Windows... Not On the Net...

OK. The first step is to outline the windows with clay...

Then you wrap it to the inside and cut it off even with the edge of the window.

You want the inside smooth, just in case you want to put wooden frames on the inside.

Then you use a credit card or stylus to draw the rocks.

Notice that I left the edges of the torn clay as is.  That gives the rocks a more natural look.

After you get the windows surrounded and the rocks drawn, you use a tooth brush or other heavy bristled brush to texture the rocks.  You can also use the stylus to put in details.

The one sticking out on the right was with a tooth brush.

The one next to the bottom on the right was with a stylus...

I drew some lines on the side of the wall to give me some idea where I was going to continue the rocks. 

Maybe by tomorrow, I will have all of the rocks in place.  Fingers crossed... Although it's difficult to work with them in that position...

Back to the rock pile...

See you tomorrow.

While Walter's Away...

Casey will play at cleaning... I started pulling things out of the closet in the computer room this morning... I am just glad that Walter won't be home until Friday... It is going to take me that long to sort through things and stick some of them back in there.  Other things will go to Goodwill.

What a mess!  I used to do a lot of quilting and upholstering finds from the thrift stores... I only have one chair that needs to be redone and the cushions for the porch swing... I do believe that I can part with some of this stuff.

While I am cleaning, Tessie and Zar are refusing to work on the antique store and pretending to clean my craft cottage.  Somehow, that doesn't seem fair.  I should get to do that and they should clean the computer room closet...

They aren't willing to trade locations... They told me that I made the mess in the closet and I should have to clean it up.

Oh well.  I will get even.  As long as it take to clean the closet, I won't be able to work on the antique store.  So there!

 So far, I can't see anything that they have actually cleaned in the cottage... The whole thing looks just like it did the last time I left...

I am going back to work on the closet now. Kota is helping me... Crawling in all of the corners to make sure I get everything out.

Let's see which party gets finished first. At the rate that they are going, it will be the Fourth of July when they finish.

Back to work. 

See you tomorrow.

Living Dangerously....

These two are doing just that... They are trying to fall off of ladders and out of windows...

I went out to play for a while this morning and when I got back this is what they were doing...

They found several bottles of paint(various colors) and mixed them together.  Then they proceeded to cover the house.

It's not a terrible color for the mixing, but it's not what I would have chosen.  They both said that it would go well with rocks... Whatever that means...

They mixed blues, browns and grey.  And if you see it in person, they wound up with a darker shade of grey. 

It looks blue in the photos.  It's not. It's pretty much "dolphin grey".  That's one of the colors in the mixture...

Walter is getting ready to go up to Colorado for four days next week to play golf with three of his friends.  So... I am preparing for his departure by rounding up the beads that I will be using whilst he is gone. 

Yes... I will still do some work on the antique shop, but I find beading much more relaxing.  Therefore, I will be using part of the time for that.

Maybe about 50/50.  Be prepared.  He leaves Tuesday and gets back late Friday... Hey! He deserves some time to do something besides running me to the doctor...

My last Herceptin treatment is on Monday.  I will be officially finished with cancer!

We are both going to be celebrating for a while!

See you tomorrow.

If AtFirst You Don't Succeed....

Start over...

That seems to be my motto of the day.  I finished that chenille bracelet a couple of days ago, but was unhappy with the ends.

I started over with brighter turquoise and gold-er gold... That did the trick.  I still have a  couple of inches to go, but that won't take long.

Meanwhile, I started doing the rocks for the second time too... I am liking the air drying clay rocks a lot better than the movie trays. They are more rocky... More irregular and bumpy.  They aren't going over the whole surface.  Just in spots like the book store.

So far, I have Tessie's approval... but she keeps whispering, "More color.  They need more color."

She knows very well that I won't add color until I have them all on and they are completely dry.

Zar got into the mix.  He just keeps saying, "It needs a lot more rocks!"

If I could get the two of them out of the way, I would be able to fulfill his request much faster.

I just hope I can talk them into stepping aside without making cookies or fudge...

Back to work.

See you tomorrow.

Back to the Future....

I spent over an hour this morning cutting up theater trays... I think that it was five whole ones and two or three others that were already partially used.

Quite a pile...

Then I went and looked for tools.. They aren't the usual assortment that most people use for walls of stone... An awl, crochet hooks, extra long toothpicks and stylus of all sorts.  Oh and a chopstick!

I started messing with the trays... I drew a crowd of onlookers...

They were all hissing and booing!  Actually, I joined in... I really hated the formality of the  cut stone... I pulled it all off.

This house just doesn't want to be covered in that.  It wants a more informal stone pattern... OK. I will go along with that. 

Therefore, I am going to quit for today and go get ready for the Wednesday Witches to descend from the sky on their collective brooms.

