One day to go.....and three more new followers

Welcome
A huge welcome to MelyMel, MiniLisa and RosaMaria.  As always I hope you enjoyed visiting my blog and that you will come again often and leave some feedback on what you see here.  I really appreciate comments and love to hear from you.  


MelyMel, your Victorian house is very elegant indeed.  I really like the way you have the different areas in the living room but the room is still a coherent whole. 


MiniLisa, the workshop you attended looks interesting.  Some kind of kitchen it appears, and it will be nice to see the finished result. 


RosaMaria, not only have you received some beautiful gifts lately but the Summer Swap items you made for Natalia are exquisite.  I'm sure she was delighted with them.


One day to go
It is 9pm, 19th September here in Sydney.  The giveaway closes midnight tomorrow night AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time).  So there is just over a day to go - 27 hours in fact.  I have started to make the list of who wants to go in which draw.



New arrivals today
The Courier called today with a package from Petite Properties.  It weighed a reasonable amount too - because it contained three kits: Church Farm Cottages, Honeysuckle House and Cockleshell Cottage.  That is three more to add to the container of kits.  Or perhaps to the list of possibilities of the next thing to start on?



Dragons

The first of the dragons is painted.  It's Violet. You can't tell, but there are three shades of violet to purple paint on her, the final one being violet metallic.  Then I've used pure silver metallic over the top - some parts are painted on, some parts I've just rubbed it on lightly.  Her eyes are blue to give a little contrast  but they might need to be a bit darker I think.


 I wanted to have the scale markings still showing in white but that didn't look nice, so I tried it with the darkest purple worked into the grooves instead.  


 I have painted Rosie too but am not happy with the result - the colour looks quite different when it's put on the air drying clay.  And I suppose it will look different again once it is varnished.  But Violet is rather sweet, I think.  If I was a doll-maker I would give her long curly eyelashes but I'm not, so I'll have to leave well enough alone vbg.


She's not all that big, but bigger than I planned at first.   Rosie, the second dragon, was an attempt to make a smaller model but she has actually come out longer.  I still need to try again. 


Here is Violet curled up on my hand, to show her size a bit better.  


So - until tomorrow......

When 5 x 1 = 3

Crazy Maths?

... well, not really.   And I haven't made a mistake either vbg. I have been working on five of my new Petite Properties kits. They aren’t finished yet – I want to work on the lighting for them and decide what to do about lighting for some of the other structures I have already made up.   I also need to complete the cottages I constructed for the Fair that were built but not decorated inside. And of course they all need furnishing, and so does Washtub. So there’s a lot to do and to enjoy. But since I can at times be a bit reluctant to get the clay out and make a mess I thought I’d do the basic shells all together. It’s nice to take my time though and to not have any deadline. Especially since I have this persistent ear infection that really makes me feel off at times, and I am being very slow to get things done.

First there's Barnacle Cottage. Here it is so far,  with the front on, though the trim still has to be added. It is cream outside and inside at the moment but probably won't remain that colour.

 

And here is the interior, though none of the inside pieces are glued in yet. I won't put them in until I decide how I want to set it out. 

Then there is Orchard House. Again, the roof won’t go on until the lighting is completed. The flooring isn’t glued in yet either, to allow for wiring.  I did both the base and the first floor in floorboards this time, to provide a bit of variety.

I did the side scullery with a brick finish to go with the finish on Orchard House and it looks really different from the one I did in stone for Gooseberry Cottage.

I had ordered the side scullery to go with Windy Hill Croft.   Since I was using the clay I went on with the croft anyway,  and I have ordered another side scullery to go with it too vbg (that will be the third)...so here it is so far:

Windy Hill Croft will be a farmhouse, and I already have a few animals from Mini Gems to go on the farm - apart from the kitties that I put in every structure I do, in whatever scale it is.  I’ve done this building in a similar finish to the worn whitewashed stone on Washtub, like the sample that Bea shows.  Only not nearly as well, unfortunately!

And finally, Halfpenny House. I've done a bit of kit bashing on this one, cutting the front wall in half then cutting it again and adding the window from the ground floor to the first floor to give a second window upstairs. The ground floor will have full-width French doors opening on to a paved area.

