My friends have encouraged me to share my builds all in one place. So here I am. I was pretty surprised as I was getting everything ready just how many lots I've built in the past 8 months. So, gonna be posting a lot all at once, then hopefully I'll actually keep posting. I hope someone actually sees this and enjoys my work. Thanks.
My Exchange ID is different than here - it's JoeJude16
If you open the spoiler you will find a catalog of my posted creations with links to their individual posts and download links.
"Jude525;c-16214524" wrote: Ugh, launcher won't sign in again. Gypsy Garden is uploaded to Sim File share here.
EDIT: Launcher behaving. Lot is available in Sims 3 Studio. link
When you have a problem signing in with the launcher, delete your cache files and history from IE. Even if you don't use IE, the launcher does, and those cache files can get corrupted. (If you don't use IE at all, I would suggest also having it delete all cookies and everything else.)
Most of the time when I have that problem, that's the fix.
Thanks, but actually it seems to resolve itself every time within about 24 hours. So I don't think the problem is on my side. It just gets annoying. And I don't use IE for anything. Edge occasionally, though rarely. Chrome is my primary browser and I find it needs little maintenance these days, even for EA pages. Though, we don't have ads running either. Sadly.
This cabin is actually a very old idea. When I was a kid I had trouble falling asleep most nights. So I would invent a fantasy world for myself where all sorts of things could happen, like me having my own log cabin in the woods. At age 12. Right. Anyway, I "visited" often enough that I remember it like it was a real place. Mostly. After reading a reference Saturday to a cabin build contest, my brain got a push and I plowed through the bulk of this in one night. I spent a few hours yesterday tweaking it. Mostly getting around unintended custom content, and intended custom content that I found the creator didn't want reposted in builds outside of The Sims Resource. Fair enough. (Although I loved that fireplace for this cabin.) Then, of course, the obligatory screen caps, which sometimes feel like they take longer than the build.
A couple notes on the design. It is pretty darn close to the "original," with the big exception being the door. It is supposed to be in the kitchenette, but TS3 doesn't let me put a door where there is a platform. So, it was either move the door or lose the sunken living room. It had to be the door. In actuality the living room should be a couple steps down, but I don't feel like messing with constrained elevations to make that happen, so I took the compromise. (I realize that it would probably solve the door location issue as well, but still not interested.)
For some reason, in my imagination, I never got hungry. So, although there was a kitchenette, there never was a table and chairs. Frankly, the mini fridge, sink and stove were added as well. I don't remember anything past some cabinets with curtains in place of doors. There are supposed to be curtains to close off the bedroom, but I've realized that they would actually keep the heat of the fire out rather than keeping any heat in, so I omitted them. I also have no idea what I did for entertainment back then, so I added a bookshelf and a radio. (I was a bit of a pyro back then, and could spend hours just staring into a fire.) Speaking of which, *sigh* no bear skin rugs available. I didn't sit on the furniture much back then either.
OH, and no bathroom in the original. I don't suppose many people add toilet needs to their daydreams. So, an outhouse covers that. Finally, added some outdoor activities to make the lot more playable and voila, we have my....
I'm having trouble with The Sims Studio again, so these links lead to the Sim File Share site.
This build DOES contain a couple pieces of custom content. (I'd warned you this day would come.) First is a CAStable chimney that let me use stone instead of brick to match my imagined cabin. The other, which I didn't need, but just couldn't resist, is a set of old style aluminum yard chairs with woven and strapped webbing. As promised, there is also a "clean" version available with a brick chimney and yard chairs provided by EA. Nothing wrong with either, they just don't quite suit what I was going for. Actually, as soon as I get back in game my version is also getting a campfire style firepit, a wood cutting area and some chopped wood piled on the deck.
The CC items will self install if you download the lot containing them, but I want to give credit here to the creators and provide links: CAST yourself a chimney! by armiel on ModTheSims Vintage Lawn Chairs by gelina at gelinagelina.tumblr.com
Most of the property is dense evergreens. It was built on 5 Spruce Street in Hidden Springs and fits in nicely there, with trees already on the adjoining lots and another cabin next door. I can also see it placed on its own in any of the solitary hillside lots in many of the towns. The lot is 40x40 to allow for the woods, even though they leave a smaller playable yard. You can always clear land to expand.
Outdoors there is one parking space, a horseshoe court, a grill, a picnic table, a picnic basket (on the table,) a rolled up tent with a couple sleeping bags and a firepit with a variety of chairs spread about.
