Old houses

My home for 23 years was more than 150 years old. After we got the holes in the floors and walls ( exterior) fixed, we consulted a historic architect . When asked how in the world one prioritized all the fixes that were needed, he answered," Just pick one thing at a time - not a whole room, but one door frame , or one mantle." Good advice because things eventually got done- for the most part only to the livable stage.

But I can't wait to get to furnishing the house!

Blogshelf app

I love reading other people's blogs about miniatures. I can't quite figure out how some of them can be so prolific - right now it is taking mea long time to finish anything! I thought I'd share an App I use to read blogs- it puts them all together and usually updates the picture if there is a new post.
this is only one of many pages of blogs !

Online legacies

I was just searching for ideas and got distracted by ideas for a Dutch Baby house. I have a Bespaq cabinet put away with only wallpaper in, but have always looked for websites with traditional furniture for it. I again came across the website of a wonderful miniature maker, Frances Armstrong . She is gone, but her website is still there and still has wonderful work that makes you wish she were still around. Frances Armstrong

I 'm also a history collector, so got tickled thinking that along with heirloom items, we'll be leaving behind Facebook pages, blogs and websites! My aunts, who are all crafters and artists, have Facebook though in their 70's - it didn't take them long to see the power of networking. So what do you think- should we all go to Ancestry.com and link our blogs and Facebook pages to our profiles?

Breaking up Christmas

There is an American Old time music tune called "Breaking Up Christmas". Quick lesson for those of you not into traditional music ; songs have words , and tunes don't ( unless you are Liz Carroll ) , and tune writers tend to either be traditional, using place names or the name of the person who wrote the tune, or to be silly. I always put this tune name in the category of silly takeoffs on Irish tune names. One of my favorite Irish Tune names is ,"I buried My Wife and Danced On Her Grave." But today I am thinking that it should be an air ( generally sad, slow tune ) and rather than describing a drunken melee around the Christmas tree, is describing what I am doing- packing away ornaments which are fragile and which all have sentimental value - so breaking up Christmas. Sad, but time to get on with the new year!

irony

Since I wrote the post on suspension of disbelief, and started adding a staircase to the basement of the Gammage House, I've being thinking about a few glaringly obvious inconsistencies. What is a 55 year old woman who has always hated talking animal stories doing collecting and making dolls and miniatures?

2nd - the original thought behind Gammage house was for it to be more like an antique dollhouse than a "to scale" modern miniature. Detailed but only close to the half inch scale- using mostly handmade furnishings and accessories or altering new ones . which is why I am struggling so much on whether or not to electrify in a typical way. Wouldn't it make more sense for me, who has always hated animal stories, to build meticulously realistic scenes , or least aspire to?

I did some work yesterday on the targeted end of the house, but also picked up work on painting Julia's bedroom walls. Painting the walls is a task which has been holding me up, but I've found a solution . All the walls are now removable, so I can finish painting later, but get the interior of the house ready.

This is a picture of the addition to motivate me!

Saturday morning

After years and years of chores on Saturday morning, this lovely time has become mine to work only on projects. I watch my favorite shows ( I love Sell This House- another secret)

Everyone has been well trained to leave this time unencumbered and not ask for anything- part of me wonders if I should have taught kids this a long time ago, and part can't get away from feeling guilty . but the biggest part is having a great time!

I'm still proud to say that I am working toward the targeted end of Gammage house, and toward getting things ready to glue the 2nd floor on Max's Doolin Inn. yes, it has changed back to a B@B, but with some summer dwellers who stay from May to August. I'm working on the bay window seat this morning . Pics later.

Fine motor skills

I don't think I have really worked on fine motor skills since I was 5. I never did quite master cursive, but I type everything anyway. I play piano and fiddle with dexterity so WHY CAN'T I cut a straight line?

When I first started playing fiddle, it sounded so bad that I played with a practice mute and a clothespin on my bridge so that the noise wasn't so bad.

So I'll stick to this too, and skills will get better. Check the picture out and you'll understand my frustration!

Obsessed

You know you are obsessed when you are making divinity fudge and start trying to figure out how to use it to make miniatures. But it does kind of look like sparkling I need....

Multi tasking

Right now I seem to be so distractable that I have to hide loose projects from myself so I don't work on them instead of the houses. I am however giving myself permission to flit between the Gammage house and the yet to be named rooming house. I have the goal of finishing the 1st floor of the rooming house, and the stonework of the Gammage house. Oh, and the stone work requires that I add some framing , and the first floor requires a window seat built in and the fireplaces and panels finished.... As I write that I realize it is only partially true .

To commit , this is the end I am working on today. And yes, it is a complete mess! The interior of this end is meant to be very old and rustic- if you will remember, Persis will inhabit the upstairs, and had the balcony built( with private plans to find a way to escape the house unnoticed ) .

The Gammage sisters revolt

So the sisters seem to have gotten wind of the recent work stoppage on their house. Not happy! (and comments from my family as well since they seem to think that one dollhouse at a time is the gold standard.) Money for minis Is looking pretty slim this month after the $2000 for the dentist and the $95 for a new car battery in one day.

So time to at least introduce Julia ,the oldest Gammage sister. If you'll remember, Persis is the free spirited youngest , and the closest to being truly half scale. Julia is exceptionally tall . She would very much agree with my family about finishing one thing before starting another. Her room is a model of organization and beauty as well. Persis has never seen her in grubby clothes and jewelry. She does however need new boots. After dressing Persis, I'm marveling at the detail of her clothing! right now she is very unhappily surveying the mess outside the basement of Gammage house.