Jump to content
  • entries
    100
  • comments
    103
  • views
    139,614

About this blog

Nine different views on building the Coventry Cottage

Entries in this blog

Updated picture with landscaping

The final decision about the landscaping was not to change a thing. LOL I mentioned to Bruce that I was thinking about changing it and he said he liked it just the way it is. Since this is primarily his house, I left things as they were and just got a better picture. Close up pictures of the landscaping are in my gallery. Deb
Deb

Deb

3

Updated Pictures

I was going thru my picture files this week and realized that the pictures I'd taken of my Coventry Cottage were done with an old camera and a slightly less civilized photography setup. Besides, I hadn't played with this house for awhile so I took it down to the studio and had a good time taking new pictures. ;) I took the house off the landscaped base for these pics so you can see the house more clearly. It's still in the studio while I debate about changing the landscaping (maybe or maybe
Deb

Deb

2

Finishing the Roof

Jimmy has finally gotten the roof all paperclayed, and he came up with his own design for the top of the roof. I'm not real fond of it, but it's his design, and he's the roofer. I went ahead and put a dirty wash on the roof. Now, for the color of the roof--I couldn't tell you what I did. I mixed red iron oxide, burnt sienna and toffee brown until I came to a shade that I liked. Compliments of LPCullen
LPCullen

LPCullen

1

FINISHED AT LAST!!!!

The Coventry is now finished, doors are in, etc. Tell me what you think! THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE, INCLUDING PORCH AND ROOF SIDE OF HOUSE BACKSIDE AND UPPER ROOM SMALLER ROOM DOWNSTAIRS, KITCHEN? BACK SIDE OF HOUSE, OTHER SIDE UPPER ROOM ON OTHER BACK SIDE LARGE ROOM ON BOTTOM Compliments of LPCullen
LPCullen

LPCullen

3

PaperClaying The Interior

These pictures aren't very good, but they are ones that I took to show how I paperclayed the rooms with the bay windows. It was not easy, LOL! This is the bay window before paperclay. It's a difficult angle too. Kinda glad I didn't wallpaper it. Almost. Got some of the paperclay in. Now it's all finished! When doing interior trims, I put the trim in first and then paperclayed up to the trim, like around the door frames. 
LPCullen

LPCullen

0

Hanging Doors

I may have mentioned that Riley is a truck driver, although he is home every night, he leaves very early and usually has to be in bed by 7:00 or 7:30. I mention this because you will understand that sometimes to get him to do things for me he only gets to work on my projects if he happens to get home by 3 in the afternoon and is not to tired. Well, I've been depending (and waiting) for him to hang my interior door, in order for me to move on and get the floor/ceiling glued in and to glue my roof
Peggi

Peggi

5

The House is Completed

Well I have completed this house. It is raining so I have not had the chance to take pictures out side but to see the ones I took so far you can look in my Coventry Cottage gallery too. I will add better pictures when I can get outdoors and do that. This house was very fun to build and decorate. I want you all to leave knowing you should NOT feel afraid to alter your houses!! Each kit can turn into a unique item. Just think outside of the picture on the box! So many people miss out on these w
Minis On The Edge

Minis On The Edge

6

Thatched roof--fun with fur

Time for the roof! I wasn't quite sure exactly how I was going to thatch the roof. Raffia or coconut fiber was the most likely choice, but I wasn't really happy with the look of raffia. To me, it wasn't quite to scale and it just had a rough look that didn't please me. Then Carol came to my rescue! She told me about a Derek Rowbottom technique of using fake fur and varnish for a thatched roof. Obviously, my first reaction was, "Will my japanese house look like it's wearing a russian hat?".
Deb

Deb

1

ITS A STUDIO!!!!!

Other than a few minor details, like putting flowers in and glueing on the flower box, my studio is now a reality. Mirrored Walls I used acrylic mirrors that I was very fortunate to buy off a really nice guy on ebay. It is better and cheaper than the mirror sheet I bought to start with. You can cut and drill into it. I dryfitted the roof and marked where the inner half wall came to. Then holding my breathe and praying that it would still fit, I glued the front roof together and mea
Peggi

Peggi

6

Putting on the Roof

I've decided to try a new technique with the roof. I have no idea if it will work ... I took skewer sticks and placed them on the roof, and then put glue in between the sticks. I then take 1/2 inch strips of paperclay and roll it around the sticks, pressing them down in the center to adhere them to the roof. This is what I'm coming up with. What do you all think? Compliments of LPCullen
LPCullen

LPCullen

3

Recap on the Coventry

Figured I'd give you all a recap on the Coventry, since you may not have yet figured out what we are doing with it. I saw this house, and I thought, ADOBE!!! Consulted with son-in-law to get his opinion on whether what was in my head [scary thought, that!] could be transferred to this little house. Plus, I have NO CLUE what adobe should look like! He came over, went over things with me, was astounded at some of my thoughts and plans for how this was going to happen (he's never encou
LPCullen

