Work commences on the Quilt Shop

I finally decided that it was time to start working on the dollhouse that I picked up about two years ago.  I found this house at a flea market/antique store and decided to buy it.  I knew it needed a bit of work when I got it, but I was undaunted. I sat and looked at it a while for the plans to take place in my mind.  This would become ‘The Stone House Quilt Shop’.  It has sat in storage since the plans were made.  This last weekend I decided it was time.  I pulled the house out of storage.

Now let me be clear, the McKinley is not complete.  I am still working on the nursery and have lots more to do before that dollhouse can be labeled as anything close to complete. But can’t a girl have two works in progress?

The Stone house quilt shop is actually a Greenleaf Laurel. It was built when it came into my possession. 

I immediately worked on fixing the porch...it was quite weak!  I also took off the loose trim.  This dollhouse was put together with a hot glue gun....and it shows!  Most of the joints needed to be reclined properly!  That was my first order of business!

While the porch and trim are going to remain white, I wanted to give the white a fresh coat of  paint.  Easy and quick!

The next thing I did was to paint the house light gray!  

This is to work as a back drop for the stones that would soon be placed on the house.  The gray would resemble the mortar as it peeka between the installed stones.

I chose to use cardboard egg cartoons as my stones.  I ripped the heavy paper into small ‘stones’ and placed them into a bowl.   

I then spread glue on a small area of the painted gray area on the dollhouse. Carefully I placed the stones in place on the glued area.  I took time to make sure that the stones looked like they fit together.  

Slow and steady progress.   Small sections of the house done but by bit.  But slowly the dollhouse actually became a stone house!  I was giddy with excitement!!!!

I have a pinched nerve...and ‘stoning’ the house was a tough painful job.  I made it half way around the house....and my arm decided that even doing a bit here and a bit there was too much.  So progress is halted....hopefully just for a day or two!!!

Flooring

I got the bug the other morning after my post breaking the silence.   

I starred in on the sanding of the main bedroom!!!

I think that it’s looking really good!!!  You can see the sanded floor and the I sanded floor on the level below the sanded floor in this next picture!!

I also started working on the hallway.  

I added wallpaper first.


And then I worked on laying the floor!

Obviously trim work needs to be done...and I have one more small piece of flooring to lay on the left side of the picture.    But it’s coming along!!!

I am also thinking of making this for my kitchen..above the sink!!!

So finally...some progress!!

Quiet but not forgotten

Wow!  Has it been a long time or what????   

So much had happened since I last posted on here!  And most of it is seemingly unrelated to my dollhouse....or so it would seem. So let me get that out of the way and then I will share the little that IS happening in dollhouse land!!!

My last post was mid July of 2017.  The very first week of August I began a new job....55 miles from home.  An hour commute you might say?  No...rush hour city traffic made that drive 2-3 hours every day....each way!  By the time I got home, ate dinner and saw my fabulous boyfriend for 15-20 minutes  (the one that bought me the McKinley) it was time to say goodnight and go to sleep. Where was dollhouse time?  Yeah, there was no time for dollhouses!

In March of this year, my boyfriend and I moved toward my work a bit...it cut my commute down to an hour each way (an hour and a half in the morning...go figure). I carefully packed the dollhouses and gently moved them to their new home...one at a time in my car!  Everything arrived in one piece and I enjoyed setting them back up!

Once we got settled,  I started to think more about my dollhouses again!  The kitchen and bathroom of theMcKinley  were mostly done so I turned my attention to the ‘master’ bedroom.  

Just for reference...

The bottom left room is the kitchen and the bottom right room will be the living room.  

The second floor is divided into three.  The left room is the bathroom, the middle area is a hallway and the room on the right will be set up as a child’s room/nursery.

The attic level is also divided into two...(three if you count the turret.).  The small attic area on the left will be a typical attic/storage/junk area that I’m looking forward to stocking with this random little things that will make it a treasure trove to look at...For example found the most adorable pair of crutches that I just had to buy!!  The larger attic room on the right will be the master bedroom.  I’m not exactly sure what the turret will be yet.  I’ve toyed with lining it with bookshelves.  I’ve thought about making it a sitting area and also a small room for a crib/cradle.  Only time will tell.  

So after we moved, time opened up...a wee bit! So I purchased some things to recommence work on the McKinley.

I bought some craft sticks and a small saw and mitre box. 

I have most of the furniture for the master bedroom so I began there.  I  found some ‘wallpaper’ (aka scrapbook paper) that I thought would look nice as a bedroom.  And with my supplies handy I headed into the master bedroom.

The first thing I did was close off the small ‘crawl space’ between the master bedroom and the attic space.  It just didn’t flow with my ideas.  It was too short to be considered a door...so I opted to eliminate it.  So yes, in this manner my third floor technically has no point of egress.  That’s ok...it’s my dollhouse world and I make the rules!

