MECO February Meeting - Trains Part 2, and General Hope for Mankind

Pink Shirt Day February 27 2013 - This Year's Slogan "I'm one making a difference - Bullying Stops Here

I have always been an "odd sock", as they say. As is the case of many of us "odd socks", we have found ourselves on the wrong end of a loaded bully from time to time. I remember we could be victimized twice - once by the aggressor, and again by the adults, who often felt that bullying was a "rite of passage" or that somehow the strange  kid "deserved" what they got. I have to say, I never agreed with that latter bit of tripe  - put "wife" or "dog" in place of "strange kid", and suddenly it all seems  wrong, and it was.  The second bit of tripe fed to a victim was all you have to do is stand up to a bully and they will back down. This is not true, unless you have a rather large and menacing body guard standing by your side who could loom at the bully for you at the time, or a group of friends willing to take a stand with you - an act of bravery in itself because again, standing up for a target would often mean "you are next".  This is what bullies count on, that no one will stand beside the "odd sock" in solidarity and say "no more".

Imagine my glee, 5 years ago, when I heard a wonderful story. A young boy in Nova Scotia goes to school, wearing a pink shirt. He is set upon immediately by the resident troglodytes, because how dare he wear pink and actually show some individuality?  However, instead of sitting back and buying into the fiction that the boy deserved what he got for daring to wear a "girl's" colour,  and bucking the  "just be thankful it wasn't me"attitude, some of his very brave young classmates rose to the occasion, bought 50 pink shirts, and passed them out to be worn as a showing of solidarity with the boy. Thus, Pink Shirt Day was born, and has been gaining momentum since that time.

It is a cause near and dear to my heart, so I decided I needed to put up a plug for this most admirable stand against bullying, and for all the "odd socks" out there who need to know that they are not alone in the wilderness of hate.  Proceeds go to the bullying hotline for children, and may no small "odd sock" be hung out to dry alone any more. 

On to the business of the day. You might remember last month's  Part 1 installment regarding our 1:12 scale rendition of the HO Model Train set. Today we built a display table for it. 

The Display Table

We started out, as we often do, with the raw materials for the table. The top of the display was determined by the size of our display base (1/8 inch thickness of wood).  

The Raw Supplies

 Once the top of the table was cut to the correct size, it was framed out with our 1/4 inch square stock. 

Figuring Out A Mitred Joint

I like to cut my first 45 degree mitre first,  and then measure from the longest side, stopping at the length of the side I am measuring for ( I know, clear as mud). Then I draw a second line in to where a diagonal line will make a 45 degree angle (in this case, I moved the second line in 1/4 of an inch, because the square stock was 1/4 of an inch). The shape you ultimately want is a trapezoid (answer to the age old question, will I use math when I am an adult? Yes, yes you will).  Rinse and repeat for all 3 sides to form a frame. 

Trapezoid!

Framed Table Top

The next step was to take our half inch width boardstock, and line the edges of our table. We did this pre-legs, as it was easier. I managed to put mine on upside down (we were supposed to make a recessed table so the display could be placed into what essentially was a frame. I have to be different, but I have different plans for my table anyway -- cue sinister music). 

Upside Down You're Turnin' Me!

We cut our legs out next, with 1/2 inch by 1/4 inch boardstock. These legs were cut to 3 inches, but some modified this measurement to make it a bit shorter, in order to fit it into a plastic display case. 

View Of Legs

 
From there we (or I, as I wasn't exactly following instructions, but designing from the model provided) put on the side brace for the legs. The side brace also acted as a shelf support. These pieces were made from 1/2 inch by 1/8 inch flat boardstock. 

Side Support

 Again, I did a few things with this table that weren't exactly how poor Fearless Leader member Rosemary had intended. I tend to let right brain have a lot of fun, much to the left brain's eternal embarrassment and face palming. In general, we were supposed to frame out the shelf and not have any gaps. In general. I changed things up a bit, mainly because again... I wasn't actually reading the instructions. 

Bottom Of Display Table

 That gap on the two sides wasn't technically supposed to be there. But my measuring was funky (see above comment about not reading instructions) and I have seen tables that have this feature, so off I went, happily constructing on the fly - or whatever other hapless insect got in my way. 

