Why switch, you ask? Because once again, ideas solidified and I became excited for the next steps on Brimble's bakery... the roof and exterior.
The roof is really pretty boring, so rather than expanded explanations, I'll just show the progression via photos and captions...
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| Fill, Sand, Gesso, Sand... |
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| Cut cereal box covering for wires... |
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| Add trims and gesso... |
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| Dowels to bridge the apex gaps in the dormers... |
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| Of course the cereal box fits - it was Lucky Charms! |
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| In Miniatures, you can turn a wooden roof into a metal one with just a few pieces of trim! It's magic! |
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| No shingles - yippee!!! |
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| Channel molding to hide and direct wires... |
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| Base color for metal roof... The metallic paint will come later... |
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| Also notice that body trims are being added to frame exterior elements... |
Some of you may remember that I wanted to try to make the exterior of Pound Cake look similar to a layer cake...
So using the Design Space software for my Cricut, I made lattice, stripes and floral stencil. These were cut from paper products, of course, rather than fondant!
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| Lattice, stripes and stencil created in Design Space. |
Here you can see that I laminated three layers of Kraft card to thicken up the lattice.
And here I am adding hundreds of tiny half pearls, one at each intersection. There were 112 of them used for the bottom lattice alone...
And then, along with trims, they were added onto the bakery...
And then the stripes...
And more lattice and trims above that...
Great progress, right? Until I got to the flower fondant layer...
This was proving to be a total trial and error adventure. I had hoped to be able to share the finished exterior in this post, but alas, the work continues...
I had the following ideas about how to achieve a fondant/frosting kind of texture:
1. Cut floral shapes with the Cricut and add embellishments to supplement.
2. Create a stencil with the Cricut and apply spackle like frosting over it.
3. Use a Tim Holtz stencil as above with spackle, then paint and embellish.
My first attempt at cutting an intricate floral stencil was a disaster. For those of you with a Cricut, I used Cricut Kraft paper with the Kraft setting, fine point blade with extra pressure. It did not cut all the way through on the first pass, and the second pass only tore sections. So disappointing. Back to the drawing board...
My next experiment is going to be with larger flower shapes which I plan to apply in a random pattern on the wall, paint and then embellish. If my cuts don't go well again, I'll try the stencil/spackle idea, though I fear that will be majorly messy!
To fill my non mini time during our mandated seclusion, I have also been baking (muffins not cake... yet!), cooking a whole lot more than I'd like (but not as much as Russ likes), finally getting my money's worth out of Audible, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video, and learning that at 51 years old, yes 51, you can absolutely love playing video games. It turns out, surprisingly, that I'm a pretty good pirate and warrior! :O)
Finding silver linings is something I'm truly good at. I hope you are too, that you are staying safe and healthy, that you have all you need and are not afraid to ask if you don't. There is so much kindness out there and we all get to take turns giving and receiving it.
God bless all of us!
xo xo,
Jodi
I had to laugh when I read that your SOS shop is currently residing on top of the New Orleans house which is a familiar occurrence with so many of us when our Mojo takes a break. However after reading this post; yours never stopped! :D
ReplyDeleteThe new roof and the decorative layers of POUND CAKE indicates that your MOJO has been working overtime and the results are FANTASTIC!
I love the way you've layered the wiring in the roof and I can already tell that the metal finish is going to look Superb!
The new exterior trims on the body of the bakery, look positively YUMMY: which I think was not only a Terrific Idea but one with immediate Curb Appeal!
I'm completely intrigued by the wonders of what you can do with your Cricut Machine and eagerly anticipating the floral lace productions for your next Luscious Layer-
my mouth is watering already! :D
elizabeth
Until I went to bed one night and the idea of what materials to use for the roof finally came to me, I was very concerned that my mini mojo had gone into seclusion far away from me! Oh to lose the opportunity! And the SOS shop only went so far before doubt and uncertainty began to creep in! I was flummoxed! All I could do was to tell myself that everything would be okay no matter what circumstances I found myself in as long as I still had faith. So I busied myself with other things and my faith came through! Hallelujah!
