Look how far I've come

 I sometimes get discouraged.  I want my miniature scenes to be picture perfect.  I get upset though because my skill level is not perfect.   I'm a perfectionist that can't reach perfection!  How annoying is that?

Just recently, I was sitting back and creating books for the Library in the 1920's era house.   I was being my giddy self because while I saw the issues, I was really liking my new books.  And that is when I realized how far I have come from those first creations!   We will use the books as an example of how my skill has progressed!

When I was creating the Mini Mansion Dollhouse, I created a bookshelf for under the steps. Naturally, I needed books to fill my bookshelf.  So I thought about it.  I did a little research and I set about making books.  I was so tickled with my books.  I absolutely loved them!

I actually posted about my awesome books and included a mini tutorial in a post way back in 2016. 

When I decided to start the library in the 1920's era house, I knew I needed books.  So I researched again because silly me forgot that I had a mini tutorial.  I started to make books out of magazines.

I was in love!  They looked so much better than the original ones.  Actually lifelike....or at least closer!

I kept working and making books because I had a full library to fill.  I made some books out of foam board.  I made some books out of wood.  I was a book making machine. 

And eventually, my library was ready to be filled with books.  I was so tickled with the outcome.  But you know what?  Those original books, they did NOT make it to the shelves!  I didn't have the heart to throw them out though.  I put them back in my boxes of extra stuff because when I feel discouraged about something not being perfect, I can look at those books and say, "Give it time Maryfran, progress comes with time"

The Library

It's been a long process!  I got the large dollhouse that I have planned to do in the era of 1920's years ago!  I actually wrote about it in March of 2021!  I had purchased it months before that!    

My work on this dollhouse came and went almost as if with the passing winds.  I worked on the outside and then paused.  I decided to create a library in the one room.  I worked on the floor and then I paused.  I worked on the paneled walls.  And then I paused.    I even made books for the library.  But then I paused again!  And when I say paused, I mean PAUSED.  Paused for months at a time!  But that's ok!  I eventually get back to it!  And that is exactly what I did at the end of 2022.    

I finished my entry into the Creatin' Contest at the end of November.   I continued to ignore the 1920's era dollhouse and instead dove into my miniature memory boxes.   I eventually did turn to that library.  

I began by creating the bookshelves.  I made the shelves out of foam board.  I added a swirl of yarn for decorative purposes and then painted the whole thing white.  

After I made the bookshelves, I realized that what I thought was a huge pile of books that I had made agest ago was not that big afterall!   I had to make more books.  And then I had to make some more!  I made books until I felt them oozing from my pores!

Finally I had enough books to fill the shevles!

Finally, it was time to put it all together!   I Placed the shelves and then started playing with the furniture.  I used a rolltop desk, phone, a side table and a chair that I had found at antique stores over the years.  The lamps, are battery powered and I purchased them here and here from Amazon.    The cookies and the mug were swap items I received.  Everything else was made by myself.

Link to youtube Video: 

Books books books!

I moved the steps in the mini mansion and loved it.  The only thing I didn't like was the space under the steps.  Finally I decided on building a bookshelf for under the steps.   

I was nervous about it for sure!  But then I kept reading about people using foam board for building and decided to give it a whirl.  I am sooooo glad that I did!!!

I traced the space and cut a piece the shape of the under steps space.  It cut like butter with my exacto knife!  I dry fitted the shape and it fit perfectly.    I would like to say that I worked off of a pattern but I didn't.  I  knew a book would be about 9-10 inches tall...so I figured my shelves should have around a one inch (one foot ) opening.  I literally just cut and thought about each step and before I knew it I had a bookshelf that fit into the space perfectly!

I was charmed!  I was in love!!!

I am still leaning to no rail/banister on the steps as the room is so small.  But I knew I needed/wanted a rail around the steps  on the second floor.  So I started that.  The pieces I have were too big so off to the workshop I went.

Oops!!! I learned to take it very slow!!!

And I pieced the rails together (yeah I probably should have painted first!   And you can see how much I cut off in the picture!!

So the railing, steps and bookshelves need a nice coat of white paint and they will be ready for installation and books.

BOOKS!!!  I need books!!!

My supplies:

File folders (card stock)

White paper

Colored pencils

Glue

Scissors 

List of books (printed and shrunk as far as will fit on books)

I knew the rough size of a book to be about 3/4 of an inch so I cut a long strip of 3/4 inch wide cars stock.

I then cut the long strip into the width of the cover of the book.  Honestly I eyeballed it....but it is about 1.5 inches.  (And further down the assembly line I used a previous cut book cover as my template). I also marked the rough spots to fold the cover.

I colored the cover.  Since my house is set in the 1900's I didn't want fancy pictures....

I then folded the cover into a book shape.

I took the white paper and cut it in long strips (the width of a piece of paper) in 3/4 inch strips.

This strip of white paper I folded into an accordion shape.   Once again I eyeballed it and checked to make sure it would fit into the cover of the book I was working without overlapping.   I trimmed the top and bottom of the 'accordion' to make it nice and neat.

I then glued the inside binding of the cover and attached one of the 'accordion' pieces of paper. I held this with my fingers for a few seconds.

My first few attempts I wrote with a find pen the name of the book...and while it was cute I didn't like it.  

I decided to print up the names....so at this point I then took my printed list and cut one title out.

  I colored it the same color as the cover and glued it to the outside of the binding. Center and hold for a few seconds to make sure it adheres.

Set to dry and begin the next book!!!

Notes:

I chose titles that were historically  accurate.

The chairs will be reupholstered soon

The wallpaper is destined to go bye bye soon too!!