SIX BY TINY

Another Door

Reflection: Saturday 11th July 2020

Without a doubt I should have composed this post on Saturday, or even Sunday, as I basked in the pleasure of complete victory. The triumph of completing my bathroom door. In a single day.

I was proud as punch and happy as Larry, and it would have been a jolly read…. if only I hadn’t been so exhausted from all the success. So, whilst I write this in no seriously lessened spirits, it is with the distance of days, and thus all the bright ideas and realisations of such accomplishment are a vague remembrance.

Alright, if we are going to be pedantic, I should note, that the door remains in its rough state. Undressed and unpolished, at least until installation is nigh. (I have learnt, thanks to my own carelessness, that pieces will inevitably suffer as they are shuffled about awaiting installation.) Nevertheless, structurally the door is sound, and if I hung it tomorrow it would function as advertised! I far outstripped even my own expectations for I’d been envisioning a week of work ahead. Yet, I underestimated the value of a concentrated effort; thanks to the unexpected surprise of having the entire day to myself, AND, the blessing of experience. It is no longer inconceivable for me to conjure up an idea and just know how to execute it, WITHOUT preliminary research, or trial & error! I am also happy to report that I can more easily recognise where I can take short cuts without detriment to the integrity of a piece- handy when one is feeling less inspired to delve into the time hungry world of fancy joinery. In short, I was quite pleased.

I did forget to take a photo from the other side, but it is pretty much the exact same.

Oh ho, what do we have here? Unconsidered possibilities.
Now, that, is exciting.

Birthday Treat

Afternoon, Tuesday 8th July 2020

For my birthday, my lovely Mother gifted me a voucher to the local craft supply store remembering that I had been hoping to pick up some small lengths of fabric to play with during my visit home. Delighted, I made a particular visit to town yesterday, hoping to acquire the fabrics that would bring to life my Little Women inspired curtain. This wouldn’t be for a regular window, but rather, the large skylight directly above the living/bedroom area. An addition of comfort and cosiness, more than privacy and shade. (That said, I will likely back the curtain in a thicker material to assist in the latter two requirements.)

With careful deliberation I made my selection and happily collected together several prints, purchasing a 30cm strip of each. Whether I shall use them all or just a handful, I’m not yet sure, but my thought is to hand-stitch them together into a curtain that I could imagine adorning the windows of the March sisters, the Burrow or Ratty’s riverside home.

The Marches' extreme do-it-yourself approach extended to every facet of their lives, often out of necessity but sometimes out of sheer entrepreneurial spirit.

– Little Women, The Offical Movie Companion.

My birthday haul

This little print reminds me of Ludwig Bemelmans’ illustrations for Madeline.

Reminiscent of a blackberry bush, but with flowers.

A very traditional wallpaper like pattern.

Little Women - The Offical Movie Companion

I could well imagine this on the 2005 set of Pride and Prejudice.

A small injection of red, without stepping into Christmas territory.

Little Women - The Offical Movie Companion

Simply a lovely shade of green.

This reminds me of the Folio Society's Wind in the Willows illustrated by Charles van Sandwyk.

Humble Elegance

Evening, Friday 27th May 2020

Detailing the bathroom alcove sides, I really can’t decide if I’m happy with the paint job. Accidentally reminiscent of the transitional menu animation from the 2005 Pride and Prejudice DVD, I am not entirely enchanted with my attempt so far. I’ve been asking myself all afternoon if I should paint over it and start again.

Considering the idea was to achieve a wallpaper-esque aesthetic, and that wallpaper looks best thanks to its busy repetitive nature, I should undoubtedly power on, remembering that I am only concentrating on one small aspect of a greater piece, (and that most of it will be hidden by bathroom toiletries). That said, it plays on my mind that, ideally, the objects I create could have a life beyond their first home and so maybe I should have forgone the paint altogether, keeping the design refined by using true timber, and a wipe off polish. No one is going to want a clumsily painted shelving unit, for masterpiece it certainly is not.

Conversely, the reason I am enjoying designing and creating for my home is that it enables me to experiment with concepts and techniques that are only now within my capabilities.

So, I am a shoddy painter? Yet it is truth that I can only develop with practice. Do I allow my aspiration to create heirloom-worthy furniture frustrate my chances to improve?

In actual fact, it is severely unbelievable that anyone is going to desire a plywood lined shelving unit in a hundred years, no matter the artistic execution. Frankly, it’s not exactly Antiques Roadshow material.

Considering this thought, I admit I’ve dallied with the idea of starting from scratch… but be assured that I’m sensible that this would be a waste of resources! Even if it is only two small strips of plywood.. (Remember Fiona, Little Women peasant mode.)

Hmmm.

The time dedicated to such aesthetic touches is already substantial, would spending additional time re-working the pattern be worth my while? If not, I could be working on something new much sooner, which is rather tempting…

Alright, so I painted over two of the three panels, best to catch it early than to plough on with the niggle that it could be better, right? I mean, it could be EVEN better, but it will do. Plus I can use the original decoration as the base pattern. Ultimately some experiments work brilliantly, and others less so. Here I shall strive for humble elegance.

Land's End - Detailing Inspiration

Paint colour test - Porter's Paint 'Hailstorm'

Testing for shelf height

Warner Bros. Studio - Detailing Inspiration

First detailing attempt, before I painted over it.

Design Sketches

Land's End - Detailing Inspiration

Rough fit, testing aesthetics

Replication of pattern

Land's End - Detailing Inspiration

Testing overall appearance

Wild Flowers- Detailing Inspiration

The Pantry Door

Back Track: February – March 2020

As of: 30 . 03 . 20
Special Mention: That dowel jig is the very best thing! I do have my own which I picked up at Bunnings, but this old-school, Australian made, Silex dowel jig that my Uncle lent me is entirely superior! I attempted the first batch of holes using my jig, but it failed to keep the drill bit square with the timber. (This is an issue when you’re as wonky as I). The corresponding holes would veer off at opposing angles, causing great difficulty when I attempted to join ends together! Following the laments of my troubles, my Uncle pulled out this gem, and I tell you, I would like to find one for myself.
Materials: Left over Dressed Western Red Cedar from my window build.
Satisfaction? Immense. First: It is such a pleasure to work with pre-dressed timber for I can get stuck straight into the build without fussing around! (Yes, you could call that laziness). Second: This was a new technique for me- I haven't often used dowels as a joinery method so it was a fun to give it a proper go. Third: Have I mentioned before how much I enjoyed building my front door? This was no less agreeable.
Going Forward? The plan is to finish off the door with mesh panels, a good-looking handle and a lick of oil.

Another Door

Oh ho, what do we have here? Unconsidered possibilities. Now, that, is exciting.

Birthday Treat

The Marches' extreme do-it-yourself approach extended to every facet of their lives, often out of necessity but sometimes out of sheer entrepreneurial spirit.

Humble Elegance

So, I am a shoddy painter? Yet it is truth that I can only develop with practice. Do I allow my aspiration to create heirloom-worthy furniture frustrate my chances to improve?

The Pantry Door

Oh ho, what do we have here? Unconsidered possibilities.
Now, that, is exciting.