tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23393610644398249332024-03-01T18:33:05.317-05:00Glorious TwelfthThis is about dollhouses.C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-11924686102167476762013-09-15T17:09:00.003-04:002013-09-15T17:09:59.016-04:00Introduction to Plant-Making<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Hi. So, for a variety of reasons, I've had to downsize--and simplify--my crafting operations. Which had actually turned out to be great, because it's led me to discovering something new that under other circumstances I never would've had the courage to try: plant making. At first, I was held back by a) the fact that paper crafts intimidate me and b) there really isn't a lot of readily available information out there. Unlike in the rest of the art world, where people pretty much have the confidence to share techniques, a lot of miniaturists seem to be a little...less into sharing. Which is unfortunate, but a subject for a different post.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There are some kits out there, and some leaf sheets and things that you can purchase from a variety of different suppliers, and I've tried them but with generally disappointing results. So this is my own technique that I've been developing--and am still perfecting, more posts to follow--that uses computer paper, a mouse pad (retro!), craft paint, a high quality printer, and some scissors.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First, as far as creating the leaves, there are a couple of things you can do. You can just paint paper and then cut or punch out some leaves (Hanky Panky makes some really nice leaf punches) or, if you're feeling ambitious, you can get crafty with some pictures of leaves and PhotoShop. Which is what we did. My better half is the computer savvy one. Whatever you do, before you paint, spray both sides of your paper with two fine coats of Matte spray. I use Krylon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then, if you're using a leaf sheet--someone else's or one you made yourself--paint both sides before you cut anything out! Paint the back an opaque color, or a mix of different colors, and then paint the front with a wash. Just enough to tint the paper, not enough to obscure the design. This will serve two purposes: soften the lines and make them more natural, and make the little white bits when you cut out your leaves less noticeable.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, cutting out some peperomia leaves.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to keep all my different colored leaves together. Here, I've done the same leaves, one with a more yellowish wash and one with a more greenish wash. Most varieties of plants come in a bunch of sub-varieties and even within the same variety, there's a lot of variation based on sun exposure, soil content, etc.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The main tools here are a mouse pad, to shape the leaves on, and the same Kemper tools you use for polymer clay. I have a couple small/extra small double-ended ball styluses, here. I have a few other sizes as well, but these seem to work the best for me. Our local craft store, such as it is, carries virtually nothing anyone would want so I've gotten most of this stuff on Amazon--and gotten some very good deals, too!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These leaves came out super blue in a lot of the pictures, I have no idea why.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embossed versus non-embossed.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What I did to shape the leaves</span> was first press an intent in the part of the leaf where the stem attaches, score over the main veins and then flip it over and crimp the edge of the leaf on the reverse. I found it easiest to use both styluses at the same time, one in each hand.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some leaves that are done.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now I cut some stems. I didn't really know what I was doing the first few times, so I cut the stems way too long--about three inches each. Closer to two is more than sufficient, at least for such a short plant as this. Experiment!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-coated floral wire.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> Then I dipped the tip of each "stem" first into some white tacky glue and then into some superglue. The brand I've been using, that I'm very happy with, is Vibra-Tite Instant Superglue. My better half purchased it and has generously donated it to the cause. After the stems were dry, I touched up the edges of the leaves with the same paint I used on the back.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can use Reynold's Wrap for anything.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My leaves, hanging out in some floral wire until I need them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then I took them outside into the fresh air...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then my teenage, er, "decorating" skills came in handy. I used gloss spray, because these leaves in particular tend to be quite shiny in real life.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4G5adx5-GQpVQq70SUGlMWP7KlnfHoaWWJ_SD4g2eRNHmFWNJg-SbRpPi4d3zCUtBoDOtwthiYVYAqBVUMnGMVGuDt9bm6Jamq7PcrWMdb3JClwHmTruk2b2vjotP6RnUEBhJvQ1Xy4/s1600/IMG_8455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4G5adx5-GQpVQq70SUGlMWP7KlnfHoaWWJ_SD4g2eRNHmFWNJg-SbRpPi4d3zCUtBoDOtwthiYVYAqBVUMnGMVGuDt9bm6Jamq7PcrWMdb3JClwHmTruk2b2vjotP6RnUEBhJvQ1Xy4/s400/IMG_8455.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the finished products in a Clive Brooker mossy pot.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMqNDS5kzhkSeo_xnJ9Z0kMYKfoS44bkwU1vs5VkV-8j4P6xpwJy6foRVLDV0EbKV8y1a3CxkVzg9lCkLG1XBTWjQZDmA_-Rz1-zMmCRpTy0RuFnfh4asHaz2Gze4UZhgVKcS6vAwPRU/s1600/IMG_8459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMqNDS5kzhkSeo_xnJ9Z0kMYKfoS44bkwU1vs5VkV-8j4P6xpwJy6foRVLDV0EbKV8y1a3CxkVzg9lCkLG1XBTWjQZDmA_-Rz1-zMmCRpTy0RuFnfh4asHaz2Gze4UZhgVKcS6vAwPRU/s400/IMG_8459.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDu9z0sH0RaWL428NmD9UIGAh-FPShBs06xuDiJPj0pa3WGBjBEUUq8Ltklo-Li60MAerqeufFLzcsG3da_eGR8jZOSk_Dxgu4hpesCzT73K00qQ7mgqWjhsGg-qvSgFZw__W4rT6-D5w/s1600/IMG_8460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDu9z0sH0RaWL428NmD9UIGAh-FPShBs06xuDiJPj0pa3WGBjBEUUq8Ltklo-Li60MAerqeufFLzcsG3da_eGR8jZOSk_Dxgu4hpesCzT73K00qQ7mgqWjhsGg-qvSgFZw__W4rT6-D5w/s400/IMG_8460.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then, I made another peperomia, since I had a bunch of leftover leaves. Indeed, I have even more leaves but I'm planning on using them as ground cover in another project--stay tuned, more pictures (hopefully) to come in the next few days. This time, I used a larger pot and, after scouring the internet for inspiration pictures, decided to make it a little wider. I put some Paper Clay in the bottom and, about halfway through sticking in the stalks, realized that the white was going to be visible and so painted the top with burnt umber craft paint. So I recommend doing that before you start!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLb80sNVykNZtVrLs_BRiZRO9_1ENunIaRmaV5RWECgQLPmak_UuKD1cqaRkN-XaZ5XklywcXMOj20yrRJOZtao9_5ZDTHDYj1et6mWZirlNteyl1JrsGF7IMAmxaTxUwUi6hx8Y3M2k/s1600/IMG_8461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLb80sNVykNZtVrLs_BRiZRO9_1ENunIaRmaV5RWECgQLPmak_UuKD1cqaRkN-XaZ5XklywcXMOj20yrRJOZtao9_5ZDTHDYj1et6mWZirlNteyl1JrsGF7IMAmxaTxUwUi6hx8Y3M2k/s400/IMG_8461.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, for some reason, this came out looking really blue--I blame my halogen work lamp.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYljH4XD0cv6bjJM1IqNtADLr8untERFdX4cJ76kcmdQBRY43h74hfSPfrfmT5cY_tG5TsTzmJwzmEzplj-fWLh4FWHLhVrjZcHMYMMBpY-YORbOdrsuzhFgJc6FM9TGv8x8on4WJcFI/s1600/IMG_8462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYljH4XD0cv6bjJM1IqNtADLr8untERFdX4cJ76kcmdQBRY43h74hfSPfrfmT5cY_tG5TsTzmJwzmEzplj-fWLh4FWHLhVrjZcHMYMMBpY-YORbOdrsuzhFgJc6FM9TGv8x8on4WJcFI/s400/IMG_8462.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes, once the plant was getting a little more "fluffy," I found it easiest to place the stems into the Paper Clay with tweezers.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPyCiTrDkP6fdUNfkU2gkEqSSkZ0dfLATi-Aav1zr8xFeJ_RDeQSWg-0KlMqOp1DzmvdgX22iY_jMeWTWmYdxL_oRR4hg_g-9pAn60xH7pfObmZ0kGD1KAt8csX1ZFnBiCsj5l0wExjg/s1600/IMG_8463.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlPyCiTrDkP6fdUNfkU2gkEqSSkZ0dfLATi-Aav1zr8xFeJ_RDeQSWg-0KlMqOp1DzmvdgX22iY_jMeWTWmYdxL_oRR4hg_g-9pAn60xH7pfObmZ0kGD1KAt8csX1ZFnBiCsj5l0wExjg/s400/IMG_8463.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF1gwlnwxruWF_cVDV19RS0WRc9-c2b1EFnCSKi_jLas6kAb0uk1WqhCU6wG26Png6JJ16_PkvLjizJXUAjSBPPIWk3Eax2FypJAWWjy9BEFCq8CYSDcsJofPn5E3oeZalKRcheK1F0c/s1600/IMG_8464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEF1gwlnwxruWF_cVDV19RS0WRc9-c2b1EFnCSKi_jLas6kAb0uk1WqhCU6wG26Png6JJ16_PkvLjizJXUAjSBPPIWk3Eax2FypJAWWjy9BEFCq8CYSDcsJofPn5E3oeZalKRcheK1F0c/s400/IMG_8464.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zRppvF3WrbTeav4YPjcs04qjCj4Z8e_GTFPHxROuPcW8Sr1fUCbaEy_OtczJzTdmEntihRSvOxcIQkV1OkidzEqPsOXBUC-PDilwGvdQcfnvaVPzG9sSsFOkiCRCkW6Azg4L4IngrLY/s1600/IMG_8465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8zRppvF3WrbTeav4YPjcs04qjCj4Z8e_GTFPHxROuPcW8Sr1fUCbaEy_OtczJzTdmEntihRSvOxcIQkV1OkidzEqPsOXBUC-PDilwGvdQcfnvaVPzG9sSsFOkiCRCkW6Azg4L4IngrLY/s400/IMG_8465.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So that's it</span>, to begin with! More is coming; I'm currently working on some potted trees, and on a few other smaller potted plants. I haven't really gotten into flowers yet, but as one of my projects is a dwarf lilac tree (we have one outside, near our screen porch, so I look at it a lot and always think how lovely it is) I'll have to!</div>
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Questions? Thoughts? Suggestions?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-15115040812839965892013-09-12T17:14:00.002-04:002013-09-12T17:16:29.303-04:00Plants!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is my first mini plant effort:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTYYMeGvsL4IuRb9xScvhdBV3J6yrezflJ7Tcc_rXXaJAqUsqwgiPKzpgWteaf7-yzsmmKIoP4pvvoWm3KjrpKZj7jseF4HBNfG_aMBX46iC-WXxV1jmtN4EoJUZ8pLBMcs5ZDxGRr_I/s1600/IMG_8459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTYYMeGvsL4IuRb9xScvhdBV3J6yrezflJ7Tcc_rXXaJAqUsqwgiPKzpgWteaf7-yzsmmKIoP4pvvoWm3KjrpKZj7jseF4HBNfG_aMBX46iC-WXxV1jmtN4EoJUZ8pLBMcs5ZDxGRr_I/s400/IMG_8459.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfk2pvO1Ii_plIbcCfs8t2dyTBU2vQFfZyqqyrT6nWcsKZTBT0OMxftgUm9ie4qFTTLXE1d9jtjK-ZYgCBm4xFepGxM3KVlznr4BhNxfKYBdtXYyiVDevH1oLETVBXOIhAlGlBo19HZWY/s1600/IMG_8460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfk2pvO1Ii_plIbcCfs8t2dyTBU2vQFfZyqqyrT6nWcsKZTBT0OMxftgUm9ie4qFTTLXE1d9jtjK-ZYgCBm4xFepGxM3KVlznr4BhNxfKYBdtXYyiVDevH1oLETVBXOIhAlGlBo19HZWY/s400/IMG_8460.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After having, not the greatest success with other people's leaf sheets, techniques, etc, I decided to experiment a little and make my own. I've produced a couple of plants since this, and I think the learning curve is fairly steep, but it's still definitely very much a work in progress and a learning experience. I'll talk more about my techniques if anyone's interested...if I still have any readers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I hope everyone reading this is doing well. </span></div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-58146943114379349752013-09-12T17:11:00.000-04:002013-09-12T17:11:08.551-04:00Where I've Been<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So clearly, it's been a long time since I've posted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Things have, in the so-called "real world," been rather busy. Sometimes in a good way, and sometimes in a very bad way. We had a death in the family, and some illness. I, myself, have been very ill but am recovering now. My husband and son are doing well. My son is now walking and talking and doing all kinds of exciting things. We moved! I downsized my craft area, out of necessity, and so learned an entirely new miniature skill set. Or, rather, am learning.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwuDMFdh7kh0N6tctUpwueQAj0gFs1et3PKrfBrz3WgqPPP5ug2X3uWZtc2X2ZAlaVNxbpZ-Sv58-iHrcP5WPm3nHoiJ6cePeFCwAYlOv46oeoJltI9TBvTyUEK_Y7zbL6mnvkyRps9A/s1600/cutest+thing+ever.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwuDMFdh7kh0N6tctUpwueQAj0gFs1et3PKrfBrz3WgqPPP5ug2X3uWZtc2X2ZAlaVNxbpZ-Sv58-iHrcP5WPm3nHoiJ6cePeFCwAYlOv46oeoJltI9TBvTyUEK_Y7zbL6mnvkyRps9A/s400/cutest+thing+ever.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son in his new chair!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLrjkdl1hhA3g4VO6Oa7Au9imoYtxOzBLWbrjCHIxUzaewZ39kbbsY3gXGKn1MJitX217743YGJ-ERZF5It8NE8hj8Rh9JWIm6T1mHz7INvga3nHFft0e_I7I0QLpo6EYVklBdr8KqrQ/s1600/2011-08-20+09.00.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLrjkdl1hhA3g4VO6Oa7Au9imoYtxOzBLWbrjCHIxUzaewZ39kbbsY3gXGKn1MJitX217743YGJ-ERZF5It8NE8hj8Rh9JWIm6T1mHz7INvga3nHFft0e_I7I0QLpo6EYVklBdr8KqrQ/s400/2011-08-20+09.00.34.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where we were.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsFNErXIq7SJ0QWqf6X2XPXYf8k7hp2cWc6dyQU8ecsGAByPyUH7p35UvGbBj9pRAmER-Z0Vl8ZcHhPUshItbPrZonDcDhJ1GahMomJJDu_TcOPmrM8BQIH7JLmiBcyZ2cmvHy_DIk34/s1600/2011-10-30+12.28.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsFNErXIq7SJ0QWqf6X2XPXYf8k7hp2cWc6dyQU8ecsGAByPyUH7p35UvGbBj9pRAmER-Z0Vl8ZcHhPUshItbPrZonDcDhJ1GahMomJJDu_TcOPmrM8BQIH7JLmiBcyZ2cmvHy_DIk34/s400/2011-10-30+12.28.39.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where we are now.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30oO3dcs_crdLcNJzMCXMIHtGA2VdByPr6G0SblVmWWFyuZ5dHz4nfOPoHKdsVE9aFA6SObzzNJgDQg0_XO8j6D89PqseGpwrA5T7WN6Gi-_i62s2Zh2c7r1HaCti1a1ZCG5bZIDkKpc/s1600/IMG_8304.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj30oO3dcs_crdLcNJzMCXMIHtGA2VdByPr6G0SblVmWWFyuZ5dHz4nfOPoHKdsVE9aFA6SObzzNJgDQg0_XO8j6D89PqseGpwrA5T7WN6Gi-_i62s2Zh2c7r1HaCti1a1ZCG5bZIDkKpc/s400/IMG_8304.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohrP9TVfXzOXHHuvSS_-cLC9qbd3V5vYQWpK8vAus0BbvLvG_8qbKS2XZji-5J0Cciwij2nMHDEJrvYY7nhafR878CHsm29prjjtEA-jA5jrhCDN9FzImARfvDmE2Cq77dagJSiTg3t4/s1600/IMG_8305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohrP9TVfXzOXHHuvSS_-cLC9qbd3V5vYQWpK8vAus0BbvLvG_8qbKS2XZji-5J0Cciwij2nMHDEJrvYY7nhafR878CHsm29prjjtEA-jA5jrhCDN9FzImARfvDmE2Cq77dagJSiTg3t4/s400/IMG_8305.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywqXt9NN7ZYI0hrPQM9xRYkjMKx4bCyRfml4H61_u2jN-9UFQxH6_Ae48KMsiaG-C3TGrLSXkWekf1RkVIw6h2ET_6nPKDlA4Z2FGIPy8tOV6Q7zXo1D5h8DwK665WKb6ooFK3BQIeig/s1600/IMG_8029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywqXt9NN7ZYI0hrPQM9xRYkjMKx4bCyRfml4H61_u2jN-9UFQxH6_Ae48KMsiaG-C3TGrLSXkWekf1RkVIw6h2ET_6nPKDlA4Z2FGIPy8tOV6Q7zXo1D5h8DwK665WKb6ooFK3BQIeig/s400/IMG_8029.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My craft supplies have a smaller, more organized home now...</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-82133572501202629432012-11-05T14:42:00.000-05:002012-11-05T14:42:05.457-05:00A Post About Nothing<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've <i>finally</i> finalized a design I really like for the library...the first was lame and the second, as it turned out, wouldn't work in my space. I'm hoping to post pictures soon, but since in the process of discovery I've used up a couple of key supplies...there's a delay. On that front, actually, I've been having some very pleasant correspondence with <a href="http://www.greengablesdollhouse.com/" target="_blank">Green Gables Dollhouse</a>, which has been supplying the most recent part of this adventure. </div>
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I'm also trying to decide how, if at all I want to use my awesome grasscloth wallpaper.</div>
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Hopefully soon, too, I'll be ready for the big reveal as far as the living room ceiling. </div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8Hy_V1unRWHwsDPTmjk1tQbeYql2NsAyc5RPgdmJkspb9eFyLtDFDXIeFkAuk12C7_zodJ6Qq9uj7S4OXNHHmMIHhMKcZkE2WrSvCyLi9eLQpCxK0_Byg4mQf1bZ8lz5Vo9poB5YOdg/s1600/IMG_3593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8Hy_V1unRWHwsDPTmjk1tQbeYql2NsAyc5RPgdmJkspb9eFyLtDFDXIeFkAuk12C7_zodJ6Qq9uj7S4OXNHHmMIHhMKcZkE2WrSvCyLi9eLQpCxK0_Byg4mQf1bZ8lz5Vo9poB5YOdg/s400/IMG_3593.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson was Yoda for Halloween.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On a final note, a question: does anyone have any good suggestions for "how to" books on flower and plant making? Apparently Pepperwood Miniatures offers "how to" books of their own, which is really exciting considering the quality of their work, but they don't seem to respond to email. I've tried several times, unsuccessfully, to contact them. I'd really like to try my hand at plants (hello, greenhouse!) but I'm pretty inexperienced in this area. And while there are some promising-looking kits out there, none of them are really for the plants I need.</div>
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How's everyone else?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-9242327403577528722012-10-24T18:21:00.001-04:002012-10-24T18:22:09.089-04:00Thanks Everyone!<div style="text-align: justify;">
Thank you all, so much, for your excellent advice re: my lighting issues, and for your support in general! I really appreciate it! I did, finally--delaying dinner somewhat, I'm sorry to report--figure out what I was doing wrong, and it had to do, actually (as I suspected it might) with the terminal block itself. I intend to do a post on this later on but, for now, all I have to say is <i>wow</i>, the Cir-Kit direction manual sucks. The writing, and the actual diagrams, convey two different things; success came when I examined the latter while ignoring the former. A variety of different tie-off combinations finally yielded success and, at least in my own mind, a logical explanation.</div>