Again, I've done the 'wooden' flooring on both the ground and first floors, using Bea's technique of strips of paper painted to simulate floor boards.  I've used double sided tape on the back instead of gluing them on, and find that works really well.  I really like this method - thank you Bea!

The final photo I have is because of a discussion we had on 'The Beehive' today.  When I use the clay, I always find that the mdf warps.  Even though I have tried various methods of sealing it - sanding sealer, gesso, primer/sealer and combinations of these, it still warps.  So with flat pieces I let the clay dry, and any warped pieces I spray on the non-clay side with water then put them on a flat surface (both sides protected) and put a heavy weight - books etc, on top for 24-48 hours.  When I did Halfpenny House I foolishly assembled it then applied the clay to the right wall and it ended up with the wall curling mischieviously outwards at the top, separating from the back wall and ending up way out of shape.  That is more difficult.  So here is what I do in this situation - the wall is still sprayed with water and then protected, and the whole thing is clamped to the table.

Hope showing the photo makes the explanation a bit clearer. 

So why does 5x1=3? Easy - it's because Barnacle Cottage will stand alone; the Croft will stand alone (except that it will eventually have a side scullery). But Orchard house, Halfpenny House and the Side Scullery are all being combined into one dwelling. And I'll be adding a bit more in the way of embellishment as well, later on. How is it going to be arranged? Well, my dear readers, you will have to check back and see lol!

And in the meantime I am also working on another project for one of my online clubs -- but it has to remain a secret until after the end of the month. I have completed the building part and am trying to do the decorating part and have run into unexpected supply problems so I'm not sure how it will pan out. As usual I will just have to give it a go and see. So once again - stay tuned, there are developments in the wind!

Well I really don't have time, you know....

But then I'm not always known for my common sense!

Of course I didn't have time!  I had the Town Square to finish - the last two shops had arrived, and then I have the extras to finish, the base to landscape. The Sea Shanty needs some odds and  ends fixed on it.  Flowerpot needs pictures on the walls and so does Hollyhiock - and it needs flowers too, and.I haven't finished fitting out Toadstool or Washtub either.  There are signs to do, and arrangements to decide on and other details to think about.....

So what do I do?  Why, I build Rosebud Cottage of course!  No, I didn't furnish it - just did the basic construction.  And I did Daisy Chain Cottage too.  And Peppercorn Cottage.  And the Side Scullery. 

 No, I didn't think I had plenty of time with the Fair looming this coming weekend.  But I guess I was suffering from 'Fair preparation burnout'!  Our daughter Kylie and grandsons Cameron and Luke came to visit for several days before Easter, and we had a great time together.  Peter and Kylie took the boys and Nathan ten-pin bowling, to Aqua Golf, to visit Grand-Nan Mac (my mum) and we went to the Easter Show - with me in a wheelchair because my back had given out again before they arrived and I could hardly hobble around.  Not my favourite state of affairs to say the least. 

I had packed up all my Town Square tbuildings and kits along with supplies before they arrived, to put in the caravan where we planned to sleep while Kylie slept in our bedroom.  However she and the boys insisted on sleeping in the lounge room and we stayed in our bedroom so I just put all the minis in there and whenever they were off doing things as well as in the evenings I worked on the Town Square shops.  At least I can sit, thank goodness.  Photos of the shops soon, I promise!  I won't even try to finish the extra ones because the accessory kits haven't arrived in time.. 

 So on Friday after the kids left and I was feeling a bit sad about that and also a lot 'over it' as far as the other buildings go, I couldn't resist any longer.  I gave myself Friday, Saturday night and Sunday to see how far I would get with them in that time - and yes, I did them together, like I did with Toadstool and Washtub.  First of all I painted all of the pieces with primer/undercoat, then did the floors that had flooring 'boards' on them.  I did them going from side to side instead of front to back but never mind.....By Monday they were all ready for the external walls to be distressed and the windows and doors to be attached so I broke my resolution and went ahead with that step too.  And I'm so pleased that I did!

