The last lap.

Well, Happy New Year - chuckle!!

I haven't worked on this property since before Christmas and it was calling out to me today, especially in view of my upcoming trip to Miniatura next weekend.   I must create a list!

All it needs now is a final spurt and this property is finished.   It will only have taken me nine years!    What needs to be done?

The Grand Staircase, that's what.

I decided quite some time ago that, while quite grand, the stair case wasn't proportionally "grand" enough so I decided to do something about it with foamboard.   This was the Mark Something version, it certainly wasn't the first attempt!

Here, I've added handrail and a decorative trim that I hope disguises the joins.   I've also carried through the lined detailing from the original for continuity.   The tricky bit was dealing with the upper flight making sure, again, it was correctly in proportion and believable if it was real.

I think I'm happy with it now, just a bit more sanding to do and then the paint finish.   I'll also be on the looked for something to finish it off at either end although whether this will be some form of topiary or pillars, I'm not sure.   It'll all depend on what's out there. 

The next job will be the baseboard.   It's proving tricky as I can't use anything with a textured surface as that will, in turn, affect the height of the Grand Staircase.   Whatever I choose will have to be flat and I've considered paving paper but I don't want to have to deal with a join, paint - I don't think my artistic skills are up to any kind of faux finish so I'm hoping the upcoming trip to Miniatura will inspire.   I also have edging strip to tidy up the edges.

The final bit required to complete the Hall is the inside of the attic roof.   I've thought about paint or paper - all one design or divided to match with each room..........?   I think that would prove too busy in such a small area so the current thinking is paint across the whole width with co-ordinating curtains to match each room belonging to the windows, (ie the attic, the hall and Janey, the servant).

 

I'm keen to get on with this and finish it now.   It wasn't until I spent some time with it recently that I was aware I'd missed working on it.

 

Brace yourselves for a spurt of activity here!

 

Season's Greetings

Wishing all my followers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

The trouble with having more than one blog means that occasions such as Christmas and New Year have to have more than one seasonal pic.   Not this year!   I know a few of you follow all three of  blogs but some just follow one so if you see this pic more than once, I apologise!

 

York Fair

 

It has been a couple of years since I was last at this particular fair and I decided to combine it with a bit of Christmas Shopping, which was all well and good until it came to lugging all my purchases round the fair!   Thankfully a very kindly soul (the husband of a fellow miniaturist) let me stash my bag (Bag A) in his car for the duration of the event.   That meant I could whiz round with Bag B and stock up on all the minis I needed!

 

I managed to get the necessary bits for all three projects and these are some of the finishing touches for the Hall.   There's some wooden trim (for the external staircase), two Thomas Crapper loo roll boxes (I've had my eye on those for ages), a Christmas Storage box kit for the attic room and a magazine for the lady of the house.  

 

I know I'm supposed to have finished the interior but there's always that little something else that has to be had!

 

The additional bits were some acetate for windows, some extension sockets (I've not used these before but figured they might come in handy) and a set of keys.   No idea where they're going yet but some pewter-y coloured paint and they should fit right in somewhere.

All in all (although it doesn't look like much there) I had an excellent trip.

We have a balcony.

 

Well, it's taken some time but at last I have finally given the balcony on Hambleton Hall some railings.   I've had these "railings" for ages but hadn't plucked up the courage to do anything with them.   I thought initially that they would be tricky to install but it turned out to be pretty straightforward.

 

 

It really finishes off the front, I think.

 

 

The topiaries are resin with flat backs and were purchased from The Dolls House Emporium although they don't appear to have that particular style available at the moment.

 

All that is left to do now is deal with the baseboard and grand staircase then work my through the snagging list.

 

Janey, the Servant

Janey the Servant's room was the last space to be decorated inside the house.   It's taken me since 2005 to get to this point and it's still not finished.

First of all, I had to dull down her wallpaper a bit.   It was far too bright and new looking for a servant.

 

Then a cupboard and wall-light were added -

 

 

Then I had a little play -

 





 

Of course she now had to have furniture to store her worldly goods.   She needed a washstand complete with toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and nailbrush -

 

 

No servant went anywhere without her box -

 

 

It's nice to finally be able to show, in situ, the bonnet sent to me by Marlene 

 

 

She has her secret little Valentine card hidden under her pillow -

 

 

The Penny Dreadful she's really not supposed to read - but does anyway - immediately beneath the stitched message that says (in case she should ever forget) "God Sees All" -

 

 

And finally, the whole room -



 

 

It was a bit sad completing this room.   I really enjoyed doing this one and learnt how to make a few little bits along the way.

 

Just the "grounds" to tackle now!



 

Towel Rail, Tiles and Toothpaste.

Janey, the Servant, now has a wash stand boasting a towel rail and tiles.

 

 

I've also added a tin of toothpowder and a mug for her toothbrush.

 



She also has a piece of white rag for use as a facecloth and a plate to hold her soap and nailbrush.

No excuses for this girl!   After all, cleanliness is next to Godliness!

Shortly after posting my last batch of pictures, I received a message from Marlene at Somerset House to say that she had a bonnet that was surplus to her requirements and which would be ideal for this setting.

 

The little bonnet arrived today and it's lovely!   I'm waiting on starch drying at the moment and once that's done I can put the little bonnet in place.   In the meantime here are a couple of pics to show how lovely it is.

 

 

 

Thank you Marlene.   It was a lovely thing to do and very much appreciated.

 

How to make a hairbrush

 

A few people have asked how I created the hairbrush so I thought I'd share the process with you.

Step 1.

Take a paintbrush.   Any paintbrush.   I used a cheap artists brush for this.   Trim the bristles so that they're absolutely flat along the top then add a layer of glue.   Leave to dry thoroughly. *

Step 2.

Draw your hairbrush shape onto a very thin piece of wood.

Step 3.

Using a craft knife, roughly cut round your hairbrush shape.   (Sorry it's fuzzy but you get the idea).

 

 

Step 4.

 

Gently sand/file round the shape until you're happy with it and it resembles a hairbrush.   I used a needle file.

 



Step 5.

You can either paint or wax your brush.   I used brush on/buff off wax.

Step 6.

When the glue has thoroughly dried on the bristles, add a layer of glue to the hairbrush form, gently lay it along the top of the bristles making sure everything is in alignment and leave to dry.

Step 7.

Cut the hairbrush from the paintbrush allowing extra to trim.   Ensuring that the bristles are well and truly stuck to your hairbrush, trim them to size.

 

You are now the proud owner of your own hand made mini hairbrush.

* The instructions for how to deal with getting the bristles on the brush were found here:  about.com 

I am not in any way affiliated to this site but there are lots of very useful hints and tips to be found there relating to miniatures.