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There's not a whole lot I can do, lighting-wise, until the rest of my lights come so I've moved on to some of the interior built-ins. Tonight, I started on the library. Jim is also doing some drawings for me, which will hopefully be readable by a laser cutter (I have a vision for the living room).</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I needed a break from stone, stone and more stone, and from the exterior in general. Tonight, Jim made me a beverage where the "secret ingredient" was my son's baby food. He's now happily smearing it on his face (mangoes) as I write this. Oh, for shame. </div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-60115556027493674752012-10-23T19:04:00.001-04:002012-10-23T19:04:45.536-04:00WHY WON'T IT WORK?!?<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I'm trying round wiring for the first time.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Or not.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I'm fairly experienced with tape wire, and have never had any major problems. However, it's not the most durable system on earth, and it can be hard to hide the tape. So I thought I'd try round wire instead. In theory, it doesn't seem that difficult.</div>
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However, I cannot get anything to work.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Usually, I have some idea of what I'm doing wrong. This time, I don't. I feel utterly defeated. I'm not sure if it's how I'm wrapping the terminal block (a process for which there are no useful diagrams), how I'm soldering the connections (I don't think it's that), etc etc etc. I've also realized that, alarmingly, I have no idea how to test the circuit! Oh, for tape wire, where you just stick it in.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Any suggestions?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-44657645206739087372012-10-23T18:12:00.002-04:002012-10-23T18:12:22.910-04:00Copyright: My Two Cents<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of my favorite cases in law school involved the "Dead Dog" tee: the eponymous cafe's iconic "Black Dog" turned upside down. You know, dead. They sued, and Marblehead's own U.S. District Chief Judge Joseph Tauro dismissed the case. Not only does he hail from my hometown, Judge Tauro (who also ruled, in 2010, that the federal ban on equal marriage was unconstitutional) has a sense of humor! He wrote a little poem about "black dogs, dead dogs and dead hogs," using it to illustrate the legally salient point: people weren't apt to confuse "Dead Dog" with "Black Dog." Parodies are legal.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The issue is one of intent: are you trying, in essence, to benefit from someone else's hard work? The Black Dog Cafe became famous through its owners' hard work (and, like Marblehead's Stowaway Sweets, through some minor presidential intervention). Admire them all you want, but you can't--legally, anyway--ride on their coattails. Which, really, is where the legal gray area lies and the attempts to define "parody" begin. Peter Hall wasn't trying to steal market share from the Black Dog Tavern; his tees were geared toward a different market entirely. And as someone who lives in a tourist trap, myself, trust me: there's plenty of us who'd like some "anti-tourist" memorabilia.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But to the extent that parody is legal, outright imitation most certainly is not. Parody is only legal to the extent that it's obviously <i>not</i> imitation. Once you've ranged out of the patently absurd and into the dark forest of "if"--where you're even courting the possibility that someone could mistake your work for theirs--you're breaking the law. Depending on what, exactly, you're doing you could be charged with a variety of civil penalties--and crimes. If you're making use of someone else's work (or name, or reputation) for financial gain, then, depending on the facts of the case and your particular jurisdiction, it could be fraud. And fraud, believe me, is <i>very</i> serious.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was really disappointed to see that Brae, an artisan and blogger I admire greatly, <a href="http://www.otterine.com/blog/blog1.php/copyright-issues" target="_blank">is suffering from an apparently really egregious case of plagiarism</a>. Whoever said "imitation is the highest form of flattery" never got ripped off. There's nothing flattering about discovering that someone's stolen your work. It's a violation.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've dealt with my own copyright issues; I mention one miniatures-related experience in my "FAQ" section and, recently, someone I thought was my friend sold some revealing pictures of me. They were from my wedding album (which covered everything from "getting ready" to "finally leaving"), digital files she had access to because, at the time, I thought she'd earned my trust. Particularly sad was the fact that the unsuspecting third party thought they were purchasing legally licensed ad copy. Had we chosen to make more of an issue of it than we did (I was just happy to see the photographs gone), they--despite their ignorance--might have been in some trouble.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's not cool to steal from people. Even if nobody can prove anything, even if you skate off, scott free, into the sunset, you're still a loser. Reputation is everything. I'm all for forgiving and forgetting, but I saw some things in law school that changed my opinion of certain people forever. I might get a beer with them, but I'd never risk recommending them to a potential client.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, I'm getting off my soapbox now. As you might have guessed, the fact that I talk for a living isn't always a good thing. But anyway, since this does touch directly on what I do all day--and, gods forbid, by way of stating the obvious this is <i>not</i> legal advice--I really felt like I had to say something. I try (and fail) not to editorialize overmuch, but dishonesty is one of those things that gets me really angry. And I can hardly complain about the fact that it happens if I don't speak out against it once in awhile, now can I?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-23622034598193410022012-10-22T12:34:00.000-04:002012-10-22T12:34:04.511-04:00Lights! And Other Hauls!<div style="text-align: justify;">
The pink bats were, maybe, an homage to something in my subconscious. I'm a huge Elton John fan, and he's serenaded me quite a bit during this project. In any case, less pink bats--and a l'oeil de boeuf window that's, um, somewhat unusual--are coming.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the meantime, some treats have arrived! I bought several lighting fixtures; I'm still waiting on the second batch (the shop apparently had to special order it), but the first finally arrived. That was a special order, too. Which brings me to my first question: what's going on at Clare Bell Brass Works? I've noticed that, recently, much of their line has been exceedingly hard to find--and what is available isn't, actually, available. Inventory is, I'm told, really hard to come by.</div>
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<br /></div>
<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI0PtDmGDGEJY5C5vDb7uzEPCbieF-tX4rKXzqGz4EinDtkMK4pplYVZrJS7f9glFptPakkcnT0tGr9Cc3lDQ52VEFuu_zGsX9DelvENujoMXHMexDgb7k45Zj0SkVpuEYP7buOXsxrg/s1600/IMG_3493.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcI0PtDmGDGEJY5C5vDb7uzEPCbieF-tX4rKXzqGz4EinDtkMK4pplYVZrJS7f9glFptPakkcnT0tGr9Cc3lDQ52VEFuu_zGsX9DelvENujoMXHMexDgb7k45Zj0SkVpuEYP7buOXsxrg/s400/IMG_3493.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At a job site earlier today.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The above picture represents the end of four years' worth of work. Hey, it was a growth experience! I don't know what everyone else does for work, but, sometimes, don't you just want to slam something (like your head) into a wall? Now that this case is finally over, I should probably be nostalgic...but I'm not. It was my First Big Case; I went in naive and stupid, and came out...naive and stupid but slightly more highly paid.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWip4f0FmC4OIQrPSVJFLpOUe2T29-7qG9EWmfn0OMpXiEMOjL6sjsjRNVFdffhyphenhyphen1JZjyQYQ_9lR1sd1clYInOlhCaSOkEJlmo8MLlcBkuh7pCkc_Hi-PiYu7Rqs43YDS-Qcl4ZoVDMI/s1600/IMG_3530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVWip4f0FmC4OIQrPSVJFLpOUe2T29-7qG9EWmfn0OMpXiEMOjL6sjsjRNVFdffhyphenhyphen1JZjyQYQ_9lR1sd1clYInOlhCaSOkEJlmo8MLlcBkuh7pCkc_Hi-PiYu7Rqs43YDS-Qcl4ZoVDMI/s400/IMG_3530.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We're apparently taking publicity shots of ourselves now. Or, at least, trying to convince our overseas relatives that we're not quite as loony as they think. Mission impossible, right?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I like things meant for model trains. Most of the LED's and other electrical equipment I bought are. In particular, I'm excited from this "fire kit" from <a href="http://www.modeltrainsoftware.com/" target="_blank">Evan's Designs</a>. Most of their stuff is pretty reasonably priced, so if it all turns out to suck I'm not out too much. Unlike usual. Then again, considering what we pay for Jackson's baby food, maybe I should stop beating myself up about it.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROMAfyeKHmXVqi2SeBKNaOB0NvGUZBV3thXAvMoMMrPQyW9h1kYX9geWqzdDBkf6s2pDIWS4rmeYpvNLYqRsfCD0j5L57Wgrq3Zc27HfL96xLizopwQMBUGxk0JeYYL6-D45i2C96Kow/s1600/IMG_3553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROMAfyeKHmXVqi2SeBKNaOB0NvGUZBV3thXAvMoMMrPQyW9h1kYX9geWqzdDBkf6s2pDIWS4rmeYpvNLYqRsfCD0j5L57Wgrq3Zc27HfL96xLizopwQMBUGxk0JeYYL6-D45i2C96Kow/s400/IMG_3553.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My haul.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9KTllgPpLCOqQqqnHFZpyK-qhwtll3385taumXdsH2kntkWi3sAb-nJZCP-yflQ1mwn7QDx0ihJgeqyFo40_TmKYi58w3v5KvCzwgdy59jf8bu4Yr4mtOM2cV1GGrNh917TZtNB_rR0/s1600/IMG_3554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR9KTllgPpLCOqQqqnHFZpyK-qhwtll3385taumXdsH2kntkWi3sAb-nJZCP-yflQ1mwn7QDx0ihJgeqyFo40_TmKYi58w3v5KvCzwgdy59jf8bu4Yr4mtOM2cV1GGrNh917TZtNB_rR0/s400/IMG_3554.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High hopes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqjTP6-2sm19VsIQjdNOpy-S2YE0WfUnOMf1l15o3bAXnM49ntTu05XZlWgZdDrcFT6RX0o9uaF2WJK45Fe-ZWQ8toGsLU0m2RhegNAYK7et3CnFNxQt5pv5uRkOP82QyGSc4yi1rRiY/s1600/IMG_3555.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqjTP6-2sm19VsIQjdNOpy-S2YE0WfUnOMf1l15o3bAXnM49ntTu05XZlWgZdDrcFT6RX0o9uaF2WJK45Fe-ZWQ8toGsLU0m2RhegNAYK7et3CnFNxQt5pv5uRkOP82QyGSc4yi1rRiY/s400/IMG_3555.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clare-Bell's "orient express" lamp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
This haul comes from Evan's Designs, S and P Miniatures, Swan House (thank you Greg for special ordering all of this for me!) and eBay. I'd been searching high and low for a suitable newel post lamp (which is really more Eastlake Victorian than Gothic Revival, but who cares) and, surprisingly, there really isn't anything good. At least, not in my price range! I finally found this little Asian-style dolphin lamp which, once it's had a bit of a paint treatment--the "gold" color it comes in is ghastly--will, I think, fit the bill. I'm also considering rewiring it with a (different colored) LED. But that might be a bit over the top.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOXjV5IZ2JJ0_MBnmmplIYcVFkWcIBtI7YX76sN1ltyLtQuI9nrOjj7ukLfrPG20GSQjQIC8LVLJw1XxBjSCdejCbbhPH0LWv-zKYFS9Ihmg8Ks0WLbm-gvc_QrTlFENEdvTNSJkvIPQ/s1600/IMG_3556.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOXjV5IZ2JJ0_MBnmmplIYcVFkWcIBtI7YX76sN1ltyLtQuI9nrOjj7ukLfrPG20GSQjQIC8LVLJw1XxBjSCdejCbbhPH0LWv-zKYFS9Ihmg8Ks0WLbm-gvc_QrTlFENEdvTNSJkvIPQ/s400/IMG_3556.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thank you eBay, you veritable trove of delights!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
These Nova-Lytes have been a bit tough to find, too; these were special ordered from Swan House (and at a really reasonable price; not everything they sell is expensive). I'm planning on using them in a few places where I need illumination but not, necessarily, a light. Like in the crypt. We shall see. Jim says he'll help me install them; he has a great deal more aptitude for wiring than I do.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPdAk9Ff_dq8C5dJT8aYzGBd3D4nxy2-H2sI4eQudlOAMub6iLRZRUyP5cKpp2icZBHhMTN6WnDUOsU9SSDvumQE0tfa3RSwJT8oQbAdpKlh6Z5r8Pv8_54EW8wV9sgiNiFPgS3DruHs/s1600/IMG_3558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPdAk9Ff_dq8C5dJT8aYzGBd3D4nxy2-H2sI4eQudlOAMub6iLRZRUyP5cKpp2icZBHhMTN6WnDUOsU9SSDvumQE0tfa3RSwJT8oQbAdpKlh6Z5r8Pv8_54EW8wV9sgiNiFPgS3DruHs/s400/IMG_3558.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyFDVRWSceEDjZ1EZtaae1qAXEf7FSUz1Ns8bb_7WfRj13636WJRcRZmT2sXan3s03AK_JyvtVcEKd-huVdGt1yO5L9AFGCy6affg4qdwB1k_uCQ3jBax5Lhkfr0uScDPCuzC06JnF24/s1600/IMG_3559.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOyFDVRWSceEDjZ1EZtaae1qAXEf7FSUz1Ns8bb_7WfRj13636WJRcRZmT2sXan3s03AK_JyvtVcEKd-huVdGt1yO5L9AFGCy6affg4qdwB1k_uCQ3jBax5Lhkfr0uScDPCuzC06JnF24/s400/IMG_3559.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clare-Bell sconces!</td></tr>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisANeS7QLeadptaOxs3bG_Lq30ve13xv-0sg2zzBU603e3G47RDGKL3hKF-7U3mNRXzGNt6b7vEundc278viWIfL5AwNDeWDQLlJfWvE8JAXnVzCtv9vjyqQ3JwVV2cx8OJ99GPWjzho8/s1600/IMG_3560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisANeS7QLeadptaOxs3bG_Lq30ve13xv-0sg2zzBU603e3G47RDGKL3hKF-7U3mNRXzGNt6b7vEundc278viWIfL5AwNDeWDQLlJfWvE8JAXnVzCtv9vjyqQ3JwVV2cx8OJ99GPWjzho8/s400/IMG_3560.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really like their shades.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
And then, well, there's the increasingly bizarre family of creatures who actually live in this house. Inspiration-wise, it's something of a hodge podge, but hey. Aren't real houses? As an excuse to hoard little vials of potions, etc etc etc, my resident wizard is something of a chemist. Who, indeed, has quite the home office.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_FvtoP3eHGyNwOgtGQjuW77maPFBQzQZpKr2dWmeCxa0sCkIqI5QEV7b37GXtf82hDGAyCme9RAY2H1qgKoRlY-sEB-eypPNl2aN72HOwQB11iDG8-T5GlgyGwBP31rqouEnraN6Jiw/s1600/IMG_3561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_FvtoP3eHGyNwOgtGQjuW77maPFBQzQZpKr2dWmeCxa0sCkIqI5QEV7b37GXtf82hDGAyCme9RAY2H1qgKoRlY-sEB-eypPNl2aN72HOwQB11iDG8-T5GlgyGwBP31rqouEnraN6Jiw/s400/IMG_3561.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From S and P Miniatures.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQuLUD2vBRjkyl7_WJRb_t39qZYaIvHBnG3RltuEbwdHgGXfjtRDJlkri5flOzd7lou8KGqahxyQP04sHN_iqFqNjn4I_-FEzS7ZXghjXCkamhuzWegUZaQZe7rxDPfeCFQbsTI9ZOm8/s1600/IMG_3562.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQuLUD2vBRjkyl7_WJRb_t39qZYaIvHBnG3RltuEbwdHgGXfjtRDJlkri5flOzd7lou8KGqahxyQP04sHN_iqFqNjn4I_-FEzS7ZXghjXCkamhuzWegUZaQZe7rxDPfeCFQbsTI9ZOm8/s400/IMG_3562.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Syphilis Can Be Cured" just cracks me up. As do the leeches. Hey, not everyone wants a love potion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHGrDeaTv-AEfYAAGLjyIwrmUG2bIMPZ85meG2-ywJfFSrwsi3ikok8_x7oBCCmnegU5_TxM1iBzBNg_qi9To95XjAEbMbjJuTrlKlpG8aiROWaaCHKes2O9Qwq1Ga5uPc9o74RRXBLk/s1600/IMG_3564.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZHGrDeaTv-AEfYAAGLjyIwrmUG2bIMPZ85meG2-ywJfFSrwsi3ikok8_x7oBCCmnegU5_TxM1iBzBNg_qi9To95XjAEbMbjJuTrlKlpG8aiROWaaCHKes2O9Qwq1Ga5uPc9o74RRXBLk/s400/IMG_3564.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I plan on giving this sign (which will go somewhere near the front door) a chemical wash and, hopefully, a nice patina. Wouldn't want anything encouraging, would you?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJyWfsVF9JGhTA61GUzYgEyEwfA80CMNaS_HMI2DpNeiw8C4C8PvNUSzqOP7HVfjqrw5EODHJlTxvBttRHLTSMaHN0e4ElYr8bjZUiLZGCmfQhzreAglIJIUxul-dToE6CLbo7azDKfM/s1600/IMG_3565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIJyWfsVF9JGhTA61GUzYgEyEwfA80CMNaS_HMI2DpNeiw8C4C8PvNUSzqOP7HVfjqrw5EODHJlTxvBttRHLTSMaHN0e4ElYr8bjZUiLZGCmfQhzreAglIJIUxul-dToE6CLbo7azDKfM/s400/IMG_3565.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Well naturally.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXmC8fFeOYV1uBEmRCZditUuI0NsDAws2ItJaivydTJBuAa8R6M9pWlVT0fIMSbyX1357XhcRr050OJ2BTeQ5JLll_Ccj90LI-7GYRbjWlkpA3M1WM0YclUs32KlyrtlGpmuS1ace39A/s1600/IMG_3566.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLXmC8fFeOYV1uBEmRCZditUuI0NsDAws2ItJaivydTJBuAa8R6M9pWlVT0fIMSbyX1357XhcRr050OJ2BTeQ5JLll_Ccj90LI-7GYRbjWlkpA3M1WM0YclUs32KlyrtlGpmuS1ace39A/s400/IMG_3566.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the would-be newel post lamp.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0M5ZkEyx1b_CduT3_uRSuz0Kwbe8l6FPVJt8mTrXqe7p0RjhK_UF8sJouYgGRg1kvjXx4pbe5buWXd-FBRx5CVcrOi-okmBwjyFwYBZZrkLO2lEg1cHKjjU-aNetlu-umBA_pkckJPQ/s1600/IMG_3567.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0M5ZkEyx1b_CduT3_uRSuz0Kwbe8l6FPVJt8mTrXqe7p0RjhK_UF8sJouYgGRg1kvjXx4pbe5buWXd-FBRx5CVcrOi-okmBwjyFwYBZZrkLO2lEg1cHKjjU-aNetlu-umBA_pkckJPQ/s400/IMG_3567.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every lawn needs an abandoned croquet set.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Who knows when I'll actually get to start installing these lights. And as for the rest of it--it'll just all just have to wait! A long time! At the rate I'm going, Jackson will be taking the SAT's before this house is done. Which is just as well, because how many more dollhouses do we really have room for?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-36332688998011170512012-10-19T18:07:00.000-04:002012-10-19T18:07:01.847-04:00Pink Bats and the Tortures of Job<div style="text-align: justify;">
The pink bats...I'll get to that.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The tortures of Job...well, maybe that's a teeny bit of an exaggeration. But not much. It's been a rough week with our non-accepting family. Rather than blather on and on about the importance of tolerance and equality, let me just say that this has also been a golden opportunity to appreciate the people in my life who really matter.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
And, in the meantime, I've been taking out my aggressions on these windows! Please, please, LEARN FROM MY MISTAKES. I, um, am going to have to re-make some of the windows, because I ended up totally destroying them. But, during this--process?--I at least figured out what not to do. And I think the final result is pretty good. It is, at least, better than my first (or fifth) attempt.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First, dude, here's what NOT to do.</div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Don't seal your project with Krylon, if you've used Quick Grip to put it together. It makes the seams dissolve. Which, like, is not what's up. I ended up having to re-glue everything with Aleen's Tacky Glue.</li>