Here is something I need to start including, a top down shot of the floorplan:
https://i.imgur.com/TdILMgN.jpg?1
You enter from the porch into the living area. The kitchenette is on a platform to the left and a bedroom area is ahead on another platform.
https://i.imgur.com/YAS10CY.jpg?2
A picture of the living area, with the fireplace anchoring the space. The table is not part of the "original" plan, since I spent so much time on the not present bear rug.
https://i.imgur.com/0NyikVG.jpg
The simple kitchenette. A mini fridge to the left and a wood fired stove to the right. I think EA considered the stove coal burning, but coal is nasty stuff. I know there are curtained cabinets available on TSR, but I haven't downloaded them yet, so they also will be added to my own version later.
https://i.imgur.com/Xpb2p7R.jpg
The simple bedroom, with just a bed, a couple side tables and a trunk for a few clothes and spare blankets for those cold nights in the winter. Which it usually was in my stories. The cabin was cozier in the winter.
https://i.imgur.com/Z4RM3Mr.jpg
Finally a few shots comparing the CC version to the clean version. The stone chimney and foundation vs the brick:
EDIT: Oh! I almost forgot to mention that I finally got to use the Kiddieview Window Plus and Kiddieview Window Plus Plus from the Tiny Prodigies Early Learning Center. The shutters are a great way to insulate from the cold and to protect the house between visits.
@Mpart I have been playing the Gypsy Garden in my current game and I'm very pleased with it. I have my witch, Randolph. hang out after work to socialize and get in a few extra private readings. Once I'd fixed the crystal ball glitch it played very nicely and I haven't noticed any other problems.
It was very special that you built a log cabin that reflected the fantasy cabin that was in your dreams when you were a child <3 The design of Dream Cabin is very nice! Very nice exterior of the cabin. The outdoors areas are very nice for sims to enjoy spenfing time outdoors in the outside air. They will enjoy sitting around the fire pit chatting and keeping warm, and enjoy ccoking on the bbq and eating at the picnic table in the outdoors, They will have fun playing horseshoes. The layout and furnishing of the interior of the cabin looks very nice! It looks a warming cabin home. It is nice that there is a platformed kitchen and bedroom areas. Very nice sofa seats sitting area for sims to enjoy resting in front on fire reading a book. It would be a special build for you, as it brings back memories of your childhood and the fantasy world that you created in your mind. It is nice that you now have a sims game version of it that your sims can enjoy living in :)
I love how absolutely cozy it is! The little details like the pattern on the couch really tie it all in together. Everything just screams "home" in it. Great work as always! I love seeing your builds. :)
Thank you @rosemow and @Mpart. It is fun being inspired by some aspect of my life.
I think I only have our summer home left to complete my "inspired by life" lots. Still challenged by building it into a sloped lot, so that might be a bit. Right now I have two options on how to build the first floor into the hill, but I'm not thrilled with the compromises involved with either. Hmmm, as I type this it occurs to me that I could also build out two rental properties as apartments using either Uni or Night Life. I haven't used either of them yet. The structures themselves don't present any challenge, just separating the living spaces correctly. Hmmmmmmm
The summer house is coming along very nicely. Some major pieces have been sourced from the web and are making this rather unique build very accurate. I am thrilled with the progress and how little compromise I am having to make. It should be done by the end of the week.
Also, links on the Dream Cabin have been updated. The files are now on the Sims 3 My Studio page.
I used 14 Poker Flats Drive in Twinbrook in order to have a sloped lot on water, but the actual house is half way up the hill in a river valley of a brackish (saltwater) river called the Kickemuit. We call it "the Kicky." It is only 40 minutes from our "city" home, but it in the summer it is usually 10 degrees cooler there. And when I was a child it was very rural. It has since been greatly developed. Luckily, the hill on the opposite side of the river is now a nature reserve, so our view is guaranteed not to change.
Next to the clothesline is a pile of bricks leftover from building the house. They sat there for many years until being used to build a shed next to the cedar tree. Also, the stone wall in front was notorious for hosting poison ivy, which I was horribly allergic to.
