Monday 13 February 2012

The new Craft Room starts to take shape and even a tiny amount of mini work gets done!

The room is almost done…but I’m not going to show it all just yet…..a few more things to arrive. It’s been hard work, lots of sorting out which has been both physically hard and mentally hard! The only thing I have left is more labelling! I will do this bit by bit.  :o))

Firstly a change in the line-up already! Sugar Plum's roof overhangs a bit too much, so much so that it pushes the tea shop too far over the edge. I did think about shortening the roof, but this will make it difficult to fit the roof. So I will making a shop to go here instead. It was already a planned shop and I will be using the Sid Cooke windows that I bought a while back (not direct from Sid Cooke because they do not sell them as separates).   
Today I’ve been playing the dollshouse(s) shuffle! They moved up and down these chests like goodness knows what! I have a number of other kits to think about and where I want them. Not all will fit onhere, but I have a home for them.

For Christmas I was brought 3 shop kits, one is a corner shop. In total they are just under 3 and half feet wide by just under 18 inches deep and they all have 3 floors. Borgin and Burkes kit won't be here....this is simply showing where the 3 shops will start and will have to be pulled out to due to their depth (I have plugs on the back wall too).  Directly in front of Sugar Plum's will be a square, I could have a street vendor or two here or a few wizards and wizards standing around chatting! lol
The first row of grey card is where the last shop will be, it's a corner shop. The grey card represents an alleyway to.... 
 A shop here, which I will be making myself. I have a few ideas what it could be. ;o)
 It will be a creepy alleyway! Not sure I'd want to go down it! 
I’ve also glued in place Slug and Jiggers sign…at last, I’ve only had for goodness knows how long! This has been aged and distressed and I’m very happy with it. :o)) I have put Jain's witch on the roof...she's about to take off! Wheeeeee!

Late edit! 
Slug and Jiggers is going to have to be moved and swap places with the teashop! It has to be turned so that I can open it and that would mean the bowed window would be facing the wall and I'd need a gap. The teashop has a window on that side too, however it is a flat window and does not stick out so it will be moved to where Slug and Jiggers is now. 

Also, Sugar Plum's front ledge needs to be cut a bit (under the window), because the front needs space to open. You can't butt these shops up close because of that extra piece at the front of this kit. Janice, you will have the same problem with your line up if you haven't spotted it already. ;o)  
I’ve moved the smaller half of Hogwarts onto my table as well as my mystery project. I have space for both and plan to work on them simultaneously (to the best of my ability!). lol Today the wallpaper arrived for it and I have aged some on a practise piece. I prefer it aged. :o)
I haven't worked on this part of Hogwarts today, I did this a while back...before the Craft Room was redone.
 The new look Craft Room as you look in the doorway. It's not quite there yet... 

 My new chair.
This cushion is only as a make do for now, it will have a proper seat cushion, courtesy of my Mum who will make it for me.  
The high up shelf unit is in situ and now dressed…this will change over time no doubt. I need to get a feel for my new table and what kind of table top storage I want…probably only a little seeing I have quite a lot!
I mentioned to my Mum that I wanted my name, ( I have a wooden set at work on my desk, only it's mirrored - red colour!) and I was going to buy the wooden letters myself and decorate them. She told my Sister and between them they battled it out who was going to make them for me! My Mum won, my Sister sent over the letter's from Luxembourg. My Mum then stole my stash of trim and recycled scrap-booking bits (some new bits were used too). These were completely created from items I already had. I cut and painted the wooden base they are on
 I love them to bits! She will make me another set for when I have the brighter décor out.

 My Mum's works fast, but these took her nearly 2 days to make. ;o) Even the backs of the letters are tidy and just as neat as the fronts!

The other shelving unit. This will eventually have kits on them too. In time, the telly can go and I can have a project on a moveable plinth (like Highgate or Centenary House (which I have) my Edwardian house).   


More soon!

Michelle xxxx

24 comments:

  1. I spy a wonderful bank of electrical outlets directly behind your buildings! How wonderful! So handy and no moving furniture to get to them. Everything looks like it is coming along "swimmingly". I see you and Dolores have something in common... ;-)

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    1. Arh yes the electric's!! It's something I always think about and I have 7 points in my Summerhouse...still not enough! These one's in my craft room are just two extension leads plugged into 2 sockets low down on the wall behind the chests. If they were going to show, I would have had proper points with them channelled into the wall. As you know, know one is going to see them, so made life easy!! ;o))

      I may or will most likely have 2 smaller kits running off one transformer..it makes sense to.

      LOL I love pink as you can tell...pink room, pink blog! I don't have pink anywhere else and I don't wear much of it either..only hot pink. Hmmm I don't have Dolores' persona, though I do love cats! lol lol

      I have some items coming this week for the room...little bits. :o))

      Michelle xxx

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    2. I hasten to add, the the side at the back of the chests can be removed so I can just reach in to the wall plugs if I need to. :o)

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  2. Hi Michelle,have to say WOW ;-) What a different to the old room ,it looks so cozy! And I adore the work of your mum,she has made it with so much love! Hugs,Jeannette x

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    1. Hi Jeannette,

      Glad you like it, it's changed a fair bit! ;o))

      The letter's are adorable and well loved and wanted. ;o))

      Michelle xx

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  3. The room was very nice and spacious too. It can be fun "to work". Congratulations to your mom is cool decorations!
    Anda

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    1. Hi Anda,

      The room is not a bad size at all and yes it's fun to work! :o)))

      Arh, my Mum worked very hard with the letters and so glad that you like them :o)

      Michelle xx

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  4. Very beautiful craft room, well organized and inspiring to work!

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    1. Thank you Natalia!

