This is somewhat related to my Mini-Deryni Action Figure Project, but since that thread is already so long, I figured this side-topic could have a separate thread.
I have recently turned my son's former bedroom into a guest room / craft and hobby room, and during that process I also moved my old entertainment center into that room. This piece of furniture is one of those deep cabinets meant to hold an older style of television set along with VCRs, videotapes, etc. In short, the sort of special-made cabinetry that is now obsolete in this day of flatscreen TVs and DVD players that play discs that won't fit in sliding racks specifically designed to hold VHS tapes.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7400/26802837335_eb85970d1c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GQtxK6)
So after replacing our entertainment center with a row of bookcases in the family room, I decided to repurpose this obsolete piece of furniture into a 1:6 scale doll castle. I am thinking of turning the central space (formerly used to hold the old, non-flatscreen TV set) into a castle Great Hall, and the three large cubicles on the left side into other rooms. The closed cabinets and shallow shelves will provide storage space for various doll props and craft supplies. I will need to create some sort of wall covering in the open space behind the cabinet to hide the very non-medieval wallpaper. All in good time.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7686/26775473881_a9a1b2a7c0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GN4ixp)
This is one possible means of concealing the wallpaper behind the Great Hall. I could use the textured wallpaper to cover the wall above the chair rail and hang a tapestry or curtains below the chair rail to turn it into an architectural feature in the room.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7776/26321989263_314198e36e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/G6Z5n6)
This woven tapestry trim will work well for a narrow tapestry wall hanging in one of the smaller rooms. The pattern repeats every foot, so one repeat should be the perfect size to suspend from one of my 1' long dowels, leaving some extra trim to create matching accessories such as bench cushions.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7519/26887964441_aed889778b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GXZR4P)
These chairs are on the small size for 1:6 but will do fine for my Barbie or smaller 1:6 dolls. The table was a gift from KK, so this seems a fitting use for it. This room could eventually become Meraude's solar.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7091/26956577045_84c6043683_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H54vcK)
The finished wall hanging is a surprisingly good match with the stained glass colors in the table top, which was sheer coincidence considering I wasn't even thinking about this table when I bought the trim. I will eventually need to paint or cover the dark wood walls to make this solar brighter and more room-like, but first let's get some idea of where the furnishings will need to go.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7118/26963856825_5b8856e42e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H5GPec)
Above, I've got a bedchamber in progress, and below the solar is getting more fleshed out with the additions of a floor cloth and some wooden benches.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/26895256871_de8ef8faae_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GYDdRn)
The solar is beginning to come together now. I added a platter of grapes, bread, and cheese to the table, along with some wine glasses. There is a table runner on one bench, although I will probably replace that, since I have enough leftover trim from the wall hanging to make a horse bench cushion and a stag bench cushion to echo the tapestry theme. The floor cloth helps make the space start to look more like a room rather than just a furnished cubicle.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7470/26963861455_7627deed1e_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H5GQB2)
I spray painted this formerly pink and white Gloria bed a few years ago. The pink curtains and bedspread are not here to stay, but I wanted to get an idea of what size the replacement canopy will need to be. I want to replace the sheer pink curtains with dark green velvet to coordinate with the canopy trim. The trim around the top of the canopy is just long enough to create a snug fit around the top of the bedposts with a small 1" overlap. I bought the trim because I loved the acanthus leaf motif, and it was pure happenstance that the merchant I bought it from only had that design in a color set that matched a place mat floor covering I already had almost perfectly. Eventually, I plan to repaint the small wooden chest with a medieval design. The Savonarola chair was an old salesman's sample that I found on eBay several years ago, with a replacement back made from polymer clay because the original wooden chair back was missing. In the background is a harp shaped, nylon stringed Christmas ornament that I figured would work for a small lap harp.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7527/26964030795_bbc92d4a79_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H5HGWF)
I had forgotten that I had this "gold" set of accessories. I think they came with a doll that KK gave me to use with the Mini-Deryni Action Figure Project.