<li>Don't pay attention to the color of the still-wet modeling dust. That's how you end up with pink bats.</li>
<li>Use MUCH LESS modeling dust than you think you need. I'd only ever used it on rather flat, uninteresting shapes, and so didn't have much of a sense of how much detail you actually lose when you put on a (slightly) thicker coat. My first attempt at cladding the window stripped it of all its details. Like with everything else, I guess, tons and tons of super thin coats win the day.</li>
</ol>
So anyway... <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
First, I decided to change my window construction up a little bit. Instead of putting the "glass" near the front and building up depth on the interior side, I decided to do the opposite. It made for a more dramatic and, I think, realistic effect. So I added 1/4" of depth to the inside, using strips of basswood and, where the window curves, 1/16" balsa. I cut it across the grain, so it bent very easily. After gluing it in place with Quick Grip and giving it a light sand, I covered the seam with a layer of DAP. Personally, I like the kind that starts out pink and turns white as it dries. This stuff is perfect for miniatures, because it has a very, very fine grain--like gypsum--and sands easily. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUg0wsNW4VMiK3q63KtNK3TsQfOP4qApIQaHuYvWEoU-fYbkDC__fuZ2yqffrkGXRscJ96mPblttLN1eghbzjwj9wJ5sSzCUBZZpyRTikvCs2bOB1lSwJUr-787piWliH9nZXyfZUFOrY/s1600/IMG_3387.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUg0wsNW4VMiK3q63KtNK3TsQfOP4qApIQaHuYvWEoU-fYbkDC__fuZ2yqffrkGXRscJ96mPblttLN1eghbzjwj9wJ5sSzCUBZZpyRTikvCs2bOB1lSwJUr-787piWliH9nZXyfZUFOrY/s400/IMG_3387.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for action!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiz9I8DJKRxThFgn6ev99JSr_YoK8yFWoezfq4DkhD9ec_NAbIvqHpSyXIQ8xZYTB7dF7w8u1RrygJ5DMTQnki1MvREUT-HW08kBvrtOgk-8kUv-TpRGxuFvYgaqfL3jg1UVDfSyR7iE/s1600/IMG_3426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiz9I8DJKRxThFgn6ev99JSr_YoK8yFWoezfq4DkhD9ec_NAbIvqHpSyXIQ8xZYTB7dF7w8u1RrygJ5DMTQnki1MvREUT-HW08kBvrtOgk-8kUv-TpRGxuFvYgaqfL3jg1UVDfSyR7iE/s400/IMG_3426.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the window, sans (additional) carving.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first thing I did was carve in the "seams." I used craft knife to score the lines, then widened them with a stylus. Richard Stacey recommends scoring the lines after cladding, but I didn't find that this worked very well. Maybe it works better on a simpler project, or maybe my skill is just lacking, but I wasn't satisfied with the realism of the result.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnYdLAJiaFWGWWBRlUI3K4vKLNs7vggNHQFGMt4vUq9IqwV7_vkKQfGd5nEGUzWXtxd3WuNvtg-HNgij5EBWD6zgp5P82NS_hoSiz4E7z5WnKqe2ySGEDbV6kJrGJKoOgpm6SrItzqc8/s1600/IMG_3427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnYdLAJiaFWGWWBRlUI3K4vKLNs7vggNHQFGMt4vUq9IqwV7_vkKQfGd5nEGUzWXtxd3WuNvtg-HNgij5EBWD6zgp5P82NS_hoSiz4E7z5WnKqe2ySGEDbV6kJrGJKoOgpm6SrItzqc8/s400/IMG_3427.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
As far as realism goes, once again I owe a lot to my degree in medieval history! Back in the day, when I was at university, I was really into "getting into the moment," and living the true experience. Which, considering my other first was sociology, led to some interesting experiments! Heh. Anyway, I took a number of different classes, hoping to develop a better understanding of what life was actually like in the 1100's. I slept outdoors, pickled lemons, ate mold, etc etc etc. I also learned to make glass, and to create stained glass panels. And one thing I learned was that with glass--and, to a lesser extent, with stone--you can't cut a true s-curve. This is why real stained glass panels, and the windows that contain them, are assembled from such basic shapes. It's an important limitation to keep in mind, and one a lot of artisans working with modern materials overlook.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2AwajOrxmv1wp7Wa2QTW6h024O8G7xWYWHNIgNnrct-m17wAXPdSRVJFw466Mvxi2bnlDlpTNh3EWqRIqO8qyvNOyqFgdGBv0Y9K-sRL3PvAOoGsQiuLPsB3IeC866BfUAdYJIQmt2I/s1600/IMG_3428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB2AwajOrxmv1wp7Wa2QTW6h024O8G7xWYWHNIgNnrct-m17wAXPdSRVJFw466Mvxi2bnlDlpTNh3EWqRIqO8qyvNOyqFgdGBv0Y9K-sRL3PvAOoGsQiuLPsB3IeC866BfUAdYJIQmt2I/s400/IMG_3428.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
After creating the "seams," I attached the "carving." This little dude is made of Sculpey, and is by far the simplest of my planned (and, in some cases, partially finished) carvings. It really helps, too, when you plan on making the same shape over and over, to make a mold. Or, if you're not so inclined, there are tons of interesting molds for sale on Etsy. This particular guy is actually part of a piece of jewelry. I think he's supposed to be Aeolus, but I'm pretending he's a greenman. He's also available for sale as a mold on Etsy (I think from, like, three different sellers), as are various other parts of the same piece.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2oecTQ2gc7d6dtdzhUOyMSyI2wwWaHswnQ_EuTVxq7TuI7KaDVws7JgNcfZ6tJQLYZjNvcPOFTU2LzYWopdBYsbNhh0tA8Jiygx8IKwZmntFdWdjVC_ryGxnLBIXhZGB8vCLIQ-G_E0/s1600/IMG_3429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW2oecTQ2gc7d6dtdzhUOyMSyI2wwWaHswnQ_EuTVxq7TuI7KaDVws7JgNcfZ6tJQLYZjNvcPOFTU2LzYWopdBYsbNhh0tA8Jiygx8IKwZmntFdWdjVC_ryGxnLBIXhZGB8vCLIQ-G_E0/s400/IMG_3429.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I glued him on with Quick Grip, and let him set.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
After my first disaster, I had the bright idea of underpainting. In actual fact, I tried a number of different things: paint over modelling dust, paint under modelling dust, paint mixed with modelling dust. Don't try that last one; you end up with pink bats.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr314Y99bJUVOHB0vwJpCqtm3aKnRFIwxGdKE6HQVsv1Z-VOQxSgtXY9tfZp01XMnHhQcL5oJYyWlbitSvt0-Kw9JsPN-l1L5aK4GWRrxDQsG9XH3f9N_pqrTw_vbl6B9xZ-EGlsRiYPY/s1600/IMG_3404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr314Y99bJUVOHB0vwJpCqtm3aKnRFIwxGdKE6HQVsv1Z-VOQxSgtXY9tfZp01XMnHhQcL5oJYyWlbitSvt0-Kw9JsPN-l1L5aK4GWRrxDQsG9XH3f9N_pqrTw_vbl6B9xZ-EGlsRiYPY/s400/IMG_3404.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This was supposed to be a terra cotta tile. Don't worry, I'll make another one.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, a trip to Michael's (stone sample in hand) yielded a color that was actually a perfect match! Which, another piece of brilliant advice I have is this: TEST THE ACTUAL COLOR! Dude, the actual cladding mixture looks <i>nothing</i> like the dust in the packet. The dust in the packet is a pleasant sort of dove gray color; mixed with a slurry of equal parts water and PVA (I used acid free, non-toxic bookbinder's glue), it turns an interesting sort of tannish green. Don't get me wrong, I like it, and I think it looks bananas on a haunted house...but if I were trying to recreate Cinderella's castle, I'd be fairly annoyed.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4XcWNdHRTzsiFkGcXXWEkT_2vKiHElBaT9g-AavWusdbCAlHr4u62TX6M7lPX8gdUOiOCjutFLVk2i9DmO19kRZDxIucmQXoj4xurAqZSI8KuedBsbBkB-qe7QonhtGjfGjg0mPIqBY/s1600/IMG_3430.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4XcWNdHRTzsiFkGcXXWEkT_2vKiHElBaT9g-AavWusdbCAlHr4u62TX6M7lPX8gdUOiOCjutFLVk2i9DmO19kRZDxIucmQXoj4xurAqZSI8KuedBsbBkB-qe7QonhtGjfGjg0mPIqBY/s400/IMG_3430.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooray!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So then I started painting my window... <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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkMAqcx46BSRn9vNr_U_nE51WOBLxLN8fFHIzn3bzjZdiSeLcFvgE0Q8OYaQf1xx5aa98WxPJtm97xIEJVBCIMVENl8-qZ_E5ZcPbvCjm1upL5gl-sqKk24x9E358K0H7d-rza2yPcpY/s1600/IMG_3431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVkMAqcx46BSRn9vNr_U_nE51WOBLxLN8fFHIzn3bzjZdiSeLcFvgE0Q8OYaQf1xx5aa98WxPJtm97xIEJVBCIMVENl8-qZ_E5ZcPbvCjm1upL5gl-sqKk24x9E358K0H7d-rza2yPcpY/s400/IMG_3431.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His face is emerging!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1S-KXXtFu7egPf9bSkWdCCQAtsjva0q3JBtM2RF9LxgHQwtPFex-x1SG0CHF8q6DJiGD3uzmNOTWc5_7nV8PxBkD_YXBEnPNS58fjs8WlXrnFHV4-sJAxTGA7O_MZHfNInC8WxplQ9g/s1600/IMG_3432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1S-KXXtFu7egPf9bSkWdCCQAtsjva0q3JBtM2RF9LxgHQwtPFex-x1SG0CHF8q6DJiGD3uzmNOTWc5_7nV8PxBkD_YXBEnPNS58fjs8WlXrnFHV4-sJAxTGA7O_MZHfNInC8WxplQ9g/s400/IMG_3432.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I clamped it flat to dry, to minimize warp--although I still ended up having to add a strengthener in the back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignMGLz_-mEYwnAYuV-vjQYR5cwBPjVqZa8Lgz9q7YlOOJ_g55-lcXdtXdk1pw0ddQa30a1HeL9HpwCaWAXg6tBOTIONf7rh2uJHQZgwT5dLYzbHZiaGGf78uRXa1ozzthGKc7fJN0uG8/s1600/IMG_3433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEignMGLz_-mEYwnAYuV-vjQYR5cwBPjVqZa8Lgz9q7YlOOJ_g55-lcXdtXdk1pw0ddQa30a1HeL9HpwCaWAXg6tBOTIONf7rh2uJHQZgwT5dLYzbHZiaGGf78uRXa1ozzthGKc7fJN0uG8/s400/IMG_3433.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Then, after the tan dried, I brought out the details in the carving and the "seams" between the "stones" with a wash of black. I actually did a couple of washes on the greenman's face--concentrating my black in places that'd end up holding coal dust, like his mouth--to bring out the differing planes as much as possible.</div>
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And let me tell you, by the time I'd gotten to this point I was really beginning to feel like Job. As it is I'll have to remake several windows! For awhile, I really wondered if I was experiencing--what? Miniatures impotence? It seemed like everything I tried worked worse than the last!</div>
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Then, finally, after letting the paint cure overnight, I was ready to apply the actual stone. <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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SH9ukFeZgzuYfjtN_6-KNu5XFx1nHZa6C3_hj25XfxF7_tegT24szOhcsbWJOb6A4pFiD0jMahfYlUPuwfwR37fESB83bewnt9vVaa_lQCfYXRa6nQ0CT3df07JnD8oboQaH7Swr8XI/s1600/IMG_3449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5SH9ukFeZgzuYfjtN_6-KNu5XFx1nHZa6C3_hj25XfxF7_tegT24szOhcsbWJOb6A4pFiD0jMahfYlUPuwfwR37fESB83bewnt9vVaa_lQCfYXRa6nQ0CT3df07JnD8oboQaH7Swr8XI/s400/IMG_3449.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My son's teddy bear, and some liquid courage.</td></tr>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh648PyW-bYU5KcIyS6nQ9Lgn_OeyIrSaQmSILXYIv7KIFftO5s2WY30TM7bC7NrAeA-SyD0g4HjVL2rv51gkXfHFBn8LdmEWUv5gI4X1p4I6NWNFVBfDAO5hCD14dI9GQnQUaIra01LYk/s1600/IMG_3450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh648PyW-bYU5KcIyS6nQ9Lgn_OeyIrSaQmSILXYIv7KIFftO5s2WY30TM7bC7NrAeA-SyD0g4HjVL2rv51gkXfHFBn8LdmEWUv5gI4X1p4I6NWNFVBfDAO5hCD14dI9GQnQUaIra01LYk/s400/IMG_3450.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I tried to go really slowly, applying very fine, thin coats of "stone."</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8eCm3WP6KCSYz5_LSEvjlkv2Kn8asa5bD996TBzsVpsByJxabrWv97qj021lKKoOPxU26QocPQYpQBL8D9GHPG9lwGwTVFuc6Bn9V9BlcsJ6a4iB3FeQf6vcTYQpXg34oLOYl9CDrH0/s1600/IMG_3451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8eCm3WP6KCSYz5_LSEvjlkv2Kn8asa5bD996TBzsVpsByJxabrWv97qj021lKKoOPxU26QocPQYpQBL8D9GHPG9lwGwTVFuc6Bn9V9BlcsJ6a4iB3FeQf6vcTYQpXg34oLOYl9CDrH0/s400/IMG_3451.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KtvPRO8egUV3Eh9w6uXEIQHVVZnw5wV3K7zTSbo4bsICkhyphenhyphen-q9s7uGGOolVAXPP5h_cDOav6hRdknk7Aplji8XllagitwolXM6DB5Fo2AiW1Xn3ZQn-5s9cQ-POJjbM2Sg57HpUXt0I/s1600/IMG_3452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_KtvPRO8egUV3Eh9w6uXEIQHVVZnw5wV3K7zTSbo4bsICkhyphenhyphen-q9s7uGGOolVAXPP5h_cDOav6hRdknk7Aplji8XllagitwolXM6DB5Fo2AiW1Xn3ZQn-5s9cQ-POJjbM2Sg57HpUXt0I/s400/IMG_3452.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back, before I decided to add a strengthener.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkherzQLMzq9m1kJA24R0Ei7txGITvjrBphxoOOUl21pA2Xo9-tlrTgNcRVxVT5iVJAjw-6VnVv1ereL7kOOsvc7XPjaFXWiEA5_qe2reHPMxL5SNJhWUUpDTB0bdlWAdUI8cR6y8SYs/s1600/IMG_3453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpkherzQLMzq9m1kJA24R0Ei7txGITvjrBphxoOOUl21pA2Xo9-tlrTgNcRVxVT5iVJAjw-6VnVv1ereL7kOOsvc7XPjaFXWiEA5_qe2reHPMxL5SNJhWUUpDTB0bdlWAdUI8cR6y8SYs/s400/IMG_3453.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost there!</td></tr>
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I did this over a couple of nights, allowing myself ample drying time. Apart from everything else, I wanted to get a sense of what the "stone" looked like completely dry. A few times, with earlier windows, I thought it was dry when it wasn't.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkm_AhDo8e1N1I6Wxcj-B7nnR4XV_fHs4ZGW3cMSgjNQNcGUTipWW66HjTZ19G25nvQfnx6Y16IC7ZVuIwBsBgG6v9edUT6h__aD7Rm0mrJalHpmSqU5WCQBoDg1EFfH0P3kJKaQ1DlWo/s1600/IMG_3457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkm_AhDo8e1N1I6Wxcj-B7nnR4XV_fHs4ZGW3cMSgjNQNcGUTipWW66HjTZ19G25nvQfnx6Y16IC7ZVuIwBsBgG6v9edUT6h__aD7Rm0mrJalHpmSqU5WCQBoDg1EFfH0P3kJKaQ1DlWo/s400/IMG_3457.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The actual window and the earlier, failed prototype side by side.</td></tr>
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I was pretty amazed by the difference! The window on the right (top) was a prototype that I kept abusing. As you can see, using multiple thin coats really does make a difference. You can preserve <i>much</i> more of the detail.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q81k_PBIdAxPkx68jnSq0mE6zNgG7AdqXVJxqp5KKqTD1QQ9tkm2YVHICdfoXTEn4-WMkFAFWicLdIBvWZhoak9u6VT-j2ztdleztLc3MlAGFwHBU5Ap2zy3fTMrEgQS8_WU4jCxG8s/s1600/IMG_3459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Q81k_PBIdAxPkx68jnSq0mE6zNgG7AdqXVJxqp5KKqTD1QQ9tkm2YVHICdfoXTEn4-WMkFAFWicLdIBvWZhoak9u6VT-j2ztdleztLc3MlAGFwHBU5Ap2zy3fTMrEgQS8_WU4jCxG8s/s400/IMG_3459.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I guess all that misery was worth it?</td></tr>
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Finally, I tested the window in place to see whether I liked it. I'm leaving it there, for now, until it's ready to get its "glass" and be installed. Which is good because, in the meantime, I need to figure out what's going on in the third floor bedroom! I'm still hung up on the--what? Oxford grate? I'm not really sure what the levitating fireplace is supposed to be about.</div>
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The (in my opinion) more thrilling carvings are on the porch, front door, and tower window. Which are so not ready for pictures. But, hopefully, I'll get there soon.</div>
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Thoughts?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-27392260353342365262012-10-12T20:08:00.000-04:002012-10-14T16:53:34.657-04:00I Can't Believe I Bought It<div style="text-align: justify;">
In further news, after a very, <i>very</i> long period of yearning, I bought myself (with my family's help) my birthday present: an 1880's-era "White Clad" ice box from <a href="http://www.shakerworkswest.com/MiniatureDollHouseIceBox.htm" target="_blank">Shaker Works West</a>. I will now retire to a darkened room to recover. Seriously though, there's nothing else on the market even remotely like it. I've never owned one of Dr. Byer's pieces, but I'm familiar with his work and have always admired it.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I7hYvzuWRfZpPI8L5N4O32iB56WHiEWMmanSkjpJVfZl_24LN5AJwGtlNAweycm_qynllmP-_uBwv10mjKwFOohsbJw9QOw0CSgNCWG4S0dK46FFfDH1KoJChnorckjh6VzEHS4GNbs/s1600/PrototypeSeries3sm_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1I7hYvzuWRfZpPI8L5N4O32iB56WHiEWMmanSkjpJVfZl_24LN5AJwGtlNAweycm_qynllmP-_uBwv10mjKwFOohsbJw9QOw0CSgNCWG4S0dK46FFfDH1KoJChnorckjh6VzEHS4GNbs/s400/PrototypeSeries3sm_001.jpg" width="357" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Dr. Ken Byers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Not only is this the Cadillac of ice boxes, it's the only ice box! Bizarrely, ice boxes don't seem to be something artisans make--and as Dr. Byers correctly notes on his <a href="http://www.shakerworkswest.com/index.htm" target="_blank">website</a>, you can't really make your own because the hardware simply isn't available. The, um, complete and utter desert of misery that is dollhouse hardware is another post altogether. So when my beautiful new ice box arrives, I'll post pictures and write about it!</div>
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It's not for another couple of weeks, but happy birthday to me!</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-34119672487663095252012-10-12T18:43:00.000-04:002012-10-12T18:43:09.653-04:00I SPLURGED!<div style="text-align: justify;">
I really did. My credit card will never forgive me. Heh.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
We've been having a bit of a beastly time in our neck of the woods and, I suppose, I like retail therapy as much as the next girl. My wonderful, entirely too supportive husband encouraged me to go ahead and buy the one thing I really wanted (that can be purchased): real marble tile for the Haunted Beacon Hill. And, well, that led to him pointing out that, really, I shouldn't compromise my vision for the house by using less-than-desired cladding materials. You can see where this is going. Pretty soon, I'd bought out the entire store!</div>
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I can't say that it made this morning's funeral any less wretched, but it has given me warm and fuzzy fantasies about how I'll distract myself in the upcoming weeks. </div>
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The tile, while ludicrously expensive, is really lovely. It's pink! Richard Stacey's entire line, I've recently discovered, is available for sale on eBay. I don't normally care for eBay, but for some things I'll make the sacrifice. This is particularly good, because it's not static; you can see, in real time, what sorts of colors of marble they're offering. I also (hey, why ruin a good thing?) bought some deeply veined gray marble for the conservatory. I'd originally been planning on going in a completely different direction, but this project has--appropriately for a haunted house, I suppose--taken on a life of its own.</div>
