Saturday, March 5, 2011

What I Did On My Vacation

The List

I began my Vacation, Dear Readers, with a List of things I hoped to accomplish in my Mini World. With a seemingly endless number of days stretching before me... well, at least it felt like numberless days at the BEGINNING of the Vacation, I had visions of making REAL progress on ALL my Dollhouses! The Joy of it was to be able to just jump in and make things without feeling any urgency about FINISHING things because I could just keep going Tomorrow .... and Tomorrow... and Tomorrow! The List had all sorts of Large projects on it, such as "Paint the Chapel Ceiling" and "Finish Wiring the Torches" and "Make a Wizard Doll", as well as smaller ongoing projects such as "Make Tiles for Hall Floor." Every day I spent as much time as I could working on one project or another. It was a wonderful feeling to just immerse myself in the creative flow! So you can imagine my surprise when at the END of my vacation I looked at the List and realized that I had NOT done ANY of the tasks on the LIST! Hmmmm....! So, I asked myself, WHAT had I spent my time DOING?
Well, for starters, I did get out the Sculpey and made a lot of "ironwork" for many of the doors that were still unfinished. I made some Elaborate Serpentine hinges for the Main Door of the Castle.... as you can see in the photo below.

And I attached door "hardware" made out of jewelry findings to many of the doors. I used a particularly fancy one on the main door, and simpler ones on the less important doors. And of, course, I didn't take many photos of such a mundane task.... but close examination of some of the photos will reveal door pulls where before there were none!
And inside, in the Guard Room I added torch sconces to the walls..... similar to the ones in the Great Hall, but rough and rustic rather than elaborate and decorated. I just LOVE the way the torch light makes the gilded border of the ceiling glitter!
In this view, you can see some of the Door Pulls on the Hall Doors....
And this view shows a bit more of the ceiling illuminated by the torches....
Here also you can see that I have Not yet added the window shutters or the inner Arch of stone that covers the crack where ceiling meets wall.......

And in this view you can see the fancy Door Hardware on the Inside of the Main door......

This photo shows the shutters have been added to the windows... although the hinges still have not been painted black so they shine too much! Also, if you look carefully you will see that the crack at the edge of the ceiling has been covered by the inner arch of "stone"...... just one of the many tiny details that takes a lot of time but adds enormously to the finished look!

And with slightly better lighting in this photo.... I apologize for the darkness of some of these photos... but I do like to take the nighttime torch-lit pictures! I ran out of the light bulb and socket units I am using for my torches, so I will have to wait for more to arrive before I complete the torches in this Guard Room.

Here is a view showing the door hardware on the Lower Privy door.... as well as the "iron" hinges that were added. It also shows that I AM making progress on the floor tiles too! These are not attached yet, but are laid out to see how well they fit.... and how many I still need to make!

The project that took the MOST time and provided the MOST satisfaction was building the Windows for the Great Hall! Below you can see the first stages where I had cut out the rough window shapes from thin Basswood and carefully sanded them until they JUST EXACTLY fit in the openings. (I really think it makes the Hall Look like a Great Beast with eyes!)

Here is a closer view of the window frames cut from Basswood. I needed two for each window, and the glass pane will sandwich between them.....

Here is a view with the carved "Stone" details added to the window frames and the painting done as well.

And here's a slightly closer view of the "Stone" window before the glass is added.

Here is the arrangement I used to paint the glass. I used glass paint with "lead" paint for the lines, and then a few colored panes of glass. This is a very typical window glass design from the fourteenth century.
Here you can see that I have taped the glass pane over the drawn pattern, carefully aligned so the panes will fit in the openings of the window frame......

And here is a view of the finished window in place. The alignment of the top rose window is just a little off center.... but it is not as noticeable in real life!

And another view....

And the whole Great Hall with both windows in place.....

And a closer view in daylight........

Oh, and AGAIN! Can you tell that I LOVE these windows? :)

And because I can get to the back of my Castle now I can see the light from outside at night....!

I Love the way the light shines through the glass and casts its image on the side wall outside!

NOT on the LIST.... but That's
What I Did On My Vacation

28 comments:

  1. Wow Betsy! Everything looks amazing! I love the hinges, torch lights and the ceiling is the Best. The windows are beautiful! Funny how time flies when you start doing something you love.

    Victoria ♥

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  2. Your list may not have become shorter, but you really did a lot of work!!
    The metalwork on the doors is beautiful!!! I didn't see your ceiling before..it's wonderful! Do you have better pictures of it somewhere?
    And the windows are just stunning, so beautiful, it looks great when the lights are on!!!
    I may have to borrow some ideas of you ;-)

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  3. I think you achieved a lot, even if it wasn't on the list, but making a list is part of the fun bit of anticipating all this free time coming up while it still seems endless. :) I love your serpentine hinges and your leaded windows are gorgeous and so perfect! Your holiday was put to excellent use and I hope you have come out refreshed and relaxed.