DeleteI am so happy that you like where the bakery is going, a decidedly but unintentional Bavarian sort of feel to be sure! I am keeping the faith that the upper layer and the metal roof will come out just as it should as long as I believe! :O)
Hi Jodi! WOW!!! What awesome progress on a project that was "side-lined"!!!! I Love your idea about the layer-cake siding! The lattice and the stripes look wonderful so far! (They have an almost Tudor-style look to them!) And the easy metal panel roof is a wonderful idea! I hope the floral layer works out... it sounds so "delicious"! I also am in AWE of your cricut skills... believe me, I kept thinking about them as I was struggling with my window trims! But oh well, it would be impossible to match my uneven window openings anyway...:) I am glad you are enjoying the extra time.... I am still "working" but have a very short commute... which is disorienting! We will all get through this and be healthier and wiser for the experience. I am really looking forward to seeing your cakes..... when you get to them! :):)
ReplyDeleteThank you Betsy! You are so right about the Tudor feel after adding the lattice and the stripes and in fact, once I saw them all together all kinds of ideas sprang to mind about how I could use the Cricut to help me when I finally get to building the Glencroft! The bakery does certainly have a Bavarian vibe and when I go to make the goods I'll have to research appropriate temptations!
DeleteWith each new Cricut experiment I am learning new possibilities as well as the limitations and greedy me is now wishing for one day to have a laser cutter! Oh to have the freedom and the right tools to make exactly what we dream to make! Your castle is all the more special, though, because each and every detail is perfectly hand fit and perfectly hand made! I am envious of your amazing artistry and patience!
I am glad you are able to work from home and that you are enjoying the extra time! All we can do is pray for those who are affected by the virus and give thanks for the positive things the situation has brought to us. It's going to be quite a feat when the world starts back up again but hopefully we can all come away with a much bigger appreciation of all our blessings and a Mother Earth we know to treat better. :O)
Oh my! I love the way you have translated your inspiration to reality. It is fun and beautiful at the same time. Is it possible to achieve the look you want by cutting the intricate design in vinyl to apply directly, or did you want it to have more dimension? Good to hear you are doing well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sherrill! I am so happy that you like the results! You are right about being able to use vinyl or a thinner material in terms of being able to cut an intricate design perfectly. It is the combination of thicker material and the intricacy of the cuts that collide into trouble. I did want a more dimensional look so the only way to get there confidently was to use kraft card and then layer it up. Luckily, this method works really well so with patience it is achievable! I really do want to try a stencil using vinyl or even acetate but would prefer to experiment when I can apply the messy spackle on a flat surface. Hopefully, one day!
DeleteI had wanted a metal roof on the Bellingham, but didn't dare go there and you have and the Pound Cake roof is awesome and NO SHINGLES! It's too bad that your delicate flower pattern didn't work out; it was beautiful, but Circuit does have limits, especially when it comes to those delicate cuts. The shop will be a work of art; beautiful. It is an odd time, isn't it? I am thankful to have my dollhouses to putter with to pass the time. I've only been out for short trips; ordered curbside pick-up for groceries. Visited my daughter and her girls without getting out of the car with window rolled up. The muffins look delicious. I'm not baking. I'd eat the stuff. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Stay well, Jodi.
ReplyDeleteOh Ann you don't know how glad I am to be free of shingles on this roof and I know you will get the opportunity to try a metal roof one day! You did such a great job on the Bellingham, though, and should be proud of yourself for accomplishing such a big job so beautifully! I think the flower stencil will work on thin plastic or acetate and would love to give it a try on some future project!
DeleteIt is an odd time and some days, even though I feel perfectly healthy, well and positive, I get sad for those who are enduring this through stressful living situations. It is hard not to want to do something and yet all we can do is donate money at this point. So some days are just days of sad reflection and prayer which lead to so much gratitude. I hope you and all of your family stay healthy and safe, as well!
Fantástico tu trabajo en el tejado ,te está quedando espectacular, así que tus escenas pueden espera pues merece la pena ver tus avances, Deliciosas las magdalenas.Feliz día ,besos:-)
ReplyDeleteGracias Rosa Maria! ¡Estoy tan contenta de que te guste la progdesa! ¡Las magdalenas de plátano estaban deliciosas y todavía tengo dos docenas en el congelador! Ñam!
DeleteWhat a lot of progress of a side-lined project, I'd never expected to see this after reading your post now!! I loved reading it all, what an very original and exclusive idea you have: making walls in the shape of a cake, so cool!
ReplyDeleteThe roof looks gorgeous already, Jodi, and what an excellent idea for making the wood pipes for hiding the electricity wires!
But what a pity that the Cricut machine didn't obey to your orders for making the flowers relief, I'm sure that you'll find out a new way to get what you want, because your knowledge of this machine and skills are endless. You go, girl, you can do it!!!
I think it was a disappointment for you that the layers of the cake/walls didn't go how you wanted it, but that's something I can't see of your well succeeded muffins you baked later on. Yummy, I can smell them here and I would love to come over to get a cozy chat, a cup of coffe(!) and a delicious smelling muffin ;O)!!
