Intermediate Work - The Shamisen Stand, The Rolled up Futon, The Shower in the Spa

Inspiration

August 5th - 8th 2012

I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my room screen which I ordered from Eileen Davis-Wright thru her Etsy shop A Life In Miniatures so, in the meantime, I decided to finish up a few things for the music / bed room. 

Returning to the original idea that these rooms are used for eating, sleeping and entertainment, I decided to make a Shamisen stand since I had no way of displaying the instrument unless I just propped it up against the wall which I wasn’t so keen on doing.  I found more than one picture of the Koto propped up against the wall but not the shamisen.  So, while researching an appropriate stand, I came across a site that sells accessories for shamisen and there was the most beautiful stand fashioned from a branch.  So, that was my inspiration.
I had to soak the branch to make it pliable, then I taped it over a brush handle to fix its shape.  Eventually, I was able to obtain the shape I wanted and rienforced it with some glue.  I cut an ice cream spoon in half and used that for the bottom of the stand.  All it took was drilling a hole, inserting the branch and varnishing it up to finish it.  I think it’s quite nice! And the shamisen looks great sitting in it.

A gelato stick for the base

Drying overnite

Finished Stand

The shamisen in its stand

I also added a wall print of a woman playing a shamisen.

 















While these pieces were drying, I worked on the shower for the spa.  Also here, some research for a suitable shower and I stumbled upon a really neat solution called a Japanese rain shower.  I guess it’s just a very large shower head that simulates rain so instead of a shower you are rained upon.  I’d like that....  This version was too large and for that price I figured I could wing it somehow.

Inspiration

The shower had a little platform with stones so I made that and painted the stones to somewhat match the stones in the spa.  Lots of varnish gives the stones a nice wet look.  The shower tubing was a bigger problem and I’m still not very pleased with it.  I tried to gild some copper foil over some wooden pieces to simulate copper tubing.  The shower head is fine with its irregular holes and the size as well, but the tubing bothers me as did the attachment process.  The foil doesn’t allow for easy gluing.  Superglue was the only solution.  But still, I think the location of the shower and the look inside the spa is nice.  I left out shower controls because I would want a shower like this to be on all the time with that rain water sound trickling on the stones.  Wish I could figure out how to make fake rain water...

Cardboard and wooden trim

Filled with stones

Punching out the shower head holes

Adding the copper tubing to the head

Shower head and platformm to the right

The last thing was to tackle the folded futon and bedding.  Since during the day all the bedding is folded up and put away, the perfect place was in the cubbie hole under the bookcase. 
I made quick work of the futon mattress using bubble wrap to bulk it up.  I had purchased some double sided 1/4” tape and it was much easier than cutting my large width tape to size.  I made the futon cover using some plastic wrapping (with no bubbles) and then made a few pillows.  I folded over the bedding and used the tape to fix the shape then inserted everything into the space under the bookcase (which now has books since I had purchased some and they arrived in the meantime). 

Sheet and double sided adhesive

Bubble wrap for bulking up the futon

Same method for the futon cover

Flat plastic wrapping for filling.

Quickie pillows

Using tape to fix the shapes

Rolled bedding and pillows stowed away for the day

The screen finally arrived (hoorah!) and I was able to add it into the Music room.  I think it’s fantastic! It’s a work of art really with leaded stain glass figures of some beautiful koi fish.  I actually special ordered the screen (at no extra cost) to the same scale as the house.  I’m glad I did since you can see that it fits in height perfectly.  At this point I can say that the screen is the most precious object right now in the house - and I hope the first of many.

Beautiful koi fish - graceful addition to the music room.

Detail of the stain glass screen.

Completed room with dinner table set and lights dimmed.

Intermediate Work - LEDs, Fire In the Stove, Futon Bed and Bedding, Kitchen Decor

April 16 - 19th 2012

While listening to a Sox game last nite, I was thinking about how I could work on the bedding in the right hand room.  I have an idea of the actual cover and pillows but just laying them on the tatami didn’t seem right to me.  I liked the idea of having an actual futon frame.  So, with some leftover pieces of wood and some coffee stirrers, I managed to make a little futon frame.  Now at least the bedding will look more realistic sitting on top of it.  I made a little mattress from a foam piece left over from our iPad packaging.  While I was navigating, I stumbled across this site which had the most amazing roomboxes I have ever seen.  The most interesting aspect was how he manages to render pillows that drape.  I discovered that he does workshops and mentioned that he uses sand.  So, of course, out I went to get some fine grain sand (not beach sand - I figured that would eventually stain from the oils and dirt in the sand) so garden decorating sand. 

I decided that by using fine sand, I would have to use adhesive tape while making the bedding.  That way, grains would not escape the way they would if I had sewn the actual futon duvet.  I must say that it looks much nicer - it actually lays flat on the futon instead of sticking up on the sides or something.

In the meantime, my LEDs arrived.  First thing I did was drill a hole in the stove piece and install the lights there.  I think they look pretty good. I added a few pieces of painted wood and glued down the lights.  I wanted to be able to see the colors a little more so by covering the lights with wooden kindling I figured it would look a little more interesting.  I managed to install the stove in the kitchen front room and create a little back shelf to hide the wires and cell battery.  I glued the actual on/off switch to the wall as if it were an actual light switch.  It’s not so obvious so more than acceptable for me. 

Still need some knives, utensils and pots...

After printing off a bunch of mini boxes (soap and food stuff) from Jim’s Printable Page and Jen’s printables, I glued in a few items in the kitchen.  It just needs some utensils and we are at a good point!

I also managed to install some of the lighting into the ceilings and run wires along the back of the house.  I should have ordered extra wiring as the gauge wire I used for Gianluca’s trains is a bit big.  I will have to hit another hardware store to see if they carry a finer gauge.  But the lights fit perfectly and installation should be a breeze once I hook them all up. 

Top of the Spa

It seems the further I get along in the house build the more stuff I discover that sets me back.  Still, I don’t have a timetable.....