So Many Steps ... And More Bricks.....

Slow But Steady.....

The Not Yet Finished bricks were waiting for me on the weekend, Dear Readers, and I must admit that I spent some time casting around for excuses Not to work on them! All those unfinished steps were a bit daunting! They would require those bent "corner bricks" that take longer to cut and even longer to stick to the surface on both sides... and really almost all of what was left to do was those corner bricks! But then I thought about what would happen if I was Not diligent... and leapt over to some other part of the project.... ( I Could start to primer and paint the bricks that were done, after all!....) (or even some other project entirely....!!!) and realized that I really would be happier to be Done with making ALL the brickwork for this landscape! So I decided I had better just start in and see how far I could get! So I started with the rest of the steps on the side entrance, because there were only three to do. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I got them done!

So then I started in on the long flight of extra wide front steps.....

as well as finishing the retaining wall on the side of the hill.

And more of the front steps..... yes, it is getting late!

We've reached the last step!

But it isn't the last "step" at all!

I have realized, Dear Readers, that the side steps were still incomplete..... 

they needed the "brackets" on the sides at the bottom.... so I added them!

And covered them with the egg-cartons to make them look like "stone"...

And started on the front retaining wall......

Which once again is mostly those "corner" bricks.... 

all along the top edge....

On both sides of the stairs!

But Look! It is done!

It is looking so Formal....

but then I realized that it still was lacking the "stone" 

at the sides of the top steps...... 

so I added those too!

Now That is looking more like it!

(Yes, it is nighttime again...!)

And testing the arbor in place...

And stepping back for a look.....

I do believe I've finished attaching all the bricks!

(The part of the base that is painted red on the outside

 is not going to be covered with egg carton bricks! 

I will probably just do a painted brickwork finish on those exterior walls)

And Yet, there are still all the "steps" 

of primer and paint and sealer 

and then the grout!

Yes, Slow and Steady might be Tedious, 

Dear Readers, but it does get you there in the end!

Bases, Bricks And Beyond....

Follow That Paper Brick Road.....

While Daphne and Renee were sleeping, Dear Readers, I was busily applying bricks to the Folly foundation. I had a whole week of vacation to use, and while I was not able to spend the entire time working on the bricks, I did make a great deal of progress on the base for The Folly! You might recall that I had recently "upgraded" the builders foam "ground" that The Folly sits on, shaping it more carefully to allow for an entire "Garden Room" on one side of the grounds. Here you can see I have started to add the bricks to the "cellar wall" at the side of The Folly foundation. It was at this point that I realized I would need to continue with the "upgrade" to the base so that the brick work could be designed for the entire landscape! This is Not a small task!

To begin with, I needed to test the position and spacing for the front porch stairs... to make sure they would "land" at the edge of the property with the right amount of height for each step. I have this problem with my "properties"... I want them "elevated" which only means they need more "landscape" around the building for the stairs to land on... which requires a bigger base... so I was trying to keep The Folly base in the size I had originally made! It looked as though I could make it work.... so I started to build the steps and inset them into the "ground".

Well, really, they Almost fit.... that bottom step is a "doozey"!

So I ended up adding just one more step on the outside of the walls.

I also started to build the side entrance steps that lead to the side garden.....

Which would also need the extra step on the outside of the base walls!

Here you can see I am testing the extra step at the front too..... 

yes, I think they are absolutely necessary!

And then you must Forgive me, Dear Readers, 

because I went off on one of my crazy little tangents....!

I decided that I needed to make the little "gardens" on either side 

of the front porch of The Folly be removable from the base.... 

so that I could make "seasonal" versions 

that could be swapped out from time to time....!

So I cut off a corner "slice" of the pink foam ground.....

Making the bottom cut as close to one inch deep as I could 

(so I could use one inch thick foam boards to build my interchangeable "pod" gardens)...

I carefully cut the front edge of the "gardens" and glued it back in place on the base. 

This will provide the framework for the "pods" to sit within.

Then I glued a thin layer of cardboard to the bottom of the opening 

so the base would be as level as possible for the "pods" to sit upon.

 I did the same for the other side of the porch.

Now I can make the "plantings" be changeable according to the seasons!

(Yes, I know, I am a bit over the edge with the Seasons!)

Here The Folly is back in position... 

and you can just see the edges of those Garden "pods" beside the porch!

(You can have no idea how excited this makes me, Dear Readers, 

to have a Garden that will be changeable!!!)

So with that problem settled, I could continue with the mission of attaching all those Bricks!

Starting with the walls for the Side Garden... 

and the Door surround....

And starting on the "floor" area of the tiny "Glass House" 

which will be part of this side garden.

(I apologize for the dark shot... it was getting late!)

At this point I decided it was time to add the "bricks" 

to the foundation of "The Folly" itself...

And then there was a post needed at the end of the brick wall next to the side steps....

And I made a bunch of "edging bricks" from sculpey 

to go around the edges of the gardens....

Here I am testing the look and placement...

And adding the bottom step "outside" the base walls!

And working on the herringbone flooring for the "Glass House".....

seen in the bright morning light!

Here you can see the Tree House in its position on the side of The Folly base....

and the areas that will be brick walls have been painted red...

Here is the other side view... sorry about the dark photos...

and the messy tables....

This is the side entrance.... 

(the whole base is up on blocks for the painting...)

And brick by brick I am making progress on all the walls.....!

Yes.... it is late ... again!

But isn't that looking lovely in a reverse sort of way?

At this point, Dear Readers, 

I began to see that I would not get all the bricks done during this vacation, 

and I thought that maybe I would feel like I accomplished Something

 if I at least completed the brick foundations on Hardwick Hall! 

(Remember that is what started all this brick mania!)

So I masked the areas that would not want to be painted brick color....

And I painted them with primer and then a base coat of red paint.

And I decided to do the same with The Folly 

where the bricks had been added to the foundation...

Then I added layers of acrylic paint 

to make the bricks look a bit more dirty and aged...

Then added a coat of varnish to seal them prior to adding the grout!

But I had neglected to buy more grout.... so that step will have to wait!

Meanwhile, I had also decided that The Folly's front steps 

needed some more "refinement"... 

so I added some low newel posts 

as well as an extra section of retaining wall along part of the front...

And an added corner post at the side entrance.....

Because I had remembered that I had

 a wrought iron arbor gate that would be perfect for this spot!

Yes, I do believe it was made for this garden!

And eventually it will be old and rusted.....

but that is still a long way down the road!

Meanwhile.... there has been a Marathon of brickwork....

(you know it is late again!)

There are so many steps still to go....

Someday the Tree House will be attached.... 

and might even look like a Tree!

Those bricks will be painted and aged and grouted.... 

and might even look like bricks!

The side gate will lead you to a little yard and garden.....

 with a Glass House.....

And the brick path will lead you to the front steps.....

past a garden of ever changing flowers.....

 

And a lilac bush that blooms for but a week of every year....!

Ah, Dear Readers, did you wonder why I call it "The Folly"?

It's a Long Long paper brick road....

Bases, Bricks and Beyond!