Cabin Project Updates

The hubs is at a stopping point with the ship model.

Now that spring is here, he wanted to get some outside
chores done and spend some time in his workshop.

He's been working on the ship model since January.
He averages 6 or 7 hours a day, that adds up to 
about 500 hours.  The hubs is 70 years old and has 
never worked with such a small scale.  I think 
he has done an amazing job.  We are never too
old to learn something new.

The loft seems so empty and quiet without 
the hubs.  He's left his side of the loft neat
and tidy.  I miss tripping over the shop vac. 
I'll be glad when he starts working on 
the ship again.

I've been working on some simple projects for
the kitchen room box.  I ordered 1:12 scale "biscuit" or
gingerbread molds from Arjen Spinhoven Miniaturen.
 He is located in the Netherlands and makes unique
dollhouse items, many as DIY kits.
Link to his website at the bottom of post.

I sanded the corners then

I painted them a gingerbread brown.  I just mixed
some brown acrylic paints until I liked the color.

I waxed them with American Decor wax,
 available at craft stores and Home Depot.  I actually 
used a soft cloth and a shoe brush to buff them to a
 soft shine.  It's just like shining your shoes!

St. Nicholas, Catherina and Ivanhoe.
He has several designs and it was
hard to choose!

 I made some homespun curtains.

I wanted some vintage advertising signs for the
 kitchen, just to brighten the walls.  So, I miniaturized 
some pictures.  The hubs cut and sanded some
 small wooden bases.

I painted the wood in different shades of brown.

I used Royal Coat decoupage finish
from my craft supplies, but any
brand would work.
 
I got a bit carried away and made more than
I can use.  I made an address sign to hang on the 
outside of the room box and even did some pictures
for the Christmas cabinet dollhouse.

Fun, inexpensive and easy.

I had some left over bedroom pieces of Hall's 
Lifetime furniture.  I was getting ready to sell 
them on E-bay.  The hubs said he could make 
a room that stacks on top of the the kitchen.
A double decker.
 He's busy in the wood shop......

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Link to Arjen Spinhoven Minitures
Arjen Spinhoven Miniaturen

Clipper Ship Update & Rug Is Finished

The hubs is workin' away on the ship model.

He's moved all kinds of tools, big and small to his side of the 
loft.  Varnish, paint, paint remover, paint thinner, drills, 
grinders, sand paper, even the portable shop vacuum now 
resides in the loft.  I don't think he remembers we have a 
handy central vac system........but if you never use it!

He drills, sands, grinds, hammers and makes continuous 
noise all day long, often into the late evening. 

The quiet peaceful sewing loft is now dusty,
stinky and I have to navigate a littered
path to get to my desk.

On numerous occasions (too many to count) 
I've heard mumbled exasperated groans 
and the occasional swear word coming
 from his side of the room.

This usually happens when a teeny tiny minuscule piece
he's been meticulously working on for the last 45 minutes, 
 jumps out of his hands disappearing into thin air.

Similar to most occasions when the hubs

opens the refrigerator.

 At which point I lay down the miniature knot

rug, reach for the flashlight I keep on my 
desk now and commence searching.

My recovery rate up to date is 100%, the hubs......zero.

He's too busy wringing his hands in despair and

delivering an oration on how it's mathematically and 

physically impossible for something that small to

bounce that far! 

 The hubs was apoplectic when a tiny water bucket

he was painting mysteriously disappeared.....

till I suggested he check his shirt sleeve.

It may sound like I'm complaining, but 
I really don't care if the loft is stinky and
dusty and cluttered......it's a small price to
pay for all the laughs we're sharing.

I am amazed at how much patience the hubs
has for such tiny work and the ship is looking
wonderful.

I often go to his side of the room, just
to check on his progress.

He comes to my side of the room to see
how my projects are coming along.

We've having so much fun.

The hub's was very encouraging with my work
on the miniature rug.  At 30 knots in an inch straight
line, he informed me that's 2,000 french knots per
 square inch.  He kept a running estimate of how many
I had left!  The directions estimated it would take 3 to 6 
hours per square inch.  I figure with all the interruptions
 and "search time" it took me about 8 hours per square inch!

When I took it out of the embroidery
 hoop, I trimmed the edges.

Folded it toward the back and
stitched it down.

Ironed it.

I ironed Wonder Under onto one side of muslin.
Wonder under is paper backed fusible web that
turns any fabric into fusible fabric.
 (sticky on both sides)

I cut out a circle the size of the rug, then peeled off the
paper backing on the other side.  Placed the sticky side
on the back of the rug....

Then ironed it down.  It looks a bit bumpy,
but it lays flat and doesn't look near as messy
on the back.  Sew easy too.

I'm pleased with the rug, it was worth all 
the effort and I enjoyed it.

That's what's been happenin' in the cabin!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This was actually my Valentine's card
this year.  The hub's is such a romantic!

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I hope you are enjoying a sunny spring.