More Little Bits......

Details....

I am Sure Most of you, Dear Readers, will Not be surprised to see that I did add another plant to the Cottage Tea Cosy garden! I added a Pink rose to the gap next to the delphiniums. I do like my gardens filled to overflowing with blossoms! And then I started on the background cream color. It did not take me long to complete it. And all the while I was stitching this cottage, I was thinking what an utterly charming Dollhouse it would make! A little thatched cottage amid a bountiful blooming garden... I was so tempted to start one! Then I remembered I already have one unfinished Thatched Cottage... without the garden... *sigh*..... so I contented myself with Dreaming of a thatched cottage garden in all it's glory (a little like my RL garden at the moment!)

Here I have finished the stitching... 

but have not assembled it yet.

And then because I really am addicted to the stitching at the moment, 

I dug through my stash of kits

 and started on another Janet Granger Christmas Stocking...

(Not because I am starting to prepare for Christmas, you understand...!)

This time it is the Three Kings!

And I must say going from stitching 32 count

 to 40 count cloth is a noticeable change!

 

I am really enjoying working on this one!

And while it is a Boring detail...

 I have also added the arch stones to the Guard Room windows.

Just the key stone is still needing to be added to this window.

And then I will need to re-attach the shutters too.

(And the opening wall window is done.... but I forgot to take pictures...)

The key stone has been added here...

 and while I am looking at all the Details in this room.... 

I am reminded that the junction of the wall and ceiling has always bothered me!

See the uneven crack between the poorly fitted

 arch support stones and the vaulted ceiling?

I have been pondering how to correct this problem for years and years!

And because I had resolved to add these supporting arch stones

 to the Great Hall Ceiling before I Attach that in place....

 I had already painted the strip of wood I thought would work.

 But the Great Hall Ceiling is not ready... 

so I thought I would test this method here... 

and correct this problem at the same time... if it worked.

Which you can't be sure until you cut and attach the pieces....

I have made a start in the above picture... there on the left...

(I know it is infernally dark in there even with the spotlight!)

Because I am cutting one stone at a time, 

I can fit them closer to the ceiling...

 and with a little gentle carving and trimming 

I can even out the disparity in the main archway....

 at least mostly!

And it covers that awful gap!

I will re-paint the spacing of the "grout" lines to match the cut pieces.

But first I have to also add these stones to the side wall.

And these required extra trimming

 because the ceiling design is closer to the edge...

I wanted to make sure the "stones" 

did not cover any of the painted design.

It just squeaks by!

(But I rather like the way the Circle and the Arch just touch!)

And I told you I would repaint the Vault Stones "grout" lines...

Starting with the dark shadow line over each stone junction.

And along the side wall too....

And with the lights on.... well, Some of them!

The "grout" lines have all been painted...

 even between all the stones added to the doors and window frames.

Now the torches are lit.... can we see the details...?

(Darn Castles are so Dark!)

I do think it makes a Vast Improvement! 

Even though it is something nobody will ever ever notice!

And as always, it is hard to see the ceiling!

But at least it now looks properly supported!

(I do need to admire this ceiling a little bit!)

I am So glad this "fix" worked!

Eventually I will get the shutters re-attached.... 

and build the ones for the Front window!

It took a whole Pile of Little Bits of "stone", Dear Readers,

but these little Details make a Huge amount of difference!

(Now I just need to Finish painting the Great Hall Ceiling too!)