Library room box, final

The library room box is going to the people is has been made for next week, the wonderful librarians in my department library. It is the least I can do to thank them for eleven years of fantastic support. Of course it is a surprise, and I hope they will be surprised and like it. You never know.

So this is the last chance for me to take a picture and reflect on what I have done and what I should have done differently.




I started this project three months ago, confident that I had plenty of time. This week I suddenly realised that vacation season is approaching, and I may never find a moment when all librarians are in. I was right. I asked yesterday, and already next week some of them will be away, and more the week after. So now is the time! And of course nobody will know what I had intended to do and didn't.

To begin with, I am pleased with the idea of making a library inside an old book and quite proud of the way the overall design worked. You can see it step by step here and here . I am glad that I took the time to make interesting floors, wallpaper and ceiling.

I compromised on bookshelves. Mostly because I didn't have all my supplies and tools. I considered several options for DYI, but finally decided that I would buy unfinished shelves and make them unique. At the very least, I made this fake open drawer!

I compromised on library steps. I tried various options, but again, without supplies and proper tools it didn't look right. One day I will make library steps from scratch. 

I am really glad that I didn't compromise on books. If you compare my first post in which I used printed book spines with the final result featuring 150 individual books, I hope you agree it was worth the trouble. Many hours of work, but highly satisfactory.

Of course I did compromise on books in the sense that most of them are still fake, that is, do not open. My ambition was to replace them with real books, but I ran out of time. A few can be opened and have real stories and pictures, and they will do the trick.

I have also put in a book by me. I wonder whether the recipients will spot it.

I added more items, framed maps on walls, stacks of manuscripts, pencils, index cards. I stuffed the desk drawers with all kinds of things, including miniature diaries.

I considered and dismissed a grandfather clock. It dominated the room too much and obscured other items. 

I was planning to add display lights, and I bought a LED strip, but I couldn't make it work (maybe the battery was wrong) so again, I ran out of time. Nobody will ever know that there was supposed to be light. I have fake ceiling lamps. I also wanted to make a typical library lamp with a green lampshade and a chain pull. Maybe it would have been too much. There is enough clutter already.

On the whole, I am happy with this project, and I am looking forward to giving it away to people who will hopefully appreciate it.

Library room box, part 7

In my previous post about the library project I mentioned that I needed more books and other details to make the library look like a living workspace rather than a display room. While the shelves are full, there must be books on the desk, on the floor and everywhere.

I am sure many of you recognise these because we all use the same free printies.

I also noticed, in pictures of real libraries, that there are piles of manuscripts. I made some from pages of the Webster dictionary, and also an authentic handwritten letter I found on the web and resized. It's the same letter, but I printed out several copies.

I put some "leather"-bound notebooks in the desk drawers, as well as piles of teeny tiny index cards. Then I made some pencils. Yellow Faber pencils and red pencils. It's easy and fun, but takes some times and patience.  As always, I am not in a hurry.

First, I painted two ends of toothpicks, leaving some unpainted bits where the pencil has been sharpened. Then for lead pencils, I painted the tips black and for red pencils obviously red. Then I cut each toothpick in two and dipped the ends in gold for the Faber pencils and in black for the red pencils. Dipping rather than painting with a brush gave an even edge.

Many, many pencils for the library. Some in desk drawers, other will be just lying here and there. But I also wanted a pencil holder on the desk and made one from those plastic thingies that protects prongs on electric plugs (if you live in the UK). Very helpful material for various projects.

I glued three together and onto a piece of card, then painted bright red on the inside and shiny black on the outside, sort of Chinese lacquer look, with golden edges. I will add scissors, a letter opener and other office stuff. Unfortunately, my huge box of watch parts is stored away; watch parts make great pens, knives and even rulers. 

I will also add more maps and/or portraits of famous librarians. 

I have definitely decided against the clock. There must be space on the floor for the books.

 

It is getting closer to what I want it to be. A librarian friend saw this project several weeks ago, even before I started making individual books, and thought it was perfect. But I know that each tiny detail adds to the full impression, and even though the people for whom I am making this room might never find the tiny erasers and pen sharpeners in the desk drawers, it's a matter of honour to have them hidden there.

Come back soon.

Library room box, part 6

If you have followed my library project, you must be wondering whether I have totally abandoned it, but I haven't. All this time I have been making books. In the previous post I estimated that I would need 120 to fill the shelves, and that was correct.

120 individual books of various shapes and models that look as authentic as they can be, without being real books that can be opened and read. But I will make some real books to spread strategically to create the effect.

As you see, I have added library steps.

I wish I could say I made them from scratch, bit I didn't - I have neither skills nor tools. I bought a kit and put all my efforts into finish, and I am pleased with the result. It is a beautiful piece that adds much to the scene.

I have, as I planned, made some extra books that will be on the floor and on tables.

In most pictures of libraries, there are books and manuscripts everywhere, so there is still a lot of work for me to do. There must be piles of books on top of the book cases as well (fire hazard!). And I will put all kinds of stuff in the desk drawers.

I have considered adding a tall case clock.