Here is Daisy Chain Cottage.   Or as I fondly call it, crooked chimney cottage.  Caitlyn (Sarah and Peter's schoolteacher daughter) is really delighted with it.  She had been reminding me that the school holidays are almost over, the new term is about to begin and she would really like her cottage to be ready tso she can move in.  And who can blame her? This is such a sweet house, and even though it is such a small residence Caitlyn.finds it perfect for her needs. 






I know that the roof isn't finished yet - and there are parts of the walls that need repairing.  That happens when the house falls off the table, I've found.  But it will all happen later on.  As I said, none of them are finished yet.










Now if only there was a school for her to teach in as well......Bea?


Lillian and Richard Byrnes have also been eagerly waiting for me to finish Peppercorn Cottage. It's not a large building but it's a cosy home. 


More detail needs to be added to the roof, the floors are completed and the walls are painted so it is ready to move in to as it is, unless the walls need a change of colour inside.

























And beside Peppercorn Cottage is the Side Scullery, in the same warm stone as the cottage.  It is a colour of stone that we see a lot here in New South Wales, so I am sure that Bea will excuse me using it for these lovely English-style cottages - after all, we do have many in the same sort of style here in Aus. 

I am getting another scullery as well, with my next order (on its way now).  It provides so much extra room for a small cottage.









For the cottage and the scullery window ledges and doors I used Semco Sage Green ACR61, which I have used often before.  But this time I have used it undiluted whereas I usually add white.  I really like this colour and the variations you can get - to me it is a real 'country' colour.

And here they are together:

I had actually planned to put the chimneys on the left sides of both the cottage and the side scullery and to put the scullery on the left of the cottage but - that's what happens when you work on four buildings at once and you are still working at 1am because you are just plain stubborn and are not renowned for knowing your own limits lol!

And finally - Rosebud Cottage.

Of course like everyone else I fell in love with Rosebud Cottage as soon as I saw it.  And since its occupant Rachel was also eagerly awaiting it's completion I couldn't leave it out, could I?  And yes, I did use the techniques taught in Flowerpot Cottage though the thatched roof is much lighter on this one, as it is on Daisy Chain cottage.  Perhaps the thatch is newer.  Of course it needs more work on it, and the inside might well be wallpapered over the ivory paint that it has now. 

Even though the basic shape of this cottage is the same as that for Washtub, the porch is very delicate and that along with the thatched roof give an altogether different appearance. I experimented for a long time with different reds to get a pink that I was happy with.  In the end I used a tiny bit of Folk Art 932 Calico Red with a lot of white, to get a pale pink that didn't look too 'candy' like. For the doors and windowsills I used Folk Art 754 Rose Garden - appropriate, don't you think? And white for the windows and lattice work.  

 Of course I still couldn't resist doing some distressing on the exterior as well, and that certainly makes things look much more realistic.  Can't yiou just see a lovely climbing vine or rose going up over that front lattice work?

Bea - the four buildings were an absolute pleasure to construct - I've said before that these kits are addictive.  They must be: when the two orders that I have put in lately I will have all of the 1:48 scale kits relelased at the moment.  And I plan to keep going too!

 What's that you ask?  No, I didn't tackle Barnacle Cottage, in spite of Fisherman Jim's anxious entreaties.  Or  Candlewick.  Or my second Corner Shop or the new topper for the (third) shop roombox or even Mulberry House.  Well, that would be silly, wouldn't it?  The Fair is this Sunday lol!  I might be crazy but I'm not that crazy!!

While the clay is drying.....

The Creative PaperClay seems to take a couple of days to dry thoroughly even though the days are quite warm at the moment.   And for Flower Pot Cottage the clay on the roof is thicker than it is on most of the Petite Properties projects (try saying that five times quickly vbg!)  Parts of it are nice and dry but I'll leave it until more is dry - it goes a sort of stark white when it is.

So in the meanwhile today, in between other commitments, I decided I would work on the two shop tops that arrived on Friday.  It was a much-anticipated parcel because it also contained  Candlewick House, along with a second Corner shop.  But I do not have time to start on Candlewick House just yet.

