Hitty Furniture and Room Box Progress

The hubs has been busy in the shop working
on a room box and furniture for Hitty.

 The removable roof and trim pieces are 
walnut, the floor is teak.

The furniture needs a light sanding
and another coat of varnish.  The hub's 
made a small shelf and is working on a sea
chest, it's painted bright blue as described 
in the book.

 The furniture is made from Missouri 

walnut, the hubs favorite wood.  
I didn't paint the bench blue, I wouldn't
dare cover up the hubs walnut!

 There is plenty of room

for all the pieces.

The room will have walnut baseboard trim

 and chair rail.  The top section of the wall 
will have wallpaper, the lower section and 
outside walls will be painted.

Hitty finally has something to wear, a 
simple chemise, petticoat and bloomers.

If you are familiar with the story of Hitty
you may recall she lived for several years 
with Mr. Farley, a portrait artist.  Whenever

he painted portraits of little girls, Hitty would

be pressed into service and used to still their 

hands.  Thus, she had a long career as an artist's

model.  Mr. Farley had a dress made to replace

her tattered one.  In the book Hitty describes it

 as plain with a brown china button on the back. 

Since "my" Mr. Farley has rescued
Hitty from her box and is making her a new 
home with lovely furniture, I thought it fitting 
she have a dress similar to the one the artist
Mr. Farley provided.  I just happened to have
one brown china button in my button box. 

 Hitty does not seem impressed with the
hand stitched dress I labored on for several 
days with my stiff old finger.  However, she is
"over the moon" with her room and furniture.  I
do believe Miss Hitty has a slight crush on my Mr. 
Farley, she gives him her undivided attention
and the sweetest little smiles of gratitude.

Playing dolls with the hubs is so much fun!

Hitty Doll Furniture & Shaker Boxes Galore

The hubs has finished the Shaker boxes....oh my, 28 in all!

He had a few pieces of Cherry wood, the older the wood

the darker.  I was very pleased  to see the dollhouse 

sized boxes!  A few small ones still need their handles,

these will become small sewing boxes for dollies!

He made them in 6 different sizes.  Looks
like Shaker boxes will given as Christmas 
gifts this year.

The hubs was in need of another project,
 so he asked me to get out my Hitty book 
and little Hitty doll.  This I did as quick as
as a wink, in case he changed his mind!

This Hitty is a wooden Robert Raikes version
sold as a kit, with a pattern and fabric
to make your own dress.

Yes, she's still naked.  It's the old story of the
shoemakers children having no shoes.  
I better get busy.

In a few days I was called to the shop to see
his version of Hitty furniture from the book 
illustrations.  Little scrap wood prototypes
 sitting on the full scale drawings.
Poor little naked Hitty seemed unscathed by
the ordeal.  I think she is so grateful to be out of 
the box she's spent the last 15 years cooped up in,
she's willing to endure some embarrassment.  Her 
little mind must be whirling with thoughts of
clothing, furniture and a new home in her future. 

The little bench I will paint blue like the

original in the Stockbridge Library Museum.

The hubs said he has some Appalachian Mountain 

ash, just like the original Hitty was carved from.

Can't wait to see the pieces finished in beautiful wood. 

As always, I am amazed at the hubs, lucky he

loves his wood shop and grateful he doesn't mind

playing with dolls, on occasion.

As for me, I busied myself with re reading the

book when the hubs wasn't studying it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Are you ready for Halloween??