Additional Work : Miso Barrels, Whisky Barrels, Soy Barrel, Water Barrels and Spa Barrels

November 21st - 26th 2014

When I purchased the walnut cleats from the Italian mini shop, I also purchased some small barrels that I wanted to use in the storage area of the kitchen.  I wanted the barrels to contain some things that were common use but also unique.  I found some pictures of some pretty cool barrels for miso (a kind of soy paste used in cooking) and a Japanese whisky (altho not the one that has been in the news recently).  It seems odd but this whisky brand has been around quite a while and perhaps the inn would have a barrel or two for their VIP guests.

First I found some labels that could be transferred to the barrels.  Next was finding the best medium for transferring them.  I printed the labels out on paper and a transparency both on the laser printer and the inkjet and set about making some tests.  All the tutorials I read required certain solvents (Citra Solv which I have no idea what that is and it’s not available in Italy, acetone, etc) or products like Modge Podge which are not available here either.  So in reading the tutorials on how to transfer, the only thing that stuck with me is what can dissolve the printer ink onto a porous surface.  I tried printing off my laser printer onto paper then placing the image on the wood and wetting the paper with acetone, then rubbing.  Wrong.  Not even one small bit of toner ink came off.  So that failed.  I then tried using the acetone on the surface and trying to transfer the toner ink from a transparency - nothing.  So my toner ink is pretty non soluble. 
Next was testing the inkjet on the transparency.

Printing on a transparency.

Clearly the ink is wet so you have to be super careful not to smear it (hence why I printed off many little images) but the size of my barrels are so small you really can’t see details once some of the ink transferred over.  I did discover it was best not to moisten the barrels as the ink just ran and clouded the image.  So, on the miso barrel, I finally got a few transfers to show up.  The soy sauce barrel was a total loss.  So I printed the page out again on calligraphy rice paper and attached the labels to the barrels with water and glue.  As the paper dries, you can see the printing through the paper a little.  Since I couldn’t see enough for the soy, I reprinted it on the other side (still with the toner ink) and then decoupaged it onto the barrel.  So, overall it was not a total loss.  In any case, all the tutorials about transferring images to wood are a bust for small pieces.  There just isn’t enough possibility to get good detail.

You can barely make out the label...

The miso label was a little better on a dry surface

Next was decorating the miso barrels.  One barrel has stones on top (found photos on the internet that showed how they press the fermenting paste by setting stones on the lid) and one of the barrels is open for use in the kitchen.  I used some acrylic paint to color a mix of glue and sand to create a paste-like mixture that I then spread onto the top of the barrel.  I made a small spatula and inserted it into the paste.  The final effect is quite cute.

Inspiration - miso barrell with stones on top.

Inspiration - Miso paste

My mini version of both.

Inspiration from Nikka Whisky

Finished barrels.

I then pulled out the changing room’s wardrobe so I could add some obijimi - obi belts - to the kimonos nestled there.  I just cut and glued some small colored ribbons.  Just a small detail that I wanted to add for a while and finally got round to it.

Adding the obijime.

Next I made a few buckets for the spa and water buckets for the irori fire pit room.  I also painted one bucket red to put into the Buddha room as a decoration.  Red sake buckets are given during wedding ceremonies so I thought maybe a bucket would be used up and then placed as a decoration in one of the rooms.  It’s cute and small.  So I was sold.  I painted “water” in kanji on two buckets which I filled with “water” (liquid Fimo) and baked for half an hour in a low oven.  I let them cool then finished aging them.  I then placed one in the irori room and one in the kitchen near the stove.  I then also placed the miso barrel in the kitchen and the whiskey and soy barrel in the storage area.  I think they look pretty good.

Water filled buckets for the spa.

The shower drain with a small bench.

Buckets filled and non filled for the spa.

Two fire fighting water buckets and the red used sake bucket.

Whisky, soy and miso barrels in the storage space.

Buckets placed in the spa.

Miso paste barrel in place and water bucket at the far right.

It’s now Christmas time as I write this (well, really the day before Thanksgiving) so all the manger accessories are out in the stores.  Often you can find a few little objects that work well in scale but you have to go within a day or two of the displays being put out because the cool objects disappear quickly.  Anyway, I found a set of tubs (buckets for a manger scale but for me they will be tubs) and cleaned them up a bit, painted them and varnished them.  I used a gold paint pen to trace a small band of “metal” round the outside.  I’m not quite sure what I will do with them yet but they are definitely going in the house. 

Manger buckets will become tubs in my house.

Anyway, real life is crashing down on me of late.  My next idea is for the back of the house but I have to plan it out and I’m not really concentrated right now.  So, perhaps after Thanksgiving (which I am going to celebrate on Sunday).

Happy Thanksgiving to all my family and friends and remember to appreciate your loved ones at least one day out of the year.  Eat turkey.  Be Happy!!

Super cute pie miniature you can find on Etsy.

