The Hutch of Many Colours!

I started my Xmas Hutch a couple of weeks ago as I couldn't wait to get started. It has however been an unexpectedly strange journey!


Building the hutch itself was fine - no problems there.


Then the instructions tell you to do a coat of white acrylics in varying thicknesses and then wallpaper the back of the hutch. Again no problems!

Then the instructions say to coat it with Tom Holtz Distress Crackle paint in Antique linen. The paint looked cream on the internet so all seemed well........ that is until I used it!

I was then left with a mustard yellow hutch! Hmmm not the look I was hoping for!

I thought that maybe when I added the 'dirty varnish' that is suggested to 'age' the piece it would turn out ok..... but that was not to be the case.

So, unhappy with the finish I went back to the Internet and picked what looked like a light cream paint in the same make. It arrived a few days later it even looked cream in the pot. Was it cream???? NO it was green!

Here is a close up just to prove it!

This was no good at all. I wanted white - yes an old worn out dirty looking white - but WHITE non the less! So it was back to drawing board, and a lot of sand paper later and yet another pot of paint........

HOORAY it's WHITE!

This is exactly the look that was called for! I am so glad that I persevered, it was well worth it. Now for the xmas decorations and of course a little bit of sparkle!

Christmas Came Early This Morning

I know I promised you that my next blog would be the photographs of Lydia Picketts Artist Studio but you will have to wait. This fell through my letter box this morning and I absolutely had to share it!

I know I mentioned on a previous post that I was ordering it, but now that it is here I wanted to blog some photos before taking it all out of the packaging as it looks so lovely all tied up.

It is the Betterleys Christmas Hutch. I have never done anything in 12th scale before, but this was a 'must have' . As always with the Betterleys it arrived all packaged up beautifully and if it wasn't for the fact that I am so desperate to get into it - I could hardly bring myself to take it all out! That's the wonderful thing about blogs each stage of everything is here to relive at any moment!

The above packet contains the hutch itself and then there are six separate accessory kits. Of course I had to photograph each and every one of them!

I love the little cupcake toppers on these.

How much would you like to take tea from this beautiful tea set?

I may just have to copy this bunting full size for my full size dresser.

I love the way these stockings are already bulging - has Santa been?

These trees take me back to Frostys and how much fun I had with those little trees.

The little vintage postcards are so lovely.

Here's the finished hutch.

Also in the kit came the photograph of the bare hutch which is also available from the Betterleys without the accessories. Isn't it just the most beautiful piece of furniture.

Right then I promised on an earlier post that this would be finished and on my mantelpiece by December 1st when we put our Christmas tree up so I had better get going!

Artist studio next time - honest!