I have to go cook now.  I am sure that the Terrible Two plus One will not object to that!  Perhaps they will even volunteer to help.  Peach Pie is on the menu.  There won't be any leftovers with them around.

Off to the kitchen.

See you tomorrow.

Enough to Cover the World!

 I was debating on what materials to use for rocks on the antique shop...

I looked at the supply of theater trays in the closet.  Tessie caught me looking... and she exclaimed, "You have enough of those things to cover the world!"

Not quite... I have enough to cover the whole antique store if I want to, but not the whole world.

Maybe I should use some of them just to clear out the closet a bit.  I didn't even carry any home from the movie yesterday... Actually, they were out of trays!  Maybe I have them all!

Just out of curiosity, I went and found what I have left of the air hardening clay that I use sometimes.

I have about two thirds of a package of that left also...

Tessie likes to play with that... before I could stop them, she and Zar started rolling out sheets of clay.

The roller that they are using is really for rolling fondant.  I got it at Walmart years ago.  It never gets used for food, but works wonders for clay of all sorts.  The little bands at the end of the roller make it so that everything that you roll turns out the same thickness.

They got this far and I stopped them.  Now I have half a package left and they had fun.

I am now thinking that maybe I should use a combination of the two... Shallow rocks and foundation from the trays and heftier rocks from the clay.

At least I know that I have enough now.  I hate the decision making part.  Maybe I will let Zar and Tessie decide.

Tessie said that they would give it some thought, if I would make them some banana muffins to munch on whilst deciding... I knew that there would be a catch.   I guess I should go make muffins.  That's easier than decision making  by myself.

"Tessie, do you want them with nuts or without?"

Back to  the kitchen. See you tomorrow.

Central Intelligence and Patching Plaster...

 OK.  We went to see Central Intelligence this morning... Good movie.  Lots of fun.

I only mention that so that you will understand why I haven't gotten more done on the antique shop. 

I did get another wall covered in stucco. 

This is what I am using... I call it Spackle.  They call it Patching Plaster... It's the same thing as far as I am concerned.  I have used both.  They both work the same.

Anyway, proof of work.  Here's the second wall. 

See. I did do something besides watching movies today!

I know.  "Two more walls to go.  Get to work!" That's what Tessie said! 

I am leaning towards something in the story book style.  I am thinking that this building would lend itself to that.

I have always liked the outside of the Buttercup Book Store. 

Not necessarily in the same colors.  Just some rocks added to the outside, here and there.

I started this yesterday afternoon. I am thinking of trying my hand at the kind of free form that looks like the photo below.  I don't think that I will make mine as thick as that one. 

I got it at the gem show a few years ago... It is very heavy.  I want something a bit lighter... Or maybe I will free form this one a little differently.  Make it up as I go along...

I know!  Get back to the antique shop.  Hey! I have to have something to do whilst watching TV in the evenings.  I can't mini 24 hours a day...  It's either this or knitting.

Back to work.

See you tomorrow.

Fixing Things...

I had no square stock that would fit the crack, so I am using round. It works just as well.  It will all be covered.

I started the stucco this morning.  I have one end done...Three more to go.  Yes, there is some wall on either end of the fourth side.

I am going to have to make a piece to match the one on this end. It was part of the porch.  I may only have to cut the bottom of the piece off.  I will have to go hunt through the pile to see.

I re did the roof on the "bay". 

It is simple enough to do.  I just folded a piece of cardstock in half and started cutting.

First the top to the angle that I wanted the roof to sit against the wall.

Then the bottom was easy.  I simply drew a line to indicate where the bottom of the roof would be.  The same measurement all the way across from the edge of the bay, itself.

Then, on the jigsaw, I cut two pieces.  One just a tad larger than the other one, so that they would overlap the width of the wood.

I now have a roof!

I am going to take a break and have lunch with the squirrels.

Then back to work.

See you tomorrow.

No Going Back Now....

 I did it  and I'm Glad! I am getting rid of the pressed gingerbread and going for something completely different.

 The first step was deleting the porch posts and railing. All Gone.

Tessie is on board with this... On the condition that I don't destroy the whole building... She just keeps saying, "Just make it better."

She is watching me closely.

 I did some of the gesso painting on the outside this morning.

I am thinking that I will leave the gingerbread on the bay. It will only be seen from the inside.  I can live with that.

I cut the railing off of the top of the "bay"... I think that it looks more like one half of a phone booth than a bay window... Hmmm... Maybe it needs to be enlarged... I will have to think on that for a bit. I may at least change the shape of the windows.  We shall see.

I am sure that Tessie will weigh in on that.

There will definitely be a slanted roof on the top of that piece.  There is no reason for the rails around the top.  You would have to open the second floor window and drop down to get there.  Then how would you get back up?

Sometimes I am way too logical...

Back to the store.

See you tomorrow.

Gingerbread and Lace...

