Season's Greetings

 

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my followers.

 



 

 

The trouble with having more than one blog means that occasions such as Christmas and New Year have to have more than one seasonal pic.   Not this year!   I know a few of you follow all three of  blogs but some just follow one so if you see this pic more than once, I apologise!

 

 

York Fair

 

I seem to have purchased more for this property this time round than for the others and I have to exert extreme self control at fairs as this is such a large property, I could go mad unless I condition myself to only purchase bits for the current job in hand - hence the need for a list.   I'm very good at sticking to the list.

 

For the basement I have a log, axe and some firewood (I never thought of those additions until I saw them which is a slight deviation from the list but I think I'm allowed one deviation!), some jugs - always useful, a selection of cloths (these will either be stored in drawers or out on view), spectacles and their case for one of the staff - not sure which yet, a fire bucket, some dado rail, white wall tiles, a general box and a non-working clock from Halls Miniature Clocks.

 

The only downside to this trip was the journey home.   After getting the 6pm train from York, I didn't arrive in Edinburgh until 10.40pm due to delays.   There was then a half hour journey home.   Still, it could have been worse, it could have been snowing!

 

 

For Genevieve - Battery Lights

When I read Genevieve's comment on my completed Dairy I promised myself I would post a special on the battery lights I intended buying for this space as there was no feasible way I could light it electrically.

The little lights were delivered today.   A lamp and an outside lantern.   They were purchased from Tumdee Dollhouse Miniatures.

Also included are two little batteries (very similar to those used in hearing aids - not that I have one but my mum does!)   Inserting the batteries couldn't be simpler.   Just unscrew the lamp from the base and pop it in.   Switch the little switch and you're ready to go.

 

 

The lantern comes with a very thin circular magnet which has a sticky on the back for placing where you want it to be and the lantern itself just sticks on to that.   It's very secure once in place.  

The only thing I would say to watch for is to make sure, when placing these lights, is that the little switch is in the easiest accessible place.

 

 

Very fortunately for me, the lantern is an exact match for the lantern placed at the Servant's door.

 

 

 

The lamp was destined for inside the Dairy and I didn't use the sticky pad for that as I need to be able to lift it in and out to switch it on and off.

 

 

 

 

They don't have such a "blue" light as shown here.   The natural daylight was going and I had the overhead light on AND I used the flash.   I'll try and remember to take a further "on" photo in the next couple of days to give a better indication of the quality of light.

 

I'd say for areas not easily given to fitting electrics or perhaps adding a table lamp, they're pretty good.   I'm pleased with them for the purposes of the Dairy.



More gifts from France.

Some time ago I received a little parcel from Jonquil in France which contained these wonderfully crafted items

 

 

 

These beautifully detailed items are destined for an "upstairs" room in Netherton.

 

A couple of weeks ago I received another little package from Jonquil, this time for a "downstairs" room.

 

What do you think of these?    Aren't they marvellous?   Just look at the fine stitching on this little mob cap -

 



 

 

 

Not only did I receive the mob cap, but I am also the very proud owner of this beautiful gown -

 

 

Just look at all that fine detail -

 

 

These pearl buttons down the back are such a lovely touch

 

 

and here they are again on the cuffs.

 

 

I can't thank you enough Jonquil, they really are wonderful items and I'm honoured that you took the time to create them for me, especially when I know you are busy, busy in real life.

 

I have recently completed a servant's room in another property and was very tempted to put these items in that particular room but Netherton is such a grand property, only grand items (such as these) will do - even if they are for servants.   They will be servants of quality!

 

Thank you so much Jonquil, they are very much appreciated.    Irene x

 

 

*I hope you received my email, Jonquil.   If not, please let me know.   

 

 

 

 

The Dairy is done and dusted!

After much fiddling and faffing in this small space, I finally managed to put a front on the Dairy.   This was made of foamboard with wooden panels attached.     I'm pleased with the way it eventually turned out and even more pleased with the "chicken wire" at the windows.   That was just net sprayed silver and it worked really well.

 

 

 

A little shelf was added using cornice offcut and the hyacinth was pinched from another property to add a bit of life until a decision is made on something more permanent.   A light has still to be added, probably outside, and because it wont be possible to wire it in, I'll be giving the battery version a try for the first time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using my newly acquired whittling skills I created a milkmaid's yoke to add a bit more interest.   Luckily I found a RL one online complete with sizes  which made making one a whole lot easier.

 

 

I surprised myself with this little addition as, until I spotted the inspiration photo, a Dairy hadn't even been considered and best of all - it didn't cost me anything as all the bits were in the stash.   You can't get better than that!

 

 







Three cows' legs

Following on from my last post I can hear you all saying "what on earth would Irene want with three cows' legs?"

Well, this is why - *

 

I decided Netherton needed a dairy and while this property is more town house than country house, I had the perfect space under the "area" and opposite the privy.  

The tiles were taken from the inspiration photograph (Ham House) and I've used, but not directly copied, the general idea given that I don't have much space to play with.   

Fortunately I had quite a few bits that were suitable for inclusion and as it's a bit tricky to photograph them in situ, I've detailed them below as once the front and door are added it'll be tricky to see all that's there.

There is still some finishing off to be done (bits that have been highlighted by the photos!) and the front has to be added.   It's also not possible to light this space using electrics so I may use one of the new battery operated lights here - I'm thinking about that at the moment although I might just leave it the way it is.

* ©National Trust Images/Andreas von Einsiedel   Reproduced with the kind permission of the National Trust (www.nationaltrust.org.uk)  

Just Whittlin'

I have been a really bad blogger of late.   Whilst I've been reading all the blogs I follow, I haven't been posting.   I think the oomph went again but I've been keeping up to date with all your wonderful work and I don't think I'm even going to try to catch up with comments - I'm so far behind, suffice to say, I'm back and enjoying all your splendid progress.

 

I have been doing some mini work but it's been in a sort of half-hearted fashion - a wee bit here and a wee bit there but nothing has grabbed my attention recently.    That was until the middle of last week.   I was looking through a National Trust book on conservation and which had some lovely pictures of the interiors of some properties - upstairs and downstairs.  

 

I wont say yet what it was that caught my attention to the point where I thought it could make a great mini scene - suffice to say the spark was ignited!

 

While the other half has been watching tennis (me, I'd sooner watch paint dry!) I've been up in my little hobby room whittling away.    I've never whittled before and I must say, it's quite an enjoyable pastime.

 

In case it's not patently obvious, I've created three cows' legs.   I may only need two but you never know when you might need a third cow's leg as back up!

 

 

 

I was motivated to create these legs myself by the exceptionally clever wood workers in blogland.   Without their inspiration, I'd probably have bought two plastic cows and cut their legs off so thank you for sharing your skills - I would never have done this otherwise..