Good to read that you're safe and healthy, take care, Jodi!
Happy Easter days to you and yours.
Hugs, Ilona
Thanks for all your encouragement Ilona! I'm so happy that you like the idea of a shop that looks like cake! It's been a lot of fun trying to figure out how to make it and to see what materials I have here to achieve the ideas!
DeleteI was really disappointed that the first idea for a raised floral relief didn't turn out but mostly because I wasted the material, lol! I think if I ever have my heart set on this idea again I can use a thinner material and just laminate more layers together until I reach a good depth. I am having initial success with the cut out flower shapes. They are cutting nicely and laminating together, so the only hurtle left is to see if my hands can translate onto the structure what it looks like in my mind! That's the challenging part!
You are welcome any time to come have coffee, a wonderful chat and some baked goods! It's always so much more fun to bake for company!
Glad you and your family are safe and healthy, too, and have a Happy Easter in spite of the separation this year! Thank goodness for FaceTime!
Jodi,que trabajo tan sensacional has hecho! El tejado metálico es una gran idea y ya se ve que será fantástico.Lo las paredes en forma de pastel me parece tan original y bonito que estoy deseando que tus cortes de flores se "materialicen" ya!!!
ReplyDeleteA mi me encanta la repostería de siempre y tus magdalenas tienen un aspecto delicioso,ojalá pudiéramos compartirlas con una buena taza de café o te,alrededor de una mesa.
Mientras todo se arregla,manteneros a salvo.
Besos.
Muchas gracias Pilar! ¡Es tan bueno saber que te gusta el progreso en el exterior de la panadería! ¡Es una aventura llegar allí y espero que la porción floral funcione bien y se vea bien al final! ¡El techo de metal será un placer en comparación con todas esas tejas que se evitarán!
DeleteSon bienvenidos en cualquier momento para tomar un café y, aunque es maravilloso tener amigos de todo este hermoso mundo nuestro, sería increíble desearnos cerca para compartir diversión y conocernos mejor.
¡Manténgase seguro y bien y continúe creando las cosas increíbles con las que nos inspira!
I love to see your progress and look forward to your posts. I too have a limited attention span when it comes to minis. I jump from one thing to another and then back. I do have to admit I am jealous of your Cricut Design Space skills. I have a Cricut Maker and have yet to be able to design something as intricate as what you do.
ReplyDeleteMarilyn
Thank you Marilyn! That is so kind of you to say! I seem to float prom project to project when good ideas evade me, so I am so glad that the exterior of the bakery captivated me once again! So far, my Cricut has been a wonderful partner in making mini ideas come true, but my greeting cards are still awful! My mom's birthday card came with an apology for it looking like something I'd have made for her in second grade, lol! I guess we become good at where we focus our attention and how willing we are to experiment while our supplies dwindle!
Delete¡Fantástico! Me encanta lo que estás haciendo.
ReplyDeleteGracias isabel ¡Estoy tan contento de calentar que te gusta! ¡Mantenerse bien!
DeleteI love how the exterior is coming along! I think the floral portion will come out beautifully. The roof looks great. That's one of my favorite types of roof, so simple and it always looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sheila! I am so happy to avoid shingling! I'm keeping my fingers crossed on the raised flowers and just hope I have enough frilly embellishment stuff in my stash to pull it off!
DeleteYes beautiful roof and all that details you add what a art!!!
ReplyDeleteStay safe and healthy,
groetjes van Marijke
Thanks Marijke! So happy that you like all the details! You stay safe too and keep working on that wonderful lamp and porch project! I want to see more!!!
DeleteMe encanta la sencillez del tejado. Ha quedado fabuloso.
ReplyDeleteCuídate.
Un saludo
Gracias marian ¡Me alegra que te guste y espero que te mantengas bien también!
DeleteOoooh Bavarian influence - can't wait for the litany of geranium filled window boxes.... I do like to set you a challenge 😁 Lovely work as always and whatever you do there is never a better way to do it. Be pleased and proud ....Marilyn
ReplyDeleteThanks Marilyn! I love making mini geraniums! Might need to plan for window boxes before I get too far with the fondant flowers! 😉
Deletete está quedando una construcción espectacular! cuídate...
ReplyDeleteGracias carmen! ¡Es muy divertido tener una idea y un plan! ¡Especialmente cuando funciona bien! ¡Mantente a salvo amigo!