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In other news, I'm coming along with the carvings, and should have something to show for myself in that department soon. I'm really excited to write about it, and show you what I've done. What's holding me back right now, more than anything, is the mail--waiting for things to arrive! The time I have (I took a couple of mental health days), the materials...</div>
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Also, too, I've been pondering the interior window trim and have realized, in doing that, that having any sort of sense of what I want necessitates having an indoor design plan. The only room about which I have absolutely no ideas--or no good ideas, I should modify--is the dining room. Normally I'm mad for dining rooms; I don't know what it is, this time.</div>
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On a final note, my son behaved really, <i>really</i> well today. Jim and I were commenting that if only he were old enough, we'd take him out for an ice cream and presents. He put up with quite a bit--strange, looming people not the least of which--and handled himself wonderfully. Now, of course, everyone thinks we have the perfect baby! Which, of course, we do.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dy_KhyphenhyphenbIAVR_P79MLVag9G3XOUNMTjcV6qK-r38P2tEJGrFAg2UVdJZJiXmWe-FFzWS06osDSM2kz4kwO0V76qfG-X9g0J-Mr99fVDgUKd6sXY1OffuLhgDQUCjbNLh1N0_JEXtYBqI/s1600/IMG_3242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dy_KhyphenhyphenbIAVR_P79MLVag9G3XOUNMTjcV6qK-r38P2tEJGrFAg2UVdJZJiXmWe-FFzWS06osDSM2kz4kwO0V76qfG-X9g0J-Mr99fVDgUKd6sXY1OffuLhgDQUCjbNLh1N0_JEXtYBqI/s400/IMG_3242.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back at home, with Teddy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadU3GbB9Gl8hAnKYSam6rScOgAFHpb7wK53B-bwk5RYjrApeClTvXDmUqjOQZnjLXeCtVCjfLEuNcuZ00Wy3KQAeyQ4SUuZHXJVHSiZsdAkAJhd_FlkyCeFi-pebtxs_eHSfhY4RYkqw/s1600/IMG_3185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhadU3GbB9Gl8hAnKYSam6rScOgAFHpb7wK53B-bwk5RYjrApeClTvXDmUqjOQZnjLXeCtVCjfLEuNcuZ00Wy3KQAeyQ4SUuZHXJVHSiZsdAkAJhd_FlkyCeFi-pebtxs_eHSfhY4RYkqw/s400/IMG_3185.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm still sort of struggling along with the catacombs...</td></tr>
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I hope everyone else's week has ended on a high note.</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-42250100737994592552012-10-10T11:10:00.000-04:002012-10-10T11:13:21.704-04:00Dremeling for Fun and Leisure: A Tutorial<div style="text-align: justify;">
I love my Dremel, and since I've gotten so many really nice (and undeserved!) comments on my recent efforts I thought I'd share a few of my techniques. Most of what I've learned--in real life as well as in mini life--has been through trial and error. A lot of horribly deformed lumps paved the way for anything remotely resembling an actual geometric shape. Hopefully hearing about my mistakes can save you some trouble!</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The first and really most important issue, I think, is which Dremel to use. I mentioned before, I have the 4000. It's a little extra, but comes with some very important features that cheaper Dremels don't have. In particular:</div>
<ol>
<li>a variable speed motor, and</li>
<li> a really hardcore little motor.</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I find the variable speed to be indispensable. Just like with a table saw, different applications (and types of materials) require different speeds. I've been making the embellishments on the Haunted Beacon Hill out of basswood, because it's lightweight and easy to work with. I also find that it's very easy to dremel on. The temptation is to set the motor on its lowest speed and go <i>really</i> slowly, so you don't mess anything up. But don't! I've found that too-slow dremeling makes for uneven, pitted lines. It takes a little practice, but I personally find that I get cleaner, more elegant results when I set my motor somewhere between 15 and 25.</div>
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As for materials, <i>don't use balsa</i>. It's so appealingly soft, this seems like a great time-saver. But since it <i>is</i> so soft, it doesn't hold its shape at all. Which, particularly when you're trying to create 16 (or more) identical pieces is a real drag. I've used hardwoods, too--mainly walnut--but it depends on your final goal. There's no sense in using really nice (expensive) wood if you're just going to glue bricks down on top of it.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've actually had Dremels burn out on me. When I first started making miniatures, my ambitions were, in some cases, ah, bigger than my abilities--or tools. A not-so-great motor is fine for light work, but if you're planning on spending the afternoon working with a tool, keep in mind that it--that any tool--can and will overheat. The only question is how long of a grace period you'll get. The better the motor, the longer you can go--and the quicker its recovery time.</div>
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So, having said all this, the real key to successful results is--I think--the design of the piece itself. Don't create unnecessary work--and misery--for yourself! It's like with anything else: just because the final project <i>looks</i> like a single piece of wood, doesn't mean it is. Use the same principles of addition, subtraction and compounding you'd use in, say, designing a piece of wainscoting. It's really pretty amazing, what a bunch of different little sticks can turn into.</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I always start with a (usually life sized) scaled design so I know what I'm actually trying to make. A few millimeters here or there can make a big difference! Having a design is also really convenient, because you can turn it into a pattern. Here, I've cut out sections of my latest window design to use as a pattern, not just for getting the angles right but for placing them on the wood itself. </div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcJQErzjNNoGV6jVKWHSX3WXM6IoYDzDQVaZfyYjVyQYm5tgZmOSh0EcLVg-ZdIPYahX-uzPoGFet0sLIXEXj6e5daX8XhMq1MpqRKvBTwliKwtGyaTef-L7oyMS6jJYlOR78XUJG3kI/s1600/IMG_3249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcJQErzjNNoGV6jVKWHSX3WXM6IoYDzDQVaZfyYjVyQYm5tgZmOSh0EcLVg-ZdIPYahX-uzPoGFet0sLIXEXj6e5daX8XhMq1MpqRKvBTwliKwtGyaTef-L7oyMS6jJYlOR78XUJG3kI/s400/IMG_3249.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What will hopefully become the dormer windows on the Haunted Beacon Hill.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Instead of suffering along, trying to cut compound angles, I create a lot of different, separate pieces and glue them together. An aside: use Quick Grip, or some other non-water based glue, as it won't warp your wood. So, for example, if I want the eventual width of my arch to be 3", I'll cut two 1 1/2" strips and use them to make two mirrored pieces. Which, well, this can get confusing so yet <i>another </i>reason to have a pattern.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvbmZuQg5DZ1H5COpfwuOTONKzpfJelGyAdFHAG74ZkYVJ5loAiZpuP9wWWgbMFDqeCD1FFXxgkuJElpicIxw0uW1VYL3i8LMXhVG9KEdZbZBGDHf8cBpK2aFq6DBB86pv01afVJTH14/s400/IMG_3234.jpg" width="300" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQvbmZuQg5DZ1H5COpfwuOTONKzpfJelGyAdFHAG74ZkYVJ5loAiZpuP9wWWgbMFDqeCD1FFXxgkuJElpicIxw0uW1VYL3i8LMXhVG9KEdZbZBGDHf8cBpK2aFq6DBB86pv01afVJTH14/s1600/IMG_3234.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
I periodically check my pieces against the pattern and against each other. Usually, after I create the first piece--i.e. the first concave arch half--I use that piece, itself, as a pattern, tracing its shape onto my other pieces of wood. Then, moving forward, I always check my work against that original piece. Otherwise, I've found, mistakes can multiply. A millimeter here or there, over the course of, say, 16 arches, can mushroom into pieces that, by the end, look nothing alike.</div>
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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;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWD098T5SsSwPGOuEB1Pz5cMnpyf0g1m6HRnQNy9yF-A_1wO3B4Ht1WmrkfwuHQTU6qDGehHfZmzkgmpzY4Sw-NyHS_cq-V-X8MmokT1QFvMbDuFwC3n3fa-wkVxNqyXAUhx9M6R1HXo/s400/IMG_3235.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I always number my pieces, so I know what's supposed to go with what.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<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;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZsErRLtcgXI8ESwwBgyEZZv0ow6S52CYDjoZiwHgt1j8wqtm5ue0kFFqMwSHp885WOVItlAUh4OhTzV0_TVnzkgESQOOG3Jhd8OCrbtM6q_douifUKZ1RXGeQp4v21ysmhyphenhyphenhbLiI4qPI/s400/IMG_3236.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I usually do a rough cut to remove as much bulk as I can from the angle, then finish it off with my Dremel. I probably end up removing about 1/4" (sometimes slightly more) with my Dremel. Particularly with some shapes, it's hard to get in close enough to the line without sawing up your piece.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlpc4mhEV-LdM-29bxaqnLoQ1K96gF_gDSpPY963XRcOefH0yvoLoTrYlgdDN3l2Rt8GbyCLtUbckwsY7pl9rEeXIkO_1aAMR_TzMvcCHgLp43tS3PydmFfHiwrzCA-yspGLlN_OetCU/s1600/IMG_3250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzlpc4mhEV-LdM-29bxaqnLoQ1K96gF_gDSpPY963XRcOefH0yvoLoTrYlgdDN3l2Rt8GbyCLtUbckwsY7pl9rEeXIkO_1aAMR_TzMvcCHgLp43tS3PydmFfHiwrzCA-yspGLlN_OetCU/s400/IMG_3250.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Then, once I'm satisfied with the shape--and uniformity--of all my pieces, I start gluing everything together. Carefully. I usually keep checking my work against a ruler, to make sure the shape I want is what's actually taking form.</div>
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Sometimes, mid-project, I make a change. That's what happened here. Preliminaries are good, but nothing beats seeing your work in the actual flesh. I realized, when I was looking at the window, that I wasn't happy with the height of the dormer or the allowance I'd made for trim. The trim I'd planned on using looked great on paper but really dinky in real life.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDQeiedJA8eHxwSBAUEcxnWXlN9iO142WpMoRQYUjG5Tn_T2iupKWPGVCqfCVXe49SpFyEXRSABd0SKN_eCEfr0yu50sQbgfvskiUf02YMtqIjSWVeMwQyLaBgl0WlwIPZuGSnW-pnz8/s1600/IMG_3251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDQeiedJA8eHxwSBAUEcxnWXlN9iO142WpMoRQYUjG5Tn_T2iupKWPGVCqfCVXe49SpFyEXRSABd0SKN_eCEfr0yu50sQbgfvskiUf02YMtqIjSWVeMwQyLaBgl0WlwIPZuGSnW-pnz8/s400/IMG_3251.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Realizing something isn't quite right...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So what I did was--and this is another great benefit of making everything piecemeal--insert a larger cornice. I used 1/4" cove molding on a base of 1/4" x 3/8" balsa. The reason I used balsa is, this all is going to be covered with stone powder (specifically Richard Stacey modeling dust) later on. When I can use lighter, cheaper materials I do.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvaZ2dvbaXID1-A2tDbczfUhDzowXpq2IuxmL_ADZm2EBJ0bTOtvZv5ggXiT2nQXucXd8nYaNNhKVacSUjIoDVePcvx8EE2W072YweDoJoYkfYolm-BB5ky-8khwHF2bKz_WsLc1bVto/s1600/IMG_3252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvaZ2dvbaXID1-A2tDbczfUhDzowXpq2IuxmL_ADZm2EBJ0bTOtvZv5ggXiT2nQXucXd8nYaNNhKVacSUjIoDVePcvx8EE2W072YweDoJoYkfYolm-BB5ky-8khwHF2bKz_WsLc1bVto/s400/IMG_3252.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new, improved window.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This window is going to have two embellishments: columns, and a carving. That's what the larger head is for--to support the carving. But that's a ways away (the materials I need to create it haven't arrived in the mail yet and besides, I <i>do</i> work...sort of). For the columns, I'm echoing the same pattern I used on the central stained glass window. The capital and plinth are reclaimed parts from veranda posts, and the column (which is actually a pilaster, I suppose) is 1/4" half round molding. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
First, I cut the actual capitals. Then, I figured out how long I needed the plinth to be, and where on the window it was going to attach. Then, I cut a test piece of 1/4" half round molding to fit--and once I knew I had the right fit, I cut seven more. I then assembled each window from the top down, attaching capital, column body, and plinth. That way, I could be (more or less) assured of their uniformity.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpC6_Tmy7t1v5AFWngVGsyZoRcuuGGq5TPZPna856XGjecUX3bQ5MYCFe7gmnC5FMG_xlDdYG_rzYW2AbKQTq5Ck5nptoUOIjLKl5SWuD9Hle8bznYMC24QIdpcv1tltnVH_lkF8Fa_w/s1600/IMG_3253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpC6_Tmy7t1v5AFWngVGsyZoRcuuGGq5TPZPna856XGjecUX3bQ5MYCFe7gmnC5FMG_xlDdYG_rzYW2AbKQTq5Ck5nptoUOIjLKl5SWuD9Hle8bznYMC24QIdpcv1tltnVH_lkF8Fa_w/s400/IMG_3253.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyAE_Zo7riwAU1hp_-6hk0WGHDroUoYziA0-UAtpm5HOlSiNKgJWzlieCgP3sMY9BKaUxu3kh-cT-USbkWGFSWUxKke1YTt1Z4n1KYxdW60vmZlPIRBdO9uAGMbzttX7lAZby33DfZFg/s1600/IMG_3254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNyAE_Zo7riwAU1hp_-6hk0WGHDroUoYziA0-UAtpm5HOlSiNKgJWzlieCgP3sMY9BKaUxu3kh-cT-USbkWGFSWUxKke1YTt1Z4n1KYxdW60vmZlPIRBdO9uAGMbzttX7lAZby33DfZFg/s400/IMG_3254.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH-QawgT2Ov9vs_amwOMtDfOSx_g66zI9nofV-TNlU4r_Zj5ELo_Y0GACD4XlqxmRYbtkdE8P-OKTFRTl_pKf4ypUOHVJ-sUy2TkYi2oVG1sK1cbwbTiIc0dT62oA5iDjyV9ssfIpZl8/s1600/veranda+post.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeH-QawgT2Ov9vs_amwOMtDfOSx_g66zI9nofV-TNlU4r_Zj5ELo_Y0GACD4XlqxmRYbtkdE8P-OKTFRTl_pKf4ypUOHVJ-sUy2TkYi2oVG1sK1cbwbTiIc0dT62oA5iDjyV9ssfIpZl8/s400/veranda+post.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of Manchester Woodworks.</td></tr>
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This isn't the greatest picture ever, but if you examine the top of the veranda post, you can see the little urn-like shape. If you flip your computer upside down, you'll see the pilaster, too--it's the bit above the little urn-like shape. It's just upside down right now, so it's hard to tell. When I cut the columns in half, I only cut about halfway down (I might want the bottoms for something else, who knows, plus it's a real drag to risk your fingers like that). This is exactly the kind of thing I love my small table saw (the MicroLux) for.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TIqVCBXn7vlDAvD4xg9rjtpRGjZaUMq0jXKLAealk8ZSQ6q-oLEHjwS6ftR2mGZtlwXO8iueUhbWJb-Bt008UcMSvojcBgpU2jdZmUYOUMJRPhlPYdeCdg8NRIFZX_ItrmZX2U9F8XY/s1600/IMG_3255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-TIqVCBXn7vlDAvD4xg9rjtpRGjZaUMq0jXKLAealk8ZSQ6q-oLEHjwS6ftR2mGZtlwXO8iueUhbWJb-Bt008UcMSvojcBgpU2jdZmUYOUMJRPhlPYdeCdg8NRIFZX_ItrmZX2U9F8XY/s400/IMG_3255.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like to think it doesn't look like a middle American porch anymore!</td></tr>
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The plinth extends past the foot of the window, allowing for the slope of the roof. I tested the pieces against the roof before cutting anything. Also, too, it's worth mentioning that I dry-fitted the sill and walls at the same time to make sure that everything was squaring off. It's such a sinking feeling, when you realize that you've cut everything to tolerate an off angle and, as a result...nothing fits.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqy5LCdGSTKtdsqK9VYEFlq4uJxfo7oimotqy2SoktJr4KjCPqykBECqwmulCWXn42M0HSVnIxTf6rfPxnHVHjHXgde7vM1ZTbwArEtX4Vttfwd2PMM9WWVtNj5MxHJS_VqQw7lE0M3o/s1600/IMG_3256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqy5LCdGSTKtdsqK9VYEFlq4uJxfo7oimotqy2SoktJr4KjCPqykBECqwmulCWXn42M0HSVnIxTf6rfPxnHVHjHXgde7vM1ZTbwArEtX4Vttfwd2PMM9WWVtNj5MxHJS_VqQw7lE0M3o/s400/IMG_3256.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Finally, this is the window, in place and waiting for its carving. So far, the house doesn't look particularly scary; I'm relying on my as yet unrealized carvings to give it the proper sense of atmosphere. I'm excited!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFkXclHdr5XN8YMKgyWgsb8HBVXeU47QFHUSOjCEsaWc2Ljfn4i38lXKiJOis3cdMvELPaHSggC_5_inui-deKigovNsXwOH0YURUWkRchRSTFRa6dCNHGenrDRhbT7FMUhHeJROONQ0/s1600/IMG_3257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFkXclHdr5XN8YMKgyWgsb8HBVXeU47QFHUSOjCEsaWc2Ljfn4i38lXKiJOis3cdMvELPaHSggC_5_inui-deKigovNsXwOH0YURUWkRchRSTFRa6dCNHGenrDRhbT7FMUhHeJROONQ0/s400/IMG_3257.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Any thoughts?C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-25042220509211223682012-10-07T19:22:00.002-04:002012-10-07T19:22:41.434-04:00The Gothic Makeover Continues...<div style="text-align: justify;">
Today, my mini (no pun intended) vacation continued and I did some work on the windows. There's still a lot of work to do--I kept getting sidetracked by my very interesting family--but I'm fairly happy with what I've got so far. First, I did some research. And no, my research didn't solely consist of watching <i>Dark Shadows</i>. Which, by the way, was really bad! I love Tim Burton but, sadly, art direction does not a movie make.</div>
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For the center window, I looked at number of different windows, both online and in my actual books. I wish I knew where to credit this picture, it's wonderful--and gives a lot of really good suggestions, as far as the type of window I'm trying to make.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikswDzzEbYR-_Z9iJVgdfezCqefSBysvA9nNrI6rKvdorKkCB0epIHrRVz35sAbeihErNcbQWEEIQe3MniXBTGWKjQ0D-CZcVX7HXmhvNJlcgOxGN34zUTfb5sLESSMpWT1rbwCra3MCE/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikswDzzEbYR-_Z9iJVgdfezCqefSBysvA9nNrI6rKvdorKkCB0epIHrRVz35sAbeihErNcbQWEEIQe3MniXBTGWKjQ0D-CZcVX7HXmhvNJlcgOxGN34zUTfb5sLESSMpWT1rbwCra3MCE/s400/11.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
