The Artist’s Studio – finishing front edges

Who knows why the Studio is uneven along the front edge of the floor even though the walls measure the exact same depth. Perhaps the individual floor boards are misaligned overall. It’s nothing that can’t be fixed.

To finish off the front edge of the floor, I used window/door frame strip wood from Manchester Woodworks. It’s used to make windows and doors. It measures 3/8″ by 1/2″ and fits over 3/8″ wood cleanly.

The frame wood blends well enough with the wood floor and gives an even surface to attach the main front deck.

I used the same frame wood to finish the front edge of the right front wall. The trim extends 1/16″ past the front edge.

As noted before, the left front didn’t match up to the right, so I added a 1/8″ thick strip of balsa to build up the wall.

Now the frame wood sits on top of this shim and extends 1/16″ past the front edge.

The main deck and side deck sit around the frame wood.

Between the edge of the building and deck, a strip of walnut fits in the gap. I’ll cut a full strip to fit.

On the right side, the double layer of walnut trim wood makes the deck flush with the side wall. It all fits now! :D

On the inside, trim wood will finish the lead edge of each wall.

Categories: The Artist's Studio
March 16, 2013 | 0 comments

Jasper’s story

I thought I’d share a little off topic fun.  Jasper’s story is very interesting.  You might have read about my first kitty Basil from the Baslow Ranch posts.

Basil wasn’t the first cat in my life, but the first that lived in my home. After he passed, the house was so quiet. I read on one of those pet bereavement sites that the best way to honor your departed loved one was to open your house to another animal in need of a lifetime home. I started browsing petfinder and ran across “George.”

from petfinder

I instantly loved that interesting face! Looks like he has a secret…or is just confused…or both. Now that I know him better, it’s definitely both.  Haaaaaa!

The other photo showed him belly up, eyes closed and rolling on the floor. I took that to mean a trusting personality who likes belly rubs.  :D

from petfinder 

I called the shelter number listed, but they said he was at county animal control, which uses the shelter number to field calls.  I called animal control, but George was already gone.  They said it takes some time for the website to update.  I was sad but also happy that he had found a home.

His profile was still on the website a week later, so I called again to make sure we were talking about the same cat. She assured me he had been adopted but took my number and said she would check, just in case.

I lost interest in finding a new pet then, because it just felt right with George.  :\

About two weeks later, I started looking at black cats on petfinder since I know they are not adopted as readily, not only due to the superstition but they don’t often photograph well. I took my carrier and went to a place in the city after work one night. I figured I would meet the four cats there that interested me and see if anything happened.

I was just getting ready to walk in the door at the shelter when my phone rang. It was raining, so I stepped onto the porch with my carrier to answer the phone. It was animal control. The woman on the line asked if I was still interested in George because he had been returned for fighting with the existing cat at his new home. I told her I was just about to go into another shelter to pick out another cat so she caught me just in time. She agreed to hold him until Saturday afternoon; it was Thursday evening and their limited hours made it impossible for me to get out there sooner.

By this time, the shelter staff had noticed me with my empty carrier and invited me in to fill it. I told them the story, but they really wanted me to take a cat with me right then. I met the four cats as intended but nothing seemed to spark. I gave the shelter a donation and headed home.

The animal control facility was overrun on Saturday. They were having a special that if you brought in food and/or litter, it would decrease the adoption fee. When I arrived, they took my donations then put George in my carrier (I spent zero time with him) and we were shooed out the door.  :O

He cried the entire hour and a half ride home, and I thought, “What the hell did I just get myself into?!!!” 

Once at home, I sat with him in the back bedroom, and he was calm and curious.

Then he did a bear pose in response to a noise outside the window, and I was in love! :D I had never seen a cat do a bear pose before. Apparently, this is fairly common.

Not too long after we arrived home, he was drowsily resting. It was indeed meant to be.

I discovered his weirdness with water right away. He likes to try to knock over anything with water in it. I eventually got him a heavy bowl he can’t tip. Considering his friendly nature toward other people and his interest in a friend’s cat when we tried to introduce them (his cat was a cranky ol’ thing that refused to let Jasper near her), I think he was brought back either due to buyer’s remorse or the water problem. He’s also susceptible to fear aggression, but he’s 12 pounds. I can take him. He gets a timeout in the bathroom when he gets his crazy on, and all is well again about five minutes later.

