Saturday was a day of endless rain, but we need it. Yesterday, I did a little work outside, but I mainly concentrated on this:
I’ve begun to lay the living room floor. You have to be in the mood to do this because it’s tedious and exacting. That may not look like much to you, but it took about 3 hours. I stain each stick individually, let it dry, then cut it to fit into the jigsaw puzzle that is a wood floor. This room is trickier than normal because it isn’t just 4 walls. It has insets into the bay windows, and a kind of bump out on the left – all of it making this whole thing more challenging.
It’s also messy. Each piece has to be covered in glue. I usually use another clear glue, but I’m trying a white glue for part of this – just to see how it goes.
I know that other miniaturists cut a backing the size and dimensions of the room and attach the floor to it, but I don’t. This is the way I learned how to lay a wood floor many years ago when I first started on this hobby and all floors in my dollhouses are still intact and still secure. The only one that isn’t? The one in Don’s mini music studio and that floor was the kind that is made in a sheet. I had to re-glue the join recently.
I also stain each piece of wood before I attach it. I don’t wait until all of the bare wood pieces have been glued in place to stain the entire floor. I remember someone advising me that there is less chance of warp when you stain them individually.
So, we stick with what works, no matter how tedious! I’ll add some more ‘boards’ today. Then I’ll work on the baseboards – also a pain in the tush.
I’m using my favorite stain from Minwax that I’ve had for several years. It comes in a big tube. And, much to my surprise, it isn’t being made anymore! This is ‘walnut’ and I have another tube in ‘pecan.’ I must guard them with my life!
I also managed to detach the center window in the bay window and replace the acetate that had paint on it from the previous owner’s work on the dollhouse. I had to be very careful because I didn’t want to break any of the wood surround. But it worked and it’s much better for photos now.
Outside:
Those are little leaves on the big maple!
And here is the lilac update.
Heaven.
I am going to rake out a couple of small garden beds today. I want to sow my zinnia seeds and uncover the plants in the beds on the far side of the house.
It’s beautiful out there today.
Stay safe.
Happy Monday.
all looking good. glad it’s feeling good to you!
only you, of course, as the do-er in this case, get to decide if all your time and efforts are ‘worth it’ … but, as an outsider looking in, i say you have a lot to feel good about … providing much creativity, beauty, information (about things i may or may not ever get to), and inspiration through your words and images, in sharing parts of your life and thoughts and heart. it’s why i keep coming here. thanks for all that, claudia. you are appreciated!
happy, safe monday to you, don and everyone else.
kathy
Oh, what lovely words, Kathy! Thank you so much!
Stay safe.
the words are all true!
and the community of other kind people here adds even more goodness at mhc (something i meant to say earlier today). :)
thanks all.
kathy
It’s a cool place to hang out, Kathy!
xoxo
yes, it is. :)
xo
dear Claudia & Don — admire your work on the dollhouse — your careful work always turns out so great — thanks for sharing with all of us, especially the elderly people (like me)
who can no longer do such precise work. looking forward to the next “installment” of your dollhouse. stay healthy/safe
You’re very welcome, Linda!
Stay safe.
The Beacon Hill is looking fantastic and what a massive job your flooring is. But it looks good. I asked AI about best places to get discontinued Minwax wood stain. You probably have too or know all these, but I’ll paste in the answer below — just in case.
Discontinued Minwax stain in tubes—specifically the Minwax Express Color Wiping Stain and Finish (6 oz tubes)—can most reliably be found through online secondary markets, as they are no longer in regular production.
Here are the best places to look:
eBay: This is the primary source for these discontinued items, with listings for colors like Emerald Green, Crimson, and others. Search for “Minwax Express Color Tube” or “Minwax 30805” (Crimson), “30806” (Emerald), or “30804” (Mahogany).
Etsy: Independent sellers on Etsy often list vintage or discontinued craft and hardware items, including various Minwax stain products.
Specialty Hardware/Paint Retailers: Sometimes smaller, independent hardware stores may have “new old stock” (NOS) lingering on shelves. Examples include:
Town & Country Hardware (listed online, though availability may be outdated).
Local hardware stores (e.g., in some cases Ace Hardware, though they are often out of stock of these specific items).
Facebook Marketplace/Groups: Local groups for woodworking or furniture refinishing may have members selling their old supplies.
Key Information for Searching:
Product Name: Minwax Express Color Wiping Stain and Finish.
Size: 6 oz tube.
Discontinued Colors/Codes: Crimson (30805), Emerald Green (30806), Mahogany (30804).
Alternative: Similar, but not identical, discontinued items include Minwax Woodsheen Rubbing Oil Stain & Finish.
Thanks so much, Jeanie. I’ve looked on eBay before, but walnut doesn’t seem to be out there. I’ll check elsewhere. I actually spoke online to a rep and they discontinued it several years ago. It had only been sold for 2 years. Go figure!
Stay safe.
That floor is coming along nicely, Claudia. Good thing you are so good at jigsaw puzzles as I can see that skill sure does help you here! ;)
Lilacs are my favorite flowers.
Yes, I think it does help!
Thanks so much, Ellen.
Claudia, what a testament to the miniatures craft that you lay the floor the more tedious way and not on one floor board, and that you stain each individual “floor board”.
Both my Mom and Dad were makes, my Dad constructing most of the storage cabinets and small wood furniture (desks, bookcases—ok, that wasn’t small, wall system—ok, that wasn’t small) in our house and my Mom sewing clothes for everyone. They had day jobs (Dad was an engineer; Mom worked in retail). They taught me to be creative in using materials I already had on hand, but use the best materials I could afford. They also taught me the best methods were not necessarily the short cuts.
Your Beacon Hill is lucky to have you as the miniaturist; you know what you like and you stick to it. Kudos! I love reading about and seeing your methodology and progress.
What great teachers your parents were, Wendy!
I’m a fan of the ‘process.’ I really like taking my time on a project like this one. It’s a BIG project, but one room at a time!
Thanks so much for your kind words.
Stay safe.
The flooring so far looks great. Glad to know your method works for you….that’s all that is important. I do appreciate your patience….mine has left me lol.
It’s raining here today, so we can’t finish our yard work just yet…guess we’ll need another couple of days. The rest of the week is looking good weather-wise.
Enjoy the raking today! ;)
I raked. Didn’t enjoy it as I eventually have to bend over to pick the leaves up. BUT, it was a good first pass and I got all of the other beds raked.
Thanks so much, Donnamae.
Stay safe.
lol….i hate raking too, but it’s a necessary evil. And….the garden beds always look so much better after they are cleaned. Good for you! ;)
Thanks, Donnamae!
Your floor is looking so good. I don’t think I would ever have the patience to do that. Your property and surrounding area is so beautiful! I am a tree girl so I love that you have all that. Your porch is also amazing. It looks so pretty with all your flowers. I am like you when I am gardening I am in my happy place. A lot of my flowers have to be replaced now with ones that will survive our hot summers. A lot of vinca. It just amazes me how much you get done in a day! Take care.
Not every day, Deb. Some days I get very little done because I did too much the day before! Right now, after doing quite a bit of work outside, I’m finally hydrated (with the addition of some ibuprofen) and the heating pad is on,
I’m sorry you have to replace the flowers, but then again, you get to shop for flowers!
Stay safe, Deb.
I get it Claudia. I have fibromyalgia, so if I do too much one day the next day I am wiped out. I try to pace myself but I am not very good at that. I should have stock in ibuprofen!
xoxo