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  4. I don't think you need bother worrying about the list. You've done a marvellous job and I love the hinges and the windows.

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  5. Beautiful work, Betsy. I am particularily fond of those windows! Sometimes, when I have a list, I add the things I DID do that weren't on it...then I cross them off! Makes me feel good.

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  6. Amazing! I really love those leaded windows and how they turned out!!!

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  7. Oh WOW Betsy what a progress! Love the door with these superb big hinges, and the ceiling and the windows and the floor! It is great progress :D I too have the most time for minis during my vacations only that's why I don't post too often lately ;)

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  8. Happy Belated Birthday Betsy. It was like walking into a real castle, amazing details! Catherine x

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  9. I love it all!! All of it, I am awestruck, it's so wonderful :D

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  10. Hi Betsy, have just discovered your site and have been awed by your wonderful stonework.
    I am just about to experiment with 'stained glass' windows myself so have been truly inspired by your beautiful windows.

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  11. Thanks, Victoria! Time certainly FLEW! But I DID have fun while it was flying! And I did get some things done!

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  12. Thanks, Margriet! I think I have some slightly better photos of the ceiling when I first posted about it back in August (I think) in the Post called "Moving Up"..... but I need to do a better posting on it now that it is more finished! I will try to do that soon! I will be happy to share ideas with you as we build our fantasies...!:):)

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  13. Hi Christine! I DID come out of the Holiday rested and refreshed.... but it's never long enough! The anticipation part IS a lot of the fun.... and so is the looking back at what was accomplished! I AM enjoying my windows!

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  14. Thanks, Irene! It was funny to look at the list AFTER the Vacation was done.... OBVIOUSLY I didn't look at it DURING the vacation! But I agree with you that it wasn't necessary after all.... just a starting point!

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  15. Thanks, Susan! I had to chuckle at your comment about adding the things you did do just to cross them off.... because I do that sometimes too! This time there was no room on the paper.... and I was too happy with the windows to bother!

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  16. Thanks Patty! I really am pleased with them myself! They are the sort of thing I dreamed about for a LONG time before I attempted them... and I'm quite happy with the way they turned out!

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  17. Hi Ewa! I'm glad you like all the things I did.... Vacations are WONDERFUL that way! I often THINK I am going to work on my projects every night after work..... but often I just don't have the extra energy.... and when I DO get going I just stay up too late.....
    I hope you get more time for mini making soon!

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  18. Thank You, Catherine! I am flattered that you thought it was so real.... for a minute I thought you were referring to the Castle YOU mentioned finding on your Birthday walk..... LOL!

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  19. Thank You, Glenda! I do LOVE it when the details start to come together and make the whole thing become what we are dreaming of....!

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  20. Thank you, Janice! And Welcome to my blog! I love to be inspiring.... because I know I am inspired by so many blogs out there.... it is Great to be able to share! I look forward to seeing what you do with your windows!

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  21. Beautiful work. You've created a lovely, mysterious mood in that castle - I particularly love the big iron hinges and, of course, the windows! I wish I had windows like that and big iron hinges (dragons!) on my front door! (Instead I have bars on my windows - silly.)
    Love,
    Mom

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  22. You have been busy! I loves those tiles and those windows, well, the whole lot! A castle like yours is still on my wishlist to make.

    Marit

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  23. Betsy, this is superb!! I'm so enjoying your work!

    Can you please email me about the giveaway china? I can't find your email address anywhere.
    glenda@codesmiths.co.nz

    Glenda

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  24. Bets, I am reading this post with my nephew, Nathaniel and he kept saying "show me more , show me more!" :)

    Then I went back to my blog and showed me what you drew for me and he kept asking "how did she do it? wow, she's so talented! " :):)

    Nathaniel says hi!

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  25. Thanks, Mom! I do like the way it is shaping up! I wish you had dragons too! Oh, well..... that's why I'm BUILDING this Castle!!!! :)

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  26. Hi Marit! I'm glad you like it and I hope you get to build your Castle someday! :)

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  27. Hi Glenda! I meant to respond sooner.... by now you've got my e-mail.... I keep meaning to add it to the blog.... maybe this weekend! I'm glad you are enjoying it!

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  28. Hi Sans! and Hi Nathaniel! ~~~~ (That's me Waving back!):) I am so glad you are enjoying my Castle. And thank you, Nathaniel, for your words of appreciation! (Talent is wasted if it is not USED.... and sometimes I feel guilty for not using it enough..... So I am happy to be able to apply it to this hobby and share it with you all in blogland!) Thank you, Dear Sans for sharing and commenting! I think you should get the award for comments on ALL the posts I have done!!! :):):)

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