I still have not decided what to do with the third room (below the solar). I could turn it into a miniature chapel, or perhaps the Royal Library. Or maybe it could be a medieval kitchen. I'll need to check the props I've got on hand to see what option would make the most sense. Does anyone out there have a preference?
What lovely beginnings and so much potential!
I think my preference would be for the Royal Library or a chapel, someplace where Bishop Duncan might hang out while visiting the castle. That's not to say he and the Duke of Corwyn would not raid the kitchen on occasion. :)
What are the two creatures guarding Kelson and Araxie in the first picture?
I think Kelson was practicing summoning spells, since I'm pretty sure dragons aren't indigenous to Gwynedd.
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 01:15:59 PM
I think Kelson was practicing summoning spells, since I'm pretty sure dragons aren't indigenous to Gwynedd.
That, or he was polishing his illusion-casting skills. :D
Quote from: DesertRose on May 12, 2016, 01:30:12 PM
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 01:15:59 PM
I think Kelson was practicing summoning spells, since I'm pretty sure dragons aren't indigenous to Gwynedd.
That, or he was polishing his illusion-casting skills. :D
He must be pretty skilled, then, because I definitely see two dragons. ;D
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 03:33:33 PM
Quote from: DesertRose on May 12, 2016, 01:30:12 PM
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 01:15:59 PM
I think Kelson was practicing summoning spells, since I'm pretty sure dragons aren't indigenous to Gwynedd.
That, or he was polishing his illusion-casting skills. :D
He must be pretty skilled, then, because I definitely see two dragons. ;D
Maybe he and his lovely bride were practicing together. ;D
Quote from: DesertRose on May 12, 2016, 04:28:50 PM
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 03:33:33 PM
Quote from: DesertRose on May 12, 2016, 01:30:12 PM
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 01:15:59 PM
I think Kelson was practicing summoning spells, since I'm pretty sure dragons aren't indigenous to Gwynedd.
That, or he was polishing his illusion-casting skills. :D
He must be pretty skilled, then, because I definitely see two dragons. ;D
Maybe he and his lovely bride were practicing together. ;D
Perhaps they got into an "anything you can do I can do better" (Cue "Kiss Me Kate") situation.
Quote from: Elkhound on May 12, 2016, 04:41:37 PM
Quote from: DesertRose on May 12, 2016, 04:28:50 PM
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 03:33:33 PM
Quote from: DesertRose on May 12, 2016, 01:30:12 PM
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 01:15:59 PM
I think Kelson was practicing summoning spells, since I'm pretty sure dragons aren't indigenous to Gwynedd.
That, or he was polishing his illusion-casting skills. :D
He must be pretty skilled, then, because I definitely see two dragons. ;D
Maybe he and his lovely bride were practicing together. ;D
Perhaps they got into an "anything you can do I can do better" (Cue "Kiss Me Kate") situation.
Why can I see a not-very-serious argument between Kelson and Araxie ending in a contest of "Who can produce an illusion of a cooler-looking dragon?"
Richenda and Alaric might pull a stunt like that too, come to think. I thought for a moment that they might not, being older than Their Majesties, and then I thought of myself, as goofy (or more so) at age forty as at twenty, and said, "Nah. They'd totally settle an argument by casting illusions, if the circumstances were right." ;D
I have added quite a few more photos to my Flickr album here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskwon83b (https://flic.kr/s/aHskwon83b). Here are a few highlights:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7519/26705332550_a7c18d36bf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GFRNY7)Ladies present (https://flic.kr/p/GFRNY7) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/26374679283_2c9d2e84f0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GbD8gH)Sick room (https://flic.kr/p/GbD8gH) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7713/26374806713_b0f8c6d87f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GbDM9M)Royal stables (https://flic.kr/p/GbDM9M) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
And because no dio is complete without feline snoopervision:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/26945559066_7f38767149_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H462WA)Spellwork gone awry (https://flic.kr/p/H462WA) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
Looks like that illusion-casting got out of hand!
Kelson: "Oh no! I meant to cast an illusion of a dragon. How in the world did a giant cat end up there?!"
