Welcome to my blog

If you enjoy finding a lot of different outlets for your creativity, then we may just be kindred spirits.
This blog is an outlet for my interest in miniatures, crochet, plastic canvas, and many other various arts and crafts.

I also love walking, taking digital photos, and most recently, have rediscovered an old love...bike riding! I purchased an amazing new bike, a comfy Townie by Electra this summer, and have been having a grand time exploring the area as though for the first time. It's like being a kid again!

If you enjoy any of these things too, pour a cup of coffee and tea, sit down, and join me.


Take care!
Kat

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Hagrid's Hut doll house in plastic canvas, complete



It's been awhile since I finished this, but I haven't had a chance to post.  This is the first large item I've designed myself, and although I'm pleased, there are a few things I'd do differently if I were to make it again.
Hagrid's hut dollhouse, plastic canvas
The first thing I'd do is to make the doorway higher.  I decided against it because I was concerned that it would make the canvas too bendy but I think I could have gone an inch higher.  Because Hagrid is half giant, it's OK that his head is level with the door frame.  I still have to put the decoration over the top of the doorway...I made a sort of bull scull decoration but I'm not sure it suits Hagrid. I may just hang a lantern there instead, or stitch a sign that says "There be dragons here".

Hagrid's Hut dollhouse, plastic canvas
If I were to do this again, I'd make very sure that all of my walls were the same size.  They started out the same size, lol, but I accidently put one the wrong way and made it taller and shorter, and rather than redo the whole wall, I just undid the top row of stitches and cut it down.  But that makes the left wall one row shorter than the others.

Hagrid's hut dollhouse, plastic canvas
I'm happy with the doors and windows that open and close, and I like the front pillars.  It was really hard to figure out how to get the shape of the roof, but I think I managed.

Hagrid's hut dollhouse, plastic canvas, side view
The roof is very tall, which makes the house very large, and hard to store, so instead of making an attic level, I used doubled yarn to tie the two sides of the roof together.  When I release the yarn, I can fold the roof down and into the house for storage, which allows it to fit on a shelf.  I thought that was a good idea, but if I were to make it again, I'd probably make a second level and not leave the roof as collapsible, because I haven't collapsed it yet, lol.  I plan to use the yarn as a beam, and to hang baskets or pelts from it, like Hagrid does.

Hagrid's hut doll house plastic canvas
Here's another side version, showing the pillars.  I really like them; they add to the house.  If I did this again, grey and moss green for the roof, but I decided to use the colors I had on hand as I'm moving soon and didn't want to bring even more things that would need to be packed.


All in all, I'm happy with this (and needle felted Hagrid seems to like it too, lol).  I plan to make some accessories to go inside, but that may have to wait until after I  move.
Take care!