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The rectangular windows are going to be comparatively simple; for inspiration, I looked at a variety of casement windows from different periods, Tudor through Empire. This particular picture comes from the excellent library at the University of Washington. It's especially useful for my purposes, as it's the same brick and stone combination I'm attempting with the Haunted Beacon Hill.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0w4Y4GlJP1C46dK5S4vVIGH_PB0K1yXUP6V37EULN8P4RBuNx84-Ov_LlCAzbeka-9yUGh6WeMRolAashLUdIZa9UijLc8aQCyp2QShI5PpokaruuDrlUsJ0uQjlTRLb-fXCfV4lxCY/s1600/getimage-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib0w4Y4GlJP1C46dK5S4vVIGH_PB0K1yXUP6V37EULN8P4RBuNx84-Ov_LlCAzbeka-9yUGh6WeMRolAashLUdIZa9UijLc8aQCyp2QShI5PpokaruuDrlUsJ0uQjlTRLb-fXCfV4lxCY/s400/getimage-1.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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I'm back to thinking that light gray stone is the way to go, now that I've actually received my <a href="http://www.richardstacey.com/dust.html#dust" target="_blank">modeling dust</a> packets in the mail. The window doesn't have much depth right now, because I'm leaving room for the "glass." Once it's properly installed, I'll sandwich it between two layers of "stone," and its from the second layer that the sensation of depth will come.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6aQY-1kR87EvZ3L7EGDH_SfjwZKNaI67n8jpSYFTPCwib4W8sCU_thyphenhyphenW1S7MIGn3hCcKg7ZD9Z92fSzBcP_rj34_c3LJgMrji-GIECqZTRlj2w6ZDr_ujhsE9UZA5UK670wt_1Tg4CI/s1600/IMG_3227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6aQY-1kR87EvZ3L7EGDH_SfjwZKNaI67n8jpSYFTPCwib4W8sCU_thyphenhyphenW1S7MIGn3hCcKg7ZD9Z92fSzBcP_rj34_c3LJgMrji-GIECqZTRlj2w6ZDr_ujhsE9UZA5UK670wt_1Tg4CI/s400/IMG_3227.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was harder to design than it looks.</td></tr>
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Once again, I went nuts with my Dremel. The columns are a mishmash of different things: the actual columns themselves are 1/4" half rounds, and the foot and cap are bits I cut from <a href="http://www.miniatures.com/Veranda-Corner-Post-P17137.aspx" target="_blank">veranda posts</a>. I cut the posts themselves in half, so they'd lie flush with the window, then cut out the bits I needed. This is, arguably, wasteful but I find that, eventually, I end up using all my extra porch bits somehow. I've got a box of odd but useful bits that I regularly root through.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcc_JzJadosbtXqQ5Ttd95vX6-ESjvUYMj2R3NABVSyRDxaJMvsljrpvQUHMA1yt7fsq814wVpIJdBoILd2uIWLjAj0vSl4AX6WYUuVFAmXukv49N_6dp__-LJy6h9bJ9ZdK58TzsKxYY/s1600/IMG_3228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcc_JzJadosbtXqQ5Ttd95vX6-ESjvUYMj2R3NABVSyRDxaJMvsljrpvQUHMA1yt7fsq814wVpIJdBoILd2uIWLjAj0vSl4AX6WYUuVFAmXukv49N_6dp__-LJy6h9bJ9ZdK58TzsKxYY/s400/IMG_3228.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-u32_ydrpC7GdE9S3D60aZCT06ZIpgkstkyyjhlwey6qRDtYNeIJ3zNbsBZ2zEc2Bgq-LgFNRDLTZfg2YtakpfslSu6igB0lx05ZxYizq9BHxn1d_q21HyIxR5a2YJG-jwLFmrTf_38g/s1600/IMG_3229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-u32_ydrpC7GdE9S3D60aZCT06ZIpgkstkyyjhlwey6qRDtYNeIJ3zNbsBZ2zEc2Bgq-LgFNRDLTZfg2YtakpfslSu6igB0lx05ZxYizq9BHxn1d_q21HyIxR5a2YJG-jwLFmrTf_38g/s400/IMG_3229.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The rectangular windows are going to be a combination of dressed stone and wood. The surround itself will be dressed stone; the casements themselves will be wood and, as with their larger cousins in the earlier picture, they'll have smaller square panes. Instead of lead golf tape, out of respect to the fact that lead is poisonous and I don't want anyone in my family eating it, I'll be using copper. You'll have to use your imagination a little bit, here; without the smaller panes, the windows look a bit dull.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ50G1HqtO31Wv1PDYbE3cZQHnAVC-XQBfHY28EKi_eRLxn8wOPF6yzL9G49uWBjQlssjnbNtsv0_WZx2iuliArGAPXy5hpAbPjRySliSedJ6UG8r-bs-FWgNl6wpxTTyNCal0vfOs7o/s1600/IMG_3230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQ50G1HqtO31Wv1PDYbE3cZQHnAVC-XQBfHY28EKi_eRLxn8wOPF6yzL9G49uWBjQlssjnbNtsv0_WZx2iuliArGAPXy5hpAbPjRySliSedJ6UG8r-bs-FWgNl6wpxTTyNCal0vfOs7o/s400/IMG_3230.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wRRiTmAJY8uQgwIFG1Sreh26LLraq8KvN3SaJM3nntnwgRrPVixErMbDVpoXwrxekIN93y35Baj-RcrtIWxz0QJ_nB9G67RJjsyOYXUd1KwWomrRLsWgWmBhujHLoVpRaw43V4fEoVs/s1600/IMG_3231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8wRRiTmAJY8uQgwIFG1Sreh26LLraq8KvN3SaJM3nntnwgRrPVixErMbDVpoXwrxekIN93y35Baj-RcrtIWxz0QJ_nB9G67RJjsyOYXUd1KwWomrRLsWgWmBhujHLoVpRaw43V4fEoVs/s400/IMG_3231.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPS7ngA3lOjHXI998AJv306uCWgEuIePmiXbuYm_IPvNhxHkwJ19bqQ6qAScbyfzwLt4UYAkRwCKy8Ruitbd5zA-kdNVSeAFL_eR2NDGtWN0wwk7_9kkDV2W6KgD4w4xTqR1stpaYDIKA/s1600/IMG_3232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPS7ngA3lOjHXI998AJv306uCWgEuIePmiXbuYm_IPvNhxHkwJ19bqQ6qAScbyfzwLt4UYAkRwCKy8Ruitbd5zA-kdNVSeAFL_eR2NDGtWN0wwk7_9kkDV2W6KgD4w4xTqR1stpaYDIKA/s400/IMG_3232.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The extra bit of balsa will support a "carved stone" arch. I fully assembled the window before deciding whether I wanted to add it. It's tough, too, because sometimes things that look horribly plain in naked basswood look horribly over-fixed once they've been clad in brick, stone, etc.</div>
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Thoughts? How's everyone else doing their windows?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-28210561049800430812012-10-06T19:21:00.001-04:002012-10-10T11:11:04.832-04:00Haunted Beacon Hill Porch--Gothic Makeover<div style="text-align: justify;">
The original Beacon Hill, while lovely, doesn't necessarily lend itself to a Gothic theme. To that end, I've been giving it a little facelift. It's really still in the beginning stages, so you'll have to use your imagination a bit, but I figured I'd share what I've done so far. </div>
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This is how it started: <br />
<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;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSKo_HzuKbGp2B1oVuL0mKAoiE1KLb_6D6Ef8spcFbBG335XrX5L-XU0tPNVCOf8iXT-y-FJMjeghP4FPpfOqv1tQke0G0yBBXwCO-oaPxojgOOskJmU28umRY1QoEx-E18iT3Bg4-1U/s400/original+beacon+hill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original Beacon Hill, photo courtesy of Greenleaf.</td></tr>
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First, of course, I <a href="http://glorioustwelfth.blogspot.com/2012/09/haunted-beacon-hill-greenhousedining.html" target="_blank">enlarged the dining room</a> and <a href="http://glorioustwelfth.blogspot.com/2012/10/haunted-beacon-hill-shell-so-far.html" target="_blank">built out the basement</a>. My next challenge is to update the facade of the house itself and, so far, I've started on the porch and one of the windows. When complete, it'll be a combination of red brick and sandstone. The windows are going to be a combination of stained glass and plain, diamond paned glass. The square windows are, I think, going to be (opening) casements.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoD3pOeoBd56DkqTIRVmoLaYHHiMO9fOMhL2ZU897Hfm1CmgPEg4f74p99QZcFnzHDFw5FR5umZT9WVf3g4I_evgM38MAnemDFr1D8Iiceq9uwu6Gmii4N3AYF7hwqa3z3Q_3GEjfPCY/s400/IMG_3224.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The house so far.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkewdv50_vzSxxO1QMt8r2dA68QnQFe9zq0wNEdfFjkpEG1bZ7wq1vk8YvfF0cdBMLaKSEgC0oNzYBaNfimynBKm45JnGXKjHcKugKp2C1Xqc_Gziw1daYfsddE7yLIYC2D0zR13aDTN4/s1600/IMG_3211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkewdv50_vzSxxO1QMt8r2dA68QnQFe9zq0wNEdfFjkpEG1bZ7wq1vk8YvfF0cdBMLaKSEgC0oNzYBaNfimynBKm45JnGXKjHcKugKp2C1Xqc_Gziw1daYfsddE7yLIYC2D0zR13aDTN4/s400/IMG_3211.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the halfway point...</td></tr>
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I lengthened the porch and added a front cupola. The design is inspired by various stone colonnades I've seen in real life. This is a great excuse, since I've always wanted to build one. Eventually, there'll be a slight pitch on the porch roof, which will be copper. I'm also waiting on the gable trim, and still making the crenelations.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY9MIkrTqje_o5AjittNtVaD7iUzWQrqCjCBo4oAh9G4Rm0c-LOnPxVkCnACSTnoKInOvGQ9PKvA-GmzsQIIJ6MkTobFvNkUevZoNM9WVQOaK1gai38orZ77btXGJk6ZsNCYdmnZ5t4k/s1600/IMG_3212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPY9MIkrTqje_o5AjittNtVaD7iUzWQrqCjCBo4oAh9G4Rm0c-LOnPxVkCnACSTnoKInOvGQ9PKvA-GmzsQIIJ6MkTobFvNkUevZoNM9WVQOaK1gai38orZ77btXGJk6ZsNCYdmnZ5t4k/s400/IMG_3212.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coasters make great weights!</td></tr>
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The columns are an amalgam of found items. The bases are wood spools from Michael's; the columns themselves are 1/4" dowels, and the caps are--again--wood spools that I cut in half. So far, I'm pretty pleased with the results--and the price! I think they'll look fairly convincing once they've been made into "stone." And with all these arches, my Dremel is getting a good workout! I come up from the basement literally coated in sawdust; hours later, it's still sifting down out of my hair.</div>
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Then, while I waited for a few things to dry, I started on the front bay window. No, not everything on this house is going to be pointy, but I thought it suited the shape! It's still a little plain looking, because I'm leaving room for decorative carvings.</div>
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Eventually the crenelations will carry around the front of the porch and cupola, as well.</div>
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So that's where I am right now. It's starting to look a little bit different, which is gratifying. Tomorrow I'm going to start on the rest of the windows and, once I'm finished with the basic wood shapes, I'll start on the carvings, ahem, Sculpey. At first I was worried that sandstone would look too cheerful, but then I figured, hey, it works on Disney's Haunted Mansion, right?</div>
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Thoughts?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-19117418511220077402012-10-04T15:46:00.000-04:002012-10-04T15:46:11.838-04:00Haunted Beacon Hill--Shell So Far<div style="text-align: justify;">
So I've been spending a few late nights (and really early mornings) working on the Beacon Hill. While I haven't gotten as far as I'd like, I'm pretty pleased with what I have managed to get done. There's still a lot of foundation work left to do--particularly on the cliffs/landscaping, front porch, and catacombs--but at least now, finally, the house's ultimate form is starting to emerge.</div>
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First, I built the "basement" level, which will also support the landscaping. I've left most of the trim off the house, because I plan on doing some serious renovations. The porch in particular is going to look <i>very</i> different once I'm done with it. The roof is half built, because I'm considering hiding some wiring in the gaps. </div>
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Yes, it's huge.<br />
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This form will eventually be covered with paper clay and painted, so it looks like cliffs instead of floral foam.</div>
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The catacombs (which are loosely based on some real life catacombs) are going to be a combination of brick and stone. Adding this in was actually Jim's idea--he has very good ones, and is quite patient in listening to me rant about dollhouses--and I really like how it's turning out. Catacombs say, "this is a haunted house," without being too obvious about it. You need a few creepy elements, right?</div>
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The "altar" area is missing--well, apart from the actual altar--its decoration. It'll look better once I'm done with it, I promise! </div>
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The beginnings of a hidden staircase... <br />
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Then, upstairs, the dining room is now a reasonable size. <br />
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I more or less have the design for the parlor worked out...I think. One issue, design-wise, that I'm having is I'm not quite sure where to put the lighting. I know where to put the hidden lighting (just to give some sense of ambient light) but as for sconces, ceiling fixtures, etc...ugh. This house is roughly 1880's, so gas light is appropriate--but how much of it?</div>
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I have big plans for that poor stove. I'm really looking forward to finishing both sides of the basement. The storeroom will be fun to decorate...if I ever get there. So far, I'm going at the pace of snail.</div>
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The cliffs are mostly still a work in progress--but a fun one! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFrVLTZmmxZTOkKO5qnC8Sm6QwBGj9WmdIt8ed8EOobOxuADUp7-lNwrehDtYKtng6bbrfnnb1-KXaNogvRWwOi05qbYt_m-u3ZLjaZHlmr5U5dBD2FwHDt9vAikhz635ybcKC0e0GBM/s1600/IMG_3196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFrVLTZmmxZTOkKO5qnC8Sm6QwBGj9WmdIt8ed8EOobOxuADUp7-lNwrehDtYKtng6bbrfnnb1-KXaNogvRWwOi05qbYt_m-u3ZLjaZHlmr5U5dBD2FwHDt9vAikhz635ybcKC0e0GBM/s400/IMG_3196.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This bizarre half round shape is going to be a little formal garden with a balustrade. I've seen arrangements like this in real life, both here and overseas, and think it suits the general theme. Plus, it's a good excuse to use my <a href="http://www.suecookminiatures.com/shop/index.php" target="_blank">Sue Cook sundial</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXFYo7XA50gNP584-uk5eGhtVwzZ7BGebBN_gb89mvwYwiJUG9gWeOnz7-iC1Nfs9KrC89C9FEMRSTS7PvMqZpcSutFzvqovV3mzP6ykYB1EDfv9m1m6_s4P5pCztk75Mo2Zc3D4Oe0w/s1600/IMG_3197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcXFYo7XA50gNP584-uk5eGhtVwzZ7BGebBN_gb89mvwYwiJUG9gWeOnz7-iC1Nfs9KrC89C9FEMRSTS7PvMqZpcSutFzvqovV3mzP6ykYB1EDfv9m1m6_s4P5pCztk75Mo2Zc3D4Oe0w/s400/IMG_3197.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is what I suppose will end up being the master bedroom, but I'm running short of inspiration for it at the moment.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4l3g2bRg6XA6GI9crCIGFGzQyDiXsbewVyM0glR9T50q8WE1-LBGreTx7Uw_qDWbJMu0t7WApJZDUgAmYMTJQqdUqGNKECgi4m37xKipfWizMqPek2ECuGDlPrxQJj6-74_LnbtLBXo/s1600/IMG_3198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4l3g2bRg6XA6GI9crCIGFGzQyDiXsbewVyM0glR9T50q8WE1-LBGreTx7Uw_qDWbJMu0t7WApJZDUgAmYMTJQqdUqGNKECgi4m37xKipfWizMqPek2ECuGDlPrxQJj6-74_LnbtLBXo/s400/IMG_3198.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is probably meant to be the bathroom, but I'm going to turn it into a small library. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiwdsH_xWqiUCP-xs50ycKiY2KWT84mNCGi-JhibIbxZ5n6v-2us91UPuS-9OXAqvnUYohaypGoi-T82ryqr3LfsthJXURtrcTfeeEK9L8p5LT2KK5D20r-C2O42OeTosiUpUluxaSwM/s1600/IMG_3199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiwdsH_xWqiUCP-xs50ycKiY2KWT84mNCGi-JhibIbxZ5n6v-2us91UPuS-9OXAqvnUYohaypGoi-T82ryqr3LfsthJXURtrcTfeeEK9L8p5LT2KK5D20r-C2O42OeTosiUpUluxaSwM/s400/IMG_3199.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is going to be a wizardly sort of little office area. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileO0q55n_asFwvZG5MpvsMUgdGd3KZOqAe5BnD_VgGQUJ-AacFn4IZ2EiJwviDLQAWRjO05gwzBQHivPg6wr882tPcaFTiCrUP_sTpXe74s5SNf8FAqV619ehoIcrwHyT4_-Vm0cypNc/s1600/IMG_3200.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEileO0q55n_asFwvZG5MpvsMUgdGd3KZOqAe5BnD_VgGQUJ-AacFn4IZ2EiJwviDLQAWRjO05gwzBQHivPg6wr882tPcaFTiCrUP_sTpXe74s5SNf8FAqV619ehoIcrwHyT4_-Vm0cypNc/s320/IMG_3200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And this will be another bedroom. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vi8_Albk8Zmc7SvChyphenhyphenAgBzChzWqgJPOrXVI-OwNfeYwMKmGnqLhzxFW6ep_AVWlVEwhqE2VsJw7DP4apAmtlR1NqAdo39l_nRJFd8X9y0veqfOk_StQHPWliriPsBBbbQVd6bxKuzcw/s1600/IMG_3201.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4vi8_Albk8Zmc7SvChyphenhyphenAgBzChzWqgJPOrXVI-OwNfeYwMKmGnqLhzxFW6ep_AVWlVEwhqE2VsJw7DP4apAmtlR1NqAdo39l_nRJFd8X9y0veqfOk_StQHPWliriPsBBbbQVd6bxKuzcw/s320/IMG_3201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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As you've undoubtedly noticed, the tower is sort of floating on top of the house. I'm leaving it detachable until I've finished decorating it; I envision it as some sort of little stargazing/spellcraft nook. The roof is going to be glass. It's a <i>very</i> small space, but I have high hopes.</div>
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After I finish the basic wood forms for the catacombs, my next project will be extending the porch and giving it a Gothic flair.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRMFSc2-rZaBnaNBh7LT61KuUK5ct_fF6ZKpyxUb_73NxV3XEsG9X0IU-uOLQlCWrG7F0dby5AlLfc0dX8NdZ4jGMMuIUXQplGWUFa85uvqQUrOYgxxLUsnMeqgZ25qQAXdmdbb5lwLc/s1600/IMG_3202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRMFSc2-rZaBnaNBh7LT61KuUK5ct_fF6ZKpyxUb_73NxV3XEsG9X0IU-uOLQlCWrG7F0dby5AlLfc0dX8NdZ4jGMMuIUXQplGWUFa85uvqQUrOYgxxLUsnMeqgZ25qQAXdmdbb5lwLc/s400/IMG_3202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OJABhneblBg1ksf9zvCtBE2i2inrZ74Hy9p1bUbmdhW89nOinrhF6SkuMmO3-AL6xGRyfJLIIOuEclN9mH7xKhXbXIaOGN_hzM2Y-Li6lxlqPISCJdpMOUTPIkj_G0Nwx-i1xpFZd00/s1600/IMG_3203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OJABhneblBg1ksf9zvCtBE2i2inrZ74Hy9p1bUbmdhW89nOinrhF6SkuMmO3-AL6xGRyfJLIIOuEclN9mH7xKhXbXIaOGN_hzM2Y-Li6lxlqPISCJdpMOUTPIkj_G0Nwx-i1xpFZd00/s400/IMG_3203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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So that's it so far! If you want to know how I did anything, let me know and I'll write about it.C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-3715042718399843762012-09-28T12:59:00.005-04:002012-09-28T12:59:38.815-04:00REVIEW: Rigid 10" 15 amp Heavy Duty Portable Table Saw<div style="text-align: justify;">
After finally getting to use it a little bit, I was so impressed that I decided to write a review and share my thoughts. I bought mine at Home Depot; you can look at the saw itself <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100090444/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=rigid+table+saw&storeId=10051#.UGXSHhgZx7w" target="_blank">here</a>. The first and biggest issue is the price. This is a very expensive saw. Not Rockler Hardware-expensive, but quite a bit of money nonetheless. And, well, if your household is anything like mine, money is at a premium. So I felt a little crazy, and a little stupid spending so much money on a product that, at the time, I knew nothing about.</div>
