Wednesday, May 30, 2018

Time For the List

I can't believe we're already at the end of May!  This is freaking me out a bit because it means there's only six more months before the house has to be done!

So today I worked on the shutters for the casement windows and got them ready for the hinges.  Then I got all the windows in a box so I wouldn't break any of them while I waited for the hinges to arrive.

The inside of the front bay window just looked really messed up so I got out my wood putty and began to fill in and smooth out all the cracks and round the inside of the corners.


It has to dry and then I'll put some plaster on it and off white paint.  It needs window trim for the inside too and I'm debating making shutters for it.  If I have enough hinges to pull it off.  It would be tricky but I might be able to do it.

My next step was to figure out the layout of my second floor.  I need to know where all the furniture will go, sort of at least, in order to figure out where I need my lights.

The second floor is going to be set up as a sort of workroom.  The back side will be for the loom and spinning wheel.  The front is going to be a sort of stillroom/laboratory.



I'm planning on taking the slats off the tables...and the middle table, I'd like to redo the top so it looks more like wood planks.

And the cupboards next to the white boxes... Those might end up being smaller or of a different style.  The white boxes represent the fireplaces.



Again, not sure about the cupboards.  But the loom, stool and spinning wheel are definite.

I'm planning on two old style chandeliers hanging from the beams over the two rooms.  And I'll run the wire down the beams and beside the window down to the back wall.  And the stillroom/laboratory needs more light, a candle stick on the main worktable and one near the bookshelf, and another on the small table under the front window.

I've got a couple more bookshelves to go in the larger gable over the bay window and that'll fill in that space a bit.  Plus the frame around the casement window will have a wider ledge on the inside.

You've seen how I want the lower floor set up.



I'm planning on some candles over the fireplace, and there's also the fires that will be in the fireplace on both levels.  But the kitchen will need a candelabra on the table most likely.

I also want a candelabra in the bedroom.  On the bedside table and then maybe a standing one by the foot of the bed or near the fireplace?  And I'd like to have one in the tower room as well as the sconces I want in the tower.

So my list (not necessarily in this order):

Drill & Route out channels for lighting wires.
Finish shutters & interior trim for all windows on main cottage. (my hinges arrive 6/1/18. Yay!)
Build Fireplaces & chimneys
Cut bricks and stone for outside of lower walls and tower.
Add brick/stone to fireplaces.
Plaster upper walls and third floor of tower.
Add timber to upper walls and third floor of tower.
Paint stone.
Add grout to stone and brick.
Ceiling beams on first floor.
Ceiling beams and roof support for lofted ceiling on second floor.
Ceiling beams and roof support for the tower.
Build furniture:
          Make sink
          Make curved table for tower room
          Make loom
          Adjust tables for lab
          Make stool
          Make telescope
          Make orrey
          Make tapestry
          Make rush mats
          Make bedding
          Make books & scrolls
          Make paper pottery
Furniture in place finalize lights.
          Make candelabras
Add flooring
Plaster inside walls
Inside window trim & shutters
Build base for house.
Create 'slate' roof
Create front garden
          Make tree?
          Make stream?
          Make lake/river to go alongside house
          Make stone wall to go around garden
          Iron front gate.

I'm sure there'll be revisions to the list and additions and of course a million and one details to add.  And I'll have to rearrange the order in which I'll do things.  But I'm hoping I can figure out a way to get most of the outer walls finished.  If I run all the electric so it goes down the back wall and under the foundation I can put my outlet strip back there and make a little shed or lean-to to cover it.

I also was thinking of making a little bee house... like Jodi did for her Three Little Pigs Revenge?  I need to look at her posts and see how she did that.

Lots to do!

20 comments:

  1. Time does fly! But I'm sure you will finish in time, you already are very far :-). Such a list is long in the beginning, but when you can start ticking things off, it will be so great for you to see it shrinking :-). Keep doing what you're doing :-D!!!

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    1. Thanks! If I think about it too hard it'll make me crazy. But I think it's manageable. Brick by brick my citizens!

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  2. I love how much space you've got to work with in this build! There are going to be soooo many awesome details! I am excited about all the lighting, too! It all sounds incredible! And though your list is long, and it is June, I know you can pull it off - you always do, and you always amaze me!

