Library Progress

There have been a few developments in the library that I thought I'd share with you.  The first is the long, long awaited rug, which I have named the lockdown rug:  I started at the beginning of January 2020, and finished it just before Christmas.  

I started following a pattern for the medallion in the middle, and then got really bored following a chart, and started to make up my own design.  

I think the green and brown shades pull the room together.

This lovely little chair and footstool was an ebay find.  The chair has a bergère shape and is very well made, polished beautifully.  The quality of the woodwork is completely let down by the upholstery, which though a good colour,  is made of quilting cotton finished with picot braid. 

 I find that the moment picot braid is put on a miniature, it suddenly looks clunky.  Quilting cotton is very easy to use, but often the pattern is just out of scale.   I don't know why, just my personal taste.  It is a shame, as the upholstery itself has been really well done, and I don't relish peeling it off to start again! 

On the other hand, it could do with some embroidery or tapestry...

Next to the armchair is a revolving bookcase from Masters Miniatures, which was a Christmas present .  It has a beautiful inlaid top, which is lit up by the Tiffany lamp.  Usually a table like this would be covered up with knick knacks, but I like to see the marquetry. 

A revolving bookcase is a great way to add more books to a room without losing surface area, the perfect place to put a glass of sherry while reading in front of the fire.  But of course, it needs to be filled!

The Great Winter Bookmaking continues... it is astounding how many books it takes to fill the shelves!  We are getting there slowly but surely.  Some of the books date from the begining of my miniatures adventure, and need replacing as they aren't as well made as later books, but all in good time.

The next thing on my list of things to do is sort out the lighting.  I don't want bright lights, as I like the cosy atmosphere of this room, but I also need a little more light to show off the lovely items at the back of the room, especially around the fireplace.  

I think a pair of sconces would look best, but of course (of course!), when I glued in the chimney, I didn't think about the electricity, so it will be a bit of a pain sorting that out. 

 I have a few electrical jobs piling up, so perhaps I'll take the plunge one rainy afternoon and do the lot.  It involves emptying the house, which I hate doing, as I generally drop, lose or break something in the process...

Perhaps a beautiful pair of sconces from Ray Storey will be my motivation!

So, a few more jobs to do before the library is complete, but at least progress has been made!

I hope you are all keeping safe and warm,

Jonquil