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Unless you have friends with cool tools, who'll let you practice on them, buying any new tool is sort of a stab in the dark. Lots of highly rated things suck, and lots of inexpensive, unexciting things (like the craft brushes at Michael's) actually rule. Well, after finally getting the saw home--if you're picking it up yourself, bring a buddy; this thing's heavy--and getting it into our backyard utility area, we were faced with the challenge of actually putting it together. Jim ended up doing it for me, which was very nice of him.</div>
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It's not actually that difficult to assemble, but the instructions are confusing. It took Jim about an hour. Not what you'd call "plug and play," but still not horrifying.</div>
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Almost all table saws come with a blade, but it's usually an all-purpose blade more suited to ripping plywood than doing anything interesting. So in addition to the saw, I bought a couple of Diablo blades. I personally like Diablo; I think their products are well-made. And, honestly, getting the right blade is important. I was going to be cutting a lot of MDF, so I looked for a blade specifically designed to cut MDF. If you're trying to cut something and the motor is whining, or the piece itself is dragging, <i>you're using the wrong blade</i>. The right blade should cut evenly and effortlessly.</div>
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Having said all that, here's why I like this saw:</div>
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<li>A lot of portable saws are very rickety. This one isn't. The base (Rigid calls it a "table saw utility vehicle") is extremely sturdy, even on uneven ground. I was using mine over peastone, and it was solid as a rock.</li>
<li>It has good functionality, and all the functions are easy to access. I raised and lowered the blade, changed the angle of the blade, and changed the angle of the table itself quickly and painlessly. Sometimes, changing things around can distract you and take up a lot of time, so this is important.</li>
<li>The table extenders are also sturdy, and I had no problem cutting 24" pieces. The left rip capacity is 12", and the right rip capacity is 25". But I cut a 48" piece down to 38" with no problem.</li>
<li>The mitre gauge slots are extremely smoothly machined. Surprisingly, this is an issue I've had on lots of tools: my jig fits into one slot but not the other, or the slots are so burred up that my jig doesn't slide smoothly at all. Which, well, makes for some funny-shaped pieces of wood. Another nice feature is that there are mitre gauge slots on either side of the blade. The only jig the saw comes with is, well, a mitre gauge but that's an important one and it's also very accurate.</li>
<li>While I don't have specifics on tolerances, I found that even cutting a long (4') piece of MDF into thin (2.5") strips, the saw handled the vibration well. Sometimes, you can end up with one end being narrower than the other, etc, but I measured all of my pieces and they were completely uniform.</li>
<li>It comes with a nice hooked pusher that really works well.</li>
<li>There's a 2" dust port, which you NEED. I cannot even tell you how much sawdust I accidentally blew through the living room window. I also accidentally coated my husband in sawdust.</li>
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The one thing I really wish it had was variable speed, but so far I've actually been completely happy with the saw as-is. All in all, it cuts like a dream. The blade guard and anti-kickback pauls work, but don't get in the way. Finally, too, the saw comes with an important safety feature that (surprisingly, to me at least) not all saws have: an ignition key. You can't start the saw without it, and since the key is small and portable, it's easy to keep out of small hands. Considering that a blade going at 4400 rpm could easily take a finger off, this is important.</div>
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All in all, I think it's worth the money. And between this and my MicroLux, I now have the ability to make pretty much every cut in the book. Which, well, that's a lot of versatility in not a lot of space.</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-32750621114994775762012-09-28T11:34:00.001-04:002012-09-28T11:34:43.002-04:00The Hobby Lobby Petition<div style="text-align: justify;">
One of the great things about miniatures, as a hobby, is that it's an escape from the real world--and a chance to create your own, better world. Nobody wants a political rant. And, while I'm certainly not trying to keep my own views a secret, I also don't think it's appropriate to preach at people. We're all different, we all have different beliefs, and diversity is a wonderful thing. The last thing I would ever want is for someone to feel like they can't be my friend, because we disagree.</div>
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But, for informational purposes only, sometimes it's good to share. And some of you might not know about <a href="http://www.news9.com/story/19655382/oklahoma-pastors-to-deliver-petitions-to-hobby-lobby" target="_blank">this petition</a>. I, personally, like to know what stores, distributors, and manufacturers support so that I can make my purchases accordingly.</div>
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Thoughts?</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-42041415746975378712012-09-26T19:30:00.003-04:002012-09-26T19:30:32.303-04:00They Used To Call Me Reggie<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okay, so this totally has nothing to do with miniatures at all. But one of the comments reminded me of my childhood. My grandmother was a wonderful woman but--like me--she had problems coming up with people's (and things') names. So she'd call me, and I wouldn't realize she was calling me, because she'd call me one name after another--Eddie (my grandfather), Charlie (my cousin), Lachie (my great aunt).</div>
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And when she was really, really aggravated she'd yell "REGGIE!!!"</div>
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Reggie was my dog.</div>
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Like most terriers, he had a very well-developed sense of propriety. After my parents took over my grandparent's house (we were all still living together so this was a formality), my dad decided that it was time to remove the sticker on the stove. You know, the price sticker. That had been there since 1945. </div>
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Well, Reggie trotted into the kitchen, saw the discolored spot where the sticker used to be, and started barking. And barking. My dad put him out of the kitchen and shut the door, but Reggie hurled himself against it so hard that we were worried he'd hurt himself. So we let him back in...and he went right back to the stove, positioned himself in front of it, and started to bark. Finally, my dad took us to the movies.</div>
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He couldn't stand it anymore. </div>
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When we came back, there was poor Reggie, barking at the sticker. Only, having long since lost his voice, his barks came out more like gasps. My dad, resigned and defeated, fished the sticker out of the trash and put it back onto the stove. Reggie wagged his little stump of a tail and trotted off.</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-51263126219604070342012-09-26T10:55:00.004-04:002012-09-26T10:55:51.395-04:00The Tools I Use<div style="text-align: justify;">
I thought about going around and taking pictures of all of them, but then wondered, does anyone even want to see them? Plus, too, my newest toy isn't yet out of its box. Jim and Jackson went to Home Depot with me yesterday before work, and we got some MDF panels, too. They're pretty good sports.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSmKZemzle7foFVlJSl9_mdll0-JUt_9SbcWUYazW37QXWfZf3sm1Xoohhh04cXpqJA5y9WDMEJ3wmeSA_KG5Zh9FQ7JtbHY5H9mh3wggqR2xsoVsDdOaaWWAJhlkY-MFl3uOazhI5Ns/s1600/IMG_2808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSmKZemzle7foFVlJSl9_mdll0-JUt_9SbcWUYazW37QXWfZf3sm1Xoohhh04cXpqJA5y9WDMEJ3wmeSA_KG5Zh9FQ7JtbHY5H9mh3wggqR2xsoVsDdOaaWWAJhlkY-MFl3uOazhI5Ns/s400/IMG_2808.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackson in his jumperoo; he turned 5 months two </td></tr>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEiTlei685CCJzbaEbvQ0z0qSplz_GE-d-IdCn8DU7RtlPVvYTWlUgNTmbvwLfQM6khyphenhyphendcvJIlNGXePwK6x4h5EdduFX9EUpzkse8XWmqhgNOSYeA0gkxth_t4e6TDt9VED-X1S9N35A/s1600/IMG_2952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTEiTlei685CCJzbaEbvQ0z0qSplz_GE-d-IdCn8DU7RtlPVvYTWlUgNTmbvwLfQM6khyphenhyphendcvJIlNGXePwK6x4h5EdduFX9EUpzkse8XWmqhgNOSYeA0gkxth_t4e6TDt9VED-X1S9N35A/s400/IMG_2952.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">London feels left out.</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yesterday, I purchased a Rigid 10" 15 amp table saw with a portable stand. Due to my oft-discussed space issues, I'll be using it outside. </div>
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I also have a MicroLux Tilt Arbor Table Saw, which is what I do most of my fine cuts on. I bought this to replace the PREAC. I had two PREAC saws for years, and was not happy with them. My biggest issues were vibration and lack of variability. I found it very difficult to achieve precise cuts, because the PREAC just wasn't calibrated right. My MicroLux, however, is accurate to within 0.03 mm, which makes a <i>huge</i> difference to the final product. Also, because it tilts, fits larger blades, has a variable speed motor, etc, it's much more versatile.</div>
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The only thing I miss about the PREAC is Pete Boorum's jigs, but jig making isn't that hard and you can always make your own. <a href="http://www.micromark.com/" target="_blank">Micro-Mark</a> sells some pretty good accessories, including a nice feather board. I also have their anti-vibration pad, which works great and is worth the comparatively small investment. My workbenches are kind of old and warped--they came with the house, which was built in '38--and the anti-vibration pad even works in that less than ideal situation.</div>
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After experimenting with several different Dremel products over the years--I've owned an embarrassing number of tools that didn't quite work out--I settled on the Dremel 4000. Not all Dremels are created equal, and the less expensive, less powerful ones aren't always up to the tasks I have in mind for them. I love dremelling, and most of my projects, large and small, feature some. I used my Dremel to create the arches in the greenhouse; I cut two arch pieces, placed them back to back, and used my Dremel to create the actual arch shape. It's a lot easier to create a composite Gothic arch out of two pieces of wood, than try to get that perfect little point.</div>
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I have both a MicroLux electric mitre saw and a regular old box-style mitre saw. I use the cheap one more. Spending a lot of money on a mitre saw is, I've discovered, like spending a lot of money on a bottle of champagne or a serrated blade knife: past a point, not worth it. Korbel tastes better than Veuve Cliquot, and our OXO serrated knives work great. Our Shun knives, however, are worth every penny.</div>
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I love 3M sanding sponges. The best sanding supplies are made for the automotive industry.</div>
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I don't have an airbrush, but I'm seriously considering getting one.</div>
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I like X-ACTO #11 blades, #2 pencils, and metal rulers.</div>
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I stopped using T-squares awhile ago. Even the really expensive ones are often slightly off-angle. But speed squares still rule--and, for some reason, are generally cheaper and better made. Huh?</div>
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I only use Olfa self-healing cutting mats.</div>
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To be honest, my favorite brushes are the synthetic bristle ones available at Michael's. It's all about the quality of the bristles and the actual construction of the brush, not the brand name. A set of several costs about five bucks and, on the whole, they're better brushes than some brushes I've paid twenty times that for. </div>
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Q-tips rule, and that is all.</div>
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Everything I make, I make with these tools. </div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-31962996130552910722012-09-25T18:28:00.004-04:002012-09-25T18:30:40.810-04:00I Have A New Table Saw!Hooray!<br />
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I just had to share. I have small table saws, suitable for most miniatures applications, but nothing large enough to, say, cut huge, unwieldy sheets of MDF with. It's gotten really frustrating, being dependent on other people for services I can perform for myself--like cutting certain sizes of plywood, etc. I'm a competent woodworker and, besides, this stuff is not rocket science. Since I'm now at the point where <a href="http://glorioustwelfth.blogspot.com/2012/09/haunted-beacon-hill-greenhousedining.html" target="_blank">I really need to start building the Haunted Beacon Hill's basement</a>, now's the time.</div>
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What finally pushed me over the edge was a semi-unpleasant conversation with a supplier of custom cut MDF panels. Who basically told me he was too busy to walk to the post office, but if I wanted to arrange a courier to come to his shop, that would be OK--and he'd bill me for his trouble. So, um, yeah.</div>
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Will my new toy pay for itself any time soon? </div>
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Probably only with sanity points!</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-67671510549501994122012-09-25T16:22:00.003-04:002012-09-25T16:22:57.910-04:00What You May Not Know<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've been really gratified by the nice comments I've received on this blog, and, in general, with the kind, generous, thoughtful and talented people I've met while roaming around the interwebz. You've all been far, far nicer than I deserve! In particular, recently, one tutorial of mine has gotten a little bit of notice: <a href="http://glorioustwelfth.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-make-really-authentic-dollhouse.html" target="_blank">How To Make A Really Authentic Dollhouse Miniature Thatched Roof</a>. And I would like you all to know that, initially, I got so much negative feedback that I almost took it down entirely.</div>
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I remember back when I was 15, I was so ridiculously proud of myself because I was exhibiting a painting in my first real (as real as it's apt to get when you're 15) art show. Sure, I was all pompous and self important about it but, underneath it all, I was just so <i>excited</i>. A local artist who'd had some modest success came over to me and told me that I shouldn't sell my piece; I should keep it as a souvenir of that time in my life when I <i>thought</i> I had it in me to become a professional artist. I could look back on it, he said, and laugh at how deluded I'd been.</div>
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Yeah, well. Happiness is the best revenge, right? It wasn't until years later that I realized, wow, for him--for a grown man--to be talking to a kid that way, he must have some really serious issues of his own.</div>
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After I first wrote this tutorial, which was initially created for a miniatures magazine, I received quite a long email from a comparatively well known miniaturist. He absolutely <i>lambasted</i> me, going into--in gruesome detail--everything that was wrong with my technique. Principally, he seemed very worried that this wasn't how real thatched roofs were made. To which my response was kind of like, um, yeah, very little about dollhouses resembles real life building. The walls of my house aren't made of MDF, either.</div>
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But, basically, he wanted to make very sure that I understood what a rotten miniaturist I was, and requested that I withdraw my article from publication lest I lead other miniaturists astray. He then went on to, rather tiresomely--and predictably--extoll the virtues of his own carefully honed technique. Which, he assured me, was far superior and I'd serve myself better by coping him rather than coming up with ridiculous, bad plans of my own. </div>
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The then-editor of the magazine informed me--having also been aware of the article's apparent deficiencies--that I shouldn't feel bad, their magazine published how-to articles of all types, even those more suited to remedial miniaturists.</div>
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Luckily, I have a healthy artist's ego!</div>
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Listen, I'm no one's motivational speaker--I usually offend people when I try--but the moral of this story is, it's YOUR project, YOUR hobby, YOUR investment, and YOUR imagination. Do what you want. Some people may not like it, but some people don't like much of anything and they're not living your life, anyway.</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-16699145253382665422012-09-24T08:37:00.000-04:002012-09-24T08:37:24.220-04:00Haunted Beacon Hill--Greenhouse/Dining Room Addition Part I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
It's been a frustrating few weeks--miniatures-wise and life-wise. First, and please feel free to skip over this part if it's boring--we're not moving, after all. I'd been led to believe some things that, well, in the end turned out not to be true. After the initial devastation I realized that, oddly, I wasn't nearly as upset as I'd thought. Fortunately, neither was anyone else in our family. You see, in the end, I'd built up the idea of moving home into something it wasn't. Home used to be Maine; for years, I'd dreamed of moving back to Maine full time. And it was fun spending part of the year up there, with my family, playing outdoors, showing them where I grew up, etc etc etc. But I realized, in realizing some other things, that Maine wasn't home anymore and that wasn't such a bad thing. Home had somehow, over time, become Massachusetts. Which is where we are now.</div>
