firef2005 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Meaning house build, not body build! I'm working on my Queen Anne by RGT. This build has been tough. Probably the hardest one I've done. Even though I've tried very hard to be careful, I have screwed up in a few places, but not to the point that it has to be ripped apart. Will just have to make some minor 'adjustments' later. Has anyone built a particular house that just seemed really difficult, or maybe intimidated them a bit? I will keep plugging on, just hope I can get it right! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 My first kit was the Dura-Craft San Franciscan, the SF555; I had no clue what I was doing, it took 3 1/2 years, and scared the crap out of me; after that I may get the newbie collywobbles when I open a box, but they go away as soon as the house begins to chat with me. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firef2005 Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 I put this house away for an entire year. It started 'talking' to me again, so I brought it back out. I know what I want to do with it, (or what it wants), just don't remember a house being this hard to build before. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rackey Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 "Newbie collywobbles," - Holly I love that phrase. I never heard the word collywobbles before, but it's a good one to describe sudden queasiness. Reading directions can be intimidating, so I am glad your houses talk you through it. From your work and wealth of knowledge, I take it you are a good listener. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 "Newbie collywobbles," - Holly I love that phrase. I never heard the word collywobbles before, but it's a good one to describe sudden queasiness. Reading directions can be intimidating, so I am glad your houses talk you through it. From your work and wealth of knowledge, I take it you are a good listener. Obviously your vocabulary was never exposed to Walt Kelly's Pogo. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodentraiser Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 The house that is intimidating me now is one that is already put together! That is my Hofco Americana. I saw it again today for the first time in 5 months and it practically ran me out of the room! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacey6163 Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Opal , my Orchid , was a stubborn house, she kept changing her mind about everything. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonberry Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I had a little half-scale puzzle house that I tried really hard to build, but it just didn't "go" anywhere. Eventually I gave it to my friend. Apparently it is an intimidator of note - she says it just won't let her finish it (and she has been building houses for nearly 30 years). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juliana Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 My custom built rehab wants to become a replica of a specific historic Louisiana plantation that was built in the 1850s. I try to tell it no way, but it just won't shut up about it. Never mind this is my first ever experience with a dollhouse. I've never even been to Louisiana, nor have I ever been enamored by life in the Old South. So this isn't really my idea, it's what the house has her heart set on! Intimidated? Who, me? I don't know enough about where I am headed to realize that I probably ought to be intimidated. The phrase, "fools walk where angels fear to tread," might be more applicable in my particular situation. I am traveling deep into uncharted waters! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Obviously your vocabulary was never exposed to Walt Kelly's Pogo. Equally obviously, your's was. hehehehehehehehe I loves Pogo. I've had a lot of houses that were Divas (the Willowcrest being top at that list) but they weren't intimidating, just opinionated. Sometimes I'd listen to the house and sometimes I'd just pick up the sledge hammer and remind the Diva-house that it could be bashed into a little doghouse and a big box of toothpicks if it didn't drop the attitude. If that didn't work, then I'd just give in and do what the house wanted in the first place. I hate it when I have a creative disagreement with my dollhouses. Deb 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouMorgan Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I am finding the Fairfield an intimidating build because it has so many areas to cover. I bought a load of individual bricks and realised if I cover the tower in the bricks the roof won't fit on. Not sure what to put on the tower now as it can't be left bare. There is too much glue and debris to leave bare. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I'm always intimidated. One step at a time. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WyckedWood Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Lou, have you considered a paperclay or stucco finish? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdodyd Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I made a particularly bad choice for my first build - a vintage Dura-Craft "Shenendoah" log cabin. I remember opening the package and realizing with horror that "authentic log cabin construction" meant over 600 logs to be sanded and stained and then glued together. Took over two years to build and I was stuck for six months on the roof. However, that experience has made subsequent houses from kits a breeze!!! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me-barbie Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 *ALL* builds are intimidating to me. To the point that my sister is taking over my Orchid build. Even as kids, I could not do models. Do you remember the horse model kits? Just glue the two sides of the horse together, and voilia! Well, my poor horses looked the kindest thing to do would be put them down.... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Right now this sorceress tower is pretty long and almost feels like forever. I am converting a 1/12th scale Greenleaf Light House to a stone tower with paper clay. This is my first fully detailed paper clay build and I am trying to really go big and interesting on it. The process of creating equal brickwork on 5 panels inside and outside is ...interesting. Then I will have to add details like stone framed windows and doors..and then once assembled I am going to bracket the exterior joints in more paper clay to add another layer of interest.. I am not a very patient person..so this struggle...its a big'un! 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moonberry Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Jane, your lighthouse is inspirational! Wowza - how long did it take you to make the floor stonework? Is that the bottom floor? What are you going to do with the next 2 floors? Did you design it yourself or copy a stonework design from a website? Sorry for rambling, I haven't gotten far with my lighthouse yet (Eternity Point for Dracula), but my bottom room is going to be a fish-themed bar and I'm still collecting ideas for the floor. Definitely going to follow your blog and will check out some more posts when I have time and good luck with the classes - the troll homes look adorable! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rackey Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 My custom built rehab wants to become a replica of a specific historic Louisiana plantation that was built in the 1850s. I try to tell it no way, but it just won't shut up about it. Never mind this is my first ever experience with a dollhouse. I've never even been to Louisiana, nor have I ever been enamored by life in the Old South. So this isn't really my idea, it's what the house has her heart set on! Intimidated? Who, me? I don't know enough about where I am headed to realize that I probably ought to be intimidated. The phrase, "fools walk where angels fear to tread," might be more applicable in my particular situation. I am traveling deep into uncharted waters! Somebody has to lead the angels, Julie. Your little house must have decided you are the one! - Happy sailing. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouMorgan Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Lou, have you considered a paperclay or stucco finish? I thought about that but there is literally only room for paint or paper as the roof fits flush half way up the tower. What I will probably do is stick black paper on with modge podge and then stencil and varnish it with matt varnish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Jane, your lighthouse is inspirational! Wowza - how long did it take you to make the floor stonework? Is that the bottom floor? What are you going to do with the next 2 floors? Did you design it yourself or copy a stonework design from a website? Sorry for rambling, I haven't gotten far with my lighthouse yet (Eternity Point for Dracula), but my bottom room is going to be a fish-themed bar and I'm still collecting ideas for the floor. Definitely going to follow your blog and will check out some more posts when I have time and good luck with the classes - the troll homes look adorable Haha thanks hon, that is the bottom floor it took about 2 days on and off.. I am very new to the whole process of creating stonework so I just kind of followed the dimensions of the floor. I used its octagon shape to create trapezoid petals. So each segment was done using a ruler to create the brick. Repeated pattern. Its a original pattern so nothing out of any era or time. Thanks for the well wishes, the Fairy Garden Class is coming up soon ..little nervous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LouMorgan Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 Right now this sorceress tower is pretty long and almost feels like forever. I am converting a 1/12th scale Greenleaf Light House to a stone tower with paper clay. This is my first fully detailed paper clay build and I am trying to really go big and interesting on it. The process of creating equal brickwork on 5 panels inside and outside is ...interesting. Then I will have to add details like stone framed windows and doors..and then once assembled I am going to bracket the exterior joints in more paper clay to add another layer of interest.. I am not a very patient person..so this struggle...its a big'un! i have been looking at your pics Jane and all I can say is, "I NEED MANDRAKES" 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jane S Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 i have been looking at your pics Jane and all I can say is, "I NEED MANDRAKES" Thanks hon, you know I only ever made one for my friend in a set one time...I think I'd be better at them now..I hope *lol* He's sitting on the edge in this witches set... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
More Minis Dollhouses Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 I think every build has been somewhat intimidating for me. This is especially true when I want to try out something I haven't ever done before. I have to admit that blogging the process can put an enormous pressure on me as well. Choosing a color scheme always makes me fearful too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minsanity Posted March 25, 2014 Share Posted March 25, 2014 I get nervous about colors too. I don't think I could ever blog. It would put me over the edge! It seems to be so much work. those of you who do it do a great service to those of us who don't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firef2005 Posted March 25, 2014 Author Share Posted March 25, 2014 I've already torn out floors, wallpaper, and sanded stuff off on this one. Right now I'm just focusing on the basics, the build, and keeping a journal of ideas for later when I get to the decorating part. That will be a challenge, as I've never done 'aged' or 'shabby'. I'm finding that making things look old, is actually quite a bit of work. I'm just trying to have fun with it, don't have near as much time to work on it as I'd like, but I find that keeping pencil and paper handy to write ideas down helps for when I can get back to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.