Red Silk Balloon Shades

There's just something about poof-y swags of silk --especially red silk-- that I have always admired.  I just love how the light changes within the opulent folds of the fabric.  And since I thought that my Music Room screamed for another touch of red,  it seemed a natural choice.

Besides, I read in World of Interiors that Britain's Prince Charles had navy-blue silk balloon shades recently installed in one of his Palladian country houses (and what's good enough for His Royal Highness is certainly good enough for the likes of me)!

This style of curtain looks fussy and complicated to make, but nothing could be further from the truth.  It's really only a hemmed rectangle of fabric with a curtain rod pocket at the top.  The poofs are formed by simple gathering in rows.  Here's how I did it:

Step 1.  Determine the size of your pattern by measuring the width of your window and multiply by three.  In my case the window was three inches wide x three = nine inches.  Add a half inch for hems for a total of nine and a half inches.

The length of your shade is simply the measurement from the top of your window to the sill, plus one inch for rod pocket and hem.  Are you still with me?

Step 2.  After cutting out your fabric, use a product such as Fray Check around all four edges to lock the threads in place.

(You might want to test the Fray Check on a scrap of your curtain fabric first.  On my red silk, the Fray Check turned the fabric very dark, but most of that discoloration disappeared once it dried).

Step 3.  Once the Fray Check has dried a little, carefully clip the raw edges of your curtain panel 1/8 -1/16th of an inch all around.

Now your fabric edges should be locked in place, with no dangling threads. 

Step 4.  Press the two side seams down 1/8th of an inch or so.  The iron will help the Fray Check dry completely.  Press the top and bottom 1/8th inch over as well.  Finally, Press the top of your panel an additional 1/2 inch to form the rod pocket.

Here's how it will look (above) and (below):

Step 5.  Now it's time to sew!  (No Pretty Pleater required). Start with the two 'sides' of the panels and be sure to set your machine with a very small stitch. 

TIP:  I found some thread that is much 'thinner' than normal and I thought this would help reduce the 'bulkiness.'  It worked like a charm!

Once the sides are stitched down, proceed with the hem, and then sew closely along the rod pocket seam.  Finally, top-stitch 1/8-1/4 inch along the top of the panel --this will make a nice, neat pocket for your curtain rod.

Step 6.  Set your machine on a large, 'basting stitch' setting and sew along the two sides from the bottom of the rod pocket, down to the hem. Leave a long, length of thread at the bottom and do not knot it.

Divide the panel into even quarters and stitch along those lines from the bottom of the rod pocket  to the hem.  Leave an un-knotted length of thread here too. (viewed in the photo, above, left).

Step 7.  Carefully pull the threads to form the gathers.  Work slowly so you don't break the basting stitch! 

(If you do, you can always go back and repeat Step 6).

This is what it will look like (left) at this point.  Almost finished! 

Step 8.  Adjust your gathers to the desired length and tie off the basting stiches.  Set your machine back to a small stitch setting and sew over the basting threads, locking the gathers in place.  You can now remove the basting stitches if they show too much.  Clip off any loose threads.

Step 9.  Slip your curtain rod through the pocket and adjust your poofs!  Be careful not to yank too hard or you risk breaking the gather stitches!


Step 10.  Hang your completed shade, make the final adjustments, and enjoy your work!

I would like to add some gold fringe to the bottom hem --does anyone know of a good source?

Start to finish time:  about fifteen minutes, per panel --sweet!  I don't know about you, but I'm going to celebrate my new balloon shades with a smart little, refreshing summer cocktail.  (Don't you love day-drinking on a lovely, summer's day)?  Have a great week, everyone!

New Stuff!

Finally the heatwave broke, as a line of thunderstorms rolled through the parched prairies of Minnesota along with the corresponding cold-front.  The windows were thrown open, the perpetual whir of electric fans ceased and once again the neighbors congregated on their front porches, no longer confined to their air-conditioned prisons.  No miniature projects for me today!  Who knows how long the reprieve will last?

But still I couldn't resist opening the few packages that arrived this week and play with my new acquisitions!  Two more Monticello Collection chairs arrived --I'm picking them up as I can afford to-- only a few more to go!  I did decide to shorten the legs on the oval-backed chairs so they match up better with the square-back chairs and I'm glad I did because they make much better sense together as a 'suite' being the same height.

My art collection is growing exponentially as new frames arrived from DeJoux Miniatures over in North Carolina-way.  I have ordered from DeJoux several times and have always been pleased with their service. Unfortunately, this time around one of the items they sent was not the one I had ordered.  But almost as soon as I pushed the 'send' button on my email to them, the problem had quickly been resolved by Charlie, their crack customer service honcho. Sadly, this is a rarer and rarer occurrence nowadays so thanks a mill, Charlie!