The Bottom, different angle

 Finally we added a support for the middle bottom of the shelf. Even if I did make some things up as I went, it didn't turn out so badly at all. I had it in my mind that I would use this as a base for my (eventual) glitter village....mmm. glitter. 

Member Bev working on her Frame Case

Member Sherril industriously creating 1/4 inch magic

My Little Valentine In Progress

Otherwise, this week I spent a little time making pieces for my Valentine box. I have completed a second chair, and also the table. I ended up making a trip out to a popular box store named after a Saint, and picked up a few supplies, one being scissors to make fancy edges. Cool, right? I also picked up a new heart punch, as mine has really made itself scarce. I am assured that it will surface within the next few days, of course, but then I  will have two. I thought the floor needed something to break up the pattern, and tie it with the chairs and table, so I made a little matching rug. 

Otherwise, I didn't get a lot done, having had a busy week thwarting the  forces of evil - you know how it is.  It kind of works up a thirst...maybe a coffee treat?

Until next week, gentle heros of the world...
 

Road Runner, the Coyote's After You

Sometimes I just identify with the Road Runner, and this week has been one of those times.  All week long, I felt like I was racing ahead, just barely out of reach of those in hot pursuit of my time and occasionally my patience, and it didn't look like I was ever going to enjoy my birdseed in peace.  Needless to say (although I felt the need to say it) , there was stress to relieve this week, and I kicked it into overdrive. 

To start, I couldn't leave my train set alone - it just needed "something". Aha, I thought - a backdrop! So out came the paints, and I set my scene amongst the majestic Rocky Mountains.

Lionville Station, located near the Rocky Mountain Trench

Made a Waterfall!

Close up of Detail

 The backdrop was not that difficult (sez me). I cut a long piece of matboard, length determined by the base, and then started with the sky, which washes down from dark blue to a lighter blue. I used gesso as an extender and also for the white colours, and a sponge brush.  The mountains were a mix of prussian blue, gesso, an a darkish purple. The hills coming into town started out with a darker green, washing down to the lighter colour (tempered with yellow and gesso). Easy, no? Just like those "draw this picture!" cartoons that start out with a circle and 3 sticks,  and 3 drawings later there is a photo realistic picture of a lion taking down a wildebeest and you are left to wonder, how'd they do that? Yeah, easy like that.

I made the waterfall by extending the blue colour of the river over the side, and I used my trusty "Triple Thick" varnish once more. I decided a little river was going to run by in the front, and I did the water treatment again. 

The clear acrylic box was from a Valentine's offering of Ferrero Chocolates. Keep an eye out for those boxes, the company often brings out very interesting shapes of boxes for holidays. 

The paint was barely dry when I started a few things more for my Washtub Cottage. 

Simple Dresser

Tick Tock Grandfather Clock and Writing Desk

Kitchen Cabinet

What I have Made So Far for the Cottage

Told you I was stressed. So, I have made 7 out of the 33 projects in the book so far - boo-ya! 

Then Valentines Day happened. I was given a valentine, but of course what do I see? Potential in the wrapping, that is what! 

Valentine's Bag

 This little bag is a fairly heavy cardstock. Unfortunately I had to do away with the top portion as it was taped somehow and of course that started to come loose, and it couldn't just come loose without some of the pattern. So, off with its head! 

Bag with Cut Out Window

 I chose a size for the window, which in this case was about one inch away from all sides. That way I didn't have to centre anything. It also means that when I put the insert in, I can raise it up to the window, instead of trying to cut to the floor. Happily that one inch lined up with the white stripes, so that made it easy to get a straight line.  Eventually I will put a "window" over the front to dress it up, but as I forgot to look for something suitable while I was at the art shop yesterday, that will have to wait.

Foam Core Insert

 I built a foam core insert to go into the bag. That way I could just build as a room box, and eventually slip the insert into bag, without having to work inside the bag.  It took a little fiddling to get proper measurements, but eventually I got something I was satisfied with. Just remember to leave 1/4 of an inch (or whatever the width of the building material) on the sides of the sides so your walls can slip in nicely. I made the back wall flush, and the side walls extend past the floor to join with the back wall (so that 1/4 inch or width measurement has to be taken into account once again). 