I don't really want to use the pressed out trim on this building... But I may have to.

Unfortunately, if I cut it off, the building may be unstable. It is already questionable...

Luckily I have the experience to fix it... I pity the fool that picks it out as a first kit!

Tessie is already complaining that I am not going fast enough... If I go fast, the building will fall down around her head.  It needs a lot of careful work and lots of glue and tape!

I am thinking of using some of the cake decorations that I got a couple of weeks ago to cover some of the fixes... It's not for sure, but I may have to.

The slots on this thing are just enough off that this is happening on the roof.  The roof slots fit down over the front(one piece) and the back(also one piece)of the house, so it is not going to be easy.  Usually I close the gap on the top of the roof with a piece of square stock. 

This time, it is going to be a larger piece than usual.

As I said, the slots are put into the holes right.  But there is a more than usual gap at the top of the roof.

This is going to be fun! Oh well.  I need a good challenge once in a while.

And Tessie will not let me quit!

So far, everything seems to be holding together, but there is a LOT of tape in use at present.

Lots of glue and extra wood is in order. 

I have to go now and see what I have that will fix things.

Back to work.

 See you tomorrow.

A. W. O. L....

I did it and I am glad! 

I snuck out of the house about 8:30 and met April for coffee and fun...

We went thrift and bead shopping.  I found this pack of origami paper at the first thrift shop for 50 cents.

I see Japanese minis in my future...

April did most of the buying at the thrift shops.  We went to one antique mall.  Neither of us bought a thing.  Just had fun wandering around.

I told her... I need to get back in regular Casey mode.  I have been icky, sick Casey for too long.  It is about over and I have to get used to doing what I want, when I want, once again.

I got out of the house without any trouble... It was getting back in that tripped me up.  Tessie saw the bead bag and immediately wanted to know what I bought for her... (nothing) 

Don't tell her that.  She seems to think that I should get her something every time I go out... That's how she has always thought.

As usual, I had a particular project in mind, but not the right beads... So I bought four tubes.

Then April found these.  I bought beads to spell Amare's name.  The next time that they come over, we will string them, along with some other beads on an elastic cord.  Then Amare will have his very own name bracelet that he can say that he made for himself.

Of course, as soon as Tessie found them, she started yelling... "This doesn't even come close to spelling TESSIE! 

I am either going to have to buy her beads with her name on them or be much more careful about sneaking stuff into the house. 

I have orders to buy her beads the next time I go to the bead shop... She will never be able to wear a bracelet that big, but what Tessie wants, Tessie gets!

Just to irritate Tessie, I am going to go bead for an hour or so. Then I will go back to work on the antique shop.  That should quiet her down... Notice that I didn't say that it would.  I just said that is should... Back to the work at hand...

See you tomorrow.

The Other Two...

Not the Terrible Two.

I had Wednesday Witches today... There were only two of us, but we had fun.

Joan lives a couple of blocks over from me and it happened that we were the only ones free for Witches today.

 We ate and beaded.  Then we ate some more and beaded some more...

Joan made the bracelet in the first photo.  Very pretty and well done besides!

Tessie's nose was out of joint, because she wasn't invited.  She stomped her feet so hard that she dislodged the second floor.

I am going to have to see if I can find the rest of my door skin.  I think that I have enough to make the floor from.  If I do, all of the second floor will be the same.

I was repairing jewelry today... So rather than show you old pieces, I decided to throw this in the mix.  I am beading this bottle with delicas.  They won't be solid, but the neck part will. 

Hey! It's better than showing you old repaired jewelry.

I will be back to regular programming tomorrow. Back to minis.  See you then.

Tessie Works While I Play...

My idea of work is slightly different from Tessie's.  I would say that I worked on this bracelet yesterday.  She would say that I was playing...

While waiting to get in to see the doctor, I knitted... Tessie would also say that, that was playing.

I have to get started on Christmas socks for the family members.  I didn't do it last year.

I have a much better attitude this year than last!

One sock half done and about a dozen more to go! 

Tessie's idea of working is grabbing things from the workroom and other places in the house to put in the antique store... Please note that the bracelet that I just finished is in the pile.  She seems to think that she is owed the bracelet since I am not working on her store...

I also noticed that she has a bunch of my wicker stashed upstairs.  NOT ANTIQUES!!!

Spike had better  get out of there, before she puts a price tag on his collar.

It was so nice out this morning, that I spent the morning out in the back yard.

These are some of the towers that I have been building.  At this time of day, they don't sparkle much.  They will look better later in the afternoon...

I still like this setting best.  The dragon is doing well.  I was afraid that, if he got wet, he would disintegrate. He is doing just fine.  I think that he was meant to be outside.

The blue towers in this one are my favorites.

I need to go out and clean up the ground around this area.  Oh well... There's always tomorrow.

See you then...