Tapewire Completed

After the floor was done I started working on wiring. It was amazingly easy. The hardest part for me was to get the back off the tapewire. It was like peeling off sticky labels where they don't give you an edge to grab. The next hardest part was working with the 1/8" brads.
It is hard to see but about a 1/2" in front of the plyers is one of the brads that are required at every junction of the tapewire. I was surprised though that I didn't lose more or have more difficulty putting them in.
Everywhere you see the pink/purple tapewire I can have a light or outlet.
Every time I completed a new junction I used the test light that comes with the kit to make sure the junction I created worked. It was a bit tedious but better to test as you go and make sure the electricity travels to the new tape then get all done and not know where the problem is. Now I can start the wallpaper, beadboard, trim, molding, painting and a whole host of other things...lol

Doing the Happy Dance

I've been doing a lot of measuring, cutting, dry fitting, gluing and I'm actually pleased with the results. It has taken a lot of time but it was worth the slow methodical process. My mom always said that "mistakes [in any project] lets the devil out." Let there be no doubt in anyone's mind...the devil has a LOT of escape routes...lol I have tried to hide them the best I can - she's pretty square but the planks weren't always the flattest or most square so I had to do some creative carpentry to make it come out looking the way I wanted.
Floor over half way done.
Floor completely glued in!!! Doing the happy dance. This is how it looked before the paste wax was applied.
Ends all trimmed and paste wax applied and buffed. The wax filled in a few gaps and gave it a richer tone and nicer shine. Between this picture and the one above you can really see the difference the wax makes.
View from the back.

Steady as She Goes

Progress on the house is slow but steady. I'm working on the hardwood floor in the living room. It requires measuring and cutting and I'm able to use a scissors to do it but the piece I'm cutting off usually flies off into the bowels of the room never to be seen again. So I, in all my wisdom, figured well stupid, hang onto BOTH pieces when you cut then it won't go flying. Well although I was left with both pieces I also took a 1/2" x 1/8" hunk of flesh out of the inside of my finger. Now I KNOW why miniaturists say an important tool in one's toolbox are band-aids...lol
Here is another picture of the window seat this time with the beadboard painted and the baseboard setting up against it just to see what it will look like...lol
The other reason progress is slow is because I'm gluing in the hardwood flooring. I'm using what is called Skinny Sticks which are craft sticks similar to popsicle sticks but are only 1/4" wide. I want them to be in next to each other really tight so I have to glue a few, tape them in place, then wait 30 minutes while the glue dries.

I was concerned at first that I might not be using enough glue, that the glue wouldn't hold or the boards would warp but they are holding just fine. In fact, when I had to take one "plank" up because the tape hadn't held and it moved I had a somewhat difficult time getting it off the floor. So, although I could and did remove it, they aren't coming up without prying so I'm happy about that.

Surprise!!!!! More progress so more photos. I also cleaned up the construction zone a bit. With all the clapboarding there were pieces of wood all over the place.

More of the clapboard siding on the house.

A look at the kitchen furnishings. Its hard to tell but there is a sink, stove, refrigerator and cabinet. The flooring still isn't glued in but I had to see what it might look like and I can always change it.
Well the wallpaper doesn't show up real well but I'm trying to decide on the color of the bead board and trim. I'm thinking I'll go with this color and then accent with the color in the next photo.
I like the looks of the bead board here but with all the trim this color I think it will be way too much. I've been reading on colors and trim and they say the more muted colors are more historic/period colors.
I built a window seat in the front bay. Mostly because I didn't want to have to work the flooring into all those angles and it was a good way to use some of the scrap wood...lol It took forever to get the angles on the window seat to where I was happy with it let alone figuring out the floor. It still needs padding and trim but this is the basic.

So I know it has been a while since I've updated this so I figured it was about time. I have remembered to at least take pictures...hope that counts for something...lol

Basically I haven't done much more than the last picture shows...just a bit more of the clapboard siding. Measuring and fitting the clapboard has taken a long time but I'm happy with the results. The siding is just taped in place at this time.

I've been in the planning stage most of this last week to two weeks. Making schematics of the house so I can plan the wiring, outlets, lighting and how I'm going to hide what I don't want seen. I also decided NOT to go with the battery lights I got. They weren't the ones I thought they were and would take a lot of rewiring and I just said to heck with it and got an official tapewire kit. I can use them on the outside for Christmas lights or something so they won't be wasted.
The trim on the bay windows and front porch glued and "clamped" in place.

Front view of the same.

First bit of clapboard on the side of the house. If your eyes are good you can also see the door knobs laying on the living room floor...lol

Front with clapboard taped in place. I still need to cut out the upper window but I needed to get a jeweler's jig saw because it has a rounded top. I was also trying out colors for the porch. The color is more green than what it shows in this photo and I want it more grey so though the color will be similar it won't be this exact color.

Porch and side view. Again I was trying out colors and I've decided against these but might be similar just a different hue...although it depends on my mood when I get to it I guess...lol Well that's it for now...enjoy the eye candy and be back later.

Well this weekend has produced some progress.
I glued on the back walls and have them all taped waiting for the glue to dry. Love that painter's tape...it works great to "clamp" things while the glue dries.
It looks so nice when the tape comes off too...lol Still need to putty and resand but the walls are on.
Then I put on the front porch posts...quite the undertaking too. All glued and "clamped."

Sanded the next two steps and they are ready to paint.

Here they are painted. Once they completely dry I'll sand them and attached them to the house. What you see here are the front supports (the six straight pieces, the front bay/porch trim (the largest piece) and the kitchen bay trim (the C looking piece).

Here is the front porch posts all unclamped but still needs putty and resanding. But its coming along and I can't wait to get to the decorating part. Still need to think about where I want the lights to go and how I'm going to make fixtures and shades for them. I got a cheap battery operated set that I won't be able to use the fixtures and shades made for dollhouses so I'm going to have to create my own...but that's part of the fun too! More later folks...enjoy.

Starting to look like a real house!

Well I've been having a lot of fun but forgetting/neglecting to chart my progress so here it is. I think I finally have the camera/computer thing figured out...at least it was much easier this time so I'll try to keep you up to date with my progress. I don't get a lot of time to work on this during the week due to work but my weekends I can put some good time into her.

Kitchen bay window is puttied and ready for sanding.

View of the kitchen and of the mess I make with painting...lol I did put a few of the furniture pieces together. They still need to be puttied, sanded and painted but curiousity was getting the best of me and I had to see how they will fit in.

Laying down the planks (skinny sticks) to see what having a hardwood floor might look like. The planks won't be glued in for quite awhile but wanted to see what it could look like. Not sure if I will leave them natural color or stain them.

Full floor view I think I'm going to like the hardwood floor look. I have to decide where the lighting is going to be and what I'm going to do to the walls before I glue in the floor so I can hide any wiring or mess I might make painting the walls. So there you have it. More later.