Let Build a Castle out of Builders Foam

or a dollhouse or any other type of building.....
Make sure you get high density foam. This type of foam has a smooth surface and is easy to carve. It comes in pink or blue
This is styrofoam & you can see the difference; styrofoam has a honeycomb surface.

Castle Roombox

I'm writing this from Cornwallis in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia... tomorrow we start on the castle roombox but today is still a free day.
My flight yesterday left at 7 in the morning; which meant getting up at 4. I guess we can be forgiven the comedy of errors:
First airport drive round: because we went to arrivals instead of departures.
Second airport drive round: because we went to terminal 1 instead of 3.
Third airport drive round: woohoo made it! (we've only been to the airport 8 times this year, so it's not that we had an excuse other than lack of sleep.) Luckily my flight was reasonably empty so I got to stretch out across 3 seats & sleep during the 1-1/2 hour flight.
One of my classmates, Sharon picked me up & off we went on the 6 hour drive to get to our workshop. This part of Canada is one of the oldest settlement areas so buildings such as these are common:
Don't you just love old doorways? There always seems to be a hint of mystery as to what's on the other side of the door.
The stone that you're seeing on the church is the actually color of the riverbank clay around here.
Nova Scotia is also renown for its artistic communities. Take a look at these gorgeous hooked rugs that I saw at the Fitzpatrick studio. Apparently her work hangs in the National Museum in Ottawa
....not what I thought of as rug hooking! I would so dearly have loved to have bought one but the several thousand dollar cost per rug was quite a ways out of my league.

Every one seems really friendly. I'm reliant on the other ladies with cars to get any where otherwise you'd be inundated with touristy photos. I'm also limited to WiFi access in the mess hall only. Oh did I mention that my workshop is happening on an old military training base? My first time for sleeping in "barracks"!

Castle Roombox

Here he finally is! I know that I was supposed to be making Amarus Beatrix Matilda, Grand Duchesse de Sainte Claire but somehow in amongst the feet dragging & all the procrastinations that I could think of, this is who emerged:
Amarus' father, the last of the Cathar priests or wizard depending on how you feel about Cathars.....

I have a brand new appreciation of what it means to wig & dress a doll. I can't even begin to imagine having to make Victorian clothing! He looks slightly windblown & if I had had time, I would have re-done his robes.

I'd still like to sculpt my own people. Anatomy classes are full for this year. (I figure I need all the help I can get. LOL)
Let's just say he'd good enough to take a photo of; let's just say I've learned a few things that I'd do differently next time; I'm sure there'll be a next time now that I've gotten my feet wet! Let's just say that I still hate to sew. But.....

1. I did try something new.
2. I think I did OK for a first time.
3. I'm sure there'll be a second time.

Even though my guy is going to be filed under "A" for attempt in my bottom drawer, I'm glad to have made him. I'm sure when I go through that bottom drawer at this time next year, I'll laugh at my amateurish attempts but I'm rather proud that I not only finished him but also finished by the Sept 31st deadline.

If you take anything away from reading this post, then I hope it'll be a feeling of "well, if she can do it, so can I"! It doesn't have to be a doll. Just try something you've never done before! I promise you won't regret it!

Wizards Treasure Chest

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And your pocket endlessly hold a coin or two.

signed this day in the year of our Lord
Amarus Beatrix Matilda
Grand Duchesse de Sainte-Claire
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Flower Swap
Many thanks to Monika, for the lovely flowers, the water hose & reel and the little hearts. They look just right for turning into flower pots.

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I've been asked to write up some tutorials. I'm thinking I could do the clay treasure chest since it would show how to do faux wood, work with pearl ex & metallic clay and incorporates Christi Friesen's wrap technique. What do you think?
Or is there another one that you'd rather see?

Castle Roombox

Remember these toes?
They've had a pedicure. I guess you could say she's had an entire make-over. Afterall it's hard work keeping those emerald scales pristine.
Meet Scylla:

...and this is Fafnir, her newborn:

.....who's just discovering the world around him.

