Waiting for Paint to Dry

Ever wonder why it takes so long to get any mini-ing done?  In case you didn't know . . . it's because we're always waiting for paint to dry!  Miniatures really do mimic life.

Waiting for the paint to dry on the ceiling/roof before I can install them. 
I used anaglypta wallpaper for texture.

I will also dry brush some silver metallic paint on the ceiling like I did on the furniture and around the room . . .

Anyway, I'm nearing the finish line of the build on BellaDonna's Apothecary.  I'm just waiting for the roof pieces to dry before I can install them and then the interior is pretty much done, albeit I have to install all the "littles" like making a ton of books, maybe (and I say this with much trepidation) b-r-e-a-k-i-n-g furniture and whatever else my mind conjures up.

And I just have to share this cute little thing!  I was a little worried about the size after I ordered it, but it's perfect!  And it's real cast iron! Every "good" apothecarist needs a cauldron!

I was using my glue gun on my room box build and at the end of the day I found this goop of glue!  It will be perfect for the cauldron after I paint it.  I might add some more to it too!

I won't get the exterior of the room box done in time for our Downtown Fall Fest tomorrow, but I'm planning on adding a thatched roof and stone to the walls.  It will be a little thatched/stone cottage in the woods!

 . . . still waiting for paint to dry . . .

Here's what BellaDonna's Apothecary looks like almost finished!

Paint and Wallpaper

I'm really enjoying this project!  It's fun to be messy for a change of pace.  Albeit controlled messiness!  LOL!

Today I painted the bookcases, fireplace and windows with a 50/50 mixture of black paint and Mod Podge.  I learned this from Ara at Bentley House Minis.  It's great for painting and sealing the paper all in one step!  Who knew!  I also painted the cardstock I'm using to back the wallpaper.  Speaking of . . . what fun that was!  I also painted the furniture I have so far for this project.

Once the wallpaper is dry I'm going to install it in the room box.  For now, I'm going to move onto the floor and figure out what to do with the ceiling.  I just had the thought to use some anaglypta wallpaper I have and paint it black.  It has a popcorn ceiling effect which I think will work well.

I'm really liking the effect of all the black.  It's turning out just I had envisioned and BellaDonna really stands out amongst it!

I made the wallpaper by first painting the cardstock black (half paint/half Mod Podge), cutting strips of "wallpaper" (a printout from a shop on Etsy), and using a mixture of glue, water and a dollop of black paint.  I soaked the paper in the mixture and applied it to the cardstock.  Then I used a pointy stick thing (not sure what it's really called) to mess up the wallpaper.

Waiting for wallpaper to dry before installing it in the room box.

I had so much fun "messing" up this wallpaper!

I painted the window frames, bookcases and fireplace with the paint/Mod Podge mixture.

BellaDonna dropped in to see the progress.

I used watered down paint to "dirty" the windows.  This was REALLY outside my comfort zone, but I love the effect.

Dryfitting the wallpaper.  I also painted the furniture I have so far for this room.  It's having the desired effect because BellaDonna really stands out!

So that's where I'm at so far . . . off to do some more work!

Caution: Work in Progress

I spent a good part of the day working on BellaDonna's Apothecary despite the fact that I'm not feeling all that well.  I really wanted to have this project mostly finished for Halloween, but I'm not sure I'm going to make it.  It was quite an ambitious deadline anyway, so I won't be too disappointed if I don't get it done.  It will be all ready for next year though!

As I was working on the room box, I felt that BellaDonna wanted to be part of the process, so she popped in and out.  She keeps looking at me with a discerning eye, so I hope I'm getting it right!

Today I'll be working on wallpaper, flooring and getting the rest of the room box together.  I still don't know how I'm going to finish the exterior, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.  For now, I have to figure out how to finish the ceiling on the interior . . . when I get to that part.

First, breakfast . . .

BellaDonna's Apothecary

Finally I have a day that I can work on my new project without interruption (finger's crossed!).

I've been collecting items for BellaDonna's Apothecary and had to play with them a little before getting started.  The room box I'm building is made from cardboard.  The pieces have been laser cut and looks to be very sturdy once built.  Ara from Bentley House Minis has a video on how to put it together, so it should be pretty straight forward.

As I was taking pictures of BellaDonna, she kinda freaked me out a bit.  It seemed as if her eyes were following the camera!  Like I've said before, this project is out of my comfort zone, but I'm really excited nonetheless!

So,  here we go!

In case you haven't read my previous post on this new project, BellaDonna was a young girl who accidentally poisoned herself whilst creating elixirs in her apothecary.  She died (along with her poor cat who decided it was a good idea to drink some of the potion herself) and now haunts her apothecary mixing, stirring and generally carrying on because she doesn't realize she's dead!

I'm hoping to get this project finished by the end of the week so I can display it in my shop on Halloween!  Fingers crossed!

She's Arrived!

I'm thrilled that my little ghost girl has arrived from Germany!  She's going to be perfect in my apothecary room box gone wrong!

I'm waiting for the Fabri-Fix I ordered from Amazon so I can start on the room box.  Fabri-Fix is what Ara suggests for gluing together the room box.  I've been ordering things to go into the room and can't wait to get into it.  And neither, I suspect, can BellaDonna!

