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Saturday, September 15, 2012

You Should Take a Break....

When Tessie says something like that, I know she has something in mind that doesn't include sitting down and doing nothing...

"You sit right here and I will go fetch things for you...".  When she says something like that, I know I'm in trouble...

Then she followed that with, "You worked so hard yesterday, helping me move, that you shouldn't have to work on the Tudor houses today."

Somebody pass the aspirin and a cold pack to put on the back of my neck...

I sat down. Big mistake.

Tessie disappeared.
I heard a lot of rattling and banging in the garage.  In she came, dragging this.

Then came the explanation.  She has heard me often say that I thought of something in the early morning hours and can't get back to sleep.

Copy cat. "I remembered this frame that you had in the garage.  It would make an excellent fortuneteller's booth.  It could have curtains, a colorful backdrop and lots of good stuff.  I could use it to earn big bucks.  I can see where we are going to need extra if I am ever going to get my Spiderwort Manor finished..."  This all came out in a rush.  I think that she was trying to slip some of it past me... Now I am wondering what new ideas she has for that one...I am not going to ask...

I was out of the mood to work on the Tudors anyway.  I need a break.  So I got out a couple of pair of pliers, some wire cutters, a hammer and a saw.  I have been through this before, so I knew what it takes to get one of these apart.  Lots of tools.  A few less fingernails and a lot of hair tearing.

It took about an hour to get all of the unwanted pieces out. The wires go through from the top to bottom.  That means pulling them out of the top and bottom wood and pulling them through the center beam.

All of that stuff down front is what I took out.  I sawed the center beam and half of the two top side beams out for an open front.
After getting those out, I patched all of the holes with spackling compound. 

Then I gave it another coat of black paint.

It is now ready for the fun part...

However, I am going to have to stop.  April and Amare are coming over.

Tomorrow Seth gets back from Africa.  Thank goodness he is not in the part with all of the trouble, but we will still breath a lot easier when he is home safe.

It looks like this is going to give me a few days vacation from the Tudors. 

Luckily, I saved the foam core pieces that I had cut for the back and floor panels the last time this thing was in use.  I have patterns for new panels.  For once I did something right.

Even the floor of the cage is wire.  Once I finish, all of the wire will be covered.  It makes for a pretty quick room box.  This is definitely more fun to play with than what I was doing. 

Hey!  I'm a grownup....I can do it if I want to!  And besides, I have a good excuse.  Tessie made me do it!

See you tomorrow.

8 comments:

Phyllisa said...

Hi Casey. Your birdcage gives me an idea! You are so clever! I just
purchased a larger cage for my parakeets and was wondering what to do with the small metal cage. Now I know..........another mini store.
Phyllisa

Caseymini said...

Phyllisa, I have several. A couple more like that one(different shapes). I like those best, you can just cut panels to fit in between the wood.

My Spike's Crypt and one of the garden rooms are those.

I have one metal one that is hand painted with flowers that I haven't used yet...Someday soon. That one is round and going to be a bit more complicated to do.

SharonS said...

Dear Casey - This comment isn't really about today's post...except for the fact that you DID post today. And that you post EVERY day. I have a list of about 15 blogs by miniaturists that I look at every day. I realize that most bloggers don't post every day (even though I wish they could/would). I'm always disappointed when there's nothing new on my favorite blogs.

But you post something every single day, and it is usually something pretty interesting. I have more of your individual posts (mostly tutorials, but a lot of "just good ideas") saved in my "favorites" list and when I feel like I'm stagnating or just want something different to work on, I look though all those posts. The last one I used was the potpourri cacti...I've become a compulsive potpourri sorter. And I make tiny little tampon tube boxes for just about every setting I have, now.

So I just wanted to send you a big Thank You. I know I'll always have at least one new thing to read about each morning. And today I'm kicking myself for having given away a wood/wire decorative birdcage a couple of weeks ago...I just could't see it as anything other than a conservatory, and I didn't want to make a bunch of plants for it. A Gypsy Fortune Teller's Booth...now that's a fun idea. I'd keep the wires in view, myself, but I see it all draped in silks.

Keep inspiring us! Best wishes - Sharon

Anonymous said...

A fortuneteller's booth? How fun! You should see if you can get Zar to dress up as Bela Lugosi's gypsy character from the Wolfman.

Kathi said...

This new project looks like fun. :D
I'm wondering if it will look anything like Zar's magazine photo?

I look forward to your daily posts too. I tried doing that for a while but ran out of ideas. Yours is the first blog I read every day! Thank you!!!!

mcddiss said...

me gusta mucho la idea de transformar esa jaula con esa bonita forma , te quedara genial seguro

besitos

Mari

Giac said...

Hello Casey,
I totally agree with Tessie, the idea to use the cage as a fortune teller's shop is terrific. I can't wait to see it evolve...go Tessie!
Hugs,
Giac

Minka said...

Tis looks like a fun project...to watch...not sure if you are enjoying it! That ghost decor search suggestion ...in the next posting...was a great lead!