Scylla sits 6 inches tall to the top of her horn while little Fafnir is only 2-1/2 inches.
These OOAK guys are my first ever dragons. They're made of Super Sculpy over a wire & apoxie armature and painted with alcohol paints and metallic powders.
I'm quite pleased with them, doubly so considering Ken asked if I had used molds!

Castle Roombox

Hearken to me Noble Ladies and Gentlefolk....

Dame Dana bade me show you my talisman ...my protection from the evil and the evil doers of this world. I must heed her bidding for to do else would show a discourtesy in return for all her kindnesses. For it was she who brought me to Camelot and Merlin's Lair.

I have kept it safely hidden these many years for it came by one of the wise women from across the shimmering lake. I have carried it with me wherever I journey. Look well and see how its eye follows you as you move about me. It has the power to look into your soul and see harm before it can touch me.
Look well and see the serpents tongue that can scent lies before they are born.

I will not show you the spells written large within! For those may only be looked upon when I am ready to use them. Heed me well, for herein lies the power to destroy my enemies.
Be not one of them!

~Amarus Beatrix Matilda~
Grand Duchesse de Sainte-Claire


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My lady bids me tell you that her talisman is made of fimo, adorned with precious beads and a cats eye marble within.
~your humble servant,
Mistress Karin

Castle Roombox

Sire, Dame Dana, noble ladies....
I humbly beseech all who are gathered here today to harken to my tale. I ask forgivenness for my tardiness. I pray that it is not yet too late to attend the court.

I have journeyed from a far land, and have had to overcome many trials in order to lay before you all my sad saga. Even now it may not safe for me to do so. Many are the spies of King Philip le Belle of France.... who even as we speak persecutes the last of us ...yeah even unto Jacques de Molay, our leader. Our last hope, lay with Pope Clement at the Council of Vienne; but even this was denied! I add my own curses to that of Master Jacques' for I hid myself among the crowd that watched his burning and heard how he cursed the King and the Pope.

This was not the first time that I have had to fear imprisonment and the torture that it entails nor even death! But I swear before all that is holy, it will be the last time!
I was born in the Languedoc region in France where my father was the last of the Cathar priests, murdered for our religion. Simon de Montfort, cursed be his name, carries the blood of thousands of my people on his hands. Even after 35 years his blood thirst was not quenched!

...be still! I have not time for your wailings and wringing of hands!
Where were you all when the false church fell upon us to prevent our leaders from exposing their falsehoods. Know you all that my bloodline and that of my people began with Mary Magdalene, the hidden bride of the Anointed One.
I grew up in poverty and in secrecy but I spent my time well learning much from the wise women of the forests. Then my brother joined the Poor Knights of Solomon's Temple ...they that are known to you as the Knights Templar, brave men all who willingly laid down their lives in combat with the godless Saracens so that all pilgrims might worship in Jerusalem. Cursed be Philip le Belle for taking away my brother and my last refuge!

I shall not tell you where my castle may be. You would never find it for it is hidden in the mists of time. Know ye that the wise women taught me well. I know many spells for good and for evil but the greatest of them was the one that hid my home. I am the last of my race. I have learned to master time. I wait!! But I am not alone for the great beasts of fire and sky keep me company.
I go now but you have only call my name and I shall return with more tales of my pitiful life.
I wait ....for I will be avenged!




signed this day in the year of our Lord
Amarus Beatrix Matilda
Grand Duchesse de Sainte-Claire

Medieval Chairs

From what I've read, life in the Middle Ages meant a transient lifestyle due in part to volatile conditions and in the case of the nobility, to widely scattered land holdings that needed supervision. Rather than have enough furniture for each residence, much of the lighter furnishings was transported on these moves. Heavier items such as beds or tables were left behind but chairs which symbolized the importance of a person, were often taken.

The Glastonbury chair was known to exist since the early Middle Ages and is thought to be based on a chair made for Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury, England. Although often referred to as a "folding" chair, these chairs didn't actually fold, they dismantled.

