Sunday, July 29, 2018

Ground Floor & Candelabras

This weekend was full of time consuming things that didn't lend themselves to much picture taking.  I wanted to get the floor of the first level started at least.  I didn't know how long it was going to take but I figured it would be a while.

I added some wood to the floor to fill in the slots for the original walls.  And added the front stoop as well.

I used some of the Magic system stencils again.  These were much easier to use, less issues with the 'stone' parts coming out with the grout stencils.  It was also easier to get the stone mixture onto the floor since this wasn't vertical. I actually tried to make the levels of stone slightly irregular since the main floor of the cottage is the oldest part of it.


While it was drying I got started on my smaller candelabras.  I used some dowels for candles, cut down and drilled down the middle, then painted white.  While those dried I cut out my wood and got channels for the wires drilled out and the wood sanded and stained.

I used my hot glue trick so they'd look like melted wax and painted them out.  Some more jewelry findings serve as the candle holders.

By the time I got all that done the stone was dry so I started painting.  That took quite a while.


Once it was painted I coated it with a satin poly and let that dry.  Then I put the candelabras together.  I need to trim some of the glue off but all in all they look pretty good.  Primitive, which is what I was going for, for the first floor.


Then I got some of my grout and finished the floor.  I have most of the grout wiped off but I'm going to let it dry completely and then wipe a bit more off before I coat it with poly again.


Once I get the poly on it I'll take off the painters tape and do another fit of the walls to make sure everything fits the way I want it to.  After that I'll carefully drill through the plaster where I'd made holes for my electrical.

It doesn't feel like much but I know it is progress.  And I can cross a couple things off my list.


Drill & Route out channels for lighting wires.
Finish shutters & interior trim for all windows on main cottage. 

Build Fireplaces & chimneys

Cut bricks and stone for outside of lower walls and tower.

(Test Magic Brik) - in progress

Add brick/stone to fireplaces.

Plaster upper walls and third floor of tower.

Add timber to upper walls and third floor of tower. (testing)

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 1/2 done

          Make orrey 1/4 done

          Make tapestry

          Make rush mats

          Make bedding

          Make books & scrolls

          Make paper pottery

Furniture in place finalize lights.

          Make sconces

          Make candelabras

                 Standing Candelabra

                 2 small 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.

24 comments:

  1. Oh Sheila! The stone floor turned out awesome! I like the candles, too!

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    1. Thanks! I'm hoping with one more wipe down the color of the stone will come through better. But I like that it looks well traveled.

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  2. yes, these stencil are a blessing! and your floor looks great!

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    1. Thanks! It's slightly faster than the egg carton stones but the size of the stones is smaller. Which I thought I could get away with for a floor.

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  3. The floor looks really good already! You've been able to stripe away may tasks already so far!

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    1. Thank you! Hopefully I'll get more done and things will keep moving.

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  4. Floor is amazing! And it does look like a lot of work! You are a very patient person. :)

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  5. Thanks! I'm only patient with miniatures. Everything else...nope.

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  6. The floor is stunning. I love it. You have done so much already.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thank you! I'm really excited to see how everything looks with the fireplace and walls in place.

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  7. It might not look like a lot on your list but I can see that that floor was a lot of work! In my opinion is worth every effort as it looks great!!

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    1. Thank you! It's pretty close to how I wanted it.

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  8. Wow the floor is fantastic! And the candelabras. They will look really cool when in place.

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    1. Thank you! I'm hoping everything looks good. And maybe I'll be able to start working on the outside walls.

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  9. The floor is looking amazing Sheila... and the candelabras are just fabulous. If there is such as thing as a 'glue gun artist' you are definitely right up there with the best when it comes to making candle wax.
    Anna x

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    1. Thank you! I'm really pleased with how they came out. I need to clean them up a bit.

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  10. Hi Sheila! I love the way your floor has turned out! I have never used that system... and would be worried that the rocks wouldn't look random enough, being a repeating stencil... but your paint job has fixed that issue perfectly! It looks wonderful!!! And your lamp-making wizardry is continuing with these candelabras! I will be needing to make more lights for my Castle... and I have resolved to keep them to a minimum for authenticity's sake... but then the rooms are very poorly lit and I have to compensate with external lighting. I am going to experiment some more... but I have also been doing more research in my Medieval manuscripts looking for "models" to copy.... they are hard to find! Your project is coming along wonderfully! It is so much fun to follow! :)

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    1. Thank you! When I look at it I can see a pattern but the paint helps and then there'll be furniture on the top of it so it won't show as much.

      You could always use some of those little LED lights with the small batteries and make candles out of straw or clay.

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  11. Great job on the floor - one of the things I dislike about stone patterns, is the repeat, but you disguised it well with a great paint job! The candelabras turned out great too. Looking forward to your progress.

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    1. Thank you! I really was hoping the paint would work well enough to hide the patterns.

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  12. Replies
    1. thanks! I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

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  13. The stone floor is stunning! I'm wildly impressed with the number of things ticked off your list since I last checked.

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    1. Thank you! It needs some aging, it looks too clean right now. Slow and steady wins the race, so bit by bit I'll get this done.

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