Chapter 113 - 114 - 115(partial) - Decoration and Finishing of Right Front and Back Peak, Tiling, Kimono Stand and Accessories

October 30th - November 6th 2014

I had a few days off since I was busy constructing some Halloween decorations for a small party I have every year.  Since it’s really not celebrated in Italy (or celebrating incorrectly - as an excuse for young teens to vandalize and be destructive) I actually enjoy teaching my friend’s kids how to have fun on Halloween without hurting anyone or anything.  So I put some effort into making fun food and decorations.  But I really want to get back to the build of the house otherwise I feel it will just take forever to complete!

Having had a few days off gave me a little more energy and the correct mind set to attack the next few chapters.  First up was some more tiling and the prep work for the peak decorations.  I repeated the same procedure from the last chapter cleaning and recarving the bubble pieces and painting everything.  I then put those pieces aside as I had to tackle the tiling of the right front and back roof areas in front of the peaks.

Bubble piece decorations and gable decor painted.

I started cutting tiles and glueing them in place.  Sanding them was still a messy dusty problem until a friend’s husband suggested I use a vacuum cleaner to suck away the dust while I was sanding.  So, after Halloween, I tried it with my little hand vacuum “The Shark” and it worked pretty well! It reduced the amount of fly away dust even if there was still some depositing on my hands.  I am still wearing a mask obviously but it does cut down on the dust that was covering my work area, computer, printers....
I managed to finish tiling the front roof area under the gable and insert the gable as well.  I also got the top onigawara in place.  So that was good.  So the kit has me moving round to the back peak area and roof but....as usual...I deviated from the procedure.  First because I had a ton of little pieces that could be used in filling the gaps in the center front roof so it just seemed logical to get it out of the way.  So I decided I would. But first....

Finished right front roof and peak decor.

I had been mulling over making a kimono stand.  I had already made a small obi stand so I knew I could figure out a way with the extra scraps of my kit to make one so, I measured the space in the fire pit room and got to making the pieces.  I cut, glued, sanded then painted the stand black.  I then added the little copper embellishments that my friend had traded with me for some oak cleats.  The top and bottom external pieces had to be filled with a little black Fimo and glued in place.  Which I did.  You can see the inspiration in the pic next to the finished stand.  My next step would be to add folded obis or a full kimono to the stand....while tiling, I will consider which.

Working on the kimono stand from scraps.

Shaping the copper decoration for the top and bottom edges.

Finished kimono stand and the inspiration.

I then turned back to tiling the center front of the roof.  I measured out four full pieces and then cut back scrap pieces and was able to finish the front central roof area.  I also cut some small pieces to fit into the areas right under where the peak’s tiles meet the roof.    I did have to open Chapter 115 to get some tiles but since that was upcoming anyway I didn’t mind.  Once that section was tiled, I turned the entire roof around and started on the final back roofing and gable.

Front of the roof with completed tiling.

Remaining tiling to be done to the back of the roof.

While the last tiles were drying, I came back to the kimono stand.  I really wanted to try and make a paper kimono.  I did (by cutting panels and constructing using double sided tape) but overall I really didn’t like it on the stand.  So, I may use it elsewhere in the house as a wall decoration.  But I still needed something for the kimono stand.  So I made some folded paper kimonos.  You really can’t tell what they are but I used kimono pattern origami paper do simulate folded kimonos, an obi and an obijime (a chord used to tie around the obi) and placed them on the stand.  I even decorated the end of one obijime with some metal tips and cut the edges to form tassels.  I then placed the stand in the fire pit room and I must say, it fills the wall perfectly.  I really wanted something that was unique but that wouldn’t block the area where people would be eating etc.  I think it’s a good fit.

Making patterns to cut paper and fabric.

Cutting out some fabric for backing the paper.

Adding the sleeves to the back panel

Finished paper kimono.

Finished kimono stand with "folded" kimonos and obi draped over it.

Kimono stand in situ.

So, back to the tiling... I attached the tiles on the back right side under the peak and off to the right so that when I installed the gable’s tiling it wouldn’t be blocking that area (which happened with the back left installation).  I also had some extra little pieces that I managed to size up and glue to the right side corner of the roof.  So even that bit of roof is done.  Next I installed the decorative sections to the peak - sanding down the pieces and glueing the bubble piece and paper piece #3 etc.  Then I could install the two tiles on top of the gable.  As usual, I had to sand the tops down to match the length then glue them in place - still pretty tricky since the little plastic clamps aren’t well suited to the job.  But while I waited for the glue to dry, I made some little hagoita.
These little rackets were used in a badminton type game back in the 15th-16th century.  They are usually decorated with New Year’s images at court.  Today, the rackets are used during New Year’s and are now covered with kimono fabrics and the figures are rendered 3D.  The antique ones often had images of famous actors so I printed out some images and attached them to some pieces of thin wood.  I decorated the handles with red and black and added all three to the buddha room.  They do look cute.

Cutting out the racket and image to glue onto it.

Wrapping a little black thread round the handle.

Finished hagoita.

Hagoita decorating the wall.

Final phase of tiling was done in the afternoon adding the last tile to the right side of the gable and letting it dry.  I still cannot add the onigawara because I still have to tile the inside of the back roof.  But more of that later.....

Finished and final gable.  Now just to push on with tiling...