The Lights Are On

                                                                              I tend to say, "Life gets in the way," when I don't work on minis, but that is only a half truth. Sometimes I just lose momentum, especially when I'm facing tedious tasks in the dollhouse. This week, the mood to mini returned, nearly obsessively. I am ready to have the Manchester finished. Worried that the house wasn't turning out the way I wanted it to or that some of the workmanship isn't exact,  I think fueled such a long hiatus.  This last week, though, with most my obligations competed, I dug in and made great progress. In addition, I've not been able to commit to wallpaper, lighting, even a bathroom sink, even though I had purchased two Shapeways sinks. Here's what I've accomplished.

Electrifying a dollhouse might be the worst project, second to maybe roofing with individual shingles. Mitering crown molding also tends to bring on procrastination. Following Sue Conlin @ sussmallobsessession, reminded me of some of the cutting techniques for crown molding and some electrical tricks that I had used in the Pink Farmhouse, giving me confidence to continue on.

I've made my own lights since the beginning using beads and beading findings. I took my first lessons from Cinderella Moments, following her chandelier tutorial. I made several, with fair results. Wall sconces were inspired by the various tutorial I found on Pinterest. 

I make lighted wall sconces using beading supplies from Bindles Ornaments, a Dutch company with a wonderful selection of high quality beading supplies with tutorials and kits. Their kits might be a bit more advanced for the beginners, but they are a great way to learn how to create your lighting fixtures.

You will find the information for my tutorial for the bathroom sconces at Make Something Pretty. The foundation for the sconce came from Bindles, but when I checked their catalog today, this piece doesn't seem to be available, but there are other pieces that might work. 

Bindles is a lovely company to work with: great service, beautiful products, great instructions, and most importantly, quality products. The only drawback that I can find is the delivery time since they are overseas. Beginners might do well to shop local craft stores that sell beading supplies, such as what I used for this little light. Once you begin buying beading supplies and tools, you build up a stash that will make it easy to make all kinds of lamps, sconces, and ceiling lights. You can also find beading supplies online. 

The supplies are simple. I purchase the little lights from Cir-Kit Concepts, but other miniature suppliers offer the same lights. Check prices and shipping. I like this company because they offer such great support. I ruined an expensive chandelier that I purchased from them and shipped to them for repair.  

I always use glue made just for beading because it won't cloud the beads or glass globes like white glue tends to do. I ordered the frosted replacement globe from Just Miniatures and they can also be purchased from Factory Direct. For the clear bulbs, I purchase glass globe findings at Hobby Lobby, or anyplace else, including Etsy. The assembly is quite simple string the findings on the lighting wire, using a toothpick to apply tiny dabs of glue between each layer, being careful not get glue in the wiring.

And there you have it. I originally this style for the wall sconce above the bathroom vanity.

But found that it was too small.  I work out my wall design on the work counter laying flat then photograph the arrangement so that I can see what it might look like. 

I ended up installing this light on the ceiling in the bedroom above the canopy bed. It's perfect for the spot.

Installing the wall sconces was easy, once using Susan's technique. 

To begin, I printed my  wallpaper on mat photo paper and sealed it with Krylon.  I measured the location for each sconce then punched small holes to feed the wires to the back of the paper and used dabs of the beading glue to attach the sconces to the paper (purchased from Lovely Minis Designs on Etsy).

Because the paper is downloaded and printed, I work with a prin-outt on computer paper first to test size and placement. 

Ordinary scotch tape holds the wires in place on the back of the wallpaper. The photo paper is heavy enough that the wires won't show through the paper, but if you use a lighter weight paper, mount it on card stock to reinforce to print and to prevent the wiring from showing through the wallpaper. Since I had the wires on the back of the wallpaper, I applied the wallpaper adhesive (Grandmother Stover's) to the wall.

I run my copper tape wire across the floor, then run the sconce wires down the wall behind the wallpaper and across the floor to copper wiring. This technique works only if the sconce wires are long enough, which mine barely are. 

Making wall sconces and ceiling fixtures allows for more creative, distinctive lighting at a reduces cost once you have created a stash of beads and beading supplies, including the specialized beading tools. Here's another light that I have decided where to put just to demonstrate how easy it is create your own lights:

Tools:A drill. I most often use my Dremel. Because of its length, I have to drill the hole at an angle, but that really doesn't matter. Sometimes I use tool that came with my Cir-Kit wiring kits that has both an awl point and two drill bits. I use Cir-Kit's awl to make the pilot hole for the eyelet; insert the eyelet with the black awl, use the allgatory clamp type tool to strip the insulation from the wiring, a small hammer to pound the eyelets in place, and scissors--just in case.  

With the wires secured in place, I cover them tape: blue painter's, scotch, or even electrical. I've used all three through out the house. Covering the wires with tape will secure them in place and add some protection once the floors are in place.

This wall is now ready to decorate. I'll add the vanity, sinks, toilet, and shower.  

