Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Wicked Queen's Retirement Cottage

So I just spent some time I shouldn't have playing with paint and the front elevation of the 2018 Creatin' Contest kit.

And I've drawn out something that will give you an idea of what I want the kit to look like in the end.



Because I'm awful at renderings unless I'm using my Dungeon Designer program I'll translate for you.

I want to raise the roof (whoot whoot) and add three or four inches to the walls, and extend them about an inch outward in all directions, like this.


I don't want it this tall, because that's an invitation for things to fall over.

But I don't want the porch, so going to pull that front wall out just a half inch further than the one with the window and build a gable above it, with a Tudor style door and possibly a little window above it.  I haven't seen any period Tudor house with a porch yet otherwise I'd be tempted to keep it.

I'd love to make something like this door.



I figure on adding a dormer where the skylight is and with that I'll have a nicer second floor.  Maybe with enough room for a Tudor style fireplace.

The stairs is where the whole thing gets fun.


I want to add a tower to the back corner of the house, with stairs leading up to the second floor and then to a third floor tower room, maybe with a telescope and orrey.  I don't want it to be a whole lot higher than the roof peak so the drawing is a bit off.

My idea for the history of the cottage is that it started out as a simple stone cottage and was added onto when the Queen retired so the first floor will be stone, the upper will be the typical Tudor style beams and plaster/lime covering the weave in between.  I read that when people wanted to rob someone they'd just saw through the walls rather than try to break down the door, which is why you saw a lot of stone for the first floors.  Brick was for the rich or later in the period when it became cheaper to make.

And all the windows would be leaded glass casement type windows.  So those will be interesting to make or bash.

The tower would be the add on, rather than using a ladder to get upstairs, so it will be in the brick wealthier people tended to use.

Inside I want a mix of practical and impractical.  Things she works with and some luxuries she's brought with her.  I'll probably end up making a table and bench seat and I've really got to research how sinks looked back then.  I also want a little chest.

I saw a picture of a tub, half a barrel with a cloth liner which is just fascinating so maybe I could do something like that.  And a tapestry for the wall.  Stone floors on the ground floor and plank for the second.

This could be lots of fun.

What do all of you think?

40 comments:

  1. I love this idea, I am totally on board!

    You give me door dimensions and I will cut you fancy ironworks with the cricut!

    Will the tower be round, hexagonal, or octagonal?

    This is going to be awesome!

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    1. Wow you're quick! I'm debating the fancy ironworks or trying to do a door with carving. If I layer paper and cardboard over cardstock I think I could get a carved look and then paint it in browns? Have to see. I've been playing with my graph paper since I realized there are no wooden tudor style doors to be found.

      Tower will be round, Oat Meal containers to the rescue!

      I gave my husband the two ideas and he just jumped on this one so you and he are in agreement. Me... I'm excited and nervous! Thanks for the encouragement.

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  2. Or square, the tower could be square. I guess it depends on the stairs.

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    1. I figured round would be more fairy tale wicked queen who really isn't all that wicked.

      For the first time I'm actually mentally writing my description in my head before I even start the build.

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  3. Hi Sheila! I LOVE your ideas!!! This will be a whole pile of fun to follow!!! I agree with the oatmeal boxes idea.... that is what I used for the tower of my "Cloud Palace" project... but I ran the stairs up the outside... it is a Fairy Castle after all! I can't wait to see this under way!!!

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    1. Thanks!

      I'm both excited and terrified. I'll have to check out your Cloud Palace. I'm wondering about balsa wood for the steps, painted to look like stone, or if I should do wood.

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    2. Hi Sheila,
      I used pink builders foam insulation for the steps, glued onto the walls of the Quaker Oats box, and covered in egg-carton for a "stone" look... of course, I have not yet finished all the egg carton parts and have not yet painted them... so it leaves a lot for the imagination! LOL! In my blog side-bar I have links to the relevant posts under "Cloud Palace Tower Stairs". :)

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    3. I went and started looking at it. So pretty!

