Monday 31 October 2011

A Quick Update!

Lots of work being done here - but lots more to go too!!



From this.......................................












To this took 2 days, working from 6.30 in the morning until it was time to feed people their evening meal!!  I get very focused!

I needed to get that wall finished and behind me - I think you will understand what I'm saying here!






Work continues............................

I just couldn't resist it!!

People by Kim Murdock.

Wednesday 26 October 2011

Tudor Market Hall Update!



It has  taken me a while to get this far - but at last this side wall is finished - apart from inserting the painted window panes.

Tomorrow I move on to the back and finish the surrounds of the "jail" door.

That leaves the very large wall at the other end of this view to work on and finally all the cobbles underneath the building which will be the market place.

Still a lot of work to be done - but it is starting to look as if it might turn out "OK"!!

Sunday 23 October 2011

More baskets.........

I managed to complete a couple of baskets over the weekend - in amongst putting the Tudor market halls together.  Thought I would show them here!



A bike basket!











An old style shopping basket with mustard X trim and beads to match! 



Now I can go back to claying with a clear conscience!

Saturday 22 October 2011

Tudor Market Hall ......and Welcome!

Wecome!
Before I go another step further  -  I must welcome new followers to my blog.  Thank you for dropping by and I hope you stay awhile!

Tudor Market Hall
I was lucky enough to be able to acquire this Rik Pierce kit - and talk about a jigsaw puzzle - but it has been a heap of fun and hard work!!  I am making 2 - one for a friend and one for myself and I'm working on them in tandem so it has kept me very busy - like one on a mission!!  The mission being getting it finished as soon as possible.

The jigsaw puzzle!!

My friend Leif literally saved my life by assisting with the distressing of all the wood needed for both kits.  A lot of work there - but it kept him busy for most of a weekend!!







The internal walls clayed and lightly painted.  Further aging later!!








See?  I did my exercises on this day - I picked up the weights off the floor and placed them carefully on the table.  They really come in handy for holding things in place!






Here it is taking shape - albeit slowly!












Here the beams and floors have been added.












Now I can continue to clay the outside - brickwork on all external walls.
The roof can then be added and I will put it on it's base and work on cobbling the market area.  Still a fair amount of work to be done!

I'll keep you posted!


Thursday 13 October 2011

A Cane based shopping basket.........

I have spent the last few days having fun with this little number!  It has been made for a friend and will be travelling across the world to its new home.





Here it is poor thing - in all its nakedness!  I just thought you might like to see some of the process!

Below are pics of the basket finished!







View showing finished basket front on with the dominant Godseye!










Side on view of basket for an idea of the shape!







View of basket showing detail of  handle.









I get a whole lot of enjoyment making my baskets and I hope I won't bore you all to death with them!
I am working on a little tutorial for a hanging basket to put on this blog so you can have a go at making something simple.  A little more on that later.

Monday 10 October 2011

A Pair of Picnic Baskets.....and some orchids for colour!

These picnic baskets have taken me soooo long to complete!

They are made using cane which I have cut down and sanded and then soaked to shape into the formers.  I have also used cane for the stakes and the weaving material is 2 ply waxed linen thread.

These two baskets are basically made on similar formers but have been shaped differently with the stakes!  I had fun doing them both.



I couldn't resist adding the orchids below - they are so pretty!  I hope you enjoy!




Yet Another Project - Tudor Market Hall

This past weekend I drove to the Gold Coast and back (800km) to deliver the second Venice Canal House that I completed recently.  This has opened the door to starting yet another venture in the shape of Rik Pierce's Tudor Market Hall.


These are the bits that hopefully will be transformed - soon!!  I will keep a little diary on progress!

Saturday 1 October 2011

The Hot Rods came to town.....

The Drag-ens Hot Rod Club based in Chipping Norton, Sydney, NSW held their Show & Shine Spectacular in Nambucca Heads over the weekend.



More than 400 hot rods filled the main street of Nambucca on Saturday morning.








Every size, style and colour imaginable!
My all-time favourites are always the ones that have been faithfully restored rather than "rodded".

The rain held off just long enough for the show - and it has been raining steadily every since!