Marilyn D. issued a challenge to Louise M. and myself, to make a pair of bookend vignettes, and gave us the bookends to get going with. They're well on the way with theirs, but I was having a bit of a problem coming up with a theme. At our last get-together, a lighbulb blinked and I though it might be fun to do a front door/back door theme with the bookends. (Yes, that is deep snow in the woods outside my window!)
I'm using recycled foamcore for the body of the vignettes, and the first thing was to establish a base on which to work. Then you have to hollow out enough of the foam core for the base of the bookend to fit underneath seamlessly. It took a bit of experimentation, but I managed to do it to my satisfaction. I think that fabric may end up being the thing to best hold the foamcore to the metal bookends, once the construction is done, as anything thicker would make it difficult to use the bookends as, well, bookends.
By this time, it was dark and therefore the core shape of the steps isn't all that visible! I layered slices of foamcore to create a pair of three-step stairs, one for the front door and one for the back. There is still some experimentation going on in regards to how the steps will be positioned. My template for the basic design is from a Dutch website, minimaakje.nl (which you can find by googling that title), their project #76 for a raised veranda with a door and at least one window.
Next up, I have to make a decision using some doors in my stash, as to how high the foamcore walls of the project will be. The idea is that the front door step area is beautiful and therefore has high curb appeal, while the back door one is, uh, well, rather more utilitarian and may include dirty boots, a bag of garbage and, given the weather outside my window visible on the photos, perhaps a bunch of snow removal tools!
The vignettes will have a narrow porch with a railing, a door, and a window, as well as the steps. Then I get to play with the rest of it. Today I hope to measure for the height from the "ground" to the porch level and then add in the height of the door with frame, and of course of bit of "wall" above that. And I don't really like arithmetic....
It is my hope to once again use recycled/re-used construction materials, mostly foamcore and cardboard of various thicknesses, and things that already exist in my rather alarmingly large mini stash.
Posting is still difficult, as the Carpenter-in-Chief has to hunt and peck each time photos are uploaded to the computer, but I hope they can increase a little bit in frequency! Stay tuned.
