Miniature Adobe House

September 30, 2006

My newest project is making an adobe house out of builder's foam. It started out as a "stage" for photographing my minis... I just wanted one finished wall to use, as opposed to a paper background, for more of a setting feel in photos.

Well then I decided I wanted a door area, too, for photographing things like wreaths and ristras. So that meant two walls, because I wanted one blank with no door for other things. And well, if it was going to have a door it should have a window, too; and if I'm going to have two walls already, then why not just have three, and then I can use the whole room for a sales display at shows? And you know, if I'm going to go ahead and make a whole living room, it really should have a kitchen, too, for all the kitchen items... of course what's a kitchen without a back door and a little courtyard and kitchen garden? And if there's going to be a courtyard on that side, well then I may as well add a porch area around the front door, too, for that nice little bench I have. Now, isn't it going to look kind of funny to have the vigas (roof poles) sticking out the front and back on the outside, but not have them on the inside, too? So I guess it needs a roof as well... and of course, if I'm going to go ahead and make a whole living room, it should have a kiva fireplace!

Before I knew it, I had a house. Well, a little two-room cottage, anyway. I'm still calling it a "sales display" and not "my favorite new toy." The builder's foam is pretty easy to work with, I've used it for smaller projects before. The 1/2" thick foam is perfect for making adobe walls. I cut it with a hot knife, it's soooo much easier than a regular knife! All the pieces are cut out and fitted, the next step is gluing, stuccoing, and plastering. Stay tuned!