DeleteAll that comes to mind is SHAZAM! You have out done your self. I love the idea of layers, and you have executed it elegantly. I love the little peak at the staircase through the window. When will the baking commence?
ReplyDeleteThanks Carrie!I love Shaq, but that movie... Sheesh! :O)
DeleteI hope you are not in harm's way and it's been such a bummer not to be able to connect with everyone on the forum lately! I'm thinking of everyone and wondering how all are fairing. A post from you would be wonderful!
I love your cake shopt. I am generally not a black and white fan but it is so pretty. I am so gald that I am not the only person who puts aside projects if I am feeling uninspired.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for commenting, Luren! I am generally a colorful fan, too, and I hope that once the goodies start to go into the bakery that all the colors will pop against the black and white. There's no use forcing a project and always a better idea to progress when a clear and inspiring idea comes around!
DeleteWow Jodi, the exterior is going to look spectacular. And great that you are inspired again for this build. I always switch between things because there is no point pushing to finish something if you just don’t feel it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Shannon and Amen to that! I struggle with moving forward generally when I can't make a decision or a vague idea will not become more clear. Once I have a direction, I'm like a speeding train! And that's when it's so much fun to work on an idea!
DeleteBeing your own boss allows you do what you want at any given time. Personally, I am glad that you are back with bakery. I loved what you've done before and I love your new plans for it. Looking forward for more on this.
ReplyDeleteKeep safe and fit.
Hugs (Virtuals) Drora
Thanks Drora! I am so glad that the ideas and enthusiasm started flowing again too and I am glad you like them!!! Hope you are enjoying your time and projects too and had a lovely Passover! Big virtual hugs back! 💚💛💜
DeleteMe encanta esa pared y el tejado, es espectacular !!!!
ReplyDeleteEstoy deseando ver los avances con las flores.
Las magdalenas se ven deliciosas
Cuídate
Gracias Eloisa! ¡Qué alivio haber escapado de las tejas y los muffins estaban deliciosos! ¡Mantente a salvo también y disfruta de tus proyectos!
DeleteHi Jodi, I love this house so much! the exterior is amazing, I don't know how you think of these things.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you could use the knife blade to cut out that floral pattern?
I also want to mention that when you show us pictures I love to see what's in the background - but not in a creepy way - all the cool dollhouses and craft supplies and stuff.
Hi Janice and Thank You! It makes me so happy that you like the exterior ideas!
DeleteI was wondering about the knife blade, too. Maybe if I used the Basswood setting and just watched to see the moment the knife blade got through the Kraft paper? I will have to play around and see how to get a better result!
I am not offended, glad you enjoyed the background and and glad to show you my mess, though I should be mortified about the chaos in the background!!! With all our newly acquired free time you'd think I might use some for a reorganization project. But no, I haven't organized the shelves and drawers in any meaningful way since last summer. But you can see I've got enough hoard to keep me busy with projects for a long while! :O)
What a wonderful post! ;O) And out of so many stunning photos, thoughts and explanations this one was my favorite: "No shingles - yippee!!!" Haha, I really feel happy for you. But I must also confess that it made me grin that your SOS shop is now waiting for its next turn - it's so funny that this build has the cry for help in its name... and on the sign you placed there as a reminder. *grin*
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing how much progress you've made, the roof is beautiful already while every wire is hidden so tidy and clever. And the idea of giving the house a layered cake look and the way you're realizing it - awesome. Nevertheless forgive me asking - what do all of you mean with Bavarian? *LOL* For a real Bavarian look this would need "Lüftlmalerei" (ask Uncle Google about it - I'm convinced you will like seeing examples)... ah, loads of cake painted on the facade, this would look yummy for sure. ;O)
But enough of joking, your facade looks STUNNING - and my fingers are crossed for you to be successful with the next layer. So sorry that your first try did not work with the cricut - but I have no doubt your next try will be even better than the first one would ever had been if it had turned out the right way.
Enjoy your muffins, enjoy crafting, stay safe and take good care of yourself. Happy Easter!
Birgit
Thanks Birgit! I am so glad you enjoyed the post and the caption "No shingles - yippee!!!"! It was very heartfelt!!! And very astute of you to associate SOS with the poor abandoned SOS project! I hope that the New Orleans will offer it some counseling and tell it that Jodi is flighty but not to lose hope. It did take me a year and a half to get inspired by the New Orleans again but I did come back!
DeleteI read all about "Lüftlmalerei" and it is so cool! I wish I had known about it sooner so that I could have planned to incorporate some of it into the bakery facade! I will definitely file it away for some future idea. The Tudor Glencroft, perhaps?
