Monday, August 8, 2016

Bricks And Other Things




Revisiting the Tree House.....

The problem with waiting for the Morning Light, Dear Readers, is that it is hard to catch enough of it! Already the sun is slipping back and rising later and further south.... it is a brief opportunity on a sunny morning! But here is a picture of the Newly bricked and grouted garden with enough light that you can almost judge the colors correctly. I think it always takes a while for my "expectations" to adjust after making such a big change in the character of the landscape.... it just doesn't look at all the same as it has for the past three... um four... or five years! This is to be expected, but it does take getting used to! I think I will like the bricks once I am more used to them! But no matter what the color, the grout is all too new looking!

There was no doubt in my mind that the grout would need to be "aged".

(I don't know why my camera has such a hard time with the focus on these steps....) 
but this shows the grout before the aging process. 
The stones themselves were already "aged" before the grouting was done.

Here is the "glass House" end of the Garden area.... new grout still too clean!

And the garden wall.... which I think looks pretty good, but the grout is too new.

The difficulty with "aging" the grout is that 
the minute it gets wet it Looks darker! 
So it is really  Really difficult to tell what color you are making it....
 until it is dry!
So I decided the best strategy was to go Slowly!
I didn't want to overdo it!
Here I have added a dark wash into the cracks of the stairs and the garden wall....

I really wanted to start by only darkening the grout 
where I was Sure I wanted it darker....
Like in the corners and along the base of the walls.

Because it was so hard to tell how much was the added color, 
and how much was the wet grout!

So I did the minimum I thought necessary, 
and then had to wait for it to dry.

And on the following morning during the brief burst of morning light....
try to judge if it is enough or too little or too much.....

Of course, the shadows don't help!

And I have to remind myself that Someday there will also be moss.... 
and plants..... and the Tree House finished.... 
all adding to the feeling of age...

I am sure I will want to darken more of the grout.... 
but I am going to do it slowly!
I think I need to build the Glass House before I will know
 jut how and where all the moss and old grout will look best...

And I will get used to the feel of the bricks and the look of this new space!

So I painted the edges of the "dirt" gardens brown.....
And of course, it is night again... and everything is dark.

But with The Folly sitting where it is, Dear Readers,
The Tree House is right beside my work space 
and catches my attention....

Do you even Remember the Tree House?
I cannot believe it has been several Years since I worked on it!
(Where does the Time go???)
In case you never saw the Tree House.....


Here is a view into the Kitchen at the lowest level with the door open...
Yes, it is too dark without extra light shining in...
(I think the LED Battery is getting old)

Here... this is a little better.
This is approximately 1:48 scale and is the home to my Rat Family....

The next level up is the Salon..... 
they are a very sophisticated Rat Family!

The next room up is the Library.... this is too dark.....

And with more light shining in you can see what a mess this room is!
Many of the items have fallen off the table and shelves 
with all the moving of the Tree House on and off the base!
I will have to tidy up....!

And the Chinoiserie Bedroom!
I hope you have seen it since I completed 
the stitching on the bed curtains!

And the shell-grotto Bathroom!
There are still a couple of details to add to this room....

And the Nursery.... still only just begun.....
with the alcove bed and the bead-tile stove!
The walls are still all unattached on this room!
So much still to do!

Well, Dear Readers, I hope you don't mind that
 when I get bored with the Bricks and the bases...
I just want to return to these other little worlds....
Perhaps it is Time to Revisit the Tree House!





28 comments:

  1. Hello Betsy,
    Wow! The brickwork looks awesome. I think you really succeeded in creating that "old-been there for years" look. The darkened sides of the steps is just wonderful. It looks so realistic and feels right. I can't wait to see the entire property with the glass house. It is such a treat to visit the treehouse. It is one of your most magical and fun projects. The rooms all have such amazing and interesting detail, such as the nook in the Nursery, the drapery in the bedroom, the grotto bathroom. It is always such a pleasure to visit your wonderful mini-world.
    Big hug
    Giac

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    1. Thank you, Giac! I forget how much I love to do the smaller pieces! I will have to get more done on the Tree House!

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  2. Well, the bricks look wonderful, I think. I love that little sort of alcove - they maybe need just a little more "antiquing," and a bit of moss would do very well. As for the tree house, YES! Revisit it! I had forgotten how magical it is. What a lovely little ensemble that whole "neighborhood" will be.
    xox
    Mom

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    1. Thanks Mom! I must get back to the Tree House... it has been too long!

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  3. See, I know you would succeed ��
    I think the ageing process is just right. Once you've added the glass house, Moss etc... it will look like it's been there since forever.
    As for the tree house, yes please do revisit! I think I found your blog while you were working on it.
    It's nice to see two of your projects side by side. I always wonder how people display the many houses they blog about ��
    Hugs,
    Véronique

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    1. Hi Veronique! It is amazing how difficult it is to "age" the grout! You really have to guess at the color and then wait and hope you are right! I am liking it more as I get used to the changes... And so much more still to do on the Tree House! The Tree House was always just supposed to be a tree in the Folly yard... but something happened and I got carried away! I really do want to get back to working on it! :)

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  4. See, I know you would succeed ��
    I think the ageing process is just right. Once you've added the glass house, Moss etc... it will look like it's been there since forever.
    As for the tree house, yes please do revisit! I think I found your blog while you were working on it.
    It's nice to see two of your projects side by side. I always wonder how people display the many houses they blog about ��
    Hugs,
    Véronique

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  5. Great work with the bricks. The tree house is beautiful.

