I am almost back to minis... I picked up my pliers yesterday and decided I had to finally do something about the handles.  The bead work, after a lot of years are almost shredded.  I repaired them once, but they shredded again.  I decided to try something new...
 I don't like the stuff that they put on the handles so I cover them.  I can get a better grip on them.

I decided to try crocheting some with the nylon Sizzle thread. 

I simply started at the bottom end of the handles and did a five stitch circle.  In that, I did two stitches in each one and made it 10 stitches.  Then I just worked to the other end.  I decreased about four stitches and fastened off.  New handles.  They are rough, so that I can get a good grip on them now. And I like the fact that they get a little thicker.  I am not crazy about the tiny handles that they put on them.

Now about the minis.  I am taking down the snow from Christmas, before I start making a bigger mess.

I thought I would show you some gifts that April and Seth brought back from a walk that they took after dinner. 

I am always getting this kind of gifts from them.  They know what I like.  If they go anywhere, and ask if they can bring me anything, I always tell them to bring me a rock...

Seth brought me the rock at the base of the tree and April brought me the tree!  They both know what I like. They will both be used in a mini scene.

I took down the theater this morning and while doing so, I figured out that the scene could be used anywhere.

The floor would have to be made to fit the space and the wall would have to vary in height. 

I would have to make the flap in the front into a base that went around three sides.  Other than that, I could either leave it like this if it were in a bookcase, or have two false walls on the sides. 

Lots of options!

I have to go knock some more snow off of the roof now.  See you tomorrow.

I had to help this morning.  The Terrible Two couldn't bend the floor enough to get it through the archway.

I changed the plans a bit.  The floor now runs all the way to the back on both sides of the machine.  The back wall sits atop that for support.

I cut the floor to the exact size minus just a tiny bit to allow for the carpet.

I solved the problem of the back wall.  The gap was filled with strips of wood.  They will be wrapped with wallpaper... or fabric.  Whichever  they choose to use.  I am hoping for fabric.  It will be easier to work with.

Zar put the wood strips on with white glue.  Now we just have to wait for those to dry.
There is a very loud argument going on about the carpet. 

Zar likes the rosy red.  It looks more Christmas like.  Tessie is leaning towards the gray and black, being a witch and all.

Spike is no help whatsoever!  He likes both... They are equally soft to sleep on.

I think that the decision depends upon the wall covering...

We are off to choose now. 

The party starts tomorrow! You're invited!

See you then.

When I got up this morning, the Terrible Two plus One were already at work.

It has been decided that they will spend Christmas in the cat tree. 

They kept working whilst we talked... "It is to be understood that the cat tree is NOT the finished room!".  That was Tessie.  Of course she wants another, larger theater room. 

I hesitate to build that.  I will get no sleep at all with the kind of parties she throws.  

I have the strangest feeling that the DVD player is going to disappear, once again, after Christmas...

Anyway, they asked for help with the walls.  I took measurements and cut out patterns for the back wall and the floor.

Right now, I have a step down in the floor.  I may just make that all the same level and cut a piece to fit in the doorway on both sides.  Much easier to do.

There is a curve at the top of the screen that I am going to have to take into account.  It curves in towards the room about a quarter of an inch. Don't ask how I am going to solve that problem.

The last I saw of the posse, they were all in the wallpaper drawer.  Arguing over what kind of walls they wanted in the theater...

I don't think that they have a large choice... Some of the paper is too small or there is only one sheet...

They may have to settle for painted walls.  That would be easier. I have nothing to do with this, now that they have the patterns.  I am going to go have a cup of coffee and a cookie...

I'm quietly closing the workroom door and tiptoeing out.  Let them argue!

See you tomorrow.

Walter made his annual trek to the 4th Ave Street Fair this morning... I opted not to go... I haven't been for years and he has fun searching out unusual gifts by himself. 

They are expecting over three hundred thousand people down there in the next two days and it's supposed to rain... Not my cup of tea.

I would rather stay home with pencil and paper...

I know I am supposed to leave well enough alone until after Christmas, but Tessie and Zar are under no restrictions.  So... I gave them a pad and pencil and told them to go to it!

Spike did most of the work.  The Terrible Two would be lost without him.  I think that he was an architect in a former life.  He has to poke his nose in every build.

The first photo shows the back wall.  False.  It sits inside the box by about a half inch.  I will measure closely when building.  It will have a hole for the screen and a recess at the bottom that the body of the machine will fit in.
The floor will also be false.  It will be elevated to a height that the bottom of the DVD player will slide under.

The Terrible Two were more concerned with the room, itself.  They specified that it will have to have a lot of seating.  Their parties are never really small..

My only question is, where is it going to live when it's done...?

I did it before.  I can do it again.  The burglar's room box was basically the same idea.  The place where it looks like a light is glowing is a recessed area in the back wall where my hand held TV can be placed. 

The only difference is, there will be a recessed back wall and a false floor to accommodate the machine. 

I took the pencil and paper away from them.... If I didn't, I would probably be building a whole house around the DVD player... I must remember to lock away all writing materials until after Christmas now...  No more speculating by the Terrible Two plus One... I do not want to build  Grauman's Chinese Theatre in the living room!

Back to work.  Maybe more cookies.

See you tomorrow.

My thanks to Walter... All of that pounding on the DVD player worked!  If all else fails hit it!

He got it going and left.  While he was gone, I took a chance and changed DVDs.  Back to Buffy. 

The machine is working like a champ.

However... Spike and Buffy no longer have custody... 
This morning, when I got up, I heard noise coming from the cat tree...

I went to investigate and this is what I found...

Tessie, Zar and dog sized Spike dragged the player in and set up their own theater...

I forgot.  Maybe that is why I hid it a while back. 

When they get a hold of the player, they start their very own film festival.  Then it erupts into a full blown party....

The crowd gathers...

Spike and Buffy gave up trying to take back custody of the DVD player.

They are no match for a witch, a Steampunk scientist and a Pit Bull.
The crowd continues to grow.  By nightfall, I imagine every small person in the house will be gathered around watching Buffy... The series, not the girl.

Tessie just had the nerve to call me over to take drink orders and told me, "We'll have that with a plate of cookies and a bowl of fruit. Thank you.  You may go..."

I hope that they aren't holding their breath whilst waiting for me to deliver...

I went on my merry way to see if I could dig up a permanent home for the player.

This is a possibility, but the bed would have to go.  And all new walls...

Maybe I should just plan on a whole new room box...

I think that I need to go and find myself something to drink and a couple of cookies.  This has been an interesting morning...

Yup.  I think that is why I hid the DVD player and forgot about it for a couple of years...  But it is possible that, if I did a theatre room box, I could keep the whole tribe out of my hair when I want to work alone.  I have to go get my planning pad and a few sharp pencils...

See you tomorrow.