And it begins.
Okay all. Time for something a little bit different.
This story has a preface:
When I was wee, I kept to myself. I was not particularly interested in playing with other children, though I did have some friends. I had a series of autoimmune disorders that kept me occupied (and often still do). I was allowed to have any books I wanted. While I did my fair share of reading of young adult literature (Nancy Drew!) my favourite thing - and thing I asked for most - were things about houses and architecture. Every time I saw a houseplan magazine in a store, we had to get it. I would spend hours looking at houseplans and I'd pull out the ones I loved most. I'd hang them up, much like most other girls would hang pictures of their favourite rockstars from the rags. I read up on all aspects of it, became very familiar with the different styles and architects and learned all about the engineering …
I've since gone on to (among many other things) learn the nitty-gritty of architecture and engineering.. which comes in handy.. although I have since decided that I don't really have the desire to build other peoples' houses all that much. I do want to build my house someday… but that is not today!
Anyway, I found a way for me to get my house-fix without having to finance building entire neighbourhoods was to work in miniature. I've been building since I was maybe 9 or 10. I am working on plans for a really impressive one - with working plumbing, even! - but I'm waiting until I can get everything "just right".
Since many of you follow along you may know that I do not have access to most of my tools right now… and I don't have a workshop.. unless you count the 50 sq feet I can squeeze out of my garage. So I opted to play it small (no pun intended) and go with a pre-made kit.
I don't consider this "real woodworking".. I'm going to be blogging about this over on my website, mostly, but I'm going to mention the woody related things here. In particular, I'm going to do some very fussy finishing work. So, whatever is relevant I will post here and whatever is not, I will do a short post letting you all know there is more going on… Seems like a good system!
Here we go. The big parts are MDF, the little parts are solid wood. (Some kind of SPF I'm sure - they're not Balsa, they are a bit sturdier than that.)
The doors - which I love. Mostly I like the fact that they are actually separate panels, they open and close.. The front door has a panel of plastic in it. I may or may not remove it and put in a slightly sturdier piece of plastic. I will be adding plastic to the tiny windows on the top.. I have some colourful stock that is just perfect.
The exterior colour scheme. I learned a long time ago to always spray paint the clapboard siding… I do not need to prove my patience to anybody.
And the wallpaper for the interior.
I'm going to try and hit Woodcraft sometime soon and see what they've got in stock for pretty pieces of exotics. And thinking inlay pieces could make for some neat borders. I need to hammer out what to do for the floors. The craft store sells wood plank flooring (pine) but it's stupid expensive - $10 for a single room. I mean, it's nice in that it's pre-cut and on a sticky back so you just stain and go. But I feel I can do better.. I don't mind doing some sawing next time I'm with my tools.. but I have no table saw right now.. anything I can do on a mitre saw would be fine.
I printed out my list of suggested woods from the thread I posted a bit back so I will be keeping that in mind.
The theme I am kind of going with is "Remodelled Farmhouse". Traditional exterior but extremely modern, refinished interior that still has hints of the past.
Should be fun.
Okay all. Time for something a little bit different.
This story has a preface:
When I was wee, I kept to myself. I was not particularly interested in playing with other children, though I did have some friends. I had a series of autoimmune disorders that kept me occupied (and often still do). I was allowed to have any books I wanted. While I did my fair share of reading of young adult literature (Nancy Drew!) my favourite thing - and thing I asked for most - were things about houses and architecture. Every time I saw a houseplan magazine in a store, we had to get it. I would spend hours looking at houseplans and I'd pull out the ones I loved most. I'd hang them up, much like most other girls would hang pictures of their favourite rockstars from the rags. I read up on all aspects of it, became very familiar with the different styles and architects and learned all about the engineering …
I've since gone on to (among many other things) learn the nitty-gritty of architecture and engineering.. which comes in handy.. although I have since decided that I don't really have the desire to build other peoples' houses all that much. I do want to build my house someday… but that is not today!
Anyway, I found a way for me to get my house-fix without having to finance building entire neighbourhoods was to work in miniature. I've been building since I was maybe 9 or 10. I am working on plans for a really impressive one - with working plumbing, even! - but I'm waiting until I can get everything "just right".
Since many of you follow along you may know that I do not have access to most of my tools right now… and I don't have a workshop.. unless you count the 50 sq feet I can squeeze out of my garage. So I opted to play it small (no pun intended) and go with a pre-made kit.
I don't consider this "real woodworking".. I'm going to be blogging about this over on my website, mostly, but I'm going to mention the woody related things here. In particular, I'm going to do some very fussy finishing work. So, whatever is relevant I will post here and whatever is not, I will do a short post letting you all know there is more going on… Seems like a good system!
Here we go. The big parts are MDF, the little parts are solid wood. (Some kind of SPF I'm sure - they're not Balsa, they are a bit sturdier than that.)
The doors - which I love. Mostly I like the fact that they are actually separate panels, they open and close.. The front door has a panel of plastic in it. I may or may not remove it and put in a slightly sturdier piece of plastic. I will be adding plastic to the tiny windows on the top.. I have some colourful stock that is just perfect.
The exterior colour scheme. I learned a long time ago to always spray paint the clapboard siding… I do not need to prove my patience to anybody.
And the wallpaper for the interior.
I'm going to try and hit Woodcraft sometime soon and see what they've got in stock for pretty pieces of exotics. And thinking inlay pieces could make for some neat borders. I need to hammer out what to do for the floors. The craft store sells wood plank flooring (pine) but it's stupid expensive - $10 for a single room. I mean, it's nice in that it's pre-cut and on a sticky back so you just stain and go. But I feel I can do better.. I don't mind doing some sawing next time I'm with my tools.. but I have no table saw right now.. anything I can do on a mitre saw would be fine.
I printed out my list of suggested woods from the thread I posted a bit back so I will be keeping that in mind.
The theme I am kind of going with is "Remodelled Farmhouse". Traditional exterior but extremely modern, refinished interior that still has hints of the past.
Should be fun.