The Addition is Finished!

The addition is done and I'm mostly happy with it.  I was looking at it this morning and realized there isn't a door to the library, or is there?  I decided that in my mind's eye, one of the library cabinets hides the door to a secret staircase that comes down into the hall outside the breakfast room.  I may add a small "corridor" between the addition and main part of the manor, but for now I'm calling it good as I have another project I'm anxious to get on to.

So without further adieu, here is the addition . . .

The addition is to the left in this picture.

I still want to add more trim and such.

The Breakfast Room

The Library.

More to come in this room!

I used the Allison Junior dollhouse addition, and in retrospect, I wish I would have built it from scratch.  The floors don't line up and I would have made that corridor I spoke of earlier (which I will do at a later date).

I'm also having a bit of a balance issue.  Not sure it fits with the rest of the manor.  Sigh . . .

Introducing . . .

OH I'm just aghost with excitement!  Today I'm starting on a new project for a much needed break from the manor.  I love the manor and working on it is a labor of love, but sometimes one just needs a new adventure!

As mentioned in previous posts, I'm starting a new build with a room box kit from Ara at Bentley House Minis.  Everything is planned out in my head (we'll see how it translates!) and I'm ready to get going!

And so I introduce to you  . . .  BellaDonna!  She is a ghost of her previous self!  BellaDonna was an aspiring alchemist and was quite good at mixing herbs and potions and the like.  In fact, her teacher thought she was one of his brightest students ever!  But she got a little ahead of her training and mixed a concoction that unfortunately was her demise.  She inadvertently poisoned herself!  Poor thing!  And so now she haunts her little room mixing and pouring and stirring, because you see, she doesn't realize she's dead!

BellaDonna was made by the talented Katie at GhostsAndSuch Like.

And so it begins . . .

Addition Completion

The manor addition is mostly complete!  I just have a few finishing details and this project is done!  I had a frustrating day yesterday trying to align the addition to the main manor.  It didn't seem to matter how many times I dry fitted, it still didn't line up the way it was supposed to.  In the end I have about a half inch gap that I will fill with strips of wood.

This morning I put a coat of Mod Podge on the turret.  I'm waiting for it to dry and then I'll add a second coat and it will be ready to take it's place on the addition roof.

                                                                                                                                                                      I'm at the point where I'm ready to be done with this project.  I've had to redo the main bathroom and what is now the "hall" to accommodate the addition, which is something I knew going in, but having to redo wallpaper is a pain in the royal tush!

I have another big project waiting in the wings, but before that I decided I'm taking a bit of a break and working on a room box I purchased from Ara at Bentley House Minis.  I'm really excited to begin working on this project and the ideas are flowing fast and furious!

As you may know, I like to know who I'm building for.  And this project is no different.  I'd like to introduce you to BellaDonna . . . well she's a ghost so it's kind of hard to see her.  Stay tuned while I try to capture her in a picture.

In the meantime, here are pictures of the completed addition to Pennethorne Manor.  Reginald (the butler) is awaiting your arrival . . .

The new addition is to the left.  The turret will be added once it's dry.

The hall that leads from the parlor to the conservatory and new breakfast room.

                                                                                                                                               

I plan on making some plants for the plant stand.

The doors leading to the new breakfast room.  I still need to add some trim.

The new breakfast room.  I will be making drapes for the bay window.

I can't remember if I named that Cockatoo in the corner.  I'll have to revisit older posts.

The new Library.

The Library.  All the books fell out when I was moving things around, so that will be a job putting them all back in.  I'm going to use a technique that Ara at Bentley House Minis used tacking 5 books at a time to black cardstock.

The Secret room.  Can you guess what it's going to be?

Here is a picture of the newly renovated bathroom.  I was sad to lose the window on the right, but it had to go!

I'm going to take a few days to clean up the mess I made of my supplies and such and then I'll be starting on my newest project!  Stay tuned!

Let There be Light!

I've been working on the addition and have gotten to the point where I have to figure out how to attach it to the manor.  My plan is to use magnets so that the addition can be removed for ease in moving later on down the road.

As per my normal, I got so excited to get wallpaper, flooring and moldings in that I totally forgot I still had to do the wiring.  I managed to get it done without too much damage, but had to run some wiring out the side of the addition, which was my plan anyway.  You won't see this side of the addition when it's attached to the manor, so I'm not too worried about it.  Still, note to self, maybe a written plan/notes would be helpful?!

Anyway, here's the addition all dressed up and ready to take her place next to the manor . . .

I'm keeping this room for a surprise . . . it's the secret room above the library.

The Library

The Breakfast Room

Doors that lead into the old breakfast room, now a pass-through to the parlor and conservatory.

Bay window in the Breakfast Room

I'm nearing the finish line on the addition and am looking forward to finishing up a few more things on the manor.  There is still some brick work to do on the foundation, covering wires on the backside, and some other odds and ends.  Then I'll be able to move on to the landscaping, but before that . . .

I have a new project coming up in a room box I purchased from Ara at Bentley House Minis.  I'm really excited about this as it's something way out of my comfort zone, but I feel up to something different and challenging.  Stay tuned!