Another package greeted me on the front porch as I arrived home last Friday --my new pilasters! I was so excited they came so quickly...now I could get to work on the Drawing Room. I was a little nervous about their dimensions being "off," but my fears were quickly assuaged when I tore open their packaging and set them into the room.
I also worked on my corner niches. They're coming along rather nicely, but I'm still perfecting my arched molding technique!
A trip to the Art Supply Store brought me rubber casting compound so I was able to make a better-quality mold. I also needed some more spray-primer and so whilst at the Art Supply store I asked if they carried any. They didn't. But they did carry spray-gesso! I did not know there was such a thing, silly, ol' me! I love the stuff!
BTW, the DAS clay sands really well so I was able to fix the imperfections of my first niche. No need to cast a third!
I have quite a few Lawbre wainscot panels already on hand. I was going to just pop a panel in under the niche but in consulting with dear, Mrs. Thorne, I opted instead for this slightly more fanciful version.
It's a lot of extra work with the mini-miter box, but I think it was worth the trouble.
Hope everyone had a great weekend. We just switched back to Standard Time, so it's getting dark at five-o'clock! Ugh!
I also worked on my corner niches. They're coming along rather nicely, but I'm still perfecting my arched molding technique!
A trip to the Art Supply Store brought me rubber casting compound so I was able to make a better-quality mold. I also needed some more spray-primer and so whilst at the Art Supply store I asked if they carried any. They didn't. But they did carry spray-gesso! I did not know there was such a thing, silly, ol' me! I love the stuff!
BTW, the DAS clay sands really well so I was able to fix the imperfections of my first niche. No need to cast a third!
I have quite a few Lawbre wainscot panels already on hand. I was going to just pop a panel in under the niche but in consulting with dear, Mrs. Thorne, I opted instead for this slightly more fanciful version.
It's a lot of extra work with the mini-miter box, but I think it was worth the trouble.
Hope everyone had a great weekend. We just switched back to Standard Time, so it's getting dark at five-o'clock! Ugh!
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17 comments:
John,
It's looking fabulous already, that corner niche looks great. I cant believe how quickly it's coming together.Its great that you can sand the Das, there's no stopping you now. I'm interested to know how you go with the moulds.
This is going to a fantastic room.....well done!
I have never heard of spray gesso either so don't feel so silly.It's something I'm sure I would have come across, although i think for me it's just as easy to whack it on the canvas with a roller, but with small fiddly things it would be great. I will have to look out for some!
Fi
Sounds like you're making great progress.
Good Morning, Fi! Well, I suppose it's "Good Evening," or even "Happy Tuesday" in your neck of the woods, but it's 5:00 AM Monday here and I'm up an hour early due to the time change and my weirdly precise body clock.
Thanks for the compliments! And yes, the spray gesso is perfect for getting into nooks and crannies. I wouldn't use it on a canvas, either. (Like I have painted on canvas in years, lol)!
Hi Kathleen, and thank you! I ordered a mantle for the room along with a few other bits and pieces so, yeah, things are moving along...
Have a great week, you two!
Hey John
I love the way the room is coming together, and the niche looks perfect. Well done. What type of mitre do you have? I'm thinking of buying a mini model one and wasn't sure about them? I know it would be well worth the money, expecially to get precise cuts and finishes.
Your Posts really inspire me and I can't wait to be able to crack on with HGH.
Keep it up
Si
Hi, Si!
You would laugh if you saw my saw! It's really just a regular hand miter box, but shrunk down. I also have a regular-size miter box. Works for me, right now but I am looking to up-grade my tool collection, too!
Have a great week!
Good morning John,
Hope you had a great weekend. I never heard of spray gesso before either! The room is going to be fabulous. The niches and mitering might be a lot of work to get perfect, but is going to be SO worth it...Absolutely Fabulous!
Giac
Hi John,
Indeed i've read every word and it was a pleasure.
I like your style of writing and read it with a big smile on my face.
Maybe its an idea to get it published in book form.
I'm pretty sure if I would buy it others would too.
The niche and wainscot panel look as if they belong together.
great choice!
read you later,
Gee :)
Hi John,
Yes it is Tuesday morning here and I'm guessing its about midday Monday there. We are in daylight savings now so I get confused with the time difference. Body clocks can be so annoying sometimes....but good when the alarms not working, lol.
