Still working in the servants quarters

I have been quite busy with my miniature work lately but not all Ashcroft Hall. I am trying to save money by making as much of the furniture etc myself. So I have been busy buying wood and learning woodworking skills. I have a dremel and a scroll saw and circular saw amongst other things. Diddicukt to master but very addictive.

Also I offered to dress a friends dolls house in a Xmas theme so mostly been doing that. I haven't got many photos to show you. But here goes

WHAT A TRIAL!

I could not source double plain doors so decided to make my own by making balsa wood panels on the front of another door. Cut,sanded,and stained the doors.  Was very pleased with the result. However the doors are for the front of a shelved cupboard. And guess what...........the doors open inward and are fouled by the inner shelves!!!!

So back to the drawing board. I will have to put panels on the back and place them in my homemade wall inside outs what a chore. Anyhow it was the first time I have done doors so very pleased with the initial result.

PATIENCE AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL NEEDED

If you saw a recent blog you will have seen my carpentry attempt at making a kitchen range. However,due to my impatience (always doing things quickly) and (not waiting for glue to dry) I think I have made a terrible range. I am new to using the power tools so must practice more. Lying in bed last night I realised the range is just not good enough,so will be starting all over with a new approach.much more precision and patience will go into this. Ashcroft Hall deserves perfection.

Also I have started making the room next door to the kitchen. I have made a false end wall to house a larder and a back door. Just to add interest really. Again this was a challenge for me as I had never done anything like it before. The key to a good finish is SANDING. This takes patience (once again).

The nice thing about my work shop (a converted bedroom) is keeping loads of craft items. My grandaughter Abbie is very artistic and spends hours with me. Such a joy. She loves the dolls houses,and always wants to help!

Back to the larder room,I have also made a wooden base panel out of tiny lollipop sticks which have been chopped off at the ends. I stuck them onto a card before painting. Eventually this weekend I will adhere to the wall. Actually little Abbie stuck them to the card. Not quite perfect then neither am I half the time.. Shelves for the larder are painted and ready to stick in. I have spent hours trawling the internet looking for plain double doors to no avail so I am going to take a deep breath and try and make a pair. Goodness knows what they will look like!! Otherwise will wait until Kensington dolls house festival to try and find

some.

Made an inglenook fireplace

Inglenook ironwork made out of fimo.

Even got my 7yr old grandaughter helping.

This was a challenge. Again using my power tools. I am getting used to using them. Certainly makes things quicker to make.

I built the fireplace recessed into a chimney breast up to the ceiling. Also added a shelf to add interest.

My usual impatience on the glue paid dear! The whole lot collapsed on moving it so had to start again!

Then I decided to save money once again and make an Inglenook iron fire with spit for meat. This I made with fimo. Very fidldly to do. Needed to use a lot of clamps to hold in place until glue set overnight. Quite pleased with it. Added some twigs and away we go.

Starting to use my power tools

Had a good week on the Hall. Decided not to continue looking for a reasonably priced kitchen range,so tried to build my own out of wood. Not perfect but will pass scrutiny as it is in the basement and at the back of the room!! It was very fiddly to make. My problem is impatience. Find it hard to wait for glue to set before getting on with the next bit. I still have the bricks to glue into the back,but will wait until I decide it's final resting place! It will look a lot better when dressed with copper pots and pans and I have loaded the middle with logs and a red glow light. 

STARTING THE FLOORING AT LAST

At last I am back to Ashcroft Hall after a break in America for three weeks. Taken me nearly two weeks to catch up on housework,washing,gardening etc. I really do not know how I managed before I retired!!

My son in law works for a plumbers merchant and brought me a load of small shower wall swatches. They are the perfect colour for slate tiles. I cut them up into smaller pieces then stuck them to the floor.

I am hoping he can get me some more. It would have been very expensive to buy real tiles so I am very pleased. I have done this before with painted business cards for outdoor pathing to great effect.

Now all I have to do is grout the 'tiles' to finish them off.

I have also fixed ceiling lights into three rooms in the basement,so it is beginning to take shape.

I am trying to source a range for the kitchen but they Re soooo expensive. I have bricks so will be doing some building for the back of an open spit area,I think.

I intent to do all the basics of the house first i.e painting of all rooms and flooring along with the lighting. The dressing of the rooms will come last. I am hoping to learn some new skills to make furnishings etc myself,so this project will take some time.

Back to Ashcroft Hall in earnest

Now the summer is almost over I can restart The Hall. I have done a lot in the past couple days. Still so much sanding to do on stairs and windows etc. a good smooth finish is a must for such an expensive project.

I almost destroyed a balcony when collapsed, but after a lot if glue readjusting I managed to fix it and re build. 

All the stairs have now been primed but I will need to do at least two standings as they are rough and Furry. So tedious.

However hooray I have started the inside by painting the bottom two floor ceilings.

My sin in law Martin brought home some wafer thin credit card size swatches if shower cubicle walls which will be perfect for my flagstone floors and what's more ......free!!!

I have bought my hall tiles fro sue cook miniatures which are very expensive as the area is so large.