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We almost got very badly cheated on what would've been a very large land deal and, to be honest, I've no desire to live next door to people who approach life that way. It seems that cheating me was OK, though, because--somewhere in those same gray mists of time--I'd become a "summer person." Well, I guess this means I'm moving up in the world!</div>
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Anyway, moving on...</div>
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My "Haunted Beacon Hill" is also moving up in the world. Its design keeps evolving; the more I work on it, the more complicated it becomes! From the get-go, I had some modifications in mind (adding a basement scullery being chief among them), but when I actually started putting the kit together, really saw it in the flesh, I realized a few things. I haven't even started on the basement yet, but it'll house a kitchen, pantry, and servant's room. My inspiration, here, was the fact that the house, as-is, really has too small of a footprint to do itself justice. Such a grand house really wouldn't have a combination front hall/dining room. A medieval-type cottage, sure...but a Gothic Victorian? </div>
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But then, when I actually started putting it together, I realized that my new dining room (what's meant to be the kitchen, in the kit) was just way too small--for a dining room <i>or</i> a kitchen. Which gave me the idea of extending it. Which gave me the idea of attaching a greenhouse. My grandparents' old house had a greenhouse off the dining room, which I always loved.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNyxEFc6VdkpaB8m0ziX-KbvLLlsIjKQ9tWRLeylQ9ab82ZUf3IVUvGTfyYjHojpI6wSVzewjWQ70oNowVspgv77AmNjCf3s558-IqcYx3hT-z_-NRVpWtEdAR284HYp-4VRnEt8aVtI/s1600/IMG_2972.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNyxEFc6VdkpaB8m0ziX-KbvLLlsIjKQ9tWRLeylQ9ab82ZUf3IVUvGTfyYjHojpI6wSVzewjWQ70oNowVspgv77AmNjCf3s558-IqcYx3hT-z_-NRVpWtEdAR284HYp-4VRnEt8aVtI/s400/IMG_2972.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just three additional inches take this room from so small as to be completely useless to really fairly nicely sized.</td></tr>
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I started out with a couple of Greenleaf greenhouse kits. After playing around with them for awhile, I decided they needed some kit-bashing--both for Gothic features, and for sturdiness. I decided that Gothic-style arches would look good.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFSWH8q8YKPvcotTC6slj6cbktB1_3QNlraLnkfnoP3duKaJux39nxOTj41_J-yrTlEy6P0M44Ro4VxRlL11xGskt0sWAAlJbDdkhmWx12ECy_v6BvYTpOQiMz_WHmQQR4a-NzoXD7c0/s1600/IMG_2973.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglFSWH8q8YKPvcotTC6slj6cbktB1_3QNlraLnkfnoP3duKaJux39nxOTj41_J-yrTlEy6P0M44Ro4VxRlL11xGskt0sWAAlJbDdkhmWx12ECy_v6BvYTpOQiMz_WHmQQR4a-NzoXD7c0/s400/IMG_2973.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HMP2UoUjZS9aW2RBjcoVoRfG9dlmwAcDnz-FKTqoQUOMRng5w33pIr2P2eBddCt3Pw2v0Il_oUMabFHDcbTpy0UPC66HX4WKyASczqMOhVN8_UXQ1DizWUC5Cza5WeqYOQCcgT2E1y4/s1600/IMG_2974.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HMP2UoUjZS9aW2RBjcoVoRfG9dlmwAcDnz-FKTqoQUOMRng5w33pIr2P2eBddCt3Pw2v0Il_oUMabFHDcbTpy0UPC66HX4WKyASczqMOhVN8_UXQ1DizWUC5Cza5WeqYOQCcgT2E1y4/s400/IMG_2974.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first set of arches I cut turned out to be the wrong thickness of wood.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2iKiOI8dV2qfrm-VdVjZ1KfKKTmaZWtioDrm_9ktTAvMrup-cfCRWV6kZOtA_L5fA-dKcG9Fk_K2WEZS2WAlHZopID8bEgIq4PH0umM06qnpiYaQ4tPISAP4ph-HnGaMfQvlBwGOKjQ/s1600/IMG_2975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2iKiOI8dV2qfrm-VdVjZ1KfKKTmaZWtioDrm_9ktTAvMrup-cfCRWV6kZOtA_L5fA-dKcG9Fk_K2WEZS2WAlHZopID8bEgIq4PH0umM06qnpiYaQ4tPISAP4ph-HnGaMfQvlBwGOKjQ/s400/IMG_2975.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second set of arches I cut turned out to be the wrong shape. I will find a use for this plentitude of wasted arches...somehow. Luckily, my third set worked out.</td></tr>
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I built out the dining room foundation, creating a platform for the greenhouse. Here, I'm attaching the stairs. Which, in of themselves, were a serious effort. These pictures, sadly, represent an entire weekend's work. I wasn't entirely sure of where I was going--this is how most of my designs start out, to be honest--and so made quite a few mistakes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cEKhHHO8pcKK5D7VIBMdBfz_9Hx72d1-GiDlbim1q0a1nFzJ2vs6l1pF-vR7rNuBhDFGLwC7CfcDWkzZUUA-Aoz9HRPYvrNX_sUQyOUxLJon_We3rJY6_6m4w1eagj9-zDJ324lAlbQ/s1600/IMG_2977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cEKhHHO8pcKK5D7VIBMdBfz_9Hx72d1-GiDlbim1q0a1nFzJ2vs6l1pF-vR7rNuBhDFGLwC7CfcDWkzZUUA-Aoz9HRPYvrNX_sUQyOUxLJon_We3rJY6_6m4w1eagj9-zDJ324lAlbQ/s400/IMG_2977.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Somehow, the platform ended up being too short. Oh, well. The platform, steps and retaining wall are all just forms; I intend to cover them with brick (platform and steps) and stone (retaining wall) cladding. Or, more precisely, egg cartons but that's way, <i>way</i> far away.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhximT-LOpz8S_kVGo2n5Ammcjt8iUUx7qhnESqE-L02Xb9F5aPUmdCpaKCj__Q8rrhtDI6e_U1Tvrq0_fXA_l-ExWkBHDHvZi9YlvXxP21w4CqG7_g-C03MQilt_xafJhplHG0ZMYBG4o/s1600/IMG_2978.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhximT-LOpz8S_kVGo2n5Ammcjt8iUUx7qhnESqE-L02Xb9F5aPUmdCpaKCj__Q8rrhtDI6e_U1Tvrq0_fXA_l-ExWkBHDHvZi9YlvXxP21w4CqG7_g-C03MQilt_xafJhplHG0ZMYBG4o/s400/IMG_2978.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The not quite a tile decoration is something I picked up at a show years ago. I can't decide whether I want to make that up to go here, or whether I'm putting in a wall fountain. One is on its way from Sue Cook Miniatures; I'll decide when I have them to compare side by side.</td></tr>
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This is just a dry-fit. I'm going to paint and lead the greenhouse separately. Scale-wise, this looks to me like wood frame supports rather than individual panels. Instead of using lead tape to make the panes, however, I'll be using copper. Which, admittedly, is something of an experiment--although I have high hopes. Copper tape is very thin and bendy (being used on tiny stained glass parts) and, most importantly, doesn't contain lead. Not that it's a good idea to eat copper, either, but some craft supplies are not meant to share the house with young children. According to the CDC, home crafting accidents are actually one of the top causes of lead poisoning in children under five.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwFLSRksMyH6-EfRCewP5kCrKP1Ur-6xtQNGbRXzdfPJ_56OvFfPXCNG93ycG1jy8WoTjQljNKKmbIHV2mztN38NVvOJYVN3XVvfV7aTrlysig9qTNbtlxTGet23xrb2GQJC7MRoW7no/s1600/IMG_2979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwFLSRksMyH6-EfRCewP5kCrKP1Ur-6xtQNGbRXzdfPJ_56OvFfPXCNG93ycG1jy8WoTjQljNKKmbIHV2mztN38NVvOJYVN3XVvfV7aTrlysig9qTNbtlxTGet23xrb2GQJC7MRoW7no/s400/IMG_2979.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I built out the front part of the platform, so everything would be proportional.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxjSKdwvdy6D9i_HPLB9zHkwfsH_ipi4c-WaQX0jg01ateuIMTUGgxIISXivf1AbNhXZqC1sgklDJtSJeAksMLsUMF9WfvyQN1sh8IuJwC1GHwn1a_ykUBbjZCMRqt7vK6BwLXeVO5xQ/s1600/IMG_2980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxjSKdwvdy6D9i_HPLB9zHkwfsH_ipi4c-WaQX0jg01ateuIMTUGgxIISXivf1AbNhXZqC1sgklDJtSJeAksMLsUMF9WfvyQN1sh8IuJwC1GHwn1a_ykUBbjZCMRqt7vK6BwLXeVO5xQ/s400/IMG_2980.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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You can see, pretty clearly, where the kit leaves off and my design begins. My add-ons are all 3/32" basswood. I was ridiculously pleased with myself that, ultimately, everything did go together more or less the way it was supposed to.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVMwNW0YszY6L0892lSUdRbyP2b0HI6Zwjspy7je63nbCw3gip1AemP7ll0N1YJzKVIfJ-JFm59xJSYSJ2_GfNmZx-yfhyi3efKIhyrNBVJY7NgzSJxpHi6BWCZBZb29epnfwELnrSQU/s1600/IMG_2981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxVMwNW0YszY6L0892lSUdRbyP2b0HI6Zwjspy7je63nbCw3gip1AemP7ll0N1YJzKVIfJ-JFm59xJSYSJ2_GfNmZx-yfhyi3efKIhyrNBVJY7NgzSJxpHi6BWCZBZb29epnfwELnrSQU/s400/IMG_2981.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've seen arches like this on real greenhouses.</td></tr>
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I was disappointed to discover that the kit's roof wouldn't line up correctly...but then I made my own and was much happier with that, anyway! There are support beams under the supports; I left those taped on, for ease of fitting in the "glass." Ultimately, this turned into a pleasantly sturdy little item!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsA8Aw5jmT9284mfy-ZyKqJBuuWN6TUYTNv-9AO8ALfG82QWPJcKpOKXA850JiytuuSdFRFw0-JZeu8E8Zi4wCRt8DM3uA5YDqSN_20wb2RxhI5nIJ8O2ekrOJEKP-jAQao8_2vQzOwg/s1600/IMG_2982.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMsA8Aw5jmT9284mfy-ZyKqJBuuWN6TUYTNv-9AO8ALfG82QWPJcKpOKXA850JiytuuSdFRFw0-JZeu8E8Zi4wCRt8DM3uA5YDqSN_20wb2RxhI5nIJ8O2ekrOJEKP-jAQao8_2vQzOwg/s400/IMG_2982.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the roof.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqhJMp85-DB-x-T5n1Kq1oyCJyHJ6BTUfvuAuj3kVlTa_nOx-RoXvbE_PE19nN7hz6-Iy0MQS93weN2HDpMwWR0YNrp9GWxt_GsoFZR9iYcgWvss_PnNyD2kF7hkK_X2FeDBmLdZi4aY/s1600/IMG_2983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoqhJMp85-DB-x-T5n1Kq1oyCJyHJ6BTUfvuAuj3kVlTa_nOx-RoXvbE_PE19nN7hz6-Iy0MQS93weN2HDpMwWR0YNrp9GWxt_GsoFZR9iYcgWvss_PnNyD2kF7hkK_X2FeDBmLdZi4aY/s400/IMG_2983.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ultimately, this will have a tile floor.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBVrDY4JEXeKjx10w-zQTM_3qBSGMurg9gShD8FQs4B7qSB2PxpRjlvz1_1l30bAmbaGtKkkuhSZHbj6pQJfdJug2zhusIuWnpevr7l7kvhgqCQT4w57Q6mdc5iF69uGC-3wn8tHLRyA/s1600/IMG_2984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTBVrDY4JEXeKjx10w-zQTM_3qBSGMurg9gShD8FQs4B7qSB2PxpRjlvz1_1l30bAmbaGtKkkuhSZHbj6pQJfdJug2zhusIuWnpevr7l7kvhgqCQT4w57Q6mdc5iF69uGC-3wn8tHLRyA/s400/IMG_2984.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The retaining wall will be stone. Well, "stone."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlNqZKWNDOWd4HdsS9hyphenhyphenQbvLy7Ht7dC0FyjAhOxjeUIvYrKum8udG_tGGSnW63IePvodk3gMa6i0QdLX7CpY6pljjeJQdbxS2AEx-4gnL7JYra5uyYHk3JY-vB9DTEqOOB170KUq8xhY/s1600/IMG_2985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXlNqZKWNDOWd4HdsS9hyphenhyphenQbvLy7Ht7dC0FyjAhOxjeUIvYrKum8udG_tGGSnW63IePvodk3gMa6i0QdLX7CpY6pljjeJQdbxS2AEx-4gnL7JYra5uyYHk3JY-vB9DTEqOOB170KUq8xhY/s400/IMG_2985.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's a somewhat ungainly picture from the front.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are a couple things left to do: build the door, and run some sort of trim along the front where the door-containing panel and angled roof panel meet. I'm thinking something along the lines of a miniature crenellation? Something not-overpowering, that would yet look good in a Gothic setting.</div>
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And yes, in case you're wondering, the door from the dining room to the greenhouse is a bit off-center. This is because I wanted the two dining room doors to line up with each other; I thought a little symmetry would improve the appeal of the room. Not to mention, make it easier to fit furniture in there! I like the way it's come out looking on the outside, though, because it echoes the general heap-ness of this house. There are a number of walls, planes and angles that don't quite line up the way you might expect...and yet, as a cohesive house, it all works. That slight note of...what? Informality? Makes it--to me, anyway--more believable as a Gothic Victorian. The ones I've visited, while strewn with gigantic fireplaces, gargoyles, etc etc etc weren't actually that formal. Which is, in the end, what I suppose I found most appealing about them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qIdrCG7yJFg0JxOIx7LiaBwjIyVr7U9tILUY97rXQouiqYIDwap3CIpqGvx8lsVoCibJF0ErqfmX69-0GvoQMjzVH2ksxNpz1U-rgighL6B0MwUG628FHO-8hgKhwz9z-ewhYy5A7hY/s1600/IMG_2986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qIdrCG7yJFg0JxOIx7LiaBwjIyVr7U9tILUY97rXQouiqYIDwap3CIpqGvx8lsVoCibJF0ErqfmX69-0GvoQMjzVH2ksxNpz1U-rgighL6B0MwUG628FHO-8hgKhwz9z-ewhYy5A7hY/s400/IMG_2986.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnBYEAdxo_gvqtaBn7Dvp20VmpUkRi5o3dDeHF73tUxI7s_PIocwAHuA_uo1o_R1lX3fltrvP7phPbQXue73xYV5Xc2r2aRs89uYi6o1jis0uqxXKb2xy6TF5Ehj_o09V6loHJJ9QjVk/s1600/IMG_2988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRnBYEAdxo_gvqtaBn7Dvp20VmpUkRi5o3dDeHF73tUxI7s_PIocwAHuA_uo1o_R1lX3fltrvP7phPbQXue73xYV5Xc2r2aRs89uYi6o1jis0uqxXKb2xy6TF5Ehj_o09V6loHJJ9QjVk/s400/IMG_2988.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY36Z1NrL4fswums3vTHYm-EyB0WQrNCglLSrHyiXnizQd9leOxO2N9ZpLRPyhpVxyFdiqv60hvvn7L_7bDBR5gElGFBOnven6mTc0rSP70beQ4_2hvneonui69YZJz2Vy9fFLWJc27lw/s1600/IMG_2989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY36Z1NrL4fswums3vTHYm-EyB0WQrNCglLSrHyiXnizQd9leOxO2N9ZpLRPyhpVxyFdiqv60hvvn7L_7bDBR5gElGFBOnven6mTc0rSP70beQ4_2hvneonui69YZJz2Vy9fFLWJc27lw/s400/IMG_2989.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Please ignore the mess! This build is occurring in what is, under
normal conditions, our library. And while I like to think I'm usually
pretty good at cleaning up after myself...I'm a bit overwhelmed with
craft items right now. It's a process. Also, too, between our mountains of laundry, my son's seemingly endless need for storage and my need for natural light, we thought a temporary move upstairs would be best. </div>
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The odd accumulation of items taped to the blank wall don't actually represent anything yet, except a vague idea that "I'd like that space to be more interesting." I'm probably doing some sort of niche, although not quite as massive as what's currently taped there. Once I find a statue that appears to be the right scale, I'll have a better sense of what I'm doing. But I've seen features like this before--I went to college and law school in Boston, where there's a lot of over-ambitious brickwork--so I have high hopes. Ah, how that usually ends...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY6JpbSa0Z-iTYvHnL-stptPhbsPOE7QsPBFWDyt9Ao4BRbCIyIf1JC9vuLOJKh_pVlKWjQYkhmuxbxtPLk-uYXkDiYQ-D6hUI3H154iFMl06u-D-hs3_e1Ls6yEt7M-HPi5Y0PxZYzs/s1600/IMG_2990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlY6JpbSa0Z-iTYvHnL-stptPhbsPOE7QsPBFWDyt9Ao4BRbCIyIf1JC9vuLOJKh_pVlKWjQYkhmuxbxtPLk-uYXkDiYQ-D6hUI3H154iFMl06u-D-hs3_e1Ls6yEt7M-HPi5Y0PxZYzs/s400/IMG_2990.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<br />Thoughts?C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-86195446636952008512012-09-10T20:46:00.003-04:002012-09-10T20:49:35.407-04:00Model Cars That Should Exist<div style="text-align: justify;">
Spending quite a bit of money I don't really have to spend, I (with my husband's encouragement) made up for a truly horrible day by purchasing a few model kits. I already have a 1:16 Phantom II in my closet (along with my Franklin Mint dolls--tell no one), just waiting to be put together. And, well, the 1:12 Datsun was calling my name. I think it'd be an awesome addition to my Horrible Rural Shack.</div>
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Which brings me to my first question: why are 1:12 scale models <i>quite</i> so expensive? I mean, sure, they're larger so they'll cost more...but hundreds of dollars for a box of extruded plastic? Really?</div>
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Second, has anyone else used 1:14 or 1:16 scale cars (or bikes, or trucks, or whatever) in their scenes? Has it worked?</div>
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And, finally, on a really mostly unrelated note, there should be better (or existing at all) kits of the following cars:</div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Tucker Torpedo</li>
<li>Stanley K Raceabout</li>
<li>Delahaye Cabriolet (the 135 would be OK, too)</li>
<li>Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic (or the 735 B)</li>
<li>Daimler-Maybach 1889 "Steel Wheel"</li>
<li>Phantom Corsair</li>
<li>Edsel Corsair (an ad running in "Life" proclaimed that "the Edsel is here to stay!")</li>
<li>Jaguar XK120</li>
<li>Stutz Bearcat (Mr. Burns owns one, as do Dirk Pitt and several of Anne Rice's characters)</li>
<li>1958 Plymouth Fury</li>
<li>1936 Ford Siebert combination ambulance/hearse (um...great)</li>
</ol>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-3337557440723477762012-09-09T21:50:00.000-04:002012-09-09T21:50:32.001-04:00How To Make Old, Grimy Cookware<div style="text-align: justify;">
Surprisingly, there are a lot of things you can do with Chrysnbon cookware. I have a couple different ideas in the works, and will be posting pictures when I'm further along with them. Which, incidentally, might be awhile. We actually <i>have</i> found a place to rent for the winter, but between work, moving, etc, I really don't know what the next few weeks will be like. I do know that I'll have an actual craft room--if a small one--for awhile, which will be nice. And, hopefully, our house will get built within a reasonable time frame.</div>
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Anyway, moving on...</div>
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You will need:</div>
<ol style="text-align: justify;">
<li>A set (or two) of Chrysnbon cookware. Sometimes you can find it cheaper on eBay. </li>
<li>Testors buffing aluminum plate metalizer (unless you have an airbrush, make sure you're buying the 3 oz spray and not the airbrush only formulation).</li>
<li>Testors metallic copper enamel. I personally use the spray formulation, but it really doesn't matter; if you're more comfortable with a paintbrush, use the bottled version. It's the same stuff, and interchangeable. Sometimes, I spray things and end up touching them up with a brush later on; you can't tell the difference.</li>
<li>Americana brand craft paint in "lamp black" and "burnt sienna."</li>
<li>Q-tips (these are really good to have on hand anyway).</li>