The other type of chair was known as a Savonarola or X chair, so named for their crossed legs. They apparently originated in Egypt and were used throughout the Roman Empire. By the Middle Ages when chairs were used by kings and high ranking church officials, the X structure became a symbol of authority.
The Savonarola chair, named for a 15th century Dominican cleric, is distinctive for the elaborate curve of the X. Due to their solid wood construction, these chairs were not only sturdy but comfortable.
Funny enough Henry Tudor did furniture makers a disservice in dissolving the monasteries. It was monastic groups as well as the guilds who were instrumental not only in maintaining high standards of workmanship but also influencing the form and ornamentation of the furniture. Spires of Gothic cathedrals were the model for furniture finials, while circular tracery was made to resemble the rose windows of architecture. With the decline of high religious devotion in England, 15th century architecture grew simpler. At the same time in France it grew more complex.

Before delving into my medieval research, I'd never heard of either of them. These photos show the first prototypes made from plans that I found for the originals. They'll still require some changes, on the whole I'm quite happy with them. They're certainly better than most that I've seen on the market.

The Glastonbury chair on the far right also represents my first attempts at wood carving. The first chair back that I carved was meant to show a lion but when I had finished with it, it looked more like a pigs head on a lions body. I'm slowly learning that less means more, on areas one inch square or less.

Castle Roombox

First off, I guess I should show you what I'll be making in Nova Scotia, in September:I've decided it'll be a 12th century knights Templar castle. To prepare I read two histories about the Templars, a number of architectural books, books about the rise of Gothic cathedrals, books about medieval furniture. I've learned a number of new words ...aumbry and savonarola, just to name two. The one refers to a cupboard while the other one is a folding chair.
So with all my reading, I decided I wanted a special bower window, a larger fireplace, fancy door surrounds.... You can't ever say that I don't put my all into whatever I do! LOL
I could have bought a plain window but that's the kind that will probably come with the workshop. I could have bought a fancy window but it would have been the wrong size. Seems that commercial Gothic windows are wide rather than narrow the way I want it. I thought long and hard about it. My biggest restriction was the foamcore wall thickness of a 1/2 inch.
This is the look I was aiming for: It's from a Rik Pierce workshop known as Fair Rosamond's Bower. I would so dearly love to take one of Rik's classes.
I wrote to Rik, and when I didn't hear back, I started to make my own window. I thought about making it of wood or paperclay but with each of them there were drawbacks. This is what I decided on: What you're seeing is simply layered cardstock. My finished window would have been just slightly thicker than 1/4". Once glued together, gessoed and then painted to resemble stone, you wouldn't be able to guess it's humble beginnings.
Look what arrived in the mail today:Rik didn't even wait for me to pay him! Eventually, having written back to tell me dimensions and his prices (which I must say are very fair!); having told me that he would require a money order as he didn't have a Paypal account ....he simply assumed that I was honest & would actually pay him! I didn't know such trusting people still existed.
How cool is that!! Aren't I a lucky girl!!!!
I'm off to the bank tomorrow ....but I may still finish my cardstock window. Who knows when I might still need it.

I won this lovely candelabra from Margaret thanks to a give-away at her blog My Petit Parterre.
I was thrilled to receive it and look, she even added a candle snuffer and extra candles. I think maybe Margaret was worried that it might be slightly large and therefore should used in an outside setting but as far as I'm concerned, it's absolutely perfect for my knights Templar roombox.
It was only her second attempt at mini-soldering. Gee wish all my second attempts turn out so well. Margaret, thank you. It'll have a good home inside the castle.

I've been scouring the internet looking for other suitable furniture. I may be able to get a carved chest kit from Ann High who makes amazing furniture ...all of it carved. I even have someone keeping an eye out for things I want when she goes to Kensington this Sunday. ....I may yet need that day job.
But in the meantime, I'll consider my candelabra as the first bit of furnishing.