Walls, Papered

Initially I had the box put together, then I realized ... I am going to have to paper these things, and since this is fussy to go around corners and match up patterns, I really should do the pieces separately, as above. I used a paper printie I found from Jennifer's Printable's site, which has enough printies to keep you busy for awhile, with wallpaper and projects galore. I believe she brags of 200 different papers. You can also make your own, and she has instructions of that on her site as well. 

The print I chose was checks. I realized the little bag was pretty strong as a pattern, and I felt this pink and white check was going to work without deafening anyone, a bonus in any situation.  I chose a floor pattern to compliment my checked wallpaper as well - it isn't strictly flooring, however, but cherry themed wall paper  - we don't always have to stick with tiles and hardwood flooring, although it does tend to rely heavily on the look and style of the project in mind. As this is more whimsical, I can get away with "wall paper as flooring" without someone coming up to me,  sniffing pretentiously while rolling their eyes,  and telling me that I totally have mixed Valentine heart motif periods and it isn't historically accurate, doncha know. Well, okay, maybe not totally "get away with" - certainly you always get one who has to comment. I usually  just point and laugh at them, though, and eventually they get embarrassed and walk away.

Check Wallpaper and Cherry flooring

  

The Insert in The Bag

Okay, time to decorate. I found a nifty Joanne Swanson blog that is just packed with goodies, including a Valentine's Day Party (see below).  For those of you who have never heard of her, she is brilliant. Ms. Swanson has been on the miniature scene since  before I started in 1994 (okay, I see you doing the math there, so just stop it), and her approach to miniatures is one I have always appreciated - i.e. you shouldn't have to buy pre-made in order to play.

Joanne Swanson Project

 She has a brilliant how to for almost everything in the picture.  I was going to go 1:12 scale - which I have to admit, looks massive after building smaller scales - but the room box is so small, I decided to take it down a step to 1:24 scale.  It is not a scale that I have done a lot of work in, but that has never really stopped me before.

(L) 1:24 scale chair (R) 1:12 scale chair

Here are the two chairs I made, one in 1:12, and one in 1:24. Definitely a big difference in the size, just by halving it. I used the same size wood and just half-dimensions. Not too shabby, if I do say so myself. 

As an aside, here is a little trick I use when I am building something like this that has a dozen or so pieces that have to be very accurate - I tape together my wood stock (not the bird) with painter's tape. I square off the ends with my wood cutter, and then make my measurement. One can attach several pieces of wood together in this manner and not only save time, but also cutting errors, mismatched sizes, and wasted supplies.  I have done this with straight cuts and with mitres (in making frames). As well, with chairs, there is likely going to *be* more than one made, and you want your chairs to mostly match and you don't want to start at ground zero for each and every chair.

Very Handy Wood Cutting Tool

Wood Prepared For Multiple Cuts

 Part of the chair project instructions had me using a small valentine for the chair back.  I was lazy - instead of resizing the original pattern, I used some heart stickers that I bought from a craft store last week. 

Sparkly!

 They were exactly the right size for the 1:24 scale chair, so you can't beat that with a stick. Or perhaps you can - I don't judge. 

Finished Chair

 Granted, this isn't the most comfortable chair, but then again I haven't heard the miniature people complain, so it's all good. Plus its sparkly. I painted the chair a nice white. I liked the red and white stripes of the chair in the original picture, but it would have been just too much with what was going on with the various patterns already. The cushion is a piece of fun foam that was cut and upholstered with a tiny bit of fabric. 

Chair Compared to Last Week's Valentine

The Table

 I decided I could get away with a cardstock table, as it would be the right thickness for the project. Before I cut out the legs and the table top, however, I cut out the tiny hearts of the legs first - that way I had something to hold on to as I cut. It would have been better with a heart punch, but mine is still M.I.A.

Table and Chair In Situ

 Here is where you can see the importance of not candy striping the chair legs - definitely needed a contrast against all the strong patterns. I haven't finished with the table yet, but will work on that later. I think that is pretty darn good for my week's work, and a good place for all that stress to go, don't you think? 

Just in case I haven't put you on your own mini bender yet, however,  how about a nice video of a Valentine Day Cake how to to seal the deal?

Until we meet again, kind friends...!