 

Next for the kitchen hanging lights. Lighting the Way post shows how I created the glass pendent lights

There's one thing that I didn't include, how to hand the lights. Commercially lighting has all the component for hanging and attaching these types of light, but handmade lighting requires a bit of creative thinking. I needed to be able to attach the chain that suspends the light and attaching the electrical wire to power. The wire is fed through a hole in the ceiling then attached to the copper tape wire.

I used a Dremel drill to drill the holes, but a thumb screwdriver works well, too. 

The pendent chain is attached with a jump ring to a head pin with the loop used in beading. I thread the head pin through same hole the hole in the ceiling. If you have difficulty pushing the electrical wire through the hole, I thread my wires on a needle with a large eye (but not too large to go through the hole.)

Now you are ready to attach the wires to power.

I used bulbs with black insulation for the kitchen and white for the dining room chandelier, hand made using a Bindle's kit.

Here you can see the head pin. I didn't trim mine back, tapping in place instead. 

Here's a tip I learned from a Cir-Kit tutorial. There are two ways to strip away insulation on wiring: a) use your thumb nail, which works well for the tiny rice bulbs since the wiring is so small. If you have strong nails, a thumb nail will effectively strip the insulation away;  b) use an alligator-like clip too that you can order from Cir-Kit--an invaluable tool. 

For light with ample wires, I'll strip away plenty of insulation, but not clear to the end. With some insulation still attached, I have a handle to twist the wiring around the eyelet. But pull too hard on the clamp and the entire wire is stripped or worse the wire breaks, which could be disastrous on short wires.

 Always work on wiring with the electrical source unplugged to avoid shorting out your electrical system. Before I pound the eyelet into place I plug in the power to make sure I have a good connection and the light works. I also test all of my bulbs before I use them to make sure they work. 

Insulation tail as a handle or a pair of needle nosed tweezers used to wrap the tiny wires around the eyelet make this chore easier.

Yes I know that bathroom wall is crooked. That's the next project. I'll repeat the process with a Houseworks double sconce from my stash on the bedroom side and wall art on the bathroom side. That's my project for later today.

And now two stories are lighted. The gabled rooms will be fun to add light to, won't they? Stay tuned.

Thanks for visiting,

Ann

 With the card making worshop now closed and a box of over 100 cards ready to ship to Cards for Soldiers in Michigan and time on my hands, I decided to do some Christmas decorating. In the family home, I begin decorating after Thanksgiving, usually the second week in December. It used to be out of necessity because I taught and I always had final essays to grade and semester grades to enter in the system.  I keep that same time schedule by begin the Christmas village. You can see last year's display here. I'm loath to rushing the season by putting up Christmas before Thanksgiving, as some have already done. 

With time on my hands and the temperatures hovering barely above freezing, I decided to dig out the Christmas decorating and begin, however. . . Miniature Land has it's own set of rules and timetable.

I decided to decorate the Blue Farmhouse Now Pink this year. It was my first major renovation project, so the house is special. I can now see things that could be redone since I have grown in skill and knowledge, but I'm going to leave it as is as a testimony to my growth and progression in my skills and knowledge.

Before the decorating could begin, I had to repair some electoral work. As you can see in this photo, the fireplace sconces and the logs don't light up, so I removed all the furniture and the flooring, which is not glued down for just that reason to reinstall the fireplace logs. the Sconces wiring goes through the wall to the hallway all on the other side. I removed the bookcase and used a small hammer to pound in the brads to make them more stable. Now they light up.

I took out the plastic shoebox that held all of the decorations and dumped them on the  table along with all the living room furniture. I couldn't help but think that this mess reflects what the real life living room and dinning room will soon look like. Art intimating life in miniature.

I began with the fireplace using the decorations  created for the Bellingham fireplace last year. The nutcrackers came from Hobby Lobby miniature holiday decorations.

The large, deep rooms are my favorite feature of this large, old house originally built from scratch rather than a kit. 

The kitchen/dinning has been set for Thanksgiving since last year, a reflection my grandmother's Thanksgiving feasts that were repeated for Christmas. I was 12 when she passed, and those holiday memories will are as vivid today as they were when I was little.

This meal was my first adventure in creating polymer clay food. Not bad for a novice, I'd say.

I replicated grandmother's china by grabbing the prints from Replacements.com, a website where you find replacement pieces for you favorite china. I printed the images on waterslide decals and was able to make the plates. The coffee cups were another story.

 

The second floor hallway is actually an odd room. Narrow but deep. I purchased a lot of dollhouse stuff from a junk dealer and loved this old fireplace converted to bookcase, so the upstairs hall is a reading room of sorts.

The third follow has the den or man cave or whatever. I'll add more to it. Maybe some lights to the tree. This fireplace works, too,--sort of--on a whim. I've always had problems with the electrical in this house, so while I added tape wiring to the third floor, it gave me so many problems that I didn't wire in any lights, using LED battery lights instead, except for the fireplace.