It takes space and perhaps eclipses the library steps, but I think it adds a good balance to the left side of the room. I will let it stay in for a while, then remove, then put back again and see what feels right.

It is now time to make ceiling lights. This is what I am using:

The lamp shades are cut from a chocolate box. I think it is just the right sort of lamp for a library. Of course somewhere among my stored-away supplies I have a perfect chandelier (Christmas decoration).

I have used the strongest glue I have. If it doesn't work, I am in trouble.

But fortunately it does. So here we are.

Not finished by any means, but I just want to share the progress. And here is a version without the clock, for you, dear reader, to judge which you find best. Please leave a comment and come back soon.

Library room box, part 5

Read the previous posts about this project: part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4.

If you wonder how far I have got with my library project - not far. I was away for a week, and now I am back at work, grading student essays. But I have moved on a bit since last time.

 

To begin with, I have added fake drawers to the second book case, and I have made one fake open drawer with index cards. It was a lot of work, but I think the effect is worth while. Again, perception trick: if one drawer is open, then all others potentially open as well (but they don't). 

Secondly, I am making books. In this picture, you can clearly see the difference between fake book spines and individually made books, even though they are also fake, that is, do not open. Once you have done something that looks better, you can't unsee. In my previous post, I estimated that I would need a hundred individual books. The two middle rows on the right, that are individual books, have 15 books each. Which makes it a total of 120. Right, just 90 more to make. Plus some more on the table and on the floor. Luckily, I am not in a hurry. 

It takes ten to fifteen minutes to make a fake book, depending on the method. The simple is to glue together two or three pieces of cardboard and wrap them in a cover. 

 

Small Stuff's printables acknowledged with gratitude. 

I deliberately make some books thick and some thin, some slightly smaller. Even rows of books do not look natural. But two cases filled with variations of just three very similar spines don't look natural either. 

Small Stuff also has these rows of book spines:

 

I have used them to make individual books, gluing on suitable front and back covers. The amateur book-binder in me winces, but it works - at least until I find a better method. 

Finally, I got this PDF from someone in a Facebook group - thank you! - book spines again, that don't work the way I want, but I have again made individual books with them.

 

There are dozens of other printables on the web, so there will be more variety on my shelves. In the past, I made books with many different methods, including properly bound, opening and almost readable books. Unfortunately, most of my supplies are in storage at the moment so I will have to manage with what I have. And I don't have a printer so every time I need to print out I do it stealthily at work. One day they will catch me. Then I will say it is an educational project. 

Library room box, part 4

Read the previous posts about this project: part 1, part 2 and part 3.

As expected, I didn't have much time to work on this project during the week, but I made some progress during the weekend. My initial intention was to build a book case myself, and I even had a daring design involving a chocolate box, but I changed my mind and bought two unfinished units.

I didn't take pictures of every stage of the transformation, but it took fifteen coats of stain, sanding in between, and three coats of varnish. I am used to high quality House of Miniature kits, and even those need a look of work. These were cheap, but I didn't give up, and I am quite pleased with the result:

I put the cases inside the room tentatively, just to test. The books are also cut out in haste, so they will be improved.

What you see here is a perception trick. Because some books are real, single 3D objects (although they don't open), the eye is tricked to believe that the fake books are real too. I haven't decided how many books will be real. If I go for single books, I will need about a hundred. It doesn't take long to make a non-opening book, and they doubtless look better. And if I do a dozen every now and then it won't get boring.

I considered two option for the bases. It is now clear to me that there is no space for a filing cabinet, so it would be a good idea to make fake index-card drawers. But I also tested metal embellishment.

 

I even consulted a library assistant. She said the embellishment was pretty, but the drawers were more authentic. Drawers it is, then.

 

It was quite a lot of work. The drawers are fake, that is, they don't open. The fronts are made from coffee stirrers. I glued them on, trying to space them as evenly as possible - I am not very good at it. Then I drilled holes and inserted leftover metalware from House of Miniatures kits.

I obviously need a desk, and I have a Duncan Phyfe library table that I made some years ago. It was used in a different project, that, however, is not dependent specifically on a library table, it can be any sideboard, while I think this will be perfect. These drawers do open, so I need to think about what to put in them. What would librarians have in their desk drawers?

 

 

This is as far as I got this weekend. I will need library steps to match, and so far I haven't figured out how I can make them. I have some ideas about ceiling lights. And of course, books, books, books.

Library room box, part 3

I ended the previous post with a cliffhanger: how would I manage to attach the box to the cover? When I published the post, I genuinely didn't know. I was not confident that simply gluing on the box to the back cover would work, but I wanted to try, and if not, I would have to think of ways of solving the problem. So I glued on the box and filled it with the heaviest objects I have at hand: hardback Russian novels. I left the assembly overnight and allowed myself a short moment in the morning, before work, just to have a quick glance.

Did it work? Did it work? It did! Three cheers for PVA glue.

One issue that I had anticipated was, as you may remember, that the box is slightly smaller than the cover, so when I opened the cover, it tilted. But I was prepared for it and added two beads for support.