<li>Toilet paper (for all purposes, I prefer Charmin Ultra Strong.</li>
<li>A sanding sponge or two. I use <a href="http://www.amazon.com/3M-2604-Softback-Sanding-Sponge/dp/B000L6IXLG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1347239083&sr=8-2&keywords=3m+sanding+sponges+fine" target="_blank">3M "fine" grit sanding sponges</a>, which are intended for automotive use. "Fine" is really, for miniature purposes, really more of a medium and, since these sponges hold a grit pretty well, as they dull down, they work well for successively finer work. These are a little pricey but, in my opinion, worth the extra money; they last a long time, serve variable purposes, can take the place of multiple grits in many situations, and are excellent wet or dry. If you buy them on Amazon, you can save as much as 40% off list.</li>
<li>Brushes. Michael's actually sells some very high quality craft brushes for cheap.</li>
<li>Testors "dullcote" spray.</li>
<li>Water, and, if you're using enamels (as opposed to water based modeling paint), thinner.</li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Your first step is to separate all the pieces from the sprue, assemble them where necessary, and sand off any odd bits. The little circles on the baking sheets, etc are almost impossible to completely remove; don't worry about it. This is only a problem if you want brand new-looking cookware (and you can fix it; I'll get to that in a later post).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Depending on whether you want copper or aluminum, spray your pieces appropriately. You'll be the happiest with your results if you work in successive thin coats. Once you've gotten the coverage you want, LET YOUR PIECES DRY OVERNIGHT. This applies also to situations where you have to spray one side and flip it over--i.e. the baking pans. I usually leave about 6 hours' dry time in between, then let everything sit for a day or two.</div>
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For the aluminum pieces: using a q-tip, or a square of toilet paper where appropriate, buff each piece to a shine. The metalizers can be a little tricky to work with; if you get too over-enthusiastic and buff off all your paint (hard, but possible to do), just spray it again and repeat the same process. It's really necessary to buff; not only does it really transform the piece into something real-looking, un-buffed metalizer <i>sheds like crazy</i>. It's attracted to the oil on your fingertips much the same way fingerprint powder is. I learned the hard way, <i>wash your hands thoroughly</i> after you've finished buffing. I've ended up accidentally leaving silvery fingerprints on more than one stove part.</div>
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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;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBy0hpzDUF0GdJovR6iPzb06Mxgatf3-At6AKLbIWiMaL0pmkExR0E9m5rTG24INHRS23E81MJQB_8ehxRgb0mLDJwjGSfD3D-qyRwlv03o3PYGGlq74KvASBdB6GS6reo4AOE5AgSaM/s400/IMG_2217.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some aluminum pieces in various stages of buffing. The "cast iron" pieces have just been sprayed with flat black. I like aluminum cookware; my grandparents' cabinets were full of pots and pans that looked just like this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
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</div>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgorn1ijRtPRf4P7EepCCwlrPeRqJCiQNk7pG4GjPze8OFGNEWemWYD92Y_x4BcSIoKhiK5I8mXU7PJ836LkicQSA33ya385aI3p61XjUTmabB0nc1uBWLNStlD6UmL2GR5583FetjpWqE/s400/IMG_2219.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehRW3xKmNVGBXrokPg91syxfjyGkaPCrqLlUF7oZNzC2lCgWwMjUNB1W_7d530MrG6VQh4zB4GiuEJdOFDTXCSneUUsvc0cxqRM1i3hfcku10BajdELeHlUXmxmC3EfXSvL4mvvnB1h8/s400/IMG_2221.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the copper pieces: assuming you want your copper to look old, you want to spray it with a coat or two of "dullcote." Basically, what this does is remove the shine. It also provides a good base for the acrylic paints. Sometimes, depending on your spraying environment, the thickness of the coats, etc, you can end up getting a kind of cloudy effect which, depending on your ultimate goals, might not be desirable. One way to avoid this is to, first, spray your copper with a gloss coat (Testors calls it "glosscote" and it's pretty good stuff) and, once that's dry, spray it once or twice with the "dullcote."</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqH8hkuOJIJGj-gJIQChPxwm4CGNXKpqsg7p1-SFjy-rqHtUY3dTkXMruvxvnjPw5NYwLyY3qxvrW1PsszfjUTvNPjgRZzHbxfpSfsNo4YLzoThRHRNF8I-97gIa2OrsgGPwtRe-ZRtE/s400/IMG_1933.jpg" width="300" /> </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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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;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhSM3zdIW5vH7KdrPGy57l2GE3L6-Kz2ew72TgEevZCypd1mL0UhDAwYtO2Cd6ii02VkjVYQ2Duu6CPqvuQueZgt4Dl4qyTHWu2uuZ42BHFwp7cSRejgB9uXKihKwrqBtC_0WrC9Q-mQ/s400/IMG_1934.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Successive thin coats are best.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Starting with the aluminum, paint the insides of the pans with successive washes of burnt sienna. My own technique is to paint the wash and--working quickly--dab off the excess with a q-tip. This creates a more realistically "gross" effect. In my washes, I try to concentrate my paint in areas where goo would accrete. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Then, going sparingly--you can always add more--darken some areas with successive washes of lamp black. I went more heavily in some areas (the inside of the muffin tins, for example) than others. The edges and corners--like in the baking sheet--got a fairly heavy treatment, too. I've found that what works best for this is to use a fine angled brush and pull a line down as far into the crevice as you can. then, you can blur the line either with a q-tip or with a second small (dry) brush. Keep going until your pans are satisfactorily disgusting.</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKR3QMokt2rHdssObBO31_jUiEOorWeOKHylnEOzpfgGlAOfIqJ1QbloS1zXGAbIc_NYg734zw6OauWoqgXJuBSSOsNeGatz4xzPpZlI4xQ7LGFSHcbT29JQwR8Dg11Py1p2H8v1l1x4/s1600/IMG_2569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKR3QMokt2rHdssObBO31_jUiEOorWeOKHylnEOzpfgGlAOfIqJ1QbloS1zXGAbIc_NYg734zw6OauWoqgXJuBSSOsNeGatz4xzPpZlI4xQ7LGFSHcbT29JQwR8Dg11Py1p2H8v1l1x4/s400/IMG_2569.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pay special attention to areas that'd be discolored by burnt food, oils, etc.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCUMn8RxMWsPlbhoZkHEsCNwuo84nyeBnnXtYvqDaqMcp691k9v-8Quloi_JRh_nasSgXJoSVZ67vsi7JA7TQ7htbDUEDb7UGIDqzbzKi5Vhyc8wKkzQ-F0PW_h_rYzWzX7dgA4mT1-E/s1600/IMG_2570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijCUMn8RxMWsPlbhoZkHEsCNwuo84nyeBnnXtYvqDaqMcp691k9v-8Quloi_JRh_nasSgXJoSVZ67vsi7JA7TQ7htbDUEDb7UGIDqzbzKi5Vhyc8wKkzQ-F0PW_h_rYzWzX7dgA4mT1-E/s400/IMG_2570.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remember the hard to reach places like corners, under and around handles, etc. Also, some areas (like the insides of muffin tins) seem to get more disgusting than others. Or maybe only in my kitchen?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
For the copper, start by painting the insides of the pieces black. I find that this is really where the "dullcote" makes a difference; it gives the paint something to adhere to. I did several coats on the insides of the pots, baking dish and coffee pot, but only a couple of thin coats (addled by q-tips) on the insides of the pans.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Then, when I did the outsides, I thought about--again--where copper pots naturally discolor. I paid special attention to the area under the lip, the area around the handles and, of course, the undersides of the pots where they'd be sitting on the burners.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LKWExDQg1fw7cy0CWVUN9aoOcSUwP3A1bbdnXacKnxyBb8b1c0Ypfsvjpetdhyphenhyphenbz_SRWRtb-sz073V9WBl2a6z2oTHkINMM1kwjxQLM7Ce3rQ_WSOQvSY1TcQO5mAH9GX9q6IvHj_t8/s1600/IMG_2571.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2LKWExDQg1fw7cy0CWVUN9aoOcSUwP3A1bbdnXacKnxyBb8b1c0Ypfsvjpetdhyphenhyphenbz_SRWRtb-sz073V9WBl2a6z2oTHkINMM1kwjxQLM7Ce3rQ_WSOQvSY1TcQO5mAH9GX9q6IvHj_t8/s400/IMG_2571.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySq5O_0ghJd3lPQalqDhM_mqlvqBo4BiXI-GRTxzzLVq7gMNkGqr8W0GMto0ByHNjXKhYBD2Cyh4PG2MhE7DbDYoBn5Rj0fg2frDe3yPGVIV1vAMQFYa0uCEYLyCk3AS96ULHJa-etZo/s1600/IMG_2573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgySq5O_0ghJd3lPQalqDhM_mqlvqBo4BiXI-GRTxzzLVq7gMNkGqr8W0GMto0ByHNjXKhYBD2Cyh4PG2MhE7DbDYoBn5Rj0fg2frDe3yPGVIV1vAMQFYa0uCEYLyCk3AS96ULHJa-etZo/s400/IMG_2573.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "baked on grossness" look is created with q-tips.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlnp5ItteHZ3wqYfteKChHKGVKuq3i4grlqYkCBnpdthE4HMPF72FJg09AD9v_vpWt3j1eU3zNM5AbVK0ovSE7LQWHU4FN5zaegEbfECPqEmsQvtzEB4v405h5FEfz5N1lFz8lyEjlMg/s1600/IMG_2574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlnp5ItteHZ3wqYfteKChHKGVKuq3i4grlqYkCBnpdthE4HMPF72FJg09AD9v_vpWt3j1eU3zNM5AbVK0ovSE7LQWHU4FN5zaegEbfECPqEmsQvtzEB4v405h5FEfz5N1lFz8lyEjlMg/s400/IMG_2574.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also used a q-tip to stipple the black on the insides of the pots.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNrCd-nuLcsfl8V8nqbh74xBA2byywFKsoIcFgoZpnCfBj_iSmzHfdTFX4Lty0WhgL8SVuPis7nkNXC4hQzaHAiFxj_k6cBiIseMfbtP_jBMGtBVPay3AWknzSogWU8TdgtvAC-jm1og/s1600/IMG_2575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNrCd-nuLcsfl8V8nqbh74xBA2byywFKsoIcFgoZpnCfBj_iSmzHfdTFX4Lty0WhgL8SVuPis7nkNXC4hQzaHAiFxj_k6cBiIseMfbtP_jBMGtBVPay3AWknzSogWU8TdgtvAC-jm1og/s400/IMG_2575.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Some areas--like the lids--didn't get much treatment at all, since, in real life, these don't tend to get too dirty. Also, for example, the actual handles, since constant grabbing would keep them pretty grime-free (and oils on your hands, which rub off on the metal, prevent discoloration to some extent). The important thing to remember is that successful aging involves <i>contrast</i>. Grimy areas are interesting, because they're next to comparatively clean areas.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXewhHiFLDlwWe1A93pZqMoBMp5-Aq44_tqzj8SgJf8ldzproM3vQXXpa_OAPRBOVVPlzevMUD7CCWsZo_AWbhKGxZoIrUkfzEp5uGlWFJoXp7-aW3jzDTdLwkzjR9jwcz0tCf6lwnRWE/s1600/IMG_2576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXewhHiFLDlwWe1A93pZqMoBMp5-Aq44_tqzj8SgJf8ldzproM3vQXXpa_OAPRBOVVPlzevMUD7CCWsZo_AWbhKGxZoIrUkfzEp5uGlWFJoXp7-aW3jzDTdLwkzjR9jwcz0tCf6lwnRWE/s400/IMG_2576.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't the best picture ever, but you can get a sense of where I added the black.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlREsKJrn916o2fiKs25AC4PcdzDk8xuFlbsUmUaAAq4PqaYRcd3kL-9uZ1ay03Sd0lyOH1kg0HWC0ZAXED-syiiUandsDUBg3ri5Wv4xC3joWIjYD3hfKHczi5fFL0fxFyMcLLNMbFd0/s1600/IMG_2577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlREsKJrn916o2fiKs25AC4PcdzDk8xuFlbsUmUaAAq4PqaYRcd3kL-9uZ1ay03Sd0lyOH1kg0HWC0ZAXED-syiiUandsDUBg3ri5Wv4xC3joWIjYD3hfKHczi5fFL0fxFyMcLLNMbFd0/s400/IMG_2577.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm9kCeNBSM8KA-rLXSQI0x-pJleu3retRXvrArXyksjVzhVuacQnKiSV5YlOj2k0JdIApS1dY3A7CI4p1zbm6XZjr5pYgQG7cemoOk6J-8yTAD3qoFi3HAn6N6rigJQ98IXw4n48e0sA/s1600/IMG_2578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm9kCeNBSM8KA-rLXSQI0x-pJleu3retRXvrArXyksjVzhVuacQnKiSV5YlOj2k0JdIApS1dY3A7CI4p1zbm6XZjr5pYgQG7cemoOk6J-8yTAD3qoFi3HAn6N6rigJQ98IXw4n48e0sA/s400/IMG_2578.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This can be kind of a long process. My husband read me an entire (long) article about the politics of the moose lottery while I worked on the copper pots. It's a really good activity, I think, for when you're watching TV, or stuck inside on a rainy day, and want something relatively simple--but also absorbing--to work on.</div>
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If you want to age your cast iron, what I personally think works best is Testors <i>acrylic</i> "rust." Trust me, you want your washes to be water-based. The pan on the left has been sprayed flat black; the pan on the right, after being sprayed flat black, was given a couple washes of rust. I concentrated the color on one side more than the other, theorizing that my dolls' cast iron pans don't age any more equally than mine. I also like to have pots, pans, etc in various stages of revoltingness in my dolls' kitchens; after all, in real life, not every pan was purchased at the same time, gets the same amount of use, is of the same quality, etc.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UVZtmgoFikrNXfjpZR0lqSrczuBmrY3USuCky9jiOkNRJLsquGIylnTUE4Y3ov06MUhKCGlfVhaLCDzvc2ikJc_fXWrDSWn9CiU-ARn_b4gz7hnbX9-5wAwl-ur6v0ptyoQHp1nS7X0/s1600/IMG_2580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9UVZtmgoFikrNXfjpZR0lqSrczuBmrY3USuCky9jiOkNRJLsquGIylnTUE4Y3ov06MUhKCGlfVhaLCDzvc2ikJc_fXWrDSWn9CiU-ARn_b4gz7hnbX9-5wAwl-ur6v0ptyoQHp1nS7X0/s400/IMG_2580.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />So there you have it: gross pans. I'm also working on some other colors and styles, so hopefully I'll have some more pictures to post soon.</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2339361064439824933.post-2173088435104225012012-09-09T09:08:00.000-04:002012-09-09T09:08:19.807-04:00Where's Everyone From?<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: justify;">
I've written a couple of climate and location-related posts, recently, and it got me thinking: where's everyone else from? And anything else you'd like to share about yourself? Obviously, you don't have to share anything, but I thought it might be interesting...</div>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD2mEQcVzJZdy5iH5o99aW9f-5urAIc8RIFg9gQhBx1goRZdb1Swn036MzmvKULG4h7Pt-7aDVdv0mI9zaNKHBqS54q9ATpEDlo2Twz2_RLWLnk80jXDdC6nbOnyHJq4vNzggyVjeHpI/s1600/IMG_2605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOD2mEQcVzJZdy5iH5o99aW9f-5urAIc8RIFg9gQhBx1goRZdb1Swn036MzmvKULG4h7Pt-7aDVdv0mI9zaNKHBqS54q9ATpEDlo2Twz2_RLWLnk80jXDdC6nbOnyHJq4vNzggyVjeHpI/s400/IMG_2605.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My vacation project...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHIPcEaIzWx891qpesdxP_IqAU82p9ueG8GmgRPDNteYn9o2hILV0sccyHdA56yEvL5VJ4P50ULI-xh91eiwYJJRldJLX8JYve8RBeibdH2n7zLsKXRRo28nwLtKFaA7jSZR9E6_iAbI/s1600/IMG_2684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHIPcEaIzWx891qpesdxP_IqAU82p9ueG8GmgRPDNteYn9o2hILV0sccyHdA56yEvL5VJ4P50ULI-xh91eiwYJJRldJLX8JYve8RBeibdH2n7zLsKXRRo28nwLtKFaA7jSZR9E6_iAbI/s400/IMG_2684.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting the rings apart and back together again was really hard...</td></tr>
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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://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKIlxWHU7bfBBIt5DdVZ9Rr0Fna4pjO-fYDuacz-FFSeM3yOqVffLVnfvPnUplTFPW1Eder85srrpNyg5-i9f9-XHxaaqWh_7gUdHFi4CWD2TKp0E3JlXQDajIeJl74CcIHNlay4uyeI/s1600/IMG_2682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXKIlxWHU7bfBBIt5DdVZ9Rr0Fna4pjO-fYDuacz-FFSeM3yOqVffLVnfvPnUplTFPW1Eder85srrpNyg5-i9f9-XHxaaqWh_7gUdHFi4CWD2TKp0E3JlXQDajIeJl74CcIHNlay4uyeI/s400/IMG_2682.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found a very large caterpillar.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8alDIrP9MHBz6maoFad989YvmLVvG_kL8psSP81BDWMoAakqGG5xh35W_eZz6cDbB4Vr3LcUDAiGK38BoGiytl2KCIWqukQg_1vczCY40nNo_uGMUBAFgJRCPICmmDOh3UZs_gnXLNoE/s1600/IMG_2560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8alDIrP9MHBz6maoFad989YvmLVvG_kL8psSP81BDWMoAakqGG5xh35W_eZz6cDbB4Vr3LcUDAiGK38BoGiytl2KCIWqukQg_1vczCY40nNo_uGMUBAFgJRCPICmmDOh3UZs_gnXLNoE/s400/IMG_2560.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metallic "ruby" turned out to be My Little Pony purple, so I repainted it with "insignia red."</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpKInp8jZYdHdXk7065OKF39d3kWB_PSdvHU-VAHPHEDHbX7AmNwEuXMm1a2ih7wDvaqpW7bewHMzNfo0F9ygodRhUgBHQBz7cofbGLuCgppDWyPHcI-qinjyJv3tjJD5zqNm_Qf6sdE/s1600/IMG_2568.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpKInp8jZYdHdXk7065OKF39d3kWB_PSdvHU-VAHPHEDHbX7AmNwEuXMm1a2ih7wDvaqpW7bewHMzNfo0F9ygodRhUgBHQBz7cofbGLuCgppDWyPHcI-qinjyJv3tjJD5zqNm_Qf6sdE/s400/IMG_2568.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Easy Off" oven cleaner really does remove enamel paint, but the fumes will knock you out. I had to use a respirator...and even after repainting, I <i>still</i> wasn't happy with the finish I got from the Floquil. Hence it becoming an "aged" stove.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGcV-WZGpeoJj01t3CKYX5Y6rwe9tOL4qQ33tD4TS7ta8XIxkCCEzPDyVriHVUtTAjFyuT0AILmLkW7uLhbibdNhSG0tY-HLNTNiMD-pjU1jrhL1mZ9lGIMGJU5dLOBnrgremRXVjZzc/s1600/IMG_2569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGcV-WZGpeoJj01t3CKYX5Y6rwe9tOL4qQ33tD4TS7ta8XIxkCCEzPDyVriHVUtTAjFyuT0AILmLkW7uLhbibdNhSG0tY-HLNTNiMD-pjU1jrhL1mZ9lGIMGJU5dLOBnrgremRXVjZzc/s400/IMG_2569.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some old, gross pots and pans, either for my Haunted House or, potentially, for my Hillbilly Shack. Or I could make another (similar or slightly different) set, one for each. Thoughts?</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4Q2GADEJuWlObCx7DvMKbeBx32ypZye8diRzv0FmNflUwsC7O3ss7TU1bodbbnNYQbbfiVJYzDi5ZHuEP7wQaiALa1VwQx-XCz5qiBUsVEgogoQvxtYfi-kAd-ep1CE7L-mZtoSwP0I/s1600/IMG_2570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR4Q2GADEJuWlObCx7DvMKbeBx32ypZye8diRzv0FmNflUwsC7O3ss7TU1bodbbnNYQbbfiVJYzDi5ZHuEP7wQaiALa1VwQx-XCz5qiBUsVEgogoQvxtYfi-kAd-ep1CE7L-mZtoSwP0I/s400/IMG_2570.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKeoMdZqtDlOPal9yApyfr__CKvAWPBAceF7nDwW5hSpoY9PhgIIgc2M8KJANSmFd0NBo708BFRCKfl636-hzRZzHcKu__8wkF-3jKGZ-xtSQefRHtDwJFxAJuX6P5mTbXZvIWuoAWnA/s1600/IMG_2580.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKeoMdZqtDlOPal9yApyfr__CKvAWPBAceF7nDwW5hSpoY9PhgIIgc2M8KJANSmFd0NBo708BFRCKfl636-hzRZzHcKu__8wkF-3jKGZ-xtSQefRHtDwJFxAJuX6P5mTbXZvIWuoAWnA/s400/IMG_2580.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cast iron pans, one new, one "old."</td></tr>
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So enough about me...</div>
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PS: If anyone wants to know how I did the cookware, let me know and I'll make a tutorial.</div>
C.J.http://www.blogger.com/profile/08086277404490573891noreply@blogger.com5