 

There is more to do more do, so more will photos will come later.

It's snowing, which will keep me inside, so I'll be in the mini studio all day. 

What will you be doing? 

Thanks for visiting. 

Kid Tested; Kid Approved

 If you have been keeping up with my projects, you will remember that Jodi from My Miniature Madness  enlisted the help of 14 miniaturists to test her new line of kitchen utensils and accessories. I've written about the pieces that I finished and I send Jodi my assessment of the pieces that I finished--you can find them in the previous post.(click)

I had to set aside the review project to hold my greeting card workshops for my DAR chapter to get Veterans Day cards made and sent to the veteran residents at the Cheyenne, WY, VA nursing home, something that we have done as a national DAR Service to America   for the last few years. The Veterans Day cards carry messages of gratitude and appreciation to these special men and women for their service  our country. 

I'm now working on the holiday greeting cards that we will send to them. In addition I've set a goal to send 100 handmade cards to Card for Soldiers located in Michigan. The director of that program, a veteran herself, receives thousands of handmade greeting cards from across the USA that she ships to American military serving all over the world. Click Here for the link to her website and you will also find her on Facebook if you would like to make and send greeting cards to her. She really does amazing work and there is such a need to support our American military.

So. The mini studio has been dormant for several days, until 10 year old granddaughter Lily decided that she needed to spend a couple nights with us last week. The child is a bundle of energy, constantly wanting to do things. So we went swimming one afternoon, and she made her special made from scratch blueberry with chocolate chip pancakes for breakfast one morning. She tried to teach Brody some manners and attended her homeschooling lessons via her iPhone with her mom and sisters. 

While I worked on cutting card embellishments on the Cricut, she decorated a reindeer with glitter and other embellishments, the second day she decided that she wanted to work on the dollhouse. Not really in the mood to take on that project, I finally gave her some of Jodi's pieces to paint. 

I had already decided that I would put some of the pieces in the first kitchen I did when I renovated the Blue Farm House Now Pink. I love that kitchen that began my passion for dollhouse miniatures. I gave Lily the very tiny measuring cup set to work on. "Gee, Grandma, these are really little," she said as she began painting them. I asked her what color and she answered, "silver," like the ones she uses at home. 

She caught on very quickly to hold the tiny cup in the clamp tweezers and did an excellent job painting the tiny pieces.

With the measuring cups finished, I gave her the spice rack to paint. Since it was going in the farmhouse kitchen that is basically red and white, she painted the pieces white, then added the red accents.

It was very tedious work. Since the pieces had been primed, the acrylic craft paint went on smoothly with a fine point brush.

Lily has a steady hand and a good eye. When it came time to paint the tiny drawers and containers, I had her paint only the fronts, leaving the sides and bottoms unpainted because I worried that a layer of paint would alter the size of the pieces enough so that wouldn't fit in the tiny shelf.

Adding the red to knobs was tediously tiny, so she used a tooth pick to dot the red paint on the micro-min knobs then use a speck of white to even out the blotches.

By now, her patience was wearing away and she was getting tired.

Good times with grandchildren always come to an end and it was to time to take them home. I loved sharing this time with her and I'm sure that she will have sweet memories.

I finished the spice rack this evening and set it in the farmhouse kitchen.

I was right. The little drawers fit quite snuggly in place and I doubt that I'll be taking them out. The spice rack turned out just as I wanted.

The Lady of the House loves the new bakeware and new mixer that arrived just in time for her holiday baking. 

To the adults who wish to purchase theses pieces for their children to paint there are always some cautions.

Age appropriate: Lily is 10 and enjoys crafting, including leather tooling. I would rate her as an experienced crafter since her mother and sisters do a lot of leather work, sewing, cooking and baking. She too does a lot of baking--she makes excellent pies and Danish, so she is disciplined and takes her craft seriously, be it baking or making little things.

Product safety: Children should work with non toxic craft paints and products--water soluble, so no fancy spray paints or finishes that have noxious fumes or cause skin irritations. The final results may not be as perfect as an adult might like, but that's replaced with the pleasure and joy of teaching children how to create and make and do "dollhouse stuff" or any craft or art project. I've always been a firm believer that children need art and music and dance--all ways of healthy self expression.

Patience: We have let go of the need for perfection and just let the children enjoy the moment. I found that Lily eagerly begins a project, but the painting was so intense that I think she grew weary and needed to be done. And that was okay. 

It should go without saying, however, these tiny pieces present a choking hazard, so adults must closely supervise young children and keep really little ones away from these easily swallowed pieces. Ten year olds or 5th graders probably have the maturity and dexterity paint these tiny pieces, but still require supervision. Of course, it all depends on the individual child and if the adult wants to share the experience. 

Again so much appreciation and thanks for Jodi's generosity to share her passion to involve her followers in the process of making minis. I'm happy to report that her 3-D printed kitchen accessories are kid tested and kid approved. 💕

Thanks for visiting.