Wallpapering

The back and right side walls are papered with the ecru ceiling paper. I like the way it looks. I'm using rubber cement dry mount technique. Spread the cement on the paper and the wall, let dry, then press in place. It can be peeled back and reseated if not right the first time and pulled away even months later if necessary.

The first photo shows the box on its side. The part of the wall nearest the front has been glued into place with Aileen's Tacky Glue, forever sealing the access door on that side. It's weighted down to prevent it pulling away from the box as it dries. Notice all of the clamps in front? They are holding a quarter inch piece of wall in place. Even the best of measurements . . . Oh, well, the wallpaper will cover it up.

Here are the back and right side walls papered. I also papered the low wall below the upper level, although most of it will be hidden. It's nice to be able to flip the box on its side or upside down to work on it.

All three sections of the right wall are one piece of paper. The only seam is the corner with the back wall. I wrapped a quarter inch of paper from the back wall around the corner and covered it with the side wall paper for a nice, clean finish.

I'll have to do some planning before sticking things on the walls. I have a feeling tacky wax or poster putty or whatever I use will leave a mark on this pristine paper.

Watching Paint Dry

Today I glued the stairs and painted the railing, baseboard, and ceiling moldings with two coats of Ceramcoat Dove Gray and a couple coats of Minwax satin finish polyacrylic. A simple chore, yet time consuming.

While that was drying, I tested stain on the Houseworks hardwood floors and auditioned them with a piece of trim and the ecru paper. The wallpaper doesn't read all that well in the photo as it is still in the plastic; it's not going to risk smudging until I'm ready to hang it.

From the left, (1) no stain, (2) walnut, (3) early American, and (4) golden oak. They are Minwax oil-based stains, what I had on hand. The walnut was too dark and the golden oak had a greenish tinge I hadn't expected and didn't like. So early American is the winner. Once the shelves and counters have found their final resting place, some aging can take place.

Now the question is which way should the boards run? If they run side to side, there is the issue of butting two pieces. This may not be a big problem, as the cutting table will be along the right wall to hide part of the seam, but it will be seen up front.

If the boards run from front to back, piecing won't be an issue. I think it will help with the illusion of depth in the room to have them going this direction. On the upper level at the back, though, the boards will run side to side. I don't want to deal with having to hide the cut ends that will show under the railing. Only glimpses of the upper floor will show when the accessories are installed.

While the paint and stains are drying, here's a picture of the poor, neglected Pierce that is impatiently waiting to become a Bohemian inn and tavern. Its table has become something of a dumping ground. I keep telling it to hang in, that the garden is now in relatively good shape and the quilt shop room box won't take much longer. I don't think it believes me.

The next step in the plan is to get the quilt shop walls installed and papered -- or papered and installed -- or a combination of both. Haven't worked out the details yet.

Back in the Swing of Things

The past few days seemed longer than usual, but the boxes have arrived from Hobby Builders Supply and Christmas in Prescott. I'm please with the HBS order. The ecru ceiling paper is almost like a thin cardstock, will cover the bumpy walls very nicely and the pressed tin ceiling will be perfect. The ornament twirlers were a bit of a disappointment as they turn too slowly for an effective fan look, at least in my opinion. A friend told me that Radio Shack has small two-speed 12v motors; another possibility.

I am particularly pleased to welcome Dot to the quilt shop. She is a very nicely detailed resin doll who looks as if she can sit at a sewing machine for hours and hours without complaint. Notice her necklace and watch, the fine drapes and folds in her clothing, and her lovely complexion. Very nicely done for resin.

She sits at the sewing machine as if made for it. Wish she had a bit more room back there, but I'm sure she'll manage.

While waiting for the packages to arrive, I worked on the stairs and railing. The new stairs are half the width of the old ones. They are not yet glued together in this picture, which is why they look a bit wonky. Also painted the baseboard and ceiling moldings. The baseboard fourth from left, the darker one, is how they will look when given a coat of satin finish polyacrylic. Makes a nice finish. I thought about painting the ballusters and rail before assembly but decided it would be easier to paint it as a unit.

Now that I look at Dot cramped in the corner, I'm tempted to add a bit to the upper level to move the railing forward a half inch or so.