pugdog
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May 15, 2007, 6:23 AM
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DIY vs the other stuff
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In decorating, as in building, there are two main tracks you can take.
One is the "historically" or "realistically" accurate version, where you pay attention to scale, try to imitate real or possibly real structures or items, and decorate in a way that mimics real life.
The other is to create the illusion of reality, so with a bit of suspension of disbelief (the stuff that let's us watch movies like Jurrasic Park or Spiderman) we envision what is before us as it's own reality. This means houses that couldn't really exist for one reason or another (like a trolls residence in a hewn out tree), or decorating a country kitchen using spools and bobbins and match boxes, etc rather than store-bought or "accurate" miniatures.
Somewhere in the middle is the ground most of us stand on.
We build for as much reality as we find we have the patience for, but if we like that little light bulb, and think it makes a great vase, we'll use it. We'll cut up tins and dollar store items to turn them into "miniature" whimsies or what nots.
For some, the whole idea is to take what's around us, the "trash" or left overs, and create whole worlds from them.
Sometimes we want people to know that the back of that chair was a fork we cut up, or the backs of the chairs are made from popsicle sticks and toothpicks. Other times, we want to take our items, and build them into our creations so that people can't tell that that the food on the table is really bits of clay or that the items in our study were really old game pieces.
It doesn't matter. :)
The idea is that it's all creative, and you don't have to spend $4700 on a table and 4 chairs to get a work of art you can be proud of and that people will marvel over.
Sometimes, your little miniature Santa's Shop made with left overs from wrapping your presents and a few creative accents from the craft store that cost you a total of $10 or less, is more stunning and impressive than that $5000 table set.
I'm not knocking the high end items. There is a place for them in the high end houses, and I'm extremely guilty of building those! I get carried away with the wood, and finishing edges, and fixing minutia. By the time I'm done, I have 1000 hours or more in the project, and sometimes as much as $5000 in parts and pieces (working windows, doors, high end flooring, wainscotting, crown moldings, etc).
On the other end, there is a lot of satisfaction to sit down with the kids and turn a shoebox into a diner, or take a cigar box and make a library or apothecary.
Attention to detail is always important, but it means different things in different cases.
In the 'accurate' scenario, it means making things with matching edges, and precise details.
In the "whimsical" mood, it means creating a scene that allows the viewer to forget that dogs don't attend school, cats don't teach physics, and allow them to believe that old vacuum tubes make really cool juke boxes or transporter beams or freezing tubes for your space ship.
But, in both cases, people don't want to see glue lines, splotchy paint jobs, or other indications that you didn't take the time to do it right.
Don't be afraid to cut up a tissue box holder for fencing or a soap dish for flower boxes. Use decorative hair sticks for lamp poles. Cut up that cereal box and use it for a step stool, or clipboard, or whatever.
Use beads with a straight pin in them for water faucets or table legs.
Cut up that charm bracelet to decorate the nursery.
Use tongue depressor ends for shingles, and the middle of the sticks for flooring or to build flower boxes, door frames, or trim. The fancy wood toothpicks can make great railings, or even be cut to make miniature trim or accents for furniture.
A box of the old wood coffee stirrers can be used to make good flooring or interiors of run down buildings, fanciful fairy dwellings, or pub floors. The thicker rounded edge craft sticks that can be bought at most craft shops are a little pricey compared to other items, but make great planking for board walks and even for building porch/patio furniture. I can't remember the name of the item, but they are one of the higher end Forsters items that come in the little bags like the woodsies. The woodsies themselves can be used to make raised decorations on the outside of buildings or barns, or used inside to imitate raised panels.
More later. :) Share yours!
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