Bed Curtains/Drapes Pleats vs Panel

I'm hoping for some feedback if all of you have time to look.

I tested out the pleats on the teal fabric.  And while I like them, they take some of the pattern away from the fabric.  I'm not sure I like that.  But if I do a simple panel, with a slight drape to it, maybe sew a some gentle folds into them we should see the pattern but give the drapes some fullness.

I think a plain straight panel won't look realistic.

What do all of you think?

I do like the fabric against the wood of the bed though.  I think you all were right about the heavier curtains.

Second Guessing Myself

I got home a bit closer to on time this evening.  So I spent part of the evening working on the bedding for my WQ.

I used tea to stain some of the men's handkerchiefs and while they were drying I messed around with the 'sheets', blanket and fur throw.  My intention has been to use the larger men's handkerchiefs cut into slices to make the bed curtains.

Since this was just testing I didn't iron the lace 'sheet'.

And the tea stained handkerchiefs dried so I put them against the bed to see how I liked them. It's not a huge contrast but there's a bit of one.

After doing all that though, the staining, I'm wondering about the bed curtains.

My research shows Tudor style beds looking more like these:

The double pillows aren't historically correct, so I'm not worried about those.  But I am concerned that the drapes should be heavier looking.

So I went looking through my fabrics.  The bed cover with the fringe has a touch of teal green in it, and I've got some satiny looking fabric that looks nice with it.  And some that is more of a match for the browns and beige that's in it.

I'm leaning towards the satiny looking teal, maybe lined with one of the handkerchiefs?

The upside of using a stiffer fabric is that they could be straight panels rather than pleated or gathered.  Even if I lined the panels to lighten the inside of the bed, it would give the room more color.

What do you think?  I don't want to do a bedskirt because really, they didn't have them in the simpler houses and I have to draw the line somewhere.  And I've got that gorgeous lacy 'sheet'.  Maybe I could do a simple liner of the satin under it?  To show through the lace?  Or would it look too elaborate?

Like I said, second guessing myself.

Drying Racks, Thread and Testing

So this was my first weekend working on Saturday.  As a result Saturday was pretty much a waste as far as getting stuff done on the dollhouse.

I've also been working late most evenings so my ambitions for getting a few little projects done at night were not fulfilled.  On Monday night, the last night I left on time, I got my workspace cleaned up, vacuumed my house and that was as far as I got until after three on Saturday.  I made a start on one of my projects on the list.  A drying rack to hang between the roof beams.

I used a chopstick stained darker and drilled into it to make holes for toothpick pegs.  I also managed to drill into my finger at this stage.  So from that point onward it was a battle to not get everything stuck to my band aide.  It's healed up pretty well since it wasn't deep, just irritating and inconvenient.

Once the wood had dried and I was in no danger of getting blood on anything I added wool to the pegs.  Keli sent me a ton of wool and it looks really nice against the pale wall.

I also was checking the process wool goes through from raw to spun to woven and saw that usually it's washed and left to dry before dying or spinning because the lanolin in it makes it very difficult for a dye to take.  So I put some of the wool that looked more raw into a basket and then some more on one of my shelves.

It's not quite as raw looking as some of the pictures I've seen but it's going against the back wall and doesn't need to be totally perfect.

I painted a mirror I'd ordered, using Ebony stain with some metallic bronze paint dry brushed over it to bring out the design carved into the wood.

It didn't come with a stand to make it sit up straight on a desk or mantle so I added one.  It won't show much but it stabilizes everything so I don't have to worry about it falling.

And I added the last of my scrolls and potion bottles to my last shelf.  This one is going next to the fireplace near the back wall so I didn't worry as much about filling it up.  I'll add more to if I feel like it.

And while all the glue was drying I tested my lights.  I hadn't done that after I got the floor into place last week.  (I felt frustrated enough at the time.)  There's one that won't come on, and I wonder if the lightbulb is loose or if I broke a wire.  Can't be sure until I mess with it and I didn't have the energy for that this week.

Chandelier in the stillroom.

Candlestick on the desk.

Chandelier in the workroom.

Fireplace in the workroom.

Fireplace in the stillroom.

Three of the candles on the worktable and the candlestick on the bookshelf.

I'm very tempted to just say the candle near the dousing device isn't lit and leave it at that.  I still might.  Not sure.

I did test the standing candelabra and it works, I just forgot to take a picture.