Off to California next week so another break from my blog

NEARLY FINISHED THE FACADE of ASHCROFT HALL

As the weather has been so nice lately I took time off my dolls house project to do some needed gardening.

But the rain is back and I have spent a couple of days working on the mansion. Spurred on by my friend and I going to The Kensington Festival in London. I was able to buy a few things that I will be needing soon for the project. And also picked up a lot of ideas. I have also been researching ideas and other things on the Internet.

The mansion frontage has taken a lot more time than I thought it would. The fitting of the balconies have been quite difficult. As mentioned in a previous blog,once painted the wood needs sanding or it will not slot into place. I had to be very careful not to split the wood.

As I had not taken the doors off I had to be very careful to make sure the balconies were at an exact right angle to the walls. Clamps came in very handy to make sure they did not slip away from the walls. Very fiddly.

I am thrilled with the use of white and Almond White for the window frames and walls. The contrast is subtle and I think quite 'posh'!!

I am still undecided about colour schemes for the rooms but fairly certain of the types of rooms I will have. All I know is that it will be opulent and expensive. I am still learning knew skills so that I can do my own upholstery and curtains,lamps etc etc to keep the cost down

However this will make the project a very long one.

Still slow progress on Ashcroft Hall

I have been able to do some painting this week. It is taking sooo long to paint the window arches. They need sanding twice between each paint. My son came along the other day and did an inspection!! He said I needed to do an even better job to get it really smooth. Such a hard task maker.

Last night I fitted the windows in and the edges all needed sanding to get a good fit. I will put the acrylic glass in near the end of the project so as not to mark them as you can see from the pictures it is beginning to look like a house.

The pictures show the windows fitted and my paint brushes full of Almomd White paint being used on the front door. Very fiddly. The balconies are also ready to fit. The black paint job was horrible.

I am away for a week so will not be updating for a little while. I am getting so close to start on the decor. Can't wait!!

Ashcroft Hall

Hi all

Since I last posted a blog I have not done an awful lot with the Hall. I have concentrated on researching my family tree which is my other big hobby.

However I have painted and fixed all the window arches in white. The contrast with the Almond White walls is subtle and very nice. I have also painted all the balconies black. The reason it has taken soooo long to paint these pieces is the need for fine sanding inbetween coats to get a nice smooth finish. Not good enough to leave without sanding.

Unfortunately I missed the NEC Miniatura exhibition in Birmingham due to the snow. Such a shame as I wanted to get my ceiling mouldings. However I will probably go the kensington show in May.

I was sat by an electrician at dinner the other evening and he suggests that I research using fibre optic lighting . If this is successful.Then I may try my hand at making chandeliers. Seems a bit ambitious but game for trying.

Slow progress with Ashcroft Hall

Had a bit of a break from Ashcroft hall this weekend. I am still painting the outside of the house. It is a huge task. All bits need to be painted and lightly sanded twice or you will have a roughing finish on the edges. I am now painting the balconies black. There are lots of tiny holes in the wood so painting with cotton buds.................not easy.
I only have the inside window arches to paint and then I can fit the windows.

Anyhow back to enjoy being spoiled on Mothers Day.

Frustrating start to Ashcroft Hall

It was suggested when I bought the dolls house that it would not need sanding,except perhaps a little on the ends and edges of wood. However this is not the case. I have sanded,painted and sanded again all the windows and door edges. A huge and laborious task. I am in the middle of putting on another light paint where needed. All the inside of the window pains are rough. Not something I can skip.

Also I am trying to source a horse drawn carriage, miniature size without luck so far. Can anyone advise please.

Starting Ashcroft Hall

I have spent the last week deciding on what theme and what colours generally to use for the Hall. As I have a large tub of Almond White emulsion left over from painting my own hallway I decided it would make a nice neutral colour for the outside of Ashcroft Hall. Not as stark as white. So far so good. However I do find this job tedious as the Hall is so big!

The frames of the windows will be white and the balconies and front door will be black.

I have chosen the theme of an edwardian wedding. My 6 year old grandaughter particularly wants this theme! She wants the bride to be a princess,so I have promised that the bride will have a tiara!!

I thought a wedding would be nice as I can make garlands of flowers in stairs and balconies etc.

Whilst I am painting the house Abbie (grandaughter) is playing with my other completed houses and also looking through a big picture book of costumes and choosing the clothes for my people. It is soon nice to have her with me as an interested onlooker.

Here is the picture of the very start of my project.

Taken me two days to get this far! All the windows need doing again. Light sanding is necessary after the first coat. Oh well.

As you can see Abbie is busy designing her own dolls clothes!

Dolls house cafe renovation

Ashcroft Hall blog 1

As promised I am uploading photos of my new Ashcroft Hall. It is huge. My workshop is tidy and ready for it and my grandaughter loves it and wants it painted pink!!
It will be an impressive mansion which needs a theme.
Could it be a wedding,a ball, a dinner party etc. it will be set in edwardian times.

Also ideas in colour of outside. I am thinking white with black door and balconies?