Leaky Cauldron Side Windows.....

This week seems to have disappeared very quickly. Not sure why apart from the birthday of my eldest son and I have been attempting to start spring cleaning. God, I hate housework! 

I think I have also been finding reasons to put off working on the windows of the Cauldron.

 There are two side and two front windows that I want to look like the square, over-hanging Tudor windows you see in some remaining 17th century English High Streets. I did make some a while ago  for the witch house and I remember they were a nightmare.

So balsa wood to the fore I set to. The main problem was the thickness required for the window shelves and 'roofs'. They had to be quite thin, I settled for 1/16 of an inch, but trying to distress them proved a little trying. I split at least four trying to age them, usually when I was just about to glue them in place!

 Eventually I managed to get them all the pieces in place without too much glue or heart ache. 

 I have added beams above and below each window to increase stability and make sure the deep window sills don't warp or droop.

 Ignore the mess inside, the decorators are in! I have used a walnut wood stain for the base colour of the outside wood which I have rubbed with a normal baby wipe. When all the outside wood is finished I will add a dirty colour wash mixed with PVA to seal it all. 

 To make sure my window panes stay in place I have cut out a square block down each main post. I am hoping that the leaded window acetate will go in nice and easy after I have given all the wood their wash. Hmmmmm, we will see!!

 I am going to try and make my own 'leaded' window acetates and see if I can create a stained glass look.

The great thing about these windows are the deep sills of course, more room for mini goodies! As long as they are not too heavy of course.

Off to Miniatura on Saturday. So excited, I love looking at all the fabulous work created by such talented people. I am on strict instructions from my husband this visit with a third child about to go to university in September, I must resist impulse buying.

He is right of course, so I have promised to be good and stick to my favourite sellers and of course my list!

Wood, Wood and More Wood......But The Fireplace Too!

I have been working on my wood pile today but I have also finished the fireplace. I gave it a complete wash of 'sandstone' paint to try and tone down the camouflage effect. Then I added the balsa 'oak' mantle and dirtied up the grate and chimney. For the soot I used a sprinkling of fine black glitter mixed with a very fine black powder/dust that I found in one of my jars. I think it is from Hobbyland and would have been in their model railway department, I use quite a lot of railway finishes.

 I made a tiny little shelf to hold one of Nikki's jars and added a "Floo Powder" label, this idea was courtesy of Michelle who always adds wonderful finishing touches to all her work. I think I need to age the edges of the label somehow as it looks a bit too new in the photograph. I am hoping to put a candle box or similar on the other side.

The mantle decoration is by After Dark Miniatures one of my favourite Etsy sellers. I am not sure if it will stay here but it feels right at the moment. 

 The fire is a mixture of small logs topped with painted balsa shreds to make it look like the fire has just been lit. Again I have used the black 'soot' with a sprinkling of black and red glitter (a trick I think I read on Nikki's Blog), which catches the changing light in the room. I like this fire a lot.

 The photograph makes it look very creamy but it is much more sandy and fits in well with the floor and walls. I still need a couple of bits to go on the hearth, a quirky coal/wood bucket maybe??

 I have also been working on the interior wood. I washed the planks in various dilutions of raw and burnt umber but just could not get the colour right. Plus the more I washed the more the wood swelled so I had to keep on distressing with the darning needle.

I have always used woodstain before which is really easy and much quicker. I am not sure I am really getting the washing technique right at all. For example do you start with a dark base and add light, or vice versa!?

 My last wash tonight was a grey/umber colour to try and get rid of the orange tone I seem to have acquired....Mmmmm. Then I will rub with linseed oil for a waxy sheen. If this doesn't work I am heading for the dark oak wood stain and starting again!

 Treating the proto-type doors has come out ok except for the PVA glue stains.....These will have to be rubbed down in patches and painted again.

 The doors a la Michelle. All the planks are individual and will be distressed and painted before gluing. These already look better than my first attempt.

The door surrounds will bed added once the doors are finished and glued to the walls. I can't wait to get going with these tomorrow. 

Wish me luck!