I then papered the walls.  Once that relatively easy job was done I began the tedious job of cutting and laying the hardwood floor, aka craft stick floor.   It was tedious and time consuming.  Especially as I came to the turret area and the many angles!

In order to have the time, I worked 15-20 minutes here and there. 

And finally I can say that the floor in the master bedroom is completely laid.  

Next step?  Pulling out the Dremil and sanding and polishing that floor in preparations for staining.

Oh yeah...It may only be 6AM but I’m raring to get out there and start sanding!!!!

No cooking yet in the kitchen

The mckinley kitchen is progressing.  Slowly.   I go through spurts where I work every day...then I go through a spurt where it's a few weeks between work.  

I started by making templates of all my walls, ceiling and floor.  Then I pondered and pondered and pondered the placement of the kitchen appliances.   

Once my decision was made I realized that I was going to definitely have to make some custom cabinets.   

My handiwork is not the highest quality...but with little or no extra money it works for me.  And it's fun!!!!

Oh yes....I decided I needed an upper cabinet on the back wall.  (I decided uppers on the side wall above the sink would box in the room a bit too much for my liking!)

Ahhh much better.     

I painted the window seat in preparation for some pillows /cushions.  

I also in one of my brief hiatus' got this amazing little piece for the kitchen.  

And I have now added in the white walls and ceiling...and the tile flooring.  I have the cabinets and kitchen appliances in place for View/affect.     

From there it was one tiny leap to put in the counter tops and actually install everything!   Woohoo!!!

Trim work....and clean and get curtains for the windows...cushions for the window seat and then the little things like food...pots and pans....canisters...etc!!!!  It's rolling!!!  

Maybe I had best get planning in my head my next room in the mckinley!!!!

Number four

I have seen a few dollhouses in antique stores...in particular I've seen the mini mansion in some stores.   I have toyed with the idea of buying them and doing the same house in different eras.....doesn't that sound amazingly fun????

I haven't ruled it out.....

But in the meantime, last weekend I was in an antique store and for the second or third time saw a lonely dollhouse....one that needed work!  I had asked before for a price but never got one!   This past weekend they searched out the owner and I got a price.   I paid $36 bucks for it.

I'm telling myself no work done on it until I am nearing the end of work on the mckinley....and since I only just finished the first room....well it might be a while!!!

I am in the meantime staring at it and thinking and dreaming!!!

 

Darn blurry picture!!!

 

And the inside....

 

The 'wallpaper will obviously be easy to strip!'

There are holes for the stairs but obviously no steps.  Everything is loose.  There are parts missing.  It needs love!!!

I personally think that the house NEEDS to be stone!!!  So stone it will be!

I had always said that my next dollhouse  was going to be a quilt shop......but then I got this house.    So I was thinking a normal type house.   But then I thought 'why not...'. So right now I'm thinking a quilt shop downstairs and the top two floors the living space!!!!

Stone House Quilts?????

Ahhh decisions!!!!!

Leaving the bathroom

The mckinley bathroom is done.   It's not perfect...but I love it!!!!

Yes, as I wrote that I realize how hard I am on myself!!!!

I haven't decided on my lighting for the mckinley...so right now there is no lighting....but it is wired for lights!

I will probably some day decide on something for the walls....and probably paint the shaving mug, brush and razor at some point.  But for now, I'm good!!!!

 

 

 

On to the kitchen!!!!

Finished...kinda

Well I can call the Mini Mansion completed!   Ok mostly.   The only must do thing left is to get a replacement light (might try a bulb first) for the bedroom.  It's a bit dark!!!

 

I solved the problem with the bed and made something that I find acceptable.  

 

I looked at the bed for a while and decided that I was keeping it. Once I decided that I liked it, I pulled out the paint and made it all a nice white.  Then I pulled out the fabric that I wanted to use as bedding and crafted my bedding .    I also did a bit of painting on the chamber pot (lower left corner) and the water bowl and pitcher (right middle).   

 

So I can say that the bedroom is done!    Yeah...as I'm looking I may add a little green trim paint on the two dressers.  Maybe.   See....a dollhouse is never done!!!

I haven't done much with the sewing room recently....I added some scissors and patterns...but otherwise it's been finished for a while!

 

And lit...

 

The living room I have been happy with for a while...well maybe as I find little knick knacks I will add them!

 

And lit....

 

And last but not least the kitchen.    I have been done with the kitchen for a while also....but just added some of those fun finishing touches.  Like plates and silverware and food.   

 

And lit....

 

So little things to improve upon.....but finished until I am ready for an upgrade!