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    1. Thanks! I'm sort of dreading doing the outside. I think I'm going to be cutting stones out of cartons and shingles out of boxes every night for a while. But I've got six months if my cut off is December 1st so hopefully I can get it all done. I think once I've gotten holes for the lighting the fireplaces will be next.

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  3. Oh I hate deadlines! That's why I just can't do the contest builds! I think your plans are stellar! I love every bit of what you are making with this project! But, oh those deadlines are "killer"! LOL! Just keep on doing what you are and I am sure it will come together in the end! :):)

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    1. And a lot of stuff on the list won't take that long and can be done at the same time. Building furniture, that sort of thing.

      Lists help me stay organized...and without a deadline I'd just get lazy.

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  4. I admire your perserverence for working with deadlines, Sheila, personally I definitely can not. I achieve alot more when there's no clock ticking in my workroom ;)! And wow, that's quite a list, but still I think you will manage a lot of these things in time. You've prooved it during the last Contest, so...
    I always love to see a new blog post of you in my readers list, because I love seeing progress of your latest project of the Tudor House. I learn alot of things from you regarding building and changing plans in dollshouses.

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    1. Thank you! Without deadlines I don't really accomplish much. I might try not doing a contest build sometime if I don't like the kit but I can only really work on weekends so having an end date keeps me focused.

      Glad you're enjoying it! I always learn a lot too!

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  5. Hi Sheila. Thanks for the comment on my blog. I will investigate further. And it looks like you have a pretty good idea on the layout and details, which is a big help. Your list is long but take it one step at a time and you will get there. Though I think it helps to prioritise. Given things inevitably drop off the list as you get near the end (and when you think of new things!) it helps to know what you really want or need to finish. But keep going. Now that you can see a bigger picture, it’s really motivating. Keep going!

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    1. My pleasure, wish I had more information. And thank you! The only thing that might change the layout a bit will be the fireplaces and how wide they end up.

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  6. Your timeline reminder and to-do list freak me out. I haven't touched my build in a couple of weeks.

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    1. LOL Yeah, I'm a little freaked out myself.

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  7. I like all of the unfinished furniture - where did you find it? It will be nice to see it all finished. I like all of your ideas and look forward to seeing your progress. If you are anything like me, the list will help keep you focused. Keep up the good work.

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    1. Thanks! The unfinished furniture I got from Minimum World. They were having a sale... I think they might still be having one. If you order fifty bucks worth of stuff shipping is free. So when they have a sale I stock up on things I'll need.

      The list is very good at reminding me of what I need to do.

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  8. Oh, that's quite a long list but seeing what you've already achieved you'll have it finished in time. I believe the hard part is behind you and the list includes items that will be fun to make. I look forward for the next posts. Yours is one of the blogs I love to follow.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. It's a huge list. But as long as I don't leave anything off of it I'm good. I think the most intimidating thing will be the fireplaces.

      Thank you so much! I've got another mini vacation so hopefully more than one post this week.

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  9. Hi Sheila, I 'joined' your build a few months in so when I saw your deadline and list wondered what was all about. Boy, o boy, I would never in a million years have recognised the original kit! What an awesome transformation. It looks like so much fun and what an accomplishment already. I will eagerly be waiting to see what happens next.
    Thanks for taking the time to include so many progress pics. Being a bit of a newbie at this it is really super, super helpful - like a sponge I am absorbing so many ideas and tips.
    Until next time.....
    Anna X

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    1. Thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying it. I haven't been doing this for very long in comparison to others.

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  10. The bedroom with the gorgeous bed and wall panelling still is one of my favourite features of the house. Love seeing all the spaces together, I didn’t realize the upstairs was going to have so much room! :) Your list looks super thought out, I might be checking back to get an idea of the order to do things. Have you glued your walls together already then?

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    1. Thank you! I'm working on how to make the paneling go all the way up the wall. I love how it looks too.

      I have not glued all the walls together yet, no. I might try to do a bit of that in the next couple days. At least the front and side walls. Not sure though because it might be easier to add the plaster and beams to the inside before I put them together.

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