      It's getting organised...still some drawer sorting and labelling to do. I'm hoping it does and will inspire me more. :o)

      Michelle xx

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  5. Your room is Beautiful Michelle!
    I can't wait to see what you get done now with everything so well organized.
    The dark alley sounds scary LOL.

    Hugs,
    Victoria

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    1. Thank you Victoria,

      Some other bits arrived for it today! ;O)

      I hope I can at last get productive mini wise! ;o)

      Hmm I hope won't be too scary! lol

      Michelle xxx

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  6. This is coming on in leaps and bounds! It's a decent sized space but no doubt you wish it was a BIT bigger! I'm curious about your lighting arrangement on the desk - is that a daylight fitting? (Just storing up ideas etc. for my own hobby room, when it happens!)

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    1. Hi Irene,

      I'm glad it's finished as I really need to get working on those kits! LOL Aww yes...don't we always want more? lol However, I'm lucky enough to have the summerhouse for working in and to hold all my supplies, so I can't complain.

      Yes, it's daylight lamp and the other is a normal lamp. I have another type of daylight lamp in my Summerhouse.

      I bought them both off Ebay, the one in my craft room sells for £110.00 from The Daylight Company, but I bought a brand new one off Ebay for £70.00 including postage. The other one is a ring light with a magnifier in the middle and it has a lid that can be closed to centre the light where you want it. It sells for £45.00-£55.00 and I bought mine for less than £8.00 off ebay...is was sold as used, though it must have only been used once because it came with all its original packaging including the bag (I still keep it on to protect it)!!

      I had a very good look round before I bought my lights...there are a number on the market and none are cheap. The one in my craft room is quite powerful and chose it because it throws the light over a wide area, it has a magnifier on it and clamp/grip thing too.

      A daylight lamp is a must (even before a craft room!!), not only does it help you with your work but it saves your eyes too. ;o)


      Michelle xx

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  7. This is looking great Michelle! Love the idea for the dark alley way and the square in front of sugarplums! What a brilliant excuse for more witches and wizards (not that you need an excuse! Lol)

    Excited to see these three story shops too! will you have some more flying witches at all?

    Wish my craft room wasn't also my bedroom... Oh well, one day!

    Oh I was going to ask, will you be taking on the challenge of a gringotts bank at all? Haven't seen anyone attempt it yet?


    All the best,
    Michael :D

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    1. Hi Michael,

      It's starting to look better! Now my family want the 3 unmade shops (they bought) made up so they can look at them?! I have enough partly done ones out without anymore!

      The 3 shops I was brought are deeper than I remembered..so I am more limited for pavement etc. However, it is a sizeable space outside Sugar Plum's and also the area outside Slug and Jiggers. ;o) I have few characters to put out in the Alley.

      More flying witches? Unsure, not thought that far ahead yet...I have a few flat roof's, so who knows. :o)

      Gringott's is not on my list...not sure there would be enough in it to interest me, but that's my humble opinion. I'm sure there's someone about who's done a part of it, even if it's only a scene.

      Michelle :o)

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    2. Michael,

      I noticed you deleted your first comment just before noon today (I read my blog during my lunch break at work). You posted another comment just after 3.00pm. No college today?! I know both universities and college's don't have half terms.

      Your Ebay listing where you're selling your mini's from 'years' ago and a car because you have a new Range Rover now?!??! I'm confused, you say you are 17, but the Ebay account was set up in 2005 and that would have made you 11 or 12 (you have to be 18 to set the account up and also Paypal). Something tells me it's not your Dad's account. Hmmm because I've noticed lots and lots of things that don't add up or ring quite right. :o((((

      Michelle

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  8. Its a beautiful room Michelle and its nice to see some of your projects.

    Love Debie xxx

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    1. Hi Debie,

      Good to see you about! ;o)

      I love the room now...no more half and half! It's great to have my projects in the house now...I can pop and see them in any kind of weather! ;o)

      Michelle xxxx

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  9. What a heavenly space, Michelle! So pretty and practical!

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    1. Hi Nina,

      Aww so pleased you like it! It's pretty yes, but yes too it HAD to be practical. I plan on doing all my dirty work in the summerhouse and only in the winter months do I plan to work in doors. Only now I am rather spoilt for choice. :o)

      Michelle xx

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  10. Oooh i so love the pretty in pink room! Your mum is so talented id definatly love some and so would all our girls so if she ever starts to make to sell we will be in the queue! The shelves are lovely with all your trinkets but i know they will soon start filling up with little roomboxes and scenes and thats exciting! Xxxx

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    1. I love pink...as you can tell! lol It's a calm pink though and not in your, that hasn't changed with the revamp, just the white paintwork was refreshed. ;o)

      Both Nikki and my Sister and I told her she could sell them, they'd have to be made to order though for obvious reasons?! lol

      The shelves are full of all sort of fun things and some from when I was younger too.:o) I plan on having 2 shadow boxes on the wall by my window and maybe one above my pull out table. Because the shelf unit is so high (to accommodate the height of the 3 shops)not sure you'd see the detailing in the boxes? So, I might just keep tall things on there.

      I have at least 3 room boxes to do. :o))))

      Will try and reply to your email later...after my bath! :o)

      Michelle xxxx

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  11. Hi Michelle,
    Will slug and jiggers been moved change the whole layout for you with you wanting the dark alley at that side?

    Or will Mrs puddifoot have to put up with being so close to a bunch of creepy witches down some strange alley? Haha :)

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  12. Hi Michael,

    I've had to move Slugs to the opposite corner. The teashop is now behind it and I've had to forgo the dark alley. :o((

    I now have an alley inbetween the teashop and sugar plums. It's a tiny alley though due to lack of space. I can't make the shops fit on in any other way and get to open them, such a pain.

    Michelle :o)

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