LPCullen

2

Stone Floor

I learned this technique about 4 years ago in my first class with Rik Pierce and Sometimes I use it when I am completely out of miniature flooring (like I am now). 1st you take a Vinyl floor tile and cut it to fit the room you wish to install the finished floor in. Then you check to be sure it fits good BEFORE you start the next step. Once you are sure it will fit, take the peice out and take your pencil and start drawing where you would want your grout lines to be at. You can also purchase
Minis On The Edge

Minis On The Edge

8

More Clay Painting

I have done more painting but I am still not finished. I had expected to finish this house last night but this was as far as I got. I still have to add 2 more colors on all bricks and stone and 1 more color to the roof to give it the proper aged look. I know I will finish by next week for sure! Enjoy the pictures! This one is of the side with opening: This is the front view

Day 04 - Working with Paperclay

I've finished gluing some pieces together, and I've finished some of my staining. I know I've been silent about what I'm attempting to do with this house--partly because I'm scared I won't get it right, and partly because I want it to be a surprise! I've begun paperclaying some of the exterior. I've also learned another lesson with paperclay--and that is to either take your diamond ring OFF your finger before beginning, or turn it around so that the diamond doesn't jab into the pap
LPCullen

LPCullen

2

Floors

Although, I really wanted to be able to do my dance floor by just scribing and staining the foam core, I just never could in all my practices (and believe me there was several) I just could not for the life of me get the depth of the score just right. I was either to deep and the underlying foam would stain (which would not work for the ceiling portion) or it was to shallow and the lines wouldn't show up. I am also hampered by the inability to draw a straight line even using a metal ruler. So I
Peggi

Peggi

6

Jimmy the Roofer

After having roofed for a while, I decided that I like my old way of roofing better, and I have stuck Jimmy with the job. He began roofing, put on his apron, finished the front, and then had me put in skewers for the back. And then had about 1/2 bottle of wild turkey .... But I must say, he's doing a right fine job, even if he is quite funny, LOL! Compliments of LPCullen
LPCullen

LPCullen

0

4/20/06, the "extras"

Here is what I have made or am making for this house: a Belfast sink a refrigerator, kitchen shelves (kit scraps, craft sticks and toothpicks) bedside table (kit scraps) the Chrysnbon bathroom kit (what didn't fit in the bathroom went in the bedroom) window treatments footstool (Reggie's trying it out, he likes it fine; I did not make Reggie & Annie, they are jointed porcelain Mr &
havanaholly

havanaholly

5

Done!

it is true I have finally finished. actually this kit did not take as much time to build as it seems I had surgery and did not work on it for almost 2 MONTHS! wow that was a long dollhouse break. last we were here I had paperclayed the roof and it was drying for paint. oooooooo I wish I could say how wonderful it looked....but I cannot. I did not take photos of all the cracks and shrank out of place shingles. I started painting with a dirty wash. "bleech" looked hor
nuttiwebgal

nuttiwebgal

4

Day 05 - Finishing Exterior Paperclay

Let's see, where were we now? Ah yes, I remember. Sorry for the delay. When we last left off, I had paperclayed around the porch area, and then I did the one bay window beside the porch. Today I put the porch railings on, and then I finished paperclaying the exterior of the house. I have to let that dry before I can do anything else to the house, since I've already messed up one area by hitting it on something ... BTW, I'm
LPCullen

LPCullen

0

back on it

well slowly I am getting back to things and last night I took stock of this house to decide what would be the quickest things to do to make the house closer to done it was the upstairs....so I added corner trim and the windows are in. I also installed my little ceiling supports. to bad for the slots in the floor ....but since Im using some purple up here I guess some purple felt would make nice area rugs for the 2 rooms. I may consider putting baseboards...havent decided yet.
nuttiwebgal

nuttiwebgal

1

4/11/06, finishing the fridge, furniture

We got home Sunday afternoon. As we were leaving first thing Monday AM to go pick up two sea kayaks in Gainesville, FL, I gave the refrigerator spackle one last sanding and painted it with high gloss white enamel. I had cut 1/4" square dowel into 1" lengths and spray painted them black. After supper the white enamel was dry and I glued one of my brass window handles onto the refrigerator door with super glue gel. I glued the door on with wood glue and used scrap wood to protect the paint & s
havanaholly

havanaholly

1

smidge progress

it is my goal to have this house ready for new owners by the weekend one of the new things I tried with this house was using Gallery Glass to frost the front windows and door. I was fairly pleased with how it all turned out....till I was looking at the photos and see my big window is crooked but not to worry that isnt the only "nutti" thing I did today. I managed to decide on a wallpaperand I hung it....it doesnt look bad...and I thought hey while ther
nuttiwebgal

nuttiwebgal

1

perks

I decided since I had made all of the furniture I should make the other things as well! it all looks so sweet! so here is the house with all the perks that came with the kit...minus a chair...I broke-ed it! nutti
nuttiwebgal

nuttiwebgal

1

Day Two

Didn't get much done on Day Two. Mostly I was getting Josh's advice and input on what I wanted to do, and trying to convert him into a miniaturist, LOL! I did get him to put some things together for me. And then I had to go back in and glue the things he put together, because he didn't, LOL! Compliments of LPCullen
LPCullen

LPCullen

0
×
×
  • Create New...