Shenandoah & Stuff

Once I got the latches, handles and locks dry brushed and polished it was finally time to get them on the windows. 

In order to give the locks something to actually slide into I had to build up the frame of the windows first.  I used 1/8 x 1/8 bass wood and glued it to the windows then painted or stained it. 

Then I added the hardware. 

I swear the hardest thing was trying to get the wire straight and I'm still not sure I managed it completely. 




The double windows were pretty easy.  The single windows I ended up using 1/16 x 1/8 for one side with an added length of 1/8 x 1/8 next to it so I could get the right look.

Then I framed them out.  And I made sure that I added window ledges to this house.  Sadly, not quite deep enough for a cat to sit on but still, aesthetically pleasing I think.

Believe it or not the paint color hasn't changed.  It's weird how lighting will make colors light or dark.

See what I mean about the wire?  It bothers me even though I doubt anyone else really notices it. 

I've only been able to put the doors and the upper story windows in.  The first floor windows are still drying and I want them very firmly set before I start putting them in. 

The other thing that'll hold up me putting the walls on the house is a dilemma I'm having about the curtains.  I bought some fabric and I have an idea of how I want the first floor curtains to look in the front room.  The rest of the house... yeah, not so sure.

I know I don't want to completely block out the hardware I just spent two days on.  So covering the windows is out.  But I want some realism too. 

Like I said dilemma.

I got one more thing done this weekend.  Finally put the handles on the front door.  It started out this bright shiny brass but I aged it up some with some black metallic paint.





I just need to add a curtain to the window.  I'm still working on that.

So that's it for this weekend.  I'm planning on sitting for a while and researching curtains. 

So just a quick post... My Shapeways order arrived!  Very excited.

So I immediately went through the little bags and started to work on them.

Just a quick recap, these are the window details that Marion found and worked with her designer to make.  They're gorgeously detailed and you can see them here. 

And since my house is set in New Orleans and needs a French flavor I immediately decided I couldn't live without them in my house.  So I ordered them in black.  I figured that way, all I need to do is add some polyurethane finish and they're done. No need to paint.

Please forgive me if you can't see the details too well. I'm still getting to know my Nikon.  I love it but every now and then I think I need tutorial in getting tiny details in focus.




I'm not completely thrilled, to me they don't look as nice as Marion's painted ones. And they were pricey.  But the shape of them is perfect even if some of the tiny details seem to get lost.

Cutting the little pieces off the extra plastic 'frame' was painstaking and I needed to get a brush and sweep away some excess plastic dust.  Which occasionally led to white plastic showing under the black, like the little white dot on the above lock/slide. 

I'm wondering if a layer of black metallic paint will help or if it would just make things messier. This was the first time Shapeways had printed in the black plastic so that might be an issue.

In the meantime I'm going to work with what I have and start getting my windows and doors finished.  I just need to hunt down my black jewelry wire.  Twelve gauge is too big and twenty is too small.  If I don't have anything in between I foresee a trip to Joann's tonight or tomorrow when I have the car.

Yes, you heard me right, we're a one car family for the moment.  Something electrical happened with the little black car (which is newer than the still working one, go figure) and it died.  Soooo... we're carpooling.  Thankfully we now work in the same town and that's a lot more doable than when I worked thirty miles away from home (which equals two hours of driving per day).

So for the rest of the day I'll clean up and polish my little door parts.  Try to find my wire.  And install the bathroom overhead light in the dollhouse.  Plenty to keep me busy.

Update: 

So I took Shannon's suggestion of dry brushing some dark metallic paint onto the pieces to bring out the details.  I think it's worked pretty well.