAB0w/4rDRPcP_30k/s1600/Kitchen%2BDoor.jpg" height="500" width="350" /></a></div>
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<b><i>Step 9: Gaze lovingly at the final result. </i></b><br />
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This door was a real challenge to design and build for me, but I am quite pleased with the overall effect of the doors. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2z37xc7Xcs0/VPPlPEEWxGI/AAAAAAAAB2A/yEjgiAMs_4I/s1600/Inside%2BView%2B-%2BKitchen%2BDoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2z37xc7Xcs0/VPPlPEEWxGI/AAAAAAAAB2A/yEjgiAMs_4I/s1600/Inside%2BView%2B-%2BKitchen%2BDoors.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot off the press! Glue is still drying!</td></tr>
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I ignored all I learned about the direction of the door swing. I played with both inside swing and outside swing, but for these doors, they just did not look proper swinging inward. So I took advantage of the occasional example of exterior doors swinging outward, and the little ones will just have to cope! <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TL4FkIMcYEk/VPPmcmcDZdI/AAAAAAAAB2M/GWruTrDaQME/s1600/Outside%2Bview%2Bof%2BSteampunk%2BKitchen%2BDoors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TL4FkIMcYEk/VPPmcmcDZdI/AAAAAAAAB2M/GWruTrDaQME/s1600/Outside%2Bview%2Bof%2BSteampunk%2BKitchen%2BDoors.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I am excited about continuing the process of finalizing design and building doors and windows for the first floor, because they add so much life to the interiors. I plan to tie in the windows along the front of the house with these doors more by adding ornate detail there as well, and the Grand Parlor at the other end of the ground floor will get windows that echo these doors. I will not be finalizing installation of any of these windows and doors until after having completed the interior ceilings, and the exterior of the ground floor.<br />
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Did I ever tell you this is fun? :0) <br />
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Hope the tutorial was informative!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span><br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-75443651941331888702015-02-24T16:51:00.002-08:002015-03-01T21:19:29.073-08:00Sheer Determination?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mPlbIdcnMfU/VOxYo-PuNDI/AAAAAAAABvU/Yeh5gLVj350/s1600/Kitchen%2BDoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mPlbIdcnMfU/VOxYo-PuNDI/AAAAAAAABvU/Yeh5gLVj350/s1600/Kitchen%2BDoor.jpg" height="500" width="350" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">The only way to find the limits of the possible </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">is by going beyond them to the impossible.</span><br />
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<b>Arthur C. Clarke</b></div>
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What a journey! I've spent my last couple of weeks working on getting the kitchen doors designed and built. I probably have a couple more weeks to go to complete them. But I thought I would share the progress so far, as for me, getting to this point has been quite an effort!</div>
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First, I have a very important list to share. </div>
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<b><i>My List of Nevers:</i></b></div>
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<ol>
<li>I have never ever cut circles in wood with my new Proxxon Scroll Saw.</li>
<li>I have never ever made anything resembling a door.</li>
<li>I have never ever tried to work with tiny wood pieces smaller than my fingers.</li>
<li>I have never ever tried to carve detail into wood.</li>
<li>I have never ever tried to stain wood that I have carved. </li>
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With that list of nevers, this project was a stretch! However, I have arrived somewhere, and I have yet to determine if somewhere is where I want to be! :0) I feel good though, at having arrived <span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>somewhere</i></span>. </div>
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I am likely to redo these doors, using the many lessons I learned as I pursued the impossible. But for a first go, I am actually reasonably happy with my results so far. I say this with full knowledge that I am nowhere near done with the FIRST try. I must be a masochist. Yes, I am<i> convinced</i> I am a masochist.<br />
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<b><i>The "Plan":</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBlUwT_Wt3E/VOxfQk8xLlI/AAAAAAAABvk/yN68QAt4xZI/s1600/Inspiration%2BDoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NBlUwT_Wt3E/VOxfQk8xLlI/AAAAAAAABvk/yN68QAt4xZI/s1600/Inspiration%2BDoor.jpg" height="500" width="350" /></a></div>
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To explain myself, I need to show you what I am using as my inspiration picture. Like usual, I go for gold, and have the talent to create dross, but that don't stop ME! :0) <br />
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This door completely captured the feeling I wanted for the kitchen doors. It screams Steampunk to me, and I really love the scroll work in the windows and the black metal trim. I knew going into this that I would not be able to completely recreate this masterpiece of a door, but I thought perhaps I could approximate the door, simplify it a bit, and get the basic concept in place. <br />
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With this inspiration in mind, I came up with a "concept" as seen above. There is SO much between a "concept" and "reality"! You've seen that what I have so far is a long ways away from this even, and THIS is the dummied down version! <br />
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Curse my affinity for "unusual" and "artistic" expression. <b><i>Bah! Humbug!</i></b> I've had to continually simplify my design due to the limitations of my current abilities. But I am still excited about the direction of the door, and know that with time, I will be able to create something that I think meets my standards and communicates a similar feeling. <br />
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You can see though, that I am FAR from complete with my little endeavor!<br />
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<b><i>The "Reality":</i></b><br />
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I just wish I could communicate the comic events that have taken place to get me to this place in the process. I can think of no way to demonstrate the ups and downs without writing a TRUE novel, so I'll just give you an account of what I have done to get here, and let you fill in the blanks. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CM1lt4TjQCc/VOxoWaJm7II/AAAAAAAABwA/onNM381TrR8/s1600/Mountboard%2BMockup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CM1lt4TjQCc/VOxoWaJm7II/AAAAAAAABwA/onNM381TrR8/s1600/Mountboard%2BMockup.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Almost immediately, I realized that I did not have "room" for all of my "unusual and artistic" concepts in the space I had left for the door in the kitchen room box. After that rather disappointing realization, I "redesigned" the door slightly to allow me to keep the basic concept, while eliminating the problem of not having enough "canvas for my muse". The basic change was to the window shape. I narrowed the window space, turned it into four window lites leveraging the kitchen window design, and proceeded.<br />
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Even this simple change took me some time to figure out. My original pattern (right) felt too "squished", with the top two windows looking out of proportion, especially when viewed in conjunction with the windows I had designed. So I altered the pattern to make the top windows larger, and changed the shape of the lower windows slightly to give them more shape (left). </div>
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Another side trip. I spent 3 days at least on trying to figure out how to place the doors. Which "direction" should the door jamb face? Outward, or inward? What IS the standard for that? I found MANY articles on how to build a door frame and how to hang a door, but NONE of them told me how to decide which direction to face the door! I think it is one of those details that those "in the know" assume "the rest" of us know. Well, they were WRONG. </div>
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I finally started looking at every door I could find, to determine what was "right". I still don't know. :0) But I DID pick up on the fact that MOST exterior doors have the jamb facing inward, with the door opening inward. So that is what I decided needed to happen. Maybe someone out there can inform me whether I was right or not! It would be nice to know!</div>
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After reaching this stage, I procrastinated for a few days. (Actually, life caught up with me, and I've spent a good portion of my time dealing with "stuff" I won't bore you with! . . . but I ALSO was procrastinating!) I knew I wanted the curved, carved profile at the bottom of the door, and that I wanted to stain the wood to create that warm, aged glow in the original inspiration picture, but I was just not sure how to go about it.</div>
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Sometimes, you just have to jump in the lake and hope you learn to swim. So I traced my pattern on 3/32" lumber, and then tried to figure out how I would cut the windows in. I had a jigsaw, a scroll saw, a fret saw and a utility knife. Each had their liabilities. </div>
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I tried first with my new scroll saw. Remind me sometime to tell you about that. It involved figuring out how to change the (too long) saw blade with no decent instructions, and very little experience with a scroll saw that was more than a toy. Not pretty. </div>
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I finally gave up on getting the the scroll saw set up, and tried a fret saw. I broke the wood several times before I decided THAT wasn't the "correct" procedure. Then I tried the craft knife. That worked, but the curved edges were just not up to snuff, and I was unable to come up with a solution for that. So I THOUGHT about the hand held jigsaw, but since I am such a smart cookie, I remembered my LAST encounter with that on small cuts. Rejected out of hand. No way that was going to work. So back to Square One. The new scroll saw, which by this time I had already learned to hate! </div>
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I knew the first step was to drill holes, which I did, and then I began to break things. LOTS of things. After many tries, many more broken scroll saw blades, and many more frustrations, I finally worked out a solution that actually worked. But to do it, I had to perfect my skills at assembling and reassembling my Proxxon saw. </div>