The lady who had planned to set up the Corner Shop as her dream baby emporium 'Baby Magic', found that it was waaaaaay too small, but  premises conveniently  became available that were more suitable.  They consist of a pair of shops that have been merged into one. . A previous owner had already converted the front of one of them into a display window, and cut an opening through the dividing wall of the upstairs area, so it was perfect for her needs.  A fresh coat of paint, and  upstairs is now ready to fill with delightful things for doting relatives to buy their darling babies.

Here is the first floor of the building:

Unfortunately the flash washes the colour out a bit as usual.  Also as usual, these kits are a joy to put together!  It was just an afternoon's work from start to finish, and there are two lovely shop tops.

Here they are showing the interior.

And in this second one of the interior you can see the opening between the two buildings more clearly.  

 With a bit of work the ground floor will soon be ready as well.  One half has been given a change of colour scheme, and the flooring freshened up and the other half will soon be in just as spick and span condition.  I had already painted the shop roombox blue for another purpose, but now the colour scheme is green, the same as the first floor.  However the paint is still a bit wet on parts so I didn't fiddle with it to take photos tonight.

So my village of Ferny Creek is rapidly growing, and I am certainly looking forward to all the new releases to add to it as well.

I have a confession to make.....

Two posts in one afternoon! This part is out of order, it was written on Wednesday 2nd March -

I've been rather naughty.  Well, sort of anyway.  It happened like this: I wasn't happy with the paint effects on Washtub Cottage so I fiddled around with it a bit more, which meant that I had parts sitting around with wet paint, waiting for it to dry.  Sooo..... I just got the pieces of Flower Pot Cottage out.  Just to check them out, you understand.  And I thought it would be a good idea to mark the pieces with their identifying letters..... since I was waiting for the paint to dry.... and I didn't have the thick paper to do the tiles yet.....

Then I added a bit more colour to Washtub and of course I had to wait for that to dry too.   So I figured it might be a good idea to do the parts of Flower Pot with gesso in preparation, so that they wouldn't warp when I got to do the Paper Clay on them.  Just while I was filling in time, you understand!  The gesso dried really quickly, faster than the paint on Washtub, so I did the second coat of gesso. 

And then because the Paper Clay on Washtub was getting a bit soft from all the moisture from the paint, I thought I had better leave it overnight so I decided I might as well do the PaperClay on the floor and garden sections of Flower Pot.  Yes, I know that the instructions use a different method for the floor in this cottage, drawing on the quarry tiles with a fine felt pen over a painted surface, but I wanted to do flagstones in clay like I did in Toadstool Cottage.  So that's what I did.  And I am really happy with the result.  I took photos but they don't show details of the flagstones, just a plain white surface, both the ones I took last night and those I took this morning.  So I've deleted them.

Yesterday (Tuesday) I went shopping and bought the thick paper for tiling so I really should be able to say that tonight I have the roofs of both cottages tiled but I can't.  I do have the painting finished on Washtub and the window glazing put in though, and the entry porch is attached.  And the strips of paper are cut out ready.  I am part way through snipping them to make the tiles but I've spent a large part of the day ordering things over the internet ready for the project after Flower Pot Cottage.  This is the English Cottage by Debbie Young, and I am taking it to Bundaberg in Queensland in a fortnight's time for a holiday with my good friend Jan.  We are going to have a week mini-ing together.

 It's so exciting, and I have bought a new carry-on case that is just smaller than the size allowed, but deep enough to fit the container in which I will bring the cottage back to Sydney on the plane, along with my laptop. It was difficult to buy one that was deep enough - I had to find one without the computer section at the front. Today  I needed to source some different wallpaper for the ground floor of the cottage and also some paint - our local craft stores no longer stock Ceramcoat or Folk Art craft paint, or will only stock a very limited range.  And I  ordered a large supply of quarter scale flower kits.  Quite a bit of time was spent sorting out tools that I'll need, making lists of things to buy or pack for the mini project, and so on.  Clothes are a minor detail that I'll worry about closer to the time vbg.

So the tiling won't be completed until tomorrow after all. 

