The final touch for the ballet studio

This was the only thing that the ballet studio was lacking: a ballet barre!

I wanted to order a custom-made one, but in the end I finally decided to try and make it myself.  It was easier than I thought.

My coworker Carlos cut the wood for the bases for me.  Then I drilled some holes on them, as well as in the wood sticks:

My husband's drilling tool came in handy!

Then I used a couple of toothpicks to hold the side bars in place:

Then came the gluing, painting and staining part, and voilà!

I think it looks very nice!

The studio finally has all the furniture that it needs! 

Also, this beauty arrived all the way from Italy:

It is the child of Minimariba.  Her shop is full of beautifully made dresses and shoes.  Go check her out!  Also, see the tiny ballet box? That is a free printable from Zena Miniatures, so go and grab it right now!  And, this is the most amazing thing ever:

A box of convertible ballet tights!  Just when I think I cannot find anything else for the ballet studio, I find the most incredible things!  Also the creation of Zena.

Love the ballet studio!

The ballet studio has lights!

Finally!

It's been a waiting period of more than three months.  The original package got lost, but I got it replaced and the second one arrived in less than a week.

The ligths are awesome, they look fabulous, and the studio can finally be used by Kassandra!

Off...

and on!

Peeking through the window...

Here too

I absolutely love the modern designs of the lights!  They can even be positioned!  

The only thing lacking is the barre, but I will probably try and make one myself. 

The Ballet Studio has a mirror!

Finally!  Some days ago the mirror for the ballet studio arrived, and Kassandra installed it on the chosen wall:

"How wonderful!", she said. "Now I only lack a portable barre.  And I already know who I am going to ask to make it for me."

"Who?"

"A very skilled professional who made a perch for my raven Eddie.  It was ages ago, but I see that from time to time he stills posts his work for sale.  I will have to talk to him".

"I cannot wait to see it.  I am sure it will be really nice".

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Fantasy apart, I did not want to use a real mirror for this project.  I was afraid it would weight too much to stay put on the wall, and also it could break.  So I chose some acrylic mini mirrors instead.  They are very light, and they cannot break.  The reflection is not bad, although not as good as a real mirror.  But I am very happy how well it looks!

Update on the ballet studio

Remember the empty door frames in the library, and how Kassandra and I decided to wallpaper them?

We did the same thing with the round window of the ballet studio.  It looks so much better now:

Before

After

It was very easy and fast to do.  I only took a scrap piece of paper of a descarded sheet, cut it to measure and glued it with double-sided tape.  

We are currently working on the bedroom wallpapers.  More info on that tomorrow!

The Ballet Studio - finishing with the wallpaper

My ink printer is running out of colored ink, but I managed to print two more sheets of striped wallpaper to finish the ballet studio.

It was *almost* two sheets.  I had to patch them up with a little bit of scrap paper from other sections of the wall.  But then, I had the two windows to cut out.  And to do so I had no other recourse but to take several measurements from the roof and draw the patterns in the wallpaper:

Cutting the space for the hinges was easy.  The window, not so much...

Thank goodness for sharp X-Acto knives!

First window cut, one to go.  See the tiny bit without paper at the bottom?

I proceeded exacty the same with the second window.  With the first one as reference was a little easier, and finally the wallpaper was put in place:

Looking good!

And done!  Now the only thing lacking are the lights and the mirror.  Hopefully the lights will arrive soon...

The Ballet Studio

The ballet studio is a reality!  Even though it is not completely finished, Kassandra considers it ready to be used.  Here is the construction process.

We started installing the wood floor.  Kassandra was very particular on which kind of floor she wanted for the space, and I think it looks very nice:

Another lovely creation of Jessica Cloe.  And indeed, even though Kassandra is not very fond of pink, she wanted no other color for the wallpapers on the studio; so we bought yet another design from Jessica.  And the wallpapering started:

We had to cut a template first so the wallpaper would fit on the wall

It was no fun to cut the wallpaper so it would fit all the nooks and crannies of the ceiling, but we are happy with how it turned out.  Then, the wallpaper for the back wall.  It was very big, and it took almost two A4 put together:

It wasn't easy to glue it.  Too many angles and the ceiling beam!

