Eureka!

I think I have decided what I'm going to do for the this year's Creatin' Contest: 

I still need to do a dry fit to decide whether or not I'm going to do a loft or some kind of Murphy bed/sofa bed, but I think this will work.  I'm going to forgo the current porch and use the entire base as the house.  

I will add a deck on one end with a front door and the side where the big windows will be (like the one below).

...Of course, knowing me I will get half way into the build and decide to go another direction.  I think the trick for me is not to get too ambitious or impatient.

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In addition, I just bought this large lot of Bodo Hennig / German made minis off of Ebay. I actually only wanted to keep a few pieces and was planning of selling off the rest, but as I unwrapped the pieces I found that there were many more that I like and will be keeping.

Some of them are duplicates of what I already have so I will re-sell those or give some as gifts...maybe a giveaway since I haven't had one in awhile.

  I'm just curious what you think if I were to reupholster the pieces that I'm not fond of...like ALL of the floral prints.  Do you think that would "devalue" the pieces for those who are purists? or does it really matter as long as it is done well?

Too Many Ideas

I got my 2016 HBS Contest kit - The Backyard Bungalow a few days ago.  When I first saw the kit online, I was uninspired because it just wan't my style. Quite frankly, It's still not my style, but I can make it into something that is.  I haven't opened it yet for dry fit it, but I have spent days drawing out different floor plans for a Tiny house. Even at my RL job I sneak in a doodle here and there.  For some reason I just can't get it right so I decided to go on Pinterest and Google Images for some ideas....well, now I have too many ideas and can't decide.  

See what I mean? Decisions, decisions, decisions.  Do I use one kit or two?  Do I use two and stack them on top of each other or next to each other?  I want to use two, but my work space is limited...My work room is in an attic and the side walls are only 4 feet tall. so storage and usable work space is at a premium. Do I use one and go out or up?  Who knew that a seemingly uninspiring kit could inspire so many ideas?

Carpeting Dilemma Solved

The last time I posted about the Creating Contest Mad Men Office, I was having a bit of trouble with the carpeting and glue soaking through it.  Well, Thanks to Fran at Miniatures.com and her great advice, the carpeting is attached and looks great.

I know the picture is really dark, but I'll get a better one next time.  I've also gotten the teak veneer on the walls and silver edging up.  Next is getting the lighting hooked up then it will be time to start on Don Draper's decorating. 

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 I have been looking for a Millie August Magic Mini Pleater to make the window treatments for a couple of months now.  The last one I found on Ebay was a bit out of my price range. If anyone knows where I can get one PLEASE let me know.

I have also made a little progress on the Citadel Kitchen

The bottom cabinets are a dark grey gloss laminate from Formica and it's called...wait for it..."Citadel".  The uppers will be a white gloss.  The stove and fridge are kits from Elf Miniatures . I asked Elizabeth if she could either make an orange fridge to go with the orange cooker kit or even just some of the orange plastic that is on the cooker so I could make my own. Within a couple of hours she got back to me with this awesome matching fridge kit (which is now for sale on the website).

CC 2016 Inspiration

When I first saw the 2016 Creatin' Contest kit, I was a little uninspired.  Now that we are supposedly going to have an early spring (we cal only hope) I have had an aha moment and started brain storming.

This is the 2016 kit: The Backyard Bungalow

Here are a couple of ideas for a beach bungalow.

This is a pretty small kit, so I will have to buy two.

Another idea I had is to do a Tiny House.  One of those really compact 200 square foot homes with lots of hidden multi purpose furniture and storage.

I will probably just get the kits and play around with them until I decide.

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Working on the Citadel

Now that the HBS Contest is done, I've had a little time to get back to working on the Citadel. First I've been working on the lighting.   Several months ago I purchased a couple of the Alvar Aalto vases from Modern Mini Fan (AKA Modern Mini Houses) to make a light out of.  I started thinking about it and thought a larger version would be really cool as an overhead light so I contacted her and asked if she could make it in a larger size. She was very acomodating and quickly made a larger version.  I was originally going to use it for a dining chandelier, but since the ceilings are tall in the Citadel I thought it would be a great ceiling light. 

