Storybook Cottage Kitchen Progress...

It feels like I worked on a lot of side projects this week, yet the Storybook Cottage's kitchen is still not finished. So I'll share my process and progress, and hopefully make it at least a little interesting!

I Started by making up some water slide decals using images I found online (and ones I collaged from several images). I had some blank white porcelain plates for the plate rack in the cupboard above the stove, so thought waterslide decals were a good way to help them coordinate with the kitchen's colors of pinks and greens. I had some plain white Chrysnbon cups and saucers that I wanted to try them on, a trivet, some canisters and some teapots, too.

I found that the ones I printed on the white background waterslide paper were more difficult to manage. Several of the decals stuck really well to themselves but not to the surface I wanted them to. I ended up printing them again, this time on the clear background waterslide paper, and that was so much better! After finishing the plates up, I was ready to finish the cupboard! The tea set on the left is made by Janice Crawley, the center is Victoria Fasken and the right is Veronique Cornish. They were purchased at various times and places over the past couple years. The pink and green pot holders are MiniGio and you'll find them in every one of my builds! The green and white ones are made by Ann Giling and her micro crochet is phenomenal!

I showed a sneak peek of the small cabinet that will go above the fridge in my last post, but the Ina Williams tea set and The China Closet bowl are definitely eye candy worth another look! The teapots on top are Veronique Cornish, Valerie Casson and Megan Wallace. I'll get a better photo of those for my next post.

I was unhappy with the tile backsplash on the stove, but was so afraid that if I started messing with it, I would just mess something else up. The problems were many. First, I made each tile as an individual. That meant I had to leave cut lines on the print, cut perfectly, then glue on completely straight. I didn't, and it was plain to see. In addition, I sealed and tried to give it a raised porcelain look with Triple Thick. In spite of sealing the image with spray sealer first, the Triple Thick bleached out the image making it several shades lighter than I'd printed it, and it remained slightly cloudy and yellowed (like Shannon's tub). I left it, but it gnawed at me all week.

Finally, I just couldn't take it any more, and I decided to just try and peel a corner up. It came right off! Phew! Now I could try again using another method, and hopefully, get a better result. This time, I made an overlay of the grout line grid over the image. I printed the image onto matte photo paper, increasing the ink intensity 10%. I let it dry overnight, then sealed it on both sides with Mod Podge. Once that was thoroughly dry, I laminated an additional layer of the matte photo paper onto the back. This was so that when I did the next step, embossing the grout lines with a ball stylus, there would be a noticeable depression. I gave it one last coat of Mod Podge and left it to dry overnight.

It looks soooo much better! I am going to think carefully before using Triple Thick again.

Triple Thick left, Mod Podge with embossed grout lines right.

I got to work deciding what little accessories I wanted where and what needed to be done with them. I had assorted cooking utensils and the little Alex Meiklejohn pitcher seemed like the perfect display vehicle. Some needed paint while others needed stain. The tiny Mini Fanaberia timer is absolutely perfect and precious! The turned wood salt & pepper shakers and mortar and pestle are also lovely, made by Alexandra and purchased through Small Scale Showcase.

The other stove side cabinet is adorned with a gorgeous cake made by our own Elizabeth of Studio E Miniatures. The cup and saucer are Kaiser and are part of the dinnerware set given to me by Keli of I See Cerulean. The tea strainer is an incredibly tiny sterling silver set by Mike Sparrow. The canisters are 3D printed from Lindblomska 3Designs Shapeways store and then painted. The paring knife is Jason Getzan. I am so excited to have these pieces, and it's been so satisfying to finally get them out of hiding and on display!

The next focus of concentration was the sink area. I almost have the shelves on either side figured out, but I turned my attention the the bay window shelf. I knew from the beginning when I expanded the bay by an inch and a half that I would have a shelf filled with herbs. I got out my cute little Braxton Payne pots and decided on a layout.

Then came the arduous duty of making up all the herbs, painting the pots, planting the pots and making labels for them.

Times like these call for many shades of green to color the leaves in these SDK herb kits! I used alcohol ink for all but the sage. That's just watered down Basil Green acrylic paint. Funny that it's definitely the color of sage and not at all basil.

I don't want to stick the pots onto the window shelf just yet - I am still contemplating window coverings. I'd like a little detail, but definitely don't want the arched windows covered. Maybe fabric roll shades with tassels? I could start them where the leaded windows meet the regular glass? Or just a cornice above the windows that repeats the arches? Opinions encouraged! I also need to install the magnet plate for the battery light in the bay.

The plant labels are so tiny and hard to see, but I didn't skimp on the details when I made them! The edges have been aged with Vintage Photo stamp ink. Here's what they look like in real life size. Printed size is 1/8" wide by 1/2" high.

I have two more major areas with accessories to address: The center prep table and the pot rack. For the center prep table, I have so much I'd like to include that I am thinking of adding an additional shelf. And, for the pot rack, the options I am considering are either having it like a traditional pot rack hanging above the prep table, or just something creative and home spun hung from the rafters. I think it all hinges on whether or not I have room to work around the hanging light fixture above the prep table. So, more work and decision making ahead...

Have a great week, and I hope all your decisions and contemplations are of the mini variety!

xo xo,
Jodi