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I brought in the "big guns" to help me with that learning curve. My very mechanical son. Lo and behold, even he had trouble with the saw! Yea, it wasn't me! We perfected a method that worked (and definitely NOT the way the instructions identified!), and I proceeded to cut windows holes into the doors. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PllKbaIGXfU/VO0NBB-RB9I/AAAAAAAABw8/6ONPUN0PLaQ/s1600/Beginning%2Bthe%2BWood%2BCarving.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PllKbaIGXfU/VO0NBB-RB9I/AAAAAAAABw8/6ONPUN0PLaQ/s1600/Beginning%2Bthe%2BWood%2BCarving.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Once I got all of the windows cut out, I tackled the carved "detail" (not so much!) at the bottom of the doors. I began with a 1/8 inch thick piece of wood, cut to the general shape with the scroll saw. I drew a circle to define where I wanted the "bulges" in the base trim to be. </div>
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I then began to "carve" (something more like TEAR!) the wood out where I wanted the profile to be thinner. My first try was atrocious. I am wise enough not to post that! No one will ever come back if I do! </div>
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This was my second try. A bit better, but still too much "tearing out" going on. It only "marginally" resembles the inspiration door. But it was close enough that I thought perhaps it could be an "old" door, that had been damaged. For the moment, we moved on. </div>
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I used a golden oak stain to stain the wood, and carved my second door trim piece, which turned out rather better. (minus the amateur look!) After adding an acetate window, I ended up with this (yes, you've seen this before!</div>
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Then of course, we had to "check" to see if it was "going to look good". Yes, it looks great we think. Then we watch the beautiful tile fall over from its precariously balanced position directly onto my (BRAND NEW) expensive, specialty reading glasses. (Yes, I need them!) Smashed to pieces. Luckily, they were SO new that they were still under warranty, and my eye doc (did I tell you he is GREAT?) replaced them free of charge. Whew!</div>
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So now you have heard only the SMALLEST bit of the trials and tribulations I have gone through in the last two weeks. Do you feel sorry for me? NO??!! Why! I think it is a great sob story!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rf9VXE8873U/VO0SyMogVgI/AAAAAAAABxo/7P5h6Oivjm8/s1600/The%2BSteampunk%2BKitchen%2BDoors%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BInside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rf9VXE8873U/VO0SyMogVgI/AAAAAAAABxo/7P5h6Oivjm8/s1600/The%2BSteampunk%2BKitchen%2BDoors%2Bfrom%2Bthe%2BInside.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Here are my halfway completed doors (<i>propped</i>, No, we did NOT learn our lesson) in their frames. </div>
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<b><i>The "Challenge":</i></b></div>
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My challenge going forward is to add the additional details to both the doors and windows that help to take them from their current, somewhat amateur state, to the Grand, Glorious, STEAM PUNK doors and Windows I envisioned. Still a long ways to go! I need to add black painted metal trims and add the metal art noveau details. I MAY decide to do both doors over again, as mentioned before, so that I can improve the final look. I would like to do a "better" job with the carving details, and I think I would like the wood color on the door to be a bit deeper. Much depends on what things look like as I progress further. </div>
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The whole process has been that peculiar blend of frustration and absolute FUN. There is something about working through the "trials and tribulations" of working out problems and coming out "<i>somewhere</i>" on the other side that really floats my boat. I have learned a boatload as well, so I have a "<i>fully loaded floating boat</i>". How many of you can say that? :0) </div>
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I hope you have enjoyed seeing my many mini travails. There is a book called "Hinds Feet in High Places" I read once that follows two characters (as well as the main character 'Much Afraid") named "Sorrow" and "Suffering". After many tragic and horrible events endured with "Much Afraid" in tow, they finally arrive at the top of a mountain, where their names are changed to "Grace" and "Glory". I hope that is my fate when it comes to these doors. I've certainly earned it! :0) </div>
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I also want to take a moment to welcome several new followers! I'm excited to get to know you all, and your "patronage" is most appreciated. I hope you will enjoy watching me learn, and I hope that my mini endeavors leave you a little wiser than I.</div>
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Until next time!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-31643465740030876952015-02-08T17:30:00.002-08:002015-02-08T17:50:56.062-08:00The Quest for Miniature Steampunk Windows <br />
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions. <br />
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I've spent the last week dithering, trying to make the decision about what I wanted to do with the windows for the front of the Ground Floor of the Manor. And figuring out how a window should look. And trying to figure out how to build a window. And questioning everything I did. And taking a thousand [mostly unsuccessful!] pictures. Sound familiar to anyone? <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2BkcrR6Ti3g/VNd-lF5BXqI//LEBsFx9KHgQ/s1600/Catching%2Bthe%2BAfternoon%2BSun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2BkcrR6Ti3g/VNd-lF5BXqI/AAAAAAAABr4/LEBsFx9KHgQ/s1600/Catching%2Bthe%2BAfternoon%2BSun.jpg" height="475" width="325" /></a></div>
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Needless to say, I am somewhat relieved to have arrived at the point that I have some progress to share. I was able to finally make the decision as to what I wanted, but of course, it's me, so that may very well change!<br />
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I thought I would post about the process of getting there, more from the spirit of confession than anything else! But perhaps there are a few things that can be picked up in the process.<br />
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As usual, I had a pretty good idea of the effect I wanted to create, but was not sure how I would get there. I am drawing heavily on the Art Nouveau aesthetic throughout the design of this manor, and I knew I wanted the windows to align with that look but to still, more importantly, support the Steam Punk theme. </div>
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So I drew out a rectangle that represented the size of the window, and drew in a pattern that I thought approximated what I wanted. </div>
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I drew the pattern only on one half of the drawing, since I wanted the two sides to match exactly. One trick I have learned over the years is to draw one half of the final design, and to fold the paper evenly in half.</div>
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Once drawn and folded, the paper can be cut to the new design. This provides two exact, and reverse replicas of the design. </div>
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I used the cut pattern to trace the new design onto mountboard. Please forgive the quality of these pictures! I think they are the worst set of pictures so far, and I am not sure if it is me, or if my camera is just dying. They will have to do though, since several tries have not produced better. </div>
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After cutting the new pattern out of the mount board, I cut rigid acetate at the same size, and added the "frame" out of Foam Core Board as a mock up. I reviewed my results inside and outside, and for me, they just fell short of what I was going for. </div>
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So back to the drawing board!</div>
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Meanwhile, I did decide to take a bit of a side trip, and build the frames I needed for each of the 4 windows I needed that were this size. I used 3/8 inch strip wood for the outside frame, and 1/8 inch battens for the inside. </div>
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A little trick I picked up off of the Internet I think is worth sharing here. You will notice above that there is a Foam Core "frame" around the frame in the above picture. These are 3/8 inch wide lengths of Foam Core measured to fall just outside of the required frame size and glued to a Foam Core background. I used this "jig" to ensure that all of my windows were exactly the same size. It worked like a charm! I always like to pass along those little secrets. They make life so much easier! </div>
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Here you see the original design I came up with placed in the wood frame. I thought perhaps I might like it better with a "real" frame, but no cigar. It still didn't meet my "exacting" standards. :0) </div>
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So we began the process of altering the plan. First I tried taking out the center post, opening up the entire window to increase the ability to see through it, and to try another approach to getting "the look". </div>
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Nope. Still didn't speak to me. </div>
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Third time is a charm, right? I tried again, using another approach that was a blend of the two above. I opened the center of the window up, but added two muntins to either side of the window. </div>
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Better, but still no cigar. </div>
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I was playing with the pieces, trying to figure out what to do next, and happened to place one of the cutouts over another, and lo and behold . . . "THE LOOK". It spoke to me. Steam Punk. Victorian. Art Nouveau. <i>THE LOOK.</i><br />
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Yep. It worked in the windows too. Other than the fact that when I cut the window openings out months ago, I didn't get them level or straight, either one. So I corrected that, which of course, leaves a gap to fix later. But they are now straight and level! So I can jimmy up something to "fix" the problem later. Enough covering up, and anything can look great, right?</div>
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I'm a long ways from completed on these windows, in fact, they are extremely rough at the moment. I had to re-cut the window openings (and will have to for all four!) because I was just 1/32 of an inch too large for the existing window openings. Sigh. </div>
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<i>More opportunities, right?</i> </div>
