The Staircase

The other project of the day is the staircase wall. A bit more that just a staircase and I'm hoping to even things up with trim. I'm very proud though that I created the whole thing from scratch- my lines are getting straighter, but surely not there yet.

The story beginning

I don't know how many people have a story that goes with their dollhouse- but I had a hard time even thinking about the house until I imagined the characters. I'm a dollmaker, and had originally planned to make dolls, but then found 3 wonderful little antique china and stone bisque dolls about the right size. I'll introduce them soon.

Right now their names are Althea, Aurelia and Augusta , but we'll see if I can even remember those names tomorrow! Althea however, will be first, because she has been named for some time.

I remember I said that the era of the dollhouse is 1885 - but that is for the story, not the house. The house is meant to be built much earlier, although I haven't completely thought that out.

The search for interior space and roughing out the story

My mom used to tell me about her "greatmares" , which were usually about finding more and more space in the house she was living in. Wonderful ballrooms, and multiple attics filled with wonderful treasures.

The original Houseworks shell had approximately 4 rooms. I've never figured out why the staircase hole was configured the way it is. When I started planning to redo the house, I realized that there was no way in the world that I could squeeze in the music room, map room, workshop, sewing room that I wanted in addition to the large kitchen  and three women's bedrooms. I was hoping to find a space for the Seamaster's bedroom, but he might need to sleep in the Map room. Here are the original spaces in the house (please forgive the renovation mess) .

On the right bottom is the parlor/music room. Up top is the prissy sister's room. One bedroom is in the attic, along with a small storage room and a nursery converted into a sewing room. 

On the left was originally the kitchen , but it just wasn't large enough when you put the staircase in the place designated (see to the left of the upstairs wall). So you'll see I added an addition onto the right side of the house . But it didn't stop there! 

The better to sand you dear.....

Trying a new color. So far , even though it has had multiple lives, this house has only been cream or white. I decided to experiment with some colors from the Providence Houses - this was a green color.

I'm pretty sure this color might not make the cut, but I like the green idea.

Door update And Minnie F. Flylady for Dollhouses

I don't know - I learned a rule from my mother when learning to sew. Make the 3rd mistake, then stop!

So the finishing the door idea to see if I can really successfully fix this house might have been too strenuous. 

I don't know how many people know Flylady? Flylady is a support website/youtube channel/webcast resource for those of us who need support getting through our lives with our shoes on . Her motto - "You don't have to catch up, just jump in where you are", gets me through some rough self deprecating sessions.
So I'm thinking we need a mini-Flylady for dollhouse construction.

Minnie F. Flylady is working on Mottos- See what you think

 Dollhouses are for fun. Don't make them work.Or torture yourself when your work really, really looks bad.

Every dollhouse doesn't have to live on past your lifetime. Some of them need to die to make room for new dollhouses.

Okay- too silly.

Demolish- or try to fix?

When you're working with a house this messed up (and yes I did it, and not even too long ago), it's hard to know how far back to take it. I'm working right now on the front door- I need to know that I actually can make it better!

But look at the dormers- AAHHHH. Although anything small enlarged that much would have to have incredible workmanship to look good at that magnification. And I keep reminding myself- this is for fun, this is for fun....

Let's just see how the door turns out.

Fuzzy dollhouse math

I've thrust about trying to decide what era Gammage House is set in. Finally I have a year - 1885. I'm still not sure why, but it had to be a) significantly after the Civil War, b) early enough that decorative painting and other early 1800's details wouldn't have been replaced or painted over c) early enough that the Seamaster father could be remembered by his daughters, but that they might not have preserved his bedroom . There is just not enough space in this house for the father's bedroom!!! My story is that when he was alive, the girls shared a room.

The great thing about dollhouses which are clearly dollhouses (not models or miniatures of specific periods) is that a little fuzzy math doesn't hurt. Or a little fuzzy history as this seems to be.

My Dad's Vice

One of my memories of my dad - he worked in the garage set up as a workshop. Always in his leather jacket , spattered with paint, his hat, and always whistling. He was especially good at whistling- but it drove my mom crazy. He also sang in a rich voice- but always Army songs or German children's songs.

 About 6 years ago, my dad went into the hospital with pneumonia. My stepmother decided it was time to clean out his workshop because, "He would never use it again." She wanted the space for her sewing business I think.  I objected, but knew that if I didn't take what was important to me, it would go to Goodwill or to one of my stepbrothers, who I don't think would appreciate the sentiment.

One of the things in the workshop was a huge worktable, with an old vice . I wanted it, but it was too big for my space. With great effort, my brother Eric cut it out of the table for me. My dad  came out of the hospital and was furious that his workshop was gone.
The vice  sat for at least 5 years, but this year, a friend surprised me with a gift- dad's vice set into a brand new worktable. It is still usable but is also protected .

My saw

Random I know- but very appropriate since one of my goals for this house (I have a quarter scale, and a full scale dollhouse in my head) is to learn to cut a straight line. I got a new saw, which I love! The sound of an electric saw relaxes me- my mom and dad built an addition onto our house when I was a preteen, and my mom was always building one thing or another. A surround for the new double oven, a closet for the washer and dryer, a conversation pit with brown shag carpet . Anyone remember those?