And then the last wall, which had the round window.  We used the same template from the first wall, turned around, and tried several sizes of circles to cut out the window:

It is not perfect, but the missing millimiter is barely noticeable...

And then, the windows.  They needed painting, which we spray-painted in white, and then we installed a couple of blinds in the same pink and white stripped pattern:

Still missing some wallpaper on this wall, but very soon...

The blinds are the lovely creation of Mini Maison Miniatures.  The only things that we are lacking are the electric lights - which are on their way from Canada at the moment - and mirrors, that Kassandra has still not found.  But she was very excited to put up the decoration, and so she didn't lose a second to do it:

The *almost* finished studio!

I am in love with the record player and the speakers!

Two posters of Kassandra's most recent performances: The Nutcraker and Jewels: Diamonds

Some dance magazines and a box with vinyl records

How delightful are the round box and the pointe shoes?

Kassandra is so so happy with her studio.  She says she still has some stuff that needs to bring.  "But I am in no hurry.  It will come here, in time."

It is incredible that with so little decoration a scene can communicate so much! Unlike some dollhouse scenes, that tend to be a bit crowded with adornments, this one is perfect just almost empty!  It just lacks the little details, such as more pointe shoes in their boxes, and maybe even a tiara.  I even have the intention of getting a ballet barre.  But, as Kassandra says, all in good time...

Creating a new floor

Since Kassandra is so excited with her new house, I started doing the renovations she wanted so badly.  There has been a lot of work done, but it is so much here and there I'll start with the only thing I have already finished.

I began the work to install the new floor - a kind of attic - that, in my opnion, the house needed; the ceiling was too high for the second floor, and there was too much empty space.  So since this the first time I was altering the blueprints of a dollhouse, I opted for something simple.  I purchased some embellished cornices that would be the support for the attic's floor.  I measured the sizes, and my coworker Carlos used a professional lathe to cut them for me - better than sawing by hand!

Trying some colors in a spare piece

It was untreated wood, so I painted them with a dark brown acrylic color, let them dry, and sprayed them with matte varnish.  Then I glued them to their final places:

I wanted to keep the windows to let the light enter the attic

The base for the attic's floor was set!  The complicated part started.  I asked Carlos again for help to trim a sheet of wood, which he did easily and beautifully.  I tried them, and after some sanding they were perfect!

I glued them down, and the attic is now a reality!

Kassandra was so pleased that she was quick in reclaiming the space as hers:

The ballet studio starts to look like one: a tutu dress, a record player and two speakers...

"But Kassandra, I still have not finished. I have yet to install the flooring and the wallpapers..."

"Oh, I know, but these couple of things will not bother you.  If they do, just move them while you are working, and then put them back.  I do not mind."

"Whatever you wish, as always."

A new acquisition

Today it was Kassandra the one that came looking for me.

"You are going to love this!", she said.

"What is it?"

"I have purchased a new house!  Well, it is not really new, but you'll see..."

And indeed she has.  She was all excited about showing it to me, because...

"After all, you are going to remodel it for me."

"I am very glad to see that you trust my knowledge in these matters".

"Oh, don't worry, I have very clear ideas about what I want for it.  Take a look!"

"Isn't it lovely?  I am thinking about adding an attic.  The ceilings in the first floor are too high.  And I could use some extra rooms..."

"What are you thinking in terms of decoration?"

"In the ground floor, a drawing room and a cellar.  And of course, a library on the first floor.  And I think I need a bedroom too, just in case..."

"So what do you need the attic for?"

"I want a ballet studio.  I need to rehearse.  And did you see it has a conservatory, and a deck?"

"Very nice".

"I cannot wait to start the renovations!"

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Fantasy apart, I came across this house by chance, and I bought it locally.  I used some gift money my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday, and I could not be more happy.  I have so many plans for it!