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Overall, however, at this stage, I am quite pleased with the overall effect. Above is a shot of the Scullery, with the new window cutouts in place. It totally gives me that Steam Punk vibe. Cleaned up and finished, it will serve well, I think. Still dithering around on what color I want the window frames to be, but that can wait a while. My purpose so far has been to determine window sizes and shapes, so that I can move forward on the rest of the kitchen. </div>
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As a blog follower, this has to be a bit frustrating, I am sure! Always moving on before I finish! I promise I'll come back and finish it all some day soon! </div>
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I need to determine the basics of any portion of the kitchen that is toward the back, because I plan to enclose a portion of the kitchen soon. So it was important to work with the windows to determine overall shape and size, so that I could settle other questions I need to work through. </div>
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Here is the Butler's Pantry, with it's new window as well. I really am pleased by the effect, though it is a bit harder to see, due to the black mount board contrasted with the ivory. But that is just paint. The shape works well with the interior, and will fully support the eventual look I am going for on the Exterior of the Manor. More on that later!</div>
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It is exciting to start seeing the windows begin to go in because things start to feel more real! Someday, after about 5 more years, this is gonna be cool! :0)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4vcJkZ-Zjk/U9m67LPAPGI/AAAAAAAAAHY/r5y9Lsoo5v0/s1600/DSC03174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4vcJkZ-Zjk/U9m67LPAPGI/AAAAAAAAAHY/r5y9Lsoo5v0/s1600/DSC03174.JPG" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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By the way! I am TOTALLY open to ideas on color for these windows. I bounce between black, white, ivory, and brown mostly. Above you see the "stone" that I plan to use on the exterior of the house. In a mad moment of minor revelation, I will also share that the window boxes will be treated differently, [think metal] and that the windows must set into that backdrop perfectly. Any suggestions? :0)<br />
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Until next time! <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span><br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-69039609357817811912015-02-02T04:49:00.000-08:002015-02-02T04:50:44.646-08:00And Then There Were Two: Deux Egouttoir!Everyone needs two dish racks, don't you agree? One for the fine plate and one for the everyday ware. At least the Lightstone family felt that need. Their dinner parties and grand events are legendary, and their need was great, so I went about coming up with a new variation on the lowly dish rack. I hope to have pleased them with my new offering.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l7bIik-ePKA/VM9tmMIbFDI/AAAAAAAABrE/Rz-GoQF7IFQ/s1600/Miniature%2BPlate%2BRack%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l7bIik-ePKA/VM9tmMIbFDI/AAAAAAAABrE/Rz-GoQF7IFQ/s1600/Miniature%2BPlate%2BRack%2B2.jpg" height="420" width="323" /></a></div>
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When I went about planning for the kitchens for the Steam-punk Manor, I really liked both versions of a dish rack, and ended up, as any good collector would, deciding to add both versions to my kitchen. After all, I had two sinks, why not two plate racks? I've linked to the<a href="http://mysteahag.blogspot.com/2011/01/scullery.html" rel="nofollow"> photo that inspired me to create this rack</a> for the Scullery.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzIDMP5_8u8/VM9vKxrIPFI/AAAAAAAABrQ/wPOLLzDu73A/s1600/Closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RzIDMP5_8u8/VM9vKxrIPFI/AAAAAAAABrQ/wPOLLzDu73A/s1600/Closeup.jpg" height="331" width="420" /></a></div>
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This is a much more humble version of a plate rack, and much more utilitarian. And much more used! Years of water and general neglect have left this cabinet in a rather dilapidated state. The once fine metal has rusted and grime has built up over the years. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDqFh8_V55E/VM9xRfb1jnI/AAAAAAAABrc/fYNy0Oc2Zvg/s1600/Room%2BShot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pDqFh8_V55E/VM9xRfb1jnI/AAAAAAAABrc/fYNy0Oc2Zvg/s1600/Room%2BShot.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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This humble cabinet offers very little in the way of new things to highlight in regard to it's origin, so I have opted for a very short post! I know! You folks who get your coffee and apple strudel before reading my novels will be quite disappointed! But there it is!<br />
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I promise I will be back with future novels for you! Until then!<br />
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Be good!<br />
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Doug SAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-65381850200739657432015-01-30T21:19:00.001-08:002015-02-01T05:17:31.899-08:00SITUATION WANTED: Working Butler; Quiet Family<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi there folks!</div>
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As promised, I am here to drag you through the creation of my latest addition to the Steam-punk kitchens! I had a lot of fun with this little project. It was a fairly simple project, one that I think just about anyone could build with a little patience. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7BPKUcYjvw/VMt9Z5dcedI/AAAAAAAABnw/i6s-12V4Juo/s1600/Butler's%2BPantry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E7BPKUcYjvw/VMt9Z5dcedI/AAAAAAAABnw/i6s-12V4Juo/s1600/Butler's%2BPantry.jpg" height="500" width="375" /></a></div>
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<b><i>A Little Aside</i></b></div>
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First, the obligatory photo of the Butler's Pantry as it stands now. The Iron Sink now has six new legs (Newel Posts turned upside down!), and a new matte finish. Almost done now. Just needs a faucet set and it will be complete. The faucet set will likely sneak in unnoticed sometime in the near future!</div>
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<b><i>A Little Bit O' History</i></b></div>
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Before I get into the making of the miniature plate rack, I would like to share just a bit of history I find interesting about the Butler's Pantry. We have a modern day view of the Butler's role, and of the Bulter's Pantry as a sort of staging area for the dining room. But the history of the Butler's Pantry is a continual merging and separating of the roles of various rooms and domestic service jobs that was shaped by social and economic history.</div>
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The Butler, by the Victorian Age, was both a butler and chief server. The Butler's Pantry functioned in many capacities, combining the functions of many of it's predecessors, primary among them the Butt'ry, the early storeroom for casks and bottles of wine, and the Sewery, or Servery, which was historically used as the primary staging area for serving the dining rooms, and was the repository for fine plate, silverware and valuable service-ware.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ztjKgRYic8/VMwx8VcJdiI/AAAAAAAABoQ/25SjwdXyx2o/s1600/butler2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3ztjKgRYic8/VMwx8VcJdiI/AAAAAAAABoQ/25SjwdXyx2o/s1600/butler2.jpg" height="500" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: right;"><span property="dct:title">Courtesy of The Queen's Scullery</span> (<a href="http://thequeenscullery.com/" property="cc:attributionName" rel="cc:attributionURL">SJ Alexander et al.</a>) / <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/" rel="license">CC BY-NC-ND 3.0</a></i></td></tr>
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In the grander homes, the butler may have actually slept in the Butler's Pantry, as a deterrent to servants "of base character" stealing the valuable dinnerware of the grand home. The Butler's Pantry of the Victorian age functioned then as an office of sorts, from which the Butler ran his household, managing the log books for wines, servicing the fine plate and the fine personages of the house. From this room, he staged fine dinner parties and managed, in wealthier homes, a large staff of servants. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="http://cookingwithglitter.blogspot.com/2011/01/captain-fancy-pantss-utensils-of.html" rel="nofollow">"Cooking with Glitter"</a> Under Creative Commons License</td></tr>
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Serving as a butler in a fine home was a profession, by the 19th century, that became a science. Butler's were coached and trained by their more mature predecessors, books were written about how to best serve, clean, and manage the furnishings and important tasks of the butler's service. In one book written to transfer the important skills of the butler and footmen of the Grand Manors during the early 1800's, this writer admonishes his readers . . .<br />
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<span class="size14 TimesRoman14" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', adobe-times, Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px; min-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">"Some however, have much injured the plate intrusted to them, </span></span></div>
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<span class="size14 TimesRoman14" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', adobe-times, Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px; min-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">by making experiments of different kinds upon it." </span></span><br />
<span class="size14 TimesRoman14" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', adobe-times, Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px; min-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="size14 TimesRoman14" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', adobe-times, Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px; min-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="font-size: x-small;">'The Footman's Directory and </i></span></span><br />
<span class="size14 TimesRoman14" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', adobe-times, Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px; min-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="font-size: x-small;">Butler's Remembrancer', J. Hatcher and Son, London 1823</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="size14 TimesRoman14" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman', adobe-times, Times; font-size: 18px; line-height: 20px; min-height: 20px;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><i style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></i></span></span>The writer goes on to provide detailed instructions as to how to best to wash, clean, and refurbish the plate. That quote made me wonder what kind of experiments would "much injure" the plate?! Were they using acid? :0)<br />
