Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Walnut Nutshell House 'Sparrow Hop Cottage'


Welcome new Followers! You might want to start this story at the beginning. First here.... http://kilmouskiandme.blogspot.com/2011/03/every-village-needs-shop.html Then here... http://kilmouskiandme.blogspot.com/2011/04/nuttycrest.html


Some of you may remember that last year there was a meeting at Twigs & Berries. The residents were very upset because their new neighbor had built a house (Nuttycrest Cottage) which violated the strict building codes in their beloved tree. Sadly, despite the overwhelming number of votes, the homeowners were unsuccessful at having the cottage destroyed or relocated. Everyone suspected there were pay offs involved to the powers that be.

So... It was no surprise when this monstrosity (Sparrow Hop Cottage) appeared in the tree this week. Even Nuttycrest didn't go this far! It was only two stories. This cottage appears to be three, or is it four stories? Naturally the residents are once again, very upset! Everyone suspects the new neighbors may be outlanders.

The construction of this house took a lot longer. I used the the same materials, a walnut, acorn caps and twigs. Because the brittle twigs were going to need to conform to round shapes, I boiled some in water and clamped them over something round to dry. On the second story of the house all the "timbers" are twigs but the "daub" is opaque embossing powder used over glue. I had to fill those (daubed areas) several times to get them up to level with the twigs. Taking care not to get glue or powder on the timbers.
The second story roof with the four back to back dormers was a challenge. Partly because finished it is only 3/4 of an inch wide and because they all angle to the center. The shingles are made of paper. I tried several different ways to form the tower roof. In the end polymer clay proved to be the best result.

31 comments:

  1. It's great, so well done, and will you do the little people, too, Catherine? <3

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  2. Catherine, this is total perfection!!! I so enjoyed watching the journey of this gorgeous little nut house in the making, but the finished house is beyond belief....I totally adore it!!! Do you ever calculate the amount of hours that would go into making something like this....it would be very scary??
    As I tell you frequently....your imagination and skill level is to be envied (in a good way...lol!)

    Linda xxx

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  3. Oh MY! Another AMAZINGLY AWESOME little house! You are just too much!!!! Your skills and imagination are beyond belief! These tiny houses are So Incredibly Sweet!

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  4. Catherine.... do you ever imagine making them hinge open?
    Just wondering....!

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  5. This one is the best yet. Hope you keep right on outdoing yourself.

    XX
    KC

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  6. Lea, All the people are inside. You have to look through the windows. ;-) Just kidding.

    Linda, I really don't want to know how long they take. It would indeed scare me! I wonder why I do so many things to them no one would ever notice. Like adding glass on the inside of every window. Why do I bother putting in floors and little things you can only see through a window?

    Daydreamer, I can't hinge them because the roof fits over the nut. I have thought about lighting one though. That would have to be for a ground dweller because I have to be able to hide the battery.

    Karin, Thank you, I am glad you like it.

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  7. Catherine....I so agree, it is best not to know how much time we spend on these things....but of course you have put your time to very good use. I did notice the glass in the windows, the use of the acorn caps over the windows and also for the flower boxes. It would be a treat to peak in the windows....soooo quaint!

    Linda x

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  8. I have almost raw ... lol (but I can well imagine cunning little squirrels, small bright eyes ... so cute ;)).

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  9. It might be better if I use the word "believed" instead of "raw". (I don't know. :s)

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    1. Oh this is fabulous!!! I do believe I'm speechless......

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  10. This is beautiful,amazing,I have not enough adjectives to describe it!I only know,I love this little house and really, it is the best of all.By the way,I would take them all :_)) Jeannette

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  11. HOW can you do that ?? I LOVE it , as well as its sisters, and I still cannot believe what it's in front of my eyes. Wonderful!

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  12. Love these houses! So much detail!

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  13. Oh Catherine ! What a marvel ! And the three nut houses together make a perfect set !
    It is so adorable and so original.
    I adore it.

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  14. Oh, now it works for me!


    Hi Catherine,

    I can`t give a comment to your last post and I lost your email adress.

    To tell you how much I like your nut houses, I now take this way. They are absolute great!! I love them all!
    Hugs,
    Karin

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  15. O`I am almost wordless! Your three tiny houses are so Adorable and beautiful!
    Love them!
    Hugs
    Kikka

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  16. Great work.
    Hugs from Craftland

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  17. Just wonderful Catherine!!!!!! So much detail in such a tiny piece, it leaves me speechless to tell the truth!!!!

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  18. They are real little amazing treasures.
    Geneviève

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  19. These houses are fabulous!
    Bye Faby

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  20. So, that's what you've been up to, Catherine? I wondered what you were doing! It was well worth the wait. You are one patient lady, that's for sure.

    This little castle in the air makes me imagine a special breed of little people living in it. How I wish I could peek through the dainty glass windows to see what they're up to. Are they sitting at a little table having their tea or bustling around getting their work done?! Or, perhaps sleeping in their little beds with a little wee clock ticking away! These little creations definitely defy the imagination! Sheer genius!

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  21. Simply wonderful...I don't know how you do it...always creating such 'one of a kind' works of art!!

    Hugs!

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  22. Hello Catherine!
    I will join in with the sentiments of all the others.......amazing! Your talent is incredible. How you are able to create such tiny works of art is truly a "Gift"
    Thank you for sharing the pictures and information about them.
    Warm regards from Ray

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  23. OMG...how cute, but above all...HOW?

    Love all of them!!!

    Sabihax

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  24. Awwwww Thank you! It is so nice of all of you! Especially when Google has made it so much more difficult to post a comment.

    Suddenly, we have to type in two words to post one. The letters are now so distorted I sometimes have to do it 2-3 times before I get both of them right.

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  25. My gosh Catherine, I thought is was just me that was struggling with the comment box.....I confess that I don't leave as many comment due to the 'double distorted wording'.......I have a question....WHY????

    Linda x

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  26. Omg!!!! This is fabulous, Catherine!! Now I must go back to the beginning of this creation!! I'm in lurve!!

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