Waiting for the stain pens....

Well actually I am wondering whether they have been confiscated by Customs.  But I have asked our nephew to post off all the parcels/padded envelopes addressed to me in a postal box, up to me here.  Hopefully he might not have recognised it for what it is.  If they have arrived I can go ahead and stain the flooring for The Avalon.  If they haven't, I will have to paint it. 


Meanwhile I have been keeping busy at night time, doing some secret books.  I had several that I hadn't made up yet.  In fact I had only made up the first one: Birchwood.  I've posted about it before, but here it is again.

I've also made up the bookcase.  I did it in a dark brown rather than the black that the model was done in and I really like the effect, especially with the 'distressing' that I did by sanding the edges etc. 

But the poor Birchwood secret book sure did look lonely sitting on there all by itself :)

So I packed the rest of the book kits that I've bought so far, and brought them with me.  This last week I brought them out and have been working on them; the first couple of nights I assembled most of the book interiors and covers, one by one and put each in a disposable food container with the label so I'd remember which one it was.  The next night I finished the last couple and started painting them with two coats of paint, which I mixed to fit with the colour of the artwork.  The fourth night that was completed and the ceiling inside was done with light ivory.


Here they are in process

I know I could have done them one by one, but I enjoyed doing it this way.  Then I went through and did the artwork on the cover and the interiors.

So here is each one, showing the covers and the interiors.

And here they are sitting on the bookshelf, keeping 'Birchwood' company.  I'm sure it feels much happier now :)

Jennifer, this part is because you asked on your blog how people managed to work in small areas.  Well, I actually have a large area to work on compared to my usual area of 2' x 18". folding table, where I have to store my supplies on the lounge beside me - and consequently get into a huge mess.  But if Nathan isn't sleeping in the caravan I can set up on the table. When he does he uses the long bench next to the table so I can't use it.  But here is a view of the table at the moment:

And beside me on the long bench I have the Avalon that I am working on (it's in the box under the second basket of paints with the baby wipes on top).  Since I took this photo I have put it into a plastic tub but it is still in the same place, with the basket of paints and bits on it.  And on the back of the couch I have a smaller basket with other tools in it.

For the secret books I obviously still have the interiors to fill.  You saw the detail of the Birchwood book, and the others have as much detail too.  Here is the contents of one of them:

And finally, the whole exterior needs a coat of 'dirty varnish'.  So there's quite a bit to still do on them.  I will show you how I go as I finish each one.


I also have a very tiny one, which I received as a Christmas gift from the Betterleys.  I haven't done that one yet.  I don't 'do' Halloween so I won't be buying that one.  That leaves about four more secret books to get now, until/unless they release more.