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If you find the tidbits above interesting, take the time some time to read up on these domestic servants, and the history of these erstwhile important rooms of the Victorian era. It is fascinating, and in the case of the butt'ry, it's history boasts roots from ancient Egypt! <br />
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<b><i>How Did He Do It?</i></b><br />
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I know you have been waiting with bated breath to find out how this plate rack, which will help our Steam-punk Butler discharge his duty admirably, was built. Some of you may be ready to expire by now. Well, wait no longer. We've finally arrived!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YfgKm-wlzHk/VMxVWITsH5I/AAAAAAAABow/pzmyQbIbZZ4/s1600/Drilling%2Bthe%2BShelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YfgKm-wlzHk/VMxVWITsH5I/AAAAAAAABow/pzmyQbIbZZ4/s1600/Drilling%2Bthe%2BShelves.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 1: </b><br />
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Cut and drill holes through the shelves. Mine were about 5 inches long, 1 inch deep, and 1/8 inch width. I used a 1/16 inch drill bit to drive the holes, and drilled all four shelves at once, so that the holes would align top to bottom.<br />
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<b>Step 2: </b><br />
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Cut the back to fill the desired space. I used 3/32" mahogany lumber at 5 inches by 5 inches.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87_rykGAqaw/VMxWE6VTRnI/AAAAAAAABo4/VE9xvFNIpeI/s1600/Attaching%2Bthe%2BBottom%2BShelf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-87_rykGAqaw/VMxWE6VTRnI/AAAAAAAABo4/VE9xvFNIpeI/s1600/Attaching%2Bthe%2BBottom%2BShelf.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 3:</b><br />
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Stain or finish the shelves and the back to taste. I used a Minwax Stain Pen called Golden Oak. <br />
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<b>Step 4:</b><br />
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Attach the bottom shelf with Glue. I used Arlene's Tacky Glue. Use a toothpick to remove any excess glue.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y1zXX4XNtU/VMxYgIZGEsI/AAAAAAAABpE/4HOVImohsaA/s1600/Cutting%2Bthe%2Bdowels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3Y1zXX4XNtU/VMxYgIZGEsI/AAAAAAAABpE/4HOVImohsaA/s1600/Cutting%2Bthe%2Bdowels.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 5:</b><br />
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Cut dowels that will intersect the holes through all four shelves. My shelves were approximately 1 inch apart, so I cut my "dowels" at about 4 3/8ths inches, to account for the width of the shelves. I used fake "blood grass" from Hobby Lobby for the dowels. The natural appearing "wood" of the stem was 1/16 inch in circumfrence, and was reinforced with a strong metal rod inside. It was perfect for the job. I used tin snips to cut the metal rod after measuring.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5e6ETRYsUXU/VMxZNNL3JMI/AAAAAAAABpM/5ADqX9QFpSI/s1600/Assemble%2Bthe%2BDowels%2Band%2BRod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5e6ETRYsUXU/VMxZNNL3JMI/AAAAAAAABpM/5ADqX9QFpSI/s1600/Assemble%2Bthe%2BDowels%2Band%2BRod.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 6:</b><br />
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Test for a good square fit. If the fit of the shelves is not perpendicular to the rods to create a neat square, recut and redrill the shelves. This is an important step, as if you miscalculate, your dowels will not look straight once assembled.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1yQG5Fy8meQ/VMxbesablVI/AAAAAAAABpY/vBCXgEcgSp4/s1600/Cut%2Band%2BApply%2BSupports.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1yQG5Fy8meQ/VMxbesablVI/AAAAAAAABpY/vBCXgEcgSp4/s1600/Cut%2Band%2BApply%2BSupports.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 7:</b><br />
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Once satisfied with the fit, glue the shelves into their intended location. Cut and stain supports if desired. I cut my back supporting pieces out of 3/32" lumber, 3/4 inches deep, and mitered the corners. Alternatives to this treatment would be to place 1/16" square pieces of lumber under the shelves. They will need some sort of support, unless you know something about glues that I don't!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu_51agrNt4/VMxc5-R1GtI/AAAAAAAABpk/gv_QmwE9uIU/s1600/Gluing%2Bthe%2BDowels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yu_51agrNt4/VMxc5-R1GtI/AAAAAAAABpk/gv_QmwE9uIU/s1600/Gluing%2Bthe%2BDowels.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 8:</b><br />
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Glue in the dowels. I used Arlene's Tacky Glue and a toothpick to fill each hole and then put the dowel through all four shelves. As you can see, my method was a bit messy. I am sure someone knows of a better method! I used the toothpick to clean up the puddles of glue at each hole. It cleans up nicely with a toothpick, and as long as you have already stained the wood, is not apparent once the glue dries.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vNnMNHwH8U4/VMxeCJ7MQoI/AAAAAAAABpw/hu08CsOm6XM/s1600/Allow%2Bthe%2BGlue%2Bto%2BDry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vNnMNHwH8U4/VMxeCJ7MQoI/AAAAAAAABpw/hu08CsOm6XM/s1600/Allow%2Bthe%2BGlue%2Bto%2BDry.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 9:</b><br />
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Stop and allow the glue to dry thoroughly. Failure to do so will cause the piece to go out of square. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSKrkP4YYGY/VMxezrDosnI/AAAAAAAABp4/eGUIPzKgboo/s1600/3%2Bmore%2Bpieces.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSKrkP4YYGY/VMxezrDosnI/AAAAAAAABp4/eGUIPzKgboo/s1600/3%2Bmore%2Bpieces.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 10:</b><br />
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Cut 3 additional pieces to finish off the top, bottom and backsplash of the shelf. Mine were 3/32 inch mahogany, approximately 5 inches by 1 inch. Sand and clean these well, as they are your finish layer.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCNSkPuQ_IM/VMxfyGi5fdI/AAAAAAAABqE/zKmX2YIZ4aE/s1600/Gluing%2BFinish%2BLayer%2Bof%2BWood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DCNSkPuQ_IM/VMxfyGi5fdI/AAAAAAAABqE/zKmX2YIZ4aE/s1600/Gluing%2BFinish%2BLayer%2Bof%2BWood.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 11:</b><br />
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Glue on the finish layer. Here I am applying the finish layer for the shelf backsplash which I painted to match the wall behind the shelves. Be sure to clamp or hold each finish piece until reasonably dry. These thin pieces of wood will easily warp unless clamped.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rV8AD8SsqaY/VMxgqEPufWI/AAAAAAAABqQ/7X5wl1vvmd0/s1600/Adding%2Bmolding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rV8AD8SsqaY/VMxgqEPufWI/AAAAAAAABqQ/7X5wl1vvmd0/s1600/Adding%2Bmolding.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 12:</b><br />
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Add molding in the front of each shelf, butting against the front of the dowels(not pictured). Set the top piece back to be placed above the molding on the lower shelves. I used 1/16 inch by 1/16 inch lumber I purchased at Hobby Lobby for this. I also stained these molding pieces with the Minwax Golden Oak pen.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CJiAaKIOoyU/VMxiBvIGNHI/AAAAAAAABqc/PtyD4IDz_sQ/s1600/Brackets%2Bfor%2Bthe%2BPlate%2BRack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CJiAaKIOoyU/VMxiBvIGNHI/AAAAAAAABqc/PtyD4IDz_sQ/s1600/Brackets%2Bfor%2Bthe%2BPlate%2BRack.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 13:</b><br />
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Prepare brackets, if you choose to use them. I cast mine out of resin, using molds I made from Amazing Mold Putty. Some of you will remember<a href="http://miniaturendeavors.blogspot.com/2014/11/magic-is-something-you-make.html"> the clock </a>my daughter had that I have used previously. I used that same clock to cast these pieces. <br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1vkwgVKQiec/VMxjQiCUL3I/AAAAAAAABqo/PWGQ9U8AgOE/s1600/Added%2BBrackets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1vkwgVKQiec/VMxjQiCUL3I/AAAAAAAABqo/PWGQ9U8AgOE/s1600/Added%2BBrackets.jpg" height="475" width="360" /></a></div>
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<b>Step 14:</b><br />
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Glue the brackets onto the shelves and hang them. You are done!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xb1QNaNFnC4/VMxkPBYrPLI/AAAAAAAABq0/4uAvZcFQH8g/s1600/Final%2BProduct.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xb1QNaNFnC4/VMxkPBYrPLI/AAAAAAAABq0/4uAvZcFQH8g/s1600/Final%2BProduct.jpg" height="475" width="360" /></a></div>
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Once I completed the above steps, I glued everything in, Wall, Sink and Plate Rack. Time now to move on to the next project! <br />
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Until Next Time!<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doug S</span></i></b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">P.S. Disclaimer: </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have not attempted to faithfully record exact dimensions. I would expect that each situation would be different, and would require remeasuring. </span></i></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-43725113605004970792015-01-25T18:51:00.000-08:002015-01-25T18:51:29.361-08:00. . . But I Dream Things That Never Were, and Say Why Not? George Bernard Shaw<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hi there folks! </div>
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One year ago, on January 23rd, I began the process of building the Steampunk Manor. I spent some time today pulling out what I had done and getting it all set up just to see where I had landed so far. My thought is that near the end of January every year, I will record progress with a post. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CGyFsyNHlH8/VMWdhT_bhlI/AAAAAAAABmo/F8a0nllZBFs/s1600/DSC04779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CGyFsyNHlH8/VMWdhT_bhlI/AAAAAAAABmo/F8a0nllZBFs/s1600/DSC04779.jpg" height="500" width="336" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shot of the Grand Parlor . . . err . . . our bedroom? </td></tr>
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Here is a shot of the Grand Parlor from the Exterior, and looking into our bedroom, where the house is stored when it is not being worked on. Yes, those are my sweat pants laying on the bed. No I did not really make my bed very well before taking the shot. :0) But I think the foreshortening makes for a very nice picture!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPnFcmbuNx0/VHEE4_hg8MI/AAAAAAAABQE/AOIzS9iCiI8/s1600/Beginning%2Bto%2BCome%2BTogether.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jPnFcmbuNx0/VHEE4_hg8MI/AAAAAAAABQE/AOIzS9iCiI8/s1600/Beginning%2Bto%2BCome%2BTogether.jpg" height="330" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand Parlor</td></tr>
