Saturday, December 5, 2009

On a roll here.....

I actually got some stuff done yesterday. Well....I've got a lot done this week, but it mostly consisted of grocery shopping and cleaning....and I got 75% of my Christmas cards done. They're stamped, stickered, addressed.....and just need to be signed! Feels good to know it's almost done!

And then yesterday.... I started tinkering.....
I got the gourd hollowed out! It was a lot easier than I thought, and I didn't hurt myself, hehe! First I washed and scrubbed the outside of the gourd to remove any dirt......then I dried it. Next I drew an oval with a pencil onto the outside of the gourd. And then I used the Dremel to cut out the oval. I didn't cut to close to the line at first, just wanted to get the oval cut out. Then I went back and sanded the edges back to where I wanted them. Once I was done, I washed off the pencil marks, just took a little wet cloth to do that. Next I pulled out the insides....really easy to do by hand! And then this is what you'll have:)

I found an old plant stand that I cut down to use as a base.....

...and painted it black. I still want to stain the outside of the gourd, just haven't made that final decision yet. But I really, really, like it so far!

And!! I got the bathroom wall Grouted!!! And it works perfectly! If you've ever been afraid to grout polymer clay...Don't !! It wipes right off the tiles.....and is beautiful when it's finished! Just look!! ((And cause I know someone will ask:)......I used the premixed grout that comes in a bag from Michael's by Triangle Crafts~it's called white Mosaic grout))

I also think I want to add a 'chair rail' across the top of it...or maybe a little shelf? I just love how that brown brings out the best in those tiles!!

...and last but not least! Here's Otis and Fred, who actually might be a Fredericka....hanging out in Otis's bed. Otis barely fits in there alone, but Fred, (yes, we're still calling her Fred!) just wiggled up in there, too!!
....so until next time.....
Katie

.....and for the record, I can't wait till I can type with all my fingers again!!

7 comments:

MiniKat said...

Love those tiles! I have been pondering making some but I wasn't sure how they'd look. Now I what to try even more!

Fred is too cute with his/her "Uncle Otis." :-)

Are you going to make an opening in the handle of the gourd or attach a chimney pipe to it?

Mercedes Spencer @ Liberty Biberty said...

Nice work on the gourd. And those tiles look awesome!!
Mercedes

Debbie said...

Everything is coming along Katie. Your tiles look fantastic.
Fred or Fredericka looks so cute snuggled up to Otis. Have you heard how Ginger is?

Katie said...

Minikat...You should try the tiles! I've been putting it off for way to long now! And it was soooo easy! As for the top of the gourd, I'm not sure....the bf is with you and keeps telling me I need a pipe....and I don't want to mess up the gourd. Plus...there's no chimney on this house....so then, for it to make sense, I'd need one of those, 2! LOL...I shoulda thought of all this before, huh!! Any suggestions??

Katie

Flora said...

Who'd a thunk it, A gourd as a fireplace??? Someone with a wonderful imagination it would seem!!!Can't wait to see it and the rest finished!!!
blessings,Flora

Sans! said...

Katie, I really love those tiles and I am cracking my head wondering if you have done a how to post on mixing your polymer clay. I remembered reading one post on how you make the cane. Must dig through your post or can you help me here? :) I think maybe I can use this for one of my havelis or Indian houses.

On the chimney for the roof. One of my houses has a chimney which is actually just a block of wood with a slope end on one side. You just stick the slope end on the roof. I still remembered nobody could figure out what that piece of wood was for and had to email the vendor to ask ..lol! So it is not difficult to build a chimney I guess. If you want I can take a pic of it and email to you .

Katie said...

Hey Sans.....Here's the link that you remember...it doesn't tell you how, just shows you the other tiles I have made....And if you like the red ones, I can mail them to you. .....Or I can write a tutorial on how to make them! Just give me a week or so...I needed a reason to pull out the clay anyways:)

...as for the chimney....I know excatly what your talking about...I have one for Cora's house, and it took us a minute to figure out what it was, too...lol! I think I want a pipe looking chimney for Marshmallow manor though...Just haven't invisioned it yet....lol, it will come to me...someday....
:)
Katie