The Privy

Do you ever have one of  those nights when you can't sleep and your head is birling with ideas for your latest project?   Well, I do too.

One night (2am to be precise) I had what I thought was a marvellous idea for Netherton.   I lay there and thought about it and thought about it and in the end, I just had to get up and nip downstairs to check and see if my idea was feasible and guess what?   Yes it was!

The first thing next day work was started on a Privy in the basement area under the pavement walkway.

The walls are made from foam board as is the door, which has been planked and straps placed across the inside.   The interior stonework has been left as it is but painted white.

The door had ventilation holes drilled and was then painted to match in with the Servant's Entrance.   (I can't help it - I was born colour co-ordinated!).

This is the view the scullery maid has when washing the dishes!

The "facilities" themselves are really basic and straightforward.   Some brick paper to the front of a wooden panel, a hole cut in a piece of balsa - cut to size and varnished.   The cistern I already had and that has been placed on a shelf using a piece of cornice as the support.

On the shelf to the inside right there is a spare roll of toilet paper and a candle holder.   There is also a toilet roll on it's holder fixed to the back of the door.

Another view for the scullery maid.

From above...

My little privy.

Things I've Made - 2

This is my sink.   I like this sink a lot!   I really surprised myself making this sink but I'd seen a picture of one and thought "I could do that", so after a couple of sketches and a check to make sure all  the bits were to hand, it didn't take that long.   All that required to be purchased for it were the two little taps.  This sink is now in the Butler's Pantry.

These are my pegs.  Thanks to this little tutorial here:   Sab's Mini Interiors  on making pegs from cocktail sticks.    I hadn't seen sticks of that particular style up here but fortunately for me a very kind blogger, namely Janice sent me some and this is how they turned out.   The bowl was bought specifically for them!   (Thank you Sabiha and Janice for the idea and the pegs).

What could this next item  be, I hear you ask?   This is a goffering iron (or Italian/Tally Iron).   It was used to create frills round maid's caps/children's bonnets/nightdresses or anywhere a decorative trim was required.   A hot poker was inserted into the metal sleeve on the top and the item was then artfully and skillfully move round the hot iron to give it it's lovely frills.   The process was made easier by the fact that often these decorative pieces were removable.   The irons were usually made by the local Blacksmith.

During a visit to a Stately Home last year, I spied this.   There was actually a run of them in a long narrow room that was situated down a few steps from the Kitchen.   The backs and sides were all wood and the tops, counters and dividers were made of slate.   They were used to store vegetables and each "bin" held stores of one form or another.   A quick drawing to remind myself when I got home and I came up with this.   There's only enough space for one in Netherton but I like the idea.   Again the marvellous Humbrol paint was used to get the "slate" effect.

This is another item that was spotted, I can't remember where now, but it certainly didn't look that difficult to create so... out came the balsa and some brick effect paper.   Two piers were made using scrap wood and covered with the paper then painted white.   A piece of balsa painted black for the "marble" top and some tiles on the back.   Solder was used to create the rail and the little rabbit was added (there are other bits there now too) - and there you have it, a cold slab.

Finally, this is the Hearth & Home sink shown previously, now in place with the addition of the goffering iron on the shelf along side a sleeve board that was put together from lolly sticks and a couple of pairs of stretchers (used to keep the shape of stockings and socks while drying).   These were made from balsa wood.

 In the meantime, the next thing I'm hoping to make is a rubbish bin - the galvanised metal kind that said "No Hot Ashes" on the lid- like this:

Unless of course anyone knows where I can buy one from.............

Things I've Made - 1

Firstly - a very warm welcome to all new followers. I'm very pleased to have you here and I hope you like what you see.    (Sadly, I didn't make the flowers).

I thought I'd interrupt the progress posts by showing you some of the little bits and pieces I've made for this property.    Ever since starting this hobby I was known for saying "I don't make, I buy!" but when I discovered I could make little tables from balsa and stair spindles, and enjoyed it, it wasn't long before I moved on to other things.

Some are kits but mostly I like fiddling with wood.

Firstly, a pump.   I'm not sure if I will use this item in Netherton.   I think I've had a better idea.

This is a little kit from Jane Harrop.   It was easy to make up and the instructions were very clear although one or two little bits of my own may be added to fill it up more.

The sink was purchased from Hearth & Home at a fair some time ago and I added a tiled back and side.   The draining board was also added to give it an extra little something.

These two items were made from bits and pieces.   The counter/unit was made to fit a specific space.   They have since been varnished and put in the Butler's Pantry.

The chair in this little scene was a whitewood item that was varnished and I made the cushion.   For some reason it took a while!   I think I kept changing my mind as to how it was to be created because it was originally meant to be a seat pad.   This chair and cushion now reside in the Butler's Pantry.   The Butler's Tray is made up from a Jane Harrop kit.

Here are a couple of my tables.   I like making tables.   They're so easy to make and you can get exactly the size and style you want/need.   The item on the right is a stove for heating flat irons.   The table at the back and the stove are now in the Laundry of Netherton although the stove has since been painted and polished using the Humbrol paint mentioned in an earlier post.

More to follow.............