Couldn't wait to pull off the painters tape...
Dont Panic...
So just put on the second coat of house paint. I'm liking color after the second coat. The original dull blue/green/grey was showing through much more than I anticipated, but it's looking like a second coat is going to do the trick.
That is - unless it's oil paint under there.
I'm not an expert painter by any means, but I'm not a novice either. There was just something about putting on that first coat - the way it went on...it's got me nervous. I didn't even think that it could be oil...but then - I didn't even think about it.
Guess I'll find out in a year or two...or sooner...should the paint start to chip off.
A Little Whitewash
...makes anything look sharp!
I decided to start some work on the outside. Going with white trim and a blue that's a little more bright than what's on there now. It might be a little "electric" in fact...wouldn't put it on a real house but I think it'll add something to this one ;)
Seems I need to pick up the pace too...apparently armageddon is upon us so I may not have until Christmas. Yes - that's snow on the ground in Northern VA...in October!
As Mr Miyagi says "Sand the Floor"
Managed to squeeze out an hour of time to sand and stain the floor.
Trip 2 to the Dollhouse Store
So made my second trip to the dollhouse store -
http://happily-ever-after.biz
Picked up the wire tape I needed and some lighting fixtures. I was directed over to the "standard" lighting section...found stuff for most of the rooms - was debating a chandelier for the living room so took a look at the "pro stuff" - dear lord!! $145 for a chandelier!? The thing is like an inch big!?
...so I settled on the $20 one :)
I'll need to go back for wallpaper, etc. They've got a bigger selection than most home improvement stores. I wanted "white tile" for the bathroom - which of about a 1/2 dozen different ones did I want? So it seems I need to think through this a bit first.
Got the last of the wiring done tonight including the tricky spot around the front door I was worried about. Also repaired the floor and shaved down the fireplace so it fits. Next it's sand and stain the floor I think...
Need More Tape
So finally started the tape work. Would have finished, but I ran out :(
I thought I might. I managed to wrap around the house, but I'll need to pick some more up to ring the rooms. I did manage to get a "test plug" in and started testing the 25 year old fixtures...amazingly every one worked so far! I was especially pleased that that candles for the fireplace still work.
Lets Call it "Preplanning"...
So I didn't have the time last night to get out and work on the dollhouse. Tonight I only had about an hour or so which didn't give me enough time to start the actual wiring...but I've got my diagram in my head now.
I was trying to decide wether to cut through the floors to run the tape or take the "wrap around" approach. My first instinct was to cut away. (see pics below - one shows sawing through the floor and the other shows how you can wrap the tape around the floors) I have one of those vibrating saws that my parents got me for my birthday, but the more I thought about it, the more nervous I got - even if I scrapped that idea and went with the exacto saw that I actual have from art school!
I'm going to wrap around.
I also picked up this sweet little miter box! I can't believe my luck - $20 at Woodcraft. It's going to be perfect for cutting all of the trim.
I also took stock of the furniture...I'm going to need to dedicate some time to getting it all back into shape too.
Anticipation
So here we are on a Sat afternoon. I'm about to head out to volunteer for PTO fundraiser cooking hotdogs for Lincoln School where Hannah goes to half day Kindergarden.
Hoping I can get into the barn to start the electricity work this afternoon before we go next door to my mother-in-laws for a birthday party for a neighbor. Perhaps I'll head out there afterwards after a few glasses of wine!
I'm rattling my brain for a solution to wiring the dollhouse. Might pull out a new tool! Regardless of what I end up doing, I'm sure someone who knows more than I do would have a better solution! ;)
Prime time
So now we're real time ;)
I've done another wipe down and started priming the whole interior. Figure I'd focus on the inside and then work on the outside.
...took about 4 to 5 hours with a second coat...next task - electricity!
The Tear Out
So I've pulled down the wallpaper and started gutting it. I don't know what they're actually called, but I've always called them "mud dobbers" and there about a dozen mud nests in it (along with the wasp nest!).
Chiseled all that out, pulled out the fireplace and peeled out the old wiring. Thought of reusing it, but there were too many shorts. Sanded the whole things down and wiped out about 20+ years of dirt and grime.
It's starting to look like I might actually be able to revive this thing.
In the Beginging
There was a loving father who built a dollhouse for his little girl. Once that little girl grew up, the dollhouse was moved to the barn...
After many years that little girl married and had a little girl of her own. Thoughts of pulling out her old dollhouse out of the barn for her little girl filled her head...and eventually she filled her husband's head with the same thoughts...me.
Being a handy guy I thought it would be great project for me. Perhaps I could finish it by Christmas and give it our daughter, Hannah, on Christmas morning?
I pulled the dollhouse out from the rafters in the barn. After being attacked by wasps I managed to vanquish them and pull it down to my work table.
As I stare at this dollhouse before me my only thought is...
...what was I thinking...
