While the paint is drying, I can cut out all the trim that will adorn the front. I have this huge slab of mahogany that will make a fine face for the project. trim pieces will be ripped from this slab.

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I precut all the trim pieces and coated them with tung oil. The small pieces will be for the inside and are of black walnut. They will be cut in later.

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Now I have to start thinking how to finish the inside. I wanted a tatami mat, but this thing is too small. The local bonsai shop sell some matts that are the right sive, but cost is prohibative, and it would cut the depth from 20" to 12", which I feel would be to shallow.

I decided to use a matt I bought at the dollar store. This is one of those beach matts that come all rolled up and have the ribbing on the edge for ties.

Tools needed for the project are pictured. A straight edge is a must as well as a good sharp knife. I started by first rolling a coat of diluted glue on the back of the whole matt to secure the strings. Cutting perpedicular to the matt is OK, but cutting between the reeds is sure death, as the whole thing falls apart. Humm...wonder how I know this....

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Make the first cut with the straight edge and then tamp the edge against the cut edge to realign it. use a scrap length of wood to clamp it to the work surface. Measure and make the second cut.

After making the cuts, cut it for length and affix the matt with glue rolled out on the bottom of the project. I did the same thing for the top valance and the face of the front of the bottom deck.

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Before showing you the final product, I want to bore you with one other item. After setting a tree and stone in the project, I felt it lacked something. I needed a scroll! I do not own one. They are very hard to find. If I had one it would no doubt be too large for this anyway. I needed a custom made scroll to acent my handiwork. I decided to make one.

After some handy brushwork with a Chinese brush painting kit my wife gave me last Xmas I had the starting for a scroll. I needed a background, so cut out a manilla folder and some stationary paper, spray glued the whole thing and stuck it together. Now mind you my Japanese characters do look more Arabic then Japanese, but I can practise on that. If this does actually say something, I am sorry I offended you, cause with my luck, I'm sure it says something that will possibly start WWIII.

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And the finished work. I started at 7:30 AM and finished around 1PM. Cutting, nailing, sanding, painting and scroll building. This thing was rather easy to build and could be built with hand tools also. Electric tools make the job easier and the air nailer is almost a must with the small strips of wood. They could be afixed with a hot glue gun and that would work I'm sure.

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A close up of the shimpaku juniper. This tree is due for some wire and I need to pull the tail down flat. It swoops up on the tip and ruins the image.

Thanks for dropping by, and I hoped you enjoyed my budget bonsai products.

Regards, Bonsai-al

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Al, very cool project. I picked up some material this weekend and will be attempting a couple of the stands you showed on your first post of DIY Stands.

Very cool ideas. This one is excellent.

Al,

Cool Chinese doll house! Do the dolls come with it, or are they sold seperately?

As always, you amaze me.

Your buddy until the day you kill me,

Gary

I'd be happy if some of my trees ruined images as well as yours do.

Jerry
Amsterdam