Quote from: DesertRose on May 12, 2016, 10:59:48 PM
Looks like that illusion-casting got out of hand!
Kelson: "Oh no! I meant to cast an illusion of a dragon. How in the world did a giant cat end up there?!"
Love love the spell casted giant cat. Looks like the littles are enjoying their new home.
Araxie looks at Kelson in mild alarm. "Kelson, what is that rumbling? Is it an earthquake?"
"No Dearest," Kelson replies, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It's just our giant, conjured cat purring."
Quote from: Jerusha on May 13, 2016, 07:05:38 AM
Araxie looks at Kelson in mild alarm. "Kelson, what is that rumbling? Is it an earthquake?"
"No Dearest," Kelson replies, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It's just our giant, conjured cat purring."
Now I want a recording of a mountain lion purring to add to this! (Fun fact: Mountain lions are the largest felines that purr.)
Love the pics! My preference would be for a chapel - but then I would say that wouldn't I ;)
Quote from: Evie on May 12, 2016, 10:29:18 PM
I have added quite a few more photos to my Flickr album here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskwon83b (https://flic.kr/s/aHskwon83b). Here are a few highlights:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7519/26705332550_a7c18d36bf_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GFRNY7)Ladies present (https://flic.kr/p/GFRNY7) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/26374679283_2c9d2e84f0_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GbD8gH)Sick room (https://flic.kr/p/GbD8gH) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7713/26374806713_b0f8c6d87f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GbDM9M)Royal stables (https://flic.kr/p/GbDM9M) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
And because no dio is complete without feline snoopervision:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/26945559066_7f38767149_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H462WA)Spellwork gone awry (https://flic.kr/p/H462WA) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
"Even a cat can look at a king." (Especially when the cat is BIGGER than the King.) 😏
Quote from: DesertRose on May 13, 2016, 09:27:52 AM
Quote from: Jerusha on May 13, 2016, 07:05:38 AM
Araxie looks at Kelson in mild alarm. "Kelson, what is that rumbling? Is it an earthquake?"
"No Dearest," Kelson replies, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It's just our giant, conjured cat purring."
Now I want a recording of a mountain lion purring to add to this! (Fun fact: Mountain lions are the largest felines that purr.)
A fraternity brother of mine was a biology major intending to go to graduate school in Wildlife Conservation. He had a summer job at a big cat sanctuary in Florida. One of the inmates was a mountain lioness who had been raised as a pet. Although the sanctuary generally had a 'no direct contact' policy, this particular cat was so human-fixated that it would have been cruel to enforce it in her case. When the sanctuary was closed to the public she was allowed to come out of her enclosure and get petted by the staff.
One night he was so tired that the director wouldn't let him drive home, but insisted that he sleep on the hide-a-bed in the office. Whoever put up the lioness that night hadn't locked the door to her enclosure properly, as she got out and wandered into the office, where she jumped onto the bed and curled up next to him. He was so deeply asleep he didn't notice until the next morning when he woke up to this large, furry, purring LUMP next to him.
Quote from: Elkhound on May 13, 2016, 05:39:20 PM
Quote from: DesertRose on May 13, 2016, 09:27:52 AM
Quote from: Jerusha on May 13, 2016, 07:05:38 AM
Araxie looks at Kelson in mild alarm. "Kelson, what is that rumbling? Is it an earthquake?"
"No Dearest," Kelson replies, placing a comforting arm around her shoulders. "It's just our giant, conjured cat purring."
Now I want a recording of a mountain lion purring to add to this! (Fun fact: Mountain lions are the largest felines that purr.)
A fraternity brother of mine was a biology major intending to go to graduate school in Wildlife Conservation. He had a summer job at a big cat sanctuary in Florida. One of the inmates was a mountain lioness who had been raised as a pet. Although the sanctuary generally had a 'no direct contact' policy, this particular cat was so human-fixated that it would have been cruel to enforce it in her case. When the sanctuary was closed to the public she was allowed to come out of her enclosure and get petted by the staff.