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    1. Thank you Fabi! I am so glad you like the Tree HOuse! There is still a lot more to do... both on the bricks and the Tree House!

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  6. It's always awesome to follow your progress... I really can't get enough of your brickwork. I admire your patience and how organized you are - starting with just the corners that are supposed to be darker and dirtier. And it was fun to see all the rooms of the tree house again and recognizing all the familiar but still breathtaking details you've added there. Well, I wouldn't say no if you'd return to the tree house - but on the other hand... whether you're aging bricks or working on the tree house or on the Cloud Palace barracks or going to continue with Daphne's story... I love to read about everything... ;O)

    Hugs
    Birgit

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    1. Thank you Birgit! (I had many moments of panic with these bricks!) :) But I guess they are getting better with "Age"! LOL! And the Tree House is calling me to work on it some more... but so is the Castle... and the Cloud Palace... and the stories... and the Tiny Ladies.... and.... Gee, do you think I have too many projects under way?? LOL! Oh dear I think I will just cover my eyes and point and work in that direction! I hope you have the patience to still be here a long time from now with not much finished!!! :)

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  7. I remember the tree house! I always wondered what happened to it? you have to finish that one for me please :)

    Hugs
    Marisa

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    1. Hi Marisa! Thank you for your vote of confidence about the Tree House! :) It is something I will get more done on soon.... I really want to work more in that scale! I am really glad you like it!

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  8. Olá muito lindo; cheio de detalhes;
    Prazer em conhecer seu blog.
    janicce.

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  9. Olá muito lindo; cheio de detalhes;
    Prazer em conhecer seu blog.
    janicce.

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  10. Your brick work is wonderful. I cant wait to see the glass house and all the other added realism. Your fantastic work always look so real. I love your tree house and would be very happy to revisit it.
    Hugs Maria

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    1. Hi Maria! I am hoping to get more done on the Tree House soon! Having it right next to my work space does make me get busy thinking and planning again! I am so glad you like the bricks!

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  11. Hi, Betsy - Yes, the brickwork is turning out beautifully; I love the varied patterns you've used. The aging process has worked wonders, and all the grouting looks just right. (How I do not envy you all that work!) That tree house is fabulous - I've never seen all of it until now. That little alcove bed is wonderful, and the grotto bathroom is one of a kind; I'm especially enchanted by the beads and other shining details. You should definitely keep on with this unique project. I'm eager to see more!
    Marjorie

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    1. Hi Marjorie! I am glad you like the bricks.... I am liking them more as I get used to them! And when the
      Glass House is built, it will make the bricks feel more like the "background" and then they won't look so raw! The Tree House is calling me to work on it again... there is a lot more to do, and there is even a lot I didn't show in this post.... if you look at the menu in my sidebar it will drive you crazy with all the options under "Tree House" LOL! I definitely will be getting back to work on it!

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  12. Hello Betsy

    Wau, you have been busy, those bricks looks great!

    Best Regards: Lea/willahelmiina.blogspot.fi

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    1. Thank you Lea! The bricks have been a lot of work... but I know it will be worth it in the end!

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  13. The bricks are awesome! It's very interesting to see the different designs. The interior with the lights on has a very special aura which goes perfectly well with the exterior of the house.
    I'd love to see the tree house and the rest.
    Hugs, Drora

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    1. Thank you Drora! I wanted the different areas of bricks to help define the different spaces, indoors and outdoors (when the Glass House is built!). I hope to work more on the Tree House soon... there is so much more still to do!

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  14. Hi Betsy!

    Sorry I've been away for so long - I have just caught up with your progress this summer! I can't decide if I prefer the salon or the chinoiserie bedroom, they both look wonderfully opulent, and I lreally love the gentle warm glint of gold in each of them....

    You must be seeing bricks in your sleep! But the effort is worth it, the house is looking really complete outside. Are you going to plant things to soften the edges?

    Jonquil

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    1. Hi Jonquil! I will definitely be planting stuff and adding moss... and finishing the Tree House which is itself a large part of the "landscape"! But I hope to make my "plantings" changeable by the seasons.... I know, kind of nutty! I will be adding some "ground cover" plants and then the small garden pieces will have different versions that can be used at different times of the year..... eventually I might get it all done!

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  15. I'm speechless! Your brick works and the whole house looks just so awesome! Now I'll go to take a new round to your photos. :)
    Have a great weekend!

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    1. Hi Piikko! I am glad you like the bricks! It has been a lot of work, but will make all the difference! I will need to build the Glass House part now....!

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