Holiday wishes and library progress!

Hello everyone,

Happy holidays!

 

The week before Christmas is always a little hectic, so I wanted to take a minute and wish you all the a very merry Christmas and a happy New year, or any other holiday you celebrate!

 

 

May you be surrounded with people you love and who love you...

and may you always have enough of everything you need and your heart desires

Happiness, health, love, prosperity and comfort to all!

 

Questions:

 

I was asked 2 questions  last time I posted. Firstly, I studied interior design which is where I learned about space planning. As for the rest, most of my miniature techniques were self thought through reading books, blogs and watching a few videos.

 

Secondly, I rarely listen to music when I work on my minis. I can't stay still when music is playing. However, I do have a collection of dvds that I put on as background noise: Royal Upstairs Downstairs, Treasure houses of Britain, Miss Marple with Joan Hickson, Waiting for God, The Uninvited and Rebecca. 

Progress:

2 weeks ago I posted about the progress on the library. Since then I have been cutting out the wall panneling for the rest of second floor of the new wing.

The picture above is the wall paneling for the staircase behind the earl's office.

The staircase will lead to the new winter parlor and the banquet hall on the third floor.

The steps are 4 inches wide strips of MDF 5/8 inches high. I used a 3/4 inch spacer to get each step the same depth and glued the pieces with carpenter's glue and drops of gel super glue.

The door was a gift from Ray. It is a false door case, but I carefully cut out the door from the frame. The frame will be finished to look like stone and the door will be walnut. I will glue the door in place and you will just get a glimpse of a sink. This will give the illusion of a bathroom for guests. I have another bathroom on the third floor, but this way I will have one private and one for the public.

It took me a good day to measure and plan the staircase and paneling. Enjoy these pictures because once everything is glued down you will only be able to see this room through the doorway of the earl's office.

I decided to make the panel above the door a transom so as to see a bit more of the room and the staircase landing. The only other view will be from the library door.

The pictures above were my final dry run just to make sure I had cut out every single piece that needs to be faux walnut finished. I had planned to paint everything today, let it dry for a week, and assemble everything during the holiday break. I forgot one little, itty bitty detail....the lumber strips I which also need to be finished to look like walnut. This morning I took out my lumber and calculated everything I need to finish the rooms... and I was shocked!

Every single one of these pieces, including the staircase and door, with 2 coats of  water based paint and faux finished with oil paints. These are doorframes, baseboards, chair rails, crown molding, window mullions, panel detail... I have no idea why I did not realize there would be this much. It looks like my holiday will be spent painting instead of assembling.

And that is all for now my friends. Happy holidays from myself, Jo and Ozzy in real life...

 

 

 

 

 

 and from the earl and countess in mini life

Big hugs

Giac