Friday 4th March
So now you know my little secret vbg!  And now I can share my progress with you.  I continued to do bits on Flower Pot Cottage while I was waiting for things to dry on the other two cottages and by the time I started on it 'officially' today the flooring was painted on the ground floor and the first floor, the walls were partly joined together ready to stick to the flooring (yes, I know that's not the way it says to do it); every piece had had two coats of gesso on it, a coat of sealer and two coats of ivory paint.  Except for the ceilings which were painted white.  Not bad considering I hadn't admitted that I had started it yet LOL!

For the first floor I did the usual strips of paper for floorboards - I really like doing it that way and have adopted it as my preferred method of flooring. This time I used some of the thick art paper I bought on Tuesday and painted it first with a very dark brown-black, then went over it with a medium brown (Folk Art brand, colour Nutmeg). I painted the flagstones with a grey mixed with brown, to give it a different appearance from the flagstones in Toadstool Cottage and to give it a little bit of the warmth that the quarry tiles give it in Fiona's book.  Why flagstones? Because I find doing quarry tiles in Paper Clay tedious with all those little squares that are so hard to keep even and I didn't want to just draw them on vbg.

The path and garden area was fun to do.  I did the gardens slightly larger than Fiona's model, and also dug out most of the clay from those areas.  That's because I like to add some 'soil' around the plants I make to hold them into position.  The path is just painted with the Nutmeg colour darkened a bit then lighter and darker browns dabbed over it randomly.  The grass is the usual landscaping green. 

Of course with everything prepared so far, it didn't take long to put it all together and here  is how it do so:

First, walls added to the floor:

:Then the interior partition walls - not sure what I will put in there, but I rather fancy that it is the stairway to the upper floor:  You can't really see the trim around the doors and the skirting boards along the floor of these walls, but they are there.

And then adding the first floor:

That's not bad for one afternoon's progress! Of course without the earlier groundwork it wouldn't have gone together so quickly.

The story for this cottage is that it is owned by a middle-aged couple, who are very house proud and who love their garden.  The walls are not going to be aged inside, because they keep it as fresh and neat as they can.  I am considering adding an extension to the base for a little more garden to expand on this theme.

Tomorrow night I will start on the Paper Clay for the exterior.  Whoooo-eeee!

Ta-daaaaah! Drum roll please! I'm a very happy chookie today.

The village of Ferny Creek is very happy indeed.  The builders have moved out and the renovations on Toadstool Cottage are completed.  Everything is ready now for the next stage - the furniture van will be arriving very soon and stock will be pouring in any time after that.  The ladies are so delighted - a lot of work lies ahead but at last they can get going with the enjoyable part of setting up the shop.

And as for Washtub Cottage, new owners are about to move in there as well.  Necks are craning in the effort to see what is happening there - who are the new owners?  What will they be like?  Great excitement in the village that this lovely cottage will be functional once more.

You might have gathered from this that both Washtub Cottage and Toadstool Cottage are finished.  Which do I show you first?  Maybe both together - not a very good photo, they are a bit cramped on my little 'photo background' but here they are:

And now here is Toadstool Cottage:

And Washtub Cottage:

I have enjoyed doing these cottages so much, and I am so happy with the results.  And I know that I will really enjoy filling them too - so their story isn't finished yet.

Been quiet..... been busy Pt 2

Now it is time to tell you about progress on Washtub Cottage.  Again, I'll go day by day with bits from my Journal.

Saturday 26th February 2011

Most of tonight was spent doing the front door for Toadstool Cottage and the internal doors for Washtub Cottage. It certainly makes a difference to have them in place. The instructions don’t tell you to put trim surrounding these doors like you do on the two opening doors, but I did so anyway and am happier to have them there.  I added an extra one to the kitchen area because I want it to lead out to a scullery, and I have put it to one side to leave room for furniture on that wall - probably a nice dresser.

The two side walls of the cottage have now decided to join the fun and cause some mischief.  They have curled outwards at the top, pulling apart from the back piece, and the pavement has warped as well. So the pavement piece has been dampened down and put under the heavy books along with the front, to think about the consequences of such naughty behaviour.  My small clamps don’t quite fit the width of the house so tomorrow Peter will buy some more medium clamps for me on his way home from bowling, and I will see what I can do to teach the sides better manners as well..

