Monday 30 January 2017

The Kitchen in Woodcutter's Cottage

Hello everyone,

Hope you had a fantastic weekend. Once again we had a very stormy weekend. I don't mind it that much as long as I and my family stayed indoors. Gilbert kept busy with the new dolls house premises while  I spent time with the kids and had some quality time with my dolls house Project.


I started off with the flooring of both the ground floor rooms which will be the living room and the kitchen. I have used strip wood and ironed it on. 


After finishing the flooring I varnished it with a walnut stain and I really like the dark color of it. 


When that was done, complete and dried I wall papered the kitchen with a tile bird pattern. For this project I didn't want it to look Victorian but I didn't want it to look modern. So I think I am looking more like a vintage style.


I wasn't very fond of the paper at all but adding a few pieces of furniture it did make the trick I guess. 



The kitchen is  not complete yet and lot's of accessories still need to be added and made by me. But I like the first few touches. 







So far this is how I have decorated it. There is a good chance that I will be changing most of it and definitely I will be adding so more. 

Hope you like what I have done so far. Keep tuned for the next update on the project. 

Take care and see you soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca

Tuesday 24 January 2017

Peter Rabbit and Friends Miniature Accessories

Hello Everyone,

How are you all? Hope you are fine. Sorry for not posting sooner. Took myself a short break I guess.....more like an unexpected short break. I have been very busy making new miniature for clients and preparing for the new project but the month of January or at least the last few weeks have been tough on me. The weather has been very, very cold here. Not our type of Winter here in Malta. Let's say not the type of weather that I am used to or like at all. By now you all know me the weather plays a big role in my life. I hate Winter or anything that is cold except for ice cream. Thank my lucky start I am in Malta which I consider it a very warm country all year round......well in this case.....this year was an exception. We had some hail storms. If only I could hibernate for Winter it would be bliss. I also got myself one of those nasty colds which only made me feel worse.



So today I will be sharing with you some dolls house miniatures that I have been making featuring Peter Rabbit and friends. I always loved Peter Rabbit and most of the Beatrix Potter Stories. I have been making these dolls house miniatures for clients and now I am actually thinking of making a room box for myself. 

My first miniatures where the 1st miniature readable books that I love and read them as a child and now a days share them with my kids. They love them. As there is a miniature library somewhere in the pipeline maybe for next year, these books will be added to it. 


So far I have made six books, but I am sure that eventually I will be making a few more for myself. Recently I just finished of another one with Nursery Rhymes and I love it.












My next few miniatures that I made were the miniature ceramics that I do. The lovely pieces featuring Peter Rabbit with his mum and siblings. I always loved that picture of the tough Peter Rabbit hugging his mum. There is quite a selection; a dinner plate, a milk jug, a canister, breakfast tray, oval, side plate, mug and saucer. 



These were quite a hit and eventually I was asked to make a tea set. It is quite cute.


I am experimenting with a new design and got to also make some miniature egg cups.



A few months ago I had the pleasure to start working on some furniture pieces and I was really happy to work on some nursery furniture featuring Peter Rabbit and Jemima Puddle Duck. These were all requested by clients and I really enjoyed doing them. The Peter Rabbit set was in blue and Jemima Puddle Duck in Pink. The clients loved it and I also had some requests to add on furniture which eventually I did.











Eventually I got to also make some Ceramic Gift sets which come in presentation boxes. I have just finished them almost 2 weeks ago and I am working on some new designs too as we speak.


























There is a good chance that more will come, and I am looking forward to make my Peter Rabbit and Friends room box. 

So this is all for today. Keep turned for the next update. Hopefully it will be about The Woodcutter's Cottage.

Take Care and See you Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx

Sunday 8 January 2017

Working on Woodcutter's Cottage Exterior

Hello Everyone,

Happy New Year to all! We're in 2017!.....Time does fly. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and a good start for the new year. Once again we are back to the old grinder. Tomorrow the kids return to school after their 3 week Christmas break. I will be missing them. All the Christmas decorations are put away and the house looks bare without it's magic.....but then again I always look forward to the next Christmas preparation. Yes I love Christmas and you all know that. Before I start I wanted to welcome a new follower to my blog. Welcome John Wesley Brett! Also I wanted to welcome the new followers on Google+. Thank you all for the encouragement.

We also have the winner of our free Give Away. So the lucky winner for the miniature Christmas Books is Alexandra Martinez. Please contact me and send my your details so I can send off your win. I want to thank you all for participating and we will be have a new free give away very very soon so make sure to keep an eye out!

In the past few days, I have to admit I haven't done much, not only because I had the company of my darling children but the weather turned to ice cold. Unbelievable as it seems, Malta got cold. extremely cold. The type of cold that we are not used to. Like some of you already know Winter and I are sworn enemies. I hate Winter. If only I could hibernate for the season it would be a dream. It makes me feel gloomy and tired. 

Nevertheless even if Winter is here to stay for the next couple of months, I have to keep up with life, work and yes My Miniature World.

Woodcutter's Cottage Exterior
I prefer working on the exterior of the house before I think of working on the inside of it all, especially when using a stencil to brick the outside walls.

So first I painted all the walls and floors with an undercoat. This helps to preserve the wood and the most important the interior when wall papering the wall. Sometimes I prefer building the house then paint it, so when I don't I am very careful not to paint the slots were the wall panels should fit in.

Undercoat for the walls
As I was going to use the stencil method to brick the outside walls, I have painted the exterior wall with a grey mouse color. This will be the color of the mortar when it comes to using the stencil.


When it was ready and dry I started using the stencil with plaster to brick the exterior walls.


It does take a while to finish but I don't mind it as the effect is very realistic. Once that was done I let the walls to dry out for a day or two depending how the weather will effect. I am pleased as we had the North Wind which means no humidity.

Plastered Wall with brick effect
Once all the wall were ready and dry. I wanted a complete different color so I was busy painting every single brick in ocre color and sometimes I shaded a few in a light brown.

Painting every brick
It took me a few hours or more or less days but it was worth every minute. While I was still plastering the front I also stuck the name plaque for Woodcutter's Cottage. Finally I got to use it. I have had if for quite sometime and the good thing about it is that I had actually won the name plaque.

Woodcutter's Cottage Name Plaque
And finally here it is. The house is built and glued and the wall are all ready. Just need to add a few details here and there. Have to work on the roof and on the front garden but I am really happy with the colors of the house. I have to admit it really suits it.



So this is all for today. I hope you like how this has turned out so far. I can't wait to really start working on it.

Keep tuned for the next update of this new project.

Take Care and See You Soon.

Hugs,

Rebecca xxx