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Here is the Grand Parlor shot in full. Lots to do still! I look forward to furnishing this room, and completing everything. Nothing more so far than a few base colors!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E0ZwwhBYkn0/VMWk8exPIZI/AAAAAAAABng/Km1HMcrO5cU/s1600/DSC04830.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-E0ZwwhBYkn0/VMWk8exPIZI/AAAAAAAABng/Km1HMcrO5cU/s1600/DSC04830.jpg" height="339" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entry with Grand Staircase in progress</td></tr>
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I have great plans for this Entry. Nothing is complete in here, except the floor. A LONG ways to go, but some exciting stuff to come, I think!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxC8V0rNZ_E/VMWdx7aGECI/AAAAAAAABmw/hQiQtqL5gaM/s1600/DSC04801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lxC8V0rNZ_E/VMWdx7aGECI/AAAAAAAABmw/hQiQtqL5gaM/s1600/DSC04801.jpg" height="500" width="340" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kitchen with a Surprise!</td></tr>
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Just a bit of a reveal going on here! Here is the Butlers Pantry, with a newly introduced item in work! I'll post once I complete that, and share with you what it is. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAGv2x-CW7o/VMWWVx3NtvI/AAAAAAAABmY/zYUugj70aVs/s1600/DSC04814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EAGv2x-CW7o/VMWWVx3NtvI/AAAAAAAABmY/zYUugj70aVs/s1600/DSC04814.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exterior Shot</td></tr>
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Here is the Exterior as it now stands. Nothing too exciting going on quite yet. But I think there is promise here. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i12dcYsVF-k/VMWeBaZQptI/AAAAAAAABm4/EtJecdE-4Ig/s1600/DSC04820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i12dcYsVF-k/VMWeBaZQptI/AAAAAAAABm4/EtJecdE-4Ig/s1600/DSC04820.jpg" height="337" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior Progress Shot</td></tr>
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Interior with everything propped in and up. :0) Progress has mostly been toward ceilings, walls and floors for the ground floor to date. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qcu3lOaDIIM/VMWeQ8GDcRI/AAAAAAAABnA/HR7FahNeqQ4/s1600/DSC04802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qcu3lOaDIIM/VMWeQ8GDcRI/AAAAAAAABnA/HR7FahNeqQ4/s1600/DSC04802.jpg" height="500" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closeup of the Oriel Windows</td></tr>
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The Oriel Window on the Exterior in its partially completed state. This is a feature I am excited about further developing. It has so many possibilities!</div>
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I'm not sure you've seen the house from this angle before. It may give you an idea of things to come! I am excited for 2015, since by this time next year I should be well along on at least the ground floor! 2015 is the year that the Steampunk Manor turns a corner toward something "real". </div>
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Something that never was before. Why Not? :0) </div>
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Its been a good year! I have learned how to work with Foam Core Board, how to paint with Floating Medium, How to Carve, How to Work with Polymer Clay, and How to Inlay a Floor. I have built 4 staircases, and three floors, built two sinks and gotten 3 ceilings started. Oh, and built the the base for the house! </div>
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Most importantly, I have made several new friends, whom I am enjoying building relationships with. </div>
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Thank You to all of you who have contributed to my mini life so far! It has been a wonderful experience!</div>
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Until next time!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-65189481657768478352015-01-21T05:11:00.000-08:002015-01-21T05:11:52.656-08:00The Birth of A Miniature Steampunk Kitchen SinkGreetings folks!<br />
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A couple of you guessed exactly what I was making as my next project! Thanks so much for playing my little game. I hope you didn't mind too terribly much?<br />
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As you know, I had decided to make two kitchen sinks for my Steampunk Kitchens. This is the second of those two sinks, the "clean" sink. My little occupants, (the Lightstone family, I have decided finally, after the intended exterior of the house!) live in a very old and grand home that has been upgraded to keep up with the times. They made a very good decision to keep their old stone sink and add the new fangled, iron sink. This just made sense, since they had the room, and everyone knows that sinks are useful commodities, right?<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x0S2jADwX9Y/VL-LRIBd_mI/AAAAAAAABi0/ayRvuLtNpTI/s1600/Iron%2BSink2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x0S2jADwX9Y/VL-LRIBd_mI/AAAAAAAABi0/ayRvuLtNpTI/s1600/Iron%2BSink2.jpg" height="325" width="500" /></a></div>
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What the Lightstones DIDN'T realize when they had the sink ordered was that they didn't really have room in the Scullery for the new fangled sink. (Here is the coverup for my change of heart!) They ended up putting the new sink into the butler's pantry, since after all, it was a MUCH nicer sink, therefore, it deserved a nicer location. They did have to give up some storage space, and the Butler now has to join the other servants in the main kitchen, but he has accepted the slight as he enjoys his new sink.</div>
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The truth of the matter is that I just could not make the original (smaller) sink work in the space I had allocated for it in the Scullery, so as any good miniaturist will do, I changed my story! I have to admit, I am still not sure I will use this in the Butler's pantry, but I am sure I will find a very good use for it somewhere, yes? <br />
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The sink is not quite complete yet, I am waiting on a couple of pieces on order from Hobby Supply, but I thought there was enough in this post to go ahead, and I'll share the final product in place in one of the next few posts. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMV3AF4jSu0/VL-PrELa2JI/AAAAAAAABjY/BClyViMTpsY/s1600/Side%2BView%2BIron%2BSink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eMV3AF4jSu0/VL-PrELa2JI/AAAAAAAABjY/BClyViMTpsY/s1600/Side%2BView%2BIron%2BSink.jpg" height="475" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Camera Picks Out the Ugliest Little Details! <br />
RL? Not a one of them to be seen!</td></tr>
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You WILL have to forgive my sad sack photography skills. I took over 300 pictures of this sink in it's nearly completed state, and I just could not get a decent photo. I guess it is the semi-gloss finish combined with the black color that made it so hard to capture. So you'll have to imagine the inordinate beauty of the final product. I have no way to show it to you! :0)<br />
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In this post I'll share how this went from contact packaging,<br />
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and plastic packaging, </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_zdO7nTSAQ/VL-MoUpqqkI/AAAAAAAABjA/79JdQsAaCVs/s1600/Window%2BView%2Bof%2BIron%2BSink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_zdO7nTSAQ/VL-MoUpqqkI/AAAAAAAABjA/79JdQsAaCVs/s1600/Window%2BView%2Bof%2BIron%2BSink.jpg" height="340" width="500" /></a></div>
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to Steampunk Iron Sink.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5o4gM1q87MA/VL-R9IR1_RI/AAAAAAAABjk/Ju9rJm9dzVc/s1600/Cutting%2Bto%2BSize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5o4gM1q87MA/VL-R9IR1_RI/AAAAAAAABjk/Ju9rJm9dzVc/s1600/Cutting%2Bto%2BSize.jpg" height="357" width="500" /></a></div>
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Obviously, the process started with cutting everything to size. I am sure your powers of deduction were sufficient to allow you to figure that out on your own, yes? :0)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XK981okMnE0/VL-Sp5O6mgI/AAAAAAAABjs/y8kWptYiK8s/s1600/Sliding%2Bin%2Bthe%2BPlastic%2BSink%2BBottom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XK981okMnE0/VL-Sp5O6mgI/AAAAAAAABjs/y8kWptYiK8s/s1600/Sliding%2Bin%2Bthe%2BPlastic%2BSink%2BBottom.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I then slid the cut down plastic into the "slots" that were already in the contact packaging and glued the pieces together. This provided me a "form" to work with that would help me shape the sink.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-65tV4omnUtw/VL-Twwjd8nI/AAAAAAAABj4/SSRhbPve1KQ/s1600/Cut%2Bwood%2Bsides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-65tV4omnUtw/VL-Twwjd8nI/AAAAAAAABj4/SSRhbPve1KQ/s1600/Cut%2Bwood%2Bsides.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I cut the sink counter surface pieces to shape out of 1/4 inch wood, and added the sides of the sink which I had cut out of 1/32" wide mahogany lumber. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B50wrtG4Mtg/VL-VVx4L0WI/AAAAAAAABkE/gbG_2qfGFgc/s1600/Glued%2BSink%2BSides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B50wrtG4Mtg/VL-VVx4L0WI/AAAAAAAABkE/gbG_2qfGFgc/s1600/Glued%2BSink%2BSides.jpg" height="336" width="475" /></a></div>
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The entire assembly was glued together to create the basic shape.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QUl4DzrfQ7I/VL-WLJtHLxI/AAAAAAAABkM/OcGDbQN_HEQ/s1600/Reinforced%2BSides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QUl4DzrfQ7I/VL-WLJtHLxI/AAAAAAAABkM/OcGDbQN_HEQ/s1600/Reinforced%2BSides.jpg" height="328" width="475" /></a></div>
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The sides were reinforced with wood pieces, as the 1/32" wood would easily break over time otherwise.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJtLK2LH0hQ/VL-XNEFK_cI/AAAAAAAABkU/MFBM5G-wxEc/s1600/Mountboard%2BBacking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UJtLK2LH0hQ/VL-XNEFK_cI/AAAAAAAABkU/MFBM5G-wxEc/s1600/Mountboard%2BBacking.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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The form for the backing was just cut from a piece of Mountboard and taped to the back and the plastic piece at the bottom to support the form while it was in work. </div>
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Now for the fun part! My FIRST experience with Polymer Clay. This was Sculpey III. It was easier (and harder!) than I would ever have imagined. If you have never worked with Polymer Clays, they make it sound much harder than it is! I went into this with my heart in my throat, SURE I was going to do something wrong (and of course I did!). </div>
