My Witch's House - the exterior.....

This is my most current project and has been built from a kit that I got for my birthday from Maple Street Miniatures. It has been my most ambitious project so far,and certainly the biggest! I wanted to try out some of the different techniques and finishes I had seen on other houses as well as deal with the building of the kit which was a challenge in itself!

 

The kit came with lots and lots of lengths of balsa which were for the external beams and windows. The windows were originally flat to the house but I decided to make them into bay windows so that I would have window ledges inside and ledges for flower pots and climbers outside. I distressed the wood with a craft knife and needle, stained them with a simple oak stain, washed them with a slime green acrylic mixture and then finally buffed them with artists linseed oil. Many days and many nights! The windows were my first real attempt at woodworking and their imperfections suited the house really.  

I cut all the external woodwork to size and then marked the pattern on the outside walls. I used Peter Clark's fabulous brick cards for the brickwork, cutting them to size and then gluing onto a coat of cement coloured paint.

After sticking the bricks where I wanted them I began the plaster work. I used a mixture of fine ready made polyfilla and white paint which gave me a gloopy consistency that I found comfortable to work with. I definitely got better the more I did. On the outside I used a stencil brush to apply the mixture and then add an almost stippled effect. Then I glued the beams and trusses while the polyfilla mixture was wet as this allowed me to squish the wood into place if necessary. Gosh reading it back it seems like a doddle but I can tell you there were times my workroom was a no go area for any of my family because they would never know what would come flying across the room or what they would hear! When I had finished each side or door a huge sense of relief and not a little pride would fill me, an ' I did that' moment that I am sure you have all experienced. A great feeling..... 

One of the reasons I wanted this kit was the potting/storage area beneath  which seemed to offer an opportunity to do something different. At the moment it is still in the planning stage and I will post some more photos tomorrow showing its nooks and crannies but I am sure you can spot some of my Miniatura buys. Very few of which were ever on any list!

I still have to add catches to the 'doors' I have left this until last because I am still in and out all the time.

I know it is all a little bright but I have been terrified of dirtying it up as I have had visions of getting the paint wash all wrong - bottle green for example - and then having to chip off huge areas of polyfilla. I had a go in the log store but was not at all confident in what I achieved so I am putting the aging process of for a while.

I have been lucky enough to commission Julie of  Bellabelledolls to make my first ever figure, for this house. When she arrives I will  be able to name the house around the kindly witch. I hope she will approve of what I have created for her, I mean Julia not the witch - or do I?!

More pics tomorrow.