Tuesday, September 14, 2010

I built a Barn!

A few months ago I told my miniaturist friend Anne that I wanted to build a barn.
Anne consulted some books, discussed architectural details with her hubby and drew up some plans.

Then we started building. That's Anne (happy in her work!).
Anne is just the most phenomenal and lovely miniaturist.

Anne had some old cedar strips that had been lying in her shed for 20 years, she let me use them for the barn, it gives it a real vintage feel. All the newer wood I painted to match the cedar.

The stairs I bought a long time ago, I just aged them.
The arched window in the back was given to me by a sweet little old lady at our club (I doubt she ever thought it would be used in a barn!).


Here's Anne's husband, Derek - the builiding inspector.
He kept a very close eye on our building methods!
 It's 1:12 scale but built just like a real building.
The inspector won't give me a certificate of compliance until it has more bracing, lol!

Anne made the rectangle window and helped me build the door from scratch.

I've been going to Anne's house every now and then for the past few months to work on the barn.

Once we had built the 'bones' of the barn Anne sent it home with me to do the exterior.
It was a bit scary to be working on my own.
But one Friday a couple of weeks ago I just told myself to 'get it done'.
So I spent a day cladding the outside.
Anne and Derek loved the end result - for me that was a great compliment!

I still have to make the roof flashings.

So far I've only made the loft lights (and they work!!)

There's still a few details to be finished but I thought you might like to see it.
Soon I'll show you what's going inside, for me that's the real fun part!

Mercedes

61 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! This is amazing Mercedes! Love that you built it from scratch! It looks JUST like the barn in your header photo! WOW!
    What a sweet couple to work with too.
    You must be so proud of this! Love it!

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  2. its wonderful... just imagine kids playing among the hay bales and chooks roosting in the loft... nice work !! :)

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  3. The filling part is the most fun for me too Mercedes, cant wait to see what you are actually putting in there. Its a very stylish barn! Kate xx

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  4. Wow! That's a lovely barn, well done.
    I can't wait to see the finished insite.
    You can be very proud of yourself.
    Greetings
    Maria

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  5. It looks wonderful and very realistic i love it
    xx

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  6. How great is this:) I love your barn. It is so very well made. You should be proud. This is just amazing:)

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  7. It is wonderful! You did a great job. I´d love to see it when it´s finished.

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  8. I love the barn, it's such a great project. Could you tell us how have you done the electric instalation??? I'm working on a small project and I would like to install a couple of lights, nothing big and dont know how to do it! Thank you so much!

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  9. It looks fantastic!!!

    You are very lucky to have such good 'minifriends'!

    Greetings, Karin.

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  10. Oh WOW!! I need an Anne! You both have turned this barn into something amazing! I, too, can't wait to see how you fill it:)

    Love that the front door has a piece missing:) How perfect:)

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  11. Great great work! Your barn is fantastic and I love the colours. I am looking forward to seing what you're going to put inside.
    Geneviève

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  12. Love it! All the tiny details are wonderful, and that old wood floor is fantastic!!!

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  13. Lovely lady Anne, and manufactured pertc barn, I wait watch the interior for your design. Best wishes

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  14. It reminds me of the barns in Michigan that we used to play in when I was little. Beautiful. I can't wait to see it finished.

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  15. Bravo Mercedes and Anne! Really the replica of your header picture... Incredible I am really impatient to see how you will organize the interior.... It will be more country than shabby like Blondie creations uses to say....
    Claude

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  16. Your barn is amazing, Mercedes! Can't wait to see the finished inside.

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  17. You already know that I love it to bits but there is something more : I WANT Anne and Derek as neighbours !!!!!! May they adopt me ?? your barn IS wonderful ! love Rosanna

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  18. Your barn is amazing! You are so lucky to have talented mini people around you. Can't wait to see what you do with the inside.

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  19. WOW! thats a great project and I love that its been built from a frame just like the real thing. You have great neighbours too! x

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  20. Oh, how fabulous! I love your barn, Mercedes. It must have been such fun building this with your friend.

    xo
    Claudia

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  21. un gran proyecto me gusta lo que esta consiguiendo es realmente perfecto.
    un abrazo para usted y leberty




    I like a great project which is getting really perfect.
    a hug for you and leberty

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  22. Oh Mercedes, that barn is wonderful! I can't wait to see what you put inside!
    Hugs,
    Jill

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  23. Mercedes, What a unique project! Anne looks like a sweetheart and great fun to mini with! The barn is fabulous and I will look forward to seeing where your imagination will go with it. I love when you take us along for the ride!!!! You always have the best photos!