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The "conditioning" that they talk about is nothing more than kneading the clay like bread. When it comes out of the package, it is literally almost like stone, fairly hard and not pliable. "Conditioning" is just kneading the clay until it becomes soft and pliable. So why did I have my heart in my throat? I guess I just wanted something to chew on. Once the clay was conditioned, I rolled it out into flat pieces about 1/8" thick. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qaXycE4WDcs/VL-acHLRwpI/AAAAAAAABks/K5oP1jVfWpQ/s1600/Covering%2Bthe%2BForm%2Bwith%2BPolymer%2BClay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qaXycE4WDcs/VL-acHLRwpI/AAAAAAAABks/K5oP1jVfWpQ/s1600/Covering%2Bthe%2BForm%2Bwith%2BPolymer%2BClay.jpg" height="356" width="475" /></a></div>
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I covered the entire form with Polymer Clay a piece at a time. Here, in hind sight, I left things too unfinished. Note the somewhat bumpy surfaces I was left with? Doing this again, I would spend more time on smoothing out those places, as they fire up in just about exactly the same shape, no real movement of the clay while being baked. Little details that make a difference in the long run!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3xi3V5bO3w/VL-b-VQ9TrI/AAAAAAAABk4/DQPn_2KT9lo/s1600/Baking%2Bthe%2BClay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O3xi3V5bO3w/VL-b-VQ9TrI/AAAAAAAABk4/DQPn_2KT9lo/s1600/Baking%2Bthe%2BClay.jpg" height="320" width="475" /></a></div>
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The clay formed piece was baked in the oven at 275 degrees for 25 minutes. I kept peeking at the thing the whole way through because I was afraid I was going to burn it!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_8wNzMrL7U/VL-c8mGICAI/AAAAAAAABlE/znxGC3pa3b4/s1600/Sanding%2Bthe%2BBaked%2BPolymer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_8wNzMrL7U/VL-c8mGICAI/AAAAAAAABlE/znxGC3pa3b4/s1600/Sanding%2Bthe%2BBaked%2BPolymer.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Prior to baking the polymer, I had tried to make impressions along the front of the sink, to create a pattern across the sink sides. That was NOT successful. I have more to learn, yea! :0) Because of that, and because of my lack of attention to detail on preparing the surfaces before baking, I needed to sand the surfaces smoother. I was able to do that for the most part successfully, but the piece still has some "inelegant" lines due to my learning curve.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uO8-ibm01NY/VL-eYdJi1zI/AAAAAAAABlQ/1rDxIeo-O9o/s1600/Adding%2Bsome%2Badditional%2Bdetail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uO8-ibm01NY/VL-eYdJi1zI/AAAAAAAABlQ/1rDxIeo-O9o/s1600/Adding%2Bsome%2Badditional%2Bdetail.jpg" height="320" width="475" /></a></div>
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My next step was to add some additional details to create additional interest for the sink. Above pictured is the beginning of that process. The additional polymer shapes were added on top of the already baked sink form. Here I have added an architectural detail at the back and am in the process of adding a lip along the sink front. </div>
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This process was accomplished by rolling the clay into small ropes, and applying them along the area I was adding detail, and then sculpting them into shape with various polymer clay tools.<br />
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Here I am shaping the lip along the front of the sink. This is a totally staged picture! I am right handed, I would never be able to manage shaping anything using my left hand. But we must have pictures to communicate, yes? </div>
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Once the addition of new details was completed, I again baked the piece to harden the clay. </div>
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The entire piece was painted black using a semi-gloss spray. </div>
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The little details that were added were all resin castings I made. The linear details are half casts of dollhouse furniture legs, and the other two details are castings of findings I had in my stash. This picture is an example of the ugliness I was getting with most of my pictures. Every little jot and tittle, every errant brush stroke, and every imperfection stands out in all its gory detail. I swear, it looks SO much nicer in Real Life. :0) </div>
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There is more to do before this sink will be done. I will add legs to the piece, and will be adding the faucets and other details that finalize it into a full fledged sink, but the legs are on order, and the faucets, I haven't yet decided whether I want to make or purchase. I figured this post was long enough without making you wait longer and adding even more text to wade through! <br />
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Well, I am late getting started for work, because I am finishing this up. So I better hang a close on the post and get on the stick!<br />
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Hope you all have a great day!<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-62960468953951849802015-01-12T17:10:00.002-08:002015-01-13T04:35:29.150-08:00Sink Update and a Puzzle<br />
Very, very short post (for me anyway!). I told folks I would post any updates to the sink texture. I did make a few minor adjustments, so have to honor my commitment!<br />
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Remember I felt that the textured sides of the sink, especially on the end pictured above, felt a little too uniform, and not quite realistic yet. So I took a fan brush, dipped it in acrylic paints with (wait for it . . .) floating medium, and dry brushed in a few lines in a more squiggly profile, and magic happened. If you look VERY closely, you can see the exact brush strokes I made. Basically a sideways S. It made all the difference.</div>
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I did a very similar thing to the long side as well, and you can see that the variation is greater, and a bit more realistic. I am happier with it anyway. It may make absolutely NO difference to you!<br />
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Since I really CANNOT post THAT short an entry, I thought I would leave a bit of a cliff hanger for you. A hint about my "<i>NEXT PROJECT</i>". Here are the base forms I will be using, if all goes according to my current plan.<br />
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Some Clear Plastic Packaging</div>
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AND</div>
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Contact packaging! </div>
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(FREE advertising for my optometrist! He is very good!)</div>
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What would YOU make from these two items for a kitchen? </div>
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I'll give you an open book to help you guess what I am making. You can go to <a href="http://miniaturendeavors.blogspot.com/2014/11/kitchen-plan-mockup.html" rel="nofollow">the post here</a> to see what was going to be in the kitchen. It IS one of those items in the list at the bottom of the post. A second hint: It goes in the corner by the door and window at the back left side. (You see I am leaving this WIDE open, don't you? Those are a couple of rather OBVIOUS clues, now.) </div>
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With your guess, if you'd like, tell me what you might use to make the item! I would love to see how everyone thinks, and see how differently we might attack the problem. </div>
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Yes, I know it is unfair. You have to guess before you can tell me how you would make the item, but since it is my blog, I guess I have to set the rules, huh? :0) </div>
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Looking forward to seeing how you might approach making whatever item you think it is! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-58184935719893628202015-01-10T11:24:00.001-08:002015-01-11T06:17:42.068-08:00Faux Stone Miniature Sink Tutorial Part II <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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This post will continue what was started with the last post, a tutorial view of how to create a miniature faux stone trough sink. This has been a truly fun project, and I am pretty happy with its outcome!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Completed Sink</td></tr>
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My point and click photos just do not do justice to the overall effect, but they will have to do, as I am not a photographer! This is a skill I probably need when blogging, and I learn a bit every time I undertake it, but we have a LONG ways to go! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Spraying Stone Texture</td></tr>
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Those of you who are following progress closely will recall that the last post left the sink in the above condition. This photo was taken immediately after spraying on the stone texture to my carved shape. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "Treated" Stone Sink</td></tr>
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I felt that the stone texture was a bit out of scale, so my next step was to work on adjusting that texture to scale. The outcome is photographed above. I think it is much more in scale, and has the variation and depth I wanted to have within the stone. I used the same process on other pieces of the final sink, so I will show you how this color and texture was accomplished when dealing with the sink sides later in the post.</div>
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You can see above the mock up that I originally put together to help me shape this piece. Notice that I have a piece of Foam Core Board under the photographed mock up. This was one of the adjustments I made based upon the mock up. I felt that the sink was too short for scale, and the raised floor in front of it, which will be visible in the final scene, magnifies that effect. So I added about 1/2 inch to the height, to bring the height of the sink to just under 3 inches (~28 inches in real life measurements). </div>
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The other adjustment I made as I modified the plan based upon the mocked up sink was to adjust the shape of the legs. The major change was to make the foot shape more bulky in shape, and to add a stringer bar about half way down the legs. This really gave me the old, heavy, well used shape I was attempting to create. </div>
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Just an aside here, related to design. One of the key things that I think folks don't recognize when designing something for the first time is that the basis for establishing an effect begins with the overall shapes used. They must be in proportion, serve the effect that you want to create, and "speak" in and of themselves. </div>