One night he was so tired that the director wouldn't let him drive home, but insisted that he sleep on the hide-a-bed in the office. Whoever put up the lioness that night hadn't locked the door to her enclosure properly, as she got out and wandered into the office, where she jumped onto the bed and curled up next to him. He was so deeply asleep he didn't notice until the next morning when he woke up to this large, furry, purring LUMP next to him.
That had to have been extremely alarming for that young man to wake up to a purring mountain lioness in bed with him, but I have to confess I laughed quite loudly reading that!
It was a few months later he told me the story, and said that she just wanted to cuddle, but still. . .
Quote from: Elkhound on May 13, 2016, 07:49:05 PM
It was a few months later he told me the story, and said that she just wanted to cuddle, but still. . .
Oh yeah, I can see where she wouldn't have been threatening him. A purring, half-asleep cat (of whatever specific species) isn't trying to be menacing, but a mountain lion isn't exactly a small animal.
My stepdad (who likes to play "rough" with the various house cats we've had over the years) once remarked that if an eight-pound house cat can tear up his hands and arms the way they did, he'd hate to see what would happen with even a bobcat or lynx (never mind a mountain lion) if crossed.
That made me laugh, Elkhound, But oh man, a lioness is not a small cat!
In my second decade I completed an eight month internship program at the LA county Zoo.We did one week in each enclosure. I remember the lynx and the bobcats and the size of the steaks that we put in their night enclosures to bring them inside. No mere morsels either. There were only three enclosures we were not allowed in, The poisonous snakes, the elephants, and the big cats, tigers and lions. Though we did watch the big cats from afar. I did love the lynx, Though I have to say I volunteered most of my time in the big aviary. Birds are my passion.
There was a video on YouTube of a traffic jam in Africa. A leopard jumped on top of a stopped car, leaned down through the sunroof, licked the top of the driver's bald head, then ran away. "Kitty wants to play." (I can't find it now, or I'd post the link.)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7265/26924978051_7f82e60cdb_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H2gxVv)Barbie throne conversion in progress (https://flic.kr/p/H2gxVv) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
This started off as a pink plastic Barbie Princess throne. I spray painted it with a tan plastic spray paint to prime it, then painted the "padded seat" in red acrylic with a thin wash of dark red over it to deepen the shadows, and touches of a lighter red dry-brushed over the highlights. (The lighter red is barely visible; I may touch up the highlights at some point.) I will eventually paint the rest of the chair black to match Queen Araxie's throne, but first something had to be done about the "B" monogram in the shield.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7145/26411160024_934934278b_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GeS6J1)Filling in the shield (https://flic.kr/p/GeS6J1) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
I filled in the shield outline with some Model Magic, which is similar to an air drying clay, but it dries smooth and slightly rubbery feeling. Once it has had a day or two to cure, I will paint it Haldane red and then add King Kelson's rampant guardant gold lion to it. The rest of the chair will be done in black acrylic paint, like Queen Araxie's throne, and I may go back and highlight the raised borders with gold. The crown on top will probably end up gold as well.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7406/26947353071_af9ec95730_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/H4feeH)Mini Bayeux Tapestry (https://flic.kr/p/H4feeH) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
I found some Bayeux Tapestry trim on Ebay in a similar natural colors palette to the trim I'm using on the bed canopy (green/rust/gold), so this tapestry will probably end up on the bedchamber wall once I'm done with it.
The finished Haldane thrones, with an unpainted Barbie throne beside them to show what they looked like originally:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7754/26809419900_49e311181f_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/GR4hvA)Haldane thrones--before and after (https://flic.kr/p/GR4hvA) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
Great job, love the chairs!
Laurna, I don't know if you can see without zooming in on the photo, but on the smaller repainted chair, in the center of the star design at the top of the chair back, Evie glued in a small golden stone. I really loved that touch; I just think it looks really cool!
(https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7377/27590712045_e56188bf3c_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/J36BrP)While the nursemaid sleeps.... (https://flic.kr/p/J36BrP) by evian_delacourt (https://www.flickr.com/photos/9573389@N08/), on Flickr
While the nursemaid sleeps, the children continue playing. Let's hope they don't get into too much mischief!