The next problem to solve is how to fix the left-hand corner. I don't want to glue the left side of the box to the spine because, as I learned in my book-binding courses, spines are never glued to signatures (which is the fancy word for the paper sections of the book). The cover would normally be attached to endpapers, but I only have half of the front endpaper so somehow I need to connect the front edge of the spine with the left-hand front edge of the box. I have an idea, but need time to test it, so it will probably be next weekend since I have a very busy week. When I have done this, the shell will be finished, and the real fun can start.

I have put some random furniture into the box, just to have a feeling.

 
Most of my miniatures are in storage at the moment so I have nothing that suits the environment. The books are too large for the shelf (or the shelf too small for the books), but at least it gives you an idea of what it might look like. In a library there must be bookcases, filing cabinets, a table, library steps, maybe maps on the walls, a tall-case clock, a globe, and perhaps a magnificent chandelier? (Oh where are all my supplies! I know exactly what would fit in perfectly, packed in a storage box millions of miles away). And books. Many, many books, and some will be fake and some will be real, with opening pages; and some will have secret messages for those paying attention. I am not in a hurry, I still have several months to play with this project.

I will also have display lights.

But so far, I am very happy that my design for the shell worked, and I am looking forward to working further on this room box. Come back soon!

Library room box, part 2

In the previous post, I stopped at adding mouldings. For almost all mouldings in the past years, I have been using full-size embossed wallpaper. At first, I did what all miniature-makers do: took wallpaper samples from stores. But I noticed that this particular wallpaper was extremely useful so I decided that for the royal sum of £8 I could afford a whole roll that would probably last my whole life.

 

Since it is a small room box I only needed one long strip that covered all the three walls.

 

The floor surface is also small, so I decided to invest in an elaborate parquet. I have used this pattern before, but again, I don't think it matters, because the people who are getting the library will not have seen my other projects. Anyway, it's fun to make and only took a couple of hours. I used various stains on coffee stirrers. Mitre shears are a must. I sanded the floor thoroughly and used a drop of cooking oil for the final finish.

 

The floor is assembled on a piece of card and inserted into the box. Normally I don't glue on floors in case I need to take them out later. But I don't think I will need it here. (I hope I am not wrong).

So what next? I need to attach the box to the book cover.

 

As I mentioned before, the box is slightly smaller than the cover, which means there will be edges visible around it. But the endpaper was torn, so I had to do the same as I did with the front endpaper: use a spare one.

In the process I discovered that the front endpaper needed trimming, which I of course should have done before I glued it on. But it was easy to amend.

You may wonder why I am showing you all these boring steps that don't take the project much further, to the exciting bits. The thing is, unless all these boring steps are accounting for, it is easy to forget how much work there is behind even the most elementary tasks. This step had to be done, and even if it wasn't complicated and didn't take long, I could not move on without it. People who only see results have no idea how much effort goes into every piece. (You, dear reader, being a miniature-maker yourself, don't need to be persuaded).

But now comes the really tricky phase. I need to attach the box to the back cover, and I don't think simply gluing it on with do the trick. I should have thought about it before and used staples or something before I added wallpaper. Well, too late now, I am not ripping off the wallpaper now (and I don't have another large piece of this paper).

So how am I going to do it? How am I going to do it? I will keep you in suspense until tomorrow.

Library room box

I want to make a farewell gift for my department librarians when I retire, and the most natural thing is of course to make a library room box. I had planned to make a library for a long time, but I didn't have a clear idea about what to put into it, apart from the obvious, books.

As I was clearing out the house before the move, I found this:

 

And I thought: Wouldn't it be a great idea to have a library inside a book? I have seen various miniature projects inside books, and I always wince at books being mutilated. But in this case the book was definitely going to the garbage bin. Yes, I did ask a librarian. Nobody wants old dictionaries these days.

My first plan was to cut a square in the middle, but you probably need a special tool to cut a straight square through two thousand pages, so I gave up on that. Instead, I tore off the cover to build the box inside. As you see, the book had been well-used.

 

I found a box that fit the cover almost perfectly.

 

I still decided to use it rather than building a box myself - I would never be able to do it neatly. I wanted to keep the endpaper so I used the back one that was whole.

 

Next, I covered the "edges" of the book with pages. Of course, the real edges wouldn't look like this, but I wanted to keep something of the book, and anyway, I had to cover the box with something, so I actually think it looks nice. And you get the idea: the cover will be the closing front of the room.

 

I first thought that I would use book pages as wallpaper inside the room as well.

 

But it did not look natural. I had consulted a website called The World's Most Beautiful Libraries, and although I won't be able to make anything even remotely as grand, I still wanted it to be pretty. Therefore I decided to use one of the Adam papers I have left from Womble Hall. I have used this particular paper in the servant quarters, but I don't think it matters.

However, before starting on the walls, I had to add a back:

 

Still, it is always hard to hang wallpaper. I didn't have paste so used PVA glue, and it catches very quickly. You can say that the pattern is too large for walls, but imagine: it is huge marble panels.

 

Of course the ceiling will also be Adam:

 

Now I need to add cornices, and if you want to know how I do that you'll have a come back soon. This is as far as I got today.


To be continued.