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Any color and texture treatment to the piece later only enhances what you already started. In this case, the basic shapes already establish the rough-hewn effect, before any paint or texture has been added. This is accomplished by using mass, proportion, and scale (scale in the context of the entire room, not just the elements of the actual construction of the sink). These three, before ever a finger is lifted to add texture and color, establish the dynamic that helps shape the final effect created. </div>
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So as you create your own adaptation of this sink, keep an eye out for the "feel" of the shapes you are creating. This will go a long way toward establishing a successful final effect in your own version of the project. </div>
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I used 1/4" wood for the project, as it established to my liking the bulk I wanted in the final piece. However, for a less rustic effect, a narrower piece of wood could be used. I started by drawing the shape of the completed stone sink on a piece of wood. I then drew inside that line, another line approximately 1/8 inch inside, all around the first line. This would be the cutting line, as the lip of the sink would rest upon the cabinet surface in the final piece, and I wanted the bowl of the sink to fit as closely as possible to the sink surface at the edges. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Latest Addition to my 'Shop'</td></tr>
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I wanted the counter surface to appear to be made of massive pieces of weathered wood, so I chose to cut my surface piece into three pieces. This served the double purpose of allowing me access to the inside lines with the scroll saw, and of giving me 3 (4 actually!) pieces that I could shape into rough-hewn boards. However, an alternative that would allow an unbroken single surface would be to use a drill to drill through the board somewhere in the center (I would suggest somewhere along the inside line that you want to cut) and then use a hand held scroll saw to cut out the center shape. </div>
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With my approach of creating separate boards as the sink surface and support, I ended up with 4 pieces that created the shape of my sink surround. Two along each side, and two at either end of the stone sink. </div>
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I used my Dremel tool, with a sanding cylinder attached, to rough up the edges of the boards. I just knocked edges off of the boards, and randomly distressed the boards to create the well used look. </div>
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I did the same to the leg pieces, cutting them somewhat rough in the first place (something that was aided by the fact that my board split on me!) and then roughed in and distressed the pieces to create a weathered "shape". This can be seen below in the next photo. </div>
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I cut the sink sides out of Foam Core, mostly because it was easy, and cold outside! :0) But honestly, in the end, I think I would cut these pieces out of wood next time as well. I ended up then with 9 pieces that I would assemble to create the sink base. </div>
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Now that the pieces were all cut, I applied a base coat of a tan color to the pieces that would eventually appear to be wood. Your choice would be based upon the final color effects you wanted. I wanted a weathered wood effect, so began with a light color base. Should you want a darker wood effect, you could begin with a deeper color. The main thing to keep in mind as you decide this is that you will be setting the overall color 'tone' with this choice. All other layers of paint for this project were applied using a Floating Medium mixed with the acrylic paints, which allows color to be applied as a glaze, so this base color will affect the final outcome. It needs to set the basic color palette you want to create. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Building up the Color for the Sink Base</td></tr>
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Over this base coat begin to apply multiple layers of color to achieve the effect you want to create. All layers of color applied should be mixed with Floating Medium at about a 50/50 ratio. This allows the color to be built and laid over earlier colors without entirely obscuring them. As you apply the Medium/Paint mixture, vary the amount of color you lay down, and deliberately leave some color from each previous layer showing through. All of these layers will appear to be "incomplete", but as you build color, the final effect will reach a place that it blends to create a "complete" picture. </div>
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I am not recording here the sequence I went through, as this was a very experimental process, and will likely be for you as well. I will tell you though that the colors I laid over the base coat were a combination of greys, white, black and browns. I used a total of ~7 layers. Except for the initial base coat, I did not allow each layer to dry in between. This allows each color to mix and blend with the colors laid down before, which helps increase the variation and natural effect of the final outcome. </div>
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Once the pieces were painted, I assembled the 5 pieces that made up the wood base of the sink. I used a square to true up the angle, ensuring that I got a 90% angle for the legs, and for the corners of the sink. This was a project I had to actually hold in place until the glue dried, approximately a thirty minute process! I do not have the proper clamps yet to clamp such a delicate project. If you are in the same boat, be sure you have the television or some other distraction set up before you start gluing! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Test Fit and Newly Sprayed Stone Sides</td></tr>
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After the glue for the basic assembly was dry, I applied the same stone spray finish I applied to the stone sink itself to the three pieces of Foam Core I had cut for the stone sides. Here is where I'll tell you how I adjusted the sprayed stone texture and color to bring it more into scale and add more depth and realism to the color. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanded Stone Sides</td></tr>
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For all of the stone pieces of this sink, I sanded the surfaces with a medium grit sand paper. This must be done gently, as if you are not gentle, you will sand the texture off entirely. You are just looking to knock off the bigger chunks of "stone" from the surface. Even with care, you may sand off just a bit of the surface, but as long as you leave the majority of the texture on the piece, you can work the "over sanded" portions into the final effect without issue. This happened on one end, as you can see above. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The First Color Layer - Gold</td></tr>
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I then took the DecoArt "Rich Espresso" Metallic acrylic paint we have seen before, added an equal amount of Floating Medium, and ghosted the gold across all of the stone surfaces. In nature, stone usually has some metals in it, and this can help add to the realism. In the end, you do not "see" the color, but it is there, and registers as part of the depth of color you will finally achieve. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Layer Matte Varnish</td></tr>
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I chose to add a layer of matte varnish over the gold, as I didn't want the shiny effect to come through, and it also helped to "fill in" the gaps that made the "stone texture" feel out of scale to me. It gives a smoother quality to the stone that registers as more realistic. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third Layer - Black</td></tr>
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I applied a third layer of paint that was about 50/50 black paint and Floating medium. Note that the application does not cover everything below it. It was applied in uneven streaks and blotches to help create variation across the face of the stone. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fourth Layer - White</td></tr>
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The last layer of paint applied was a 50/50 mixture of White and Floating Medium. Again, the paint was applied somewhat randomly, and while the layer below was still wet. The paint mixes with the layer below it in each case, and helps create the variation of color that is in all natural stone. </div>
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I'd also like to point out one other thing about using Floating Mediums. Note that in the below picture, the sink appears much more grey than the photo above. I did not add additional color. Adding Floating Medium to acrylic colors causes them to be more translucent, and as they dry, they "flatten", for lack of a better word, and the dried color is often lighter or darker than the wet color. This is something you should plan for. If you want a "precise" color, find another technique! I like the variation that is created through this process, and am more worried about final effect than precise colors, so this works for me in this application. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Completed Sink in Place</td></tr>
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Here is a closeup of the final sink in place. In real life, the color variation is present, but it is not as obvious. That is my lack of photography skills! The final effect is very much like worn stone.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the Kitchen Sink!</td></tr>
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Here is a shot of the final outcome in context. It creates a wonderful aged effect that I like. I may go in one more time to create a bit more natural variation on the stone sides, but this is very close to what I wanted. If I do add a bit more color, I'll post the latest update after. :0) </div>
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I'll also share that making this sink, from the first cut to last (so far) paint stroke took approximately 20 hours, including carving and dry time. I love the outcome, but this project does take some time to do. So before you start a project like this, be sure you don't mind spending the time it will take! </div>
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I hope you have enjoyed seeing the process I went through to create this miniature trough sink. For me, it has been well worth the effort. I hope the process triggers ideas for you about how to create your own projects!</div>
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Now on to the next project. I always go through the same process after completion of a project. It is kind of funny. My first action is always to clean up the work area. Every project I do leaves a hurricane like pile of debris behind, and I can't even THINK about the next project until I get that cleaned up. Then I usually go into thought mode...what is the next project to tackle? Then, how do I create it, and what do I need? Then I ALWAYS procrastinate. Something I hope some day to leave behind! So off I go to clean up my work area! I'll tell you what I am going to work on next once I figure it out!</div>
