Monday 19 January 2015

2015, the year that was....to finish what I've started!

 
It's been a while since I did a blog post huh! I had a couple of bad months with Menieres attacks which were pretty Hellish to live with, so I had to slow down or stop with the mini work side of things. Also, one side of my cabin was used to store stuff from the real house whilst we had workman in to do the kitchen and day room. The whole house needed gutting (when we moved in September 2013) and redecorating not to mention the electrics updating, new boiler and new double glazing etc, but I see light at the end of the tunnel now and we only have 2 more rooms to do! 

So I have my cabin back for me again! However, I'm running short on storage space, I think some of my friends were a little flabbergasted to hear that, given I've only had my cabin in use for less than a year (never say never!), in fairness it's partially down to me not finishing and thus dressing the projects I have because I wanted to either redo bits or finish adding the final touches, but mainly because I have a few started on projects and I had piles of their component pieces scattered around my work tops. :o/ 

One of my biggest irks is storing and finding (again) mini furniture, I have wasted too much time going through drawers looking for furniture pieces for projects and not knowing what's in what box, they all look the same! So now I write on every side of the box stating what's in it!  
This is my new storage. In total they hold 137 litres of stuff. They are great for anyone short of space especially if you don't have a proper work/craft space (or those greedy like me who doesn't have enough already!) as they are sturdy, tidy, move easily and stand alone units, easily fitted in a corner out of the way. However the larger one does not take 12x12 scrapbooking pages/books, so I've had to squash as many as I can in my Alex IKEA units. 
I've had 3 stacks taken off to make it lower...so it's hidden! lol
Hidden behind two shops! lol

Anyhow....I have done some mini work though over the months! That is I've have been working on Mr Mulpepper's!
Inside the building there really isn't enough space for a chimney breast, so I created a chimney breast outside from a piece of polystyrene.  I've shaped off the top for the tiles and lead trim.
I sealed the polystyrene with two coats of PVA (white glue) to make it super strong and for the plaster to adhere better.  Once dried, I applied my plaster and allowed to dry fully.
 I then started on the ageing of, not sure I'm as happy as I could be with this...so I may tweak it.  
No damp added as yet...only a little will be added if I do! I will show a photo  (at a later date) with the lead and tiles added to the stack! ;o) 
 The other side...
The front, minus main shop windows  etc.
 The chimney stack, I need to tweak the brick work and age the lead. ;o))
It took a while to cut and add the lead.  
 The chimney glued on...and the roof tiling begins.... 
 I still have just under half to finish off...the other side. ;o)
The brickwork needs some tweaks and maybe a little damp. The lead needs to be added around the chimney stack base and over the top of the roof tiles to create a watertight area!   
 The outside so far...it's had a few tweaks since I last showed it and glued the shop windows in... the two doors and upper windows acetate need to added etc.
The inner window shelves aren't glued in yet...I couldn't decide whether they should slope slighty like the real shop or left flat. 
The little roof has been tiled...in real life lead would be added along the wall and tiled edge...however the real building does not...hmmm undecided what to do here!
 The opening front panel has been wallpapered....no ageing applied as yet nor the windows and their frames.
I have a major irk with hinges showing, so I matched up the wallpaper to cover the hinges.
Then cut to size, if the architrave doesn't cover too well at least the hinges are covered. 
The interior wallpaper needs to be done, then the wooden skirting boards, cornice and window frames etc. 
I haven't managed to crack open a new kit because of the house stuff being stored in my cabin, but I have started on my terrace of 3 shops with the Brews and Stews B and B upstairs with the Twilfitt and Tatting's owners' sewing room above her shop. My main plan is to also resume work on my started projects (if you go back on my blog posts you'll see which ones and some photographed here too!) so I can dress them and thus regain storage space! Lol Well there's always hope! Where there's hope there's light at the end of that dark and gloomy tunnel! ;o)
My Sister bought me some more pretties for my cabin...the hanging paper lantern and the little fabric daisy above the hanging narrow cabinet by the window.  
 The sky over Norfolk late 2014...
I couldn't resist a photo of it!