Couldn't resist sharing, this is the view in the fall, from my brother Chuck's house next door. It used to be my grandparents' house, and then my aunt Lena's. We try to keep things in the family. :D https://i.imgur.com/Xz9JfVb.jpg?1
The house was built by my dad over the course of several years as funding and time were available. The bricks are recycled, recovered from a burned down church. (true story) The inside stairs and the bathroom were not added until around the third year after it was built (before my time.) Before that they shared my grandmother's outhouse next door and you had to go outside if you wanted to go from upstairs to downstairs. (true story) A bit of a misnomer at the time, since there were no stairs yet.
Here are the floor plan pics:
Attic https://i.imgur.com/ZrnsenT.jpg?1
Upstairs bedrooms and porch https://i.imgur.com/4PeKA9G.jpg?1
There are four bedrooms, of varying sizes, and a long, narrow porch of windows facing the river view. The interior walls of the porch were never finished and had exposed studs. I was happy to find a wall covering that resembled this https://i.imgur.com/k8Gi7Lb.jpg?1
My parents' room, in the front of the house. You'll notice that the bedrooms don't have doors, only curtains. Two reasons: doors would block the breezes and they would take up space when being opened into the room. I am one of eight children, so our definition of privacy was pretty loose at the best of times anyway. I was thrilled to find these curtained doors made by cyclonesue@TSR. https://i.imgur.com/e6iGLHn.jpg?1
My room, also in the front. The lower bunk was mine. In game you'll notice the Star Wars poster. I didn't actually have a Star Wars poster. What I did have was a newspaper clipping about the release of the original movie stapled to some cardboard with my ticket stub stapled next to it. I also had the same arrangement for The Muppet Movie. I did have a t-shirt with the same image as the poster in the game though. The single square dresser at the foot of the bed is standing in for a small, portable, steel closet that was always there. I couldn't just leave it out.
You'll notice that little of the furniture matches. It's not even all from the same decade. It was a beach house built by hand and everything there just served its purpose. https://i.imgur.com/0Z5PhKL.jpg?1
The girls' room. That pipe in the middle of the wall never did serve its original purpose. It was a vent pipe for a future second floor bathroom. That's also why one window is smaller. The bathroom was eventually built in the mid 80's, along with some major changes to the rest of the layout upstairs. https://i.imgur.com/sD7KDVB.jpg?1
This was Janet's room, then Linda's room, then Chuck's room. Basically, the eldest's room. I did eventually get it for a while. A strange L-shape layout that was impossible to get a decent photo of. It allowed for two configurations. The way it is in the game, or, if you got creative, the bed could be placed in front of the window to take advantage of the breezes. But, that required climbing in and out at the foot of the bed. That side of the L isn't wide enough for anything except the bed itself.
The bed was a wonderful old tubular steel antique that is up in the attic now. I really would love to have it, but don't know where I'd put it, since I don't expect to ever have a second bedroom again. And I don't love it enough to forego a queen size mattress. https://i.imgur.com/QEaWzoI.jpg?1
A view of the hallway from the porch, with the drop down attic stairs. I thought I'd found the perfect stairs, with hinges and all, but realized when I couldn't find them in game that they were for Sims 2. Luckily I found these from Angela@TSR. Unfortunately, the attic is not playable. I thought it was the slope of the roof, but I think it may be a problem with the stairs(ladder.) I'm not sure. https://i.imgur.com/duUXMmo.jpg?1
The porch. Windows from one end to the other. The external walls unfinished. All the windows have bamboo style shades, but made from green plastic. These by lulu265@TSR.
Mom's Necchi sewing machine (represented here by a Simger from Cashcraft@TSR) was actually in its own fold-up storage that was quite clever. The sewing machine folded down into the top, which then closed over. But, also, the bench pushed into the front. So, the whole thing would end up looking like a solid block table.
This isn't quite her model, but it's close https://i.imgur.com/4POw5ro.jpg?3
https://i.imgur.com/joGl3PQ.jpg?1
Downstairs https://i.imgur.com/hyvII25.jpg?1
First, a note. There are no wall decorations downstairs. Actually, you'll notice that there are few in the house at all. There were some needlework pieces in the bedrooms that I couldn't find decent replacements for, but that was all. It was pretty simplistic.
The kitchen area. The cabinets didn't have doors, but instead the ubiquitous green curtains. (Also by lulu265@TSR) Yes, they were all made of the same fabric and my mom sewed them all on the Necchi. There were open upper cabinets, but I couldn't find anything that matched properly, so I just left them out. The chrome dinette table to the right is currently in the basement here at 25 Cute Street. In game version, as well as the chrome chairs, provided by MsBarrows@TSR.