Before I can put the house on it's base I need to take all the moveable furniture out and tip it on it's side so I can extend the wires of the lights on the main floor.  Right now they're not long enough to come out the back completely.  Won't that be fun. (not)

I cut some of the fur I had and made a blanket for my WQ when she's sitting doing research and can't be bothered to build up the fire again.

I wanted another drying rack so I measured the space under the window and got it cut and glued together.

While that was drying I made some cloth on wood dowels as if they'd come off the loom.  Right now I have them positioned in the corner of the workroom.

My tapestries came and I made some rods for them to hang from.  I'd originally intended to make a tapestry but I'm running out of time and what I started wasn't going to fit where I wanted a tapestry.

The long one will go on the upper portion of the bedroom chimney, while the portrait shaped one will go on the far wall next to the bed.

I needed to let everything there dry before I could move them so I finished my work on the candelabra for the bedside table.

It's still not perfect, but it does fit better on the bedside table and doesn't look too big for the space.

By the time I did all that the drying rack was set pretty well and I could test it in the space.  I'll glue it to the wall after I get some wool on it, and make something that will let it stay open or flat to the wall.  But it works so far.

The last thing I accomplished was to make thread.  Big reels of thread to sit on the cupboard shelves.

I'm going through those fancy toothpicks like crazy on this build.  But they're very handy.  The perfect size for a dollhouse dowel.

Still have lots to do but I think the big projects will be the wiring and getting the tower attached once I have the base built.  I know, I said that last week.  But I really didn't think I'd be at work for seven hours plus drive time on Saturday.  By the time I got home I was so irritated that I didn't dare do anything really major because if I goofed it up I'd do some irreparable damage.

But I got a few things done and we're moving steadily along.

On another note, Anna has hurt her back so she's not allowed to do much of anything with her hand and arm.  So good wishes for a speedy recovery Anna!  And huge thanks and good wishes to Keli for all her help when she's got her daughter's house and her own to deal with and work on top of it.  And work is being... let's say less than stellar.


A saltbox (Keli)
Clogs (Keli) & (Anna if she gets time)
A still (might be able to do this with Kris's 'paper pottery')
Sausages on a string (ordered)

Drill & Route out channels for lighting wires.
Finish shutters & interior trim for all windows on main cottage.
         First Floor          
         Second Floor
Build Fireplaces & chimneys
        First Floor
        Second Floor
Cut bricks and stone for outside of lower walls and tower.
(Test Magic Brik) - in progress
Add brick/stone to fireplaces.
        First Floor         
        Second Floor
Age fireplaces
        First Floor
        Second Floor
Build base for house
        Get the wiring for the bottom floor extended to go out the back (must be done before attaching            cottage to base.
Get cottage on base
Attach Tower to Main Cottage
        Doorway Finishes
        Hall Stone?
        Floors.
Bedroom mantle
Plaster upper walls and third floor of tower.
Add timber to upper walls and third floor of tower. (testing)
Paint stone.
Add grout to stone and brick.
Ceiling beams on first floor.
Ceiling beams and roof support for lofted ceiling on second floor.
          Dormer ceiling supports
          Add final supports to desk alcove
Second floor Ceiling finish?
Ceiling beams and roof support for the tower.
Stain purchased furniture
          Bedroom
          Kitchen
          Stillroom
          Weaving/workroom
Build furniture:
          Make sink
          Make curved table for tower room
          Make loom
          Adjust tables for lab
          Make stool
          Make telescope 1/2 done
          Make orrey 1/4 done
          Make tapestry
          Make rush mats
          Make bedding
          Make books & scrolls
          Make paper pottery
Stillroom paraphernalia
          Potions? (some bottles made)
          Cage with spider (on the loose)
          Cage with mice
          Cauldron floating spoon? (testing)
Workroom
          Wool cards (make)
          Drying rack ?
          Hanging died wool
          Carded wool in baskets
          Finished fabric on shelves (some folded maybe? rolled instead)
          Second spinning wheel w/straw to gold? Might look too crowded.
Kitchen
          Put food in baskets
          Add food & utensils to table
          Make lantern
          Hang sausages
Furniture in place finalize lights.
          Make sconce
          Make candelabras
                 Standing Candelabra
                 2 small Candelabras
                              Remove candles from extra and add to stillroom table.
Add flooring
Plaster inside walls
Create 'slate' roof
Bargeboards/trim for roof gables.
Create front garden
          Make tree?
          Make stream?
          Make lake/river to go alongside house
          Make stone wall to go around garden
          Iron front gate.