Hopalong Hollow....

Hopalong Hollow, where the Blueberries grow sweet, and the moss feels soft beneath your feet.

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Bricking and shingling the mouse house turret

I've built the main Structure for my Mouse stories. Now, I want to add the special touches that turn a rather ordinary house, into a Dwelling Magnifique.
 I looked at dozens of choices for roofing, and believe me, there is an amazing array of materials for miniaturists to use. In the end I decided upon something a mouse actually COULD use as an efficient, practical and easily available source for roofing.
The remarkably humble Pinecone.
 This makes incredible roofing, fitting so beautifully around the turret roof as if it were made for the job.
 This is where a hot glue gun is of the essence!
 Let the rains fall as they may, not a single drop of water will seep through this roof! I will use the pinecone shingles on the PORCH roof as well.

  I'll need to use some wood putty to fill in fretwork trim corners, at the base of roof.
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The large MAIN roof will be not covered in pine-cone shingles, but another material altogether.

 To brick the turret, I purchased teeny bricks in a red blend mixture. 
I should not have put that window in beforehand, and will need to remove it.

Using tacky glue as my cement. I carefully laid two alternating patterns on  the octagonal  turret sides, a herringbone and a foursquare. Bricking patterns were often mixed on early Tudor houses. (though I doubt they used pine-cone roofing)
The little bricks are easily cut to fit with an xacto knife. I will need to do a lot of trimming around the windows before I can put the window frames in.
 After the bricks are set, I brush  them with a clear polyurethane.

Before the Polyurethane, the brick color is rather dull and flat looking.
As I brush on the finish,
 The bricks begin to take on a rich deep color.
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I got ahead of myself and mortared the brick on one small section under a window, then realized I needed to wait 24 hours for the poly to dry thoroughly, ooops!


 For mortar, I'll be using Elmers Wood filler AND a mixture made especially for the purpose.I don't like the stark white and therefore, I think I'll mix in a bit of brown acrylic paint to give the mortar an old look.
I will use stone  and brick on the lower front of the house and a stucco finish on the upper half of the house.
  Building this house is really fun, let me tell you!  It would be a marvelous project to do with an older child.
Though I intend for this house to become the backdrop for my next book, I can easily see the house itself becoming a focus for several stories featuring my mouse. In fact, as I've been building it, 3 new stories have been stirring in my head and I find myself alternating between gluing on bricks, and typing paragraphs into my laptop.
 You just never know where things may lead.....

28 comments:

  1. This is wonderful Jeri! I've used pinecone scales for the roof on miniature unfinished birdhouse ornaments. I can see how you'd get ahead of yourself easily--it must be exciting to put the finishing touches on the house. This is where the artistry comes in.

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    1. Cathy, And pinecones are free! I was a little too anxious to try out that mortar, but if I hadn't made that mistake, I wouldn't have known that I dislike the bright whiteness of it. Now, I'll be able to alter the entire batch of mortar to suit.

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  2. This is amazing! The patience you must have to do such perfect work. It is beautiful! I'll be back.

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    1. Henny, I always say that you need no patience as long as you enjoy the job!

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  3. Oh Jeri ~ What a delight this post is. Mice certainly would use pinecones for roofing material. Fantastic. Your brick work is wonderful too. You are having fun.

    Have a wonderful 2017 ~ FlowerLady

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    1. Lorraine, I just finished the porch roof and it looks FABulous! As for the brickwork, I guess laying all those sidewalks around here was good experience for the delicate work on a tiny house.

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  4. What a lovely home you are building for your mouse! Wouldn't it be lovely to live in it? The pine cone roof shingles look fabulous. I've used them for bird houses myself and love their look! Have fun as I can see you already are! ♥

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    1. Martha, I am so glad I chose the pinecones, even after looking at some really charming shingles that could be purchased. These are exactly the right choice.

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  5. Jeri,
    First, the use of pine cones for the roofing is genius, and it looks amazing.
    Just perfect for a mouse house. You sure move fast. I can easily see how stories are emerging as you work. You are putting a fire in me to build a house. The last time I built one was about 26 years ago. This is such fun to watch you create. Thank you so much for sharing.
    Happy New Year's Eve dear friend
    Penny

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    1. Happy New years Penny! You could build a house to pass on to Lily, wouldn't that be a wonderful heirloom?

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  6. OK, wait.......

    wait........

    YOU, are blowing my mind again.

    Jeri Landers, God has gifted you with the hands of a miniature angel, how in THE WORLD do you have the eye power to see all the details!!!!!!!!!!

    I love you. Geesh woman, you are too much! That roof, SIGH! I'd want a house like this! You make dreams come true, and within DAYS!

    2017 will be a fun year, following you.

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    1. Anita, I would like to live here as well, I wish I had a turret! This will be a much envied mouse. I have ordered a book you would love. It is full of miniatures and houses done in an old French style... I can't wait to show you!

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  7. Wow! This house is really going up fast. Love the pinecone shingles, they look wonderful and are so appropriate.

    Is that hot chocolate in that cup? You could use cocoa to mix with the mortar which would give it a really nice chocolatey brown color and a wonderful aroma for the mouse owner. After all, he might turn out to be a chocoholic, you just never know.

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  8. Vic! Coffee in the cup... chocolate would be much better, but I don't have any left after Christmas because we ARE Chocoholics!

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  9. Who would have thought that pine cones could be used as roofing? Perfection! I just love how your house is coming along. Makes me want to redecorate my grand daughters doll house!

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    1. Those pinecones fit together with perfect imperfection....just my cuppa tea!

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  10. Fascinating house! The pine cones are perfect material for the roof. Your talent is amazing.

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    1. May, I thank you for the compliment, but the truth is, these are very easy to build. Anyone can do this; to make the house special just requires imagination and patience.

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  11. Jeri!!!! You are the QUEEN when it comes to detail!! I am loving seeing this grand mini adventure unfold!!!!
    Absolutely marvelous!! The pinecones are sooooo perfect!! :-D
    Love and warmth, Linnie

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    1. Linnie, Who knew it would be so fun to lay bricks, roofs and plaster?! Only in a miniature world are things this fast and easy.

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  12. This is absolutely amazing. The pinecones are perfect. I love how the builder's coffee cup is in some photos-it reminds me that this is indeed a miniature! I love it that you are inspired by your own work to write new stories!

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    1. Debra,This house really is inspiring me.A lot of it has to do with a love of old houses that just stirs the imagination; especially if the house is centuries old..as this one is intended to be.

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  13. Really gorgeous and creative! Thank you so much for sharing, you have tremendous talent! Happy New Year and warm greetings from Montreal, Canada. :)

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    1. Thanks for visiting Linda and New Years Greets to you up in the North Country!

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  14. Dear Jeri - caught up on your new project from the previous post - wow looks like 2017 is going to be another wonderful creative endeavor. I am so looking forward to seeing your house and your books develop. I am sure they are going to lead somewhere - Hugs! P.S. Many blessings in the coming New Year.

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    1. Deborah, I Think 2017 will be a wonderful year... and you, I'm sure will be painting some delicate bits and pieces of nature in your own lovely style.

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  15. Awesome!! I've no exact word to describe how incredible your project is..

    Happy New year...
    Please visit: http://from-a-girls-mind.blogspot.com

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    1. Krishna, It's a lovely adventure. I've never made a mouse's house before... except to draw it in a book. Thanks!

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