The louvered glass windows were a HUGE find, with a big thank you to gelina@gelinagelina.tumblr.com. https://i.imgur.com/TqcbSfr.jpg?1
The Fridgidaire is at least 50 years old and still running! Sadly, the vinyl covered chromed chairs did not hold up so well. They are all long gone. The two columns in the dining area were structural, and always in the way. Still are. We just learned to live around them. I was careful to play test every seat at the table, as well as the bathroom door. I suspect if too many Sims are walking around there will be routing issues, but it will be because of the crowd. And, honestly, that's what happened in real life. https://i.imgur.com/2Lrskdb.jpg?1
A different view. The long table was custom built for my uncle's family, which was even bigger than ours. Not sure if we bought it or it was given to us. But it had custom padding that flipped over to a green felt side for playing cards! And many nights my aunts and uncles, who all had houses in the neighborhood, would gather for games of penny ante Michigan Rummy.
The bed in the back was really just a simple cot with a sad, thin mattress on it. We used it more as a day bed/couch. I did have that for a while in my spare room years ago. I don't know what happened to it. The white cabinet that actually stood to the left was far less substantial than this EA version and I actually pulled it down onto my sister and I when I was three and she had me in her arms. Apparently I didn't want to go to bed yet and grabbed onto it to resist being brought upstairs. She got cut by broken glass, but I was unhurt. https://i.imgur.com/5Eu10SJ.jpg?1
The back room and bathroom. When I was young we actually had a washing machine with a manual wringer. I thought I'd found one, but, again, it was Sims 2. This time there was no Sims 3 backup plan. Because of the limitations of building into the hill I wasn't able to put an actual window in the bathroom, so I placed one there with moveobjects_on and covered it with a blind. https://i.imgur.com/JV0rN5q.jpg?1
Finally, the patio. Again, I used the wonderful aluminum chairs by gelina@gelinagelina.tumblr.com. Although not seen in this picture, I'll mention now that the sandbox in the yard is not playable. I needed to include one, but the EA sandboxes were far too large. So I created this with a bit of edging and some ground paint. https://i.imgur.com/2290nCR.jpg?1
This has been a labor of love. I think that is obvious with the way this post has turned out. A big part of what has made this build authentic for me was the custom content that matched, or closely mimicked, the features of the real house. Here, I list the credits for the creators of the content included in this build: (TSR=The Sims Resource; MTS=ModTheSims)
FloridaWindows - gelina@gelinagelina.tumblr.com - link VintageLawnChairs - gelina@gelinagelina.tumblr.com - link MZ_2TileWideTraditionalInteriorDoor - Missyzim@TSR - link - front and back door CurtainedCubicleDoor(Open) - CycloneSue@TSR - link - all bedrooms luluCountryKitchenCounterWithCurtain - lulu265@TSR - link CottageOfficeBlinds - lulu265@TSR - link - porch windows luluSummerGardeningSetBroom - lulu@TSR - link - basement closet DOT_ClassicSmallRoundCeilingLamp - DOT@TSR - link - upstairs ceiling lights ChromeDinetteChair, ChromeDinetteTable (Shannanigan's Retro Kitchen) - MsBarrows@TSR - link ForetJar - BlueCoco2@TSR - link - with EA pattern applied and EA's Feathered Table Sculpture inserted, at top of stairs on porch OrangeDelightTeenRoom-Bed - spacesims@TSR - link - girls' room and downstairs sitting area SingleWallMountedBlind - Shakeshift@TSR - link - bedroom windows CottageSeriesLadder - Angela@TSR - link - attic stairs CashCraft'sEstateSaleFindsSingerSewingMachine - Cashcraft@TSR - link - porch ColorsStackedBowls, ColorsSinglePlate, ColorsButterDish, ColorsSugarAndCream, ColorsTwoMugs - (Colors Breakfast Clutter) - Wide Open Eyes@TSR - link - kitchen surfaces SMEGFridge - Cazarupt@TSR - link - kitchen 50sDecoCanisterLg, 50sDecoCanisterSm - baufive - link - kitchen counter ButterflyCrossStitch - Weirdling@TSR - link - L bedroom TwoTileTheTruthDivider - Leefish@MTS - link - girls' bedroom CleaningClutterVinatgeVaccum2 - TheNumbersWoman@TSR - link