George wasn’t a bad name for him, but I chose to change it to Jasper. It seems to fit him well. Overall, he’s a wonderful companion. He’s a snuggler, too.

Kitty kitty kitty

Categories: Animals and birds
March 16, 2013 | 0 comments

Vintage suitcases

Stacks of vintage suitcases are all over the design blogs and Pinterest. They combine nostalgia and beauty. I knew I wanted a set for grandma’s attic, and there is no better artisan to turn to than Fran at FranMadeMinis. I sent her some of my favorite pictures of vintage suitcases, and she knocked it out of the park once again!

They have the most delightful tactile sensation and the perfect weight.

She added wonderful hardware and aged detailing.

Here’s a penny to show the scale.

They look perfect in the nook by the chimney, though I need to finish the rest of the rafters and beams to do them and the other recent acquisitions justice.  :D

Thank you, Fran, for adding some wonderful nostalgia and realism to grandma’s attic!

You can see her wonderful vintage umbrellas in the Heritage entryway.

Categories: Miniatures
March 15, 2013 | 0 comments

Black cat weathervane, moss and lawn care

What’s a haunted house without a black cat? Boring and unfinished, that’s what it is.

I bought this delightful weathervane from Minimum World. It’s made from silver metal, so you can paint it any color you like, but not brass, please. No additional brass is needed in the miniature world. I sprayed the pieces flat black and cut off the bottom from the mounting bracket. The bottom pin I left unpainted.  The pin sits in the base and allows the cat portion to spin.

I then applied the same weathering technique I had used for the Juliet balcony.

There was no screw included, so I faked a bolt with glue. I added more glue than necessary and let it ooze out the hole when attached to the flat roof trim.

Once dry, I painted it to match.

While I was up on the roof, I decided to apply a grey wash to the flat roof portion. This gives it a slight age and weathered appearance.

I also finished the moss on the roof.

It was a large job only because I had to clear out the attic and rake up the leaves before working. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to clean up the excess foam that gets everywhere.

Now, I’ve never raked a lawn in real life, but here I am happily doing it in mini! This little rake from Sir Thomas Thumb really works! :D No, I’m not left-handed, but I can’t photograph my right hand all that easily.

Categories: The Haunted Heritage
March 14, 2013 | 0 comments

Heritage – Juliet balcony, part 2

Completed work on the Juliet balcony. It has been glued in place outside the bedroom swinging window.

Here’s a reminder of what the basic structure looked like last time.

I spray painted the “wrought iron” assembly flat black, which instantly changed the entire look. The finials are a little bent, but I like that for an old house.

To age the iron, I dabbed on Bittersweet Chocolate by Americana, followed by a light wash of Terra Cotta, also by Americana.

Doesn’t look like plastic anymore.

I painted the balcony floor with the charcoal grey mix I had used for the main roof and painted the wood trim and underside plain black. I also painted the support piece black. I crackled white over the wood trim and underside of the balcony as well as the support piece. I added a grey wash to the balcony floor to give the charcoal grey paint some depth and age.

With all these layers of glue and paint, the wood bowed on the bottom of the balcony – a happy accident I couldn’t have planned for if I tried.

I widened the nail holes that attach the balcony railing to the house, careful not to poke through the walls into the bedroom. It wasn’t until after I did this that I realized the balcony was not centered around the window. But, you know what? Maybe the miniature carpenters who built this house didn’t measure twice drill once and just left it. Who am I to argue? :D

I glued the balcony railing to the balcony floor and then glued the whole balcony to the side of the house. I added the bottom support right away to keep the balcony from falling off the house. :O

Love this rickety old balcony!

Ophelia couldn’t care less about chasing birds. How beneath her. But, she’ll sit and watch them. :D

Or, she’ll just enjoy the fresh air and beautiful view.

And, grandma won’t risk falling out the window.

A little later in the evening…

Categories: The Haunted Heritage
March 13, 2013 | 0 comments