Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Timbers, Plaster & Roof

Happy Fourth of July to all my fellow Americans.

My husband, like all proper Americans (?) spends the day watching Wimbledon.  Which is sort of the point.  The freedom to do as you please with your spare time, assuming you're not infringing on anyone else's freedoms.  I enjoyed the last couple days of my vacation though.  I won't get anymore until my work anniversary in three weeks.  Maybe by the time I get to take it we'll have more cross training done.

I feel like I've spent the last few days with my fingers constantly stained Dark Walnut.  I did some work on the timbers on the outside of the tower.  I figured out my pattern and got everything cut and stained...gluing them on was a bit more difficult.  But I managed it.



As you can see I did manage to figure out the roof.  Mostly.  I realized that if I made one that came off completely it would look really weird.  But if it didn't come off I wouldn't be able to get the door open.



So the roof will have a removable panel.  I need to find some small but very powerful magnets to make it stick together but I'm worrying about that later.

I needed to make a framework for the inside so I got that cut, stained and glued.  I really dislike geometry these days.  But I got it done.


That's the bottom half.  Here's the whole thing. Still drying.  You can see where I split the frame for the removable panel.


Since the glue was going to take a while to dry I got my plaster ready.  I used this plaster method and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.


I didn't want my walls to be perfectly smooth so they have some imperfections left deliberately.  That has to dry too so we're waiting again.

Before I got going on all of that I decided to mess around with my orrey and the curved table to see if I could make it fit in there.



So long as I arrange the planets carefully it works on the table.  But I can see I need to do a little touch up work on the oriel window's framing.

I also tested the tower room's lights.  And I'm thankful to say that they work.



Still need to work on the texture inside.

Slowly crossing things off the list.  Hope everyone else is having a great week!



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 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.




16 comments:

  1. The carved pattern on the outside trip is just lovely and the inside, well.... I am so in love with this project!

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    1. Thank you! I'm hoping to stay on track with everything.

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  2. You are getting along so fine and the list is getting shorter. I love following your project and admire the way you solve every problem that pops up.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thanks! All of you get the end result. You aren't like my poor husband who has to listen to the cursing that goes on while I figure out geometry.

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  3. It's looking absolutely charming, Sheila! And who needs geometry when you have determination, plenty of extra wood, and a lot of time! :O)

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    1. Thank you! The frustration level can get pretty high when I'm trying to make angles work. But I'm really grateful for the time off to work on it.

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  4. The list is shrinking!! And it looks fantastic with the exposed timber beams and stucco. There are lots of small powerful magnets on Ebay for next to nothing. Worth a look. Xx

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    1. Thanks! I need to paint and plaster the inside of the roof so the beams will have some contrast and then make some crossbeams for inside the tower but I'm pleased with the progress. small powerful magnets... hmm... thanks!

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  5. Sheila, what a difference those timbers have made! I was so excited to see the roof shells up too. They really have a transformative effect and scream “fairytale tower!” The new plaster looks great and seems very to scale. And you fit everything in the tower room whooo hooo! More things off your list! Hope you have a great weekend ahead!

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    1. Thanks! I really like how the timbers look. The criss crossing adds something to it I think. Beams inside the tower to support the roof and plastering the roof is my next step. Researching magnets now!

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  6. Hi Sheila! I think your tower roof looks Awesome!!! Those timbers and the arrangement are fantastic! You might not like geometry... but you are working it just fine! (Old buildings always have the excuse for irregular framing in my mind... because they usually are irregular in RL!) I am glad your electricity is working too... I just love the way it is all looking now... keep up the great work! This is such a fun project to follow!!!

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    1. Thank you! I'm pretty happy with the roof too. I'm hoping once I get all the plaster and everything in that I'll be done with the tower except for the slate shingles and the 'hall' between the tower and the main cottage.

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  7. Great! Your idea for the roof is brilliant! I love everything you did.

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    1. Thank you! I'm hoping to have more done by Sunday afternoon.

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  8. Egad, that tower roof brings back memories. It is a bit daunting to figure out that support structure, but you did a great job! :D

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    1. I went and stalked your blog and the links you put to figuring out the structure... And still had to do things twice to make them right. Thank you!

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