Mini marathon progress - Bluebell Cottage

I have been working a lot on St Thomas' Church.  I was trying to get it finished by the end of August but as it became obvious that this was not going to happen, I decided to tackle Bluebell Cottage and at least finish it off to a stage where I could post it in the monthly progress album on Miniature Haven for August.  I coated the external walls with tacky glue and let that dry overnight while waiting for some of the paint on the church to dry then on day 6 of working on it I 'buttered up' a number of Petite Properties, including Bluebell.  In other words, spreading Polyfiller over the exterior.


On day 7 I scribed the stonework and painted it with Bea’s Dirty Stone Mortar paint.   Also did another coat of white house paint on the interior and the ceilings.  
On day 8 I decided that rather than rush the church and mess it up I’d keep going with Bluebell Cottage and finish the exterior of that rather than just doing little bits while waiting for bits of the church to dry.  I have to order some more lights on Wednesday.  That’s one reason why I won’t be fully decorating the interior.  I want to light all the new projects I’m doing.  So I guess I’d better take an inventory of how many I’ll need!

I sponged over the exterior stonework with the usual undercoat of Bea’s Stone Mortar paint, then dabbed over it with English Mustard, Teddy Bear Tan, Bisque and Bea’s Dirty Stone paint.  When it was dry I distressed parts with a bit of black on a dry brush.  The roof has slates using cardboard strips snipped at 0.5mm intervals and then overlapped, and painted with a mid-dark grey.  When the grey was dry I added some streaks of lighter and darker greys.

In order to be able to add the windows and doors to the removable front I’ve wallpapered the front wall in the paper I intend to use inside the living room.  The kitchen will be painted so I didn’t have to do anything on that side.  The dormer windows in the roof could be added without papering the ceiling there – I’m not sure whether that will be papered or not.

And here is a progress photo, though after this was taken I added the trim to the dormer windows and did the different colours on the roof slates:

It looks even better in reality than it does in the photo.  I’m really happy with it.  Of course it needs landscaping and some pretty flowers – this cottage will have a nice garden.  And looking at it the edges of the roof need touching up with paint too, and I notice that I haven't added the windowsills though they are painted ready to add.  Still, this is a progress photo.  Still to come: the interior,  electrifying, the garden and landscaping.

Such a cute little cottage.  It reminds me a little of 'Rosebud Cottage' even though the porch is slightly different, which is why I didn't do it in the same finish as Rosebud.  I really like it.  And yes, I do have a story for it, which I will tell when I show you the finished cottage.  Hope you like it too.