We have a Bavarian themed city high up in the Cascade Mountains called Leavenworth. It is a magical place to visit due to it's views, architecture, food and Bavarian cultural festivals! So inspiring! When the kids were growing up, we used to vacation and visit there frequently and it did really feel as though you were transported to another time and place. Now I am craving schnitzel!
I am so glad you like the exterior ideas and in my next post I have great news to report about the flower fondant layer! It seems the mental block has burst and all the ideas for finishing the bakery are flowing freely again!
Happy Easter! I hope you are feeling inspired in all of your magical projects, too, and will post an update for us soon! Stay safe dear friend!
Hi Jodi, I am glad you are in good spirits and creating! It´s good to have more than one project to switch between them as inspiration strikes, something a bit hard for me to do though. Neat job on the roof, I really like it. I also like very much the idea of a layer cake for the facade and so far I think you have done a fantastic job. Good luck with the last part, but I´m sure you will kill it! Keep safe and take care.
ReplyDeleteThanks Alex! I'm glad you like the facade! I used to be as you are - having to finish one project before I'd allow myself to start another. But even on projects I love, I find myself reaching a point of over saturation or lack of any direction to reach for the next stage. When that happens I am so glad that there is something else waiting to keep my hands and mind busy! Lucky you for always knowing the way forward! You stay safe and well, too, dear lady!
DeleteGreat progress! The exterior is amazing. I really like the finishes.
ReplyDeleteThanks Faby! It's been fun to find ways and materials to help reach my ideas! They don't always come out as they were in my mind, but often I am pleasantly surprised at what does happen!
DeleteOooh, I love the paint color of the roof. What color is that? The whole outside looks amazing. I'm impressed that you are a good video gamer!! I haven't tried, but I was not very good back in the day with Atari. I did like that froggy crossing game. :) Happy Easter!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathy! The color is Maui Sand chalk paint by FolkArt. I found the link on Amazon here:
Deletehttps://www.amazon.com/FolkArt-6347-D%C3%A9cor-Acrylic-Summer/dp/B07BFNN76Y/ref=sr_1_24?crid=2ACVMXVMVJG9D&dchild=1&keywords=maui%2Bsand%2Bchalk%2Bpaint&qid=1587052647&sprefix=maui%2Bsand%2Caps%2C691&sr=8-24&th=1
But they are out of stock. Hopefully you can find it via another seller!
Russ and I used to play the N64 with our kids when they were growing up but only got our systems, PS4 and Nintendo Switch the last few years. I definitely recommend the Switch for older newbys because there are a lot of fun games for different levels. We still love Mario, and Zelda is really fun and challenging but Skyrim and Assassins Creed take you to a whole new complicated level. The challenge really is fun when boredom shows up, though with working from home and the kiddos you probably long for a boring moment! :O)
The exterior is just so fantastic already! I love the different layers like a cake. And really that lattice looks so so good! I don't know why I had never thought of using cereal boxes... so much cheaper than wasting chipboard. I might do that with my bungalow. That said my boyfriend gets a little annoyed whenever he finds his cereal in bags with a clip and all the boxes missing... ;D
ReplyDeleteI love you you mange to always keep going no matter what. Each time I get to your blog I'm amazed at just how much you've been up to!
Thanks Kristine! I am so happy to hear that you like the shop and that it inspired an idea to recycle a versatile resource! Just tell that boyfriend that he needs to eat a little faster, lol! :O)
DeleteIsn't it nice to have several different projects to work on? When you hit a wall on one, you can work on whatever *is* inspiring you at the time. I love the way your lattice work turned out. I'm sorry that your first attempt at the floral design didn't work out; it looked really lovely. However, I'm sure you'll find a solution that will look even better. Stay safe, and enjoy your video games!
ReplyDeleteThanks Den! It is nice to have variety and I am grateful - as long as I don't run out of ideas!!! And at least when I do, there is always something else around the house to keep me busy! :O)
DeleteJodi, you are so talented! I'm really loving this black and white themed cake shop!
ReplyDeleteThanks Teresa! I am so glad that there are so many patterns I can use to keep the black and white from getting too plain and boring!
DeleteWow, showing it in pictures made it look like your roof rose like a muffin in the oven. A lot of work goes into even the most plain job and you've worked wonders with the roof already.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely adore the trim on the exterior of Pound Cake. Can't wait to read your next posts to see what happened with the flower layer.
Thanks Megan! I didn't notice until you said it, but the roof really does have that "muffin top" thing going on! Good on structures, not so much on people, lol!
Delete