Sunday 27th February 2011

Did quite a bit on Toadstool Cottage (see previous post, Been busy pt 1) and did the painting on Washtub Cottage bits (apart from the front section which is still under the books).  I'm not happy with the paint job on them though and will have to redo it.

Then I fiddled for quite a while with an open fireplace for Washtub Cottage kitchen, to take one of the Aga stoves I have bought from Grace Shaw. They are made by Jenny Wren and are just too cute for words.

Everything is ready to go further but I can’t proceed until the front is no longer being weighted down and the walls are no longer being clamped to reduce the warp in them.

Monday

Clamping the walls has worked, the tops no longer turn out like pixie shoes vbg.  I was finally able to attach the rear roof.  Let's hope that the walls have learned their lesson and stay in place now.

 

 And it was really good to be able to start painting the front of the cottage as well.

So here it is at the moment, with the chimneys in place on the roof.  As with Toadstool Cottage, I want to put flashing around the chimney before I put the tiles on.  

The front door is done and ready to install and so are the window ledges, once I am happier with the paintwork on the front and on the porch.  I won't glue the porch into place until all that is done either. 

Tomorrow I will buy the heavier paper I need for the tiling, and hopefully will be able to buy more of the particular paint I have used for the inside of the cottages.  It is called 'Parchment' and I really like the colour.  But the shop I buy it from is discontinuing most of the colour range and I am having trouble sourcing the paint anywhere else.  Naturally they have run out of this particular colour so I can't even stock up on it.  I will try some other shops tomorrw.  Fingers crossed!

Been quiet ......but been busy!

It's been a few days since I posted about the two cottages - but I have been busy behind the scenes, so to speak!  The neighbourhood is really abuzz with excitement now as the cottages draw close to being completed, and bolts of fabric are ordered for Toadstool Cottage Patchwork, the ladies are preparing to move in all the shelves and other furniture, and workmen are at the ready to install it.

So what have I been up to?  Let's take it one cottage at a time - this post I will concentrate on Toadstool. I showed you a photo of it alongside Washtub last time.  I'll just do each day as I noted in my Journal of an evening:

Saturday
I only worked on the cottages after sunset tonight of course but did get quite a lot done. The chimney looks pretty good  painted and distressed!  Adding the front door also makes a big difference.  I'm beginning to feel that Toadstool Cottage is close to being finished.

Sunday
The front pavement looks a really inviting place to sit now, I made sure it was well paved with stepping stones – more like a terrace than a path. There is room for a couple of small garden beds or planter tubs and a bench to sit on in front of the cottage, which will be a nice touch. I think maybe a vine of some sort too.

As you can see in the photo above, the front is now completed, with the ‘glazing’ on the windows and trimmed inside. All that remains is to do is the roof.

Here are some views of the  interior with the rear roof in place - it is now completed.  The distressing between the beams looks much darker in the photo than in reality.

There will be a small room upstairs to take a toilet and handbasin – the ladies have booked the plumber and builder to install this modern convenience and it will happen any day now.. There will also be a small refreshment area up there, so staff and customers can make that important hot brew of whatever type they prefer, and prepare some lunch.

There are fabrics in the rest of the upstairs area as well as downstairs, and also kits, patterns and books. And of course there’s access through the internal ‘doors’ to other sections of the shop, including the classroom area where all sorts of techniques are taught five days a week.

Monday
There wasn't a lot left to do on Toadstool Cottage today, apart from attaching the upper chimney and finishing off the terrace/paved area.  I put the upper chimney on at this stage because I want to put a tiny bit of 'flashing' around the base and put the tiles over it.  I am not happy with the paper I have and want to try and get some that is heavier or the tiles would have been done as well.  But I am very happy indeed with this little cottage. I am just so addicted to quarter scale, and to Petite Properties in particular!

Hmmmm - touch-up of the paint on the beams needed here, I think!

I do hope that plumber and the tilers arrive fairly soon - the ladies are very eager to get their shop up and running!