 Though the room has no finishings and I haven't decided what room it will be (probably a bathroom or office) I think the light looks awesome!

Next I got the recessed lights working in the kitchen.  

I've been admiring the colored cookers at Elf Miniatures for some time and of course my favorite color is orange.  I wanted to make a fridge that matches the cooker so I asked Elizabeth at Elf if she could either make one or send me a piece of the same orange plastic to make a matching fridge myself.  She blew me away by making a kit version of a picture of a fridge that I sent her. First, it's awesome and second very affordable.

I started laying out the kitchen using the cooker and fridge kits that I already put together from Elf Miniatures. 

 I  "planted" some succulents in the built in planter and added some paneling in the entry way.

The clock and cactus coat tree are from Piccoleidee Moderne on Etsy. I blogged about them recently here. I used pre-made single french doors for the rooms, but frosted the windows for privacy.  I started making my own doors but then decided it was a bit of a pain in the ass so I bought these from Miniatures.com  They are by Houseworks and you can remove the "glass" part to paint the frames and in my case frost the "glass".

I addition, I have done a little bit on Don Draper's Mad Men office

 The ceiling is done and the windows installed.

This is my third try on the carpeting.  The first one I cut one inch short, the second showed glue (water based) on the nice side that could not be remedied and the third time I tried spray glue to install the "carpeting" which is just faux suede. As you can see, even the spray glue shows through the fabric.  Next try will either something I already have or felt but I really don't want to go back to the fabric store. Besides when I was there I looked at the felt and I couldn't find the right shade of grey.

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New Year, New Project...Sort Of

As you may know, I decided a few months ago to ditch the idea I had for the 2015 HBS contest house and gut what I did and start over.  Well, that's exactly what I did. 

Now that the holidays are over, I've had a little time to work on Don Draper's Mad Men office. Primarily, I've been working on doing a dropped office ceiling.

 I started by adding 1/2" x 1/16" wood to the bottom of the center beams and 1/4" x 1/16" on the sides.  They leave just enough of a shelf to rest the dropped ceiling on. It also leaves plenty of room for the wiring. I found this sliver of plastic overhead lighting cover at work.

To make acoustic tiles for the ceiling, I cut to size pieces of mat board to fit in the spaces then attached self adhesive cork and painted it white.

 To make sure the acoustic tiles and plastic conform to the curve of the beams, I put in little blocks to keep them from moving.

Voila, a dropped ceiling. 

While I'm in an MCM mood: I decided to do a little scene in the CItadel.

 The TV is a vintage salt shaker ( I got the idea from Otterine), The phone, coffee mug,, end table and some other accessories are from Ebay.  The floor lamp and magazine rack are AG Minis, The light and dark coffee table and incredible clock are by Minisx2. The book case is vintage German, the cat statue is from an Egypt Toob toy,  the yellow ash tray is by Mike Urkovik of Atomic Miniature, the table lamp is from Minimum World, Tha african sculpture is by Minismodernas, The sofa and pillows are by me.

Merry New Year! Cheers to new adventures!

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Area 54 - Nightlife

I worked out the photos for Area 54! This was a fun build to do. It's something different from what I usually do, but still modern...maybe ultra modern? Now, I have more than enough booze bottles for the Mad Men office. I made the ceiling with exposed duct work etc. so that I can some day add some windows and turn this into an industrial loft /studio apartment. I still don't like using dolls in photos, but I do like the Daft Punk guys (the guy in front carding people and the bar tender) and my Austin Powers action figures. I just think they're funny. 

 So here are the official pics:

While I was at it, I made a short video if the inside of Area 54: The music is from the blue tooth speaker above the door.




And the Scrolling Sign:

Area 54 Scrolling Sign

Now all I need to do is get through Christmas, New Years and a birthday (not mine) and I can finish the Mad Men office and get back to the Citadel! 

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