Another day closer.

I worked all day on the library room box. At this point I would like everyone to do me a favour and forget what I said yesterday about what I was planning on accomplishing today.

I did get the rest of the sidewalk laid. I did get two coats of polyurethane on it to make it easier to wipe off the grout once it's applied. I did not get the grouting done because I have to let the second coat of finish dry until tomorrow. Grouting is first on my list in the morning.

I mentioned yesterday that I had sponged the sides of the base to make them look a little like concrete. I haven't yet dry brushed the white over top but hope to do that tomorrow. It'll tone it down and "belnd" it better, I think. This is what it looks like right now.

I did get the lighting all installed - the coach light by the door, the street lamp on the corner of the sidewalk, and the strip lighting inside to provide plenty of light for viewing. I have the street lamp taped up in place because I have to lay it down to do the grouting under it tomorrow.

You can also see that I have gotten started on the signage on the front. I definitely have to finish that tomorrow.

The rest of these pictures show that I have done some work on the wainscoting on the inside walls. I have installed a bookcase as well. I also sealed the wood floor but you can't see it in these pictures. I sat a little replica of one of my darling kitties, who is no longer with us, on the window sill. I think I may just leave her curled up in the window. Shouldn't every library have a resident kitty??

I hope you like the picture I've chosen for the back, removable wall. I really like the visual depth it gives to the room box which is really only 4 or 5 inches deep inside.

This next picture shows a view of the little bench I placed on the side of the library. I originally planned to have my battery pack inside this little structure but, once I finished adding lights I had two battery packs so had the base built to house both of them, and add some viewing height to the roombox itself.

Here you can see that I actually did get some of the interior wainscoting done. You can also see the finish on the floor.

So -- a full day's work doesn't seem to have accomplished much, does it?? To end the day, I started trying to make a very narrow librarian's desk for the front of the library. It was already closing on 10:00 pm and I should have known better. I finished the first version, thinking it was ready to paint, but when I stood it up I couldn't believe how completely wonky it was. I was sure I had squared everything up. Apparently I was wrong - big time!!! On to attempt number two. I got that one completely finished then realized I had covered over the little section where the library patrons would interact with the librarian. Attempt number three??? I don't think so! It's definitely time to quit and go to bed when you start making that many mistakes. Tomorrow is a new day.

By the way, I'm not worried about not having it finished for Saturday's show because Jodi Hippler suggested a great solution -- just hang a sign in the window that says "Opening Soon!". I love it!! What a great idea.

So, I'm off to bed with visions of lots more work ahead of me tomorrow. TTFN!! - Marilyn

Putting a push on!!!!

I'm sorry I've been negligent with my posting lately but I cannot even begin to tell you how busy I have been - with non-mini things unfortunately. Well, I could tell you but, trust me, you really don't want to know. I think I'm going to come out of retirement and go back to work so I can get a rest. The problem with retirement is that everybody thinks you have lots of time on your hands and, if you're like me, you find it difficult to say "no!" when asked to volunteer for things. I need to become more heartless so the next time someone wants to tear me away from working on minis I can adamantly say "Hell, no!!"

So, today I got back to work on my FAME club project that I am turning into a memorial library in memory of my father. I have a lot of work to do but the Moncton show is on Saturday and I plan on displaying it there along with our other members' projects. Even if mine isn't done I figure I can display it as a "work in progress".

I buckled down this afternoon and started by staining the floor. In my stash I had a set of three stain sticks that are used for furniture repair. The three pens come in a package for $1.25 at Dollarama. I started by using the lightest colour first.

It dries very quickly. Then I covered this colour with the medium brown. I think you can tell the difference in the two colours in this photo. You could really see it in person.

Finally, I added the third, darkest colour. You can see the strip in the middle has only the first two colours on.

I really like the depth of colour achieved by using the three different colours. Once it was completely dry, I buffed it up some which made it come up quite nice. I will probably cover it with matte finish but I haven't decided yet. I better make up my mind in a hurry since the clock is ticking!

Now, about this time I decided I wanted a base that the room box could sit on to hide the battery packs underneath. My darling hubby measured, cut, and put the base together very quickly. Did I mention he's the best!!?? I placed the room box on top of the base and traced around it, then painted the top, outside where the box will sit, and the edges black.

Then I sponged two shades of gray on the edges of the base to make it look a little like concrete. I think I may dry brush some white in places to finish that off. Then I started laying bricks on the black area of the top.

The square in the from left corner needs to have a hole drilled for wiring before I finish the bricking there. Tomorrow I will finish putting down the rest of the bricks but here is what it looks like so far with the unfinished box in place.

So tomorrow, I will finish the bricking, seal the bricks, grout them and wipe off the excess, seal them again. I also plan on having the lighting all installed. I am putting some strip lighting at the inside top of the front wall which will light up the inside really well. I will also have a coach lamp on the wall by the door, and a street lamp in the front left corner of the sidewalk.

What's left after that? Well, let me see - the wainscoting, door and window trims, baseboards, furniture, and shelving. Then, I have to make the desk for the librarian, add the bookcase and fill with books, print out some signage and posters, set up a display in the bay window and, one thing I can't forget - I still need to finish off the front where the sign goes. OMG, I guess there's not much hope I'll have this done for Saturday morning. Well, in that case, the last thing I need to do is print a sign that says "work in progress". :-)

I've managed to tire myself out jst thinking of all I have left to do. Time to go to bed and rest up for tomorrow. TTFN!!! - Marilyn