Welcome To My Miniature Page

About this time, after spending a lot of time reading various books I had purchased, I became interested in Room Boxes. "This was a little more my size and wasn't so intimidating." I decided to change my game plan for the time being and do a Living Room Box. I re-cut some of the pieces from the house and put together and almost exact room box. Then I went on to select the furniture I would make. I couldn't go into this slow though. I had to pick out the hardest piece of furniture available. Wasn't I surprised when it came out the way I wanted.

I've tried to take a picture of each thing I do during the course of construction. This hutch was right after assembly, before staining and finishing. I learned a lot from this piece. First, putting hinges on is a real pain. The shelves needed to be cut twice because I just couldn't get it right the first time. I also learned that you don't have to keep to the book exactly. Modifications can be made to suit your own tastes. For instance. The dowels on the outside of the bottom of the hutch are my idea. I also decided with this piece that I was going to put a full-size 'something' in each picture so that one could tell the scale if you were looking at photographs. Having done this piece, I went on to the next.

I made a little table, cut up an old blouse for the fabric for the chair and couch and a silky pillowcase for the pillows and curtains. I put together a fireplace (using patterns from the books with modifications). I was getting a little pleased with myself around now. I stained everything and put the first coat of finish on. I decided the fireplace needed a hearth and added that on. I even cut out some pictures from magazines and put them aside for use when frames were made. I even learned how to make roses from Sculptey clay and made the arrangements for the fireplace and the table.

I went to work on the box at this point and wallpapered, laid a rug, hung a door and built a frame for the outside. The ceiling was finished with a layer of mud used for drywall and stippled with a toothbrush to give the plaster effect. I couldn't decide what to do with the outside walls and was given the suggestion of cedar siding. What a hoot it was cutting this stuff on an angle and gluing in place. (I still praise the maker of the band saw.) I was pleased with the way everything came out and I learned another lesson about exact measurements. I knew I would be a little more careful with my next box and was grateful I got lucky with my first:

I still have a lot to do with the room. I've added a few things since the pictures were taken and I want to enclose the front to keep out the dust. I've also decided that all my boxes will have a picture of my boys in some form or another. When I have four boxes done, I will mount them on a board for display and affix it to the wall.

Here are a few pictures for my next box:

The bed was modified to suit my tastes, the pictures were xeroxed from a book and I painted them and made frames and the chair will be used at a dressing table. I made a beautiful wardrobe (pics are still in the camera) and spent an entire night make the molding frames for the inside of the box that will be put on the bottom portion of the walls. (Note: I hate cutting 45° angles.)

After this box, I'll be making five at a time. Originally, I was going to do two boxes, one for each of my boys. My son wants two boxes (one for him and one for his brother). It will be easier on me to make them all at once. I need the fifth box (a garden) to take me away from the other four when it gets too much.

Now if I could just get all these plans in my head down on the workbench!