I realized that what I really should be doing instead of playing with artwork and furniture is figuring out what lighting I need.  For one thing, I'm getting tired of having to keep wrestling with all the bits and pieces that haven't been glued down!  So I'm constantly having to reach in and push walls and moldings back into their proper place.  Can't really glue anything down until the wiring is set, and I had a little epiphany a while back because I think perhaps I'm putting too many lights in my rooms!  All of the other rooms have twenty or more bulbs burning...  In each room.  But I sort of like the music room with only a chandelier burning...is it really true that sometimes 'less is more?'  How can this be?  But I suppose it would look unbalanced if all the other rooms are conspicuously set ablaze while this one is not.  Oh, well! Another thing to ponder...

I'm so excited because I went spinet-shopping this week with Andy from Dolls' Houses and Miniatures!  Andy is the absolute arbiter of period style and I'm desperately trying to cajole him into putting all his design-history blog posts into a book!  So far, he's not having it --but he did take the time out from his busy career stalking Ben Cohen to steer me toward this little beauty (above, left). It's from Masters Miniatures, the same husband-and-wife duo that did my dining room furniture.  It will be centered on the wall opposite of the fireplace, an arrangement Andy also approved.  We both agree that the spinet simply must be flanked by candelabras, a la Liberace.  (But should they be working candelabra)?  Details, details...  Thank you, Andy, hope you & David enjoy the Olympics!  ;)

Window Casings

My 'beefed-up' window trim.

All of the seventeen, operating, sash windows of Merriman Park are standard Houseworks stock components.  I chose 'ready-made' windows as opposed to custom-built because (A).  I don't own the necessary tools to fabricate custom mill work and (B). Did I mention there are seventeen windows?  I'm pretty happy with my 'stock windows' --except for the included interior casings.  Here's why:

First of all, I should preface this post by admitting that I come from a very long-line of skilled, finish-carpenters, so I grew up watching how interior 'RL' (real-life) windows and doors are properly trimmed.  (Thanks, dad & grandpa)! A few years ago, we added a master bedroom to the back of our tiny, 1908 bungalow and I had the opportunity to test my own meager, finish-carpentry skills, by completing all of the interior mill work in the new addition (which I meticulously matched to the original house, naturally)!

So anyway, I guess what disappointed me about my Houseworks interior window casings is that they do not install like a RL window. Especially a RL 'period' window. Color me OCD, but does this bother anyone else?

Here is the interior side of a standard,  Houseworks window, untrimmed:

And here is the same window with the stock, included interior casings installed:.

What is incorrect is that the trim butts up against the window frame.  But in a 'RL' window, the casing should slightly overlap the window frame and not merely butt up against it. Yeah, guess I am OCD!

In a 'period' room setting, it gets even more complicated:  the window casing would most likely not be cut in a 45 degree miter at the four corners, (which is what is included in the Houseworks window package, above).  Rather, a sill would be built out and the casing would rise from it, as I did here in the Music Room, (left).  At the top of the window, I added a wide header on top of a head strip, all capped with a crown molding.  Beneath the sill, an apron would be used to finish off and help support the sill, (but in my Music Room  the sill matches up with the chair rail and so an apron is not needed).

...But downstairs, in the Dining Room, (right) the window sill & apron are seen discreetly behind the blue-green, striped silk curtains. (Here, shown for some reason, in earthy sepia tones, thanks to my crap camera skills)!

Of course, I suppose none of this extra work is even warranted if the window casings are to be completely covered over with fanciful draperies   In which case, only you, gentle Reader,  will know what lies beneath... You --and anyone who dares to peek behind your Pretty-Pleated curtains! ...Pretty Pleater...still cracks me up, I think it would be a formidable drag name, but I'm afraid that the nom de drag, 'Miss Pretty Pleater,' has lately been utterly usurped by my new, fave drag-name:  Miss Wilma Ballsdrop!  LOL!



UPDATE!  I no longer have the saddest life, you guys!  I found my Titian reclining Venus!  She did not, apparently, fall into the oblivion of my duct-work, but merely rolled under the cabinet of my antiquated stereo equipment.  (Aren't CD's  très pittoresque)?  

'Venus, Reclining,' reinstalled above the door.

I mean, really, I might as well have a Victrola with a huge, brass horn, as a friggin' stereo system, n'est-ce pas?







 

...On to the Music Room

Merriman Park was originally meant to be a Winter Project for me, but due to the unusual weather of late --a wet, positively monsoon-y spring, and an unbearably sultry, steamy summer-- I have been able to clock in a few hours here and there, all in air conditioned, climate-controlled comfort!  I had the day off today and since once again the skies opened up and poured sheets of rain off and on all the live-long day, I took advantage of the sitch and worked on the Music Room.

