Monday, December 12, 2011







Working with the roof section off we have glued the stairs into place in the two-level entry:


This has been a bit of a challenge. The wooden stairwell has been marbled.
The hand rail made from electrical sheathing from the hardware store. Bamboo skewers create the spindles and brass beads create dimension.
I decided I wanted to use the space under the stairwell so I spray mounted more wallpaper to card stock then
cut the shapes of the steps into this to create a curved wall. I glued the false wall on to the stairwell then
installed the stairs.
Fancy unnecessarily exposing myself to a craft store when I went to pick up card stock. I tried to wear blinkers
and go directly to the department I needed ..... I was almost successful!
You may not even be able to see this curved wall in the photographs but it will eventually have a mirror on it to
reflect the opposite wall.

I love the wallpaper. It is full scale wallpaper not miniature - a grape cluster pattern, very subdued, but so
perfect for the large entry. The stairwell must be finished before I can put the roof into place. Perhaps it
would be better if it could be removable..... something else to think about. No! thought about it and it would
not work so you can see in the photos it has been glued and held in place with clamps till it dried properly.


There are a lot of lights in the wall. To create sconces over the lights, I cut a small cow-bell xmas decorations
in half and glued braid around the top edge. Yet to glue a small decorative circle at the base to finish.
Today's work is done because of or despite my small assistants.

Any questions? I would be happy to answer.
Thanks Janine

Photos:
Stairwell through the empty dining room.
Looking down into entry - Empire bedroom on left
Down into entry.
Doorway into bathroom on upper level. Lower level into living room. Can you see wallpaper better?
Mini Helpers looking into kitchen - 2 & 5 years old.


Labels:

Sunday, December 11, 2011









Greetings All,
It has been 16 months since my last post. I was warned by my Mother that the older you get the faster a whirlwind time becomes. I now understand why people leave their Christmas lights up year round.
We moved into our new home August 2010, departed for Australia in November where we travelled for five months. Home again home again in time to do lots of prep for the vegetable gardens and host a wedding in May.
In July we left for a summer aboard on our new-to-us little boat. We meandered the BC coastline as far as the Broughton Archipeligo which is on the mainland, north of Vancouver Island. It is a natural wonderland full of whales, dolphins and plentiful supplies of prawn and crab, spectacular scenery and isolated anchorages.
Home by September we welcomed our middle son and his two children to live with us while he returned to school.
November arrived dark and dreary once again so I unpacked the mini house. I would really like to finish it before I have to pack it away again..... but we all know the saying that it is the journey not the destination that is the adventure.

Exterior Progress:
Quoins and trim under sills made of plastered bristol board. Decorative wood above windows created from combination of assorted trims.
I have made the summer window boxes but thought I might think about how it would look like with the vines in winter - just for fun. A few examples of different options.
No, the shutters are not upside down. I want them in an open position, when they are closed they will be placed correctly to shed rain.

Photos show:
Final choice of vines.
Vine options.
Progress steps of east wall.
Sunrise from our cottage.
Moonrise from our cottage.

Enjoying visiting so many of your blogs and then stepping to your followers. One can get lost out there. Such a lot of inspiration. Thank you.
Hope you are getting into the Christmas/holiday season spirit.
Janine