The photo above is from Wiki, it is an old box bed from a windmill, the Langerak de Westermolen in the Netherlands. I was sent to this web site by one of my followers, Evelien, her blog is to be found at http://ejacreates.blogspot.com/ thank you Evelien for taking the time to share this with me. The photo above does have that quality that makes one think it might be a picture from a dolls house but it is a real building.
I think the crib very inspirational and I am going to put one in my own bedstede (Dutch for box bed). That is what I am working on today along with hopelessly trying to catch up on other neglected work.
Work and the blog have been slow this last week as I have caught a cold. I know why they call it catching a cold as I can't seem to get warm. It does not help that the weather will be lucky to get above freezing today and for several more days to come. Little work gets done when all you really want to do is go back to bed and snuggle up with the cats to comfort you. Oh well only another week of this misery to go before I get back to normal. At least it is not a severe cold, I dosed it with zinc right away and that seems to have made a difference. Anyway enough about my little bit of misery it will soon be over.
I added that tiny extra window I showed you how to cut out just so there would be a glimpse of the little baby's crib in the box bed. That window is the only way to view into the far corner of the little shed addition. You can reach your hand in there to tuck in some blankets and arrange the bed linens but you can't see it other than through the window. I have thought about making the roof removable but I don't like the potential that would create for damage to the roof section and it will make it hard to create realistic lead flashing details.
I hope to make real slate shingles for that little bit of a shed roof. However it remains a mystery to me if that will happen or not. We shall see sometime soon if that will happen or if I will make imitation slate. I have purchased thatching material for the main roof. But this shed was a later addition to the building and I think a change of materials is interesting. Also it will work color wise as the slate is grey with slight brown, blue and green undertones and that ties in with the timbers, the trim colors and landscaping.
Perhaps it seems a somber color scheme to you but I think it will evoke the mood of the coastal shoreline with weathered drift wood, water, mist, rocks and sand. There is not a lot of brilliant color along the shores other than the blue of the sea and sky and the occasional wild flowers or brightly painted boat and brilliant sunrise or sunset.
The inside of the house will have some sparks of color. The box bed walls are a nice golden yellow, a small ray of sunshine peeking out of a dark corner under the ladder to the upstairs. For the bed coverings I hope to find a tiny French Provencal print in a happy blend of colors, perhaps a hint of red or orange in the pattern. There is a fabric shop for quilters just up the road a short distance. I have yet to set foot inside the store but now I have a good excuse to go and see it.
I need a cup of hot coffee! Time to go and make one and give the cats a pet and perhaps crawl back under the covers for medicinal purposes. I will take along a reference book and finish planning out the roofing details.
4 comments:
Box beds are so cute. Can't wait to see yours Karin. If you are interested, Maple Street Minis (they have an online store) sell real slate shingles. Not sure if they're listed on the online store but are definately in their catalogue.
Oh and hope you feel much better soon! I hate having colds, they're terrible.
Thanks for letting us know about the slate. I have quite a lot of real house, full sized, slate roof shingles and also slate floor tiles. I can easily cut strips to the right size on my tile saw but getting it to split thin enough for a dollhouse roof is very difficult. This time around I am going to try soaking it in water and then put it through several freeze thaw cycles to see if the expansion of the water when it becomes ice will loosen the layers enough to do the trick.
Good idea. Sounds very possible that that would work. It will only be a small area, so shouldn't be too many to make. Do you do three or more layers like the real roofs? I am guessing it would be too bulky. I don't know much about slate roofs, as they're uncommon in Australia, other than churches and very old buildings.
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