I made floors for all of my remaining rooms, figuring it would save time.  Live and learn! They are just regular, old plank floors which is what an American house from the Federal period would normally have.  They are all made from iron-on edge-stripping stained a dark walnut color and have several layers of shellac overall and a final coat of wax. .

I chose a Susan Bembridge wallpaper because it resembles the pattern in my 'rl' dining room. I have been thinking about repainting the front rooms, even though I really like the old colors --but sometimes you just need a change of scenery, right? But the over-sized, brocade pattern will live on forever in my dollhouse!

My 'rl' dining room.

Next, I added the wainscot.  This I made with illustration board and pre-made panels from Lawbre.  I had some panels left over from the Entrance Hall, so I only had to order a few more.  All three walls, BTW, are pieces of illustration board I cut to the exact size of the room.  It's so much easier working on the walls flat on my kitchen work table! You can just pop them in and out as you're working and all the wiring gets hidden behind. How cool is that?

Here I added the fireplace mantel from Braxton Payne and the door surround from Miniature Mansions.  All the mill-work is painted my special off-white. Nothing is glued down permanently, yet.

The base boards are black marble with a bullnose trim on top.  I think every room should have a little black in it!

I have been working on the art collection which will pretty much cover the walls completely.  The only one I didn't make is the work in the very center, which is a Jim Coates piece.  They're made utilizing Ray Whitledge's technique of over-painting Mod-Podge on top of  the print.  They look like real oil-paintings!  I had a reclining nude of Venus, the most lovely picture you ever saw, but she fell onto the floor and disappeared into the heat register.  I have the saddest life...

I have a pair of the fold-down card tables from the collection.

But I'm very excited because I get to use my Thomas Jefferson Monticello Collection furniture in the Music Room!  Most of you already know that Jefferson inspired Merriman Park's layout and I am a huge fan of him.  I bought these pieces ages ago and plan on getting a suite of six or eight of these Louis XVI-style chairs and reupholster them in the matching Susan Bembridge pattern in silk.  It might seem a bit much, but as I mentioned earlier, most of the walls will be covered with artwork, so I don't think it will get too pattern-busy in there --I hope!

Of course, you know my motto: 'it's not done, until it's overdone!'  so consider the source!  Well. that's all I have for now, have a great weekend everybody, stay cool and ciao for now!

Happy 4th of July --and more pics!

Sorry I didn't photoshop fireworks over Merriman Park --that is way beyond my ability!  But here are a few photos my bff, Ricky,  took recently one night after dinner and drinks. Enjoy, and Happy 4th to the Yanks!

I love this photo because it looks like E.T. is behind the door!  Spooky!

Still have to figure out how to finish the raw wood edges...

The light fixtures show very well in this shot

A moody shot of the Drawing Room

The goddess Diana gazes serenely from her niche.

Three rooms down, three to go!

Merriman Park lit for the evening.

Due to technical difficulties, my last post on the Dining Room seems to have been lost in the shuffle.  (Thanks Simon for calling that to my attention).  Go back and read my earlier post if you would like more info on that room. And a special thank you to Rick for snapping these amazing photos!

Federal Dining Room

The Dining Room is starting to come together!  Would you care to take a little tour and have a look-y?

Of all the rooms in Merriman Park, so far this one is decorated the most 'modern,' in the early nineteenth-century Federal Style.  The American Federal period corresponds to the British Regency and the French Empire styles.

My inspiration for this setting came from 'real-life' rooms in Washington D.C, Virginia and New Orleans (!)

I started this room way back on Christmas Eve, when I drew up these rough sketches on the back of some holiday wrapping paper.  Obviously, I had no idea of the scale of the wallpaper pattern because I drew it pretty large!

Planning a space is half the fun for me.  Sometimes I make fairly elaborate plans and other times a quick, cursory sketch is all that is needed.  Other times, I just have a vague 'feeling' of what I want to do and start with no written plan at all.  I'm the master of the 'No Plan' Plan!  

Paneled wainscoting was falling out of fashion by the early part of the nineteenth century, and fanciful wallpapers were being used from floor to cornice.  Because of this, I choose a 'beefy' skirting board, almost an inch high!

All the moldings and pilasters are from Lawbre Miniatures.  You cannot beat their fine quality. Their web catalog is a little shall we say in need of an update but I bought a hard copy back when Merriman Park was merely in the planning stages.  It has been an endless source of inspiring ideas.

I have already gone on and on about Braxton Payne's gorgeous fireplace mantels --this one in his 'Greek-Revival mode.