I'd like to know about saws too. Is a mitre saw the go or I notice Josje has, what I would call a table saw?
I will be starting my floor boards soon, and I think after I finnish this one I might attempt a house from scratch. Whats your advice on the saw?
Fi
Hello, Giac!
I really like finding out about new stuff and I love the spray gesso! Give it a try and let me know what you think about it.
Thank you, Gee! That is about the nicest thing I've heard --I am so glad you like my writing. As a matter of fact, I was planning on printing up my entire blog when the house is finished, and keeping it all together for the future guardian who ends up with Merriman Park. I've also saved every receipt pertaining to the house, which will serve as a detailed inventory of the property.
Hello again, Fi!
The table saw is for cutting wider stock into narrow, precise strips for, say, flooring or making moldings and the like. A miter box is for cutting strips of stock into shorter lengths, and for cutting angles, say, 45 degree cuts on moldings for going around corners. The miter saw is a must-have. You should have a regular sized version as well as a miniature version for really small moldings. I also have a power miter saw, but it needs replacing. (It was a cast-off from my dad and it doesn't even have a guard, which has always made me a little nervous)! I do not have a miniature table saw, but it is definitely on the list!
I cut the walls for Merriman Park with a circular power saw and a long T-square! Go for it!
LOL, i do that too... keeping an inventory of everything i buy for my dh, from who i bought it, what the cost was.. the date and location.
i make notes and never look at it again, because as you mentioned earlier,it does add up and i've decided i'd rather not be confronted with that :)
i did agree with myself to never pay as much for a mini as i would for the same item in a 1:1 scale.
i try to hold on to that; however, seeing minis, the one even more gorgeous than the next, still makes greedy..
Now that i have tackled that one i yet have to convince myself not to buy clutter and not look solely at blingbling items.... what can i say.... i'm a sucker for anything shiny, sparkling or looking expensive... :))
okay, on topic again:
As i read you mentioned tools, what i find very helpfull is the use of a Dremel.
Very handy and versatile tool, worth looking into.
I'm off for now,
Gee
CONFIDENTIAL TO SI & FI:
I hope I wasn't too obtuse about the saw. My collection of tools is pretty primitive, but I would highly recommend a mini-miter box. I'm already on my second one but they're not expensive. It's basically a shrunken-down version of a regular sized, hand-held, miter-box. (As opposed to a power miter-box saw). You can achieve very tight joints with the mini- miter box!
I've seen a 'miter sheers' which is twice the price of the mini miter-box, and I don't know first hand how well it works in compare, but I imagine it must 'crush' the wood at least a little? Maybe someone else can offer a review?
Oh thanks John for explaining all that!
I think I might have to put that on my list for Santa.Its so strange to get excited about tools but my brother gave me his Drill for itty bitties and it my favourite possession......I cant tell you how much I love this drill, it doesn't quite go with the new 4 inch pumps but I love it more.....lol
And ditto on Gee's comment on your writing and I think it's the most awesome idea to document the process of Merriman Park, it makes sense as it will be passed down for generations....wow!!
Cheers to you lovely miniature bloggers....I'm sitting on the deck watching the sun go down with a glass of Champs.....it's been a day!!!!! Thanks John!!!
Fi, I think accessorizing with a drill and 4" pumps is FIERCE! I'm working on my store's Holiday Windows...hmmmmm?
How I wish I could join you for a glass of Champs, Fi, you and ALL of my blogger friends!
Hi John, Love the way this room is coming together, the niche looks great, and the panelling below it is excellent! More soon please!!!
Hey John,
I hear you on the holiday windows, I remember those days, hang in there honey......and just go with the glitter in your hair.......I know you can pull it off!!!! ; )
Fi x
Thanks, Andy! I hope you'll like the upper part of the cabinet once I get the moldings up.
Hi, Gee! Sounds like we are Kindred Spirits regarding lots of things! And a Dremel is definitely on my wish list.
Glitter and PILES and PILES of fake snow, Fi! It gets everywhere...in my pockets, in the cuffs of my jeans, (even in my unmentionables)!
This is really moving on! The niches are just the thing and I like the way you have angled them.
I too started with an inventory but made the mistake of keeping a running total as well - needless to say, that didn't last long!
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