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  24. Mercedes- this is gorgeous- it's really a work of art! ♥

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  25. It's great, as I told you before!
    I can't wait till you finished, It will be wonderful
    Love Sylvia

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  26. It is just wonderful!!! I love the exposed studs. The aging you did looks very realistic. I am looking forward to seeing what you will do with the inside.

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  27. Your barn is awesome! Such talent and how blessed you are to have such a great friend to work with!!!!

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  28. Your barn is awesome! Such talent and how blessed you are to have such a great friend to work with!!!!

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  29. Its so so wonderful Mercedes. I can't wait to see what you do with it. Big hugs! Kim

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  30. Hermoso, bello!!! felicitaciones a Ana y Derek por ayudarte en este proyecto, espero con ansias cuando este terminado. Besos

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  31. Es fantástico. Me parece un trabajo esplendido, muy logrado. Saludos y besos para Liberty.

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  32. Hi Mercedes,
    The barn is so amazingly beautiful. Many ideas to consider for the barn.
    I'm as curious as the sanding is finished.
    Nice friends to help you build.

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  33. What a great little property - it looks a lot bigger sitting on the work bench than it does in the field. There'll be lots you can do with it.

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  34. Oh...My...GOODNESS!!! Mercedes, you guys did such a beautiful job. I CAN NOT WAIT to see what you do for the inside. I LOVE everything you do!! =)

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  35. It is fabulous Mercedes!!! I love the old roof with the iron sheets lifting with age....looks so real!
    Now I look forward to how the interior shall be decorated!!!

    Linda X

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  36. Hi Mercedes!!

    Wonderfull!! Your barn is perfect!!

    Hugs!!

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  37. Congratulations Mercedes,
    Anne and the inspector!
    Your barn is So perfect!
    Hugs, piikko

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  38. I think you should apply for your Builder's Licence you have done such a great job, it looks just like a real 1:1 barn.

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  39. Firstly, please tell Anne that she has a great workroom :). 2ndly, if they adopt Rosanna, they must adopt me too! :):). I really hope I can meet them one day, Mercedes :).

    And you already knew too that I think you have outdone yourself in this one :). And I KNOW, you will make a spectacular job of the interior. Now that you can build a barn, you can build a castle next! WOW! :)

    On 2 separate corners of the world, do you know that 2 of your old cabinets have been worked on (Katie and me) at the same time ?

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  40. The barn is so beautiful Mercedes!
    I'm very curious about how you're gonna finish it!
    But I'm sure it will be fantastic.

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  41. It is wonderful ,very well made. Can't wait to see the finished inside.
    Janne

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  42. Felicidades,te esta quedando precioso y no le falta detalle.

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  43. Aaahhh... so this is what you've been busy with!
    It is gorgeous!
    I love it...

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  44. Wonderful. How much fun to do a "real build". You have very special friends!

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  45. Oh my, isn't this the most charming miniature building I can't wait to see what you put inside. I love this so much.
    Karen

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  46. It's a wonderful barn! I can't wait to see what you're going to put inside, that's what I enjoy the most too. :)
    What a nice project!
    Maia

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  47. Hello!

    What a wonderful project! I love your barn - it is fantastic! I can't wait to see what you put inside the barn!

    Wishing you well!

    Barbara Diane

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  48. Lots of new possibilities for you. Well done so far. Looks like a fun project.

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  49. Lots of new possibilities for you. Well done so far. Looks like a fun project.

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  50. Ha sido precioso ver la estructura y cada paso que has hecho en este granero. Espero que pronto llenes el granero y vuelvas a sorprendernos.
    Besos Clara

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  51. wow, Mercedes, this is a fantastic four hands work!!!! I love to work together with other miniaturist, it is so rewarding.
    Love from Portugal
    Ana

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  52. What a lovely barn! I'm curious to see what it will look like with things in it.

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  53. Oops, wrong google account on my previous comment.

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  54. What a beautiful barn, it looks great!I like it. :)

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  55. Mercedes...I am speachless...you should see my face right now.
    It is amazing what you've both done. I love the photo of Anne in her workshop!

    All my love to you and your family.
    XXX

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  56. You are absolutely amazing!!!! That is the best looking barn I have ever seen--what fun to collaborate with your friends.

    Can't wait to see what you put in it.

    xo,
    Sophia

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  57. the barn is so awesome !!
    Great work everyone.

    good job telling us what my little pan was too. for baking little breads. and yes, a long way from home. Are they currently being used there? or is it old?

    thanks for helping out.
    barbara jean

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  58. Oh Mercedes I had missed this post. It is just wonderful. A great great work and I love to see how it has been built. I have to show the barn to my father!

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Thank you for your comments!