Yes, I know this weekend officially kicks off the summer season. But if anyone of you live in the DC Metro area, it has been summer since April. The only thing “official” about this weekend is the introduction of humidity…which, ironically, is my kryptonite.
So far, this weekend has been quiet which is FANTASTIC in my book. The past couple of weeks have been a challenge and it’s nice to be able to just laze about the apartment. Of course, “laze” simply means more time for my habit/hobby.
Even though I made a couch not that long ago, I really wanted to something constructive and challenging. Again, my biggest hurdle in this crazy project o’ mine is the lack of modern but affordable miniature furniture. True, there are vendors online that I can get designer modern stuff. But these are so darn pricey…I mean, I want to have some $$ left over to pay my mortgage you know? So lately, I’ve just been resorting to converting existing pieces into something more to my taste. Like this project.
On Saturday, I went back to my local miniature shop because I needed to return some items I purchased last week. Luckily, the cashier was nice to not only let me do the return, but let me convert the return into store credit. With a receipt showing my new store credit, quickly made a beeline to my most favorite part of the store — the clearance bin.
After some digging around, I came across this living room sofa set. The shape reminded me of the sofas you see at IKEA — just minus the tacky fabric. Figured this can be a worthy set for a conversion project. Plus it’s $12 for three pieces — can’t get any better than that.
Also found amongst the garden stuff a wooden shelf that looks so much like the IKEA Expedit bookcase (yes, I am familiar with IKEA because I’m a shameless fan of their stuff…and I used to work there). Once these items got tossed into my shopping basket, I quickly went ahead and purchased them using the store credit…before I started going nuts and buying stuff I don’t need (at the moment).
When I got home (spend the rest of the day with BK in Alexandria to enjoy the weather), I unpacked the new items and started to work. Was lucky to find in my trusty bin o’crap some fabric I bought at (where else?) IKEA in their ‘As-Is’ section, as well as the wood coloring markers.
After working on them for a couple of hours, I present to you the finished products. Much to my surprise, it looks pretty good.
The reupholstering was a lot harder — had to scrape the old glue and stuck fabric from the wooden frames before I could start draping the new fabric. Had to use my sharpest scissors to cut the corners to make them fold neatly (and slicing my fingers in the process).
The bookcase, luckily, was an easy one. Had to sand some areas, then colored the whole unit with the marker before applying the varnish. It really does look like the Expedit bookcase. Rats, maybe I should have gotten another one…I can see this being a popular item with the dolls…guess another miniature shop trip is in the works. Need to go back anyways…they had a sign calling for anyone who’d like to be a contractor. Build/assemble dollhouses, do custom work….wondering if it’s something I should try. BK thinks I should, but I dunno. Something to think about I guess.
After everything was completed, I moved the pieces to the Eocháin apartment and set up the kids around it. Maddie enjoys bringing her toys to the couches during playtime (while the resident dogs keep an eye on her). Aidan seems to enjoy lounging on it with his guitar.
“~Lie awake in bed at night. And think about your life Do you want to be different? Try to let go of the truth,
the battles of your youth, ’cause this is just a game…”**
“Addy, what is that you’re singing?” Maddie asked.
“Nothing, squirt,” he replied back. “Just go back to playing with your toys.”
“~It’s a beautiful lie…It’s a perfect denial. Such a beautiful lie to believe in..so beautiful, beautiful lie makes me-“
“Are you singing about ‘Laney?” his sister continued. “Cause you’re always making boogie eyes at her when she comes over -”
“You mean ‘googly eyes’,” Aidan answered. He quickly realized he said too much.
Maddie drops her blocks and pays attention to MacArthur, who quietly padded up to sit beside her. She starts giggling as she sees her older brother’s face turning red. “Addy liikees Laney! Addy likes–”
Aidan has no choice but to pull out the old and reliable solution against annoying little siblings.
“MMMOOOMMMM!!! Maddie’s looking at me funny!!”
*Aidan’s singing the song “A Beautiful Lie” by Thirty Seconds to Mars. Sung by the ever beautiful man Jared Leto of course!
The name “Laney” that Maddie used refers to Selene Tremaine.
A Miniature Obsession 