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Until next time! </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Doug S</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08788114419636217881noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395948001151366958.post-67135369065042729262015-01-04T18:04:00.002-08:002015-01-05T03:57:40.572-08:00Faux Stone Miniature Sink Tutorial Part 1Hi folks,<br />
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We begin a New Year! I am excited about this year and what it will bring. I hope you also are!<br />
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I thought that for this post I would share the process I used to create a stone sink for my Steampunk kitchen. It took me quite some time to work through how to do this, since it is a piece that does not have regular edges or sides. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hr4nuP0Sdlw/VKnrgjFXZII/AAAAAAAABdk/wKvoS4xLCso/s1600/Stone%2BSink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hr4nuP0Sdlw/VKnrgjFXZII/AAAAAAAABdk/wKvoS4xLCso/s1600/Stone%2BSink.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I considered using either polymer clay or wood to create this piece, and finally settled on wood, mostly since I had the materials on hand and would not have to buy additional things to allow me to use the polymer clay. In the end, I think this gave me a control level I might not have had with polymer clay for this piece. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GZrSCuF34EA/VKnDkYg1W-I/AAAAAAAABdE/7B32WuyNA8E/s1600/DSC04499.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GZrSCuF34EA/VKnDkYg1W-I/AAAAAAAABdE/7B32WuyNA8E/s1600/DSC04499.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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I left my last post with the above picture and gave you an opportunity to guess where it was going. The answer to that question was that this was my mock up of the kitchen sink, to help me finalize both size and shape of the sink. There will be two sinks in this kitchen, this one, and a second sink that will be a next generation sink. My little people were very smart and kept their old sink and just added the new fangled sink later! </div>
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I wanted to include a variation of this sink in the kitchens because I had seen one in a historic house here in Everett, Washington, and I fell in love with it. It was about 10 feet long, made entirely of a tannish colored stone, and was located in a home built in the 1900's with a 'real' scullery! This sink was located in the scullery. I really wish I had a picture, because my version will not do justice to it at all. It was imposing and wonderful. Mine had to go in a tiny little space, so you have to imagine this sink as elongated and massive to get the 'real' effect. But I thought this was worth including a version of it, as it is different than the run of the mill sink, and fits my theme well. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1c6OQ1w0lpA/VKnAEJauE7I/AAAAAAAABbw/F0E3BCwadZA/s1600/Irish%2BSpring%2BSoap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1c6OQ1w0lpA/VKnAEJauE7I/AAAAAAAABbw/F0E3BCwadZA/s1600/Irish%2BSpring%2BSoap.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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As I have already mentioned, I built a mock up first. I have never carved wood before, and I was unsure of the actual shape I needed given the fact that I had to "shrink" the original. I needed an 'easy' medium to work with to carve this irregular shape on a trial basis. I settled on Irish Spring soap. Now you know something about me that most people in my closer circle don't! :0) Keep it a secret, OK? </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fAnNZHsr5Ho/VKnAM-gbv6I/AAAAAAAABb4/UM3SMxxNAzo/s1600/Irish%2BSpring%2BSoap%2BSink%2BMockup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fAnNZHsr5Ho/VKnAM-gbv6I/AAAAAAAABb4/UM3SMxxNAzo/s1600/Irish%2BSpring%2BSoap%2BSink%2BMockup.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Using my new and very cheap carving tool set, I created a shape that approximated what I wanted. You will see that I adjusted this somewhat as I went along, but this helped me set the basics and figure out what I wanted. </div>
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To begin the actual process of creating the 'stone sink', I glued up four small pieces of basswood into a rectangular shape that approximated the final size I had decided on for the sink itself. I drew the basic shapes of the planned sink onto the glued up stock. </div>
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The first cuts I made on the basswood blank were what are called 'stop cuts'. I wanted to include an edge, or lip, for the sink. These cuts act as a 'stop' for the carving knife, which aided in getting a smooth edge created. To create a stop cut, you can use a straight chisel and lightly tap it down into the wood with a rubber mallet. Be sure to place the chisel on the waste side of the line you will be following, as the knife will 'part' the wood, and may cut into the wood you want to keep if you place the chisel directly on the line. </div>
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Place stop cuts at the bottom of the wood blank as well. We will be cutting away most of this wood, but the stop cuts at the bottom help to establish the oval shape you will be using. I cut away only the wood outside these stop cuts originally, which allowed me to establish the clean shape, and work from that to create the rest of the stone sink shape. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfnVBvbR6Wo/VKnKhFZZ-_I/AAAAAAAABdU/BotygnyB6G4/s1600/Circle%2BCarved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rfnVBvbR6Wo/VKnKhFZZ-_I/AAAAAAAABdU/BotygnyB6G4/s1600/Circle%2BCarved.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Upon completion of the rough shaping of the wood blank, I had a shape that looked much like an elongated top hat! As I carved out the rough shape, I left the lip along the top edge of the sink, and carved the oval shape only below this set of stop cuts. </div>
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I then drew guidelines using a compass for the bottom of the sink. I wanted the sink to look like one large stone that had been carved into a sink, so I wanted very rounded and somewhat irregular shapes throughout the piece. These lines provided me with a basic guide to ensure that I was evenly shaping the overall shape, while allowing me the freedom to consult my muse. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iVRM3D7cms/VKnAzLJD1SI/AAAAAAAABcY/sH33w8mK8bA/s1600/Additional%2BStop%2BCut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4iVRM3D7cms/VKnAzLJD1SI/AAAAAAAABcY/sH33w8mK8bA/s1600/Additional%2BStop%2BCut.jpg" height="350" separator="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;" width="500 /></a></div>
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Before shaping the bottom of the piece, I began carving out the rough shape of the sink floor (from the top). I used a curved gouge chisel to rough out this shape. The floor of the sink will be deeper at one end than the other as you can see in the final photos.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-Uus3IPpRc/VKnBDnKyEkI/AAAAAAAABco/f3RUcJqudio/s1600/Sink%2BDrain%2BStop%2BCut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-Uus3IPpRc/VKnBDnKyEkI/AAAAAAAABco/f3RUcJqudio/s1600/Sink%2BDrain%2BStop%2BCut.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Once I reached the depth that I wanted the sink to be at both ends, I added one more set of stop cuts in a half circle in the deep end of the sink. I wanted to create a well that led to the drain at the bottom of the sink. These stop cuts allowed me to achieve a smooth circle shape from which to work. I continued to chip away wood within the half circle in order to create the drain area. For this I used a combination of the straight chisel and the curved gouge chisel. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NVgDNYSO2lQ/VKnBIqv_qhI/AAAAAAAABcw/crpwfq0Bb5Y/s1600/Sanded%2BBlock%2Bwith%2BDrilled%2BHole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NVgDNYSO2lQ/VKnBIqv_qhI/AAAAAAAABcw/crpwfq0Bb5Y/s1600/Sanded%2BBlock%2Bwith%2BDrilled%2BHole.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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Upon achieving the shape I wanted, I sanded the bottom of the sink (inside) and used a drum sander to form the underside of the sink as well. As you can see, I sanded away a good portion of the bottom of the original top hat shape, again, going for the look of a large rounded rock that has been shaped. </div>
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I also chipped away at the lip of the sink, to roughen it (after sanding it smooth) and create the illusion of a rock shape. I drilled a hole through to the bottom of the sink to allow me to set up a drain pipe below it. Unfortunately, I didn't quite get that centered (and I WASN'T going to redo the rest of the project!) so I had to redrill next to the old hole. (Don't try this at home!) </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WULx9ezZNPI/VKnBOc3pNqI/AAAAAAAABc4/WokTPQlYJJw/s1600/Sink%2BDrain%2BSnap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WULx9ezZNPI/VKnBOc3pNqI/AAAAAAAABc4/WokTPQlYJJw/s1600/Sink%2BDrain%2BSnap.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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For the sink drain, I used the female end of a snap. It is a perfectly in scale shape that I think looks just like a large drain. This will eventually be painted up, but for now, it will rest as is in the sink. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj8dvWS2DAg/VKnvXeRiejI/AAAAAAAABdw/bZutk_g_caQ/s1600/Stone%2BSink%2BShape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mj8dvWS2DAg/VKnvXeRiejI/AAAAAAAABdw/bZutk_g_caQ/s1600/Stone%2BSink%2BShape.jpg" height="350" width="500" /></a></div>
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The last step I took was to use a stone texture that I sprayed on using <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-7992830-Stone-Creations-12-Ounce/dp/B000PIKFK2/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1420422852&sr=1-1&keywords=valspar+stone+spray+paint" rel="nofollow">Valspar's Stone Spray</a>. It gave a wonderful and consistent stone texture. I used a Dark Granite colored stone, but this will not be the final color. Once the stone paint texture drys entirely, I will probably work to adjust the look to be a bit more varied. </div>
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This wraps up Part 1 of the process. This far, the project has been a fun project, though it required a bit of patience! This process could be used to create any sort of stone look tub or sink, with some adjustment. Try it out some time! I will be posting soon with the completion of this sink project.</div>
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Until next time!</div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doug S</span></i></div>
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