Shelving Continued........

I have the second floor shelves that you saw yesterday stained and built up with molding. They aren't varnished and sanded yet. As you can see, I custom built them around the window and miracle of miracles, they fit!

I was going to continue them around the corner to the front wall, but when I put them in place I decided that I didn't really want more shelves. Part of the reason was I didn't want the room to look crowded.........The other part? Less books to make. You know me....I may change my mind and do something else tomorrow.

OK. This is Wednesday. Short day for writing and building. I have to go to the mini meeting. Guess what I am going to do? Hey! You are getting good! Yup. More books.

Here's something to keep you reading a couple more minutes.

About a year ago I found some wonderful French websites(Sakartonn on my list of blogs I read is the one that started it.) on cartonnage(in English that's just plain old box building) They combine that with copies of Antique Quaker red work cross stitch. Some of it can get quite large and elaborate. I took a liking to it and started doing some of the samplers in regular size. I was fascinated by this pattern for a biscornu(pincushion). That is the larger item that you see in the picture. It was about 3" across from point to point. They are very clever, the French. It is made of two squares of fabric, twisted a quarter turn and sewn together by hand to get the shape. When I finished the large one I decided that I could do it smaller. It is a different cross stitch design on either side. I started with a 1" working surface and did the same thing as the 3" cushion.

The one inch one makes a great pillow in one inch scale. Here it is with a mini wing chair that I made and a beautifully crafted table that I purchased at a show. It's another one of those pieces that has no signature. I can see the woman as clear as day, but I can't remember her name. There is a beaded bowl on the table that I made and the plant is one that I made in a class taught by a friend.

This scene is another of those temporary scenes that I have scattered here and there. It is in a curio box that has three shelves and a drawer underneath. It changes regularly. I will let you know when there is something new there.

I am sitting here smelling smoke. There are a couple of fires burning in the mountains around Tucson. They are under control, but it is still unpleasant to be reminded that it is happening again.

I have to go to the mini meeting now. See you tomorrow.