The chandelier and sconces were purchased from Luminations by Mr. K.  I had thought about installing a 'shoo-fly' over the dining table.  This was a large fan that hung over the table and was operated by pulling cords by servants.  But the shoo-fly lost out when I spied this Swarovsky crystal-bedazzled beauty!

It was my very first time with the Pretty Pleater --and you always remember your first time, right?  I used gold rings from the bead store on a brass rod, an idea I shamelessly stole from one of my inspiration rooms.  Except for stitching the rings to the top of the panels, these curtains were a no-sew breeze to whip up!  (Thanks, Ray)!  Ray Whitledge did a fab tutorial on the wonderful world of the Pretty Pleater on his blog and I followed his instructions to a T --except I used spray starch instead of hairspray. (Oh. My. God. I haven't used hairspray since, like, the '80's)! Speaking of the 80's and hairspray, let's have a look from the archives of The Hair-Do Hall of Fame, shall we?

Being pretty isn't easy.

"I'd just like a little off the sides, please."

Does this ponytail distract from my alluring eyes?

But I digress.

Anyway, wasn't it nice that the folks over at Master's Miniatures, where most of my dining room furnishings came from, supplied me with some extra gold gimp so the drapes match the rug I mean the chairs?  I think so!

Hopefully, the photos that my 'photographer friend' snaps will turn out better than mine!  Perhaps by then I will have amassed a few more accessories to round out my Dining Room!

And that concludes the tour... y'all have been the best tour, ever, and I really do mean that!  Buh-bye!

The Drawing Room, Preview

It is, mes chers, an auspicious day, as my bff, Rick, was kind enough to swing through and photograph the Drawing Room of Merriman Park, (since my own photos, to be frank --well, suck). In other good news:  my blackened, ravaged fingernail which has plagued me since last winter --when I inadvertently slammed the door on it-- has finally dropped off and revealed a shiny, new nail!  Hoo-rah! Things are lookin' up!

So until my friend's proofs come back, here are my own, hackneyed attempts...And so, without further adieu:

The double doors will eventually open to a hall beyond.

The Drawing Room is located immediately over the Entrance Hall and is approximately 16" X 16."  In my 'real-life' inspiration house, designed by Thomas Jefferson, this room was octagonal --a scheme Jefferson highly favored and employed in many of the homes he designed.  Unfortunately, because of severe space restrictions, I was not able to utilize the full octagon, and so here had to settle for a hexagonal shape.

I wanted the Drawing Room to exude a quiet, understated elegance as opposed to the more exuberant Hall. There is a lot going on, architecturally, in this small space, what with all the paneled. walls, pilasters and built-in cabinetry.  So I opted for a simple, monochromatic color-story in my favorite grey-green hue.

Diana the Huntress in the niche, a birthday gift from Glen.

The fireplace was inspired by one I admired in the Thorne Rooms at the Chicago Institute of Arts. I won't show you the highly-superior version by Mrs. Thorne (as I'm afraid mine suffers the comparison)!  This is no slight intended toward my gorgeous mantel by Braxton Payne,  here done up in fab, faux marble.  I created the over mantel/mirror to mimic the arches of the two corner niches.  I'm still playing around with the accessories, but I'm lovin' my arrangements of roses on the mantle in their vases by Old Bell Pottery.

Making the corner niches.

The niches provided the biggest challenge to me.  This is only my second room I've ever made so it took some head-scratching to figure out how to fabricate the curved recesses.  The eureka-moment came as I poured myself a martini one night while pondering my dilemma:  Of course!  I molded the niche with DAS clay on the back of a bottle. Duh!

Once the niches were finished, I had the worst time trying to find apropos statues to place in them.  The female figure pictured above replaced one I had earlier, and was given to me as a thoughtful gift by my beloved Glen, as were all the light fixtures, including the glam chandelier from Rosel's!  Aren't I the luckiest boy in Miniature-Land?

 Most of the furniture is Bespaq.  I had to reupholster a few of the pieces, which I didn't think would be such a big deal (as I know how to upholster 'real-life' furniture --what could be easier, right)?  Well, not so easy, what with my clumsy, feral paws it turns out!  Could I get a little more glue smeared on those silk cushions?!?

I have to mention the door surround from Sue Cook if only because it was the first 'big purchase' I made for Merriman Park.  I bought it long before I had even brought home the plywood to build the carcass of the house itself.  How I used to take it out of its box each night and carefully unwrap its pieces and fit them together like a little puzzle and dream about the room --this room-- where they would eventually one day be so proudly and lovingly ensconced...


And now a  Sneak Peek of the Dining Room!

Mostly completed wall panels, ready for installation!