Happy New Year 2015!

I hope you don’t mind my ramblings and madness! :o))

Michelle xxxx

16 comments:

  1. Hi Michelle
    Welcome back!! I hope you are feeling much better... I just love reading your posts. Your Mr Mulpeppers is fantastic. I think how you age your buildings is just something else :)
    All the best
    Vivian

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    1. Hi Vivian,

      It's great to be back and well! ;o)) I hope to do a post soon showing my terrace. It's out of camera view in the above photo's (on purpose! lol) it has 9 rooms so will take a while to do.

      Thank you for your kind words, the apothecary to date is my favourite project. ;o))

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  2. I'm surprised you have any time to make anything with so many buildings to dress and change around. I wouldn't be able to concentrate on one project either. You need miniature blinkers to keep you focused ;0D

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    1. LOL LOL Pepper, blinkers, oh I only wish that was my sole problem solver! What I need is a rather less active imagination and maybe just a tad less procrastination when I'm stuck or thinking waaaay too much! lol The last 2 years or so, I've had too many disruptive issues keeping me away from my mini work and working doesn't help! lol ;oP

      So erm back to good habits! ;o)

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  3. Great to see the step-by-step progress on Mr Mulpeppers :) Love your craft cabin.... such a great space!

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    1. Only a little process showing this time Sandra...I'm waiting for supplies for the terrace so I may have to resume work on Mr Mulpepper's this weekend!

      I love my cabin...by some who have seen it in real life call it Santa's workshop...I think it's rather fitting, more fun that a Summerhouse which it has been called too! lol

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  4. Muy feliz año nuevo para ti también!!!! Espero que tus vértigos hayan pasado y que ahora puedas disfrutar de tu espacio de trabajo,los avances de la casa son geniales,me encanta el aspecto y la forma que va tomando,es tan real!!!
    Besos.

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    1. Yes, I am a lot better thank you, although I should rest more, that is lie down so I recover quicker. ;o)

      I'm now back to what I love and busy again...the other projects in the alley will have the same aged look...some worse than others. Glad you like it so far. ;o))) xx



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  5. What a lovely cabin! Yours makes mine look like a disaster area! lol I am going to refer back to yours to get ideas. Nice to see you back and feeling better!

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    1. Doesn't mine look like a disaster area?! lol I think it does in places...though it's a hive of activity with lots going on...so I guess that's how it should be! I have the whole history of my cabin on my blog...right from clearing the garden to its completion...I hope you enjoy the read and gather some inspiration! ;o)

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    2. I will certainly read about it. I also added your blog to my latest post about organizing mini bloggers.

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  6. I'm new to your blog and am looking forward to following. Your cabin is lovely, do you have to heat it? I've got a big shed which my husband insulated and lined but it is still cold and damp inside so I am worried about putting my houses into it.

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    1. Hello and welcome Diane!

      Yes, I do have to heat it my cabin it would be too cold for me to be in there and for my collection during the winter otherwise . It's the damp that's more damaging to minis and houses etc rather than the cold. You can buy reusable silica that removes the moisture from the air, but I'd only recommend it as a back up and extra rather than a cure. My heater has a timer and frost free setting so comes on in my absence. I don't suffer from damp issues within my cabin, but like all wooden structures they do need maintenance to ensure it's kept like that. ;o))

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    2. As an added note Diane, my cabin has at least two coats of barnpaint and a total of about 6 layers of paint. I noticed you're in Scotland so you can buy it. I bought direct from the seller online. It completely seals the wood and keeps the damp out. You don't say whether you have any moisture coming into your shed, but a couple of coats would help ensure its dryness, making sure the doors and windows are water tight too will help.

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  7. I was unable to find the story of your cabin. Please show me how to find it. I would love to read about it.

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    1. Not a problem....go to my Blog Archive which is on the right hand side of my blog. Click 2013 and then click October. From then on there are updates with the clearing of the garden to its completion....it continues pretty much for a year ! ;o)

      I hope that helps. ;o))

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