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  4. Ooops... I went and looked too.... you might have better views if you look up "spiral staircase" I am really bad at labeling and have done tiny spiral stairs in the Tree House... but you'll want to see the bigger Cloud Palace ones.... :)

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  5. I am IN LOVE with this build already Sheila!!! Your ideas sound awesome and I love how inspired you are with this one! It's going to be a fun year!!!

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    1. LOL everyone loves the idea. Everyone is excited.

      I become increasingly more terrified.

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    2. Naw... You have nothing to fear but fear itself. You are simply embarking on a Masterclass of discovery. Yes they'll be challenges and sometimes frustration, but you're made of the right stuff to overcome them all. Dwell only on the thrilling prospect, and deal with the rest as it comes. This is going to be a special build!

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    3. Thanks! You guys are all so encouraging. I'm really hoping that with this one I could maybe place in the contest?

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  6. This is a great idea Sheila! Love to see how it turns out.

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    1. Thanks! You know I'll have to take some pictures with measurements so you can try to reproduce the kit 1/2 scale.

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  7. Sheila, what an ingenious idea! You are amazing... this tower idea changes the entire kit. I would never have thought of this. And the spiral staircase will be fun to make ;-). All

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    1. Thanks! I'm excited but nervous too. And so looking at how everyone has done spiral stairs for inspiration.

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  8. Hooray, it's going to be so much fun!

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  9. Fantastic idea. I saw somewhere a tutorial for a Tudor chest. I'll try to find and give you the link.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thanks! That would be great. So far I'm trying to figure out how to do it from pictures online and dimensions on a ready built one I already have in the Fairy Tale Cottage.

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  10. http://pequeneces-maragverdugo.blogspot.co.il/2017/12/baul-medieval-calendario-de-adviento.html#.WmiAeFTXbP4
    This is the link. I hope you'll be able to login. The blog is awesome, worth following.

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    1. Oooh! Cool. So far I can read it so no logging in required. thank you again!

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  11. I think this will look awesome! Great idea :-)

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  12. WOW! I love your ingenious ideas, Sheila, and I would love to see how it turns out.
    Kind regards, Ilona

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    1. Thanks! I excited and nervous. But I'm really getting into the idea.

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  13. Fantastic idea *claps in glee* Love the tower idea, you could use styrofoam for the stairs, coated in spackle or paperclay for the stone look. It would be easy to carve into the correct shapes. :) Can't wait to follow along on this build!

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    1. Thank you! I actually saved some styrofoam when I was cleaning out the closets with the thought of garden walls but I've got enough to do steps too. I think that's what Brae did on her Aero Squadron tower.

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  14. Hi Sheila!
    I love your idea for this kit and know that it will be Really Exciting to watch happen.
    And I was going to suggest Brae's staircase tutorial but I see that you're already there! :D

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    1. Thanks! I'm really hoping I can do justice to this idea. Have to study up on stonework, stairs, plaster, slate roofing... all sorts of things.


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  15. Love how unique this is Shelia! I think it's great how you've brought out the porch for the entrance. And that tower is going to be amazing! Ohhhh now you're making me want to sit down and think about all the possibilities of that kit. I keep thinking of a rowhouse. Don't you find it hard to plan when you don't have the physical kit?

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    1. Thanks! I'm excited to see how well I can do this. I need to start collecting egg cartons for stones and bricks.

      I can usually get ideas and figure out what's possible from the pictures and measurements of the kit. Since we know the height, width and length I can figure out how much I can add or remove. It's much easier when I have the kit, everything is very rough until then.

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  16. Oooooooooh. I totally gasped. hahaha I love this idea!

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    1. Thanks! I'm totally going to stalk your Aerosquadron lounge to figure out how to do my steps.

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  17. Replies
    1. Thank you! I'm hoping to make something that looks better than my goofy picture.

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